It's been several months since I went on a hard-core vacation. The last time was a beach trip with my sister in the early months of summer. It's high time I go on another one, and so what if I'm going to the exact same destination--Boracay. This trip will be different. I'm going there with Michael, and it's going to be our first vacation together. It's only fitting now that we're engaged, well on our way towards married life, and starting to get busy for the wedding preparations. A good dose of R&R is exactly what we need.
On top of that, my girls are gonna be there and my parents, too! So it's gonna be one big party for all of us.
My mama and I went out for lunch today. After a good hour of speed shopping and a nice hearty Italian meal, we had to rush back to the office considering I still had a full afternoon of work ahead. Despite the urgency to get going, Mama just uttered two words, “Want yogurt?” and instantly, I caved and said to myself, “It won’t hurt to have some yogurt.”
Which led us to my newest yogurt discovery, Tutti Frutti, located at the Atrium of SM Megamall. It’s a nice little space with a lot of room to walk around and wander in that cozy world of yogurt goodness. What makes them special and different from all the other millions of yogurt places is that you get to choose from a variety of soft serve yogurt flavors, top it with a good selection of fruits, nuts, and what-nots, and have it all weighed and priced accordingly. This way, you can really control (or binge on) the amount of servings you feel like treating yourself to. So I swirled a nice portion of peanut butter and plain yogurt, and topped it with slivered almonds.
I was so impressed that I visited their adorable website as soon as I got back to my desk. And now I’m ready to start my full afternoon’s worth of work having had a nice dose of yummy yogurt.
On April 14, 2009, a very special event happened. I gave my heart to the man, the only man, I would ever love. The date was not a well thought of milestone. I chose to tell him how I felt on a whim, but not recklessly, just spontaneously since I knew with certainty that there was "no time better than now".
Five months (or moons as we would fondly call our monthsaries) later, we're well on our way on the road to marriage.
April 14, 2010, exactly a year after that milestone, we will be wed and joined as one before our loved ones and before God, who is the writer of our beautiful love story.
This morning, I had all the time in the world to laze about and start my day slow. Instinct really should have been to grab my Bible and read on, but to be completely honest with myself, I'd been so busy with hectic mornings that my initial mindset was "I'll just read my Bible later..."
But today, I couldn't use that reasoning, so I sat down and opened the Book. I was led to Proverbs 4 randomly. It spoke to me in a very personal way this time around. While Proverbs is undeniably my "most frequently read" book, somehow, this passage struck me like never before.
I realize the depth of living in accordance with God's Word, keeping it in my heart, and acknowledging the gravity of a life of disobedience to Him. The passage reminds me of the promise of peace and prosperity that comes with a life that pleases God, as well as the consequences of veering away from His way. It's very practical. It's very straightforward. And sometimes, we need to approach our faith from this standpoint: one that is grounded on wisdom and brainwork. It takes conscious effort, yes, but as highlighted below, when we "guard our hearts" and align it with our heads, the walk will be less taxing, less complicated, less of a burden.
May we all live in wisdom that springs forth from hearts that simply long to please God.
Here's what it said:
Wisdom Is Supreme 1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,
4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, [a] get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level [b] paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Baby since the day you came into my life You made me realize that we were born to fly You showed me everyday new possibilities You proved my fantasies of love could really be
Let's go to a place only lovers go To a spot that we've never known To the top of the clouds we're floating away yeah Ooh this feels so crazy Oh this love is blazing Baby we're so high Walking on cloud 9
(You've got me up so high) So high (My shoes are scraping the sky) So high (You've got me up so high) Oh (My shoes are scraping the sky)
Maybe later we can go up to the moon Or sail among the stars before the night is through And when morning comes we'll see the sun is not so far And we can't get much closer to God than where we are
We'll go to a place only lovers go To a spot that we've never known To the top of the clouds we're floating away yeah Ooh this feels so crazy Oh this love is blazing Baby we're so high Walking on cloud 9
(You've got me up so high) So high (My shoes are scraping the sky) So high (You've got me up so high) Oh (My shoes are scraping the sky)
Ooh...yeah Ooh...oh hey
Ooh this feels so crazy Oh this love is blazin' Baby we're so high Walking on cloud 9 You got me up so high You got me up so high You got me up so high My shoes are scraping the sky
You got me up so high You got me up so high You got me up so high My shoes are scraping the sky ooh...ooh... Yeah...
This is how love's supposed to be This is how, this is how love's supposed to be, yeah Let's go to the moon baby, ooh Let's go to the moon baby, yeah Let's go, go, let's go to the moon baby So high...
There will be more candles to my birthday cake this time. Last year, I was in denial and declared I was 13 plus 10, but this year, I've accepted and am quite proud as my 24th year of life culminates in 9 days.
