Once in a while we get to watch a movie that sticks with us for the rest of our lives. I have had a few movies that I would never grow tired of watching over and over again. One on One, Chances Are, Death Be Not Proud, Titanic, Love Story, Legends of the Fall, Ben, The Patriot, Gran Torino, Notting Hill, Nights in Rondathe, The Wedding Singer, The Bridges of Madison County, etc. Oh, I could go on and on about my favorite movies about love and about underdogs winning.
I have DVD copies of some of my favorite films, however, there are some films that are really too old and too hard to find that I just hope that I could at least catch a re-run on the movie channels. Working at night does not do me any good, since I would be at work when my favorite film is shown on TV.
Thanks to #wheretowatch, I can get easy online access to theater schedules and locations. It points me to stores and kiosks where I can buy digital copies of my favorite movies, as well as digital downloading and streaming sites just by using the search tool! This is not an app, which is really great! I can watch movies I love on any device! One more great thing is that the site is ad-free!
Want to know more about Where To Watch? Watch the video below and you'll agree with me that this is such a wonderful site. Never again will you miss a chance to watch THAT movie that will create an impact on your lives.
Disclosure statement: This is a sponsored post by Sverve for wheretowatch.com.
I saw this video on youtube. The song sounded very familiar and then I remembered that this was the song for a Coke commercial way back in the 70s. The message is simple - spread love and peace. I am sharing it with you today.
I'd Like to Build the World A Home
Performed by The New Seekers
Songwriters: B.Backer, B. Davis, R. Cook, R. Greenway
Today I share with you a beautiful song performed by one of our country's finest singers, Gary Valenciano. This song is included in the official soundtrack of the movie "All my Life."
I have written about so many different things but I have not yet made one single post about the man who made me believe in love again... and this song says so much about it.
I remember so well the day you came into my life. You asked for my name, you had the most beautiful smile. October 15, 2006. The day "you" and "me" became "us" and "we." I found my soul mate, my best friend, my buddy. I met you, my sweet Poppa bear.
How did you know I needed someone like you in my life? How did you know, baby? Did you feel the void in my heart? Among the billions of women on earth, how did you find me?
You came at the right time in my life. We were both coming out of broken relationships. We shared our sadness and hurt. It helped to have someone who understood. It was heartwarming to be give and receive the love and care we both longed for. You went ahead and took on the responsibility of helping me raise my kids when their own father turned his back on them. Thank you for saving me and my children.
I'll never forget how you brought the sun to shine in my life and took all the worries and fears that I had. After my marriage with my first husband ended up in separation, I lost all belief in love and marriage. Whenever I see a young couple getting married, all I could think of is "He's going to find another woman and dump her like trash." All that changed when I met you. It was you baby, who made me believe in love again. In God's time, we will seal our love with the bond of marriage. I guess what I'm really trying to say, its not everyday that someone comes my way. No words can express how much I love you. Love is best expressed in ways and deeds. Between the coffee and cigarettes, the occasional bottle of beer we share, new recipes and wonderful cheese, its the loving glances we exchange with each other. The soft smile, the caring gestures, lots of hugs and silly laughter are things that make our day complete. I am looking forward to a lifetime with you, sweetie. My pinky promise! We'll grow old and wrinkled together, count grandchildren, get our own "His" and "Hers" walking sticks, or wheelchairs, or diapers, or what-nots. We will live a full life together. Our children will look to us as models of how love and family should be. You will be my forever sunshine, my cuddly bear, my sweetie pie. I love you baby. You've got this feisty dragon all mushy right now.
Ten days before Christmas and I have come across this video on youtube. It opened up all emotions and tears started flowing down my face. The unspeakable pain of Mary watching her child suffer and not being able to help Him.
In this Blessed Season, please take a moment away from all the festivities and say a silent prayer of thanks. Through Mary, our Lord Jesus was born to offer His Life to save us from our sins. May we put it in our hearts that in this season of giving, let us share our blessings with the less fortunate. Teach our children to be loving and compassionate towards others.
Keep in mind all those who are far away from their families; the homeless; the orphans; the sick and dying; the victims of war and famine. Say a prayer for the world.
I am thankful to have been raised a Catholic and I am proud of my Christian faith. I am paying it forward by feeding a hungry child this Christmas. Please do the same if you can.
If you have never thought about exploring religion for yourself, now is a better time than ever. Check out these Living Church of God reviews today to find out more.
My prayers of peace and happiness to everyone. Have a blessed Celebration of Christ's Birth.
"And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of God shone around them and they were terribly frightened; and the angel said to them "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people; for today in the city of David, there has been born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." (Luke 2: 9-12)
No other joy can compare to the feeling of coming home.
