nThe day after Christmas my hubby and I went to the Immigration office in Dallas with Robert, Shelly and Josh to take care of my papers to lift the conditional status of my permanent residency here in the US. Robert drove for us. Imagine, I filed the form last May 22 and it got approved Dec 5. They’re too slow in processing papers. It says in the letter that I have to appear in there office to present my passport and submit 3 photos. It was not stated that I have to make an appointment before going there so we decided to go after Christmas since it’s a shorter trip going to Dallas from Alvarado rather than coming from Wichita Falls. There were quite a few people in the line when we got there.

When it was my turn the lady in the window asked me if I got an appointment and I told her no because it did not say in the letter to make an appointment before going there. She said I have to make an appointment in the Infopass thru the internet and they’ve been doing that for 3 years now. I know that they have this Infopass to make an appointment but since it did not say in the letter I decided not to. I already felt disappointed at that time, then she asked me where I came from and I told her from Wichita Falls. She asked how far is it and my husband answered maybe about 200 miles. She then wanted to see an ID as a proof of our address so my hubby showed her his driver’s license. So she let us in because we came from a far place. Oh man! I was glad that she finally let me in. All the rest in the line had to come back.

Just after I got in, my number was called so I went to the window. The lady only asked me 2 photos but in the letter it said 3 photos. That’s a waste of money for the photos since Walgreens do it by 2’s or by 4’s so we paid for 4 photos. Then after everything is done, they got my signature, fingerprints and my old greencard and marked my passport the lady in the window told me that they will mail my greencard good for 10 years within 3 to 6 months. Isn’t that too long to wait and to think that everything here is computerized? They’re slow as turtles. The good thing is I still can travel outside the US because they marked my passport but I don’t intend to unless I get my new greencard. After everything is done Robert drove us back but we stopped for lunch in a fastfood restaurant in Euless and Robert paid our lunch. Robert by the way is Shelly’s husband and he makes good and delicious beef jerky and I really like it.

I was really glad that everything went on smoothly and our trip to Dallas didn’t go to nothing. I thank God for that because the night before, I prayed that we will accomplish our purpose in going there and that everything will go smoothly. To God be the glory…

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We had a good Christmas celebration in Alvarado, TX. We stayed there for a week and we just got back home yesterday afternoon. My hubby and I didn’t do a lot of things there, just relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company and had a good time with the kids and grandkids but unfortunately, Steven’s kids were not there. Only Josh and L.A. were there, the oldest and the youngest grandkids.

Soon another baby will be added in the family because Stacy is pregnant on her 2nd child now.

We also went to see some of our friends but unfortunately Tonja was not there when we went in their house to give her lumpia. She went on last minute Christmas shopping with her husband. Only her 2 lovely daughters were there. We didn’t stay long, then we went to see another friends of ours, Bro. Jesse and Ms. Sue. It was good to see them again and then the Higleys came by also and we had a good time talking to each other. We had also the chance to go to Taco Bell when my hubby took Stacy to work. Her son and her hubby went with us too and all of us ate there for free. Stacy is an assistant manager in Taco Bell and her family gets free food whenever we go there. I ordered my favorite chalupa and tacos so did my hubby. Both of us like chalupa. We had also rented movies and I got to watch 3 good movies that I’ve been wanting to watch which my friend suggested to me, love story of course. We exchanged and opened gifts on Christmas day after our lunch and my hubby and I got Christmas presents from his kids. We took photos and also video.

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We’ll be leaving for Alvarado today to celebrate Christmas there. I’m excited to see the kids and grandkids and our friends there. All the gifts have been wrapped and ready for Christmas. I’ve done all the giftwrapping because hubby has been busy working. He just went with me shopping for the gifts. The other day he gave me my Christmas gift from him. It’s a micro digital camera, a lot smaller than my regular Sony cybershot digicam. He knows that I love taking pictures and this one is tiny and I can even wear it like a necklace because it came with a long strap and a CD called phototags express wherein I can put captions in my photos and make cards and calendars. It’s so cool! He also bought me 1 box of photo paper so I can print pictures in my printer and I don’t have to go to Wal Mart and have it developed. I’ve been having fun printing our photos since then.

