“God, teach me to be patient, teach me to go slow,
Teach me how to wait on You when my way I do not know.

Teach me sweet forbearance when things do not go right
So I remain unruffled when others grow uptight.

Teach me how to quiet my racing, rising heart
So I might hear the answer You are trying to impart.

Teach me to let go, dear God, and pray undisturbed until
My heart is filled with inner peace and I learn to know your will.”

― Helen Steiner Rice

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Today's Prayer

"Lord Jesus, increase my faith and make it strong that I may never doubt your word and promise to be with me always. In every situation I face - whether trials, setbacks, or loss - may I always find strength in your unfailing love and find joy and contentment in having you alone as the treasure of my heart."


-makelina

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Remembering Yolanda (2nd Anniversary)

Today is not just the First of the four Sundays of Bar Examination 2015 (which my good friends Bubbles and Audrey are hurdling as I write ), but the Second Anniversary as well of when Typhoon Haiyan befall in Leyte.

As I read the Scriptures, I couldn't help but shed tears. Today's readings speak of generosity and merciful givings. 

I remember how I was inconsolable in Manila because I got no news of my parents, for five days since November 8. Remembered, how I won't give up staying in front of my computer, trying to scavenge informations  from other Leytenos who might have heard from their families or even trying to trend #helpAbuyogLeyte at twitter, just so media-men would take notice that there is still a lot of coastal towns outside Tacloban, we do not have news of.  Remembered how hurt I was thinking about my parents, -- Are they alright? Is anyone hurt? Do they have meals? 

Two years had since passed, we all moved on. But the pain and the hurt and the sadness we feel whenever we revisit that day, is still raw and fresh. It still continues to haunt all who had experienced it personally and through their families. 

Commemorating it yearly though, is necessary. So people and their families who experienced losses, devastation, hopelessness would realize how God's Mercy kept them alive.

For my family, November 8 is a day spent in grateful thanksgiving. For Jesus, first and foremost and to the people He used as Instruments of His love, mercy and compassion. 

When I eventually received news, that my parents were both okay, I broke down anew-- in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. When I was told that they don't have food to eat, it crushed my heart again. I prayed and prayed for help from my Provider above. 

And just as He promised, help poured in. Two of my classmates at law school sent money as aid for my family. A fraternity brother from Southern Leyte, generously offered to buy all the goods and bring it to our house. Others, continued sending me updates of my parents.

Thinking about all the help we received and the life we still get to live, make us  grateful of each mornings we get to woke up to. Discernment of what's important and worth admiring, is a natural consequence of going through and surviving the toughest battles . God's Wisdom is impeccable. He is Omnipotent.

He taught that real giving must come from the heart.A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice is invaluable.

Today, I offer a prayer to all that lost their lives during Yolanda- May your souls find eternal peace in heaven.

and the lives of those they left on earth- May God's peace be with you and in His Mercy, continue to protect you.

and the lives  of  those who help, not only my family, but all of Leyte,- May you continue allowing Jesus to work in and through you for the glory of His Name and the good of others. 

Mabuhay kayo!

-makelina

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On Regrets and Happy Beginnings

Chatted with two of my closest girlfriends  -- Karen and Mamu Goying.

And with both I had felt a different kind of peace, the kind you feel when you know you're in a good place.

Xi Karen made me cry when she surprised me with something. 

It started  with a question on ministry. 

I had  always thought  teaching is mine. But I know that I screwed up the first time I tried my hands on it. However, the hope of doing it right remains locked inside my heart. 

When Karen told me of her wish to continue her studies after her contract ends at Dubai, that little dream of mine started to flutter. And my faith is strong to know that when a seed is planted in my heart, I have to take a leap of faith, for my Jesus is the one who put it there. 

But then again I do not know how to act on it. My parents had gone to surgery  (eye cataract) and my finances at the moment is tight. And I made a promise to myself, that if this is my ministry and this is the road I am led, I would never, never, NEVER screw up again. The necessary deed being that, I have to go back to school and really learn the rope.

As depressed as I am, I did the one thing I knew never failed me. I prayed. I prayed for the Lord to take away the longing, if it's not my ministry. I prayed for the Lord to guide me in the undertakings before me. Should I go forth, or should I turn my back? If everything I'm feeling is in accordance to God's Will,  I prayed for Jesus to show me the instruments on earth He laid for the realizations of His Plans in me.

Way back, He let me meet Maam Siony. Today, as I worry about my finances, He let a friend come around to help me. :) ..and so my happy beginning will start on Monday..(I'll keep u posted on this by Monday. Can't spill everything just yet. Allowing Jesus to Surprise me..)

