one-of-a-kind wedding

My first time to travel by myself  via amtrak train was worth remembering! I remember the day I went to a wedding day of a friend wayback in the year 1990's at San Beda College Manila Phils.

This was the first time I also traveled by train after decades!

 A friend in the college department of San Beda College who migrated here in the US  in the middle of the 90's who settled with his long-time friend in San Diego, invited me for his wedding.

That was Saturday  when I took an Amtrak train to be able to make it at his wedding and if I remember it right,  I was still employed as activity coordinator in an assisted living facility for seniors suffering from Alzheimers and I had to file for  a leave of absence  for Saturday and Sunday ( my work covers the weekends, and my day-off then was on a Tuesday of the week ) just to be able to attend his wedding.

 I accepted his invitation to be part of the wedding ministers  as I thought that it was the nicest thing that I could do to return his kindness when he attended my monastic "wedding" with the Church  in August of 2006.

I would imagine how kind he was when he  flew all the way from  Japan to the state of New Mexico just to be able to attend the "Perpetual Profession" of my monastic Vows which was held on August 15, 2006.

His  invitation was given months ago to take part of the liturgical ceremony.
I accepted the invitation to be part of the wedding ministers.

The mysteries of gladness and delight filled the air on that day when I witnessed Henry's wedding that is absolutely one-of-a-kind!

birthday cake

After a long absence from the cloister, and after counting the months (exactly 12 months since I flew to my country  straight from the seminary of St Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania), I got a  birthday cake from kindhearted family friends in where i landed from my adventure to live outside the cloister which started in July 11 of year 2010.

The mystery of  God's loving mercy was granted to me while I was all out in starting to fix my  life's stability and assurance for a decent, sick-free kind  of life outside the monastery.

social obligations and a ministry

Certainly, being outside of a Cloister is a fulfilling one in terms of direct ministry to people.

I still remember the day I came over the first birthday party of Jared, the boy whom the monks and I of our monastery prayed for one whole year for healing from his congenital heart ailment. Miraculously indeed, after a year, he was given a total clean bill of health by his pediatrician. Then Jay and Janice, his proud parents invited me for his 1st birthday celebration at Pizza hut. The rest is history.

Jing's birthday celebration

Dani's birthday celebration

burial of significance

The persons specified below are eligible for ground burial in Arlington National Cemetery, unless otherwise prohibited.

The last period of active duty of former members of the Armed Forces must have ended honorably. Interment may be casketed or cremated remains.

Any active-duty member of the Armed Forces (except those members serving on active duty for training only).

Any veteran who is retired from service with the Armed Forces.

Any veteran who is retired from the Reserves is eligible upon reaching age 60 and drawing retired pay; and who served a period of active duty (other than for training).

Any former member of the Armed Forces separated honorably prior to October 1, 1949, for medical reasons and who was rated at 30% or greater disabled effective on the day of discharge.

Any former member of the Armed Forces who has been awarded one of the following decorations:
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Purple Heart

Individuals awarded the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Intelligence Star, which is considered the equivalent of the US Military's Silver Star and recognized as such by the President of the United States.

The President of the United States or any former President of the United States.

Any former member of the Armed Forces who served on active duty (other than for training) and who held any of the following positions:
An elective office of the U.S. Government (such as a term in Congress).

Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

An office listed, at the time the person held the position, in 5 USC 5312 or 5313 (Levels I and II of the Executive Schedule).

The chief of a mission who was at any time during his/her tenure classified in Class I under the provisions of Section 411, Act of 13 August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 USC 866) or as listed in State Department memorandum dated March 21, 1988.

Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last period of military, naval or air service terminated honorably and who died on or after November 30, 1993.

The spouse, widow or widower, minor child, or permanently dependent child, and certain unmarried adult children of any of the above eligible veterans.

The widow or widower of:
a member of the Armed Forces who was lost or buried at sea or fell out of a plane or officially determined to be missing in action.

a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in a US military cemetery overseas that is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

a member of the Armed Forces who is interred in Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial.

The spouse, minor child, or permanently dependent child of any person already buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The parents of a minor child, or permanently dependent child whose remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in ANC. A spouse divorced from the primary eligible, or widowed and remarried, is not eligible for interment.

Provided certain conditions are met, a former member of the Armed Forces may be buried in the same grave with a close relative who is already buried and is the primary eligible.

air balloon

The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology and is a subset of balloon aircraft.
On Nov 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air balloon created on Dec 14, 1782 by the Montgolfier brothers.

Recently, balloon envelopes have been made in all kinds of shapes, such as hot dogs, rocket ships, and the shapes of commercial products. Hot air balloons that can be propelled through the air rather than just being pushed along by the wind are known as airships or, more specifically, thermal airships.

A hot air balloon consists of a bag called the envelope that is capable of containing heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and (usually) a source of heat, in most cases an open flame.

The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant since it has a lower density than the relatively cold air outside the envelope. As with all aircraft, hot air balloons cannot fly beyond the atmosphere. Unlike gas balloons, the envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom since the air near the bottom of the envelope is at the same pressure as the surrounding air.

In today's sport balloons the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric and the mouth of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from fire resistant material such as Nomex.

debutante

A débutante (from the French débutante, "female beginner") is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "début".

Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible to marry, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle.

This traditional event varies by region, but is typically referred to as a débutante ball if it is for a group of débutantes. A lone débutante might have her own "coming-out party", or she might have a party with a sister or other close relative.

In the United States, the term is used more often in the South, where débutantes are also referred to as Southern belles. Débutantes are usually recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of elite society.

Modern débutante balls are often charity events: the parents of the débutante donate a certain amount of money to the designated cause, and the invited guests pay for their tickets.

These balls may be elaborate formal affairs and involve not only "debs" but junior débutantes, escorts and ushers, flower girls and pages as well.

feast night

...full new beginning..happy new year

birthday suit

suits are windows of the human facade! birthday suits are great and fitting for such occasion of thanksgiving!