Simple Joy 20 : Paper Shop

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I can stay on this shop for hours. I literally can go around the shelves, displays and products without boredom. If it has something to do with the scent of the paper, I don't know. I just find the place very therapeutic, needless to say my appreciation of their products. :)

Come. 

Buy. 

Give it a try.

Simple Joy 19 : Coffee Hub

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

Who wouldn't want to stay in a cozy coffee hub with friends or, even by yourself? 

I've been to too many coffee shops, too many times. And with all the comings and goings, I've found the one closest to my heart!

Simple Joy 18 : Booksale

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I'd rather look for this store, no matter how big a mall is, than do an aimless window shopping:

With this around the corner, nothing comes close to my joy of being in a mall. :)

Simple Joy 17 : Selfie Shelfie

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

This has nothing to do with my selfie pictures on FB. This is but my fond collection of books and shelves which are growing little by little. Haay... such joy!

2011

2012

2013

More to come, hopefully. :)

Simple Joy 16 : My Sister's Writing Wit

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I have always admired my sister's wit, grace and skill in writing. I am a confessed fan. More than that, at times when I doubt my own writing, I always do come to her. 

Since she has not set up her own blog yet, I am posting one of her written thoughts from her social network page. :)

While I'm really happy and grateful for this new season in my life, I've got no tips to give...I realize. No human-concocted formula from any time frame of my experience or knowledge will guarantee 100 percent favorable outcome every single time. No. There are so many variables involved. There are factors I can't control to my advantage..and knowing myself, I don't dare "manipulate" anything or anyone.

It's humbling and more peaceful to know and experience what almost everybody knows already: believing and trusting God -- the God who is love and whose love endures forever. In times when a familiar question, "Did God really say...?" attempts to distract me, I am immediately reminded and comforted by Hebrews 6:13-20. Meditating on this makes me very grateful for the truth that it is impossible for God to lie. "God's promises" no longer have this "cliche" effect. They never have.

God's promises. He spoke them, He knows what to do with them. He spoke them, and I believe Him. I just say, "Amen!" "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 1:20)

Because of Jesus, the conditions and qualifications that I can never exert or produce 24/7 even if I "do my best" have been fully satisfied. I dare not discredit the magnitude of God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit just so I can feel "worthy" or feel like a genuine Christian.

It's humbling and more peaceful to know and experience what almost everybody knows already: believing and trusting God -- the God who is love and whose love endures forever. In times when a familiar question, "Did God really say...?" attempts to distract me, I am immediately reminded and comforted by Hebrews 6:13-20. Meditating on this makes me very grateful for the truth that it is impossible for God to lie. "God's promises" no longer have this "cliche" effect. They never have. 

God's promises. He spoke them, He knows what to do with them. He spoke them, and I believe Him. I just say, "Amen!" "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 1:20)

Because of Jesus, the conditions and qualifications that I can never exert or produce 24/7 even if I "do my best" have been fully satisfied. I dare not discredit the magnitude of God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit just so I can feel "worthy" or feel like a genuine Christian.

Wohoo! Way to go, sister! Please do write more, so I've got something good to read more and more. :)

Simple Joy 15 : 31 is for Pens

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

Who wouldn't to love this set of pens?

It was (if I still remember it well) shortly after my birthday my friend handed me a bag of 31 pens --- each pen represents a year of my existence. *wink*

... And EACH pen is intricately labeled (with my picture)! Goodness!!! 

For the gift that is exclusively received, to my friend I'd like to say 'THANK YOU'!

Simple Joy 14 : Scent-Tea Mental

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I've always loved tea lights. Maybe because I don't like having bright lights around. What adds to that is if matched with a potpourri oil bamboo scent... oh my, that's heaven! 

And so this I keep and own: tea lights, oil burners/tea light holders of different sorts and bamboo potpourri oil. :)

Once it's lit, it makes my day simply sweet. :)

Simple Joy 13 : My Lily Thingy

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

As shallow as it can be, but to this I don't want to contest. This is just me. If I want to be simply happy, I'll look for Lily's!

www.flickr.com

Try? :)

Simple Joy 12 : CCM

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

Contemporary Christian Music, it is. :)


Credits to Wikipedia.
Contemporary Christian Music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith. Today, the term is typically used to refer to pop, rock, or praise & worship styles.

