Out of Class Early!

Yoo hoo! We actually got out of Operational Behavior class early tonight--almost two hours early! We have a test on Thursday, so all we did was go over one chapter and then did a test review. However, I don't get to go home any sooner because my carpool buddies are still in their accounting class. That's okay, it gives me plenty of time to study, which I'm not doing right at the moment, obviously!

I can't say that anything exciting has happened since my last post; just business as usual. My classes these next few weeks are my last and have not taxed my brain nearly as much as my last set of classes. Even if they did, I probably wouldn't be motivated to do my best. The end is near...I'm truly at the home stretch right now. I'll soon be reentering the real world and these carefree school days will become a distant memory! While I'm excited to go back to work, I must admit that I will miss just being a student. In the meantime, I'm just taking things day by day and trying to enjoy myself in the process. I constantly surround myself with great friends and my loving family and stay well-engaged in any activity possible just so I'm out of the house. Suffice it to say, all is well here in the Rocky Mountains!

I helped mom out at her office from morning to noon and when I got home, I found Malu's duffle bag waiting on the doorstep. He actually gave me a head's up that it was on its way, but I was so excited to see it. I'm very sentimental, so it was actually an emotional process, sifting through some of Malu's things. The contents of the bag where those things that he didn't have room to carry with him into theater, like extra sets of ACUs, a set of civilian clothes and two pairs of boots. Call me odd, but I immediately buried my face in one of his ACU tops and could smell small traces of him although overpowered by the old, crusty scent of the standard-issue, olive drab, green duffle bag (my military friends know that smell!); a sweet reminder nevertheless.

Funny, when we met during our first tour in Iraq, I'd ordered a blanket for him that had a message embroidered into it. Gosh, I can't remember, but I think it says something cheesy like "sweet dreams" and "all my love, Michelle" on it. I'd given it to him because my unit was leaving Iraq a few months before his and I wanted him to have something to sleep with in the meantime. Well, he'd taken the blanket with him to New Jersey and when I'd asked him (this was yesterday) if he had sent his blanket back with his duffle, he just laughed and told me the story about how he had struggled just to make room for the darn thing even though all of his bags were jam-packed. How sweet is that? Nah, I think he just knew better than to send it back. He knew he'd have hell to pay. Just kidding! He really is that sweet.

Malu is doing well. Since he's been in Kuwait, he's called me every morning, sometime after breakfast, and every evening just before he goes to bed. He does this even though the phone/internet tent is a good walk from where he and his detachment sleeps. Now, isn't that sweet too? He said that his teammates commented that he calls his wife way too much. My question is: why aren't they calling their wives that much? Hmmm. But we're just taking advantage of the opportunity because once he departs that area of operation, who knows what the communication situation will be at his next post?

He also got promoted at a ceremony this morning. Most people know that Malu is very outgoing, very spontaneous, and very entertaining. Well, when he was given a chance to comment on his promotion, he broke out in the "haka", a traditional Polynesian war dance (from New Zealand, actually). In case you've never seen or heard of it, click here and you'll be directed to YouTube for a look-see! I can only imagine how much fun he had doing this...and even more, what his unit thought as they saw him chanting away all by his lonesome. If anything, they probably know now more than ever not to mess with the guy.

Well, I'm back home now and it's 11:05 p.m. I'm contemplating making some cookies from a recipe out of Better Homes and Gardens. If you check my cooking blog tomorrow, maybe you'll see if I really did stay up a little longer just to soothe my aching sweet tooth! Good night to all and thanks for listening to my raving!

Happy Birthday Mom!

She'll probably kill me for revealing her age, but my mommy turned 53 today! Actually, October 18th is her first birthday. Can you believe that she really has two birthdays? No, really. Her other one is on the 25th. How, you ask? Well, when my great-grandfather brought my mom and her siblings (there were 7 of them) to the United States from the Philippines way back when, he mixed up all of their birthdays when he the signed their immigration papers. It's always a funny story to tell.

We originally made plans at PF Chang's for her birthday dinner. Halfway through today, mom suggested that we stay closer to home (because PF Chang's is a long ways from here) and go to Dragon King, which is literally three miles down the road from my place. We all agreed that it was a great idea and cancelled our PF Chang's reservation. We'd definitely get more for our money at Dragon King anyway, and I must admit that the food is so much better. And it was! My Auntie Shirley and Uncle Tony joined in on the fun and we all left completely satisfied!

I'm thinking now that I should have taken pictures of the dishes. I ordered an almond chicken dish and my brother ordered the "Happy Family" which is just a mixture of vegetables, beef, chicken and shrimp. Delicious! Here we are enjoying our dishes!

Uncle Tony was able to get a picture of the entire dinner crew. Would you believe that this is actually a small gathering for us? And then another picture of the Ioapo crew!

