Tuesday, December 22, 2020

WE'RE NOT OVER YET.. NOPE


Oh I know, you get tired of this particular subject thrown at you by the government,  the health authorities, the police, family, and well-meaning friends. But I too will run the risk of taking your displeasure with this post. Because it has to be done.  We are up against a vicious, mean, heartless, and very real yet invisible enemy. INVISIBLE! 

How do we fight that..  or protect ourselves against it!??

We are being taught the mandatory health protocols. Now it's up to us to do them:   face mask... hand washing... social distancing. Both a responsibility and a task to save lives -- your own and of others. And ..of your country. 
๐Ÿ‘‡
There is a proper way to wearing face masks. Sez the UNICEF.  So let's do it right. Do it wrong or do a slip-up on this...  and you may be costing somebody else's  life:  your family, your friends, or your own.  And on a bigger scale:   your country. 
๐Ÿ‘‡
I see many mistakes out on the streets and even in my own neighborhood. Aminin! .. Some people keep forgetting that the covid threat is still very much around.
๐Ÿ‘‡
Covid ...... It's like a crouching tiger ready to pounce on you soonest you let your guard down. Showing no mercy  leveling the ground .. rich or poor,  gorgeous creature or one wearing a screwed lopsided grin,  driving a Ferrari or a tricycle,  wearing an Armani or a  divisoria,  having steak for dinner or tuyo.
๐Ÿ‘‡
 Yeah....it just loves humans whatever the size, age, shape, or gender. It just loves to mess up humans. Physically.. emotionally.. mentally..  intellectually.. socially.. AND in their wallets! Period.

๐Ÿ‘‰So wear your mask.....properly!!!!!๐Ÿ‘ˆ

๐Ÿ‘‡
Also, know how to dispose of your mask properly, correctly. 
Hindi yung basta-basta lang itatapon sa basurahan o sa kalye! Remember... potential catcher ng virus yan. Kumbaga possibly contaminated na. Wag haya-ang kumalat sa daan at makahawa pa ng iba. Saka hilahin o bunutin ang earloop muna bago itapon.

๐Ÿ‘‰Keep safe, friends. Care for self and...for each other. We can beat this together. And with tons of prayer..  God bless everyone. ๐Ÿ‘ˆ
.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

LUCKY AND ME


Hi, folks! Meet my Lucky. AJ's sis....lols! ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ•๐ŸฆฎBoth are the loves of our life. I think I've already told you this story in a post before. Lucky was a street dog who got hit by a vehicle out on the main street (this was in 2016). Eldest daughter, Amy, walking back home from an errand saw the incident..rushed to the rescue...carried Lucky home in her arms.. later we took her to the vet (Pendragon) who took care of her till recovery. Although the accident took its toll on her right hind leg but she's just fine with everything else. Since nobody came to claim her at all, we decided to bring her home. Her forever home. She's a joy....loving, fiercely loyal; don't be misled by that sweet face cos she's  a guard dog that could scare you out of your socks!๐Ÿ˜Š

Here's something I'd like to say.... when you bring a dog into your home, that dog becomes family. You care for it like you care for the rest of the members of your family. You give it  love and care, food and shelter, medicine when it gets sick, play and exercise (they need it as humans do), comfort when anxious and scared.  Nope, you don't leave it chained to a dog house/cage. No!  So if this sounds like such a huge responsibility  ... I will tell you IT IS! ๐Ÿ™‚

But all that becomes easy, is a joy.. when the heart does the loving. Somebody once said  .. " Dog spelled backwards is God."  Funny, but hasn't it been said that in all of creation... is God!?๐Ÿค—
.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

BE YOU.....AUTHENTIC GENUINELY...YOU

๐Ÿ’
My eldest daughter came home (from her errands) one day with this gorgeous beauty in her hands. This family loves..adores..flowers. all kinds. Yes, we also have our favorites too just like everybody. But our hearts particularly go pitter-patter everytime we see one at the countryside, or on the sidewalks, or in somebody's home or garden, or in flower shops at the mall. Include exquisite photos of them all as seen in magazines, too.
๐Ÿ’
Well, this one still stands so pretty even after several days in our living room. Holding its own beside a sparkling Christmas tree. Quite a feat,  if I should say so myself. 
๐Ÿ’
Reminds me of some people in life. These individuals standing a head above the crowd they hold their own in the midst of such huge diversity who are as equally interesting in their own, and are as flawed and imperfect as the other.  Yet there they are ... individuals standing quietly yet shining brightly with who they are happy, content, and feeling good about life and the world. Looking at life's flaws and imperfections with this quiet ease and understanding of how those things work (both good and bad)  in the general scheme of things. The tapestry of life, by divine design. 

