That is me and my daughter and on my nth birthday. Ten months after Yolanda I find the energy and the enthusiasm to blog again. I just feel it is a nice way of celebrating a new episode in my life and to try to rekindle and old flame: writing.

My daughter has a three year old son now and she came home with him for my birthday. As since she needed to leave early on my "big day" we anticipated the celebration with family and relatives coming to lunch on Sunday, Sept. 7.On the following day, I had some celebration of sorts with my fellow instructors and staff.

My mother in law came and I was so happy to see her again after a long while. Work had kept me from  paying her a visit. I miss her garden and the beautiful plants that she had tended all these times. She gave me a hand cream and I gave her a dark blue blouse which she liked.

My sisters and sister in law (sitting, left) joked at how our girths have expanded and rationalized that it was a sign of progress. Undeniably, we have grown in years this showed in our common topics on food, ailments, children and grandchildren.

I was feeling blessed with all the greetings and well wishes that I received---from my own family, relatives, friends and students. I have a lot to be thankful for that despite the storms I have gone through, I know God loves me.