tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199655142024-03-10T17:24:18.250+08:00Life is what you make it...Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-37696617584742245532020-02-14T23:02:00.000+08:002020-02-14T23:18:07.373+08:00Blur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Most days it feels as if the world is whirling around me and I am standing still. In slow motion, I watch the colors blur; people and faces all become a massive wash. - Sarah Kay</i><br />
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As I sit down on my bed getting ready to sleep, I shake my head in disbelief that another day has passed and I can't seem to remember the events that took place. It all seemed like a <i>blur.</i> And now as I am about to go to sleep yet again I started to think about the future. Uh-oh you say, don't think about things like this when you're about to go to sleep. But I can't help but wonder if the days will pass by this fast everyday, I might be 70 years old before I know it!<br />
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It's been four years now since my dad died but to me it seems like yesterday when he was still here. Maybe I deliberately tried to be busy to forget the pain, maybe I was trying to forget stuff that's why I gave work my full attention; maybe I was trying to drown down the grief that was gripping me; whatever the reason, it made me stop and think that, what I was doing might not be right and healthy. Wearing myself down and being busy at work without the balance of relaxation is never good.<br />
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These days it has always been about making sure that my mom was alright. That she was comfortable and never alone. We even redecorated their bedroom because she said it reminded her of my dad all the time. We bought a new bed because she said she cannot lie down there and not think of him, new side tables etc. I took it upon myself to take care of her every need, I feel so bad that she is now alone and that when all of us go to work and the kids to school she is alone at home. </div>
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Fast forward, in a few months time a new life changing event is going to happen. The "big move". I have lived in our place all my life but an opportunity to live in a new place near our work presented itself - me and the hubs grabbed it! We were tired of the long commute, we usually come home so dog tired sometimes I forego dinner just to get more shut-eye. In the new place, I get to arrive home in just a quarter of an hour compared to the usual two and a half hours drive across 3 cities. </div>
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This new place promises quiet and cozy days spent with the family. This new place gives my mom a new view and new places to discover and hopefully a new perspective in life. Also, in this new place I can sleep longer and spent more quality time with the girls and do the things I want to do because I am not too tired to lift a finger. The blur that was four years of my life is suddenly getting more focused. Suddenly the picture that is my life, is getting clearer. And yeah, it's looking mighty sweet and promising.</div>
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As Dolly Parton put it, "<i>The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." </i> Cheers to the blur that now cleared it's path to show a silver lining and of course, to new beginnings!</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-15906245792963877732016-12-26T00:06:00.001+08:002019-12-28T08:12:01.386+08:00Someday, Somewhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I wrote a father's day post<a href="http://mumshavelivestoo.blogspot.com/2008/06/thanks-to-you.html"></a> way back in 2008 thanking my dad for all his love and patience and this is his reply to it.
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It could have been an empty life without you child. A time is coming when I could only walk with you in silence clothed in the veils of the night i could only whisper the words I LOVE YOU by the breath of the winds that touches your ears. I will always be with you for I will never leave you. Now while I can I say....I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.</blockquote>
I guess it came.<br />
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That day when he can only walk with me in silence and would whisper the words I Love You by the breath of the winds touching my ear.<br />
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My dad died 24 days ago, I can not even begin to process that those were the number of days that had passed already, it seemed like it was only yesterday.<br />
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This is the first Christmas that we won't spend it together. I have thought of writing my feelings for many days now but I couldn't find the courage to. I am not sure if I can even finish this post successfully without tears clouding my eyes. So far so good.<br />
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I would like to think that I was part of my dad's best days and vice versa. I was there for my dad in his best and in the bad ones. I was blessed to spend the last years, months and days with him, fully celebrating life as best as we could. I was able to talk to him - a lot, confide in him my fears and problems and debated with him on how to solve it. I argued and laughed with him - he was a very good friend.<br />
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I was also given the privilege to show him some of his many first experiences - like going to Starbucks and choosing his first latte. I was the one who encouraged him to become a blogger! And the most important of all, for me, I was able to let him know every day, how much I loved him.<br />
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I just wish...we had more time together. But I know that he is in a better place now. A place he longed to come home to for many years, I just realized that these past few weeks. I will always wish to have him beside me, there will be days that I will need him to comfort me. There will be days where I would want to tell him what happened to my day. There will be days I wished he was there to hold my hand and hold me tight. But for now, I would have to grit my teeth and bear it. Someday, somewhere we will be together again.<br />
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Thank you dad, for the wonderful years we had together. You were more than a dad, you were a friend, a mentor...a soul mate. While I miss you so much, I am more thankful that you were granted the grace of dying in your sleep and waking up in heaven. I love you so much! Until we meet again. Here's a link to my dad's favorite song.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAu3a7CMA84">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAu3a7CMA84</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-17578990228222702972016-01-03T06:27:00.001+08:002016-01-03T07:22:55.792+08:00Auld Lang Syne<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQumAfoS9VvS7OWvT5Yy3Mz8hc34RJN_qagfUa9SioOLOlSXb1ubwlvCHlYDU-FEJNrrdi1FjCSR7S4nWQSd3arEc8XanwjBIyQiOwU57lAUqJ5PzsGJWeZWn8ALAN-RjiLl_x/s640/blogger-image-1544145107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQumAfoS9VvS7OWvT5Yy3Mz8hc34RJN_qagfUa9SioOLOlSXb1ubwlvCHlYDU-FEJNrrdi1FjCSR7S4nWQSd3arEc8XanwjBIyQiOwU57lAUqJ5PzsGJWeZWn8ALAN-RjiLl_x/s640/blogger-image-1544145107.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Should auld acquaintance be forgot, </i></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>And never brought to mind? </i></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Should auld acquaintance be forgot, </i></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>And auld lang syne</i></span></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;">Watched the movie New Year's Eve and that song stuck when Lea Michele sang it in the movie.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: start;"><br></div></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I was cleaning the house yesterday afternoon I went over the past year like I always do during the new year. I lost two of my dear aunts in the first two months of the year, my eldest graduated high school in March. She went to college a few months after. My mom fell down and had concussion that scared us all and my dad was hospitalized for 2 days and I stayed with him. So many things happening in between. We also decided to buy a new property near work as traffic in Manila was getting from worst to ridiculously hateful. I was also given another team to handle and a big undertaking at work to pull together. Phew! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the family-side of things, I make an effort to spend as much of my free time with the family as I can. Losing my dear aunts earlier last year made me realize that spending time with my parents and making them feel loved is one of my top priorities...life is indeed too short. Reflecting on the year that was, aside from the sad beginning of the year it was overall not very bad, it was a year that I felt I worked the hardest but felt good about it. It was also a year that my husband and I made serious decisions about our future. We made several decisions on how we want to go forward with the family and how we wanted the future to look like. I think it was a year that I felt grown-up the most LOL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I stopped making new year's resolution long ago. I set goals now instead and I try my best to achieve each one. As one gets older I guess we learn to pick out which battles we want to tackle, which ones we can miss out on and still survive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As for me, I cherish each day as much as I could. I begin the day whispering to God how thankful I am for a new day He gave me to start over, I scoot over to cuddle and get my morning dose of hugs and kisses from the love of my life - this is a requirement before I head off to cook breakfast. I also make a pitstop to the girls' room to kiss their sleepyheads and say "<i>I love you</i>". And just like that I have energy to face another day of my life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Like all new years that passed I look forward to what life has in store for me and my family. I believe, like the child I was before, that good and happier times are yet to come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From my family to yours, cheers to a New Year my dear friends! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-475120449120163122015-10-18T19:26:00.000+08:002015-10-18T19:26:16.036+08:00Pause for Life
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A perfect moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me, alone in a coffee shop with a hot latte and my laptop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waiting for my ride home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">…an opportunity to write
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, there is no excuse for it
really, I haven’t written in ages! So much has happened. Life, work and family, not necessarily in that order. Well,
most of the time jumbled together. So many stories screaming in my head,
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see what I have become? Whilst I was away from Bloggerville your
friend has turned into a drama queen, hehehe. Well, not really...not yet that is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My last post was about my daughters growing up very fast, I was stunned at that pace time flew. Yesterday I was just coming off from a late Sunday afternoon slumber, now I am sitting here in Starbucks sipping coffee and celebrating Friday! Whew, don't you sometimes feel that you are being cheated by Mister Sandman? Don't you sometimes feel that while you sleep, he is secretly turning the hands of the time faster than it should tick? Hmmm, you agree with me right? It's a conspiracy theory that I share with a lot of moms, well I guess not just moms, dads too and maybe everybody who has been busy with their businesses and their lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I often wish, like I always do, that there is enough time...time to do the things I love. Time to stop and pause. Pause. Now there's a nice word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just came off from a three day workshop about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I think those were three days well spent. We were taught that "pausing" is one way for people to go inwards and think about what they really want, revive their hope and dreams. Think of the big rocks and reorganizing them in one's life. There are times when I wonder if I have positioned my big rocks correctly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I paused...I looked. Today I see my big rocks...my husband, my daughters, my parents, my family, a new house, travel plans and a job I love doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I may have placed my big rocks correctly after all. </span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-26153977152700451042014-06-13T00:27:00.000+08:002014-06-13T00:27:01.400+08:00Where Did the Time Go?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been more than a year since my last post. Blogging seemed a distant dream to me lately, but I finally found the time to visit my old place. Looking around felt like I left the place long enough for cobwebs to take over. For the past year I was only able to post one. I hope I can liven it up a bit soon.</div>
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What have I been doing with my life? Well believe it or not, I have been doing what I have always dreamed of becoming...a hands-on mother. Look at my babies, they are all grown up! Day in and day out when I wake up they get bigger and bigger and now, I am the smallest one in the family. Being away did give me time to pick up the pieces, learning how to live without househelp and thriving in my career. Learning to do things on my own, cooking, cleaning the house, making sure all is in place, taking care of the kids and keeping my husband happy. I didn't know I could do it, I didn't think I could survive...but I did...we did, helping each other. </div>
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My eldest daughter Pia is graduating high school next year. She's going to college! Even I could not wrap my head around the idea. I have been talking to her a lot lately, coaching her about life, telling her how things are outside, trying my best to arm her with information. Sigh, trying my best to make her ready to face life. How do you life-proof your child, anyways?</div>
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Each day when I talk to my kids our conversations go on different levels. I miss the days where they would hang around me, clinging to me and seemed to demand my every attention. Now it's my turn to be clingy. When I get home, they are busy doing their own thing, talking to friends, reading, doing stuff. I guess they are really grown up now... I must learn to accept the fact. For the longest time I comb my daughters' hair, fixing them up for school and when we go out...when I try to do that now, they say, "I can do it Mom." I always forget that they have their own style now, their own way of doing things. So this is how my mom felt when I told her I can do things on my own and didn't need her help. I didn't know how those words had the power to pinch a mother's heart. I sure felt mine flinch a bit.</div>
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This is life. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for it. Thankful for the time I spend with the kids, thankful that I can give them motherly love, thankful that I get to hug them and kiss them and watch them grow up. I am thankful that I can serve them in my own way. I am honored to get front row seats to watch them blossom into the person they were meant to become. I tell my kids, that we come around this place only once, we have to leave the world a much better place than we first found it. I hope I can do that in my own little way. </div>
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Glad to be back with a post in Bloggerville. <br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-81986227299277229872013-01-13T16:55:00.000+08:002013-01-13T16:55:40.608+08:00New Beginnings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” <br />― </em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5224722.Edith_Lovejoy_Pierce"><em>Edith Lovejoy Pierce</em></a></span></div>
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It's been 13 days since the New Year started and yet I still feel expectant that new things await me and my family. That quote from Edith Pierce really made a mark when I first heard it...I hope to write a better story of my life this year. </div>
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Just now I found a rare moment to write, it's been such a long time since I last wrote something and I often wished that I could do so much more often. But I don't regret the moments I've been away, I've discovered a lot and experienced a lot of things about life whilst I was away from Bloggerville.</div>
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First of the many changes, I don't have a nanny anymore, the kids are big now one teenager and my little one is not so little anymore at age 9. I've discovered that having a nanny does have ups and downs, most of the downs I can live without and the ups I've discovered I can do myself. For example I now don't have that fear that they might leave me at the first sign of dissatisfaction. I control my home and don't have to ride that emotional rollercoaster that usually comes when a trusted nanny leaves the house. Second, I now cook...a lot! I found myself researching recipes and trying them out. My little girl I've discovered loved helping me out, that gives me special bonding time with her. Third, since I now work on my kitchen a lot, I've discovered it's potentials, so I had it renovated just before Christmas and now it looks gorgeous and inspires me to cook hearty foods each day.</div>
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My family time got a significant boost in 2012 and I plan to keep it up in the coming years. It keeps me excited to wake up each day. To personally take care of my family each moment. Although it entails some sacrifices, waking up early everyday. I have also learned to be grateful for all the blessings that I receive each day, whether big and small. By being thankful, I realized that God has provided me with so much and I oftentimes overlooked it before.</div>
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To all my friends in Bloggerville I wish you time, hope and love this new year. I hope to read from your pages the whole year through. Never stop writing. </div>
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I want to end this post with I quote from the movie "New Year's Eve" which I liked dearly - "<em>Sometimes it feels like there are so many things we can't control, earthquakes, floods, reality shows. But it's important to remember the things we can, like forgiveness, second chances, fresh starts. Because the one thing that turns the world from a lonely place to a beautiful place, is love. Love in any of its forms. Love gives us hope, hope for the New Year. That's New Year's Eve to me. Hope, and a great party."</em></div>
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Here's a toast to the NEW YEAR!</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-29392849082154013652012-08-27T16:50:00.000+08:002012-08-27T19:21:31.820+08:00Defining Me (a repost)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div></div>Today is my birthday and I wanted to write something relevant. I went through my old articles and found this; I couldn't have written anything more for today. <br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/facesforroleplay/bddc22bc.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="273" src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/facesforroleplay/bddc22bc.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 290px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 270px;" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="color: white;">The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you <em>you</em> love, well that's just fabulous! ~ Carrie Bradshaw</span></strong><br />
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Another year older... and wiser, I hope. When I was much younger I thought when I grow old I would know who I really am and who I am meant to be. Little did I know then that each part of my life, my birth, my childhood and everything in between are moments meant to happen to make <em>me</em> the person that I am now. Every second, every event, every choice, every word, every move, every feeling is a definition of me.<br />
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When I am asked to describe myself, I often fumble at my answer. It's not that I don't know my description but I sometimes hesitate and wonder if the person asking wanted a physical description of myself or who I am as a person. I had noticed that when one is much younger, we define ourselves more on our physical attributes. Is she tall or short? Is she thin or on the chubby side? Does she have long straight hair or short and curly?<br />
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I noticed that I have matured when I started to see people as persons with feelings and character. We are often deceived by the physical that we sometimes miss to see the person behind the beautiful face.<br />
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I often wondered if I were not a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister or a friend who would I be? These are only roles that I carry out each day and there are so much more that I can do and become depending on what the event calls for.<br />
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<span style="color: white;">Of all my roles being a <strong><em>mother</em></strong> is probably the most versatile. I get to play so many characters in a day, sometimes even within minutes. I can become a teacher, a healer, a friend, a playmate, a comforter, a superhero and sometimes a villain, a cook, a storyteller, a fashion consultant, head coach, a tour guide, a shopping guru, the book of knowledge and sometimes a dictionary and much much more.</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: white;">I love those roles. It's something I want to be good at each day of my life.</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: white;">I know I am still a work in progress. Each day a new <em><strong>me</strong></em> is born. I hope each one gets better and better and more and more the <strong><em>me</em></strong> that my Lord planned for me to become.</span><br />
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</span><strong><span style="color: white;"><em>Psalm 139:14</em> I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.</span></strong></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-79323149566938748062012-01-22T18:24:00.003+08:002012-01-22T22:00:43.154+08:00Dare to Live the Dream<p align="center"><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/dream/FindStuff2/Just" target="_blank" o="'6"><img style="WIDTH: 285px; HEIGHT: 324px" border="0" src="http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp190/FindStuff2/Just%20For%20Fun/Dreams/sky-1.jpg" width="276" height="342" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big."</span></em></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I grew up in a home where dreams were encouraged. I may have brought along the dreamer in me as I was growing up. I also learned that the way a person looks at dreams also mature with them. The younger me would have thrived in waiting for things to happen, content in just feeling good when other people achieved theirs and wishing...wishing very hard that mine would come true, one day.<br /><br />As I was growing old, I kept dreaming of a better place, a better life, a better me. Each morning I wake up and ask myself, is this the life I am meant to live? And each time my heart would say no, there must be something more, much much more than what is right now.<br /><br />It's not that I was disappointed with the kind of life I have. Oddly, it took very little to make me very happy. But there was this small piece of me that says I could make things even better, that I could raise the bar another notch. So I went through life searching for this. This something that would add meaning to my life.<br /><br />At a very young age I learned that money does not make the world go round, sure it could jazz it up a bit, but the real ticker, my mother taught me, was love and family. If you had that, wow, you were rich, rich in what mattered most in life. No matter how fat your paycheck may be at the end of the day if you have no one to share it with, it didn't really matter much. That lesson, I kept close to my heart.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And so today, I want to share with you some tidbits I learned along the way.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Life doesn't stop when you reached a certain point in your life; like marriage, having kids, or getting a promotion. Make these experiences your wings, to soar higher, to share more of yourself, to give some back.<br /><br />2. For my married friends, having a family shouldn't be an excuse to stop dreaming. Dreams are for everyone. Get one and make it come true.<br /><br />3. Don't be too hard on yourself when you make mistakes. Smile, relax and most of all learn to laugh at yourself. Stand up and get back on your feet again, this time you know better.<br /><br />4. Always give back to life the blessings you have received. Don't be afraid to share. There is more where it came from, much much more.<br /><br />5. Don't feel guilty when you sometimes just want to sleep all day and do just nothing. You work very hard, you deserve the break. And sleep helps you regroup, regain your strength and allows you to dream some more.<br /><br />6. Despite your busy schedule, always schedule time to call or visit your mom and dad. Remember, when you were younger, you were their world...and they never stopped thinking that, even if they already have grandchildren. Give back the time and love they showered you then. Your love and time may mean more than you think.<br /><br />7. Take time out to take care of yourself. By doing that you can give more and be more to others.<br /><br />8. Hugs will never be out of fashion. Hoard it, store, get it at every opportunity. We need loads of these no matter what age we are in. I am guilty of hoarding every chance I get... it is an elixir that cannot be found anywhere.<br /><br />9. Respect other's opinions, although it sometimes differ from yours. You may be surprised to learn something new by just listening.<br /><br />10. Love with abandon, never hold anything back. The chance may not present itself again. Don't let fear hold you back. So what if it's not reciprocated, it is yours to give. Enjoy each moment, seize every opportunity. Time could be a friend if you use it wisely.<br /><br />I realized I have learned so much the days I was away. Although I loved to write about my life, I also learned that I must live it first before I could write much more.<br /><br />I miss all my blogger friends. I hope to read about your life more each day too. Have a blessed 2012.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-22909829663320203282011-04-10T09:56:00.004+08:002011-04-10T16:24:44.743+08:00The Power of The Hug (Repost)This is a post I made back in 2007. I still believe in its power. Read on and enjoy. <a href="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/trihoa/mother_kissing_baby_nose.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/trihoa/mother_kissing_baby_nose.jpg" height="172" /></a><br />The moment I came out from my mom's womb the first thing that I received from the angel who was to be my mother, was a hug. The second her arms closed around my wriggly fragile body and as she kissed my little button nose, I knew I was loved. All throughout my life, my parents' hugs assured me that I was safe and loved. So I went through my life confident that I can do anything and be anything I wanted. And as I grew up , I seem to be needing a lot of those warm hugs to make me feel better. When I fall and graze my knee, when I spill milk on the floor, when I just feel a little blue, a hug would make me feel better. When I got a little older I became a little jaded and concerned with propriety. I began to think that big girls don't need hugs, it was a sign of weakness - I wanted people to know that I am independent and strong. However, when I was having a bad day and there was too much pressure in school, all of it will fade away as soon as my mom would give me a hug... just like the old times. <br /><p></p><a href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/4-5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/4-5.jpg" height="136" /></a> I give and get hugs from my daughters all the time, when they have their arms wrapped tightly around me, I feel that it is me who gets healed in the process. <strong>Here are some quotes about hugs:</strong> <br /><p></p><br /><p>A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away. ~Bil Keane, "Family Circus"</p><br /><p>Millions and millions of years would still not give me half enough time to describe that tiny instant of all eternity when you put your arms around me and I put my arms around you. ~Jacques Prévert</p><br /><p>You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. ~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>Hug Department: Always Open ~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug ten people at a time. ~Drew Barrymore</p><br /><p>Arm ourselves for war? No! All the arms we need are for hugging. ~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>A hug is a handshake from the heart. ~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>A hug delights and warms and charms,that must be why God gave us arms.~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>A hug is the shortest distance between friends. ~Author Unknown </p><br /><p>A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it's easy to exchange. ~Author Unknown</p><br /><p>A kiss without a hug is like a flower without the fragrance. ~Proverb</p>Received this video in the mail, it's about Juan Mann who's giving out Free Hugs all over the globe. Loved it! <embed height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4" wmode="transparent"></embed> <a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 76px; HEIGHT: 72px" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/Hugs.jpg" width="151" height="89" /></a>Never wait until tomorrow to hug someone you could hug today,because when you give one, you get one right back your way. Hugggsss to all of you. <br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-69888687229113400282010-06-01T23:25:00.004+08:002010-06-01T23:49:54.369+08:00Don't Worry Be Happy<div align="justify"><br /></div><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/lovinhduff4eva/laughter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/lovinhduff4eva/laughter.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a><br /><br /><img title="Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische" alt="L" align="left" src="http://jhische.com/dailydropcap/L-4-cap.png" />aughter. That is something you'll notice as soon as you go inside my house. My kids laughing at something their dad did or said. My girls being tickled by their dad on weekend mornings or something good on TV. or a book they were reading. Reminds of the laughter that resounded my parents house when my siblings and I lived there.<br /><br />Don't you always hear that phrase "laughter is the best medicine"? That is soooo true. At work, my staff are happy people. You hear them laughing most of the time, they are working and laughing and somehow the pressures of our daily grind seems manageable and bearable. I was reading Bo Sanche'z blog yesterday and I got this message "Go ahead. Do the most important thing in the world. Build your relationships. And be happy."<br /><br />Remember no matter how hard life is right now, no matter how dark and grave the future looks, there is always time to laugh and be happy.<br /><br /><strong>“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”</strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-63090226755693799622010-05-30T22:51:00.006+08:002010-05-30T23:12:38.038+08:00Something New<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff120/girly-girl-graphics/life_quotes/0326-05-27-2009.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 329px;" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff120/girly-girl-graphics/life_quotes/0326-05-27-2009.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><img src="http://jhische.com/dailydropcap/S-6-cap.png" title="Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische" align="left" alt="S"/>tart of the week again and I just had to share this new stuff I learned today. Pretty neat huh? If you want to have some on your blog please drop by www.dailydropcap.com. Jessica Hische is amazing!<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-81742882848222694322010-05-30T15:25:00.006+08:002010-05-30T15:44:36.054+08:00On Being a Mom<div align="justify"><a href="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Color%20Splash/colorsplashtutorialquadballoon250x2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Color%20Splash/colorsplashtutorialquadballoon250x2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This is a belated Mother's Day post. I couldn't help but post it as it has moved me in ways I could not even begin to tell you.<br /><br />You see motherhood has taught me soooo many things. Flexibility, I thought my heart was only capable of loving one but magically my heart can love many and have room for more. It has taught me patience as you may all well know. It has taught me how to use my strength well and much much more. Loving is the most important lesson of all. Read on.<br /><br /><strong>The Girl I Used to Be</strong><br />Author Unknown<br /><br />She came tonight as I sat alone,<br />the girl I used to be,<br />And she gazed at me with her earnest eyes,<br />and questioned reproachfully,<br /><br />Have you forgotten the many plans,<br />and hopes I had for you?<br />The great career,<br />the splendid fame,<br />all the wonderful things to do?<br /><br />Where is the mansion of stately height,<br />with all of its gardens rare?<br />The silken robes that I dreamed for you,<br />and the shining jewels in your hair?<br /><br />And as she spoke,<br />I was very sad,<br />for I wanted her pleased with me,<br />This slender girl from the shadowy past,<br />the girl I used to be.<br /><br />So gently rising,<br />I took her hand and guided her up the stairs,<br />Where peacefully sleeping,<br />my babies lay, innocent, sweet and fair,<br /><br />And I told her that these are my only gems,<br />and precious they are to me,<br />That silken robe is my motherhood,<br />of costly simplicity,<br /><br />And my mansion of stately height is love,<br />and the only career I know,<br />Is serving each day in these sheltered walls,<br />for the dear ones who come and go,<br /><br />And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,<br />she smiled through her tears at me,<br />And I saw the woman that I am now,<br />pleased the girl that I used to be!<br /></div><p align="justify"><br /><br />Not too late I realized that I could still be more that I can be. For mothers after all are capable of so many things. Mixing family and career is hard but with the love and support of my family I realized I can and still could be more than just me. </p><p align="justify">I could still reach the stars if I wanted to, go to the places I've dreamed of. Becoming a mother makes the experience all the more exhilirating because now the pleasure is not just mine to experience; now I can share it with my precious gems, my family.<br /><br />Be true to yourself and be proud that you are mothers!<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-48329225016520154012010-02-14T19:00:00.006+08:002010-02-26T00:29:48.213+08:00A Very Romantic Valentine's Day<div align="justify"><a href="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/Gypsy48/Love/4081601044_f962e3762d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/Gypsy48/Love/4081601044_f962e3762d.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A belated Valentine's Day post. <br /><br />Last February 12 hubby surprised me with a very romantic dinner. It was in a wine cellar restaurant. He had it all planned out. A bouquet of flowers were delivered to my office during lunch and then he said nothing in the car on our way home. We usually watched a movie on Friday nights, but that night he didn't ask if I wanted to see a movie. I thought it odd, but I also thought that maybe he felt a bit ackward because we had a small fight.<br /><br />The Friday night traffic was ruining my mood actually. I wanted to get home early, we had a lot to cover the following day. PTA meeting at school, two birthday parties! Ahhh, just the thought makes me feel soooo tired already. All of a sudden he makes a sudden turn into this snotty-looking restaurant. I was aghast almost. Why??? I turned to say. And he had this ridiculous smile on his face. Surprise! Let's have dinner. And I went, "Dinner? Whaat? Here? Why this place looks expensive! A winery for petesakes!" I stumbled out of the car and followed him inside. Wine was strewn all over the place. Then a lady greeted us, "Sir, I thought you'd never come." They know each other? How? Hmmm, so he was here before? It seems the man planned this well. We were shown inside the wine cellar room, exclusive, dimly lit room with a table for two. Expensive wine surrounded us. The waiter went in and asked if we wanted wine and hubby said thanks and asked if we could have a moment alone. To say that I felt like a foolish teenager on my first date was an understatement. I was tickled pink!<br /><br />I was blushing and he was smirking like a cheshire cat after licking a bowl of milk. "Happy Valentine's Day," he says, "Are you okay? It this okay?" I wanted to play hard to get. But I couldn't stop the smile that mirrored his from cropping up my face, even if my life depended on it. Of course I was okay, I was more than okay. I was happy! We had the place all to ourselves. We had wine, Italian food and just simply had a good time. Haha! Foolish man, I thought after 12 years he still manages to make me fall in love with him over again. After dinner he took me for a walk along the bay and then we had coffee. The man knew how to date! LOLz! Kidding aside, my hubby was always romantic and that's one of the things I love about him. I was happy to note that all this time, having two kids and all, still the love has not changed, in fact, has grown deeper and stronger.<br /><br />Each day I thank God he gave me a partner who knows how to love. But don't you think that our marriage is perfect. We have our moments and our ups and downs as well, but I guess we know how to keep the love burning, we work at it each day. I can see the way my daughters look at the two of us when we hold hands or when hubby steals kisses playfully while they cheered on, they feel secure that their parents love each other. I am glad we can give that to them.<br /><br />Some unsolicited advice, that worked for us:<br /><br />1. <strong>Always make time to date.</strong> Just because you go home to the same house and sleep in the same bed does not mean that you have to stop dating. Make sure to fit in alone time with your spouse no matter how hectic your work life is. Hubby and I always go out on Fridays, to watch a movie or have dinner. Just the two of us. <br /><br />2. <strong>Communicate, communicate, communicate. </strong>Hubby and I always make an effort to talk things through. That way we can clear things out, no grey areas...only clarity. Be truthful at all times. Trust is fragile, once broken you may not get another chance.<br /><br />3. <strong>Take care of each other. </strong>Just because you take care of the kids does not give you license to neglect your husband's needs. My mom made sure I learned that lesson well. It's a work in progress but I always think of my hubby's needs as well as my kids as equally important.<br /><br />4. <strong>Make your home a sanctuary where he can relax and recharge.</strong> Give the guy his own space to do his manly things. In the same way that you need to have your girl's day off, a man needs one or two :)Believe me he'll appreciate you more.<br /><br />5. <strong>Love, love, love. </strong> Be affectionate and showy. Hold hands, kiss, cuddle. And never stop till you're too old to do it. The very essence of the relationship. When you have love, everything follows. Ann Landers say, <strong>If you have love in your life it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don't have it, no matter what else there is, it's not enough.</strong><br /><br />There are no established set rules really only guides. In reality only you know what will work for you two. But the thing is dear, always make time for love. It's the secret to a long lasting marriage.<br /><br /><strong>Love is patient, love is kind.<br />It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<br />It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.<br />It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.<br />Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.<br />It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<br />Love never fails.</strong>I Corinthians 13:4-8<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-46608075613076272392010-01-31T18:31:00.017+08:002010-02-05T23:23:55.484+08:00Making It Happen<p align="justify"><a href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/sweetdreaminpurpleskywithfullmoon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/sweetdreaminpurpleskywithfullmoon.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">What the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve ~ Napoleon Hill</span></div><p align="justify"><br /><br />I missed you guys so much! I missed bloggerville, I missed writing. Where did I go? Well, after that storm in September I received a "wake-up call". It was sooo powerful that I had no choice but to heed it.<br /><br />During the time that my family faced possible death, I realized that for the longest time I weaved a lot of dreams but I never made time to actually make it happen. All of a sudden I became aware of all the things that I wanted to do in my life. The plans and aspirations that I made for myself are soon fading into oblivion because I have not made any move towards achieving it.<br /><br />I froze! I couldn't believe I wasted so much time doing nothing towards that goal. I felt like a fool waiting for that apple to fall from the tree; I thought that by just wishing for the apple, it would make it fall on my lap, ready to be eaten. I forgot that I needed to plan and do something before that apple becomes mine.<br /><br />I raced against time. I read books, attended seminars and got a chance to talk to some very successful people, as if they were sent to me by fate. I didn't waste time anymore. I decided to make all my dreams come true, one at a time. I opened my rusty closet of dreams and looked inside. The hardest part was something I hadn't expected. Knowing what I wanted. I thought I knew. I thought I am living my dreams already. I thought I was on the right track. But to my surprise, I wasn't. All this time I had set aside things that I really wanted to do and did other things that I thought a responsible adult should be doing. I traded a lot of my dreams for practical ones. I was failing myself slowly but surely.<br /><br />I came across this wonderful e-book by Bo Sanchez just the other day. The book was called "How to Know if Your Dreams are God's Dreams". You too can grab this e-book at his <a href="http://www.bosanchez.ph/category/blogs/">website</a></li>. I strongly advise that you grab it just about now. That e-book is sooooo powerful. It made me realize a lot of things in my life.<br /><br />I learned how to determine what I desired most in my life. This first step needs a lot of thinking and soul-searching. But I promise you once you have determined this part...you are set for life. Second is believing it can happen, that you could make it happen. Last is taking action, as Albert Einstein so aptly put it “Nothing happens unless something moves.” I am on my way to fulfilling the last part, I am now moving towards my goals. That was why I have been away. I started my own <a href="http://www.cutetingtings.multiply.com/">online store</a></li> last October. I didn't realize that I can sell. LOLz! I was becoming a businesswoman! Another dream of mine is to have an article published in one of the leading newspapers in the country. I am on my way to doing that as well.<br /><br />So what were the desires that I have uncovered you ask? Well, here's what I have discovered so far. One, I wanted to get rich. I wanted to travel all over the world. I wanted to visit sooo many places, do the things I wrote down in my list of 1001 things to do before I die. I wanted to live in Paris. I want to taste that famous bagel in New York, I wanted to go to the Louvre Museum, I wanted to see Florence. I want to go to Italy and taste the most expensive cheese called Parmagiano Reggiano. I wanted to meet Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis. I wanted more time with my family. Oh boy, I want to do soooo many things. <br /><br />What am I getting at? My friend, life is short. Are you sure you really want to waste it with feelings of fear of failing, bitterness and envy? Are you sure that you want to waste it doing something "safe" because your dream requires some form of risk-taking or sacrifice? My friend there is no time to waste. Decide today to become the person you always wanted to be. And make "it" happen!<br /><br />I was particularly struck by this quote from Benjamin Disraeli. He said, <strong>"One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes."</strong> Carpe Diem!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-7119570988626328782009-09-28T22:41:00.004+08:002009-09-29T21:44:06.729+08:00Enjoy Life While There is still Time<center><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5V6uRHxtQUM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5V6uRHxtQUM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The video above maybe a little graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.</span><br /></center><p align="justify">I want to share with you the recent happenings in my country and my personal account and experience of the terrible flood the hit us.<br /><br />It was raining non-stop since Friday evening. Hubby and I were watching TV and heard that Pasig was flooded. That was where my younger sister and her husband was living. I texted her and asked how things where in Pasig since they were also living with my bro-in-law's grandma who is 87 y/o. She replied with exclamation points "Hanggang ankle na inside the house!!!" (the water is up to my ankles!!) and that was the last time I heard from her.<br /><br />I was texting here the whole afternoon and way into the evening. No response. I thought it odd that she won't reply to me and even when my mom and dad texted her. I felt that something was wrong.<br /><br />What happened next was excruciating. News flash of ranging waters in Pasig and on different parts of Manila was shocking to say the least. How could this be happening. I was scared for my sister and her family. They lived in a one-storey house, with an old woman who is blind in one-eye. Where will they go? Are they still alive? Those where the thoughts that ran through my head. I've been calling their cellphones the whole night, but it was out of service. Panic and hysteria were bubbling inside my head. The storm and the fear that is forming inside my chest was devastating. Where they still alive?! I hoped so, I really hoped so.<br /><br />I talked to my brother-in-law's younger sister; she told me the last time they talked to them was around 4pm Saturday. They urged them to transfer to an abandoned apartment in front of the house because it had a second floor. Then after that no news. Each hour that passed, fear and terror crept into our hearts. My dad did not take it well, he passed out. His blood pressure climbed high, he was beyond consolation. So is my mom.<br /><br />No one could help us. The rescue was a slow, pain-staking process. The night passed and we wondered if they were safe, if they had food, if they were alive.<br /><br />The following day, Sunday, we waited for news. There must be something, anything! But none came. It was after lunch already, I was sitting infront of my laptop with tears running down from my eyes as I frantically researched for agencies that could help us. It was getting dark again, still raining. Another night, not knowing if they were okay, if they were even alive. I posted messages in Facebook and waited for news. But still no news if there was any rescue going to happen. We called everyone we knew, all the government agencies, anyone who can help, strangers. But no one could help, all the government agencies were deployed, all we can do was wait...and hope that they were still alive.<br /><br />September 27 4:47pm, my sis-in-law got a message from them, they were alive! Thank God! But they were stuck in the 2nd floor of the apartment, cold, no food and no idea if help was coming. That gave us hope, they were alive. We will move heaven and earth to get to them even if we had to swim there ourselves.<br /><br />And as if, our prayers were heard and now being answered help started coming. A lot of people from Facebook responded to my urgent request for help. People we didn't know volunteered help, provided contact nos. of people who could. The phone rang non-stop relatives offering help came in. But still we couldn't do anything. The water was too high, we needed sophisticated equipments to get to them. If only there were more rubber boats available, if only we could get there faster, if only help was sure to come. We couldn't do anything but wait. Wait for any good soul to tell us that they will get them not minding the danger. My sister had hypoglycemia, her grandma was sickly.<br /><br />After waiting for almost 2 days already, finally a break! People from Red Cross and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are going to get them. It 12:30am September 27 Monday. Riding 1 of the 4 rubber boats deployed for the whole City of Pasig they came back to our waiting and longing arms. Rescued at last.<br /><br />My sister's account of what happened brought goosebumps in my arms, people wailing at night in the dark asking for help, asking for food, but they couldn't do anything...the water was high, way past the one-storey roof. There were dead bodies, mothers who gave birth prematurely, sick people in respirators who lost their lives due to hypothermia and because there was no electricity the respirators could not work anymore. No words could describe the devastation, the agony, the loss that people felt. Still even as I write this people are still on top of roofs, people are still starving waiting and hoping for help, people have lost their loved ones, people have lost their means to live.<br /><br />A lot of properties were lost and damaged, cars, gadgets and clothes lost all at once. But these are only material things. Maybe it's time we invested in something that cannot be damaged, something that won't be affected by the strongest typhoon or disaster ... love for God and our<br />fellowmen.<br /><br /><br />An eye-opener for me...a message so simple...enjoy life while there is still time.<br /></p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-42769259409463371912009-08-27T18:49:00.000+08:002009-08-27T21:31:51.115+08:00Thank You<div align="justify"><a href="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Photography/photographyswing1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Photography/photographyswing1.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For each new morning with its light,
<br />For rest and shelter of the night,
<br />For health and food,
<br />For love and friends,
<br />For everything Thy goodness sends.
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<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
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<br />Today I want to thank you Lord for giving me another year of life.
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<br />Thank you for my dad and mom who are always there to support me and love me and my family through thick and thin.
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<br />Thank you for my siblings, my brother and his family, my sister and her husband. I love them all.
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<br />Thank you for my husband, who constantly makes me feel that life is worth living, who always makes me smile and laugh. Whose craziness makes me forget the bad times. Whose love I would always cherish for the rest of my life.
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<br />Thank you for my lovely daughters Pia and Zoe whose mere existence brings me soooo much joy and happiness. They give me a reason to live each day and want to be the best mother they could ever wish for.
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<br />I also want to thank you for giving me so many friends whom I can count on, who I can laugh with and cry with and get crazy with. Friends who are there in the best and worst times of my life.
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<br />Again I thank you. <div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-12553588935266688952009-08-10T22:21:00.009+08:002009-08-15T13:42:58.372+08:00Begin Today<a href="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Photography/sunset11.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Photography/sunset11.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I find it ironic that I am turning another year older in the next few weeks and I cannot say that I have a fool-proof plan for my future. Something that every responsible adult should have before they charter the many oceans of life.
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<br />I sometimes live for today and am guilty of leaving tomorrow to God. Don't get me wrong, I am not totally irresponsible. I have life insurance policies, a pension plan, a good health care plan and a few investments. Nothing ludicrous but a little nest egg for my family in case I become permanently err unavailable. But one must also realize that when you leave tomorrow to God, that means you are in charge of what happens to you today.
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<br />Being in charge of today is a big responsibility, because what you do today affects future plans and future realities.
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<br />Each day I struggle to live my life to the full. But oftentimes I think I fail to make the most of it. Each working day I think I miss out on the most important moments of my kids life. I content myself into looking at their day from my nanny's recount and stories, from my mom's loving eyes and through my dad's adoring stories. I would call home to check if there are assignments to be done and school supplies to buy and if the kids had preferences for tomorrow's snacks. It was the only way I could be there for them during the day that I am working.
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<br />My five-year-old daughter now knows how to contact me at work and what time she would call. There are times when I wasn't able to answer her call because I was in a meeting she would leave messages in my answering machine...and I would feel guilty as hell. Some mornings she would be grumpy when I wake her up and hurry her to the bathroom to give her a bath, she would tell me "why are you always in a rush mommy?" - I wanted to tell her because I want so much to be the one to go to school with you and your sister. To wait for you when you get home and cook your lunch, do your homework and play with you after school...but I can't so I just have to content myself with the few minutes that I can kiss you and give you a bath and I can comb your hair and blow small kisses before I rush yet again to work.
