Mini Miss Oldambt 2015

After almost 3 yrs. from not writing a blog... I thought to check again my blog but seems to got a spam from one of the number counter that i did included in my blog layout. I did remove it.. I hope this time is better

Een Jongen (A Boy)

Praise and Thank God for blessing us with a sweet baby boy. Thank you also for my family and friends for your prayers on God's blessing when I gave birth and thank you for the support.
Above is the photo album of our baby Ian Manuel

Vastenaktie (Fasting project for Season of Lent)

In Catholic tradition we are now in Season of Lent. The 40 days period from Ash Wednesday (March 9, 2010) till Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011). It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Like Jesus who'd been through 40 days of solitude, prayer and fasting in the dessert. Catholics have their fasting activities too on Lent season. And that is to have enough meal per day and to cut some extra chips, chocolates or something delicious we always wanten to eat and special drinks like softdrinks. But it's not only fasting, there something we should also do after fasting and that is almsgiving. That means while you do fasting you'll save some money buying those extra foods and drinks, those money we save are the money we could give for almsgiving.

The last two sundays that we went to the Catholic church here in Holland. I've heard from the priest that this year Vastenaktie is for Filipijnen (Philippines). I'm happy to hear that... I'm here in Holland and I think not everyone in Philippines or not everyone Mindoro knows that the Parishes here are busy promoting Vastenaktie for the benefits of filipinos in Mindoro.

The scan photo above is the cardboard that our daughter receives from school. Where we can make a piggy bank out of it. "Plant iets moois voor een ander" is the write up in the left side which is translated in english as "Plant something beautiful for someone else"

Below is the translation in english of the write up in dutch that you see in the photo above:

Plant something beautiful for someone else

The inhabitants of the Philippine island of Mindoro are conserving the forest in which they live. They are living out of everything that grows there. But mining and logging threaten their existence.

With the help of Vastenaktie they want to save the forest and show that you can make money without chopping down those trees. From Vastenaktie they will learn how to make baskets and jewelry made ​​of reeds and palm leaves. And chips and tasty bananas and mangoes. And they will teach them on how these products in the market to sell and to plant new more trees so that the forest will remain. Save some and support Vastenaktie and plant something nice for someone else.

You can read more about the project in the website www.vastenaktie.nl

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.

Mientje

The second single of the band Nuchter is out and the single is Mientje. The lyrics is in gronings dialect and so is the title Mientje which is a typical groningers girl name... It's a song about the farmer and her partner whose name is Mientje

You can also watch the Mientje videoclip in Youtube below. And you can download their music via website of Legal download or this link http://www.legaldownload.net/Nuchter
Thank you very much and enjoy the music...



You are also welcome to visit their Nuchter website with this link http://www.debandnuchter.nl/

By the way, maybe some readers may wonder why I'm promoting the band Nuchter... well aside from they are a good music band... their lead singer Ron Mulder is my husband:)

Basisonderwijs (Primary Education)

We arrived here in Holland from our vacation in Manila two weeks ago... Then our daughter went to school right away... The photo above show's her 1st day of school.

Here in Holland a child who turns 4 yrs. old could already enter in Groep 1 (or like Group 1) of the Basisoderwijs (Primary education) or what we usually call here as "basisschool". But 2 weeks before the child's 4th birthday she or he will have a chance to attend the Groep 1 class just to have the feeling already or sort of practice before their official 1st day of school.

Last year, our daughter does went to basisschool just to get used to Groep 1. It's amazing because she was not really so shy then. Infact, on the first day that i brought her to her class she whispered to me to go home already, haha! But on her official 1st day of school and that was two weeks ago,you can also see in the photo that she was sooo shy, her teacher had to even let het sit on her lap:)

Jet lag

After 6 weeks vacation in Philippines, we left Manila last January 28. With our latest family picture in Manila with 30 degrees celsius (in the lowest photo)... Then we arrived in Holland with freezing 1 degree celsius... Which is a big difference with weather.

We left Manila noontime of 28 Jan and arrived in Holland 7:00 in the evening of the same day with 18 hrs travel air and land... I would not wonder anymore why I have jet lag for a week since we arrived here in Holland... This is my 3rd time that I arrived in Holland travelling from Manila. but it's my first time to have a jet lag that last for a week... For one week I felt so tired and sleepy for seven whole days. Then I have to go to bed every 8 o'clock in the evening, which i never did before... I tried to stay awake but it's not helping, it's like the bed is pulling me to sleep, hehe!

That was a strange week to feel tired and sleepy always but I'm thankful because it does help and gave me some rest, after our 6 busy weeks in vacation...Yes our vacation is not fully relaxation for me because 6 weeks are not enough for me to visit all my friends in Manila:) But I'm definitely thankful that we have the chance to have that wonderful holiday!

Wandelen (Walking)

Wandelen or walking is one of the most common activity among dutch people here. And walking in the park or in the wood is their favorite place.

Last week we walked in the woods in Natuurpad Ennemaborg. I liked it, to walk in the wood on autumn with those orange or yellow trees and fallen leaves. But most of all I enjoyed walking together with the whole family. Gezellig!

p.s. Thank you Papa Willem for sharing some photos you made :)

Elf november (Eleventh of November)

Elf november of 11th of November is one of the favorite days of the kids here in Holland. They don't have trick or treat here every halloween instead they celebrate the feest day of Sint-Maarten (St. Martin). They are doing something like trick or treat in a way that they will not really threat you instead they will sing one of the those Sint-Maarten songs. They are doing it in the evening by walking from house to house with their special lamp or what they called here lampion. Then they will receive candies, chocolates, fruits and sometimes small toys too.

The evening was a rainy one that's why our daughter together with her cousins Deniz, Tim and Jesse didn't have a chance to walk in the centrum as what we have planned. Anyway, they did walked and sang Sint-Maarten songs just in the neighbor, so they received candies and chocolates too.

Our daughter is lucky to receive a doll from our neighbor. It's not usual to give special toy on Sint Maarten but yes, she got one from Oma Lucy (our generous neighbor). She said for sure our daughter received so much candies and chocolates (which is true) so she gave a doll instead. Thank you Oma Lucy :)