Well, this will be the last post as we're about to hit the hay so that we can get up at 4:00 AM. It has been a great week getting to experience some of the Philippines with Ricky, but I can tell you that he is ready to come home, as are Steph and I. He is really excited. Words can't express just how much we appreciate all of the prayers and comments during the week. You've all been a real blessing; however, don't stop praying yet as we have a long flight tomorrow and must still get through customs. We're not expecting any problems but that doesn't mean there won't be. The biggest question mark is Ricky's visa and the "lung problem" statement. Again, your continued prayers are coveted.
Today was real low key. Had a late breakfast (no dried fish today), after which I answered some work e-mail while Steph and Ricky played battle. We then went to the mall and bought a few things, all the while having to redirect Ricky from the game room. We found a couple of pairs of pants and shirts for him to try on, so I took him to the change room. I kid you not, there were 4 women associates in there helping him out; as in, one was in the change room with him. I'm sure he was too embarrassed to say he didn't need the help, but I just had to laugh. Great service in the Philippines.
After much waiting we made it to the Time Zone which has got to be the largest arcade I've ever seen. Absolutely huge. It even had karaoke (sp?) rooms, which were full of teenage girls laughing their heads off while each other sang. Really fun to watch. Some of the games posed a problem as the text was in something other than English, which apparently Ricky could not read. We basically had to muddle through a few games but he still had fun. I also observed another universal truth: Guys don't like to lose to their girlfriends (spouses, etc.). I saw one poor guy get absolutely drilled in the basketball toss multiple times and he refused to give up. Never did win though. Personally, I don't have a problem with that but I know that many guys do. :) At the end of all that Ricky said exactly what I was feeling...."my legs hurt". Apparently the mall has the same effects on him as it does me. We must be related.
We ate lunch in the food court (Burger King does have the "Whopper" here) and then went back to the hotel for a while. Ricky and I then went to see 10,000 BC which probably made no sense to him, given the language issues and sub-titles, but the visuals were okay. He about froze to death though and sat in my lap for about half the movie. Good thing he's not too big.
Well, I am up next for the shower but before I sign off Steph asked me to make sure Stacie will be in charge of pictures and video at the airport. We look forward to being back on American soil and in our own KING size bed!
See you soon,
Tanner
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Austin & Maddie
Just wanted to say "good afternoon". We miss you both very much. As well as this trip has gone, it could have only been made better by having the two of you here with us. Perhaps we will all come together one day. Finish out the week strong and have a great time with your friends tomorrow. I'm looking forward to my hugs on Saturday. Dad
Final Day
Hello Everyone,
It's our last day here and I am sooo ready to come home! It was actually the one morning we did not have to get up early and you guessed it, Ricky woke up at 6:15 a.m. I have had to wake him each previous morning. It may have something to do with the fact the we are going to the mall today and he will be able to play video games. We mentioned in an earlier blog about the huge number of people in the malls. Che shared that the malls are always crowded, especially in the summer (end of March - June) because they are air conditioned. Glorietta is the name of the mall across from us and I don't think that is a mistake either. God was so evident on our Glorietta vacations in New Mexico and particularly on the Mission Week. All people groups are His and He chose to share Ricky with us.
Austin and Madison, I hope you guys are hanging in there. I can't wait to see the two of you! One more day of school and I hope it is a Happy Friday! I wonder if Coacoa misses us and Oddie. I know Oddie misses Coacoa. Madison, I think you mentioned you have an ELA test tomorrow. Be sure to read over your notes. Tell the Venables hello and have fun playing with Kathryn and Jacob. Austin, good luck with try-outs and tell Mrs. Binns hello. Don't forget to help out there as she hasn't been feeling very well.
Mom and Dad, I bet you are ready to revert back to just being grandparents instead of parents!! Hopefully, you will rest up on Friday, enjoying the break before meeting us at the airport Saturday night.
Margaret and Walter, I could not help but wonder what Ricky will choose to eat when he joins all of you at Piccadilly.
Maw-maw Peggy, we hope your work week has gone well and will send pictures via the computer once we are home.
Jen, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers more often than you know. I wonder how you are feeling?
Stevie, you are so wise for your young years and I love you. Tell your brother we are praying that he feels better soon and that we love him too.
Everyone, we can't begin to tell all of you how much your entries have encouraged us during our stay. Barbara, thanks so much for telling us how to do this blog. We will forever cherish the correspondence and I know Ricky will one day cherish it as well. We have loved having you with us in Manila, Philippines!!!
Praising God for all of You,
Steph
It's our last day here and I am sooo ready to come home! It was actually the one morning we did not have to get up early and you guessed it, Ricky woke up at 6:15 a.m. I have had to wake him each previous morning. It may have something to do with the fact the we are going to the mall today and he will be able to play video games. We mentioned in an earlier blog about the huge number of people in the malls. Che shared that the malls are always crowded, especially in the summer (end of March - June) because they are air conditioned. Glorietta is the name of the mall across from us and I don't think that is a mistake either. God was so evident on our Glorietta vacations in New Mexico and particularly on the Mission Week. All people groups are His and He chose to share Ricky with us.
