January 5,2026

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

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2:54pm Central Time

Ruel is chopping the chicken.

I just woke up from a very long nap. I got the flu bug from Ruel.

Ruel has been sick since New Year's Eve.

Marina left for first day back to school showing the tell tale signs of an onset of flu symptoms.

The last kid standing is not doing anything preventive.

Oh well, we will learn from our errors.

** **

There are so many things I want to write about.

But practical concerns had to be dealt with first.

And there is the business of getting well.

Something which has to be given much and much more time and attention to lately.

Someone , who also had to deal with Sciatica, advised me to take a  complete rest to fully recover.

Surprisingly, when I was really down with fever and nausea and over all body malaise last Saturday, the SCIATICA was super quiet.

Today, after my very long nap, as well.

Praise God Alleluia!

** ***

I woke up from the nap remembering vividly my dream.

It included a  Christian Life Program team head back in 1994 in the Single's for Christ program I joined.

There was a recent open forum. The Team Head was moderating.

I came to the mic to ask 3 questions.

I kept repeating the name of someone else instead of the team head for women.

I woke up a bit embarrassed and disappointed at myself for making the mistake even in a dream.

hahaha....

Is it a forewarning of waters I should dare not thread?

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https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2026-01-05

Do you show people that you care before you share what you know? Do you genuinely love the people you lead and nurture?  

How well have you followed God’s will for your life? What changes must you make to discern and obey His intention, as revealed in creation and in your daily life?

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For today, I will ponder on these questions first.

Allow me to share some  New Year Photos.

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December 30,2025

 

Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

** *** **

It is my dad's 10 year death anniversary.

As we were coming home this morning from Polo Park, Mari asked me how old did her grandpa die.

He was almost 83.

His actual last breath was so peaceful.

I was playing the Divine Mercy Chaplet in a song continuously in a loop.

My 3 other sibling, Pong, Dave , Chubby and I were huddled in one corner of his Cardinal Santos hospital room.

I glanced at his direction, and I sensed, he was no longer with us...

I was kind of on auto-pilot.

We knew the  drill.

I was assigned to accompany his body from the hospital morgue.

It was dark and very cold in the sub basement of the hospital.

Something I would have wanted not be in the first place but was not inclined to disobey the instructions given to me by our oldest brother.

Dad had the longevity gene while mom did not. She left us almost 2 decades before dad.

I will almost remember Dad's eyes of recognition when he saw me.

Thank God for the grace to be able to rush from Qatar to be with him on his last weekend on earth.

He was not able to speak much. Just grunts and groans.

It was in one shift where my oldest sister and I were on watch, that he expressed something that somehow, almost made me break down crying.

Just held it all in.

Hazel had to repeat twice what dad was trying to tell me...while I feigned  I did not hear..

For some reason, I wanted to keep it all in.

Dad had a devotion to St Faustina and her Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He showed us by example each good Friday, to be on our knees praying  each 3pm for some time then each day  until the Sunday after Easter Sunday.

I am grateful to him for this wonderful legacy.

I thank my dad for his attempt to erase the hurts that transpired between  us with his saying "Sorry, Ni, sorry."

Thank you for showing me courage and faith, that there is nothing to fear with our ultimate end and last breath.

It can be as smooth and calm as his and mom's.

** 

What does Christmas mean for you as an individual?

It means Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of  Our God, The Father ,Son and Holy Spirit's WORD made FLESH so we can have a chance to be one with Him and reunited in Heaven in the afterlife.

How can you integrate the practice of worship into the ordinary moments of your life?

I can unite everything to my worship to God by offering every minute and every second to Him, especially the tasks that I find hard to do and the aches and pains that make me miserable...I give it to Him for Him to take and receive.

Remembering and singing this mass offertory song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfAdxm5cZJA

The Gospel Readings for today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RxTCpk-sUc

Remembering him with his favorite snack....

December 23,2025 ( Tuesday)

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the fire of thy Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

** ***

This morning feels a bit blah!

There are people I do not wish to greet for this Christmas Season, but, proper etiquette and common decency requires as to go through the motion.

I have been wrestling with that for several days now.

My Christian teaching is reminding me to forgive 70 x 7 times.

Turn the other cheek.

Walk the extra mile.

I ask my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to grant me the grace.

Thank you Lord Jesus...

