Grandma's Poem

A Parent's Need

When you are very little,

Our lives are so entwined;

There is a constant need for us,

For that, we are resigned.

As you go on to grow up,

And get to be a wife;

We parents like to feel we're still,

A small part of your life.

When you call up with questions,

Or need a helping hand;

It makes us very happy,

I'm sure you understand.

It's hard to let a child grow up,

And see the need expire;

It makes you feel your work's all done, 

And it's time to retire. 

But then the need appears again;

With grand-kids, oh so dear;

And life takes on new meaning,

Every time you have them near. 

Freda M. Schwindt 

  Meeting and knowing grandma Freda is making me miss my other grandmother from my mother's side. They have a lot of similarities with the ways they care for their grandchildren. They make delicious jelly and quilts are must haves. Most of all they are both women of God. I can't thank and praise God enough for these great blessings. I love them to the moon and back. :)  

Christmas

      Who posts about Christmas a month after? Ahem! Anybody? Ha ha ha! Oh well, just let me so 'cause this is my blog (with matching puppy dog eyes here). Moving on, well, it was one of a kind experience spending Christmas in America and to be specific in Kansas with hubby's family. Christmas Eve was given a different meaning knowing that I come from an Asian country that celebrates it by staying up until midnight to have a sumptuous meal which then proceeds to exchanging of presents. Another thing is the time difference. Also, hubby's older and only brother had to leave on the 21st for Colorado to spend time with the relatives of his wife. The family somehow managed to have a nice big meal on Christmas day as Grandma once again went on snapping her old school camera, he he he. Presents given were all meaningful.
    Talking about presents, don't you just like it when you receive non-store- bought presents? Something that your love ones made or did just to make you feel special? I bet you do. Mom and dad collaborated in making me a special paper towel holder using walnut and babingga woods. The handle is an antique door knob. I know I have a lifetime to brag about it. Another great thing was grandma's book of poetry with her poem published in it. The name of the book is COLLECTED WHISPERS. Her composition is on the first page since it's her copy but, now, it's ours. I was so touched by the gesture. Love magnanimously touched my tiny heart that left me speechless and teary. In return, I also made stuff for mom,grandma and sister-in law. Giving is good but giving without expecting something in return is much better. Just like what the season was all about. It's about Jesus's birth. God gave His son to save us from our sins yet He doesn't expect us to do the same. Just love Him back is all.
   It's just this way, we celebrate Christmas because God is love and love unites our family therefore it should be the time that our family honors and glorifies God. After all, who wouldn't like to have a birthday party for Jesus? We all do, don't we? :)

  Pictures of presents from my beloved McGuffin family and grandma Freda Schwindt. :)

Grandma's poem deserves another entry. Will do that soon. :)


 

 
   

Yitey yady! (little lady)

I am his yitey yady     

  This is what I always hear when our nephew is spending some hours with us. I am the little lady standing next to his train track and waiting for anything he offers or tells me. He is very verbose and a very good conversant as well. Little D (as we fondly call him) knows vocabularies that kids his age you wouldn't think you'd hear saying. Some of the words he uses are repose, repulsive, flammable and apparently. Our first play time was very memorable because he explained a lot of things about his locomotive toy and the WHAT and the Whatnot.  I remembered asking him something more and he nonchalantly answered, "I don't know what to tell you anymore. I've told you a lot of things already." I tried not to crack up, but boy, was I tickled! Ha ha!
 
   Another thing he likes doing is singing all of these songs from the videos he watches about trains. The most famous one is the song called, I LOVE BIG TRAINS. He would endlessly sing it and hubby has to go upstairs to avoid getting the l.s.s.  Ha ha!  The house is alive every time he is here. It's so much fun!

   One touching moment was when he was seated next to me and suddenly he said, I am from Lawrence, Kansas so I answered, oh, I see. How about me? Where am I from? He said, you and you (pointing to my handsome) guys, are from the airport! We all cracked up! But he wasn't done yet. He then asked me, when are you going back to the airport? So I answered many more months and then we will go back to the airport. The reply was unexpected and was just so sweet, he reached for my arm and touched it while saying, I don't want you to go back to the airport. My heart melted! Dad had to say, not yet,don't worry, they will not go back there soon. Love filled the car. :)

This is a picture of us. He said, I will put my arm around you and then take a picture. Goofy little kid.

  I'm pretty sure someone is going to bawl when that someone goes back to the airport. Ha ha ha! Later! :)

Thanksgiving

  Another one of my firsts! How proud am I of my family here in Kansas? The answer is, VERY.
They are the most humble and generous people I've ever met. Thanksgiving dinner went so nice but was also full of family updates and goofiness. Learned the ingredients of pumpkin and Douglas county pies. I now declare pumpkin pie as my new favorite dessert. The latter one was so creamy and sweet because it was with pecans and chocolate chips. The star of the feast of course was the turkey which tasted awesomely flavored and tender. Dad is the best person to prepare this big bird.