Austin and Madison, I hope you guys are hanging in there. I can't wait to see the two of you! One more day of school and I hope it is a Happy Friday! I wonder if Coacoa misses us and Oddie. I know Oddie misses Coacoa. Madison, I think you mentioned you have an ELA test tomorrow. Be sure to read over your notes. Tell the Venables hello and have fun playing with Kathryn and Jacob. Austin, good luck with try-outs and tell Mrs. Binns hello. Don't forget to help out there as she hasn't been feeling very well.
Mom and Dad, I bet you are ready to revert back to just being grandparents instead of parents!! Hopefully, you will rest up on Friday, enjoying the break before meeting us at the airport Saturday night.
Margaret and Walter, I could not help but wonder what Ricky will choose to eat when he joins all of you at Piccadilly.
Maw-maw Peggy, we hope your work week has gone well and will send pictures via the computer once we are home.
Jen, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers more often than you know. I wonder how you are feeling?
Stevie, you are so wise for your young years and I love you. Tell your brother we are praying that he feels better soon and that we love him too.
Everyone, we can't begin to tell all of you how much your entries have encouraged us during our stay. Barbara, thanks so much for telling us how to do this blog. We will forever cherish the correspondence and I know Ricky will one day cherish it as well. We have loved having you with us in Manila, Philippines!!!
Praising God for all of You,
Steph
Universal Truth (part deux)
Another universal truth:
- Women and snakes don't mix (I base this, not on any direct observation of a snake, but by the reaction of the women on the tour bus when the guide simply mentioned the cobras and the pythons).
Some additional details about the tour today:
- Just to the north of Corrigedor is the Bata'an Peninsula, site of the infamous Bata'an Death March. Don't know how the Japanese tourists qualify that whole PR fiasco.
- To the south of Corrigedor stood a small island that the Americans turned into a permanent battleship. They literally loped off the top of the island, covered it in concrete, and established two gun turrets on it. It took 9 years to build and is still there today (we could see it from a distance). Good 'ol American ingenuity.
- The museum contains the original US flag that flew over Corrigedor. It only contained 45 stars at that time. Still makes this American swell with pride.
- General McArthur is definitely revered by the Filipinos. I didn't realize he had such ties to what was then a commonwealth. His famous "I shall return" statement, which he said when he left Corrigedor in the face of the Japanese attack in '42 (over his objections), was ultimately fulfilled when we took it back in '45. Not quite as intimidating as Arnold's "I'll be back" in the Terminator, but inspiring nonetheless. McArthur attended the raising of the colors in 1945 on the original Spanish flag pole, which survived all of the bombing. This flagpole was a mast from a Spanish galleon (it looks like it ought to have a sail on it).
Just a few factoids that might help the next time you play Trivial Pursuit.
One last thing (yeah right), I've noticed that while there are many restaraunts here common to the US, most have their own local twist. For instance, tonight we ate at Pizza Hut and the pizza had almost no tomato sauce on it. As in I'm not sure there was any at all. Was still good though.
- Women and snakes don't mix (I base this, not on any direct observation of a snake, but by the reaction of the women on the tour bus when the guide simply mentioned the cobras and the pythons).
Some additional details about the tour today:
- Just to the north of Corrigedor is the Bata'an Peninsula, site of the infamous Bata'an Death March. Don't know how the Japanese tourists qualify that whole PR fiasco.
- To the south of Corrigedor stood a small island that the Americans turned into a permanent battleship. They literally loped off the top of the island, covered it in concrete, and established two gun turrets on it. It took 9 years to build and is still there today (we could see it from a distance). Good 'ol American ingenuity.
- The museum contains the original US flag that flew over Corrigedor. It only contained 45 stars at that time. Still makes this American swell with pride.
- General McArthur is definitely revered by the Filipinos. I didn't realize he had such ties to what was then a commonwealth. His famous "I shall return" statement, which he said when he left Corrigedor in the face of the Japanese attack in '42 (over his objections), was ultimately fulfilled when we took it back in '45. Not quite as intimidating as Arnold's "I'll be back" in the Terminator, but inspiring nonetheless. McArthur attended the raising of the colors in 1945 on the original Spanish flag pole, which survived all of the bombing. This flagpole was a mast from a Spanish galleon (it looks like it ought to have a sail on it).
Just a few factoids that might help the next time you play Trivial Pursuit.
One last thing (yeah right), I've noticed that while there are many restaraunts here common to the US, most have their own local twist. For instance, tonight we ate at Pizza Hut and the pizza had almost no tomato sauce on it. As in I'm not sure there was any at all. Was still good though.
