Great Things in Small Boxes

     Count your blessings instead of sheep. This is one true statement I cherish because God is a generous God. He never fails to amuse me and to make me smile everyday. In fact, through a very tiny ant, He'll show me He cares. I believe simplest things which draw laughter are God's tickles. I'd like to count His blessings by creating a list of amusing, tiny, unbelievable or the most ordinary ways  which make me feel I'm blessed because I'm alive.

1. Butterflies all over the place- makes me feel like a child again
2. My nephew's chuckle
3. My husband rubbing my itchy back
4. Food particle stuck between my teeth which came off after several attempts of removing it
5. A clean comfort room
6. A faucet with clear generous flow of water  coming out of it
7. Landbank ATM on-line with no line
8. A slice of blueberry cheese cake  

9. A fresh, soft and fragrant blanket
10. A fresh, soft and fragrant pillowcase
11. Mosquito net under my feet
12. A powerhug with my husband
13. A smooch from my nephew and little cousins
14. Receiving a bouquet of flowers
15. A free meal

16. White kitkat  
17. Lots of 25 centavos for Pondong Batangan
18. Wonderboy chips

19. Sound of Music movie 
20. Hearing one of my fave songs on the radio
21. Paid bills
22. Mountain view on my bedside window 
23. A moonlight sky
24. Christmas nightsky
25. Christmas giftwrapping
26. A sharpened pencil
27. A ballpen emptied up to the end
28. A fan on a very hot day
29. An umbrella when it rains
30. An available loperamide when my tummy aches
31. My headache balm
32. Great relief from migraine after vomiting
33. Sleeping time
34. Finishing a good book
35. A seat on the bus
36. Finishing a rosary 

37. Waking up with my husband hugging me
38. Getting well from a cold
39. Having a cup of coffee  in the veranda
40. My planted plants growing 
41. Seeing people use paper bags instead of plastics
42. A sweet corn with butter and salt
43. Penoy balot or balot

44. Hot pan de sal
45. A company-seeking officemate asking for prayer for this intention
46. A feeling of newly-brushed teeth
47. An ice cream recipe sold
48. Regular bowel movement
49. A clean pair of sleeping wear
50. Goldfish in my aquarium while feeding
51. Raindrops on leaves

52. My husband's contagious laughter
53. Finding a lost item when you're not even looking for it
54. Trying a new recipe
55. Buying the shoes I really want and finding out its the last pair, as if its meant to be mine
56. Magnoila chocolait
57. Newly rebond/fixed hair
58. Wearing my favorite necklace
59. Seeing highshcool friends in the facebook
60. Meeting persons with same name as I am
61. Finding old photographs from an unchartered place in the house
62. Reading old letters and cards
63. Screaming at the top of my lungs just to relax
64. Somebody telling me I'm beautiful
65. A pat on my back

66. Precious Moments characters
67. A flower in bloom
68. Hot nai cha
69. Weddings
70. A swan on a pond
71.Watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S
72. Watching E.R.
73. Watching Ally McBeal
74. MacGyver memories
75. Last  coins in my wallet
76. A visit in the Blessed Sacrament
77. An infant touching my arm
78. Letting go of my money in the offertory basket
79. Lying on the bed after work
80. Putting my nephew to sleep
81. A free massage while in the salon
82. Strolling while eating ice cream
83. A cool wind blowing my face
84. Smell of a newly cut grass
85. Somebody whistling a fine tune
86. Seeing what's below when aboard an airplane
87. White wash made by boats


88. Cascading water


89. Being offered a pair of slippers  on a cold floor
90. Mango tree filled with fruits

91. A ricefield
92. A beach view
93. My husband rubbing my foot
94. Stubborn stains between my fingernails removed by using kamias/kalamias
95.Pancake House mango shake 
96. Killing a mosquito in one attempt
97. Pot-pot of Pan De Sal vendor in the morning
98. Receiving post mail
99. Underarm hair being plucked
100. Seeing dy massaging inay's foot
101. Evening snack with my family
102. A dinner with close friends
103. Arranging surprise party for a friend or being part of it
104. Colorful balloons

