My Sleeping St. Joseph

Pope Francis spoke about the ‘Sleeping St Joseph’ during the Encounter with Families, 16th January 2015.  So I called up LUIS AC-AC , National Artist in the making from Paete Laguna to have it done for me. He has made for me several wood carvings way back in 2009.

 

Pope Francis revealed, during his address to families his special devotion to St Joseph, especially through this image of the “Sleeping St Joseph”: “ Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us. He speaks to us in the reading we have just heard, in our prayer and witness, and in the quiet of our hearts. Let us reflect on what the Lord is saying to us, especially in this evening’s Gospel. There are three aspects of this passage which I would ask you to consider: First, resting in the Lord. Second, rising with Jesus and Mary. Third, being a prophetic voice.

Resting in the Lord. Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us. Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. As Christians, you too are called, like Joseph, to make a home for Jesus. To make a home for Jesus! You make a home for him in your hearts, your families, your parishes and your communities.

Resting in prayer is especially important for families. It is in the family that we first learn how to pray. Don’t forget: the family that prays together stays together! This is important. There we come to know God, to grow into men and women of faith, to see ourselves as members of God’s greater family, the Church. In the family we learn how to love, to forgive, to be generous and open, not closed and selfish. We learn to move beyond our own needs, to encounter others and share our lives with them. That is why it is so important to pray as a family! So important! That is why families are so important in God’s plan for the Church! To rest in the Lord is to pray. To pray together as a family.

I would also like to tell you something very personal. I have great love for Saint Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of Saint Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church! Yes! We know that he can do that. So when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and I put it underneath Saint Joseph, so that he can dream about it! In other words I tell him: pray for this problem! …

article taken from Opus Dei Today

For the full text of that address, click HERE

Jonathan & Arlene 20th Wedding Anniversary

Time flies so fast. I'm excited and grateful to be celebrating our 20th anniversary TODAY! We have been blessed with a great amount of time. I can't begin to express how much I love you after these 2 decades of marriage.

We wanted to remember this milestone by celebrating MASS officiated by Fr. Rocky Evangelista SDB at Tuloy sa Don Bosco Alabang. Since the symbol of 20th year wedding anniversary is China, we had dinner with close relatives and friends at Mandarin Palace.


20th Anniversary Traditional Gift:
China - It symbolizes the beautiful, elegant, and delicate of your love for one another over the past 20 years.& Platinum

20th Anniversary Contemporary/Modern Gift:
Platinum. Platinum is strong and enduring, just like your 20-year old marriage.

20th Anniversary Gemstone:
Emerald or a yellow or golden diamond.

our life together has been a wonderful ‪#‎JOURNEY‬ and full of adventures... looking forward to ‪#‎FOREVER‬ with you ‪

For these moms, bento-making is an expression of love

Manila Standard Article on BENTO MAKING

Look Back Video as facebook celebrates their 10th year anniversary

I saw the "look back" post of my friend Ellen Lacson and decided to click the link she shared.  

I was so happy with the personalized "LOOK BACK" video that Facebook made for their users as they celebrate their 10th year anniversary. I also got teary eyed watching the videos of my friends in FB.

sharing my video.  Thank you FB for this wonderful compilations. 

Post by Arlene Alog-David.

Happiness is Christmas Time

I was like a child again Christmas 2013 when i saw the Peanuts christmas town at SM Southmall and I can't help but have my pictures taken - yey.

“Happiness is anyone and anything that's loved by you.” 
― Charles M. Schulz

my favorite song from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown


Happiness is being alone every now and then.
And happiness is coming home again.
Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and night time too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you. 

To live is to dance, to dance is to live.
Peanuts Snoopy



“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 
― Charles M. Schulz



“Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” 
― Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown's Little Book of Wisdom

Just thinking about a friend makes you want to do a happy dance, because a friend is someone who loves you in spite of your faults.” 
― Charles M. Schulz



“Be yourself. No one can say you're doing it wrong.” 
― Charles M. Schulz



“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” 
― Charles M. Schulz



If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.
Peanuts



“Love is not knowing what you're talking about.” 
― Charles M. Schulz


“All is well... That's my new philosophy...” 
― Charles M. Schulz


“There is nothing more attractive than a nice smile” 
― Charles M. Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 5: 1959-1960


“It doesn't matter what you believe just so long as you're sincere.” 
― Charles M. Schulz


“If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.” 
― Charles M. Schulz



“This is my report on how to live... They say the best way is just to live one day at a time... If you try to live seven days at a time, the week will be over before you know it...” 
― Charles M. Schulz



Life is like a game, Charlie Brown... Sometimes you win... Sometimes you lose."
"I'll be happy if I just make the playoffs.” 
― Charles M. Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 11: 1971 - 1972



“The early bird gets the worm but the late bird doesn't even get the late worm.” 
― Charles M. Schulz

Dear Sweetheart, do you ever think of me? Just the other day I was thinking of you. I'm pretty sure it was you.”
― Charles M. Schulz
 

2014 January scrapbook layouts

Make The Ordinary Come Alive

Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
-The Parent's Tao Te Ching

Goodbye 2013... Hello 2014

Goodbye 2013... 

Thank you for a wonderful and blessed year!
May the good times live on in our memories,
and may we learn lessons from the troubling times
that will make us stronger and better than ever.

Hello 2014...

May it be filled with a life that i love and with the ones i love,
that i may be more close to God, 
that i may have good health,
that i may reach our business goals, 
happiness and contentment, 
and truly have Amazing travels. 
Cheers!

