Sunday, June 30, 2024

Who Inspired You to Keep on the Faith?

 

Guide questions based on Kerygma Family Daily Bible Reading and Reflections: https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2024-06-29



1.)Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine. Sin is followed by shame; repentance is followed by boldness . . . Satan has . . . given boldness to sin and shame to repentance.” (St. John Chrysostom)

Lord, open my hands to receive Your gift of love. Amen.” (Henri Nouwen)

2.)Who is the leader in your family, at work, in community, in the Church who inspired you to keep on with the faith?



3.)Who do you say is Jesus? How do you become strong yet humble?

Heavenly Father, may my words of faith come from You. Amen.

** *

Last Thursday night, Friday morning in Philippine time, I interviewed my/our spiritual head in the community of Single’s For Christ circa 1994-2003.


The last time we met was back in 2017.


A handful of us met up with our leader couple.


He and his wife’s dedication to the work of evangelization has inspired me to keep the faith of being in active membership in a church based community.


He is now 67 years old and he still looks the same. His wife seems to have found the anti aging pill. She too seems to not have aged since the last time.


I marvel at the mirace workings of God’s provision and guidance in their lives.


They will be celebrating 44 years of being married.


Their youngest daughter will soon tie the knot and I remember meeting them by chance at Lourdes Hospital while they were leaving the hospital and I was doing my rounds as a medical rep 35 years ago.


I praise and thank God for being able to witness, in snipets, their family life and how they have overcome challenges while serving God in community life while being responsible for hundreds of young adults.


By the time they turned over their section of service, there were around 3000 active souls.


He is like a very proud father announcing to me the stature and lofty positions most batch mates are in now in global community of Couple’s For Christ.


I will be posting the video soon via youtube.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Dear Nanay Erlinda

 

May 10,2024

2:12pm



Dear Nanay:


It was Easter Sunday that you left us.


Evening for you guys in the Philippines, early Sunday morning for us here in North America.


It was so sudden!


Thank God, we were given the grace to see you in the U.S. last June 2023 before you returned to the Philippines for good after being in North America for more than 11 years.


It is so sad that you did not get the chance to visit us here in Canada.


Despite the harsh winter, Canada has a breathtaking beauty and when summer comes around, like now, you will appreciate the brightness of the color of the green grasses, the budding leaves of trees, the yellow gold of the sunshine, the refreshing blue of the skies with the puffy white clouds drifting by more.


Today, we remember your 40 days after your death here on earth.


The dates coincide with the beautiful moments of Easter and Ascension of Our Lord.


I will always honor you for bringing into this world the father of my daughters.


Thank you for all the countless sacrifices you have done for your own brood of 8 and growing number of  grandchildren.


Ruel has been  having dreams of you and Tatay a lot lately,


He remembers what you whispered into his ear when we surprised you in Fort Lauderdale in the wee hours of the morning....



We will treasure that as well as the trip to the beach, the pool at Tita Rev’s, the harvesting of manggoes, your cooking tirelessly for us and preparing all the pasalubong of atchara, the best!!!!




The girls and I will recreate your wonderful pandesal and spanish bread and atchara soon and will will recount all the love you have sent our way.


Please rest in peace knowing that you have been a wonderful wife to Tatay, loving mom to your 8 children, doting grandma to her apos and inspiring mother in law.


Thank you so much for everything you did for us.



Ni-Anne





Friday, May 10, 2024

Where or what is the rub?

 

May10,2024

11:48am


Come Oh Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, enkindle in us Oh Lord 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, starting with my mind, my thoughts, my hearts, my feelings, my body and my soul and the rest of my physical, social and economic enviroments.


Jesus, King of Mercy, I trust in You.

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of My Lord and Savior, please cover us with your blue mantle of protection, now and always.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Damian of Molokai, please pray for us.


** ***


Dear Jesus,


Thank you for the beautiful messages via the lessons I had to take. Some of which are on repeat. Very slow learner here Oh Lord.


Thank you for the private victories and the public failures and shame that I have encountered recently.


Help me learn the lessons and apply them in my life in service of others, out of my LOVE for you and of others.


