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

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 :)

Ruben's 65th & Berta's 70th Birthday Slideshow

Today is my mother's 70th birthday and yesterday was my father's 65th birthday. Like what i wrote yesterday, my brother's, sister and sister-in-law organized a special birthday party for our parents. The youtube video above was made by my brother Jon and was shown in a projector then. I've heard Jon received compliment from some relatives because it was well done. But for me, the first time i've watched it, tears came out in my eyes.... there's no question with the photo slideshow, it's so beautiful and a bit funny in the first part with some old photos of my Papa and Mama... but when the photos for Family was shown... I just felt how i miss all of them sooooooo much... How I wish my father is in Manila to celebrate with family, relatives and friends... How I wish my husband, our daughter and I was there too... Actually that was our plan since last year, that we will all be in Manila on their birthday celebration, but due to circumstances beyond our control it didn't happen.

But of course, I'm happy that my Mama enjoyed the party together with all the visitors. And my Papa was happy too that with Jon's help he was able to record his telephone message for Mama. Yesterday we did a long distance call for Papa in Saudi and our daughter sang "Happy Birthday Lolo" to him and that made him so proud too..
Thank you Jon, Happy, Alvin, Roshel for helping each other that made the birthday party a happy and successful one. I've seen the video clip of Red and Steph for their Lolo and Lola, that is also so sweet and so nice of both of you. I like it!
And thank you to all our relatives and friends who came and danced in the party.

Happy Birthday Papa en Mama

Today is the 65th birthday of my father and tomorrow is the 70th birthday of my mother. My brothers, sister and sister-in-law helped in preparing the birthday celebration which was held yesterday. I'm a bit sad because my father is in Saudi, so he was not there in Manila to celebrate together with Mama their birthday. My husband our daughter and I prepared a surprise video greetings for my Papa and Mama.

I thank God for blessing us with wonderful, cheerful and loving parents like my Papa and Mama. May God continue to bless both of you with good health, love and happiness always. Keep smiling and stay sweet and young at heart.

We miss you and we love you!!!

Bloemenmeisje (Flower Girl)

Last Monday (September 6) was the first time for our daughter as Bloemenmeisje or flower girl for the wedding of Leo and Diana (dutch-filipina couple)... Weeks before the event i felt so excited already for our daughter... I let her watched the videos of flower girls who usually will throw the petals after the wedding ceremony so she will be familiarize on what she should do then...

I become excited too in looking for a dress and shoes she should wear then... But it's not so easy to look for a flower girl dress here that's why Diana (the bride) made the dress for our daughter. (Thanks you Diana for the lovely dress). Looking for a nice shoes is not so easy too unlike in Manila where you can find in the shopping malls more choices of different style and nice shoes for little girls...

The wedding party was such a nice one.. with Chinese, Thai and Filipino food we've definitely enjoyed eating as well :)

To Leo and Diana, Gefeliciteerd! God bless your family.

Lieveheersbeestje (Ladybug)

Last Sunday was Vaderdag or Father's day. It's the first time that my husband received something from our daughter as a gift for vaderdag (father's day)... It's a stone painted as lieveheersbeestje or ladybug. Our daughter had painted it herself and she was so proud of her gift for her Papa... so sweet.

I've read in Wikipedia that in Dutch, the ladybug is called lieveheersbeestje, translating to "Our Dear Lord's little creature". It is also common to ask ladybugs to bring fair weather the next morning by saying "morgen mooi weer" upon encountering them...

Before I came here in Holland, I used to be afraid with so many insect like those ladybugs, but my husband told me that they are really sweet and will not bite you. I don't have a courage yet to put them in my hands but for our daughter that's not really a problem, she knows that they are indeed sweet and not biting:)

Belated Happy Father's day to my Papa and to my father-in-law
and belated Happy Father's day to all the fathers in the world!