Mamu, on the other hand, I had a very lengthy conversation about life and taking the leap. I won't gonna share everything here coz I like how that conversation goes up to the top list of my favorite conversations with her.

Mainly, we agreed on these points:

1. Life is short. You have to do what you love and love what you do.

2. Be a GOOD friend no matter what. You don't need to be the best, just be GOOD. 

(Note: ears, respect and space.)

3. Take leaps of faith. No matter where it'll take you, the leap is always worth it.

4. No regrets. Never-NEVER regret . Take every mistake as lessons-learned. 

5. Live a happy life. And that's done by constantly focusing in Glorifying God's Name.

To good friends and good starts! 

God bless!

-makelina

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My Daily Journal Template

Feliz halloween! It's a C-c-c-cooold November 1st!

Been starting my day right, following my Morning Routine. So as promised I'm going to share with you the template I've been using for my daily journal. I found it in the web. Love it's simplicity. And it makes journaling very easy.

YESTERDAY

This is where you list the things you've done the day before. List down the HIGHS and LOWS.

( This allows you to put in a nutshell the things you've went through yesterday without living in the past  but rather focusing of the good things you've achieved.  By listing the highs and lows, you only highlight those that are worth remembering -Highs would give you reasons to smile and the Lows will give you an opportunity to look for lessons to be learned.

NOW

This is where you list the things you are grateful for the day. And how you feel at the moment.

( This allows  you to start your day giving glory to Jesus.  Always start your mornings with a grateful heart. Listing the things you are grateful for,  makes the thought of conquering all the unknown fears of the day easy. .

While listing the feeling you have at the moment, will help you evaluate how you woke up- do you feel tired? okay, or happy? Emotions that could help you  change your sleeping habits (perhaps) in the  succeeding  days.This also allows you to live in the present, focus in the present and really evaluate how you feel, first thing in the morning. )

TODAY:

List your To-Do's.

( This allows you to be productive by organizing your priorities for the day. The act of writing down the things you must do or finish  will make you feel accountable for accomplishing it- TODAY. That sense of responsibility  will turn to be a sense of relief and accomplishment once you'd be able to crash-out the items in your list as the day unfolds. )

Hope this helps!

-makelina

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MORNING ROUTINE

Yay! Finally took a step towards becoming a Morning person. I had done my research and almost all speaks of making a Routine. Made mine and glad to have followed it today. Day 1: Done!

Wake up at 5:00 AM
Pray, Meditate (Gratitude and Affirmations)
Read Bible Verse and Daily Gospel
Drink Lemon Water
Write Journal*
Go out with Lady (Stretch/Walk)
Update Blog
Check News
Prepare for work.


* I'll be posting myJournal Template on my next post.

-makelina

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Crossroads and Awakening

Life for the past three years was volatile. I keep on going forward and back. If you'd read my blogs you would know that I failed in my exam, went under the knife for Endometrial Cancer TAHBSO surgery, had yet to find career peace and had as many bumps in the road as one can imagine in a short span of three years. 

It's not all negative though. I got employed ( so that means, I have a meager salary that helps me and my family), had developed a new sense of independence , got to spend more time doing the things I love (crafts, reading, meditate etc.) and  not only found my faith but started having a personal relationship with God.

I hit bottom. I went through depression. I had the so called quarter-life crisis. I am not completely sure, I'm passed that, too. I have many angst. I have many what ifs. I super go back and think of those many what ifs. The temptation to stay in the past is strong at times. I am so human. 

And though I'm hating myself during those times, it's also on those dark moments that I feel stronger. Because deep in me is the force that fights back, making me focus on the life I have-- on the life I am yet to live and the memories I am yet to make.

The struggle is real. Day in, day out. The difference between today and yesterday is that I  know how it felt to stay in the bottom and wallow. It's a suffocating feeling that takes all the light and joy and sunshine you know you had seen, felt and enjoyed, many times over in your short life. 

The difference is, I know who to call, I know who to think, I know what I'd be missing. 

So everyday, it is important for me to start with a grateful heart. I make sure to thank Daddy God for allowing me another day. I thank Jesus for Redeeming me. And I ask Mama Mary to pray for me as I battle the day. 

My life is far, far, far from being perfect. It's even way far down I used to imagine. But it is Okay. And being able to say it is  okay, is enough blessing and enough motivation for me to start moving forward and gently unravel the day.

Surprise me today, Lord. Do to me as you Will.

I am Yours.

-makelina

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The ALDUB Phenomenon

Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza has conquered the world, both collectively as ALDUB and individually as Tisoy and Meng.

A lot of people do not understand why they hit it big not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. If you may, here is my two-cent on the ish:

1. ALDUB offers a fresh, "unscripted" chemistry to all its fans. What makes them different from    other loveteams is that theirs is so RAW. There is sincerity in every action Alden does for Yaya Dub.  And there is pure appreciation on Maine's side. Both can be seen through their eyes. You cannot put a price on that .

2. Others say because of the Cinderella-like  story of Yaya Dub. Let me put the record straight. First and foremost, I am an Alden fan. His journey to stardom was not smooth. In his twitter and in his many interviews, he was consistent in saying that he had long been praying for the "big break". Thus, he is thankful of God's perfect timing and of God's gift, Maine.

Maine for her part, made her dubsmash vids for fun. She might have secretly dreamed of becoming popular, BUT it wasn't a priority. It is easy to assume that she was even more surprised than anyone on earth to discover that she has a lot of followers. :D My point? People are hooked because they want Alden to find his Queen. 

3. In connection to #2. Maine as Yaya Dub may exemplify great, funny quintessenntial characteristics of a beautiful Filipina but it is Maine as Maine that shows, how an intelligent woman, from a well-to-do family, could  act and be funny without looking cheap.

From a nation, whose big bulk of twitter users, joined the microblogging site to have a peek at the lives of their affluent idols, it may again be safe to assume that people are captivated because they want this beautiful, well-mannered young lady to find her Forever in Alden.

4, Lastly, I believe that ALDUB become a PHENOMENON  because they, along with the legions of their fans, know how to give credit where it is due. When you recognize His Presence when you have nothing, and duly give Him praise when you have everything, then and only then will you truly be blessed. Both Alden and Maine, acknowledges God's Workings in both their personal lives and career. They never fail to thank God for all the blessings they received. The Aldub Nation is also strong not only because they have the constant affirmation of their idols but because they know that the Force behind them is the One who put everything in place for His Perfect Time. :)

In a nutshell, Aldub excites its fans because of the simple, hopeful, genuine joy it offers to everybody. Good vibes and Happy Thoughts , Dalinay!:D

All Glory Be To Daddy God. 

-makelina

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FLASHLIGHT Lyrics

I fall in love with this song the moment I heard it at Pitch Perfect 2. And to learn that it's a Jessie J song made it more special!

When tomorrow comes
I'll be on my own
Feeling frightened of
The things that I don't know
When tomorrow comes
Tomorrow comes
Tomorrow comes

And though the road is long
I look up to the sky
And In the dark I found, I stop and I won’t fly
And I sing along, I sing along, then I sing along

I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Can’t stop my heart when you shinin’ in my eyes
I can’t lie, it’s a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Cause you're my flash light
You're my flash light, you're my flash light

I see the shadows long beneath the mountain top
I'm not the afraid when the rain won't stop
Cause you light the way
You light the way, you light the way

I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Can’t stop my heart when you shinin’ in my eyes
Can’t lie, it’s a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight

You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Cause you're my flash light
You're my flash light light light, you're my flash light light light 

You're my flash light light light light light ohhh
I got all I need when I got you and I
I look around me, and see sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight
You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Can’t stop my heart when you shinin’ in my eyes (shinin in my eyes)
Can’t lie, it’s a sweet life
I'm stuck in the dark but you're my flashlight (you're my flashlight)
You're gettin’ me, gettin’ me through the night
Cause you're my flash light
You're my flash light, you're my flashlight
You're my flash light light light
You're my flash light light light
You're my flashlight

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Movie Night at 29

Because my second life starts at 29. I decided to celebrate it the way I had always wanted my birthday celebrated -- that is in a simple way and with my family.

And since I am into crafts, I had made sure that everything I would use are DIY's. I first researched on birthday themes, since that was always a dream of mine. I searched and googled my way around it, until I settled on a Movie Night themed-birthday party. Good thing, we now have pinterest so it didn't took me long to find free printables for my buntings, cupcake liners,  toppers etc..

My husband was extra sweet that day that it didn't take a lot of prodding on my part, for  him to assist me on everything, from preparing the foods to lending me a hand on cutting and pasting my Movie-Night decors. ( i loveyou, bai!)

His brother and cousin helped too! Happy crafting, guys!

I really had fun doing all the decors and the end result made me so giddy it felt like Christmas! Ha-ha!

For the food, I really just want to have a candy and chips buffet with cupcakes here and there.. so I was so surprised when my husband cooked some birthday favorites like  spaghetti,  hotdogs,  and bought a cake and a wine.

candies, chocolates and cupcakes

popcorn

wine

hotdogs with cheese and mallows

My menu was all so Movie Night but I think it kind of moved away from it when my Mom arrived and brought some foods and another cake from my sorority sis, Karen.

