Thanks for the Hot Chocolate

My marriage is hanging on a thread. It's a hot chocolate that's gone cold; a sweet relationship that went sour. And as I was watching the evening news, the anchor said Congress might soon pass a new Law regarding annulment that will make the entire procedure easier and more affordable for more Filipinos. That could be good news for my husband! Should I thank you Bro? For the annulment news, no. But for whatever that's left and for everything that's still keeping the marriage from crossing that thin line, yes.

Thank you for the daughter who will always give me the all the good reasons to go on. Thank you for the good memories of the past years.......... Thank you for the thread and the hot chocolate. :-)

The car didn't overheat!

Due to financial constraints, the car hasn't experienced proper maintenance for the past months. It has an unrepaired dent in front due to an accident, the aircon is no longer functioning, battery gets discharged easily, gauges not working properly. It can't be driven very far because it overheats! We only use it when we go to church on Sundays and when my daughter and I have to go to the grocery.  And thank you Bro because in all these short travels using our car, my daughter and I gets back home safely each time. Commuting with a child, especially one as hyper-active as my daughter, is really quite difficult. Being able to use a vehicle offers so much convenience. We got our grocery supplies this morning and thanks Bro because, again, we made it home safely.

Thank you for our very smart daughter, for her daddy who came home tonight, for Virgie who helped us clean the house clutters and for the help in meeting my work deadlines.

Shrek - The Movie

My daughter can watch Shrek and  Toy Story the whole day without complaining. I thank her for singing this song to me one day while she was watching Shrek. It sure made me very happy  --- not only because she never stops amazing me with her knack to memorize song lyrics and movie/commercial dialogues, but also because this song has a very beautiful lyrics. Bless her for finding the song that that can lift spirits....

Golden leaves looked brown to me. 
The world had less color without you 
Shapes in the sky looked plain to my eyes. 
The world had less color without you 
I... know... plenty of people with eyes... closed 
they don't see you like I do 
Darling I do 

Notes on the keys meant nothing to me. 
The world didn't sing without you 
Birds in the trees fell silent for me. 
The world didn't sing without you. 
Without you... 
I... know... plenty of people with eyes... closed 
they don't see you like I do 
Darling I do 
Darling I do see you 

I... know.. Plenty of people with eyes.. closed.. 
They don't see you like 
I.. know.. Plenty of people with eyes.. closed.. 
They don't see you like 
I.. know.. plenty of people with eyes.. closed.. 
They don't see you like I do. 
Darling I do 
Darling I do 
Darling I do 
I do 
Darling I do 
Darling I do see you.

Thank you for the job!

Thank you Bro for the job which keeps me busy all throughout the day and which makes me so tired that I can sleep soundly at night.

Thank you for bringing my husband safely home today.

Thank you for giving me time to walk with my daughter around the block tonight right after we ate dinner. She said she saw You riding on the moon and that you keep following us while we're walking because she's been good the whole day.

Thanks for the new internet connection.

I love you Bro!

The Power of Gratitude

It's the 9th day of the new year, 2011. I wonder how I could make things "different" this year. Somehow, 2010 managed to mark the worst and some of the most painful experiences in my life. There have been challenges that threatened my most precious relationships. There were special occasions that brought deep sadness instead of the usual happy celebration. And there were moments when I even doubted if things will ever be okay again....

I want to be okay. I need to be okay. I have read enough books, have heard many inspirational talks, that all it takes is to change the way we think. To believe with all my heart, with all conviction, that there is indeed a brighter and better future. I know it's easier said than done. After all, this is not the first time that I am making a "new start". There have been times in the past when I was also down, gotten up and made a promise to start anew. I don't want to say that I failed each time for I am still here where I started --- in fact, probably in a much deeper mess than I was before. That's why I keep asking what it would take to do things really different this time. Because I am determined to make it really work.....

Call it my last card. My make or break. This is it. This is the year that I will have to make the difference --- create it in fact. I will have to create that change now so I can be a better person. I realize it's not the years who have been unkind to me. It was me. It has always been me. And therefore, this year, the change will be in ME.

I take full responsibility for the things that happened in my life. And I am thankful for each and every experience that brought me to this day of realization. God is good and He has made me live up to this day for a very good reason. It may not be easy to understand but I trust that He knows what He's doing.

Each day, for the rest of the year, I will show gratitude for the many things that will happen during the day. This way I will keep my eyes, heart and mind open to even the smallest things that I should thank God for. This way, I will always remember God's kindness and love for me. And I will always feel in my heart that He is faithful, that He is never far away because He is always with me.

They say gratitude is a sure way of making a person happy. Because being grateful makes you realize that despite all of life's inconveniences, God never falls short of His promises to provide you with the necessary things that will get you through the day.

Today:

*I'm thankful that I didn't have to work so I am able to start this blog. My writing job finished early last night so I was able to sleep early and I didn't have to worry about working today.

*I'm so happy that I was able to go to church with my daughter. I'm so proud and happy to see her walk on her own at the offertory. She sang along with several songs at the mass. And she asked for my hand for blessings at the end of the mass.

*I'm glad I was able to bring my daughter  to a mall arcade where she played and enjoyed some rides. She kept saying "thank you mommy".

Thank you, Bro, for this wonderful Sunday. I decided to wear my wedding ring again today and hopefully I will never have to take it off again...... I love you and I love the family that you gave me here on earth. Help me become a better person. Help me restore broken relationships. Help me forgive myself..... Amen.