I cannot wait...

Goofing while waiting for lunch time to tick.

We love it striped! My office mate for a week.

I remembered my childhood days when me and my sister dressed up alike like we are twins. We have the same clothes design yet varied in color, same shoes, same hair style and so on. Now, I can relate and understand how my mother enthusiastically prepare us for any occasion or event in school, planning on what dress we're going to wear. Or how she carefully do our hairstyle and make-up. As a parent, we are proud if people admires our kids, right? Don't misinterpret me. I don't mean having a boy is not equally fun. I am a mother of two adorable girls. Dressing them up is so much exciting and I love to experiment fashion stuff worn with them. Now that my older daughter is almost 4 years old, I enjoy now bringing her along with me without so much hassle. I love tagging her along with me if I want to stroll in the mall or go somewhere going for my errands. She's now particular on what to wear and I find that challenging too because it gives me the thrill also of finding my OOTD that coincides with her outfit.


The more my daughter grows up, the more I'm eager to find time to spend it with her because she has so many things to share and tell. No more secrets for her because what she sees during the day, she already tells it to us. She going to school (pre-kinder) this coming school year and that makes me more excited and thinking of what shoes, or bag, or lunch box I'm gonna have for her. The youngest one is still too young and I, too, look forward on that day that the 3 of us share each other's likes about anything stuff that girls only understand. 

The #PopeFranciseffect in the Philippines: My Thoughts

Over the weekend, millions of Filipinos (mostly Christian Catholics) gathered in the much anticipated 5-day visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines. As early as last year, Filipinos are eagerly awaiting and preparing for his arrival. Not everyone is privileged enough to visit the Vatican City as it cost thousands of bucks to get there or to have a (if you're lucky enough) glimpse of him in the city. But with the news of the coming of the Pope, everyone was given high hopes and spirits to see him in person as a once in a lifetime experience one could get including myself. I may have a big chance to visit Rome but for the majority which is the poor, it is quite impossible. So on January 15, 2015 at around past 5 in the afternoon, everyone is in festive mood (as it is also the celebration of the feast of Sto. Niño) to welcome him. It marked the most awaited day for all Roman Catholics in the Philippines after the last time Pope John Paul II visited the country in almost a decade. Good thing that the Philippine Government declared it a long-holiday (only at the National Capital Region) for our countrymen to be able to witness and be with the Pope in this memorable event in Catholic church. I believe that it is a timely event as it is the start of the new year, to bring hope and reflection for each and everyone of us. As new year's resolutions brings guide for a better life ahead each year, Pope Francis' message at the start of the year is truly moving, inspiring, a blessing, enlightening and leave each and everyone of us feeling recharged and immensely cleansed with God's divine intervention and immeasurable love for us overflowing through Pope's presence and through each Filipino's story as told. 


A lot of opinions though came to life because of differences in religion and belief. One thing is very important over all ideals and beliefs is towards our faith. Where are we being God's shepherd here on Earth? We should be deliverers of God's Word to see, to feel and to do good for our brothers and sisters who are the less fortunate in life. We are so quick to judge, to conclude and righteous in our own beliefs, in the religion we belong and yet we are showing ungodly practices. We pray, hear mass, involved in our church's activities and yet we are the opposite of what our Lord wants us to be. The Word of God that Pope Francis shared to us is clear that we need mercy, compassion, love to be good stewards of God's heaven on Earth. Whatever religious congregation we belong, as long as we are delivering what is expected of us, then we are making our God happy. It is not about the physical statues nor the presence of human persons like Pope Francis that we worship per se, but how these saints and people that God send as medium or instruments to make us realize that God is in us, with us every step of our way. Their ways are truly inspiring and worth following. Sure, they have there own mistakes and sins, but more so they have made a big difference in serving the Lord our God in their own little ways. That we should not forget God as our Savior, our Redeemer, our Salvation in the hope when everything is faltering. The unwavering love, hope, compassion and mercy is what Pope Frances emphasizes God wants us to remember and put to heart. It is not God equals Pope Francis but like God, Pope Francis wants us to be aware that we should not lose hope, lose faith and lose ourselves for God is right there. 


I believe that one must also respect one's religious belief. If you are serving the Lord in ways that He wants you to see, feel and do, then you are in the right path. No need to argue about who's better. It is just sad that people are so into religion where in fact religion does not save you. It's your faith and your character will define how you are to our Creator, our Redeemer and Savior. In parting words, I hope that with the visit of Pope Francis we are touched with the message it delivered. It's some sort of a retreat that we have reflected upon, come to terms with ourselves to our Lord and how God has touched our soul, our heart and mind silently. #popefrancisPH

Happy Notes for 2015

I want to start off this year feeling good, new and positive. Why? Because I wanted to carry on the positive vibes 2014 has started out for me and my family. The yuletide season for us as a family brought good tidings and blessings in unexpected way. Blog winnings left and right, UK visa approved, London trip with my hubby, visited my brother and brother-in-law's family in London, my first nephew was born, my kids all healthy and the rest of my family too, blessed with an abundant and productive farm and a so-called "promotion" as the closing salvo. In between, there may be challenges and mishaps but all these are more than enough than we expected. It has been a wonderful and blessed year to start off and I'm more than grateful enough for the year 2014 that God has provided my family. It is truly a rewarding year that I'll always wish that the coming year will be as great as the previous one. I'll not expect more than enough but the best and I know God will always be fair enough to grant our heart's desires in which He think we deserve. 

Definitely, this year is gonna be my year (I'm born under the year of the sheep) and I'm gonna claim it in God's greater glory. Amen!