Post #4 of Celebrate Goodness

i have friend who found a red USB in a taxi here in Davao. Thinking it was his friend's who got off from the taxi earlier than him, he took it intending to return it to her later. Upon arriving to his next stop, he texted his friend about the found USB. Then she told him that it's not hers. So he planned on going over the USB files and investigating who the owner could be. The files did not exactly tell him who the owner was, but at least he had some clues. His name could be Francis or Kiko. And he probably works in a fast food chain here in Davao.. The problem was, from which branch is he? Searching the internet for phone numbers, he called one branch. IT was a negative. He called another but nobody was answering the phone. He planned on going to a certain branch soon to return the USB, but it took him lots of days before he could do it. He keeps on forgetting. He sometimes used the USB during emergency purposes and eventually the USB got some viruses on it. Oh em! Finally, the day arrived. He went to that fast food chain branch and one employee told him that the person he was looking for, Francis, was from another branch. Then, the manager, he presumed, talked to him and discussed some stuff. He then asked if he could leave the USB to them and hand it over to Francis. The lady manager agreed and she talked with Francis, he presumed, on the mobile phone. She told him it was actually Aaron's USB. Then she asked for his phone number and name, and she gave him pizza fries and introduced herself as Grace. He refused to accept the fries saying that it really did not matter, but of course, she insisted. Hehe. He went on his way and planned to give it to someone who needs food. He saw quiet beggars by the roadside and handed over the fries. He hoped that they would like it. Going home now, he was musing over the happenings of the day when on the side of the road he saw a little lad, his plastic bottles near him, watching over a little kitten. He was amazed with how some people, busy people, are able to marvel and spend time with the little things in life, and realize that these little things are the ones that really matter.

May we all find time to do even just little acts of kindness. Thank you!
God bless you!

What motivates a person to become a nun? by Sister Julie

You asked what my motivation was for becoming a nun. Well, I didn’t really plan on becoming a nun. My motivation was to live my life the best way I could as a young, single, Catholic woman. I knew my options were single life, married life, and religious life. I figured that I was destined for married life. I always wanted to be married and to be a mom. But, I decided I’d check out the religious thing just to say “been there, done that” … so I wouldn’t have any doubts about that NOT being my call. Well, that didn’t happen.

It turns out it was my call. I think deep down, I recognized that I was most fully myself when I was in tune with God. It just so happened that for me, that meant living the lifestyle of a religious. For others, it may mean living a married life, being a parent, becoming ordained or choosing single life. Whatever lifestyle God calls us to is IT, the best one for us. I realized that to be true to myself meant that I had to let go of something and let God do the driving. I still am quite a back seat driver, but more and more I am able to say “not my will, but yours be done.”

Being a nun is more of a way of life than it is a career. I think of a career as something that at the end of the day or week, I can come home and do my ordinary stuff. I’m “off duty” so to speak. Just like being married is not a career, being a nun is not really a career because being a nun is part of who I am. It’s like I’ve got this IHM “DNA” now that is as much a part of me as my family is. As with married life, our vows are for life — in good times and in bad.

In a way, I wasn’t the one who first chose this life of being a nun. It’s like it chose me. I know that sounds kinda weird, but it’s true. It’s not something I ever would have thought would “fit” me. Yet, by golly, it does. Once I realized that this is what God was calling me to, I had to take the time and space to choose it for myself, to make God’s call my own, to embrace it freely. After some major resisting, running, and denial, I was able to freely choose this life, knowing that it is the best way I can be me and serve God and the world.

Source:
A Nun's Life

A.R.T.

August
Rush
Trailer/Theatre/Tonight

Almost
Ready
Though

Attending
Rehearsals
Tomorrow

Average
River
Tide

Advanced
Reasoning
Techniques

Aluminum
Rubber
Tires

Attached
Right
There

After
Receiving
Tissues

Afternoon
Road
Trips

Alarming
Rocket
Thrusts

Angelic
Ring
Tones

Allowance
Rises
Thrice

Algorithms
Reflect
Tesla's

April
Roses'
Thorns

Ancient
Ruins
Taken

Artistic
Research
Teacher

Adjusting
Rushing
Tornadoes

Authors
Reacting
Terribly

Adult
Remembers
Teletubbies

Always
Reading
Thesaurus

Antonyms
Rhyme
Too

Adaline
Remains
Twenty-nine

i was opening my Bible to read the the responsorial Psalm for the day (August 20, 2015) - Psalm 40. i haven't started reading when i stared blankly at the pale blue wall across me. My thoughts were running and i began recalling the movie i recently watched with my friends - a movie about love. i thought about how my batchmates already had boyfriends.. heheh.. And how, i thought it would be so easy to find one, once you have an outgoing personality and once you really involve yourself in a situation where you could find one.. like in a party, or whatever..

but then suddenly, a whispering voice spoke to me in my mind, "Wait on the Lord." Then i remembered i had a Psalm to read..

