The Best Christmas Song For Me: "Mary, Did You Know?" (Ceelo Green version)

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Every year as Christmas time approaches, the world goes crazy with gift guides, shopping tips and deals, decorations and special recipes.

Not me

Being a Christian, I feel that Christmas is the time to reflect on the true meaning for the celebration. It is the birth of our Lord Jesus. It is his birthday. A baby born into this world to suffer for our sins. A selfless sacrifice. It makes me sad because my sins put Him on the Cross.

Christmas has been too commercialized

I understand that gift giving is a manifestation of a Christian value of sharing our blessings, however, we must not be too preoccupied with shopping for gifts that we forget to teach the children that receiving toys and new clothes is not what Christmas is all about.

Don't get me wrong. I am no Scrooge or Grinch. I am not saying this because I don't have money for shopping. (Well, actually, I really don't have money for lavish gifts). I am not being bitter because I can't buy the things I like or travel to places I want to see. I just want to share how I truly feel. 

Praying for health for my family, protection from harm, peace in our hearts, and realization of dreams

Intangible gifts. These are the best gifts anyone can ever receive. Those four things I mentioned are the gifts I wish to receive this Christmas from my Lord God. I know He is All Good, and He has plans for me. I may not receive all these blessings at one time but I know that He will provide these to me in His Time. 

The Christmas song that speaks of my faith

Sharing this music video that never fails to bring tears to my eyes. 

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to the blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you kissed the face of God

Oh Mary did you know? Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?

That sleeping child you're holding is the Great I am

Thoughts to ponder: 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

We have sinned and continue to sin and yet despite our misgivings, God still loves us and showers us with His blessings. 

As I welcome the sunrise every day, I will be grateful for that one more chance to make myself worthy of His Love. 

Have a blessed and meaningful Christmas.

Is Following Your Dreams Worth It?

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From a very young age, we're all taught that the one thing that you should always do is to "follow your dreams." No matter what happens, you should never let anything get in the way of doing what you really want. At first glance, this seems like perfect advice. After all, no one wants to find themselves living a life that they're unhappy in. However, the reality is that "following your dreams" can often be a more complicated than idea than a lot of people realize and it can also be something that might not live up to your expectations. Here are a few things to consider when deciding if following your dreams is really worth it.

Putting all your eggs in one basket

One of the things that you generally need if you're going to follow your dreams is a totally single-minded approach that you never waiver from, under any circumstances. However, one thing that a lot of people fail to realize is that, if you spend your life with a totally one track mind and then something changes that leave you needing to go in a different direction, that can be incredibly difficult to deal with. Make sure that, even if you're pursuing your dreams, that you leave room for changes and adjustments in your plan every step of the way.

Risks

Following any kind of life or career path is going to come with risks, that's just something that you need to be aware of. However, you need to know how much risk you're willing to put up with. You might think, "I've moved to a new place, found fantastic storage near me for all of my belongings, and I'm ready to get out there and find my perfect career!" However, you need to think about whether or not you've got something to fall back on. After all, if you're not able to start following your dreams right away, the last thing you want is to suddenly end up in a position where you have no way to support yourself.

People change

This is something that a lot of people seem to forget. Just because you grew up wanting to do something with your life, that doesn't mean that you have to spend the rest of your life wanting to do that exact thing. People change and grow over time, and you may find that something that you were incredibly passionate about just a few years ago holds no real interest for you anymore. If you built your entire life around one specific thing, then you could end up getting trapped on that path even when it's not something that you're especially interested in pursuing.

Now, please don't think of this as somehow trying to tell you not to follow your dreams. Far from it. If you have an ambition in life and you want to follow it, then that's fantastic. Just remember that you don't need to spend your life on one single track if you feel as though you might be better off moving in another direction.

Making Your Mark On The World: How You Can Leave A Lasting Legacy

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With each passing day, time passes. Where once we lived a carefree life, we begin to realize the reality of our mortality as we get older. Despite our best efforts with skin creams to appear young, we know we are not going to live forever. Sorry, but it’s true. Then we start to take stock of our lives, and a possible mid-life crisis kicks in (if it hasn’t already), and common questions arise. What have I done with my life? Have I been the best I can be? What will I be remembered for when I’ve gone? All good questions and only you can answer them. 

So, here is the crux of the article. What legacy are you leaving behind? We aren’t talking about legacy trusts and will making, though practically this is important. You don’t want your beneficiaries going through probate litigation when you’ve gone. Rather, we are referring to a non-material legacy, where your actions on earth leave a lasting impression. How will people remember you? Will it be for good or bad? We’re betting you’re hoping for the former. So what can you do now to ensure your legacy is a positive one? Here are some ideas.

Create positive memories. Despite your business, you don’t want lasting memories to be about somebody who was barely around when they were alive. Make time for the important people in your life, take holidays together, share stories, have fun. It is often the small moments that create the best memories. Something you have said to make somebody smile. An encouraging word to offer support. These are the things that will be remembered.

