Give Me A Letter: I

I'm getting a hang of this. I think this little activity makes me more aware of myself and what I like! Ooh! Kind of like a getting-to-know-you stage... Only it's with myself. Aww. Cue violin.

LOVE:
1. Internet. Whoever invented the world wide web is a freakin genius! Whoever you are, you are well appreciated! A single website alone opens a WORLD that you never knew existed.. such as: THIS NEXT
2. Ice water. I was unsure about putting this up here cause of my love-hate relationship with ICE cold water, but at the moment I'm having a glass and it's totally refreshing. . . Ahhhh. . . But usually I drink hot water after I eat. It was advised, from what I heard.
3. Interaction. For starters, it can be awkward, but once the chemistry sets in, it is completely liberating. It. is. fun!
4. You'd think ice cream should be part of the list, but to tell you honestly I don't always crave for it as some people do. It is the same for chocolates! I crave for fruits much more than cakes and pastries! :o) So my last I is: ISLANDS. Back in college, I went to Grenada for a missions trip and I was fascinated with how tiny the island is! OMG! It was absolutely beautiful down there. If I can find pictures, Ill gladly post them up. I wish to go to Maldieves Island someday! OMG!!! OMGGG!!! It's sooo beautiful!
NO TE AMO:
1. IPIS! Cucaracha!!! Cockroaches!!! I don't understand why we have frequent visitors when our house is not filthy!
2. Insecurities. Everybody has at least ONE thing that makes them feel insecure. It may not be something that constantly vexing the person, but at least something that makes one go, "I don't feel I'm good enough... I don't feel pretty... " Insecurities are a pain in the neck and one must realize that insecurities are lies and mere creations of our imaginations. . . They may be true to an extent, because after all man is not perfect like God who is extremely beautiful and extremely capable in doing everything, but we have the power to illuminate the negative twice more and to turn it into some kind of tyrant who recklessly rules our hearts. It must not be that way. . . Everything starts with our eyes... Then our mind... Thus our behavior follows. Whew. --- I must do a whole different post on this topic.
3. Impatience --- I need to change that!
4. Incompetence. I put this pressure on myself sometimes. It's not very good!

One Sweet Love

I don't have a lot of favorite songs. When people ask me about having one, Christian songs instantly come to mind. I guess it's cause of the emotional connection that I am able to have with it. There are quite a lot of nice secular songs out there, but the words just don't do justice... Single Ladies (Beyonce), OMG (Usher), Telephone (Lady Gaga) - I mean, comon. :o) Today, I guess I found one that I am able to connect with - heart and soul. It's by Sara Bareilles, One Sweet Love. I had to repeatedly read the lyrics because of the poetic lines and the metaphors... yep, not my forte.


Here's my interpretation. I guess after you read it, you'll think it's your favorite song, too!

Just about the time the shadows call
I undress my mind and dare you to follow
Paint a portrait of my mystery
Only close my eyes and you are here with me

A nameless face to think I see
*** Just like any other day dreamer, I am one who thinks of who my God's best is. At night, I think about him... I let me guard down and we connect. The only thing is, he is a "nameless face", an apparition of my imagination.

To sit and watch the waves with me till they're gone
A heart I'd swear I'd recognize is made out of
My own devices....
Could I be wrong?

*** Not so sure about the first line. Perhaps, Sara is saying that the person she imagines will be willing to go through the ups and downs of life. For the next few lines, I think that the person whom she thinks of is merely an imagination. His heart, his character, his personality, everything... they're all made up. She swears that she'll recognize him when he comes, but then she asks herself if she could be wrong with her expectations or the person who is in front of her.

CHORUS: The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?

*** I pray that the times I've imagined and the times when I prayed for him will not be wasted. It makes me wonder if I have already "tasted my piece of one sweet love" or if his guy I see around is the person for me already. Perhaps I've already missed it.

Sleepless nights you creep inside of me
Paint your shadows on the breath that we share
You take more than just my sanity
You take my reason not to care.

*** Almost the same idea as the first four lines. At night he comes to mind, we share a oneness, but again, he's nameless, faceless.

No ordinary wings I'll need
The sky itself will carry me back to you
The things I dream that I can do I'll open up
The moon for you
Just come down soon

*** I love this part of the song. For me, "the sky" would mean God. If it is God's will, God will bring him to me. And when that happens, the things I dream to do for him, I'd do it. But in my utmost desire I hope that he "just come down soon."

CHORUS: The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?
Ready and waiting for a heart worth the breaking
But I'd settle for an honest mistake in the name of
One sweet love.

