Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! The activities for the month were so varied and exciting as it brought me to different places with families and friends to enjoy the broad spectrum of life: relaxing vacations, politics, spiritual commitments, and global environment – Thanks GOD!

 

I finally got the ‘gold crown’ for the image of the Infant Jesus of Prague of Fr. George, which I custom-ordered from Pinas, brought in by Atty. Victor and Lulu Villanueva. Much Thanks to this wonderful couple! I am so glad that Fr. George

so happy with the crown and globe – so sparklingly beautiful beyond our expectations! Now, Fr. George wants to order another one for another image and I am so happy to accommodate his request as my apostolate and service!

Instead of going to Pinas for the St. Augustine fiesta , my daughter Sarah asked me to visit New Jersey to grandson-sit for her son MAX and my husband Gerry willingly agreed to pay for my r-trip airfare, so off I went for my bonding-time with them. Max and I spent time at the Montclair library, storing up knowledge – reading, doing Math and Science problems on his workbook to prepare for the school year. We went to daily Mass at St. Cassian church in Montclair, watched a movie (Max and Sarah went to Fantastic Four, while I watched No Escape (featuring Owen Wilson / Pierce Brosnan) set in chaotic Indonesia. We also went for lunch with Francis and Tita Dompor at Crab Shack and celebrated the Feast of St. Augustine with sumptuous Filipino food from Five Chris, and enjoyed the unavoidable shopping spree for Max’s needs. I am so glad with my observation that Sarah is so devoted in our faith and prayers.

Other highlights of the month:

·      I continuously serve as Eucharistic Minister (Eucharist or Precious Blood) twice a month. To prepare for worthiness to serve, I pray a lot, do fasting, and mortification. Please help me Lord!

·      Good news! Our POEA business license to operate for another 5 years was released a month ahead (September 20 was due date), which is a result of the efficient compliance to requirements by our office staff in Manila.  Made sure that complete documentation were completed at least 3 months lead time ahead, in order to avoid penalties and for our Principals to be delighted! Congratulations to all our staff for the team effort and cooperation!

·      Had the preventive maintenance of my 335i BMW at Roseville, then went on my regular food shopping at Oriental; keep our home always clean to be ready for unexpected visitors to drop by; I am spending more time at the Adoration, especially when Marge calls me to sub for others who cannot make it to their committed schedule; it means more time communicating with the Lord;

·      My new convert friend Hanh went on vacation to southern California, an we continuously communicate our comments on Bible verses thru e-mails; it is very interesting to have Ms. Hanh ask questions and my opinions on our faith, and I am challenged to really think hard and review the tenets of our faith, to be true and faithful to our Catholic teachings,; Thanks God for this opportunity!

·      Movies watched: ‘Man from Uncle’ starring Henry Cavill and Armi Hammer, and No Escape, watched in New Jersey. Continued with The 33 Doctors of the Church, review of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologia, and The Faith of our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbons;

Attached are 4 photos with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! With school on vacation, families on out of town trips, and summer heat on 3-digit figures, many activities are held in abeyance until the fall season. We are still experiencing drought although authorities are more lenient since we are achieving our water conservation targets!

The weekly ‘Truckin’ Tuesdays’ (5 – 9PM), where food trucks gather and park around our clubhouse park and offer various delightful foods, is becoming popular attracting more crowds gathering to bond with one another and savor fo

ods not ordinarily prepared in home kitchens; it is a welcome respite after an hour of workout in the gym. Likewise, new restaurants have been cropping up along Sunrise: Pieology, Chick-fille-a, Chipotle, among others, which are signs of prosperity in Rancho C. In fact, they have installed new traffic cameras along the route, as part of their $ 10 M surplus budget for the year.

The annual CA state fair was held on July 10 – 26, featuring, among others, concerts, county food fair, markets, etc.; one concert we attended was the Air Supply ( July 12) – a beautiful evening of love songs after 40 years of being together; the big crowd of contemporary seniors enjoyed singing to their hit songs – very nostalgic and memorable.

