Important Information Regarding German Citizenship

As what I have said last Tuesday, I am now a German citizen. Yesterday, I processed my passport and regular processing usually takes 3-4 weeks. Beginning November 01, 2007, all Germans who want to apply for a passport will already be taken of their fingerprints and a biometrix photo. The new passport will already have a chip which contains all the owner's characteristics or data. This is especially needed when travelling or going out of the country. A special laser machine will scan the chip easily and will see all your data in it. The authorities said that this is for security and control purposes.

In Germany, you can apply for a German citizenship for varied reasons. Since I am married to a German, I have the right for a German citizenship. This is one of the reasons, by Marriage. Other reasons are; children born in Germany by non-German parents (by birth), by legitimation and simply for applying it.

In my case, I need to have 3 years residence in Germany before I can apply for it. One of the requirements is attending the German Integration course. I guess, I already mentioned this in my early blogs. In this course, one will learn the German language, German history and culture and some basic laws. After the course, you need to take two exams, one for German language and the other for Germany's history and culture. If you pass the exam, you will received then four certificates which is then needed for the application of German citizenship.

I am just really happy now, since I already have all the rights and privileges being a German citizen. One advantage is travelling anywhere without need for visa. Another reason is that, I already have a freedom of movement in EU especially maybe working in other EU countries without need of a working visa.

I am hoping that next year will be a better year for me and for all of us.

...to be continued...

ReLlY VeRy ToUcHiNg!!

A Full Glass Of Milk

Very nice story to spread to...

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay,
for his hungry stomach, decided he would ask for a meal at the next
house.
On the way through school, he found he had only one thin dime left
and he was very hungry.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the
door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.
The woman thought he looked hungry, so brought him a large glass of
milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You
don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us, never to
accept pay for a kindness."
He said..."Then I thank you from my heart."
Year's later that young woman became critically ill.
The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big
city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.
When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light
filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her
room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He
recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to
save her life, from that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the
business office to pass the final bill to him
for approval.
He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was
sent to her room.
The woman feared opening it, for she was sure it would take the
rest of her life to pay for it all.
Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side
of the bill. She read these words..."Paid in full with one glass of
milk."
Signed,
Dr.Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: Thank You,
God, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and
hands."

A SIMPLE INSPIRATION.......
To fix a broken life, use the tools of the heart.

I'm so Happy today!!!!

I woke up so early this morning. I usually wake up late, since 7:00 am here in Germany is still dark especially during winter time. Besides that, I always go to sleep late already. Not that because, I stay too long in the computer but sometimes doing somethings like scrapbooking or just simply reading or watching TV.

Around 8:15 this morning, the telephone rang. I heard a very familiar voice. That was the official from the Landratsamt or Embassy here in our province. She said that my "Einbuergerungsurkunde (German citizenship certificate) is already there. I was really surprised. She ask me, when can I have time to get the certificate. Having been surprised, I told her that I will pick it up the next day. Then, we said goodbye.

I realized that the next day, I have to do some cooking since my friend will be visiting me. So immediately, I dialled the Official's number that I want to pick it up today before noon time. I am also really planning to buy some stuff/gifts for Christmas. I am just very lucky that she is very accommodating, friendly and really nice.

So I have to get hurry, since I have to drive around 45 minutes in going there. I was really very excited and was really very happy. Finally, I made it. I am just very thankful for these Government officials who helped me during the paper works. I am finally a European citizen now. This is my greatest gift in this Christmas season.

Lastly, I am very thankful to God who always knows what's best for me and the one who plans for my life. I also want to express my gratitude for ever loving and supportive husband. The only thing, I can say is that, although I am a German citizen now, I am and will always be proud that I am still a Filipino.

