How have you been doing guys?

The past week has been so much fun and busy in our home. Have I told you before that we’ve opened our house to missionaries and pastors from our home church in Japan? Yup, so every couple of months we’ve got friendly visitors staying with us and every single time we’ve got new lessons and  stories to share.



I’m not gonna say entertaining pastors is easy-peasy (‘Cause you have to be excellent in cooking and cleaning and all that. LOL) but it’s sooooo much fun and there’s so much joy in your heart, it overflows! And the wisdom and the friendship we gain from the loving, caring wise men of God we entertain in our house is priceless! I guess I’ve learned really important lessons of faith and love from little chats with my Dad’s pastor friends and it's really a humbling experience everytime.




I’m also learning so much from my parents during these times of “entertaining”, as they open our home to men of God. I learned that opening your house also means opening your heart. Serving. Following and obeying God. Being Christ-like. It’s our family’s part in serving and I’m humbled and honored to do such thing.


Last Sunday, in church, our guest pastor asked, “What do you have in your house (that you can offer to God)?”. It’s funny to think my parents would say “Oh, our whole house…You can stay in our house”. And I remembered the Shulamite woman who offered Elijah a room and  who offered him something to eat.


Sometimes, I think we don’t live a normal life (LOL), but at the end of the day, the things that you learn and the greater opportunities to love and care and serve are few of the best things a person can have in this life. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to love and serve great men of God. Because when I serve them, I’m also serving Jesus.

How about you? What do you have in your house that you can offer to God?

It’s 1am and my day is just ending. For the past couple of months, things had been like this. Waking up early and off to bed really late. And many, many times I feel like the day is not enough to finish all the things that need to get done.



Do you sometimes also feel like this? When there are so much stuff to do, so much lessons to study, so much tasks to accomplish?

When this times come, I remember this little quote from Twitter I saw a couple of months ago. It really is simple but has been very instrumental in reminding me to make the most out of every moment and really enjoy every single day (every task, every single second), as it comes.

Our house was full of friends last weekend and it was so refreshing and heartwarming, the smile in my heart wouldn’t go away!

 

 

Isn’t a blessing to have people around you—people who love you and care for you and whom you love and care about too?

 

I remember in my Biblical Studies class back in college, Pastor Mans talked about 3 kinds of people (3 kinds of friends) every Christian should have in his life. It was one of those lessons I really never forgot.

 

Take a look at this sweet excerpt I saw again last night.

Every Christian should seek to have these 3 individuals in their life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.

A Paul is an older man who is willing to mentor you, to build into your life. Not someone who's smarter or more gifted than you, but somebody who's been down more of the road than you. Somebody willing to share his strengths and weaknesses--everything he's learned in the laboratory of life. Somebody whose faith you'll want to imitate.

A Barnabas is a soul brother, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody to whom you can be accountable. Somebody who's willing to keep you honest, who's willing to say, "Hey, man, you're neglecting your family, and don't give me any excuses!"

A Timothy is a younger man into whose life you are building. For a model, read 1 and 2 Timothy. Here was Paul, the quintessential mentor, building into the life of his protege--affirming, encouraging, teaching, correcting, directing, praying.

It’s so nice to think how none us could walk this faith alone, but we need people to walk with us along the way. There are times we would need others to be there for us and there are times when it’s our turn to share, to help out and encourage.

 

Do you have these three people in your life presently?

 

 

Photo source:

1, 2, 3, 4

Aaaaack! It`s so hot in Manila today. It`s 31°C but the RealFeel®  is 42°. No wonder I`ve been having a headache since I woke up this morning. Not complaining though. Just saying…

 

But sometimes, I feel really bothered about this whole climate change thing. It has never been this hot in this part of the world—until the past couple of  years. Like at this time,  it`s supposed to be rainy season in the Philippines but it rarely even rains and feels very much like summer. Even hotter than summer. 42 Degrees? I mean, that feels like you`re in the Middle East!

 

Praying that it rains today. Even just like summer rain and not the rainforest kind of rain I`m really missing. Rain is rain!

 

But you know, I guess even if it doesn`t, there`s more reason to rejoice. This weather equals a bucket of ice cream and playing with water! Yeeee! Washing clothes in this kind of weather is coolest thing. I love playing with bubbles and water…and the scent of freshly washed clothes hanging by the clothesline…refreshing!