However valid the offense and the disrespect thrown at me...I am to humble myself and love my enemies with a kind regard.

We may not be chummy chummy anymore...we maintain our distance, but, I am  going to pray for them and wish them well.

Thank you Lord Jesus Thank you.

https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2025-12-23

Today's reflection question:

What characterizes your relationships—intimacy or attachment?

Hmm...reading and re- reading the reflection of the layman and Fr. Joel Jason...gave me more thoughts to ponder on.

It clarified the distinction between intimacy and attachment for me.

Attachment has to do with insecurity and dependence.

While, intimacy leads to empowerment, not over-powering, where the other person is coerced and forced to do something he or she is not inclined to do.

My definition of the word intimacy is confined and limited to being very vulnerable to another person, usually in an exclusive relationship like a husband and wife relationship.

That is why, when  a suitor, was quoted as saying he was  intimate with me already, I had to put a stop to the blossoming relationship.

Checking dictionary.com just now, shows me that the word has 12 meanings, #6 has something to do with physical relations...sexual.

So, although, I was very much attracted to this person, I knew that his character and mine combined would be a nuclear disaster awaiting to happen.

So, yes, it could not be.

I prayed so hard to St. Joseph, to take him away.

And so, he powerfully did.

I am happy that this person is now happily married.

I wish them well.

Going back to the gospel readings, of Zechariah, naming his son John, and not his name...was a way of detaching his son to discover his own personhood and to pursue his God's mission for his life.

I pray for the same grace to not be attached to my daughter's choices and to start letting go and letting God work in their hearts and minds in Jesus and through Mama Mary's help.

Ave Maria.

Let me quote and read again and again her song of praise...her Magnificat, which was in  yesterday's scripture  readings :

Gospel | Luke 1:46-56

In her song of praise to the Lord, Mary extols His goodness, mercy, and kindness, particularly to the poor and the helpless. God has done extraordinary things in her life—He made her the mother of His Son Jesus. Yet it had come at a great cost, and Mary made herself available to the Lord and His purposes. If we also want God to do great things for us, let us follow Mary’s example of self-offering and abandonment to God.

Gospel Acclamation

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

⁴⁶ Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; ⁴⁷ my spirit rejoices in God my savior. ⁴⁸ For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: ⁴⁹ the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. ⁵⁰ He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. ⁵¹ He has shown the strength of his arm, has scattered the proud in their conceit. ⁵² He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. ⁵³ He has the filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty. ⁵⁴ He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, ⁵⁵ the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” ⁵⁶ Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

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Some of our latest photos:

Lilli eagerly decorating the Christmas Tree.

Mari's Baklava

December 19,2025

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

** ** **

It is a few more days to go, and I have not put up our Christmas tree.

I did however rummage through the garage and was able to locate the Christmas Tree lights with two other things I needed.

Thank God as well, the base, which is a huge slab of  ceramic tile is still ok, despite the 2 feet of snow that fell yesterday and today.

I left it on the garden bed.

Hopefully, over the weekend,  I will have it up and please Lilli. She has been patiently asking me about it more than 3x now.

Today, I will reflect on the gospel readings for tomorrow.

https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2025-12-20

reflect

Have you taken the time to find out where God is leading you and what He wants you to do?  In what ways is He asking you to say yes?

Lord, I am Your servant.  Be it done to me according to Your Word.

reflection question

No one is so rich that they have nothing to receive. No one is so poor that they have nothing to give. What can you bless the world with? 

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous, to give and not to count the cost. Amen.

I had to take a second look at the quotation right after the gospel readings....

Father James Martin SJ.

Beautiful message..

But,  I cant say the same of his direction.

My answers:

God is clearly nudging me forward to this direction which will come into crossroads against the just mentioned religious, who seem to have lost his way.

I do not claim much education, because, I simply listen and obey to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, thy will be done.

Thank You Lord Jesus.

December 18,2025 (Thursday)

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in us the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be crreated, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

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Blizzard is here!

School and work has been cancelled!

There is almost 2 feet of snow.

The news of car crashes in Calgary yesterday reminded me of our trip to Alberta last 2021.

We kind of met the storm.

Good friends were already warning us not to proceed.

We still did.

Praise God for sparing us from the domino car pile accidents in a major highway nearing Medicine Hat, Alberta.

