My Christian Life and Bible Study

I became a Christian back when I was in 5th grade, and it is always a sweet and comforting thing to remember, that I am saved. 

I have been active in youth fellowships since then up to high school, or at the very least, I have been attending youth fellowships. I have joined my brothers and sisters in Christ in activities that are refreshing to the soul, to name a few: outreach and feeding programs, fund raising, garage sales, summer camps, summer bible study volunteering as assistant teacher, mall evangelism, and etc. 

When I reached college, it was harder to fit in the schedule and it took more effort that I apparently was not able to give. Also, I had to fetch my mom from work which added to the conflict in time. All in all, I was out of it and before I was even aware of it, I was backsliding. 

Being a Christian does not mean you are perfect and better than other people who are yet to be saved, sometimes some Christians even have it bad. A few of us carry a burden to live up to people's standards of what a Christian should be, and on top of that we have to live up to what we think a Christian should be, and what we think we should be for our Lord. It is a daily struggle, for some if not for all. It is like how some people describe love as a daily decision, you decide to love and keep loving. As Christians, it is a constant decision to walk in the right path and to aim heavenward. Our human nature and flaws of course are given obstacles, but then again obstacles are there to be conquered. 

After college or finishing up college rather, we went to the states and I remember thinking "finally! a chance to find a fellowship group and grow again!", but that of course did not happen as I got too preoccupied with adjusting and with work. All just excuses really. 

Last week, I attended a fellowship my friend from my old fellowship goes to. We grew up as Christian brothers and sisters. I actually blew off the first two or three time of going, either I was too late or I was not able to wake up. Last week I even ran late, but I just went and got over with going there for the first time. It was a nice familiar feeling, and yet new and refreshing at the same time. Different church, different crowd, yet within an hour or so, I poured out to them a heavy burden about me, my personal life, and my family. A bunch of strangers really and I dropped a personal burden, but then again, we are siblings in Christ, and that was very comforting. I even really looked forward to this Thursday. 

Earlier today after work, I went to the gym and trained, also tried boxing for the first time and did basic footwork movements and jab - speed punches. I tired myself enough to have a good sleep with the four hours I had, and I prayed that I be able to wake up for bible study. And thankfully I did. It was very easy for me to just turn off the alarm and doze off again, but I thank God for the hunger for His word that I felt, that I stood up and got ready.

Meat of the matter: Earlier we read and discussed Matthew 6: 5-15.

Matthew 6: 5-8 "[5] And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

What we discussed and got out of the reading:

Verse 5: Pastor said that actors before we referred to or called as hypocrites. So in the verse it is like these people are just acting, praying beautifully in front of the people to impress and show off, but behind it all lacks intimacy and sincerity, and the real connection to God. These people have received their reward which are praises and adoration from others with comments like "he/she is such a good Christian", "he/she is so religious  and spiritual", and etc. They pray in front of people and put up a facade of being so holy, but behind it there is no heart and sincerity. All just for show. 

Verse 6: It does not literally mean go into your room and pray in secret, because it does not matter where you are. What this verse is trying to say is have the heart when you pray, and pray to pray and not to impress people. The Father sees what is truly in our hearts and we will be rewarded accordingly.  

Verse 7: This would refer to a few of us Christians who tend to pray with flowery words to again, impress people. We sometimes beat around the bush before getting to the point of what we are really praying for and we tend to use big words just to impress people with our wide vocabulary. Babbling, saying words and not really meaning them.

Verse 8: Our Father knows what we need even before we ask Him. He knows what is in our hearts. All the acting and praying for show is useless because God sees our true intentions and sees what is in our hearts. We cannot hide from Him. 

• When we pray, God sees our intention. When we pray, we should make sure and maybe question our intentions.
• Flowery words are not necessary, it is best to states and declare clearly what we are praying for.
• We should be mindful of our prayers, and be as theologically correct or in line with the bible as possible, not like i.e. "Thank you for dying on the cross for us oh Father" - It was Jesus, the Son who died for our since, not the Father. 
• Make sure your prayers are correct and do not just pray for the sake of praying, i.e. praying over a fast-food meal to nourish your body, instead pray that it will satisfy your hunger - that would be better.
• Praying with intimacy, the heart, and sincerity. God sees your heart. Pray not out of routine, pray with heart.