Earthquake, Pirates, Traffic
A few of you wrote about the earthquake that hit here the Saturday before we arrived. We were unaware of it until you guys wrote us. Our biggest danger has been traveling by car. I just thought I took my life into my own hands when trying to cross airline at Swamp Road! Of course, the armed guards on the boat today were there to protect us from pirates. Thankfully, all was quiet on the waters and we safely docked at the island. Upon first impressions of our arrival, I told Tanner I felt like we were on "Lost".
Blessings,
Steph
Blessings,
Steph
Extra Details
Good Morning All,
It is 9:00p.m. here and I will be hitting the sack very shortly. Tanner has updated the blog but forgot to mention a few details. On Corrigedor Island I asked our tour guide what kind of animals inhabited the island and his response was monkeys, deer, pythons, and cobras! Thankfully, the only creature we saw was a monkey crossing the road, much to Ricky's delight!
By the way Austin, during our tour there was an area with steps and ramps and Ricky mentioned that you would like to skate there. Some young men from California laughed and agreed that skating there would be really cool.
As Tanner mentioned, Ricky did eat dried fish this morning and even tried to get me to eat some. I have tried many things that he has offered, but refused the fish. Both the look and the smell made it extremely unappealing. Ricky eats rice at every meal as well as mango in some fashion, (fresh, juice, smoothie etc).
Mimi and Pawpaw Walter, Ricky asked about Pelize instead of Felize and we couldn't quite get him to distinguish the "f" sound from the "p" sound. We thought it was cute.
Ricky and I have played Battle and of course he has won both times! He talked about all of us playing while we were in Dallas. I'm sure I'll have a chance to redeem myself on the flight home.
Madison, there was a mural on the wall at Pizza Hut and there was a young girl painted on it. Ricky pointed to the girl and said, " Madison". Like you, Ricky also took all of my whip cream off my frappacino and he likes butter. I can't wait until we all get to reunite at the airport on Saturday. Until then, you and Austin continue to be good and do your best. Dad and I miss you both so much. We will call again before bedtime on Thursday night your time (Friday morning our time).
Love you,
Mom
P.S. Someone just knocked on our door to ask if I needed "Turn down Service". When I looked confused, he explained that he would turn down my bed covers! Obviously, we are not roughing it!
It is 9:00p.m. here and I will be hitting the sack very shortly. Tanner has updated the blog but forgot to mention a few details. On Corrigedor Island I asked our tour guide what kind of animals inhabited the island and his response was monkeys, deer, pythons, and cobras! Thankfully, the only creature we saw was a monkey crossing the road, much to Ricky's delight!
By the way Austin, during our tour there was an area with steps and ramps and Ricky mentioned that you would like to skate there. Some young men from California laughed and agreed that skating there would be really cool.
As Tanner mentioned, Ricky did eat dried fish this morning and even tried to get me to eat some. I have tried many things that he has offered, but refused the fish. Both the look and the smell made it extremely unappealing. Ricky eats rice at every meal as well as mango in some fashion, (fresh, juice, smoothie etc).
Mimi and Pawpaw Walter, Ricky asked about Pelize instead of Felize and we couldn't quite get him to distinguish the "f" sound from the "p" sound. We thought it was cute.
Ricky and I have played Battle and of course he has won both times! He talked about all of us playing while we were in Dallas. I'm sure I'll have a chance to redeem myself on the flight home.
Madison, there was a mural on the wall at Pizza Hut and there was a young girl painted on it. Ricky pointed to the girl and said, " Madison". Like you, Ricky also took all of my whip cream off my frappacino and he likes butter. I can't wait until we all get to reunite at the airport on Saturday. Until then, you and Austin continue to be good and do your best. Dad and I miss you both so much. We will call again before bedtime on Thursday night your time (Friday morning our time).
Love you,
Mom
P.S. Someone just knocked on our door to ask if I needed "Turn down Service". When I looked confused, he explained that he would turn down my bed covers! Obviously, we are not roughing it!
Fish & Chips
Forgot to share an interesting breakfast food that Ricky had this morning. Basically, we've been enjoying a really nice breakfast buffet complete with an omelete "bar" and the standard American fare (scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc.). Lots of fresh fruit and pastries. And then there is the local food, most of which I cannot even describe. Suffice it to say we stuck with the fruit and omeletes. At any rate, one of the more "special" foods is what I would call dried fish. They're basically whole fish (I presume minus the entrails) about 3 times the size of a sardine, but dried like a fish chip. Steph was helping serve Ricky this morning and he wanted a couple of them. Thought she was gonna gag right there on the spot. Nothing like having your breakfast stare back at you! I know Ricky likes fish and fishing, but this might be taking it too far. Ha. I may have to try one tomorrow (Jo - would you like me to bring one home for you?).
Maybe they'll have monkey brains tomorrow.
T
Maybe they'll have monkey brains tomorrow.
T
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