Let the Countdown Begin!!

We're close again to being together!! Today, we officially started our countdown. Though it kind of sucks that we have to wait for few more weeks, I'd still say it's going to be worth it as it has always been and always will be. I just am so excited to finally see him back home with me. Although I just saw him 2 weeks ago when he flew me to meet him in Malaysia, it already feels like forever. I always miss him every single moment and there isn't a minute of my day that goes by that he doesn't occupy my mind. I can't wait for us to get to do our "usual crazy stuff" again. Don't get me wrong. (He He He) I'm referring to us doing things like kids do; we play around and we never care whoever is watching as long as we're having fun. Whenever we're together, sometimes we tend to forget that we're grown-ups. I remember one time, after we watched sunset and had dinner at a restaurant behind MOA, we started chasing each other and he suddenly picked me up and carried me on his shoulder. We were laughing and giggling like kids. People were watching and some were probably thinking we were out of our minds. But, we were having fun and that mattered more to us.

I know his R and R is still a few more weeks to go, but I can't help it. I'm just too excited to get to see my husband again. I can't wait to be wrapped in his arms and be held so close to him. Nothing can ever beat that feeling of security and I feel so much at home every time he is holding me. Because for me, home will always be in my husband's loving arms.

A Haunting Truth

Last night, while my husband and I were exchanging e-mails, something suddenly popped into my head that reminded me of a past that still haunts me up to these days. I don't know but I just can't seem to let go of it completely though I know it does nothing but hurt my feelings every time I think of it. I am not the typical kind of person who would hold back on something that's better off letting go, but that incident has brought me fear. Letting go of something that has caused you so much pain is not as easy as I thought. One moment you think you have let it go, the other, it's otherwise. You're not only trying to let go of it, but at the same time during the process, you're freeing yourself as well from other possible reasons that might lead you to the same issue again and again. You are left with so many questions you have no answers to and the more you ask yourself, the more it hurts you. You want to find out the whole truth, but at the same time, you're scared to know about it. You fight so hard to win your ground though deep inside you, you know you're going to lose the battle. Because how could you win, when you are battling against yourself?

Sometimes I wish I never found out about that truth if only I knew it would change a lot of things, especially within me. But if I haven't found out, right now, I'd be unaware that I have been believing in something that was actually built on lies. I would have not warned myself of the possibility that it might happen again. I could not have prepared myself. It hurts me as much as I don't want to care about it, every time its thoughts cross my mind. I just couldn't seem to find the right answers on how it happened and why that person did something so hurtful like that. But what hurts even more is, I can never trust that person the same way I did before. If it happens, it surely is going to take time.

What Do You Have? Use It!

Today at church, right after I've been handed out a copy of the order of worship, I was taken aback when I read what was on the cover; TODAY'S THEME: "What Do You Have? Use It!"

It didn't take me that long to realize what I've been missing the whole time. I couldn't help but ask myself, what have I done to my faith, my commitment to Him? How could I let it happen? Where is that KC in me who used to be so active when it comes to church activities? What happened to her?

When we finally got to our seats, I just stared at the altar. Tears started to well-up but I was so determined not to let them fall as I don't want anybody seeing me crying. I have no prepared answers just in case they'd barge in and ask me what's wrong. For a moment, I was just sitting there quietly. I really couldn't take in that I wasted too many times and I've grown a distance between us. It may be too hard to admit this to myself, but I know deep in my heart, I have kind of forgotten about Him in the sense that whether I go to church or not, was fine with me as long as I keep praying and never lose that faith I have in Him. Too little did I know, it was wrong; I was very wrong! Or, I knew but I just didn't care.

I'm trying not to sound as if I'm bragging about myself, but this is something that I would like to share. When I read what the theme says, I knew right then and there that it was meant for me (and to all who had felt the same way I did at that particular moment). I knew it was referring to the talents, abilities, and gifts that God has bestowed upon each of us.

I am not a very good singer, but I am proud of what God has given me with - a nice voice. I have been in the choir since the age of 6. It was in the ministry of music where I found myself most useful and needed. It was where I belong! Singing is my passion and doing it for God was something I loved the most. I used to gave special offertory song and I have done countless solo performances since I was a kid. It was through singing that I was giving Him back what He has blessed me with. They would often tell me, I shine the most when I sing.

