Dawn,- April 10, 2022

This morning there was no pressure to wake up early but I got out of bed to make breakfast with the hubby. 

And I was delightful I did for the sky was beautifully lit!

The banana leaves are by our front yard. I love how they seem like hands raised in worship. 

Trees, its leaves and branches never fail to amaze me. They are signs of LIFE and manifestations of LOVE and HOPE. 

I watched as always in awe at God's magnificent creation. 

It's Palm Sunday and the SKY meaningfully painted my GRATITUDE for ....FAMILY, FRIENDS, WORK, GOOD HEALTH, CHALLENGES and every simple thing in LIFE. 

May everyone in all the world find PEACE and spread LOVE. A blessed week one and all. 

 

Rainbow a Sign of HOPE

On my way home today the sky in the photo above greeted me. As always I stared at the clouds and noticed the enchanting way the cloud was formed. It was drizzling and something on my left shoulder glimmered. Yes! A rainbow! 

Reaching home I took a closer photo of the magic! Wow, a rainbow never fails to mesmerize me. It symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We may be feeling down in life but everything will one day be alright. We just have to look at the bright side and keep the faith. 

 

On the Wings of Friendship

     Many times in our lives, we experience pain. There are moments when the sky seems to be so dark and nothing could compare to the anguish that we are suffering. On such occasions we are left thinking and talking to ourselves almost to the point of madness-"What have I done wrong?" "What have I done to have deserved this?" ...We go on and on blaming ourselves until we go weary of analyzing and probing our hearts and souls still unable to swallow our pride, unable to forgive or erase our guilt or vanish the hurt. For a time solitude becomes our refuge that we build walls around us that allows no one to enter not even the closest to us. And then we realize like magic, waking up one morning that the problems in our lives are nothing compared to that of many out there…that the fact that we woke up is a sign that we have to go on and help in changing the world into a better place. What better thought to wake up to than the realization that there are people around us who are just a thought away, who would run as fast as they could to get to our side the moment we call out their name. They would do anything just to cheer us up from willingly listening to our nonsense to taking the blame, to looking ridiculous, to taking the risk to taking the leap for us if only to show us that we are loved and cared for and that nothing in this world is too heavy to be carried by that thing called "genuine FRIENDSHIP".....

Friendship makes each grey sky sparkle
each dark cloud turn into glitters
each dreary feeling to glee
and gives us wings to fly
across the most beautiful skies

Change the World

     When was the last time you remember waiting for the sun to rise? Do you recall any moment in your life when waking up in the morning made your heart sing with gladness at simply seeing the sky?

A Tribute to the Men and Women Who Taught Me Right from Wrong

St. Michael Kindergarten School, where I learned my ABC

     
      
     

    “What is eight “8” (eight) multiplied by “9” (nine) class?” “Zen?” The lady, an apprentice teacher called out to a girl in a white printed shirt and blue pleated pants. The girl rose, feet shaking, palms sweaty and eyeballs rolling from one classmate to another waiting for someone to save her and whisper the answer. After a whole minute of fumbling with her skirt and fidgeting and wishing she had powers to go invisible she finally got the courage to say “ammm errrr ninety-two (92)?” in the softest voice. The practice teacher looked at her, face puzzled and caring and said in a sweet voice “I’m sorry Zen, that is not the right answer you may take your seat.” “Any other idea class?” Hands were hoisted into the air as kids shouted “Ma’am! Ma’am! Ma’am!” The girl who was fearful of numbers sat teary eyed and listened and promised to study harder.

    

on Ducks and Parenthood

I've heard it many times from my cheerful folks that as long as one is alive there is always hope. 

Passing Happiness Around

     Today I saw another child who once again made me feel so contented and happy. She seemed to be chanting while walking along the shore barefooted in comfortable loose clothes with hair freely swaying with the wind.

 

     It was almost sunset and I was spending time at the surfing area with a good friend after visiting the wake of a high school batch mate's dad. As always stricken with grief at the news of someone traveling to the afterlife having experienced myself the pain of losing someone in this lifetime I was in a contemplative mood. I complained a lot about the sky not being royal blue this afternoon and my friend did not know whether to laugh at me or to scold me. I realized I was being unreasonable when my friend spotted this little girl who totally took my attention away from melancholy.

Love, Love, Love

To be wanting to stay close to someone is indeed one of the most natural things in the world. Studies have shown that that emotion we call Love brings out the best in us. It gives us the power to move mountains; to conquer our fears; to keep looking and feeling young; to have a positive outlook in life; to figure out the answers to our innumerable questions in life. It can give us that elusive emotion called contentment...

and yes....

it empowers us to multiply and keep the world ALIVE! 