Psalm 40

Gratitude and Prayer for Help

i waited, waited for the Lord;

Who bent down and heard my cry,

Drew me out of the pit of destruction,

Out of the mud of the swamp,

Set my feet upon rock,

Steadied my steps, 

And put a new song in my mouth,

A hymn to our God.

Many shall look on in awe

And they shall trust the Lord.

Somehow, sometimes, we may feel like we've been left behind by the pace of mankind.. How everything is moving too fast and we are left in some isolation to wait for something.. Be it exam results, allowance, salary, jobs, holidays, or people.. It is like we had to speed up things because it is more exciting or more practical that way... Even so, even if our practical minds tell us to work things up, we have to trust our Creator. Because there are things in life that are best left in His hands. And some things work best if they aren't hurried up. That is why, we need to always pray, because it is by communicating with the Lord that we are allowing ourselves to be more in tune with His will and with His plans for us.. :)

Reading the Psalm, we learn that there is beauty in waiting.. When we wait on the Lord, we do not wait in vain.. Out of some dark pit or unending night, we are drawn up, we are put into the day.. God will show us the way, the direction. And He will put a new song into our mouths.. Not the sad song we used to sing in our solitude, but now a song of hope and joy and bliss! :) and it does not stop there -because we waited on the Lord, many will witness the faithfulnes of the Lord to His promises. And many shall trust the Lord again or for the first time... Isn't it awesome? :) 

So i sing.. When it feels like my dreams are so far, sing to me all the plans that You have for me over again.. :)

Flower Power Day! ;)

i woke up to find these beautiful roses in the kitchen table. Awww.. :)
Just so you know, they're for the entire family. :)
Later did i know that God was planning to make this a Flower Power day! :)

Saw this in the mall.. and these are soo cute..
They have such a beautiful color combination!

we were making these cute flowers to give our sisters in CYA..

what's so nice about it is that the activity allows you to be creative..

and it touches the child and artist in you. haha!

we already gave them these flower crowns.. i hope they like it. :) 

tissue-made flowers

it was amazing! in the morning i confirmed to join a wedding of a friend in September.. and in the evening i also confirmed to attend the wedding of a family relative.. hahahaha! Is this what happens when you're growing old? :) i'm excited, but scared as well because i again have to mingle with many people. Oh well, for the love of loved ones. :)

(for July 30)

"Tangled"-inspired hair-do
-mah sis' idea

Our good ol' high school earthquake presentation ;)

This was our presentation for one of our requirements in high school. This was one of my favorites in all our many graded presentations because we had fun doing this and we became instant actresses. Hihihi. Nevertheless, the message is still there. Let's be prepared for emergency situations, especially earthquakes. :)

Before an earthquake:

Fasten shelves securely to walls.

Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.

Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
These are potential fire risks.

Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police,
or fire department and which
radio station to tune to for emergency information.

Work together in your community to apply your knowledge to building codes, retrofitting programs, hazard hands and neighborhood and family emergency plans.

Have disasters supplies on hand.

 During an earthquake:

If indoors:

Drop to the ground; duck, cover and hold.

Take cover by getting a sturdy table or other piece of furniture.

If in a moving vehicle:

Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle.
Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

 If trapped under debris:

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
Use a whistle if one is available.
Shout only as a last resort.
Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

After an earthquake:

Listen to a battery-operated radio or television.
Listen to latest emergency information.

Help injured or trapped persons.
Give first aid where appropriate. Call for help.

Check for gas leaks.
Look for electrical system damage.
Check for sewage and water lines damage.

Group Members!!

Kars

Charm

Vann

Shammy

yours truly ;)

Source:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Please be guided. :)

Cats

Cats love these kinds of beds huh.. :)

 Recently, my brother and sister and i started taking care of three baby cats. They got separated from their parents, i think, and we're having a bit of a hard time taking care of them, esp. since they're not allowed even in our garden. So i researched for ways or tips of raising kittens when i stumbled upon the issue of "Cat Overpopulation".

