Daily Divine

A Smile of Pure Delight

2012-01-11T10:26:00.003+07:00

He was in my class yesterday...or rather I was in his class yesterday.
I couldn't recall his name. The fact that all of the students's names have 3-4 syllables and sound almost the same, he's also just one of the hundreds of students I get to teach each week and I've seen him only once before. But something in him caught my attention - his smile. Oh, how I loved that big smile when I called him to the board to point at the correct picture. Then he smiled at me again when I gave him 3 stars. That's when I thought of framing that picture of pure delight!
BUT he hid it when I clicked the shutter. Maybe he didn't want the world to know that he's harelipped.

Our volunteer teaching team was given an opportunity to teach English in all classes in his school. To give all students the chance to learn English, we were spread so thinly to meeting each class only twice in 2 months and only for an hour. So yesterday was my second time to teach in his class, but it wont be the last. Of all classes, his got 3 slots so I'll be seeing him one more time....How can I tell him it's okay to show his big smile?

White Wednesday

Daddy's Girl...Like Mother Like Daughter

2011-12-04T23:16:00.004+07:00

"I read your blog in my office."

Those words came as a beautiful tune and set my heart to dancing. My Pa reads my blog. Hah! I can't be prouder.

I skyped with him this morning and was excited to hear that he just got back from Macau and Hong Kong. It's not his first trip abroad. He's been to Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. But I'm just thrilled to hear stories from his trips especially to places I've been so I asked a time to skype with him. Guess, I'm just being a Daddy's girl.

Naomi and Dad at the park, Dec. 3, 2011.

As I watch my daughter relates to her Dad with much endearment, I can identify with her.

I wished I have photos of my moments with my Pa to show my daughter how much I'm like her.

On the train to Malaysia in 2010

My children are blessed to be born in digital age and I enjoy the job of framing moments for them.

On the train from Penang to Thailand in 2010

I can no longer remember the details being alone with my Pa but I know the feeling was always of love and security when he was around.

In Bangkok on January 1, 2009

"Think first before making a move." That's what he would always tell me when playing chess with him. "Don't ask for help unless you've used up your brains." Sounds strict but that's how he motivated me to pursue academic independence. I aimed high because I was confident that he's there to catch me if I fall. He did and never failed.

On the plane to the Philippines in July 2009. Naomi always wants a seat beside Dad.

So this morning, we talked about his recent trip. I mused as I listened. I knew what he's talking about. I've been to those places, and even to more countries than he's been to. At some point, we're even. I'm no longer that little girl anymore. I've grown and now have my own "daddy's girl".

My Pa reads my blog, and he'll be reading this soon. He will smile and his heart will dance to the same tune I'm dancing now.

Happy *Father's Day to my beloved Papa. I'm older than 40 now but a part of me is still a "papa's girl".

The only picture of me and my Pa together.

*In Thailand, where I reside at present, Father's Day is celebrated every 5th of December, in time of his majesty King Bhumibol's birthday.

There's Another World Out There!

2011-11-14T22:19:00.006+07:00

I was enjoying my milk tea and roti in the living room when I saw Nashima came in from the kitchen and was ready to leave the house through the main door. "Wait!" I grabbed my camera and, with hand gestures, asked her to pose for me.

Nashima, though shy, was kind enough to pose for me.

When I'm in a foreign land I tend to get too excited taking pictures of everything that appears different from my own culture. I have to remind myself to be careful not to be too aggressive with my camera. I don't want people to feel violated and harassed so I would always ask permission before I take photos of people.
But I think I got too excited when I saw Nashima with that jar. She was like one of the women I saw in Bible stories! I felt being transported back in time.

Nashima preparing the coconut for a curry dish.

But Nashima is a woman of today. She is not wearing a costume or acting a role of a woman in the Bible story. She is living out her normal life. A kind of life most women in Bangladesh lived.

Nashima using boti in the kitchen.

Nashima is my friend's neighbor. My friend asked Nashima to come to help her prepare food for me and another friend. I watched her skillfully worked with both hands peeling onions with that boti, a unique tool she used to cut and slice vegetables. Her hands moved so fast against the blade that I had to take several shots to get a clear picture. Her foot kept the tool stood still on the floor. I was fascinated. Bengali kitchen is very different from mine.

I sat beside Nashima and as I watched her work, I was beginning to wonder.... Is she happy with her life? Her life, seem to me, is bound in the kitchen. No wonder why Bengali dishes taste very delicious. It's a lot of work to prepare each dish.

She worked quietly and at few times threw a glance toward me. I smiled each time our eyes met. She never smiled back. How I hoped she would show me a sign of happiness in her countenance. She didn't. I thought she also didn't approve of me watching her every move.

It was only after she left that I realized that she would tilt her head each time I smile at her. Oh, how I forgot I was in another culture!

Just like in India, a subtle tilt of the head could mean a thousand words in Bangladesh. It's a way to connect to people. And when I started doing the same instead of the usual smile I learned in my culture, I felt more locally attuned and that made a big difference.

Happy Birthday, Dear Naomi!

2011-11-10T13:52:00.008+07:00

My sweetheart turns 12 today!

How she grows so fast, and now she's as tall as her mommy!

What a joy to watch my baby turning into a beautiful young lady.

Happy 12th birthday, Naomi!

Here's the birthday girl singing her favorite song.

The Sun Rises in Bangladesh

2011-10-23T14:55:00.006+07:00

It was the biggest sun I've seen!
My camera couldn't capture the sight as we were moving very fast so I used my friend's more advanced camera and though it worked well, still it's nearer and clearer to behold with my naked eye.

It looked like a red fire ball above the misty green field.
The country's banner then made more sense to me.

Verses came flooding to my mind as I behold such magnificent and powerful thing that could scorch the whole earth!

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)

Because of tender o f God's tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

and to guide us to the path of peace.

Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)

As we drove fast at dawn from Dinajpur down to Khulna for 12 hours,

the sun traveled with us to the extreme side.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103: 11-12 (NIV)

So, now when I wake up in the morning, I'm reminded that the sun also rises in Bangladesh,

even more beautifully.

Scripture and a Snapshot

Images of the Floods in Thailand

2011-10-18T23:48:00.007+07:00

Yes, it's floods in plural form.

Monsoon rains and high tide caused extensive flooding in Thailand. Many provinces are already underwater and we, in Bangkok, are not yet safe. In fact, many areas in Bangkok are already flooded.

I admit, I'm hooked watching the news on TV and on the internet these days. It's more than just curiosity. I need to know what's going on in my host country, especially so around the city where I live. And it looks like one area after another is inundated and it's getting closer to ours.

There are many sad stories that are yet to be written and figures of loses to be reported. Thailand needs your prayers now.

Just in case you didn't hear the news yet, here are images I randomly picked from the internet. You will find more details if you clicked on the link under each photo.

Photograph by: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Photo from Bangkok Post on 10-15-2011

Photo from TMG Buzz on 10-10-2011

Photo from The Nation on 10-14-2011

Photo from Ottawa Citizen on 10-17-2011

Photo from The Telegraph

One thing you may want to note in all these photos is the CALMNESS amid calamity. Life goes on and you don't see much negative emotions. That is very Thai.

Watery Wednesday Wednesday Whites

My Rose of Sharon is Blooming But.....

2011-10-14T21:31:00.000+07:00

I finally have my first bloom! After months of waiting, my Rose of Sharon is now flowering but may not last long as we are expecting a flash flood anytime soon.The major river in our city is overflowing and heavy rain is expected. We have secured the house and I only hope that the flood would not be as bad as expected so my garden will be safe. Read more....

We have one but fragile life....

2011-09-26T22:28:00.006+07:00

The sudden death of a dear uncle is still a shock to me until now. We chatted online and 2 days after that I received the sad news. He's in his prime age where his business was booming and his first 2 sons graduated from college while the other 2 are also finishing their degrees. He's just gotten his new SUV and life seemed pretty normal until that day when he collapsed at work. Heart attack, that's what they said.

Every now and then, my husband and I would talk about our own death to kind of prepare us for what is sure to come. It's hard not to get emotional but the more we talk about it, the easier it gets. "It's part of being responsible parents" he said. "I know that God will take care of our family but we also need to make a plan for the children." So we have made some agreements on how it would be if either one of us go first. We had to talk about things like education funds for the children. Maybe we also need to talk more about insurances like accident or Medicare supplement plans and even Social Security Administration. With the passing away of my uncle recently, the more we talked about those things more seriously.

Aside from preparing for our own exit from this side of life, my husband and I are now more conscious about taking care of ourselves.We are not getting any younger! We are given only one life and we have to be good stewards of that precious life that is given to us. I am not afraid of death because it is my entry point to my eternal home with my Heavenly Father. But if I could add a minute to my life here on earth, I would do so and make the most it.

Have you talked with your spouse or loved ones about these things? I know that no matter how we prepare for it, still, it would come hard and difficult but God will surely take care of us when we get there.

Learning all you can will help guide through tough decisions and better prepare anyone for the future, whatever that maybe. A great resource for all kinds of classes is Guide to Online Schools.

For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

Psalm 48:14

I Got My Visa To Bangladesh!!!

2011-09-25T21:14:00.002+07:00

We have lots of visa issues these days, so when I went to the embassy to apply for a visa to Bangladesh, I prayed really hard. More so when I went back to collect my visa. Two applicants before me were denied. I've been wanting to go to this trip so I was so relieved when I got my visa. I'm looking forward to this trip.

My dear friend was invited to be the main speaker in a Women's Conference in one province in Bangladesh. She invited me to go with her and she gave me one topic to share. I'm excited. It's my first time to be in Bangladesh. I'm eager to see this green country, new friends, and appreciate the culture. This is another opportunity to learn and to trust God for the unknown.

I did my research as part of my preparation, and would like to share some details with you.