I get it. As these lovely flowers stand quietly in my living room, they convey this simple message:

๐Ÿ’Be you. Authentic genuinely... You!๐Ÿ’

By DIVINE DESIGN. 

God bless you, friends! Have a great and blessed day.๐Ÿค—๐Ÿฅฐ
.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

NEVER FORGET HOW FAR YOU'VE COME


When things don't happen as you hoped it would,  this certainly puts you down so bad it changes everything. You have put in some expectations, some huge some small. But no matter its size it hits you real hard where it truly can hurt. You begin to wonder ..... is it worth all the heartbreak, the misery, disappointment, the broken dreams??

I don't have the answers to that. Except those of my own. And this isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of thing or answer. The struggles, heartaches, or the highs and lows are as diverse as the myriads of stars in the evening sky. One may or could be hugely overwhelming than the others  ...  or another could be so ordinary with nary a bat of an eyelash raised. And even a lot more diverse in between all that.

But this I know --- we don't forget  ... never forget  ... can't forget.  It gives us memories forever etched in the heart, both good and bad. It gives us our trophies or our scars. No....we can't forget all that. We won't. 

I know I never will in my own. Because... all of that, everything, was -- is me. It shaped, molded, grew me. Most importantly,  Someone up there had a hand in everything. I wouldn't be here at all if He didn't!

๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿƒ

Thursday, November 5, 2020

IT'S HOW WE SEE AGING WHICH TRULY DEFINES US

 

 


What I felt back then when I wrote this.... and still feel now at this moment๐Ÿ˜Š Nothing is perfect but life..... is a perfect gift from God. 

--- From two years ago.... 

 ๐ŸŒฟThoughts running through my mind one afternoon watching pretty blue skies turn into gray. Yup, might rain later. Here's what.... 

๐ŸŒฟThere's no escaping growing older. We can't turn back time. Yet....It's how we see 'aging' which truly defines us. In fact, it's not what we see but how we see life in all its diversity and color which truly defines us. And that can be at any age. Though nobody says it's easy. 

 ๐ŸŒฟThankfully I can humbly and honestly say that God kept me quite busy with life and living that it didn't give me enough time to even contemplate the idea of 'growing older''. And before I knew it I was already at the threshold of 50. :-) and now I'm seventy. But am thinking. 

 ๐ŸŒฟMaybe that's the secret (if there ever was one).... keeping busy. Or rather that it be said this way..... savor life as it comes to you day by day. Relish it.. treasure it..live it! Run yourself through the whole gamut of feelings, moments, emotions, experiences, mishaps, achievements. 

 ๐ŸŒฟAll these authentically put together, as we know it, create this wonderful package called human being. Being human means a lot of things, both the good and the bad. Yet..... 

 ๐ŸŒฟEnjoy the good. Learn from the bad. Make friends with life. Accept that it is not perfect; it never is and never will be no matter what you do. Grow with it toward your highest potential. That can be difficult at times but try just the same. Which, incidentally, is by God's design. 

๐ŸŒฟAnd last but not least, after all is said and done.. or lived, know also that life is not all about you. It never is. Although sometimes it makes you feel that it is. Know that life .... It's all about God's love for you! . 

๐ŸŒฟMy own journey is not over yet. Until it is over. Meantime, me and life; we get on. I've made a lot of mistakes... small ones, big ones. So what?! Everybody has his or her share. No excuses. But I've gathered some trophies, too, like everybody does in his own. We have a good thing going... Life and me --- we love each other. Though sometimes we fight and I often say how much I hate it.. abhor it.. despise it. But we will always be the best of friends 

๐ŸŒฟ

Sunday, October 18, 2020

COME TO DADDY - HEART OF A CHILD

 




๐Ÿ˜ŠYeah.. whether you're 17, 47, or 70.... you're never too young nor too old to come to Daddy. And your troubles are never too big for Him. Bring them all to Him. Don't worry, even if all the inhabitants of this planet would come to Him with their burdens, significant or not, .... He still sees you, has time for you, will listen to you, cares for you, and loves you so dearly. ๐Ÿ’ž๐Ÿ’•



Wednesday, September 23, 2020

GORGEOUS MORNING DEW

 



Up early this morning. Lo and behold .....morning dew on the plants at my patio! Isn't that simply gorgeous!? Do we remember the last time we saw something like this up close... or paid any attention ?? If at all?๐Ÿ˜ 

 Come to think of it, there are so many things in life we take for granted... like we do the pieces of furniture in our homes. Oh yes ... things and ... humans too. Both the good and the bad. The good.. for our blessings. The bad.. for our learning. Both have a purpose for being. Open your mind and heart to the Divine spirit and intent. Though oft'times that can be quite hard... but try even harder. Life isn't .. without that connection.

 Our hearts are put there..... to love, to care, to treasure, to adore, and to give thanks and praise to One Magnificent Creator! For everything!! 

God bless you. Have a great day.๐Ÿ˜Š☺️ .



Monday, September 14, 2020

TODAY IS SPECIAL

 


๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ’•I like those lines. No... I love it! We should be reminding ourselves often how precious TODAY is in our brief temporal lives. Because, honestly, we take so many things for granted. The day goes by just like the day before it and the days farther back. Ala lang! Ganun.

But if you stop awhile.. be in the moment, open your senses - mind and heart ... everything will come to you so awesomely it will make you cry! Parang nabuksan ang utak mo..nabuhay ang puso mo... Some divine presence hugs you with its light. Suddenly you hear yourself saying ..Thank You! For everything you are and everything you have. Thank you for blessings yesterday..today..and even tomorrow. You begin to appreciate that moment - the moment - your moment! Thank God for that special gift!⚘๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’ž

Here's a quote so wonderful you'll want to read it again and again (Sorry, I don't know who wrote it):

 "...Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He will make your paths straight." (Anon.) Unquote. ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ˜Š



Wednesday, September 9, 2020

AN IMPERFECT LIFE BUT GOOD

 

-- My mom held expectations for me in her heart. Perhaps the same way her mom had hers for her daughter in their time. Mom, though poor, persevered and graduated, but I didn't know if teaching was her dream job, and she married before 30. ๐ŸŒท 

 I think I've missed a few things in her list. Life had other plans for me and laid down challenges on the table which were stoically meant for me to hurdle. Not always easy; I had my share of hurt and pain but something was undoubtedly happening. I sensed my life moving... evolving. I can understand it now as I look back to it all. ๐ŸŒท 

Yes, I better understand it now that a mother's expectations though with good intent and love isn't the only formula to life and living. ๐ŸŒท

Because life is not all about what others may think is best for you. Rather it should be lived according to you in your own lived circumstances... in your own allotted time and space and moments... in your best of who you are and what you are, by God's design. God, by the way, always knows best.๐ŸŒท

Happy in the heart. I hope wiser too. It's still an imperfect life --- but, Mom, it's a good one.๐Ÿ’•๐ŸŒท๐Ÿค—



IMPATIENCE IS A FIERY CRAZED BULL

 


๐ŸŒฟ The dictionary defines impatience as ..... 'intolerance of anything that thwarts, delays, or hinders..'

๐ŸŒฟ Impatience can throw us off the track as we try to hasten processes or procedures innately designed or essential to something or someone. Failure to understand that everything in life involves a process easily paves the way for frustration or disappointment which eat us up or gnaw at our highly tensed nerves until eventually falls into pieces. Impatience is like a crazed bull loosed from the pen which gores anyone or anything that gets in its way.

๐ŸŒฟ While patience, on the other hand, is a revered cousin even considered a virtue by many. It keeps us steady and focused on whatever task we might throw ourselves into. In fact, it gains the favor of the gods thus aiding us further towards achievement or fulfillment.

๐ŸŒฟ But then it's impatience which gets the better of us most times. So how do we deal with this?

๐Ÿ‘‡ 

Try simple incremental changes to our approach. Take it slow. Small concerted efforts done or added to the heap will create a huge mound which later we may use to bulldoze our way to the top. Further, small is manageable and feedback -friendly. Seeing results early on enables us to make good adjustments to our stride. And importantly doesn't have to tax our patience or impatience needlessly as we would be with gigantic investment of time, effort, and emotion which results sometimes could take eternity to pull off.

☘ Small simple incremental changes ..... they matter where we would let them matter most. It may take longer... but worth the wait. And this undoubtedly takes the bull of impatience by its horn and leads it back into the pen where it belongs!

☘ Blessings to one and all!

DEALING WITH QUARANTINE


Hi, everyone! How're you all doing?

๐Ÿ‘‰As I have heard on the news some areas are loosening a bit their quarantine rules. Just be safe and careful with the usual .. strong immune system, face mask, good hygiene - hand washing, social distancing.

