GIFTS

My friends and clients never cease to amaze me.  I am truly blessed to be showered with a lot of gifts so far from Christmas.

It all started with this:

Gift certificates to Cabalen (yum, yum) from one of the owners
whose nephews  Fort  and Karl made  this summer an interesting one

Then Toni who has been with with for three years now gave me these pens to start the new school year with.

Really nice pens that glide on paper

My kumare, Elsa and my inaanak Levi sent Ninang Jo a boxfull of goodies.  The box is a pleasant surprise coz I was only waiting for the lotion.  But if you should know anything about Elsa, she never does anything halfway...  he he he, to my advantage.

my favorite lotion brand
coz it's free

I am still deciding if this will go to
a salad dish or a soup topping

Good for salad

Choco cake mix... need I say more?

Butter Popcorn is the best!

new flavor not yet available sa Pinas

Last summer Nica and her Mom went on a European Tour and of course, like last year when Nica went to China (I got a specially made keychain with my name),  I got Swiss chocolates this time.  Sorry, we already ate one full bar.  I like European choco bars coz they are really long and big.  

If you happen to go to Europe, you know what to get me.

and my second Eiffel Tower key chain.
I love them and use them both.

Fort and Karl were able to get in a private school 

after our summer preparation... and see what I

got as a thank you gift!

Ma'am Tisha presented me with these wedge-styled
Crocs as an early Christmas gift.  I was already able
to use them when storm Falcon came to town.  Thanks!
I have to admit though, managing the 3.5 inch heels 

was quite the challenge!

You see folks, I well and truly appreciate your gifts.  To honor the giver, I use them every chance I get.  So please keep them coming!

Kidding aside, I count myself truly blessed... there's a lot more without the photos.. pasalubong from Rachel from the States, artistic creations and stuff from Kobe, small appliances from the Co's for my birthday and Christmas.  Keena gifts me love every time I see her.  I tell you, there are a lot and if I write them all down I will be typing for a long time.

The secret to my being... well... on the heavy side (Is that a politically correct term enough?) are the endless snacks, lunches and dinners that people seem to know intuitively, I enjoy a lot!  Ha ha ha.  Funny, there are some houses I visit that as soon as I step foot inside the door, I can hear the mom saying, "O yung merienda ni Teacher ha."  Oh well....

One thing I learned though, receive gratefully and give graciously and the blessings pour unto you continuously.  

The real treat though is in knowing that you have been instrumental as these kids learn the fine art of giving (I don't mind being a guinea pig) and hopefully they will remember as their eyes are opened to the challenges of the world out there.