Okay I will have to prepare our things and get ready. We’ll be back a day after Christmas. Until then…

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The other day my husband was asked by one of his co-workers if he can bring some finger foods in the school for their snacks. The teachers and staff bring foods their alternately since the beginning of this month so my husband asked me if I can cook lumpia (eggrolls) for him to take in the school. It's a good thing that I had 3 dozens of lumpia in the freezer that I made previously. Some are made of chicken and the rest are made of beef. I had to get up early to fry them because my hubby will go to work at 6:45 AM. I told my hubby to wake me up early so I can fry the lumpia. When I woke up I heard the pan is sizzling and he is already frying them. He didn't want to bother my sleep so he didn't wake me up early. He didn't fry it good though, so I had to take over and do the frying. I fried 25 pieces of lumpia and put it in a big plastic container lined with paper towels and covered it and it was ready for him to take it to his work. After my hubby left I went back to bed and continue my sleep. Then at around 9:00 AM I was having my morning devotion when the telephone rang. I didn't go and answer the phone thinking that it was just one of those telemarketers trying to sell something. Then I heard a lady leaving a voice message in the answering machine. Her name is Cathy, the school receptionist. She called to tell me that the lumpia I made were sooo goood and delicious!!! So I had to return the call and I talked to her on the phone. She was so thankful for the lumpia and she said she already ate quite a few of it. I was so glad that she like it and I appreciate that she called and thank me. When my husband came home he told me that Cathy and some of the teachers were asking him to bring more next time. They were also asking him if I can make some and sell it to them. George said the lumpia were all gone so quick but the other foods were still there in the office. My lumpia was a big hit in the school.

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We had a Cristmas Banquet at the church today at 6:00 PM. There were lots of foods, desserts and drinks. I just ate moderately though and I have to stop eating when I’m half full. That’s the secret of not gaining weight this holiday season. I enjoyed the food and the fellowship with our church members who are so friendly. My hubby ate a lot though. He can’t resist the foods and had to return to the banquet table for a second serving. I was teasing him that his belly became bigger after eating too much. After the banquet, at around 7:00 PM we had a worship service and the ladies in the choir rendered Christmas carols. After that, the guest preacher gave his message which is about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. His text verse is Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Christmas is all about Jesus who was born by a virgin in a manger. He knew no sin but he became a sin for the world to save us. The preacher has delivered his message well and I was really blessed.

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Time flies so fast. Christmas is just around the corner once again. We can feel it in the air. It’s chilly. Yesterday, my hubby had put up the Christmas tree and then when it was already standing, he put the lights around it. Then after that, it was my turn to put the decors on it. We used the same Christmas tree that we used last year, a 6 ½ ft. tall tree. I had also hanged a Christmas wreath in the door and also at the porch.

Today, my hubby and I went to church and after lunch I asked him to take me to the mall to buy Christmas gifts for the kids and grandkids. We went to JC Penny because somebody at work gave my husband a 20% discount coupon and it is only good for today. We need to buy some more gifts but we will wait on the 15th because they will have a midnight madness sale at the BX inside the base. Christmas happens only once a year and I really want to buy gifts for the family. It’s a way to show our love for them. For me, it’s not really the gift that matters, it’s the thought that counts. It’s a good feeling to know that somebody remembers you on that special occasion and I want them to know that we think of them and we love them. We will be spending Christmas in Alvarado and we are looking forward to that day. My husband will be off 4 days from work so we can have a good holiday celebration.

Ever since I was a kid, this time of the year excites me most. It’s the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. It just disgust me that in this country, wherein it’s supposed to be a democratic country, most places now won’t allow the word Christmas, instead they used the word Holiday. Others also used the word Xmas and removed Christ in it. How disgusting! Jesus Christ is the reason for this season and they should honor Him for that. I just pray that whoever thought of this thing that is happening here in this country will be awaken and will realize that without Christ there's no Christmas to celebrate.

