Scouting Day

Thursday is scouting day.

Graduation

I found another old photo of JM in my family folder. I decided to have this posted as a souvenir of his March, 2004 kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street !

When He Was 7

I found this old photo of JM playing with his toy tank in one of my files and it reminded me of our trip to Ayuthaya on New Years Day, 2006.

Closer You and I

A song I enjoyed listening to for many years and still do so now.

Here are the lyrics :

Hey, there's a look in your eyes
Must be love at first sight
You were just part of a dream
Nothing more so it seemed
But my love couldn't wait much longer
Just can't forget the picture of your smile
'Coz everytime I close my eyes
You come alive

The closer I get to touching you
The closer I get to loving you
Give it a time
Just a little more time
We'll be together
Every little smile
That special smile
The twinkle in your eye
In a little while
Give it a time
Just a little more time
So we can get closer
You and I

Then could I love you more
So much stronger than before
Why does it seem like a dream
So much more so it seems
I guess I found my inspiration
With just one smile, you take my breath away
So hold me close
And say you'll stay with me now

The closer I get to touching you
The closer I get to loving you
Give it a time
Just a little more time
We'll be together
Every little smile
That special smile
The twinkle in your eye
In a little while
Give it a time
Just a little more time
So we can get closer
You and I

An All Soul's Day Prayer for Mom

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the soul of Esperanza and all the souls in purgatory, and among them all, especially that soul which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory, that it may soon begin to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary and Eternal Rest.

All Soul's Day

All Souls Day is when the Church commemorates and prays for the holy souls in Purgatory, undergoing purification of their sins before entering heaven. The Catholic Church calls this purification of the elect, "purgatory." The Catholic teaching on Purgatory essentially requires belief in two realities: 1. that there will be a purification of believers prior to entering heaven and 2. that the prayers and masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in the state of purification. As to the duration, place, and exact nature of this purification, the Church has no official dogma, although Saint Augustine and others used fire as a way to explain the nature of the purification.

Benedictine Collect for All Souls Day

We suppliants, O Lord, pour forth our prayers for the souls of Thy servants and handmaids, that Thou wouldst mercifully pardon whatsoever they have committed through human frailty and graciously bring their sufferings to an end. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

From the Benedictine Diurnal

Solemnity of All Saints

"Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore let us be extremely patient with each other's faults and failures."

— Mother Teresa quoted in No Greater Love edited by Becky Benenate and Joseph Durepos

Sunday at Church

While waiting for the cathechist and students to arrive from CCD mass, we decided to have a look around the school. The nature inspired wall sculpture well illuminated by the sun caught our attention as it provided a refreshing sight in the early morning heat.

We found this old grotto nestled in vines, ferns and other kinds of greens.

A late morning breakfast made his aching tummy feel better.

Exploring corridors and endless hallways occupied his waiting time.

Resting awhile before Sunday classes begin.

Halloween Quotes

Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"

- Dexter Kozen

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

- Scottish saying

If a man harbors any sort of fear, it makes him landlord to a ghost.

- Lloyd Douglas

One need not be a chamber to be haunted; One need not be a house; The brain has corridors surpassing material place.

- Emily Dickinson

Hark! Hark to the wind! 'Tis the night, they say,When all souls come back from the far away- The dead, forgotten this many a day!

- Virna Sheard

New Blogs

I recently opened two blogs, one is about my Catholic faith which features old and new holy cards and the other is for my son's artworks where his works will be published occassionally.

Saint-O-Lanterns

Here is an interesting and meaningful way to carve pumpkins for Halloween. Instead of the usual Jack-O-Lanterns, why not carve images of saints to make Saint-O-Lanterns. The possibilities are endless !

Bad Weather

This is the sign that the rainy season is coming to an end, days and days of cloudy skies and pouring rain. When it pours, it really pours hard and heavy. Not everybody's happy about this, bad weather means flooding, flu and the worst of traffic situation here in Bangkok. From my point of view not all is bad about rainy days, the weather becomes cooler, the air is cleared of pollution and all around us turns green and fresh.

Early Christmas Greetings

Every year, we receive news from family members and friends abroad that Christmas parcels and cards reach them when the season of cheers is over. We usually send gifts and cards a month before Christmas, but because of the year end mail rush, these never reached the recipients on time. To overcome this problem, we'll be sending Christmas parcels and cards a couple of months before Christmas. This year, my son JM takes full responsibility in writing Christmas messages, wrapping gifts and packing the contents of parcels. I'm feeling better now, knowing our Christmas messages and gifts will reach their recipients on time.

Silence . . . .

* is the path to experience God ;

* is the way to seek the kingdom of God within our heart ;

* is the step to deepen our relationship with God.

Respect

Respect for authority begins with respect for one's parents. Children respect adults they can trust. Earn your child's respect by being fair and reliable.

Elf-help for Being a Good Parent

True Greatness

"But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:43-45

Memories

My sister's post in remembrance mom's passing away a year ago.

Memorial Photos

The holy sacrifice of the mass was celebrated at home on the occassion of mom's first death anniversary.

Photo credit : Belle

A bouquet lies on mom's resting place.

Photo credit : Susan

For Mom