105. A Japanese garden
106. The feel of fine sand under my feet
107. Hearing Angelus over the radio or it being recited in the mall
108. A cloud forming an object 
109. Sun rays through the clouds


110. Dancing anime characters in the videoke

111. Disney's Chip and Dale
112. Seeing Smurfs again
113. A new-born niece
114. A dew drop on a leaf
115. Kayaking with mu hubby
116. Old photgraphs
117. My 37-year old baby dress worn by my niece

118. Pinterest.com

119. Blue retractable Pilot ballpen
120. A striped caterpillar on a leaf-A promise of a new butterfly 





The list will go on and on and I intend to keep this list for as long as I see His greatness in small packages. In every opportunity will I thank Him.

A Girl's Prayer for His Boyfriend

I can't remember who gave this to me but this prayer stayed inside my wallet for years now. I guess this simple prayer helped my boyfriend (now, my husband) and me to stay together for so long until we got married last year.


Heavenly Father, Full of Grace
Bless my boyfriend's handsome face
Bless his hair that kind'a curls.


Bless his hands which are strong,
May they stay where they belong
Bless his eye which tend to roam
Keep them from seeing what is not shown.


Bless this guy I'll always miss
Bless his lips I love to kiss
Bless his arms that hold me tight
Bless his body that feels so right
If ever he'd read this prayer of mine
Bless the thought that would enter his mind.


AMEN.

Moments with the Savior

       I had a book entitled "Moments with the Savior" by Ken Gire. This has become my favorite book. It really made me experience Christ because it brought me to the scenes as if they're exactly happening in front of me. Its as if I could touch Jesus. I could feel His emotions and I could see how He sees us. I saw how unbelieving and continually doubting we, His disciples were. Many times I saw myself as a child in the scenes. Quiet. Observing. Feeling. I saw how a widow wept when her son died but Jesus woke him up. I understood why a lady with a jug fetched water from the well every afternoon. I had a high regard for Nicodemus after he sought Jesus at night. I realized why a woman was accused as adulterer-its because they were spying on her waiting for the moment not to trap her but to trap Jesus. It was the loyalty of his friends which made an impact to me when a man was forced  through the roof inside the house where Jesus was healing and preaching. It was Barttemeus' faith which healed him. These are just few moments with Him. I was there.  I was drawn there by Ken Gire's full description of the details. How he analyzed every movement or every word said is just so brilliant. I was grateful for talented people like him who brings Jesus closer to me. Its too close in fact  that I could touch His cloak.  
      This book also inspired me to do some role-playing  during our household meetings or in one of our chapter meetings before. Each one of us would be given a character in a scene depicting Jesus  life. An apostle, a Pharisee or a priest who went against Jesus, an unbeliever, a follower, a bystander or an onlooker, etc. Then somebody would read the gospel. The gospel would be read again but this time, everyone would close their eyes and imagine themselves in the scene internalizing their respective characters. The gospel would be read up to four times. The results were just remarkable. Everyone, had a glimpse of the past. They felt what their characters really felt. I praise God for that. I hope we can do that again so we can understand fully how the apostles lived and how they felt when they were with Jesus. This will also help us in analyzing ourselves if and when somebody we know ( or don't ) will tell us one day that he is the Messiah. What will our reactions be? How are we going to feel. I am sure none of us will believe. Because during their time, very few people believed that Jesus is the Messiah. Even His disciples doubted at one point. 
     As for the book, I already finished it a few years ago. But it's worth rereading. It makes me know Him more and more. It makes me see myself as a believer much more.

