SFBallet Student Showcase

Here's a photo of Isabella from the recent showcase

I ordered from Erik Tomasson Photography

more show photos can be found here

And here's a photo of my mom and me gallivanting in the City

taken by dad Dennis after we dropped off Isabella

Pismo Beach - June 5, 2010

Our bible study group has been wanting to visit our Pismo Beach home. I was concerned that we won't be able to squeeze it into our very busy summer schedule. But we were able to make it happen this past weekend. It was short but a lot of fun.

My mom and I left for Pismo Friday afternoon so we can prepare the house. Isabella still had her final Saturday SFBallet class. It was our first time being away from each other (we kept calling and texting each other until bedtime:) Russ took her to SFBallet on Saturday together with Ian and Immanuel and they all drove straight to Pismo after class.

The bible study group arrived around 11am. Only 5 of them could make it: Gabby, Fe, Nita, Vicky and Cesar. After lunch and a short rest, we headed for the beach.

Then Russ and the kids arrived and met up with us at Shell Beach around 3pm. They started playing touch football while we started the barbecue. It was a sight to behold for a mom like me. It always melts my heart when I see them having fun together. Truly a wonderful blessing I am so grateful for.

After chowing down grilled steak and fish, we headed to the beach where the boys went surfing and bodyboarding.

While Isabella entertained herself dancing on the soft beach sand.

All in all it was a wonderful and blessed day.

The following day, Sunday, our bible study group left early around 7:30am as they were worried about the dogs they left home alone:). After they left we started preparing to spend the remaining time for another blessed family bonding. We headed to Port San Luis in Avila Beach but not before a quick stop at Isabella's CDMA dance teacher, Ms. Kathy's, home at Shell Beach. Ms. Kathy and her garage is a huge part of Isabella as a dancer. It is where she started the beginnings of her journey toward her passion for dance. Ms. Kathy was the first one to recognize and encourage her talent. Isabella trained with Ms. Kathy for two and a half years, the first year in the garage.

here's an old photo with Isabella (the smallest one) training/stretching in Ms. Kathy's garage.

After a wonderful "catch up" talk, we were off to Port San Luis where the boys tried to go fishing.


While Russ and I savored our blessed family togetherness .

The weather was too hot so the fishing escapade didn't last long and we ended up spending time over lunch at this "hole in the wall" place on the port. All in all, it was another blessed family time.

And oh my mom had fun picking some rock crabs...one of her faves.

My mom loves the sea...sea food, sea activities (i.e. boating, fishing, etc.) Last week, she and dad Dennis caught this sea creature. My mom wished it was something they could eat but they ended up putting it back in the ocean as they didn't know what it was.

SFBallet Student Showcase Update

In my previous post below I ended with a prayer request. I claimed God's promise in John 16:24, The Assurance of Answered Prayer: "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." And last night we received the assurance of answered prayer and our joy was indeed complete. God is so good and amazing. Not only did a ticket manifest for my DH Russ to be able to watch our daughter's moment of glory....there were exactly 3 seats and they were the first 2 rows. I sat with Russ the first half. Isabella came in the 2nd half and sat with dad while I moved to the vacant seat in front. God is so awesome.

It is so amazing how God orchestrated and set the stage for this answered prayer to happen. I am so thankful for the concern of ballet moms who thought of us and helped spread the word that we needed tickets desperately. One ballet dad from our class had an extra adult and child tickets as his friends couldn't make it. It was exactly what we prayed for (thanks to my bible study group and special friends).

I claimed the prayer and asked Russ to come with us with pure trust that God will provide. And He gave more than we asked. I am in awe and deeply grateful. Praise God!

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.