Floods, Floods and more Floods

The typhoon Ondoy brought so many tears to our fellow Filipinos.

Today, when I went to the office I heard a lot of other stories of tragedy and survival, aside from those I have watched on the television.

People who became heroes because of their bravery and courage.

I pray that this will not happen again to our country.

Sometimes we think and ask why did this thing happen.

I believe that it is not God’s will, because our God is a loving God.

We should look at the root of the flood.

What caused it?

At the time…. Very heavy rains, the opening of the dams….

But before that…. Stuck-up drainage and stuck-up rivers because of the garbage of humans; old rivers and sea water turned into residential and commercial areas.

I think we should start by cleaning up our environment, then planting trees rather than building commercial shopping complex (we have enough of these shopping malls).

We have to love our environment so that it will love us back too.

I read once an essay written by a Korean student now living here in the Philippines, telling about his views of our country. He was asked why, in his opinion, is the Philippines not progressing.

His answer was very simple,

“It is because the Filipinos don’t Love the Philippines”

And I think somehow this is true. We have forgotten to love our country.

We always complain of the corrupt government, the corrupt government officials and employees, the corrupt system.

But, we should ask ourselves, what are we doing to change our country for the better?

Where will change begin if not with us?

We should not let corruption eat us up, we should have this passion of change for a better Philippines in us to flow and magnify not only in our household but in everything that we do.

By simply not throwing out trash (even candy wrappers) on the streets or sidewalks is a start.

If we want a clean household, we also should have a clean environment where our children, grandchildren, and the next generation of Filipinos will enjoy living in.

I am not a hypocrite, I also have a dream to live in another country where they say have a better community (lesser or no crimes); better old-age benefits like medical and pension pay; better paying jobs; better and free education for my children and grandchildren (would be); clean air to breathe… etc.

But I ask myself, wouldn’t it be better if we have all these in our country?

I dream that one day the Philippines will be a better place to live in because of the efforts of the Filipinos.

Storm Ondoy

With the raging storm yesterday, I was feeling a bit nervous because of the heavy rains and the strong winds.

But then when I saw the news today, I felt so blessed because we were spared from the floods that took the major parts of Manila.

The power went off at about 10am yesterday, we prepared the house for anything that might happen. We bought extra candles, arranged the furnitures for possible roof damage... etc.

Well, let us just pray and help in the best way that we can for these people who are now experiencing the effects of the storm.

My Family

Last Sunday we attended The Feast again at the Festival Mall.

Some of you may wonder what is this Feast, well it's like a Christian Fellowship but this one is Catholic. We sing songs of praises and listen to talks by our group leaders, there is also sharing.

Najel is always asking me to go (this only on Sundays), because the past two Sundays were sooo rainy I told her we could not go. So yesterday we have no reason not to go because the sun is shining so bright! hehehe

While i'm at the Feast with my eldest Leanne, she's at the Children's Ministry where they tell bible stories to the kids and have other activities for them.

On the other side, my daughter Leanne just joined a band (singing). It's just a group of friends. But I had a talk with my hubby about this, actually it has been troubling me yesterday. I am not in favor of her joining this band.

She's graduating in college next year, and I believe that this extra activity will take her concentration off her studies. (even if she says otherwise) Well, i'll have to talk to her about this.

My second child, Jan Michael will be enrolling next semester. He'll be taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at the STI Alabang. he stopped school for a year because he was still unsure of what course to take. He's been busy with his band (he's a guitar player) and playing online games (earning too).

My third, Nikko is in fourth year high school. Well, he wants to take up BS Hotel and Restaurant Management. His options for schools are Far Eastern University or Dela Salle University Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Well, life as a mother is really exciting. Everyday is a learning experience.

My Daughter's Youtube Videos

My daughter Leanne have been pestering me for the last weeks to help promote her Youtube page on my blog.

So here it is.... just click HERE.

Anyways, I have posted one of her video here at the upper portion of my blog.

So please try to visit her Youtube site and try to listen to some her videos there. Why do you know, maybe you will like her songs and craziness, hehehe.

