Come join us in our nesting place.

I am easily angered -I’m not ashamed to admit that. Petty things and bigger issues,  they  are all addressed with the same passion.  Sometimes, when I’m angry, I just keep quiet; other times, I yap -endlessly or do something foolish. But my anger is always volatile, I get angry now but forget about that later. Nonetheless, for the longest time, I’ve harbored guilt - maybe frustration is the right word. Mmm, I get frustrated for getting angry too easily. Sometimes, even depressed. I always include it in my prayers for God to help me not be angry.

One time in the distant past, a friend quoted a verse in the Bible justifying anger (just couldn’t remember the verse though). She said God too gets angry. Well, that helped a little. It helped dispel the disheartening I-am-bad-because-I-get-angry feeling although not totally.

Today, we’ve been to church. And the Homily focused on the issue about anger. The priest more than repeated what  my friend said years ago, he expounded on it. “It’s not bad to be angry, but what you do with the anger might be.” It’s what we do because we’re angry that makes the difference diay.

I still don’t feel good about getting angry -albeit too easily but that makes sense to me. It’s indeed  the action following this dark emotion that needs to be controlled, and not the feeling.  It sounds so simple and I wish  it’s that easy to curb the action and not do bad when angered. But then I can always pray and so I’m modifying my prayer now. *smiles*

I’ve been meaning to do something like this before (I actually imagined something like this to be my first post in 2009) but… *shrugging my shoulders* I wasn’t able to get past the conceptualizing  to the actual writing.

When I hopped into a friend’s blog and her her post of similar nature, I was suddenly reminded to do this. Anyway, I hope it’s not too late to do this now.

So 2008 found me with:

A new baby in our family- he’s my nephew :-)

A new PC –my husband wanted to get me one (one for our room). It’s one of those dinosaur PCs though because I was still undecided whether I’d opt for a laptop then.

My son getting positive of primary complex- I was too glad and relieved  when he got a “clear lung“ x-ray 6 months later

My son having his worst asthma attack and his getting sick of pneumonia – horrible moment  of my life

My first DSLR- because I wanted to see the creative side of me – if I do have any. *wink*

Trip to Boracay – I couldn’t believe I actually dared swimming in the ocean…but of course, not without a lifejacket and a buddy to guide me.

Parenting Dramas. Haayyy.

Broken N70 Phone – with a toddler at home, this is not too shocking.

Good blogging income – this was unexpected and I feel so blessed. I used  some to pay for my DSLR and then our trip abroad

Seeing an old friend with her cute daughter again

Lots of paperworks “for the future” - like you can’t imagine!

New N70 Phone- my husband gave this as a birthday present because I didn’t want any  phone other than my old phone, so he got me the same model.

First trip abroad – I still think of Disneyland as a magical world!

Worst LQ ever and then better understanding of my partner- Hmmm…

Positive career assessment – here’s one step leading to my goal-or my family’s goal

Huge credit cards bills –it has something to do with the paperworks and trip abroad (but which I miraculously paid in full)

Having two foreigners as guests in our home – a Vitenamese and a Brazilian. They are my siblings’ “loves.”

My sister’s wedding - Finally… after a long wait for the papres from Brazil to get to  P.I.

Series of car repairs  :-( Barney. Mickey and Friends. Green Puma Bag. Spongebob. Winnie ‘d Pooh.  Outdoor Clothing. Bob the Builder.  Photoshop.  Lightroom. New clothes and shoes that I didn’t buy.  Photobucket. Flickr.   BVLGARI Crystalline. A  Tommy H watch and jewelries that I didn’t buy. *smiles*  A happy heart.

I was out yesterday…so this post is kinda late.

But anyway…

Happy birthday to my ex-boyfriend that I married four years ago.

I pray that God will bless you more with good health, wisdom and happiness. I so wished you’re here with us, or that we’re there to celebrate your birthday with you (actually I wish to be there with you not just on your birthday but everyday). We miss you so (our son was a little sad yesterday when he had to talk and greet his papa over the phone…I know he missed Pops terribly).

*thinking hard and trying to put a stop at being mushy*

Actually, I sent him a card (okay, I can think of a hundred and one things to give as present on his birthday
-like one of those North Face rubber shoes or backpacks which are on sale in the mall, but after our trip abroad, a card is the only thing I could afford to buy for him now…heheh…oh but it’s the thought that counts, remember? Lol) which came right on time.

I sent the card in advance and he should have received it a couple of days before his birthday but fortunately, it came in late. And so he actually received it on his birthday. So this time, I’ve got to thank the courier for the not too quick service. *smile*

Okay I did mention I was out yesterday. I went to the DM Shrine and heard mass there. It’s awesome –the place, the mass. And let me share one of the messages that was conveyed during the mass: the Lord has so much graces to give to all of us… Isn’t that wonderful?

Happy holidays everyone!

Finally, I’ve finished reading Ariel’s Journey, a book written by Doug Kane and Christy Wood. It has actually taken me much longer than necessary as life’s really been busy at my end these days.

For awhile there, I had thought I wouldn’t be able to finish  this 275-page book on time. But I had wanted to see how the story unravels til the end that’s why I was reading it on my way to work for a couple of days!

So anyway, the book tells the story of five girls, who originally set off for a trail ride but were unexpectedly transported 800 years back in time, to a place in Iceland called Holar, to rescue a chieftain’s daughter.

Except for the body-slamming episode of two competing girls, the first few chapters were a bit dragging. Strangely though, in these chapters, I was mesmerized and amazed by the character of one of the girls’ mothers (Karen) in the story. I totally like how her mind works and how she handled the drama of teenage life. I desperately wish I could be a smart parent as she is when the time comes.

In Chapter 7 however, when the magical adventure of these five girls began, I found myself intrigued. I was certainly enthralled with the horses -with their “abilities.”

Overall, I find the book entertaining and informative. I’ve never heard about Icelandic horses before (oh, well I’ve never even really ridden a horse except for photo ops!) but now I’m glad that I know a little about this breed. A touching story about love, hope, courage, triumph and most importantly, of friendship, I must say Ariel’s Journey is definitely a good read for teenagers, and I’m pretty sure much more for horse-lovers.  Adults will find this a fun book too -I’m sure everyone will have a great journey back to memory lane -like I did!

In closing, allow me to quote one of my favorite lines from the book: “You don’t have to care for every person you meet, but you have to learn the skills of how to get along with everyone.”

And then before I put the last period in this review, I’d like to thank Parent Reviewers and Blue Ink Press for giving me the chance to review this beautiful book.

I am.

Mean. Callous. Inconsiderate. Thoughtless. Impatient.  I  am a sinner. I am ME.

And-

I always.

Trip. Stumble. Fall. I even roll over myself at times. No, don’t laugh, it’s true -literally and figuratively.

I hit a slump, hit rock-bottom. I make a mess. I get in and out of the pits. I crash and burn.

But-

But I’m glad I get my chances to get back on my feet.

And so blessed that-

My husband loves me. Cheesy as it sounds, but I sometimes couldn’t believe it. He, who always patiently meets me with a bucket of cold water when I get fiery, certainly loves me. This man, who I sometimes hurt, always pulls me up and wipes the slate clean so we can start over. Again and again and again…

And my family and my real friends love me, too. And forgive me. Despite everything.

Above all, God loves me. He loves too much to give me countless second chances. Awesome.

For more of Thankful Thursday participants, please visit Iris.

The past week, I ran into a financial problem of sorts. Without advice or a word, the bank -where my payroll account  is - suddenly put my money on hold. Come now, don’t kid yourself into thinking I got a huge loot there for them to do that -because I don’t.

But imagine how  I felt when I found out I couldn’t withdraw a single peso from my account. Distressed is the word.

Checking with the bank, I learned that they,  after going through a recent audit in connection with the Anti-Money Laundering Act,  needed my marriage certificate for the name change. Imagine, after 4 years of being married it’s only now that they realized they needed it. And obviously there’s a miscommunication between the bank and my company because as far as I can remember, I have updated my records with my company right after I was married.

To make it short,  after a couple of days (that long!) and one too many frantic calls to  the company and the bank, things were finally ironed out and the hold order was lifted. *sigh of relief* Thanks, thanks heavens.

Thanks to the bank and the company personnel who were instrumental to  solving the issue. Maybe  I wasn’t in my best manners when I spoke with them but I was a little desperate and utterly frustrated that something so easy could take a couple of days to be resolved. Maybe they are also too busy then, but thanks to them I can freely withdraw money now.

For more of Thankful Thursday participants, please visit Iris.

The past week was quite an emotional week for me. But I’ve snapped out of that state already - thanks God.

Also, thank you Lord:

-For a flick I saw last weekend -it was a great parenting eye-opener.

-That my father has quickly recovered from the stomach bug that bothered him last week.

-For a wonderful husband - he never condones the wrong things I do but ever gently points them out (sometimes while purposely wrapping me in his embrace).

And  when he’s home, he always waits for me  so we can have dinner together (no matter how long I get home ) and I always have the gall to ask him why he’s waiting. BTW, I had dinner with him at almost 12midnight last Saturday.

-For the great time we had when Houston came home.

-For a my husband’s safe trip back to his workbase.

For more of Thankful Thursday participants, please visit Iris.