Dear Loved Ones,

Pleasant Greetings to everyone! Happy Christmas and more Blessed New Year and Thanks God for the many Blessings received for year 2007!

After Thanksgiving Day (which was spent mostly at church and home), we joined the rest of America to the black Friday shopping spree. We brought home, among others, a new digital camera and electronic piano-organ. Now, Sean can resume playing Nocturne, other classic and Maksim music, and my favorite ABBA songs.

Personalities in my Circle. We held our Opus Dei circle with Deidre as our supernumerary/ leader, who just returned from a 3-year stay in Naples, Italy. She stayed there with her family (her husband on assignment with the military, and their 7 children (ages 3 to 18). They are back for good, adjusting well with American life, driving a big van, full of enthusiasm – amazing energy, with her big family! On the other hand, Libby (our host for the circle at her home) had just returned from a 5-year stint in Asia (last stay was in Thailand; she also stayed for 1 year in Manila working at the U.S. Embassy). During her Asian sojourn, she had her husband (also on assignment with the State Dept.) and baby (Simone, now 3 years old) and came back, bringing with them a container full of Asian treasures which she had on display for sale at her home as showroom. Being used to house helps in Asia, she is having difficulty adjusting to life here and is on the verge of depression. While I identify myself more with Deidre, I also empathize fully with Libby’s circumstances.

It might be a similar situation for my hubby Gerry if he decides to stay here. How can he give up Pinas life easily, when he enjoys the company of a driver, 2 house helps, and assistants in the office, ready at his beck and call? In contrast here, office top bosses in their seventies mix their own coffee in the break room, do their own photocopies of documents, or drive their cars, among others; I pity looking at them sometimes. Oh well, I am so blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds, that I am open to different life circumstances because early in my career, I acquired good influences with my Scandinavian experience (like better quality of life, higher gender equality, best socialist democracy government) and by reading inspiring books/biographies, like Liv Ullman’s book ‘Choices’. By the way, in 1981, I visited her home in Trondheim, Norway while she was there, and watched live an ABBA concert in Oslo.

Currently, I feel the pressure to take the CE professional exam for me to assume a higher office position, the tedious routine of long driving and the need for me to relax a little to enjoy life more. Since I do not intend to stay here long, by January 2008 I will quit my County consultancy job and focus on my NU Faculty assignment, teaching being my passion. Toward this end, I just joined a Scripture Study group at St. Mel’s church, starting with First Corinthians, with the objective to deepen understanding of my faith and more time on the essentials of life. Next year, I also plan to enroll in the Scripture Institute of the catholic University of Sacramento, as part of maximizing potentials and learning for life.

Photos attached are: 1) at home with Sean taken on the new 10 mega pixel digicam; 2) another shot of our new organ; 3) at our home altar. Thanks for God’s Graces! Let us continue to pray for our country and people - Peace and Joy to You. God Bless us all!!!

Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG