My Heart Speaks

My Handsewn Domo Plush

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:18:00 +0000

A first try on Domo plush. It's hand sewn and I gave it to my friend Jess as he requested. I'm not sure whether he'll give it to someone or he'll keep it for himself. Whatever he does with it, i feel the appreciation even if the domo plush I made wasn't exactly the perfect domo.

LOLx

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:43:00 +0000

A new poem posted on my other blog Love, Music and Poetry Cafe. Please read and share if you like it. Thanks!

My Onigiri Twins

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:02:00 +0000

The first of my creations (Onigiri Category). There are lots of styles to make for me to choose from. And I want to make a few more for my friends. Others also suggest that I sell them but maybe not this time. I have other things in mind to do.

Anyway, I just want to post these here because they're so cute. Don't you think? :)

SFC Kids And Youth (SKY Group)

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Lately, I've been busy organizing a youth-oriented presentation for an important yearly event - Mariology.

Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mariology methodically presents teachings about her to other parts of the faith, such as teachings about Jesus, redemption and grace. Christian Mariology aims to connect scripture, tradition and the teachings of the Church on Mary.

I started organizing the kids and youth within our Catholic Christian Community and named our group, with the whole community's approval - SFC Kids and Youth Group (SKY Group). I think this will be fun since I enjoy being with the kids - away from all those problems and sharing stories and jokes with them. Giving them answers to their questions about things - anything under the sun.

I'm excited about this group though am also worried when I have to leave them only after a few months because then I will go back to Manila and continue my studies. Anyway, I think I don't have to worry about their activities since there are lots who support this group. Maybe it's just that I'm worried about missing them altogether - all the fun we're having while learning at the same time.

I already have lots of activities in mind for this youth group and I hope we will be able to fulfill everyone of them.

Love, Music, and Poetry Cafe: Ikaw Pa Rin

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:26:00 +0000

Repost from my new blog:

Love, Music, and Poetry Cafe: Ikaw Pa Rin:

Akala ko okay na, yun pala hindi pa Hindi na sana ako lumpait pa Bawat hakbang nang paglapit ko Lumalakas pa rin ang pintig ng puso ko ...

Soulful Sunday Week 1: How To Enlarge Your Territories

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:44:00 +0000

A long time ago, I was taught that a person who thinks big has a big ego. And a person who thinks small is a holy person.

Especially in religious circles, big thinking is criticized and small thinking is praised. Because all desire for expansion is a sign of pride.

And when a person says, “I want to be promoted in my job,” or “I want to earn more,” or “I want to expand my business,” some religious people will tell you, “Be happy with where you are. Be content with what you have.”

But today, I’ve realized that small thinking may mean small love. Some people think small not because they’re content, but because they’re cowards.

As little children, we were told, “Don’t stand out. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t create waves. Don’t call attention to yourself.”

But now I tell you: Stand out. Rock the boat. Create waves. Be the best that you can be. Fulfill your destiny. Don’t put your light under a bowl, but put yourself on the lampstand. (Matthew 5:17) And shine God’s light within you!

My main message? Think big, love big.

Think Big

Once upon a time, the Israelites were conquered by the Babylonians and Assyrians. They were captured, chained, and hauled off like animals to another country to become their slaves.

One day, after many years in captivity, they returned to their land. But the Israelites were a people with a broken spirit. They were a defeated people coming with a defeated mentality. They felt small. They were thinking small. They were in survival mode.

But God told them, “Enlarge your territories.”

He said, Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left… (Isaiah 54:2-3)

The Israelites were a conquered people with a conquered spirit. Yet God says, “It’s time to conquer. You’re not conquered, you’re a conqueror.”

God wanted them to make a switch: From small thinking to big thinking.

Friend, you may be like the Israelites.

Perhaps you’ve been defeated by your problems. Recently, you’ve been hammered by trials. And you have a defeated spirit. You see yourself as a small person. And you feel small. And you’ve been thinking small in your job, or in your business, or in your family life, or in your ministry.

God is telling you now, “Don’t think small. Don’t think survival. Instead, think big. Think growth. Think expansion. Enlarge your territories. Because I want you to use you to bless the world.”

Be like Jabez. He prayed a unique prayer…

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory…” (1 Chronicles 4:10)

When I read that verse, I think of my friends Rolly and Donna España.

Love Big

Rolly and Donna are fantastic business people.

God blessed their businesses so much, they were able to build a gigantic house in Laguna.

Let me give you an idea of how big their house is: It has an elevator. (But I was mildly disappointed it had no ATM machine.)

From the surface, it’s totally illogical why they have such a humongous house. Because Rolly and Donna don’t have kids.

But here’s the logic: When this couple hears about one of our ministry teams planning to have a retreat, or a seminar, or a workshop—Rolly would raise his hand and say, “Please use my house.”

If the retreat is 3 days long, Rolly and Donna would be there for the entire 3 days, to cook for them, serve them, and meet all their needs. They haven’t only opened their home, they’ve opened their hearts.

They have no biological children. But they have many spiritual children.

Here’s my point: They enlarged their territories for others.

Claim these words from Daniel. But those who know their God shall be strong and do great and mighty exploits. (Daniel 11:32)

“Lord, Disturb Me!”

Let me tell you the story of how God expanded the territories of my spiritual family, Light of Jesus.

Once upon a time, we were tiny.

For 25 years, Light of Jesus was an inwardly-focused Covenant Community. We were a small bunch of people who met each week in closed-door, “for insiders only” prayer meetings.