So I will be heading out to the laundry area to find something to wash. My Mom would be surprised!

 

Anyway, I had a miracle this week. On my way to the bank last Monday, something got into my eye and it was really painful. A couple of days later, I got swelling on my eyelid (maybe it got scratched from the inside). I was planning to see a doctor if the swelling would not subside but this morning, it`s almost gone and as of the moment, I`m feeling a lot better. Thank God. It was just a bit frightening `cause it became painful to even blink. But God heals!

 

How about you? How have you been this week? Any testimonies?

Everyday, when we wake up God splashes color and goodness around us. But we seldom get to notice. How many of us stop for a while to enjoy the sunshine? To feel the cool breeze that blows on our face, surprisingly, on a summer morning? To watch carefully as rain pour down from the sky and into the leaves and petals of the flowers that grow outside our windows…and to notice that these are jewels after all—crystal jewels that are not rare but priceless!

 

171. For new baby cousins!  We`ve got two new addition to the family, and they`re both under age one! Adorable, cutie babies!

 

 

172. The good health of my family. Everyone`s healthy and feeling good.

 

173. A bunch of really good Christian friends! I don`t know what to do without them!

 

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. – Anna Quindlen

I was born a perfectionist. Or maybe, I grew up a perfectionist. My teachers were perfectionists. My grade school was known for raising perfectionists. And I  really thought  that perfection should be everyone’s goal! Whoa!

But deep inside, all I really wanted was to be me and not feel bad for the things I can’t do. I may not be the Cathy who can make impressive AE effects for action scenes {I do get compared to boys who are so good in blast scenes! lol}, dance or pose for the camera like my photogenic sis and I may not be everything people expect me to be. But it’s nice to be just who I am, to be who God created me to be--even if I’m not perfect and sometimes so clumsy!

I really love this song from Francesca Battistelli. The lyrics are really what’s in my heart right now.

People are not perfect and I am not perfect. And it’s useless to try to measure up to perfection. I know that whenever I try, I would definitely make mistakes sometimes. I know that even in love, I would also need to learn to forgive. That when I ride a bike, I might  get a scratch on my knee.

And it’s liberating to know that God accepts me for who I am and doesn’t asks me to come to Him only when I made myself perfect and blameless. He asks me to come and be changed. Not the other way around.

Grace. My life is all because of grace. Never measured up. Never met the standards. And yet He calls me “loved”. He loves me. God loves me.



Freedom from perfection and jumping into the sea of God’s grace brings this relief to my heart and soul. I don’t need to look like anyone or act like anyone or talk like anyone to be perfect. But I could be like Jesus and  be changed by Him from glory to glory—everyday.

And so today, I give up on perfection.  I would just ask for grace to be excellent instead—in love, in being a good steward, in life, in becoming who God created me to be, in accepting who I am because He loves me--and to be willing to be changed so I would look more like Him.

1. I`m Dreaming of Nutcracker Ballet.

I don`t know how dance, so much more to do ballet, but I`m really dreaming of someday dancing with Nutcracker and being on-stage for Nutcracker. I don`t know how would that happen but a girl can dream. haha I`ve been having funny thoughts like this since I started writing my 100 Before 100 List {100 things I want to do before I turn 100}. I still haven`t finished; still halfway. And this is really one of those fairytale dreams of mine. To dance like a ballerina. haha

 

2. I`m Studying CSS.

I`m studying the codes {very geeky of me!} and my first try to do an image map is an epic fail! I was really very disappointed after trying to make it work for hours but it just wouldn`t work. It involved some math and geom—I had to take the coordinates of the photos. And I had put in a lot of photos! I`m not so much into numbers so that was really an effort.  I`ll try again and I`ll let you know. Never givin` up!

 

2. We`re thinking of moving.

I mentioned in my new About Me page that I live in a mountain across the river. Actually, I wish we live in a grassy kind of mountain, one with barns and all, but our little mountain is a part of the city.  It`s very busy and not at all grassy, although much of the tropical trees have been saved.  {It`s one of the major cities of Metro Manila but close to the border of a province}.

 

We`ve been living in our little place since I was born. And we`re considering to move.

