Undo

I really like word processing UNDO and even back space feature. Although backspace is already available during the manual typewriter days, backspace only takes you to the previous space, more like a left cursor is doing. During those times, the combination of liquid paper or correction fluid rather and backspace key are used when erasing and overwriting manuscript mistakes.

With the recent technology, not only we enjoy a softtouch keyboard but we also enjoy the combination of correction fluid and backspace in a single backspace key or even better, the UNDO feature. If backspace can erase a letter one step back, UNDO takes you not only a single letter but several steps back. It can be typing of a whole sentence, spacing, font color or any formatting or any wordprocessing tool you can think of.

This morning, I got mad and upset by the little boys. We had an agreement that they will complete the worksheet I prepared for them in preparation for their exams. So as not to pressure them, I just let them finish the worksheet on their own time. I went inside our bedroom, took a short nap and was awakened by the noise in the livingroom where I left the boys working on their respective worksheets. As I step out of the room, they were playing by the window with our neighbors. Much to my disappointment, I got mad and raised my voice as I burst in anger. I could have said so much mean words and hurt they boys feeling. But I cannot take those back. I cannot go back in time to be calm as I talk to them. How I wish I can backspace or much more UNDO the things that happened few minutes after waking up from that nap.

Time and always I keep telling myself to be patient and calm in dealing with the boys because whatever happens from outbursts can no longer be undone. I would like to believe I am a work in progress and still a long way to go in learning to be a good parent. My prayer is that no matter what, my boys will have wisdom as I try to talk to them and make them understand that sometimes, mom is going to be upset but no matter what, mom always loves them.

Vintage

Along with my closest friends, I joined an organization when I was in college - Junior Philippine Computer Society. I found some photos on our "tambayan" (place where we hang out) and events during our JPCS days.

Materials used: Bad girls kits; Maya road flourish chipboard; doodlebug glitter

Morning Rush

Every morning this week has been chaotic. Bujoi wakes up late so we have to rush on our daily weekday routine getting dress for school and work. Add to that, I have to spend 5-10 minutes for my daily litany as our household help has not been so effective lately. It's the litany that is becoming so tiring and disappointing.

Don't we just feel our life to be always in a middle of storm? It could be life's "little storm" from morning rush to office deadlines, for your own financial problems to global crisis, from coughs and colds to severe case of pneumonia, from relationship problems to separations?

We feel so much pressure that the world is falling on us? We feel the waves eating us, the gush of wind throwing us away?

We feel helpless and we want to cry out for help.

This is what the disciples felt when they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. A large storm comes up with the waves beating the ship that the boat threatens to sink. And Jesus was asleep. So all the more the disciples were scared. Jesus remained sleeping despite the commotion probably because He wanted to test the faith of his disciples.

Are you feeling the same way? In the midst of a storm, crying out for help but nobody listens? God must be testing your faith. Cry out harder. Open your heart and burdens to Him, and there you will find His lovingkindness, His gentle hands taking all your worries away. Let Him control your life just as he can calm the raging storm, He will bring you peace.

Reference: Mark 4:35-40

It's a New Month

Can't believe January is over. It feels like yesterday when we ushered the new year, all with high hopes, resolutions and plans for the year.

Keeping just one resolution works for me, i think.

Stewardship.

Tribe - I have been consciously looking for Made in the Philippines in all my purchases. Except for one, though. One night, we passed by the Fort, I suddenly felt craving for Sonja's cupcake. Sonja's cupcake with all its goodness and cost is a luxury for me. So we stopped by Serendra to get some cupcake. While I was at the store, I noticed several mini American flags displayed all over. Its as if I was transported to another place and I did not feel right. Was it because I was breaking my resolution? Or was it I was disappointed thinking that it's something Filipino made which I can be proud of but I was wrong.

Treasure - we had a good start on giving our tithes to our church. It's the attitude of giving that you acknowledge that God can meet and even surpass all your needs.

Territory - We have never used our aircon for the whole month. That means we help reduced carbon dioxide emission and that's our share for our environment. I just hope everyone realizes that we need to sacrifice a little for our Mother Earth and even for our own sake.

Time - I will not give myself a passing mark here. I am still struggling to make use of my time wisely. I know there are still wasted time, so I just have to be productive during idle times.

Talent - I have been teaching in Sunday School for the past three weeks. I hope that kids will learn more about Jesus as I try to share my knowledge to them.

Tradition - hmm...maybe it's time to begin a family tradition that we can pass on to the coming generations....

That's it...so far so good...

Friday is weigh in day

Since I have decided to lose weight, I tried to list down my food intake for the day and try to do a little bit of exercise.

Here's my food intake for the week:

Monday food diary:
Breakfast - a bowl of oatmeal
Lunch - cup of rice; kare kare; fish fillet and chicken; iced tea
Dinner - salad
Snacks - custard cake

No wonder I am not losing weight.

Monday exercise journal:Threadmill and Weight training

Tuesday food diary:
Breakfast - one serving porridge
Lunch - beef topping
Dinner - salad
Snacks - asado roll
Water - 4 glasses

Wednesday food diary:
Breakfast - bread; one serving melon
Lunch - half cup rice; sinigang
Dinner - half cup rice; sinigang (obviously, leftover from lunch)
Snacks - mango
Water - 4 cups

Thursday food diary:
Breakfast - champorado and tuyo and one serving melon
Lunch - 1 cup rice and caldereta
Dinner - 1 cup rice and dinengdeng
Water - 8 cups

Thursday exercise journal: Walking around the block approximately 5000 steps, which is just half the required 1000 steps

Friday food diary
Breakfast - Tuna Pasta and bread
Lunch - Tuna Pasta
Dinner - Pizza and Coke
Water - 4 glasses

Friday exercise journal: Walking around the block

Weight for the week: 138 lbs

Alone

A dear friend left on a business trip to Kazachstan. She will be there for more than one month. Prior to my move to Makati earlier this year, it'w been months or years that we never had the chance to get together. She is usually on a business trip and I'd understand that on occasions that she's here, it's a time to make up for her family.

Phen is high school and college classmate and long time bestfriend. And now that we were few buildings away, We often had lunch together and sometimes go to tiangge for some good finds. Before she left, our last bonding activity was a trip to a nearby salon to get a haircut.

Now for the next two months, I am faced with the reality that no more lunch outs, no more trip to tiangge. But these are not the only things I will miss. It is the company of a long time friend. Someone I am very comfortable with and just being me when I am with her.

Wanna be

I have always been drawn to art - music, painting, drawing, writing - but art never finds its way through me... until i discovered photography. Now I have a medium to express my love for art. With the lens as my canvass, i can paint the beauty of God's creation, my children's pretty smiles and glowing eyes; all the things that surround me and everything i wanted captured and framed.

Photo courtesy of my idol and friend alan borras 1/2007

I really admire those who are very passionate about this hobby and has an eye for art. Me, I am just too lazy to bring my camera and shoot. And if ever I brought my camera, I am not so trigger happy.

And normally, I do not post my pictures online. I just don't think they are worth sharing. And just yesterday, some friends were asking for my shots. And I just have to give in.

Here are some of my wanna be attempts:

These pictures were taken using point and shoot camera.. Too bad I did not bring my SLR camera on my trip to Shanghai.

Doesn't really look like I have what it takes to be one.

34/34

When it comes to losing weight, i am really a loser. Three weeks ago, I seriously planned on losing weight. I wrote down my starting weight, my current weight, my personal goal and my overall goal. I planned my exercises for the week and note down all my food intake. I was able to sustain only for one week. Going through my food diary, I must say that I am bound to fail. And truly, I am not only far from my goal, but worst is I am getting farther and farther away. I gained 4 lbs since my initial weigh in. I was 134 and now, I am 138. For health reasons, I have to take this seriously. Otherwise, my number will be 34/34...meaning my waistline is 34 at 34 years old...or it could get worst I will end up with serious health problems just because I am overweight.

Am I a listener?

Maybe I am not. I have noticed that most of the time, I interrupt when someone is talking and challenge what someone said and sometimes find the negative in the things that were said. Why can’t I just let the person finish the statement before saying a word. After all, we should treat everyone with respect, including those who are talking.

If I agree with the statement, I should wait for my turn to talk and if I disagree with what has been said, all the more I should wait, because with a few more minutes delay, I can think over and come up with a better way to say it or better yet, even find something good with have been said.

And reading a friend’s email, I came across this message at the end of his mail:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)


What a coincidence. I believe it is time to time to learn a better communication style. And what is better than listening first and then thinking of the best way to say it and say it positively

Stewardship Month

August is the Stewardship Month in our church. Stewardship is not only all about tithing and giving to church. It is more of managing what has been entrusted to you. Imagine, we came on earth with nothing and only lived through God's provision. All that we have, all the things we have learned, experience, everything belongs to him. I know this is an area of my life that I need to surrender to God. Whenever I have given to the church, I felt like I have done my obligation and I have been a good steward. But that is not enough. God has dealt with me with the way I handle and manage what He has entrusted me – my family, job, finances, time, talent.

And so I prayed and this morning surrendered this area of my life to Him. I know God is with me and will bless me as I go through times of transition.

Quarterly exams

Bujoi is on his second year in Junior Casa and I am still in denial that he is actually on a formal education. Since JC1, he's been spending time doing his homework and reviewing for exams. To think, he should be enjoying his childhood, playing and sleeping. Just the regular carefree childhood days I had. Looking back, I cannot even remember what I was doing at his age then.

And now, it's the time of the year - the first quarter exam. The quarterly exams are one of the school activities I dread most. I spend hours and hours going through his book preparing his reviewers few nights before the exam. Aside from that I have to drag Bujoi out of his playing time to sit down and review. We sit down for 15 minutes and off he goes again. I do not want to pressure him with the exams. For him to cooperate and just go through the lesson are much more than I expect from him. And Bujoi never fails to disappoint us because I can see that he knows and understands his lessons.

But still, I think he should grow up as a normal child who enjoyed his childhood. We do the review just to ensure that he understands his lessons and for us parents to be assured that we get what we pay for =). Whatever reward we get from it will just be icing on the cake.