These were the few highlights of our group discussion. I finished bible study feeling refreshed. And already I am excited for next week Thursday! I worry though when I leave for the states that I backslide again. It is a constant battle to keep on growing. I once heard our pastor before say that if you are not growing and not moving forward, you are moving backward and backsliding. 

Again in this session of bible study, I poured in a little heart and told them how it was, backsliding and all. It was as if God had a pager, and I was sending Him messages and He was receiving it. I keep talking and talking without listening to Him, to His words. And even in those times I am unfaithful, I know, truly know that He is faithful and He never left me. I still felt His blessing in my life even when I stopped reading my bible and stopped communicating with Him, if not to ask and ask some more. But He never left me, He was constantly giving me love and blessing. And as I was professing this, I felt I was close to tears. My God is an awesome God. 

PS: Noj also gave me my Starbucks planner today. Yey! Now to continue collecting stickers for my sister's planner.

PSS: Congratulations to all board passer! Hello Engineers! :) God is good.

Yoga and Problems

Today I tried Yoga. 

Never, before yesterday, did I imagine myself trying out Yoga. I thought it was just one of those things people do out of fad, like drinking Milk Tea. At one point, I honestly even thought it was a joke. Well, Yoga punished me for thinking such things. 

After a meeting with Jaye, we went and joined a Yoga class at CitiGym. I never really bothered much about Yoga, did not Google it or anything, my interest about it was close to zero. I thought the session would include meditating, deep breathing, channeling my inner Chi, and the like (easy and light stuff). Although we did a few of those, sort of, we did more! I did not expect to sweat in a Yoga session, or feel my muscles burn. For a beginner like me, I could say that was almost intense. We did "Flow Yoga", and no, I do not have an idea what that was. I did like the stretching, and I am hopeful I may shape up some abs through Yoga too. Wow. My whole idea of Yoga totally changed. It was challenging! 

I met up with Jaye at around 1PM at CitiGym. I enrolled myself prior to her arrival. I am quite impressed with the environment, facility, and staff. I paid 1350php and got my picture ID on the same day. Compared to the 1500php I paid for a month of membership at MetroSports with no card or feel of exclusivity, this was a sweet deal. MetroSports was a sad buy and one I regret, I only went there three or four times and on top of that, hit the cement post during one of my rainy day visits. My membership at CitiGym includes all the classes I wish to attend, i.e.: Yoga, Hip-Hop, Kickboxing, Strip Tease, and etc. Also, personal lockers during the duration of your visit; lockers with convenient lock systems and keys which you can wear around the wrist like a watch, hassle-free. We are provided small and big towels, plastic cups and water, we can use a proper shower with soap dispenser in it, and the sauna (I am yet to try!).

My Picture ID

Mindful Menu Movement

(Class list and schedules)

I wish I found out about this gym sooner! You have to admit, the place where it is located at: Waterfront Hotel, makes it intimidating. One can easily assume a very steep price for their membership packages. I do not know for how long they will have this 1350php/ month membership, I do know they offer it for all those 23 yrs or younger.

Also, one thing I notice even more now about myself is that I am a bit socially awkward and self-conscious. (Maybe I thought those through in Yoga session? Not sure.) I admire how some people go to gyms (or other places) so easily on their own, doing their thing and not caring how they look to others. I want that. I would dare have it if I did not know anyone at the gym. I badly wished I did not know anyone there, but just from the first visit alone, I spotted 4 people I know and said hi to, and 3 people whose faces I know because they were my schoolmate. Plus, 1 more person confirmed who goes to that gym and another whom I am not in good terms with. Now that I have pointed out these problems, I pray the Lord helps me face them and correct them. I am only hoping however, that I will not be running into those familiar faces, or any more familiar faces, and especially those I'm not in good terms with. Since I am new, it will take some time to adjust, place myself, and be comfortable moving about the gym alone. I also did not have rubber shoes, so Yoga was the only option. My rubber shoes are old and have served their time, and there is one I can use but needs washing. 

