Giving My Blog Some Loving

Finally got around to changing my blog's template. Removed most stuff on the sidebar, and switched up the rest of the elements.

To my last two readers, who I happen to know just reads my blog via aggregator, do check it out!

Late Night/Early Morning Musings on Life Lessons

I couldn't sleep.

This time though, what kept me awake was not my own problems but that of two people I dearly love. I've been trying to wrap my head around the two very different situations they're in, but I just can't. I want to be supportive. Do the right thing. Help. Be accepting. Point out their mistakes. Shake them. Make sure they get the lesson they're supposed to learn. Fix things.

In the end, all my thoughts and emotions just left me confused, tired, and in a state of grief. So I turned back to the one thing that has never failed - prayer.

And that's when I got it. There may be lessons stored for them, but right now what I should bother with are the lessons in store for me, the first being not to resort to prayer last! Why in the world should I keep on figuring out ways to help them fix their lives when I myself keep on forgetting the simple formula? Yes, I should learn to be accepting, loving, a real peace maker, and an honest person who can support but rebuke in love. But most of all, I should learn first and always "cast my burdens upon Him". To grow close to Christ and reflect the love He has graciously given me. Then and only then will I have the peace of knowing that He will never let go of me and these two people I hold so dearly in my heart. I may not be able to fix things, but I can rest in the knowledge that just as God never failed me so will he continue to love and seek the rest of His bullheaded children.

So the key to peace is something my mom has been telling me for ages. It's something I've known for so long and just keep on putting off the way I keep on trying to ignore my sinus attacks when I fully know how a few minutes of using a steam vaporiser can do wonders. Faith and trust is still the key to peace.

As for the other lesson I learned today... If I don't want to end up being like the judgemental and self-righteous people I truly dislike, then I should always look at things in the right perspective. Instead of thinking about what, how, and why people got into the situations they're in as well as the supposed life lessons for them, I should wonder about the lessons I can learn from them. Every single thing that happens in life is after all an opportunity for me to learn something. It's not about being self-absorbed, but learning to have the humility that there truly is so much I need to learn and re-learn.

And with that, I think I might yet squeeze in another couple hours worth of sleep. Back to bed for me.

Blogging for Elijah and Sam

It seems that the only time I remember to blog is when I feel nostalgic. Despite repeated promises that I'll be blogging more often, I haven't gotten around to actually doing so. Tonight though, after seeing Sam's old pics, and how this rusty old blog has helped chronicle his life, I just had to post again. After all, I want to be able to look back 6 years from now and reminisce not just about Sam's journey, but Elijah's as well.

Here's a few pics to start me off...

Elijah's first day on earth. Feb 16, 2011.


Kuya Sam and Eli's first gimmick together. Pagpapa-araw sa Bago Bantay.


Three+ months and smiling really widely.


Four+ months. Standing really well and learning to take care of Kuya already.

That's it for now. Since may netbook na ko and internet sa bahay, I should be able to post more pics more often.

Back to Blogging

After a couple of weeks without Sam, I realized how fun it is to look back and just track his development and stare at his pictures on my blog. Now that another baby's on the way and I seem to be getting my groove back, I think it's time to start blogging again. No promises to myself or to anyone, but I really will try to update this blog more often.

Samar Trip

My first business trip ever. Yay!

Alam ko mas mukhang bakasyon, but can I help it if the place was utterly beautiful?

Places/Things I saw/visited:

• San Juanico Bridge - So excited about this kasi since bata pa tinuturo na sa School.
• Limestone formations in Marabut - Sa tabi-tabi lang pero ang ganda!
  
• BFAR center in Samar - They culture abalone, king crabs, and lapu-lapu there.
• Surf Camp - The Aboitiz-owned resort was stunning.
• Endless beaches.
• McArthur landing site (ano ba tawag dito?)
• Imelda's house - We didn't stop by to visit though so glimpse lang nito.

Yummy stuff I ate:

• Kilawin na tanigue - Kakaiba kilawin dun may gata...yummm...
• Ormoc pineapples - Really small and didn't look good but they were really sweet and hindi makati sa dila.
• Moron - Hindi yung tao. Yung suman na may tsokolate ang kalahati.
• Sumang gabi - I don't know what it's called but it's the best suman ever. May nuts and butter and ewan ko pa.

Other things I enjoyed:

• The swimming dog
• The fisher folk - Grabe best best bunch of people to travel with. Mabilis mag work and all so friendly, genuine, hardworking and with a good life story to tell.
• Tuba - Sipped just a little. It was surprisingly good...sweet. Fresh from harvest kasi daw.
• Taking pictures - Nakaka-addik pala mag kuha ng pictures pag super ganda ng tanawin!