NEW YEAR PRAYER   Dear Lord,
In the new year, we pray
that You will guide us each new day
in paths that are pleasing to You.
Lord, the new year gives us another chance
to rededicate our lives to You,
to study Your Word
so that we know right from wrong
and to act in accordance with Your commands.
Thank You for the sense of
direction, purpose and peace we get
from aligning our lives with Your Holy will.
We pray for the strength and the will to obey You
each and every day of the new year,
and when we fail, we pray for Your mercy,
Your compassion, Your grace and Your love.
Help us in the new year to be Your faithful servants.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. By Joanna Fuchs  

30 Days of Thankful - Day 1

http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/10/announcing-the-30-days-of-thankful-album-project-for-2013.html

work of heART october 2013

BOOOOO - Time!

"I do believe in spooks, I do, I do, I do" ~ The Lion in the Wizard of OZ

Have a BOOOO-tiful Halloween!

"Jeepers Creepers - Where 'ja get those peepers?" ~ Al Donohue/ Johnny Mercer

Wedding at Cana

Married couples have the opportunity to renew their marriage vows at the Cana Catholic Wedding Church. Cana is the place where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast by changing water into wine.

Remembering Moments with Carmzie

i made a cascading album for my sister-in-law to remember our travel together.

 we Shopped for souvenirs in Bethlehem where you will find authentic olive wood rosaries, statues and icons and have them blessed with Fr. Fernando Suarez, during the pilgrimage.

Married couples will have the chance to renew their wedding vows at the Church of the First Miracle in Cana, the site where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast by changing water into wine.

we Prayerfully retrace the stations of the cross along the Via Dolorosa (Latin for Way of Grief) which ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or Calvary where He died and was laid on the tomb.

Sometimes "travel" can mean a personal journey or trip that you take as a person.


I was truly grateful and blessed to go on a pilgrimage tour with Fr. Fernando Suarez.

• we took  a dip in the Dead Sea and put mud on our skin. This black mud is known to be therapeutic and does wonders for the skin.

it was 9 Day Healing Pilgrimage Retreat to the Holy Land. we saw the actual places that you read in the Bible came alive in the Holy Land

• Daily masses and inspiring homilies were given by Fr. Fernando Suarez, MMMP a renowned healing priest.

after Holy Land we spent 3 days in Dubai and 1 day in Abu Dhabi.  my younger brother celebrated his birthday at the Burj Al Arab Hotel - the most luxurious hotel in the World. It's a once in a lifetime experience. (as for me, i still prefer the food variety at the Spiral restaurant.)

Project Life: Halloween

This weekend I decided to make Project Life Halloween. 


We had a super fun Monster Mash at The Manila Collectible Co. yesterday. Face painting, storytelling, dead man's dig and lots and lots of candy!!!



To simplify and finish faster, i decided to follow Becky Higgins Style of just photos, Halloween journaling cards from Lilypad



and writing a paragraph or two,  to remember what happened during that day.

FANGtastically DELIGHTFUL 2013 Halloween

my youngest daughter loves Monster High.  I was so glad we can now buy costumes at Toy's r Us Alabang town Center.

i dressed up as Draculaura to make my daughter happy

Frankie-Stien

We had a super fun Monster Mash at The Manila Collectible Co. yesterday. Face painting, storytelling, dead man's dig and lots and lots of candy!!!

Monster High DracuLAURA and Frankie Stein

a SPOOKtacular Halloween 2013

to enjoy high resolution video please choose 720 HD in the youtube setting

A Pilgrim's Prayer

If some things do not happen as they are scheduled,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If I should get tired and inclined to become short tempered

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If my meal in a foreign country may not be to my particular liking,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If any delays should occur and I should become anxious,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If some other pilgrim is making noise so that I cannot hear the guide,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

When I ask that person to be a bit more quiet If someone takes a better seat or more choice place,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If I find myself last in line or waiting, Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If the person in front of me buys the last item which I really wanted

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If I should get a chance to help another person, who always seems to be annoying me,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

If someone is always the "last one on the bus" and I am always on time,

Lord may I remember that I am a pilgrim not a Tourist!

But Lord especially let me remember that what I find objectionable in another is really what you oft times find objectionable in me

And let me remember this and forgive the other,

As you are continually forgiving me!

      Amen

Scandinavia Tour 2013

Traveling Together

The road between Geiranger and Eidsdal is known as Ørnevegen (Eagle Road). The last turn is a hairpin bend known as Ørnesvingen (Eagle Bend) and offers an extraordinary view over the Geirangerfjord. Beyond a wooden gate, a steep path leads you to the tip of the headland. 
From here, the view is even more stunning as you can see the magnificent Seven Sisters waterfalls, 
its white waters standing out against the sombre rockface as they roll down to the dark
 green waters of the fjord.

One of the features of Trafalgar tours is the Be My Guest dinners.  This is
where we join people from the local community for a meal.  In Bergen, we went to a farm-turned-into-restaurant just outside of town.  We were given a tour of the farm  and then were given a great meal of Norwegian specialties.  Following the dinner the staff all lined up to bid us goodbye.

The Fløibanen funicular in Bergen is one of Norway's best-known attractions. Fløibanen can be found in the heart of Bergen, 150 m from Fisketorget – the fish market – and Bryggen wharf, and it takes just 10 minutes to walk to the lower station from where the cruise ships dock along Bryggen. The journey up to Fløyen (320 m above sea level) takes 5–8 minutes. The journey is an experience in itself, and at the top you can enjoy fantastic views over Bergen.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden