Before I go to sleep,

I would like to thank my cousin, Jessica Erin, for making a background music for this blog. She's the person I can count on when it comes to html's.

Good night!

What makes people important?

It’s not just the happiness that you feel when you see them,
Nor feel the pain when you miss them...
It’s when you get mad because that  person never listens to your concern.

When you think you're important to that person, please never take them for granted. Especially our parents with unconditional love for us, or anyone else who cares for you. All they want is to make you happy and to protect you from harm.

I should have listened to them

A week not blogging? Oh come on! I missed this.

My summer vacation is really that busy, we travel here, we travel there. It's just so fun. But now i'll be staying at home for some while now and enjoy watching TV shows (just this summer) not until April 23  :)

I feel so regretful with what my mom and my grandma keep reminding me:

"Wash the dishes first before you use the computer/laptop!"

(sigh.)

They were so right, very right. I've learned this lesson a hundred times, but I just keep doing this over and over again. I didn't listen. And I can't bring back the time now-- as many say, the time where I should have obeyed what they have told me.

Now, my right hand keeps shaking even if I don't want to. It trembles anytime it wants and I don't want this to happen TO ME. In Tagalog my hand is Pasmado.

arrgghhh... Is there a solution for this to stop?

Catching Up...

On Monday, All graduating students went to San Antonio Padua de Parish Church to have a practice for our Baccalaureate Mass for the following day. I was chosen to be the first reader. I always love reading. I became merrier because I'm using my reading skills for God, to give service to Him. And you know what? I am always chosen to be the reader for God. Why? Last time I had my retreat in Saint Michael's I was chosen to be a reader too, and I'll also be the one to lead the prayer in our Graduation Ceremony. I feel so blessed.

I also noticed that whatever skills you have you can use those to serve God. Just like my sister, she's good in dancing, and because of that she danced a praise song together with her classmates, and one of the teachers in my school was also chosen to sing the Psalm response because she has a wonderful voice.

After the practice we directly went home to have our lunch and to enjoy using my dad's Android!

On Tuesday, My family and I went to the church to attend the Baccalaureate Mass. After that, my adviser released the invitation for our graduation. The sequence of the program and the awards were printed there. I was overwhelmed when I read it. I was the only student in my batch to receive the most number of medals! I felt so proud and I know I made my parents proud too!

Below is the invitation:

(I'll be the one to invocate the program)

These are where you can read what awards I will be receiving on stage on my Graduation Day.

Just look for the name PAULE, Joana Erica Danielle B:

 service award

 academic award and best in computer

loyalty award (been there since 2001-2011)

After everything at the church we went to Duty Free to buy some goodies and other imported items like chocolate, clothes, foods, etc..and the main reason why I loved to be there because I can grab lots of fresh milks!! Yummm.. I'm addicted drinking those liquids. I even make them as an alternative for water (which is totally bad!)

I know all of us were already tired but we still proceeded to the mall at Metro Market! Market! to fix our wrist watch and buy my most awaited book of the last series of Fablehaven..

I can feel the over flowing of achievements from these days.

Wednesday, the graduating students were given a chance to have a rest day for all the practices we've been doing. My family decided to go to Pangasinan, which is a 5-hour drive when you go there. We left home at 1 in the morning and was able to be there by 6AM. It was a total hassle because I lacked sleep.We dropped by at the Manaoag Church to attend the mass and buy those special candles. We also bought some 'Tupig', a native food only here in the Philippines, which is so mouth watering!

 Because it was still early we visited our relative in Tarlac and had a little talk with them. I found something interesting inside the house. They have an OWL! It's adorable and friendly. It's like the Owl, Erol, of Ron Weasley in Harry Potter.

After an hour, the whole family decided to go back home before we reach dark. For us not to get bored we brought our laptops and watched TRON LEGACY inside the car.. amazing day I must say!

Before I forgot, we can never leave without some snacks with us so I put these inside my bag:

Lastly, On Thursday, my sister had her big event, her graduation day! We were all proud because she academically excelled and received an award for 3rd proficiency. For a treat, dad brought us in a restaurant for a family dinner.