She have a lot of craziness there, comedies to make you laugh. It sure did me...

Well, I guess that's what children are for, to make us happy. She's my eldest daughter and will be graduating from Nursing next year, and soon will have her own career and everything.

But now she's just enjoying her life studying and having fun.

Thank you guys ^,^ and if you have a Youtube account please rate her and also leave a comment.

Photobucket

I just opened an account with Photobucket. I am thinking of killing my Photo Blog and just stick with Photobucket.

But as it is only very new, I have to study how it works to make my albums beautiful.

Also I changed the layout of my family fotos blog please tell me if it is okay. And I need your advice if I will keep my foto blog or the PhotoBucket.

Blogger friends, I would like to thank you all for always leaving comments to my blogs here. My life is happier with you guys!

If you have a Facebook account, you can add me as a friend so we could get in touch and play some games together. Like the Mafia Wars and Farm Ville. Just click the Facebook button above.

I am happy with my life right now. I have learned so many things in the past months that made me realize that I have to be happy. I must not waste time worrying about problems that would eventually be solved (whether I like it or not).

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee...
You will never look at a
cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and
how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was
going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting
and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one
arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with
water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.
In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs,
and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit
and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the
carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and
placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed
it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.
She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.
After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The
daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then
asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after
being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had pr otected its
liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its
inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in
the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on
your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a
coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do
I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes
with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a
breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become
hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside
am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot
w ater, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water
gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like
the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and
change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you
elevate yourself to another level?
How do you handle adversity?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of
everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along
their way.
The brightest future will always be based on a
forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of
your past failures and heartaches.

"It's easier to build a child than repair an adult."

You might want to send this message to those people who mean
something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life
in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really
need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things
when you are really down; to those whose friendship you
appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to
brighten someone's day with this message!

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to
make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope
to make you happy.

I received this message through the email (Thank You!)

Twilight and New Moon

With the upcoming movie sequel of Twilight comes New Moon!

I can't wait to watch this movie, I am soooo in love with the movie Twilight and I know that New Moon will also be a blast. Jacob has turned into a handsome werewolf and became really close with Bella when Edward left her

.

And because of this, I am feeling very happy and generous today.

So i'm giving away FREE EBOOKS of the Twilight Sag

a...

TWILIGHT

NEW MOON

These are in PDF form, you might need to download here Adobe Reader.

Now, friends, if you want the other two books just leave a comment and I will be glad to give you the other two books for FREE!!!

(I also have their audiobooks if you like....)

MOONLIGHT

I just fnished watching Season 1 of the TV Series Moonlight.

It was recommended by the store where I get my DVD's. And it was really worth it!

Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St. John is sooooo handsome and very good.

The story is about vampires, similar to the Twilight Saga. Where vampires live in the modern world trying their best to blend in and not get noticed. Mick is a private investigator and all of his cases involves vampires (of course, hehehe).

There is this girl he saved from another vampire (his former wife, who, by the way was the one who changed him) about more than twenty (20) years ago who is now a TV Newscaster.
She is his current love (but he is still undecided if he will commit).

Anyways, what I like most here is that every episode has its own story but also it unfolds things related to the life of Mick and his friend Josef Kostan.

There is a sense of continuity after each episode but then a case is always solved in every one. I highly recommend this TV series and I can't wait for the next season to be released!!!

Photo Sources: CLICK and CLICK

Slow me down, Lord

Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart with the quieting of my mind;
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time;
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills;
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations — of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

This poem was shared to me by Joy Sosoban, it came in my email together with the daily Gospel which i receive from the Kerygma Family everyday.
Everyday I receive these wonderful sharing from the Kerygma Family and it inspires me and make me remember the Bible readings I once learned early on in my life.
Actually, I want to study the Bible. I don't want to read it by myself. I have been watching Father Chito Tagle every Sunday morning on The Word Exposed Channel 5 7am. He gives a very detailed explanation on the readings of the day. Well, I only hope he opens a Bible study course in the future.

In this busy life of ours, it is important to find peace and silence in the little things that we are able to do.