I hope, unlike the 1500php I spent on MetroSports, that I will be able to make full use of my money's worth this time, stop being socially awkward, and stop being so self-conscious. Why am I so awkward with meeting familiar faces and friends in unplanned situations? Something is wrong, and it is only now I am really concerned.  

End Goal: to have a fit body and the abs I have always wanted to have or flat belly at the very least :) It is a long shot, but maybe if I overcome my problems (which is also an end goal) I can attain it. 

I love the feeling of sweating because you are actually doing something, as opposed to sweating due to hot weather.

PS: It seems I am not alone with wanting to go to a gym wherein I do not know any familiar faces. Noj apparently, prefers the same because he is embarrassed as well.

PSS: For the most time at the gym, we spent it on Internet and food! We went to McDo I.T. Park to eat around 3PM. :)

Home

I am terribly confused where home is right now. They say home is where the heart is, but my heart is both at Seattle WA with my family and here in Cebu with my boyfriend. 

                                      

 

I never thought I'd miss Seattle. It really didn't seem like home at all while I was there. I had my family with me and that was all the home I had there. We lived with our uncle and we don't have our own place. My sister's tuition fee was three times that of the local American's, it was a new place to us to live in, new start, and for the first few months we had to get by with just one income coming in. We are past that and with God's help, we got by fine. Our family is now in a better state, both financially and emotionally speaking. 

I see my sister and mom upload photos, and I also browse through old ones while I was living there with them. And it's weird, I find myself thinking "I miss home". Or how I'm so excited to fly "home" to my family for the Christmas holidays. I never thought that I thought of Seattle as home, but now that I find myself missing my family and the routines I had while I lived there, I guess you could call it my home too. 

The house here doesn't feel like much of a home, apart from the memories of course. I come home to an empty house. I have my aunt who helps manage my dad's business here, and our 2 house help who takes care of the house and me. Our house help doesn't clean as much and work as efficiently as before. Of course it's different that my parents aren't here. Each time I am with my boyfriend, that feels like home.

I just need to be patient and hopefully both my family and boyfriend will be in one place, that would also mean my boyfriend leaving his family though. But that is far ahead so we'll both deal with that when the time comes. 

Currently I plan on going on a one moth offsite work arrangement to spend Christmas holidays with my family. Also, if in a year's time I still find myself in my current situation in terms of career, I'll probably plan on flying off to the US to work there. As for my boyfriend, he'll follow when he's ready.

I guess home is indeed where the heart is, and lucky for me, I have a lot of home to go home to. :)

Thank you, Jesus.

Graveyard Shift, Day 1

I was one to always found graveyard shifts interesting. I always wondered how odd it would be to be up when everyone's asleep and asleep when everyone else was up. Well now, I got to experience it. 

Back when I used to work in Tacobell in the US, I did a lot of closing shifts, especially at the end part of my being employed there. I however did not feel much of it because I didn't have friends there, no social life, and I really didn't care much for the time there. 

I think graveyard shifts suits me well because I am nocturnal and I love coffee. But even so, I'm not saying that the late night shift didn't take its toll on me. I have some adjusting to deal with. 

Coffee

My Duty-mate 

 From boyfriend, bought the day before :)

Before the shift began I started my day at 8AM, I woke up that early from my 4AM sleep and did some errands (shipping and groceries). After which I kept myself busy, making siomai and cooking my own lunch (fried rice with spicy chorizo, iced tea to drink). I didn't want to sleep too early because I'd end up waking up too early. I was in bed by 11AM-12PM reading my eBook (Slammed) up until around 3PM. I slept in and my bladder woke me up at around 6:30PM. I went back to bed but couldn't sleep. I was hungry so I went down to eat. I went back up hoping to sleep in until 10PM, but that was a fail.  

At work I found myself confused as to what time I should eat. So when I felt sort of hungry and I feel it was too early to eat my meal, I'd be eating all sorts of things. And when time came I decided to finally eat my meal at around 5AM, work got busy and I didn't finish eating until 7AM. I didn't even finish the food because I lost appetite. Earlier hours of the shift, I busied myself with the free online course I enrolled in. 

