An Award-Winning Audio Bible

God is everywhere and He never leaves us. Yet, He sometimes seemed to be present and sometimes absent. If we don’t know Him well, we don’t realize that He maybe more present to us when He is absent than when He is present. Only those men that are never separated from God who never questions His right to separate Himself from them. They never lose Him because they always realize that they never deserve to find Him and that despite of their unworthiness they have already found Him- for God has found them first and would never let them go.

Listen to the words of the Bible brought to life like never before. The Bible Experience: New Testament Audio CD is a fully-dramatized reading of the complete Bible performed by an unprecedented ensemble of distinguished African-American actors, musicians, and personalities. The cast includes such recognizable voices as: Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Juanita Bynum, Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin and more. The dramatization is further enriched by an original musical score composed by Grammy award–winning producers and the recording is truly contemporary, using the accessible and trusted Today’s New International Version (TNIV) of the Bible. It is presented by a stellar ensemble of almost 400 of today's award-winning actors, musicians, clergy, directors, and producers, original musical underscore by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Hollywood-style sound design created at Technicolor Studios, 2007 Audies Audiobook of the Year for the New Testament Edition. Visit The Bible Experience website for a free Nick Cannon clip and for your download code, use this: GEN3SPRK. It’s an amazing Audio Bible for everyone, beginners or not.

Cheerful Christmas & Street Lights

On our way to Rick’s party, we passed some well-decorated houses. It was so fun-looking and it’s amazing that they connect all the lights from one house to another leaving it hanging on the streets. In the Philippines, it could be a great place for a disco, hahaha!

Then, it became more ridiculous when we went inside the house and found hundreds of snowman and Santa Claus everywhere, lol! Oh, it was such a great picture and it must be a great collection. Rick said his wife had her own closet for all those collections and she buy those after Christmas coz they’re way cheap.

Wordless Wednesday "Christmas Party & Exchanging Gifts"

We did have a blast last Saturday at Rick’s party. There were around 50 people and some kids. I was trying all the wine but my goodness; I just can’t stand any of it, hahaha! I don’t drink and so I was a little tipsy after trying all those wines they got, lol! It’s amazing how I was able to mix in the crowd, sort of mingle and talk. I mean, it’s not the usual behavior of me towards strangers. Some of them I’ve already met and known since the previous parties. I just love the atmosphere and all the people that I have talked to were all so nice- makes me feel more home, hehe.

Counting the Blessings

What's the difference between Grace and Blessings? As what I have read and understood, "Grace" is something that is given to you but you never asked for it. One perfect example is the conversion of St. Paul who had been known to persecute the church before he became the Great Apostle. In short, Grace is unfair while "Blessing" is something that you have asked for and is given to you. However, there’s a fine line between asking and not doing anything. They say that when you pray, you don’t pray for money or asking God to solve your problem but you pray that God will strengthen and guide you. Both I and my husband don’t believe in luck. We believe that we are responsible of all our actions, that’s why asking for guidance is so important.

By the way, the other Saturday we went to fine dining to sort of celebrate our awesome year in business. With the economic situation right now, we felt so much blessed. The independents are just so slow but we picked up on the big chains and it’s just growing and growing more. We can’t even fill some PO’s since we’re out of stock on some best-selling products. So, all in all- we’re so blessed!

We moved to a new building last month- thinking we could have a room to grow but so surprising that the warehouse is so crowded right away. My husband gave me a raise for the second time which is awesome too! I’m just so grateful that he’s so patient with me. I had a hard time adjusting and working on his company that basically doesn’t have any system yet. I guess, I learned a lot knowing that I have no business background except an Engineering Management subject way back in college. It gave me great opportunities to meet some business-minded people from different parts of the world and somehow opened up new inspiration and challenges.

Cheers to all of us! God is soo good!

Holiday Hugs and Tags

Last year- we bought a Christmas tree two weeks earlier. By Christmas day, its half-dry and almost dead, haha! That was fine though coz we had our Christmas party a day earlier since we’re going on a road trip for a 10-day vacation. It was indeed my very first fresh Christmas tree.

