This post from Kuya Kevin really cracked me up this morning.

Filipinos really do have gestures unique to our culture. Like raising both eyebrows to mean yes or to say “Hi” (the one Kuya Kevin wrote about) and the lip-pouting to show direction (which his reader commented about).

 

I laughed so hard imagining foreign guys who have learned Philippine culture so well pouting their lips to point direction.  Their friends and family might get a huge shock!

 

And yeah, Filipinos really do pout soooo often esp. when saying “doon” or “over there”. The lips really do follow the direction we`re pointing to.

 

I think it`s quite cute.  But so funny to think of guys unconsciously doing it in front of westerners. Hilarious!

 

Here are the links! Everything on the list this week is my favorite!

 

Filipino Gestures by Kuya Kevin

What Finding Yourself Really Means by Holly Gerth

How Ordinary You Holds Extra Value by Bonnie Gray

Dear Body by Laura Parker

Aaaahk! Sorry for the recent blog silence! This week`s been pretty much cool and busy. But I`ve got good news! My sister Ava won the contest and landed on the top 3 spot. She went home with a crown.

 

My youngest sister was very funny `cause she couldn`t accept Ava not being in the top spot. After all, Ava`s the only one who answered the question while the others failed. Viola was searching for justice and the night after the contest, she was joking of not being able to sleep. ;)

 

But anyhow, we saw God`s hand in that and I`m proud of my sis because I know she knows her worth and she wasn`t in there to compete at all. Viola was really so funny, `cause she was reminding her older sister even on stage of the reason why she was there. Viola was screaming “Glory” and no one, except the 3 of us girls, understood what it meant.

 

I laughed so much the entire night.

 

Anyway, it`s Friday and here are the linkies! Beautiful, beautiful reads!

 

Thank you for still being there in spite of the silence!

 

Bloom Where You`re Planted by Lisa

The Power of Forgiveness by Jennifer

Why Hard Questions Are Good For God-Sized Dreams by Bonnie

No Person He Won`t Touch (Next Door Savior Excerpt) by Max Lucado

Grace Windows: Hope and Healing for the Forsaken by Stacy

 

PS. Oh, dear! It`s already July here in the Philippines! I can`t believe time flies quickly! I`m halfway through my planner! I`ll let you into a little peak sometime this week! My journal and planner keeps a lot of stories about God`s goodness!

 

Goodbye June! Welcome July!

 

Photo Credits: Baby Green Tea

and FairyCastle on Tumblr.

I`m laughing at myself now. My blog looks like it turned into a wedding blog in just a day.

 

But will you forgive me and let me pass this time? This flipbook is SOOOOO cute.

 

Well, you can use it for birthdays, your Mom`s birthday, or on Father`s day (hehe Lame excuse!)

 

FLIPBOOK SAVE THE DATE from Chris Nagle on Vimeo.

 

But I got another one for you. Since it`s close to Father`s day and my Dad`s birthday is next week…

 

 

Share it with your Dad and say it loud with me…

I love you, Pop!

Thank you to my sister Ava for this link. Lovely, lovely song.

 

Good night, my dear friends!

 

May Jesus cradle you tonight as you sleep and listen to this song.

 

 

Love,

Cathy

 

Oops! I haven`t been posting my reading links for over a month now. And I`m wondering if the title above is still appropriate. “Weekly” when I`m actually doing it monthly or like twice in a month.

 

Anyway, here are the links! The week I was away, I tried my best not to engage so much on social media and even resisted the temptation to read blogs. I felt like I needed to quiet down my life for a while, away from the busy, noisy blogosphere and media networks.

 

And I`m finding that I`m not the only one needing a break from it all. Do you sometimes feel you need to step back from your computer for a while?  Aaah! I am comforted! (Pastor Jaeson Ma left today for a 40-day stay in a monastery, with no phones and internet) I felt that I needed silence in my life so I could listen to His voice much clearer and easier, without having to cut through all the noise around my head.

 

For one week, I got to enjoy working in the kitchen, chatting with my the family non-stop, and yes, peace of mind. I  really can`t imagine living without gadgets and internet and all. But for the first time in my life, I felt it`s actually great when you`re away from it all.

 

Here`s what I`ve been reading this week, and the week before my break. Enjoy!

 

40 Days In A Monastery: I`m Going To Become A Farmer, Jaeson Ma

Just Breathe by Annie Downs

Warm Toasted Marshmallow S'more Bars

I Fear A Cage by Alyssa Chua

If Your Heart`s Breaking Just A Bit by Ann Voskamp

Why We Are Afraid To Quit by Bonnie Gray

On Material Things by Jessica Turner

 

 

Photo Credits: cityofsmiles and

tumblrphotographyxox on Tumblr.

My Weekly Reading Link List

This had been a very hectic week for me. I had a lot of video editing projects lined up, a couple of speaking engagements and other commitments to fulfill, so I feel a little stressed and pressured to fit everything I`ve got to in do in such a short time.

 

Yesterday, I got a little spare time to spend for myself so I picked out a few articles to read. Some made me laugh, some were a little bit tough, others are just enough to inspire me to blog and never stop writing. So here are they. Hope you`ll have a great time reading them too.. ;)

 

1. Tuesday Tips for Writers: Why You Should Still Blog, OMF Lit Blog

2. 8 Writing Tips from CS Lewis, OMF Lit Blog

3. Excerpts from the book Captivating by Stasi Eldredge

4. The Meaning of Love by John Thomas, Boundless

5. How Soon is Too Soon? by Candice Walters, Boundless

6. Elisabeth Elliot Quotes

7. Lovestruck: Love Mo Siya, Sure Ka Ba?  (Lovestruck: You Love Him, Are You Sure?), Ronald Molmisa, OMF Literature. Read sample chapter here.