Home in Mondays: Must-have First Aid Kit

I had a sad birthday. My boys did all they can to cheer me up yesterday. Surprise after surprise came. I was ecstatic about it, but deep down I just felt broken. 

The past few months have really been challenging health-wise. I have been able to do less and less activities and that really frustrates me a lot. I started to be able to do more activities again after we got back from Bohol, but COVID-19 hit our family. I probably had it too, but with less viral load. I fought it so I could take care of my boys. Then air quality went bad and things have been downhill.

The struggle is real and yesterday I finally gave in and cried. I felt so helpless and hopeless. Aside from feeling unwell the help I'm supposed to be getting hasn't come. I've also been feeling down because I haven't been able to see my Mom. 

Sweetie though reminded me that I should not worry too much. He reminded me how strong I am and told me how proud he was I was able to help edit a book for Mama Mary despite everything. That made me calm down because it reminded me what I should hold on to whenever I face challenges, my faith. 

The first aid kit for anything is your faith. You can add a prayer book or stampitas, a rosary, Holy Water and a medallion too. What's most important is your relationship with Papa God. 

Build your spiritual first aid kit because you need to have it anywhere you go. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

What If

I was ecstatic to see many friends pass the bar exam.  Wow! Most of them chose to become lawyers on top of their existing degrees and work experience. I truly admire them for doing that. It's really hard to work and study at the same time. I did that when I took my masters. A former manager (one of the VPs at G) asked me to pursue my doctorate. I promised her I would... it hasn't happened yet. Haha. I don't know if I have the energy to pursue a doctorate at this point. 

Today's OOTD is my Kulasa #kakampink shirt <3

If I followed what Daddy wanted, I would've been a lawyer. I took double degrees that's considered as pre-law. I disappointed my Dad and my professors because I didn't pursue it. I just felt it wasn't the right path for me. Maybe if I was allowed to run in the SK elections, maybe I would have taken a different path. Maybe I would have attained my dream to be mayor of my city. 

That's the what if, but I chose a different path and I don't regret it. I feel I was where I was supposed to be in the last 25 years. I also know I'm in the right place now. What I have experienced in the past two decades is unique and I'd like to believe I was able to help in my own little way. 

I don't like dwelling on what ifs because I believe in trusting the Lord to navigate your life. I gave up the struggle when I felt things weren't going the right way. Things righted when I lifted up everything to Him. I'm glad I did because I never second guessed whether I was doing the right thing. I always knew I was following His Will. 

Have a blessed Holy Wednesday everyone. 

#BeKind #StaySafe #VoteWisely

Live for Love

Happy Easter everyone! 

This is the second Easter I'm celebrating far away from my family. Good thing technology now allows us to keep in touch with each other easily. It's been a very long, strange journey for all of us. We each have had to carry our crosses. We each bear it differently. 

I normally do a Lenten sacrifice. The harder ones I did was when I gave up soda and milk tea. I didn't do one this year because I'm already carrying a heavy cross - my medical condition. Instead of abstaining from something I instead nourished my spirit. 

Knowing God loves me makes me unafraid. That's how I've been able to bear my cross. I am grateful for my family and friends who continue to pray for me and provide me counsel.

May you have a blessed Easter my friend. 

CB///359  #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/22 #StayHome #BeKind   

Filling Up the Tank

When I was a child part of my bedtime ritual was saying my evening prayers. I'd be on the bed on the floor with my Mom beside me prodding me to say my prayers properly. I still remember those moments clearly in my mind. Funny, but I still say same prayer before bedtime.

In the last ten years that I've lived far away from my Mom, she'd always remind me to pray. She always had a stampita or a book for me whenever we'd see each other. She's been able to let us all go and live in other countries because she's always believed that with God's grace we'd be always be okay. 

I've always known that aside from healing from my physical illnesses, I also needed my heart and mind to heal.  I only realized that I was spiritually dry last month. My efforts to last year was not enough. My tank had run empty. 

I'm not really big on talking about my faith. I prefer to serve and be of service. I was at my happiest when I was part of our parish community when I was growing up. That was the biggest part of me that I lost when I moved to Singapore. And probably why I ended up in this desert. 

The important thing is it's never too late to come back. As Pope Francis said in his homily last Sunday, "God's love is forever". I am grateful I have my family, my friends, and spiritual advisers who have been providing support (and there's YouTube that has a whole bunch of things you can learn from!). 

The tank is starting to fill up. It's where I am getting the strength to fight back and get well. He will heal me :)

CB///340 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/3 #StayHome #BeKind