After dinner, we all came here (to my place) for dessert (as if we needed any--we were so full!). Whole Foods has a tantalizing chantilly cake topped with fresh fruit. Okay, can you say DEEEEEEEELICIOUS??? It looks so rich, but the frosting is actually very light. It's a white cake with more chantilly frosting between its two layers. I know I say lots of things are to die for, but this cake really is! If you have a Whole Foods store near you, I wholeheartedly suggest you go there and buy this cake. Sure, it's about $25 dollars, but you won't regret it! Mom also walked away with a few good gifts, so all in all it was a wonderful day despite a last minute change in plans!

Here's to another year mom and to many, many more! I've been truly blessed to have your love and support both as a mother and as a true friend. I love you!

Late Night Post

I think I'm just waiting on a phone call from Malu before I go to bed. I may not be able to fend the Z-monster off any longer. I'm tired. I just wanted to make this post to let all our family and friends know that Malu made it to Kuwait safely. One of the first things he said to me when they first arrived was that there were three dining facilities over there. My mom got a kick out of that when I told her. "Typical Malu," she said. Those of you that know my hubby know that he lives to eat--not really to savor any flavors in particular, just to be nourished really. But the guy eats like five times a day and if he can't do that, well forget it!

When he called it was dawn and everyone else had gone to bed. But not Malu! He said he wanted to stay awake and do some research on the country at the internet tent. I knew he was trying to get acclimated and used to the time difference. If it were me, I probably would have been one of the first to hit the sack, but hey, that's Malu for you. He called later on today (just before he was heading to bed) to tell me again that all was well and that, unlike his teammates who went gallavanting to the movie theater, he went to work out, to eat and was ready to hit the sack. I hope he was able to get some rest!

Okay, I've got to log off for now. I'm definitely about to fall asleep! Tomorrow should be fun. It's my mom's birthday and we're taking her to P.F. Chang's, one of her favorite restaurants. I love, love, LOVE their lettuce chicken wraps!!!!

Thank Goodness It's Thursday!

My weekend will officially start after classes tonight. I can't wait. I've been having a hard time sleeping ever since Malu left. Still coping, I suppose, but I'm in desperate need of some shut-eye and am wondering if I'll even be able to make it through class tonight. Lucky for me, my Organizational Behavior is a class actually worth going to. The professor is very interesting and the class, extremely interactive. I should be able to push through it.

Anyway, I'd like to welcome my good friends, Josh and Kim Schaub to the blogging world! Although only a few days old, their blog, Joshua and Kimberly's Journeys, is very exciting and I urge you to get to know them as I have. They're the greatest! I love you guys!





Well, Malu and his unit left from Fort Dix, NJ early this morning and have officially started their deployment. I'm not yet sure what the time difference is from here to there, but I expect they've touched ground somewhere over there, without any problems. I'll have to apologize in advance for some of the ambiguity that you will see when I put out any updates on him. It's an operational security type of thing, hence I can't give away any pertinent locations, travel routes, etc. Just know that he's officially out there somewhere and I ask that you keep him in your prayers!


You should also know to be proud of the fact that he is serving the country in this capacity. Those of us who know Malu know very well that he is the type of Soldier that you would want to entrust your freedom to at this time of war. He is the most capable and dedicated Non-commissioned Officer that I know and he has a genuine concern for Soldiers and for our Army's mission. I cannot understate the importance of his job. He works in Psychological Operations and will be engaging directly with the Iraqi people on a daily basis (which, of course, makes me extremely nervous). So again, please keep him in your thoughts and in your prayers. I'll be emailing (anyone who is interested) his mailing address as soon as I get it. He and his unit would appreciate an occasional package or letter!



Before he left this morning, he called to say goodbye and needless to say, I was a wreck. I hate showcasing my emotions like that, especially since worrying about me is the last thing he needs to do when ramping up for a deployment. But he understood and told me to pretend that he's going to be in NJ for a year, to get me away from thinking my morbid thoughts. Crazy guy. He also went on to tell me that no matter what happens and despite the obstacles we've faced together, I should always remember (and never doubt)how much he loved me and that he has since the moment we met. This picture was taken years ago in Iraq, where we met. One of the things I hate about this deployment is that I'm not going to be there with him. The day the picture was taken, we were waiting for a Blackhawk to take us to Baghdad. We had so much fun. I'll never forget that day, or all other days like it--good or bad. I miss my best friend, my sweet love. I wish you God speed in all your travels always!

Okay, gotta get ready for class! Until next time...

Guess Who Stopped By For the Weekend?

