Today, Christine, we believe God wants you to know that ...

everything passes.

Nothing is eternal, even the sun will one day disappear. Remember this simple truth whenever you are suffering, - that the suffering too shall pass, - and it will become easier to bear.

December 21

What happens today, December 21, is just an alignment between the winter solstice and the galactic equator due to the tilting on the earth's axis. It is a periodic occurrence that happens every 26,000 years.  The Mayan's "doomsday" prediction came at a time when Rome still believed the earth was the center of the universe, and that the sun revolved around it.

Doomsday or not, I am still so grateful I woke up giggling with my two boys, and I have a God who promised eternity.

My afternoon delight

After a day's work, it is always a relief and a joy to be greeted by a joyful silence, caused by two hiding boys wanting to be found from their nook, and would break out into peals of laughter when I find them.

Then as I change, they would usually ask me -

How was work ma?
How are you ma?
Ma, are you ok?
I love you ma.

I couldn't exchange my two boys for any other.
They are my treasure.
And I would do everything to leave a very good legacy to them, no matter what it takes.

grabe, nakakapikon ka na!

I'm gonna knock on your door
Ring on your  bell
Knock on your window, too

Being a servant of God is incomparable.
As you care for others, you learn to cover your sorrow with a smile.
You learn how to stay vigorous despite all the tasks you endure.
You learn how to give h ope even though yours is not clearly seen.
You learn how to give strength even at times that you are weak.

Isaiah 42:8-9

“I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.
⁹ See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.”

Isaiah 30

¹⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
¹⁶ You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
    Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
    Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
¹⁷ A thousand will flee
    at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
    you will all flee away,
till you are left
    like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
    like a banner on a hill.”

¹⁸ Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!

¹⁹ People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. ²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ²² Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrualcloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

²³ He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful.In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. ²⁴ The oxenand donkeys that work the soil will eat fodder and mash, spread out with fork and shovel. ²⁵ In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill. ²⁶ The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.

Rhyss and fractions
Aaron and singing Sirena
Me and the Kuznets curve

Here I stand a child of Yours broken and in need of You
Break these chains and wash my guilt away
Healer of my brokenness, my weary soul will find its rest
You are my strength, the lifter of my head

You're greater than my yesterday, You hold me close today
You're the Lord of my tomorrows, my heart will always say
You're greater than my yesterdays, You hold me close today.

Studying for tomorrow's lecture.  Rhyss studying and texting. Aaron drawing and singing Salidomay in the background.  Great Thursday evening with my bees!

My Aaron knows how to sing Salidomay already! Thanks to Manong Rhyss. =)

Ma'am, congrats po kay Aaron.

Ma'am, tumakbo talaga ang baby niyo?

Ma'am nakita kita sa TV patrol.

Ma'am, ang ganda niyo sa interview.

Ma'am, ang galing niyong mag English during the interview.

Ma'am, artistahin kayo ha.  Ang cute ng anak ninyo.

"We grew apart" is often just a self-justifying excuse for self-centeredness

So right on time...

Today, Christine, we believe God wants you to know that ...

forgiveness is more powerful than revenge.

Vengeance only begets vengeance. It is a destructive cycle. But when you forgive, you inspire change in both yourself and the other. Forgiveness has the power to transform people and create better world for all.