I Have Got To Shop!

My new notebook has Windows Vista which does not support my Treo's Quick Install, and thus, most of my older blogs are still stored on my phone. (I wonder what Microsoft was thinking? The new versions are supposedly better than the old ones, but it would seem XP is still the best). (rolling eyes)

I wrote the following blog last July 11, and I feel exactly the same way today (Sept. 25) coz it's been 2 weeks now since my Sweetheart went back home and homesickness just hit me hard as I was praying in church a while back.

I'm manually transferring the blog from my phone. Read on:

"Red, blocked nose, puffy eyes, looooong face .... that's how I look as I'm writing this, 30K feet above the ground onboard NWA. I'm on my way to NY and for the first time ever, I am not with my Sweetheart, which really breaks my heart ... and causes yet fresh flood of tears (wait, I need to blow my nose).

I wanted my hubby to come, but all things considered, it was best that he stays behind for the meantime (which thought brings me to tears again ... I'm such a crybaby).

My Sweetheart and I have always been together. As in ALWAYS! (Check out his article on our site www.thejmjfamily.com). That's why this trip, which is supposedly super-duper exciting since it'll be my first time to visit US, just gives me a so-so nice feeling. I mean, how exciting can it be when you don't get to share it with the man you love, right?

And to top it all, they're playing '27 dresses' on the screen ( a cute, romantic story) which didn't help at all alleviating my misery. (sniff, sniff)"

I miss you so much, Sweet! I'll be home soon.

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"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected". - Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook (http://www.itmightbelove.com/)

Charice Is My Idol

Talk about how DESIRE is so powerful in turning your dreams into a reality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xaUt1jKc2k&feature=user

This is the link to the full video of Charice's duet with none other than Andrea Bocelli.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kz0cHTMI_M&feature=related

Makes me wanna dream big things again even though I say that my dreams now are just for my kids coz mine have all come true.

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"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis (http://www.quoteworld.org/)

Dreams Do Come True

I'm writing this blog here at Mid-Manhattan Library @ 5th Av. I always come here coz they have free wifi and it's a lot warmer than staying in Bryant Park (where wifi is also free).

I've been here since this morning and after long hours of just reading, studying, surfing and chatting, I was getting kinda tired and sleepy, and I just longed to lay back in my bed and doze off for a while. But the room I'm renting is about 40 mins from here (Brooklyn) so, not a good idea. I thought maybe I'd just unwind by watching youtube videos of Charice Pempengco. I haven't been updated with the latest happenings on this girl since she last guested on Ellen show coz the internet back in my place is erratic, so downloading videos could take forever.

Anyways, so here I was watching the whole segment (many thanks the uploader, ayawgloria, who 'kept' the link alive) and I just couldn't hold back my tears. Darn! I wasn't prepared for this so no tissue or hankie. Just imagine me here in the library, sniffing in a corner. Kinda embarassing. I'm beginning to get a headache as well from trying hard not to cry so much.

Charice made drawings of herself singing with her idols when she was a little girl. Now, she's living her dream ... the very same dream she drew on pieces of paper a long time ago.

Watch these videos , if you haven't had the chance, or even if you have, just watch them again, coz im telling you there is so much to learn here. And besides, it's so worth your time coz this girl is AWESOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSx-_yyGQDw&feature=related - follow the uploader's instruction on the main page.

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"Maybe dreams come true when you draw pictures of it. Maybe that's it. You know? I've heard of vision boards. That's pretty amazing!" - Oprah

This Just In

I got my Bank of America checkbook in the mail today. Can't wait till I deposit my millions there.

That reminds me ... I gotta check my lottery tickets .... (wink!)

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"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort". ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995 (http://www.quotegarden.com/)

My Scrapbook

Watch this video and tell me if you're not blown away:

I actually followed what Mike Dooley did and made my own little scrapbook.  And since one of my goals was to open a US bank account even as a visitor, I cut out and pasted Bank of America logos (any bank would do but Bank of America ads were the easiest to find on mags).

A few weeks before that though, I have applied for ITIN (Citibank requires it), and got refused, coz IRS needed a proof that I have indeed opened an account. Hello? Bank says to go get an ITIN first, then IRS says to go open an account first. How the heck am I gonna do that? (rolling eyes!)

Moving on ...

Then , one day, I was leisurely walking along Times Square, and on impulse, just decided to go inside the Bank of America branch there and asked about their requirements. Well, you probably guessed what happened next ...

that's one goal OFF my list! How cool is that? (wink!)

________________

"Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal." - Joseph Cossman (http://www.quoteworld.org/)

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Oh, Canada!

My husband and I never got to practice our profession, but we learned most about Canadian Immigration Law (thanks to this wonderful lady Cecilia who gave us the opportunity to do so).

Now, we just want to help people who want to come to Canada and want to get some free info on how to. We know from experience that there are a lot of thieving agencies out there who promise the moon and the stars but only give you hell.

So, we are devoting a page on our family website, JMJ Family Enterprise, about Canadian Immigration, particularly the Live-in Caregiver Program and Permanent Residence. Note that the links are mainly for Philippine applicants, but other nationalities are free to email us at jmjfamilyenterprise@usa.com and ask info as well. We promise to get back to all emails received, answer all questions and share our knowledge to the best of our ability. And for those who would love to add input, you are most welcome to do so.

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"Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Norman Waceman (http://www.wisdomquotes.com/)

(NOTE:  Some links may have been broken as we have not updated the pages for quite some time, but the information remains the same. We'll update the broken links as soon as we can.)

