Si Xandro ay aking anak na mahusay
Na aking mamahalin habang-buhay.
Siya'y nagbibigay sa akin ng tuwa at ligaya
Kahit anong mangyari, sa hirap at ginhawa.
Mapagmahal, masunurin, masipag at matiyaga
Mga katangiang kahanga-hanga.
Maunawain at mapagpatawad din ang aking anak
Sa mga pagkukulang hindi ko sinasadya.
Isang ngiti, isang halik, isang yakap na mahigpit
Pagmamahal ng isang anak, wala ng hihigit.
Ang aking anak ay madasaling bata
Marunong magpasalamat sa Diyos, ating Ama.
Ako'y nagpapasalamat sa ating Diyos Ama
Dahil sa anak kong si Xandro, isang tunay na biyaya.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
3 Ribs and A Booby
that means, 3 fractured ribs and one missing booby... hehehe!
I remembered the movie Three Men and a Baby and I just had a funny thought about my 3 fractured ribs which is in the area of the surgery and radiation and came up with that "title."
I remembered the movie Three Men and a Baby and I just had a funny thought about my 3 fractured ribs which is in the area of the surgery and radiation and came up with that "title."
from an email... No Shades of Gray
READ THIS. LET IT REALLY SINK IN. THEN CHOOSE.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood." Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life." I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was rele ased from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I t ook a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.'" Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.Attitude, after all, is everything. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood." Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life." I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was rele ased from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I t ook a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.'" Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.Attitude, after all, is everything. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Words to Live By . . .
1. Faith is the ability to not panic.
2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day; it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
~Author Unknown~
Work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
& Dance like nobody is watching.
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.
Friday, October 07, 2005
A Tip Before Getting Married...
or A Tip to Save Your Marriage ...
only two words to remember :
SEPARATE BATHROOMS !!!
:-)
only two words to remember :
SEPARATE BATHROOMS !!!
:-)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Thank You By Oprah Winfrey
I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.
That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter
what happened in my life.
"Say thank you!" Those words from my friend and mentor Maya Angelou turned my life around. One day about ten years ago, I was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid down, booing and
ahooing on the phone so uncontrollably that I was incoherent.
"Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!" Maya chided. "But - you don't understand," I sobbed. To this day, I can't remember what it was that had me so far gone, which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. "I do understand," she told me. "I want to hear you say it now. Out loud. 'Thank you.'"
Tentatively, I repeated it:
"Thank you - but what am I saying thank you for?"
"You're saying thank you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it.
You're saying thank you because you know that even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds. You're saying thank you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things. Say thank you!"
So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day.
I kept a gratitude journal, as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in Simple Abundance, listing at least five things that I'm grateful for. My list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass under my feet (like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine of my dogs and my cocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up; cooking fried green tomatoes with Stedman and
eating them while they're hot; reading a good book and knowing another awaits.
My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for granted:
an "okay" mammogram, friends who love me, 15 years at the same job (and loving it more than the first day I started), a chance to share my vision for a better life, staying centered, having financial security. I won't kid you, having money for all the things I want is a blessing. But as I look back over my journals, which I've kept since I was 15 years old, 99 percent of what brought me real joy had nothing to do with money. (It had a lot to do with food, however.)
It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you:
PERSPECTIVE. Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet gesture and kind thought passed your way. When you learn to say thank you, you see the world anew. And as Meister Eckhart so eloquently stated:
"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'Thank you', that would suffice."
That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter
what happened in my life.
"Say thank you!" Those words from my friend and mentor Maya Angelou turned my life around. One day about ten years ago, I was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid down, booing and
ahooing on the phone so uncontrollably that I was incoherent.
"Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!" Maya chided. "But - you don't understand," I sobbed. To this day, I can't remember what it was that had me so far gone, which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. "I do understand," she told me. "I want to hear you say it now. Out loud. 'Thank you.'"
Tentatively, I repeated it:
"Thank you - but what am I saying thank you for?"
"You're saying thank you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it.
You're saying thank you because you know that even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds. You're saying thank you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things. Say thank you!"
So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day.
I kept a gratitude journal, as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in Simple Abundance, listing at least five things that I'm grateful for. My list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass under my feet (like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine of my dogs and my cocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up; cooking fried green tomatoes with Stedman and
eating them while they're hot; reading a good book and knowing another awaits.
My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for granted:
an "okay" mammogram, friends who love me, 15 years at the same job (and loving it more than the first day I started), a chance to share my vision for a better life, staying centered, having financial security. I won't kid you, having money for all the things I want is a blessing. But as I look back over my journals, which I've kept since I was 15 years old, 99 percent of what brought me real joy had nothing to do with money. (It had a lot to do with food, however.)
