One day walk!

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If you are not on vacation like me and the busyness of life is giving you a stressful life, then come along with me for a walk. We don't need to walk many miles. This place is very near where I live. 

And this is the trail. And as you look under, you can see lot of things that are pleasing to the eyes. The beauty of nature.

But although we are going to look for the details, we have to continue our journey. There are more to see.

So come along with me!

I supposed you too are getting tired now after walking a little while. So let us take a rest on the bench!

Beside me, I saw this little dam of water, reflecting the clouds and a little branch of a tree. Awesome!

Now, time to take more steps....

We are going to see the remnants of  the second world war. The germans used to hide inside this hole during that time.

Now we arrrived on top. Do you take sandwich with you? Coz  maybe you are hungry now and I don't have anything to offer you as you take a rest with me.

Well, we can just enjoy the sight. This is where I live.

But we shouldn't stop there. Come along....

Another remnants of war. Soon the grass and the trees will cover them all!

A little bridge to cross over to the other side. Don't be afraid! There is no monster under.

Titt titt! Are you still there?

Wow, a christmas tree! Shall we take this with us home?

But look at this! Plants that grows on top of this rock.... Pretty isn't it? 

And this flower...alone but it has no problem showing it's beauty!

Look at this mushroom! Although it seems so good, we must not dare to taste it if we want to live longer.

This grass reminds me of a fan that we use in the Philippines to cool us down. But we don't need it here. It is only 15 degrees:)

But we can take with us some of these flowers to decorate our home. Well, time to say goodbye now. Hope you had  a good time walking with me.  See you next time.

"Thought for the day"

JOY

Eye catching!

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At last, at last I'm on vacation. Two weeks to spend capturing the beauty of nature. So first day, on the way to the sea, I found  these flowers along the way.

Lifting up my spirit......thanking God for His magnificent works!

Being at sea makes my heart peaceful , but it gives me adrenalin kick too because of it's variation of colors.

This mountain reminds me of something......how about you?

And the best part; catching lots of fish. This time we were so lucky! Reminds me of Peter and his friends in the bible, after fishing whole the  night without a catch, but when Jesus asked them to lower the nets again and catched so much fish than they could imagine, they were amazed. And I was so amazed too with one bucket of fish! Hope I can be fishers of menn too...

My husband cleaning the fish before we can take the catched home.

And guess what...we got visitor....smell of food....

More visitors......fighting for the guts of the fishes that my husband throws at them.

Really eye catching.....

Wow, there is a war going on there!

 Fighting for survival....

But look at this one how she spread her wings. Awesome! 

And then at last peace....no more guts!

Last but not the least. This one really catched my eyes and  touched my heart. My daughter and our neighbor's cat. 

"Thought for the day"

Small but terrible!

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I was sleepy and wanted to sleep more this morning, but it seems that inside me there was a longing of reading God's holy words. So I opened my bible and this is what I found.

Luke 13:18 Then Jesus asked, « What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it too? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.

Curious as I am, I wondered why Jesus used the mustard seed as an example. What is so special with this seed that Jesus will compare God's kingdom with it? And it is very tiny while God's kingdom is huge. So I google search and found these informations about mustard seeds.

Mustard seed: Use as  spice , usually medicinal, religious ritual, cosmetics or perfume production, or as a vegetable.

Mustard was known  for its medicinal benefits before the popular culinary uses. Greeks used mustard paste to cure headache, boost appetite and improve blood circulation.

Well,  mustard seed  is like God's kingdom.  It is medicine. A cure. A healthy prescription. And it is holy.  God's kingdom is like a perfume too with a kind of essence that attract people. And not only that, it can be eaten too. We are going to be fed, cured, purified and will be smelling good.

Mustard is one of the worlds oldest spices and condiments known to mankind. In India and Denmark, it is believed that spreading mustard seeds around the external sides of the homes keeps away the evil spirits!

Wow, God's kingdom is like mustard seed. It keeps the evil spirits away.

With the help of modern electronic techniques, scientists have found that mustard seeds have incredible power and that's the reason they have been used as medicines since thousands of years. According to research, a small mustard seed, only 1 millimeter in radius, generates a bio-energy field of 100 millimeter radius! These energy fields activate biochemical processes of the body and encourage healing processes. Because of the mustard's seed bio-energy, just like the human energy field, the seeds help to keep us healthy and fit!

Think about that! Ponder! Chew! There is power in it. How can I resist God's kingdom? How can you resist God's kingdom?

No wonder Jesus compare God's kingdom to a mustard seed. Coz he knows its qualities. Jesus is really a wise man. 

Jesus said» when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.

So God'skingdom is a haven too. I am thinking in a hot summer day, how we long to sit under the shadow of a big tree to cool us down. And to think that we can build houses, make furnitures, use the woods in  fireplace keep us warm in winter time, cook food and so on with the tree trunks and branches of trees. Unlimited use. That is God's kingdom. What an amazing God we have and His kingdom.

So whatever we might  facing right now, difficulties, problems as high as mountain or sickness, remember we only need faith as big as mustard seed and it can moved mountains.  Tiny but terrible!

Faith....

is the seeds of hope

in our hearts

which grows

the flowers

of faith in our lives!

Bowling!

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When our cousin and her daughter came to visit us from Germany, we went to the bowling hall in another town. Just 15 minutes drive away from my place. Since the weather was not nice, we found out that we can instead do this indoor activity.

And her I am, going to try my luck. Maybe it will be strike.

My brother-in-law and my sister competing with each other while my cousin and her daughter waiting for their turn. Who's gonna win.......

And the winner is...yours truly. Well, I just got lucky that day.

Anyway, bowling is like one's life. We have a goal and we aimed at the goal, then throws our best shot, but not everytime we get a strike.  Sometimes the ball goes to the side canal instead. Or I may say that we didn't reach our goal in life. Frustrating. 

