Tag: Introducing Swithart!

I'm sorry to everyone who tagged me on this for taking so long to do this. You know, I'm good in reading and knowing others' works making me unable to do my own! Hehe!

Anyway, In-in said,
This tag is simple. If you feel comfortable and your better half does too, you can post a picture of him in your blog ( but if not a description will do). May it be a baby picture anything that you like with the following:
1. First name: if he doesn't like his name plastered all over the internet, a pet name will do.
2. How and where did you meet?
3. Characteristics
4. Your plans 20 to 30 years from now.

So I'll start off with his picture!

Okay, so my husband’s name is Jonathan.
He goes by his first name or by Mr. Duarte to his students.
He’s 'Jon' to family and friends. It’s a bit short but he doesn’t complain. So you can him the same.
We call each other ‘tol’ or ‘swithart’.
To Triz, he’s dadi, dada, or dadot! Hehe!

How and where did we meet? Hmm… This is a question that demands a long answer! I don’t want you to be reading a long post here so I’m gonna try to shorten our love story the best way I can do. Hehe! Like all of you, we have a huge love story to tell. Like all of you, we claim to have a unique and special experience, too. But unlike most of you, both of us are proud bisdaks, so language has never been a barrier when it comes to communication and stuff.

We found each other 7 years ago. We go to the same church, as we’re both Seventh-day Adventist. He’s a pro in his field while I am a college starter. (Imagine the age difference!) He’s got a lot of ‘persistent’ admirers (hehe), he courted a couple of pakipot ladies who busted him because he isn’t rich (hehe), but he fell in love with me (haha)! His first ever love letter said that he found me to be of worth to be loved. The line “your eyes tell me that your smile is sincere and you are one of few who can print a good step to our fellow Adventist youths” that he wrote impressed me. I didn’t realize I was that perfect a character to be that someone he’s been waiting for all his life! Ekkk!

But I admit, I liked him the first time I heard him talk. It was my first chance to spend Sabbath in one of this huge churches in CDO city (where he goes to and is a member) since arriving from Manila where I spent a semester of schooling, and it was that time when I saw him and heard him spoke. To my curiosity, I asked one of my kuya’s who this person was, and I was told, “Oh, he’s Jon, he teaches at COC, he’s an engineer by profession and he’s too old for you!” And I just replied with a sigh. I thought, “okay, fine! Then he’s a sir, huh, and I am just a student!” So I leave it that way. I have always been an active churchgoer, I participate in any task and any given part I can do. I sing, I speak, I promote, I experience, and I smile. So this Jon that I admired but whom I stopped liking, it was him who found me likable and lovable after all! He found me to be so matured when I was only 17 because my friends were all that pros.

A Bio project I used to have led us closer. I was trying to ask my older sister’s friend to paint me something but he refused because he was too busy that time and offered to recommend someone who can do it. To my surprise, Jon did it eagerly and that was the start of our long talks, dates, and eventually, steady relationship. Like all of you have experienced, hindrances, odds, and problems did come into our way but we didn’t let them affect and destroy us. Seven months since we started it off, he has to leave CDO to come here for a master’s program that he’s applied and was accepted. It was a good thing because we both have our eyes focused on our studies, but a bad one because we were so far. People thought we wouldn’t survive but we did. We’ve been through a lot like most of you have, and we sealed our togetherness when we got married April of 2004. Still have a lot to tell, but I’m gonna end this part by letting you know that after over three years of marriage, we are gifted with a beautiful daughter we named Triz Nicole. Just a blessing she is!

Characteristics. We complement each other when it comes to our skills and abilities. He’s a man of numbers, I am of words. He talks, I listen. He loves a little noise, I am into silence. He does what I can’t do, and vice-versa. He’s a provider, not only to me and Triz, but to everyone who needs help. Like me, he desires heaven and it makes us keep our faith in God stronger and better until Jesus comes.

Twenty or 30 years from now, if we still will be blessed by such years, (wow! how old would we be by then), we want to serve as missionaries in any part of the world. Hopefully, we have done what we could in raising our family by then and we will give everything back to God the glory and gratefulness by spreading the Gospel and giving love to the least and the needy.

