Happy 2009

I've realized that life is indeed full of contradictions. Sometimes it's crazy to be sane. You need to fall to fly. People suffer because you care. You have to unlearn to know the lesson. You have to give up because you are strong. You have to be wrong to make a thing right. Nonetheless, life's complexities are also life's source of beauty. We should cry to laugh again. fall apart to be whole again and get hurt to love again. Wonderful isn't it?

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Back from Christmas in HongKong Disneyland

Hello guys! Here's some of the pics from our Christmas in Disneyland trip. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

From me and my daughter:
Wishing you all the timeless treasures of Christmas.
The warmth of a home, the love of a family and the company of good friends.
Have a blessed and Happy Christmas!

My Daughter's First Concert

My daughter's first concert! Ogie sings with the Idols! She loved it. Lasted 3 hours and she was able to make it through!

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My Daughter's First Christmas Party

Tasha and her schoolmate April. Teacher Ann on the background.

Tasha and her teacher Teacher John

Her school mates

The kids are very behaved sitting on their chairs! Her first exchange gift too!

Inspecting their gifts!

Be Proud To Be Filipino, A Foreigner Is!

Here's something very positive written by a foreigner named Steve Ray, about Filipinos. Steve Ray authored many best-selling books, among which are, Crossing The Tiber (his conversion story), Upon This Rock (on the papacy), and just recently John's Gospel (a comprehensive bible study guide and commentary).

STEVE RAY'S OPEN LETTER TO THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS:

We stepped into the church and it was old and a
bit dark. Mass had just begun and we sat toward the front.

We didn't know what to expect here in Istanbul , Turkey.

I guess we expected it to be a sombre Mass
but quiet and sombre it was not - I thoughtI heard angels joyously
singing behind me. The voices were rich, melodic and beautiful.

What I discovered as I spun around to look did not surprise me because I had seen and heard the same thing in other churches around the
world. It was not a choir of angels with feathered wings and halos but a group of delightful Filipino Catholics with smiles of delight and joy
on their faces as they worshiped God and sang His praises.

I had seen this many times before in Rome , in Israel ,in the United States and other countries.

Filipinos have special traits and they are beautifully expressed as I
gazed at the happy throng giving thanks to God.

What are the special traits which characterize these happy people?

I will share a few that I have noticed- personal observations- as I have
travelled around the world, including visits to the Philippines.

FIRST, there is a sense of community, of family.
These Filipino Christians did not sit apart from each other in
different isles. They sat together, closely. They didn't just sing
quietly, mumbling, or simply mouthing the words. No, they raised their
voices in harmony together as though they enjoyed the sense of
unity and communion among them. They are family even if they are not related.

SECOND, they have an inner peace and joy which is rare in the world
today.

When most of the world's citizens are worried and fretful, I have found
Filipinos to have joy and peace - a deep sense of God's love that overshadows them.

They have problems too, and many in the Philippines have less material goods than others in the world, yet there is still a sense of happy trust in God and love of neighbour.

THIRD, there is a love for God and for his Son Jesus that is almost
synonymous with the word Filipino. There is also something that
Filipinos are famous for around the world - their love for the Blessed Mother.

Among the many Filipinos I have met, the affectionate title
for Mary I always hear from their lips is "Mama Mary."

For these gentle folks Mary is not just a theological idea,
a historical person, or a statue in a church - Mary is the mother of
their Lord and their mother as well, their "mama."

The Philippines is a Catholic nation-the only such nation in Asia -and
this wonderful country exports missionaries around the world. They are not hired to be missionaries, not official workers of the church.

No, they are workers and educators, doctors, nurses and housekeepers that go to other lands and travel to the far reaches of the earth, and everywhere they go they take the joyous gospel of Jesus with them.

They make a sombre Mass joyful when they burst into song. They
convict the pagan of sin as they always keep the love of Jesus and the
Eucharist central in their lives.

My hope and prayer, while I am here in the Philippines sharing my
conversion story from Baptist Protestant to Roman Catholic, is that
the Filipino people will continue to keep these precious qualities.

I pray that they will continue loving their families, loving the
Catholic Church, reading the Bible, loving Jesus, His Mother and the
Eucharist.

As many other religions and sects try to persuade
them to leave the Church, may God give them the wisdom to defend the Catholic faith.