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Winter don’t start officially until the 3rd week of December but it started early here in Texas. We had snow yesterday and early today. Early in the morning yesterday, my hubby has been watching the news. He told me that he gonna go to work later that morning because they opened 10:00 AM yesterday according to the news because of the snow. Unlike other states that they are used to having snow, here in Texas it doesn’t snow that often that’s why they don’t have those tools to clear the road and according to the news there were minor accidents that happened yesterday. It’s really weird because the other day the highest temperature was 71 and then the next day it was snowing. Today my hubby didn’t go to work because they closed the school where he works because there is still snow. The temperature this morning dropped to 14 degrees. I’m happy because we gonna spend the day together and still they gonna pay him even though he didn’t go to work today. This morning the view was so nice, all the surroundings were so white so my hubby and I took pictures infront of the house.

The snow is not really that deep but still it was so cold outside and my hands were like frozen so I have to put them inside my pockets.

While I’ve been looking at the white surroundings, I glory in God’s wonderful creation. I’m so thankful for the glory that God has poured upon us. Only Him can create snow and no one else have the power to do that. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a God who showed us that He can make all things beautiful in His time?

But this afternoon the sun is shining so the snow started to melt already. The temperature went up to 45 degrees now. Isn’t that weird? Snow here only last for a day. This is Texas, wherein the weather changes so fast. I don’t really like the snow to stay for a long time, I prefer dry winter. According to the news, cold front is coming again on Sunday and who knows, snow might come again. More photos here.

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My husband and I decided to go to Alvarado to celebrate thanksgiving with the kids and grandkids. He was off Wednesday so we drove there after lunch. It was a 2 hr 30 minutes drive. It’s been 6 months since the last time we were there and we miss all of them. My husband and I were glad to see Lorenzo Alexander, (my hubby call him LA) the youngest grandkid. He really is a cutie and he really likes me and I like him too. He likes to pose infront of the camera and whenever the camera flashes he make faces and show his teeth.

On Thanksgiving Day, my step-daughter Stacy cooked a lot of foods like turkey, ham, dressing, macaroni & cheese, green beans, pumpkin pie, apple pie, banana pudding and Sherry made pistachio pudding and mashed potatoes. I also cooked pancit and everybody likes it. I forgot to bring the eggrolls that I made. Before we began eating my husband had to say the blessing and thanked God for His goodness and provisions.

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We all enjoyed the food and we all had a good time eating those delicious foods.

On Friday night, we went to see the Christmas lights in Hulen Park in Cleburne. Sherry and LA went with us. Oh, the lights were so pretty. We took some photos there.

They also made a manger scene with the Christmas lights, also the American flag, a train and also a very tall Christmas tree made of lights.

We’re supposed to go back home Saturday, but my hubby decided to go to Shelly’s house in Cleburne and spend the day with her and her family but unfortunately they went out of town. They went to Jefferson to see those antique stores there. Shelly by the way is my oldest step-daughter. My hubby and I just went to eat at Golden Coral since it was already lunch time before going back to Alvarado.

Sunday, we drove back home but I asked my hubby to stop at the mall in Forth Worth because I wanted to do a little shopping. I bought some house decors and other stuff. Then the next stop was at the Oriental store in Haltom City. I bought some fresh fish (bangus, sapsap at gg). I really love fish more than meat. I also bought vegetables and groceries like ligo sardines from the Philippines, mungo beans, lumpia wrappers, nata de coco, palm seeds, etc. I bought also oranges and persimmon fruits. I love persimmon, it taste sweet and really good.
After that I was finally done and we drove back home here in Wichita Falls. It’s good to be home.