Bday cake from xi Karen

a gift from my husband

Humba

As I live the last year of my 20's, I am thankful for  the realization that life may be short but when you spend each day loving everything you have and everything that surrounds you, you make each day COUNT.

my better half

with our nephew Kean

with God's greatest blessing..

Hubby, Me, Nanay, Moneth, Kelvin with Kean

Yanyan with Mommy..

Lady...

Husband with his cousin, Moneth

a thoughtful gift from Xi Karen

... and we named him Vicvic

I am extra thankful for believing in God's Wisdom. His timing is always perfect. He may had given me the greatest setback in my short journey, but He gave me everything I need to get up and continue walking. The redirection was all I need to remember that He is my sustenance. He is the Greatest Provider of all. And He alone is worthy to be seek.

Had I not known Him. Had I not found my Faith. Had I not meet Him before I went through my ailment, I do not know how I could have survived. But as I have said, His Wisdom and His Mercy is so deep that He made me take the journey with Him by my side.

I am so loving my life.  All Glory goes to Daddy God!



-makelina

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Examples of Oxymoron (pl. Oxymora)

OXYMORON

          n. pl. ox·y·mo·rons or ox·y·mo·ra (-môr′ə)

A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined.

A.

alone together

Awfully pretty

Amazingly awful

Alone together

Act naturally

Appear invisible

Awfully lucky

Awfully good

Awfully delicious

Aggressive Defense

All Alone

Alone in a crowd

Altogether Separate

Amicable Divorce

Arrogant Humility

B.

bitter sweet

Beautifully painful

Big baby

Bad Sport

Blank expression

Blind date

Blind eye

C.

civil war

clearly misunderstood

Complete separation

Confessional truth

Constructive criticism

comfortable misery

conspicuous absence

cool passion

Cool sex

crash landing

cruel kindness

cheerful pessimist

Clearly confused

Casual sex

D.

deafening silence

deceptively honest

definite maybe

Delicious torment

deliberate speed

devout atheist

dull roar

Deafening silence

Dark snow

Dark light

Definitely maybe

Disgustingly delicious

Divided unity

Drawing a blank

E.

eloquent silence

Expressive silence

even odds

exact estimate

extinct life

Eyes wide shut

F.

Fairly biased

Fan fatale

Fatal attraction

Foolish wisdom

festive tranquillity

found missing

freezer burn

friendly takeover

Friendly argument

Friendly confrontation

Friendly fights

G.

Ground pilot

genuine imitation

good grief

Good loser

growing smaller

guest host

Goodbye reception

Growing smaller

Great depression

Great tragedy

H.

historical present

humane slaughter

Heavy diet

Happy sad

I.

icy hot

idiot savant

ill health

impossible solution

intense apathy

Indirect communication

Innocent seduction

J.

jumbo shrimp

joyful sadness

Just friends

L.

Liquid gas

larger half

lead balloon

living dead

living end

living sacrifices

loosely sealed

loud whisper

Loud silence

loyal opposition

Liquid food

Light darkness

Least favorite

Ladies man

Lifeless relationship

Love crime

Love hate relationship

Lover's quarrel

M.

Mean smile

Mild enthusiasm

Misanthropic Philanthropist

mournful optimist

magic realism

militant pacifist

minor miracle

Mutual difference

N.

negative growth

negative income

Noticeable absence

Naturally strange

No comment

Numb feeling

O.

old news

one-man band

only choice

openly deceptive

open secret

original copy

overbearingly modest

Objective opinion

P.

Political Honesty

paper tablecloth

paper towel

peaceful conquest

Peaceful conflict

Peaceful fight

Perfect mismatch

Physical  chemistry

plastic glasses

plastic silverware

Pleasing pain

poor health

pretty ugly

properly ridiculous

Painfully beautiful

Pretty ugly

Pretty fierce

Pretty cruel

Pain for pleasure

Passive aggression

Passive resistance

Proud humility

Public opinion

Q.

Quiet presence

Questionable answer

R.

random order

recorded live

resident alien

Run slowly

Roaring silence

Romance crime

S.

Sad smile

Seriously funny

Small crowd

Sweet agony

Sweet pain

Sweet sorrow

Short wait

Sad joy

Saying nothing

same difference

seriously funny

shrewd dumbness

silent scream

Silent speech

Sincere liar

Singles club

small crowd

soft rock

Sound of Silence

static flow

steel wool

student teacher

sweet sorrow

Selfish lover

She's the Man

Shout in a whisper

Spoken thought

T.