Bevrijdingsoptocht (Liberation Parade)

Yesterday (May 5) was the Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) here in Holland. But it's non-working holiday, only every 5th year like this year the 65th Bevrijdingsdag. We went to Oude Pekela to watch the Bevrijdingsoptocht or Liberation, Parade. We saw military vehicles, tractors of the farmers, antique cars and some Veterans as well. The parade was organized by 50 Pekelder associations and organizations in cooperation with the Stichting Oranje Bevrijdings Comité Pekela (OBCP).
It's the first time that I saw this kind of parade... I like it!

Kleuter

Kleuter is a dutch word that means children with age between 3 to 6 yrs. old. Last 24th of January my daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday, that's why she's now considered kleuter. And last year when Mireille turned 2, she was then considered as peuter.

She had a simple birthday celebration but for sure a nice one... In the first photo above you'll see how shy she was to blow the candles although we did already have some practice, nights before her birthday on how she will blow her candles... Then on the 2nd photo, was in the morning of her birthday, her sisters Sharon en Nienke were not here but they gave a call to Mireille... And you'll see in the photo how she enjoy talking with them then :) Nice!

Mireille's 3rd birthday

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar (Prosperous New Year)

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar (Prosperous New Year)!!! to everyone
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Thank you to our family and friends who gave help and support in the ups and downs of our life... I wish you all happiness, good health and a blessed new year....

Thank you also to all who remembered to send cards, e-cards, emails and sms greetings during this holiday season...

Have A Blessed New Year!

Prettige Kerstdagen (Merry Christmas)

We celebrated the christmas with Papa Harry and Hanneke (my father-in-law and his girlfriend)... We did have a nice evening... Delicious food were prepared by Hanneke and her daughter Angela, "Dank je wel voor het lekker eten".... And my daughter and her cousin Deniz have the floor and enjoyed much the dancing... Gezellig! (nice and pleasant evening).

Merry Christmas!
Prettige Kerstdagen!
Maligayang Pasko!

Kerstfeest op school (Christmas party in school)

We have our Kerstfeest op school (Christmas party in school)... It's the first christmas party for me here in Holland... I'm really soooo happy!.... Way back in Manila, every christmas season I'm attendting to at least 3 christmas parties a year... At work, at the Parish church, then separate christmas party in the organization where I'm a member too.... Then sometimes there will be some invitation from christmas party of some friends, then there are christmas party for relatives which usually considered as family reunion.... Yes, December is always a busy month so much activities so many parties to go to... Last year, I'm kind a miss the christmas party, I thought there will be at least a christmas party at my husband's work but I just heard then that it's not common here to have company's christmas party....

I would like to thank Michael our classmate, for leading the organizing of christmas party... At first this was suppose to be only in our class, then we invited the students of our teacher from other class she have... Then our contact persons and volunteers from Stichting Welzijn Oldambt came as well to join the party... Anyone can bring food or drinks, so there were really so much food and drinks.... As for me, I was so busy then so I just prepared a fruit salad... We did have exhange gift too...

We have a sort of Recognition day too... We prepared a special kind of Certificate of appreciation for our mentors... Lineke, Lijla, Paul, Christine and Josefa.... Gefeliciteerd!

It was such a nice kerstfeest before our christmas vacation in school...

Pakjesavond 2009 (Gift-giving)

In celebration of Sinterklaas or feast day of St. Nicolas every 5th December, this is the time that they celebrate at night the pakjesavond (evening of gift-giving). Mostly kids receive kids as well as adults and normally every gift will be considered from Sinterklaas though the parents or grandparents bought and gave those gifts...

As for me I received a big milk chocolate letter M and a flower vase with a poem in it from Sinterklaas...

Together with the flowe base that I got from Sinterklaas, there is an attached poem from him as written below....
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Spanje 5 December

Lieve Marge,

Sint was in het magazijn aan het zoeken naar een kado voor jou.

Ja,.... wat wil ze nou.

