Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Spit on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts…..
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
I just did.
Happy Mother’s Day to All!

I was freaking happy when hubby surprised me with a watch with pearl details on them.  It was our 25th year wedding anniversary!   And instantly I ignored another implication that surrounds pearls like never give it as a gift or accept it as a gift because it will bring bad luck.   And it was said that in order to break the curse, one should hand the giver a small amount of money to make it appear as a financial transaction and not as a gift.   Well, hubby received no money but a big hug and kiss from me!

pearls have their own unique beauty… love it!

It is up to us whether to believe it or not.  Some do and some don’t.

Fresh water Pearls are the best gifts for all women! These gems are lovely in every way and can create the look that you have all been dying to have. Pearls are looked at as a beautiful and perfect gem, even with all the imperfections people love the diversity and uniqueness each one has specially to each gem. With powers of love, protection, and luck one you can’t deny that they aren’t awesome. They complete your outfit; keep you updated with the latest trends, and draw attention to you because you look great in them. I love them, simple or intricate designs I love them all.

The best, however, is a cultured freshwater pearl necklace; they are beautiful and look just like any other pearl necklace. Necklaces are a fabulous way to bring out the best in an outfit and show off what you love best, YOU! High quality and original pieces are the hardest to find, not here though, you can find anything for a great price with designs that are original and some that are traditional. Pick your favorite piece.

All along I thought that my parenting days in raising difficult growing up kids are over.  But it seemed that now that they are all long grown up, I am up to some challenges.  Why is it?  Well,  I found that technology is seemingly taking a whole chunk of their time and getting too engrossed with their thing on their laptops would make them lost in the www and as if I do not exist at all.

It was one Sunday morning… the 3 camped out in our room, mattresses lying side by side, laptops still open and I can see that they have not sleep at all.   I’ve been coaching them to get up and do their bed and help me prepare breakfast but  nobody seemed to listen.    It will be  too much for me to yell early that morning,  just  to keep them moving so I restrained my tongue.

Okey, my battlecry for the day ” If you can’t beat ‘em then join “em!  I grabbed my netbook and squeezed besides my daughter and started to enjoy connecting with my Facebook friends.

Well children.. no breakfast for the day!   Let us while our time away lazily…  Enjoy!

]]> http://www.givingisglorious.com/2012/04/cant-beat-em-join-em/feed/ 0 http://www.givingisglorious.com/2012/04/embracing-the-adventure-of-frying-fish/ http://www.givingisglorious.com/2012/04/embracing-the-adventure-of-frying-fish/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:56:01 +0000 admin http://www.givingisglorious.com/?p=1193 My daughter Frances, since it is semestral break stayed with my mom and sister in the province.  As per my instructions, she is not to be treated like a guest just sitting around in the house and waiting to be served.  She needs to do her share like cleaning, doing the laundry and cooking too. She knows how to help cutting and peeling vegetables and cooking rice too but not frying fish. However, when she showed interest in frying fish, my sister allowed her to do so but of course, with her supervision.

She was kinda cute (or over acting?) while frying that my sister Jenny, picked up the camera to document the important event of her life.  You might find it over acting but I understand that she is very much petrified of frying fish especially when she had to turn the other side and the flesh seemed to stick to the pan.   She burnt her fingers one time I allowed her to cook and it gave her frying phobia from then on.

And surprisingly, Jenny told me that she is beginning to embrace the whole adventure of frying fish and enjoying the process.   However, she seemed to be overdressed with a ready box of baking soda handy, just in case of a fire.  And to smother any flare up, an oversized pot cover is on stand by.

We gave her few tips when frying like:

● Make sure you are suitably dressed. Wear an apron (she is not wearing one)  put your hair up (she did!)

• wear a hat or head scarf (but what is she wearing here?  her head and face covered like a ninja for unexpected oil splatters.
• my sister’s ever playful  pet dog Sophie was sent out of the kitchen since she is known to be jumping excitedly by her side while my daughter Frances is in full frying mode.

• have oven gloves ready ( see!  she had her arm wrapped with kitchen cloth, protecting her arm and face but her mid section is partly exposed).
• All pots and pans should be handy.
• To reduce splattering, see to it to remove extra moisture from food before frying.
• The fish should be lowered gently into the hot oil with long armed tongs.
• Do not overcrowd the frying pan as it will make turning the fish a bit difficult for a first timer like her.   Make sure the oil is hot before lowering the fish into it so it will not stick to the pan.
• When removing it from the pan, stand extra care and stand back using a long handled spoon then shake off excess oil before setting it on a plate lined with paper towel which will absorb oil.
• Then serve and enjoy your labor of love…

I told my sister that she should  also teach her how to select fresh fish and clean them.   That would be her next lesson.   For frying, she gave my daughter an E rating .. E for Effort….