Studying

Stuff I ate:

Meal

It was interesting to see the crowd from slowly increase as the sun rose. The sky's interesting color change was also a sight even from inside the building. 

I ended the shift feeling like I was floating and I felt a bit light-headed. I drove home and it was weird. I was driving home to my bed whilst everyone else around was just getting ready to head off to school and work. They just started their day and I just ended mine. 

At home, I didn't eat but had milo to drink. I stayed in bed, relaxing and enjoying my eBook until 11:30AM. I slept in and my bladder, again and consistently, woke me up at 6:30PM. I went to have dinner and I watched TV, cleaned up a little and took a shower. I was ready to head out for work before 10PM. I took my time driving to work, and it was nice. Now I am at day 2 of my graveyard shift.

This had been very detailed for my own sake as I blog for myself. :) I like back reading to my old posts, reliving a few moments again, and seeing how much I've changed.  

I Am Not Fond Of My Job

I am currently listening to The Beatles - Hello Goodbye for the third, going on fourth time today. 

I posted this Youtube video up on my Facebook wall thinking a good friend would be leaving for Dubai to work there for two years. Fortunately, her agency called that her ticket hasn't arrived yet so her trip is postponed to Monday. A few more days to spend with her. :) I was going to blog about my good friend, but let me do that on Monday or so.

Let me rant about my work. Lately I have been very bored with work. I am happy and thankful I have this job; I like the company I work for, I just do not share the same enthusiasm with the job I have. I work as technical support engineer. People instantly think it is a call center job, but thankfully it is not. It however is not a far cry from one. 

I tried to like the job, tried to love it, but it gets frustrating when there are things you do not entirely understand, and even more so when there are things people assume you already get. I would like to clarify that we were not given proper and formal training, even our supervisor has acknowledged this and apologized for it. I am trying to understand things as I go but it is not healthy at all that I do not have a clear black and white picture as to things I should know in order to perform well with the given job. I just wish they gave us time, sat down with us, and clarify things as oppose to us just assuming things as we go. Maybe then I will be confident in my job and in what I do. I know they have provided us with documents to go through, but as I have mentioned time and time again, I am not one for self-learning. Sorry, it is just hard for me and I know it is no excuse, but I am just saying. Plus, it is always better to learn hands-on and be guided as we go. Also, the people I work with have their own techniques in doing things which sometimes is contradicting to that of the other person with the same job. I can not say who I should follow. One time I had to work alone after two weeks of so called "training" (which did not even cover half of what I needed to know) and I was worried I did not know exactly what to do. I brought this up to our supervisor and all she said was: "You will learn thorugh baptism of fire." That is one way to put it. But her confidence in me somehow gave me the push to say "Yes, I can do it." 

So now I am here, two days and three months after I first started, and I already feel like I have lost the drive to keep on going and pushing myself. I was hoping after I rant on here I would feel better. At times like this I would like to remind myself that I left my family in Seattle, Washington for this. And that I should make it all worth it and learn all I can learn. And if I do not, then I would have just wasted time away from my family trying to make something of myself but ended up failing and disappointing. Scary. So now I close this and I am off to push myself to finish that trivia questions which was due last week but was extended to today because only one participant submitted an answer. 

To making it worth it, 

Allie 

//Update: Shortly after this blog was posted, after days of avoiding the trivia because I did not know where to scour the answers, I finished it. Answered and submitted! Thanks to my colleagues tip on where to find the answers! :)

Days Off

I am very happy to report that my days off lately, are productive. Yesterday, with the help of my cousin, I was able to cook the ordered siomais from scratch. I was also able to make putos which were gone within a span of 5 minutes and maja blanca for dessert. I was also able to squeeze in fried rice with no meat just before dinner. 

I look forward to making my days off productive, be it for business or hobby, or the blessing of having the mix of both. 

And with this I give a smile to the heavens above.

  

It is very hard to leave someone when you cannot explain to them why. (Taken with Instagram)

I miss my sleeping buddies. :,( (Taken with Instagram)

I noticed lately that I tend to be overexcited about things. I tend to plan a lot of things, get all these ideas in my head, feel the rush of energy in getting all psyched to do these things, but at the end of the day, that’s all they are- IDEAS. 

I am a dreamer, a believer, and I am an optimistic person compared to your neighbor. I go to the extremes. I either believe so highly and deeply on something, or worry and stress all out over nothing. I think my problem is finding balance. 

Current ideas I have in mind:

• Barbecue stand/ food stand business 
• part-time job, ideally at Starbucks
• enroll CISCO (at CIE or UC)
• enroll in a modular class, a programming language like Java or something else
• sell more on my online shop (yes, I apparently have one)
• save up a whole bunch of money
• get regularized at work
• paint again
• take more photographs~
• have more films processed
• learn to process a film
• read more books
• write/blog more religiously
• find a youth fellowship I can go to
• find a church to go to
• learn to cook well
• try to bake
• travel Cebu
• Drive with no destination
• Get lost and have adventures in Cebu

All these things are what I could grab at the top of my head. So many things I want to do that sadly sleeping sometimes feels like a waste of time. But then again, I am privileged I get to sleep comfortable so that my body gets the much needed rest. 

I just hope before the years ends, I will be able to crush out a lot of things off this list. :)

In everything I do, to God be the glory. 

Dinner with Me

hard na to imagine life without you babs. at KFC

he eats dinner with me. <3 @kolootski (Taken with Instagram)

So since I’m working a swing shift now, 3PM-12AM, I hardly get to eat lunch with my boyfriend. Plus we only have Sunday as a common day off, so that would mean we won’t see much of each other. But thankfully, he gets off at 7, just in time for my meal break. Even if it means going home later than he supposedly could, and mean spending extra for dinner (plus spending on lunch for the earlier part of the day), the sweet one accompanies me for dinner. :D I love you boyfriend!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2010

My mother woke me up for the occasion, I fell asleep because I was tired from the 23rd's tradition with friends. So we went down, and there was something more homey to this Christmas eve's feel and something sad as well. This will most likely be our last Christmas here in our home, in a long while.

Things I got from group exchanging gifts:

• FORLAN Class: from Paul - native sun/moon necklace
• PSITS Christmas Party at Mang Inasal: from Marnie - a cow stuff toy bat

Presents from other people:

• Tita Dinah - hanky
• Chipstar - a thoughtful Christmas card and a very cute cow memo pad holder :)
• Elwin, the boyfriend - a 4GB flash drive so cute, "crystalized with Swarovski Elements" and it says its waterproof

And after the opening of gifts, we took lots of photos. Dad and mom wanted photos of our living room and dining area in different angles so that when we fly off to America, we remember how home looks like. We ate desserts and enjoyed the evening with our two maids and two aunts. :)

Even though the gifts were fewer (although there are still other gifts on the way from other relatives), Christmas eve was still heartfelt for me. And just a few days ago did a fact hit me; it hit me, I pondered, and later grew grateful for the fact that:

I've never spent a Christmas or New Year 

away from the family or away from home.

Thank you Jesus for that. :) I didn't really think about how common it was for others to spend Christmas away from family and away from home, not because they want to but they have to. My friend Princess is at work now since she has to work, I'm chatting with her a bit to keep her company.

Christmas is a time to bond with family and friends, think and ponder about all our relationships, especially our relationship with our God.

Happy Birthday Jesus Christ! :)

Very thankful,

-allie

//photos to follow

TEACHER

So just this Monday, our teacher returned our papers from last week's (or two weeks ago) exam. I was confident about that exam since I actually studied for it. I've been studying this semester for the objective exams, unlike before where I just had to wing it each time or cram my a*s off. 

So I was saying, I was confident about this exam, maybe only three to four mistakes since I had no clue with the three enumeration numbers. So she gave out the papers, and my confidence came tumbling down. I got a sixteen over twenty-five. A frickin' one six! I Computed for the passing grade, which wa seventy percent and it was seventeen point something, round it off and you get eighteen. I reviewed my answers, and there were two numbers that she gave me a two and three instead of a five. I checked with the book- and my answers were right! So right that I nailed the keywords and got it almost word for word.