Een kop en schotel of een flesje parfum
Sint raakte langzaam uit zijn hum.

Ik wil haar graag iets geven naar haar zin maar....
zit dat er wel in?
Ik ken haar niet als kind, dus moet ik maar gokken
Misschien wel een set mokken.

Oh, daar staat iets moois voor haar
vooruit, dat doen we maar.

Niet mooi? ruilen kan niet meer
misschien een tip voor de volgende keer
zet onder je naam een paar wensen op papier
dan kan Sint dat kopen en heb jij plezier.

Tot volgend jaar

Sint en Piet

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Dank je wel, Sinterklaas and Piet voor het mooie cadeau. :)

Tot volgend jaar,
Marge

Gedicht (Poem)

Today we received from "Sinterklaas" in school a letter milk chocolate and gedicht (poem)... It's usual during gift giving on Sinterklaas to have a gift and poem with it... and the gedicht (poem) that we received is the one written below... it's in dutch so I think it's more for my dutch readers and for my classmates too...

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Lieve cursisten!

Een paar dagen geleden, ja donderdag vorige week
was het Sint die stiekem door het raam van het klaslokaal keek.
Hij zag jullie zitten en hard werken... zonder dat de "juf" erbij was!
Tjeeminee....... jullie zijn dus echt wel een heel bijzondere klas!
Goede, vlijtige studenten met culinaire kwaliteiten... en wat de eigenaardigheden zijn?
Dat vertelt de Sint jullie op rijm!

De grote ster der NT2
is MARGARITA.... nul fout in het dictee!
Dus binnenkort staat er bij jou misschien in de schuur een nieuwe fiets??
Jammer voor de anderen, want zij krijgen helemaal niets.
Maar ach, het is altijd feest,
vooral als MICHAEL geweest.,
Erg snel naar school vanuit Bellingwolde met zijn nieuwe auto
met de wens nu "Let it snow" !!!
Hij verzorgt ons met veel hartigs en zoet,
ook zijn prijsgunstige aardappelsalade Najarstijl viel erg goed!

DAVID zit nog niet zo lang in onze klas,
Maar aan zijn gewoontes te zien zou je denken dat hij een echte Nederlander was...
"Koffie? eeh... moet ik zelf betalen?,"
"Nou als het gratis is, ja dan wil ik het wel gaan halen." :)
MEHRAN is nu ook bij ons en is erg blij
want de tijd dat de lessen "rampzalig" waren, is nu voorbij
Jouw specialiteit uit Iran...
Een echte Iraanse kotelet die laat je niet staan!

KADER is in onze klas ook nog niet zo lang
En hij zeker niet bang.
Is de docent te laat?
Docent Kader zorgt ervoor dat de les gewoon doorgaat!
AMINA heeft het druk druk druk
en haar Marokkaanse sigaar met vis kan bij ons niet meer stuk.
Zelfs met haar baby (erg lief... maar wel veel werk) haalt ze alles met gemak
Het diploma "Staatsexamen" heeft ze al voor de helft op zak!

Kijk daar is onze TITHIRAT
Ze maakte voor ons "Lapkai".... wat is dat?
Zij wil graag in een koor zingen
Misschien als ze wat ouder is...? Ze heeft al zoveel andere dingen!
Laten we ORHAN niet vergeten.
Van zijn lekkere Turkse sigaar boregi hebben we erg veel gegeten.
Hij houdt echt niet van huisdieren,
Maar gelukkig wel van mensen , als ze maar niet klieren!

DIMITRI is er nu gelukkig ook weer bij
en we worden allemaal zo blij
van zijn lieve wensen:
"Prettige dag verder, groeten aan familie" voor alle mensen.
KONSTANTIN zien we op heel veel dagen...
Altijd vriendelijk en vol vragen.
Dat doet de goede Sint veel plezier
Daarom is er ook voor jou een cadeautje hier.

Onze "gouden" JOSEFA hebben we vandaag nog niet gezien
Komt ze maandag dan misschien?
Ze is de rots in de branding en de rechterhand van de docent
Altijd vriendelijk , vol vuur en zeer actief op elk moment!

Ach lieve studenten, jullie moeten weten
Dat de goede Sint jullie nooit zal vergeten.
Jullie maken de Sint gelukkig en blij :)
Dus......... is er een pakje voor jullie allemaal bij!

Veel liefs van Sint en Piet!

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We're really glad to receive the letter chocolate gift we received with the poem above... It's so special how Sinterklaas mentioned each one of us in it... The first four lines written in bold letters were meant for me, about having no wrong spelling in dictation that will give a chance for me to win a bicycle... (i hope)....

It's timing that I have my camera with me so I made some photos... In the photo above you'll see (from left to write) Dimitri, Tithirat, Lineke (our teacher, who probably wrote this poem, hehe), me, Michael, Orhan, Mehran and Kader.

"Dank je wel Sinterklaas en Piet"

Sinterklaas Party

We went to Ron's work today to attend the Sinterklaas party in their work... Especially for the kids... Last year, Mireille was so shy and just got busy eating candies... But this time she watched the program while sitting and eating pepernoten and candies... But the nicest moment for the kids was when they received their gift from Sinterklaas...

Zwarte Piet, the assistant of Sinterklaas gaved the gift for Mireille and he helped her openning the gift as well... that's why if you will ask Mireille from who is the gift? Instead of saying from Sinterklaas she will always answer from Zwarte Piet.. This year, she got a house toy with many functions like telephone, counting and puzzle... She likes it and started pretending that she's calling her Oma or her cousin Deniz in that telephone house :)

11th November

Last week, 11 November we have a chance to walk in the Centrum near to our house for Sint-Maartenfeest (St. Martin of Tours feast day). Here in Holland in the evening of November 11, children walk house to house with their paper lantern and sing Sint Maarten liedjes (St. Martin songs) then after singing they would receive candy's, chocolates or fruits.

Last year, I wrote also about Sint-Maartenfeest and showed some photos too... But last year my daughter was a bit young, so she doesn't really sing any song then. All she does was to get the candy and gave it to me, hehe!

This year, it's the first time that we walked in the Centrum, it's nice that those stores which are normally closed at 5:00 in the evening, stayed open till evening to give candies to those kids that will come to their stores... My daughter was a bit shy to sing, at first three stores she doesn't really sang any song, she just proudly showed to those persons in the store that she has a very nice lantern... After that, she does other way, she doesn't want to sing in front of the stores it's good that her cousins Deniz and Tim are with her to sing but after she got the candies then that's the moment that she will sing while we are walking going to another store.... But there are stores where she sang Sint-Maarten song but it was with soft voice as if she's whispering. By the way, this is the song that she sang then....

Sint-Maarten, Sint-Maarten
De koeien hebben staarten
De meisjes hebben rokjes aan
Daar komt Sint Martinus aan

In the photos you'll see her with her cousin Deniz and with their Opa (Grandfather).

De Band Nuchter in Apeldoorn

Yesterday we went to Apeldoorn and attended the BBQ Party... De Band Nuchter (Ron, Fred, Dick and Harm) went there also and gave live performance... it's the first time I've watched them live, I saw them performing only on practices but everytime they have a performance I can't be there because I have to stay home with my daughter... It's good, last night we can sleep there too so there's no problem... We did enjoyed the night even Mireille every now and then dances with other kids there... and the BBQ food were delicious :)

Ahh, Summer vacation is over, back to school again... the past weekends were such busy days... 1st weekend we attended a birthday party, then on 2nd weekend we went to BBQ party here in Winschoten, then this 3rd weekend BBQ party in Apeldoorn... the coming weekend, no schedule yet, maybe it's time then for us just to stay home and relax, but for me it's time to give full attention again with my dutch lessons... party is over!