Photo from Cats Herd You

Litter

the offspring at one birth of animals from the same mother and usually from one set of parents 

Neutering

the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part

All definitions from Wikipedia 

i learned that lots of healthy cats and dogs are euthanized in the animal shelter because there are so many of them. It is such a horrible reality, i know. But i understand that they have to do something about the issue. That is why many organizations/people/experts suggest and encourage people to neuter their pets.. In this way, the overpopulation problem can be addressed and, maybe, solved. But this is really disturbing me, animals also want to live. It hurts me to think that they are killed because of the overpopulation problem. i don't even know if we're supposed to neuter our pets.. But it's either that or we euthanize them.. 

But i was thinking also, why not just leave these cats and dogs on the streets? Or in the jungle and in the forest? Maybe they would be able to control their population themselves.. In the first place, it was us, humans, who majorly contributed to all this disorder in the planet.. How awful that many of us protect endangered species mainly because they are endangered, while we kill those "common" animals.. :(

Lord, when are we, humans, supposed to deal with certain issues, and when are You supposed to do the job? i don't know if it is right to put the overpopulation problem into our hands and kill the poor animals, or are we supposed to leave all of this into Your care? Please, Lord, enlighten and guide us.. Salamat.

By the way, in relation to my suggestion which is to just leave cats to the forest, i have researched that before domestic cats evolved from to be the kind of cats they are now, they actually are originally a species of felis silvestris lybica or middle eastern wildcats. Eastern wildcats live in like safaris!!!! That means that cats could actually survive in the forest!! So yeah, we don't have to euthanize cats!!! Just return them to the jungle!! DUH!! Please!! Stop these animal genocide!!

Cats have lived outdoors for more than 10,000 years—they are a natural part of the landscape. Today, they live healthy lives outdoors and play important roles in the ecosystem—as they did thousands of years ago and as all domestic cats are biologically adapted to do. What has changed in that time is how people have re-shaped the environment to suit our needs, at a great cost to the other species that share our ecosystem.

^ uh, true that!

[from Alley Cat Allies!!]

Cause if  i were to choose, i don't want to have cats neutered... It is like we're modifying the design the Creator gave to their bodies.. Let us just do the right thing, and if we do, i'm sure nature will cooperate. Let's be good stewards. Please.

Some of my new friends. :) These children were shy at first when i asked to take a photo of them. But when they agreed to letting me do it, their differences of personalities began to show. They're beautiful and different. But being different does not, if you won't let it, hinder building bridges of friendship. :)

These are some of the about 4-6L water bottles reused as plastic plant containers in a school garden. i don't know but i'm not sure if it is better to recycle these bottles or to reuse them. When we give these bottles back to the companies that created them, they would not have to create as many new bottles as needed. But then again, there would come a time when these bottles are not safe to use for drinking purposes anymore, so they need to be rejected. However, if these bottles are recycled, they would be used for other purposes, such as the one depicted above. Still, when we recycle these bottles, some parts of it would still be thrown away, like the part of the bottle cut out to create an opening for it. So there would still be plastic sent out to Mother Earth for her to decompose. So my idea is that, all the bottles that we use, we may use them for other purposes, if we really need to & if they are still safe for us for that specific use. But, if we would want to just get rid of them, i suggest we sell or give them to the junk shops or to those who collect recyclables. In this way we get a chance to return the bottles to the companies who created them. Furthermore, i suggest that the companies identify the bottles they have in hand that are damaged and are not suitable for potable content and then give them away to junk shops so they would find another purpose for these bottles. Or maybe they could sponsor a tree planting activity and use these bottles as substitute for plant pots.

Going home from the CYA Center, i most of the time pass by these mural paintings. i stared at these images, appreciating the messages and stories they're constantly telling us. i began to wonder, how have these paintings affected thousands of their viewers? And how have they affected their artists? It's been about 5 years or more since these artworks filled these walls. Where could the artists have been now? Are they taking a stand to protect the environment, and in doing so, the people? Are they working now? Are they so troubled with the practicalities of life that they've forgotten what truly matters?

this is for a birthday honoring months ago. i was assigned to prepare for the honoring, and i planned on adding a twist. :)

There are many people who are not that intellectually gifted. Many are not as smart as the geniuses.. many are not even as smart as the average person. Nevertheless, this fact should not make anybody respect them less.

[ happy 51st birth anniversary, Papa! :) ]