I am so proud of #maharlika2023la who is adeptly skilled in climbing. I couldn’t believe that he would balance himself then with another hand and foot in a corner, with help from his mom, he reached the top. Amazing feat!
His sister #princess2015la is so good and protective of him, as she also plays.
What a beautiful morning to watch that!
Earlier, this morning, when he was at my place, he took my hand, and said, “Come”, and had me sit on the couch, he then sat next to me to watch CocoMelon, on television, livestreamed by Netflix.
How sweet is my grandson and he is only 20 months old! How sweet is my granddaughter too, as both of them are nurtured in love and kindness.
#maharlika2023la came in his stroller with his dad. He got inside the house still on the stroller.
He wanted to eat. So, a banana was given to him. He ate half, so slowly then, wanted a bit more. I asked, which chair? He pointed to the dining room chair. He said,”Help me, please.” I was amazed. A complete sentence! He has manners.
I showed him #chobani yogurt, then asked” strawberry or blueberry. He said, “blueberry.” He ate half then pointed to his milk in his thermos cup.
We went outside for a stroller walk, after. Why? After his breakfast, he went to his stroller. He wanted his outdoor walk, where he saw the neighbor’s pumpkins. He joined in with the tweeting birds.
He went to the backyard and harvested pears. I showed him how to twist it. He gave one to his #superlolo. He’s now pounding on the gongs, making music. He gave the sticks to his grandpa and said, “Help me, please!”
The Art of a Road Trip: Towards the Light, Water and Community Created Intentionally!
Imagine driving 5 hours one way from Austin to Houston, and another 3 hours back to drop off friends to their respective homes in Temple, then, Austin.
It might sound crazy, yet it is so endearing to find families coming together, travelling miles and hours at a distance to celebrate other family members’ birthdays. Travel distance has become irrelevant as hearts and souls want to celebrate the birthdays of 5yo Max and his 50 yo father, David. Cindy, the mother, worked days and nights preparing all the food from scratch, baked brownie to form a layered birthday cake, and of course lechon.
Max has a brother, 2 years older than him, Ollie. When Max and Ollie saw their Uncle Chong, they both jumped to embrace him and warmly expressed: “Our favorite Uncle Chong!” He hands them pencils which he bought at the Capitol in Austin and Nutella jars with their names printed on the label, making them jump some more with joy.
Ollie said:”I have a happy family. I am very lucky!” Imagine knowing that at age 7. Ollie then embraced his mom, “isn’t that true, Mom?”
A lively group sang Happy Birthday and Max was visibly happy who told his mom how he loves the icing. David opened a retro fridge filled with drinks and hands a Dr. Pepper to a beautiful 13yo Allie, whose eyes sparkled with joy as she said hi to everyone at the dining table. She got her favorite drink which David, the host, remembered to buy for her. Allie is Filipina and David is Caucasian – a harmonious encounter of two different races.
After, a group started karaoke singing, while several guests gathered for a group photo. They posed laughing as they lifted one keg to distinguish oneself.
As each guest came in, they warmly hugged each other and each family had an entrée contribution, generously prepared, to add to a generous buffet of dishes that Cindy prepared for all.
It was our time to drive back to Austin, another 3 hour drive, after being with a very warm, welcoming, grounded community built on love, sharing, harmony and joy!! Everyone is seen!
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At Seafood City in Houston, Texas
I saw two lechons in one day, one at Max and Ollie’s and another at Seafood City. A small cochinito was wheeled into a food court where fish balls, isaw isaw, grilled corn, camote cue and prepared entrees were offered for sale. Ka ching, ka ching, the cash register was non-stop.
This is a newly opened Seafood City, where we travelled to, 40 minutes each way, and others are willing to drive even more distance to stock up on their favorite comfort foods.
I watched a woman with her Boba and champorado, eating a barbecue stick, while watching TFC on her smart phone. She was comfortably eating alone, with the background noises of her kababayans speaking tagalog, visayan and other dialects. This, while sharing tables with strangers eating bento boxes of longanisa and eggs with rice, or tapa.
It makes for a transient community of fellow Filipinos eating familiar comfort foods. A baker nearby was wheeling out fresh bread, also known as pandesal.
Produce is fresh, while the fresh blue crabs were sold at $5.99 a pound. Folks came before ten am, as choice favorites quickly run out. Clerks were constantly restocking shelves.
This is a humongous space, Ala Costco in size, but curated to carry pan Asian foods, raw and unprocessed, baked and cooked, including curries, and Thai sauces.
Texas star is an appropriate symbol of this state for they are warm, friendly, and kind. Men held doors open for me, a stranger to them.
Gas is at $2.79 a gallon, while we pay an exorbitant $2.00 more in California, at $4.79 a gallon. One tank of gas is at $30, which gives us more dollars to spend for an evening meal: steaks, burgers and chicken dinner for five is surprisingly affordable at $134.00.
This is where new homes are priced at $300,000 to $800,000 for 3 bedroom house. The state has signs on freeways that declare camping in public properties is unlawful.
As to jobs, for example, at a large retail store, Buc-ee’s, job openings are displayed in a banner from cleaning staff, cashier to store general manager. When a friend nurse moved from Florida to Texas, their hourly rate increased, and after a year, were able to buy their first home.
I told my host, Hydee, that I like the fact as she succeeds and lifts her boat, the surrounding boats of her community are also lifted up!
“Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is one of Houston’s most beloved, iconic landmarks and community centerpiece for visitors of all ages.
To stand in the Waterwall’s mist and be enveloped by the gentle roar of cascading water is one of the city’s most memorable experiences. Walking along the lush canopy of towering live oak trees while in the core of one of the largest business districts in the nation, is inspiring.”
Our Lady of Lourdes Campus in NW Houston, Texas. It is an impressive expansion of its campus, integrating the Vietnamese community. Or is it the Vietnamese community who built this impressive chapel underneath the grotto, the big church and the expansive campus? I was informed that thousands fill up this Church at mass times and other important milestones: marriage, burials, and seven sacraments for an active church. Truly impressive to see a replica of Our Lady of Lourdes!
O glorious Mother of God, so powerful under your special title of Our Lady of Lourdes, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the gracious heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare and for the special favor we so need to have a fair, honest, peaceful US Elections, with no cultist interference! Thank you!
What a beautiful day to spend in Magnolia, Texas. It is in Waco, Texas where a 59 day standoff between the ATF, FBI and local police against the cult of Davidians occurred. It was an unfortunate incident that started in a service of search warrant for illegal firearms. When ATF came, the Davidians had been tipped off and were heavily armed. Service of warrant failed and the standoff lasted at under two months, with a fire started by the Davidians which resulted in deaths and explosions.
That backdrop was in my mind until a good friend Jv Samson persuaded me to open my heart and my mind. I did and it was one of the best days I had in Waco, Texas: leisurely walking, window shopping, taking photos, sharing stories, clothes shopping that friends did and a very delicious lunch of bacon grilled cheese and a humongous iced tea. Slight rainshowers for 5 minutes which cooled the air and back at 86 F. My good friends are good photographers and they took my photos spontaneously.
A great day in Waco, Texas and a very delicious steakhouse for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. But before that, a stop at the legendary Buc’ees where it is a huge flea market of all kinds of processed foods like pickled okra, candied pecans and trust me, the biggest and cleanest bathroom as big as a dancing floor.
