Canada celebrated Thanksgiving Day yesterday. While the kids were thankful for a four-day weekend, Mama Sez and I were both grateful for a colourful first two months in our new city, just like the leaves in autumn. The various shades of yellow and orange reflect the mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement as we face new possibilities, brown for the sorrow we feel as we mourn for the loss of our mother, and green for the hopefulness that all is well despite disappointments in a handful of people that we were counting on. Hard times is like strong air currents that winnows the grain from the chaff… that exposes one’s true character. Relationships are tested at such times and some would not go far. It is then those found to be true and enduring that must be celebrated instead of brooding hurt and anger over the ones that had gone awry.

"Autumn falls..." by Paul Bica

In the midst of our thanksgiving dinner with friends and family, we expressed our appreciation for the support and encouragement during this period of difficulty and adjustment. As in the nightly gratitude ritual that we have started doing again, we emphasized the many things that we are thankful for, particularly good health, good friends and togetherness.

The other thing that everyone was thankful for that night was Mama Sez's success in using the Modified Pollo Iberico recipe on her very first turkey cooking.  It was tasty to the bones!

Summer is officially over here in North America. Yes, you read it right. The family has relocated to Canada.

'Twas the longest summer ever for our kids, that started in late March in the Philippines when the school year ended and continued through early September when they enrolled in their new schools halfway around the world.

Indeed, it was again a summer filled with adventures and new experiences for the whole family. You can say that we outdid ourselves again, way beyond our island travel adventure in 2010, because this time we crossed the Pacific Ocean unto a different continent to start a new life.

You might have guessed by now the reason for the long pause in our blogging.  With all the preparations and tying up loose ends prior to the travel, and the adjustments and settling down that followed, it was just nearly impossible for us to sit down and write.  Although documenting and blogging everything we've been through to relocate a family of six would have been great, it was simply beyond our capacity as stress levels were almost always way up there...sky high!

In contrast, exactly six months ago before the peak of activities related to our relocation, Mama Sez was still inspired to write the poem below.  I am belatedly posting it now as it was really intended to be sent out to inform everyone about our big move.  Well, what else can I say but sorry for the delay.  I am hoping for your understanding and continued support for our family and our online efforts.

by Mama Sez, 23 March 2011

Cheers!