As the world tempts them to sin and seek only money and
fame and power, may God grant them the serenity to always remember that obedience to Christ and love for God is far more important
than all the riches the world can offer.

May the wonderful Filipino people continue to be
a light of the Gospel to the whole world!

Be a proud Filipino and forward this to friends!

It's Party Time!

This weeks FamilyFotoFunFriday theme is Party Time!My daughter enjoying a costume party last November!

The Pain Is Gone, Try Not To Cry

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'

The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die.. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

'Dear Mom,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day... Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place wi th me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

The Night Heaven Smiled At Me

These were the best shots I got some were a bit blurry because of my shaking hands but this was the night sky Monday night. It was so wonderful, the heaven was smiling at me!

I habitually look at the sky every night or day. I am always fascinated by it. There is always something warm and relaxing up there. The smiley sky was said to be a planetary conjunction when two planets are aligned. This one was Jupiter and Mercury just on top of the quarter moon, something of mark and marvelous view.

The heavens that night was full of stars. That's what I love most during the December months the sky is filled with stars. My favorite group of stars I personally call the rosary is always there. It is the small dipper by the way.

Literally this was heaven smiling at us, I feel great about it!

Daddy's Empty Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.
When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside his bed.
The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

'I guess you were expecting me, he said.

'No, who are you?' said the father.

The minister told him his name and then remarked,
'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up.'

'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden man. 'Would you mind closing the door?'

Puzzled, the minister shut the door.

'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the man.
'But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.'
I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old man continued, '
until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,

'Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.

Here is what I suggest.
'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'.

'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now.'
'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day.

I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon..

Did he die in peace?' he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside,
told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.

When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him .
But there was something strange about his death.

Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair
beside the bed. What do you make of that?'

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.
I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU....
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

An Effective Prayer

"Loving Lord and heavenly Father,
I offer up today
all that I am,
all that I have, all that I do,
and all that I suffer,
to be Yours today and Yours forever.
Give me grace, Lord,
to do all that I know of Your holy will.
Purify my heart,
sanctify my thinking,
correct my desires.
Teach me,
in all of today's work and trouble and joy,
to respond with honest praise,
simple trust,
and instant obedience,
that my life may be in truth a living sacrifice,
by the power of Your Holy Spirit
and in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
my Master and my all. Amen."
~Prayer by Elisabeth Elliot

Sometimes, we get so overwhelmed by the many troubles we have that we want to surrender. When this time happens, take a moment to be silent and cleanse your thoughts and then say a little prayer to calm your soul.

Whenever Trouble Comes Your Way

Whenever trouble comes your way let it be an opportunity for joy.

For when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed you will be strong in character

and ready for anything. If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do

ask him and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

James 1:2-6

Some Learnings In Life

1) Be kind to yourself.

2) Looking good is feeling good inside.

3) You're not out to please everybody.

4) Expect little but do your best and dream big.

5) Smiling is healthy.

6) Laugh your heart out, be silly.

7) Live light and keep it simple.

8) Failure is a good starting point.

9) You're blessed, don't forget to say Thank You.

10) There is always time for everything. God answers.

Shopping for X-mas!

That time of the year again is fast approaching where we are all so generous and want to make everyone happy. Yes I am talking about Christmas and Christmas shopping because some of us are already making their list of the gifts they want to buy for their loved ones.

There is a new place on the web that is perfect for shopping and sale addicts, Shopwiki.com. They catalog everything and anything for sale on the net regardless if they are an advertiser or not. On sale items starts from $1 and items could range from clothing items, to electronics, games and even home and garden equipment.

With all those very awesome sale items at Shopwiki.com a shopper can get overwhelmed, but never fret because they have a buying guide and gift guide page to help any shopper pick out the perfect item they are looking for.

Because You Can Handle It

One day an angel went to God and ask:

"God, why did you gave her an autistic child? She is very loving, patient, kind, thoughtful, understanding and happy person. She should have had a normal child like most."

God answered:

"That is why I gave that child to her because she is all that. I know my child will be in good hands with her."

Sometimes, when we have burdens in our life that we can no longer handle we ask God "Why me?" This simple story just tell us that God will not give us things we cannot endure. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and he knows what is best for us.