Catch my new blogsite

Motherhood is a full time job. I cringe when I hear somebody say "I'm just a plain housewife -- taking care of my husband and the kids." Oh really, there is nothing "plain" when it comes to ensuring that you keep a clean and happy household. There is definitely nothing "plain" when it comes to looking after the kids. It's one of the most challenging and difficult jobs (if not the most!). I only have one daughter but I feel 24 hours is not enough to keep things in order. 

Don't get me wrong though. Despite its challenges, motherhood is the most fulfilling of all careers that I know of. No amount of money or salary would ever compensate for the simple "thank you" and "i love you" that you get from your kids at the end of the day. Those, to me, at worth millions of dollars. Parenting is truly one of my greatest joys. I am not perfect. I'm far from it, in fact. But I don't let that stop me from struggling to be just a bit better each day. I know my daughter is thankful for times that I don't shout whenever she starts a fight with a playmate. For a change, I know she appreciates it when I sit down beside her to watch a favorite movie instead of saying "Mommy has to work baby."When I remember to be a bit more patient and understanding for simple mistakes, I know my daughter is happier. I would sometimes catch her looking at me after committing a mistake, expecting for the worst I guess; and when I keep silent for a while to remind myself that she's just 5 years old, I always have to restrain myself from laughing to see the surprise on her face when I simply tell her "that's okay baby. just be careful next time." 

The other day, I thought of creating a blogsite just for my daughter. Each blog is my personal letter to her. One day, she will be able to read what I've written for her and I hope to give her something to laugh and cry about. But most of all, I wish those letters will be a constant reminder of my love for her. It won't be just her journey from childhood to adulthood. It will also be my own journey as I strive to be just a bit better for her each day. And by doing so, I grow as well. We grow and learn together. Read our journey at http://youaremyangeliyenne.blogspot.com/.

May You Be Blessed Movie

May You Be Blessed Movie: (click the link to view the movie)

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light." This is a quote from Albert Schweitzer, but it captures the essence of what "May You Be Blessed" is all about.

Most of the time it's really difficult to be good, nice and understanding when all that you see and feel are cruelty, pain and suffering of all kinds. It's hard enough not to get affected by what people say and think about you; a lot harder not to fight back and say something that's hurtful too....  It's such a struggle everyday not to be burdened by guilt and hurt of the past. But once in a while God do send angels to see us through --- people who are truly friends no matter how messed up you are, people who believes in your inherent goodness when all the rest have turned away, and people who simply loves you especially in times when you don't feel like you deserve it.

I saw this short movie this morning and I realized God is never ever short of miracles. And each day can really turn brighter when you also wish other people well. I have a lot of people to thank in my life --- people who brought experiences that made me stronger and better. I never really get the chance to thank them every day. One day I will have their names here; but this one, this one goes to one special friend who's been a constant source of inspiration and love --- this one is for a special angel named Cathy. Thank you for always telling me I am special no matter what. Thank you for the prayers. May you be blessed all your life....

Facing the Enemies Within

This article by Jim Rohn is  MUST-READ....



by Jim Rohn
 

We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some of our fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you've read in the papers. Some fears are valid, like walking alone in a bad part of town at two o'clock in the morning. But once you learn to avoid that situation, you won't need to live in fear of it.

Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy our ambitions. Fear can destroy fortunes. Fear can destroy relationships. Fear, if left unchecked, can destroy our lives. Fear is one of the many enemies lurking inside us.

Let me tell you about five of the other enemies we face from within. The first enemy that you've got to destroy before it destroys you is indifference. What a tragic disease this is. "Ho-hum, let it slide. I'll just drift along." Here's one problem with drifting: you can't drift your way to the top of the mountain.

The second enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. Take a sword to this enemy.

The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure, there's room for healthy skepticism. You can't believe everything. But you also can't let doubt take over. Many people doubt the past, doubt the future, doubt each other, doubt the government, doubt the possibilities and doubt the opportunities. Worst of all, they doubt themselves. I'm telling you, doubt will destroy your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart. Doubt is an enemy. Go after it. Get rid of it.

The fourth enemy within is worry. We've all got to worry some. Just don't let it conquer you. Instead, let it alarm you. Worry can be useful. If you step off the curb in New York City and a taxi is coming, you've got to worry. But you can't let worry loose like a mad dog that drives you into a small corner. Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner. Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it. Whatever is pushing on you, you've got to push back.

The fifth interior enemy is over-caution. It is the timid approach to life. Timidity is not a virtue; it's an illness. If you let it go, it'll conquer you. Timid people don't get promoted. They don't advance and grow and become powerful in the marketplace. You've got to avoid over-caution.

Do battle with the enemy. Do battle with your fears. Build your courage to fight what's holding you back, what's keeping you from your goals and dreams. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.

Wearing my high heels again

It's Easter Sunday.... and I went to church wearing a high-heeled shoe (4-inch heels to be exact!) --- again.