The following are options that he can consider.

1. undergo driving test, pass and receive his license (but it will take months and what if he failed?)
2. go back to work and wait till the mobile company finished the documents needed  before he comes to the city (again it will take months)
3. ask a trusted friend like my husband (who drives) to use him as dummy for transfer of car ownership (it will take months too, considering the paper work)

For him,  all options listed above are not feasible.   You will get the impression that he is not willing to wait that long and he wanted to go back to the eastern province already settled so he is undecided on what to do.  The supervisor realizing that he is already on a tight rope, took advantage of the situation and offered to buy the car and to give him cold cash to cut short his waiting time.  Obviously, there is some “hidden agenda” in the offer which is 30,000 less but guaranteed hassle free.  And to think that the same supervisor was suppose to follow up the papers needed by the car dealer.

We saw how that offer confused him more- his dilemma to accept it or not!  I can feel how he wanted to bite the offer but still think about the 30,000 cut from the original value.  Oh dear, I can help but have this funny thought that he might lose his mind thinking about the money and might go berserk so I have to keep safely lock at night… (just kidding!).

His decision changes from time to time and this morning he said that he wanted to meet Mr.Majed and he will already accept the offer to end his agony of waiting.  Since my hubby can’t accompany him because of a big meeting with their Japanese clientele, he went by himself .  Of course, we see to it that he was briefed not to sign any papers or close a deal unless he first received the money.  He was like a little boy reminded that he should not be too trusting.   That morning, after meeting Mr. Majed in his office, he came home with a bag half full of SR. 105,000 bills all in 100 denomination.   Since, he wanted cash and not check, so cash he received!

Last night, he booked his trip back to the eastern province.  Initially, I wondered why he will take a 13 hour bus trip when in fact, he can take the 1 1/2 plane ride instead.   I almost fell from my seat when Francis my hubby shared what Dave told him that he is worried that if he will check in his bags with that big amount  in it, X-ray machine might detect it.   Oh yeah, I understand later on that he has a point there after learning that Mr. Majed did not give him that morning any certification being him as winner and was told to come back for it later.   He  needs it  to present when checked why he is carrying such large amount but Still, he went home without it.

He left our place at 9 pm and today at 12 noon, he called that he safely reached home.  Whew!  tired!, that what all he could say when asked about his trip.  Who wouldn’t?  I bet he never blink an eye guarding his bag all throughout the trip.

Come to think of it… if you have no money, you worry.. and if you have.. the more you will worry… Life!

the stepsisters

No comment!

But my perspective of what we considered cheap gimmicks changed overnight when Dave from the eastern province called my husband asking if he can stay with us for a week to claim his prize in the main office here in the city.  Prize?  Apparently, he is one lucky winner of a BMW 501 car of what I used to abhor text to win contest.   Yes, I heard it right, it is a BMW car!  On our way home after we fetched Dave from the bus station, I excitedly asked him how he won?  He recounted that he patiently responded to text questions sent to his mobile and for his every correct answers,  increased his chance to go to the next level.   He did not relent to text and respond to every SMS he received wherein he accumulated million of points and became top contender for the prize.

Dave’s mobile number was luckily chosen at random as the winner.  Surprisingly, while he was on duty, he received a congratulatory call from a representative of the mobile company and  that he needs to go to the main office to present himself with pertinent documents.   And right away, he packed his bags and boarded the first bus trip to the city.

My husband who also was too excited for our friend’s lucky break took a day off from work to accompany him to the mobile company.  After some hours of verification, he was scheduled to come back that night for a photo shoot.  Right now, he is still with us waiting not for the BMW 50i car because he opted to have a cash prize winning instead.  Two days from now, hopefully Dave will receive his cheque equivalent to the prize of BMW.

When asked why he opted for the cash instead of the car?  We found out that he doesn’t know how to drive and humbly admitted that his very simple personality would not suit a luxury car.

He is just being wise and practical!

pictures were all taken  in the showroom

Have a good day!

I can see the pain in her eyes but she is brave to face the trials that befallen her.   She is surrounded with love and support of her family and friends that is why she is holding on to her faith and continues to fight.

I am in full support in the Breast Cancer awareness campaign recently launched in our area and had signed up in the marathon and fund raising for a good cause…

get your ribbons now and start spread awareness….