It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you:
PERSPECTIVE. Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet gesture and kind thought passed your way. When you learn to say thank you, you see the world anew. And as Meister Eckhart so eloquently stated:
"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'Thank you', that would suffice."
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Google Earth
A new discovery of ours and a favorite past time is going around the world via the Google Earth site. You can view satellite photos of the earth, the countries and zoom in to see certain cities and its famous landmarks, streets, mountains, volcanoes, etc.
I looked for places I know about or have been to and marked them. Specially, around Paris, I marked the places we went to while they are still fresh in my memory (we went in 2004) so that I will have a map I can always refer to and be able to remember all these places.
Since I am so forgetful already and have lapses in my memory (due to my most used excuse - chemobrain, heeheehee), I have to do all these things, like even this blog to be able to remember things for myself and also for Xandro.
A Day in the Country is Worth a Month in Town
Raffy, Xandro and I just spent the weekend in Tali Beach. We left at about 3PM Saturday afternoon, stopped by the gas station in SLEX and arrived in Tali at about 7:30 PM. Time seems slower and I finally was able to watch the DVD of Coach Carter after a month or so of buying the DVD. I immediately feel energized by the FRESH air, a priceless feeling, indeed.
As long as there is a long weekend, we try to go out-of-town. I also enjoy the drive to Tali or any long drive for that matter... being together in the car with my "two bulobuboys" using the time to make kuwento-kuwento without the distractions of TV, school work, etc.
Just being with my family, in the quiet, peaceful and restful Tali is pure joy for me. These are my simple joys talaga... Away from the "noise" of living in the city.
Thanks to the generosity of Shaho Mark and Mayan, we are able to get away for a few days and stay at their warm and cozy house in Tali.
The waves were once again strong just like the last time we were there. This time of the year, rainy season, the sea is most of the time rough. I enjoy just watching the waves move towards the shore and listening and feeling the splash of the waves plus the sea breeze gently blowing away the stresses/worries in my mind. All I can think of is how awesome God is and His creations.
We left Sunday afternoon, at about 3PM and got back just in time for the 7PM Mass at the church near our place.
I am always grateful for the chance to be able to go out-of-town, no matter how brief it may be.
I thank God for protecting us, providing for us and for being present in our lives!
Truly, a day in the country is worth a month in town.... 'till our next out-of-town trip....
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Simple Joys
We enjoy going out-of-town and just spending time together as a family, with family. The fresh air isn't too bad too. Moments like these are the ones I treasure the most and are the ones that bring me so much joy and peace... It truly gives me some kind of "HIGH," a natural high talaga. I am so blessed to have a loving husband and son who make me laugh (and mad, annoyed, etc. hehehe)... but more of making me laugh of course. Being with family and loved ones are treasured moments indeed.
HUGGA-DUGGA !
"Hugga-dugga, Hugga-dugga" and "Kichee-kichee muna" and I'm all energized after smothering Xandro with hugs and kisses. From when he was a baby up to now, I always feel better with hugs and kisses from Xandro. And kichee-kichees and chmelly-chmelly of his kaching-ching and lakatetek (no matter how achim) is so charap-charap and very energizing. But now, he is starting to complain a bit with all my smothering.... I know, soon, I won't be able to do much of my kichee-kichees and hugga-duggas... For now, I will cherish each moment I can still do these things (with minimal objections from X). :-)
Friday, August 26, 2005
Some Free Time
Oftentimes, I think being a full time mom and homemaker gives me more free time to relax and watch dvd's while exercising on a stationary bike. But can you believe that I have piles of dvd's that I have not been able to watch. I've been busy helping Chiara with designing her flyer and business card for her cookie business... it was a lot of hard work but I really enjoy doing those creative stuff... it's not really work for me but more of therapy. Anyway, last Wednesday was Xandro's dance number in school during the Pagbasa at Pagbigkas contest. Xandro danced well but more than the dancing, I am proud of his being able to practise for this and get up on stage. Because of the practise, he gets out an hour later and we still have to do HW pa. Sometimes, I feel it's too much HW and there's no time to spend relaxing with the family, enjoying time together.
After the program, I stayed in school na lang and waited for his dismissal time. The program finished about 11:30 AM, I had lunch in the GS cafeteria then walked to the college chapel for the 12:30 PM Mass. Going to mass has always been an uplifting experience for me. I miss being able to go to mass everyday or at least more than just on Sundays. Last Wed. reminded me of the importance of really spending quiet time with the Lord and how much HE brings me peace and joy amidst the stresses of each day. I want to be more regular in my prayer time na talaga... Help me, Lord.