Please allow me to reflect on today’s Kerygma Daily Bible Reflection questions : https://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2024-05-10


1.)How do you deal with the tension in your life? 

2.)Think about a past experience of deep suffering in your life. How did you overcome this with God? Thank Him for His grace.


3.)What have you asked from the Father that He has given you? How did you feel? 


For the first question, I abhor tensions. It is most uncomfortable. I try to relax and be calm, but, it is something I think I have to do trial and errors.


Deep breathing.


Meditation.


Practice they say, makes perfect...will see.


Let me define TENSION for me.


It is for me the presence of two opposing forces.


Example, as a parent/mother to my daughters, if i find that their beds are not made, there are power bar wrappers left on their pillows, with a trail of chocolate crumbs...it makes me almost fall into dismay.


This creates TENSION in me especially when I have to keep reminding them of not eating in their rooms or on their beds.


Another example of a recent tension for me, is when a mentor does not see the wisdom in my courses of action, explain as I may, she still refuses to see it my way.


2.) An experience of deep suffering


Today’s gospel reading from the book of John talks about a woman in labor pains.


Yesterday, on our way home from Vista, I share to my daughter who was driving for me, while we were stuck in traffic due to the many road repair, a photo I saw on FB. It showed cartoon drawings of 2 drinking glasses filled with water.


There was a person in each glass.


The caption was, this is how I meet life’s challenges.


One person was super struggling in trying to remain afloat, while the person on the other glass was happily floating on his back with arms flung back, hands cupping his head.




It made me laugh out loud since I was commiserating on my very recent flop.


It also reminded me of the mindset of half empty or half full glass.


Then, sometime last night, I chanced upon a saying, the same boiling water that makes egg hard, is the same temperature that softens a potato.


Whatever tension, struggles, hardships and pain that may come my way, I have the freedom to choose how it will affect me.


Shall it make me be defeated or shall I emerge a victor out of it?


There is the rub!


3.)

It has been one year now since we received the gift of this beautiful home we call in honor of St. Joseph. It has brought us so much joy.


As my youngest and I has some snacks earlier, we both marvelled at the beauty of the blue skies, and the white and dark clouds passing by as the strong wind blows then south ward.


So, yes, as we sit in our round dining table, we get a good view of the east and west windows, showing us how wonderful the blues, greens, and golden yellows of God’s magnificent creations.


My prayer:


Dear Jesus, thank you for bringing me the joy of your creation. You and God the Father are one and with the power of most Holy Spirit, I believe and claim FULLNESS OF JOY and LIFE overflowing to all of my activities and intentions, now and always.




Sunday, May 5, 2024

May The Force Be With You, Anak!

 

May 5,2024

8:26am


Come Oh most Holy Spirit, please fill the hearts of thy faithful, please enkindle in us the fire of Thy Divine love, send forth Your Spirit, and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord shall renew the face of the earth, starting with my mind, my thoughts, my heart, my body and my soul and the rest of my immediate enviroment and areas of influence.


Jesus, my lord and my Savior, I put my hope and trust in You.

Mary, the Mother of my God, pray for us. Ave Maria.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Arcangel, defend us in battle.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us.

St. Charbel Maklouf of Lebanon, pray for us.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

St. Mother Teresa, pray for us.


** *** **


Dear Mari:


You are now 21 years young.



I thank and praise Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the grace to be able to see you at this stage of your life.


I will never forget the first time I laid my eyes on you!!! You are such a beautiful gift!


We stared wide eyed at each other, me groggy from the aneasthesia, you, just seeing the world for the first time.


The nurse was planning to whisk you off right away.


I had to remind them to put you skin to skin on me.


It was such a heavenly experience.


The first time I held you in my arms was a few hours later...


The struggle to get up after a C section was forgotten, as soon as the nursery attendant gave you to me.


We had some initial challenges in nursing you. But, soon, the minutes turned into hours...if I am not mistaken, I was there with you from 7am to almost past 1pm.


I didnt like to let go of you.


That is why I decided to room you in the hospital.


Oh, you were so frustrated that we could not get the latching and milk production right.


