Full Moon

As seen from home at 6:15 PM, November 21, 2010.

Solemnity of Christ the King

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.

All that has been created has been made for You.

Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism,

when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,

and I promise to live a good Christian life

and to do all in my power to procure

the triumph of the rights of God

and Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus,

I offer you my efforts in order to obtain that all hearts

may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,

and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace

may be established throughout the universe.

Amen.

To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King

Christmas is in the Air

This is the first ever Christmas scene we've seen here in Bangkok, a giant Christmas tree surrounded by elves snowmen.

The biggest snow elvesman of them all with a microphone in hand.

JM at the foot of the giant Christmas tree . . .

and posing in staircase lined with elves snowmen.

Father and son in a souvenir photo.

Japanese Lunch

After Sunday mass and CCD class, we decided to eat Japanese food for lunch. Although I was a bit hesitant to try it (I'm not a fan of Japanese food), I gave it a go. The food was good and filling and the atmosphere was truly Japanese at Yayoi Restaurant, Bangkok. JM above sits on a wooden bench while waiting for his order.

He loved the food ! Delicious and he wants a second order.

My lunch, Japanese rice, tofu soup, salad and mackerel with teriyaki sauce. Healthy and yummy !

Altar Servers

JM, holds the Lectionary during the recessional in this mornings CCD Sunday mass.

Cool !!!

JM on a magazine cover. Love it !!!

Advent is Around the Corner

Advent is one of the seasons of the Church year within the Catholic church and some other denominational churches.It is the four weeks prior to Christmas; the intent of Advent is to prepare spiritually for celebrating the birthday of Jesus.

The word advent means a time of change, a time to look inward and discover those things in our lives we need to change to become a better person. This means adding things to our life to improve ourselves and ridding our life of things, which prevent us from being more like Jesus in our relationships.

Taking time prior to Christmas, to focus on who Jesus is and how faithfully we are to living His commands, to love God and neighbor as ourselves is a good practice. Jesus came to save us from sin. Advent helps us focus on gratitude and love for Jesus whose birth we celebrate on Christmas.

All Souls Day

Heavenly Father, You sent Christ Jesus your Son to wash away the sins of all mankind through His perfect sacrifice,and you cleansed our departed brothers and sisters in the waters of baptism. May His perfect sacrifice free them from the power of death and give them eternal life. In your mercy, O Lord, grant them eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine on them forever. + Amen.

Requiem Æternam

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine,et lux perpétua lúceat eis.Requiéscant in pace. Amen.

The Solemnity of All Saints

Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven Fra Angelico - 1428-30, Tempera on wood - National Gallery, London

"The glorious company of the apostles praise Thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee. The white-robed army of martyrs praise Thee. All Thy saints and elect with one voice do acknowledge Thee, O Blessed Trinity, one God!"

Antiphon at Lauds. from the Te Deum

Today We Remember Mom

I miss you mom.

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.

In loving memory of Esperanza Cembrano who joined her Creator on October 16, 2008. May she rest in peace.

N.R.P. Sagres

Here we were, at Bangkok's port to visit N.R.P. Sagres. We managed to go inspite of the rainy and cloudy weather today. She left at Bangkok three hours later for Singapore.

The ships hull.

A view of the end part of the ship.

JM poses for a souvenir photo with the historical ship as a background.

All smiles on deck inspite of the gloomy weather.

Father and son pose with the crew before she sailed to her new destination.

Twosome

Father and son together.

* Photo taken at Sizzlers

I Love Sundays

Sunday is the day of the week when we hold family lunch and outings. It gives me a break from the monotony of life during weekdays. We would go and have lunch in seafood huts, pizza shops or barbecue and salads at Sizzlers. I also take the opportunity of taking photos of really nice places we visit and go shopping for things (aside from groceries of course) that I like.

*Photo of JM above was taken at one of our favorite seafood huts.

Sunday is also the day of the week we as a family attend mass (to refesh our tired souls and gain spiritual strength). Catechism and altar serving every Sunday is good for the Catholic formation of my son.

* Photo of above was taken during the recessional of this mornings English mass.

What I Have Been Up to Lately

1. Invigilating, yes, its final exams this week.
2. Coping up with the end of the semester deadlines.
3. Foreseeing my work next week, what with the English Camp and exam. paper marking plus this never ending paper work, I'll surely manage with careful planning.
4. Thinking what to do on my next holiday.
5. Planning my Christmas shopping.
6. Planning home lessons for my son.
7. Wanting to go shopping for some nice girl stuff, but cannot find the time to do so.
8. Updating my 3 blogs, ,my Facebook and Flickr accounts for an hour before bedtime.
9. Praying constantly for family members especially those far from me and for a bright future for my only son and
10. Getting in touch with long lost friends.

Have a nice day everyone !

Gel Candle

This miniature gel candle was made in JM's handicraft class. The candle was decorated with colored sand, shells, dried flowers and foliages. It's so pretty we used it to decorate the headboard of our bed together with his Doraemon diplay frame.

Pretty Work of Art

Here are two of the projects that JM made in his handicrafts class. Above is a baseball cap made of yellow recycled green tea boxes and sewn together using a crochet thread.

The one above was proudly presented to me this afternoon when he arrived home from school, Garfield in a picture frame made from tiny bits of recycled styrofoam glued together and painted with watercolor when all the glued parts have been completed.

My son JM with his work of art from school. Every work of art he makes is a treasure I'll keep and cherish. I have a blog just for his artworks and handicrafts, http://jmsartjournal.blogspot.com/ . I'll have something to look back on, mementos of his childhood years when I'm old and grey. Mom loves you so much JM !

A Cold Cola Makes My Day

After several days of having a bout of flu which goes with the abstitence from ice and cold drinks, JM finally had his first cold drink today, but with a limit, just a glass of cola with ice. We are observing his condition, the persistent cough is still there, but the sore throat is nearly healed. He is headed to a complete recovery in two or three days. Thumbs up to JM !!

Lingering in My Thoughts

1. A week just passed, the weekend spent productively, another new week to look forward to. The early morning rush to finish chores, a quick breakfast, preparing a child for school are the usual things that occupy my weekdays. And lastly, the early morning trip to work.
2. I need to spend more time tutoring my son in science, English, social studies and Cathechism during weekends. The daily home chores is driving me crazy. I have to manage my weekend schedule better.
3. I realized recently that my son is now in CCD grade 7, the Confirmation class. Time flies, it seems it was only yesterday that he received his First Holy Communion.
4. Tons of paper work awaits me tomorrow morning. I'll manage all these before next weekend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
5. Thinking where to go next Sunday after mass and CCD. Amusement parks is a big NO, NO. Still thinking, still planning.
6. And of course, I have to update my three blogs, my Facebook and Flickr accounts and experiment in making really nice videos to upload on YouTube.
7. Remembering the third death anniversary of my dearest mom in October.
8. And lastly, anticipating my weeklong holiday in October.