Bashful

Five year old JM hiding his face behind a bouquet.

Jesus Calms a Storm

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"
They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?"

- Mark 4:39-41

Blessing to All Fathers

Bless my dad and the grandfather of my son.

Bless my husband and the father of my son.

Bless all fathers around the world on this special day.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !

Father's Day

Bless my father, Lord. Keep us in your care so that we may live in the pattern of the Holy Family.

— The Blessing Cup: Prayer-Rituals for Families and Groups

Teacher Appreciation Day 2009

Cool Sandals

I bought two pairs of sandals recently from this shop . And I found these so comfortable to walk around and classy to wear for work. These are reasonably priced as well ! I'll buy a couple more next weekend.

Wildflowers

Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity

Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Matthew 20: 18-20

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth--You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting,Oh, the joy to see you come!

In loving memory of my mom, Esperanza who joined her creator on October, 2008

Pentecost Sunday

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;

Act in me O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy;

Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy;

Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend that is holy;

Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy.

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

Pentecost Morning

JM after this mornings Pentecost Sunday mass.

Altar Servers Recognition Day

JM with CCD altar servers coordinator Michelle Harney and husband Michael during this mornings recognition program for altar servers.

Weekend Trip to the Forest

Our destination approaches. We took an unplanned nature trip after mass today for a change of environment. Forest and waterfalls were good choices.

This landmark guided us to the forest and the waterfalls. The air around us was cool and fresh after many days of rain. We hiked the way to our destination uphill. Everything there was beautiful !

JM standing beside an old tree.

JM at the forest.

JM and dad pose beside the creek.

Visitors enjoy the cool and clean water from the waterfalls.

Boulders line the downhill flow of water from the waterfalls.

This shade uphill to the waterfalls is a temporary shelter from the rains and the Sun and a resting place for weary travelers.

All around us was green and fresh during these rainy, cool days.

Dark, heavy clouds met us on the way home.

Trip to the Mangrove Forest

This afternoon, we took a trip to a mangrove forest in the province of Samutsakhon. It was good to take a walk, the weather was sunny, but not so hot because of the rains. The experience proved to be educational and interesting to JM as this is first trip ever to a mangrove forest. The sign above tells us that the place is not only for educational purpose but for recreation as well. Materials about mangrove forests are available in this government office.

Not so far from the office, I found seedlings of mangrove trees planted in a nearby pond of salt water.

JM poses in front of the Mangrove Office Learning and Development Center.

The mangrove forest

We found the inland waters dry because of low tide, but mangrove trees grow abundantly on the seashore. Crabs with a variety of metallic colors came out of the holes they dug on the mud. Mudskippers also abound the nearly dried mud. And yes, flies abound this forest and they bite.

A scenic view of the mangrove area. The background is mud, not sea water.Birds from Europe, the Arctic region and Australia stops by in this place to feed on crab and mubskippers at certain time of the year.

JM and dad rests on a bench after reaching the end of the bridge that connected the moist and muddy trail to the sea.

JM on the mud trail.

This bridge connects the muddy trail and the seashore. Notice the mangrove trees on both sides of the bridge.

JM and dad heading back to the mudtrail.

Grade 5 CCD Class 2009

Mrs. Ruby Hoskin with her grade 5 CCD class pose for a souvenir photo after this mornings farewell party. Clockwise, Mrs. Hoskin, Erin, Olivia, Ashley, Stephani, Migo, JM, Harry, Zachary, Irwin, Cris, Sofia, Eri and Mickey.

JM during this mornings farewell party.

Farewell Summer

Driving along a road lined with Fire trees on a cool and cloudy Sunday afternoon with an impending rain in sight.

Cat Fish

Hundreds and thousands of them went up the water to feed on bread and fish food thrown in by local tourists. A common sight one will find in Thai Buddhist temples located along canals all over the country, these giant cat fish are owned and taken care of by the Thai temples.

Orchids Plant Shopping

We went to this orchid farm and supermarket today to shop for orchid plants.


While looking around for new orchid plants, we noticed this beautiful orchid garden located adjacent to the supermarket. JM obliged to pose in several spots of the garden for souvenir photos.

He loved this spot with garden furnitures !

We took home the sweet pink Burana Pearl dendrobium (topmost orchid photo) and the classic dendrobium Sonia (photo above).

Happy Birthday Dad !

Wishing you happiness on this special day and always ! We love you !

The Month of Mary

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Bang Pakong River

This video of Bang Pakong River was taken at the pier of Saint Pauls's Catholic Church Chachoengsao, Thailand , April 19, 2009.

Old Church, New Church

One of the places we dropped by during our visit to Chacheongsao, Thailand is a centuries old church called Saint Paul's Catholic Church. What was left of the church was its facade because the entire structure was demolished. The reason why it was demolished will forever be a mystery to me because the history of the church was written in Thai and I always have a problem reading Thai. Photo above shows my son JM making faces while I took a photo of the facade of the church.

The sign at the church door.

The tower above is a landmark leading to the pier. The end of this alley is a pier located on the banks of the Bang Pakong River where people take a boat ride to cross the other side of the river.

The alley from the old church leads to the pier.

An antique house made of wood where the parish priest lives.

A cart and a statue of an animal show us what kind of transport system people used that time.

The facade of the ancient church (or what was left of it).

The new Saint Paul's Catholic Church.

Earth Day 2009

Go to this link for Earth Day 2009 arts, crafts, projects and fun activities.

City Fort

During last Sunday's trip to Chachoengsao we passed by a place called Chachoengsao City Fort which was built during the reign of King Rama III to protect the city against enemies. During the reign of King Rama V, the fort was used against Chinese opium traders. The front of the fort was developed to a park to enable tourists to get a better view of the Bang Pakong River. At the back of the wall are canons ,which are remnants of the past.