My Morning Thoughts

What is the first thing you do upon waking up? I've made it a habit to start my every waking day with a little prayer of gratitude for another chance at life. I offer thanksgiving for a well-rested night. I always pray for discernment to do what's right at any given time, and more especially when temptation seems appealing or inviting. I ask for guidance and strength to sustain me as I go about my day. I seek forgiveness for the wrongs I've done. I pray for the souls of my mother, grandparents, and relatives. I thank God for the time I've had with them, it may have been short but it was indeed a meaningful one. I know God goes before me and He clears my way of anything that could burden me. I delight in the thought that blessings are abundant because my God is ever merciful and giving. 

Good morning dear friends from snowy Montreal! ♥

My January in Pictures

January is the start of the year. It heralds new beginnings and second chances. It is turning into a pivotal year in science and medical research, hopefully putting a halt, if not an end, to the global pandemic. It signals hope and sees triumph in our fight for sanity and life in general. I have so much faith that God will see us through this year. It will not be easy for sure, but I hope to ride through the waves with positivity. :)

Here is one of my favorite months in picture:

One cold, sunny afternoon I decided to pick some pine cones and oven baked them to crisp perfection. These will be used for my autumn and Christmas holiday decoration. I am so in love with the fragrant pine scent and I added drops of lavender oil on them. The whole house smelled of Christmas! :p

This tea set was gifted by my best friend of more than a decade. I appreciate her thoughtfulness in thinking this will go well with our lunch picnic dates. I cannot wait to use them as soon as spring kicks in. :)

Every afternoon after work, we make sure to incorporate at least 30 minutes to an hour of leisure walk in our routine. It has proven to be healthy and beneficial. The park situated in front of our home makes for a good spot. <3

If I have a hard time thinking of what to serve my husband, I turn to pasta. Gambas al ajillo on spaghetti was a sure hit!

One Sunday morning, Jan snapped a picture of me. I just woke up devoid of facial wash and coffee, but you can hardly tell. :p

We had pizza for lunch. We went heavy on chorizo, pancetta, and feta cheese. Of course, basil on pizza is always a good idea! :)

I shall end this post with warm wishes of prosperity and good health. Let's hang in there and believe that things will work out. God is surely bigger than all of our problems combined. Bonne nuit! <3

What Songs do You Listen to?

Every morning at work or at home, I make sure to listen to songs I like. Music always has a way to make us feel a lot better. It makes work and our everyday mundane tasks bearable. The song's lyrics just get us and speak the word we wish to communicate. When I was mourning and then dealing with the grief that followed the death of my mother, I turned to prayers and music to alleviate my sadness. I always tried to keep the feelings at bay but when I hear songs that remind me of my days with my mother, I break down and cry. I cry for the many occasions and milestones that I will never be able to celebrate with her. So, I listen again to feel-good songs and then I laugh and look back with so much gratitude for the time I've had with her.

Here are the top 6 songs on my Spotify playlist that I find myself constantly listening to:

1. Come See About Me- The Supremes

2. You've Got A Friend- Jessie Mueller, Jarrod Spector, Anika Larsen

3. Rainy Days & Mondays- Carpenters

4. The Man- Taylor Swift

5. Heartline- Craig David

6. Laughter in the Rain- Neil Sedaka

I listen to just about any genre but I tend to always lean towards the 70's and 80's. I also love country music especially on a rainy day. I wish you folks a beautiful day ahead from cold and freezing Montreal. ♥

What Do I Daydream About?

On most days, I find myself staring afar and lost in my thoughts. I daydream just about anything. I take a moment's silence and welcome the quiet refuge in stillness. So, what are my daydreams about?

    > I imagine having won 10, 20, or 60 million in the lottery. How would I manage the earnings? Of course, the first thing would be giving back to charity or any cause close to my heart (cancer research, improving the lives of impoverished children throughout the Philippines and Africa, nature conservation, etc). Then, I'd share it with my family and relatives. I cannot save everyone from poverty, but I can help those I can reach out to.

    > Sitting on the grass with the cool wind blowing and my mother beside me make for a beautiful portrait. :) I always imagine this and how lovely it would be to be able to spend time with her again. I would never run out of stories to tell her. What I would give to hear her voice and touch her hands again!

    > I dream of owning an acre or two of land that sits on an edge overlooking the oceans and the mountains looming behind us. I would build a cottage house and fill my front lawn with plants and various fruit-bearing trees. There will be an artificial grotto that will house shrines of Mama Mary, Jesus, and saints. I will host family gatherings every now and then and the whole place will ring of loud hearty laughter. 

    > I think about going on a month-long trip to Italy or Spain. I'd like to explore more of their culture. From there, I'd meet up with my husband and then embark on another journey to a place he's been meaning to visit without regard for money or time. I aim to please my husband, making sure he's happy (by feeding him good food :p).

