Tsunami aid and relief for Japan

Photo above from CNN website

After Japan was hit by the destructive eartquake and tsunami. I tried to watch everyday in CNN Breaking News to see the updates on what's going on with Japan... My heart breaks over and over again to see those images and videos. But I know that it should not end with me here having tears and feeling sad for those people. I think we should do something in our own little way to help those in need.

I found out in CNN website the article: Tsunami aid and relief: How you can help. You can read there the charities helping Japan. And it is well explained on how you can donate to a chosen charity organization. Most of them are so easy just send text message with a corresponding word to a certain number then you'll be able to send $10. I'm here in Holland so I'm not really sure if it's working also here or maybe it would work only in USA.

The following charities are helping now in Japan which were mentioned also in the article on how you can help:

> World Vision
> American Red Cross
> The Salvation Army
> Americares
> Save the Children
> UNICEF
> Mercy Corps
> Convoy of Hope
> Globalgiving.org
> International Medical Corps
> ShelterBox
> Doctors Without Borders
> Americans Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
> Jewish Community of Japan
> Operation Blessing International
> American Humane Association
> Search Dog Foundation

At the end of the article it further says that "For more information, please read CNNMoney's story explaining how donors should watch the crisis unfold before sending contributions. The article also provides tips on what to give, where to give and how to avoid scams".

Indeed there are many ways to send our help or donations. My personal choice is the ShelterBox. It think in every box they send is a big help to every homeless family that is affected by disaster like the eartquake and tsunami in Japan.





The photo above is from website of Convoy of Hope. Where there's an article over 50,000 Meals expedited from Philippines to Japan.

There might be persons who could not give financial help. But I think they are still capable of giving big help by keeping the PRAYERS for the victims of this disaster. And by continuing the prayers that the Reactor no.3 of the Japan nuclear plant will not meltdown.

Schilderij (Painting)

After showing photos of our house, some gave compliment for the paintings that hang in the wall. Well actually we have four paintings and each one came from different person, as a gift. The first painting above where you can see there is written Azian dream, that was created by Daniel Stuttje, he made it especially for us... Last year, he gave that painting as birthday gift for me and my husband... Daniel is a good friend of Ron for about 20 yrs. already. Mijn compliment to other paintings he made... and you can see more of his works at www.popcircus.nl and click the Schilderijen Daniel on the right side among the headings.

Then 2nd 3-pcs. painting is from Ivy Tan, a filipina friend of mine, she created and gave it to me last Chrirstmas as gift.... The first time I came to Ivy's house, I saw that 3 pcs. painting and I said right away that I like it. That's why she gave it to me... nice!

Then the 3rd 2-pcs painting was given to me by another filipina friend I have here named Tessie Spelde... Actually that 2-pcs painting was created by Raimunda Spelde, the daughter of her...

Finally the 4th photo of painting was given to us from Josefa Katuin or "Ate Josie", she's also a filipina who came and live here in holland for about 20 years already, that's why she's like a filipina mother here for me.. And that painting, she said was the first painting she bought here in Holland 20 years ago...

Thank you Daniel, Ivy, Raimunda and Ate Josie for giving those paintings for us.

Fotolijst (Photo Frame)

I'm always fond of photos that's why our house will never be complete without fotolijst or photo frames in the wall... The first photo was in Mireille's bedroom, the photo of my family in Manila which you can see before the window so my daughter will be familiar with my family even they are in Philippines...

Then the 2nd fololijst (photo frame) is hanging above the computer with all the Grandfathers and Grandmothers of Mireille. Also her cousins are in the photo...

Then the 3rd photo is in the Living Room... the Mulder Family, Ron, me, Mireille end Sharon en Nienke... Also our wedding photos are there too...

Raam (Window)

In the 1st photo you'll see our grote raam (big window) from the house front view... it's a bit big for me at first, (just half size of the window we have in Manila) then I've realized every window here in Holland are normally with Large size...

Yes, passers-by can clearly see what's and who's inside the house, that's how big they are, bigger than the wall itself...

On my first month here in Holland (Feb 2008), I've asked my husband, "Why is it in every window I've seen here, I've noticed that the color of the curtains are always white?". Then he explained that in every house, there's a double set of curtains, (1) net curtain (vitrage) -usually white and (2) full-length curtains. Like what you can see in the 3rd photo here with curtains, but instead of vitrage we used rolgordijn (roll curtain)...

Some windows here in Holland, have window insurance. And some windows are professionaly cleaned by some window-cleaning companies too... "sosyal!"

Raam (Window)