Friday, December 31, 2010

I love my family

So every holiday for me has always been about being able to spend time with family and just chat, eat and enjoy everyone's company. Holidays are usually the only time a family of our size can really get together. This year, Christmas was just that, in a completely different way.

Every year, my dad's side always celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve. Due to everyone living so far away, we usually alternate from having it either in the Sacramento area, or the Bay Area. We got to have my uncle host Christmas Eve one last time. My uncle has been battling cancer for awhile, but the 2 weeks before Christmas, we watched it spiral downward pretty quickly. Yet no one ever saw him moping or complaining about the pain. Realizing the unfortunate truth, we all prayed for one more Christmas and a peaceful passing. We all got what we asked for. As of the afternoon on Christmas Day, my uncle has been in peace.

My dad had made this comment to me while we were both walking to my car. "Your uncle brought us all here to America. I can't believe he's gone now. Us aunties and uncles have been very close. You and your cousins all better be the same. Don't lose sight of your family." Me and the cousins are all pretty close already, and we definitely don't plan to change that.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Music Monday: The Holy City

Today's Music Monday is dedicated to my uncle. His favorite song. Rest in peace Uncle Joe. We love you.

May 25, 1935 - December 25, 2010

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Music Monday: Straight No Chaser

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays everyone!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Music Monday: Committed

Happy Monday all!

There's a new show that started up again this winter. This is the second season of the Sing Off. Basically, it's an acapella singing contest. No music accompaniment, just voices. I love it! I've always loved acapella, especially when the voices go so well together. I must say, this season has already proved that it is going to be better than the first season. It has so much more talent.

This group happens to be Seventh Day Adventist, which I happen to be also. They truly have a great sound. They remind me of Boyz II Men. Anyways, I posted their very first song on the Sing Off. This is the longer version, so it includes the introduction about the group and the comments by the judges. I love the comments! Shawn Stockman's reaction is great, probably because they sound like his old group. =D

If you want to just hear the song, just skip to about 1 minute and 40 seconds.

Enjoy!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tis the Season for Giving

I was in the middle of working on my Christmas wish list for my blog when I got a call from one of my cousins. She asked me if I was planning to go to Breakfast with Friends at my church again this month. Breakfast with Friends is a program at my church where every Sunday, a small group of volunteers come to feed the homeless breakfast.

Last year, I brought that same cousin and her 2 little girls there so that the girls can learn how to help others. She told me that she had recently told the girls not to expect anything for Christmas and explained to them what the true meaning of Christmas is. They should learn to help the less fortunate and just be grateful and thankful for what they already have. I still want to give them something for Christmas, so she suggested the Dollar Store, just not the Dollar Store in Union City. (About a week ago, a child was sexually abused at that Dollar Store.)

Needless to say, that small conversation made me think again about my own Christmas wish list. So, with that said, instead of creating a list of what I'd like to get, I was inspired to creat a list of programs/foundations that help others and that mean something to me. I may follow up with a list of gift suggestions too though. I love giving gifts to other people. I love it. This season should be about helping others and giving, not what we'd like to get.

  • Alameda County Community Food Bank - Help donate some canned food to those in need. I believe you can even purchase a bag of food at every Safeway that will go to the food bank.
  • Salvation Army - Help donate clothing, furniture & household items to those that need it.
  • American Cancer Society - Cancer tends to show it's ugly head in my family, so I love how the ACS  help people reduce their risk of cancer; provide free programs and services for cancer patients. 
  • Heifer International - I found out about this program through Foodspotting. Foodspotting is having a Holiday Spotathon. For every challenge completed in Foodspotting, they'll help donate a gift to a family in need. Heifer International basically allows you to choose a gift to give a loved one and help children and families around the world receive. For example, you can choose to donate a goat to a family. That means the family can get tons of milk from that goat every day. They can make cheese, butter, you name it. This foundation is great! I am now obsessed with trying to food spot items in the various challenges.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Music Monday: Stan Walker



I'm going to change it up a bit for Music Monday and through out an Australian singer instead of someone from New Zealand. Stan Walker was actually the Australian Idol winner. His voice is very soothing. The song is very cute. He makes me miss New Zealand/Australia music.
Enjoy!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Happy Friday

Happy Friday!

What a day! This is not the way the last work day should feel like. But, aside from the hubby, my coworker & a bottle of corona, Zee Avi is making my day just a little better. Her Christmas song just makes me smile and sway to the music. Can't wait for dinner with the family to make the day even better. A weekend well needed. Enjoy Zee Avi's Christmas song.