Chivalry Endangered

Scenario 1:     Minsan, galing kami sa fiesta ng officemate namin sa Magallanes, Cavite. Sakay kami sa kotse ng boss namin. May naunang sasakyan sa amin at malayo ito sa amin. Pero dahil mabilis ang takbo namin, naabutan namin ito. At laking gulat namin dahil may isang magandang babae, sexy, long hair, naka-red na blouse at blue jeans na nakaupo sa  hagdan sa may estribo ng jeep. Nagtataka kami kasi mabilis din naman ang takbo ng jeep at nakaporma ang babae na ito. Bakit sya nakaupo sa me estribo? Sabi ng officemate ko na tag-roon sa lugar, ganun daw talaga pag puno na ang jeep, pinauupuan na ang entrance ng jeep, konti lang daw kasi ang nabyahe. Pero kung titingnan mo ang loob ng jeep, may mga lalaki na maayos na nakaupo sa loob nito. Bakit walang nag-offer ng upuan nya sa kawawang magandang babae?
Scenario 2:     Isang gabi sa paguwi ko mula trabaho, nahirapan ako sumakay ng jeep dahil bihira ang bumibyahe sa dahilang di ko alam. Kaya naman siksikan at unahan sa pagsakay ang mga tao. At nung nakasakay na ako (sa wakas!), madaling napuno ang jeep at kung kaya ang isang college student na ito ay napilitang bumitin na lang sa jeep. Dahil may dala syang clutch bag at dalawa pang plastic bag, nagmagandang-loob ako na pansamantalang hawakan muna ang mga bitbit ny para makakapit syang maayos. Ang estudyanteng ito, ay parang nagulat at nagtaka sa gesture ko. Natigilan sya at tumanggi sya at sabi nya ok lang daw sya. Ha? Ni-reject ang pagtulong ko? Hayun, hirap na hirap syang bitbitin ang mga dala nya sa isang kamay habang nakakapit ang isang kamay sa estribo. Di ko na inulit ang offer ko kasi baka mareject na naman ako. Naisip ko, mukha bang dudukutan ko ang gamit nya para di tanggapin ang tulong ko o ignorante sya na me ganitong kultura ang mga mananakay ng jeep?
 Scenario 3:     Noong galing kami sa isang training sa Manila ng officemate ko, nagtaxi kami papunta sa Buendia sa terminal ng bus pa-Lucena. Madami kami dala dahil bukod sa maleta, may laptop at shoulder bag pa kami pareho. Kaya hirap kami sa pagbababa ng gamit mula sa taxi. May isang mama na patakbo kami nilapitan at tinulungang magdala ng gamit namin sa bus. Matutuwa na sana ako at handa na magpa-thank you nang biglang sumahod sya at humingi ng bayad. Ha, si Mang Gustin ka ba, ang superhero na pwedeng arkilahin?
     Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, maiisip mo, bakit nga ba bihira na ang mga lalaki na nag-ooffer ng upuan sa bus kahit may mga babaeng nakatayo sa gitna nito. Kung kaya nga sobra akong natutuwa sa tuwing may nagmamagandang-loob magpaupo sa mga babaeng nakatayo sa bus, o sa jeep o sa simbahan. O kaya naman e ako na ang nagpapasiksik sa bus sa nakatayong babae kahit na 2-seater lang ang kinauupuan ko. Maaring sasabihin ng iba na unfair ako na itreat ang mga lalaki. Hindi naman. Kasi naiinis din ako sa kapwa ko babae na hindi man lang umusog para makaupo nang maayos ang sumasakay sa jeep kahit na matanda pa ito. At sa mga babae na di mo man mapakisuyuan na iabot sa driver ang bayad mo. Ganun na rin sa mga babae na hindi naman marunong magpasalamat sa mga nagpapakagentleman sa kanila. Bakit nga ba ganun na ngayon?
    Dati kasi nung bata pa ako, bihira pa ang sasakyan, marami ang sumasabit na lalaki sa jeep. Ang mga babae ang halos lahat na nakaupo. Nakakahiya pa nga ata kung ikaw lang ang lalaking nakaupo dun. At ang babae na nasa loob, kakilala ka man o hindi ang magiging tagapaghawak ng gamit na dala ng lalaking nakabitin. Walang pagaalala na baka hindi na ibalik ang gamit nya. Nag-aagawan na nga ata sa pasahero ang mga jeep kaya bihirang mapuno at umawas ng tao kaya di na rin nasanay sa ganitong set-up nag mga lalaki lalo na ang kabataan ngayon. At dati mura pa ang pamasahe kaya ngayon, mas gusto i-enjoy ng mga tao ang binayaran nilang pamasahe sa bus lalo na kung aircon ito. Bakit nga ba sila magtitiis na tumayo e bayad na sila at nauna silang sumakay. Isa pa, kelangan nila matulog sa byahe kasi maaga sila gumising para pumasok sa trabaho.
     Dati rin, ang mga lalaki kahit tambay sa kanto lang ang gawain sa maghapon, kung may makita silang ale na maraming dala una-unahan sila sa pagtulong. Pagtulong. Hindi pagkakargador na me kapalit na bayad. Sa eskwelahan ko natutunang Good Moral at Right Conduct o GMRC na unang lecture sa umaga. Ngayon ba may ganito pa rin? Bakit kaunti na lang ata ang boyscouts at girl scouts? Hindi ba ito requirement? O hindi lang siguro naisasabuhay ang itinurong "laging handa"? Naturuan pa ba ng mga magulang ang mga anak nila ng ugaling makatulong sa kapwa. O baka di siguro nila nakikita sa mga magulang nila ang ganito? 
At ito ang narealize ko. Na marami sa mga kabataan ngayon ang di talaga naturuan ng tamang paraan ng pagiging gentleman. Marami akong mga brothers sa community na may kakulangan sa gentlemanly ways. Dahil totoong hindi nila alam kung paano. Di nila alam na kailangang pagbuksan ng pinto ang mga babae, girlfriend man nya ito o hindi. Na dapat mauna sa kanya sumakay ng jeep ang babae at sa pagbaba naman e dapat mauna sya para maalalayan nya sa pagbaba ang babae. Na kailangan pala nilang tulungan sa mabigat na bitbitin ang mga babae. Na dapat nasa danger zone sila pag magkasabay sila naglalakad sa malapit sa kalsada at hahawakan sa siko ang babae pag tatawid ng kalsada.Kung kaya di ko pwede husgahan na ungentleman ang mga lalaki ngayon dahil sa totoo lang marami sa kanila e ignorante dito. Kaya naman sa community namin, sinisikap ko na turuan ang mga brothers tungkol dito. Alam kong minsan ay na-ooffend sil sa akin pero iniisip ko kasi na para rin sa kanila yun. Di ba't mas kaibig-ibig ang lalaking gentleman at hindi lang pogi points ang nadedevelop sa kanila kundi kagandahang asal din na pwede nila ituro sa mga magiging anak nilang lalaki. Baka kasi dumating ang time na magkanya-kanya na lang tayo sa mundo. Walang pakialaman. Muli sanang mabuhay ang bayanihan sa ating mga Pilipino.