๐Ÿ‘‰Because the invisible enemy is still very much around...until a vaccine is developed to fight or prevent it. For instance, I wouldn't go rushing to the malls (some have resumed business) just because I want relief from this boredom of home quarantine. There's a high price to pay for letting your guard down, like it or not. We can't afford to do that, can we!? Ahh but decisions, decisions! Make it good.

 Anyway..

 ๐Ÿ˜ŠStill up with my projects. In fact, am enjoying it immensely! Yes, have finished a lot..and counting. So there's no stopping this while am still having fun with it.

๐Ÿ˜€ If you might wonder, I chose this small projects because... it doesn't consume too much yarn, it finishes in a day, useful as face mask against pollution-dust-foul smells, can be used as face warmers in winter (lols winter in pinas), and... it gives the immediate satisfaction of seeing work done (in the shortest possible time). ☺️๐Ÿ‘ˆ 

☺️Added two new additions to the tribe. And another one close to finishing soon. Take care...be safe. Blessings to you and your loved ones.๐Ÿ‘ผ



YOU ARE WHAT YOU FEED


๐Ÿค“A good friend said this (in email) ..."Len, this one has helped me a lot. Eight years ago and still doing its job now. Just to let you know. Thanks."
๐Ÿƒ
I'll say this... honestly, it's so appreciated if someone tells me that the essence of the writing resonates in the heart, mind, and soul. It tells me this one simple thing: basically we are the same. And the writings reflect that sameness running through a person's thoughts and emotions, man or woman. Aptly then we would say "Yeah I know, been there-done that".
.
๐Ÿ˜Š Thank you very much, dear friend; appear tayo diyan.
.
☺️ Here's the story and to quote...... 

A native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one."
.
๐Ÿ™„The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered, "The one I feed." Unquote.

.
๐Ÿ‘‰That's a good one, don't you think? The biggest battles that we fight are those with self. Anyone who says it isn't is not paying much attention to life. Either he has got himself so entrenched in his comfort zones or is feeding something else other than the two choices mentioned in the story.. 

Remember what has been said about 'you are what you eat'? In the same sense it can be said that 'you are what you feed'. Maybe we should be asking ourselves which of the two wolves do we feed.. the vengeful, angry, violent wolf - or - the compassionate loving one?
.
๐Ÿ˜ŠIn our everyday lives is an opportunity or several to make that choice. Mom would always remind me to choose that which would make the heavens smile. Choose that which would make you a blessing to others and to yourself as well. Be true to yourself and to others. That, I believe, is the whole point of the story of our lives.
.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

GET HANDS WORKING - QUIETS THE MIND

Keeping busy leaves no room for thoughts to go haywire. Quite exhausting to the mind having thoughts all scrambling for your attention.๐Ÿคช๐Ÿ˜„ So get busy. 






GCQ - IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY




Monday, September 7, 2020

PLANTS AND HUMANS HAVE EACH THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO GROW


 Found this poster on a friend's page. (Thanks!)

๐ŸŒฟ It's short but it says so much. Life, as we know it to be, is a long continuing process of learning and growing. But neither do we grow at the same pace with each other.

๐ŸŒฟ We meet people who are so nice, smart, and wise. They apparently are learning even more and are up ahead from the rest.

๐ŸŒฟ We also meet a few who seem to rub fellow humans the wrong way, are obnoxious, jarring to the senses, making others not want to touch them with a 10ft-pole.

๐ŸŒฟ Both types come in different sizes, race, color, social status, age brackets, and creed.

๐ŸŒฟ And all are placed on this planet by Big Daddy upstairs for one sole purpose: To grow and rise to your best potential as ordained by the heavens.

๐ŸŒฟ And how to do it... is on how you use the gifts or talent He has blessed every creation with. It's not a race but neither is it to be ignored. Because we're all heading in one direction -- a Heavenly destination.

๐ŸŒฟ But growing and learning isn't enough. These are not for your sole personal consumption. These are meant to serve others with. Actually, that is what the gifts and talents are for: to help others with.

๐ŸŒฟ Kaya, know your talents, big and small... and use it to help others in every which way you can -- to bring glory to the Magnificent Creator!! The GIVER of it all.



A DOG'S LIFE IN A WORLD OF HUMANS

 






Me:     Phewww....finally done!☺️ 

AJ:    Hurrayyy....now we can play??๐Ÿถ 

Me:    oh there's the other project...๐Ÿ˜‰ 

AJ:     Oh no..not again!!๐Ÿถ 

Me:    ๐Ÿ˜„I'm kidding...... 