I went home so drained. I lack sleep yet I forced myself to upload photos on Facebook because I can't wait to publish them on worldwideweb.

The following day will be my own graduation day! Will be posting here too.

Thank God for the wonderful days!

@ St. Michael's Retreat House

At last, I'm home!

I had an overnight stay at Saint Michael's for the seniors' retreat.

I won't make this too vulgar because the speaker said so.

The retreat house is big, clean and peaceful. I was one of the students to be assigned at the clergy room.
No gadgets were allowed so I didn't bring my phone.

We started yesterday at 10 in the morning. Our sessions and other activities were fun. We talked a lot about our parents, family and God. Few about choosing the right friends. I was very emotional inside that session room. I had two handkerchiefs, both soaked in wet. I can't help but to cry. Tears kept falling. They were not tears of sadness, but of happiness. I know for so long that I am very lucky in life. I tried to stop the tears but didn't worked out, i'm just really such a crybaby.

We ended our activity last  night around 10:30. My roommates and I didn't sleep as soon as we entered the clergy room. We had our midnight snack, talked more, and I took a bath even I'm shivering in cold. I was only able to sleep for 4 hours or less.

By 6:15 in the morning, today, the mass had started and i am blessed to be chosen as the 2nd reader and felt more better because I was able to give service this Sunday even if  I'm not with my family together at the church.

We've shared so many stories, listened to their problems, prayed for each other and so much more. I just have to leave them there.

For the second time of my life, after 4 years, I have revived my spiritual and mental health. My heart has recovered from all the pain in the past and was healed by God. I feel so refreshing, accomplished, complete and thankful!

I got home safe and sound around 11:30 in the morning bringing the joy from the retreat house to my own home.

God is so good! :)

I am thankful now that...

I saw my name listed as one of the honor students AGAIN in our year level.

Hooray to me! I'm so happy!

I also thank God for this wonderful blessing, for guiding me, giving me strength and the knowledge to do my best to be part of this achievement.

That's not the only reason why I am so glad today. At  first quarter I made a good start, I was placed as 5th. Not bad. But when 2nd Quarter came, my rank went down, I was then placed 8th. Now, this 3rd quarter of  the school year I can't believe I came up to 4th. It's a miracle!

Well, I've always wanted this. I am so blessed, so, so blessed. I don't know what else to say. I just want to share with you my happiness, my bliss!

I made once more my parents proud! I will continue this until the very END.

So help me, God.

A note to those of you hurt- Hold on

Just hold on.

Everything will be OK.

Although in our journey here in mortal life, will encounter forks and turnings in the road from time to time- some more serious and painful than others, but we all have trials that will come.

My heart is so heavy right now, I feel such a sorrow in my heart.

I just feel for those that hurt at such a hopeful time. Hang on.

This time of year you should feel ever grater love from our Savior

and you should feel the peace that comes when we place everything into his hands.

Hold on. 

I know in your heart you will have the peace and determination to do this.

I have felt that all is lost, that my life is useless and that I am good for nothing. I have learned as I have healed body and mind that, it is simply not true- and so with you.

I am all for feeling sorrow and loss, but only for a while, soon it will eat away at your soul and hurt relationships.

Carry on- move forward, hold your head high.

This too shall pass. And it does. And sometimes we will carry scars on the outside, some of us on the inside, and some both, but you are never alone.

Never.

Merry Christmas to you, and to your loved ones.

Kirby’s first day

4:30 am - Kirby’s arrival

6:30 - breakfast at home

9:20 – early lunch

12:00 nn - @ MOA; shopping

- had merienda @ DQ

- had dinner @ Kenny Roger’s

- watched Harry Potter 7 part 1

8:40 pm - driving home

10:00 - @ home

10:30- Went to bed and sleep

It’s so fun to be around with my cousin, he’s so cute, bubbly, and very forgiving. He was the one who invited us to watch Harry Potter 7, but when we were already there, he was snoring infront of the screen … hahaha... And Adrian taught him how to play a certain game in PsP.

So far so good, he enjoys staying with us here in the Philippines. I hope I can visit them there in Canada too.