 

Other highlights of the month:

• I continuously serve as Eucharistic Minister (Eucharist or Precious Blood) twice a month. To prepare for worthiness to serve, I pray a lot, do fasting, and mortification. Please help me Lord! We have a newly-ordained priest at St. Mel’s, Fr. Victor Gutierrez, of Italian roots. He is so cute, and has a clear, loud speaking voice – an inspiration!
• On our Opus Dei group, Fr. Turlock had Mass on our regular 2^nd Saturday Recollection, followed by Meditation, Confession, more talks, examination of conscience, culminated by the Benediction; I am spending more time at the Adoration, especially when Marge calls me to sub for others who cannot make it to their committed schedule; it means more time communicating with the Lord;
• A new Catholic convert Ms. Hanh Le Bielski has become close, as she considers me her Mentor and I am touched when she thanks Jesus for sending me into her life. We spend time walking along the American River, discussing doctrine, reading Scriptures, sharing the Faith. I do my best to be a worthy guide in our journey of our life faith – GOD Bless us all the way!

• Movies watched: ‘The Ant-Man’ starring Paul Rudd; not so many good movies this season. The 33 Doctors of the Church, review of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologia, and The Faith of our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbons;

Attached are 4 photos with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! The summer heat is catching up on us in this part of the world coupled with having to bear the effects of the drought like complying with government mandates on strict water consumption; penalties ranging up to 10,000 USD, LOL!

We have our summer break on our monthly SACCatholic Lunch Club to allow parents to plan and enjoy out-of-town activities with their children who are likewise on school breaks; lunch speakers will resume in September at the Red Lion Woodlake Hotel.

A welcome feature in our community is the weekly ‘Truckin’ Tuesdays’ (5 – 9PM), where food trucks gather and park around our clubhouse park and offer various delightful foods, affording neighbors to meet, greet, and bond with one another; I was reunited with former Anatolia neighbors, as we enjoyed ‘other than home-cooked’ foods. As many as 20 trucks offer delights like steaks, sandwiches, salads, funnel cakes, ice creams, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Russian, Italian, etc. You just need to bring Cash!

 

Sean had been away for weeks on audit work to the Tahoe / Nevada area, driving his rental big pick-up truck by himself, while I was kept busy catching up on housework, laundry, ironing, gardening, and my church commitments; alone but not lonely.

   

Other highlights of the month:

• June 12:  Sean’s Filipino colleagues at EDD organized a Pinas Independence day gathering at the home of Rose Davies; More than 20 came to join dinner, games, dancing, fun; Sean and I got the 1^st 2 prizes; definitely. I know my Pinas history!
• The 2^nd week of June, Sarah went to Vermont to attend her 2015 MBA Graduation at Norwich University. They had a five-day schedule of activities, including long 4-hour drive enjoying the scenic views and nature; a welcome respite from hectic city life! Congratulations Sarah!
• I serve as Eucharistic Minister (Eucharist or Precious Blood) twice a month. To prepare for worthiness to serve, I pray a lot, do fasting, and mortification. Please help me Lord!
• June 19: Our Opus Dei group had Mass for St. Josemaria Escriva (in anticipation of his feastday on June 26) at St. Mel’s Church at 7:00pm, followed by ‘pot luck’ dinner; as usual I took charge of ‘collection’ and food / venue arrangement; it was well attended by group members; However, we missed Deidre who was in Illinois for her mother’s funeral.

·      Movies watched: ‘Andreas’ starring Dwayne Johnson, ‘Jurassic World’ with Chris Pratt;    ‘Aloha’, Bradley Cooper. Books read: You Can Change and GOD and Come Encounter Jesus (Personal Relationship with Jesus) by Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, and The Faith of our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbons;

Attached are 4 photos with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA!  Happy to be back to my California home after our 9-days (May 22 – 30) visit to New Jersey/New York bonding with Sarah’s family. Actually, Sean MBA graduation. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM! And Much Thanks GOD for all the Blessings and safe journey! and I visited them to attend MAX’s 1st Holy Communion and Sarah’s

On our SACCatholic Lunch Club held at the Red Lion Woodlake Hotel on May 21, the guest speaker was Dr. Paul O’reilly  on the topic "The Wisdom of Genesis.", an examination of the opening chapters of Genesis in light of commentaries by St. Augustine and St. Thomas.

