One way or the other, we always encounter storms in our life. Those people whom we least expect to be our friends suddenly become our shock absorber. I can never thank God enough for friends who stood by me when I was down. Those who don’t even bother to question my insanity but was just simply there and listened. For the first time in 3 days since the storm struck, today was my first time to cry. I cried and let all those unwanted feeling out from my system. My eyes right now is swelling a little bit. I am planning to wear an eye glasses to work later. Wish I had one that would hide these swollen eyes. One that would make me look happy in spite of what I am going through. Wish I can crawl under the table and snuggle myself there until this storm goes away. But I am little bit OK now though. Now that I have cried, I know I can move on. Once again, thanks to my friends who never left me, even to friends who did not know I am in a storm, but managed to make me laugh, you never know how much you made me feel better. Thank you!

Today is my grandmothers 80th birthday. My cousins and I are preparing something for her. We wanted to surprise her. This day is always so special to us since we, my cousins and I were all raised by her. I am thinking of buying nice gifts for her. He loves accessories like necklaces and dangling earrings. So my cousin and I went shopping for things that we would give her. But most of all I know that she will be happy today because her children, grand children and even her great-grandchildren will be gathered as we will all be celebrating her birthday today. Happy Birthday Mie.

This Wednesday will be the first day of Lenten Season. My husband and I already made plans for that day. As devout Catholics, we are planning to go to confession and attend Mass after since its Ash Wednesday. It is very important in our family that we follow the Catholic tradition of Lent. Our kids are also very much aware with this. My 9 year old son has not gotten away with this. And so will my 5 year old daughter. I am looking for the day of her first communion already though it’s not going to happen in the next 2 years. I am eager already to send out communion invitations for her.

In a while we will be leaving to go to my son’s school for their annual Family Day. And this year, it falls during Valentines Day. Amidst the busyness that is going on preparing for the things that we need to bring to school and preparing for the things that my husband would be bringing for his business trip a11:00 AM today,still I am feeling the spirit of valentines today. My kids are so excited for today. However my husband and I already made plans for our valentines celebration when he gets back tomorrow. We did not give each other valentine presents. Though I received valentine cards both from my kids. It seems like my husband and I already gave each other save the date postcards. We already know that this day is supposed to be our day. But due to some situations that we could not control, we had to postpone it a day after. But the day or the event should not matter after all. It’s what keeping the love alive, every single day matters most. Falling in love is really easy. But staying in love is what always counts. So to all those lovers out there, you really don’t have to wait for Valentines Day to show love to each other. Let everyday be a valentines day. Stay in love everyone.

In a while, I will visit my grandmother. I feel so guilty not being able to visit her lately. I promise my self that I will do that today. She is already old and not in good condition. I wanted to buy her something that she likes. But she got diabetes and she likes sweets. I could not buy her that. Should I buy her some medicare supplements? I don’t think so. She’d get furious. OK, I think I will buy her fruits. I think that would work. I hope. As I’m writing this post, I am silently saying a prayer for her. May she live her life to the fullest till she can finally say it’s over. Love you Mie! (I call her that.)

As a mother of young children, it is always your concern to be with them while they are sill young for they will only be young once. Once they will become teenagers, it would be a different phase of motherhood already. But if you are a working mother like me, sometimes there would be some sacrifices that you would make especially when you will be torn between work and family. You got have a well work-life balance. But it does not wok all the time. Just like last weekend when I had to leave my kids behind because I had to attend a conference. If work calls for it there is nothing that you can really do. I felt so bad when I received the email from my boss. But I could not say no to that. Sometimes I wish that I have travel trailers so I can just drag my entire family with me wherever I go. I hope one day, when my kids could come across this post, they would understand why mama can’t be home at times not because she wants to but because she has to. Though this does not happen all the time, but I can’t contain the feeling that I was not with them last weekend when they were suppose to bond with me because they are off from school. Life is like that I know.

