BLOG OF GRATITUDE

From now on, my blog will be a repository of stories of gratefulness.  Yes, gratitude for all that I have.  And for not having those which I may want but may be harmful to me or to my family.

I have been through quite an "anxiety" attack for a year now (I guess).  It's like I'm trapped in the "fear" zone.  My mind seems to automatically traverse to the "worst case scenario".  I always feel like crying for reasons even myself can't seem to figure out.  It's so difficult.  Because I can't even explain it.  I don't know exactly where the anxiety is coming from.  I'm not really sure what help I need.  Most of all, my family, especially my relationship with my husband has been greatly affected.  I even thought of seeking professional help...

As I write this, I think I'm on the road to recovery.  Actually, I would like to claim that I am healed.  I still struggle though to fight the negative thoughts that ruin my perspective in life.  I guess the struggle will not end.  It's a conscious effort to dismiss negativity.  But right now, the struggle is manageable.  How?  Nothing but prayers.., fervent prayers... and self help and inspirational books.

Prayers day and night for the Holy Spirit to guide or even take over my thoughts.   I also reach out to Mama Mary for intercession.

I also came across this book:  Heart Detox by Bo Sanchez (How to remove the emotional poisons and negative thoughts that are destroying your life).  

Was very timely when I learned about this book.  And what really made an impact to me is the part where it mentions that we don't need to manage our feelings... we need to manage our focus.  Yes, always focus on the good in your life.  I remind myself about this everyday.  That's why now that I'm back to my blog, I want this to be one form of exercise to force myself to think of what's good about the day and what I am grateful for the day.  Yeah... one day at a time.

So for those who are also going through anxiety attacks, let us conquer and manage it through prayers, reading inspirational books, and by surrounding ourselves with people who truly love us.

Dear Jesus, 

Not by my work or might but through your grace alone.  I lift to you my mind.  May it focus on noble thoughts and truth only.  Help me to cling to you and never let me leave your side.

Amen.

One of my favorite frames which is hung on my inspirational wall at home :)

HOW TO KEEP FROM STRESSING OUT

Another reminder for my anxiety filled mind...  



Not sure where those anxiety is coming from...  


But I'd like to keep this here in my blog (got it from Facebook) so I'll be reminded over and over again how blessed I am and how good the Lord is..  


I really do pray for courage and inner peace whatever the circumstances may be in my life...

I SIGNED...

... the retention letter.  So I guess I will be staying for a few more years here in Cypress.  Been a roller coaster ride and I must admit I was not able to handle the emotions gracefully.

Anyway, done deal now.  What's important is that I'm still here and even closer to my family.  A blessing indeed.  After all what happened, I think it was just a matter of perspective... And I continue to pray that I will have the strength to allow only the positive ones to prevail...

Thank you dear Lord, for all your guidance and provision.

Amen.

NEW BEGINNINGS & EMBRACING 2016

Happy New Year, indeed!

I am just so excited for 2016.  I went through a roller coaster ride of emotions for 2015 as this was a year of transition for me.  But now I am looking forward to 2016 full of hope that it will be a year of personal breakthrough and a year of family bonding through travel and adventures.

When I attended the Jan 1 mass, I am glad that the verse is still the same as the previous new year's mass.  And yes, I am still holding to this prayer from Numbers 6:24-36.  And I still pray fervently to be able to fill my mind with good and noble thoughts.  My struggle is that my mind is prone to negative and destructive imaginations that it makes me so restless,.. and consequently affects my loved ones.  

(Image from pinterest.com)

Dear Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit, I lift to You my thoughts and my feelings.  Take over my mind and my heart that it may focus only to You and Your will.  I cannot win this battle of mind alone.  Let nobody and nothing have power over my mind and my heart.  Protect me from my own negative thoughts that fill me with nothing but anxiety.  Teach me to trust in You with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding.  At the same time, teach me to fully trust my husband's love for me and my family.  Protect my husband from any harm, danger, evil, and temptation.  Lastly, help me to remember that I cannot and should not be playing god.  Because I cannot control everything and good things happen because of your grace (and YOUR GRACE ALONE) and not by my power or might.

O, Mama Mary, keep me under the mantle of your maternal protection.  When I feel weak, be with me and help me fill my mind with good thoughts.

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you amongst women

And blessed is the fruit of Thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Pray for us sinners

Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

TEMPORARY OFFICE

So after SSC shut down its office end of October 2015, the remaining employees with term dates beyond Oct 31 are either holding office at Regus, BGC, or at Deca Tech in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.  I am one of those who are holding temporary office at Deca Tech.

This move is actually favorable to me.  I live close to Deca Tech (about 5 minutes drive) so that saves me gas and toll.  Also, hubby's office is within Deca Tech's vicinity so we usually use one car.  Other times, we have separate cars if I want to go home early.  Another great thing this move has given me is the chance to go home at lunch, eat at our own dining table, and the chance to check on my kulit Kinder.  Thus, I have the time to check on his homework and review him a little.  In terms of work, I have higher productivity here since it's closer to work, I am not tired from driving, and gives me longer working hours.  Plus the environment is different in a manufacturing plant.  Everybody seems to be on-the-go, so you somehow get the vibe (although I still do get my "sleepy hours").

Temporary but still a blessing.  I just hope my next employer will be closer to home.  Is it too bad to wish for a good paying job, respectable and higher position, and work location which is manageable?  I hope not.  I still hold to the words and claim that the Lord has great plans for me... I am so excited to know what they are, dear Lord.  Guide and help me to wait patiently and with joyful anticipation.  Amen..

GREAT OCTOBER START

Grateful for a good October 2015 start.  And I must say, I look forward to even wonderful months ahead.

Oct 3rd... Papa celebrated his 66th birthday.  We had a really yummy lunch at Clawdaddy, Nuvali, and we're complete :)

Oct 4th... Papa had endoscopic ultrasonography of the pancreas.  Thank you, dear Lord, that the cyst is just a mass and there was no tumor... We continue to pray, dear Lord, that it will not progress to anything malignant.  All is possible with your great mercy and compassion.  Cover Papa with your precious blood, o Lord.

Week of Oct 5th... Praying for this week.  If this is for me and for the good of my family...  Lifting it up to you, o Lord.  Guide me in my "analysis" and may I arrive at a decision that is according to Your will.  Thank you in advance o Lord for your providence...

All of these, I lift to you, O Lord for your greater glory.  Not by my power or might, but by your grace... Amen :)

FACE YOUR MONSTERS

I subscribe to Bo Sanchez's Soulfood Newsletter.  And the July 6 post struck me real hard.

As I wrote in my previous post, June is a period of transition for the whole family.  We survived June well.  Still the transition continues.  And lately I have been feeling another adjustment with regard to work schedule.  I was not very comfortable about it and I fear so many things.  I was not very graceful in coping with the changes that I end up hurting the love of my life, my hubby (to which I really am very, very, very sorry).  All these changes that is happening right now including the thought of having a new job is making me uneasy.  Fear is over-powering the blessings that are actually being given to us.  The good prospect for hubby and I are lost in my own negative imagination.  And yes, I'm not only hurting myself but my hubby too who only deserves support, love, and understanding at this time.

Oh Lord Jesus, open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the great possibilities these "transitions" will give me and my family.  You have greater and bigger blessings outside of what we already have.  Help me to trust in your goodness.  Don't allow me to leave your side.  Set our thoughts to what is good and right.  And in all these, dear Lord, thank you very much.

Amen.

OVERWHELMED

Yeah, it's that time of the year when it seems like all to-do's need to be completed at the same time.  I'm talking about work and the multiple deadlines.  Not complaining though.  Just sayin'.

Yes, I am overwhelmed with work.  I am overwhelmed with expectations.  I feel proud that others have high expectations but somehow they are misaligned.  I am overwhelmed with organizational movements.  

And it does not help that I get a little emotional about companies reducing their workforce and the thought that it would greatly impact not just one person's life but his/her whole family.