Another inspiring day 11.22.10

Today, Janus made my day a good start. He went to school to give me instructions for he and my family will leave the house. I blushed when he came to talk to me.

…. And because of him, I was chosen to be the best student to give speech in Filipino subject for this day, and I believe my week will be as good as this Monday.

With full of love,

Erica ♥

Thanks be to God.

Thank you for the vision to read Your word.

Thank you for the wonderful scent of freshly blooming flowers.
Thank you for the refreshing spray of water coming off of the lake.
Thank you for strawberry season.
Thank you for bird songs.

Thank you for my amazingly supportive friends and family.

Church is cool!

My family and I went to the church to attend mass. I was very happy in the morning because of the priest’s story in homily. He was narrating to us a wife who just got home from church and learned something new from the priest who led the mass earlier. She approached her husband and said, “Honey, the priest said that there is no marriage in heaven, that when we die. We won’t recognize each other anymore. It’s sad to know.

The husband laughed and faced his wife, “Why yes, honey! If there is marriage in heaven, it won’t be heaven anymore.” He paused. “You know. It will look like hell.”

Everybody inside the church laughed at the story. Many agreed because their understanding would be that those wives will never stop nagging their husbands even they are already in heaven. Heaven will still be a headache for the men.

And there was another one.

One day the priest asked a male college student why he didn’t choose to be a priest like him. The guy said, if he’ll be a priest, he won’t be able to marry a woman. The priest agreed with his answer and walked away. He found another person to interview, this time it was a female. He asked her, “Why didn’t you choose to be a nun? Being one of the sisters is not hard. All you have to do is pray inside the convent. Why?”

The female answered the same question like the first one. “Simple, if I’ll be a nun I won’t be able to marry a man.”

Back to the mass, the priest we were that moment pointed to the nuns beside us and said, “So they don’t have a boyfriend, do you, sisters? Or was that a lie?”

We laughed again for the second time.

The priest said something after that but I failed to hear it. All I heard at the last was, “Don’t worry, sisters. When I die and didn’t see any good looking man in heaven I will haunt you and tell you to date one, so you can experience how it’s like to be, right? Not bad.”

For the last time, the crowd laughed again. I laughed too, because they were laughing.

We ended the masses with smiles on our faces.

The Hero and the Pet

Mom is sick today.

I feel so sorry for her.

She always drives us everywhere we go. Especially when we go to Cavite. It is a far place from our home. It takes 2 hours to arrive there.

Mom was so tired doing her daily tasks, now that she didn't have her full rest, She got cold.

She drives the whole family when we want to visit the camp to see Janus (and went there today and hugged him so tightly, what an experience!).

she can't sleep while driving when we leave the house so early in the morning, while us, passengers, can sleep until we reach the place we are going.

I hope she feels better tomorrow.

oh, and babe, our pet puppy, just died when we came back home this night. She didn't bark when we parked the car, she didn't move when we called her name, we haven't heard anything from her. Poor doggie.

My sister cried because her one and only pet left her without saying goodbye. Babe was with us for 3 and a half month.

(sigh).

Problems, you can never avoid them.

(sigh).

Happy Fathers' Day

"To my dearest dad who is far away from me, Thanks for all the support you give me. I appreciate those things for me. Sometimes when you come back I'll chat with you for longer."

I've discovered something about my dad too! I think I inherit his hobby to make schedules of whatever he is planning whether it is a big or a small occasion. Like for example you're planning what to do with that whole week even if you know things will be changed when you're already in that day. We're same. Totally! I found it because I have seen some of his notes from an envelope he left here at home.


Miss you dADDy, A lot!

Sunday!

My family and I went to China town today with Janus. Yes, it's Mothers' day today, But no, we didn't go out to celebrate. We went there to buy something we need for our catering. After we had bought everything on the list we stepped inside the car. How sweet of Janus when he gave mom and grandma a rose and greeted them this event. He's so thoughtful!

At the end of the day he greeted me too! But it wasn't about being a mother.... "Happy GRANDMOTHERS' DAY!", he said as I close the gate when he'll leave. Haha, I laughed!

Last but definitely not the least, we bought a french poodle. She was named 'babe'. She's small, white, and cutie.