Patience is a Virtue

My blog has been several months old now, and the only time I made real money was when I signed up for PayPerPost. I know I have not been as diligent as I should be in signing up for paid posts and I really don't have that much patience in waiting and searching and everything that goes with it.

I am encouraged by how my friends earned from blogging and I want to go to that direction as well. I now have internet connection at home so I don't have an excuse not to make it. I have all the necessary resources, I just don't have the patience. Like they all say, "Patience is a Virtue" - that I must learn. :)

On Marriage

How does one define a good marriage? What makes a marriage a good one? I claim to be no expert, and like I always say, I don’t have a perfect marriage, not even close to being one. But is my marriage a good one?

I prefer to call it beautiful, and I love everything in it – the good, the bad, the happy moments and the sad. What I love about it is not how well we get along, but how we manage to reconcile the little and big differences we have. Sometimes, I get so mad and upset at him, but I love how the realization dawns on me that he will always be one single person I could never get tired of loving. I love how, no matter how long and how hard we argue over some things, we come up with a compromise and strike a deal between us. And I love that now matter how badly I want to scream and raise my voice at him during arguments, I’d still want to whisper sweet nothings in his ear at night.

My marriage may not exactly be a good one. But it’s a happy one. Not all marriage can be good. But what’s more beautiful about marriage is that every couple has the power to weave it into a wonderful tale of love that is uniquely beautiful as the other.

The Road That Was Chosen

Some people wonder what could have awaited them in the road not chosen, while some other try to postpone choosing some major inevitable decisions in their lives. Me? I revel and celebrate everyday for the choices I made that have led me to where I am now.

Sometimes, I also think about what I have missed to do. I could have gotten a degree. Perhaps went to law school. Or maybe I could be well way ahead of the corporate ladder. Maybe, I could have travelled across continents or I could be any of those characters that have starred in my daydreams when I was younger.

But marriage has kept me from being all or any of these. And I completely understand why people are afraid to plunge into this next level commitment. We are a new generation of empowered women who believes that our destination should not necessarily be confined into building a home. We believe that the world is ours to conquer, and that our possibilities are limitless. And so we think, why get tied down when we can be free to explore the world?

As a new breed of women, we are more aware of our rights and we are free to explore our options. We make sure that are our eyes our both wide open in every endeavor that we take into, be it a career venture or a romantic relationship. And while I’d like to think that I belong to this generation, I also believe that sometimes, one has to close her eyes and live in blind faith in order to be truly happy.

Do I sometimes wonder what could have been had I not marry at an early age? Honestly, sometimes I do. But I know that what could have been will never be as good as what is now and could never measure up to the beautiful life that the road that was chosen has brought me. Marriage is a choice – a choice I’m glad I made.

This will make you hungry....

Copied this from Joy! I love food and I love to eat! So i grabbed this. Please feel free to grab this as well

.-START HERE
—Eaters: kathyrazzi kathycot buhaymisis whenmomspeaks kathycotcooks my precious niche just me.. eds edsmommylife Me,Myself+2 Le bric à brac de Cherie Chez Francine La Place de Cherie My Angels World, Life is Good and Beautiful, From This Side, JustAboutAnything ADD YOUR BLOG HERE!

1. Chicken sa McDo, Jollibee, or KFC? Crispylicious and Juicylicious Chicken Joy
2. Pepsi, Coke, or rootbeer? Definitely COKE
3. Greenwich, Pizza Hut, or Yellow Cab? Pizza Hut
4. Adobo, sinigang, or nilaga? SINIGANG...yum,yum,yum!
5. Beef, pork, or chicken? depends on how it's cooked
6. Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, or Gloria Jean’s? I love Bo's Coffee
7. Cornflakes, Honey Stars, or Milo cereal? Koko Krunch
8. Goldilocks or Red Ribbon? Red Ribbon
9. Tokyo Tokyo, Teriyaki Boy or Rai Rai Ken?-Rai Rai Ken, although I also love Tokyo Tokyo
10. Take Out or Dine In? Dine- In—