Times like this, I remind myself that these "incidents" are what you can call "good disturbers" in our life to remind us to:
- Be grateful always.
- Count our blessings.
- Do great in every task.  Love our work.
- Be on the top of our toes and two steps ahead of our boss.
- Be kind.
- Have faith.

At the end of the day, I still thank the Lord for His great providence to our family.  For the loving family that unconditionally supports me.  My family who I can trust about career concerns (super thanks to my hubby!).

Here are some quotes which I got from Pinterest.  I hope these will inspire you too.

Good vibes to all of us.

I MISSED MARCH!

Shucks, I did not have any blog posts in March 2014.  It seemed to have passed by so quickly with all the milestones of the kids, catching up with my projects in the office, family events, and family getting sick.  Oh well, I still hope to document the kids' milestones soon!!!

On another note, here are some marriage prayers and quotes which I really can relate and which I think are worth sharing.  Hubby and I had our episode last night, i.e., a good conversation which ended sourly.  I guess I still have to master the art of being tactful.  Or maybe my words are really reflecting my innermost feelings... or self-made "ghosts" and "wild imagination", I should say.  It's a struggle but it's a challenge I am up too and would gladly take because I love my my husband, our marriage, and our family so much.  Anyway, I hope you too find inspiration in these prayers and quotes.  

http://unveiledwife.com/blog/

http://unveiledwife.com/blog/

http://unveiledwife.com/blog/

https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/bd/95/47/bd9547c8bb5246bc416425dc797c355d.jpg

http://radioteopoli.tumblr.com/post/36490660688/important-tips-for-those-who-marry-a-good-read

http://luvzangell.tumblr.com/post/30796796453

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/242209286182399276/

https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/33/4d/7f/334d7f6c184ac654060deef9a8799bda.jpg

PSALM 91:9-11

Claiming this prayer... claiming your protection... Amen.

*****

Psalm 91:9-11
New Living Translation

9     If you make the Lord your refuge,
          If you make the Most High your shelter,
10   no evil will conquer you;
          no plague will come near your home.
11   For he will order his angels
          to protect you wherever you go.

30 MINUTES TO 2014

Happy New Year!

Yey, I'm so glad I have a blog entry for all 12 months of 2013 :)  Hope to blog more in 2014.

Grateful for 2013 and praying for a deeper and stronger faith and relationship with the Lord and more consistent devotion to Mama Mary.  This I pray not only for myself but for the whole family.

Saw this verse from YouVersion bible app and would like to make this my verse for 2014:

Isaiah 40:31

New Living Translation (NLT)

³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
      They will soar high on wings like eagles.
   They will run and not grow weary.
      They will walk and not faint.

Happy New Year!

AMEN (11.07.2013)

Saw this on facebook.  

Very timely.  

Just overwhelmed at work.  This too shall pass.  Still thankful though.  

Can't wait to go home and just hug my kids and my hubby.  

Back to work :)

PRAYER OF JABEZ

I came across "The Prayer of Jabez" in 2004 and learned that it was a very powerful prayer.  In 2004, I was earnestly seeking for a new job and this was my prayer back then.  And yes, I got the job I was praying for.  I got in at Cypress.  Looking back, I could say God really works in wonders and that I am glad He made me wait to get the the job that was for me.

Nine years later, I am still with Cypress and I am finding myself turning to "The Prayer of Jabez" again.  I cannot disclose the details yet but I am up for "something".  I needed to face that "something" this morning and I was really nervous and at the same time excited.  I asked Naomi to pray for me and explained to her that Mommy would like to be a leader.  Naomi asked Daddy, "Dad, are you a leader?"  To which her Dad responded, "Yes."  Then Naomi said, "Mommy isn't but she will be today!"  Ahhhh... Awww... Sobrang na-touch ako.  Such innocent remark but I felt Naomi's confidence in Mommy and her love for me.  Shucks, kakaiba ka talaga anak!

Anyway, that something is "done" and I lift to You, O Lord, the results.  Sorry if I thought about the prayer now that I have "something" again but I believe that You hear me.  Your will be done.  Amen.

---oOo---

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