Fairy Tales


As a little girl, I loved reading fairy tales.  Why not, they always have happy endings!  I'm a happy ending addict.  Even up to now.

In any movie I watch and novel I read, every situation I'm in, any image I paint and story I write, I want the endings to be happy.  They give me hope.  They give me wings to fly and see the happy side of things.

As I grew out of my little girl fairy stories, I learned that in life not all things have happy endings.  But as I live my life each day, I just try my best to find or create the happy in the things I can control and then leave the rest to God.

It's not always easy but if I learn to just let go, think happy and live one day at a time, then I believe there will be gazillions of happy moments to enjoy and happy endings to keep in my heart.

Happy endings.  What's not to love about them?  So I still read those old fairy tales sometimes (and savour the "and they lived happily ever after" moment haha ü).  And watch sunsets.  Marvel at the stars. And pray.  And breathe...


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Serenity Prayer
(Reinhold Niebuhr)

God, grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Ducks' Day Out


It was a beautiful sunshiny morning.  I knew I was running late to work but the vibrance of the morning sun and the crisp autumn day managed to make me oblivious to the passage of time.  So instead of rushing, I took my time getting into the car and driving through the streets while singing along to a happy song being played on the radio. 

From afar I saw the lights turn red.  So I slowly stepped on the brakes and prepared to stop.  I was expecting to see people crossing at the intersection but didn't see anyone.  Then in a split second, I saw in my peripheral vision that something was moving along the pedestrian lane.  So I looked towards that direction and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what I saw! A duck and her four ducklings were crossing the street.  Wow! (How often do you get to see ducks crossing a main city street?)

It was so lovely watching them I wanted to stay and see where they were going.  But the lights had turned green!  The last thing I remembered seeing was that they stopped at the slip lane by the lights and waited to cross the next intersection.

I drove off with a smile.  The ducks left a touch of happiness in my heart.  It reminded me of Mom and us her four daughters.  It brought me back to the joys of having a family...sticking together and being there for each other...walking together through life's journey wherever it may lead us.

I thank and praise God for blessing me with a family.  Moments come when we have relationship 'glitches' but at the end of it all, we always go back to being a family.  I may not get to see them as often as I want to especially that I'm miles away from them, but I know that we will always be family and be there for each other.  Mom had passed on (we miss her everyday!) and her memories live on and remind us how blessed we are to have a family. 

Driving through that road in Marion never fails to remind me of that lovely autumn morning.  The ducks will never know how their simple day out in the city has affected me in a big beautiful way, but I will always be thankful that I was at the right time at the right place when they were there!  *smile*          

It's Springtime...

Today is the first day of spring (yay!).  Fresh new start.  Winter is over (finally!).  The old is gone.

I love springtime.  There's more sunshine and a lot of cool sunny days.  And it gives me hope to start anew.  I remember when I immigrated to Australia mid-Aug of 2008, the hope of springtime greeted me just a couple of weeks after, taking me to the new life that God has lovingly prepared for me.

And there were heaps of other wonderful things that happened in my life in springtime! Back in spring 2010, I got my PR visa, bought myself a car and my Phil driver's licence was finally converted to an Australian licence.  Spring 2012, I received the awesome news that I was finally an Australian citizen (yay!).  Spring 2017, I started deciding about career change after coming back from my big European trip, among others.  It was also in springtime of 2014 when I got to go home, be with Mommy and spend two whole weeks with her before she passed on (two weeks I would never exchange for anything in this world).

It's springtime!  As I write this, I have a 'million' dreams in my heart though life could sometimes get in the way (daily stresses, work, study, bills, chores, etc).  But with the hope that springtime brings, I shall keep on with my journey.  And keep the faith that one day, one step at a time, I'll finally get to see those dreams become reality ü

Praise God for this wonderful gift!

I Never Imagined...

I never imagined I would be immigrating to a foreign country.  It has always been my dream to travel to other countries for holiday but never to live there permanently.  But here I am now, calling Australia my second home.

It’s been nearly 10 years now since I set foot on this land down under I now call home.  It’s been an amazing journey!  It wasn’t without hardships but coming to Australia is and will always be one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.

The road that led me here wasn’t smooth.  Leaving everything behind and living on my own away from my family and friends wasn’t easy.  Forging a new life in an unfamiliar place wasn’t a breeze at all.   

But looking back, I don’t regret ever making the decision to immigrate. Whatever happened in my life that led me to where I am now was a blessing in disguise! I wouldn’t be here if that very thing never happened.  Everything happens for a reason indeed!

And I thank and praise God each day for this blessing!  Waking up each new day to cleaner air, cooler weather and clear blue sky. Driving through cleaner streets and a less populated city surrounded by lush greenery and stunning beaches.  Living in a beautiful and prosperous country that provides me with countless opportunities to grow, travel and fulfill the dreams I never thought possible.

Need I say more?

Let your heart love and laugh today ü …..

Let your heart love today. Not tomorrow but today.  For love shouldn't be made to wait if it can be given today.

                                                                                                                       

ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü      

Give your heart a chance to laugh each day. No matter how soft or loud it laughs, joy shall flow within you…and into the hearts of others.

ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü    
   

Cherish the miracle that comes with the sunrise and greet each new day with a smiling heart.  It’s so wonderful to be alive!

ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü    

Laugh each day with all your heart and just let yourself jump up and down in joy.  A soul out there may thank you for it.

                                                 

ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü    

Love is the blue of the ocean and the sound of the waves.  Love is the touch of the breeze and the gold of the setting sun. Love is the beauty and kindness of you and the wonder and warmth of me.  I love our love…and I love you...

ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü  ü    

Maligayang Kaarawan!!

I woke up really early this morning (what a great feat for someone who’s not a morning person like me…yay!).  Thought I’d colour my hair.  I deserve some pampering, anyway, it’s my birthday.  Yes. Today. Is. My. Birthday. Yay!

After a few hours, I checked my watch.  9 o’clock.  Just right on time.  So after grabbing a quick brekkie and checking the greetings sent by some of my friends, I drove off to church for the 10am Mass ‘in style’ with the beautiful sunshiny spring weather in company!

Wow, blessing after blessing!  

Need I say more? 

Parking space right in front of the church (reserved by the Lord for me!)  Birthday chat with my beau before the Mass.  Early morning greetings from friends (old and new!)  One of my fave church songs Morning Has Broken sung as opening hymn in the Mass.  The Mass celebrated by one of my fave priests.  Family and true friends.  Warm hugs, orange roses (one of my favorites!) and wonderful pressies from amazing friends.  More birthday wishes and greetings from family and friends.  Good food and the lovely beach.

I know these are such a cliché.  

But nothing’s a cliché when it comes to God’s outpouring of blessings!  Especially on one’s birthday!

So before my birthday ends tonight, I lift up my thanksgiving and praise to an awesome God who never ceases to amaze me with simple and grand blessings each day!

I just feel so very special even in my smallness.  

For I am blessed and loved by an infinite God!

Salamat Lord sa isang maligayang kaarawan!