Towards End of the Year, I See New and Fresh Mornings in 2010

As the year ends in couple of days, God impresses a new and fresh mornings in the year to come.

" My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness" Isaiah 26:9

The greatest essential of life is knowing God.

Lord, may You guide me as I write from within my heart, a heart that belongs to you, a heart that is for you and a heart that is always with you.

Last Saturday, my sister in law treated us to the Disney on Ice at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Last year we watched it, too. But this year was so much different. I remember last year we have to fall in line to get pictures with the princesses. This year, there was no line at all. Kids rarely take pictures. It was expensive, pictures cost about $12-$18. I also remember last year that a lot of kids were buying Snow Cones in Disney cups, buying lighted toys. This year not many children got their toys. People are going back to the basics : there to watch the Disney on Ice. I would like to mention that the Souvenir program costs $15, not many people got them. This is when we see value in people. Families came to watch the show with their children or grandchildren. Being able to do this with your loved ones matters a lot. Just like for us, my sister in law got us the tickets as her Christmas presents. We really appreciated her kindness for bringing us there as we had such a wonderful time together. Last year I bought each of my children popcorn and soda, this year all five of them shared one (1) popcorn and one(1) lemonade. They were very content and happy. I told myself: " I should not be giving them much more than what they ask for or what they need, it is time to go back to the basics as times get harder." I thank God for my family. My children were so behaved all those time and we enjoyed a dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant after trying to get a table at Lucille's BBQ with a 2 and 1/2 hour wait and so with Buca de Peppo. They enjoyed the Vietnamese soups, noodles and barbeque. The most important thing : we were all together enjoying simple life and that we come to pray before we eat, before we drive and that in spirit, me and my household is with God. As my daughter Marissa prays and sings before we eat :" God is great and God is good, let us thank Him for our food. Amen."

December 27, 2009 was our Picture Day. As we do it every year, it becomes easier when kids are more grown and older. This year the kids had a very good picture taken with their puppies. They were very happy to have the puppies in their picture. I felt that when they are happy, it shows in their faces and smiles. And I asked Jonathan :" Why is your smile so different today? ". He said : "Because it is Sunday." I know in my heart he meant that Sunday is the Lord's Day. For me, everyday is His day. And each day and each morning, He showers us all with His fresh love.

God Revealed More as We Opened Gifts

Love in the Air on Christmas Eve

Last night at Palos Verdes, California, God had showered so much love in the air and in the hearts of all people who gathered for a family Christmas Eve celebration. I was blessed to have Totoy and his family ( now so much my family, too) over the years. When Totoy and I got married in November of 1997, he had vowed to love and take me forever. I would like to rewrite that sentence : Totoy had vowed to love and take us forever (as he married me with two children, Rachel and Miko, from a previous marriage that ended up in divorce). Over the years of marriage with Totoy , he and his family and clan had accepted and treated Rachel and Miko no different from any of my biological children with Totoy. Totoy and his family had always counted five (5) children as children of Totoy by wife Tess.
So last night was no different from any other days, except for it was really special. Him and his family had showered me with love over the years, and much more so I am teary eyed every time I feel the love they all give my children especially Rachel and Miko. To them, like to me, it is always better to have Rachel and Miko during gatherings.
We arrived at Palos Verdes shortly before 8PM. John opened the door as Totoy and I, together with the kids were singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas". Auntie Shirley's table was full of food lovingly prepared by family members, the "Parol" (lantern) was up and lighted in a corner by the grand piano, the fresh Christmas tree was up with Auntie Shirley's "aged" ornaments including Mike's, Sherman's and John's personalized bear ornaments when they were little boys ( Sherman is now married to Rebecca, Mike is getting married in 36 days with Pancy and we all know that John is already engaged wit Aileen). Auntie Shirley was beautifully dressed in purple, Uncle Eming was hospitably cutting the roast beef he cooked, Joan had cheerfully greeted us "merry Christmas" in her red top and red lined black pants matching with Jamie's red, white and black dainty and cute outfit as always...Ooops, Jamie was wearing her cute black headband, Toby enjoying his spicy tofu in one corner, Itchie greeted us with a smile in her beautiful black dress and black boots, Ashley welcomed me with a kiss and hug in her beautiful red sweater, Brian greeted me with a kiss.... Auntie Precing, John, Mike, Sherman, Pancy, Rebecca, Keith, the Warrens from Wyoming namely Bill, Steven, Casey and Nico and Lora in her beautiful Christmas red sweater.....Junior and Angie came with Angel in her lovely black dress with silver accents and her silver shoes and Jaydon in his cute white sweater. Debbie then came with Auntie Pinay in her gorgeous fuschia top and long skirt with her silver diamond accent belt, Kristine in her elegant white sweater with pearls on the neckline and Jordan in his cute blue and light blue striped- sweater shirt. Finally, Ronald, who had been marked absent 3x in the last family gatherings came with Auntie Erma and Auntie Lory.
Let me refresh my photographic memory.....Pancy was so elegant looking in her black and purple dress, Rebecca was so beautiful with the scarf around her neck, Auntie Precing was so beautiful in her favorite red sweater and Aileen was missed as she was with her family ( Aileen came from a conservative Filipino family. I remembered two Christmases ago, she came with her sister, Mom and Dad to one of the Christmas Eve Gatherings. If she is not coming with them, she stays home with them on holidays.)