 And AJ broke into his widest grin ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ• ... ๐Ÿ’•



Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Making Use of Quarantine Time

 


Hmmmm..... I think you will find this quite useful - crocheted eyeglass case ๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿค“๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ‘“☺️๐Ÿ‘“ 

 How's your day? Everything fine, I presume. Do always take care. Please be safe. God bless you and protect you ... by His love and everlasting grace.๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ‘ผ


Tuesday, August 25, 2020

O LORD, HEAL THE WORLD

 

One thought comes to mind: No God - no man.

 All that we have..all that we are is because of Him. Nothing is ours, nothing is caused by us. And yet here we are. We live.. we exist. We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to Him. We are .. because HE IS.

The Magnificent ONE. Our Heavenly Father. And we are His children. We live because HE LOVES US. This Magnificent Love is the source of our joy, happiness, strength, courage, provision, healing, and protection.

 Let us again seek this Awesome Love ..to cover us with its mantle of protection, to shield and save us from the onslaughts of this covid pandemic, not only in our land but all over the world.

Have mercy, our Father, on your children. Please save us. In Jesus's Holy name we pray. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary - with the help of the saints and angels in heaven.

Heal our world.

๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ˜ช๐Ÿ˜ฅ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™







Thursday, July 23, 2020

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF


☺️๐Ÿ‘‰Yup..Am bringing this here from another site I joined. I think that this is how we should conduct ourselves on any social websites we're on.☺️ Be yourself simply said means be your best good self. Because it matters⚘☺️



Wednesday, July 22, 2020

LET'S HEAR IT FROM DR. FAUCI. re Corona Virus




๐Ÿ˜ฏOh ..oh.. this is a strong message. He ain't kidding. An excerpt from his long speech. Let’s hear it from our expert... Dr. Fauci.


 “๐Ÿ‘‰For those in our society who suggest that people being cautious are cowards, for people who refuse to take even the simplest of precautions to protect themselves and those around them, I want to ask, without hyperbole and in all sincerity: How dare you?

๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿ‘‰How dare you risk the lives of others so cavalierly. How dare you decide for others that they should welcome exposure as "getting it over with", when literally no one knows who will be the lucky "mild symptoms" case, and who may fall ill and die. Because while we know that some people are more susceptible to suffering a more serious case, we also know that 20 and 30-year-olds have died, marathon runners and fitness nuts have died, children and infants have died.

๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿ‘‰How dare you behave as though you know more than medical experts, when those same experts acknowledge that there is so much we don't yet know, but with what we DO know, are smart enough to be scared of how easily this is spread, and recommend ๐Ÿ‘‰baseline precautions such as:

Frequent hand-washing
Physical distancing
Reduced social/public contact or interaction
Mask wearing
Covering your cough or sneeze
Avoiding touching your face
Sanitizing frequently touched surfaces

 ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿ‘‰The more things we can all do to mitigate our risk of exposure, the better off we all are, in my opinion. Not only does it flatten the curve and allow health care providers to maintain levels of service that aren't immediately and catastrophically overwhelmed; it also reduces unnecessary suffering and deaths, and buys time for the scientific community to study the virus in order to come to a more full understanding of the breadth of its impacts in both the short and long term.

 ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿ‘‰I reject the notion that it's 'just a virus' and we'll all get it eventually. What a careless, lazy, heartless stance.” ........

 There you have it, folks. Dr. Fauci in his own words.



Monday, July 20, 2020

EVERYTHING SOONER OR LATER BRINGS A PERSON DOWN TO HIS KNEES



๐Ÿค”Sometimes I'd wonder.....

 Gosh, why these many needs in life -- the need to be somebody, the need to be rich or successful, the need to be out there reaping applause and praise, the need to be powerful weilding influence or money, the need to be on top of things, the need to be loved? Plus the other basic needs of man. 

 Mom would simply shake her head and smile "You ask too many questions, Ellen. But those needs you speak of and more, both good and bad.. ultimately brings a person down to his knees." 

 Whatever we go through in life is there for a reason. Some things we understand... some things we don't. Yet it all touches our lives like rain falls down on creation sparing none. At times it creates chaos, uncertainty, grief, anger, hurt, pain, confusion, fear, loss, doubt. 

We stumble in search of answers to questions gnawing at our hearts and bashing our brains out. 

 No answers. 