Yes...just like a refreshing, misty breeze on a beautiful, cloudless, summer day (even though it's fall), Malu came and went. Although the visit wasn't nearly long enough, we both considered it a blessing and we had a wonderful time. It's funny how the visit started. I had expected him to arrive on Wednesday morning in Denver. But in true Malu style, I get a few text messages on Tuesday afternoon while my friend, Vickie, and I were studying at Borders. It went something like this:

• Malu: Do you have a test tonight?
• Me: No, just a presentation. I should get done early tonight, hopefully.
• Malu: That would be cool.
• Me: Yes it would! What are you up to darling?
• Malu: Trying to figure out who's going to pick me up.
• Me: When, tomorrow? I am, silly.

I didn't hear back from him for a few minutes and it got me thinking. A few times way back when, that same conversation led to the same thing.....Malu trying to surprise me by coming home early. So I called him back and lo and behold, he's boarding a plane to Denver and arriving at 7:00 that evening. Although I thought it was so sweet for him to think of the idea, I could have killed the guy. Not only did I have a final presentation that evening for my finance class, I had planned on studying all evening for a final exam I had the next day! Needless to say, I left the presentation early and didn't study at all that evening for my final. Malu ended up driving a rental down from Denver to our house. Our small reunion was really nice. You should have seen Lucy. She jumped up at the both of us as we hugged as if to say, "daddy, hug me too!" It was all too cute! Anyway, there's a picture of the happy couple above!

After all my exams ended on Thursday, we were free to relax and have fun. On Friday night, Malu fired up the grill and barbecued all the Korean meat that Vickie and her mom had marinated a few days earlier. Pretty much the entire family and a few close friends came over and we indulged in our usual feast. Here's a look at some of the grub....mostly some Filipino dishes, which cannot be eaten without our big pot of rice (we actually had two of those).


It was so great to be a complete family again. I could tell the other members of the family missed Malu as much as I did, even though he'd only been gone for a short period of time. If the weekend were longer, we would have squeezed in some time for Malu to visit his family in Utah (and if you guys are reading--ahem, Auntie Jewel--we both send tons of our love to all of you over there!).

As I said, our close friends, Josh and Kim Schaub, drove up from Pueblo to say hello and goodbye to Malu. It's always so great to get together with those guys. Anna came as well, but I wasn't able to get a picture of her!

On Saturday, after having a late breakfast at IHOP with Jacques and Charisse, Malu and I spent the rest of the day doing what we do best--watching movies and eating pizza and just doing our usual goofing around. The weather was cold, cloudy, and rainy so it was just perfect! Not only that, Malu spent the late night hours recording himself playing and singing some songs on a tape for me so that I can hear his voice from time to time. Corny, but it came in handy when I got home the next morning from the airport and needed some cheering up!

But time always goes by so quickly when you don't want it to. We woke up at 4:30 this morning so that Malu could get to the Denver International Airport in time to catch his flight out to Philadelphia. One of my favorite things to do is to see Malu off to drill or to work. It's always a big thing for me and it stems back to the good ol' days when my dad would get ready to work and give us big kisses before he left for PT in the early morning. It's no different with Malu and Lucy always senses he's going away for a while when he does this routine. She was circling around him the entire time. Malu's such a good sport. He's never too tired to smile for the camera...even this early in the morning!

I don't care how long Malu and I have been doing these good-byes, it NEVER gets easier. We did it for the few months we were apart when I left Iraq before he did; the two or so years that we spent apart (me in NC and him in AL), this whole year with him being away a month or two at a time, and now this. I'm proud to say that I didn't cry as hard as I did a month ago when I thought I wasn't going to see him for an entire year.

Once again, my family came to the rescue. I was immediately taken to breakfast when I got home, then to church and then to lunch. They're even coming over in a little bit for dinner! Some treatment, huh? I don't know what I'd do without them.

Just so everyone knows, Malu touched ground in Philadelphia almost an hour ago and will be shuttled back to Fort Dix, NJ. His unit is scheduled to depart for Kuwait on the 16th. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers! And baby, if you're reading this...I love you. Be safe and have a great week and thank you for a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Recap & Week Ahead

Wow, I feel like I haven't had a moment of peace in a while...and I feel like it's only going to get more busy in the days ahead! My friend Vickie came in for the weekend. She's actually still here, but rotating between my house and those of some family friends that live in the area. Vickie and I went to college together at Fort Collins and we both commissioned into the Army, only she's two years younger than I am. So much has changed throughout the years...we're now both married and have made our way around the globe thanks to our jobs. She brought her mom with her and we've been able to spend some quality time together. On Saturday, she and her mom were able to show us how to make some of my favorite, authentic Korean dishes. We made kalbi (barbecued short ribs) and jap chae (this is a noodle dish--spelling???) and they were delicious. As you can see in these pictures, we definitely got our hands dirty!

