Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! We are now the fall season with the morning cool breeze, midday warmth, then back to the evening breeze; bidding goodbye to the summer heat. I am still focused though, on my spiritual commitments, especially with Pope Francis’ recent USA visit.

September is Virgo month: Sarah’s birthday on September 7, while mine was September 20 – so much to Thank God for all the Blessings – good health, peace, joy, love always! As in past years, I went to an Opus Dei retreat for meaningful celebration of my natal day. Thus, when Pope Francis arrived, I was ready for reflective mood. Likewise, on our Epic Bible class, that week our Sir Claude also had his birthday, and Rose, Kaye and I took charge of snacks. Instead, we planned for a surprise party for Claude: pre=ordered cake with his name, sandwiches, fruits, salad, and Card. It was such fulfilling feeling organizing a Birthday party for another, forgetting about yourself: that was Love! Our class of 20 who signed on the card I prepared was so impressed, and everybody had fun!!! Nobody else knew it was my special day too.

I was focused on all the activities of the Pope as he went around Washington, New York, and Philadelphia: watching the beauty and splendor of the Masses and ceremonies. I am glad too that Sarah and Max participated in a fund-raising activity for Philippines children with Cardinal Luis Tagle in Pennsylvania, related to the Family conference. The week was so grace and spirit-filled. It was culminated with our attendance to doctrine class in Berkeley with Julie and Myra.

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! On our weekly FSAC business update with Capt. G., he informed that our shipping Principal is giving four (4) additional new vessels for us to man: meaning, additional manpower employment, more people and families we could help. I always hope and pray that we can recruit more competent officers and crew for these international vessels: GOD, please send us more qualified seafarers, Thank You!!!

·      Had the preventive maintenance of Sean’s Nissan Sentra 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 had been very busy keeping me at work; following the Pope’s itinerary, she keeps on e-mailing me asking clarificatory queries on spiritual ceremonies which seemed new to her, and I have to respond within minutes, since I did not want to fail her.  She is very persistent, especially on meanings of terms, and my opinions on our faith. Thus, 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: ‘The Transporter’ starring Ed Kren; the movie was filmed in France / Europe, with the beautiful sceneries, followed by lunch at FAT’S Bistro; and ‘The Maze Runner 2’; followed by lunch at Romano’s Grill.

·      Books read: God is Near Us, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, and The Faith of our Fathers.

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!

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