 And .....mom was right - we come right back to HIM. He sorts things out and makes us see what we need to see.๐Ÿ™



Wednesday, July 15, 2020

WORRY IS NOT A SOLUTION


I remember this from long ago: 

 ๐Ÿ‘‰"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength."                        -- (Charles Spurgeon) 

 It's a person's nature to worry, he'll worry about something, anything, everything but he sure will worry. I should know cos am one of the thousands of worrywarts on this planet. But I do know one thing too -- you can't make things good or right by worrying. It won't make problems disappear either. It will instead make the burden seem heavier than it actually is.

Until I learned something that changed all that for me. Thanks to Mom who showed me its power as she dealt with the challenges in her life. Oh no, the problems didn't vanish into thin air. It doesn't work that way. Though it can and will if Someone up there says so.. but it won't most times for a reason.

Mom was a Supergirl to my eyes.. but her kryptonite was her armor of prayer. She took on every battle or challenge armed with a prayer. Brave, courageous, patient, steady under fire... she held on to her prayer.

I may not have undetstood how the answers to her prayer came (wondered as a young child back then) ... but that special look in her eyes told me she had her answers.

So.....try prayer. ๐Ÿ™





Monday, July 13, 2020

THE UNIVERSE IS YOUR FRIEND




☺️Good morning, friends!

 The quote above is lifted from a book am reading, "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. (Thanks to my daughter Malen) Great book. And...which I would suggest you get yourself a copy, too. Truly a gem of a book. With all the negativity surrounding us and in our lives, this book packs in a heavy dose of positivity. You'll come out of it smiling and with new resolve.☺️


Friday, July 10, 2020

LIFE IS THE WHOLE TAPESTRY OF YOU



๐Ÿฆ‹ Life is what happens to you day after day after day. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your dreams at all. Sometimes it's just the ordinary mundane events in a day or time spent with family, friends, and people. Sometimes it's simply sitting by the shore looking out to a beautiful sunset. Sometimes it's just being you in the moment playing with your dogs. Things which many of us consider a waste of time.

๐Ÿฆ‹ That is life. That is what happens to you while you are making plans for the future.. working hard to build your dream house.. planning your next masterpiece.. building your career.. planning something.

๐Ÿฆ‹ So what's my point?

๐Ÿฆ‹ Simple. Live life with open arms embracing everything that's in it. Not focusing only on those things which you think is worthwhile or perceive it to be. Life is more than that. It is all of that!

๐Ÿ’• Life is the whole tapestry of you. Savor the passage of time as it ticks koff in hours, days, weeks, months, years. Sing out every note in your life symphony. Dance to the beating of your own drum and not somebody else's. Reflect on the wonders of creation. Try to understand the heart of your God. And importantly, have a grateful heart for the miracle that is -- you! ๐Ÿ’•






Sunday, July 5, 2020

I FOUND MY GOLD




You know, I have something to say about age.☺️ Can you stay a minute?๐Ÿค—

--- ๐Ÿ˜ŠBirthday month now gone ..yup all of 74 this year (thanking Someone Special up there for this lovely gift) ..but thoughts remain.. linger on. So I guess it's time again to sift through the grain and chaff to find my gold. Once more. The piece below was done about three or four years ago and I know quite long. But do bear with me on this one because I'm trying to find my gold.....๐Ÿ™‚

LIFE GONE BY IN RETROSPECT

Here I am with lines creeping where I wouldn’t want them to (laugh lines I agree is a nice way to call them), a spreading middle which I hoped wouldn’t (three daughters gave me that. I wonder what other women’s five or six would!), silver streaks playing peek-a-boo out of once glorious dark tresses (my beautician has a solution to that quite expensively though), and a less than flat abdomen (next to laugh lines, this horror of horrors gives a woman’s age away) -- that surely makes me think.

I guess women who find they are blowing out 50 or more candles on their cake would consider those in serious retrospect. And looking at the youthful glowing skin, lithe figure, and silky black hair of gorgeous models on the cover of glossy woman magazines or ads serve only to feed that quiet unease. Come to think of it, we’ve always been told that – white pearly teeth, soft smooth skin, and skinny no-bulge bodies is beautiful. Like saying that only women of 20-year-olds-and-under inhabit the face of the earth and anything beyond that is absolutely unheard of and don't matter. Gaahh!