Impart positive values. As a good person, there are bound to be values and ideals that you hold close to your heart. Whether they are faith-related or not, you have the power to share a positive message with those near to you. Considering the conflicting viewpoints imposed upon your children at school and your friends at work, they may not receive the moral framework that only you can provide. Therefore, without being heavy-handed, impose good values on to those you come into contact with.

Erase bad memories. If you’re afraid you are going to leave a bad legacy behind, make your amends before it is too late. If you have hurt somebody in the past, make every effort to apologise to them, or change your behavior as you go forward in your relationships. Be somebody that people will talk about with enthusiasm and love, and not in hushed whispers about how unpleasant you were.

Be charitable. You can’t bring about world peace (that would be an amazing legacy), but you can make the world better in your corner of the world. Change one person’s life, and your legacy will roll over as they take the baton and follow your good deed. So, consider volunteering with a charity near you. It may be a homeless shelter, food bank, breakfast club, or a church mission. You can’t save the world, but you do have the power to change individual’s lives for the better.

Finally, leaving a legacy is about being remembered for the good person you were, as well as leaving a positive impact on others that they will take forward into the world. Chances are, you have already made steps to ensure this happens. If not, don’t put off till tomorrow when you can do something to make a difference today. Thanks for reading.

15 Words That Changed My Mindset From "Stressed" to "Blessed"

A year ago, I quit my post as a Quality Assurance Specialist in the Business Process Outsourcing industry.

The pay was good, but it was not worth all the stress and the toll it had on my health. I hung up the towel after a decade of working the night shift.

My job as a QA with various companies were all memorable, but the best ones were the unexpected responses from the agents either during a live call, or during coaching sessions.

During one ordinary shift, I came across a bad call and gave an agent Auto-Fail. I approached her station and took her in for immediate coaching. She cried and said she wanted to quit. I told her, "Hey, its just a bump in the road. Now you know what you shouldn't do. This job brings food to the table and sends you kids through school. Don't give up! I'll be here if you need help or when you need advice. Remember, every time you encounter difficulties, just F.I.G.O. - Forget It and Go On."

Touching base with my friends who still work in that company told me this girl is now a Team Leader. I guess I did something right.

Three years later, in another company, I got to do the task of being a Virtual QA (which means the agents I handle are off-shore), I came across a most unforgettable statement from one of the agents assigned to me. Markus was very upbeat in handling the customer's concerns and while the customer was waiting for her order to be completed, the customer asked him, "So how are you doing today?" I was expecting a canned response in the likes of. "I'm doing good. Thank you for asking." But no! Markus responded with something that hit home. He said, "Well, I'm breathing, I'm employed, and I get paid on Friday. Everything's good. All is good."

Wow.

That was one wake up call for me. Why worry about the unimportant stuff when waking up is already a blessing in itself. Being able to breathe, walk, talk, interact, love and be surrounded with family and friends is a blessing! Doing what you love to do and get paid for it is a bonus! God is really good!

So now I go about living my life, my perfectly imperfect life. And when I get frustrated or depressed, All I have to do is remember Markus' words and carry on through the day. Fifteen words that touched my heart and made me be thankful of even the tiniest thing. 

Blessings sent! Have a great day.

Change The Way You See Beauty

I love taking photographs. My interest in the art started when I was still in grade school and I absolutely adored my very first instamatic camera.

I am now a mother to three young adults, and a grandmother to an adorable little 8-month old baby boy. Although I have not taken my love for photography to a professional level, I still enjoy walking around the neighborhood with a digicam in my pocket and my smartphone ready to capture an extraordinarily beautiful moment. 

My photos have always been random, candid shots of mundane and ordinary things. There is so much beauty in stuff we usually take for granted. I guess I just have a different perception of "beauty." 

Take for example this first photo. I saw this beautiful butterfly (Papilio demoleus or "Lemon Butterfly") laying on the sidewalk. I took pictures of it and was amazed because it kept still, like it was allowing me to take pictures of it. Sadly, after a couple of shots, I found out that the butterfly was dead. Its wings spread out as if in flight. Beautiful, even in death.

Nature for me, is one of my choice subjects to depict beauty. I love flower photographs, especially after a downpour. The petals look fresher, the leaves greener. This next photo was taken while I was walking to the grocery store. I chanced upon this lovely cluster of little red flowers. My friend, a professional photographer said, "Anything red is always beautiful in photographs." Indeed, he was right!

The miracle of life in itself is a thing of beauty. A lone, wild pepper plant thriving and surviving in a small patch of soil along the side of a street bears fruit. The beauty of life unfolding in the most difficult of situations.

There is so much beauty around me and my heart just fills with joy just to witness these simple things. It is in these little joys that my faith in God is strengthened. 

"He hath made everything beautiful in His time." 