The People's Republic of Bangladesh lies in a corner of South Asia and in the eastern part of the ancient region of Bengal. The nation's name literally means "The Country of Bengal." Lying north of the Bay of Bengal, where the world's largest river delta meets the sea, it borders India to the west, north, and east and Myanmar to the southeast. Its population, which is approaching 150 million, is seventh highest in the world but is packed into an area the size of Iowa.*

I'm amazed to know how large the population in Bangladesh and how small the country is. But I'm more amazed to know that despite the congestion, the country even takes in thousand of refugees, and the local people are fine with it.

Bangladesh could serve as a model, especially for its neighbors, for how people can live closely together and remain congenial. Though it is largely Muslim, the country has a sizable number of Hindus and other minorities. But one rarely hears of sectarian strife in Bangladesh. The country even takes in thousands of foreign refugees on its already crowded soil and the world never hears of any problems or complaints with the situation.*

For now, I'm sharing to you information from another source but I will definitely share more from my own experience and observation once I get there.

* http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bangladesh

I'm linking this post to:

Green Monday Ruby Tuesday

God's Word..Like Abundant Rain On Tender Plants

2011-09-18T14:07:00.002+07:00

I woke up with much hunger of God's Word this morning. I listened to the audio Bible. I chose the Book of John. It's the first Book of the Bible that I read when I became a Christian. Listening to the whole book again refreshes my soul just like the first time it did many years back then.

Scripture and a Snapshot

Another Opportunity to Show Love

2011-09-17T17:54:00.005+07:00

October is coming and public schools in Thailand will be closed for a month. It's school holiday once again and it will be a good business for those who are running tutorial programs or any kind of extra curricular activities. It would be an exciting time for children of families who can afford to pay.

Happy Community Foundation wants everyone happy so it will offer Reading, Writing and Craft classes FOR FREE to children who would be staying at home in October. We don't only want them to get busy and productive but we also want them to feel loved and important.
We would like to invite you to sponsor one of our classes. With the help you will send, we would be able to buy materials needed for our class. Please email us at hcf.bkk@gmail.com.

Also, if you are interested in becoming our permanent sponsor/advertiser, we can advertise your site or product in our official website. More details here.

"They Know Me; I know Them; They Follow Me"

2011-09-04T18:53:00.000+07:00

Scripture and a Snapshot

Stop, Look, and Listen

2011-09-03T00:43:00.004+07:00

With the rise of technology, life should have been simpler, but it's not. The more we have push-button gadgets to serve us well, the busier we become.

These days, I always find myself beating deadlines and running behind schedules, and at the end of the day I would crash tired on my bed.

Me, and my dh on the other side.

I'm glad that last weekend, the whole family, along with our friends, decided to have a day at the park. We dropped our regular routine and went to do something new. We exercised for 2 hours, chatted and enjoyed our packed lunch. Then we had the rest of the time strolling and enjoying one another's company and the gift of nature.

Surely, our homeschoolers needed some down time, too.

So I had my time to stop for a while, look around, and listen to my heart.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit", says the Lord.

Zechariah 4:6

Weekend Reflection
Green Monday

This is How Father Feeds the Birds in My Garden

2011-08-21T16:41:00.007+07:00

I would have been sad to see the pomegranate in my garden last season had I not understood the ways of the Lord.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not more valuable than they?

(Matthew 6:26)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet no one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

(Matthew 10:29)

Linking this post to:

Scripture and a Snapshot

Camera Critters

Ruby Tuesday

My Parents' Garden

2011-08-19T23:24:00.005+07:00

My father is a serious gardener and he collects exotic seeds from other countries and germinate them in his nursery to be planted to the city's parks and grounds. He works for the city's Natural Resource and Environment Office. As soon as the cock crows, he's already in his garden.

My Pa in his garden at sunrise when I last visited them in my homecountry.

My father is more into fruit trees and decorative trees. He has more than 20 varieties of fruit trees in his garden. Neighbors are blessed to come and enjoy the fruits for free.

Pomelo in my Pa's garden. Ma is standing in front the house.

Durian, chesnuts, avocado, marang, rambutan, lychee, etc. He's got them all in his garden and always bearing in each season but almost all-year round they get to enjoy the sweet pomelo.

The most delicious variety of avocado.

When I was there last June, I enjoyed the most delicious avocado. They're big and very rich.

My Ma is into flowers. She likes her house surrounded with blooms. Below is the collage of photos I took when I visited my parents.

I'm glad I am a gardener like them.

Faith sees a beautiful blossom in a bulb, a lovely garden in a seed,

a giant oak in an acorn.

(William Arthur Ward)

This is my entry to the beautiful meme hosted by Lori.

to the cool meme called Green Monday.

Freshness From the Local Market and From My Garden

2011-08-13T08:42:00.008+07:00

Saturday is market day for me and my dear husband. We take 3 of this bag to carry all fresh produce home from the local market nearest us. It's a lot cheaper to buy from the market than from the grocery shops. There are many choices, too. Aside from that, it's a good way of helping the local farmers and sellers.

One good thing about living in this big city is that we get to have access to affordable fresh produce from the nearby provinces. I've live in many cities and this city has the cheapest local market (excluding the ones in China).

One can't get this freshness from the freezers of big supermarkets.

Once they get to the air-conditioned shelves, their prices are doubled.

Don't you love these greens?

Speaking of green, I would like to show you my little compost bucket that made my vegetable garden green.

It's usually used as a garbage bin but we made holes around the sides and made it our compost bin. Two weeks ago I cultivated my vegetable garden and added compost soil on top. In just couple of days, I saw how the leaves of my plants have become healthier. Here are some snapshots from 2 weeks ago.

Mongo beans, mint, lemon grass, spinach, grape vine and a yellow flower.

These are just few of what I have in my little garden. Each time I serve freshness on the table, especially the ones from my own garden, a sense of accomplishment is my worth reward. I'm sure it's more for those who are real farmers, dont' you think so?

Fresh basil straight from our garden to our table...made our lunch more delicious.

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.

Proverbs 12:14

This is my entry to the beautiful meme hosted by Lori.

and to the newest meme called Monday Green.

Sowing Seeds

2011-08-10T23:16:00.002+07:00

I'm a gardener and in my garden blog you will see all the plants and flowers I grow in my garden. But I also have another garden that I tend....and this is even closer to my heart than the one in my own yard.

Our charity foundation has a little community library.

On one side of the wall you see a tree. This tree is a reminder that in our community service, we are growing trees. So it takes time to see the fruit of our labor but the result is long lasting and even beyond our lifetime.

We also call this corner the friendship garden. For the children, this serves as a reminder that they are important to us and that they all belong to a community.

The children we serve come from different background - Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. In our library and in the classroom, they become one happy community.

Would you like to help tend this garden?

There are many ways you can do that would mean a lot to a life of a child and to the community he/she lives in but for now we would like to invite you to join us by putting one of these badges on your blog. We need to spread the word for we can't do this alone. We need you to help us in making a difference in the lives of these children.

Copy and paste the picture in your blog linking to www.happycommunityfoundation.com

Our special thanks to the Santos Family for hosting a penny auction and donated the proceeds to Happy Community Foundation. Read the full story here and you will be blessed to see how children are helping children from across the continent.

"You don't have to be rich to help the poor."

2011-07-31T05:22:00.002+07:00

This is the belief I held onto when my husband and I decided to step out in faith and start a charity foundation in the city not our own. But in all good intentions, evil is always there to prevent us.

When we started processing our permit as a non-profit social foundation, a local lady commented to our face, "You are not a president of a big organization and you come from a poor country, who would believe you?" Discouragement has its way to get you when you are not single-hearted in your intention.

Yes, we are financially poor but we are rich in many areas. Our family has a collection of quality books and we have friends who have unused books in their homes and with those we can build a community library. We received good education and we can teach poor children for free. We cannot give out money but we can serve freely. These are the things burning in my heart as I reasoned to myself why we do what we do. The old lady thought that only rich philanthropist can do what we intend to do. We are glad to have found like-minded individuals who helped us reach where we are now in our service to the community. We are also thankful to our volunteers who find joy not in monetary reward but in helping others.

Scripture and a Snapshot

My 100th Follower and Her $1000 Cash Giveaway

2011-07-30T23:40:00.001+07:00

I'm always flattered to see my number of followers increase and I never thought that I would reach to have 100 followers today. My 100th follower even capped it with honor and I'm humbled to know that she has 2,300 followers herself! You would want to visit her because she is giving away $1,000 cash. Her giveaway runs from August 1-15, 2011. I'm surely joining to win for our charity project.

Many thanks to all who signed up to follow my blog. You inspire me to keep blogging.

A Day in a Farm

2011-07-29T17:34:00.005+07:00

My little Zoe, being an animal lover, always wanted a life in a farm and so yesterday we took our girls along with their fellow homeschoolers to a farm resort called "The Scenery" where they fed sheep and enjoyed petting them. they all had a blast around animals and I already thought at the beginning of the day we were there that it would be a fun and educational field-trip for all of us, including parents. I have thought about looking up Guide to Online Schools and maybe adding some online vet tech programs to our homeschooling curriculum. I know Zoe would be interested!

My own farm-girl's heart was also satisfied as I had my "tea talk" with my fleecy friends :-)

Life in the big city can be stressful and so once in a while it's good to run away to a quiet place, have some down time, and enjoy some fresh air. I'm glad that my dh made it happen by driving all of us for 4 hours each way.

Homeschool moms and bloggers.

The drive was longer than our stay at the farm but it was worthwhile. I also get to spend time with another homeschool mom who also appreciatesa life away from the big city.

My heart was blessed to see my girls enjoyed being "close to earth" and know that there are more special way of celebrating birthdays aside from having a balloon-filled parties.

My farm girls with their cousin, James.

A little late birthday celebration for Zoe

My first to try archery and definitely not the last.

Hitting the target is as hard as in real life but with all the fun we had at the farm, I'm sure we hit the goal!

Happy birthday, dear Zoe!

This is my entry to a beautiful meme hosted by Lori.

Sweet Art Expression

2011-07-27T17:47:00.005+07:00

Some people are just gifted with skills of turning ordinary things extraordinary! They have their surprising way of cheering people up. Look what I found on Yahoo News today:

Artist Judith G. Klausner created an amazing art out of Oreo Cookies.

See more photos of Steve Pomeroy here.

Such sweet thing, isn't it? I drooled making a collage of the pictures :-) My girls would be delighted to know they can do more with Oreo than just dunking it in milk.

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.

~Mark Twain

Are You Happy With Your Life?

2011-07-25T22:31:00.008+07:00

I asked my daughters this question yesterday.
I was walking hand in hand with my 11 year old Naomi when I asked her this question. It wasn't a quick response but she replied positively, but then she had a hard time answering my next WHY question.

My 9 year old Zoe was sitting beside me when I asked her the same question. How quickly she gave her big YES and her reason was "because I had ice cream today!"

The ice cream that made my Zoe happy.

I know of many adults who carry heavy baggage of the past. They grow up with bitterness and wounds that never seem to heal in years. For some people, it's because of neglect and abuse and others because of parents' choices and decisions. The former is obviously not in my family. It's the latter that bothers me that's why I needed to ask my daughters. As a parent, I don't want to assume that my children are "okay". Parents make decisions and choices that affect the whole family. And I need to know how my children are affected inwardly.

