Shielah Mae's blog

The Drive Home

Have you ever had those moments when you're in your car driving home and thought about your whole life and whether you have done something meaningful or whether you have accomplished everything? Hmmm.. Yeah I had that type of realization that I have not yet done all the things that I had set myself to do. While everyone was making their New Years Resolution several weeks ago I guess I'll have to list mine now and hopefully when I look back to this time I would have atleast accomplished a majority of them. So I'll start baby step -= ) I want to live each day as if it is my last and live on the moment and not worry so much about tomorrow. So here is my mini bucket list for the year

 

• Learn Trapeze
• Be Healthier in Mind and Body
• Give importance to oneself in terms of self presentation
• Learn to Ballroom dance properly
• Volunteer
• Join a marathon
• Learn Conversational Spanish

Look Good Naked

Since the holiday I have been letting myself go. I have literally been spoiling myself with all the spoils in life. Eating excessively everything I see in sight which has caused me to pack on the pounds so quickly in such a short period of time. Several months ago I was in the 120lbs range and when I went on the scale it was frighteningly states that I am low and behold 135lbs that's 15 lbs that I gained. I am certainly not very happy with it considering my clothes don't fit me as well as it used to and with changes in your body makes you want to  buy clothes that aren't needed.

So today I have decided to change my diet and exercise more so that I can regain my health and my body. I figured that writing everything that I eat would help me be  more conscious of what I am putting in my body.

I will post before and after pictures.. I want to look good this coming spring/summer. I want to be able to wear pretty dresses -= ) without worrying about how thick my thighs are

My Nanay Petring..

So my nanay never recovered from her stroke and sadly she passed away. I have not been doing anything for the past couples of weeks and my dad got back yesterday and it's the first time that I really had a courage to start blogging again. I saw the videos and pictures that was taken by my cousin during her wake/funeral and appreciate that since I couldn't be there it was nice to at least see what was going on. I wrote her dedication letter and here it is..

 

My Nanay Petring,

I don't really know where to begin as I write this letter of commemoration to celebrate your life and what you mean to all of us, mga apo, mga anak, and mga amigo and of course sa imong asawa.

Nanay it has taken me by surprise and I'm sure everyone of your passing. I was trying to understand why God has taken you so soon away from us. I was trying to understand how such a wonderfully made nanay just go. I just didn't think it would be you. I just feel like I didn’t get to spend enough time with you.

In all my recollection of you I have nothing but good things to say. I never met and known anyone who is as sweet, loving, caring as you are. I don't know how you do what you do sometimes. I always remember that smile and laugh that you have. That simple touch/haplos as your way of saying I love you or just a tender touch of hello. Throughout the times that I've known you I can honestly say I have never seen you ever get mad or upset. Even when I was being bad you spoke to me in a gentle voice of care as oppose to the reflex of yelling, which made me listen even more. I have so much respect for you and always spoke about nothing but good things to other people. I admire your character, you strength and gentleness.

Nay admire your marriage to Tatay you two love each other so much and are so inseparable. Someday I would like to share that type of commitment that you and Tatay have for each other. You both lead by examples when it comes to your family, your faith, and your love for one another. Tay, I could just imagine how you must be feeling right now. I know that you’re in pain but also know that we are all sharing that with you. Tay you are not alone and always know that ang mga anak, and ang mga apo are with you in this time of sorrow and grief.

When I was growing up I remember going with you to Kalamagoy to attend church. Going to Assembly was actually something I looked forward to because I spend it with you, Tatay, auntie Nening and uncle Abba and cousins as well as everyone else. I loved your sense of togetherness the importance of family and you could feel that around you and it surrounds and captivates you because your heart was always open. You let me be me, my own person, you were non judgmental, you let people as they are as long as they’re doing well to others and to themselves. I always loved being around you though I was young you and tatay always tell me nga pagbinut-an ka Shie, when I think about it I seem to be well behaved around you even though may paka maldita ako before.

You tell me the importance of God and respecting other people especially my own parents. You may not know this but we thought about you even though we’re so far away. We often talked of how much happy our childhood was and partly because of you. In-in , Bamba, and Dondon loved your cooking, Sheena even says she used to walk to your house at night so she could eat your food. You never let me wash the dishes even though I wanted to and when I do wash dishes you’re often surprise that I could do it. You always make sure that people eat regardless of who they are when they come to the house. Kambal sometimes talk about how you would raise pigs, you fatten them up and you say “Ka-u-non nato para sa inyoha” I remember the time you made me drink that bitter tea, I don’t quite know the name of it I would make a deal of not wanting to drink it because it tasted bad but you somehow coached me to drinking it and your homemade remedies seems cure my ailments. There are so many more happy memories that I could talk about and share with everyone. I’m really going to miss you and everything about you. As I am writing this letter I could feel you around me and tears start to run down my face and I feel hopeless inside because I could never see you again. It hurts me and I’m sure it’s hurting everyone but it’s because you are so loved and cared for that we feel this way.

So in closing, I wished I had spent more times with you but then again the times that I did spend with you were wonderful. Though it hurts to lose a loved one, it is most painful to grieve for what you didn't get to enjoy with them. Rather, remember the blessings they left behind, with so many wonderful memories. Treasure their essence, for it is still here with you.


Loving You Always,
Shielah

-= (

Heard the bad news today about the condition of my nanay petring. I'm trying to be strong and not burst into tears but it's sort of hard when you want to be so close to someone who is nearly at the end of their time and can't even be there for just that one moment with them. I don't think I'm ready to let her go. Everyone is saying that the likelihood of her ever getting back is very slim but you can't help but be hopeful that she would get better. I hear myself making excuses of if she was in the states that her prognosis would be much better and she would be care for by competent physicians. I guess I'm just in denial. I miss her so much.

