SFBallet Student Showcase....A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

OMG! The student showcase last night was incredible. Awesome. Amazing.

It was extra exciting for me. It's our first time and I knew that our DD, Isabella, was going to be front and center. Her class is the very first number as they are the youngest group. Even though I knew her staging, when the curtain opened and I saw her right front and center by herself amongst 46 students, it was a sight to behold for a mom like me. It was a very short piece but it certainly was our daughter's very own moment of glory and I couldn't be prouder. Unfortunately my husband missed it. Traffic and misplaced ticket kept him from getting to the show. The shows are all sold out but I'm not losing hope. I am praying that something will manifest for him tomorrow and be able to watch our daughter's moment of glory.

The show was a huge success. I was truly in awe of the amazing choreography and execution. A huge thank you goes out to the awesome teachers who have given her great training and inspiration. What a blessing!

more to follow....I have to prepare my little ballerina for tonight's show. For now here's a photo I managed to take during intermission.

NEED & GREED

I want to share this email I just received today from a dear bible study friend. Thanks to ate Fe Steinberg for sharing this beautiful short story. Happy Reading everyone and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

NEED & GREED

This one makes so much sense...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.

A tourist complimented the local fishermen
on the quality of their fish and asked
how long it took him to catch them.



"Not very long." they answered in unison.

"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"

The fishermen explained that their small catches were
sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.


"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children,
and take siestas with our wives.
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.


We have a full life."

The tourist interrupted,

"I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!
You should start by fishing longer every day.
You can then sell the extra fish you catch.
With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?"

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring,
you can buy a second one and a third one
and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man,
you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants
and maybe even open your own plant.

You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City , Los Angeles , or even New York City !

[

From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?"

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, " answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.



"After that you'll be able to retire,
live in a tiny village near the coast,
sleep late, play with your children,
catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife
and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.

And the moral of this story is:


Know where you're going in life....
you may already be thereJ

The Joy of Mother's Day 2010

My mom and I woke up to a wonderful breakfast prepared by my darling husband and daughter. They timed it perfectly so that we have enough time to prepare for the 9am service. Russ even woke up at 5am to shop at Wal-Mart after realizing we didn't have flour for the banana bread. They started early to prepare my favorite breakfast food: longanisa (Philippine pork sausage), bacon, eggs and freshly baked banana bread. No wonder Isabella was interviewing me on the way home from SFBallet as to my favorite breakfast food. It was a indeed a blessed, wonderful Mother's Day gift of love. Our son Phil even came to visit 2 weekends in a row (he was also here last weekend to watch the Mayweather vs. Mosely boxing fight with us at the Magcale's home. My son and I are Pacquiao fans:) It is such a blessing sharing wonderful moments with our kids. Everyday is Mother's Day for me.

The Joy of Reading to Kindergartners

Reading is yet another one of Isabella's many passions. She loves to read aloud with feelings and expressions. So at school, she jumps at the chance to read to kindergartners every available break times (the photo below is courtesy of kindergarten teacher, Ms. Schoon). Isabella also jumped at the opportunity to record books on CD's for the library. Recording books on her computer is her newest past time at home.

First Pointe Shoe Fitting

First Pointe Shoe Fitting: A Ballerina's Dream

What could be more exciting?

Isabella has been dreaming of this day since "forever":) Finally she got her wish last week. We left early for class last Tuesday to stop at SFDancewear. It was extra fun as we shopped together with friend/classmate, Sabrina, who will also be attending summer program in Panama.

Isabella tried on several shoes (though there were limited selections for her size). She finally found a perfect fit in Grishko 2007. Isabella is super excited and couldn't wait for the time when she can finally go en pointe. In the meantime, she hugs the pointe shoes and shows them off to her brothers:)

Easter 2010

After Easter Sunday service at New Life Church, the kids and I had brunch and headed at the Dinosaur Caves Park for easter egg hunt...or so we thought. The event was Saturday and not Sunday (lol). Oh well, it got us all together and that's really what is important anyway. Bless my kids hearts...even the big boys made the most out of it by enjoying the park. See for yourself...





and of course I savored the moment and the view (it was a gorgeous day) even though it was my fault for confusing the dates:)



Russ arrived from Union City shortly after and met us at the Park.

Leaving from the park, Phil discovered he was missing his phone. He remembered it fell from his jacket pocket while we were at church. Thinking the same thing happened, we searched the park but to no avail.

Russ, Isabella, and I went grocery shopping while Phil drove home in hopes of somehow finding his phone there. I prayed for him to find his phone and sure enough it was found. Ian spotted it in the backyard. Phil laid his jacket there when he tried to fix our backyard umbrella during our pit stop after church. And the rest of the day was blissful Easter 2010 memory.

related posts: Easter Egg Hunt 09, Easter Egg Hunt at home

{On Simplicity}

In character, in manner, in style, in all things,

the supreme excellence is simplicity.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-

Is it not in the most absolute simplicity

that the real genius plies its pinions the most wonderfully?

-E . T. A. Hoffman-

Just as happiness is a key to success

Simplicity is a key to happiness

Art and Science strive for simplicity

the more things we understand

the simpler everything becomes

Looking back

we realize with great awe

what once appeared as complexities

now reveal themselves as simplicity

-Imelda Phillips-