My husband is working at his part-time job tonight (from 6PM – 1AM). And I just got back from grocery shopping. I bought everything I need to make next week’s dinners and lunches for both my husband and I. I still have quite a few ingridients I can cook from last week so I didn’t buy much this week. I bought some extra items: 2 jumbo packs of baby diapers ($22) and 3 cans of tuna ($3). The baby diapers are to be donated at my church tomorrow and the canned tunas are for the homeless man who I see everyday at the bus stop.
Dinners and lunches for my husband next week are going to be Bulgogi, Lasagna, and meatballs. I actually still have to buy some extra ready-made mashed potatoes (buy-one-get-one-free) tomorrow. I have some veggies (cauliflower, brocolli, and carrots) I am going to blanch or roast to accompany the main dishes I am making. I bought some canned soups to eat for lunch next week. Some days I don’t feel like eating much so these canned soups come in real handy.
I stopped by at Petsmart today before I went grocery shopping. I bought 2 boxes of cat litter and 1 big bag of cat food. I have a $15 off coupon so I ended up spending $38 only for everything.
The handyman (from Handyman Connection) came by this morning for a free estimate for fence installation. Labor was estimated to be $3000. The materials should be between $1000 – $2000. So worst case scenario, to fence the whole house, we might need to spend $5000. We’re going to ask for several other bids within 2 weeks for comparison. We’re looking to fence the house this month.
This afternoon, my little sister (from Big Brothers Big Sisters) and I went to volunteer at a homeless center in downtown. We helped them to bag lunches for the homeless. We also did a tour around the facility. The whole thing truly was an eye opener for us. I thought I had it bad; I was wrong. These people who live in the facility had it worse. Some of these people hit the bottom of the bottom. They had no money, no job, no place to go, and some don’t even have families. Thank Godness for homeless center like the one we visited today. They help men, women, and children. The facility is now at its full capacity with more than 100 people on the waiting list. They did say the turnover is high–which could be good or bad. It broke my heart to see the little kids at the facility. Sure, it’s better than being homeless on the streets but in a perfect world, kids are suppose to live in a place where troubles are non existent. Apparently what I saw was a dose of the reality and it wasn’t pretty. The whole experience makes me so so so so so thankful for everything I have in my life–my little money+saving, my families, my husband, my house, my pets, my job. My life is beautiful the way it is now. I am truly thankful for it.
Two more days to payday. Yay. I have been very good for *almost* the past 2 weeks. I brought lunches from home and at them at the office building cafetaria. During lunch hours, I sometimes have time to walk to the library or the park. Because of this I have lost 3 pounds in the last a week and a half. Both my husband and I save a lot of money by bringing our lunches from home and eating dinner at home. Tonight, I got free dinner. I went to a class held at my church and they provided dinner for free. So I thought, what the heck, I’ll go for the free dinner and extra knowledge!!
Not much happening since earlier this week really. Work is fine; so far so good. I cannot wait to get it through March next year. The time when we will finally pay off all our debts except for the mortgage. I am so looking forward to that day. In less than 6 months my husband and I will be debt free!!!!!!!!! What a feeling that will be. And knowing that for the rest of that year we’ll be able to live on my husband’s income alone is a very heavenly feeling. I gigle everytime I think about that. I have this big huge smile on my face just imagining that moment in March 2009. We’ll be able to save all my paychecks. Wow. Amazing.
You know another thing I want to talk about this evening is the power of prayers. I know some people don’t believe in God and it’s fine with me, but for those who believe in God… isn’t God amazing? I mean, I was experiencing some really hard times earlier this year and I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed… and God answered my prayers. It was beyond happiness to me. I felt that I started getting to know God very well at the beginning of this year. Everything just happened. Just like that. And I turned to God. He has been helping me with everything in my life ever since. The power of prayers, my friends, please do not underestimate it. God hears our prayers.
Whenever I feel down or unhappy, I always seek comfort in the words of God. I now have the habit of reading the bible before I go to bed. I also read the Novena prayer before I go to bed. Sometimes, I read it during lunch hours. I read it over and over. The words are so beautiful they bring tears to my eyes sometimes.
I didn’t know what I was looking for in life before. Then I asked God for guidance. He’s been holding my hands ever since. I feel at peace. I feel comforted. I feel safe. I know that no matter what happens in this world, God is watching me and protecting me. Now I feel that I have a purpose in life.
Lately, with the way economy is going, I have seen a lot more homeless people on the streets. There is this one old man who “lives” inside a bus stop close to my office building. I see him twice everyday; in te morning and in the afternoon. Sometimes I see him 3 times! this is on one of those occasions when I decide to go somewhere with my car. Anyways. This man is always greeting everyone; good morning, good afternoon, have a good day, have a bless day, etc. So one day, I asked how he was doing and he replied, I am hungry and all I want is foods. Normally I would just pass him by but that day I stopped. I looked at him and I said, well you know there is a food bank close to here where you can get foods. He said, yes I went there this morning. He didn’t ask me for anything. I don’t know why I pulled out my wallet and I gave him the last $20 I had that day. I said, spend this on foods please Lord is watching you. He thanked me many many times. I left him and while walking to my office I thought in my head…. what if he spent that money on alcohol???? I assured myself what matters was my intention. I had good intention for him. He did not ask me for money. I gave him the money.