Thanks In and everyone for this tag! Makes me share my life with you all! This is the shortest writeup I could come up with, and I'm sorry for giving you a longer post to read! Hope you have a great time reading! I have had a blast writing! Hehe!

I Missed My Planned Tuesday Trips and Tours

If you've read about my planned topic which I intend to post in this very domain of mine, you will know that my Tuesday highlight would be about, just that title I have above! "Tuesday Trips and Tours". If you've been kind enough to visit me here yesterday (and a heartfelt Thank You for that), you will know as well that I missed to post my planned topic for yesterday! Darn! I was supposed to write about our scheduled shopping, our driving around trip, a visit to a thrift store to drop some goodies off, and some other small trip details. But again, I missed to make an entry of it so next Tuesday I think, will do.

Anyway, the cold finally sinks in and I could tell wintry temperature has officially started. Triz is sick since dawn of Tuesday and I know for sure it's caused by the sudden change of weather. She is being clingy and cranky since yesterday, reason why I am a bit occupied and unable to make some updates here. It's tough when your child gets sick and I'm sure all of you fellow moms would agree with me. Now all I'm hoping and praying is for Triz to get well. Tomorrow is her scheduled 15-month-shots and I wonder if she'll be given if she still is feverish. I'll find that out!

To Loose Weight the Healthy Way

I have always been so slender before I got pregnant. My sisters used to tease me I am this certain kind of bird that is so thin with a long neck. Oh.. that was just awful! Hehe! However I tried to take my vitamins regularly and eat regular meals, I never increased in weight. But when I got pregnant with our daughter, that's when I gained too much. I was monitored by my nutritionist and was given a food diary at that time. It was good because not only was I able to eat good and healthy food, I also had the chance to have a calorie counter and check if I am putting enough calories in my system especially that I am feeding a child as well inside my womb. Now that I'm trying very hard to take away the remaining extra pounds I gained during my pregnancy, I am thankful that myfitnesspal.com's free diet and fitness program is so right for me. Interested? Then join me in losing those extra and unwanted weights the healthy way!

Take It Easy With CashAdvance1500 Pay Day!

I often compare the quality of life here in the US with the living back in Philippines. It's not fair I know but I just can't avoid it. You see, when you are exposed to quite a number of different surroundings and environment where you live in, you really will see the difference. For instance, in Philippines, if you are an employee in a certain company, it's not really that easy to ask for some cash advance even if you are badly needing some amount for emergency reasons. I haven't tried doing it yet but I saw it with my sisters' experiences. Employers are just not that considerate and it's no good at all!

But in this country, to look for some help when the need for cash arises is never hard! Payday loans are always being offered at cashadvance1500.com and it sure is a very easy transaction. I can tell because I've tried doing this myself when I applied for some sort of pay day loans of a $300 amount when I so needed to send money to Philippines and it was Friday night time here that banks are not available for a withdrawal transaction. And all these are possible with cashadvance1500.com! It is so easy that no credit checks are required. And what's more, you can even apply through the Internet or in thousands of cash advance stores nationwide. So now that you know it, why worry when the need for an emergency cash arises, huh?! You can take it easy with Cashadvance1500 pay day!

Entry Planning and Trying of Really Doing It

Since this is my own domain, I'm thinking of making a plan of organizing the topics that I am going to post here. Some kind of posting sensible entries for an informative, helpful, and worthy read. I just wonder if I can stick to what I am going to plan as time is very limited when it comes to laying out these words that I am going to put into writing. But I will definitely give it a try. I'll see what I can do on this. I've thought of posting according to topics that I feel of relevance to my life right now. Thus, expect this kind of breakdown to my future entries:

"Monday-Mommyhood" will be about parenting and household stuff;

"Tuesday- Trips and Tours" that we engaged on and with;

"Wednesday's- Weekly News" about current events that affect our lives;

"Thursday's- True Triumph" about skills and achievements around here;

"Friday's- Food for the Soul" will be about good reading for the soul.

Since I will be off on Sabbaths (Saturday), if ever I can post something, it will just be about random thoughts and tags. And so will be the Sunday entry, too! Again, I am not so sure yet if this will work, but I will really try to do this. This way, I believe I can be able to bring out the best of what I can do and at the end of the day, wouldn't it be nice to see a summary of what I have done?!

To actually do this plan of mine, I thought of starting the "Monday-Mommyhood" topic in this very post. What I have thought of sharing is the fact of breastfeeding by the numbers. You see, Triz is already 15 months old, and yet, I am still nursing her until this time. It's hard and I very much wanted to wean her already but it's just so difficult because I am a stay-at-home mom. (As you all know) That her independence is not put to practice because she gets to see me every now and then. I am complaining a little about this, but I still can sacrifice a little more. Her pediatrician said there's nothing wrong with weaning her at this point in time, as long as both of us can manage it. What's even more tough is because she doesn't drink milk at all. We have done everything and anything we know we could do, but it never worked. Well, I still can bear it though so I'll just keep going. My breastfeeding counselor advised me not to worry because such natural thing will end the natural way. So I am setting a time. If she still won't stop when she's 22 months old already, I am so sure I have to do my part to wean her.

Anyway, I found part of the statistics of Nursing by the numbers among American moms here in the US which I would like to share with you all, just in case it will interest you, and it's this:

73 percentage of moms try to breastfeed
6 the least number of months the AAP recommends that women breastfeed
17 percentage of moms who make it to the one year mark
29 percentage of women say they'd be uncomfortable nursing in public
75 percentage of mothers the US government hopes will nurse at birth by year 2010

With the fourth number above, I really haven't experienced nursing in public myself. If the need of Triz calls and we are outside, getting inside the van is the best way to nurse her. Fortunately, I am blessed by her tendency to not ask when we are outside the house. I don't know, she seems to feel that it's not proper and she'll just wait till we reach home. Good baby, eh? Hehe!

How about you fellow moms? What are your experiences with breastfeeding? Care to share a little bit of it? I'd love to know....

What's in My Purse?

Well, this is a long overdue tag that Shabem threw on me. Forgive me Bem for the delayed! What's in my purse? Hmm... it actually depends on where I go. But most of the times, it's this:

Being a mom that I am, these are the basic stuff that's being put inside this huge purse that I bring with me when we will be away for 2 hours or more.

• a diaper or two
• wipes
• baby towel
• baby lotion
• baby cologne
• hand sanitizer
• my sweet-smelling lotion
• an extra shirt for Triz
• my wallet
• cheerios

not shown:

• bottled water/ Triz' drinking cup
• crackers
• a Tylenol or a gas relief drops (in case)
• a children's book
• Triz's favorite toy
• a pen
• my digicam
• lip balm/ face powder
• Q-tip/s
• some more xtra-xtra stuff!

It's the mommy-ness in me!

That's why I settled on a bigger purse this time around. Back then, before I had my daughter, I can leave home with just a wallet and a lipbalm in my pocket. But Triz made the difference! Right now, I have more than 10 purses here (shhhhhhh... I know you have the same number or even more!), but the usual hand bag that I use is the bigger one because I have a lot of things to put! Hehe!

What about you In-in, Sarah, JennyR, Emzkie, Lovely, Darlene, and Dauphine, "what's in your purse???"

Warm and So Windy

It is so windy today. It has been in the last couple of days. I hate it, not only because it makes me cold even with the sunshine, or because it makes the leaves fall even the more and Pa is not here to rake 'em, but because I am afraid this huge and tall dead tree that we have beside the house might fall. Again. Like it did with its big branch last month damaging part of the roof of our laundry room here! :D Well, the insurance shouldered the cost of the damage alright but it still was dangerous. Good thing that nobody was hurt.

