Like the picture above, I’m at a place with my coaching where certain elements are crystal clear and others are just beginning to come into focus. Â Ever since I found coaching 3 years ago, I...
Philippines
This is a collection of posts from our tour in Manila, Philippines from July 2009 to June 2011.
Typhoon season came in with a bang last night. Â The weather service had predicted the typhoon to hit north of Manila, so no one was really prepared here for anything more than a few heavy showers...
I am less than 40 days away from returning to my mother-land. In preparation of my month-long trip, I have begun making a list of all my ‘must-do’s’ while I’m home. Those...
I have the most heart-warming story to share with you today! Â Back in April you’ll remember that Nick and I accompanied the Friendship Home kids to the Water Park (CLICK HERE to read that...
WAHOO! Â I’m thrilled to announce the the INSANELY ADORABLE couple are finally making it official. Â Yup, that’s right. Â Emily Miller (#2 in the long line of Miller gals) will be tying...
If you’ll think back to mid-July we talked a bit about Getting Ready to Be Ready. Â The act of writing that post was very freeing in and of itself and I noticed an immediate shift in my...
As most of you know, I am less than 30 days away from my visit to Minne-SOH-ta. Â My energy has been ramping up for weeks and I’ve found myself talking non-stop about all the things I’m...
It’s that time of year again folks. Â The big social event of the year is just around the corner – The Annual Marine Corps Ball! Â Last year, as you may remember, I was forced to choose...
This morning I had the pleasure of joining my friend Barb (and 2 other lovely ladies) for a shopping adventure at Divisoria (which is like Greenhills, only more chaotic). Â Our mission: To spend $150...
When Friday evening rolled around this week, Nick and I looked at each other and agreed that we’d spent one too many weekend in Manila recently. Â We were already planning to make a drive down...
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Nick and I took a trip down to San Pablo this weekend, both for a little R&R and to capitalize on potter Ugu Bigyan’s Birthday Sale (see previous...
Went to the bank this morning to get some cash and stumbled upon something I’ve never seen before — a dog in shoes! Â Now clothes I had seen, but these shoes were a first. Â Not what I...
It was an exciting day at Friendship Home. Â We did a fun science project exploring thermodynamics by making ice cream from scratch using only ice and zip lock bags. Â While the entire process was...
After a year of watching construction, we were delighted to see our building’s amenities finally open a few weeks ago. Â As you might expect, there is a nice-sized pool and a gym. Â But there...
Hello blog readers- Sorry for the posting delay! Â I have a good excuse – I was busy getting myself to Minnesota! Â I’m getting settled in nicely now and enjoying spending time with my...
One of the things I feared most about heading home was realizing how much had changed in my absence. Â Happily, after spending 4 days at the cabin over Labor Day Weekend, I’m happy to report...
Ahhhh, home sweet Manila! Boy does it feel good to be back. Don’t get me wrong, I had a sensational trip, but there’s just something SOOOO sweet about arriving back home...
LIMA, PERU!!! We just got the news – Novakistan is officially moving capitals come spring 2012! We will be there for 2 years after Nick completes language classes in DC. He’s...
Cebu Pacific is the exclusive Philippines airline of Novakistan. Remember when they won our hearts after the dramatic”Kindle Episode” in Shanghai?  Keep the singing, dancing and in...
Ok, let’s start with the facts. I adore Christmas. Not just any old Christmas, but the snow-covered, sweater-wearing, eggnog-drinking, fireplace-roasting type. Perhaps some would call...
This week I have the privilege of meeting up face-to-face with Christine, one of my long-time blog readers.  This is the 4th or 5th time that I’ve converted an online friend into a flesh-and...
I don’t usually post videos two days in a row but this parody is so hilarious that it merits some rule-breaking. Nick and I couldn’t stop laughing – highlights of the video...
One of the many volunteer hats I wear is that of Worldwide Recruitment Specialist (my self-appointment title) for the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (CSB/SJU) in Minnesota...
On Saturday Nick and I were graciously invited to join a group of Filipinos who were traveling 2 hours North to Pampanga to experience the food, churches and handicrafts of that region. Â It was one...