This question is simple yet I find it hard to answer. I could easily say YES but then I would not be honest to myself because I do have many trials, big and small. I face challenges almost everyday, and honestly, I'm not happy everyday. I understood my Naomi very well. I also don't want her to answer like her little sister. She's old enough to understand that life is hard and a scoop of ice cream cannot make one happy all the time..When I asked my daughters this question, it was because I wanted to probe what's in their hearts. I later explained to them that although we care much about them being happy but life is not all about our own happiness. Then I talked more to them about what I've read in my prayer time that morning.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” – John 12:23-26 (NIV)

~~~~~~ o ~~~~~~

We don't seek for happiness but it comes when we find contentment in whatever situation we are in.

Naomi in her artist mode.

Zoe's visit to a cat show.

I pray to be grateful in whatever state I am.

We're joining a new meme this week.

Click on the badge to see more photos from last week.

Love Never Fails

2011-06-25T22:40:00.003+07:00

Dear husband and I on Father's Day.

Scripture & a Snapshot

New Theme For My Blog

2011-05-22T15:58:00.001+07:00

Scripture & a Snapshot

The Prayer Garden

2011-05-14T14:27:00.001+07:00

One of my favorite corners inside the campus, where I'm studying now, is the Prayer Garden.

Yes, we have it here! Isn't it nice for schools to have one?

It is indeed a God's gift for everyone living inside the campus. I come here in the mornings after I jog.

It's a little, quiet garden where anyone can come and find a corner to pray or just be in silence before God.

It has cozy benches....

....where one can sit undisturbed....

It has screened Nipa huts for group prayer too.

I've come here many times but most of the time I just walk around the circling pathway and be silent before God. I'm learning the art of silent retreat, for in the past I've spoken more to Him than I've listened.

Here, I've only sighed and He understood. And in my quiet moments, His voice is heard.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

Psalm 3:7

That we may have life....abundantly!

2011-04-23T09:20:00.004+07:00

I jogged around our quiet campus this morning. It's Black Saturday. No class. No need to wake up early. Thus, the silence around the campus and the neighboring area. Some have gone to their provinces for the Holy Week celebration. I was quite shocked to notice how the week is celebrated here in the Philippines. I lived in a communist country for 5 years, then in a Muslim country for almost 3 years after that, and now in a Buddhist country for 4 years. Coming back to the Philippines made me feel like a tourist of my own country. "So, this is how religious Filipinos are!" I said to myself, outside a closed mall yesterday. I couldn't find a place to buy my needed groceries. All shops, big and small, were closed for two days! It's good. Welcome to the only Christian nation in Asia!

But many people don't quite get it....

Two weeks ago, I interviewed some people representing different provinces regarding the Filipino beliefs and rituals surrounding the Holy Week. The interview was part of the requirements in my Cultural Worldview class. It's good to know how the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is remembered with much reverence. But sad to say, many people think that "the Lord is dead" again. Thus, all the taboos during the Holy Week especially after 3pm of Friday until sunrise on Sunday. "Don't take a bath; don't cut your nails; avoid using sharp objects; avoid traveling, etc. The Lord is dead. He cannot save you from harm. If you cut yourself, the healing of the wound takes slow or not at all!"

Christ died ONCE and for ALL. He didn't die again this year. He rose on the third day after He was crucified 2000 years ago. He is alive forevermore. In case we forget, the yearly Holy Week is a celebration of life. We should not be in mourning. He paid for our sins. No penance can equal to what He has done. We only need to receive His forgiveness.

So I jogged around. No trace of death was seen. Birds chirped, flowers bloomed, greeting the new day.

"...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

John 10:10

Flowers on Saturday

Today's Flower Mosaic Monday

Mellow Yellow Ruby Tuesday

Searcher of Hearts

2011-03-26T23:20:00.001+07:00

On Books, Library, and the Love for Reading

2011-03-22T22:26:00.000+07:00

Zoe obviously loves to read. You see her reading anywhere. And I'm thankful that all of us in the family loves to read. It thrills her to know that we bring home more books from our travels. She reads them over and over again. She's caught in another world, a world of wonders, amusements, and wisdom... It's one joy that I missed in my childhood.... and the one reason why we built our community library.

I'm also thankful that we have the opportunity to share this love of reading to other children in our community. They don't have to miss what I and many others missed.

My list of thanksgiving this week:

Books. Books. Books! Thank God that I have so many of them. Bought, swapped, given, and bargained.
My children's love for reading.
Our Community Library
The opportunity to share this love to other children.
Friends who share the same passion for reading and support our project.

What are you thankful for this week? Join Judy over here and share your thankful heart.

Supermoon 2011

2011-03-20T23:10:00.005+07:00

I was engrossed watching sad news from around the world when Naomi called me from outside. She told me that our alley was unusually dark and quiet. Houses were closed and dark. Hmmm.. I wondered why. Naomi said that she saw neighbors all dressed up and all left at once. Maybe to a party? I really don't know. After moving for about 6 months now, there are still many things happening in our neighborhood that are yet unknown to us. Just the time when you think you know everything, things like this happen.

So, this is how it looked like outside our gate. No cars parked so they must have gone somewhere far. "Ngeng Teng" said the little girl we saw outside when asked by Naomi where all the people went. I still need to find out what that means....
The darkness outside made me noticed the MOON. Oh, yes! I almost forgot the Supermoon. See the yellow ball among the street lights?

It was a bad timing that my official camera needed repairing and so I used my other old and less-broken camera.

This is how it exactly looked through my naked eye.

Hmmm....did my neighbor go somewhere for moongazing? I checked the paper today and it didn't say anything special about last night phenomenon except the discussion on it's effect. Here's an interesting excerpt from the article I read from the local paper:

Pinyo Pongcharoen, president of the International Astrology Association, is predicting the supermoon will cause social conflict as lunar power tends to make people more unstable.He is also warning people to prepare for natural disasters, especially those involving water.Scientists around the world, however, say such fears are nonsense. Prapee Viraporn, secretary-general of the Thai Astronomical Society, said the phenomenon was normal.

I loved the halo around the moon. It is indeed bigger than usual. My camera, as I expected, didn't do justice to it's beauty. I better be prepared next time it appears on November 14, 2016 just as I was during the Blue Moon phenomenon.

The Blue Moon was obviously brighter than the Supermoon.

Blue moon on my hand! This was taken outside our yard on the New Year's eve of 2009.

How I wish the world is on my hand so it won't go worse as it is now...but NO! Someone whose hand is far better than mine or anyone in this world...and He says...

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

She Calls Me "Mammo"

2011-03-18T22:47:00.003+07:00

She's 2 and she dearly calls me "Mammo".

Funny girl! She likes to pose for me.

Alexia Marie is my first grandniece.

She's my late sister's first grandchild.

And now lives with her mother in our neighborhood.

So, I get to see her more often now.

Alexia is a chatter box. She's very fluent in our dialect and my girls are envious about it but she's beginning to lose it as she has to learn English and Filipino to communicate with her cousins.

Once, I asked her to pull out the white hairs on my head and she quickly replied, "Ayaw, kay mapangit ka!" (No, you'll become ugly!).
She is undeniably her mother's daughter. They look alike! I babysat her mom from birth until she was Alexia's age so I can tell how similar they are in almost everything!

Here they are, mother and child during Alexia's mom's sister's wedding. Alexia was the flower angel and her mom was the maid of honor.

...and there she goes stealing my seat!

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,

but of respect and joy in each other's life.”

-Richard Bach

Slowing Down in Hong Kong

2011-03-15T21:37:00.002+07:00

Hong Kong is one of the busiest place in Asia and it's not easy to find a quiet place there to slow down and unwind. Everybody seems running and one can easily go along the flow.

I can feel the rush whenever we visit Hong Kong. Our schedule is always filled and we find ourselves hopping from one train to another.

"Take me to Victoria Harbour." That's my request to my husband whenever we find time between our meetings. It's my favorite place to relax a bit and breathe salty air.

It's always a crowded place. Many people go there to do the same thing I want to do. Relax and take photos!

"Why am I running?" My friend, one day, stopped and asked herself this question. "I'm not late, and I still have plenty of time." So she started pacing her steps, walking slowly...and then started to run again.

"I don't know how to slow down anymore! " She said this to me with a big sigh.

People in highly wired countries like Hong Kong, where everything is so efficient and convenient, are supposed to have more free time. Supposed but not true. They pay for this convenience and it's not cheap, so they must work harder.

"Time is gold." One friend said. "We cannot afford to waste it."

I'm back in Bangkok , another mega city that never sleeps. Now I'm thinking...what kind of life do I like, a convenient city life or a laid back and quiet life in the province?

Return unto thy rest, O my soul,....

(To a quiet and tranquil state after much distress)

for the Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7

Ruby Tuesday Watery Wednesday

Praying For Japan...

2011-03-11T23:46:00.002+07:00

Our homeschool program initiated a Postcard Exchange Project few months ago. One goal, aside from learning Geography, is to send back a prayer of blessings each time we receive a postcard to the country/state/city/family where it is from.

Today, after dh announced another postcard in the mailbox, I took my camera and snapped a shot as Naomi opened the box.

Goosebumps... it's posted from JAPAN!

Of all countries... Japan needs our prayer the most. So we pray for the country which is hit by a tsunami caused by a massive 8.9 magnitude quake, the largest so far in the history of Japan.

We also pray for the family who sent this postcard.

Thank you, Clarissa, for the beautiful postcard. We hope you are away from the affected area, and that you and your family are in a safe condition.

Please also pray for my sister in-law and her family who live there. As I write this, we have not received any communications from them yet. Thank you.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday Today's Flower

Oh, To Be Close To Nature....

2011-03-10T21:59:00.004+07:00

I was amused watching my girls doing their school work in our garden this morning. They're so like their mom! We should call ourselves The Garden Girls :-)

Me, with a dear friend.

One of the things close to my heart is to be with nature. That's why I love gardening, digging dirt. I love being out there taking photos, or just be there. I'm more satisfied to be feeding fish and birds than shopping in malls.

So are my children. When they were little, they would be attracted to wooden swing sets than to computer games.

They would rather climb a tree than watch tv.

So like their mommy!

So the verse that says "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." in Proverbs 23:2 is such a beautiful invitation for me.

Thank God For My Songbird

2011-03-09T22:13:00.001+07:00

I'm a proud mom! I'm sorry for boasting here but I just can't help but tell the world that the Lord has blessed me with a songbird who makes my heart glad each time she sings. Isn't it something to have a singer in the house? LOL! Just let me boast once in a while. I don't do this so often in my life :-)

This is only a 3:45-minute video so please watch and enjoy. I'm sure you'll love the lyrics of the song, too.

This is also my entry to Judy's beautiful meme. Click on the badge below and it takes you to her encouraging blog where she shares her list of thanksgiving on Wednesdays.

Our Pomegranate Tree

2011-03-03T23:18:00.006+07:00

The past months, our pomegranate tree didn't do well. It was heavy with fruit but fruit you wouldn't want to eat.

Then, it lost all its leaves. It looked sick and ugly standing in front of our house. It's the nest on it that held me from cutting it down.

These days, it has come back to health (I hope). Few fruits left hanging for the birds but more healthy leaves are seen.

I'm sure the birds are happier to find a cooler place to rest as we are welcoming summer heat in this side of the world.

This little birdie is taking a break. Today, my daughter Zoe and I watched it rebuilding the nest. Noticed the fresh straws on the nest? One by one, this little birdie put them all together. We wonder where it got those straws as we haven't seen such plant in our garden. It must have flown far to collect those, straw by straw, with its tiny bill. Hmmm...thinking about being hardworking, industrious, and diligent. This tiny creature taught me a big lesson today. So is my little garden. Here, I've learned lots about patience, hope, respect of His creation, and the discipline and art of expectation.

"Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow."
~Unknown

Better Than Life

2011-03-01T00:53:00.002+07:00