Here was our goal then: We wanted to form spiritual giants. We had very strict norms—one hour of daily prayer, one hour daily Bible reading, one-hour daily levitation… (Just kidding.) We discouraged secular music, secular dancing, and secular movies. We believed that smoking was such a grave sin, it prepared people for the smokes of Hell. We banned drinking of all alcohol.

And we tried to manage people’s personal lives. Our members couldn’t make personal decisions without consulting their small group leaders for guidance. Anyone who doesn’t do that is deemed rebellious.

We were very big on commitment. If you couldn’t attend a minimum number of meetings, you’re booted out. (In our immaturity, rules were more important than people.)

No wonder we weren’t growing.

But there was a glimmer of hope…

Each month, we had a meeting for “outsiders” which we called the Feast. That was where we could invite family, officemates, and friends. But it was only a once a month gathering.

Here’s what we noticed: Our monthly Feast was incredibly life giving! People loved it. People went home with a big smile on their faces. They couldn’t get enough of it.

But our weekly closed-door meetings were as enjoyable as chewing wood. People were dragging their feet to go to these “for insiders only” meetings. That was why we had to threaten people to come, or else… We had to tell them, “If you don’t attend consistently, you’re no longer a member of Light of Jesus.”

That was why we had to check attendance. To force people to come. Here’s what I learned: When you force people to attend meetings, there’s nothing wrong with the people. There’s something wrong with your meetings.

But for years, that was who we were.

And we became very comfortable with our set-up. So comfortable, we didn’t want to change anything.

But one day, God disturbed us…

He Said, “Expand Your Territories!”

Because He wanted us to expand.

But to expand our territories, God had to first expand our thinking.

First, God overhauled our identity. Not just our activity. I’ve learned that if you really want to expand, you’ve got to overhaul your identity.

From being a Covenant Community for managing “insiders”, He wanted us to become a Spiritual Family that’s focused on welcoming “outsiders”. He didn’t want us to form an elite team of spiritual giants. He wanted us to create a loving home whose front door was always open for the unchurched, for sinners, for the spiritually sick, for those far away from God.

From being focused on maintaining house rules for insiders, God wanted us to focus on loving outsiders.

When God overhauled our identity, changing our activities was easier. For example, we made the Feastweekly. And we moved from one Feast to many Feasts, from one preacher to many preachers.

Changing is always uncomfortable.

Inwardly, we ask ourselves, “Why disturb what was working?”

There’s really only one thing that prevents us from expanding our territories: Its Fear.

Fear is the biggest thief in the house. It has been stealing your dreams away.

Let me share two common fears…

1. Fear of Discomfort

We live in a culture that worships the god of convenience.

In our culture, convenience is the most important thing.

Don’t get me wrong. Convenience is a gift from God. Thank God for convenience.

Once upon a time, it took 6 months to go to America. Now, it takes 10 hours.

Once upon a time, we wrote handwritten letters—and it took a few days, sometimes weeks, for our letters to reach our friends. (Prehistoric days.) Now, we can facebook them in a snap of a finger.

Once upon a time, you had to call up people via a landline phone. If you’re my age, you remember the rotary phone that took forever to dial. “Zip, Rrrrrrrr….” And if you’re my age, you also recall that you also had a “partyline” (usually your neighbor). If she’s using the phone, you can’t use it.

Oh, thank God for convenience. Thank God for cellphones. Thank God for digital cameras. Thank God for google. Thank God for Ipads. Thank God for 24-hour pizza delivery.

But here’s the problem: The moment convenience becomes the most important thing in your life, that’s the moment you stop growing. That’s the moment you stop expanding.

Life begins to atrophy. Decay. Disintegrate.

Here’s the truth: Expansion and growth and development can only happen if you do the very opposite of convenience—which is sacrifice.

Remember my story above? Transforming Light of Jesus caused us pain.

When we made the Feast a weekly instead of monthly, it caused us pain.

Every time we moved venue, it caused us pain.

Every time we built other Feasts, it caused us pain.

But the pain was good.

Today, we have Feasts in 16 locations in Metro Manila, plus a few more Feasts all over the country and the world. Our PICC Feast (Philippine International Convention Center) alone gathers 5000 people every Sunday.

Convenience is nice. Enjoy it if its there. But throw it out of the window when your big dreams are at stake.

Sacrifice!

Success Requires Sacrifice

Are you married? If you want your marriage to work—you’ve got to sacrifice. Many marriages aren’t working now because the husband and wife just want convenience more than anything else.

A marriage cannot be based on convenience.

Raising kids cannot be based on convenience.

Having a great career cannot be based on convenience.

Building a business cannot be based on convenience.

Growing your investments cannot be based on convenience.

A healthy body cannot be based on convenience.

Expanding your territories can only be based on sacrifice.

Here’s another common fear that prevents you from expanding your territories…

2. Fear of Failure

Let me tell you a story.

Julio was a new salesman. Despite of the fact that he would go house to house every single day, he couldn’t make one sale.

So his sales manager called him and asked him, “Why can’t you sell?”

Julio said, “I don’t know why. Bad luck, I guess. I stand in front of the door waiting for someone to answer, but no one opens the door. So I go to the next house.”

After a few more questions, the sales manager discovers the reason: Julio would go house to house, standing in front of the front door, but he would never knock. He would just wait for it to open.

Why? He was afraid. He was afraid of failure. He was afraid of rejection.

Are you like Julio? Do you also simply stand in front of the door of opportunity—and don’t even knock? Have you been passing up so many doors of expansion, because of a fear of failure?