 

I really am not 100% into the idea. I love our house because it`s where I grew up and a lot of memories had been made there. I really wouldn`t want to let go.

 

But it`s really impractical to stay where are `cause were 30 minutes away from church, an hour away from university, and almost a couple of hours away from the business district {also because of the heavy MM traffic}. It really takes a lot of gas and cash to travel to and fro from our fresh, green home.

 

But I`m praying that whatever it is that God wills would just happen. Anyway, wherever He is and wherever my family is is already home.

 

Sweet Day!

 

 

Photo Credits: click photo

Sometimes, I browse through my archives and I can`t help but feel so blessed {and funny!} keeping a lot of wacky pics taken with my laptop`s webcam during those pre-DSLR days. I miss those times. People don`t pose in front of their computers nowadays when they`re bored, do they?

 

Looking back, I think I`ve really enjoyed my webcam to the fullest. I spent my 21st year taking a lot of fun moments with friends! I really don`t remember having boring times back then. Could it be because we took  a little too much photograph?

 

Whoa! Although that was two years ago, it feels very yesterday!

 

 

We had more than 200 taken on this day alone!

 

 

I just couldn`t believe it!

 

 

 

I actually have more {the real wacky pics} but I`m afraid to upload them because I might lose my best buds. They`d hate me for it! lol

 

Actually, four of them are on their way to become pastors now. Two are worship leaders.  One is a missionary. While the rest are being used by the Lord mightily in different ministries. I`m a proud friend!

 

When I look at these photos, I can`t help but really be amazed where the Lord has brought us now. We were once wacky kids taking a lot of photographs after youth service and every time we get the chance! God is really amazing, so choose to serve Him! He brings you to places you`ve never imagined! And everyday He makes you more and more like Him!

 

Anyway, do you happen to keep photos like these in your computer? How do they look like? I wish I can see too! If you would upload, please leave me a link!

 

Found this soooo cute video on Tumblr tonight.

 

Aaaah! Cuddly kids who laugh and feels happy over very simple things! I`m in love! Really adorable!

 

We were once like those kids, right? I really miss getting extremely excited over the little things Mom and Dad make me enjoy. Like water spray, and candies, bubble baths and tickles…oh, and paper cut outs from milk boxes {My Dad used to cut my favorite bear logo from milk cartons when I was a toddler and I never forgot that}.

 

Back then, things were much simpler and mist from a spray bottle feels like a fairytale! We really didn`t know what the word expensive really means so cash, gadgets, and luxury clothes don`t appeal to us. What catches our attention are the simple things that matter much. It takes a car, a bank account, or a big achievement to make grown up laugh like that now. haha

 

No wonder Jesus said we must have faith little little kids.

Not to be childish, but childlike. To learn to trust and love Him like little children. Fearless and mind not influenced by the world. Just trusting Him. Just trusting our Father.

 

^2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. Matthew 18:2-5

 

I wish it would look so childish to play like this again. haha

 

But maybe then, I can.

 

To our Heavenly Dad, no matter how hard we try act like we`re grown up and think we don`t need Him, we`re still His little children. We`re always children needing a Father. We`ll always, always need Him.

 

Aaaay! Would my sisters get angry if I get my Mom`s sprayer and wake them up with this early in the morning? hahaha They would get crazy and I might get kicked out of the house on a Sunday morning! *wink* I think this is just the perfect surprise! haha

 

It`s  feels so nice to be like a kid again.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window

No trace of the big storm last week. Pretty much enjoying sunshine!

 

I am thinking

about last night`s sweet victory. Ava won in the pageant! So happy!

Proud `cause you really don`t have to show skin to win.

 

I am thankful for

love, hope and happiness.

 

From the learning rooms

Korean! I printed my lessons before the storm came so that`s what kept me busy when the electricity was gone last week.  Language-learning is really challenging, but I`m enjoying the difficulty.

 

 

From the kitchen

Ava made embotido {Filipino-style meatloaf that`s steamed before fried, made with ground pork, raisins, carrots and onions}

 

I am wearing

Pyjamas! We woke up late. Got home a 4am this morning. The pageant ended at 2am. Papa is still asleep. It`s 12nn!

 

I am going

to go to sleep again in a while.