As is the tradition, we put on a big ole Halloween Party for the kiddos this week. Â Man was it fun! Â Their energy is especially infectious on ‘special days’ like these when we go all...
It was a joyful week here in Manila.  I had the privilege of hosting a recruiter from my Alma Mater, the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.  She was only here for 5 days, so...
As many of you remember, last year was a VERYÂ tough Christmas for me. Â After those challenging few days, Nick and I made a pact that we would change things up for Christmas 2010 to ensure we...
Until I have a kid of my own, I’ve officially adopted baby Leni as my surrogate daughter. Â In real life, she belongs to our good friends Andrea and Brian, who are also in the Foreign Service...
WE DID IT! Presents for Pinoys is fully funded with over $1000 being generously given by this blogging community! Â All I can say is WOW – I am humbled and totally in awe of how you stepped up...
Hi All- One of my favorite annual traditions is to reflect on the year I’m finishing and set some intentions for the year ahead. Â This year I happened to stumble across a really great tool...
Well, it was a big day here in Manila… my elves and I wrapped nearly 100 presents in 4 hours time! Â If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you know that these presents are for the...
Today was our annual Holiday party with the kids from Friendship Home. Â Each year we take them out to do something ‘special’ during the holidays. Â In December of ’09, if you...
Hi All- One of my favorite annual traditions is to reflect on the year I’m finishing and set some intentions for the year ahead. This year I happened to stumble across a really great tool...
WAHOOOOOO! Â Presents for Pinoys was a SMASHING SUCCESS! Â I will have lots and lots more photos for you tomorrow morning, but bed is calling my name right now. Â More later… In the meantime...
The night I had been waiting for months to arrive was finally upon us! Â After all the fundraising, all the wrapping and all the transporting, it was finally time to give out the gifts… and...
Hi All- One of my favorite annual traditions is to reflect on the year I’m finishing and set some intentions for the year ahead. This year I happened to stumble across a really great tool...
I know we’re new to this Foreign Service thing, but I have a hard time imagining that we’re going to find household staff in other countries that love and care for us as warmly as Norma...
I jumped out of bed this morning, eager to get online and see what replies had come in response to my first foray at putting myself out there as a cancer coach on some public forums. Â I had spent a...
Hi All- One of my favorite annual traditions is to reflect on the year I’m finishing and set some intentions for the year ahead.  This year I happened to stumble across a really great tool that is...
In accepting this cancer work, I knew that facing loss was part of the deal . . . although part of me was hoping I wouldn’t have to deal with it so soon. Â Sadly, I lost my first cancer client...
I think one of the coolest ‘take aways’ from our time in Manila is an honest-to-goodness appreciation of the concept LESS IS MORE. Â Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve known that...
No, this post is not about the weather! Â :) What this post IS about is this strange pattern I see show up year after year in January! Â Here’s what it looks like. Â January (and the lead up to...
Two weeks ago my dear client (and friend)Â Magne died of cancer. Â She was only in her early 50’s, so her death left many young children and grand-children behind. Â I knew it was important for...
On Sunday our good friends Mark and Kristen invited us to join them for Dim Sum at Golden Seafood near Mall of Asia. Â Nick had been there once before with them when I was home in Minnesota, but this...
Lately Facebook has been abuzz with talk about an exercise class called Nia. Whenever I hear something come up again and again, I just trust it’s a sign that I’m supposed to explore...
If you’ve been reading for awhile, you’ll recall that on Day 5 of being in Manila I started a Basic Photography Class in Fort Santiago. Â Just 5 weeks later I was a Proud Graduate of...
It is decided. Â We’re going ALL-OUT for our final trip in Southeast Asia. Â I can’t even begin to explain the ginormous amount of pressure we had placed on planning this trip… You...
Hi all- please forgive the lack of posts this week. Â I have felt like absolute crap and needed to use all my available energy to drag my butt to a 10 hour Photoshop class on Friday and an 8 hour...
I was at Fort Santiago last Saturday enjoying lunch with my friend Christine while on break from our Advanced Photography course. Â We started wandering around the park after finishing up and...
If you’ve been following me on the blog or Facebook lately, you’ll know that I’ve been very vocal about my top goal for 2011 which is (Drumroll, please….) TO HAVE A BABY...