Knock!

Do something. Try it out. Dive in. Wet your feet. Experiment. Fail a few times.

Please know: To think big, you don’t act big. In fact, I strongly recommend that you act small. Because I assure you that in the beginning you’ll be failing first. So act small so that your failures are small.

There are two kinds of big thinking.

1. Big thinking that comes from big ego.

2. Big thinking that comes from big love.

Let me tell you the difference.

One Thing To Check

Do you want to know if big thinking comes from big ego? From pride? From insecurity? From a need to prove yourself to others? From a need to buy other people’s love? From a need to cover up one’s unworthiness and inadequacy?

Look for one sign. Look for the presence of hurry.

If there’s hurry, there’s a 75% change that big thinking came from big ego.

For example, you’ll think big and act big right away. Because you’re in a hurry.

But if big thinking comes from big love, you’ll think big and act small at the start. Because you’re not in a hurry. Because whatever you’re doing is not about you anyway. It’s about serving others and blessing the world.

If it’s big ego, you’ll think big and grow fast. If it comes from big love, you’ll think big and grow naturally. Not slow. Not fast. But naturally.

When Hurry Destroys You

You can’t hurry a woman’s pregnancy.

It’s 9 months or bust.

Not 6 months, 7 months, or 8 months. If a baby comes out before the 9^th month, it needs to be in an incubator. Its health is in danger.

Nor should the baby stay in the womb after 9 months. If the baby overstays in the womb, it’s dangerous to both the baby and the mother.

Do you know that some of the food that we eat is dangerous to our health? Why? Because we hurry the natural process of growth.

For example, a native chicken takes 3 to 6 months for a baby chick to become an adult chicken. A regular chicken takes 45 days. But today, some only takes 28 days. How do they do it? They inject the chicken with massive doses of growth hormones—chemicals that throw our own hormonal system off balance. Some believe that these chemicals can cause cancers.

You’ll Lose Money If You’re In A Hurry

The reason why a lot of people fall for terrible scams is because they’re in a hurry to grow their money. This is also the reason why people gamble and lose all their money—because they’re in a hurry to grow their money. (This is the reason why I tell people to “invest” in the Stock Market, not “trade” in the Stock Market. Those are two very different things.)

In business, it’s the same thing. I’ve learned not to rush expanding my business. Instead, I just let it grow naturally. I avoid so many problems. And I avoid useless stress.

I’ve also learned that I don’t have to rush growing a ministry. Whenever I fall into the temptation of growing quickly, I get into catastrophic problems.

Expand Your Territories—

Because It’s Not For You Anyway!

Here’s my little dream: I want to retire as over-all leader of Light of Jesus when I’m 55. That’s a mere 10 years from now. (I don’t believe a leader should stay too long in my position. The temptation is too great to use my fame and power for selfish ends.)

But I’ll never retire from serving you.

My exciting dream is to serve you without an official title for the rest of my life. When I’m 80, I hope I’m still visiting Feasts all over the world, encouraging people.

I want to have only one title: Your Friend.

I can retire because my dream isn’t about me.

Light of Jesus isn’t about me.

It’s about you.

It’s about serving you, blessing you, and loving you.

So enlarge your territories. Be the best that you can be. Grow. Flourish. Expand. Because it’s not for you anyway.

Think big, love big!

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

A Bit of Me (Me)

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:19:00 +0000

This Weeks Question: What’s your favorite weekend activity?

I sleep most of the times on a Saturday morning but since my sister has classes during Saturdays, I have to wake up and help my mom since she’s not feeling well lately. But when she leaves, I go back to bed and go back to dreamland.

This thread starts here: There's A book Weekly Meme

Anyway, what about you? What’s your favorite weekend activity?

My Chocolate Chip Cookies and An Article I'm Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:52:00 +0000

I baked cookies this morning for my sister to bring to school for her snacks but we forgot to pack it so as usual, some of it ended being eaten by my brother, who ate, two cookies at a time. Looked like a sandwich. I slept too much again today. Lately, I've been very sleepy. I'm not sure why. Is this a sign of depression? I just hope not.

Then I began to read the autobiography of St. Therese (Little Flower) but being able to read the introduction, I had to stop. Many of what was written in this introduction contained a lot things that I have experienced or thought of - something like that so I want to write an article first before I continue reading it.

I won't be writing my own autobiography but I'll be writing in it some of my experiences in life in connection with my faith. My own experiences through my life with how I lived and live with God in my life and had this kind of communication with God , Mama Mary and the angels. I want to write down the lessons and messages God has told me. I want to see the differences of my faith (experiences) with what I will be reading in the book. I'm not saying I have a lot in common or a lot of differences with The Little Flower. I'm also not saying that I could be someone who's special or different from others because I'm just a normal human being - a sinner at that. I don't have premonitions or things like those. I'll just write how I communicate with God, mama Mary, and the angels and how they answer me back (through dreams or answers through personal experiences - loses and gains).

In short, I'll be writing an article about my own experiences about my faith and compare it with what's written in the book. I hope St. Therese wouldn't misunderstand what I'm doing but since I know God is with Her, she'll know for sure what I'm trying to do. Maybe I'll finish it by tomorrow or on Wednesday. I'll make sure of it so I can continue reading the book already.

I Want To Revive This Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Whoah! When was my last blog? I know... a very, very long time ago.

How's every blog doing now? Everybody still keep their blog alive but I haven't. And again, I want to revive it.