*** FOR THE LAST THREE LINES: I am ready to experience the risk of getting hurt because love does entail sacrifices and many other things. But for the sake of one sweet love, it's worth it.

Savor the sorrow to soften the pain sip on
The southern rain
As I do, I don't look don't touch don't do anything
But hope that there is a you.

*** I guess Sara is saying that as she waits, it hurts, but it is worth the wait. Savoring the pain is almost like finding joy in the situation.. finding hope. The next two lines are another favorite. For me, there's nothing else that can be done while waiting for the God's best. I have no control over my situation and I can't force a guy to like me! In the meantime, the person that I'm envisioning is hopefully someone real or existing and thus, "I hope that there is a you."

The earth that is the space between,
I'd banish it from under me...to get to you.
Your unexpected love provides my solitary's
Suicide...oh I wish I knew
*** There's definitely a desperate tone to these lines. Perhaps the more she imagines about this nameless faced guy, the more it kills her inside.

CHORUS: The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?
Ready and waiting for a heart worth the breaking
But I'd settle for an honest mistake in the name of
One sweet love. 

So, that's that. It's pretty heavy stuff which I can strangely relate to, word for word. It's not very often  I can find a song that I can say, "Hey, that's me!" 

And yes, I'm quite the romantic.

YouTube It! 

Refiner's Fire

I am blindfolded. Completely clueless of where I am going. All I have to do to survive is to take one step at a time, holding on to the One who knows the way...

It's not easy to appreciate the insecure pilgrimage I'm on. Hebrews 11:1 says "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." James 1:2 commands us to consider it pure joy... and Philippians 4 tells us to rejoice always by an author who was in a prison cell! These paradoxical statements are overwhelming to grasp and to be able to apply it with confidence, is almost like a defeated battle. I try and try but it leaves me feeling emotionally exhausted . The spirit says I am more than a conqueror, but the heart is deceitful; it doesn't feel the change. Perhaps, a willful and forceful spirit will allow the shift of energy to take place. It doesn't take overnight to be like Paul... There needs to be a consistent drive to be better. Though the reward is not immediate, it will come. From exhausting all that I cannot give, I come to a place of complete surrender.My  strength, therefore, goes to praising and worshiping the Lord on my  knees. "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:7-8) It just happens like that... I do not have to understand it... I don't have to analyze it... I just have to trust that my spiritual labor is going to produce a harvest. "Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor."

Repost from my previous blog. During a difficult time of trusting.
Flowers given during youth leaders appreciation day. It's seems official. 

Give Me A Letter: G

I got this idea from a friend on FB (Thanks Ms. Mary Soden Molina!!!) Someone is supposed to give me a letter, but since I'm talking to myself, Ill do the first letter of my blog's name: G

Things I love and dont love with the letter G:
LoVe:
1. GOD! Hollllerrr!!!
2. Double G: Good guys. What's not to admire? I'm just saying there aren't a lot of good guys out there.
3. Double G: Going to the grocery store! Yes, I don't mind it at all.
4. The color GREEN!
5. Grains! I love wheaty stuff!!!

No Te Amo:
1. Throwing out the GARBAGE! I just did it a few minutes ago.
2. Ghost stories. No te quierrooooooo at all.
3. Garlic breathe! Wahaha.
4. Grumpiness. I am learning not to be this way!
5. Feeling groggy!

Food Market, Mercato Centrale

Two nights ago, I went out with my sister and friends to a food market at Mercato Centrale.  You can find a wide variety of food! From Paella Negra to Krispy Kreme Burger to pig's intestines!! It will definitely make you go, "OOH!!!" and "EEEWW!!!" 

The market is open only on the weekends.

Giant chicharon!!!

Sister and Abi

Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger Bacon! Can you handle it!??? OMG!!!

Nica and ME!

Pesto Sandwich Pizza

Can't Get Enough Of Routines!

Nobody really likes routines, though they are helpful, they can sometimes stifle our creativity and our growth. As creative creatures, we want something different, something interesting, and something new. We're sort of like 3 year olds who are attracted to novelty and all things exciting.

The other night, someone (you know who you are) told me that she's tired of the same routines everyday. As she enumerated all the stuff that she's so overwhelmed with, she gets into some sort of panic attack and gets emotional about life.  After venting, she calls it a night and resorts to sleeping her anxieties away. Awww, I felt sad, but what can I do? So my creative mind started to spin and I thought of ways to spark up a boring 1.2.3. life. I know they are only temporary, but maybe they can help.