 

I am reading

articles on Incourage. I`ll be featured there next month! Yey! I`ll let you know when the post is up!

 

I am hoping

to have time to go to the dentist this week. It`s been a while since my last visit.

 

I am hearing

a program on the local Christian radio program. {Hey, did you know LJ Salceda is leaving FEBC `cause she`s gonna get married in the US? So sad to hear. She`s been doing broadcast for years. I was listening to her since High School…}

 

Around the house

Our house is pretty cluttered. Everyone`s so tired and sleepy.

 

One of my favorite things

is herb toasted bread! Yummy!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week

Go to the bank `cause they`re asking me a penalty for my dormant account (the one I had back in high school and college). They`re charging P200 every month until I get it active again. Too much!

 

From My Picture Journal

My Nursery Graduation picture. Look at my classmates! I wonder why we`re all confused in these photos! I`m the one in front with short hair and pink headband.

 

Photo Credits: yanilavigne

and chloefranch on Tumblr

and PanlasangPinoy.com

My cousins and I went for a short break at the park on Sunday. And it brought back a lot of little girl memories! Don`t you miss playing with your cousins under the sun? Or dressing up your dolls with them?

 

{on the photo: Ate Glaiza, Gladys, My sister Ava…

and Viola on the swing.}

I missed that very much!

Encouragement comes in many forms. They could be words written in little colorful notes. Sweet thoughts scribbled on pretty, scented paper. Sometimes, they also come in the form of an action, like a tap on a shoulder or an invitation for ice cream in a lonely, summer night. Often, they could be the music that whispers to your ears as you sit by the windowsill and soft bright rays fall on your face.

 

I think I’m blessed to have received the gift in many different forms.

And I thank the Lord for having sweet people around me who comes along when I really need it the most.

 

I really couldn’t forget that afternoon in October almost three years ago. I felt like dying because this creeping gloominess is finding its way deeper into my heart. I felt like slipping over a cliff and I my heart was panicking. I needed God to catch me quick and I needed a hand to hold me and keep me still.

 

That moment in the campus prayer room, sitting on a red, native mattress surrounded by pillows covered in satin, Ate Kix held my hands tight and prayed with me. She asked me questions I couldn’t even ask myself. Reminded me that God is constantly holding me and I would not need to fear that I would slip away. Her hands that held mine, I felt like they were God’s hands touching me.  And I knew that God holds and stills my shaking hands.

Ate means older sister in Filipino.

That same day, my Kuya Mark came to the prayer room and heard that I was sad. He was quick to remember that ice cream makes a tearful heart remember sunshine and the brightest of days. So he asked me if I would like to go out for ice cream after class and bring with me my friends, whoever would love to come along. And then, a few minutes later, there were already four or five of us for him to treat for ice cream.

Kuya means older brother in Filipino

 

It wasn’t something fancy. But because of that, I wouldn’t forget about McDonalds ever. That’s where I learned that even in tears you could still choose to laugh. You could still find a way to giggle. {Well, I didn’t giggle that day. Kuya Mark and I laughed at Onah and Ava because they were giggling and we laughed even more because we agreed that as people grow older, people don’t giggle like that anymore.} It was really a lovely day. One of the loveliest days I had in my life.

 

If you would ask me about encouragement, I would excitedly tell you what happened on that teary, school day in October. I really don’t have any words to describe what encouragement is like. I don’t know how to describe them, truthfully. I can only tell how they made my heart feel when I was giving up. I can only tell  the stories and how they happen.

 

Encouragement comes to life when you hold a hand who fears. When you pray with someone’s whose got a troubled heart. When you care to make other people smile and wipe away their tears. Encouragement happens when you let a person know that her heart is valuable and her tears are counted. When you make her feel she’s loved because you chose to become God’s hands and feet.

 

Because Kuya Mark and Ate Kix encouraged me that day, I learned many things about God I never knew before. He {Jesus} really do care about my fears and my tears. And He wants to take me out for my favorite ice cream.

 

I am the Cathy you know today because of these two people who built me up and lifted me up to Lord. And they are just two of the many people who became the hands of the Lord who hold me tight in this broken world. People who lend me their ears and their hankies, leave me colorful notes, treat me for Zagu and Pearl Shakes and feed me all kinds of “happy” food you could ever think of…and the people who listened, fell on their knees and prayed so hard for me.

