Ellyn

One of the best things about living in the Philippines is having a helper at home to do the cooking, marketing, laundry, house cleaning, menu planning, gardening, body massage, physical therapy exercises, anything and everything. Ellyn has been with us many years back but there came a time when she wanted to venture into what it is like to live in the "big city" of Manila. And so reluctantly I let her go, wishing her the best. After she left, many other helpers came and went, with the children unanimously lamenting that none came near Ate Ellyn's efficiency, reliability, patience, kindness, sipag, caring. And so it was with much jubilation that we welcomed Ellyn back when she returned to our household six months ago.

Today, my relatives (who have been recipients of Ellyn's special brand of pag-aasikaso as well) and my family are going to have a party to celebrate Ellyn's twenty-second birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELLYN!

And THANK YOU VERY MUCH!