Nightingale

2008-01-02T13:10:00.000+08:00

2007-12-31T15:46:00.000+08:00

TO ALL MY BLOGGING FRIENDS...

2007-12-21T09:47:00.000+08:00

I truly miss blogging. Tried very hard to get back to it after my trips (US and Asia) and the many major projects we have in our hospital but I still am finding difficulty. I will try my best to find time in 2008. Well anyway, I pray that you all will have a peaceful and joyous celebration.

2007-12-05T09:34:00.000+08:00

2007-11-14T21:14:00.000+08:00

Call "TIME OUT" and Adjust Your Course!

2007-11-07T20:42:00.000+08:00

Photo taken by Chewy Chua

Have you ever in your life called a "time out" to reflect on what has been working for you and to put an end to what isn't? Maybe not recently. Don't you think it's time to do so because we have become so entrenched in habits which are not moving in the direction of our goals?

Have you observed patterns in your life? Most of us have a particular type of "luck" - good or bad - that is with us all the time. Take time to pay attention to these recurring events because it's telling us something.

There are actually no accidental patterns. There is something inside us that attracts certain people and events into our life. Just like an office colleague who told me yesterday that she constantly feels being put down by our co-workers. This I think reveals that, at some level, she believed she deserved to be treated in this manner.

One of the most destructive thing we can do according to Jeff Keller, author of the article "Full Life On Line" is to deny that we are responsible for creating the patterns in our own life. Blaming external factors such as other people or the economy of the country for our problems, will just make us frustrated and remain stuck to the situation.

So whether or not we notice any patterns, it is best that we call a time out on a regular basis. Examine what is wrong and what isn't then make the necessary adjustments.

2007-11-01T08:33:00.000+08:00

As I was going through my mail today, I read this article by Liz Curtis-Higgs and I couldn't help but share it with you.

WANNA BE A PUMPKIN?

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you
from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then
He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside
of you to shine for all the world to see."

2007-06-19T21:01:00.000+08:00

2007-06-17T16:45:00.000+08:00

7 THINGS I THANK MY DAD FOR

... defining altruism, integrity, perseverance,
and loyalty by your example

... teaching me that life does not come with
money-back guarantees and warranties

... showing me how to march to the beat of a
different drummer on a road less traveled

... reminding me that a cluttered room equals
a cluttered mind

... showing me that Dads do housework as well
as moms - when the spirit moved you

... passing on to me our family's greatest
and most valuable asset - our reputation

... cultivating my sense of humor

2007-06-14T07:25:00.000+08:00

I'm back. After almost 2 months of absence from the blogging world, I can say I really missed all of you. I'm not sure what exactly happened. I just felt like life is just a routine. I do the same things over and over until I cannot help but feel bored and restless. Wake up in the morning, go to work, get home, blog, surf the net, sleep, and wake up again. To do what? To go to work again. The cycle continues. It may be enjoyable at first, doing what I do. But right in the middle of it, sometimes I cry out and say, "I need a break!"

When I reached this point of staleness, I just had to stop. I then decided to take a break. Breathe. Relax. Maybe the problem was I had taken everything so seriously, squeezing away all the fun and excitement life offers.

Last week I had the luxury of getting away from it all for a while- away from everything that gave me anxiety, fear and stress. It was not escaping from my responsibilities. It simply meant taking a much-needed temporary break.

And as I did this, I took time to reflect and look into myself. What had I been investing my life into? Evaluated present relationships. Thought of questions like, "What had I been pursuing in my life? Was I growing as a person" Had my character been strengthened lately? What had I been struggling with?"

I am very thankful that the break became a source of motivation - to inspire me to face the coming days with renewed strength and a fresh vision. It's like starting all over again. The break also made me look up, realign my life with God's direction and realizing that He has been watching me all along, waiting for that cry for help.

2007-04-15T08:58:00.000+08:00

THE SEVEN THINGS I DID THIS WEEK

...LESS ACQUIRING and pay more attention to what I already have.

...LESS COMPLAINING and pay more attention to giving.

...LESS CONTROLLING and pay more attention to letting go.

...LESS CRITICIZING and pay more attention to complimenting.

...LESS ARGUING and pay more attention to forgiveness.

...LESS RUNNING AROUND and pay more attention to stillness.

...LESS TALKING and pay more attention to silence.

2007-04-14T08:28:00.000+08:00

HOBBY...This week's Photo Hunter's Theme

These are two of my cross stitched projects which I had framed and hanged in my office. Cross stitching was my HOBBY more than 5 years ago and I was able to collect a few projects but I had to stop because I developed carpal tunnel syndrome. I enjoyed this HOBBY very much to the point that I made a lot of items which I gave away as birthday and Christmas gifts.

2007-04-12T16:25:00.000+08:00

I thank the Lord for the long holiday that just passed. It gave me the chance to enjoy my grandchildren. Their nanny had to go on a leave so hubby and I took turns to help their parents. During the process, I was able to experience the following joys of grandparenting that I am sure some of you can identify with like...

> Baby-sitting is a labor of love; the only compensations are hugs and kisses.
> Each grandchild is a surprise package-different from the one before.
> The best face-lift is the smile your grandchildren puts on your face.
> No TV show entertains the way a grandchild does.
> They help keep me flexible - in more ways than one.
> They make me look at life's cup as half full, not half empty.
> I need to keep up with the times when I am with them.
> I can enjoy with them the things I didn't get to do with my child.

2007-04-11T08:06:00.000+08:00

2007-03-28T08:30:00.000+08:00

2007-03-25T08:58:00.000+08:00

SEVEN LESSONS FOR LIVING
From: Grandma Sinclair

1.
Don't waste.

2.
Work hard.

3.
Don't cut corners.

4.
Have fun doing things.

5.
Be strict but caring.

6.
Tackle problems head-on.

7.
Pray.

2007-03-24T08:48:00.000+08:00

THIS WEEK'S THEME: EMPTY

This used to be where Fantasy Elephant Club was in the late 90's. My family and I had a chance to stay in this island for three days and we absolutely had a grand time. This is located in Marinduque Province, Philippines. To get there, we had to take a plane, then a car up to the shore then a motorized banca to the island. It's a pity that this island is now empty. The owners had to close it due to numerous reports haunting the place.

2007-03-21T07:25:00.000+08:00

2007-03-19T10:05:00.000+08:00

HAVE A COFFEE
~MountainWings~

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite-telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

He assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it was just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and then began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."
God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee.

2007-03-18T15:44:00.000+08:00

Thomas The Tank Engine is my grandson's favorite. He has a huge collection
of Thomas and His Friends and since I'm dedicating my Sunday Seven to him
in honor of his 8th birthday tomorrow, I decided to use it.

MY SEVEN DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

MONDAY:
I ask God to place a protective, solid hedge around you.

TUESDAY:
I pray that you will use godly wisdom in selecting friends and
peers who will make a positive difference in your life.

WEDNESDAY:
I pray that you will stay pure in thoughts and deeds.

THURSDAY:
I pray that you will continue to be a very obedient and loving child.

FRIDAY:
I pray that you will be alert and think clearly as you attend school
and extracurricular activities, and as you take your exams.

SATURDAY:
I pray that you will have a healthy body.

SUNDAY:
I ask God to help you live your life for Him.

2007-03-16T08:11:00.000+08:00

I am looking forward to:

> join my office friends in a healing mass officiated by Fr. Joey Faller, a known
healing priest from Lukban, Quezon.

> the 8th birthday party of my grandson tomorrow. It will be held here in the house so the entire household has been busy preparing for this event.

> meet some friends this Sunday to welcome our former classmates who flew in from the USA.