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<br />Life is a series of compromises for me. I win some, I lose some. And for each moment that I spend away from my family I want to make sure that I spend it wisely. I count the seconds, the minutes the hours that I would go home and embrace my babies again. Here's something that I love to read whenever I have bad days. I keep it tucked away somewhere for me to read. Here goes:
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<br />If you woke up this morning
<br />with more health than illness,
<br />you are more blessed than the
<br />million who won't survive the week.
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<br />If you have never experience
<br />the danger of battle,
<br />the loneliness of imprisonment,
<br />the agony of torture or
<br />the pangs of starvation,
<br />you are ahead of 20 million people
<br />around the world.
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<br />If you attend a church meeting
<br />without fear of harassment,
<br />arrest, torture, or death,
<br />you are more blessed than almost
<br />three billion people in the world.
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<br />If you have food in your refrigerator,
<br />clothes on your back, a roof over
<br />your head and a place to sleep,
<br />you are richer than 75% of this world.
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<br />If you have money in the bank,
<br />in your wallet, and spare change
<br />in a dish someplace, you are among
<br />the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
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<br />If your parents are still married and alive,
<br />you are very rare,
<br />especially in the United States.
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<br />If you hold up your head with a smile
<br />on your face and are truly thankful,
<br />you are blessed because the majority can,
<br />but most do not
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<br />If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
<br />or even touch them on the shoulder,
<br />you are blessed because you can
<br />offer God's healing touch.
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<br />If you can read this,
<br />you are more blessed than over
<br />two billion people in the world
<br />that cannot read anything at all.
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<br />You are so blessed in ways
<br />you may never even know.
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<br /><strong>“love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it”</strong> ~ Maya Angelou.
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<br />In case we forget, we can always begin living today.<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-31252995088868159362009-08-05T14:47:00.005+08:002009-08-05T16:17:14.013+08:00A Heart of Hope<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdIID-XpzCDL1P4-J7o_u0d2dOKs-_MwjzKyaMhxDYL38V_AOT61htTOelv5Rj-6sxohnNwkRRXYbyoN2liH4VyJzgJaOFAGpBz9mEjrkpJgjhnMMUJtc6tJ8-ltz4oVLzCyk/s1600-h/cory-aquino.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366383866876181282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdIID-XpzCDL1P4-J7o_u0d2dOKs-_MwjzKyaMhxDYL38V_AOT61htTOelv5Rj-6sxohnNwkRRXYbyoN2liH4VyJzgJaOFAGpBz9mEjrkpJgjhnMMUJtc6tJ8-ltz4oVLzCyk/s320/cory-aquino.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today our former President Corazon C. Aquino was laid to rest. The country mourned the loss. After fighting for her life, the cancer won. Before she died she shared a most wonderful prayer. A prayer for a happy death. I remember my dad's elder sister who shared with me a similar prayer.</div><div align="justify"><br /><br /><strong>Prayer for a Happy Death</strong><br />By Corazon Aquino<br /><br />Almighty God, most merciful Father<br />You alone know the time<br />You alone know the hour<br />You alone know the moment<br />When I shall breathe my last.<br /><br />So, remind me each day,<br />most loving Father<br />To be the best that I can be.<br />To be humble, to be kind,<br />To be patient, to be true.<br />To embrace what is good,<br />To reject what is evil,<br />To adore only You.<br /><br />When the final moment does come<br />Let not my loved ones grieve for long.<br />Let them comfort each other<br />And let them know<br />how much happiness<br />They brought into my life.<br />Let them pray for me,<br />As I will continue to pray for them,<br />Hoping that they will always pray<br />for each other.<br /><br />Let them know that they made possible<br />Whatever good I offered to our world.<br />And let them realize that our separation<br />Is just for a short while<br />As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.<br /><br />Our Father in heaven,<br />You alone are my hope.<br />You alone are my salvation.<br />Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.<br /><br />This prayer was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last July 10, 2009.<br /><br />I also want to share this beautiful song composed by M. Franciso SJ, it's called "Your Heart Today"<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/drYOaoAt1jQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/drYOaoAt1jQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />“Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before.”</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-30673045425199417112009-08-02T16:45:00.012+08:002009-08-16T17:51:08.109+08:00If I was 17 Again<div align="justify"><a href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/sad-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/sad-1.jpg" /></a>
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<br />It seems like ages ago when I wore my college uniform, I was in all white. I had a hard time keeping it that way as I made my way to the University, it always rained and my pencil-cut skirt seemed to manage to rip itself up to my booty. Good thing I have my mini sewing kit tucked away in my bag. I was the only girl in the last row and I'd hate it when the boys would snicker and made fun of me.
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<br />I also wondered how I was going to cram all those medical words and chemical equations in my tired head and keep up with my professors. Flunking is never an option. We started out as 46 students in our class and sometime before the last semester ended we were trimmed down to 32. Fourteen students either dropped out or was forced out. Getting good grades and not flunking my subjects were all that was on my mind - err and also how to rinse out all the chlorine and drying my long black hair after of swimming class --- aaarghh! that was probably one of the hardest part of college life. LOL!
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<br />And then there was Medical School. That was the ultimate goal. Boys were just not an option at that time, although there were a lot of good-looking medical students in my building. There just wasn't time for that. I could barely look up while I walked to my classes! My books were sooo darned heavy. All those subjects with "-ology" in the end. I had tons of those.
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<br />So today, I was thinking and looking back (one tends to do that a lot when one gets older I guess) - I wondered what would I tell myself if I had the chance to talk to "me". And I figured I had a lot of things to tell myself. I made a little list.
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<br />1. <strong>Relax</strong> - I was a little uptight at that age, I did not socialize a lot. Well partly because my dad was a little strict and secondly I was not so into it too. I was a little hard on myself then. I was always in a rush.
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<br />2. <strong>Listen to your mom and dad when they say that "Time is Gold".</strong> Procrastination in any stage in life is never good.
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<br />3. <strong>Don't be in a hurry all the time.</strong> Enjoy the moment and savor every little experience you get out of life. Who knows you might need to pick that memory out at a later time. I guess this happens when you don't get lesson no. 2.
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<br />4. <strong>Save, save, save</strong>. Save your allowance for important stuff. Something that could enhance your self-esteem. Avoid spending your money on non-essentials like make up or gadgets.
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<br />5. <strong>Don't be in a hurry to grow up</strong>. Your time will come. Enjoy the moment while someonelse is in charge of paying the bills. Growing up means more responsibilities and that includes paying bills. Being young and learning the ropes will build your character. Be friends with people who are independent, they have a lot of experiences to share.
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<br />6. <strong>Don't get credit cards</strong>. If you know how to spend your money wisely and you can live within your means, then for goodness sakes don't get that credit card. If your spending gets out of control - you could head to a financial meltdown in the future. Trust me steer clear.
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<br />7. <strong>Soak up all the wisdom the elders are imparting to you.</strong> Listen to dad's talk on choosing well whether he's talking about finding the right partner in life or choosing the right friends. He will also say "never giving up your ideals". And then there's mom's words on managing your time well and the wisdom of loving with all your heart but always leaving something for yourself "just-in-case".
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<br />8. <strong>Be confident</strong>. Don't be easily intimidated by other people. They are also afraid of new things just like you. They just know how to hide it better. Believe me I met a lot of people like this and they also have high positions in the corporate world.
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<br />9. <strong>Love yourself.</strong> Don't let others walk all over you. You have your own identity and your own special talents and gifts. Learn how to use it and it will serve you well. That hobby may make you a millionaire someday. Remember those who know their passion, never had to work a day in their lives.
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<br />10. <strong>Trust God and your family.</strong> They will love you unconditionally whether you have "unclear" skin, wavy hair, a fashion disaster or a social outcast. They will love you no-matter-what. And you know after all these - their love is all that matters.