I've been busy with our vacation and many problems. I've been fully out of the blue lately, too because I've been confused with everything I have in my hands right now. I'm not really busy, it's just that my mood swings are kicking off again.

I'm watching Korean TV series to get a new feel, a new flow of emotions so I can have new ideas on what to write about and how I'll write my new stories. And I've also been thinking what genre to write right now. And then there are my old stories/novel which I must edit, revise and re-write so I can turn them into a book or e-book, whatever's better.

Then my artistic instincts start to kick off, too and I had to sew these plushies which are two talking cats with magical powers, a fifteen year old girl and a sixteen year old boy who are all part of the new story I'm thinking of writing right now. It's adventure/fantasy genre. I'm not sure about it yet but I'm really into the idea right now.

And then there are also these books I have to read, learn, understand and reflect from. It's not that I'm obliged to but I'm making myself be obliged because these books are important to me. No sentimental values or reasons like that. It's just that I think I'm ought to read and learn them myself. Maybe it's because I miss studying in school or maybe there are other reasons. I'm not sure of. I just want to finish reading and studying them. I'll also be posting some reviews for those books after I read them or maybe after every chapter I can post some of my view/notions about those topics there.

And then there are my Catholic community related projects or plans which I'm not sure if I'll really be going through with. I need the approval of the majority of our members first. It's not that I'm not sure that they'll approve of my ideas but I'm not sure about myself if I can keep up if it's going to be approved.

Another is my beads and crafts tools and supplies which are still there for me to do. I've been planning on making accessories to sell but it seems there'll be no buyers if I make them so right now, they're just there in my shelf.

And a new hobby is added which is baking and since I'm not really good in it even how much effort I put in, I just can't stop trying to learn and practice more which takes a lot of time in a day.

With all of these, I don't know where to start. I made a schedule last month but I haven't followed it. But now, I'm trying to start with everything again. I'm starting with blogging right now and maybe everything will follow. I'll update on Goodreads and then I'll make articles against RH Bill which I'm also feeling is right to do now.

I'll write again tomorrow if there'll be any progress with my sched.

Reblogged: The Devil's Shopping Advocate

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:05:00 +0000

The Devil's Advocate: A 6th Month Anniversary Give Away!

Click the link above and check out her cool blog!

She's been bloging for 6 months straight and I just wish I've done the same. As you can see, I haven't been active in blogging again since I've been busy with many things especially that I'm still on vacation right now.

Okay, so being on vacation is no excuse to be inactive these past months (?), I admit but it's been so hectic and I really didn't have the energy and enthusiasm to write anything new.

I'll be blogging again, as I promised a few people/readers and myself once I get back to Jeddah. After I get settled in again. It's not easy having to go here and there every now and then and just write anything. I just like to write/blog when I'm in the mood and when I don't have other things in mind.

Like right now that I'm busy thinking of the small business I want to establish, scrapbooking, making jewelries, paper arts and other crafts, rewriting the draft of the novel I wrote and going back to the reading challenges I've joined for this year. And there are so many more so I've been dumbfounded and stuck with everything that I was confused which I must do first so there.

*Sigh

I'll be back. I'll be back.

ALL ITEMS ALWAYS ON BARGAIN!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:01:00 +0000

Sulit.com.ph Buy and Sell
Join the 1M Raffle Giveaway

Read more: http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+topic/id/80647/Sulit+1M+Members+Raffle+Giveaway%3A+Join+and+Get+a+Chance+to+Win+iPad+2+and+Other+Prizes%21

Soulful Friday Week 1: What You Should Never Forget

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:54:00 +0000

I am a Roman Catholic Christian and I decided to put up a post regarding about being a loving and caring person, inspired by Bo Sanchez' weekly email to people who subscribe to their inspirational site at Kerygma Philippines. This weekly posy every Sunday will only be a copy of what his email to me contains. I hope it will give inspiration in your life.

A little about Bo Sanchez:

Bo Sanchez is an author, preacher and lay evangelist in the Philippines. He started preaching at the age of 13 and wrote his first book when he was 20. He had published many books since then. He publishes a magazine known as "Kerygma."

What You Should Never Forget

"I remember this day like it was yesterday.

This happened a couple of years ago.

I went home excited, mentally planning our Father-Son trip to the
mall. (Each week, I try to have a date with my boys. Sometimes
together. Sometimes separately. That day, I was going to have a date
with my eldest boy, Bene.)

But as I arrived home and stepped down of my car, my phone rang.

“Bo, are you already at the wedding?” my friend asked me.

“Huh? What wedding?” I asked.

“The wedding of Amina…”

Wham! It was like I was hit by a bat on the head. I totally forgot
about the wedding!

How can I now tell Bene? The little guy was so looking forward to our date.

When I entered the house, I greeted him and said, “I’ve got a
problem about our date …” I told him about the wedding.

That was when my wife said, “Son, can you go with Daddy to the
wedding? That’ll be your date.” (Thank God for my wise wife.)

A few minutes later, my son and I were riding the car in our
matching /barong tagalogs. /

It turned out that we were early for the wedding, so we walked to a
coffee shop beside the church, and talked and laughed together as he
ate his favorite cinnamon roll.

The wedding was superb!

It was also a wonderful time for me to give mini-lectures to my
little pupil—in whispers at the back pew—on marriage, family, and
love.

After the wedding, the reception was at the exclusive /Polo Club./ While waiting for the dinner to begin, we had a phenomenal time sitting down on the grass (yes, still in our /barongs/) under the canopy of stars—and chatted the night away.

“I don’t want to be a cowboy anymore, Daddy,” he said.