We left Winnipeg, with nary a snow.

Saskatchewan had snow already in that mid November day.

Again, it was all by God's extra grace and protection that we were spared from any harm and danger.

Praise Him!

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https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2025-12-18

Today's reflection question is:

What is your reaction to someone who has betrayed or offended you: anger and judgment, or benefit of the doubt and understanding? Why?

My answer:

Most recently, I met it with a combination of both anger and judgment.

No understanding whatsoever.

Full blown angst and venting and turning back on myself.

*&@3!

I was lied to straight away.

I was fooled made to believe one thing, only for me to realize that I was taken for a ride.

My prayer:

Lord Jesus, I surrender this incident to you Oh Lord.

Nothing I do or say can make this person turn back from her way of lying.

Lord, I pray that this will not be a habit of hers.

Lord, please touch her heart and mind and make her realize that lying is not a good habit and attitude.

Lord Jesus, please spare her from this tendency.

I pray to her guardian angels to always be near her and guide her.

Oh Holy Spirit, I surrender her and this incident to  You for your wisdom and guidance.

May the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit be greatly manifest in her life and may I learn to be more calm and understanding, slow to anger and more patient and kind in trying to express my reaction to an offense/betrayal and disappointment.

Mama Mary, please continue to hold our hands in our journey to always see Your Son in everything and to follow Him in all things for all time.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, I trust and place my confidence in Your most Sacred Heart.

Some photos of today's blizzard: 

From the kitchen window.

From the dinning area:

From the living area:

From my room:

Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you.

December 17,2025

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

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Canadian Bill C-9

I finally declared my objection to this bill being promoted by Liberal parties in Canada's parliament.

It aims to criminalize quoting of religious text.

Many and many times, history shows, man aims to remove God from the public square.

History is full of religious persecution.

Nothing is new.

But, the Roman Catholic Church will prevail.

Jesus Christ has won the battle already.

Our Lady, the Mother of God, with her many many titles and active participation in history...will continue to crush the head of the serpent.

Woe unto you who continue to think that God is not necessary for our lives.

Woe unto you who make truth as lie and lie as truth.

Woe unto you who think we are better than our Creator, who made heaven and earth.

** ***

Today, I listened intently to the gospel readings and reflections of  TV MARIA

 .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oql2nhcLBSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjYwk7W0V5Y

Then, I went to my Kerygma guide.

https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2025-12-17

Just finished recording the gospel readings made for those who want to rest their eyes momentarily while the gospels are being read.

At times, I have to listen more than once something for it to be properly absorbed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2UaCtOaB0s

Apologies for the raspiness of voice at the very start.

Reflection question:

Want to test your commitment to a process? How about completing the nine-day Simbang Gabi this Christmas season?

We have decided not to do the 9 days early morning mass this time.

Ruel is quite tired with his restoration of the basement.

He is doing it mostly by himself.

Thank God for his perseverance and eagerness to finish this soon.

I keep reminding him to take it easy.

Some photos of his work:

Mari's special creation:

Praise to You Oh Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia ! Alleluia!

December 9,2025

 Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in us the fire of Your Divine Love, send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord, shall renew the face of the earth.

** ***

Traffic yesterday was bad between 4-5pm.

Mari played her choice Christmas Songs, and it was wonderful and the snow fall had large fluffy balls. So Hallmark Christmas scene.

Two songs reminded me of when I was in grade 6. I love singing these two songs,,,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ5DOWPGxwg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79EsaMCYo4o

I did not mind the snarling traffic at all!

Going to Arlington from Main Street corner Rupert was a breeze. Thank God!

It was fun to take sneak peaks into small shops!!!

So romantic!

New roads discovered! Nice!

Intricate inner streets offering respite from the bumper to bumper scene in crazy intersections.

Full circle moment for me.

Was with my two beautiful baby girls and listening to music I enjoyed when I was young, not knowing that I will be enjoying it with my off springs.

Thank you dear God.

Thank you for the small, yet very significant moments of consolations despite the train of trials we are facing.

All will be well.

What is impossible for man...is possible with God.

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Who was the person who brought you to the Lord? What qualities of the Good Shepherd did you see in this person?

Do not ask God for a life without burdens. Ask God for shoulders strong enough to carry life’s burdens.

https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2025-12-09

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