 But wait! look again. See these women in your ordinary everyday neighborhood? ---the middle-aged woman selling fish and vegetables in the market..... the government employee who sells beauty products on the side..... the ordinary housewife who does her chores with clockwork precision each day tending to a rowdy brood of five while a husband is away in Saudi..... the dependable single older aunt selflessly sending a niece or nephew to school..... the crisp ladies of the church in their equally crisp bland uniforms..... the rural teachers who patiently trod to their classrooms on gravel roads rain or shine. .

Well, these women are real -- as real as ice cream cones and pizza pies. They may do a hundred turns before the mirror tremulously tracing age’s progress on their faces and skin too, yet they don’t fuss and fret over beauty jars and trips to the gym, salon or spa. Instead, they get busy as mothers, wives, grandmothers, nieces, aunts, office mate, friend and other more roles laid out before them each day.

 Now here’s the million dollar question-- what if all that would be gone one day and truly it will-- when all that’s left is the so-called void without and within. When age finally creeps in as bones and joints go stiff and ache... when skin crinkle with defiant lines, eyes strain to read small print... when sleep turns erratic... when appetites change... and when visits to the doctor become more frequent... and pills nestle unwelcomed yet permanently in one’s purse. Or ...when loneliness glides into each day furthermore heightened with the children planning careers and lives away from home.

 Now what can they do with the portions left of their now solitary lives?

 Questions which dawned on me while I was sitting in my favorite corner one lazy afternoon with a book (that went stale in my hands). A book, to my mind, should pass the first five minutes of reading with flying colors. Otherwise it goes down to the bin of the lost and forgotten.

Anyway, I realized this --

๐ŸŒนThat life does not stand still for those who enter through this portal. No, it does not. But one does have to make a choice-- to move along in step with the passing of father time— or fall back and be left behind. With the same eyes, ears, mind and heart honed by past experiences, one can still better see life and the world with fresh new interest, appreciation, understanding, and wisdom. Born out of hurts, pains, bruises and bumps from a journey through life’s dusty and more often grueling road, but one now wears a new sense of independence, confidence, and self-worth. There can be no void where one does not allow it.

๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒนThis journey continues. It’s a lifelong one. I do look back often to see what’s gone past or what’s left behind. I do this to appreciate where I am at now. The past, cruel in some and brilliant in another, created my passions, desires, expectations putting it all together in one package that people see, interact with, and relate to each day. I am able to give back to life because life has filled me well.

๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒนIt’s a continuous play and exchange of receiving and giving in this real game called life. At times I can dish out master strokes thereby bask in euphoric victory. Then again in the next instant I hit the gutter with my poor aim and find myself pulling at my hair in utter disbelief, disappointment and frustration. Success and failure, bitter and sweet, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, smart and stupid, joy and sadness, high and low, have and have-not --- one will often find himself at one end or the other of that broad spectrum. It is a rich life, though definitely flawed and imperfect but rich. Yet it is what goes on inside a person that lends to its richness.

๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒนYes, we are part and parcel of this universal ebb and flow of life. I uniquely as an individual fill my own allotted space in this vast universe and time — and so do zillions of other lives in their respective places. There is no secret to living this life. It’s simply keeping in step with the beating of the universal drum --- to the music played by the ONE magnificent drummer.

 Ah yes! Life indeed is beautiful 50 (or 74) birthday candles notwithstanding! My cup overflows. Thank you, Lord. . God bless you, folks! Remember... It's the precious moments which fill up memories.๐ŸŒณ Precious!

 Hey, thanks for reading. Yes, I've found my gold๐Ÿ˜ God bless you!


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Thursday, July 2, 2020

DON'T WAIT LONGER TO SAY ' I LOVE YOU '


๐ŸฅฐGorgeous, isn't it!? Youngest daughter surprised me with that beauty this morning. Nope, no occasion. Actually .. I know my girls; they need no occasion to do things like that. You know what else, the house reverberates with the words "I love you!" ..any time of day or night! My youngest daughter makes sure of that. ๐Ÿ’•

Here's the message I want to throw out there to the world:

 Don't wait for a better..appropriate..proper.. moment, occasion, or time to say "I love you" to the people who matter in your life. Say it... let them hear it... show it. Now.. not later, not tomorrow, not on a birthday, not on Christmas or Valentine's Day, not only when you're inclined to or in the mood for it. ๐Ÿ’•

Do it now.. because sometimes life plays its silly tricks on us and takes away the very or only chance we may get to do it. Then.... it becomes too late. ๐Ÿ’•

God bless you and your loved ones. ๐ŸŒท๐Ÿ’•๐ŸŒท๐Ÿ’•๐ŸŒท

Sunday, June 28, 2020

LET'S FIGHT COVID-19!!!