Christmas is the time of the year when everything is so colorful, elegantly decorated, festively celebrated, people get busy buying and wrapping gifts, people try to make peace with enemies, etc. What is Christmas to me? I appreciate and admire all the beauties that Christmas time brings. For me, everyday is Christmas as in my heart Christ is alive each day and Christmas is all about our Lord and Savior.

Last night, I felt that wonderful time of a special Christmas because love in the home of Uncle Eming and Auntie Shirley was in the air plus there were extra love brought by all the family members present in the gathering. As children's names were called for their gifts, they were saying "Thank You", "Merry Christmas", hugging, kissing, jumping in joy. You can smell the joy of people handing their gifts they wrapped with love. Everyone has smile in their face, joy and their eyes. Few group pictures were taken as everyone was busy catching one with one another, yet in my heart the pictures are like movies as I cannot forget each one's facial expressions all throughout the gathering. To add, I came with Totoy, Pia, Marissa, Jonathan , my Mom and Melet.


The highlights:

• Jordan picking a big box of gift during "The White Elephant (Exchange Gifts)" and feeling nervous that someone might steal that from him everytime we tease someone to get it from Jordan. Jordan sang in front of us before they left.
  
• Jamie was almost in tears when someone stole her chosen gift. She ended up with Starbucks Gift certificate.
• Ashley was blushing when teased " Let's make Ashley cry.." during the Exchange Gifts.
• Rebecca fell asleep in the couch during the party.
• Pancy ended up with a revelation that we were planning to give her a surprise bridal shower.Because Rebecca was asleep, Rebecca has no clue that she will be hosting the bridal shower at her house. To Rebecca : Not confirmed. You will be notified if confirmed.
  
• Auntie Shirley lost her balance and had a small cut on her arm from the Capo de Monte centerpiece.
• Pia twisting her arm in front of cousins and aunts and uncles and tied up fingers of many. She revealed the tricks before the party ended.
• Casey would always want to be in pictures with Jamie, Ashley and Pia.
• Toby prepared the spicy tofu everyone loved.
• Keith was told there was no "Biko" last night.
• Lora was so happy that Bill, Steven, Casey and Nico are all in town for the holidays.
• Auntie Lory looked lovely in her simple make up by one of her nieces, and does not know who gave her the Guess bag. It was from Auntie Shirley.
• Totoy was going to be the stripper if Pancy's bridal shower plans materializes.
• Sherman is still on physical therapy.
• John missed Aileen so much. The proof: After we left Palos Verdes, while we were already at Kaiser Hospital close to the freeway, John called Melet saying that he gave Marissa a gift that was supposedly Mike's. We drove back happily and laughing. When we got there, Marissa told her Papa:
  "That's my gift". Totoy said: " No, I'm getting you the right one" . Marissa said: "Papa, please make sure you come back with my gift....That's mine." She said it so vividly and we all laughed inside the car.
• Melet who gives the Exchange Gift Rules every year explained it so well but after we asked her to say it in Tagalog she started to get stressed. Melet brought tupperwares for the "to go" foods.
  