END HERE —I want to know the yummy answers of Eds, Soreal, My PinkShoelace, Benay-yot, Momi Shar

Of Alphabets and Growling Bears

My bestfriend Mars recommended a site for online tutorials for toddlers. I found it good and very helpful in teaching my 3-year old Borjie. So when he woke up this morning, I told him that we are going to study. He said that he doesn’t want to study with me as he wants to go to school. I told him he can’t go to school yet, but I will be his teacher for now. He was expecting that we will be grabbing some papers and pencil, but to his surprise, I open the computer. He insisted that he wants to get some papers and pencils, but I told him that since I’m the teacher, we’ll do it my way.

So we went to Starfall.com. I was surprised that Borjie can identify some of the letters of the alphabet, and has easily picked up the sounds of each. Zaira also took some noteworthy interest and has diligently mimicked the sounds. Everything was going well until the study showed a growling bear, and then everything went boring for Borjie. He keeps on asking me to repeat the part where the bear was growling. I tried to put his interest back on the topic at hand, but he wouldn’t hear any of it anymore and has kept on asking for the growling bear.

And so I have to end our session for now. I went to youtube.com and there his eyes feasted on the tigers, crocodiles and bears eating each other. These are the kind of stuff that my kid enjoys….*sigh*. And then it took me a lot of bribing before I was able to steal the computer away from him again.

Friday High

Okay...I know I shouldn't be doing this. I should be catching up some sleep as I only have a few hours of sleep for the last few days. But it's Friday, and knowing that tonight will be last night to come to work for the week is like a shot of caffeine for me. Aside from that, my kids have been bothering me like crazy. They keep on banging on our bedroom door until I haveno choice but to open the door for them and let them in. Well, so much for rest....

And of course, the convenience and tempatation of having unlimited internet at home. The fact that a computer and internet connection is justa few feet away from by bed, and the urge to slam my fingers on the keyboard is a tempation I would love to indulge in....

And so for now, sleep will have to wait until the weekend...

First Day High

My first day with my new role went well without complications. So there was a little confusion with my new role. I applied for Client Services Coordinator, but was informed that I got the Sales Coach position. While talking to my new boss, she realized she can maximize my talents and potentials better if she keeps me as Client Services Coordinator, and so I’ll be one. There’s no distinct line as to the roles actually, since we will still be under the Client Service Department, and our scope of responsibilities could be interchanged from time-to-time, so the name of the position should not be a big deal.

My new boss seems nice and pretty straight forward. I think she’s a very smart woman, very determined and goal-oriented, and has gone a long way at a young age of 27. She seems so organized and very open-minded, and I am pretty sure I would enjoy working with her.

It was a cool first day for me.

AWARDS

Got this award from a fellow blogger Gail DeGuzman....it's really flattering to get this....I am tagging in turn Bena-yot, Momi Shar, MyPinkShoelace, Soreal, Edcel, Lisa, Marily, Prily

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Rule: Copy the entire list and add your name at the bottom. And tag at least 5 friends. (But you can tag as many as you like).Note: Please link the blog where you posted the tag We appreciate you linking all your blogs but make sure you post the tag in the blogs too.

Mommy Talks Aggie Shoots. Aggie Scraps All Kinds of Me Stuff The Salad Caper Winding Creek Circle Anorexic Queen Apple of Yan Ple YanPle Howell and Abie My Planet Purple WomenXplore Princess Bela My Happy Place I am Dzoi Cliktrik Life’s Simple Pleasures Coffee Table Conversations 100% Kelly My Colorful World Ramdom Thoughts Scribbles of My Life In This Game of Life The Shopaholic in Me Mommyhood and Me My Charmed Life My Joys Sassy Finds Celebrating Life Life is Peachy Belly, Baby and Beyond {BloggerHappy} {BerryScrappy} Me and Mine Creative in Me For the LOVE of Food Little Peanut Pea in a Pod Le bric à brac de Cherie Chez Francine La Place de Cherie Gail de Guzman I Mier

Quitting Quality

I officially said goodbye to Quality last night. I had dinner with the team, together with our boss, and that's it. I was supposed to be on duty but my supervisor was kind enough to allow me to be on vacation leave so I could prepare myself and transition to my new role. It was a tough decision to leave the team but I have to move forward.

As I write this, I'm an hour away from starting my new career endeavor. I'm officially a Sales Coach today. Unlike when I joined Quality, when I was so excited, I am so nervous to come to work today. First, because I don't know what lies ahead. I don't even know my scope of responsibilities. I was offered a position that was different from what I applied for, and although it is under the same department, I was not given clear a clear over-view of how things are going to be. I am accepting this position in blind faith that I can be as effective and as efficient as I was as an evaluator. Wish me luck...

Miss Universe

She only had to watch a beauty pageant once. The annual Miss Universe was aired yesterday morning, and while we were watching it, she starting wishing to be one.

BLOGGING

During my younger years, stationaries were the "in" thing. A girl's treasures would compose of stationaries of different designs and colors, and she could trade the same design for another to expand her collection. And diaries made of scented papers embossed with flowers and hearts are a girl's bestfriend. Back then, diaries are to be kept safe in drawer, sealed with a tiny padlock, and the key shoul be carried with you anywhere, least anyone should read it.

But we know live in an electronic world. Gone are the days of stationaries and diaries. Young lovers will find no need for stationaries to exchange love notes, as more and more people would find text and email messages more convenient. Words that are supposed to be written and should be kept within the diary are now published online. The younger generations are bolder and more outspoken about what they think and what they feel. They are no longer afraid to voice out their thoughts, ideas and emotions for the whole world to read. We are now more assertive of our rights and secure enough of ourselves to say that our emotions, thoughts, ideas, feelings are valid, and we are not afraid to share it, not only for others to learn about it, but more importantly, for us to learn more about ourselves.

The world has changed. The earth has become smaller. Information has become just a click away. It no longer belongs to a privileged few who could afford volumes and volumes of encyclopedias. Knowledge can be obtained from the tip of our fingers.

People have different perspective of things that used to be unacceptable. Societal norms are not as important as our own personal conviction. We no longer need a newspaper nor we have to be broadcasters to be heard. We can freely speak about our ideas without having to wait for an editor to approve it.

Welcome to a bolder, freer generation. Welcome to online blogging.

The Prayer Series (Part 2)

WaumbaLand, the name of the Sunday School Program of Quest (the church that we go to), requires the child to be free from any illness 24 hours prior to class. And because of that, I couldn't take Zaira to church with us. Borjie is at my in-law's house for his weekly sleepover, so Aldrich and I decided to take the afternoon service last Sunday.

Pastor Les continued on with his series on Prayer. The previous week, he talked about how important it is to have a quiet time with God, and to make prayer a private matter. This week, he talked about how to pray.

When we pray, we first should acknowledge to whom we are talking to. We are greatly privileged to be given the right to call Him "Father". It means that we should be establishing a relationship with Him, on a personal basis. It is important that we acknowledge Him for His greatness and divinity, that we glorify His name.

Second, we should remember to surrender our will. In Matthew 6: 10 it says "..thy will be done" It means that when we pray, we should be willing to allow God's plans for our lives to prevail, and not our will. And third, we must acknowledge our dependence on Him, on a day-to-day basis. We must always remember that there's nothing we could do without Him.

Prayer is not about our wants, our needs, our desires. God knows them before we even before we ask. What matters most about prayer is how we connect with our Lord and Savior.

Prince Caspian

I wanted Borjie and Zaira's first movie to be something special. I wanted it to be memorable for them, as it will be for us parents. I was thinking of bringing them to theater together, as I don't want any one of them to be left behind (which will most likely be Zaira since she's the younger one) so we waited until Zaira is old enough to be admitted and mature enough to sit still in a theater environment.

Then came Prince Caspian, the second of the 7 series of Chronicles of Narnia. I loved this as a book. In fact, during my high school days, I had all 7 of the books, and God knows where they all are now (can't remember who borrowed them). Kinda reminds of the item in "Life's Litte Instruction Book" ..."as with money and books, lend only those you don't care to see again." Going back...the first sequel, which was "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" proved screen-worthy, so I vowed not to miss the next one.

So when Prince Caspian came out, we wasted no time in bringing the kids to the moviehouse. I prepared lots of pop corn and pork rind to keep them busy in case they get bored. Fortunately, they seemed to enjoy the movie. Borjie anxiously waited for the lion to come out (he seemed to have recognized that it was a sequel). Zaira got a little sleepy but Lucy's character, and the animals fascinated her enough to keep her awake.

I chose this movie to their first, not only because I love it, but also because I want them to look back one day and be proud that the first movie they watched had some Christian value in it.

Dental Visit

Aldrich and I decided to finally make that long-delayed visit to the dentist. I called up the clinic to make the reservation, and by the time we got there, I was immediately ushered to the dentist chair (whatever it's called) It's been over a year since my last visit, and I barely remember how it was to have oral prophylaxis. And while sitting there, I am reminded of a thousand and one reason why I hate going to the dentist. It sure sucks having to keep your mouth open for almost an hour and I so hate the after-feel of it all.

Well, some things had to be done. Whether we like it or not...

My 3-year old Borjie

He's every inch a kuya. He loves to play the role of a protective big brother. He defends his baby sister whenever someone tries to bully her and tease her. He loves dinosaurs and tigers and lions. He's a human rights advocate, as he insists his rights to quality time with us, his right to be bought with toys and clothes, and he scolds us if our voices and tempers raise higher than the normal.

My 2-year old Zaira

She turned 2 last June 2, 2008. She never fails to amuse us with her dance moves and her giggles and her kikay ways. She insists that she's pretty and tells you she's not your friend if you don't agree. And of course, she insists that she takes after her mom. Does she?

OT-free weekend

Last weekend was the first weekend in many weeks that I did not go OT. I was contemplating of rendering at least 4 hours OT to catch up with my evaluations. I need to complete as many as I can since I will be leaving the department a few days before the fiscal month is completed. I want my productivity to be raised as high as it can. Not that I need to prove something.

Well, it would be probably one of the few times that I could get to relax. I would be moving on to a new role in a different department and I may have to learn and unlearn several things, thus increasing the stress level. As per my current boss, "Prepare for more stress".

So instead of going to the office, I spent the weekend bonding with my family and kids, and sleeping till my eyes puffed. After all, I've got nothing else to prove in the Quality Department. What I need to prepare is to conquer Client Services.

I've Been Tagged

Got this tag from MyPinkShoelace and I have to give it a try...It's been a while since I last do a tag...

What you are supposed to do…and please don’t spoil the fun…Click copy/paste, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag 4 people in your lists!

(A) Four places I go over and over:~ our room, Bantayan, church, mall
(B) Four people who e-mail me regularly:~ our facilities manager, my supervisor, my sister and my hubby
(C) Four of my favorite places to eat?~ Rai-rai ken, Pizza hut, Ila Puti and McDo
(D) Four places you’d rather be?~ Boracay, Paris, China, Hawaii
E) Four people I think will respond:~ Prily~ Bena - yot~ Soloflighted~ Mars
(F) Four TV shows I could watch over and over:~ Alias, Dawson's Creek, Ally McBeal, 24

Of Flowers and Surprises

The moment I got to the office, my supervisor summoned me to her desk. I got a little scared and I thought, "Uh-oh, what did I do?" I was surprised to find a bouquet of roses on her desk and she told me it was for me.