Just to name a few of my favorite, these artists/songs are currently on my playlist:

It's amazing how music come to minister and encourage weary and lonely souls, liven up dull moments and the like. As each has his own music & lyric preferences, I believe as each song accomplish the purpose of giving glory to God and making his Name, Person, and Attribute known, I can say it's all worth it. Then,

listening to their songs is all worth it,
supporting them is all worth it, 
going to their concerts is all worth it.

More so, mere listening that leads to worshiping the Lord with them makes it all so definitely worth it! :)

---

* All images were taken from their Facebook page. View and hope you'll listen to their songs, too. (L-R, row by row: Kutless, Building 429, Mikeschair, Avalon, Phil Wickham, Josh Wilson, Laura Story, Britt Nicole).

Simple Joy 11 : Incidental Collection

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I'd like to take myself (and maybe some of you) to a backward blog roll. Ahm, about 15 months back ~ to my Incidental Collection post.

Click. Scroll. Click.

Done?

If not, because you don't have that energy to do so, let's start from here: 

To here:

Yep, it's done to the rim a few months ago already. Seeing a long project finally done gives so much joy, no matter how little it is. Oh, my! it took me y e a r s to finish this vase! 

My vase number two is currently on the go. This time, the collection is no longer incidental. It is now intentional. :)

Simple Joy 10 : Snickers

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

... and the child in me will surely come back to life with this!

Would I call a day a bad one having this? I'd definitely call it otherwise. :)

Snickers, anyone?

- - -

image credit : anexerciseindiscipline.com

Simple Joy 9 : Dance Scenes, Bollywood

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I am a self-confessed Bollywood movie fan. Ahm, their movies are typically long, and theirs need not be a dance movie to watch some dances. It is always a given part of it but, I love it! I just so love it! And, just like my Day 8 post, there are dance scenes that really kept me on the groove, makes me smile all the way. Happy, happy, happy. :)

You might appreciate these only if you had watched the films but, feel free to try. On a personal note, these videos never failed to soothe and relax my tensed nerves. It never did. ;)

Ready?

Say?

Simple Joy 8 : Dance Scenes, Hollywood

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

If I want to grease up an already dull day, I would turn to watch these choicest dance scenes from movies. Though I have already watched a LOT of dance movies, these are my choicest ones, the ones that never leave my memory.

Watch, enjoy, and maybe you'll get to dance, too. :)

Watching these videos leave me inspired, amazed, awed, and in love. *Weeee* Come on, now. ;)

Simple Joy 7 : Happy with Chippy

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

When stress comes to the test, this I wish to always buy and get:

CHIPPY!

GOODNESS TO THE HEAVENS! How can real happiness come from a red-wrapped junkie chippy!
Well, there you go ~ the very simple comfort food that brings back my sanity! Babaw ko, 'no? 

There's just something in this junkie that really got me. This is the one I first learned to love as a child. Unfortunately, its appeal to my taste buds never left me. 

I crave for the smell and taste especially when I'm stressed out. Maybe because it brings and resurrects the child in me, or maybe it satisfies my craving for something salty, or maybe it soothes and calms the wrecked nerves in me. ALL of the ABOVE, if I may say. ;)

It's the original flavor that I had and will always love. So, when it comes to the flavor and wrapper, it's got to be the red one, okay? :)

I remember receiving a big, red Chippy as a birthday gift from a colleague 3 years ago. Oh, my! The child came back to life! Haha! 

Stressful weeks may come. Stressful weeks may go. 
Just go, enjoy the run...

Simple Joy 6 : Music Angel

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

I feel like I've got the cutest digital speaker ever. What a music angel! :)

This player/speaker has kept me on the groove. Good sound of music comes in very handy! I just so love it! Though its size is smaller than a memo pad, the sound it produces can make a simple bedroom to a music studio. Sounds so clear and it doesn't give you a tin can sound. *Heehee*

What more can I ask for?