• Ronald got a gift that is shaped rectangular when wrapped. It was heavy he said. I thought they were rectangular plates, Totoy taught it was cheese and Angie,by my side, was giggling while we were all guessing because the gift was from Junior. It was a toolbox.
• Auntie Lory got a coffee mug.
• Auntie Erma got a Victoria Secret perfume collections.
• Pia got a blanket in a nice SF wooven tote.
• Casey got a DVD...What was it?
• Mike got some board games.
• Jonathan kissed John about 4 times while receiving his gifts. Rebecca smiling everytime Jonathan kisses John.
• Auntie Pinay has to go home because she forgot her PJ's. She is going back to the Philippines tentatively on Jan. 26.
  
• What did Angel get during the White Elephant?

That's all I can remember. Post your comments to add to the memories.....

Next gathering : Mike and Pancy's Wedding

Can't Be Used to It ( Ang Hindi Ko Masanay na Puso)

It has been many years after my divorce with Rachel and Miko's dad yet up to now, I am still always saddened when Rachel and Miko go to their dad to spend the day, days, weeks or so. Especially during the holidays, my heart still breaks everytime they go, everytime I wake up in the morning not finding them in their rooms. I have always wanted them to have time with their dad of course and be close to him. My sadness is caused just by them being not within my sight. And in these times, I would always pray and in spirit, God brings Rachel and Miko back to my arms and presence. God has been so good at comforting me during those days that they are away and with God's power, they are always in my heart and prayers. When friends tell me they miss their kids when they go somewhere, I pray for them that God gives them the same comfort He gives me. I love you, Rachel and Miko.......Mama

I Can't Thank God Enough for My Husband

Lord, I thank you for Totoy. As I have him everyday, I feel Your Love and Blessing. Totoy's gentleness and patience may only come from You and You alone. His life is full of You, Oh Lord God Almighty. His gentle words, his gentle actions. Thank you, Lord God for my husband. I give You back all the Praise and Glory in the Mighty and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Just in time in commemorating the Birth of Christ, I would like to be reborn and be a pollen of God's Mighty Words and Works. Lord, mold me and make me. Use me.Use me for Your Glory. In such not avery long time I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, my life has totally transformed. A lot of times, I cannot explain he transformation in my own words, yet in my heart God talks to me and deals with me in ways beyond my own understanding. At first, I was trying to get explanation for every single thing that comes my way and I could hardly comprehend. God had then impressed to me that I would know Him better and deeper if I put my intelligence aside And as I pray that God puts my intelligence away from my heart to get close to Him, He had blessed me with discernment and had replaced the intelligence (specifically human philosophy) with my total dependence on Him and Him alone. This is the greatest gift of my life: knowing God and feeling His breath each day of my life. For all and everything in my life today, I give back all the Praise and Glory back to Him, my Lord and my Savior.

The Spirit of the Season

For 42 years of life, it was not until about 7 years ago that I came to know Jesus Christ personally. It was hard to separate myself from the world, yet He made it so possible that I myself could not even explain the transformations in my life. All I knew is that He is with me each second and each day of my life. During this Christmas Season, the Spirit of God is the real Reason for the Season. Lord, may I find it in my heart to share to my husband and kids the true and real meaning of the season, that You are the reason for this season. That there is more than giving of material gifts, decorating for the season. I love you, Lord. Let me be a pollen of Your Words , that You may use me to spread Your Good News , that like a pollen I may go from one person to another and be productive in the Ways You want me to be.

I want to be a Pollen of God's Words and Works

Pollen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), prairie hollyhock (Sidalcea malviflora), oriental lily (Lilium auratum), evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis).

Closeup image of a cactus flower and its stamens

European honey bee carrying pollen in a pollen basket back to the hive

Tip of a tulip stamen. Note the grains of pollen

Pollen sticking to a bee. Insects involuntarily transporting pollen from flower to flower play an important role in many plants' reproductive cycles.

Marmalade fly sitting on a grey-haired rockrose, its face and legs covered in pollen.

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement between the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the female cone of coniferous plants. When pollen lands on a compatible pistil of flowering plants, it germinates and produces a pollen tube that transfers the sperm to the ovule of a receptive ovary. The individual pollen grains are small enough to require magnification to see detail.