What exactly IS home? Home is family, home is warmth. It is a having dinner together, it is all about hugs, kisses and laughter. Home is where the only language spoken is love.
Home is where every one longs to be.
In our earthly existence, we are so preoccupied in creating home for ourselves, and yet we are still restless and anxious about what the future will be. We work endlessly to be able to buy false happiness - gadgets, appliances, furnishings. With all the good things we have put in our home, we are still unhappy.
Then we realize that the most solid foundation we can ever build a home on is to put God in the center of our lives. We have to welcome Him into our homes. He is the God of unconditional love. He alone can make us feel complete. God patiently waits for us when we leave home. He guides us back when we go astray. He does not hold grudges against us when we turn our backs on Him.
The world is in various degrees of turmoil. Brother against brother. Murders, famine, disease. We can only watch in disbelief about the crimes committed against children and the elderly. All we have to do to end this is to come home.
I have no knowledge of how many more years I have in this life. Only God knows. In the meantime, I will strive to make my earthly home a real home - with God in the center. And I will be looking forward to another place, up there with my Creator.. that time when I can get to see His Holy Face, with His arms outstretched to welcome me.. To hear His voice saying.. "Welcome home, my child. WELCOME HOME."
Praise and Glory to the Holy Triune God who lives and reigns forever!
Video Credits: Song Title: "HOME" Artist: Gary Valenciano Video courtesy of www.youtube.com and Universal Records, Philippines.
The movie "Anak" ("Child") is a moving story about a mother who was forced to leave her children to work as a maid in Hong Kong. This movie aptly depicts the lives of the majority of Filipinos working overseas, and of the families they have left behind.
I am not new to this feeling. I was an OFW. I worked in Taiwan caring for the elderly. Those were the loneliest two years in my life. I still consider myself lucky because I did not suffer the same fate as Josie (the lead character in the movie). Kudos to my mom to whom I entrusted my children when I left. She did a very good job keeping them grounded and guiding them towards a straight path.
I am sharing a clip of the movie, the confrontation scene where Josie vents out all her emotions on her eldest child, Carla who grew up wild and rebellious. This is a "box of tissues" scene and honestly, watching it makes me cry EVERY TIME.
"Wind blowing on my face Sidewalk flying beneath my bike A five-year old's first taste Of what freedom's really like.."
I am the eldest of 4 children. My dad was a doctor, employed as a company physician in a large textile manufacturing plant. I guess my dad wanted a son for a first born, and had no second thoughts of buying boy stuff for me. When I was little, I had the best toys - a big pedal car, a special hand made slingshot, toy soldiers, and battery operated trains and trucks.
"He was running right beside me
His hand holding on the seat
I took a deep breath and hollered
As I headed for the street.."
The best gift I received as a child was a shiny red bicycle! I was lucky enough to have grown up in a large house, with a long 4 car garage where I learned to balance on my new bike. I have lost count of how many scrapes, bruises and bumps I got in my desire to learn to ride a bike on my own. One Saturday afternoon, Daddy was right there beside me, giving me tips, cheering me on and yet scared to let go of the seat for fear that I might fall (again). How exhilarating it was to finally be able to ride my shiny red bike all by myself. My dad's eyes could not conceal how proud he was of me that day.
"You can let go now, Daddy, you can let go
Oh, I think I'm ready to do this on my own
Its still a little bit scary but I want you to know
I'll be okay now, Daddy. You can let go.."
I eventually learned to ride the bike. No more wobbling, no more sudden stops. I would ride my bike around the driveway and the backyard for hours until my butt was sore. I loved that bike. I was confident enough to go biking to the store, to a classmate's house, to the bakery. I hated running errands, but when I earned my parents' trust to ride the bike outside the house, I was already volunteering to do it for every member of the family. When I got to that age when girls have that growth spurt, my Dad decided it was time to get me a bigger bike. I loved the new one even more! Daddy would watch me from the front porch as I circled around and around. He loved me. I am sure of that.
"I was standing at the altar
Between the two loves of my life
To one I've been a daughter
To one I soon would be a wife.."
The phase of teenage rebelliousness was the norm. I felt how much my parents resented my partying, my sleep-overs with friends. I explained that I was not doing anything that I would regret later on. I needed my parents' trust. In exchange, I breezed through college and handed them my diploma - a degree in Zoology. Done and over with in 7 semesters. I was more than ready to get into medical school.
But fate had its way. A few months after graduation from pre-med, I got pregnant. I could not even dare to look Daddy in the eyes. He was hurt. I hurt him. All I did was cry. I was so guilty. Daddy's words pierced my very being - "What have I done to deserve this?"