Here are some of my ideas:
1. Break your rules when it comes to fashion.
If you don't normally wear loud prints or accessories or anything that's so not you, maybe it's time to do so in order to break the cycle of "routine". You'll never know how it will make your day fun, too.

2. Think of something yummy for breakfast.
I don't know about you, but breakfast for me is freakin awesome. It makes me look forward to waking up! You don't have to do it everyday, you can choose just a day to wake up earlier to prepare something extra ordinary. If you usually have toast, maybe it's time to have pancakes, coffee, and a cup of orange juice! Make it a party for you! You deserve to eat breakfast like a Queen/King!

3. Think of someone you want to encourage.
When we get caught up with our usual routines, it's soooo easy to forget to appreciate the people around you at work or at school. It's like they become a blur in the midst of stress or challenges! So make it a point to do something extra special. Text that person a word of encouragement, write a note, or give that person a little snack just to prove how much you appreciate that person.

4. Look forward to something during the day or the week.
Making plans such as dropping by a bookstore or meeting up with friends, or simply buying a good lunch will definitely add spark to your usual routine. It works for me and it keeps me feeling alive.

5. Get to know yourself MORE.
I thought to add this to the bunch because the person who confided in me thought that she didn't know what she wanted to be or what her strengths are. I thought perhaps, she doesn't know herself too well and the everyday routines are burying her true self. I guess taking a personality test or reading a book that will enhance your talents more will help unclog your perception towards life. Books are always helpful and will always offer wisdom on how to become better people.

6. Treat yourself!
Because you love yourself, you must give yourself that extra measure of LOVE and AFFECTION! Pamper yourself, go to a spa, or get a massage. There's totally nothing wrong!

7. Add humor to your life!!!
I love to laugh. If you know me, my laugh can either annoy you or even make you laugh. I just love to laugh and if you can make me LAUGH (which I've said 4 times already) you will be my new best friend!!! :o) Life is just so much better when you surround yourself with people who can make you happy. It's just the way we are. We work better, we play better, we live better when we're emotionally uplifted.

8. Be thankful for your life.
Complaining won't make life any better. Yes, it's really tough to wake up early everyday or deal with people who require extra measure of grace, but it's tougher if you carry a dark cloud with you. Be thankful for God's blessings. They are everywhere; you just need to be more sensitive to how He blesses you.

Yay! Now if you see yourself doing these things EVERYDAY, I guess we'll have to come up with another set of ideas to spice things up again! HAHA!!!

Awesome and Awkard Thursday!

It's about that taaaym!!!

Awkward:

1. Blind dates? What's not awkward about that. I can still smell the air of awkwardness.

2. Realizing how girly I can be. Ew.

3. Leading praise and worship and not knowing what the heck you're going to say cause your mind goes completely BLANK! Uh-oh! "Just say something --- anything!!!"

4. Hearing my dad say, "I don't want Molly to win!"after watching America's Next Top Model with him! (Cycle 16)

5. Taking a whiff of a guy's body odor to which I respond with a flabbergasted gasp! Seriously. I am very expressive.

Awesome:

1. Repeating outfits! LOL! Budget friendly!

2. The nice cool breeze coming in... just dont bring in rain, Lord! Not too much!!

3. Chicken longganisa! It's really really good!!!

4. Melissa shoes! They're so freaking awesome! Check out the website!

5. Listening to Love Song by Sara Bareilles and Soul Sister by Train over and over again cause I like it so mucho.

Laughing Franco

I babysat my nephew yesterday. We pretended to laugh! Isn't he precious!!!

Blast From The Past

Yes, I actually have a brother who is rocking those white pants! LOL!!! He's the eldest and I'm the youngest.
Come to think of it, we were quite stylish growing up. And. .  .that hat is a bag... It just positioned itself on a weird place. Har har.

If you know my sister, this photo would totally make sense.
Was I cute or what!? Wahahaha

GREEN TEAAAA ICE CREAM with a GENEROUS AMOUNT of OREO

I don't know about you, but when I think dessert, AM THINKIN' GREEN TEA ICE CREAM. Yes, you're probably giving me the face. But it's ayyyt. To each his own! 

CHEERS!!!

At Kimono Ken

Wahhh...

Panicking at the moment. Stay cool, Ging. Wahahaha. *Yes, I laugh when I get nervous* Something is about to happen soon and I am scurd, yo! I don't know what to expect, but whew, I gotta stay cool.

Photo from Pinterest

* I seriously hope I'm not just talking to myself on this blog! Hahaha.*