The N95 Dilemma

Shayne, my 15-year-old niece, is having an early black Friday.

Last night, she made Trisha cry and was slamming everything at home. The pitiful girl fell asleep hugging her pillow with remnants of tears on her cheeks.

To make the matter worst, she woke up this morning with hoarse voice because of crying for a long time.

The reason? Here…

…the N95 cell phone which made her totally freak out.

It was just the other night when Shayne was told by her dad that her mom has this new gadget. As always, Shayne wants it for herself.

For some reasons, her mom and dad didn’t give in easily this time- much to Shayne’s chagrin.

After all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with her current cell phone...

The girl is thinking that she deserves a reward for a job well-done in school this year. But, N95 series? The girl must be dreaming…

Her dad told her that she needs to earn it. How? They're still contemplating on it.

Meanwhile, the ill-tempered Shayne continue her sour mood and I opt to be in the safe side by staying quiet so as to avoid a total chaos at home…may I have enough patience to endure her tantrums this time.

This will be my own cross for the Lenten Season.

Kids!!!

Filed under: 
Inspirational Articles/ Daily Blog

More Articles:
Travel
Thoughts/ Opinions

No Time Poem

In observance of the Lenten Season, let me share with you this wonderful poem I have received from a friend...

NO TIME 

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. 

I had to hurry and get to work for bills would soon be due. 

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, 

And jumped up off my knees 

My Christian duty was now done 

My soul could rest at ease. 

All day long I had no time 

To spread a word of cheer. 

No time to speak of Christ to friends, 

They'd laugh at me I'd fear. 

No time, no time, too much to do, 

That was my constant cry, 

No time to give to souls in need. 

But at last the time, the time to die. 

I went before the Lord, 

I came, I stood with downcast eyes. 

For in his hands God held a book; 

It was the book of life. 

God looked into his book and said 

Your name I cannot find. 

I once was going to write it down... 

But never found the time. 

-Anonymous- 

Filed under: 
Inspirational Articles/ Daily Blog

More Articles:
Travel
Thoughts/ Opinions

Values that I Hold Dear to My Heart

"Don’t lie, don’t cheat, be kind, be respectful…"

As a little kid, I was bombarded with these words by people around me. It was always followed with, “Or else Jesus would be mad at you.”

It was that fear of making Jesus angry that prodded me to be cautious of all my actions. I remember that in everything I did, I would look up to His image in the altar. We have His big portrait and whenever I gazed at it, His eyes were staring directly at me.

It was my desire to please Him that at an early age of ten I began reading the bible. I learned to love parables which made my two younger sisters considered me as weird because I would spend my summer vacations reading.

My mother taught us how to pray the rosary at a very young age. She recited it in Spanish (or Latin? I’m not really sure) that I couldn’t remember much except, “Arapronorbis” I spelled it as I pronounced it that time.

What does it mean? I guess it’s “Pray for us”, because I could recall that it was almost at the latter part whenever we would say it. Oh, I also remember the words, “Santificado” and “Nuestros”; I have no vaguest idea what they mean. They seemed like a far echo of yesteryears.

I have no idea either where my mother learned how to pray the rosary in this language. As my siblings and I grew up, we learned to adapt the Bicol translation and later on the English. None of us learned how to pray it the way my mother did.

The praying of the rosary sometimes ended up with me and my sisters being reprimanded for not praying quietly or not reciting our part together with my big sisters. My mother would say that God is watching us and we were not showing respect to Him.

The values instilled within me sort of rooted from fear. Fear to anger God, fear to be in hell (I had recurring nightmares because of this), and fear to make anybody mad at me. I guess nobody was successful enough to enlighten me that there’s more raison d'être why I should live with those values.

I watched my every step hoping that I won’t commit mistakes. Whenever I did, I would have sleepless nights and conscience would plague me relentlessly. It was always accompanied by bad dreams.

I became slave of my fear that before I do things, I would look up at the sky or stare at Jesus’s image in the altar hoping that I won’t make anybody mad. That trepidation guzzled my sagacity of why I should do the right things.

As I ventured in the world of maturity, I started to dig deeper why people should not cheat and lie, and be kind and respectful…without being indoctrinated by the past.

It’s not fear that’s supposed to rule how people should act but the realization that when I cheat, I’m fooling myself, when I lie I’m being dishonest with myself, when I speak ill of others it says what kind of person I am, and when I am unkind towards others it shows what kind of heart I have.

Simple rationale which could have made a big difference…

On the affirmative side, growing up that way also helped me in a manner that I became more cautious with my actions towards others. It prompted me to have deeper communion before doing anything.

Now, that I’ve grown up, my values are no longer imprisoned by fear. I came to realize that God is not an angry God; He doesn’t punish or get mad with little kids. 

Some things never changed though. I still have nightmares whenever I commit sins. The occasional white lies and unintentional cruelty towards others are enough to give me sleepless nights…not because I am afraid God would punish me but because I know that I caused pain to others.


You see, it’s the silhouette of core values positively imparted that must speak of who we are…not fear. 

Filed under: 
Inspirational Articles/ Daily Blog

More Articles:
Travel
Thoughts/ Opinions

Life as an Aunt

For the past few days, my brain munched and gulped down for breakfast, lunch and dinner the words such as congruence, angles, perpendicular, Pythagorean, electronegativity, meitnerium, darmstadtium, ununquadium, one plus one, two and three letter- words, parts of the body, kennel and months of the year.

They made me rolled my eyes, clasped my hands tightly and uttered silent prayer of forbearance. I guess having six-year-old and 15-year-old girls at home was enough to put you on the occasional brink of losing your sanity.

It’s almost the end of the school year so it’s no wonder why the house was in total chaos. My two nieces, Shayne and Trisha are completing their final requirements in school and examination is one of them.

Of course, since it would be the last it only means burning midnight oil if they don’t like to be in the same level next year- Shayne is in 9th grade and Trisha is in Senior Kindergarten.

It felt like I’ve been blasted from the past with their lessons. I’ve been so tough with them that after long days of studying, they now have big circles around their eyes.

The girls seemed to have finally recovered from their ordeals. But after being bombarded with 9th grade and kindergarten lessons, I think I’ve suffered with “study lag” and my brain swirled and twisted.

Trisha’s shriek of laughter in the darkness of the house tonight finally made me realized that it’s indeed over. The power interruption which lasted for almost an hour gave me some time of fun with her while Shayne worked with the help of the candle on her book reports.

I tickled her relentlessly until such time that she was rolling on the floor with laughter. It was like music in the ears. It actually means that she doesn’t think of me anymore as monster after those tough hours of studying.

Her laughter also reminded me of the things that I should be grateful for. Having them in my life is actually a blessing.

Here are the top ten hilarious and touching things I have gleaned from spending a year with the two girls:

1. As their tiny limbs hug you, you will realize what a blessing is.
2. Good times mean teasing, bantering words, and PESTERING me.
3. Kids fall asleep better when you tell them, “Good night, sweet dreams, see you tomorrow, God bless, and I love you both”. I’ve been saying that practically every night and whenever I fail to do so, they would wake me up and won’t stop harassing me unless I say it.
4. They want milk whenever we ran out of it.
5. Kids are the most honest creatures. They’ll call your visitor ugly without blinking of an eye.
6. Quiet nights mean tickling, tickling and endless tickling. They seemed not to run out of energy.
7. Kids considered anybody who’s “cute” for them as their "boyfriend".
8. They imitate and buy everything they see in television.
9. Going to the church means lecture- not from the priest but from me.
10. Wearing the same color and style of dress like them is enough to make them giggle the whole day.

The big toothless grin, the shriek of laughers that echoed in the house, the warm hugs from tiny limbs…the veil of innocence. Now, those are real happiness...right?

Happy hugging of your angels... 

Filed under: 
Inspirational Articles/ Daily Blog

More Articles:
Travel

Thoughts/ Opinions 

Heart’s Wishes

As I lay daydreaming 

In the comfort of the room 

I thought of your sad face 

So serious and forlorn. 

Beads of tears ran down my cheeks 

So swiftly I couldn’t get a grip 

My heart ached with your pain 

Your sorrows so deep I couldn’t bear.

My heart wished it could express better the depth of care 

Or utter it painstakingly until you could feel 

The cries of love might be loud enough for you to hear 

Oh, I wish…how I wish… 

Thy heart speaks of longing so ardent 

To caress your face to cuddle your head 

The ember of love may light up your face 

And let loose of that pain so intense. 

I wish my love could cradle you 

Hug your spirit and lulled you to a tranquil sleep 

I wish in dreams you’ll forget your worries 

Into the dreamy wonderland may your worries vanish. 

My heart wished as you gaze up at the stars 

You’ll see the brightest one I sent and painted with love 

May it sooth your heart and thy plight afar 

Oh, I wish…how I wish… 

Filed under: 
Inspirational Articles/ Daily Blog

More Articles:
Travel
Thoughts/ Opinions