I was in Hong Kong last week. It's still winter there but they managed to plant tulips in front of Times Square, could be for the Spring Festival or the Valentine's Day celebration.

If you've been to Times Square, you know it's one of the busiest place in Hong Kong especially so for business, shopping and fashion. My eyes feasted on watching people donning high-end brands all over them. It's the most lively place where there's so much about this life can offer.

I was just glad to behold of these gentle and sweet tulips! I was soon back to my senses before covetousness devoured me and would have sent me home heavy with discontentment.

It's not "sour graping". It's just facing the reality that one cannot have everything in this life and knowing that there's even better than life.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.

Psalm 63:3

Healthy flowers are beautiful....

2011-02-12T08:10:00.003+07:00

These are hibiscus flowers in the garden of the International Graduate School where I am applying for a master's degree this summer. I was a student here in 2001-2003. And it's good to be back!

In my 2 days of visit this week, I met old and new friends. They come from different countries and nationalities. But one thing they have in common; they're all beautiful people! And I know why. The school environment in general is a garden which soil is rich and cultivated. The faculty and staff are dedicated heart-gardeners, watering students lives, pulling out weeds of lies and ignorance from their hearts and minds, and guarding them from pests of discouragements and despair. They are all fertilized with love and care.

I was at the Scholarship Department yesterday and this what I saw on the wall: "Our mission is to keep our students ALIVE AND WELL so that they will be successful in their studies at (name of school)."

I'm excited to be back in this beautiful garden even for only 2 months because I know and I have seen students who come from this garden continue to bloom wherever soil they are transplanted. They always keep learning alive and growing.

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday

Mosaic Monday Mellow Yellow Today's Flower

The Widow's Mite

2011-02-06T00:45:00.003+07:00

The box with a lock in the picture is the little donation box in our community learning center and library. Our non-profit foundation offers free services to the surrounding communities but we do encourage the parents and children to drop their donations to help us pay the bills and the materials we use in our classes. The little amount we get from this box helps us cover the petty cash we need every month. But that's not what I want to talk about in this post....

I have a very skinny girl in my class who obviously come from a poor family. I'm always worried of her health because it looks like it's only her skin that holds all her bones together! She's not as refine as other students and was one time despised as "that girl from the slum" by her classmate's mother. She used to speak words that you only hear in the slum, that's why. I say "used to speak" because I no longer hear her speak those kind of words in my class these days. But that's not what I want to talk about her, at least not now...

It's her giving that moves me. Every time she comes to our center she stops by the box and drop a coin or two. Other children don't. Those coming from a bit better-off family wont. Our box is always hollow so even if I do not see, the sound of the coin can tell me how much she gives that day. Not much but I know it means a lot to her and her family, and it's a huge encouragement to me.

This is my entry for this week's Scripture & a Snapshot. Thanks to Katie, one of my favorite photographers in the blogland, for hosting this beautiful meme every Sunday.

If you are not familiar with the story of The Widow's Mite, please read on...

The Widow’s Two Mites (Luke 21)

¹ And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

On Waiting...

2011-02-05T20:13:00.003+07:00

I would like to show you one flowering plant that I planted 5 months ago. I brought home a tiny cutting from my friend's farm and planted it in a small pot. I waited for quite some time and now it is full-grown and never stops flowering. I don't know it's name. I know there's a yellow variety of this which is more common than the red one.

I thought this would be a good encouragement to those who are in the waiting mode and those whose patience is tried.

Faith sees a beautiful blossom in a bulb,

a lovely garden in a seed,

and a giant oak in an acorn.

-William Arthur Ward

Special thanks to Lori of Plans4You for hosting Friday Farmgirl @ Heart. Please click on the badge above to learn more about this beautiful meme.

My Name Is Om....

2011-01-31T22:09:00.002+07:00

Obviously, she's the youngest in my class but she wouldn't tell me her age. It could be that her parents told her to deny her age or she would not be admitted in my class. I accept only 6 years old and above. I couldn't accommodate all of them. Om could wait for next year when we have more volunteer teachers.

She faithfully came to our center, not saying a word. She would wait in the library, reading quietly. I only knew her name from other children in class.

She couldn't catch up in class but she didn't mind. She would scribble and color. She would not call for help. My daughter Naomi was kind to her. She would come by Om's side to help her even without me telling her.

Om continues to come to my class with cooling powder on her face. She still doesn't want to tell me her age but she now recites and sings, and is no longer shy. If you visit my class, you'll see her come to you and say, "My name is Om" with a smile.

If you want to know more about our community projects, or perhaps you are interest on finding opportunities to make a difference in someone's life like Om's, please visit us here.

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness,
to pull another hand into the light.

~Norman B. Rice

Doubts on Relevance

2011-01-29T21:03:00.003+07:00

Do you sometimes doubt your relevance in the big picture? I do! Sometimes, worse. I feel like I'm just one of those world-fillers.... that I could just slip away unnoticed.

As I did my gardening today, my zinnias helped me pulled out thorny weeds of lies. Read me here...

Rest

2011-01-23T00:29:00.002+07:00

There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. In the melody of our life, the music is separated here and there by rests. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. God sends us times of forced leisure by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts. He brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voice must be silent....Yet how does a musician read the rest? He counts the break with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there. John Ruskin, Streams in the Desert

Scripture & a Snapshot

Thank You For My Childhood

2011-01-19T23:13:00.002+07:00

As I wrote my stories from my childhood last night, it dawned on me that I have so much to thank God for as a child.

I thank Him for placing me to a loving family. If I were to choose my own family members, I would choose them all all again.
I praise Him for the experiences and memories I have in my childhood.They are not all good and happy ones but I came out whole as a person. The trials and hardships could have made me bitter and in despair.
I saw lots of perils and dangers when I was growing up. Those are the times when my parents were away and not on sight. But I know now that my loving Father in heaven have sent His angels to guard me at all times. I would never know what more evil the enemy had planned against me when I was a child, but God's wonderful plan prevailed and I can't thank Him enough for that.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:11-12

I Praise Him that I know better now how to take care of my own children. I know that my wisdom and power are not enough to keep them safe from evil and danger. But the same loving hand that protected my me in my childhood will also protect my children, and I can rely totally count on Him for that.

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18:10
Today, my 8-year old Zoe told us all about stories of her experiences hearing God and angels calling her name. She also told us that she would have a day of fasting tomorrow, not eating 3 meals but only water, prayer, and Bible reading. I was a bit hesitant to let her do it but her dad and I decided that I would also fast with her to guide and support her. I thank God that my children have more spiritual awareness than I had before. And I take pleasure in knowing that He will be there with me as I lead my children to the path where He wanted them to be.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
Mark 10:15

I'm joining my friend Judy in thanking God with my list today. Visit here by clicking on the badge.

The Girl From Nicaragdao

2011-01-18T22:52:00.005+07:00

The live show I watched late last night brought back images in the past, images that a ten-year old child could not process and so she buried them deep into the abyss of her consciousness. Now they came back, so vivid and have not gone blurry after 3 decades.

We were in bed ready to call it a day. As usual, our neighbors were still wide-awake around the marble table under the lamp post just a few steps away from our fence. My husband made a side comment on how weird that the gambling seemed to become an every night thing. It used to be only on days after pay-day. We used to complain a lot about the noise of men and women talking and shouting right above our headboard, well it sounds like that, but we got used to it already, I think. So, last night, right after my husband said something about it, there was a sudden silence and quick shuffles of feet. We thought there was a fight, but then, when we peeked through our window in our bedroom on the second floor, we saw policemen running after men, women, and one in between. They came on a taxi and parked in front our house. Our neighbors were caught in the act. It was quite a spectacle to see familiar faces on handcuffs. We pitied them, white-faced in fear. Oh, how my heart went out to their families who never came out to help them. Houses in the whole neighborhood suddenly became quiet. But I knew there were eyes like ours behind those windows. So, the policemen took all of them, ten people I think. One man in uniform gathered all gambling paraphernalia left in a mess on the table. That could be a hard evidence once they get to the police station. So, we thought. But in less than 10 minutes, our neighbors, those who were just caught by men in uniform, all of them, they came back laughing, sat on the table, brought out those same paraphernalia, and resumed their game.

Whoa! What was that? Almost a mockery? Are you kidding me? What was that show for? In my country, I've seen real shows before where bad guys went to jail and even good guys got killed!

Ok, here we go. That's how those images in the past flashed back to me.

Photo: from Google images, not mine.

In early 80's, my family lived in a district called "Nicaragdao", named after strife-torn Nicaragua. Our place was also called "Killing Fields" (remember the film about Cambodia?) and there was actually a village next to ours that was called "Baryo Patay" ( Killing Village). I was 10 and was already exposed to such ordeal where gun fires woke me up in the middle of the night, where Ma would pile everything up on our wall; tables, chairs and basins, just to thicken our wooden wall and at least make it a bit like bullet-proof wall to keep all 6 children safe until the break of dawn. I would be most glad when Pa would be away on a business trip when things like that happened because men would be asked to either join the insurgent group to fight against the military, or be searched by the government armed forces. It depends on what group comes first. I feared more for my father to be caught in trouble with either group than for me to be hit by stray bullets. I remember one night, one very bright night, brighter than daylight because huge searchlights were installed behind our house. The military men, lined on the bridge behind our house, were aiming their guns toward our house while the rebels, grouped in the one-goal basketball court in front our house, were shouting in unison "US-Marcos ibagsak (overthrow)".The air was filled with smoke. I could tell it was marijuana. Maybe the smoke made that 10-year old girl braver because I refused my Ma's urgings to stay when I needed to go to the loo, which was outside the house. Our rented house was built by the river and the back house in stilts was on the river. So, you can imagine little twigs of legs shuffling on wooden planks to get to the loo on time. I've seen, through the cracks on the floor, armed men crawling to get to the other side. No one noticed me. Hah! I was invisible and invincible.

So, that show last night was a mockery; an insult to the blood of those men whose lives were sacrificed for the principle they stood for. At least, I've seen them true to the ideals they held on, foolish they maybe for not knowing what side was right and wrong but at least they were there fighting real battles.

Last night, I felt like my emotion was played at. I felt tricked. You know that feeling? My eyes were glued on the hands cuffed hard and tight but were instantly released after some whispered promises were made. What a scorn to the bullet stuck forever in the head of a childhood crush; and a joke to the "injan pana (Indian arrow)" that was stuck in the heart of the man I saw running for safety in our balcony!

My neighbors, they laughed, and they are laughing in convulsion as I type this. They are in celebration. They think they won the battle, that they outwitted the law. They don't realize that there are real battles worth fighting for. And may the oath those men in uniform made came back to them like "injan pana" which never rests until it is served.