I just don't know how I want to celebrate it. All I know is that I do want to celebrate the year that has come and gone, get all my loved ones together, and acknowledge God's faithfulness in my life.
This song expresses my sentiments exactly:
Twenty-four Switchfoot
Twenty-four oceans Twenty-four skies Twenty-four failures And twenty-four tries Twenty-four finds me In twenty-fourth place With twenty-four drop outs At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' And I'm not who I thought I was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You'
There's twenty-four reasons To admit that I'm wrong With all my excuses Still twenty-four strong
See, I'm not copping out Not copping out Not copping out When you're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man Oh, oh I am the second man now Oh, I am the second man now And you're raising these...
Twenty-four voices With twenty-four hearts All of my symphonies In twenty-four parts But I want to be one today Centered and true I'm singing 'Spirit take me up in arms with You' You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man Oh, oh I am the second man now Oh I am the second man now And you're raising the dead in me Yeah
I wanna see miracles To see the world change Wrestled the angel for more than a name For more than a feeling For more than a cause I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' And you're raising the dead in me
Twenty-four oceans With twenty-four hearts All of my symphonies With twenty-four parts Life is not what I thought it was Twenty-four hours ago Still I'm singing 'Spirit, take me up in arms with You' I'm not copping out Not copping out
I never thought that I'd fall in love, love, love, love But it grew from a simple crush, crush, crush, crush Being without you girl, I was all messed up, up, up, up When you walked out, said that you'd had enough-nough-nough-nough
Been a fool, girl I know Didn't expect this is how things would go Maybe in time, you'll change your mind Now looking back i wish i could rewind
Because i can't sleep til you're next to me No i can't live without you no more Oh i stay up til you're next to me Til this house feels like it did before Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah
Remember telling my boys that I'd never fall in love, love, love, love You used to think I'd never find a girl I could trust, trust, trust, trust And then you walked into my life and it was all about us, us, us, us But now I'm sitting here thinking I messed the whole thing up, up, up, up
Been a fool (fool), girl I know (know) Didn't expect this is how things would go Maybe in time (time), you'll change your mind (mind) Now looking back i wish i could rewind
Because i can't sleep til you're next to me No i can't live without you no more (without you no more) Oh i stay up til you're next to me (to me) Til this house feels like it did before (Because it) Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah Feels like insomnia ah ah (Ah), Feels like insomnia ah ah
Ah, i just can't go to sleep Cause it feels like I've fallen for you It's getting way too deep And i know that it's love because
I can't sleep til you're next to me No i can't live without you no more (without you no more) Oh i stay up til you're next to me (to me) Til this house feels like it did before Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah
Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah Feels like insomnia ah ah, Feels like insomnia ah ah
I've been staring at the sky tonight Marvelling and passing time Wondering what to do with daylight Until I can make you mine You are the one I want, you are the one I want
I've been thinking of changing my mind It never stays the same for long But of all the things I know for sure You're the only certain one You are the one I want, you are the one I want
I've been counting up all my wrongs One sorry for each star See I'd apologise my way to you If the heavens stretched that far You are the one I want, you are the one I want
[Chorus] I won't find what I am looking for If I only "see" by keeping score 'Cos I know now you are so much more than arithmetic
'Cos if I add, if I subtract If I give it all, try to take some back I've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact That you are the sum So you are the one I want
When the years are showing on my face And my strongest days are gone When my heart and flesh depart this place From a life that sung your song
Venus/Aphrodite
You are the Greek goddess Aphrodite, also known as Venus to the Romans. You are the goddess of love, lust, desire and
fertility. You have been called the most beautiful of goddesses and undoubtedly the most desirable. But you are also known
for your hot temper, and the ease with which you grow jealous of women that profess to be more beautiful than you. You also
own a special girdle which has the power to drive men insane with desire. Since you were born of the sea, from which you came
to land riding on a scallop shell, sea food has been known as an aphrodisiac. Which GREEK (or ROMAN) GODDESS are you? (Girls Only) with pictures! in
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While some of your behavior is quite normal...
Other things you do are downright strange
You've got a little of your freak going on
But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself
On April 14, 2009, a very special event happened. I gave my heart to the man, the only man, I would ever love. The date was not a well thought of milestone. I chose to tell him how I felt on a whim, but not recklessly, just spontaneously since I knew with certainty that there was "no time better than now".
This morning, I had all the time in the world to laze about and start my day slow. Instinct really should have been to grab my Bible and read on, but to be completely honest with myself, I'd been so busy with hectic mornings that my initial mindset was "I'll just read my Bible later..." 
There will be more candles to my birthday cake this time. Last year, I was in denial and declared I was 13 plus 10, but this year, I've accepted and am quite proud as my 24th year of life culminates in 9 days..JPG)