Well, of course we want this tree to be cut and gone. Otherwise, we will remain in danger every time. And most especially on stormy and windy weather. We've been asking this company that cuts trees here to do the cutting too with what we have in this place. It's been two weeks ago that they came and checked it, and even asked for a deposit. They said they're gonna be back the week after but they didn't. We called them and they said their equipments are still busy with the commitments they have prior to ours. Okay, considered. They promised to come early this week to do it and even asked to ready the balance which is $375 since the cost for the cutting is $675 and we deposited $300. We've been waiting for them since Monday but we're unsuccesful. We called again and we're told Wednesday, which was yesterday. We've been so anxious because as I've said, the wind in the past several days averagely blows 20-35 mph. That's strong, man! Now, it's almost the end of the week and I become unpatient already with this situation. I asked swithart to call them again or let Daisy contact them, if not, I'll do it and I'll be able to burst out my terror on them. Hehe! Daisy did, and got some apologies for the delayed, and again was promised to come next week. Again. Well, swithart and Daisy still have the patience to wait for them so I'll leave them that way. I just hope this tree won't fall again soon. At least not, when it's only me and Triz around. It would be scary and aweful.

The Old "Moi": a Tag

This blogger friend In-in who's now my constant buzz and chika buddy is kind enough to tag me and the rest of my fellow bloggers one that's a little hard. She described it a too easy tag because you only have to post a picture of yourself when you were still little or younger. But it's a hard thing for me 'cause I don't have any photo here with me. It's all left at home, sa kaban sa akong lola nga hapit na dad-on sa museum! LoL. But here, I'm gonna share the oldest pic that I have with me right now. Taddaaaaa!

Ewww! Can you believe this? Uhm... this pic was taken 7 years ago, mid 2000, and I was a highschool fresh graduate. Too young then, but see how matured I look like! Hmmm... blame it on my competitiveness during highschool life and my being a foster mommy to my 3 nieces!

Find me! Well, I'm right in front, pa-cute with a red cutie purse in hand! This was in early 2003, with my college batchmates when we toured the province of Bukidnon for our Video Production and Editing Class. Fun, fun, fun! Ah... those were the days! Ganda ko pa dito, slim pa masyado. Now, hmm... di bale na lang! LoL.

O ayan, In! Pasensya ka na, wala talaga akong old pics dito eh! Utang ko nalang ito pag magkita tayo sa amin sa Pinas! Ok ba? :D

Now, if we could take a look at what JennyR, Shabem, and MarieJ's old photos, it would be lovely! How's that ladies?

A Penguin in Pink

For your information, the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and here in town, a Walk for a Cause is being held annualy to raise awareness and funds for a foundation that sponsors and helps breast cancer victims. As a woman myself and in support of this great campaign, I'm posting this pink penguin to help raise awareness to readers about this matter.


You see, mid last year, my cousin in Philippines died of breast cancer. It sure was so hard seeing her experienced the pain caused by the disease. The regular chemotheraphy she has gone through spoiled her looks and one could tell how tough her situation was. It was so sad to see her go as she still has boys who needed her so much. But the cancer cells took away her life. Thus, giving us a too sad emotions caused by her passing.

I think the benefit of early detection of signs is a great thing. That is why I am so encouraged, too to do a regular mammogram especially if you are over the age of 40 and has had a history in the family. I have friends and acquaintances who have been treated with the cancer itself and survived. And kudos to them! I know of some as well who have undergone biopsies and laser treatment and I could tell it helped well. I've read a lot of wonderful stories of survivors as well as miraculous experiences of healing. Just so amazing.

And the most I can do once and for all, is again, to spread the awareness of this disease by posting this penguin in pink here and to encourage you to visit the site if you needed more info about this matter.

I Disclose...

This policy is valid from the time this blog existed until the author decides to stop blogging.

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact The Author through rarest_tol at lycos dot com, or comment at the very end of the post where you are reading. :)

Everything written in this blog is a product of my own thinking based on personal and actual experiences. This blog does sponsorship and advertising in forms of post, links, images, insertions, etc. and The Author hereby receives cash and products as compensation. The advertising content may influence what The Author is going to say at some point, but let it be made known that honest and objective opinion and beliefs based on The Author's perspective is what The Author will try so hard to express. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the The Author's own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified further, if the need arises.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. If it does to you, let The Author know about it as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Ma and Pa Have Left

Ahhh... I hate goodbyes and so longs.
Minutes ago, Ma and Pa have left for a drive going to O'Hare. Their flight is still later, 4pm that is, but they have to be there, checked-in at least 2 hours before the flight. It's gonna be a loooong trip they're going to be on to. From Chicago to Seattle, WA to Taipei to Manila and to CDO. Oohhh! A very long travel for old ones! Imagine how tiring that is!