Taxes in Germany

As me and my husband sat down for dinner tonight, I was able to mention to him about eating ice cream. Last August 2007, we visited a friend in Kaiserslautern, Germany. As we went walking in that city, we happened to pass by at Dolomite, a coffee shop that also sales ice cream . While me and my husband were eating at dinner, I told him that the shop charged us for 19% tax for the ice cream we ordered. I asked him why 19%, when that is food. He said that ice cream, chocolates, some junk foods are considered not basic food for living, that's why it is charged at 19% tax. In Germany basic food like bread, meat, milk etc are charged only 7% tax. Non-food goods or merchandise and services are tax last year at 16%. But now, it is already charged 19% including other services in shops like beauty shops, auto repair, insurances and a lot more. Germany is one of Europe's expensive country. Even sometimes when you go shopping plastic bags are not for free. You have to buy it self. This is just for info to everyone who always go shopping especially to women who always love shopping. Besides that now is Christmas time, one of the busiest time where almost everyone go for shopping. Just be wise in spending your money and be sure to have the right price for the right product.



p.s. these were the ice cream we ordered..sorry wrong cam date...

A VeRy ToUcHiNg StOrY

EXPENSIVE GOLD WRAPPING PAPER

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said,

"This is for you, Momma." The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner.

"Don' t you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"

She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or
faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more

precious possession anyone could hold.

My TyPiCaL SuNdAy

My Sunday is fast over. As usual, I am having a typical Sunday...went walking with my husband around our place. We passed by in the small Weinachtsmarkt or Christmas market near our church. Some people were there. A group of women performed line dance. Small kiosks selling hamburgers, bratwurst, kebap, gluhwein (a warm wine especially during christmas) , etc. were also there. We did not stayed too long, since I have to talk to my family to the Philippines.

It is a relaxing Sunday, but I still felt a little bit tired. I guessed, this is from the weather. Today, here in my place is sometimes sunny, then comes rain, sunny again...I really find it sometimes very uncomfortable and tiring for going out. I am just happy that while walking with my husband, we were not caught by rain. As the time that we were already home, the rain started pouring already. It is still a blessed Sunday.

Do you know what day today is???

Let me share to you about the story of the Immaculate Conception..

HER NAME

When Bernadette Soubirous asked the beautiful lady who was appearing to her at Lourdes, France, in 1858, who she was, the lady answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

The Immaculate Conception – Mama Mary wanted us to remember God more than herself. The Immaculate Conception – this is what we celebrate today. On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX defined the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, making this feast celebrated in the East since the 8th century a part of the article of faith of the Universal Church. The dogma states that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, in view of her unique vocation as mother of the Son of God, has been free from the stain of original sin.

The Immaculate Conception was because of the Divine Motherhood. It was God’s work just as her becoming the mother of His Son was purely God’s unique grace given her. We celebrate the Immaculate Conception to remember three things and so live by it.

First, the Immaculate Conception was the triumph of good over evil, of grace over sin. Eve, the first woman, though called “mother of all the living”, became the “mother of all the dead” because of her disobedience. God reversed the effect of Eve’s disobedience by the obedience of Mama Mary. The Immaculate Conception was God’s victory even before the ultimate battle on the cross was won by His Son.

Second, the Immaculate Conception affirmed that Mariology is a function of Christology. Her preservation from all sin had a definite orientation: her Divine Motherhood. She was given this unique privilege not for her own sake.

Third, the Immaculate Conception assured us that God supplies the grace needed for the vocation He calls us to. While it was true that she remained free as to what response she would give to God’s calling, Mama Mary was nonetheless readied, nurtured, and supported by God’s grace. Without it, she would not have responded to God’s calling the way she did. Without a prior grace from God, Mama Mary would not have been able to accept and fulfill her vocation.

“The Immaculate Conception” – this is the name of Mama Mary by which all generations call her “blessed”. Fr. Bobby T.

REFLECTION QUESTION: “Mary is blessed among all women because she conceived the Word in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb” (St. Augustine of Hippo).

“O Mary, conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” (Traditional Marian ejaculatory prayer).

adapted from Kerygma...