Here are a few pictures of us marinating some beef and pork. And just so you know, I'd post all of these pictures on my cooking blog if I was able to get a definitive recipe. As with my mom and my grandma, their recipes are all stored in their brains....and I cannot work with measurements such as "a little bit of this", "a little bit of that", "a couple drops of...", or "just a swig of this". I mean, HELLO! If you ask me, it's a conspiracy and they're hiding little tidbits of recipe information so that people can't say you made the dish better than mom, or grandma, or whomever!

What was also cool about that day was that our mutual friend (more Vickie's friend--they were roommates in college--but we all used to hang out together), Nicole, drove down from Fort Collins (about two hours away) to spend some time with us. She now has a son, Logan, who is 2 (I believe) and is still as beautiful as I remember her. Here's a picture of the three of us. Vickie and I--well, let's face it...we look rough. But hey, we were cooking all afternoon and Nicole took off right after that picture was taken. We had to get at least one group picture!

So all in all, it was a pretty eventful weekend. Vickie doesn't leave until the 9th, but since Malu is coming in on Wednesday, she'll be staying with her other family friends until she departs. We'll be closer in a few months since I'll be moving to Texas. Actually, we'll be the same distance apart then that we are now since Texas is so stinkin' huge and El Paso is like eons away from San Antonio which, according to Vickie, is paradise on earth.

Did I mention that Malu is coming in this week? Yeah, I did! He'll be spending the four-day weekend here and I am so thrilled. But it'll sure making studying for finals really difficult. I have two--one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. I'll probably fail since the guy can be such a distraction! We're all so excited to have him back, even for a short time. My mom says that she doesn't want to see us at all while he's here. She (and my grandma) are expecting us to be "making babies", as they put it. They're so funny. But it would be super nice if it really happened!

Well, it's well past midnight. Almost 1:00 in fact and I'm so tired. I've got to hit the ground running tomorrow. I have an early morning appointment, studying to do, as well as a presentation in my finance class in the evening. Wish me luck!

Glimpses of Heaven

Today, I had the pleasure of taking my grandma to a PALS (Praise and Loving Seniors) potluck at our church. If any of you know my grandma, you know that she isn't one to be cooped up at home. She constantly has to be doing something. So on Sunday, when we'd heard that PALS was having a potluck this week, I thought it would be something fun for her to do. Plus, anytime she gets to cook for anyone, she jumps at the opportunity.

So, she whipped up her famous lumpia (Filipino eggrolls)--which are to die for--and we headed out to Pikes Peak Christian Church at around 11:30 this morning. If you've never been to a church potluck, well, you've been missing out. They're the best kind of potluck....so many good foods to try! This one was no different. These little ol' ladies (and some gents) can sure cook up a storm. You should have seen the desserts! Anyway, there's a picture of grandma gettin' her grub on.

There were so many people there and of course, I was the only "young" one there. I had a great time though. The best job I ever had was as a certified nurse's aide at an assisted living facility when I was in college. I met so many wonderful people, all of whom were at various stages of Alzheimer's. Being around this group of people brought back so many memories, less the effects of dementia, of course. The group played musical chairs for desserts and did a cake walk and everything. Those old fogies sure know how to have some fun :) Grandma and I are now going to do this on a monthly basis--at least until I move!

After all the eating was done, one of the pastors administered a message and his theme was the title of this blog: Glimpses of Heaven. In short, he said that God meant for us to have occasional glimpses of what we call heaven because he intends for all of us to be in heaven one day. To "see" heaven--whether it be what comes to mind when we think about heaven above, about things in nature, in a loved one, or in a cherished moment-- is a gift from God. He then asked each person to make a list of their glimpses of heaven and to share them with everyone at your table. My grandma was the first to share her list, of which included some of the following:

• her beautiful roses: she cultivates daily at my parents' house. I swear, it looks like the Botanical Gardens there.

• happy faces
• angels
• glittering lights
• singing and dancing
• streets of gold
• pearly gates

And the one that made her cry (and almost brought tears to my eyes) was when she said that her heaven is seeing my grandpa up there, smiling and holding his arms wide open, and waiting for her to join him. Oh my gosh....tears!

So it got me thinking of what my glimpses of heaven are. I suppose I could list a few:

• the breath of life and the chance to wake up every morning to a beautiful day

• family and friends
  


• And the unconditional love that comes not only from God, but from these two. Watching the two of them sleep soundly (sometimes together--it's so cute) is also another cherished moment that I call my heaven.

God has truly blessed me with his gift of heaven and for this, I am so grateful. So let me ask you....what are your glimpses of heaven?

Well, it's past 1:00 a.m. and I need to get some shut-eye. I can't believe it's almost the end of the week. One of my best friends, Vickie, is coming in from San Antonio on Friday, so it's going to be one heck of a weekend. AND....Malu is going to be here in a week! We bought the tickets today, so it's official!