When I went off to college, I had to move to the city and leave everything I love behind; my family and friends, my hometown, and most of all, my mother church. Attending a new church didn't seem like a problem, though at the same time, I had the feeling that I will be missing a big, big part of me - singing with the choir. I wanted so much to join them in the choir, but I was too shy. I could tell from each of them that they know each and everyone so well, except me, so I never once dared to even think of seeing myself with them, much more, singing with them. One thing though was that, my cousin was then a member of that choir. She would ask me to join them, but because of me being diffident, I always ended up refusing her plea only to have myself eaten up by jealousy every time I would see them up there in front of the altar, singing so beautifully. I never not wanted to be one of them, so one day, I made up my decision and I joined the choir. At first I was so nervous. Singing with them was like singing with the divas. They have beautiful voices that when they sing, it's like hearing angels' voices. I didn't feel like I belong. But because I wanted to serve God, I managed to fit in. I did my best to sing my heart out every time we sang songs of hymns. I was happy. It was what I wanted to do. I was called to do so.

But then, school started to make me busy with stuff and attending choir practice seemed to diminish from the limelight of my priorities. That's when I started building a distance between my faith and my personal life. I lost focus on the talent He gave me and what I should be doing with it. Attending church became lesser and lesser and there were even times I would miss it for a whole month. Not only did I stop using His gift for His service, I stopped believing in it. I'd still pray, but I know there was always something missing. My personal relationship with God has been overpowered by my worldly precedence. It took me some time to realize I was going the wrong way. God still has remained faithful, forgiving, and ever-loving, for in spite of all my shortcomings, He made a way for me to turn around and come home to Him.

I am now slowly but surely building back up the faith that I once left to stumble and fall. I woke up to the truth that, if God sees in you that you're not using the gifts, talents, or abilities He gave you in giving glory to His Name, He will take them back. He owns it and He has all the rights to get it from you anytime, anywhere.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. -Hebrews 13:15 KJV-

I love and I cherish what He has given me. I know it's still not too late for me to start all over again and I am more determined now than ever to make up with all those times I have wasted. Here soon, I will find myself back in the place where I truly belong. The very place where I once felt most useful and needed - in the ministry of music. This is what I have. And I am going to use it!

Ten Commandments for Wives

I found this online and thought of sharing this to all of you. I just found it nice and cute.

1. Expect not thy husband to give thee as many luxuries as thy father hath given thee after many years of hard labor. (Phil 4:11; Amos 4:1)
2. Thou shalt work hard to build thy house with the husband that you have, not fantasizing about "the one that could have been". (Prov 14:1)
3. Thou shalt not nag...hit him with thine frying pan, it is kindlier. (Prov 27:15; 21:19)
4. Thou shalt coddle thy husband and be a warm wife. (1 Cor 7:3-5)
5. Remember that the frank approval of thy husband is more to thee than the side glances of many strangers. (Ezek 16:32; 2 Pet 2:14)
6. Thou shalt not yell at thy husband but will be a gentle and quiet spirit. (1 Pet 3:1-4)
7. Permit no one to assure thee that thou art having a hard time of it. (1 Pet 5:9)
8. Thou shall not fail to dress up for thy husband with an eye to please him, as thou didst before marriage. (Sos 4:9-11)
9. Thou shalt submit to thy husband from thy heart and allow him to be head of the household. (Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:6; Eph 5:33)
10. Thou shalt assure thy husband and others that he is the greatest man alive. (Phil 2:3; Sos 5:9-16)

Why You Get So Much Spam E-Mails

I bet everyone of us here hates Spam E-mails just as much as I do. Not only that they fill up our inbox every single day with dozen of mails we have nothing to do with, they can be quite annoying, too. So, when I got this e-mail from a friend about the fact on how Spam e-mails can actually reach our inbox, I decided to check Snopes.com as mentioned in the e-mail to see what is it all about. I was into trying to find any possible solution on my own, but I didn't find what I was looking for. This e-mail is actually about the so-called "Chain E-mails" that we often receive from senders (family, friends, acquaintances) every now and then. I am not a big fan of it, but I must admit, sometimes I'd do that. But after reading the whole thing, I doubt if I would even entertain such e-mails again.

This e-mail is the exception that proves the rule!

1) Any time you see an E-Mail that says forward this on to '10' of your friends, sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, or whatever, it almost always has an E-Mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and E-Mails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' E-Mails to use in SPAM E-Mails, or sell to other spammers.

2) Almost all E-Mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of E-Mail is, is a way to get names and 'cookie ' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers - - to validate active E-Mail accounts for their own profitable purposes.

You can do your friends and family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them; you will be providing a service to your friends, and will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam E-Mails in the future!

If you have been sending out (FORWARDING) the above kinds of E-Mail, now you know why you get so much SPAM!

Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listings regardless how inviting they might sound!

You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT in the long run. Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's don't make it easy for them!

Also: E-Mail petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress or any other organization. To be acceptable, petitions must have a signed signature and full address of the person signing the petition.

Read the full story here: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.asp

Her Comforting Words of Love and Wisdom

My grandmother has always been my confidante. There's not a single thing about me that she doesn't know. Being the one who raised me since I was 5, grandma knows more about me than any other person in this world. She even knows things about me that I don't. She's an amazing woman!!

Growing up with no father and mother to guide me through with everything, was tough. My parents had to work abroad to support us. I was often the only one in school who never had a mother to fight with and no father to spend Father's Day with. I never had the chance to experience sharing secrets with any of my parents; it has always been Grandma. From my joys to my tears; from my hopes to my fears; from my triumphs to my defeats.

I remember my growing years so vividly. When I would come home from school in tears, she was there. I'd ran to her first and burst in so much ire. She would let me cry and talk until it's hurting me no more, then she'd start talking. Grandma never failed, not once, when it comes to giving just the right words you rather want to hear from a person you're seeking advice from. I've always looked up to her since I could possibly remember. Not only that she's smart, our grandmother is a naturally wise person. It must be God's gift to her and I know why He let her have it. He knew she will be using it in ways He could have never been more pleased.

When I was in high school, I had been a constant target of blustering. I don't have any answer, even up to now on why they suddenly treated me that way, when they had been my good friends when we were still in our elementary years. For no apparent reason, everybody started hating me. Only few remained true to our friendship, and they're the ones I still keep up to these days. Every time I came home from school and I just had a recent encounter with my 'bully classmates", I would sit there and tell grandma everything; how I feel and what I really wanted to do to them. She disdained my words and instead said to me, "Let them do whatever they want. Let them say whatever they have in mind. For as long as you know you're not doing anything wrong, they'll stop once they get tired of it. If you entertain them, they'll just laugh at you and the more they won't leave you alone. Let them be and whatever happens, remain quiet. Ignore them. Just think it this way; They're after you because they know you're so much better than them and they couldn't take that in." I couldn't ask her to say more than what she just said. Although I was still too young to completely understand what she always meant to say, I would smile at the thought of it. I was pretty contented with what I heard and who I was in my Grandma's eyes. Knowing she believes in me and feeling her love in every word she says, were all I needed to sit there and say, "Losing them is not a loss to me!"

Most of the time, I was crying. Not because they got in to me, but because of the anger that I couldn't let out. Every time I was close to fulminate in wrath, her words would start to overtop me. They're too strong, I couldn't fight them. So, instead of gratifying the vehemence of my own anger, I'd harbor myself with thoughts that someday, they'll just realize their wrong doings and we will be friends again. I must admit, that not all the time I liked the idea of just keeping my mouth shut in the middle of hearing those debasing words from their mouths. There were times they would say something so hurtful just enough for you to hear, on purpose. They never cared how you'd feel. I was so angry at them because of what they were doing, but at the same time, I was even more mad at myself for letting them get away with it. But, what can I do? Grandmother's words were too dominating!! I would have hated them if I never knew better. I used to try to escape from her words because I wanted to get back at them and make them feel just as hurt and as worse as they'd always make me. But, I can never be more thankful that I didn't till my later years in life. I'd never know what it could have cost me if I indulged myself into its furious thoughts of taking retaliation against them. Now, not only that I've grown up into a person who never tends to hold back any grudge against anybody, I've also become more mature when it comes to dealing situations like those I've went through. I am who I am now because I chose to heed my grandmother's words of wisdom and for that, I'll always be grateful to her for doing all her best to make sure her words were ingrained on the grounds of my then, vernal mind.

From my first so-called "failed relationship" to finally finding the right one, she has been there for me all along. She is my best friend! Her prayers and comforting words stood by me through the hardest times of my first ever failed relationship with a guy I didn't even get to meet in person, but I've loved so much. She was there to say just the right words I needed to hear. When I broke up with that guy, all she said to me was, "Pray. God has prepared someone better for you, you'd even be surprised when that day comes." That was all, but it left a great impact on me that when every time I look at my husband now, I smile. She was right. She has always been right!! The soft sound of her voice as she speaks to me leaves a consoling feeling that would eventually enwrap me and open my eyes to its sweet realness.