Jayson's Birthday

The day started out nicely woke up did work for school and then had Dim Sum with friends in Flushing. Afterwards we went to a tile place because Yen is renovating his apartment. I didn't realize there were so many different types of tiles and boy were they costly. Could you imagine one sqft is $30.00 what if you need like 300sqft. That's just rediculous!

Of course we went to a friend's 27th Birthday. It was nice to see my new found friends sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. We had filipino foods and some desserts and what would a get together be with out the usual Karaoke. As soon as we left the place which was about 7:00pm we went and met up a friend of mines from back in the day which I have not seen for like 7-8 years.

 

Here we are tile shopping.. I know what I want so one day when I have my own house I know exactly what to get

Here we are at Jayson's Birthday. We got a surprise visit from Randi and Paul who just had a baby 3 weeks ago and his name is Samuel. He is so adorable he obviously stole the show from the birthday boy which is ok. 

 

 

Hallooween Volunteer/Halloween 2009

It was really nice to help out around for October Fest for the children. My job was really simple help out putting posters and just man the table entrance for the children. Here are the pictures that Yen took

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Wine / Pasta Pairing Class

This past Sunday I went to the Pasta and Wine Pairing class which we had purchased through groupon.com It was a great deal where can you find a 2 hour wine class including food for $20.00 in the city.????!! Impossible! 

 

Peru

I went to Peru last year and I haven't really posted up the pictures so although overdue. I finally got to put it up!!!!

We went to the Capital City of Peru which is Lima we also went to Barranco and Miraflores before heading to Cusco to start the Inca Trail

 

Cusco

Inca Trail

 

 

Wedding Snapshot

 

Sheena & Dave's Intimate Wedding

My little sister got married yesteday. The ceremony was held at a Bed and Breakfast called Main Street Manor in Flemington, New Jersey. When she came up to me and had wanted to get married it was just originally going to be just the two of them. First she had wanted to go to Atlantic City for an elopement package or  to Niagara Falls. I informed Sheena that I know how badly and quickly she had wanted to get married and it would be nice if the whole family could be there to witness their special day coz I wouldn't have wanted her to regret anything. So although it will be small consisting of about 30 people it would be perfect for her since she's not a wedding person. She told me she just wanted to show up and that's it she objectively didn't to have a part in the whole wedding planning whatsoever.  After weeks of looking they found a small bed and breakfast that would marry them and it came with an officiant who just happens to be the Mayor of Flemington. The Main Street Manor was very charming and it would be perfect for an intimate wedding and the inn keeper Donna was more than helpful in arranging what we needed.

Since their wedding was such a short notice with only about less than a month to plan I knew I had to keep on moving. She had her nursing practicals and was already stressing so being the nice sister that I am I decided to make sure that I get to do whatever is necessary to make her day as special as it could be. One of Sheena's request since we were going to have an actual wedding was to make sure that she has a birdcage as her veil coz she wanted to emulate the whole Jackie Onassis Kennedy look. So I made it for her since buying it from the store would be so costly. So later on that week I went to get her invitation and printed it out on my printer and I had Dave hand delivered the invitations to his family and friends. Sheeba and I bought candles as her favors which she had put together and stayed up till 3:00am in the morning in making it. Of course there's the program which had to be made. Her wedding dress was bought at David's Bridal which dad had to alter because the lenght was too long and mom had gotten her another dress as well. I was also incharge of the alcohol wanted everyone to have a little drink so that they could loosen up a bit.

On the day of the wedding Sheeba and I were suppose to have the same dress but for some apparent reason the zipper on the dress that I was to wear broke and thankfully I had an extra dress which was in the purple color scheme and though tight on me I was still able to wear it with a stride. Yen also drove me to the florist so I could get flowers for me and Sheeba. Initially thought of getting it at the grocery store but Yen insisted on going to the florist which was a really good idea because the guy did everything for me all I had to do was put the ribbon on it. The flowers matched my sister's bouquet and just made it all work so well.

 

When I got to the Inn I was so excited to get the day started, helping her with the dress, talking to Donna (the innkeeper) what needed to be done. Helping the girls (Sheeba and Arra) get ready which was really easy they knew what they wanted to do with themselves.  As soon as Sheena got dressed and she was all ready to get this marriage started my mom and I placed her birdcage on her hair and I almost cried she looked so beautiful and I just wanted her to be happy. I placed the something blue with is a hair pin on her hair, something old which was an old rose broach where she placed it on her bouquet, something borrowed was her pearl earing which came from mom and her something new would be her dresses and her veil and we also wanted to have her put a sixpence coin on her shoes but knowing she would be uncomfortable she placed it in her bouquet.

Dave and Sheena are so perfect for each other and they compliment each other well. I'm very happy to have gained a brother. I know that Dave will take care of her as he has always has for the past 7 years they've been together and so forth.

The Wedding came together as planned and we had a wonderful time.

Sheena looked absolutely beautiful, she had the glow about her and the excitement of starting her life with Dave and I wish them the best for the rest of their lives. 

She had a beautiful lovely wedding under $3,500.00 dollars which is incredible especially in today's market

Sheena & Dave Ackerman

Number of Guests: 28

Wedding Ceremony Location: Main Street Manor www.mainstreetmanor.com

Wedding Reception Location: Ciao Luigi www.ciaoluigi.com

Wedding Cost: $3,500.00