~ Very handy: Loud speaker, 1.77 inch (external diameter, 45mm)
~ Has built-in lithium battery
~ Can be used with earphones
~ Music can be played by directly inserting Micro SD card
~ Can be connected to mobile phones, iPhone/iPad, PC/Notebook, etc.
~ Has many colors to choose from (silver, black, pink, green, blue)
~ Has several power supply: battery, computer USB, adaptor DC-5V

Want to have that great grooving joy, too? Go out, look for one and try. It's gonna be music... any time, any where. :)

Simple Joy 5 : The Humble Pair

* Blog Project, 2013: Simple Things, Great Joy

If you want to know the background or context of this post, click here. :)

This is one of the simple things I own that I try to hide in my closet as much as I can. But this blog challenge happens to make me do otherwise. Come, spill the beans, as if to say.

This humble pair has been my ever faithful dance partner. I couldn't dance without the touch of it. I couldn't belt out the dance spirit when I'm not wearing it.

I may have had a lot of times on the stage, platform or limelight dancing my heart away. But, if there is a place where I'd like to dance wearing this humble pair THE MOST, well, it's not the center stage ~ but the backstage. Really.

It's in the backstage (which happens to be my room) my dances are first prayed for, conceptualized, choreographed and the like. Nothing ever comes closely special to that. 

This ballet shoes always had the first feeling of me tripping over, of me loosing balance, of me experiencing trial & error in choreography, of me laughing at myself when I feel so silly while forming a dance.

But you know what, this humble pair has never left me. It's always with me... from the backstage to the center stage... from the draft to the final cut.

Since dancing has been very much a part of me, I don't just wear my ballet shoes when there's an invitation to dance. I wear them if I feel like dancing at any given time... on waking up, on free time, even before bed time. I dance when the doors are shut, when the lights are out... even when nobody's watching me out. So, my humble pair should always be within reach.

If I'm not reading, if I'm not writing or blogging, guess what? 

I'm dancing. :)

I guess if my ballet shoes can speak, it will always ask me, 

May I have this dance?

Oh, sure my dear, come and dance with me. :)

Simple Joy 4 : Mechanical Fanatical

* Blog Project: Simple Things, Great Joy

Tada!

I hope I had warned you well enough not to expect something grand with this project. *Heehee* True enough, I take great joy with simple things... that even a mechanical pencil can do that.

I never can imagine myself writing without a mechanical pencil close at hand. More often than not, I prefer using it than ball pens, really.

Way beyond college years, I had made a good and worthy use of it. It's something I can't explain but, there's something comforting and neatness I feel each time I use mechanical pencils.

As Pastor Chuck Swindoll penned, It's easy to doodle your way through a pastor's message. But taking notes helps you stay engaged.

To him I agree. For the past years I sat and listened in the pews, I never, never in my mind can recall in detail the sermons, teachings and preaching I've heard had it not been through taking notes.

I had finished quite a few journals already with a faithful mechanical pencil doing the work.

There you go, my friends. Using mechanical pencil feels so much like having your wedding ring on your finger... all the time.

And oh, by the way, aside from my preference that my mechanical pencil should be green, the lead is of utmost importance of course. I can go with whatever point but, for the shade, it must be a 2B. :)

Simple Joy 3 : QWERTY Witty

* Blog Project: Simple Things, Great Joy

In a time called today, technology has always been in the run. Upgrading of gadgets seem like a ticking clock and as frequent as changing diapers.

A slide, swipe, tap here and there, wait and see, your work is all done. 

I am not there... yet. I still use and love what I'm using now.

Touch screen typing simply drives me crazy.
I am still happy and I feel witty with my QWERTY. :)

Loving the QWERTY. Loving the simplicity.

Simple Joy 2 : Good Mood for Bollywood

* Blog Project: Simple Things, Great Joy

I am a Bollywood movie fanatic. There is just something in their films that really got me hooked! I get so ecstatic when I have a new movie to watch! Good thing they come with English subtitles.

I want to share my greatest joy. I've watched many Bollywood films to date. But, for the sake of this post, here are my choicest ones:

If you may ~ try! try! try! watch! watch! watch! :)

Oh, I am reminded, too, the same goes for a book: Don't judge a film by its cover. Come on, give yourself a treat, bring the popcorn out. *wink*

Greatest joys and treasures really do can come in small packages! :)

Simple Joy 1 : Pens for the Tensed

* Blog Project: Simple Things, Great Joy

My sister surely loves me so much when she bought this for me. *Happy me* She asked me casually what I would like for my birthday. Having nothing grand in mind, I simply pointed these colored pens to her.

I like this.