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<br />We may not be able to turn back the clock and be 17 again but hey we were able to taste the elixir of life. It's our turn to guide that someone who is lost and finding themselves amongst crowd. </div>
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<br /><strong>And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years</strong>. ~ <strong>Abraham Lincoln</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-81481163324363360842009-06-20T22:50:00.004+08:002009-06-21T07:54:04.348+08:00What Matters MostI wrote this post years ago about my wedding day and my dad. Because it's father's day I wanted to share it again.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Have you heard the song "what matters most" by Kenny Rankin? I love that song. I requested my dad to sing that song for me on my wedding day. I was so excited when he agreed, however when THE DAY came, he kinda chickened out. Instead a string quartet played the song while I was walking down the aisle. my eyes were so misty, i couldn't see a thing. in my mind, it was my dad who was singing for me.<br /><br />I asked my dad why he backed out. He told me he felt so emotional that he couldn't even speak. the lyrics were simple, the message was clear. this song somehow depicts my farewell bid to my childhood. it was like saying, "mom and dad, the days that I spent with you had been sweet and unforgettable and now as I enter my new life I would like to thank you for the wonderful childhoold that i had, it will be the foundation i'll use to build my own family.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuNCduJyZpdbd9GtJXkU4qGbOJDlb1Wk06qjVxmg8Jd8jgKCs6BeaVQs9_OqF8PZbIJXGmcwtmRGJRCcqBVyH94jYXser2b-Ec1trDV7mk2LIWqsU8nFye2Zv3UO6x3g4PG99/s1600-h/family+picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057403130675956322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuNCduJyZpdbd9GtJXkU4qGbOJDlb1Wk06qjVxmg8Jd8jgKCs6BeaVQs9_OqF8PZbIJXGmcwtmRGJRCcqBVyH94jYXser2b-Ec1trDV7mk2LIWqsU8nFye2Zv3UO6x3g4PG99/s320/family+picture.jpg" border="0" /> </a><p align="justify"><br /><br />Thank you for showing me how to love unconditionally, that kind of love is very hard to come by. Thank you for teaching me that it did not matter that our lives were not so perfect as long as we were happy there was no problem greater than that. Thank you for letting me discover myself and teaching me to love the "me" that i found staring back in the mirror. Thank you for loving me in the good and bad times, just knowing you are there for me helped me become strong. thank you for being there for me as i learned to stand on my own and experience life. and thank you for opening my eyes to the world, letting me know that who I am and how I deal with other people will determine how happy and successful my life would be.<br /><br /><br />you both taught me it did not matter that loving someone could sometimes hurt so much you ached all over, what mattered was I was capable of loving - not all people have that gift. =) here's the lyrics of the song. hope you like it too<br /><br /><em>It's not how long we held each other's hand<br />What matters is how well we loved each other<br />It's not how far we travelled on our way<br />Of what we found to say<br />It's not the spring you see, but all the shades of green<br /><br />It's not how long I held you in my arms<br />What matters is how sweet the years together<br />It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall<br />The early morning smiles we tearfully recall<br />What matters most is that we loved at all.<br /><br />It's not how many summertimes we had to give to fall<br />The early morning smiles we tearfully recall<br />What matters most is that we loved at all.<br /><br /><strong>What matters most is that we loved at all.<br /></strong></em><br /><br />I love you soooo much Dad - Happy Father's Day!<br /><br />incidentally the picture in this post is not my wedding picture but that of my sister's. i love this picture. from left to right, that's my hubby, me, my mom, my sister, my dad and my brother. the flower girls are katrina and pia.</p><br /><br />I would also like to say Happy Father's Day to hubby - the most wonderful dad to my precious daughters. Thank you for coming to my life.<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-89570936035082836522009-06-10T00:27:00.008+08:002009-06-12T19:39:49.110+08:00Totally My Girl<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny-WBZqZL7Lz9rF3cES8x-Ogec6IQCT661p4IE-abpISLQuOwH9ZiP7iBCvC753WtswVOZkcYvNsU3m2HTQOXP8xX2yZjQBciSlE7uxtSt75lxVfG6Km6onzTfpO1PN_iPxof/s1600-h/ysabel's+blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346385252989109266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny-WBZqZL7Lz9rF3cES8x-Ogec6IQCT661p4IE-abpISLQuOwH9ZiP7iBCvC753WtswVOZkcYvNsU3m2HTQOXP8xX2yZjQBciSlE7uxtSt75lxVfG6Km6onzTfpO1PN_iPxof/s320/ysabel's+blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The other day my ten-year-old daughter Ysabel asked me. "Mom, is it okay if I blog just like you?" I didn't hesitate and told her "Sure! wanna do it now?"<br /><br />My eldest daughter is into books and she loves to write too. I cannot even begin to tell you how much she loves books. Whenever we go out she would always ask me, "Mom, I did very well in my exam, will you buy me a book?" And just like that she has started her book collection. It's something her dad and I support with all our hearts. <br /><br />During Christmas when most children would ask for toys, the latest gadgets my eldest daughter would tell her godmothers and godfathers that she would love it so much if they bought her books for Christmas. And she was wise too, she would ask her godparents and grandparents different books so she would be able to maximize her growing wish list. This way no books were bought twice! Attah girl!<br /><br />Together we designed her blog. Of course it has to be pink and there has to be a ballerina there. She also wanted to showcase the books she already have. We are still in the process of designing and I was amazed at how well she has envisioned what her blog would look like. She wrote the contents of her blog, even her profile description. She was funny and funky at the same time. She asked for my help to check her grammar and how she wanted her post to look like. And I enjoyed helping her do it. <br /><br />I wanted to encourage her to write because I think this is a place she can develop herself to her full potential. <br /><br />So to my sweet daughter, mommy supports you all the way. Keep on writing love. If you want to check out her blog please don't hesitate here's the link <a href="http://ysabel-totallyme.blogspot.com/">Totally Me</a></li> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-65089170498449435502009-05-31T19:03:00.006+08:002009-05-31T21:49:55.115+08:00No Boundaries<div align="justify"><em></em><a href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/Pola-polabyDraganaMihajlovic.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/Pola-polabyDraganaMihajlovic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One evening on the way home, hubby and I were having a discussion about relationships with people. We were talking about people who became close to us, became part of our daily lives and all of a sudden they say goodbye and we get hurt - almost betrayed. I told him maybe I shouldn't care so much, maybe I shouldn't be so attached, maybe if I don't get too close I'll survive. He says, I was going about this the wrong way. He said after all this time I still don't get it.<br /><br />I get hurt because I always think in terms of <em>forever.</em>Well maybe he was right. I do tend to believe, well <em>hope</em> actually that good times...could last forever, I couldn't help it. Who wouldn't want something good to last a lifetime? Why couldn't it last a little while longer? That's why I fear death so much because that puts a <em>period</em> on my existence, on the existence of the people I love and care about. I remember my dad telling me I shouldn't fear it, one's existence does not end in death...if you loved the person deeply enough...then love transcends even in death. And he says death will come, that is certain. :( But until then there is only thing that stand between me and my happiness - ME. Because love has no boundaries.<br /><br />I guess that was why I was particularly struck by a song written by Cara DioGuardi, its called No Boundaries. I loved the lyrics of the song so here I am sharing it with you.<br /><br />seconds, hours, so many days<br />you know what you want but how long can you wait<br />every moment lasts forever<br />when you feel you've lost your way<br /><br />and what if my chances were already gone<br />i started believing that i could be wrong<br />but you gave me one good reason<br />to fight and never walk away<br />so here i am still holding on<br /><br />with every step you climb another mountain<br />every breath its harder to believe<br />you'll make it through the pain, weather the hurricanes<br />to get to that one place<br />when you think the road is going no where<br />just when you almost gave up on your dreams<br />they take you by the hand<br />and show you that you can<br />there are no boundaries<br /><br />i fought to the limit to stand on the edge<br />what if today is as good as it gets<br />dont know where the future is heading<br />but nothing is gonna bring me down<br /><br />I've jumped every bridge<br />I've run every line<br />I've risked being safe<br />i always knew why, i always knew why<br />so here i am still holding on<br /><br />you can go higher<br />you can go deeper<br />there are no boundaries<br />above and beneath you<br />break every rule 'cause there is nothing between you and your dreams<br />there are no boundaries<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_TQs8Ly1Y7E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_TQs8Ly1Y7E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” </strong>~ Mother Teresa<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/images/hugs" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 128px; HEIGHT: 111px" height="133" alt="hugs Pictures, Images and Photos" src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr306/LIDIJA04/HUGS/hug-11.jpg" width="257" border="0" /></a> are you willing to take the risk? to LOVE without boundaries?