Sadly Missed, Lovingly Remembered

A year ago today, my mom joined her Creator after several months of battling with cancer. She may be gone, but the love she has given to us all and the wonderful memories we shared will live in our hearts forever.

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O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my mother, and forgive her her trespasses; and make me to see her again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Worth Reading

Twenty one (21) celebrities, the vision of a 20th-century priest, and a few burned-out computers work together to bring the Rosary to today’s young Catholics in Praying the Rosary with Catholic Celebrities.

One simple act turned a crowd of strangers into fast friends in the Happiest Day of My Life.

Logo

This logo will work well in my science classes next semester.

Science is Fun !

JM poses with some antique planes on display at the center.

We've been here seven years ago, that time JM was just a toddler, attending kindergarten for the first time. Since can remember only some of the things he saw at the National Science Center for Education , we decided to bring him back so he can appreciate more of the sciences. Read additional information about the center here .

An antique train on display at the center.

JM with Apollo 11 at the background.

JM and dad at the dinotopia.

With a noisy model of a dolphin.

Kids love to look at the images made by concave and convex mirrors.

Online Articles

Here are the links to some online articles I've been reading lately : A World Wide Woe, Why are All the Really Old People Women ? , Visions of the Sublime , Fossils Suggest an Ancient CO2-Climate Link. Happy reading !

'"It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Mark 10:25

Memories of Home

Bonifacio Monument

Jeepney

Intramuros

Manila Bay

How to Live to 100

Is it possible to live to age 100 ? The answer, ageing is inevitable, but poor health is not. Read this article for the most effective ways to live to 100.

Photos from the Temple of Dawn

Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn

A close-up view of the famous chedi.

A view of the Grand Palace and the Chao Phraya river from the top of the chedi.

Human figures support a portion of the chedi.

JM rested a while from the climb up the chedi due to the intense heat and humidity.

A statue of an ancient Chinese soldier stands behind the twosome.

At the foot of the chedi.

Father and son posing at the bank of the Chao Phraya river.

JM and dad at a Thai souvenir shop.

Music Time

Learning and enjoying music at the same time.

The Feast of the Guardian Angels

An aspect of Catholic piety comforting to parents is the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers. Guardian angels are not just for children. Their roles are to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.

Month of the Rosary

The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.

9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination

The Feast of the Archangels

Saint Michael

Saint Gabriel

Saint Raphael

Prayer to Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, the Archangels

Heavenly Father, you have given us archangels to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Michael is our protector, I ask him to come to my aid, fight for all my loved ones, and protect us from danger. Saint Gabriel is a messenger for the Good News, I ask him to help me clearly hear your voice and to teach me the truth. Saint Raphael is the healing angel, I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know, lift it up to your throne of grace and deliver back to us the gift of recovery. Help us O Lord to realize more fully the reality of the archangels and their desire to serve us. Holy Angels pray for us. Amen

CCD Altar Servers Taining

The group of altar servers during thee training.

A group souvenir photo. JM is on the far right end in green t-shirt.

JM with other altar servers during the training.

Cheers to another successful year of CCD education.

Saint Paul's Remains

Pope Benedict XVI said that the first test on the on what is believed to be the remains of St. Paul the Apostle "seems to confirm" that they do indeed belong to the Roman Catholic saint. The carbon dating tests confirm that the remains in a sarcophagus dates back to the first or the second century. Read the rest of the article on Papal Claims on St. Paul's' Remains.

What is a Christian ?

* A Christian recognizes the good done by others. even by those very different from him/her.
* A Christian accepts the variety of talents and charisms and promotes their growth instead of stifling them or eliminating anyone who might come up to be equal to him/her,
* A Christian strives never to be an obstacle to the growth of others.
* A Christian struggles against jealousy and envy, in the church ans civil society.

CCD Newsletter
September 27. 2009

Padre Pio

"Love is the first ingredient in the relief of suffering"

Padre Pio

Padre Pio, Cappuchin Priest, Mystic, Confessor, Stigmatic. For 50 years he suffered the five wounds of the crucifixion. Like the Apostle Paul, Padre Pio da Pietrelcina placed at the centre of his life and apostolic work the Cross of his Lord as his strength, his wisdom and his glory. Inflamed by love of Jesus Christ, he became like him in the sacrifice of himself for the salvation of the world. For Padre Pio, faith was life: he willed everything and did everything in the light of faith. He was assiduously devoted to prayer. He passed the day and a large part of the night in conversation with God. He would say: “In books we seek God, in prayer we find him. Prayer is the key which opens God's heart”. Faith led him always to accept God's mysterious will. During his lifetime, he enjoyed a vast reputation for sanctity, because of his virtues, his spirit of prayer, sacrifice and total dedication to the good of souls.

12 Rules for Living

1. When you say "I love you", mean it.
2. When you say " I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
3. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
4. Talk slow but think quick.
5. Say "Bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
6. Remember the 3 R's : Respect for self ; Respect for others ; Responsibility for all your actions.
7. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
8. Read more books and watch less TV.
9. Trust in God but lock your car.
10. When you realize you've made a mistakes take immediate steps to correct it.
11. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
12. Spend some time alone.

Bangkok CCD Newsletter
September 20, 2009

Servant of God

Photo taken during CCD Mass.

September 20, 2009

Parenting My 11 Year Old

My 11 year old son JM will be in high school next year. Two years from now he'll be a teenager.

It is time for me to expect significant changes in his behavior and attitude towards school. I did some searching on the Internet on topics related to changes and behavior of 11 year olds and I found Parenting and Behavior in 9-11 Year Olds and Parenting 9-to 12- Year Olds - What to Expect useful.