But I'm sure all the weariness and toughness will be paid off when they reach home. People have been waiting for them there. They have been dearly missed and they're so excited to go back. Now, it's us who will be missing them this time! The garden that Pa has here, all the little things that he usually and regularly does here with Mama. So much to missed about them.

But I'll just think about the fact that they'll only be gone for 6 months. Six months is not that long, is it? Hehe!

DONE! Yes, Oh Yes....

Finally.

We're done with the packing up of Ma and Pa's luggages for their trip come Tuesday. It would sure be a tough 18 hours travel and they have a lot of things to bring. It's just the two of them so imagine how tiring the trip would be. But with the excitement that they feel, everything will turn out fine. With God's help and guidance of course.

It's a Sunday busy day. It's good that I got to grab 2 opps at PPP today. It's not much, but it's not bad either. :) At least, at the end of the day, of a tiring day that is, I still get to smile with the $10 money I earned through blogging. :D

I don't know if it's practical or not, but swithart and I have thought of purchasing a new laptop for me. That way, I won't be able to keep on using this one that we have right now. It just stops swithart from his writing stuff and it unpaves the way to his early submission of his dissertation proposal. We'll see what we can do tomorrow. I think we can decide all of this when we go to see what we've window-shopped online. :D

Okay... have a great Sunday night friends!
['.']

Saturday Okay

Hmmm... three days more to go and then, Ma & Pa will be flying home to Philippines! I just love the idea of going home to see my dear loved ones and friends who I missed so very much now. But then again, I'm stucked here pa, no probability of going home soon. LoL. Poor me, huh?! So don't you wonder if I've got a lot of posts in my journal that tells mostly about Philippines!

Anyway, Sabbath was altogether great! A lot have been away today to go to some of their commitments, thus, unable to attend church with us. There were only few of us regular members but there were several visitors as well. Didn't had the potluck though since we scheduled it last sabbath when most were present for the send-off party of Ma & Pa. Despite our few numbers, we still made it to the nursing home for a 0ne-hour-rogram this afternoon. You must have seen how eager the elderly were seeing Triz visiting them. Lolos and Lolas at Manor Care just love kids alright. Much more when Triz waved her little hands to them and say hi and ba-bye! They sure loved our visit. And we loved our short stay as well. Makes us appreciate old age more seeing those adults trying hard still to feel they're okay even if they were not.

Wether Weather!!!

Can you feel the heat?

Well, I can! Reason why I'm having a very bad headache today that even a 1000mg doze of Tylenol didn't help! Can you? Hehe! I really am blaming it on the heat and humidity! Why this crazy weather, huh?! It's supposed to be autumn now, much cooler temperature sana, but hey, 95F? It's like I'm in CDO city- my beloved hometown with this situation! Only that we don't have any beach here like CDO city has! Hmmm.... I sure do missed that place very much. MIL and FIL will be leaving next week for Philippines! Imagine how homesicked I am right now! :D

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?
8! For the big reason that it's another time when I can be grateful enough for reaching up to that time and for the next year ahead. It's a perfect time for me to count all my blessings. It's just sad to spend it without each of my loved ones.

Soup

What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?
"Puke!" I don't like how it's being used!

Salad

Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?
As long as I can't forget to bring it with me! I have lots of it but the pair that I feel really looked good on me is the black one, kind of rectangular shaped frame!

Main Course

If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?
To my daughter! It's worth letting her know what my life story is all about!

Dessert

Name a beverage that you enjoy.
Nothing beats DOLE Pineapple Juice!

What's yours feast?

Great Day at PPP

Oh yes!

I sure am enjoying my day at PPP today. Why? Well, for PPP posties, especially for ones who have N/A or "0" PR, you bet that opps are that elusive talaga! So when I was able to have done all of the opps that I could grab, that is, 3, and still there were available ones left, now... that's amazing, isn't it? Haha!

I'm hoping PPP will always be this kind to us. Otherwise, as some bloggers would put it, magutman ta aning kalakiha ni! LoL. Grabeeee!