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-13184987912685391022009-05-09T11:11:00.003+08:002009-05-09T12:23:17.368+08:00Before I was a Mom<a href="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/BESTbaby_feet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/BESTbaby_feet.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /> Before I was a Mom<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into<br /> bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to<br /> a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never<br /> thought about immunizations.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I<br /> had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or<br /> give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got<br /> gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night<br /> watching a baby sleep.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I<br /> never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the<br /> hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I<br /> never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love<br /> being a Mom.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't<br /> know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that<br /> bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small<br /> could make me feel so important.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make<br /> sure all was okay.<br /><br /> Before I was a Mom -<br /> I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The<br /> wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable<br /> of feeling so much before I was a Mom.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_rFD7Ucx4xLouTttulqeakAwFl9mzqLxFz-C-m69H8l0W-9PEdbTz72Z_55W46zbhj7JYQSOONqG0fSd_veC0hrdjn8ZolP8uaKcPovoEwDRDEDaasjEfqdhIVT67S16dGsf/s1600-h/flowers.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_rFD7Ucx4xLouTttulqeakAwFl9mzqLxFz-C-m69H8l0W-9PEdbTz72Z_55W46zbhj7JYQSOONqG0fSd_veC0hrdjn8ZolP8uaKcPovoEwDRDEDaasjEfqdhIVT67S16dGsf/s320/flowers.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333657111060160802" /></a><br /><br />Happy mother's day to my beloved mom, who always inspire me to be a good mom myself. I love you sooooo much. To all my mommy blogger friends - Happy mother's day to you all!<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-59779010669755371002009-04-10T18:24:00.005+08:002009-04-20T23:06:41.662+08:00Touch and Go<div align="justify"><a href="http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp190/FindStuff2/Travel/Beaches/DSCN2601.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 373px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp190/FindStuff2/Travel/Beaches/DSCN2601.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yesterday afternoon I went to my aunt's funeral. She's my mom's older sister. I remembered her as someone who was jolly, always cracking up jokes and taking me to places. I remembered how she always sided with me when I didn't want to have my long black hair cut during summer vacation. It's been a long time since I last saw her and it was sad that when I had to see her again it was at her funeral.<br /><br />When I got to their place I felt really nostalgic, I remembered their place quite differently back then. I remembered it as a huge playground, where every nook and cranny was a magical place of make-believe. Now, my little playmates had kids like me, but their kids were older...their kids had kids of their own! I also saw my cousins, former playmates I seldom see anymore. And to my chagrin, I was informed just today - that I am now a grandma! Whoa! Good thing my grandson was sooooooo adorable that I forgave my niece for making me a very young grandma. Hehehe.<br /><br />I was silent during the drive home, I couldn't help but think about the past and the present and how they are so intricately woven to how my future would be like. Life is so fragile, sometimes it's hard to hold on to it, it's always touch and go. I was sad to know that I wouldn't see my aunt anymore, but I was surprised at how strong her presence had been imprinted in my life; and somehow it comforted me to know that she will never really be gone nor forgotten in my heart.<br /><br />Here's an old song by Rupert Holmes I heard on the radio the other day. A super dooper oldie. It tells how life couldn't last forever but promises that love could make it worth while. I'd like to share with you the lyrics.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oZSowtLnlfs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oZSowtLnlfs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Nobody said that<br />Life is always fair<br />Sometimes it clips your wings<br />While you're in mid-air<br />But there's a thread<br />Between your life and mine<br />And when you're losin' hope<br />This rope won't unwind<br /><br />Hold on tight<br />'Cause life is touch and go<br />It's sink or swim<br />But never doubt<br />If you're out on a limb<br />I'll get the call<br />To break your fall<br />I'll never leave you<br />Even when life<br />Is touch and go<br />Or hit and run<br />We'll never break<br />If we take it as one<br />I'm here to stay,<br />I pray you know<br />I'll never touch<br />I'll never touch and go<br /><br />Someday you'll find<br />There's nothin' in the night<br />That wasn't there before<br />You turned out the light<br />Straight from your mind<br />The monster 'neath your bed<br />The voices in the hall<br />They're all in your head<br /><br />Hold on tight<br />'Cause life is touch and go<br />It's sink and swim<br />But never doubt<br />If you're out on a limb<br />I'll get the call<br />To break your fall<br />I'll never leave you<br />Even when life<br />Is touch and go<br />Or hit and run<br />We'll never break<br />If we take it as one<br />I'm here to stay,<br />I pray you know<br />I'll never touch<br />I'll never touch and go<br /><br />When you feel lost<br />You're only spun around<br />Tumbled and tossed<br />But never run around<br />Life is a townful<br />Of strangers at best<br />I'll help you home<br />God help the rest<br /><br />Hold on tight<br />'Cause life is touch and go<br />It's sink and swim<br />But never doubt<br />If you're out on a limb<br />I'll get the call<br />To break your fall<br />I'll never leave you<br />Even when life<br />Is touch and go<br />Or hit and run<br />We'll never break<br />If we take it as one<br />I'm here to stay,<br />I pray you know<br />I'll never touch<br />I'll never touch and go<br /><br />Life is touch and go<br />It's sink or swim<br />But never doubt<br />If you're out on a limb<br />I'll get the call... </div><br /><br /><strong>That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.</strong> ~ Emily Dickinson<div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19965514.post-69257959322209495242009-04-07T18:52:00.006+08:002009-04-07T20:57:56.853+08:00Breathe Again<center><br /><a href="http://s171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/?action=view&current=SUNNY-DAY-800X600boardwalk.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 356px; HEIGHT: 266px" height="365" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/zhoep/SUNNY-DAY-800X600boardwalk.jpg" width="438" border="0" /></a></center><p align="justify"><br /><br />The past few months have been terribly busy months for me. It feels totally wonderful having time to sit infront of my laptop and write something down. I missed Bloggerville soooo much. It's so good to breathe easily and not make life-altering decisions even for just a little while.<br /><br />I have been in this constant tug-o-war between my work-life and family-life. I feel like I've been crossing too many bridges and shaking too many hands of late. The good news is I got a promotion! An unexpected prize for all the times I had to be away from my daughters. Another thing? It's summer time! My kids are now on vacation and that means beach time, swimming and travel! The crux though is, how do I squeeze in all these things in my busy life? Sigh.<br /><br />Time magazine says the most important commodity today is "work". I am thankful that both hubby and I still have our work. I used to hate the corporate world, probably because I have this obscure picture of myself as a domesticated wife, raising my kids and running my home. Something I perceived as simple, do-able, easy. But then life has something else in store for me. I didn't know that I could juggle too! I was surprised to know that I could be a manager and be a mom at the same time and do good at both. The thing that I used to hate is now a challenge for me. I want to be good at it everyday. I have now shifted from mommy books to books about leadership. LOL! I am now friends with authors like Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Stephen Covey, Robert Greene and of course John Maxwell.<br /><br />My planner is my bestfriend, she manages both my work and my family life. Without her? I would be lost and clueless! If someone stole her, I'd pay the ransom instantly! Haha! I found it hard at first, I have met and dealt with some very hardened people but I have finally learned to adjust and not lose myself in the process. Some people could be very cruel. You could be friends today and enemies the next. You could be swallowed alive and not know it. Ahhh, enough about that. Today I promised myself to learn how to breath again. To enjoy this HOLY WEEK with my family doing simple stuff. Breathe in and out. That's my goal. Here's a quote that caught my eye today, hope you guys like it.<br /><br /><strong>This is the beginning of a new day.<br />God has given me this day to use as I will.<br />I can waste it or use it for good.<br />What I do today is important, because<br />I am exchanging a day of my life for it.<br />When tomorrow comes,<br />this day will be gone forever,<br />leaving in its place something<br />that I have traded for it.<br />I want it to be gain, not loss;<br />good not evil; success not failure;<br />in order that I shall not regret<br />the price I paid for it.</strong> ~ <em>author unknown</em><br /><br />Breathe my friends and always make time for life. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">thank you for your inspiring comments=)</div>Sophiagurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840113069859034658noreply@blogger.com8