Pizza

I knew at some point I would be thankful for food sometime this year.  Today's recurring food theme is none other than my favorite Italian cuisine....pizza.

For lunch I met with some friends for pizza at the Pizza Palace, my second time there.  Great New York style pizza.  I highly recommend it if you're in the Jacksonville area.

Later that evening on my way home, I stopped by another friend's house to hang out.  They had one slice of pizza left that had my name all written on it.

Some more friends stopped by the same house...and what did they bring?  Yup.  More pizza.

I would like to thank the people of Italy for such a wonderful dish.

Simple Beauty

Today was a very challenging day, but instead of focusing on that, I wanted to share something simple that I noticed (not for the first time, though)...the beauty of nature that God created around us.

While I was walking to the high school that I had attended, I really noticed how blue the sky was, and the green of the grass and shrubbery, even in our funky Florida weather that can't make up her mind.  And among the buildings that man has created (btw, I'm not a tree hugger), there's nothing quite as beautiful as the natural surroundings that God has created.  

And that just put a smile on my face, just as God intended it to do.  Thank you.  :-)

Baby Sitting

Tonight I had a chance to babysit one of my best friend's son, Enriquo, who is 10 years old.  It's a pretty normal occurrence, so I'm OK with the task.  Now that he is older, the job is pretty cushy, meaning that he just entertains himself, and as long as he doesn't kill himself, I should be fine.

I think the first time I ever babysat someone on my own was my niece, Calimarie, when she was five years old (2006).  It was pretty interesting.  The only thing I remembered doing was fixing her some pop-tarts, and by fixing, I mean, cutting the edges off for her.  My brother told me that she doesn't like the edges.  Part of me thought "If she doesn't like the edges....make her take it off herself", but she was five, and that was my brother's instructions.   However, she didn't finish eating her pop-tarts and while she thought I wasn't watching, she proceeded to throw a good portion of them away.

Kids have an uncanny sense that they are being caught, or rather, they look around to see if they are getting away with whatever they're not suppose to do.   In this case, as she looked up from the trash can in the middle of the crime, she saw that I was just a few feet away, staring at her, with a smirk on my face.  You should have seen the look on her face...that horrified look only a cute five year old can give.  She started to plead, "Please don't tell Daddy that I was a bad girl!!!"  Cute, huh?

OK...enough reminiscing.

Tonight, Enriquo and I got Chinese food, and then watched two episodes of "Flash Point".  Somewhere in there I made him walk the dog...and then later in the evening, I showed him that the dog is defly afraid of our trash bins.  Have you ever seen a dog put on the brakes and slide through the yard?

Like I said, a very cushy job.

And I'm glad that I have these moments to be of some influence in a child's life.

I actually had a teaching moment with Enriquo, but I'll spare the details.  It was just neat to have that moment of instruction...and then quickly transform from the parent type back to a friend, asking him about his day and joking around about stuff.  And that's the part that is missing in my life.

I've watched a lot of my friends start families, and go through the growing pains of parenthood. Some of their children are teenagers now.

I do not and can not comprehend the love of a parent for a child, but I hear it's unlike anything in this mortal life.   Through this experience of parenthood, we understand more fully God's love for us, His patience, His forgiveness, His urgings to do the right things, in hopes that we choose to be more like Him.  That's because we follow those same principles and patterns when we raise our own children...or at least that's what I hear. ;-)

An another note, someone once told me (one of my church leaders when I was living in Northern California) that a man remains Spiritually stagnant, until he becomes a father, or more specifically, a father in Zion.  Can someone confirm that for me?

Parenthood is something I look forward to some day, whether they are my own children, or if they are part of a family I marry into.

But for now, I'll take those little babysitting moments anytime.

Rehearsal

Today was our first rehearsal in the new year for the First Coast Wind Ensemble.  I enjoy this time away from the rigors of "normal" life, by doing something that I really love.  We're preparing for our next series of concerts which will be in February.  The first rehearsal is mostly reading down the new music.  I actually performed one of the pieces in high school and college, Linconshire Posy (that's Posy with a long "o" sound, not Possy, as in my homies), so that brought back a lot of memories.  It is one of my favorite pieces.

After more than 26 years of participating in various music groups, I am still amazed that a group of people can work together as one, to produce beautiful music.  The musicians in this volunteer group come from different walks of life, different professions, and different musical training, but the universal language of music, written music, is all the same, and with the swing of the director's baton, we translate these notes on the page into something that is artistically and emotionally alive, putting our own little part into this instrumental harmony that  truly transcends our own individual selves.

It all doesn't happen at once though...we still need to practice (read like Allen Iverson) together.

I was in the "Pride of the Sunshine" marching band when I attended the University of Florida.  The band is BIG (300+ on the field), compared to the high school band that I came from (roughly 80).  In the high school band, I  knew everyone.  In college, I didn't.  During marching band practice at Florida, I would sometimes look across from where I was standing, to the other side of the field, and notice the people that I don't know.  And yet, here we are, coming together as one, putting a show together, step by step, note by note.

Still amazes me to this day.

I'm thankful that I can participate in these music ensembles.  I am also grateful for people who appreciate the music we perform.

A Second Chance, Revisited

It's just been over a week since I've started my daily blog of thanksgiving, and it has already resulted in somewhat of a miracle for one of my friends.

Remember the post that I wrote about my grade school/high school friend Charlie Gatz? (Entitled "A Second Chance")

Charlie and I haven't been in contact for awhile, even though we are Facebook friends.  Well, I received an unexpected email from him today, with the subject "You're Not Going to Believe This".

After reading his email, I was just floored, happy, speechless, humbled...every positive emotion I can think of.

With his permission, I present to you his edited email with some minor commentary:

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To: Vladimir Paje
From: Charlie Gatz
Date:  1/09/2012
Subject: You're Not Going to Believe This

Vlad (aka Bob),

The best way to describe this e-mail to you, Vlad, is to say that it's a 'witnessing' from me to you.  I think you'll understand that.  Here goes:

I just got an e-mail today from my fiancee - in Australia. ...  In it, she told me about something she wasn't sure she should have done.  Unable to sleep, she Googled my name, which brought up your recent blog about me.   ...

Well, your blog gave her the encouragement she needed to get through what is to be our last stretch of being separated before we get married.  She had been burying what she has been feeling lately- and she sent me an e-mail before the one mentioning your blog that we need to make time to talk with each other more often.  She said that your blog inspired her to be thankful for what she has now rather than what she is missing.

So, in this regard, I have to give you thanks, Vlad.  You've given someone very special to me strength to get through a very trying time - half way across the world, yet closely tied to your past.  It amazes me that she (my fiancee, all the way in Australia) was able to read a blog by a good high school friend (which she doesn't realize).  

You are forever forgiven for dating Kathy Woodard knowing I wanted to date her so very badly.  LoL
[Kathy was a mutual band friend of ours in Jr and Sr. high school, and was my first girlfriend.  And for the record, she liked me first ;-) Sorry, Charlie :-P]

Additional stuff:  [This part talks about how Charlie met his fiancee, a neat story in of itself] 

I met my fiancee in a chat room in 2005 while going through my divorce.  We started to get to know each other and shortly after spending many hours together online, decided *gasp!* to try the long distance relationship thing.  We lasted about six months ( a very special six months though) but couldn't keep it going so we went our separate ways.  

Fast forward 5 years.  No contact, no e-mails, I've been dating someone I wasn't really happy with but unsure what direction to take my life.  I left the person to make a new life for myself and during this time of change, kept thinking about her.  Mainly, how I thought she was the one that "got away".  