 

You know who you are.

 

I love you all and I’ll be forever grateful.

 

I wish I can mention you all.

 

But encourage one another day after day,

as long as it is still called “Today”….

Hebrews 3:13

 

P.S. For those who were wondering why I so love ice cream, you know now why. Do you also happen to love something because someone encouraged you though it? Or are there people whom you can’t forget because they gave courage to your heart so well?

 

I would also love to hear…

Oh dear! I`m really not feeling so well so well today. I can`t sleep.

 

I made this delicious banchan last night for dinner---herb steamed eggs—a steamed version of the herb baked eggs I posted here on the blog last month. I tell you, it was really delicious and my meticulous Mom (who`s hard to feed) agreed on that. BUT!

 

I forgot I got allergies with steamed eggs! The last time I had them, 3 years ago in Hongkong, my face and neck swelled like a bloated fish and I felt I needed to go to the hospital. I also had to buy medicine from the local drugstore and use them even though I really can`t read or understand the labels. I just trusted the pharmarcist `cause he looked kinda cute. haha Kidding!

 

See how I got sick and look sicker and sicker that day in HK, 3 years ago…

Eating to our hearts content at breakfast.

{Those are my bff`s Raymond and Arjay}

Uh, oh…That pale face and forced smile…

~FOR TODAY~

Outside My Window...

It`s 2am. I`m afraid to look outside. haha Last night, it was raining and the ground is wet, the plants look hydrated and healthy like ladies when they get a good night sleep. It`s really like June now. Oh, it started to rain so hard again!

I am thinking

about going to be after this to get my own beauty rest. 

I am thankful for

Dreams and very encouraging parents and sisters. They push me well and hard, I`m going for my secret dreams now!

I really like hotel bathroom slippers. Not the fluffy, rabbit kind of slippers you get on Disneyland. Just the thin, paper-weight slips you find along with your bathrobe when you check into a hotel. Those white, neat things that make you feel like walking on a cloud barefoot. Oh, they`re the loveliest things for me! They`re comfy and light and warm just enough that you`d love to walk around them forever (I actually wouldn`t be surprised if these are hotel mogul`s secret to getting super rich! haha).

 

I actually have a pair of them back home right now. No, I didn`t bring one myself!   They were given to me as gift {BTW, did you know hotels are actually selling them in their gift shops? I actually didn`t know that.}. And I love walking around with them! Never mind  the cutest, fluffiest Hello-Kitty or Mickey Mouse slips from Disneyland. I love my comfy hotel slippers like crazy!

 

Now, I just thought about that ol` famous quote that says “The best things in life are free.” Not just because you don`t have to pay for them but because the best things in life, thanks to the grace of God, actually come free of charge! Like my youth group`s laughter, and mom`s amazing cooking… My sisters miraculously volunteering to help me with my laundry… Dad offering me a ride to work. These are the best things! And I wouldn`t mind getting all of these beautiful freebies forever!

 

Sometimes, we look for grand things to be happy and we miss those amazing stuff--and times-- God gives us for free.

 

A year ago, I was working full-time as a video editor and I was so consumed with work that I was like living in the office ( I work 10-12 [sometimes more] hours a day) and everything around me where buildings and cars and there were no traces of sunrise or sunsets or luscious green gardens. I thought I would go crazy.

 

So the other day, on my way to home from work, I was so happy watching the sun setting down. I was smitten with those golden orange and purple colors painted across the sky. They were totally magnificent. And I really thank the Lord because not only that  sunset is free and we don`t have to pay to watch it, but that now I finally have the time to actually stare at it as long as I want.

 

Like the sun that sets on the west every single day, God`s little blessings are also always present and renewed everyday. God`s little  surprises, they were always there. Sometimes, sadly,  we are the ones who aren`t present to witness them.

 

 

How many sunsets have I missed this year? I don`t know. 364, I guess.  I was the one who didn`t open my eyes. They had always been there. I just needed to look outside, open my eyes and see. And then I`d fun God`s sweet gift to me… the answer to the what I`ve been praying about for so long.

 

How about you? What free stuff do you love in life? What are those that have you missed the past week, month or year? Do you also like sunsets or hotel slippers?