There were so many trial and errors with you as your mom.


Thank you for forgiving me/us your parents for the many times we failed you.


How time flies indeed, right now, you are testing your wings.


You are almost ready to make more choices like a young adult.



Always remember, you need not make the same mistakes I did or we did as your parents.


Do not rush into things too much.


I see that you like speed.


It can be exhilarating...but, learn how to work within certain parameters that are set or designed to keep us safe and life giving.


Yesterday, on our way to Lilli’s Manitoba Honor Band concert, I noticed that my Hoskas are now sprouting.


So happy!



I was worried that they would not break soil after winter.


I thought that they did not survive our first winter here in Bahay ni San Jose.


But they seemed to be on good ground.


The same way, I know and am confident, that you are set on a firm foundation with your faith. I trust that you will seek our Lord’s counsel in the many small and big choices you are going to make.


It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide you in making the right choices.


I consecrate you and your life to our Lady and her most Immaculate Heart.


Thank you for the many times you surprise me with your awesomeness!!!


Victoria Marina, you are such a beautiful child!


You will always be  loved!





Mama *



Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The Dandelion Book Club

 







The topic for today’s meeting was the movie Miss Potter and the world famous author Beatrix Potter.

 

Miss Potter, the movie, is one of my favorite  FEEL GOOD movies.

 

The focus of the movie is the struggle to break societal norms.

 

Beatrix was expected to marry a rich young man so that her future will be well taken-cared of.

 

She didn’t have any of it much to the bitter disappointment of her always disapproving mother.

 

Early on, Beatrix Potter knew what she wanted and that is to  be close to nature, imagine, draw and  create stories.

 

Their family’s annual visit to the Lake District easily brought awe and respect for the beauty of nature in her.

 

She spent time drawing what she saw and telling herself or her brother bedtime stories.

 

She imagines her created characters as her best friends.

 

They speak to her and join her in a lot of adventures.

 

The names they gave them were really whimsical and cute.

 

Jemina Paddle Duck.

 

Peter Rabbit.

 

Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton Tail

 

Jeremy Fisher

 

Tom Kitten

 

Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, a Hedgehog washerwoman.

 

When Marina was very young, it would be our favorite past time to browse through THRIFT BOOKSTORES in the mall and try to locate one of  her books.

 

It was as if we won the lottery if we find her original books.

 

It was always a welcome addition to our very modest library which was just a corner shelf actually.

 

Plastic at that.

 

We brought  these choicest books along with us in our stint in Doha.

 

Unfortunately, we were not able to bring them to Canada.

 

But, Marina is able to find wonderful books every now and then of other authors.

 

So, I am not losing hope of  completing Beatrix Potter story books again.

 

Hopefully, the original version and very early editions again.

 

The DBC group also discussed our  PROJECT OF A LIFETIME.

 

May Our Good and Great God bless it to success.

 

One of our youngest members, Marcus won  a raffle prize of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Time for Christmas book  for participating in today’s meeting.

 

Praise God Alleluia!

 

 

 

Thursday, October 5, 2023

The VINEYARD OWNER

 

October 5,2023

8:48am

 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, enkindle in us the fire of your Divine Love, send forth your Spirit Lord and it shall be created, and You Oh Lord shall renew the face of the earth, starting with my mind, my heart, my body, my brains, my soul.

 

Jesus my good good Shepherd, be my light and my salvation.

Have mercy on me a sinner.

 

Mary, the Mother of God, pray for us.

St. Joseph, help us.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us.

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.

 

** ***

 

 

Dear Jesus:

 

All is right with my world. Thank you. Praise you Oh Lord.

 

Barely done with my bathroom needs, the phone rang at 6:20am signaling the start of the prayer meeting with my /our Marriage Encounter group of 2007 circa.




 

It was an honor to be in their presence.

 

Despite my being ill prepared to start it an hour earlier. But, just checking the time difference now, it was just correct.730pm Manila is indeed 630am here.

 

Tsk tsk…again, I could have done better by simply checking it before hand.

 

I assumed.

 

Yesterday morning, around the same time, I was preparing for our online Dandelion Book Club meeting.