How many times we tried to reach our goal in life and just be disappointed because things does not went well as we wanted it to be? We were on the way, but the world keeps sidetracking us. We stumble and fall ang stumble and fall. We can't just get it right. 

I know someone who is very dear to me. She had tried so many times to do  lot of things, but keep failing and failing all over again.  It is really frustrating. My heart bleeds for her. Sometimes I ask God why is it so. Does He not care or love this dear woman? Who's fault is it? How long will she wait to be successfull in work , love and in health? It seems that there is no ending of starting all over again. Another goal...another way....another job. Why is it seems easier for others but not for her? And I asked the Lord how can I to make life easier for her? 

 Like in bowling, why it seems that it easy for others to get a strike, but not easy for me?  Do I need  more practice or I may say that if one have a talent, then you have it no matter what?

Then God reminds me that people lives are not in my hands. It will not help me thinking all the night how I can change this woman's life. But I can just go along with her along the way, praying, lending  a helping hand if it is needed and trust God for the rest.

And he remind me of his words...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not into your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 3:7-8

Like this flower that are here today and gone tomorrow, but it does not worry. It's goal was to share it's beauty and let the Creator do the rest. 

Is there someone out there who has  a goal that seems unreachable? Or accomplished goal? Wanna share it with us? It can inspires or gives lesson to many. Hope to hear from you!

JOY

The teacher

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Memories come and go. I had flashback in  my devotion today as  I read this verse:


Luke 13:1 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagoges......


How about that? Think having Jesus nowadays as our teacher?  And then my mind went backwards in my childhood days. I had many teachers in my life  like each and everyone of us. But some definitely leaved a mark in our lives. Teachers that touched our hearts in one way or another.


I remember, I was in grade two then and our religion teacher gave us a quiz to answer. The questions came from the bible. And the one who will get the highest score will receive a prize. Believe me, for one like me who haven't received any prize or gift at all in my eight years of life, that was huge. After the quiz and the teacher announced my name as the one who got the highest score and will get the prize, my world suddenly became very colorful. Then everyone noticed me not because of my old clothes and my appearance, but because I proved to them that at least I was a diligent student. If they only knew that the only book we had at home was the New Testament and I read it many times and that is why I know all the stories in it. And the prize was one pad paper and a ballpen. My, oh my, when my teacher gave those things to me, I felt that she had given me a treasure. But, soon enough I have to use that treasure to write and write on. But I can't forget my teacher. I thought she was an angel sent by God to me.


When I was in third grade and since I love to read, I always borrow books in our school library and got to know the librarian. She knows how badly our situation was and she told me that if I want I can live with her family and she can pay for my school expenses. But in return I will help her with the household chores and everything in the house. I really wanted  to finish a degree one day  and be something . I asked my mother, but she told me that I have to decide for myself. But seeing all the chores to do in her house, I did not accept her offer because I felt that I will be a prisoner in her house doing this and doing that and won't have any time to read or play outside the sun. I don't know if I hurt her feelings, but she was not so friendly to me after that. But, I still remember her.


As I grow up, I learned a lot not only from teachers, but from all the people that God sent into my path along the way. Learned things that I shoudn't have done and things that I should have done.
Then I realized whether we like it or not,we actually are all teachers. As parents, we were the first teachers of our children. 


My mother was my first teacher. She teached me how to write my name before I started the first grade in school. I was so proud of myself when I finally can write my name on paper.


Then after many years, it was my turn to teach my children.  Teach them what I also learned that I think  was right. They also learned from me behavior or traits that formed them as they are today. 


But what kind of teachers are we?


How we behaved at home, outside our homes, with friends, with co/workers can inspires others to do both good or bad.


Jesus showed us what kind of teacher we should be. Wise, righteous,
compassionate, but teach with authority. He showed everything by what he did and how he treated others.





                     

Villa Escuedero II

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Now, the continuation of our trip to Villa Escuedero. And the main purpose was to go swimming. And here we are.

Although we were starving, the lunch were not ready yet, but the kids did not mind at all. All they care about was swimming. So grandma have to be with them too! Swimming pool for small children:)

But my fifth grandson was not afraid to be in the deep swimming pool together with his dad. 

There are slides too!

Me and my son enjoying the Jacussi! My, the water was hot and it was so good for my aging body.

But no food, no play. Time for lunch! We have to go to the ...

Waterfalls Restaurant
Lunch is served on bamboo dining tables set in a few inches of crystalline running water from the falls. The experience of dining on delicious local dishes with the sparkling waterfalls as a backdrop with clear spring water running over your feet is a truly singular and memorable experience only Villa Escudero can offer.

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And here are the menu for the day! Eat all you can.

And the man made waterfalls

The young ones and the young once! 

The bamboo dining  tables...

My son touching the water if it was warm enough...

But I believed he was more  hungry!

This is their souvenir shop. We didn't buy anything. The kids just want to be in the water.

And we didn't have time to see the show either. Anyway, this is one of the highlights there.

Philippine Experience Show
After lunch, guests have the opportunity to watch the Philippine Experience Show where the country's rich culture comes to life, from its ethnic diversity to its colonial legacy. The dances were painstakingly recreated by the late National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Mr. Obusan's insistence on authenticity sets this show, performed by resort employees and accompanied by the resort's own musicians and rondalla ensemble, makes this show a far cry from the stylized performances one sees today. (Fridays-Sundays/Holidays only)

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Now time to go home. We were all tired and we were just wating for the carabao carriage.

Oh my, my second daughter found out that Medusa turned the carabao into stone too! I suppose we have to walk to the entrance....

Just joking :) Anyway we all had a good time. Until next time again:)

JOY