When You Love Someone...

Both my parents are getting old. My mom starts to forget little things... It's pretty normal here in our country. We don't consider it as an illness... It's more of aging that comes naturally. She tends to forget little things like, where she placed her eyeglasses, why she went upstairs, did somebody gave her something...mostly it's "where" she places things.

It causes little forms of innocent arguments with my dad from time to time. She tends to forget where she placed the money that dad gave her for grocery. She tends to forget where she placed the medicines. And they would once in a while make a fuss out of it- just to prove that someone is wrong and the other one isn't.

But my dad taught me something today when my mom forgot to purchase my Hyperacidity meds in the drug store. He said, "when you love someone you gotta learn to adjust."  My mom is forgetful, that's a fact. We  love her, another fact. So we have to understand and be willing to adjust with these little changes, embrace it, get used to it.

The amazing thing about love is that it always triumphs over somebody's flaws...

One of my favorite movies of all times...

Dear Future Boyfriend...

Here's an interesting letter written by a twenty something single friend:

Dear future boyfriend (and probably future husband),

I think you should know that I am quirky in so many ways. I break into song in public (sometimes out of tune). You'll regularly see different facial expressions in a span 20 seconds. I enjoy flailing my arms and break into dancing when I hear a song I love. I talk to myself a lot. I love trying different things almost instantaneously and I drag somebody with me most of the time. This goes without saying that you will be dragged in a lot of different activities and places. I hope you're okay with that. Let's explore life together. What do you say? Sounds like a good challenge? Will you accept? :D

Love,

Wawo
(Anne Elizabeth Simacon)

http://peeka-chew.tumblr.com/post/6402692347

Dear Future Boyfriend,

Please be prepared cause I'm planning to slap you on the face for being late. You kept me waiting and it wasn't easy. You weren't there when I needed you most. I've been hurt several times by men who I thought was you- some might have even claimed to be you. And yet at the end of the day, I would easily recognize that it wasn't your eyes I'm looking at, that it wasn't your shoulders I'm leaning on, that it wasn't your hands I'm holding, that it wasn't you I'm talking to, smiling at or laughing with... I do not have any accurate hints, steps or patterns to follow for me to recognize you from the others. I just know.


So wherever you are right now and whatever you're doing, probably driving your car, stuck in traffic, earphones plugged in your ears, munching some homemade sandwich, watching the NBA finals, sleeping- exhausted from work or from a 3 day road trip with friends, having a really bad day at work arguing with your boss or having a blast at work with colleagues, walking home with a huge umbrella (that will someday you'd share with me) or simply putting on the hood of your warm sweater (that you will let me wear someday), I just want you to know, that it doesn't really matter if you're late. It was me who's impatient. I kept nagging for you to be here already...when I know for sure that you're still trying to be a better man for me. 


It's a long wait but I know it's worth it.


I'm just wondering. Have you been thinking of me too?

♥

Jen

http://caroline-emmy.tumblr.com/

http://klcruz.tumblr.com/page/21

http://timeofsuicide.tumblr.com/

 http://ifeelinfected.tumblr.com/

http://tatibernardi.tumblr.com/page/3

P.S.

Yes. Your future girlfriend can sometimes be annoyingly cheesy, impulsive and impatient. Don't worry, I'm working on it. ;)

http://elizabethparty.tumblr.com/post/6208209545

It's Gonna Be Awesome.

You deserve every opportunity that comes your way. Grab a hold of it.

I think blessings come in the right time.  They don't just come right before you for nothing. It's there for a REASON. So take advantage and do not be scared of it.  We often confuse ourselves of what we should have "instead".  Let us all remind ourselves that God is good. That in whatever circumstances that comes our way, He will be there. So why worry? What's with all the questions? What's will all the whining? What are these doubts about? We have a BIG GOD. Bigger than anything that may come our way. So let's simply surrender and trust everything to HIM because Everything will be Okay.

My favorite Application in Facebook:


On this day of your life, Jen, we believe God wants you to know ... that this world was made for you too.
Enjoy it, explore it, experience it. Don't hold back. It is God's gift to you. Don't be a wallflower in the dance of life. 

http://info.dancercise.com/Dancercise-Kids-Pre-School-Dance-Curriculum-Blog/


Thank you Lord.


HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY!

Beware of Bridal Fairs

Sunday Afternoon.


Wedding Planning Business Meet Up: Bridal Fair @ Megamall with my Business Associate/Girl Friend/ So-called Maid of Honor- May.

Hunting for decent wedding suppliers for our potential and upcoming clients...