Ok, gotta go now and call some HMO's.....
Wait, I just remembered.. I wanted to share other expressions Xandro and I say... "Guten Nayten (2X), Nayten Guten (2X)" We say this together with our funny accent before going to sleep.
Baboo!
After the program, I stayed in school na lang and waited for his dismissal time. The program finished about 11:30 AM, I had lunch in the GS cafeteria then walked to the college chapel for the 12:30 PM Mass. Going to mass has always been an uplifting experience for me. I miss being able to go to mass everyday or at least more than just on Sundays. Last Wed. reminded me of the importance of really spending quiet time with the Lord and how much HE brings me peace and joy amidst the stresses of each day. I want to be more regular in my prayer time na talaga... Help me, Lord.
Ok, gotta go now and call some HMO's.....
Wait, I just remembered.. I wanted to share other expressions Xandro and I say... "Guten Nayten (2X), Nayten Guten (2X)" We say this together with our funny accent before going to sleep.
Baboo!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
A Sharing (1)
While reading the Word Among Us Daily Meditations for August, Raffy pointed out this paragraph to me ...
It's not too hard for God to soften a hard heart, to warm a cold one, to restore a broken one, or to breathe life into an unresponsive one. In fact, this is something God loves to do! We have only to ask. No special prayers are necessary. Simple words, spoken quietly, even silently, are sufficient. It's that easy, because God is so good.
Truly, God is so good! He is always faithful to me even if I am unfaithful at times. Despite my not being very regular in my prayer time, He is always there waiting for me to talk to HIM. Thank you, Lord! You are my rock and my salvation!
It's not too hard for God to soften a hard heart, to warm a cold one, to restore a broken one, or to breathe life into an unresponsive one. In fact, this is something God loves to do! We have only to ask. No special prayers are necessary. Simple words, spoken quietly, even silently, are sufficient. It's that easy, because God is so good.
Truly, God is so good! He is always faithful to me even if I am unfaithful at times. Despite my not being very regular in my prayer time, He is always there waiting for me to talk to HIM. Thank you, Lord! You are my rock and my salvation!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Silly Expressions
Xandro has created silly expressions since a few years back and I took note of them.
1. Eshembody, cookin-jare
2. Caution wave
3. Ebonstablish
4. ta-un-ne-nah (several times with a tune)
5. daishie
6. bibayshkiboo
7. hungca-hungca
8. unang baitang !
9. queen medici!
10. murhur !!
11. milabu and milabudu
12. mimichu and mimichudu
These are expressions only Xandro and I share and understand. Silly and funny moments we have when we say these expressions. Typing and saying it in my head makes me smile already.
He is truly a blessing and God's most precious gift to Papa and me.
1. Eshembody, cookin-jare
2. Caution wave
3. Ebonstablish
4. ta-un-ne-nah (several times with a tune)
5. daishie
6. bibayshkiboo
7. hungca-hungca
8. unang baitang !
9. queen medici!
10. murhur !!
11. milabu and milabudu
12. mimichu and mimichudu
These are expressions only Xandro and I share and understand. Silly and funny moments we have when we say these expressions. Typing and saying it in my head makes me smile already.
He is truly a blessing and God's most precious gift to Papa and me.
First Time Blogger
This is my very first post in this blog site. Hmmmmm, what to write about???
Oh yeah, the reason for this blog is for me to remember thoughts, ideas, lessons, reflections, etc. that come to mind and be able to go back and read them. And maybe when Xandro grows up, he can always go to this site and know more about his "crazy" Inay.
I have so many things going on in my head.... thank God I am still sane. But if you ask Raffy and Xandro, I think they would say otherwise. Hehehe!
I have been so forgetful already! Grabe! I can't believe how bad it can be. I need to and I want to remember all the moments I share with my family and friends, the trips we have and any little "kababawans" I experience.
So, here goes the beginning of this blogging thing...
Oh yeah, the reason for this blog is for me to remember thoughts, ideas, lessons, reflections, etc. that come to mind and be able to go back and read them. And maybe when Xandro grows up, he can always go to this site and know more about his "crazy" Inay.
I have so many things going on in my head.... thank God I am still sane. But if you ask Raffy and Xandro, I think they would say otherwise. Hehehe!
I have been so forgetful already! Grabe! I can't believe how bad it can be. I need to and I want to remember all the moments I share with my family and friends, the trips we have and any little "kababawans" I experience.
So, here goes the beginning of this blogging thing...
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