So I approach my teacher...

Me: "Miss, what's the right answer for these two numbers? How come I got only a two and three? What keywords were you looking for?"

Teacher: ... *looks at my paper* ... "It's not the complete answer, it's right but not complete."

Me: *opens the book and shows her the answer, I underlined it* "but miss, it's what's written in the book."

Teacher: "Your answers need not to be the one written in the book."

Me: "But what are the keywords you are looking for?"

Teacher: ....

Me: "The passing is eighteen right?" *giving her the hint that she could at least give me the passing mark*

Teacher: "Yes." 

Me: "Okay thanks miss."

Now, I should have said, "So you mean to say the answer or definition written on the book, which I have written on my paper almost exactly, is not complete? Then why the hell are we using this book anyways? And as I remembered in your discussion, you referred to the books definition as well, you did not question its completeness."

Now I understand that as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the right and wrong also may vary in each person's perspective. But this was a frickin' "give the definition" question and I gave the definition as the book said it and as she discussed it! I could have gotten the twenty-two over twenty-five I deserved- but NO! So I just ranted on to my seatmates for the next subject, they said my face was turning red. And then I ranted on some more the whole day... and that whole day since I got the paper I was like this:

And I couldn't let it go because I studied my a*s off! And that was rare. The coverage to study was a lot, but the quiz was short! 

And so I picked my mum up at the office and I was beat. I ranted on to my mom and asked her to drive home, I was so tired from the emotion I had. And when we got home I told my dad about it and he was mad about it too, my mom was laughing at my frustration and how it drained all my energy. I showed him my quiz paper and the answer on the book, and he asked if I wanted him to write a letter or something, but I said it wasn't necessary and I knew I had to let it go, because our teacher was also our department's chairperson and she has helped me a lot, as in A LOT so I can advance through my curriculum. I wasn't really mad at her, I was mad at the fact that I was right but still helpless to do anything. I knew I just had to let it go, I had to. 

And now I'm actually feeling better. But writing about it brings a little frustration back, but I'll get over it soon enough. My feeling and my mom's theory was that it was my teacher's pride that was getting in the way, maybe she was embarassed that she already said the answer wasn't complete but there it was on the book. I don't know *rolls eyes*. I am hoping though that she'd secretly change my grade in her class record, I'm free to hope right? :p

Letting it go,

-allie

PS: I know scores aren't everything, I a firm believer that grades do not measure a person's intelligence, but when you're given less than what you deserved, less than what you wroked hard for, then maybe you'll understand where I'm coming from. And this wasn't the first time the teacher had more say in it than students.

PPS: Yesterday was Teacher's day! I didn't go to school but I greeted this teacher via e-mail and she replied. We're good. *fist bump*

Mixed Emotions

I just came from dad's office where parents called me and my sister to hover over the computer as my mom show us the houses they are considering for our move to the US.  As early as now, they're browsing houses we can live in. 

I have to say, seeing the photos of those houses, gave me mixed emotions.  I felt excited to start anew, start from scratch, go clutter-free in terms of material possessions, and just that feeling of jumping in a fresh start together with my family.  Also, the fear of uncertainty and missing people we leave behind, meeting strangers, adjusting to a different environment and different culture, and coping.  Like I said- mixed emotions.

Just last night my mom and dad talked things over, they are no longer buying another house here.  They seemed so strong on that decision just weeks ago up to yesterday, going places just to look at houses and checking out different neighborhoods.  They wanted to buy another house for investment, but their minds have changed.  

Change is constant.

On a different note, today me and my thesis partner Marchele submitted our Chapter 1 for our Application Design and Development this afternoon.  Our teacher was very impressed, and I have to say I'm quite impressed with ourselves as well.  We have our letter of permission to interview noted on Monday, we interviewed on Tuesday, reported regarding the interview on Wednesday, and today handed in Chapter 1.  Marchele and I are really hustling since we know if we don't move quickly now, we might be stuck come midterm and finals with all the other subjects we have.  My fear is to have every work clogged up, like last semester, everything piling up.  Next goal: to submit Chapter to by Wednesday.  Chapter 2 is a bit more tedious since we will need to deal with flowcharts.