My husband is never the romantic type. He is never the flowers and chocolates type, and he is not good with cooking up surprises. So I got the surprise of my life when I got those flowers from him. My officemates thought we probaby had a fight. And I told them, "No, it's our monthsary." To which they replied, "What?!?! You still celebrate monthsaries?"

Happy 49th monthsary, Daddiyah!

The Prayer Series (Part I)

The whole household, together with my brother and his family went to church last Sunday. It was the first time in many years that we went to the same church together, since for the past weeks, we went to different churches, as my they ususally go to my sister's sending church, and Aldrich and I preferred to go to Quest since the kids enjoy the Sunday School there. Also, my youth pastor, who officiated our wedding, also serves there. Last Sunday, we all went to Quest.
Pastor Les talked about prayer. I've been a Christian for half my life and has served in several ministries. And he was right. I thought I know all I need to know about prayer, but I don't. The message has revealed several truths about prayer and I felt that all my life, I wasn't really praying, but merely stating my needs.
God knows our needs even before we pray for it. So why bother praying? Because it is through prayer that our relationship with Him deepens. That is why the Bible states the need to pray in private, because you can't establish a good relationship in public.
Because I live a busy life, I pray while on the run. In the cab, in the jeepney, sometimes in the restroom and even at times when I am waiting for something or someone. But the one point that Pastor Les stressed last Sunday was the importance of closing the door and praying in private. It's not about the quality or quantity of your words, but the connection God feels in your prayer that matters.
Aldrich and I are careful with our marriage. We make it a point to communicate regularly, and we go out on dates without the kids to maintain the kind of closeness that we have. And just like our human relationships, our relationship with God requires communicating with Him on a regular and private basis for it to flourish.
Last Sunday, Pastor Les started out a new series on prayer. If you wanna hear about it, you may come with me to church.

Convergys Cares

Summer ended without a company summer party. But will Convergys let it happen? Of course not! Management got busy expanding the business, but that doesn't mean they forgot to give us the party we deserve. We had a late summer outing at Vistamar, and there, I got a change to meet Mark Nelson in person. Cool!

Here it is!

I've put it off long enough. For a long time, I was undecided if we should have internet at the house. I reasoned that the time we spent at our home should be solely dedicated to spending quality time with the kids. But we also need to connect to the outside world, especially that my sisters are across the seas and we commuicate via email. It is also important to download some stuff that we think are useful, and of course, I have to update my blogsite as well.


Aldrich and I finally decided to install internet at the house. We found the need heavier than our reaso not to get one.

Prayer

The whole household, together with my brother and his family went to church last Sunday. It was the first time in many years that we went to the same church together, since for the past weeks, we went to different churches, as my they ususally go to my sister's sending church, and Aldrich and I preferred to go to Quest since the kids enjoy the Sunday School there. Also, my youth pastor, who officiated our wedding, also serves there. Last Sunday, we all went to Quest.

Pastor Les talked about prayer. I've been a Christian for half my life and has served in several ministries. And he was right. I thought I know all I need to know about prayer, but I don't. The message has revealed several truths about prayer and I felt that all my life, I wasn't really praying, but merely stating my needs.

God knows our needs even before we pray for it. So why bother praying? Because it is through prayer that our relationship with Him deepens. That is why the Bible states the need to pray in private, because you can't establish a good relationship in public.

Because I live a busy life, I pray while on the run. In the cab, in the jeepney, sometimes in the restroom and even at times when I am waiting for something or someone. But the one point that Pastor Les stressed last Sunday was the importance of closing the door and praying in private. It's not about the quality or quantity of your words, but the connection God feels in your prayer that matters.

Aldrich and I are careful with our marriage. We make it a point to communicate regularly, and we go out on dates without the kids to maintain the kind of closeness that we have. And just like our human relationships, our relationship with God requires communicating with Him on a regular and private basis for it to flourish.

Last Sunday, Pastor Les started out a new series on prayer. If you wanna hear about it, you may come with me to church.