I stopped wearing high heels for about 2 years.... First, because I didn't have enough money to replace the old one that got worn out. Second, when I had enough savings, I just didn't think it was worth spending on a pair of my favorite high heels. There were more important things to buy....I got so comfortable wearing my flat sandals and slippers all these years anyway. Third, I'm on a simple living and I didn't see any use for them. I'm on a homebased job and I didn't see myself meeting any important person or attending any important occasion, event, meetings or anything of that sort that would require wearing a beautiful high-heeled shoes. In other words, I was on a voluntary self-exile.

So what's so significant about wearing high heels again? 

As I wore my high-heels this morning, I realized why I've always loved something like them in the past....

• At 5'1" in height, I am not vertically gifted. Wearing high heels made me feel a lot taller, more confident and, yes, more beautiful (I don't know why, but somehow the confidence gets way up to the head...). I thought this must be how beauty queens feel.
• People can't help but stare at the shoes; so they can't help looking at me too. Though I'm not sure if they like the shoes better than the face, but I kinda like the attention I get each time. I'm not physically gifted either (sad face) so it doesn't take much of a guessing why I appreciate the attention from time to time --- even if's just because of the shoes!
• It makes you feel rich. Uh-well, not THAT rich of course. I guess it just means you can "afford". You see, there are more materials used to make high-heeled shoes, so that goes without saying that price probably gets higher for every added inch. 

Wearing my high heels again made me realize how shoes can symbolize different emotions and how it can be associated to the way a person wants to be treated ("begs" to be treated). I stopped wearing one 2 years ago and got so comfortable with simple sandals and slippers because I no longer felt important. I didn't want the attention anymore, I lost the confidence, I couldn't care less how I looked and, truth be said, I could really no longer "afford".

I earn just enough these days. There are other important things to prioritize but I, somehow, want my dignity and confidence back so I got myself a new pair of high-heeled shoes. It's Easter. Jesus triumphed over the enemies. And He died FOR ME. Enough of the self-pity and self-exile drama. It's not the stares and the attention that matters now. The high heels literally make me feel "higher" --- more confident and more hopeful. When you're "higher", you see things that you didn't see before; you see things in different perspective. I still love the flat sandals and slippers though. I realized I could do more things when my feet's much nearer the ground -- I can run and walk faster, I can jump higher and I can reach my destination without much trouble. I'd still wear them for the most part. As for the high heels, I will reserve them for special occasions; because I now believe that there will be many of them in the coming days. I will reserve them when I have to meet with special and important people; for I now know there will be more of them....

Happy Easter everyone! It's Independence Day! Happy high-heels day for me!.....

The Definition of Joy

This article, written by Kay Warren, is my inspiration for creating this post. Kay captured the same feelings --- the exact feelings --- that I have about my own search for "joy". Like her, finding joy is a challenge for me too. Like her, I yearn to explore life's experiences, my own experiences, and hopefully I can also be like her one day -- learn to finally find joy in every circumstances. And maybe, just maybe, one day everything will make sense..... but until then, join me as I  look back (in the hope to move forward) and see my life in a different light.... join me in my own search for Joy... in my search for my real self .... let's journey together and search for that elusive Joy......

“We're depending on God; he's everything we need. What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you've got — that's what we're depending on.” (Psalm 33:20-22 MSG) This devotional is based on Kay Warren’s new book, “Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough.” Finding joy is a challenge for me. I’m not naturally an upbeat person; I’m more of a melancholy. When I talk about joy, I’m not doing so from the perspective of a generally peppy person who never has a bad day. In fact, it’s because of my own inability to live with joy that led me to explore why my experiences didn’t line up with Scripture. My problem was my definition of joy. I thought joy meant feeling good all the time. That’s impossible! Even for those who are naturally upbeat and optimistic, that’s impossible. We have to start somewhere more realistic — and close to Scripture. So here’s the definition I’ve come up with from studying Scripture: Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. You’ll find nothing in that definition about happy feelings, because, as we all know, happiness is fleeting and temporary. We tend to think that life comes in hills and valleys. In reality, it’s much more like train tracks. Every day of your life, wonderful, good things happen that bring pleasure and contentment and beauty to you. At the exact same time, painful things happen to you or those you love that disappoint you, hurt you, and fill you with sorrow. These two tracks — both joy and sorrow — run parallel to each other every single moment of your life. That’s why, when you’re in the midst of an amazing experience, you have a nagging realization that it’s not perfect. And while you’re experiencing something painful, there’s the glorious realization that there is still beauty and loveliness to be found. They’re inseparable. If you look down train tracks into the brightness of the horizon, the tracks become one. You can’t distinguish them as two separate tracks. That’s how it will be for us, too. One day, our parallel tracks of joy and sorrow will merge into one. The day we meet Jesus Christ in person and see the brightness of who he is, it will all come together for us. Then it will all make complete sense.