Linked
01/13/2013
Between sipping tea and shelling pistachios for breakfast I watched my cute daughter draw. It is a good day, a very good day, a very God day.
I just had a very full and tiring week at work and I see the next coming 18 months that way. I am afraid not of the loads of work but of the time I could be further missing my kiddos. We hardly began the focused works on the overhaul of systems and processes brought by the transition to our new company when I was identified as the potential weakest link in our team because I had pushed through with the holiday vacations with my family. They scheduled meetings on later part of 2012 and first week of 2013 but I declined. I appreciated I was chosen to be part of the team but it doesn’t mean I am giving up my most valuable team, my family.
I have assessed how I did in all the teams I was involved and holy mama I was strong! And I know that the very person who made the forecast was not able to realize his projects on time. Armed with that fact, I offered that they may take me out of the team because I was never ever a yes person. I believe in firm NO — NO to pulling down.
That is the reason why I only had tea and pistachios for breakfast this weekend — otherwise, I’ll have a heap of everything in the table, lol! But it felt good to slowly sip the tea and play with pistachio shells. It is very good to watch my daughter draw while she smiles to me from time to time. It is very good to smile for what God has for me.
It is a very God day! He reminded me once more that I am loved and I am on His team — linked strongly!
Yes, I am still on the working team.
Yes, I am the missing link — missing you!
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The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
- Habakkuk 3:19
Billboards As Breathing Spaces
11/25/2012
BUY, PICK, LUST!
Every day I am confronted in the road by screaming billboards. Reminding me that I have yet to own the latest in fashion and technology; that I have yet to achieve the silkiest skin and society’s dream body; that their cake is chocolatier and the chicken is crispier.
It made me breathe less or shall I say that my breathing is heavier, harder — “Chocolate cake or dream body? Latest in fashion or crispy chicken?” It’s hard to satisfy advertisers at the same time — more so if you are not at all interested but somehow compelled to want it.
I dream of regular road travels that will leave me breathless of nature’s beauty and abundance. And today I want to thank Artist Stephen Glassman for his dream of putting a crack in the urban skyline and allow us to take a breath despite the traffic.
Urban Air will transform existing old urban billboards to breathing spaces with suspended bamboo gardens.
To make this come true at least $100,000.00 pledges is needed — and then the project will be funded. Please check the team behind the project in their KickStarter page.
I can’t wait to see similar project here in the Philippines.
I can’t wait to see a whispering billboard reminding me to BREATHE, PRAISE, LOVE.
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Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. – Psalm 150:6
Super Storm
11/01/2012
waves by Sandy — yahoo news Oct 27, 2012
To those who are affected by super storm Sandy, my prayers are with you.
I was worried in the thought that some might not be used to storms and its effect thus might be greatly devastated. But then I realized that we are all humans equipped with coping mechanism by no less than our Mighty Creator. Yes, that’s only how far we can go alone, coping — getting by. But living with life (there’s living like dead, right?) is only possible with God.
I myself have been through so many storms since I was conceived up to now — be it life’s storms that hits like nothing else or the powerful wind and rain that hit Philippines 20 times a year on the average.
Looking back, I realized how much I appreciated storms when I was a little girl. After candle lit nights due to power outage I would excitedly go out and appreciate the brighter surroundings — brighter because some trees fell or branches were broken. I would go around picking fallen fruits and coconuts and was so excited when I found a turtle! I was aware that there was damage but my young eyes were appreciative of the clean up.
When I got older, especially when I became a mom, it was different. There were worries on possible shortage of food or drowning in the flood. There were worries on severance of relationships and drowning in despair.
There is worry until there is trust in the Lord. Until I talk with the Lord. Until I connect with the Lord.
As human, there is only so much that I can do. The more I worry of what I cannot do, the more I am not able to do what I can do — like entrusting my worries to the Lord.
I am worried about you — and I am entrusting you to the Lord who can carry us through storms and give the warmest comfort.
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He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. – Psalm 107:29
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India’s 50,000 Missing Children
10/05/2012
I miss you all too!
And yes from time to time I pause and think of you and pray for you my dear blog friends.
The heart strings were not cut. They were turned into lovely friendship bows.
The times that were used to be spent online were added to more hugs, kisses, sharing stories, crafting, smiling, walking around, counting blessings, and smelling the armpits of my kiddos.
It was all good. Soooo good. Very very very good.
It is such a blessing to be a mom. Just one kid brings so much joy. And I have four!
And today I read that around 50,000 children go missing yearly in India. That is 14 children missing everyday — infinite heartaches each second.