 

2  set of brothers joined us with Marcelina and Sophia Gabrielle.

 


Reminding me to post photos of this meeting and the one last month in our FB Group Page.

 

Also,  to do recap of everything.

 

It is starting to really get cold here but thank God, for the experiences that warm the heart so much.

 

Thank you Lord Jesus, God the Father Almighty, God the Holy Spirit.

 

Ave Maria.

 

The readings we reflected on were about the Rich Vineyard Owner.

 

The tenants rejected the representatives of the farm owner and even his son.

 

The question we pondered on was what do we do when we are rejected.

 

Rejection and disagreements are part and parcel of everyday living.

 

We just stay clear and true to our values  and the roughness will be lessened.

 

The pain of rejection can also be surrendered to our Lord Jesus at the foot of His cross. I beg Him to let His precious blood trickle on these PAIN and SUFFERINGS I have and take it with Him.

 

I release and give Him all of it in union with His passion, death and resurrection.

 

That His greatness may be glorified in my nothingness.

 

Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you.

 

Holy Spirit come in the emptied spaces of my heart, my mind, my body and my soul.

 

Alleluia!

 

Alleluia!

 

 

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Bahay ni San Jose ( House of St. Joseph)

 













THE JOURNEY 

 

         Early this year, a lovely couple friend invited us to their home             to claim some freshly baked  Ensaymada after the Sunday                   mass  at St. Emile.



 

We could not refuse such a delicious offer.

 

Parking in their driveway ,we noticed a HOUSE FOR SALE sign across their street.

 

I  excitedly announced to Giselle, that I longed to be their neighbor. I love their neighborhood and I love their beautiful house.

 

She promised to introduce us to their friend who is their mortgage specialist.

 

I was , as usual tongue in cheek…just wishful thinking, but when the nitty gritty had to be accomplished, I would buckle.

 

Meeting Meloi Guzman in zoom for at least 3 consecutive weekends worked like a refiner’s fire.




 

Threshing out the worries ,unearthing  capabilities as well as the possibilities.

 

Ruel was all out eager to embark in the challenging world of home ownership via the mortgage contract.

 

From the onset, I declared I would be like a stumbling block. The dead weight because fears hang heavily for me more than anything else.

 

 Quite a similar scenario for our coming to Canada.

 

I rallied the family for the novena to St. Joseph to help us every step of the way.

 

         We gingerly started the house hunting upon  Meloi’s  go                     signal soon after.

 

It was 3-4 properties visited in each weekend for 3 weeks straight.

 

Joel and beautiful wife Marilou Solite guided us.

 


It was a whirlwind of inspiring viewing and disappointments when we  lost in the bidding war.

 

On the last weekend, Joel added in the last minute the property in Silver Heights.

 

 The places and distances and locations were all a blur to me.

 

Could not figure out heads nor tails of what I saw and where.

 

I  just remembered that the roof was so heavy with thick snow and the kitchen sink had a big window looking out into the backyard and garage.










 

Ruel added CAD$1,000  to the  bid for the 1962 built house.

 

I told him that during the first round, his bid of additional 12 didn’t win us the house.

 

On the 2nd house, he bid a higher amount, we lost again and now just 1k…hmmmm I said, after this, I don’t want to go through this “ rigodon” again for the rest of the year…

 

We were keeping this project under wraps…but could not help sharing it with a family who visited us  that fateful Sunday. They  helped us pray for favor and blessing on this intention.

 


By  6pm Father Ani Xavier messages us with a greeting while asking for the intercession of St. Joseph to grant our family’s petitions.

 

I held on to this.

 

As we reached the apartment after bringing home Hero, Liezl and Aubrey, Joel messages us with the good news… our offer to purchase was accepted on the condition that we change certain statements in the contract. Instead of two months move-in date, the seller requested that we make  it to one month only.

 

Ruel and I agreed.

 

After an hour…the seller accepted and offered us to purchase!!!

 

Praise God Alleluia!

 

One hurdle was accomplished.

 

That Sunday was March 19,2023, The Feast of St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary.

