Kairos

It's a bit late but I just have to post this. There is always a first time in everything, and I believe, we never forget those "firsts" in our lives. So here are a couple of things that I've done during the last few weeks for the very first time. Dec. 24th -- The Aguirres invited us to their family gathering on Christmas Eve. So I got to join the kids in decorating gingerbread men and sugar cookies. This was my very first time to decorate a gingerbread man cookie! In the Philippines, not a lot of families bake. In fact, most average families I know do not even own an oven. That's why I've never done this before. It was a lot of fun. I was like a kid again. Thanks to the Aguirres / Brighams. See more Vicky's blog on this. Dec. 30th - We had an excursion with the Logans to the famed Clot Family Christmas display in Pinecrest. I have heard about this for several years now but never got to see the display until tonight. It was like an amusement park for kids...

Year 2007 is soon to be officially over in a couple of days. As I bid adieu to this year, I know that 2007 will definitely leave an indelible mark in my spirit. This year I have battled and fought, overcome and conquered the many obstacles that life brought my way. It all began in October 2006 when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, an invasive ductal carcinoma stage 4 which at that time had already metastasized to her bones, lymph nodes and skin. But even this horrible news did little, if anything, to put me down. I knew there would be an uphill battle ahead of me, but I prepared myself. I put on God's full armor and held on to God's promises in His word as tight as I could. So as the year 2007 came rolling in, I was ready. My heart was expectant of the Lord's miracles to take place in my life and in my family. I even went as far as boldly declaring 2007, being a year ending with the perfect number 7, as the year of PERFECTION - a year when everything in my life w...

I found this Christmas Version of 1 Cor 13... it's interesting. The kind of reminder we all need for this season.... If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not share the true meaning of Christmas, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not demonstrate kindness to strangers, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another...

Today was particularly a day of missing my mother. I don’t know w hy. I just happened to look at a picture taken during the last time I was with her months ago (in the airport) and my heart began to ache. I miss her everyday. I’m never much of a writer, but here's the little poem I wrote just to express what I felt today. Here you go......... Merry Christmas, Mama You left us not too long ago All too soon, I never expected it so. Your body has suffered, So much pain you have had endured. But despite all that you were going through, My father and I, you continued to place before you. You fought the illness, displayed inner strength In Christ you held on, you never lost faith. Meeting the Lord, you were much prepared. This I am certain, and I am very blessed. There’s nowhere better than where you are now With Jesus in heaven, to whom you bow. To you, I never got to say goodbye. Thinking about this still bring tears to my eye. I was not beside you when your last moment came If I can...

Ever wonder what is happening to the rest of the world during this holiday season? Well, I just began to think about this after reading what happened in China last week. According to AsiaNews, police in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong have violently arrested 270 pastors from house Churches for taking part in an “illegal religious gathering” (for a bible meeting) in the district of Hedeng near the city of Linyi. An eyewitness reported that the raid was quick and brutal. Allegedly, 50 policemen "stormed the meeting place, blindfolded and handcuffed them two-by-two," then hauled them off to headquarters for "questioning." While 120 were fined with "an interrogation tax" and released, dozens of others await their fate under a regime with a history of vicious religious persecution and zero tolerance for the underground church movement. This underground church movement is now estimated to have over 10 million members. This recent incident is clear evid...

This is a TARSIER , the smallest monkey in the whole world found in the Philippines (specifically in the island of Bohol, central Philippines). They're fast becoming extinct, so the government is taking extra efforts in preserving them. Doesn't it look more like a rat? But no, it's a monkey.. Tarsiers are so small that they can fit comfortably in the palm of your hands. They're nocturnal creatures, so this one is sleepy. Oh, this ain't a Tarsier. But this is "JOE-nkey" , my banana-eating-hubby.... LOL! (Love you babe!)

I am tired. As of my writing this blog, I've only slept for a couple of hours. This is because I've had calls from the Philippines almost every couple of hours last night. The last call being at 6:00 am this morning, just when I was finally dozing off! Yeah, you guessed it. Another situation came up with my father. The girl that's taking care of him (her name is Marilyn) had to go home to her family. Her mother has an emergecy medical situation, and Marilyn needs to go home immediately as her mother might not have much time left anymore! Since Marilyn came to work for us, I've been depending on heavily on her. She has truly been a blessing from God. She is our full time household help cum caregiver of my parents. And now that my mom is gone, it's just her and my father that's left in the house. When I was in Cebu, I tried to find another person to hire to be with my father and Marilyn but found no one. I wanted another one just incase things like this might happ...

As an act of applauding Condoleeza Rice for her recent fearless action, I am sharing with you in verbatim an article that I lifted off from the Family Research's Council's emailed newsletter. When I read this, I thought that this is worth sharing with everyone. It is so encouraging to know that there are still those who are willing to stand up for what they believe in..... Read up and you'll understand. Rice Steamed By Domestic Dispute As Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is used to dealing with civil unrest overseas. This month, however, it's an internal conflict in her department that's received the most attention. After 26 years service in the Foreign Service, Michael Guest, the U.S. ambassador to Romania, resigned in protest of the State Department's policy on homosexual and cohabiting partners. Frustrated that his boyfriend wasn't granted the same privileges as married spouses, Guest met with the Secretary personally and asked her to reconsider the ...