Happy Easter!

Here's wishing everyone a blessed Easter!

Celebrate!

Why don't you

My students wrote these messages after class. Our topic that day was about talents/gifts.

My students wrote this on the board

In CCD (Continuing Catholic Development), we discussed gifts/talents

I really enjoy teaching and getting to know how children perceive the world

Our discussions are never boring

Always insightful, at times noisy and most of the time funny

So last time, we were talking about gifts/talents

I asked each and everyone of them what their talents are

Interesting how children
perceive themselves and what they think they're good at

It can be as trivial as eating

or one even said, his talent is annoying people

to which I said, a talent is a gift to oneself and others

It should be something that give joy not only to you but to your family, friends, people around you

I don't believe in false humility

I believe that if we're good at something, we should always share it

Parable of the talents

Keep striving to be the best person one can be

in all aspects

So I was so touched when my students wrote this on the board just after

I dismissed them

Though this is a volunteer job
I feel like am compensated everytime

Whoever said teaching was a thankless job

I think I have just been paid til retirement!

Enjoy Christmas!

Is there an unselfish deed?

Today's Wednesday
Am on my 2nd year of teaching CCD (Continuing Catholic Development)
Last year, I thought will just try it out
Since my son was anyway going too
If you read the blog regularly
You remember how nervous I was about teaching kids
After awhile, you gain confidence
You get your own style
You get your groove
And you get to know and love the students
It then becomes easier, fulfilling

When I signed up again this year
My hubby asked, he thinks I sign up for too many pro bonos
I said, yea, am enjoying it
And part of it is am saving up points
til I get to that desired destination
the one that doesn't involve credit card points, haha

So today, it was raining so hard
And I just let go of my driver so no one to drive me
Such a shallow predicament, you might say
But in Manila, it can be if you're used to it

Was I tempted not to go, yes
Especially since it was raining bad
And my son's varsity practice got cancelled
So he's home early
It was tempting to stay home and be comfortable
and not take a cab

But then, one's gotta do, what one has to do
The guard got me a cab, no problem
Off I went to class
I even had another class join in cause their teacher was absent

I taught, we discussed, had activities, played games
Class ended
Mom came over to me and said her daughter always looks forward to CCD class
Another mom said, her daughter said she has the best teacher
Is it worth it?
You bet it is!

So while in the cab going home
I thought, it was worth going to class today
I enjoyed it
I feel good
Which made me think of that episode in Friends about doing an unselfish thing
When we do good things, we feel good, does it become a selfish act?
Nah, we do it without the intention of feeling good, it is after the unselfish act is done
that the good feeling comes in

Whether unselfish acts turn to selfish satisfaction
I want to look at it as a win-win situation

Happy middle of the week!

Take time for ten things

I want to share with you these words of inspiration from a friend sent through my e-mail many years ago. It's posted on our refrigerator and I would everyday read and remind myself.

Hope it inspires you as much as it inspires my everydays...

1. Take time to worship, it is the highway of reverence which cleanses and restores the soul.

2. Take time to work, it is the price of success.

3. Take time to think, it is the source of power.

4. Take time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.

5. Take time to help and enjoy friends, it is the source of happiness.

6. Take time to play, it is the secret of youth.

7. Take time to love, it is one great sacrament.

8. Take time to dream, it hitches the soul to the stars.

9. Take time to laugh, it is the singing that helps life's load.

10. Take time to PLAN, ORGANIZE, LEAD AND CONTROL, it is the secret of being able to make time for the first nine things.

It's almost weekend, take time...

Weekend

Just when I thought I can laze around this morning
I remembered I have the annual renewal seminar for lectors

Gotta go, enjoy the weekend!

The Circus is in town!

Watched the amazing Varekai last week

Have seen Cirque more than a decade ago in Hong Kong for their show Saltimbanco

It never fails to impress

Even my kids were amazed

When I see talents like these

It just makes me grateful for all the gifts He has bestowed on everyone

And for these gifted ones to mazimize their potential and share these gifts for the world to see

If you could, it is a must see!

Siem Reap's Catholic Church

After watching the sunrise by Angkor

We had to head back to hear Mass for my birthday

They only have 1 mass everyday and it was at 6:30 in the morning

I was pleasantly surprised that in this dominantly Buddhist country

I can still find a Catholic Church

It was small and modest

but somehow gives you a real connection up there

I was even touched that the nun came up to us & asked me to read the reading

And thought what a nice gift and honor from above

There were like 15 of us in that small chapel

4 from our family

and several really small children that I can assume the nuns were taking care of

It was simple, solemn and sincere

It's heartwarming to know that despite the minority

They still keep loyal to their faith

In these times where the world's direction and moralities

are justified by comfort and worldliness

It is encouraging to see steadfast men & women

who stay true to their journey to holiness

God bless His people.

Heartwarming notes

gift from my student

was so touched with his note

a note from a girl student


Yesterday was the last day of CCD

We had a potluck party

Was so touched when I got these notes from my students

Really touching and just how far we've come from being strangers the first day

to people whose lives you've touched and whose lives touched yours

Am gonna miss those children

and will always wish the best for them

Teaching is indeed one of the most fulfilling jobs one can venture into.

Maybe even once in your life, try it.

A different kind of bread

Today was my son's 1st Holy Communion.

Very touching and solemn

One of those moments when you reminisce the past, look at what's infront of you and start thinking about the future

So many momentous moments in a person's life
So many memories to make

So many already in the bank

Am glad we keep filling it up

one more precious than the other

Some simple, some momentous

But all make up the kind of person one becomes

Congratulations to all the 1st Communicants!
Keep the bread alive in you!