Light of Day

 Waking up and seeing the sky has been painted so wonderfully pulls me out of bed...

Bacnotan, My Hometown

Yesterday, I had tears in my eyes on my way to that place I dearly call home. I was with a heavy heart as I took photos with my phone through the glass window of the bus. Our province was one of those unfortunately ravished by tropical storm "Helen" which brought heavy rains that flooded streets, farmlands, homes and drowned relatives' and friends' livestock; destroyed crops and property and left many in sorrow having no place to sleep and food to eat. I prayed with my fellowmen for the rain to stop; analyzed why such a thing happened, drew out conclusions and like a diligent student came up with answers and plans to help prevent another akin catastrophe from happening; things  better done than just enumerated. Today, miraculously the sun came out and brought hope for everyone. With the government's aid, everyone's cooperation and blessings from Above I have faith we will rise above such tragedy.

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

     Sharing with you photos from my beloved hometown Bacnotan.....

    

Baroro Bridge

Close to You

~Love, it definitely is the most wonderful unspoken word

but say it, before the person closes his or her eyes forever because when you lose that chance, it may never 


come again~

❤♡

from my humble world to yours

❤♡

¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮

photo taken with my old

sony cyber-shot 4.1 mega pixels DSC-P73

San Juan Surfing Area at Twilight and Purpose-Driven Photo-taking

     One of my favorite places in our locality is the San Juan, Surfing Area. This is where I take most of my sunset shots and is the location of my Passing Happiness Around Post. Almost a week ago I met up with cool "Japol"ogy the brother of a dear blogging friend Ruthi of My Refuge Online and A Carpenter's Wife's Tool Box whom I met through Betchai of The Joys of Simple Life and Breathe in Breathe Out and chatted about the happiness of taking photos and everything else in between. Perhaps many of you are wondering where I get the time to blog. It is something that I love akin to some people's love for music, for sports, for gardening, for cooking, craft creation and the like.

Raising Little Men

     Yesterday I finally made a decision. I chose to keep only one job because such a decision will allow me to spend more time with my kids. I think I could never trade waking up to see them smiling at me as they leave the house for school with material wealth. Their soft kisses and "I love you moms" as they would tease each other down the path to our wooden gate with promises to come home at once is a bliss that I treasure most. As I type now, the younger one is playing with penguins on their computer, a privilege he earned when he did good in a school presentation the hubby and I attended amid a chaotic work schedule. Parenthood, its tests and joys is beyond compare.

A video clip of our son Roel's poem recitation during the "Buwan ng Wika" celebration in their school

A Grateful Heart

In Life, we never get everything we want...

At times we fail and fall...

and there will be people who may not agree with us

...and in the process we could hurt each other...

Time will pass no matter what we do...

and the longer we keep the pain,

the longer we keep ourselves from growing

A New Day

¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮

❤♡

Watching the sky change colors at dawn always renders me speechless...

the parade of colors that always greet me early in the day inspires me to do good,

to be meek, to be cheerful, understanding, loving, simple and contented with the thought

that someone always present and watching us wants us to be happy...

and loving one another.. 

it is easy to be blinded by greed and pride...to be wanting to be famous and beautiful amongst the rest and own fancy things that fade and rusts...

so I pray each day for everyone in all the world to walk a path of righteousness and humility...

while I work on my own imperfections...

thank you for the gift of each new day oh God,

thank you for family and friends who draw me near to you...

¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮
❤♡

Remnants of a Sunset

     She was staring at nothing in particular. Her hair, black as night was softly dancing in the wind. The smell of the gentle breeze captivated her thoughts. Somewhere along the shore she saw someone scurrying towards her. She drew out a sigh, lifting both hands to gather her mane to her nape. Twilight was lurking. The sky was giving way to darkness. Tiny wings were passing over her head. She could hear them buzzing and feel them shadowing what was left of the light of day. Over the waters she threw pebbles, watched with fascination the formation of ripples. She blinked hearing a loud splash. Someone has created a thudding sound beside her.

One Shack, Two Shots

River Fun

A fun-filled  day at Amburayan River where we let our boys swim, jump and eat the best of what nature offers...we participated in the tree-planting activity of the law enforcers and together with them pray each day and work to save Mother Earth....

Glorious Saturday

It has been said time and again that LIFE is a journey...

each morning is a gift and each person in our lives is a blessing...

Huge fluffy clouds, green leaves, blue skies, sunset and rainbow

...those are simply what makes this heart glad...

Traveling on land never bores me because it is a chance to watch the world

...sharing with you shots through our car windshield on one glorious Saturday...

Fishers of Men