๐Ÿ“ขAgain....

 Let's do our job, folks, to HELP STOP the spread of covid. All hands on deck, ika nga... and every hand matters! No one is insignificant to this effort. No one is useless or small or unnecessary in this battle. Success or failure will depend on us✊

Again please....

1. Wear your mask.. the correct and proper way. ๐Ÿ˜ท

2. Wash your hands frequently. A thousand times and more. ๐Ÿšฐ

3. Avoid crowds. You can't tell a carrier among them. ๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ง

4. Practice good health habits to strengthen your immune system. ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿฅฆ๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿ‹️‍♂️๐Ÿšด‍♀️๐ŸŒž

5. Bombard the heavens with prayers. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™ ...

Tuesday, June 9, 2020




I was sitting at the patio kaninang late afternoon. Thought that I could get a wisp of fresh air.. as relief from the heat of the day. Super hot talaga. But nada...no wind, not even the slightest breeze blew. Disappointed ako sobra. So I decided to get back into the house and get my cool relief inside.

 But a familiar voice called out to me from the street.... "Len, musta?" (Hi, Len!) Yeah, a neighbor five houses away apparently heading back home with purchases from the wet market talipapa.

"Grabe ang init noh!?" (Hot, ain't it!?)

I smiled back at her in agreement and added .. "Mukhang 'sarap ang ulam natin mamya ah!!" (Heyy that looks like a good meal tonight!)

 "Paborito nila.. sinigang na bangus." (Their favorite..) "O sya, maka-uwi na, magluluto pa'ko. Usap tayo uli." (Gotta go, cookin'. Chat later.)

"Sigue..babay!" (Okay..bye!)


 Mundane things, right? These things and a million others more make up the day or each day of our lives. They come easy as brushing your teeth in the morning or... driving the car or riding the bus to work and school... doing the laundry... marketing... cooking and washing the dishes... later sitting down in the living room for the evening news on tv. They are ordinary, repetitive, maybe boring, dull yet necessary things of our daily lives.

You'd think that we all get to do this. Well, not really. You see, right now someone or many out there may not be enjoying the normal things normal people do. There's no food on the table, no shelter over their heads, they can't afford to buy much needed medicines, they walk to school crossing rivers hills and valleys, they have no shoes nor a jacket to keep them warm from the chilly cold, or umbrellas to shield them from the fierce heat of the sun... and so much more!

If you could hear them pray, this you will know: you will feel their heart wrenching pain and the heartbreaking burdens of their tiny world. Silent tears for help etched deeply in the heart. Prayers shooting up to the heavens and beyond to the Mighty Throne.

Now don't ask me why these things happen to people. Humans can't answer that. Suffice it to say that .... God's thoughts are not our thoughts -- His ways not our ways. But He answers prayers ... but not in ways we may want it answered.

And yes they ache for these tiny comforts in our day .... these are the things we call ordinary in our ordinary regular taken-for-granted mundane everyday world.

Let's join them with our prayers. God bless you!



Thursday, May 28, 2020

SURVIVING THE HOME QUARANTINE WITH CROCHET

Hi, everyone! How're you all doing?

 ๐Ÿ‘‰As I have heard on the news some areas are loosening a bit their quarantine rules. Just be safe and careful with the usual .. strong immune system, face mask, good hygiene - hand washing, social distancing.

 ๐Ÿ‘‰Because the invisible enemy is still very much around...until a vaccine is developed to fight or prevent it. For instance, I wouldn't go rushing to the malls (some have resumed business) just because I want relief from this boredom of home quarantine. There's a high price to pay for letting your guard down, like it or not. We can't afford to do that, can we!? Ahh but decisions, decisions! Make it good. Anyway..

 ๐Ÿ˜ŠStill up with my projects. In fact, am enjoying it immensely! Yes, have finished a lot..and counting. So there's no stopping this while am still having fun with it.

๐Ÿ˜€ If you might wonder, I chose this item because... it doesn't consume too much yarn, it finishes in a day, useful as face mask against pollution-dust-foul smells, can be used as face warmers in winter (lols winter in pinas), and... it gives the immediate satisfaction of seeing work done (in the shortest possible time). ☺️๐Ÿ‘ˆ

☺️Meet my two new additions to the tribe. And another one close to finishing soon. Take care...be safe. Blessings to you and your loved ones.๐Ÿ‘ผ