 

The condition for possession was scheduled one month after and fell on May 1, another Feast day dedicated to St. Joseph the worker.

 

Quite a BIG AND CLEAR message of his help, isn’t it?

 

But, the bigger mountain to scale was next.

 

Mortgage Loan approval.

 

It took roughly around 2 weeks for this to be processed.

 

There were so many challenges for documentations and supporting requirements.

 

A million and one other things to round off like the apartment etc etc.

 

By God’s extra grace the knots were smoothened out.

 

We met our friendly neighbors on an April Saturday when we had another ocular of the vicinity.

 

It warmed the heart as the snow was slowly melting away.

 

May 1 came and we visited the house for the 2nd time and really had a much closer look at each nook and cranny as we were given the key.

 

Thanks to Atty Nueva Tagarda Mabilen  and husband Cromwel who ensured all legal areas were covered.

 


Duct cleaning was at the top of the long list of TO DO.

 

The duct company guys somehow managed to damage 2 things in the house with their bulky machines. Oh well, write it off to FORGIVENESS challenge as we win some and lose some

 

May 4  Saturday,  our household group mates wanted to help us clean, but ended up having an impromptu prayer meeting instead.

 

May 5, on Mari’s birthday, Father Ani blessed the place. He loved our new home.

 


May 13, Saturday was the scheduled move in of the rest of our major stuff.

 

Our MFC household mates helped us with the super heavy lifting.

 

I can never thank them enough for the super human effort they did for us.

 

May 14, Sunday,  our  neighbor  Gord, helped us with mowing our lawn and lending us his power tools.

 

What a wonderful Mother’s Day gift it was waking up to the sound of lawn mower, smell of grass, and  see Ruel mowing the lawn so early in the morning.




 

We had two sets of visitors next.

 

Our BCBP Action Group  and one of the power couple leader of MFC  and their kids.

 

WISHES GRANTED

 

The house which is now our new home is a treasure trove of lovely surprises that never fails to delight me almost each day.

 

The  windows up front and at the back of the house is a source of wonderful morning and afternoon sunlight. It is so beautiful for the spaces to be bathed in glorious yellow golden light at certain times of the day.

 

We need no pictures to hang on our walls since the windows already frame beautiful scenes of nature…like now, one floor to ceiling window shows us the wonderful tree turning all yellow and carpet of leaves under it in our neighbor’s front lawn…such a beautiful sight this fall.

 

The other window shows me the heart shape of the wrought iron hand rail detail of the main entrance.

 

I love the shape of the heart. Many instances of natural made shapes from ordinary things surprises and gives me the message that I am LOVED by my Father in heaven.

 

Example the small pool of water under a cold bottle…forming a heart by coincidence.

 


The pale pink tile back splash of the kitchen counters show round grapes.



 

It reminds me of a gift from my sister Jennie who gave me this small pocket calendar organizer with the design of grapes in it’s fabric cover.

 

The symbol of abundance.

 

Timely, that year,( early 1990's)  I also got the book called Simple Abundance from my sister in law Wing. Still one of my top 10 favorite books.

 

There are so many kitchen cabinets and drawers with awesome shapes and sizes. 

 

One cabinet door  can  house kitchen sink sponges neatly stowed away from sight.

 

I love the coat cabinets. The doors slide side to side. Quite a space saver.

 

The storm doors.

 

The laundry chute.

 

The Harry Potter room under the stairs  going to the basement.

 

2  fire places one real  and the basement one is decorative.

 


The margarita glasses left for us in the wet bar.

 

The  2 bar chairs.

 

All these are material things that will eventually rot and decay.

 

But for now, they are  my  evidences of God’s favor and provisions. His  restoration of things lost in favor of things much much better.




 

As the Divine design and plan is and will always be.

 

Thank you to the foster father of my Lord and Savior, who was entrusted with the care of the Holy Church and Word Incarnate.

 

Thank you St. Joseph.

 

Thank you for your  Bahay ni San Jose which is on loan from my God Almighty, my Creator and King.


We claim the grace of good stewardship.

 

Your child,

 

Angelli Anne J

Sept 25,2023

1:33pm