Staying at home ca also be educational. Because the kid are off to school so I have nothing left to do but surf online. That’s what I have been doing for 3 straight days already. There are a lot of things that I discovered and learned. There are new terms, now technology and a lot more new things. One new interesting thing I learned today is about credit cards for those who like to travel. There is a credit card that s sponsored by airlines. So if you like to fly, then you can have this airline credit card. If you want airline credit cards article, so you can learn more bout it, then you just have to Google, Bing, and Yahoo search it. It is always fun to learn something new each day. There is never an end to learning. Learning is not just for kids I realized. For my 3 days off from work, I really learned a lot. Some scary, some amazing, some lovely and some gross. It’s never too late to learn, and I don’t consider my self a square for not being able to know these things until now.

I am thinking of a good fallback in case I decide to resign from my job. Working in a call center is never easy. No matter what your position is. I don’t take calls, but still there are a lot of deliverables to meet. You don’t have any idea of how hard my job is. So I don’t dream of being here forever. I wanted to have my own business one day. I wanted to be an Event Organizer or a Wedding Planner. Weddings are always special to me. I know how it feels when you prepare for a wedding. Been there, done that. So I can totally relate to future brides. The anxiety you get while preparing for your big day. You worry about budget. As much as possible you want to have a bargain of almost everything. But you get into a dilemma between cheap and good quality. You worry about where to get cheap wedding invitations, tokens, flowers, choir, band and so many more. Not just weddings. You think about how worried those young debutants are when their 18th birthday is on its way. A lot of events happen in a person’s life and my passion is to be part of it and feel the fulfillment to see those happy, contended faces at the end of the day.

There will always come a time in your life when you can’t help it but think about the future. You can’t stop it but most of the time, you always worry. I had my share of those moments. I always get scared thinking of how secure my kid’s future will be. One common thing that runs to our minds is to save. Save for rainy days as the saying goes. I heard of CD or certificate of deposit offered by banks, brokers and credit unions that are one of the best risk free ways to invest your money. I wanted to know more about it and check if I can find the best cd rates is. But while I am still learning about it, I am also looking for some ways to save in my own little way. I never am worried about future before until I look at how fast my kids are growing. I get concerned most especially thinking of sending them to college which is very expensive. But these moments don’t happen always because I always live one day at a time. I most of the time do not worry about the future and let the future take care of itself. Well, it works for me…

When God says NO to your prayers, will you still praise him?  After all those tears, the fist clenched hand ached from pleading, the droopy knees from kneeling, the aching arms from reaching.  And God says “NO”.  There will silent cries that will follow and questions starts to grow.  “Why?”  Can’t seem to stop the tears.  Throat gets dry.  You’re catching your breath from wanting to shout.  You can’t say thank you anymore.  Has your faith been waived?  Have you not prayed enough?  Have you not called God long enough?  Why God does say NO?  There has to be a reason.  Has God gone deaf?

Discouragement is another diabolical key that opens the door for strife, the thief of our happiness.  In a moment of weary resignation and discouragement, you open your mouth and release the fear that was in your heart.  “He is finished with me.  I give up”.  But that should not be the case.  Pick up where you left of, restart your worship-reclaim your destiny.  Do not say you are finished with something until God says He is finished with it.  Go back to the same place where you witnessed a miracle if you want another one.  Go back there and lift your perspective.  If God has done it once, He can do it again.  Throw down the final stick of your strength and surrender to God.  You can’t do it on your own anyway, so what do you have to lose?  Dare to trust!

Remember that God will never work until it is too late and you are down to nothing.  Remember that ZERO is the very best place to be-it is just hard to get there.  The path to your personal ZERO point is also a Beautiful Journey to a supernatural seedtime and harvest.  One of the oddest things about God’s economy is His attraction to human emptiness.  He values your emptiness far more than the measure of your fullness.  God will always respond to the emptiness offered through your broken and contrite heart.

So what to do when God says NO?  Worship!  It is the greatest of all mood-altering drugs.  It possesses the power to turn the darkest night into the brightest day.  Worship! And if God fails you, you will be the first person in history that He’s failed.  (And I don’t think you are that important for Him to ruin His redemption over.)  Keep on worshipping.  Pick up the pieces and march on…