Be Strong And Courageous

It’s been a while. I am reblogging this here from my main blog Dreams and Escapes. I hope you’ll find time to visit it to.

My gosh, I got so excited when I saw it.  There are several designs actually and all with Biblical passages. One of the vendors in our  subdivision is selling them. Although I have lots of cloth face masks,  I’ve been using one since I was operated on eleven years ago, I bought this because I love the message it conveys.

I may not have the chance to use it, I have more than a dozen washable face masks here and also N-95 and  ordinary surgical masks.  I like looking at it and  I am uplifted by its message.

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

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What A Surprise!

I can’t believe I haven’t touched and visited this blog like forever (an exaggeration of course) but I was so focused on updating my main blog so I forgot about this.

Early this morning while I was watering the plants, I looked up at our jackfruit trees and saw this.

I was hoping I could still use it for ginatang langka  (a young jackfruit cooked in coconut cream) but it was already so big to use it as a veggie. I would just let it  ripen. Maybe in a month o two, we could harvest it.

These trees usually bear fruits during the summer months but this one appeared quite early. Just  lucky and blessed I guess.

Good morning friends!

A Leap Of Faith

I am reblogging this here for all its worth.  Thank you for reading 🙂

You might wonder how are family has been since my brother was diagnosed with rectal cancer which has metastasised in his liver.

Allow me first to thank you all for  your prayers and words of comfort. It is helping us a lot that there are friends who also hope for a longer life for my brother.

Since he left the hospital, I call them everyday. He needs that moral support that we can give even in our small way. He has let go and let God do the rest for his healing. He decided not to undergo that much dreaded operation and even chemotherapy later on. Just to give you an idea, we are four siblings in all and my eldest brother underwent surgical operation with chemotherapy when he was diagnosed with the same ailment back in 2003. I had mine in July 2009 with six cycles of chemotherapy. I had doubts that this must be hereditary. There might be something in our genes  causing the three of us to have the same ailment. I remember what my medical oncologist said though years ago that genes/heredity  comprises only 10%  when you are diagnosed with colon cancer.

I was listening to my favorite  radio program the other week when they had this one-hour segment called Kaibigan sa Kalusugan  and their topic was about cancer and initial cure. They are a group of doctors who believe in alternative medicine. I left a message in their program which was also broadcasted on their Facebook page. One of their personnel texted me and gave me the details of their clinic near our place here in Manila. I texted back that my brother is in the province and Manila is too far for travel. They have a clinic in Pampanga  (more than seventy km. from our  place in the province)  so last Monday, my brother,  sis-in-law and a cousin who temporarily drives for them went for consultation. I googled their way of treating patients with different illnesses and I was impressed. Even my brother was all praises for them. They are doctors too. I was even more in awe when I read that they are known worldwide and that the medicines they prescribe to their patients are BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) approved here in the Philippines.  My brother was prescribed three medications and they have to come back on Monday and bring new laboratory tests that they have requested. They even told him to continue with his previous medications prescribed by his doctors at the hospital.

This is a leap of faith. Hoping  for a better health for my brother.I always remember that God does not give us crosses that we can’t bear. He will always be there guiding our paths. Going through such challenges is quite heavy both for my brother and the family but we remain faithful and hopeful  of God’s wisdom and mercy.  There is a place where He wants us to be and we are truly grateful for that.

May God bless us all. 

When Words Are Not Enough

The bench – a silent witness to my meanderings.

A few years ago, our two big Tamarind trees got uprooted by a typhoon. My brother had the big trunks made into benches and tables and put them in one corner of our garden in the province. I seldom visit the place now but every time I do, I spend the early morning or a late afternoon in this bench. A perfect place for that cup of coffee while admiring the vast garden with lovely flowers all around. A perfect place to chat and be updated with news. A perfect place to talk about anything under the sun.

When It Rains, It Pours

It’s a wet, wet weekend and this weather is making me lazy. It is a perfect time though to cook something hot, comfort food that would lessen the bite of the cold wind outside.

Last night, we had Chicken  Arroz Caldo topped with hard-boiled eggs and chili flakes.  Half a pot was left so I reheated it this morning for early breakfast. Josef prefers it with a squeeze of lime or calamansi.

Something warm on a chilly day. Yeay 🙂

 

 

Unforgettable Precious Moments

There is a different kind of joy when you are around a kid like Nate.  We are indeed so blessed to have him in our lives.

I taught Nate how to say three with his fingers but he found it hard to raise his three fingers all at the same time so I told him, “two plus one” using two fingers on the left and one on the right. He laughed and when I asked him “how old are you?” he said “three, three, three”. Oo nga naman, it is easier to say them in words, right Nate? Smart boy 🙂

We were both admiring their small aquarium  and I asked him if the fish inside have names. He smiled, pointed at each one and said, “Nonna, Josef, Mommy, Daddy, Nathan….” Sometimes, I am simply amazed how he makes me smile.

We were singing happy birthday while he was blowing the spare candle on his birthday cake and he was singing a little louder than we were. A the end of the song, he added, “happy birthday Nathan“.  Then he bestowed the usual wet kisses and warm hugs on each of us. Priceless moments of joy.

May you always be blessed little one. You are a wonderful blessing to us all.

He Calls Me Nonna

Nate,  about a month old. He is my precious grandson.

How can you even know how precious your baby is until you feel the soft touch of his fingers on your face, the complete trust he has in you as you hold his hands and take a step or two, the smile on his face as he recognizes your voice, the warm embrace, the wet kisses on your face, the moments you pick him up and he snuggle close to you, safe and warm in your arms. It’s the unspeakable happiness he shows when you are around and the inexpressible love that  makes him so precious, so loved, so treasured.

Nate and his mom…

He is turning three in a few days, a lovable and smart kid. Time flies…too soon.

He definitely enjoyed attending a Halloween party at his mom’s office.

I always look forward to the days when they visit me and Nate’s shouts of “I love you Nonna”.  A warm hug, a tight embrace, a wet kiss on the cheeks, what more could one ask for.