Today’s Quote

Don’t you just love Dr. Seuss?  And I love these  too:

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

You might think it’s all about nursery rhymes and children’s books  but there is a lot of truth to what he says.

 

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It’s A Golden Anniversary

Yes, I do believe there is forever. Forever in the sense that a married couple is still together when they reach fifty golden years.

This morning, we attended the 5oth  Wedding Anniversary of  Nissa’s parents-in law at the  Malolos Cathedral (Minor Basilica of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) in Malolos City, Bulacan.

Malolos Cathedral (before the start of the wedding).

It is quite far from our place but we enjoyed the camaraderie and the solemnity of the occasion. Nissa, Obet and Nate are included in the entourage. There was a portion of the program after the wedding when their four kids and the grandchildren were allowed to speak before the bride and the groom and I was touched when Obet, my son-in-law said: “Yes, the goal is to reach fifty years too with  Nissa”. Wow!  I was touched. The official photos are not in yet but we enjoyed a few moments trying the photo booth. Nate was the last to speak and he just said, “We love you both” then shyly gave back the microphone to the emcee.

Nate said while holding the crowns before the photo shoot: ” Mommy wear this.  you are the queen and I am the prince” and Nissa obliged.  Haha, smart kid.

Fifty years together.  My balae  now uses a cane  when he walks. He is quite frail but his wife is still so beautiful  in her mid-seventies. Fifty years of togetherness. It is seldom to see couples nowadays reaching that long married life. Either one is gone or   they are separated or living apart from each other.

Maintaining a relationship is not a walk in the park. Even if you are both matured enough to face each trial and celebrate happy times together, there is always something that sets you apart. When trust, respect and loyalty are gone, love slowly dies too.  Love does not walk away but people do.

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A Night Filled With Music

I love my headset. I can always listen to my favorite music and sometimes watch films on YouTube.

Tonight is one of those that I treasure, listening to the music of Rod McKuen and Henry Mancini.  I was reading  some early posts about Rod McKuen then thought of listening to his husky voice while he recites some poems and sings his songs.  He is not probably popular with kids and the millennial  nowadays. I agree, there is only one Rod McKuen. He shared his music to the world and his poems.  I always get inspired  reading his words and listening  to his music.

I remember Mary Anne, a friend I met back in our Multiply days.  She died about two years ago,  a previous blogger here at WordPress too.  She sent me two CDs of Henry Mancini one birthday years ago. She knew I love Mancini’s music and she loved it too. Wherever you are Mary Anne, let us listen to your favorite.

My love of Mancini started when I  watched the movie  adaptation of The  Thorn Birds (a book by Colleen McCullough)  The theme song was just heavenly  so I looked for more of his compositions and there are several in YouTube.  I am presently listening to The Very Best of Henry Mancini while writing this.  Think of The Pink Panther, Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses, How Soon, Two for the Road. I could go on and on. They are wonderful music of days gone by.

My night is filled with music.

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Celebrating Palm Sunday

Palm  Sunday.

We just attended an anticipated mass for Palm  Sunday. We normally don’t hear mass on Saturday nights but Palm Sunday  has become  an exception. Churches are usually full during Palm  Sunday. Having a good seat  while listening and participating through a Sunday mass is always a must for me.

 

We bought two bundles of palm fronds for blessing. There was a short procession from the entrance of the church up to the altar while the priest blessed the palms.  Palm  Sunday  is the beginning of Holy  Week  where we celebrate Our Lord’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It ends before Easter Sunday.

I miss Visita Iglesia. We usually visit at least seven churches for the fourteen Stations of the Cross but since Josef  started working at an American bank  where Holy Thursday and Good Friday are not Holy Days of Obligation, we just confine ourselves to our Parish.

I want to share this lovely  Palm Sunday prayer  with you all, (from ibelieve.com).

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your Son and paving the way for our lives to be set free through Jesus’ death on the cross. Thank You for what this day stands for – the beginning of Holy Week, the start of the journey towards the power of the cross, the victory of the Resurrection, and the rich truth that Jesus truly is our King of Kings.

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…”

We give You praise and honor for Your ways are righteous and true. We give You worship for You are holy and just. We will declare that Your love stands firm forever. For Your loving kindness endures forever.

Thank You that Your ways are far greater than our ways, Your thoughts far deeper than our thoughts. Thank You that You had a plan to redeem. Thank You that You make all things new. Thank You that Your face is towards the righteous, and You hear our prayers, and know our hearts. Help us to stay strong and true to you. Help us not to follow after the voice of the crowds, but to press in close to You, to hear Your whispers, and seek after You alone.

We praise You, we bless You Lord! Thank You that You reign supreme and we are more than conquerors through the gift of Christ!

In the Mighty Name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

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Today’s Quote

Where does a man find healing amid so many broken places? How does he find love in the ruins and wine-wrapped shattered pieces of his own soul? 

Wrapped in Rain – Charles Martin

 

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An Irish Blessing

Almost ten years ago, a friend gifted me with the lovely  hardbound copy of the book Irish Blessings. It got flooded  back in 2009 since the water reached our bedroom and it was on my night stand. Then about two or three years ago,he gave another copy, an older edition from the first one. Though it was just a very small volume, I liked all the prayers written there. This is my favorite quote from the book.

Today, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  ” St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three leaves of a shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from.”

I didn’t know about the shamrock  plants in my garden until nine years ago. I have them in purple and green. I am always reminded of this beautiful Irish prayer every time I seem them bloom and they bloom all year round producing those tiny white flowers that I love.

 

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Always Thankful

Four years ago, I wrote   a blog post on my birthday, just being thankful for everyday blessings.  For the past several months it always shows up in my Most Read Blogs/Top Posts. It is quite  surprising since  those  were just simple words of thanks for blessing me with life, health, friends and family.

It actually  reminds me of the book I a reading at the moment, The Kindness of Strangers.  

Being grateful and being thankful.

Sometimes in the midst of joys and happiness in our lives we forget to utter those words of thanks to our Saviour.  We take for granted that these days and moments of happiness are God-given.  We get lost in the euphoria.  Every day that we are alive, we should not forget to be grateful.

My priest son always asks  me every time he says mass in other churches what my petitions are and I always answer,  “just good health”. When you are healthy, alive and kicking, everything falls into place. No amount of money could ever match good health in the family.  When you have experienced  life-changing  moments in your life, you are thankful for everyday blessings.  I’ll be on my 9th year in remission come July. That alone is a wonderful blessing in my life.

 

 

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