After few years of watching my city battle for peace, I thought I was old enough to write something about it. So, I made an appointment with my father's younger brother to interview him for more details. I knew he could help me with information because he was involved in the operation to fight against the rebel forces in our district. I later knew about it when he was in the hospital gasping for his breath. He was a policemen on duty when a grenade near him exploded. My older sister washed his bloody shirt, tattered with holes. No one would believe he survived all the splinters that have gone to his flesh. (That my friend, is a real show of valor; when you are there on the ground, true to yourself and conscience.)

I thought I would never be able to write about this. That interview didn't happen. The topic was too overwhelming for a teenager like me. But here I am now, unraveling stories never yet told. Perhaps you may find this heavy and strong, never expected as coming from a simple housewife and mother as I am. But there are issues that the girl in me needs to let go, some opinions never aired before, and maybe never again. So give this girl a chance....

To be continued....

2011-01-16T15:00:00.000+07:00

Scripture & a Snapshot

Another Spice In My Garden?

2011-01-15T21:54:00.003+07:00

I wondered why it was called garlic vine when it didn't look like garlic at all. There must be a reason behind it's name. When I accidentally bruised a flower and smelt my fingers, I, then, knew why. You would not expect that these sweet looking flowers would smell as strong as a real garlic.

Did I regret having them in my garden? Not at all! I just need to avoid bruising a flower or my garden would smell like a kitchen.

How I love the mixture of the beautiful and the squalid in gardening.

It makes it so lifelike.

~Evelyn Underhill, Letters

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday

Mosaic Monday Today's Flower

Musings In My Garden

2011-01-14T23:12:00.004+07:00

I wonder what my neighbors think of me as they often see me in my little garden turning pots here and there, rearranging flowers and taking photos of them almost on daily basis. Probably they know by now that it's more than just a gardening chore for me. It's actually one of my green pastures where I feel rested and my soul restored. My garden is a tiny corner in my own rented place, nothing special but birds and butterflies do love to come by and even passers-by take a second look and smile. For me, it is where my prayers are lifted, dreams are made, and God's voice is heard.

There is a plan to add a bench or a round chair in one corner where I can do my reading and tea time. I hope that happens soon before rainy season comes.

This morning, as I took more photos, it came to mind that a garden must be place where human beings are most at home. Wasn't the first man's home a garden?

God Almighty first planted a garden.
And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.

-Francis Bacon

He Gives Because He Loves

2011-01-05T01:37:00.004+07:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope this greetings is not too late. If you noticed, my last post before this one was dated December 17th of last year. So I was gone quite a while from the cyberspace. Well, 3 weeks is like forever for a serious blogger. Although sometimes I did pop up in my other blogs but, really, I would say that it was quite intentional. I was trying to bridle myself from things that I think I was doing too much than I was supposed to, and finding healthy balance of my everyday life. And, I'm glad to know that I'm still in control of things instead of the other way around.

As my first post of the year, I want to join my dear friend Judy in her thanksgiving celebration every Wednesday. Click on the badge below this post and it will take you to her blog where she and other thankful ladies share their lists of thanksgiving.

I thank God for giving me a home I can call my own. It's a humble home, simple, but it's a safe castle for my princesses, and a quiet studio for my young artist. It's my heart's garden, and my man's peaceful domain.

I praise Him for everything there is in my home. They all speak about who I am. It's a picture of me, the personality God has given me.

I glorify Him for every single member in my family. I can't imagine how it would be like without one of them. Each is a piece of puzzle that completes the picture.

I'm always in awe of Him for the man He gave me to build this home together. I love the path we walk on, the things we share together, and the kind of life we have now.

I worship Him for who He is in my life; a loving and patient Father who loves and understands me, a Master who demands nonetheless yet equips me with everything I need to deliver the best.

All these He gives, not because they are deserved but because HE LOVES.

so that, just as it is written,

"LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

1 Corinthians 1:31

The Dusk Was Brighter...

2010-12-17T00:23:00.003+07:00

After office work, our new hired office staff invited me to join her check out what's new in the nearby night market.

The had lots of interesting food there. I invited her to have dinner with me. We had coconut juice, somtam, and another kind of salad. Hmmm... kind of a unique combination but was good.

The market was set-up in front of the beautiful grounds of a sports center. I thought it was my good chance to get to know her better. So, I insisted that we sat for a chat while we enjoy the food.

I took a picture of her but I didn't have the chance to ask her permission to post her photo. She is a beautiful lady. And I'm sure, at heart, too.

We enjoyed our stories and also the view.

It was already late when we left our picnic ground. It seemed that the dusk was brighter that time. Or maybe it was just my feeling after spending time with a new found friend.

Posted for Skywatch Friday and Food Trip Friday

A Promise

2010-12-12T09:46:00.003+07:00

Scripture & a Snapshot
Flowers on Saturday

Today's Flower

More Delightful Sights @ King's Park

2010-12-10T22:16:00.001+07:00

"Life holds so many simple blessings, each day bringing its own individual wonder."

John McLeod

Weekend Reflection

King's Garden

2010-12-09T23:53:00.001+07:00

Flowers and lake....

trees and cool breeze.....

The sky rejoiced with me as I savored every moment of that beautiful day when I visited my favorite park again with my husband and our dear friend.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Weeping may last for the night.....

2010-12-05T10:49:00.004+07:00

Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,

And give thanks to His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;

Weeping may last for the night,

But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Isn't it a beautiful truth to know that our trouble and weeping is just for momentary?

No matter how dark the night is, there's always a morning that follows.

Dh and I had a breakfast at the hotel by this river yesterday morning. That's when this photo was taken. We were to attend an important meeting. It's a gathering of established foundations serving in our host country. Yesterday, we officially became a member of the league of foundations. Dh was called in front of a big audience to receive the certificate. We were full of joy. Though we wept for many dark nights to see this charity foundation coming through, it finally came to pass. And we can only say, God is faithful. God is good!

Here are some of the thoughts I scribbled in my notebook while, at the same time, trying to decipher everything said in the local language:

Philanthropy is a privilege not only for the rich and influential people nor servanthood only for the lower in rank.

Our Foundation is an avenue where people from all levels of society, rich, poor and those in the middle, meet to build a happy community.

My joy is to see more people find their JOY when morning comes.

This is my entry for Scripture & a Snapshot this week.

Thanks to Katie for hosting this beautiful meme.

A Pleasant Surprise

2010-11-26T22:57:00.001+07:00

On Saturday evening, dear husband and I came home very late from an important meeting. It was almost midnight and we were sleepy and tired.

As soon as we entered the house, we were surprised to see these flowers on the table.

How did they know we needed a little encouragement these days?

We later learned in the morning that the girls went out with their cousin to buy these flowers for us.

Sweet girls!

"When you put faith, hope, and love together,

you can raise positive kids in a negative world."

Zig Ziglar

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday

Mellow Yellow Today's Flower Ruby Tuesday

Practical Christmas Decor

2010-11-20T17:01:00.002+07:00

I have Christmas-themed fabrics that I've bought very cheap here. In my host city, Christmas is not an official celebration and so I believe these beautiful fabrics were unpopular so they were sold at a very low price. Some are from 2 years ago and some were bought yesterday.
My special thanks to my dh who is celebrating his birthday today for driving me to the mall to find more fabrics. I would also like to take this opportunity to tell him how much I appreciate his support and encouragement in pursuing my hobbies. Such husband is rare to find. I'm indeed a blessed wife.

As you know, I have a smaller house now so I must make sure that my Christmas decors don't take much space. Also, we are in a new neighborhood in a non-Christian country. I want to be more mindful on my decorations. I want to put up what is only necessary to Christmas celebration. We have decided not to have a tree this time. We'll have the nativity scene as our main decor. Well, I have not really given much thought about the details but I must admit, I can't wait to do something with the fabrics I have.

This is one end of the holder where I inserted an elastic/garter. Both ends should be with an elastic.

Last week,while supervising my homeschoolers doing their lessons, I sewed 3 plastic bag organizer/holders. I have many used grocery bags that I keep to recycle as garbage bags but they occupy much space in my kitchen drawers, and it's difficult to find the right size of bag that I need. 3 holders for 3 sizes: S,M,and L. It's a very easy project. I think one can imagine how to make it without a tutorial.

I hung them on the door between my kitchen and dining room. I would like to think of them as practical and in season. Cant's wait to start making throw pillow cases.

She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

Proverbs 31:13

Special thanks to Lori for hosting Friday FarmGirl@Heart.

She MAKES, SELLS, SUPPLIES and SMILES...

2010-11-14T15:43:00.002+07:00

Faith and Work: A woman of God has both.

This is my entry for Scripture & a Snapshot this week.
Thanks to Katie for hosting this beautiful meme.

Simply Hibiscus

2010-11-14T01:20:00.000+07:00

I have five different colors of hibiscus in my garden. And I'm looking forward to adding more colors.

Yesterday, I saw another kind, and it instantly became my most favorite. I love the curls in its petals, and its pink color is so sweet. But it's not for sale....

I used to think that hibiscus is the simplest flower, but after seeing this showy kind, I've changed my mind.

Still, it remains my favorite.

I'm linking this post to the following beautiful memes:

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday Today's Flower

Mellow Yellow Mosaic Monday Ruby Tuesday

Playing Silly With My Sili (Chili)

2010-11-13T23:21:00.003+07:00

I gave a bowl of chili from my garden to my neighbor yesterday. I should have taken a photo of it to show how beautiful and healthy they were.

I kept the odd-shaped ones for our own use.

I felt good to have shared the produce from my tiniest garden.

While basking on that good feeling, I found myself playing with the chilies that were left.

The local people here love chili and they use it in almost all of local dishes. You can imagine how happy the old lady was when I went to her door and handed her the bowl. "Oh, dheng, dheng mahk!" (Oh, so red!)

Today, I gave a bunch of basil (3 kinds) to another lady who came by my fence to appreciate my blooming orchids.

The joy of sharing is the farmgirl's reward.

Gardening Tip:

Instead of throwing your egg shells into the garbage bin, you can crush them and sprinkle them on your garden soil. Egg shells are rich with calcium which is needed by plants to build stronger stem.

Special thanks to Lori for hosting Friday FarmGirl@Heart.

May I also invite you to check out our GIVE-AWAY ?

Macro Madness

2010-11-13T00:13:00.003+07:00

I fall in love with macro shots lately. I'm still learning my way to do it better but I'm really enjoying the process and the result. I'm using a simple digital camera, and trying to preserve raw photos. The following are not post edited, only watermarked; taken in the morning by the window where sunlight was strong.

This basket sits anywhere in the house. I move it to places, depending on my mood.

This shows that I do not only collect seashells, as I mentioned before in my previous post, I also collect other things like dried fruit.

This one is a fruit from an unknown tree. Dh and I were riding an elephant up in the mountain on our last wedding anniversary trip. A branch of a tree was blocking our way, I grabbed the branch before it hit my face, and then snatched this fruit off the branch.

I don't know how long it can hold together. Noticed the web? It's because I'm careful not to dust it off too much.

This is a mangosteen fruit that I got from another province. It was ripe and bigger the time I was served a plate-full by my host. I saved one for souvenir.

The biggest one at the back is a pomegranate fruit; the one from my former garden. It was 70% ripe when I plucked it off the tree. It's not yet fully dry and I'm hoping I can keep this one longer.

May I invite you to check out our GIVE-AWAY. Check the link now.

Amazing Grace!

2010-11-10T23:07:00.001+07:00

That is the #1 on my thanksgiving list this week. God's grace is truly amazing!
As we celebrate my daughter's birthday, memories from 11 years back came bit by bit today. It was our first overseas experience, far from our home country, there were times when all our "life lines" were cut and we could only look up to God for help. I mused on how God met out needs in an unexpected ways. Sometimes, I would wonder if He would hear our prayers from that remotest part of the world. He did and His hands were not too short to reach out to us. It was His grace that we found favor in His eyes.

Naomi was a winter baby. Her birthplace is the most polluted city during wintertime. She was kept inside the house during her first few months, no fresh air and sunshine. The lowest temperature outside was -28 Celcius. So when we brought her back to our home country, she started showing signs of asthma, and soon we begun our frequent rush to the hospital, almost every month for 2 years. She would react sensitively to many food, weather, and elements in the air. My poor baby! I stand amazed now on how she is enjoying good health.

My thanksgiving list for this week:

1. God's amazing grace

"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion...." Psalm 145:8

2. God's beautiful gift: my daughter Naomi

“For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

3. God's healing upon Naomi

"For with God, nothing is impossible." Luke 1:37

4. God's sufficient grace sustaining our family

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2Corinthians 9:8

5. God's beautiful plan for Naomi's future

"....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

As my way of thanking God for what He has given me, I would like to share this following video to all my readers. It's only 3 minutes. I hope you will be blessed.

Special thanks for my dear blogging friend, Judy, for hosting this beautiful meme every Wednesday. Click the button to take you to Judy's list of thanksgiving, and also to meet other thankful women.

A Date With My Birthday Girl

2010-11-09T22:50:00.000+07:00

My Naomi turns 11 tomorrow, November 10th. It was the first da xue (big snow) that day for the winter of 1999. The first time I saw her, I named her in my heart, "the future Ms. universe". I think most, if not all, mothers can relate to the bliss I felt the first time I saw my first daughter.
Soon she'll grow taller than mommy and will have her own schedule and dates. So, I thought of making the most of the years left for me to enjoy her company.

We took a walk together just across our street, to the huge home products shop. We enjoyed looking at beautiful things. We spent most of our time in the bathroom furniture area. I need to get ideas and inspiration for our own bathroom. Now, that we have smaller bathrooms in our new house, it's a big challenge to set them up and enjoy the same comfort and convenience with the size we had before.

I watched her carefully on the side. She's curious, too. She has eyes for beauty and it's one of the things I like window shopping with her.

My baby is now a young lady. She decides which lane to go and what item to check.

"I want this when I have my own house."
And now she has plans.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.
~Author Unknown

Where's Home?

2010-11-06T22:42:00.002+07:00

I always get butterflies in my stomach whenever a thought of travel comes to mind. It's a mix feeling of excitement and also of the fear of flying and passing through immigrations. The excitement part is normal and I like it but I need to work on the second one.

I'm closest to heaven when I'm on board on a plane. Not just literally! I would be in deep prayer each time I do. And it helps to be on the right perspective, that my life is in God's hand and not in the pilot's.

With the immigration thing, maybe because my first few trips were quite stressful so the feeling keeps coming back whenever I'm in an airport. Plus the fact that I rush most of the time to catch the next flight adds to this unwanted inner state.

The first country I visited was unfriendly. "How much money do you have?" The immigration officer asked as he looked to me from head to foot. I have never been denied entry but I do get pressured whenever I talk about visa and passports. Was it because I lost my first passport on my first trip? I now have my 5th passport and that means I have been flying for years. I live in 4 different countries and that means I already have processed many visa applications. Never denied once but still this unwanted feeling keeps coming. Maybe it's best to stay at home.

I visited my home country recently. It is when the photo above was taken while on board on a plane. Thoughts came flooding as I faced my inner battle. I have already been granted with a residence visa for eternity. My passport is sealed, guaranteed, authenticated (Ephesians 4:30). No longer will I deal with unfriendly immigration officers. Jesus has promised, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:4). Heaven is my home.

This is my entry for Scripture & a Snapshot this week.
Thanks to Katie for hosting this beautiful meme.

Butterflies In The House

2010-11-06T22:20:00.000+07:00

In my homeschool blog, I posted about the butterflies we farmed. (If you are curious on the process of butterfly transformation, you should check this link.)

Most pupae are now hatched and we have butterflies in the house. We were excited to see the first one, then the next two. We saw 6 of them in 3 days. But now that the homeschoolers are familiar with the process, we let go of the pupae out of the box and place them in a safe spot in the garden.

Our garden has now transformed into a real butterfly garden.

Our garden is very small yet there's so much excitement going there.

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable,

butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.

And everyone deserves a little sunshine.

~Jeffrey Glassberg

Camera Critters

Shadow Shot Sunday

Rose Garden

2010-11-06T01:25:00.004+07:00

Who would think of the passing of time when you are on a bed of roses? Well, at least, that's how I felt when dh took me to a rose garden. I come alive when I'm out there, taking a moment to smell a flower.

It's an inexpensive leisure yet the pleasure is priceless.

Taking photos of flowers is one way of nurturing my "green pasture" within.

Take some time to look at flowers closely.

Nature has it's own way to bring you closer to its Creator.

I'm linking this post to the following beautiful memes:

Macro Flowers Saturday Flowers on Saturday Today's Flower

Mellow Yellow Mosaic Monday Ruby Tuesday

Special Invitation:

Saturday Sightings meme is up starting today. Check out this brand new meme!

No Excuse

2010-10-30T23:55:00.007+07:00

Wherever we look, we see proof that there is a Creator, a Master Painter displaying His magnificent work around us.

This is my entry for Scripture & a Snapshot this week.
Thanks to my newest favorite photographer, Katie, for hosting this beautiful meme.

New Domain

2010-10-29T14:48:00.001+07:00

We have bought a new home for our homeschool blog! If you clicked on our new address below, you may notice some changes in its appearance and content. There'll be new features coming soon. Well, I really don't know what more changes will there be. It's another learning experience for me to have bought the new domain. But most importantly, please take note of it's new home address:

http://www.thelearningcenterbkk.com/

The whole family will be thrilled if you pay us a visit there and sign up to follow. Thank you!!!

Thanksgiving

2010-10-28T00:44:00.006+07:00

I'm thankful that we were able to go for a family picnic during the weekend. It was rather a spontaneous decision but it worked alright for all of us.

I'm thankful for marrying a family-man who does not only understand the value and importance of spending quality time with our children but also takes delight in it.

I'm thankful for my children who has learned to find contentment in simple things and appreciate the beauty of nature and respect it.

I'm thankful for public parks and places where we can enjoy relaxing time watching birds flying by and feeding fish in the lake.

I'm thankful that amid busyness and mounting concerns, I'm not only staying sane but also having peace within.

Only God can give me these things so my thanksgiving is for Him!

This is my entry for the following memes:

Count your blessings with other thankful ladies here.

More watery views to wet your eyes here.

Watch the sky around the world here.

More lovely creatures here.

Lantana: My Childhood Flower

2010-10-25T22:54:00.002+07:00

It's scent is not pleasant but it brings back happy memories of my childhood. This flower used to fill my basket during Flores de Mayo or May Flower Festival where we throw flowers in the air and sing songs of adoration to God. It was a religious ritual brought by the Spaniards to my home country. I was too young to understand the meaning then but the feeling of being part of a community (of children) doing the same thing was satisfying and it comes back whenever I smell the scent of this flower.

How about you? Do you have a childhood flower?

To pick a flower is so much more satisfying than just observing it,
or photographing it ... So in later years, I have grown in my
garden as many flowers as possible for children to pick.
- Anne Scott-James

Mosaic Monday Mellow Yellow Today's Flower

A Command, Not An Option

2010-10-23T23:28:00.001+07:00

How often you easily panic? You are like those men on the boat with Him that stormy night.
You are not asked to be still, you are commanded to. It is hard, isn't it? So take this word again as a command from Him who calmed the sea with the same words, and you'll see that He is God who could do miracle by calming your heart.

I'm preaching to myself here.

See more Scripture & a Snapshot here:

Sowing Seeds

2010-10-23T17:21:00.003+07:00

Let me wrap my week up with a label "Sowing Seeds". That's basically what I was doing the whole week! Sowing seeds unsparingly in my garden and in the hearts of my homeschoolers and students.

I love sowing seeds because of the feeling of anticipation that goes with it. I enjoy watching the process of growth. As I do, I also cultivate my heart to be hopeful and patient. Well, the whole process of gardening makes my heart glad.

I don't know what is it in gardening that makes my heart fall in love with it. Perhaps because it runs in the blood. My great, great, great grandparents were created in the garden because their Maker knew so well that it would be the place where they are most satisfied and would be drawn closest to Himself.

If you look closely to the picture on the right, you'll notice that I was showing my students the different parts of a plant. So even in my classroom, as I sow seeds of knowledge, the gardener in me is still at work!

I wonder what kind of men these boys in my class would become? So while I can, I sow seeds of knowledge and keep that hope in my heart that these knowledge will grow into wisdom once applied in their lives.

In my previous post, I shared about my visit to my friend's farm. They have mulberry trees bearing fruit which is delightful to butterflies and birds. So I brought home a few cuttings (twigs about 5 inches long) and planted them on a pot.

Here it is after 2 months of waiting! Yesterday, I transplanted 2 surviving cuttings into one big pot and put it on the side of our terrace. I can already see a fruitful bush regularly visited by butterflies and birds.

Speaking of birds, I want to show you the new residents in my garden: Lemon and Lime, the seed-eaters. They're caged :( but they are placed under a pomegranate tree so at least it feels like a natural habitat for them.

( This is my entry for Camera Critters and Mellow Yellow. )

Another residents are the living creatures in the nest on the sweet sop tree by the garden. You can imagine how thrilled we were when we first heard them chirped one early morning. Their parents would fly down and get food from my garden. I don't mind them eating the seeds I've sown. They're just seeds I can readily replace.What I'm more mindful of are the seeds sown in my children's heart.

I guess, aside from being a gardener and a teacher, I'm more of a mother farming in the hearts of my children.

Before the seed there comes the thought of bloom.
- E. B. White

Special thanks to Lori for hosting Friday FarmGirl@Heart.

Bridal Bouquet

2010-10-18T00:33:00.004+07:00

White Roses. How simply elegant for bridal bouquet!

My niece has good taste. She made sure everything in her wedding was the best. (See more photos of the bride here and of the ceremony here.)

I know, Michelle is still in the dreamland after her successful dream wedding ceremony and reception a month ago. But I just would like to send this words to her and her husband, Mark, that a good marriage is far more important than anything else that happened on their wedding day.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.
~Martin Luther

Today's Flower

What is Blog PR?

2010-10-17T23:24:00.006+07:00

Are you wondering what blog PR means and what's its significance to your blog? I was, so I researched a bit and found out that it's a unique feature of Google search engine service. It's quite a technical term and I don't have enough patience to go through the details to understand everything about it. But here's my layman's explanation about it.

PR means PageRank. PR10 is the highest but very few sites achieve PR higher than 4. It is calculated by how many pages are link to your page. The more pages are link to yours the more important your content must be. Advertisers are more keen to work with you if your blog has high PR. If you want to know more about it, click here.

So, in case you're wondering what's your blog PR is, here's a free checker for you! I think it's fun to know. Mine is PR 2, woohoo! Happy blogging!

Check Page Rank of your Web site pages instantly:

This page rank checking tool is powered by Page Rank Checker service

Scripture and a Snapshot

2010-10-17T00:30:00.001+07:00

This butterfly was quite energetic. It kept fluttering around. It took me a while to finally frame it! It was flying knee-high so I had to crawl on the ground to get a good shot of its beautifully designed wings. Its Creator is amazing, isn't He?

See more Scripture & a Snapshot here:

Creativity Unlimited

2010-10-16T17:31:00.001+07:00

This post is a day late. I was hooked on accounting yesterday. Had battle with spreadsheets and excel but I think I did a good job. Yay!

Let me just share my random creation recently amid the busyness after moving to our new house.

A Diaper cake for my sister's in-law baby shower. She just had given birth to another baby boy. I created this cake with mobile in an hour. Thanks to the supermarket across our street. i easily found all material I needed. The pole in the middle is a part of the towel hanger in my bathroom :) The other diaper cake is made by a friend.

