BLOGHOPPED

1. clean the new house.
2. move out.
3. search for baptismal packages and locations
4. submit mat-2 requirements for sss maternity benefit (and hopefully get the $ asap)
5. look for new raket.

:D

can’t get over this marriage proposal video shared by a friend on FB. it reminds me of the music video of a song by U2 called “the sweetest thing”. this one is really touching because i think the family members have participated and some of their closest friends. couldn’t help but cry while watching them perform on the street. and believe it or not, the girl’s name is also AMY :)

watch watch watch!

so my brother from SG came home last week to join the family in celebrating my parent’s wedding anniversary and mom’s birthday. it was really fun and we’re all very happy that mom managed to forget the hardships we’ve just been through for the last 8 months without my dad. it was a real surprise because prior to coming home, he kept telling us that he couldn’t make it until june when the fares are lower. oh well. my bro’s a joker.

another good news is that my brother-in-law’s brother is also in SG now! it’s great to have family over there especially that we’re far away from him. we filled my bro’s suitcase with goodies to send him including his favorite noodles, preserved meat, camacho triple maduro cigars, new clothes, etc. hoping he’d like them all :D

one of the things that i love about the church that teddy and i are attending is the music ministry. they have really invested in the equipment to make sure they’d deliver quality sound and spectacular performance every scheduled service. i am especially interested with the setup of the drummer. he’s like in an aquarium and he’s supposed to wear headphones so that he could hear all the instruments and will never get out of beat because the stage is too large. he has a complete set with multi-purpose Drum Mallets within his reach. the best performance i’ve ever watched was during the church anniversary when they have even invited an “import” to do the lead. i don’t know if i want to be part of the music ministry because sometimes, being with kids makes my heart beat faster than being on stage.

my youngest sister who just received her pricey acoustic guitar on her birthday is becoming soooo addicted to music. it’s amazing how i just used to cradle her in my arms to make her fall asleep and now, she’s strumming all those chords and singing the perfect tune at the same time. yesterday when we were at the mall to buy baby stuff, we passed by the music store where kids were allowed to play aloud, probably to attract customers. and then she told me that i should get her a drum set plus electro-voice microphones. and suddenly i was deaf. hahaha. i don’t have the capacity to give her what she wants especially right now that i’m having a baby and starting a family life. but i told her that she’ll get there one step at a time. i advised concentrating on her latest instrument and when she thinks she’s ready, then explore another one. sounds good to her.

good morning! i’m having a chillaxing weekend here at home, just browsing facebook and reading stuff some of which are worth sharing. this article seem to have come to me perfectly on time, not because i’m dying but because lately i’ve been thinking about what’s really important in life that i have set aside for many, many years.

read on:

TOP FIVE REGRETS OF THE DYING
by bronnie ware

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

source: http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

one of my nieces gave my mom (her grandmother) a customized green bracelet last week as her mother’s day gift. it’s her favorite color and she’s very touched. as her daughter, i panicked because i haven’t got anything for her yet! anyway, i remember being addicted to charm bracelets a few years ago when it hit the fashion shelves again. one of my jeweler friends gave me one and it’s still here in my box. i’ll start wearing these jewelries again when my skin isn’t sensitive to them anymore.

last sunday, the service spoke of Gideon, the mighty warrior. i am so amazed by this bible story that i searched for more details online. here’s the video of the story (although it’s incomplete) that i hope would also make an impact to other people’s lives or probably get them through their struggles today.

my mom’s so proud of her new mini garden. she has green hands just like my grandma and that means she’s naturally good with growing plants. i don’t know how she learned different types of cuttings and proper procedure for multiplying a single flowery plant that she bought. there are many of them now! i’d like to get her some orange plants because i think it would complement the green gate and fences. i’ve seen a lot of them in tagaytay but we were on a hurry then so i wasn’t able to pick one. i’ll locate some gardening store nearby and get mom a surprise present when i get home there.

it’s been a while since i bought proper clothes for myself. thing is, these past few months nothing seems to feel and look right. i’m so not used to being this big and i’m a little worried that it’s all go to waste if i buy them now that i’m pregnant and keep them in the cabinet afterwards. i have a couple of dresses which i never thought i’d wear. maybe later i’ll get some proper clothes.

BUT after i give birth to my first child, i’d do my best to get back in shape. not too skinny, not too chubby, just the right body that looks healthy. then i would get me the best dresses, blouses, boots,western belts, and other bling-blings. my sisters told me that i’ve lost my style since dad left and especially when i got pregnant. maybe it’s about time to get myself back :)