2007-03-15T08:00:00.000+08:00

TO MY BELOVED HUBBY

... for saying "I love you" several times a day

... for telling me often that I am beautiful

... for the daily hugs and kisses

... for always being by my side when possible

... for rubbing my feet occasionally

... for giving me a backrub almost everynight

... for asking my opinion when making decisions

... for showing interest in what I do

... for showing me you are proud to be my husband

... for telling me I'm your "greatest claim to fame"

... for letting me hear you thank God for me

2007-03-14T08:05:00.000+08:00

34 years ago, we both gifted each other with the following and this became the foundation of a successful marriage:

1. The Gift of Sharing:
Talking about our hopes and fears and all that is in our hearts.

2. The Gift of Friendship:
Being the best of friends as we can be.

3. The Gift of Time:
Encouraging ourselves to spend time doing what we enjoy most.

4. The Gift of Commitment:
Standing beside each other through thick and thin, sickness and health, good times and bad.

5. The Gift of Respect:
Treating each other with courtesy in both word and deed.

6. The Gift of Humility:
Admitting that we are not always right and being willing to change where needed.

7. The Gift of Encouragement:
Looking for opportunities to compliment each other and build each other up.

8. The Gift of Care:
Doing our best to know and meet our emotional needs.

9. The Gift of Forgiveness:
Forgiving each other, getting over it, and not bringing it up again.

10. The Gift of Honesty:
Being totally open and honest and not keeping secrets.

11. The Gift of Laugther:
Playing and having fun together.

12. The Gift of Generosity:
Showing our love by giving time, words, tangible things, and memories.

13. The Gift of Dreams:
Planning the future together with the commitment that we will
spend the rest of our days side by side.

2007-03-12T14:07:00.000+08:00

This morning I woke up rather very early. Four o'clock is too early for me and as I got up, I I didn't feel good. I didn’t feel like going to work though I know that I had a lot of things lined up for the day at the office. I just didn't want to do anything that resembled responsible behavior. It was that kind of day.

As I ate my breakfast, I thought I felt a headache coming on. Yes, there it was a dull throb just behind my eyes. Maybe I should go back to bed until it subsided. I then felt my muscles ache as I stood up from the table. Or was the ache in my joints? That could mean I was still not well from the flu which hit me last week. I absolutely should be in bed.

I decided to go back to bed and stay under the covers and shut my eyes. I thought another couple of hours of sleep would be so nice. Tried to sleep only I was now completely awake. I ought to get up. But no, there was that headache. I reached out to the magazine I had bought yesterday but had no time to read. I opened it and settled against the pillows.

The sun was now up and I still was feeling the same. I had around ten pages more to read and I was stretching. I should at least get up and water the plants. What if I was contagious? I certainly didn't want to spread any germs. The watering could wait. The plants will not wither without water for just one day.

No, I no longer have the flu. I didn't really want to be sick. To be truthful, all I wanted was a little time off. I needed to be away from people, career and the outside world. Did I have to wait to be sick to do that? I remember that being sick was how as a child I would get a respite from school or family chores. But I wasn't a child any more. Did I have to manufacture symptoms to provide myself with an excuse? No, I decided, I didn't.

I talked to myself. Okay, I said, you need a day off. Admit it. Accept it. Toss out the guilt and enjoy a mini-vacation. What would you like to do? Read? You're already doing that. Pamper yourself? Take a hot bath. Be a hermit? Let the machine answer the phone.

I then went to the bathroom and poured half the bottle of bath gel into the streaming water and added a hearty handful of chamomile bath salts. Then I lit a vanilla-scented candle. With a grateful sigh, I had a homemade spa. I heard the phone ring somewhere off in the distance and smiled.

Funny how the aches subsided in the heat of the tub. They just slipped away with the last of the bubbles down the drain. My head felt just fine, the throb replaced by a sense of well-being.

It's 2 pm and I am at work. I feel refreshed physically, mentally and emotionally. And rather than feeling helpless, I now feel empowered. Maybe because I had given myself permission to listen and respond to my needs, to care for myself the way I tended to my family. I didn't need the crutch of illness to justify a rest. It was such a simple awareness, but then isn't it the simple things that set us free?

2007-03-11T09:05:00.000+08:00

Some Very Good and Very Bad Things
Part 2

The greatest problem to overcome - FEAR

The most effective sleeping pill - PEACE OF MIND

The most crippling failure disease - EXCUSES

The most powerful force in life - LOVE

The worst thing to be without - HOPE

The world's most incredible computer - THE BRAIN

The deadliest weapon - THE TONGUE

Myspace Graphics