     Hep! Tayo namang mga babae, matutong magpasalamat sa mga small gestures of kindness na binibigay sa atin. Minsan kasi nakasimangot tayo  at nagtataray kaya lalo tayo di bigyan ng free seats. Isa pa, wag tayo maarte pag may nagnanais tumulong sa atin, kailangan bang gwapo pa ang tumulong sa atin sa pagtawid sa lansangan. At isa pa, sa mga may boyfriend naman, please naman, wag nyo namang ipabitbit sa nobyo nyo ang shoulder bag nyo kung hindi ka naman mababalian ng buto sa gaan nito lalo na kung ladies bag at me kulay pa ito. Minsan nakasukbit pa ito sa balikat nila. Masagwa tingnan ito sa kanila.Gusto natin ng gentleman, hindi ng lady.  Pinagmumukha nating alangan ang katayuan ng mga partners natin. Ok lang kung kasinglaki ng unan ang bag  mo at superbigat nito at kung may anak kayo at kailangan talagang sya magdala ng bag mo.


Sa ganang akin, pipilitin ko na lang na turuan ang mga taong malalapit sa akin. Mahirap kasing pumuna nang pumuna sa ibang tao kasi maaaring hindi lang sila talaga na-train sa ganito. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, pag nagkaanak ako tuturuan ko sya na unahin ang kapakanan ng iba bago sya para tumimo sa kanya ang tunay na kahulugan ng bayanihan. Alam kong higit na makakatulong sa akin ang asawa ko. Proud ako kasi me gentleman akong asawa.Di ako natatakot na mauubos na ang mga chivalrous men sa mundo. Tiwala din ako sa community namin kasi nakikita ko na ang mga SFCs at YFCs ay may ganitong magandang character. Alam kong dadami pa ang lahing marunong sa bayanihan.  