So later that day I saw him again on my way to the parking garage. The man was there. Sitting on the bus stop bench. He had a smile so big on his face when he saw me. When I was about to pass in front of him he said to me, Miss I would like to show you something. I stopped and he showed me a backpack filled with canned foods and crackers. He bought foods with my money!!!!!! He said to me, this should last me for 2 weeks. And again, he thanked me many many times.
I wish I had a lot more money to help homeless people. Not just to give them money but perhaps I could open a shelter for them. Perhaps I could help them to get back on their feet with some sort of job trainings. I can’t imagine the live of those homeless people. Winter is approaching soon. Where are they going to go for warmth and comfort? I don’t know. Maybe I am naive but I believe in the goodness of people. That we should help others when we can. I help people whenever I can because I want to help. Because I have a tiny hope in my heart that someday, when that person I help is back on his/her feet that he/she will help others. And many others that he/she helps will help many many others.
I would like to dedicate tonight’s blog for one of my favorite animals sanctuaries, The Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary. They are located in Montana. The ranch is a very special place for disabled animals. You;d think those disabled animals don’t deserve a good life? WRONG. At the Rolling Dog Ranch, they get second chances. The owners/founders of the ranch, Steve and Alayne, rescue disabled dogs, cats, horses and they even have goats!!! I swear, these couple are the true living Saint Francis. They have the biggest heart and love for animals. I truly admire the works they do. If only more people are like them, the world would truly be a much better place.
Being a huge animal lover, I have a special place in my heart for this sanctuary. Each month, I donate some money to the ranch. It’s not much but at least it’s the least I can do for them. I would love to do some volunteer works for them but I live too far away. I plan on visiting the ranch sometime next year when they are open for visitors. I might volunteer for a week there. It has been my dream to come visit the ranch someday.
I encourage you to visit their website to learn more about the sanctuary and also about disabled animals. Steve writes beautiful blog where he tells stories about the animals at the ranch. I read his blog everyday.
Here are the websites. Please visit and support the Rolling Dog Ranch Sanctuary!!
http://rollingdogranch.org/index.html
http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/
Lastly, I would like to close my entry tonight with a beautiful quote from Mahatma Gandhi:
I am still not in a good mood today. I don’t know why. The weather was gloomy. Someone stole our cat food (that we left outside to feed the stray cats). What is going on in this world? Oh and I got slapped with 4 more overdraft charges although I have not done any financial transactions involving my debit card since last week. I am closing my account tomorrow. I am tired of this. The idiot at Compass bank who I talked to on the weekend lied to me. He did not refund the overdraft charges from last week. That was my last straw. If he could not keep his promise, how could I trust the bank in general???? I hate Compass Bank. I have asked my payroll person to stop my direct deposit to my bank so this Friday I am getting an actual check until I have a new bank account. So, now I am shopping for a new bank. I am thinking Wachovia just because one of its branches is close to where I work and there is actually one branch in my neighborhood as well.
I am hungry but don’t know what to eat. I have been so lazy cooking lately. I wish my husband knew how to cook that would be nice. I am tired today.
I hate my job. I guess it is nice to have a job in this current economy. As crazy as it sounds I want to win the lottery. I want to be able to go to church every morning at 7.30. And help with the church. Volunteer everyday at different places. Build a no-kill animal sanctuary. Pay off my debts. Pay off my house. Buy the house accross the street. Donate this house to a family that needs it. Travel to my home country. Buy my mom diamonds and jewelries. Pay for my sister’s wedding. Send her to honeymoon around the world. Open my own grocery store. Organic grocery store with a bakery inside and a little book shop. Spend time with my dogs.
Ugghhh. I cannot wait for this workweek to end. I am just so sick of this week. It has been a bad week from day 1.
I guess I am going to eat something now.
So I decided to make a little treat for my American-born Korean husband. I made him some Scallion pancake. I saw the recipe in a cooking book I borrowed from the library yesterday. He said he used to eat them a lot when he lived with his Korean family. I ate it several times as well during various visits to his grandma’s house. My Scallion Pancake turned out well. It’s so good eaten with the soy dipping sauce (I mixed it with little bit of sugar and chopped scallions). So I have everything ready downstairs and I am just waiting fo rmy husband to come home from his bicycling activity. I hope he likes my scallion pancakes.
For dinner tonight, I have several dinners made ahead of time yesterday so we should be good until the end of this week.
Something bothers me a little bit. When I took my little sister to the mall (Build A Bear store to be exact) last weekend, she told me that her mom told her to tell me that I could buy her (my little sister) a DS. At first I didn’t know what a DS was. I asked her what it was and she explained to me. A Nintendo DS. The thing that surprised me was she actually had the courage to ask something.