String Quartet playing in the background...

Videographers, photographers, florists, wedding singers, make up artists, designer PA's bombarding me with sample files and photos... my hands filled with leaflets....glossy and cheap colored papers with contact details stapled and promos in screaming bold letters.

A lady approaches: "Promo for Crown Hotel....free reservations....what's your name ma'm?"

I was elated with the surroundings. Weddings are just romantic. It gives you this high.

I go "Jen"  She writes my name on the raffle ticket, my age, my profession, my cellphone number and she goes, "Married or Engaged?" And I was neither of the two ...hello?

I go... "Engaged." (Maiba lang) For a change. The sight of the status scribbled on the raffle ticket looks so real in my head I almost had myself believe in it.  I'm engaged!

She goes "Ano pong name ni sir?" (sort of "What's the name of your fiancé?")

I DID NOT EXPECT THAT. AT ALL. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS THINK IN ADVANCE.

That's basically the reason why I screwed up a lot of potential relationships. Because I was always months or a year a head. And the guy doesn't have enough time to catch up...

  

BUT THAT question I was not prepared...

I guess my reflexes are.

Neurons starts to send... for a moment... two signals but only one made it to my brain...I blurt out. "Michael."  


It was really fast.  Michael who has been my fake boyfriend for a couple of months- which made my mom deliriously happy.  But that's another story.

Suddenly,  I'm no longer the Wedding Planner faking a Wedding to cut some costing.  I am the bride! Whew!

The lady goes back to her mini questionnaire...

"What does he do?" 

"Uhm...he's an Engineer"

"How old is he?"

I have no idea. Instead I said, "Same as my age." - (I think.) I muttered.

"His Mobile Number?"

"He doesn't have one."

"His Landline Number?"

"He doesn't stay home."

Confused nosy lady wrinkles her forehead.

"He works in a ship."

"When is the date?" (of the wedding, she means.)

"December."

Another lady approaches... Disneyland for two....another raffle ticket....asking the same questions... 

"We'll call you!" exclaimed the second nosy lady.

And with all the fancy things around me...

I stood there....thinking..."Oh boy, I'm screwed. I'm getting married this December and I don't have groom..."

http://www.fireonyourhead.org/2010/10/20/the-bride-that-wasnt-all-there/

Nosy lady called the next day.  She said- we won the raffle ticket, hotel reservations for two.  (But really, it's all about this silly marketing strategy.)

You - cute guy with abs. Wanna go?

My God is a Carpenter.

Here's a story I'd like to share with you guys. Another heart-melting, eye-soaking, lip trembling story (I'm probably exaggerating) from the Preacher in Jeans himself.

The Carpenter's Story

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor
of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock!

What a shame!

If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."

Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

via Coachingtohappiness.com

Yes life may be a do-it your-self project.  But like any other project, there's always a Teacher who would give His students feedback on how to improve it. And if ever we stumble or fall short in building this overwhelming, challenging project called "home", we must always keep in mind that our God is a carpenter Himself- and He will always be there to rebuild us. Have a blessed Sunday! ♥

RECONSTRUCTING MY LIFE ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN

photo via Modern Furniture

That You are not Alone on Your Journey

At 20 something, more often than not, we find ourselves in the "middle of nowhere".

Random questions intertwined. Is this really what's going to make me happy? Am I in the right place? What will I do next? Is this the right choice? Why does it feel like I need to be somewhere else? It's actually a series of unending questions itching for answers and the only scratch to satisfy it is to make a decision.  We thirst for some light in whatever direction we're taking. We all wanted to get somewhere. The problem lies here:

1. We don't know where we're going.

2. We don't know how to get there.

3. We know where we're going and we know how to get there but we're scared to give it a shot.

It was more than just a relief to know that you are not the only 20 Something Single trapped in the middle of the highway, in the long dark road with only the street lamps to rely on for some decent light as most times, when we seek for some clarity, even the moon refuses to console us. And it becomes so frustrating that sometimes, by the look of the dark clouds above us and the chill of the wind, you just know, that rain is coming and you are so unprepared to be soaked, to walk on the rain in a long dark street with your heavy backpack, tired and hungry and confused.  And you just wish so badly that someone would just pick you up and bring you home...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40579917@N00/2863924768

The 2 day retreat, I would say was one of the greatest blessings I had this year. It's refreshing to get to know people and to recognize God's face within them. It's been a long time since I fully enjoyed praise and worship.  To just let it all out. To reach out to God. To surrender out of helplessness. I even think up to this time that the 2 day experience wasn't enough. I still long to have casual quiet conversations with God. I think He has a lot to say because I often did all the talking.

