Gratitude

My dear friends and family,

Thank you very much for your birthday greetings and wishes, much appreciated. My inbox was full, gratefully accepted, pleasantly suprised after not being able to check it from days of what I consider a celebration of sorts. Each event was considered a celebration of the birthday to come.

Thursday was RAGBRAI, Register's (Des Moines Register) Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, a 7 day bicycle ride across the width of Iowa from the west to the east. This was participated by 15,000 bicyclists plus their support staff, estimated to be 20,000 total, the largest in the USA. Traditionally, riders dip their rear wheel at the Missouri River at the start of the ride (Sioux City), and dip their front wheel in the Mississippi River (Dubuque this year). Waterloo was an overnight stop on Thursday. We hosted 14 bicyclists, strangers at first, friends after the overnight stay. My Yoga friends prepared our yearly lunch fete, had TaiChi (instead) 1st, then shared the feast to all the Ragbraiers from IA, IL, FL, NE. They enjoyed and appreciated the food made for them, Pinoy food and sweet, sweet Iowa corn. They stayed in the house, occupying 2 rooms, the 1st floor, basement, even the utility room (!) They had a good night's rest after hearty meals & meeting some of our fun friends. We were glad to help them be comfortable in their journey.

The next day was a celebration of our Pinoy friends' summer celebrants with a lechon at our dear Carmelita's house. We call her a renaissance lady, dabbling in the sciences, gardening & culinary arts. Janet, another dear friend, our pastry chef, prepared the delicious blueberry tiramisu, rum cake and white cake with blueberry filling,beautifully decorated with flowers from her garden. The afternoon was a cacophony of talk, jokes, laughter, enjoying Carmelita's home made and home grown feast.

Today was a day of prayer and thanks of the daily blessings received. The Holy Mass was specially felt today.

This afternoon, we had a send off party for Randy, Angie's hubby, who is going to Afghanistan. Again, a feast, coupled with dancing with music by T. Ric. We went home tired, happy; sending our prayers and ardent wishes for safety to Randy and his family.

C. came home from RAGBRAI and was there through the many celebrations. Our Issa is still working at the university; Maia is with her BFF and family, summering in Europe. They will be home soon and we will celebrate again.

Happy, thankful, peaceful, joyful; hoping to be a bearer of loving kindness to all. Maraming salamat po sa mga pagbati ninyo.