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It was a bright and sunny day yesterday and the temperature was in the 70’s so my husband and I decided to go to The Plex here in Wichita Falls. This is an amusement and recreation park wherein parents take their kids to ride the bumper boats, go-carts, play video games and also play golf. It has also a fastfood restaurant. My husband and I had fun seeing all those kids playing and enjoying to the fullest. We took the opportunity to explore the park and took some photos and I uploaded a few in my photo section in my profile.The view in this park is nice especially in the golf course area. After roaming around the park we went home and I asked my husband to cook for me home made meatloaf. This is his recipe that I like the most. It tastes so good, hmmm, yummy, yummy. He also cooked dressing, but it’s just one of those ready to cook dressing but it taste good too. I prepared a vegetable salad, all my vegetables are organic though. I prefer organic because they are free of pesticide, herbicide and synthetic fertilizer which is not good for the body. I also cooked chicken afritada which my husband like very much. All the meat we used are all from free range animals meaning they were not given antibiotics, growth hormones and other chemicals. All these organic things were recommended by my nutritionist. I used to weigh 138 lbs as a result of eating at fastfoods and buffet restaurants but after eating those recommended diets by my nutritionist my weight dropped down to 105 lbs which is just proportional to my 5′1" height. I went from size 8 to size 4. That’s a result of self discipline in eating and also exercise. Whew! I have to buy new set of clothes since most of my clothes are loose now. That’s one of the downside. My husband is also on a diet right now and he already shed off some pounds. It won’t be long and he will have to buy new set of pants too.

We really had a good meal last night and my husband said that we are a good cooking team. Oh well, husband and wife should help each other especially he’s off in the weekends. I love my husband though, he’s a good man and I really thank God for giving him to me.

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Guess what? It’s my husband’s birthday today! I won’t tell how old is he now because his number is unlisted, he-he-he! Since I woke up this morning, I’ve been busy cooking for our lunch so when he comes home from work to eat, lunch would be ready. I decided to cook Filipino foods since he like them, like pancit, lumpia, beans and I tried to cook my favorite meatloaf. It really made me tired cooking all these things just by myself but I had to since I want to please my husband on his birthday. Lunch was not yet ready though when he got home because he came home earlier than what I expected. I asked him to take out the meatloaf from the oven and try to drain the grease and when he took it out from the oven, he asked me when will I put the tomato sauce. Oh my gosh! I told him I forgot about it since I had a lot of things to cook all at the same time and it’s also my fist time to cook meatloaf. So he had to put tomato sauce on top of the meatloaf and put it back inside the oven. He was in a hurry to go back to work so he ate and did not wait for the meatloaf and decided to just eat it tonight. He ended up just eating the pancit, lumpia and the beans minus the meatloaf. Before he went back to work I prepared some pancit and lumpia to give to his boss and his friends at work.

What can I say about my husband? I want to tell the world that I am blessed to have a husband like him who loves me unconditionally and who accepted me for what and who I am. He also loves my family and treats them as his own. He see to it that he tells me those three sweetest words everyday "I LOVE YOU" and he did that since we got married. He never changed since we first met, he’s still loving and caring and I love him for that. We don’t have what you call perfect relationship because there’s no such thing as that, but we managed to settle our differences if ever we have before we go to sleep. One thing I dislike about him though, he likes to tickle me and it seems like his day is not complete without tickling me. He knows that I’m ticklish and sometimes he overdo it and it makes me scream and get mad at him. I told him I don’t wanna be tickled. He will then say sorry but the next day he will do it again. That’s the way my husband is, he has this childlike trait in him. He has also a great sense of humor and he likes to watch comedy shows. I like the way he laugh while watching sitcoms, it made me laugh too but not because of the show but because of the way he laugh. This guy I’m married too is unique in every way and I love him and he loves me and we’re stuck with each other for the rest of our lives. I will grow old with him and he with me with the blessings from our God Almighty, for He is our matchmaker and He’s the one who give us each other.

To my husband George, my honey, Happy Birthday and may the Lord bless you and give you many more returns of the day…

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