I took her to Walt Disney World last month. It cost me some couple hundreds dollars to do that. I should have done that as part of her birthday present. Anyways. Now I feel that she’s taken advantage of me–well, a little bit. Sure she is only 10 but I just don’t like the idea how she started asking me to buy her stuff. If I was her close relative, sure maybe I would understand more but I am not. I am a volunteer.
I didn’t know how to react to some of her actions sometimes. I am not used to it. I am not used to having someone to ask me for something. And I am just so used to get everything for myself. Ok yeah, I always provide my husband with a mile long list of things I want for Christmas every year but this is to my husband and he knows I can get those with my own money if I want it to. My point is, I wanted to explain to my little sister that money is not everything; that it has to be earned; that there are way many more important things she can have other than tangible possesions. I was having a hard time doing this. So I joked to her by saying, I want a DS too!! And I left the conversation right there. I didn’t mention or ask her about her wish anymore that day. Next birthday, we’re going to a waterpark. Or maybe I’ll just get her an outfit. Or $20 gift card to a bookstore. But you know what though, considering what she has now and what I had when I was her age…. she has it tougher than me.
I remember when I was young (lived with my parents), I would get anything I wanted, I mean anything!!!–from toys to whatever. But this does not mean that I will spoil my little sister. I will be generous but not overly generous that she takes advantage of me. When she turns 18, I’d like to give her a special gift. This is also the age when we won’t be Big Sister Little Sister anymore. For now, I’ll just try to be the best Big Sister she’ll always remember. And my hope is that oneday when she is old enough, she’ll continue the circle by being a Big sister to someone else.
I hate it I hate it I hate it. Ok let me be specific. I hate working for other people. I want to have my own business. I want to own a small business. I want to win the lottery so I can volunteer!!!!!!!!! that’s all I am going to do. Volunteer. Help people. Help animals. For the rest of my life. I want to help. I want to learn more about God. I want to volunteer for my church. I want to travel with my husband and our families.
I do not like to work for other people.
Please God let me win the lottery!!!!!!!
I went to get a scrath-off lottery ticket on Wednesday, June 25th. And I won $5. I paid $2 for the ticket. I also bought a regular lottery ticket but I didn’t win yet.
This Saturday there is going to be another drawing so I am going to buy one ticket for myself.
I know I will win it. I am going to use the jackpot money to pay off the house and other debts and I want to open a school for kids in underprivilage country. I also want to volunteer more often. I’d probably quit my job and be a part-time teacher or I will be the president of my own non-profit group. I’d like to donate money to my animal rescue group and other animal rescues out there. I’d like to adopt maybe 2 – 3 kids and buy a big house with them in the country.
I am so excited. Today I feel great. I am in a good mood today. I am not going to let anything to bother me or distract me. I am just so happy. Very happy. Can’t wait to start the day!!!!!!
Lots have been happening.
My internet connection was having a problem for a while. Not sure why but it seems to work ok now. Keep fingers crossed.
Husband’s grandma had a surgery on Monday to remove her colon tumor. Surgery went well and she is coming home today.
I have been volunteering a lot. I helped my animal rescue group transporting some stray cats to be spayed/neutered and I also helped this one elderly lady, Elizabeth, with her dog, Rounder. She needed someone to take her to the vet so I volunteered to do that. I made the appointment and I drove her there (with her dog). Her dog Rounder has a tumor. She is 15 years old. Elizabeth isn’t sure if she wants to put Rounder through surgery. Elizabeth is a very nice petite old lady. She lives in an apartment in my neighborhood by herself. She does not have children. I am not sure how old she is but she looks old. We had a lunch at McDonald’s right after vet visit and she told me that she used to be a model when she was younger. This lady knows style. She saw my handbag and she said to me, I like your handbag–Michael Kors handbag. I said well, I bought this a while bag not sure if they still have it but I will see if I can find something similar. That afternoon, I went to Marshall’s and I found her an Ettiene Agner bag for $24.99. It was a similar looking bag. Very, very similar. I was happy to find it. I went home and put it in a pretty gift bag and put some pink tissues in it. The next morning, I called Elizabeth and I told her I was coming to drop off something. I stopped by and I gave her the gift. She was SOOOOO happy!!!!!!!! I also brought Rounder some treats (I bought my dogs way too many treats). It felt good making someone else happy. When I went there, she asked me a favor. She needed to get Rounder some dog foods next week. She showed me the one she is using. Later that evening, I was browsing through the local grocery shopping weekly ad and I saw that they’re having sale on the dog food Elizabeth needs. So this morning I went ahead and bought 2 big bags. I also picked up 2 bags of cat litter for Elizabeth’s cats.
Well. That’s about it with me. Tomorrow I am going to go to the Catholic church and ask about volunteer opportunity with their Kitchen Soup.
I told Elizabeth I love to volunteer and if I could do it for living I would do it. She looked at me and said: you are such a joy.
That alone was worth every volunteering I have done in my life.
I told God, if he would trust me with winning a lottery jackpot, I’d quit my job so I can help other people. I’d work part time as a teacher–teaching kids to be good and kind to others. I’d do so many volunteer works my whole life. That’s my promise to God.