I could go on and on but I will spare you the misery of reading a lengthy post. I am also writing on a fifteen-minute short break. Until then... ♥

It's Just a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life

My day started off on the wrong foot. Firstly, I was running on a four-hour sleep because of poor choices last night (a.k.a. Netflix). Then, I had to help shovel and wipe clean the car from last weekend's snow all in -13C temperature. It was freezing! Midway through our drive, I realized I forgot my coffee tumbler at home. GREAT! Just when I was about to start my work, all things that could possibly go wrong happened. I was way behind schedule and I couldn't seem to snap out of my awful mood. Smiling didn't seem to be an option. I was just so upset from the time I woke up until about 9 AM. I had to shake off the mood lest it will be a frustrating start of the week for me. So, I kept telling myself, "Relax, breathe in, breathe out... It's just a bad day, not a bad life." I had to tell it several times over until I started to feel my shoulders relax and some tension loosen. I took a short pause from work and said a little prayer for strength, patience, and grace under pressure. Gah, why does Monday have to be so far from Friday? :( 

It's so easy to feel frustrated and defeated when things go our way. Negativity seems to have a vacuum so strong it could suck us inside and we aren't even aware until we're so far in. I always have to remind myself that I am entitled to a quick break just so I could get some air and clear my mind. I put a premium on my mental health that's why I try very hard to keep my shit together. 

I wish everyone well as we try to ride along the waves of life, one week at a time. Bonne chance, or good luck! We are tougher than we think, and we have a God who doesn't forsake. Who/What could be against us? :)

 

Happy Birthday :)

Today, January 13th, is the birthday of my little sister, Karen Joy. We fondly call her Kang. Growing up, we were very close. We used to play teacher-student or cashier-customer role plays. I would always give her a hard time because that's what kids do. Hihihi! During those times, I would never hear her complain or get into a fit. She was just the most patient among us. I remember we used to watch Monica Brava, an Argentine show translated into Tagalog. We would walk tiptoe to where the TV is, making sure we were extra quiet and careful because it's past our bedtime and television was not allowed on weekdays. We would sit beside each other and stifle giggles between ads. Life was happier because I had her. 

She was my mother's guardian and constant companion between doctor's visits and hospital admissions. I am eternally grateful for the time and effort she's given her when I couldn't be there myself. The passing of my mother made our relationship even stronger. Now, we are thousands of miles apart but I still constantly talk to her and exchange silly banters. I couldn't imagine life without her. 

Happy birthday to a dear sister and friend. I celebrate your life and the kindness you've shown me through these years. Your genuine love and selflessness definitely set you apart. I keep you so close to my heart. Thank you for all that you do for the family. Happy birthday and I love you!♥

Trust Issues

What do you do if someone you love violates your trust? 

I stop and ponder. If someone I love violates my trust, I will feel betrayed. I will have constant self-doubt and fear that it will be an unending cycle of betrayal. 

Trusting someone takes time. I tend to put up a wall to make sure I don’t get hurt. Sometimes, the closest to me penetrates that wall. I learn to let go of my doubts and I believe in the inherent goodness of the person. When the inevitable happens, I get hurt. I wonder, “What did I ever do to deserve this? Had I been so foolish to put my guard down?”

Let us always try to protect the trust others give us, especially of our loved ones. Let’s not go around breaking that trust and then expect to be forgiven so easily. Our blatant disregard for the feelings of others should be looked upon and reflected on. Let’s always think of the repercussions of our words and actions. 

Visiting Rawdon, Quebec during the Pandemic

After several months of being holed up at home and when the lockdown was lifted, my friends and I headed to Rawdon, Quebec. We had two opportunities to visit the area, the first one on the 26th of July and the second on the 8th of August. Rawdon is a popular tourist destination for foreigners and locals alike. Its mountains and vast lakes, as well as summer cottages are a sure hit to visitors. Rawdon is over an hour trip or 79 kilometers from Côtes-des-Neiges, Montreal via Autoroute 25 Nord Mascouche. There was a toll fee of $8, one way. It was fairly a smooth drive, although the roads get narrower as we got farther away from Montreal. I also noticed it was difficult to drive at night because there were hardly any street lamps and cars were coming in fast as the maximum imposed speed was 90 km/hr.

First stop was at Parc des Chutes Dorwin, or Dorwin Falls, a majestic sight to behold at 60 feet. Parking was ample, but if you go after 11 A.M. or 12 noon, expect a short wait of about 10 to 20 minutes. We arrived here before 9 AM, so the park was not crowded and we mostly had the place to ourselves. It has ecological trails for hiking and is best for beginners. There were several picnic areas and four observation decks. Swimming was strictly prohibited here, but the municipal beach and cascades would allow you to. The admission fee was priced at $12 for all three attractions (Dorwin Falls, Cascade, and Rawdon Beach). Oh, make sure you also bring your snacks or food because there were zero food trucks or stall here. 

After our grand time in Dorwin falls, we went straight to the municipal beach. It was okay. If you fancy the beach with sand, then this is for you. :)

We were too excited to go Parc des Cascades Rawdon. We heard random stories about it, all being wonderful especially in summertime. Our chicken and pork barbecues were ready for grilling. Our toes were too excited to be dipped in cool running water. We've also seen various camping tents scattered all over the vicinity. And may I suggest that you wear non-slip shoes when walking on the cascades, and don't go too far from the stones as the current can be strong. Just enjoy, chill, and watch the sunset to cap off a nice day trip. This is by far one of the most memorable places we've gone too. 

P.S. I also got to shoot some of the cute houses I've seen in the area.

when the kind owner of this house noticed us admiring it, she gladly showed us the back of her house, the pool area <3

As always, stay safe and keep a safe distance between you and others. Let's conquer the virus!