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 :)

U2NL Concert

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"Het Grote U2 Muziekfeest" that's the title of the concert that we've watched last night. It was U2NL's concert, don't be mistaken because they are not the original U2 that is well known in USA, they are the famous U2 band here in Netherlands, yes the U2 version here in Netherlands that's why they are called U2NL.

Me and my husband together with one of my filipina friend here Aileen and her husband Alex went there and enjoyed the music. I've heard that the tickets were sold out and there were about five thousands U2NL fans came and watched the live concert. They played so good. And one more nice thing is that it was at the same time a benefit concert for Unicef.

More power to U2NL and we'll be watching again your show next year in Excloo.

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.