Some Comfort Food:

I love how the wheat bread turned out. Dh prepared the dough last night. I woke up early to bake it for our breakfast. So yummy!

Friend Banana (turon) for snack.

I wrapped a slice of ripe banana and ripe jack-fruit with spring roll wrapper, and fried it with sugar caramel.
This goes well with soda or any frizzy drinks!

Birthday Cake for my student who turned 10 this week. As usual, I used fresh flowers from my garden to adorn his cake.

My Beach Garden is my latest creation.

See more of my garden photos here.

My friend Lori is hosting FarmGirl@Heart every Friday. You are welcome to join and share anything you've grown/created/made. Be it in your garden or in your kitchen, or any crafts and hobbies you have! Click on the badge to meet the host and other farmgirls@heart.

My Kind of Relaxation

2010-10-10T16:23:00.003+07:00

I'm glad to have had a little time to relax today. I loved my little space by the end table of the music school lobby where Naomi attends jazz dance class. Her class was on the 4th floor but I could watch her from the tv monitor on the lobby where other parents were also waiting.

We are having trouble with our internet connection at home so I was happy as a clam to check emails and write a little post in a cozy corner.

My daughter joined me for some cold refreshment after her dance, then we went off for lunch and chatted a bit about truths in life like the value of not laying up earthly treasures. Our little talk started when she asked about the reason why people are "shopaholic". She made a conclusion that it's because their parents just bought them anything they wanted when they were growing up. My girl has learned self-control at early age.

After our lunch, we treated ourselves with some local sweets we bought from the foodstall we passed by on our way home. We came home happy and just about time for afternoon church service.

Happy weekend, my dear readers. I hope you too will find your time to relax today.

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
- Sydney J. Harris

I Am My Father's Daughter

2010-10-08T22:18:00.005+07:00

When I went to visit my home-country, I had a day-out with my father. I'm 40 but it still feels good to be my father's daughter.

When my son went on vacation with my parents, he came home telling me how proud he was to see his grandpa's work. That made me curious so I made sure that I go and see for myself. I enjoyed to opportunity to be toured by him at the city hall and to his field office.

My father (the man standing on the 2nd floor) used to be the mayor's executive secretary of Panabo City but now he holds an office under the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office or CENRO .

He drove me to this site by the beach where his nursery project was. They are planting mangroves to save the coastal area from erosion.

I was amused to see what he had done to the seeds he collected when he came to visit us.

He likes to collect different kinds of exotic plants.

The man has a vision for the city. Whatever good he saw in progressive cities he's been to, he wanted it for Panabo.

Then, my father showed me another flourishing project of the city.

The mariculture project.

This is one of the 300+ fish cages on the site where each cage can hold up to 15,000 Bangus (Milk Fish).

The harvested fish is then sold fresh or frozen, dried or in jar as sardines or mackerel.

You can imagine how much help it gives to the livelihood of the local people.

My father bought fish products before we left. I had to bring them all for my family and my other sibling's who now live outside the country.

Tonight, we had the last pack of dried Bangus for our dinner.

I can't just not share to you how I felt during my visit at the father's workplace. My son was right. I was proud to follow his lead that day.

I'm proud because my father unselfishly serves the community. The same thing I wanted to do. I am indeed my father's daughter.

If I were to go back to my home country, I would serve (or invest) in this very young but promising city, my ancestral home where a good part of my childhood was spent, where my husband and I made our first home.

God bless the beautiful and bountiful Panabo City.

Thanks to Lori for hosting this Friday .
Go and visit her site and meet more farm girls at heart.

Skywatch Wedding

2010-10-07T23:29:00.007+07:00

I promised to post more pictures I took during my niece's wedding. I was part of the entourage so I had only limited opportunity to take photos during the ceremony but I had the bride's permission to share their official wedding photos.

So here's the promise.

The bride wanted it to be a twilight wedding where the background is the sunset.

"More romantic", she said.

So we prayed for a good weather because it had been raining days before the big day.

..and God granted her heart's desire.

It was very romantic, indeed!

But as we all know, there's always this "Joy-stealer" that is always trying to find ways to rob joy from God's people, especially from those who are enjoying the blessings and sanctity of Holy Matrimony. The enemy uses people or circumstances to do this. And on this wedding, since all people refused to be his instrument, he blew the electric transformer off.

But his trick only revealed the glorious sky that proved God's favor on the newly-wed couple.

Before the lights were back, the couple had already said their beautiful vows to each other under the perfect moonlight.

Marriage is designed by God. It must be beautiful!

Ruth @ Daily Divine

Watch the sky around the world here:

My Bride-Model

2010-09-25T23:29:00.001+07:00

I took 2 flights to the Philippines to be in my niece's wedding. Well, some of you knew the plan in my previous post. So, here are some of the photos I took during the special family occasion. I took tons of photos so expect I'll be showing more for the whole month, I think!

It was a sunset wedding but the bridal entourage was already getting dressed and made-up in the morning at the 16th floor of Marco Polo Hotel.

Loved the view of Mt. Apo from our window!

Michelle, the lovely bride, had her own official photographer but I had my pleasure snapping shots on the side.

I didn't need a professional camera. The natural lighting in the room and the bride's beauty were enough for me to take the best shot.

I used to enjoy taking photos of her when she was a little girl. Michelle is the first grandchild in our family so she was our living doll. Oh, how she loved to pose for me!

Isn't she the loveliest bride? You can tell I'm a proud aunt.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,

but of respect and joy in each other's life.”

-Richard Bach

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflection

Shadow Shot Sunday

My flower girl is now a bride....

2010-09-15T23:17:00.003+07:00

She was my flower girl 18 years ago. I don't have her solo picture so I just cropped this from the original photo where I was the bride. Now it's her moment to be showered with flowers and to say "I do". Oh, she would surely be a lovely bride! I am excited to be there for her.

Last month, Michelle flew with her groom to visit us. She invited us to be part of her wedding entourage. I'm going to be the matron of honor. What an honor, indeed.

I - for Invitation and "I do"

ABC Wednesday

My list of thanksgiving for this week:

I thank God for His faithfulness in Michelle's life. I wrote in my previous post how she misses her mom, but the Lord has been her comfort in times of loneliness.

I thank the Lord for providing her a good husband who loves and provides for her, and a new family where love and joy abound.

I thank God, our Father, for surrounding Michelle with family and friends who helped her grow as a beautiful person inside and out.

I thank the Lord, my Provider, for my plane tickets so I can be with family in Michelle's wedding.

I praise God for the gift of family where I feel welcome and loved, and where His grace and joy abound. I'm excited to stay (again) in my parents house, see relatives, and visit my family in-law.

Click the button to take you to Judy's list of thanksgiving, and also to meet other thankful women.

Mother and Child

2010-09-13T23:20:00.000+07:00

The picture has gone blurry but the memory is still clear.

I took this photo when Michelle was two. This was the time when all guests had left and Michelle couldn't wait to open all her gifts. I remember that day so well. Michelle's mom, my dear sister, wanted her first child's 2nd birthday to be a special event, just like the first and the following birthdays. I was always my sister's assistant in events like this. She wanted the best for her child. She's the doting mother. And the two were inseparable.

A week before Michelle turned 12, her mom was suppose to be flown to the capital city for a major surgery. The night before the flight, she wrote me a letter full of love, faith and hope to be home again and be reunited with the whole family. Sadly, she didn't see the next day, for she was taken to her real home with the Lord, and there she waits to be reunited with her family.

In her letter, she asked me only one request.

On Sunday, the 2-year old child in the picture is going to be a bride, and she is longing for her mom. What a powerful bonding that cannot be erased by years of absence! I will be there at the wedding but no one can take her mother's place.

The mother's image may go blurry but not her memory imprinted in the heart of her child.

"Children and mothers never truly part -

Bound in the beating of each other's heart."

- Charlotte Gray

Our Garden Story

2010-09-11T00:09:00.005+07:00

When we moved in to our rental house more than 2 years ago, the yard was all weeds and with few fruit trees. All green; no signs of fruit or blossoms. We cleaned the yard, and started planting flowers and pruned the trees.

I spent my first hour of most of my mornings in the yard.I had a picture in mind.

This is exactly what I wanted to see! A mosaic of sights that I see everyday.

Our butterfly garden is not yet complete but it is already attracting beautiful butterflies.
(This is my entry for Camera Critters this week.)

More than the happy butterflies fluttering about, I'm amused to see my girls and their friend having tea in the garden.

Sometimes, my garden is brought inside the house. It's flowers don't only fill my vase but also adorn my chocolate cake.

Three weeks from now, we'll be leaving our unfinished garden behind, and in our new house, we'll start a new one.

"God almighty first planted a garden.
And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures."

- Francis Bacon

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Sky, Flag, and Plane

2010-09-10T00:56:00.001+07:00

We're back to the Bangkok Immigration Office last Monday. It took us the whole day to get our visa extension. This gorgeous sky was a consolation after long hours of waiting to get our passports stamped.

The red and blue flag is flying high. It is, as the country's economy is still souring despite the political storm months ago. The services at the immigration is a lot better and faster now than before. It was just an unusual day for us because many expatriates came on the same day. We hope and pray that they give us a whole year visa next time instead of 3 months each visit.

Did you see the plane? I like it when there's little surprises when I'm taking photos.

It's been a long busy week. Thank God it's Friday!

“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky;

there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”

Victor Hugo

Watch the sky around the world here:

Tea Invitation

2010-09-09T16:39:00.005+07:00

Hello, everyone! It's Tea Talk once again in my other blog. Life has been a bit hectic here. But I'm glad to have a bit of time to share with you. Thank you for joining me this week. See you there!

A House Is Not A Home

2010-09-08T23:59:00.002+07:00

Today I had to explain to my 8 year old daughter, Zoe, that our home is not the house we have now but it is anywhere where our family lives.

We only have 3 weeks left in this house in the picture. We will move to a smaller house with a very small garden. There are several practical reasons why we need to do the move. We have been thinking and praying about this. Just didn't know that it will be this soon. The sorting and boxing of things has started, busiest days are ahead!

Zoe was quite sad that we're leaving our unfinished butterfly garden project, and her favorite hammock in our patio. I told her that that we can start a new garden in our new house, and we'll bring the hammock and find a good spot for her to do her reading. I assured her that we can make any house a beautiful home for all of us. She beamed with hope and I know she will not be disappointed.

Where thou art, that is home.
Emily Dickinson

I thank God for my 3 children who have been cooperative and compliant in all our family moves, changes and adjustments.

I thank the Lord for providing for us to rent this house at the time we needed it. Now He has provided another house that is suited for our present need.

I praise God for all the wonderful times spent in this house. With all the miracles, blessings, surprises, friendships and love He showered us, I can say that His presence is always with us the whole time, and, His presence will be with us in the new house.

I praise God for making our family a beautiful home for each of us. For 18 years, we have moved more than 20 times already. Our family have learned to let go, and be content to live wherever as long as together. We can build our home in a tent and still be content.

Hop on to ABC Wednesday and see more happy H's.

Be blessed! Click the button to take you to Judy's list of thanksgiving, and also to meet other thankful women.

Morning Sunshine on My Kitchen Counter

2010-09-05T14:34:00.002+07:00

I wonder how many mornings I have already spent in this corner. For more than 2 years, this has been the routine; brew coffee first and then prepare warm breakfast. I will definitely miss this sunny spot as we are moving to a new house soon... will make sure that there will always be mornings like this in my new kitchen.

Shadow Shot Sunday