“No more?” This was a shock to me. It had been his declared
dream ever since he was two. In fact, his first word wasn’t
“mama”. It was “horse.” (I’m not kidding.)

He piped up, “I don’t want to be a Cowboy anymore. I just want
to ride horses for pleasure.”

“Okay. What do you want to be?”

“A businessman.” (Six-year old kids have a way of declaring
their dreams as though it’s as sure as the planet is round. I
wonder what age we lose that confidence?)

“That’s great. You can own a ranch. How many horses do you want
to own?”

“About ten,” he grinned.

“How will you earn to maintain the ranch?” I asked.

“Kids can ride my horses for P20 each…”

“Uh…, isn’t that a bit too cheap?”

“They can also feed my rabbits if they pay something. And I’ll
sell my customers snacks and have a restaurant in my ranch.”

“That’s fantastic.”

“My ranch will also have an imaginary forest.”

“A what?”

“An imaginary forest. Parents will be afraid if their kids go to a
real forest with real animals. So I’ll make an imaginary forest with
robotic animals—even some legendary creatures like dinosaurs,
unicorns, mermaids,...”

“Mermaids?”

“Yes, because there’ll be a lake in my ranch. With a shipwreck.
Kids can also visit the shipwreck.”

After planning for his future, we got our plates and stood in front
of the buffet table for the entire evening. Because the food was so
fabulous, we didn’t bother to sit down. That night, he ate seven
sticks of barbecue and I gobbled up 50% of the European cheeses
there.

In other words, my date with Bene was a ball.

If I didn’t have a weekly date with him, how will I know about his
dreams? I would have missed hearing that he didn’t want to be a
Cowboy anymore, that he wanted an imaginary forest, robotic animals,
a lake and a shipwreck for kids to visit and have fun…

I was even more convinced of my family goals when I read the
frightening statistics from David Perdew about “fatherless kids”.

According to statistics, children from a fatherless home are:

· Five times more likely to commit suicide
· Thirty-two times more likely to run away
· Twenty times more likely to have behavioral disorders
· Fourteen times more likely to commit rape (this applies to boys)
· Nine times more likely to drop out of high school
· Ten times more likely to abuse chemical substances
· Nine times more likely to end up in a charitable institution
· Twenty times more likely to end up in prison for a long period of
time

Fathers—and mothers—your kids need you.
David Perdew says we either pay now or pay later.
And when you pay later, it always costs more.

I suggest you pay now."

Have a fantastic 2011—especially with your family.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

PS. */Never Forget Your Family./* Except for God, nothing else is
more important.

I hope with "Soulful Friday", you can reflect for a few minutes about what's going with your life and learn lessons not only for yourself but for your love for God and for others.

You can leave a comment about your reflection or how you felt or things as such. Good afternoon! :)

ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW WEEK 24

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:09:00 +0000

No, I am not a new Tabloid Reporter, but it is a feature so

that we can all get to know each other better.

This feature will be open from Thursday at 12:01 A.M. and close on Monday at 11:59 P.M. to allow those that want to participate over the weekend the opportunity to do so when they have more time. So you may want to check back on Tuesday or check the previous week's link on Thursday to view everyone's answers.

Links to all previous can be found by clicking the Enquiring Minds Want To Know page in the right sidebar for those who missed a week or two and want to catch up on everyone's answers. To do that please link up using the actual post link instead of the link to your entire blog so people can find your "Enquiring" posts easier.

If you are just joining this feature

WELCOME!!!!!

We all become friends/followers but most of us will never meet in person, this feature is to help us all get to know each other better.

Each Thursday I will post 3 questions for you to answer

that you can copy and post on your blog with your answers.

You don’t have to be a blogger to participate either. I will be using a Linky List for the blogs to use to participate and follow each other around to get to know each other, but if you are not a blogger just answer the questions in the comment section following the post on your favorite blog. Please feel free to click on the links and visit other blogs too.

This way we not only get to know other bloggers,

we get to know our followers too.

I am really excited about this meme

and hope many more people will join the fun!!!!!

Are you interested?

Please forgive me for Question #1,

but you all know I live in Wisconsin
so I just have to ask.

WEEK 24 QUESTIONS and MY ANSWERS

1. Did you watch the Super Bowl? If yes, which part did you like the best, the game, the halftime show, the commercials and did you notice the mistake made with the National Anthem?

No. I'm not really into this stuff.

2. I joined a new meme this week called "Monday's Music Moves Me", this month's theme is love songs, Do you have a favorite love song?

Yeah, I think I do. I listen to a lot of love songs but for this specific month, I love listening to Eternal Flame.

3. How many blog challenges have you entered this year?

For now, I have joined 6 or 7, I think.

Now be sure to copy and paste the information and your answers into your blog, then come back to link up, so we can come to your blog and read your answers.

I hope you will come back to this meme every week and tell your friends so we can all get to know each other better and get the answers to all the questions

Enquiring Minds Want To Know.

ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW WEEK 22

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:48:00 +0000

No, I am not a new Tabloid Reporter, but it is a feature so

that we can all get to know each other better.

If you are just joining this feature

WELCOME!!!!!

We all become friends/followers but most of us will never meet in person, this feature is to help us all get to know each other better.

Each Thursday I will post 3 questions for you to answer

that you can copy and post on your blog with your answers.

This way we not only get to know other bloggers,

we get to know our followers too.

I am really excited about this meme

and hope many more people will join the fun!!!!!

Are you interested?

Last week's questions were pretty heavy
but this week to some easier questions.

WEEK 22 QUESTIONS and MY ANSWERS

1. What time do you usually wake up each morning?

This week, I've had sleepless nights (you can read my post below about why I can't sleep) so I wake up at around 1 in the afternoon.

2. What time do you usually go to sleep each night?

Again, I'm still sleepless. I sleep around 4 AM.

3. Standing at the foot of your bed, do you sleep on the right side of the bed, left side of the bed, or do you have the whole bed to yourself?

Me and my sister share a room and at our old flat, I slept at the right side of the bed but now, I sleep on the left side of the bed.

Now be sure to copy and paste the information and your answers into your blog, then come back to link up, so we can come to your blog and read your answers.

I hope you will come back to this meme every week and tell your friends so we can all get to know each other better and get the answers to all the questions

Enquiring Minds Want To Know!!

I want to have a puppy

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:39:00 +0000

Okay, I haven't written for... how long again? See, I can't even remember. Really!

I've been busy reading and having visitors at our flat these past few days. Long story. And another that I want to confess, which kept me from blogging and everything else is because I fell in love with... nope! not someone... but I fell in love with a shih tzu. But actually, I fell in love with the idea of having one.

I became like... so addicted with Animal Planet on TV and then episodes of DOG 101. And there it started, I wanted to have a puppy. I thought about it for a few days and thought maybe time will make my feelings pass by - strong feelings of having a pup - but then I can't sleep, can't eat well and can't read much because I was there, using this net book or my phone to surf the net about puppies and dog breeds, how to take care of them, what they need and where to buy and everything else.

It's complicated for me. First of all, my mom is against it then comes the problem with the expenses but then more complications still.

I'm not sure whether there will be complete supplies for the needs of a dog here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since I've noticed that people here aren't dog lovers making me conclude that pet shops and or veterinarians here aren't that good with providing the needs of a pup if I would have one and I'm afraid it would die because of those circumstances. I'm afraid to hurt a baby such as a cute shih tzu pup but I really want to have one. I want to take care of one and play with it and cuddle with it and watch it grow older as I grow older, you know... those kinds of things. And take responsibility for it like a mom.

I really pray that I could have one and take care of it until it reaches the end of its days.

ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW WEEK 21

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:16:00 +0000

No, I am not a new Tabloid Reporter, but it is a feature so

that we can all get to know each other better.

Links to all previous weeks at the bottom of the post for those who missed a week or two and want to catch up on everyone's answers. To do that please link up using the actual post link instead of the link to your entire blog so people can find your "Enquiring" posts easier.

If you are just joining this feature

WELCOME!!!!!

We all become friends/followers but most of us will never meet in person, this feature is to help us all get to know each other better.

Each Thursday I will post 3 questions for you to answer

that you can copy and post on your blog with your answers.

This way we not only get to know other bloggers,

we get to know our followers too.

I am really excited about this meme

and hope many more people will join the fun!!!!!

Are you interested?

Last week's questions were pretty heavy

but this week to some easier questions.

WEEK 21 QUESTIONS

1. What is the outside temperature where you are today?

2. Do participate in any special winter sports or hobbies like skiing or snowmobiling, etc?

3. If you had to choose between a week long stay in a mountain lodge with lots of snow, activities, friends, food and beverages or a week alone on a deserted white sand island with just a bag of books and food and water which would you choose?

Now be sure to copy and paste the information and your answers into your blog, then come back to link up, so we can come to your blog and read your answers.

I hope you will come back to this meme every week and tell your friends so we can all get to know each other better and get the answers to all the questions

Enquiring Minds Want To Know!!

MY ANSWERS:

1. What is the outside temperature where you are today?

I'm not quite sure but it's today, like the past few days, it's cloudy today. The wind outside is cool and I definitely won't go out without a sweater. One thing is for sure, it's not hot outside, neither is it freezing.

2. Do you participate in any special winter sports or hobbies like skiing or snowmobiling, etc?

No. Since I grew up in the Philippines and there's no winter there. There's no winter here in Saudi Arabia, too so no. But whether it's sunny, rainy, or cloudy, windy or whatever the weather is, there's always a good book or magazine beside me to read or my notebook or phone where I can write my thoughts or compose a new poem.

I'll choose a week long stay in a mountain lodge with my friends. Better, if with my family. We could do lots of things there together whether it be a board game or much more fun games and activities. My friends spoil me a lot and a week with them will definitely be fun. :)

Now it's your turn!
Let's get to know YOU!!
This Enquiring Mind Wants To Know

Movie Marathon Again

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:24:00 +0000

Last night, I watched two Filipino movies - love stories.

I watched "Till My Heartaches End" first. A movie starring two of the most famous actors/actresses in the Philippines - Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu.

It's a movie about one girl having a boyfriend for the first time and a boy who finally finds the one he truly falls in love with after having many girlfriends in his past. They both have family problems but it isn't the main problem they are facing since the problem is the girl is focusing too much on the boy, she doesn't want to open up to anyone and widen her world anymore that's why they always fought. The boy grows afraid that they may hurt each other and that they could end up hating each other in the future if the problem isn't solved and the only solution he knows for the better of both of them is to break-up. Going on with their separate lives, they accept what they think they understand while they face the family problems they have been facing since childhood. They take that chance to fix up everything while they're on their own and one of them knows that they broke up not because they don't love each other anymore but because they love each other too much, they had to.

The other movie, on the other hand, is about family and love relationship. The actors/actresses in the movie are Claudine Baretto, Anne Curtis and Richard Gutierrez.

The older sister Ciara takes responsibility for her younger sister Julia since their mother died after giving birth to the latter and their father followed soon after. Ciara works in the United States and Julia followed after receiving her student visa. Storm, Julia's boyfriend joins her with a tourist visa.

To gain immigrant status, Julia desperately asks her sister Ciara who is already an American citizen, to get into an arranged marriage with Storm.

Storm and Julia starts to drift apart as Julia has been always busy with her studies and work leaving more time for Storm and Ciara to be together. Thus starting an unexpected love affair. Julia learns about this and Ciara breaks up with Storm for Julia but Julia is too hurt to accept her apologies and efforts.

This puts the sisters' relationship in jeopardy and they struggle to live without each other but the story goes and of course, I won't be putting what the ending is. You have to find out on your own.

Maybe I'll watch another movie today but I'm not sure. Whoah! It's already 1:30 PM here. I have to take a nap for tonight's plans. Ho-hum!

Reading Challenge Hunting

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:59:00 +0000

Yesterday, I've been hunting for reading challenges to join in for this month and for the whole year. I've joined in six from different blogs. It's posted on my other blog and the link could be found on the right side of this page. Check it out if you're hunting for reading challenges, too.

Besides my personal reading challenge of reading up to 50 books this year, I want to join more challenges. I have 35 in my to-be-read (TBR) list and I'm planning on reading all of them because I've been neglecting to check the remaining books in that list and read them so I decided to join the Off The Shelf Challenge wherein you have to read books from your TBR list which you have before joining the challenge. Adding another book to you TBR list and reading it, before joining the challenge, and including it in your number of books for the challenge is against the rules. That's how I understood it.

I'm thinking of actually putting this blog and my other blog together so I 'll just have one so it wouldn't be so confusing but I'm also considering if that'll make this blog messy. The thing is, how will I be able to put them together? I'll think about it again.

Stylish Blogger Award

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Wow! Thanks Rocio for awarding me the "Stylish Blogger Award"! And you have 2 of this award already? Really cool! I'm not sure if I can award 15 recently discovered great bloggers, too but I will check the blogs I'm following one by one again since I'm still a new "follower" to them.

Here are the rules if you are awarded:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they have won.

So... here are the 7 things about myself:

1. I have a sister who is practically my twin if she isn't 14 years younger than me.

2. I have a lot of notebooks including my journal and the notebooks where I'm writing and I've written my stories/sequels/poems/quotes.

3. I love stickers.

4. I keep a cute yellow dress right now which I can't really wear since I have this scar below my left knee.

5. I am an Aplastic Anemia/Bone Marrow Failure patient.

6. The color of journal right now is red, which isn't really my favorite color.

7. Right now, the apple of my eyes and the owner of my heart is still the same person.

I'm afraid I only have 8 blogs for the recently discovered great bloggers right now. They're the ones I often check and open. They're all great!

The 8 blogs I pick for recently discovered great bloggers from the ones I'm following are:

1. The Blue Bookcase

2. Jules' Book Reviews

3. words, words, words

4. The Perpetual Page-Turner

5. The Reading Life

6. Reading While Female

7. The Dream World Never Ends

8. Beyond Limits

In my opinion, all bloggers are great! It's just that every person has their own tastes and interests affecting their decision on who to follow and not to follow. Every one also starts a blog one post at a time and eventually will attract more followers who really get interested in following them, right?

Thanks again Rocio!

Have a great day! :)

Movie Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:02:00 +0000

The other day, I watched two movies - April Bride and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

I've been meaning to watch HP 7 soon as it was released here in the net but since my internet connection isn't excellent these days, I postponed and postponed watching it until the other day when I decided to do it. To actually wait for hours so I could finish watching the movie. At last, I'm done watching it but it left me hanging. I'm totally looking forward to the release of HP7 part 2 in the theaters. I'm going to watch it there because it's the final part of the whole story of Harry Potter and I want to watch it in a very large screen so I could appreciate it more. Watching HP7 part 1 in my net book lowered the excitement I had when I first wanted to watch it, moreover the low connection of the internet that ruined the mood. At least I knew what was happening in the movie since I already read the book itself and I wasn't getting lost even if the movie I watched was very choppy. When compared to the movie, reading the book was actually better than watching it. I've noticed that in novels turned to movies. I enjoy reading the books more compared to watching them because for me, the books are more detailed.

Anyway, "HP7 part 2, I'm looking forward to watch you in the theater".

The other movie, I watched was a Japanese movie about a couple married in church on April 5, 2007. At first glance, it was a typical wedding. The bride, however, was suffering from late-stage breast cancer and had been told that she only had a month to live.

The title of the movie is April Bride. To those of you who are okay with watching movies with a not-so-happy ending, you can watch this. It's very good and speaks of true love. I also love the music in the background when they were getting married. The title of the song is The Rose. You can check out the links I provided if you're interested in watching the movie or listening to the music.

A Room for Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Here are some pictures of how our (me and my younger sister of 8) room looks like.

The first and second picture are pictures I just took a while ago. It's our wall (above our bed) which we filled with stickers of fairies, flowers and butterflies yesterday. I want to encourage my sister's imagination and talents, which FYI, is seriously reflecting mine. I mean, she's like a mini me since everything I can do, she can do, too at her young age.

She has the heart for arts and crafts and writing, too. And she's starting to read books like I do. When she can't sleep, she reads the Bible or the prayer book we have or sometimes, the magazines I have and the new book she received last Christmas as gift (High School Musical). Oh, and she also likes puzzles like I do. We're practically like twins, in the sense that we have so much in common. She's like my clone LOLx.

The above picture is our closet which we also filled with stickers and the pretty girl in the pictures is me. hahah

This last picture is my work desk. That's my net book and my journal and the little notebook behind the net book is where I jot down the notes for the script I'm writing. The lavender purse is where I keep the scarf I told you about on my previous post. The calendar I have came from Bossini. Okay, now I noticed I haven't changed the date yet. Today's supposed to be 11.

I also have a table calendar which I didn't take a picture of. It's from the magazine "Computer Arts" I bought last month. Haven't really written anything in it yet except for some birthdays and the start and end date for Script Frenzy which is still going to be on April.

Okay, I've blabbed enough for today. I'm still thinking what I'll be doing today. Maybe knitting, writing the script or reading or maybe all of the above. Got to go on with today's activities. :)

A Project: Beading

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:26:00 +0000

These are photos I took yesterday of the bracelet and necklace I made from one of the gifts I accepted last Christmas - a bead set with a book about beading. I think the book will be very useful to me once I go back to the Philippines. There, I can start making jewelry and accessories again. I also took a picture of the book and here it is below:

It's a really cool gift. Thanks Tita Edith and Tito Alex! I really love it! :)

End of Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:08:00 +0000

End of Memories

Photo from: DEVIANT ART

I didn't expect my heart to find you special

I didn't think you'd make my life so jovial

You were someone who I didn't even notice the first time

I think you stole my heart, just that... one perfect crime.

We had too much fun and we built too many memories

It drowned me with happiness, too much for me to keep.

I can't remember when and where it begun

Though now it ended sadly like the setting sun.

Though it turned out and ended this way

I still keep our mem'ries and look at them in a special way

Sweeter than sugar, deeper than what's deep

Now turned bitter, sometimes I remember and just weep.

I remembered the way we looked in each other's eyes

Like you could see through me with no lies

The way you knew the color of my eyes are

Like no one has gotten to know me that far.

The way you stared at my lips when I speak

Maybe observing if it's dry or glossy, I felt it was sweet.

The way we clasped our hands every time we meet

Then our eyes meet and make that heart-melting greet.

I remember tousling and combing your hair with my fingers

The way you play with my hand, a mem'ry which still lingers.

The way we suddenly stare blankly into space

When the tension and sweetness reaches a pace too fast, leaving us dazed.

You were always beside me anywhere I went

You always took my hand wherever you were sent

You were the sweetest of all friends I ever had

I'm glad, there was that time we have met.

You wrote my name in the sand of the beach where we went

And I wrote yours then we connected it with the word "and".

Those kind of mem'ries almost slipped my mind

Which now I got to remember and got to find.

I even got to see that sunset in that beach with you

I even promised secretly, it would be the last sweet mem'ry I'd keep about us two.

Though every time I was with you, I was always happy

I decided to end it for both me and you.

I can't explain what feelings I have for you

I don't know these emotions I feel for you

Whatever they are turned me into something I didn't want to be

A demanding and jealous girl, I turned to be.

I also grew scared about our happiness being only temporary

That one day soon, you'll change and leave me

So before it happened, I decided to be the first one to leave

Even if I wasn't sure how to decide and what to truly believe.

First Knitted Project: Purse

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:38:00 +0000

My first attempt on a knitted project. It was supposed to be a scarf but I ended up making it into a purse for my phone. It looks loose but I think I'm getting the hang of it with the second project, which is a scarf, I'm making right now. I'm not sure when I'm going to finish it because I only do it when I feel like doing it.

I bought this book about knitting but I can't follow the directions from it properly so I watched a knitting lesson for beginners like me in YouTube with the link Knitting Tutorial for Beginners- 1. Slip Knot. The lessons begin with making the slip knot and then making your first stitch and then more of the lessons about knitting follow it. I didn't have a hard time getting the instructions more so than when I tried to read the directions in the book I bought. So, if you want to learn about, you can check that site.

Right now with my second knitting project, I chose the same color of brown above and a pretty pink color to use as combination. Wish me luck on it. Next time, I'm planning to make a sweater if I can pull it off. XD

My Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Claire) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:32:00 +0000

My Rescue

I was crying under the dark rainy sky

I was cold and alone, I kept asking why

Why did it have to end and be that way?

So many questions; No one knows what to say.

I felt it; All I thought was no one cared

I was stuck and to look forward I didn't dare

It was so dark; I couldn't see or hear anyone but that person

I could only think no one was worth but him for my attention.

I felt stranded and caged that I thought there was no other way

To escape the tears and the pain where I lay

I knew that I was drowning in my own misery

Then something happened; Someone came to rescue me.

I was still faint but I could already feel something different

I tried to open my eyes and heart to see what everything meant

Then I saw that the sky was already clear and warm

I felt safe when I realized someone was supporting my arm.

I lifted my face to look forward and see who was with me

And there you stood with your very warm smile directing at me

Suddenly all the pain was gone and I could breathe again

I couldn't remember anything painful and couldn't decipher where it all went.

I just looked in your eyes and felt the sincerity and innocence

The warmth from you makes me feel like I'm floating in the heavens

Overflowing happiness melts my heart and the whole of me

When you show up, look me in the eyes and smile at me sweetly.

Maybe He sent you to smile at me and let me know that life goes on

You're His way of saving me from being stuck in darkness for too long

That it was time to move on and forget the heartbreak from love and friendship

It was time that I meet new people and make new happy memories to treasure and keep.