 We didn't take pictures or maybe we didn't even bother to take pictures because we were so into having quality time although grandma did bring her disposable camera. She's so adorable trying not to get her fingers cover the flash. She's an old fashion when it comes to taking pictures. Takes her camera to Walmart and have the pictures developed. Old but sweet, isn't she?

 Another star of the day on Thanksgiving was our one and only nephew, Dimitri. He is very adorable and for his age he knows vocabularies that even his parents don't know where he heard or got. Words like,"apparently" and "repose". I am talking about a 3 year old little boy here. Isn't he smart? Will post more about him in the coming days. Oh, he is such a cutie!

 Later in the evening we went to Kansas City to join the crowd at the town plaza for the annual Christmas lighting ceremony. It was fun and exciting as we cheered and did the countdown.

Here's the actual countdown and check out the crowd! (just ignore my shrieks and voice. ha ha )

The celebration ended with much love and care. We totally thanked God for the time He allowed us to gather. It was not only about food, it was about a real family, real parents, real love and real faith in God. Remember that there are a lot of things to be thankful for. Start with the life that God has given you freely and everything else will just add as details. I guarantee that you'll always be happy and thankful. ;)

Everything deserves thanksgiving, indeed. :)

I'm here!

  It's true that when you value your time with your love ones you won't get a chance to do other things but enjoy. I still pinch myself from time to time to check if I'm really here in Kansas with "my handsome's" family. It's totally fun being a McGuffin. Parents in-law are so goofy people. God always knows where His children belong. Ha ha! My mother in-law and grandma are spoiling me to pieces and I don't have a plan of abusing that. They just make me feel that I am their daughter and granddaughter who they always wanted to have. How sweet of them! I think me and my sister in-law are the most pampered daughters. BLISS! :D

  Evidently, days are flying so fast because I didn't realize Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I have so many first times this year! Can't exactly count them through my fingers! Ha ha! There are more celebrations to look forward to. One of my first times though and a memorable one was when the church of my in-laws hosted a send a shoe box filled with toys to unfortunate children.We had so much fun filling ours. It's nice to think that somewhere out there a child is going to have a very merry Christmas. It's not always that we get to be a channel of blessing so we might as well grab the chance whenever and however we can.

 About the weather, I can say it's a bit crazy because there are days when it's warm and then the next day it drops hence the woozing and the sneezing all the time but I can't complain because I asked for it! LOL! Allow me to finish this here by just saying that there's so much love in this household that my tiny heart has a hard time processing all of it. I can't help but tear up every time a gesture is done or a love is manifested. How lovely are the works of the Lord that when HE blesses His children, they are always amazed and in awe! Wouldn't you?!

Later! :)

still kicking!

Hello, blog! Sorry for neglecting you, but hey, we made it safe to Kansas! Flying is not that appealing to me how much more taking 28 hours just to get to our destination (dizziness to the max!)Surprisingly, I didn't have a jet-lag contrary to what most people warned me about. Unfortunately, "my handsome" wasn't spared, he was woozy the whole week. Also, we got the bug from people here who throw fits with their  flaring nostrils from cough and cold, boohoo! Although I feel bad for my in-laws for having it. It's hard to see your love ones hacking their lungs all the time. Sigh.

On a happy note, Autumn has officially started and I am enjoying the majestic beauty of the trees as their leaves turn into yellow, orange and red! It's a milestone experience for me and I had to pinch myself just to check if I am really here. So far, I am enjoying our stay. In-laws are great cooks so as grandma! Speaking of grandma, I love the smell of her house! I always feel like a child whenever I am at her place. Lots of baked goodies in there! I love her house in every detail she's done to it! I hope to post pics soon! M.I.L. is also a shabby chic kind of person. She collects a vast collection of family history trinkets. It's amazing how she's incorporated everything in their living room and bedroom. She's a genius!

We still have a long list to do and are static to make them all happen!

Pictures of the Autumn- NESS! :d

On packing and chaos

It's a bit chaotic in the house these past weeks. I actually don't know what to clear up first. Hubby has been going hitler in organizing everything in the house and I on the other hand am very slow in making things happen. I know I am bad. I always get this feeling whenever we need to move or travel. I tend to linger more in the house and not wanting to leave, yet I am ecstatic to hug my in-laws, soon! Also, amidst all the preparations we are making sure that Emil and Emmanuel will have a support group while we are in the States. God has provided that and will blog about it next time I get the energy to become more creative in writing than just merely ranting at what's happening in here now. I didn't know taking a vacation is stressful! It's supposedly fun! Why not just leave the house and fly?! LOL! That's what hubby said when he got fed up of me just sitting around and not being a good support force. I wish I could just zap everything! Zap there! Zap here! Whatever.

Later peeps!