And now, I am already a married woman. No more of their little Princess, though both of them, my Grandpa and Grandma assured me that I'll always be. I have now new sets of matters to live by and with. New things to think of, most of them, I still have yet to learn. When I'm feeling down, I still talk to her. She still knows so much about my life now even as a married "Little Princess", especially now that I'm dealing with my husband's deployment. I draw strength in her uplifting words, in their love, and support. I cry to her when I am sad, when I miss my husband so much, when I am worried, when I am hurt; Grandma always comforts me. I know that even I am a grown up woman now, I still need her words of wisdom to get me through with so many new things in life. She will always know so much more than I do and I pretty am sure that as long as I continue to abide in her words, I will never go astray. I will grow up into a more better person and the best wife I can be!!

Little Johnny is Pissed..

My husband sent this to me through e-mail and it's just freakin' hilarious not to share!! This has definitely made me laugh out so loud and I'm sure you will, too.

Just click on the image for a larger view and enjoy reading Little Johnny's "letter" to Santa.

P.S.
This is just for laughs fellas, but please, make sure there are no 'kids-who-can-read' around you while you read this.

He finally called!!

I just talked to my husband on the phone today and I must say, hearing his voice and knowing he's fine had made me feel so relieved!! I had been so worried about him, but now that I got to talk to him, I feel much better. He told me the reason he wasn't able to reply to any of my e-mails. They stopped the outgoing e-mails due to important reasons. He got the ones I sent him but he wasn't able to reply me back. Phones were down and even up to now they aren't working. He just borrowed a phone to be able to call me. He said, he tried three times and it wouldn't let him through because of the bad signal and finally when it did, after a good 14 minutes of conversation over the phone, it got cut off. It took him another 25 minutes to get to call me back. It got at me a little bit, but I was so happy I got to talk to him, so I just shrugged my shoulders and let it go. I didn't want to feel any less than the happiness I felt at that particular moment for getting to hear my husband's voice. We don't get to talk on the phone as much as we want to, that's why every time he has a chance to call me and the phones are working, we make the most out of it because we'll never know when the next phone call would be. Just being able to talk to him today was more than enough for me to feel grateful to God. I can't thank Him enough for constantly watching over my husband and everybody else on that ship and for keeping them away from harm. God is great indeed!!

Hearing the sound of my husband's voice made me want to just run to him, hold him close to me, and never let go. I miss him every moment and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't long to be held in his arms and to even just feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. Every passing day is a miracle to us. While he's out there willing to risk his own life for The Land that he loves, I am here, alone in my room silently praying that we'll have our love ones back safe and just as they were when we last saw them. I could never ask for anything else right now than to have my husband back home safely. And that same goes to every family that has their love ones, too on deployment. I know that each and everyone of us is praying for them and because of that, I no longer have reasons to fear. God is with them always, I strongly believe in it!! And before we know it, they're already home, lovingly wrapping us in their arms. The days we've spent apart from each other will no longer matter as what we have at the present would matter more.

My No-New-Mail Inbox

Once I finished running errands, I hurriedly ran into my room and turned on my computer. I was so excited with the hope that my husband would have already replied to my e-mails, only to be disheartened with what I saw - NO NEW MAIL, only Spam ones!! My heart sank right then and there. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. For about a minute, I was staring blankly at it wishing for it to do magic trick and an e-mail from him would suddenly pop up. But, nothing!! There is really no magic, is there?!

I don't know what else to say right now. I am worried to its highest level, though I know God is in charge of them and He will deliver them from any harm. But still, as a human and as a wife, I couldn't stop worrying especially that I don't know what is going on over there right now. I don't know if they were told to do something and he couldn't tell me about it. That could be possible. But if only at least I have even the slightest idea of his whereabouts, maybe I wouldn't be this worried. I hope it's just because the internet and phones are down on the ship that's why he couldn't even send me en e-mail or call me. Other than those I mentioned, I don't know any other reason that I haven't heard from him for 2 days now. But I'll just be right here, waiting. If I have to stay up again just to make sure I won't miss a thing, I'd do that. Right now, I am praying. My mind and heart are both preoccupied with the longing to finally hear back from him.

Worrying

I wasn't able to get enough sleep last night for several reasons. I have been worrying since yesterday about where my husband could be at. I know he's out there doing his job. But what I'm trying to say is, he hasn't left me a single email the whole day yesterday and even today I still haven't gotten any from him. I already knew that certain circumstance like this happens, I just can't help but worry. It scares the wits out of me when I don't get to hear something from him. I tend to get restless and I can't focus properly on the things I am doing. My husband sends me a dozen e-mails a day and we would exchange e-mails for a period of time before he would get off of the computer to continue on whatever he was doing before he sat there and talked to me. Not receiving any from him worries me, especially when I don't get to know if he's all right or not. It's one of those few reasons I never will not worry about him no matter how many times he assures me that everything is under control, that I have nothing to really worry about. It's not going to happen.

I just laid in my bed last night, reading a novel to keep myself awake because I didn't want to miss the chance of talking to my husband and ask him how everything went and I've been wanting so bad to hear his voice, too. He told me the other day that he would call me and that was supposed to be yesterday, but no phone call from him last night, either! You'll never know unless you're in my shoes, how it feels like to have a husband who is deployed telling you he'd call you or send you an e-mail but never got to do any of those. That's when a lot of questions start to spring up and as much as I hate entertaining them, I can't help it. I do my best not to worry too much about him and not to show him any sign of me being like this because I know he'd worry, too and I don't want to cause him any reason to feel worried about. But, I am a wife whose husband is out there on a deployment and for two days I haven't heard anything from him!! How would you expect me to react on this matter? I'm trying my hardest right now to forestall myself from crying because I know it won't help me in any way but make me feel worse. I just want to hear something from him so bad that it's crushing me from within. Even a short note right now telling me he's fine would be a great relief for me. I just want to know my husband is all right.

In times like this, I just comfort myself with the thought that he's probably just busy doing important stuff and that he'll get to me whenever he gets the chance as he knows I worry a lot about him and he doesn't like that. There are times that this thought doesn't work for me and when I get the feeling that it's starting to get in to me, I pray to God for comfort, for guidance and for Him to look after my husband and everybody he is working with. That's the only thing that keeps me sane when I no longer could bear it on my own. And I find solace in these verses I always read when I feel I'm at the verge of worrying.

Faith is the Perfect Antidote for Worry

• Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34 NIV
• Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 KJV
• Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. - Psalm 55:22 NASB
• Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. - Psalm 62:8 NIV
• Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. - Matthew 9:24 KJV

God's Message Is Clear: Don't Worry, Be Faithful

• Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
• Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. - John 14:1 KJV
• An anxious heart weighs a man down…. - Proverbs 12:25 NIV
• Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid…. - Isaiah 12:2 KJV
• Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
• Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life. - Matthew 6:25-27 NIV
• God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1 KJV
• I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2 KJV.

Most of the time now, I consider myself as a blatant fusspot to the point that I am already overreacting. I don't know if it's wrong, but when it comes to my husband, that's how I worry about him. I wasn't like this before I got married. I worry too little because I only had myself to think and take care of. But, it's a different story now. My husband always comes first and it's always a great relief for me when I get to hear from him and most especially when I know he is all right. Nothing can ever make me happier and more relieved than knowing he is doing fine out there, wherever he may be at at this very moment.

I just left him e-mails and I'm hoping I'd hear from him this time. I just need to run some errands around here and I will check my inbox the moment I get back.

Mahal, I'm waiting to hear from you. Please, be safe for me my Sweet Angel. I love you with all of my heart!!

Concurrence or What?

Finally, after recovering fully from my allergy, I decided to go to Robinsons Mall today to have the money we used in Malaysia converted back to pesos (my husband told me to convert the money to dollar as mentioned in the hotel voucher for the deposit) and have my photo ID taken. But for some reason, right after I finished taking shower, lo and behold, it started raining!! I have encountered the same problem a lot of times now when I plan on going out and then it would start raining. Sometimes, I am able to, but while I’m out, then it would rain and I always end up having a hard time getting a ride back home. Either way, I can never get away from it. What I don’t like about it are these reasons:

• When it rains, it floods.
• I don’t like bringing umbrella with me that’s why I always get reprimanded by my sweet husband. He knows how much it is a fuss for me to bring one to the point that I’d rather get wet than open an umbrella.
• And the worst, I hear thunder and I hate thunderstorms!!
  

It feels great when it’s raining and I love it. I’ve always loved dancing in the rain and I can fall asleep listening to the sound of raindrops, but I’m scared of thunder. My husband, though loves it as much as it scares the heck out of me. So, whenever there’s a thunderstorm, he always holds me close to him and tells me it’s all right. I know I’m not the only one who’s scared of its sound and if you’re one of us, you’d understand how it feels like every time you hear it roaring angrily right above you. You want to hide in a place where you can’t hear it or you play loud music just to divert your attention. That’s what I do; I play music real loud just so I won’t hear the thunder, though sometimes it’s of no help when the thunder roars louder than the music I’m playing. But now, it’s a lot better because John gave me an iPod as a birthday present and I use it every time there’s thunderstorm. It’s a big help!! I don’t hear anything except for the songs playing on the iPod. For a short period of time, I am secluded from the outside world and it feels good.

Well, I decided to stay here at home. I don’t want to take chances of me getting trapped in the middle of flooded streets. I have encountered that a lot of times, and I was never happy about it. Who would be? I even almost cried one time because it was raining pretty hard and I’ve been standing for more than an hour and I couldn’t get a ride home. The streets were flooded and cab drivers refused to drive me to where I live. They always refuse to go to that area because the water can get really high when it floods. Sometimes, right outside my house, the water rises up above-the-knee deep. I heard that there’s another storm coming in and I’m sure it won’t stop raining until later on tonight. So, here I am now just sitting here in my room, writing. It’s good that I have this blog. At least it keeps me busy when I have nothing else to do, just like now. It kills tediousness and I actually can use my extra time doing something sensible.

Cereal for Dinner

You read it right; I did have cereal last night for my dinner. I just had an allergy from eating shrimp on Saturday and that’s probably the reason I didn’t feel like eating rice and anything solid until the whole day yesterday. I had agony swallowing and the more I took in solid food, the more it aggravated the pain in my throat. Cereals soften once soaked in a bowl of chocolate drink (I don’t like milk that much for my cereals) and I love it for it’s a good source of fiber and is rich in carbohydrates. It’s what I consider as my “Emergency Food” at home. When I suddenly feel hungry in the middle of the night or may it be anytime of the day, I’ll just sneak in to our kitchen, open the fridge and get myself some cereals and I’m good ? That’s why wherever I go, there’s got to be cereal at the house. Believe me, KC is no sweet person when she gets hungry.

Mozilla Firefox ScribeFire

As I was looking around on the net for updates on Mozilla Add-Ons, I came across of an ad about Mozilla Firefox ScribeFire. All right, before I proceed, I just want to say one (might-be) helpful tip to all new bloggers like me: USE MOZILLA FIREFOX!! It's the most-recommended browser when you're blogging. I don't know what exactly is the reason behind that, but based on what I've read from most online blogging tips, they always recommend Mozilla.

Well, back to the ScribeFire thing. First and foremost, IT'S FREE!! It's specially made for blogging purposes. It has this feature where you can actually type in your blog entries without having to leave Firefox!! Meaning, you can type while at the same time you're browsing the net. You can do all the same stuff that you do while writing your entries directly from Blogger. You can post entries even without logging on to your blog. No hassles!! And it has an "Insert A Special Character" button which I find cool. Now, how's that for a change?!

I, myself kind of ignored this at first. I've just started on blogging and I don't even know a lot about stuff around here, yet and here comes a new feature that just looked so appealing to me, I couldn't simply resist. Although it says it's a good blogging help, at first I was like, nah, probably won't work for me or it may take time to download or may even make my computer work slower. But, guess what?! I was wrong!! None of those I mentioned really happened. It's working fine, it didn't take me time to install it, and my computer's working just the same. It's really a cool thing to use even for once in a while and I suggest you try it out, too and see for yourself. You can always delete it if in case you don't find it useful in any way. But, I think you won't get to that point anymore.

Have fun and enjoy the ScribeFire!!

A Military Wife's Prayer

(click on the photo for a larger view)

Here's something I found while looking for stuff on Photobucket. It touched my heart after I read it, so I thought, why not share it with the rest of you out there who, like me, have their husbands gone on a deployment and to those who will find this as touching as I did :)

To those whose husbands are on deployment right now, hang in there ;) They'll be back soon before we know it!! Let's just continue to pray for them, remain strong for them, and stand beside them no matter how tough things turn out to be. After all, we are Military Wives!! What is there that we cannot surpass?! :)

From A Military Wife to a Military Wife, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB JUST BY EVEN STANDING NEXT TO YOUR HUSBAND!! It means the world to them..

May God bless each and everyone one of us!!

Counting Down the Days

It's been 97 days now since my husband, John left on a deployment. It's already that long I've been dealing with him having to be far away from me because of his job. And I miss him terribly!! Every night, every morning, I long to feel him next to me. I cry if it's already too much to bear, when I miss him so bad and it already hurts. It's not wrong to cry. It's not a sign of weakness, either. For me, I cry because of the emptiness and longing that I feel in my heart every time I want to hold him close to me but he's not around. I always long to hear his voice, but there's no way we can always talk on the phone as much as we want to. Not only that sometimes the phones are down, phone cards are quite expensive, too and we're only given so much time to talk. We survive on emails; dozens of emails a day. Though they will never fill in the sweet sound of my husband's voice and how much I love listening to it, those emails bring us closer to each other and let us know and feel the love that's keeping us strong and going at this time of our lives. It's really tough most of the time, but together, we're making it through one day after the other and after the other. I am so proud of what my husband does and for me, he is a real hero; all of them who are out there ready and willing to do their job for us. I am just saddened by the truth that we're spending more time away from each other than being together since we got married and because of that, we're missing a lot of stuff that we could have done together, days we could have spent with each other, and things that could have helped us get to know more about each other. But, nonetheless, I know we have a lifetime to do all that and that what matters more to me. I could care less about other things right now. What I constantly have in mind is, my husband and his safe return.

Being away from him crushes my heart every time. When he calls and he tells me he's not feeling well, my heart dies inside. I feel so sad that I couldn't even take care of him. I couldn't even hold him close and make him feel better. There's nothing I could do but comfort him with loving words and assurance that everything will soon be fine. More often than not, I am left still just because I feel so hurt inside and I couldn't utter a single word anymore. But there's one thing that I know I am helping him with - my prayers. He's always in my prayers and because of this distance, I cling to God through praying that He'll deliver them from harm and keep them safe till they're back in their respective families' arms. I know how powerful prayer is and it's the strongest source of strength I have right now when things get tough. And of course, my husband; his love, and the thought that we'll be back in each other's arms soon, keep me going in each and every passing day.

Wherever they may be at right now, may God be with them always.

Mahal, I love you with all of my heart and I miss you very, very much!! I can't wait for you to be home :)

A Special Birthday Card

This is just one of the many gifts my husband, John gave me on my birthday. He sent me a parcel with some other stuff he bought from the places he's been to on this deployment. What makes this card very special is, it's my very first birthday card as a "Wife" :) When I first saw the card and read what's written on the cover, my eyes welled-up with tears of joy. I couldn't even discern the exact feeling I felt that day because I was just too overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

Celebrating my first birthday as a married woman is something I consider special. For me, all my "first-time experiences" are special ;) They are experiences that only happen once in your whole life and I want to remember mine for the rest of my days and just as special as they made me feel at that particular moment in my life. They are memories that we can never go back to and even if something similar happens again, still nothing would beat the first-time-experience. I don't know if this is still within the range of sanity, but I'm just that kind of person who treasures even the simplest things in this life that I believe are worth keeping. I just love life and every single thing about it that makes it worth living.

My husband's message inside the card made me cry even more. I felt his love and sincerity in every word he wrote. I couldn't say a word while reading the whole card. For a while, I was just there sitting and staring at the card inarticulately. Deep in my heart, I was thanking God for giving me such a wonderful, loving, caring, thoughtful, and just a great husband. My heart was inundated with love and longing to hold him in my arms and to tell him how much I love him while looking straight into his eyes. In between reading and crying, I would find myself holding the card close to my heart. It was my only way of hugging him at that very moment. All I could think of the whole time was John. Looking at the card was like looking at his face and seeing him smiling right back at me. I was envisaging that he was right in front of me, holding my hands and looking straight into my eyes while telling me how much he loves me. I was missing him more than I could admit to myself. More than I could ever tell.
This is also the first card I got since he's been on deployment; my first ever "sent-from-a-deployment-card". It's not really easy to take something like this in, but I am dealing with it. I was so happy receiving a card from my husband, but knowing he's out there, at the same time, my heart was doleful. My mind was entirely with him the whole time. I was thinking and asking myself, "What's really the use of me celebrating my birthday when my own husband couldn't even be with me right now?!" But, I know he'd rather have me enjoy my time than to just sit there and worry too much. I know he's all right because God's watching over him. It's just that, I can never not be worried a hundred percent, not until I know he's just right next to me; safe and sound.

This card will always remind me that even if he was not with me to celebrate my birthday, he did make sure he's able to let me know and feel that no matter the distance, he's always with me by heart and that he really do love me. It's the smallest and simplest things he does for me that make me fall deeper in love with him everyday. He knows that what really makes me happy are the things that money can't buy. I am not after expensive gifts - big or small. You can already put a smile on my face even with a 20-peso worth of cotton candy ;) That's how shoal my happiness is. For me, simple gestures showing your sincerity and love will always be the best present I could ask for. It's always the thought that counts :)

Before I slid the card back into its envelope, I kissed it and held it close one more time while uttering, "I love you, John with all of my heart!"

Countless Thanks, Ate Rose!!

First, I want to say sorry to Ate Rose Riley for not being able to say thank you for the beautiful birthday card she sent me. It's been long overdue and I am deeply sorry!! Ate Rose, a million thanks for your sweetness and thoughtfulness!! I love the card you sent me and it did make me so happy knowing that there are people out there, like you, who remembered me on my birthday..Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyo, Ate Rose!!

P.S.
May I know when is your birthday, 'te?! ;)

Here is the card that my sweet Ate Rose sent me..And the sweet and thoughtful message:

God's Wonderful Blessings!!

We have two wonderful reasons to celebrate today :) First and foremost, my sister, her husband, and their 3-year old son, my nephew, Haniel had been granted a US VISA!! They had an interview today at the US Embassy and they made it!! Thanks to God for being with them the whole time!! We already knew they'd make it because they put a 110% into working on their paperwork..And today, when my sister called our grandparents in Samar to tell them the good news, grandma said the news got there first ;) Well, it's like our old family's little belief that every time we see a big, brown butterfly flying around the house, that means good news to us..And today, while they were gathered around the table about to have lunch, before they prayed, they saw this brown butterfly flying right above the bowl of rice..Right then and there, they knew a good news was on its way :) So, when my sister called them, it was no longer a big surprise to them, though it still brought them so much happiness..We're really so grateful to God for His unfailing guidance, love, and blessings!! Our mother has her US VISA, too and she's been to the US already, and now, my sister and her family!! I feel so happy that when the time comes that I need to go and be with my husband, I know I will never be alone there, not anymore..Our father, too will be flying to Canada on the 5th of September and from there, God willing, he'll cross to the US..The only ones in my family now that don't have the VISA, yet are our grandparents and my sister's younger child, Rhecia..They're planning to get her a VISA next year and as for our grandparents, if they can still make it to travel, we'll get them theirs, too..I just am so happy and grateful to our Almighty God for all the blessings He's given us..And I just can't wait to have my family stay in a place where we can actually be together, even if not under the same roof, but still close enough to each other..I've been longing for this to happen and I've been praying for this my whole life..Now, God is answering our prayers one at a time :) He truly answers at the right time; not too early, not too late..The Lord our God is great!!

And lastly, it's our Aunt Sallie's birthday today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNTIE!! We wish you good health and blessings all throughout the year and more birthdays to come..We love you so much!! And oh, before I forget, our cousin (Aunt Sallie's son), Kuya Ice's wife, Ate Carren is due to give birth to their first born today, too..If that would be the case, then Aunt will be celebrating her birthday from now on together with her first grandchild ;) They're going to have a baby girl and they're naming her, Erin :) I haven't messaged my cousin, yet since I got back from Malaysia, so I don't know the recent news about them..I'll do that here in a few..

In behalf of my family, I'm happy to share with you all the good news!! We can never thank God enough, but from the bottom of our hearts, we are so thankful in our own ways..Praise be to His name!!

Home Again!!

I just got back from my 3-day trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia..The plane landed at NAIA 10 minutes ahead of time which was pretty cool..But we weren't able to get off the aircraft until probably 0520 in the morning because another plane was about to take off..

The weather in KL was fine when I left there, that's why I got a little dismayed because it was raining really hard when we arrived here in Manila..I started feeling worried because if it has been raining that bad, for sure our place would be flooded by then and it's too hard to get a ride home without you being ripped off by some cab drivers..I got in to an airport taxi that has a P70.00 flag down rate and charges P4.00 every 300M..It was pretty expensive because it normally would cost us less than P200.00 to get to the aiport, and today, I paid P300.00..I had no choice because I was too tired and hungry and it was raining..Not to mention that I couldn't find regular cabs near the airport..By the way, I was at the new Terminal 3 of NAIA that's why it doesn't have a lot of cabs, yet that wait and pick passengers up for a ride..

Anyways, I'll just share some more about our trip later..I need to get some rest :)

Hope you had a nice day!!

From Malaysia

Hello po!! I just want to see how you guys are doing? :) I'm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia right now but I'll be back in 3 days..I'll just update you about my short trip that my husband gave me as a birthday present..We're here together right now and are just so happy being back in each other's arms again :) Although we won't be spending a lot of times right now as I have to go back and he has to as well, we're doing fine here and having a great time..I'm just happy to be with him again..See you when I get back!! God bless!

Techno Christmas 2008

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5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often as you can. This will allow the new comers to achieve equal benefit as the late comers do.

6. Watch your Authority Rise

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Please follow the rules. Blogs in the list will be subject to removal if their lists are not updated. I will check all of the blogs once a week.

Masterlist:

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-- I'm tagging all my friends here who haven't been tagged, yet :)