The Universe and I

Today, I'm challenging the Universe once again.

I'm sitting here in Burger King (near Empire State), having my brunch while doing my blogs, when this deaf-mute guy handed me an Alphabet sign language card, and naturally, asking for donation. I don't normally give alms to bums anymore, but this guy gave me something useful, so I thought "why not?"

So, I gave him all the cash I have ( a repeat of our St. John's, NL experience).

It's half-past 3 on a Tuesday afternoon, so let's see what happens.
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"Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege." - John Rockefeller, Jr. (http://www.wisdomquotes.com/)

My Great American Dream

Ever since as a girl, I have always wanted to go to America. I came from a family where colonial mentality is at its best (or worst, depending on how you view it). We looked up to Americans, we watched American programs, we loved imported goods ... it didn't matter if it was just Maxam toothpaste so long as it was bought from abroad (yeah, I know, we sound like losers). The all-time favorite imported goods would of course be the chocolates ... Toblerones, Hersheys, Cadburys ... hmmm yummy! I remember one summer we even went to Olongapo City (where one of the American bases used to be) just so we could buy from Duty Free shops there (rolling eyes!)

Year 2001 was when I thought I would finally fulfill my American Dream coz my husband and I were granted 10-yr multiple US visa. But then, we found ourselves living in Canada instead. And we fell in love with Canada, and we stayed and I totally forgot about my American Dream thinking 'what else could US offer us when we're already basking in the beauty and glory of Canada'? (We've lived in Vancouver, St. John's, Toronto, and traveled to Niagara, Montreal and other major cities there so I kinda know what I'm talking about).

When we vacationed in our home country after 6 years of living abroad, I was not as thrilled, especially coz my only family (my Mom) is in Chicago and I only had my aunts and cousins to say hi to there in the Phils. But mostly because I knew we had to stay in Mt. Province where my husband's family lives. Don't get me wrong. I love their place. It's heavenly ... weather is like springtime in Canada (cool and breezy), view is awesome with high mountains, lovely waterfalls, tall & majestic trees, rich gardens full of all kinds of vegies and beautiful, rare flowers, clean springs... just awesome.

But being a city girl, 2 weeks in that oh, so heavenly place already felt like a decade. And I just had this crazy thought one time I was talking to my Mom to actually go to US for a visit.

So, I did.

And now I'm here basking in the beauty and glory of USA (I've been to Chicago, Washington, NJ and NY so I kinda know what I'm talking about .. lol). (wink!)

My Great American Dream has finally come true!

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"Dreams do come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them." - John Updike (http://www.followyourdreams.com/)

1 Neat FREEBIE For You

Dr. Joe Vitale gave me a free e-book entitled "The Greatest Money Making Secret in History". It's a very inspiring book that everybody must have or at least read. It changed my whole perspective on money and generosity.

Grab your free copy HERE.

One great lesson I learned from that book is the art of joyful giving (emphasis on the emotion, coz if you don't feel joy when you give, you are sending a negative vibration to the universe).

I learned generosity as a virtue from my Mom early on in my childhood. I remember her giving alms to peasants on the streets, putting aside 10% of her earnings and donating it to Church, helping family and friends with whatever they need. So, naturally, I was influenced to do the same.

After reading the book, I've come to realize I was not really doing it the proper way. I've had experiences in the past when people took advantage of my generosity and I felt trapped in the emotion of guilt and a sense of obligation. (Very similar story as that on page 16).

Now, there's a new meaning to my Giving. I now give to people (or churches/orgs) who have given me spiritual nourishment like Bro. Bo Sanchez, Dr. Joe Vitale, etc. And I absolutely feel good about it.

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"Love must be the guiding principle in all our giving." - James A. Decker

P.S. Hey, download a copy of this book now for free.

I Want 8 Kids!

Whenever I tell people I want 8 kids, I never get any positive reaction. None! As in zero, nada, nil, nothing, nix! They'd give me this horrified look, with their eyes bulging out of their sockets (secretly thinking "this girl is definitely a loony"), and shamelessly ask "Are you out of your freaking mind?"

Which is, of course, totally understandable. I mean, c'mon, this is the 2oth century. For most people (in the 20-30 age range), a lot of kids would be more than ZERO. Yeah, that's right. Go ahead; ask them. They'll gladly tell you they don't want any kids at all. Those in the 30-40 age range would probably tell you 1 kid is enough. And if you keep asking about 500 people or so, you'd be lucky to get a reply of '2 would be ideal'.

For the enlightenment of those who do not know me personally, the reason behind this 'craziness' is that I am an only child. There. That should justify it.

People can think and say all sorts of things. I don't ... and won't care. All I know is that with 4 kids (I'm halfway to my goal... lol), I've never, ever felt like I had too much on my hands. I love being a Mom. I love everything about my beautiful, happy li'l perfect family. And it shows on how gorgeous I still look! Hey, I just borrowed the words of my husband. (wink) :)

I'm Back

I've been very laxed since the last time I blogged and I feel it's about time to get back to it. This will be like my online diary especially of the daily blessings I receive (no matter how little or big it may be).

My mind's racing with so much thoughts and ideas that I needed to convert them into something I could see and review every chance I get ... to keep me inspired and awakened. And that's where Blogging comes in.

My upcoming blogs would be about:
1. The Secret (A movie that was released a year ago. Trust me, once you see this movie, you will never be the same again).
2. Gratitude series (I will be thanking specific people that have made a positive impact on my life). So, friends, watch out for your names on the blog title because you deserved to be honored.
3. Everyday occurences, reviews, tips, quips or any topic under the sun