Banquets

Both Kirsten and Ben recently had banquets to attend for High School and Middle School respectively. Here are a few pictures of them all dressed up!

Ben and Kirsten photos


A recent photo of Ben. Isn't he a handsome young man?!?!


Ben with some of his friends playing basketball at school.


Kirsten and her friend, Joy, at the recent high school banquet.


Kirsten in motion in soccer!


learning to waltz at the banquet.


Junior class


High school banquet attendees

Pacquiao / MayWeather fight

a showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the two best fighters of their time

Many have called the fight the Super Bowl of boxing, but the Super Bowl happens every year. Mayweather-Pacquiao might happen only once, so the eyes of the sports world will be on a 20-foot-by-20-foot boxing ring inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night (USA time)

as they finally meet in the latest so-called "fight of the century."

This is a huge event here this Sunday morning May 3.

Pacquiao is a national hero here. He's also a well-respected Philippine citizen, senator, Christian. He has a heart for the poor and usually purchases rice and other items for many after each of his fights.

"I enjoy helping people -- the poor, orphans -- I cannot leave them hungry without helping them. I'm not materialistic," he
said. "The money's not mine. It's God's grace that's entrusted
to me

The whole nation is riveted on watching this fight this Sunday morning.

Some movie theatres are showing the fight in their cinemas. Ben and Kurt have gone to watch the fight at a local cinema to join in the cultural experience. We celebrated church service Saturday evening to accomodate this.

The police anticipate a crime-free day. It's amazing how the whole nation slows for this fight.

see: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/05/02police-see-zero-crime-today-405457 for more info!

The electric company has asked people to turn off toasters, refrigerators, any unnecessary appliances during the fight so there will be no power outages!
see http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/utility-asks-filipinos-unplug-pacquiao-fight-article-1.2207174
for more info.

Pacquiao became a pro at 16 and fought 43 fights, almost all in the Philippines, before his first bout in the U.S. in 2001. His furious fighting style, an ability to knock out bigger men and his winning titles at various weight classes made him an international star.
Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-manny-pacquiao-20150427-story.html#page=1

It will be an interesting day here. If Pacquiao wins there may be a national holiday tomorrow!!!

Midwife-EMR Blog post

My husband, Kurt, has posted a blog at his site - kurtsymanzik.org -
about the software he's been developing.

Check it out!!!!

Grace Providers

John Ortberg has written an excellent book, "Love Beyond Reason."

Here's a quote from it.

"Grace providers notice things about you; they pay attention
to your heart and life.
Grace providers speak truthfully to you - both easy words and hard. Grace providers are not people who only say what you
want to hear, but they speak the truth in love. Grace providers simply never cease to love you. They see beneath the surface; they see the darkness as well as the goodness in your heart.
But when they see the darkness they do not pull away.
They are not repulsed. They move toward you. You may be a
rag doll, but you are God's rag doll, and grace providers
never let you forget it."
( Love Beyond Reason, John Ortberg. Kindle Cloud.)

May we each be providers of grace to those around us- like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5: 13- 15 "... Be at peace among yourselves.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage
the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek
to do good to one another and to everyone.