Tragic Comedy

True myth

True lies

Typically weird

terribly good

Terribly nice

Terribly pleased

theoretical experience

transparent night

Tiny elephant

Typically odd

true fiction

True gossip

Tears of joy

Thinking out

Tough love

Troubled paradise

 U.

unbiased opinion

unconscious awareness

upward fall

Unpopular celebrity

V.

Visible darkness

Virtual reality

Virtual participant

Violently peaceful

W.

Weirdly normal

Worthless gold

Walking dead

Wake up dead

wise fool

working vacation

Warm as ice

We're Alone

White lie

Wicked good

Worst enemy

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Whiskey & Wine Lyrics

[Verse 1]: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
We're like whiskey and wine
You're a delicacy sweet off the vine
With just a little kick, you don't have to try
To get me tipsy tonight
I'm like wine in your whiskey
You're hard to swallow, but you know how to get me
I might be wound up tight, but you make me crazy
And you make your way down

[Pre-Chorus: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
And you remove every doubt, you figured me out
And you, you cut off my chains when you say

[Chorus: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
Let's take off our clothes, shut the windows
Lying on our backs talking shit about our exes and our high school friends
And places we've been
I'm waking next to you, but I can't remember a thing
Cause I was drunk off you
And baby, you were drunk off me

[Verse 2: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
We're like the birds and the bees
You're sweet like honey, but you know how to sting
Right where it gets me, babe, and you give me wings
You keep me up in the sky

[Pre-Chorus: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
And you remove every doubt, you figured me out
And you, you cut off my chains when you say

[Chorus: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
Let's do it again; it's 3 AM
Lying on our backs talking shit about our exes and our high school friends
And places we've been
I'm waking next to you, but I can't remember a thing
Cause I was drunk off you

[Verse 3: Christian Burghardt]
We're like whiskey and wine
You're a delicacy sweet off the vine

[Chorus: Christian Burghardt & Cady Groves]
So let's take off our clothes
Shut the windows
Play our music loud and dance like it's 3 AM
Let's do it again
Lying on our backs talking shit about our exes and our high school friends
The places we've been
Tell you that I love you when you know I've been holding it in
It's where we begin
I'm waking next to you, but I can't remember a thing
Cause I was falling you
And baby, you were falling for me
Cause I was drunk off you
And baby, you were drunk off me

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EVERMORE Lyrics ( Gao and Liu's AGT Audition Music)

Walk through my memory
see all that we have done
in my dreams
in my dreams

Touch is reality
Feel you're so close
I believe
I believe

The moment
has finally arrived
I knew right away
I could finally say

You can always have hope that
I will be waiting through miles
and loving through days
Yet to come and to go evermore

chorus:

You can take every
word that hasn't been spoken
As proof that we'll never be broken
We've made it somehow to evermore

Trust is the remedy
something you can see
for miles and
for miles

As much as you give to me
I will return to you
All the while
All the while

The moment
we two did collide
I knew right away
that I'd someday say

Repeat Refrain & Chorus

So if it's alright with you
I will be along together
Through everything
We will be strong
WE build our own lifetime
and never know any regrets

Let time still weigh
every moment
Right upto the last
Evermore
Evermore


You can always have hope
that I will be waiting through miles
Loving through days yet to come
Evermore

Repeat Refrain and Chorus

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Cagbolo Barrio Fiesta 2015

 Celebrated my first ever Barrio Fiesta at Marvin and I's Munting Kubo..

There are a lot of things to be grateful, and I'm happy that the people who loves and supports us  100% were there to celebrate life, friendship and a festive buffet with me and my family. 

My parents were there...

Nanay Menyang

Tatay Edroy

my father-in-law 

and my husbands' grandparents

and his brother's extended family were present too...

Kelvin & his son Kean.. ,

My sister-in-law's family

 Even my friends and former co-teachers from ACC came..

Sir Rakz aka Tyo Imban

ACC Family

My special "visitors" were my Kappans siblings who stayed overnight to help me set-up the kubo and prepare the foods. They came not as visitors but as family who even took the role of buffet servers just to make sure that I don't stress out on details before, during and even after the fiesta...

gkp siblings helping Tiyo Billy, the cook,

Extra grateful to xi Anne for being patient with me..

Bor Rico did the table skirting

My Kappans Family

They had assisted Nanay bigtime! Superrr Thank you!!

sorority power!!

On my part, I made sure they would have a fun day and would never regret coming to our Barrio to help and visit me. Luckily, they are not a difficult bunch to handle., so with a little booze and lots of karaoke music, my kubo was filled with laughters and karaoke-kalokohan courtesy of my snappak family. :D

Given a chance, I would love to host another Barrio Fiesta a year from today. God willing...
For God's Glory..



-makelina

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