Passionately Pink - Sarah Lynn

I received an e-mail today from a friend and INC sister, Sarah Lynn. It was to help support her cause to find a cure for breast cancer. I know so many friends, relatives, loved ones who have gone through fighting all sorts of cancers, so it wasn't hard at all for me to decide that I wanted to help out somehow.. I thought it would be a good idea to post this blog up.

She is celebrating her birthday on October 22, 2008 as well as donating to a worthy cause at the Pat & Oscars Restaurant in Carmel Mountain Ranch in San Diego, CA. Just by wearing pink and having dinner with your friends or your family that night at the restaurant, you'll be making a difference in the lives of millions.

If you aren't able to attend but you'd like to help, you can contribute online. In return for your contribution, you'll get a pink ribbon pin and the satisfaction of helping to move us closer to a world free of breast cancer.

Please contact Sarah Lynn if you have any questions. To view her personal website for this cause, please click on the website below.

Statue of Liberty to South New Jersey

Our morning started at about 5:30 am. Ryan, ate Peachy, and I were running really late!  We were suppose to meet everyone at Battery Park by 7:30 a.m. but because of the traffic and overall craziness of NYC, we ended up meeting my brother, cousins, and friends from Long Beach, CA at around 8:45 a.m. They waited for us for over an hour so our apologies to you all and thank you for waiting for us as well as picking up our tickets!!

As soon as we got there and had our tickets in hand, we went directly to the ferry boat that takes us to the Statue of Liberty.  This was our view from the boat.

Since we were all rushing in the morning and did not get a bite to eat, we decided to get some brunch at the refreshment area when we arrived at the Statue of Liberty island.  Ryan, Johnson and I ended up sharing two orders of fish and chips! YUMMY!! Afterwards, we headed off to line up to go inside the statue... AND it took about an hour to an hour and a half!! 

There are so much more photos from our trip to the Statue of Liberty, so to view them, please click HERE. 

We were planning on eating some NY Pizza but we were running late and had to get to South New Jersey (SNJ) for the wedding rehearsal! So we ending up getting some fast foods at a service/rest area on the way...

Here is one photo of the couple during the rehearsal.  They are so cute!  I think...no... I know I'm going to get teary eyed when I see these two get married... I still CAN'T believe that my cousin is getting married! After years of seeing him grow up... I know I'm going to get emotional... Good thing I have the camera in front of my face... I can hide it ;)

Everyone from the rehearsal left for Natasha's house where food was prepared.  It was really nice to have met some of the brethren in SNJ.  They're soooo friendly!  It's really a blessing to be members of the INC! No matter how far we live from each other.. whenever we meet, it's like we've known one another for a long time.. because we share the same faith :-D

ANYWAYS... Natasha and Fred surprised me and Ryan with beautiful personalized/engraved gifts! Fred and Natasha, thank you for everything! We are sooooo happy for the two of you!

Applebees! Finally!

After worship service this evening, ate Peachy, Ryan and I went to Applebees to get some dinner.  This is the FIRST TIME Ryan and I tried the restaurant so it's a big deal and should be blogged about! ;-D. Here's a picture of Ryan and Ate Peachy (two of the Arellano cousins - represent!).

We ordered 2 appetizers, the spinach artichoke dip and buffalo wings. I got an apple walnut chicken salad as well. I think ate peachy got a California something salad and Ryan got a Chop Steak with a baked potato. The food was deliciouso! (or what they say in tagalog: ANG SARAP TALAGA!!) We will definitely go back to an Applebees in California! Sorry if my pictures aren't large enough to view the food.... I didn't want any of you to get hungry and start salivating on your computer screens heheh ;-D

Okay goodnight/goodmorning! It's now 1:16 a.m. and I have jetlag! 

We have to wake up in 3 hours to visit the Statue of Liberty!

INC 94th/40th Anniversary Celebration

Ten years ago, during our 30th Year Anniversary for the INC in San Jose, CA... I walked around alone thinking how it would be so cool to one day have Ryan in the US to celebrate the church's anniversary.  I thought to myself and prayed silently that one day, he and I will have an opportunity to help the church to work on a big celebration..  It was always a dream... a prayer of mine that I kept to myself.  It "WAS" just between me and HIM above. 

When I found out that we were going to have a joint celebration with the District of Northern California, I was so EXCITED! All the more I kept asking, "please...please...please... I really want Ryan and I to be a part of it... somehow.. some way.. in any way.... HE definitely heard my prayers... 

- - -

It surely is a weekend to remember.  After all our efforts in practicing, all the meetings, emails, phone calls, sleepless nights, as well as the last minute request to compose the Parade of Flags song and orchestrate it as well as orchestrate the Voice of a Child song composed by sis Kate it was definitely worth it!  The day finally arrived! It was finally time to celebrate the INC Anniversary!  

I'll miss EVERYONE that I had the honor to work with.  From the CWS Children  to my fellow District Officers.  They are an inspiration and I can't wait to work with them again on our upcoming district activities! It's a blessing to be part of this District of Southern California. I'm so proud of us all for doing an AWESOME job! Above all, I'm so thankful to God for giving me and Ryan an opportunity...... an experience of a lifetime!

Click on picture to view larger version :-D.  When I get Socal's CWS Choral Group Photo, I plan on adding it on to this blog as well! :-D For now, this is all I have...

A picture of me and Ryan with our Staff Shirts and Badges ;-D

P.S. Another prayer answered...

Erika's Debut

Yay! Here are some photos of Erika's debut! More photos to be posted up soon, but Ryan and I are heading off to San Diego for a Engagement Photoshoot!

Happy Birthday Sis. Debbie! :)

Ryan and I photographed a 50th birthday celebration today. Sis. Debbie asked us to take photos of her party at Hokkaido Seafood Buffet. She's such a nice person and her family helped us out during our very first CFO Night!

Here are some photos taken today at her party.

Sis. Debbie with her family

Sis. Debbie with her Sisters.

A Day at the Huntington Botanical Gardens

Ryan and I spent the day at Huntington Botanical Garden with a couple of friends today. We had fun taking photos of Erika who will be celebrating her birthday really soon! Since Ryan and I became annual members of Huntington Botanical Garden , we decided to take her and her parents there to take some shots. Her make-up was done by Juliet Lozano. We were even lucky to view a short Chinese Dragon Show. Here's a picture of Erika with the dragon in the background.

Spelling Bee

After work today, Ryan and I headed off to Cerritos High School where we photographed the Spelling Bee competition for the ABC Unified School District. It was pretty cool! The kids were really cute too. Some of the words they had to spell were pretty difficult that I didn't even know how to spell them =P. All that spelling got us hungry so Ryan and I decided to eat dinner at no other place but "JOLLIBEE". Thank you ate Cuwi for giving us this opportunity! We had a really good time! Here are two photos from this evening's event.

The contestants waiting for the competition to begin

The final two contestants.