I know I made her wonder why I wanted the pens. Ahm, well, I just started a hobby and these pens would really mean so much.  Unknowingly, she contributed to my Green Side Project... a therapy to a sometimes-tensed-little-me. :)

No one could make me happier that day!

Blog Project, 2013 : Simple Things, Great Joy

I have been reading blogs there and everywhere. Some of them did the 30-Day Blog Challenge once, some twice, and even thrice. Looking and reading around, I find it neat, cute, and interesting.

Try or not to try. This post marks and bears that it's a...

YES! :) 

Try.
I am on.
It's my turn. 

But I will be doing a revised version.

*  *  *  *  *

So, this is how it will run: I will be posting 20, just 20 of something. This project will go from October to December, maybe. As for me who is up for the challenge, I want to create a habit of bringing into remembrance simple things that bring me great joy. 

My Blog Project will be rolling tomorrow. See you! :)

What's on my Mind?

What's on your mind? Ahm... What's on my mind?

This is what Facebook always asks. When your mind is overwhelmed, you can answer in a heartbeat and type it all away.

More often than not, I have an answer to that but sometimes, I answer elsewhere. For the past few weeks, come, take a peek:

So, that Something that Joined the Green Side has been rolling. It's obviously been working well for me. Quite a breather, huh?

How about you, What's on your mind?

Random Thoughts, III : The Heart of Understanding

“Only a man of understanding 

really understands.” 

~ Unknown

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of… We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.” ~ Blaise Pascal

“It is only with the heart 

that one can see rightly; 

what is essential 

is invisible to the eye.” 

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“Every act displayed in public 
has a back story; 
we can’t take what we see 
at its face value.” 
~ Grace D. Chong

A Parallel on Life & Death

This post has been very difficult to conceptualize and write. 

Writing about life is one thing. Writing about death is another.
Writing about life's triumphs & failures may come in a heartbeat. 
But writing about death & grief may make you skip or lose a turn saying, Next question, please?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

This picture will be very memorable. You will understand and hopefully feel with me as you read along.

August 26, 2012, on Aunt C's 70th birthday.
With me: Aunt D (left) and Aunt C (right)

On mother's side:
Aunt C is the eldest. 
Aunt D is the youngest.

Both of them passed on last month.
Aunt D passed away on the 5th. 
Aunt C passed away on the 24th.

Aunt D lost her battle to Big C.
Aunt C lost her battle to Big D.

I spent my birthday on Aunt D's wake.
We spent Aunt C's supposed to be birthday on her wake.

Oh, how our clan grieved! 
Reality struck us right in the face. Just when we thought we can start to process and recover over the loss of Aunt D, guess what? We were mistaken.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

As we in the family have different stories and memories with Aunt C and D, I'd like to re-post my sister's thoughts on Aunt C on her social network page:

“Now that I see that you turned out well & life has been good to you, I can say I am happy. I am okay.”  ~ Aunt C

This one of the many reasons why my sisters and I will never forget our Aunt C. Although we deeply grieve for her passing, she lived knowing how grateful we are to her and how special she is in our lives. She understood and shared a special communication bond with me and my sisters.

In 1994, Aunt C volunteered to take care of us after our mom and our fourth sibling passed away. I was 13, Jo was 11, and Karen was 5.

We were able to thank her for one of the heroic things she's helped us with. Six years in total. This she did without asking for anything in return. Never heard her of any blame or complain. And in one of the many special times we had with her, after she's seen and been with us in some crucial life events, she said, “Now that I see that you turned out well & life has been good to you, I can say I am happy. I am okay.”

On August 24, 2013, two days before her 71st birthday, Aunt C passed away.

In honor of Aunt C's memory and life, we remain grateful and privileged to have been unconditionally loved and cared for. She lived knowing that we loved her, too.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

My absence from the blogosphere last month has a lot to do with this journey ~ a journey on life and death. Grief took its turn from life's rhythm and paid us a big time visit. Grief became too personal to be discussed, yet too evident to be hidden.

Nonetheless, I am greatly comforted with the truth that our dear Lord is very mindful of us. He is very mindful even with the smallest details of what happened and what we felt. He knows, He cares, He feels, He loves. That brought me comfort in an instant! Literally! 

With His grace we were able to bear it and, with that same grace we will continue to live. 

Still with a thankful heart, I will keep on living, I will keep on writing.