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Its been raining for days on end, but I always make it a point to look at the world from a different angle. Rain provides water, which supports life. If I could only hear it, I am sure there is a joyful song sung by all creatures of the earth every time it rains. I have captured some of these moments using my trusty little digicam.

A snail doing its happy rain dance:

A caterpillar finding its way to a tree branch, to hie away for a time and grow its wings.

And mushrooms sprouting on a log:

I have changed the way I look at beauty by using my heart instead of my eyes. My faith guides me to see things differently and to appreciate these blessings. I know there are so much more around me waiting to be appreciated for their unique beauty.

My wish is to be able to immortalize moments of beauty with a better smartphone camera. I have come to know that Huawei P9's camera will be able to provide me with clearer, crisper photos. Engineered with Leica technology, I am sure it will give me print-ready photos! I can give my digicam a rest and just have one device with me every time. Huawei P9's primary camera's specifications are Dual 12 MP, f/2.2, 27 mm, Leica optics, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. Although I do not take "selfies," it is also good to know that its secondary camera has these features -  8 MP, f/1.9, autofocus, 1080p. These features alone are reason enough to dream of owning one! Huawei P9 will definitely Change The Way You See Mobile Photography!

Until that dream materializes, I will continue on my journey of life, taking photos along the way and sharing it with others so that they too, may change the way they see beauty.

Violet's Smile: Defying the odds of Lissencephaly

Today I write about something you may have never heard of before. But for me and my husband's family, it is a word we have associated with other words like "hope," "love," "miracles," and "Violet."

This word is Lissencephaly.

What is Lissencephaly? It is a rare gene-linked brain malformation characterized by the absence of normal convolutions (folds) in the cerebral cortex. In layman's terms, it is called "smooth brain." Children with lissencephaly generally have significant developmental delays, but these vary greatly from child to child depending on the degree of brain malformation and seizure control. Life expectancy can be shortened, generally due to respiratory problems.

This is an MRI image comparing a normal brain with that of Lissencephaly.

Violet is my husband's great-niece. She was born on August 14, 2012. She was diagnosed with Lissencephaly shortly after birth. Her parents were devastated, but they did everything they can to help their daughter. The little fighter that she is, Violet proved to be a strong little girl, showing signs of improvement, defying all those senseless statistics.  

Despite her constant battle with seizures, and the long travel from their home to the hospital for medical appointments and therapies, Violet is a happy, pretty little girl. Her curly hair, expressive eyes, and radiant smile will surely melt your heart. She can sit up unassisted and is able to communicate through sign and body movement. Violet will be turning three on the 14th of this month. Another milestone achieved. Thanking the Goodness of the Lord for this blessing! 

 This is Violet. She'll be turning three on the 14th.

If you live in or around the area of Pittston, PA, we would like to invite you to attend a fundraising event for Violet, to help the family with the medical expenses. It will be on August 22, 2015. Tickets are $15/seat. 20% per ticket sold will go towards the therapy, travel and medical expenses of Violet. Below is the event banner where you can contact the organizers for tickets. 

If you would be unable to attend, or live too far away, and still want to help and show your love, please feel free to visit Violet's GoFundMe page. Any donation would be highly appreciated. You may also follow her on Facebook for updates and you may send her your birthday wishes too.

GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/teamultraviolet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004961055057&fref=ts 

Have a happy Sunday and may your kind heart be continuously blessed.

Are You Really Rich?

It is a sad reality that we have been engulfed with a false sense of fulfillment brought about by materialism. We immerse ourselves in work to be able to get the latest gadgets, and flashy clothes. The phrase "one day millionaire" is so true when payday comes. We try to convince ourselves that it is not at all bad to partake in good times because after all, we earned our keep. True? Very.

During the Papal Visit, there were so many lessons I have learned by listening to Pope Francis' messages. I have learned not to shun the convenience of technology, but to use it to do good. Compassion towards the less fortunate, learning to weep for the marginalized, and "learning to offer your hand out of your very own poverty."

The street child, the homeless and the abandoned elderly who do not own much are those who we can turn to for wisdom. How they have learned to survive, how they never lose hope, and how they can still love despite being in dire straits. They are those that are truly rich.

I know New Years Resolutions are nothing but wishes, I hope that one day, this year 2015, I will be able to do something for someone in need. I am still coping to survive financially in this corporate jungle, however, money is not the end all and be all. I really really want to be a Messenger of Light. I would want to be able to pay it forward. This is not my wish. This will be my goal.

I am at a loss for words, just thinking of how many children are now laying down cardboard boxes on the sidewalk. How many of them will go to sleep with an empty stomach. How much more are forced to do things against their will just so that they can survive another day. Let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters, those dressed in tattered clothes, curled up on the sidewalk, begging for food. 

We can do without most of our worldly possessions and yet be rich in faith and trust in the Lord. Let us be feel and be one with the less fortunate. They may be able to give us life lessons better than any gadget can.

James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom he promised those who love Him?