(Photos from the News)
The kids are missing due to human trafficking. And this surely is not happening in India alone. We have our own numbers in our own backyard. It makes my heart ache as a mom and as human. What happened to our own kind, the adults? What happened to their hearts?
I pray that each one will hear God’s word. And feel God’s heart. Then feel their own. And know that God is in the heart business. He cleans, He restores, He makes new, and He loves.
Let us all give tight hugs, real tight hugs to all the children of the world.
Let us whisper that they are loved so much by God. Some might not believe it, like most of us do at some point in our lives, but still let us whisper. One day that whisper will be heard — loud and clear.
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All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. – Isaiah 54:13
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Phony Checklist
08/18/2012
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Kim : That’s the final 95th page of our wedding checklist!
Willing : Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything — your shoes?
Kim : It’s on the 27th page — shoes by Gossipy Shoenotti!
Willing : What a memory! You won’t forget me, right? — wink
Kim : I have you in my mind. Our marriage will be a success! – wink wink
Most of us have checklists in life to ensure that we have everything in place; that the outcome would be as planned.
Checklist for a perfect wedding – CHECK!
Checklist for a happy family – CHECK!
Checklist for a safe trip – CHECK!
Checklist for immediate promotion – CHECK!
Checklist for a gold medal – CHECK!
Reviewed the wedding checklist 100 times. All efforts made to save the family. Car checked prior to road trip. Dedicated work for the promotion. Intensive training for the gold.
We are ready. We are equipped.
But the victory belongs to the Lord. Everything depends on Him.
Got to trust Him. Not the checklist.
His idea of victory might be very different from ours.
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The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
– Proverbs 21:31
Adios Amigos
08/14/2012
It’s been weeks since I last visited your place and my place.
I am tempted to finally say, “Adios Amigos.”
But here I am saying instead, “Ahhh Diyos Amigos!”
Diyos is the Filipino translation for God.
“It’s God my friends!”
Who else will stop the flood caused by 11 straight days of monsoon rain?
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Who else will make Filipinos smile in hope?
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Who else will provide what you need most?
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Who else will soak you in love?
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Who else will make one fit for the ohlifepics?
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Who else will lay down his life for us?
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Ahhh Diyos Amigos!
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Where ever you are right now — down the deep or floating on air
Whatever you may be doing right now — laughing in pain or crying in happiness
We both know that God alone knows His purpose for us — and it is good.
I believe that even when I feel like something so bad is happening to me.
I believe that feelings are not always the truth — but He is.
I choose to believe because…
it’s raining hard again outside!
Ahhh Diyos Amigos!
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The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. -Psalm 7:16
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Note: Photos are not mine as I can’t be everywhere while there’s flood.
It’s Friday The 13th — My Birthday!
07/13/2012
Hello it’s Friday the 13th, are you afraid? You may have a friggatriskaidekaphobia, the fear of this day and date.
Me, I can’t afford to be afraid of Friday the 13th because sometimes my birthday falls on this day – like today!
Happy birthday to me!
Because it’s my birthday I got to share with you what happened yesterday. Before leaving for the office, my daughter accidentally broke our mirror. On my way to the office, I saw a teen’s body lying on a pool of blood. Later on I learned that he was hit by the car and sadly he was dead – God bless his soul.
And those happened on Thursday the 12th.
Just saying that what one might fear on a Friday the 13th might be actually happening any time, any day. Just saying that it’s not fair to fear 13 just because it’s next to what is perceived as the perfect number – 12. Twelve months in a year, twelve gods of Olympus, twelve numbers on the clock– and maybe 12 eggs in a box.
How about you, how would you feel if some people decided they don’t like you just because they like the perfect lady in front of you?
Because it’s my birthday I got to share with you what happened yesterday. My parents brought me big prawns, big squid, big fishes, big crabs, big smiles and big love! My officemates had pasta delivered as pre-birthday celebration –- surely we will have a feast on the day itself! My hubby and kiddos, as usual, their love made me smile!
And those happened on Thursday the 12th.
Just saying that there are many blessings in a day that we might have missed because we focused on our fears. Just saying that it’s not fair to frighten ourselves because of superstitions. Just saying that it is one year with twelve months, that there is only one true God amongst more than 12 idols, that I’m writing this on the 13th hour – and there are 6 eggs in a box which are perfect.
How about you, how do you feel when you decided to appreciate and see beauty, just as is?
Because it’s my birthday I got to share with you my birthday song. Hopefully you’ll take time checking it.
Some people find the lyrics weird and might not like it. I am weird and you might not like me. But I like the song and somebody surely likes me, even loves me – just as I am. You know, the One who can make all things possible.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone! Shine!
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This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24