Where There is Mountain, Pray.

      Every morning I have to commute to work. I have to travel for an hour to get there. It's quite tiring and entails a lot of effort to wake up early to avoid the rush. But there's one thing I am so thankful of. Its when I reach RSM Real, Calamba. There is a vulcanizing shop beside it where I wait for a bus to Los Banos, Laguna. No, I don't admire the tires. I admire the view of Mt. Makiling and a hill in front of this fascinating mountain. Its not the enchanting look of Maria Makiling which entices me. But it's the grandeur of the mountain itself. I feel a soothing calmness and peace within me.Because this is where I connect with God. 

        Jesus used to pray in the wilderness and mountains. These are His favorite spots. I can see why. Because it is on the mountain  where God's promises for Moses, Abraham and Jesus were made. It is a symbol of stability, strength and greatness. Even Noah's ark was drawn atop a mountain. Mountain was mentioned a lot of times in the Bible. Even Jesus said we can say to a mountain to move over if we have faith as tiny as a mustard seed. Moses had Mt. Sinai. Abraham had Mt. Moriah. Jesus had Mt. Hermon. Mt. Makiling is my mountain (at least a view of it). Everytime I look at it in the morning, I greet God because I see Him smiling at me and greeting me through this mountain. I praise God also because I have the best view of Mt. Makiling by my bedside window. Something I cherish everyday as I look outside. As if God is telling me. "Hey, child, look at me. I'm huge. I'm gigantic. I'm magnificent. I'm strong. I'm immovable. I'm big. Bigger than all your worries and wrinkles. Fear not for even the clouds that cover your view of me vanish within the day. The scorching sun which burns you sets behind me. Seeds continue to grow, fruits and flowers flourish through me. Will these facts be enough to pacify you? You just don't know how much and how grand the things I can show you. I love you this mountain-much ".

       If the hills are alive with the sound of music, the mountains are alive with the voice of my God.

Passion Confusion

     I want to do a lot of things. I know I need to do a lot of things. But somehow, I can't start a  thing. Or maybe, I have already started something but I'm having difficult time continuing and finishing. Sometimes I have so many things in my head and I feel like I don't have the whole day to get them done. Sometimes I feel like 24 hours is just too short.
Here are just some things on my list:
1. Finish the new book I bought (Once and future king)
2. Another new book (How to Conquer Your Goliaths)
3. And another new book (How to Turn Thoughts into Things). So, how am I supposed to finish my 2nd and 3rd book?
4. Exercise to lose weight. I gained a few pounds starting January this year. And I'm planning to have a baby!
5. Plan for my high school's reunion. Oh yes, I am supposed to be in-charge. The reunion will be in December 2012.
6. Help my husband with the business. We are already in a struggling situation, I think.
7. Research more about stocks. Oh, yes I'm planning of buying some.
8. Write a book. I still don't know the plot but the idea is in my head already.
9. Update photos. Develop our wedding photos and the photos thereafter. 
10. Nourish my spirit. I need a daily journal and a regular prayer time.
      
      I guess I'm already starting my tenth with this blog. I feel like writing will help me improve my thoughts and my perspectives on things which matter the most. Like for instance, last week I slept as late as 12 midnight every night  just to play Virtual Villagers4. The game is quite addicting. It didn't occur to me that I've been playing for 3 hours straight. Oh, my goodness. I come home at 8PM every night, eat dinner, and play villagers. I'm a wife meaning I have to take care of my husband and give him quality time. We still live with our parents meaning I have to look after their needs and check their health, the house supplies and other issues related to our living. Its a realization to give up long hours of play to gain the other more important hings, So I paused the game. And I decided to assess my life right now. Where I am and where I am heading. Being a responsible person was my second name before my addiction began. I want to redeem myself from this vices if I want to live an orderly and peaceful life. My desire to write my thoughts is a process to rehabilitate myself. Rather than gaming, I want to spend my time into more meaningful obsession. I am hoping that through this I'll be able to connect with my inner self and once again regain my able, reliant and dependable self. 
     These are only ten aspirations I have at this moment. But I know I wasn't made to accomplish only these few. The list can go up to hundreds but before that happens I'll make sure I have finished this first ten first.