There will be times when we would stop, exhausted in talking and praying and asking. And we would simply find ourselves in utter silence, because we wanted so much to be there, to get there and yet at the end of it all...

And so we seek God's voice in surrender knowing that something better, something greater, something more that what we asked for is out there in the open road...

God Communicates to us through:

Heart -   Feelings

Mind -   Thoughts

Soul -     Desires

The thing is, God is not the only one that communicates through  our heart, mind and soul. Which is why God has provided us a tool to determine his voice amidst all the noise.

One important gear that God has granted us in this journey is the gift of Discernment.  A gift that we need to unwrap if we are stuck in making life's difficult choices.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32782357@N03/5135241394

Discernment is always:

1. Between 2 Good  things. Bad thoughts, ideas, actions, words are never an option.

2. In the context of God's love.  Does God wants you to do this?

3. It's always in the midst of struggle. Confusion if part of it. You must learn to let go of emotions.

5 Dispositions in making a decision:

1. Hone Prayer.  Lord what do you want me to do? Comtemplative Prayer.

2. Eliminate Attachments. Do not make conditions with God. Do not bargain with Him. Sometimes we ask for  

    His will but we already made up our mind. Let Him talk first.

    Avoid: "I will make this decision but promise me...You have to..."

3. ASPIRE Holiness. Make sure that decisions being made is accompanied with Love- not with bitterness.

4. REACH Generosity. Give. Decisions must be selfless.

5. Take Courage. Risk and Trust.

MAKING THE FINAL DECISION.

1. Find what you want.

2. Assume the 3rd person:  Is that what will make you happy? Is that what will make you holy? Talk to 
    yourself as if you're your own best friend. As a third person, you try to be objective. 

    Assume the 99 year old you: Have you been happy? Have you been holy? What would the 99 year old 
    you tell the 20 something year old you? 

3. Identify all options. Pros and Cons.

4. Take center.  Do not take sides. Do not assume anything.

5. Hunt for Signs. Confirm. "Signs are never to dictate. Just to confirm."

   

5 DAILY PRACTICES:

1. Become aware of God's presence. Everywhere. Breathe in. Breathe Out. 

2. Review your day w/Gratitude. Be grateful. 

3. Identify the movement of Grace. The smile of a child. The Sky. The Rain. The Air.

4. Share your HURTS AND HAPPINESS. Share it with everyone. Share it with friends. Share it with your  

    family. Share it with GOD.

5. HOPE for Tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be another day. Better and brighter! ☆

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14253937@N00/2868073936

That Life is not simply holding a good hand. Life is playing a poor hand well.

-DANISH SAYING-


While our Chicken Business was falling  sharply unattended, racing alongside was my career. Everyday I struggle.  I got accustomed to being good at almost everything. I may not be good at some things but I can work on it. And it does work all the time.

Before I left my previous job, my boss told me that I had a great future waiting for me as I just got promoted. I had the passion and the skills which they need in their team. He couldn't find any reason for me to leave. But all I wanted was to get out there. So I did.

I easily got what I wanted. Just a month after, I got a high-paying morning job with great colleagues, fun environment and good-looking bachelors all over the place. Awesome incentive package by the way. Target location was acquired.


I had no idea what really happened to me. I just MESSED UP. BIG TIME.

In a snap of a finger, like a bullet train, I had finally arrived to what I have already anticipated would finish me off.

I was fired. In my new job. The job I have prayed for and have written in my Novena to God's love. I have lost the answered prayer in a span of four devastating months.

9/08/10

4:17 PM

Team Leader via text message: 

It's a good fight. What matters is that you did your best and you didn't give up until the very last minute. I know you'll go a long way and there's something better in store for you. Everything happens for a reason. Just believe in yourself and believe in Him. Goodluck!

Team Manager via text message:

I did my best and did what I could to keep you but that's the way it is. I'm sorry.

09/08/10

6:56 PM

To TL & TM via text message:

Thanks for believing in me. It has been a wonderful experience. Failing is not a breakdown. It's a breakthrough. It's part of life's flowchart to success. Thank you for all the lessons learned. You did a great job on me.

I shut my eyes to sleep.  On the top of the bills, my shattered self-esteem and bruised ego, I was thinking, "I CAN DO THIS. I just got fired. What else can't I do?"

For the first time after five years, the MGE (my favorite cab) kid took a bus on her way to Makati to look for a job. With a hundred peso bill in her purse and a bottle of Mineral Water in her bag, I think she will be just fine...