Despite his reluctance, Daddy needed to set the path straight for me again. He continued to send me through medical school. He took care of the expenses for my baby. He paid for the entire wedding and reception. He still believed in me.
"When the preacher asked
'Who gives this woman?'
Daddy's eyes filled up with tears
He kept holding tightly to my arm
Till I whispered in his ear
You can let go now Daddy, you can let go
Its still feels a little bit scary
But I want you to know
I'll be okay now, Daddy. You can let go.."
Years passed. I was a junior in med school, had two kids and lived in a small apartment, several blocks away from my parents. I spent one weekend at my parents' house when Daddy called me in his room. He told me to sit down beside him on the bed. "What's up, Dad?" I asked. Daddy took a deep breath and said.. "I have cancer. I know I do. I am a doctor. I am sure of this"
My whole body went numb. My dad who was strong and healthy, so fun loving and always after the welfare of my mom and my siblings is sick with cancer? It can't be true. No! Its not true. I sat there in silence. I finally found some words to say..."Does mom know?"
"It was killing me to see the strongest man I ever knew
Wasting away to nothing in that hospital room
You know he's only hanging on for you
That's what the night nurse said
My voice and heart were breaking
As I crawled up on his bed and said...
You can let go now, Daddy. You can let go
Your little girl is ready to do this own my own
Its gonna be a little bit scary but I want you to know
I'll be okay now, Daddy. You can let go..
You can let go."
My father died on the 26th of April, 1992. We were at his bedside until his heart beat its last. Daddy finally let go.
"You can let go now, Daddy"
Artist: Crystal Shawanda
Thank you to Larry Lan, the artist who uploaded this wonderful video.
I have been a Catholic all my life. My mom is extremely devout. Her day begins and ends with prayer. When my dad was still alive, they made sure that we attended the 8 am mass every Sunday.
Growing up in exclusive Catholic girls schools strengthened my faith in God. I am not much of a church-goer, but I do pray - A LOT.
Miracles? They are true. I cannot forget that miracle I experienced when I was in 4th grade. Too young to understand, but never too young to feel the Love of God.
I had a classmate in grade school who was very well off. She had the best school bag her parents can buy. She had a beautiful lunch box by Sanrio, a famous (and unbelievably expensive) brand made in Japan. One day, my classmate brought a Hello Kitty stuffed doll. It was very nice. Soft, silky and holding it in your hand was heaven. My classmate was not snotty, she willingly gave each of us a chance to hold her doll and cuddle it. I drew up all my strength and asked her "May I borrow your doll overnight? I want to show it to my parents, maybe they can buy me one like that." To my surprise, she said "Sure!"
I emptied out my school bag, and stuffed my books in my locker. I wanted to make room in my bag for that precious little doll. When the school bus dropped me off at home, I ran upstairs to my room and opened my bag. I got the doll out and held it in my hands ever so gently like it was some kind of sacred thing. I then heard my mom calling me downstairs for a snack. "Be right there, Mom!" So I got out of my school uniform, left the doll on my bed and went downstairs to eat.
I hurriedly stuffed my favorite peanut-butter sandwich in my mouth and washed it down with a glass of milk. "Thanks, Mom!" I said, and raced right back upstairs. To my horror, the doll was gone! It was not on my bed where I left it, it was not in my closet, not under the bed, not anywhere! I felt weak and helpless. I was scared. Major scared. And then I started to cry.
I felt helpless and desperate. I could not possibly tell my parents. Not at that time. With no one to turn to, I knelt down and prayed. I prayed really hard. I asked God for forgiveness, for desiring things that do not belong to me. I asked Him to show me where the doll was and that I would be a good girl from then on. Crying and praying and storming Heaven for answers. I bowed my head in total resignation of my fate.
And then out of the corner of my eye, I saw the doll. It was on the floor, between the bedroom door and my closet. How did it get there? I never did find out how.
It was nothing else but a miracle. God heard my prayers. It was my very first real encounter with God's Divine Mercy.
I have had many others since that time. The birth of each of my three children were miracles. To wake up everyday, to feel, to love, to be alive is a miracle.
That experience taught me a lesson - to pray to God with childlike confidence. To put all my trust in Him, to ask forgiveness for my faults, to thank Him for the blessings He gives me and yet I fail to see.
Little miracles happen everyday. It is only with an open mind and a loving heart that one appreciates and acknowledges God's true love for us all.
Left the corporate world to pursue a lifelong dream of being a successful writer. I am a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mom and grandmom enjoying everyday with faith and love in my heart as I go on this journey called LIFE.
Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.
So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; if I persist long enough I will win.
I will persist. I will win.
-Scroll Marked III, The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