I got an award from Earthlingorgeous. Thank you much for this award, girl! Based on the rule, I should mention at least 5 things that I love about Christmas. There used to be a lot of things to write about but I think, it’s a little different now. There were great Filipino traditions that I have missed ever since I started working abroad like hearing Christmas carols from kids, the 4AM mass for 9 days before Christmas, the Noche Buena and the foods on the table shared by the whole family and some of the neighbors. But I guess I should start with my updated list, lol! So, here goes:

1. I love hearing the Christmas songs
2. I love putting the Christmas decorations on the Christmas tree.
3. I love shopping for Christmas gifts
4. I love getting Christmas bonus, lol!
5. I love watching all those Christmas lights around the neighborhood
6. I love giving and opening gifts, haha!
7. I love Christmas parties
8. I love Christmas vacations (we’re Dec. 24th- Jan 1st)

My list just goes on and on but one thing for sure that’s very important to me. This is the best time to evaluate all the things that I have done for the whole year, counting all the blessings and looking forward for more challenges for the coming year with a prayer that God will guide, strengthen and love me more.

I'm spreading this Christmas award to BK of "Symphony of Love". I've read a lot of things she had shared on her blog about Christmas memories and cheers:) The very first blog I've read about Christmas:)

Anyway, here’s one more award though from Liza of “Mommy’s Little Corner” and wasn’t able to post right away- so sorry, girl:( As always, I’m caught up with a lot of things to do. I have 2 other blogs of which I haven’t updated for quiet some time now. Wish I had ample of time to blog, hahaha! I just don’t want to disappear in the blogosphere and being a blogger- I had learned a lot of things. I’m a person who loves to learn and explore. Okay, there you have it- thanks Liz for this Lemonade award…

So, I’m passing this award to my blogging friends:
Atenean101
Shiela
Nortehanon

Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Be sure to link your nominees in your post
3. Let them know that they received this award by commenting on their blogs.
4. Share the love and link to this post.

Hoping you'll have a wonderful weekend!

Give Love on Christmas

Last year, one of the parishioners at St. Timothy’s had made a deal with the parish that he will donate 30grand as long as the Parish can double the amount that he’s going to give before Christmas. The purpose of the fund raising is to reduce the debt of the parish. So there were 2 collections for every Sunday masses and after 4 weeks- we were not just able to raise the money but doubled the targeted amount. Isn’t that great?

Last Sunday started the Advent season. In Catholic Church, the word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.

Christmas is very important to me. I don’t want that feeling to go away whenever I hear any Christmas songs. It’s the same feeling I have felt ever since I remember. There’s a great joy, serenity, peace and hope that somehow uplift my spirit. It’s a magical feeling of excitement as if there’s somebody that is coming! I can’t believe I still feel the same way like I was a kid.

There was a Christmas tree full of wishes in the church last Sunday. After the mass, the priest (Msgr. John) invited everyone to pick whatever they want. I thought I’d pick two, one for me and one for my husband. Here’s what we got:

Wishing all of you wonderful and merry holidays!

Wordless Wednesday "Foggy Week"

(my misty bug in the foggy driveway, loved it, haha!)

Black Friday It Is!

Now, I sort of finally comprehend what a Black Friday mean, hahaha. I kept bugging my husband that I’ll take off by noon to the mall. Nobody in his family had ever been to Black Friday at all. It was so weird when I asked them about it; they all said the same thing- no way! My friend (who works in Macy’s) had to wake up so early because she will start as early as 4:45AM. I thought it’s something that I should be checking out, lol! So, out of curiosity (yap, that’s me); I kept bugging my husband that I’ll hop in the mall in which I did but I guess I was a little late. It’s crowded but not as busy as I thought it would be. It was around 4 in the afternoon. I could see a lot of ladies and some disgusted men, I would guess, lol! I have seen some irritated kids in the stroller crying so loud. I was hopping from one boutique to another looking for a particular dress. I have been buying dresses now perhaps I was just tired of wearing jeans. To my surprise, I didn’t see any good dresses at all. There’s one boutique that I really liked their styles but the line to the cashier is soooo long and I just thought it’s not worth it. Good thing, the mall is open till 10PM.

My husband arrived 2 hours later and was shocked I don’t have any shopping bags at all, haha! I got tired fitting and hopping and so I told him that we just go home coz I didn’t find anything special to buy. He was laughing at me and said, I was the only lady he heard that get tired of fitting and shopping around,hmmm. Well, I managed to buy nice dress, shoes and bags and ended up spending more than 500 bucks:)

We were late shoppers and I think it's better coz there's no rush at all. I think I got great deals too! I might do it next year again... the secret though is shop late:)