Now, perhaps more than ever, Scripture is misunderstood, belittled, and even attacked by believers and non-believers alike. The Book of Genesis is not immune to criticism. It has been called everything from naive prattle to pernicious writing; it has been described as merely myth, or the combination of different cultural and ignorant traditions, rarely is it considered a book of great wisdom. At least one reason for a failure to recognize the wisdom of Genesis is a lack of understanding of the great Catholic tradition of serious biblical commentary. Noteworthy among the great commentators are St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

In this talk, Dr. O’Reilly, President of Thomas Aquinas College, explored how a look at Genesis through the eyes of St. Augustine and St. Thomas reveals the depths of meaning in the opening book of the Bible. It is crucial for Catholics to understand, as St. John Paul II put it, “The word of God is not addressed to any one people or to anyone period of history. Similarly, dogmatic statements, while reflecting at times the culture of the people in which they were defined, formulate an unchanging and ultimate truth.”

Highlight of the month was our trip to New Jersey / NY (May 22 – 30) to attend the 1^st Holy Communion of our grandson MAX and Sarah’s MBA graduation. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM! Our friend Russel picked Sean and I from home 4:00AM for our DELTA flight via Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Newark, NJ. After Sarah/Sean picked us, we proceeded to have dinner at Nuonna’s Italian restaurant. Itinerary of our visit:

May 23:  Woke up early to go shopping at NJ Gardens Outlets – Coach bags for Sarah and myself, shoes for Sean and Max, dresses / shirts and others for Sarah, Sean, and Max. They took advantage of the memorial sale and ‘no / lower sales tax’ in NJ;

May 24: Big 1^st Holy Communion day for MAX; Special arrangement were made by Fr, Mark and St. Cassian church staff. Sarah and Max did the offering and Max received the Eucharist first. After the picture-taking with family and friends, we had lunch reception for 20 at Matthew’s Italian Restaurant, 1131 Bloomfield Ave., Clifton, NJ 07012. The menu was balanced and healthy (2 appetizers, 3 entrees, desert – fruits and cake, drinks).

May 25: More shopping and lunch at MAX’s restaurant in Newark, NJ, with take-outs from Red Ribbon;

 

May 26: Mail-drops at USPS; Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Montreal, NJ; Lunch at Manny’s Café;

May 27: Dropped Sarah at train station, then Max at his school at 7:30 AM, then Sean and I took the train at Bay St. to Penn station in NY. From 32^nd St./7^th Ave., we walked to 37^th St. to give Sarah her car keys. From Sarah’s office, we walked to 45^th/7^th Ave. to get tickets for the Broadway show ‘Kinky Boots’; After lunch, we proceeded to 48^th St./ 5^th Ave. to attend noon Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; then went back to 45^th St. / 8^th Ave. for the Kinky Boots show at 2PM-5PM. BTW, we got best seats (row 5 / middle orchestra); in between we hang out at the Marriot Hotel/Starbucks for convenience; We arrived Montclair at 8pm raining;

May 28-29: Dropped Sarah for work and Max at school, picked him up at 2pm; then we treated him for lunch at Marzullo’s Italian restaurant where he finished his order of Spaghetti with meatballs and chocolate mousse; enjoyed our bonding moments; likewise, did Costco shopping to maximize the lower sales tax; Sarah treated us to sumptuous dinner at Fricasse French bistro with Eric;

May 30: Sarah and Max dropped us off at Newark airport for our DELTA flight back to SAC, CA; With 2-hours lay-over at MSP, we strolled around the Mall inside the huge airport. We arrived SAC airport, picked up by Russel, then arrived home by 11PM. MUCH THANKS GOD for the wonderful bonding with MAX and Sarah!

    

·      Movie watched: Pitch Perfect 2;  Books read: Golf and GOD and You can Change by Fr. Cedric Pesigna, CP;

Attached are 4 photos with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG