Sick day
Mood:  chillin'
Didn't feel well at the start of the day... thought i'd end up emptying my stomach just to feel better... migraine :( Seems like my illnesses are getting to me, every week there's something wrong. But i still believe i'll overcome all this. God has healed me! Amen!

Heard about a sad episode in a friend's lovelife today. Even i got affected with her story! I'll try to cheer her up somehow. Maybe a slice of rich chocolate cake will do the trick :) Will send her one tomorrow.

Ohhh... It's one of those days... But it's these kinds of days that make you appreciate and look forward to better days :)

Making my website!
Mood:  a-ok
Wow... Finally. My own website! Didn't think i can get down to making one, but here it is! I'm ecstatic, but tired, too. My back hurts. But it's okay. Happy na rin ako with what i've done for today. Definitely more to come...

A Happy Celebration
Mood:  party time!
Noel & I invited some close friends to our home one Sunday afternoon after the Eucharistic Service to celebrate 3 important occasions in our lives: his birthday last April 6th, our wedding anniv last April 27th, and my birthday last April 28th. Although we were able to previously invite some church friends to our home, it was for a community gathering where the attendees brought food to be shared as well. This time -- the planning, preparation, invitations and the food we shared were all personally done by Noel & I :)

We both thought that having our close friends at our home and serving them with food that we prepared would be the best way to celebrate the faithfulness of God in our lives. Their friendships are those which we treasure and this is just one way of showing them our appreciation.

Everything that went into that affair was a product of the work of our hands -- the planning, preparation, invitations, and the food we shared. Noel prepared the Kare-Kare, Sinigang na Ulo ng Maya-Maya, & Inihaw na Liempo. I prepared the Buco-Fruit Salad and the Spaghetti with Chicken & Mushroom Sauce for merienda. Fr. Rockie led the prayer before meals. He even joked about Dcn. Joe leading another prayer, which amused everyone, because they all knew the zealousness and intensity of his prayers. Everyone felt relieved that they could already partake of the lunch :)

After lunch the children gathered infront of the TV to watch cartoons on DVD. It was just sad that Angela hurt herself when she played at the park. She grazed her elbows and knees, but Fr. Rockie took care of her and seated together with the children as they enjoyed the movies while munching on popcorn.

The girls, on the other hand, had their own bonding time at the long table and talked about all sorts of topics while having brewed coffee, and later on popcorn & nacho chips. The men, of course, had their own group and stayed at the area where the trees were, enjoying the breeze at that part of the house while washing down the heavy lunch with steaming brewed coffee, and then later on invigorated themselves with cold beer in cans. Joseph entertained his friends by playing family computer games at the living room.

I was able to sit with the girls after serving the pasta and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. There was a big band that performed almost infront of our house together with majorettes -- all from the students from a school that the fiesta organizers invited to perform in celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph the Laborer. It was a great time to celebrate! God truly set aside the time for us to gather together in fellowship.

After everyone had left, I eagerly opened the gifts that we received. One is a very elegant photo frame from Fr. Rockie & Wina, which according to Wina was chosen personally by Father. I told her it deserves an equally beautiful photo, preferably a studio shot, because the one we had was taken when Joseph was only around 5-7 years old yet. The other one was given by longtime friends, Dcn. Mannie & Tess Diaz, it was a chime, but not the kind that you hang on doorways or windows, but the tabletop kind. It now sits on top of the sidetable in our bedroom which occasionally rings a delicate chime whenever air blows through the room.

I love receiving gifts especially when they are given by people close to my heart. For that, Noel & I are wholeheartedly thankful :) Our thanks goes to each & everyone -- both adults & children -- who made our afternoon such a memorable one. I didn't have any photos taken of the affair, but we certainly won't forget how precious and happy were the moments we spent with all of them.

A Child's Sweet Countenance
Mood:  blue
As i took my usual tricycle ride home, i was immediately drawn to the one who was ridden not only by the driver, but also by his family -- his wife seated behind him, a little girl in front of him, and even before i could take my seat inside, i already caught a glimpse of another little girl seated on the small metal makeshift seat. As i took my seat, i gazed at her and saw how beguiling her countenance was. Her skin was fair, her feet were bare but clean, had disposable diapers on, and a baby pink sando with a cute ribbon on the neckline. Her shoulder length black hair was a bit tousled, her lips were pressed together in a sweet, innocent smile and her round, black eyes fixed on mine, as if she was greeting me in her own unique manner. I couldn't fix my eyes on her the whole time because the tears that were welling up in my eyes will come streaming down my face though i gave her the sweetest smile i could make to make her feel at home with me though i was a total stranger. I shifted my sight to the other girl seated on top of the motorbike's gas tank who had the same outfit on, and thought maybe these girls are twins. I couldn't decide whether to ask the little girl who was inside the cab with me to sit beside me instead of the metal makeshift seat or carry her on my lap. She just sat there the whole ride to our place, with her left hand firmly grasping the nearest metal handle so that she won't get off-balance. I usually cover my nose & mouth with my hanky whenever i ride non-aircon PUV's to avoid the pollution, but at that time, i simply couldn't do so seeing how those girls, who have probably accompanied their parents the whole day as they traveled the same route for a living, have inhaled all that smog & pollution and exposed their young bodies to the exhausting heat of the day. As we neared our subdivision, i spoke to the girl beside me and asked her how old she was. She didn't respond and kept quiet until I got off even though i asked her several times and even put up my fingers to show her what i meant. I usually give my fare even before i got off, and just wait for the change after i've gotten out of the cab, but then last night, i wanted to briefly chat with their father so i paid my fare after i got out of the cab. I asked him if they were twins and he said yes. As we spoke, he noticed that the girl in front of him was already falling fast asleep, with her head slightly drooping forward. He gazed behind him hoping his wife would take care of the child, but he was surprised to see that she's no longer there. Companions of tricycle drivers usually get off at the gate, i think it's a policy of the subdivision. So i suggested to him to put her inside the cab so she can lay down, and he agreed, saying "salamat po" before finally turning around to leave. I told Noel about it when i got inside the house and even joked about asking him to go back to the terminal and look for the family so she can tell the father that i want to adopt the little girl. I also told Joseph what happened and he silently listened. They knew how much i love little girls and fervently hopes i'd have my own in God's own time :)