So, for about two weeks - I searched for her.  I had no mailing address, no e-mail address or phone number with which to try and get a hold of her.  While putzing around on an old MSN Messenger account we used to talk through, I was poking around her profile and found an e-mail address I hadn't recognized.  I was pretty discouraged by this time and had come to the conclusion that I probably wouldn't be able to get a hold of her.  I sent an e-mail just pouring my heart out and sent it. 

Two days later, she e-mailed me back!  

We kept e-mailing, updating each other on what's been going on in our lives in the past 5 years.  I asked if she had settled down and found happiness to which she replied she hadn't.  Every night since finding her, I prayed saying "Thank you" to God for having me find her again.   Never have I prayed so much in my life: not even when I was dating Cathy Tyre! [Another mutual band friend]

Though we couldn't figure out 'how' we were going to be together (she's from another country and we've never met!) - things started to work out.  First, she made plans to visit with me this past December.  O M G, Vlad, you want to talk about nervous?!!! I've known this woman for 6 years, told her my deepest darkest secrets and was suddenly going to meet her in person! 

On December 3rd, I picked her up from Orlando International and met her for the first time.  We got along great!  We confirmed what we already knew- that we were so compatible, that I drove her to Key West on a full moon weekend, took her to the highest building and proposed to her.  She said,"YES!"  

Now, we are trying to get a K1 Visa so that she can enter the country to marry me. The biggest hurdle which was to prove we had actually met, was now behind us and now we want to spend the rest of our lives together.  

Her going back home and trying to go back to what we had been doing for a year's time is the hardest part of this whole experience.  We just have to get through this last part and then we're going to be able to be with each other indefinitely.  

Nevertheless, she has been pretty discouraged.  . . that is, until she read your blog about me.  

So, again, thanks Vlad : )   I owe you much for that blog! 

Sincerely and appreciatively,

~Charlie

P.S. I did read the blog (She linked it in an e-mail she sent to me).  I don't remember you doing that in the cafeteria.  I wouldn't put it past you though LoL.  It was a very nice blog :)

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Sunday School

For 2012, I've decided that I would devote my Sunday posts to Spiritual things.

For those of you who don't know, I'm a Mormon, which is a nickname for people who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   You may have seen those "I'm a Mormon" ads on TV or internet.  You can read my "I'm a Mormon" profile here.  

The nickname comes from another set of scriptures that we read in conjunction to the Bible, called The Book of Mormon.  I'm really excited that this year's Sunday School curriculum is devoted to this book.  Last year, we studied the New Testament, and the year before, it was the Old Testament.  

As the Sunday School teacher was going through the overview of the Book of Mormon, and how it is a keystone to our religion,  I traveled back in time, some 20+ years ago, when I didn't believe in God.  That was during my high school years.  I grew up as a Catholic, like most Filipinos, but then I stopped believing in Him.

I started dating someone at the time that was a Mormon, but I didn't want anything to do with religion, because I didn't believe God existed.  But during the later part of my high school years and my first year in college, I began questioning the meaning of life, and if there really was something more out there. 

Ultimately, it was the Book of Mormon, through reading and prayer, that brought me back to God.  I had a personal relationship with God again.  I also knew who to turn to as my Savior, and that is His Son Jesus Christ.  I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can return to my Heavenly Father again, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon, for it has helped me come to Christ, and daily reading ensures that I keep living a more Christ-centered life.  

The Book of Mormon is a historical record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas (600 B.C. to 400 A.D.) It is holy scripture comparable to the Bible and contains Christ’s everlasting gospel. Its central message is to convince all “that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”  Click here for more information.

Family Time

Today was one of the few times that I had a chance to do something together with my parents.  Using a makeshift grill, they decided to grill some chicken...a lot of chicken.  And some fish too.  And some squid on a stick.

But back to the chicken.  It was really neat standing around the grill, each with a utensil in hand to turn and move the chicken around.   Just a nice time together.  

Here's a picture of my mom basting some squid on a stick...yum :-)

I'm thankful for the time I had to spend with my parents today.