And in all things, 

I look to my God for hope and strength.

Christmas is fast approaching, and although I believe that it's not about the gift-giving, I'm still worried I have nothing to give my family.  I'm broke.  I need to learn how to save- seriously. 

-allie  

The Little Things

Today was the official first day of school for the 2nd semester of school year 2010-2011. But as expected- NO CLASS yet. So I went out with my boyfriend today. We had late lunch at the mall.

Lunch at the food court turned out to be more expensive then dining in a restaurant, but I wanted to eat lechon. YUM. 

12php rice. 3-5 spoonful. 

Aside from the lechon, we also had humba meal (1 pc. humba meeat, 1 egg, 1 rice, 8 oz. ice-tea drink), Leylam's shawarma rice, large mango shake from thirsty, 2 extra rice (from a different store, it cost 15php).

In the end we placed too much on our plates, more than we could finish so we had to doggy pack and bring home leftovers. 

After stuffing ourselves we went over to CD-R KING, "you one-stop media provider". It's one place to get computer accesories and what-nots at a very cheap price, quality however is compromised most of the time. Anyways, Elwin mentioned he'd buy a mouse pad and he offered to buy me one too. But I told him that I already had one and I didn't need to get one. He said the my mouse pad was "luoy" (pitiful) already and that he could just get me one since it didn't cost that much. True- it didn't cost a lot but I was touched at how he noticed and remembered that my mouse pad was dying a slow and painful death. I love the thoughtfulness! I SUPER LOVED IT! :)

 My old mouse pad. Thank you for the times you served me.

 My new mouse pad from boyfriend's thoughtfulness.

So after that I dropped him off at his OJT place and I was heading home. I was already at the capitol (near our place) when my friend Harrison called, attendance for our DB2 class. So I went back to school and got there almost 4pm, had my attendance taken and I was out of school again. I wanted to head home but it was already 4pm and mom would be out by 5:30pm. So to save my dad the trouble of fetching my mom, I went to her office. I got to make and print out our (Elwin and mine) schedules for this semester. Hooray for productivity!

It really are the little things 

that you take notice on, the little thoughts, 

that sweeps me off my feet.

happy and loved girlfriend, 

-allie

Who is there for me?

There are days where in I ponder too much on things, vague things in life. I hop from one thought to another. It maybe because of too much stress from school work or current situation, or maybe just because I'm bored and I have nothing else to keep me occupied. Okay, that's a lie, there are tons of things I've been putting on hold for years, in example: clean my closet, dump old clothes, dump old bags and shoes, basically clean up in general.  But there's nothing else better I need to do, that will be a more honest sentence. 

So last night, I thought: what deep, sort of mind boggling status can I put out there, one that will get people thinking and have people to say "this girl's got something in mind". And so I posted:

"And in the days I'm alone, who is there for me?"

And now I thought that my friends would be commenting away, making fun of me, of how dramatic I am or whatever- but no. To my surprise (not complete surprise) my mom made the first comment. She gave the answer I already knew, that God would be there for me always and forever, with the additional "me" in her comment. 

Just when I thought my mother's comment was comforting, I read my father's comment. He comments: "ako, no.1, always n forever wil be der 4 u." (translation: Me, number 1, always and forever will be there for you.)  Now here, I almost cried. I know he only stated the obvious, but for a guy, a father to put out and clarify his feelings or emotions right there in public- it was something really sweet. I will cherish that comment, hence the blog entry for it and the print screen shot.

So you think you've had it good with friends, well you just don't acknowledge that you've had it greater with the family, and best with our Lord Jesus Christ. In times of trouble and hardships, it's family and God who will be with you through out the pain, it's them who will endure with you those aching moments.

I am thankful for my family. Thankful for my parents. I have failed them many times, I haven't graduated yet even though I was supposed to last March 2010, I've wasted one whole semester (that's tens and thousands of money), and I was at the brink of failing again this semester. But my mother and father were truly supportive "if you pass, then good; if not, you can try again next semester." WOW! I just feel I am truly blessed. It's overwhelming that I must share this blessing to others.

thankful and blessed,
-allie