My Birthday

January 19 was me and my Daddy’s birthday. I had planned to ask Ate Flore to play with her ducklings in the morning and play games with my friends in the afternoon. But sometimes things don’t go as planned they are even better. We had a snow day for my birthday. After Daddy left to Moral Recovery Program, we got a Skype call from my Grandma’s house. They had invited the whole family over to celebrate my birthday. Grandma held a piece of cake with a candle on it up to the Webcam so I could blow it out. Then I unwrapped the present Grandma had sent me, a Rummikub game. Grammy and Papa had helped so I also got a keyboard. What I really wanted for my birthday was a list of all the good things about me. Grammy read it out loud. Later in the afternoon, my friends came, Ruffie, Rhealyn, Roselyn and Charmain. We played Twister together. Then we ate pizza and popcorn. Roselyn gave me a bracelet and some cards. Charmain wrote me a card that touched me very much:

First of all I would like to greet you a 14th birthday and thanks for being friendly. I hope that you can not change your good attitude (like trying harder to do the best that you could) and I wish that many years from now you become a successful woman. Cause I believe you so I know that you can reach your goal in life. I hope that you enjoying to stay here in Bontoc. I’m so proud to you my friend.

Adriana

Adriana's Birthday

January 19 was me and my Daddy’s birthday. I had planned to ask Ate Flore to play with her ducklings in the morning and play games with my friends in the afternoon. But sometimes things don’t go as planned they are even better. We had a snow day for my birthday. After Daddy left to Moral Recovery Program, we got a Skype call from my Grandma’s house. They had invited the whole family over to celebrate my birthday. Grandma held a piece of cake with a candle on it up to the Webcam so I could blow it out. Then I unwrapped the present Grandma had sent me, a Rummikub game. Grammy and Papa had helped so I also got a keyboard. What I really wanted for my birthday was a list of all the good things about me. Grammy read it out loud. Later in the afternoon, my friends came, Ruffie, Rhealyn, Roselyn and Charmain. We played Twister together. Then we ate pizza and popcorn. Roselyn gave me a bracelet and some cards. Charmain wrote me a card that touched me very much:

First of all I would like to greet you a 14th birthday and thanks for being friendly. I hope that you can not change your good attitude (like trying harder to do the best that you could) and I wish that many years from now you become a successful woman. Cause I believe you so I know that you can reach your goal in life. I hope that you enjoying to stay here in Bontoc. I’m so proud to you my friend.

Adriana

Language Lessons

We have begun the long road of language learning. I must correct myself and say a more-fun-than-not, long road of language learning. I, myself, love learning the new sounds, words, and sentences. I also am encouraged to keep learning by the people that have said I have a good accent. The only part that is hard for me is the system we are using is sometimes hard for me. We pretend we are babies and so we have to keep hearing the word before we say it. My parents say I like to rush ahead so I don’t like to wait until I have heard it so many times that I can say it. I like to say it whenever I learn it.
Our language helper is Rengie, an SSM student. She does a great job being patient with us. We normally meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to do lessons. Tuesday and Thursday are supposed to be set aside for studying. ;o)

Still Dancing,
Alexie

Encouraging Words

People in just the past year have given me encouraging words. This month someone said that I had good accent. He had asked me what I knew in Ilokano and said that. What he said really encouraged me to keep on learning Ilokano and plus it is fun to learn a new language.

Also last year, Peter Helms did this: He was going to speak that night, but before he began he asked me to stand. He asked my name as he had not met me before. He continued to tell me, “I saw you at lunch today looking at a baby. I could only see your face, I saw light all around you, it was Jesus and His angels ministering to this little one through you. This is what He will do continually. You will lift up the downtrodden. You will look into their faces and see the Lord Jesus and as you see the Lord on them, the people will see the Lord. You will minister life, hope and faith to them.

The gift of creativity is big on you. Areas of dance and music are part of God's expression in your life. Flow with that because people around you will meet Jesus and His healing through your expression. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you. I see a great joy and light of God upon you."

I thank God for the blessing He has given me of encouraging words.

Alexie

We were tagged!

We have been tagged. So here it is:

Here are the rules:1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you. 2. Post the rules on your blog. 3. Write eight random things about yourself. 4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. 5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
I was tagged by apulseandapurpose.blogspot.com/ .

Annalise

1. I got shot in the head with an arrow.

2. Carrots are my favorite veggie.

3. I have flown half way around the world 3 times before I turned 6.

4. My favorite subject in school is handwriting.

5. I like to sweep the floors.

6. My favorite number is six.

7. When I grow up, I want to own a cat and a chick.

8. My favorite books are fairy tale books.

Alayna

1. I fell off a bridge headfirst fully dressed into a creek.
2. I have the same middle name as my mom.
   
3. My favorite book is ''Clementine''.
4. I wish I could have more freckles.
5. My favorite puncuation is !!!
   
6. I read the whole Bible before I was 9!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. I was in a parade before I could walk.
8. I have a doll that I always sleep with named Sugarplum.

Alexie

1. I really like books about Egypt.
2. I want to take a DTS with Jordan, my cousin and best friend, before I begin college.
3. I love to be with young children.
4. I always wanted to have brown skin and black hair.
5. I want to be a nurse.
6. Some day I want to write a song album.
7. Some day I want to be fluent in a different language.

8. I love cheese.

Adriana

1. I hate morning doves because they make me think of proud old ladies.
2. I want to become an author.
3. My favorite book is The Horse and His Boy.
4. I collect almost everything: rocks, coins, Indian beads, etc.
5. I love trying new foods.
6. I used to have an imaginary friend called Sashi Dotie
   
7. I want to go to Kenya, South Korea, and the Amazon Rainforest.
8. I have been on TV and in the newspaper.

Now we want to tag

• Glenice, finggayan.blogspot.com
  
• Dad and Mom, garden-of-grace.blogspot.com
  
• Emily,Lauren, Amy, lifefor5kids.blogspot.com
  
• Miss Valerie, valerieterpstra.blogspot.com
• Mikayla , sjhagen.blogspot.com
  

My 2 Little Special Friends in the Philippines

One of my friends is Jenny. She is 4 going on 5. I first meet her when she was 3. She lives in Naic at the Valley Cathedral. I had a lot of fun tutoring her and carrying her and carrying her. I was kind of surprised that people would tutor a 3 year old. She was good at shapes. Even though I was only with her 3 weeks and 2 days, we are friends. I love her.
The other one is Teah. Teah is 2 going on 3. She lives in Baguio, but since her grandparents are Ate Rufina and Cuya Patrick, she comes to Bontoc to visit. I have enjoyed holding her. Even though she has only visited twice, we are good friends. I love her.

On Top of the Jeepney, On Top of the World

Yesterday we got to go to the Mainit hot springs again. It was fun and we didn't get sunburned as much as last time. The big pool was full. The highlight of the trip for me, however, was on the way back. I got to ride on top of the jeepney with Daddy! I had always wanted to but last year Dad said no. I didn't actually think I could do it because of my fear of heights but I did it!

It has the best view and is the most uncomfortable place to sit. Daddy told me I was to sit in the "cage". But the bars dug into my bottom. I learned that if you take off one flip-flop and put it under your bottom it makes a more comfortable seat.

There was nothing but sky and trees overhead. I could feel the wind in my hair. It was a little chilly, but who cares? It felt like I was on the top of the world.

We passed a few caribous and cows. We saw a mountain that looked like a perfectly symmetrical volcano. Later in our trip, we saw the swimming pool in Bontoc (from above) that we had heard of. The best part was when I was able to see our house from high up on the mountain. It's so nice to be able to point from somewhere and say "That's my home."

We had two encounters with other people: one good and one bad. The first one was bad. As we were going past, an unseen somebody threw mud at us . The second one was good. As we passed another jeepney, they seemed to be talking about us. When we asked one of our fellow passengers what they said, he said they were calling me a doll. We get so many compliments here.

Love,

Adriana