Angels Part 2

I just had my class this afternoon and after hearning some more insights I edited my work and here was the final output.

The Holy Spirit is indeed God working within us through different ways. As Donal Dorr puts it in writing “the Holy Spirit is the God who works secretly in the human heart and who inspires and touches the deepest parts of the human spirit (p.62).” Five channels were briefly discussed in the reading materials among which are the web of life and angels. I chose to reflect on how an angel has touched my life.

I am a big fan of angels, not only when I was a kid but even up to now that I am a grown-up. It also helped that back in Ateneo, we used to celebrate our annual school fair during the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. It is an annual event that was looked forward to not only by students, but by parents and teachers as well. I am a fan because I believe that in my everyday journey, I get to experience being touched by an angel or angels for that matter, be it in small or big ways.

My son who constantly inspires me especially in difficult times will be my angel forever. My husband, who is afraid of doctors and hospitals, for some weird reason, convinced me to go to the hospital that night, 3 weeks after giving birth, was my saving angel. If not for his persistence, I may not be writing this presentation. I had hemorrhagic fever and I was already bleeding inside. My platelet was down to 50 when the normal range should be between 170 to 240. My students, who affirmed my decision to change my course back in college from Dentistry to Education, will be my angels forever. My brother who welcomed my family into their home, provided for our needs, free of any charge, for the first nine months of stay here in Australia, is another angel. People who continue to pray for us even if we don’t ask, are of course angels in our lives!

Who are the newest angels in my life? A new acquaintance telling me tips on how to be a better casual teacher; the teacher who gave me the bookstore where I can purchase books or materials that I can use when I do my casual work; the partner teacher who made sure that I was on the right track right after she learned that I was new in school and in Australia; a new acquaintance helping me get more casual teaching jobs; and the childcare who accepts casual childcare when I have a casual work are the newest angels in my life. Of course, there are a lot of angels in my life sometimes I don’t get to realize it until after my encounter with them.
When I was much younger I thought I needed to have an extraordinary experience for me to say that I have been touched by an angel. That I needed to see an image of a winged creature all dressed in white just like what we see in the movies or in the cartoons. But it all changed when I realized, through a poem by Cindy Turner in a card that was given to me by one of my best buddies in college that we can see angels in each person that I meet. Let me share it with you.

There have been angels in my life.
While they haven't arrived with a blast of trumpets
or a rustle of wings,
I've known them just the same.
They performed their acts in human guise,
sometimes borrowing the faces of family and friends,
sometimes posing as well-meaning strangers.
You have known them, too,
when just the right word was needed,
when a tiny act of kindness made a great difference...
Or perhaps you heard a voice
whispering in the night of sorrow,
the words not quite clear
but the meaning unmistakable..."There is hope... There is hope."

Donal Dorr points out that these “angelic presences represent a channel for inspiration from the Holy Spirit (p.67)” I cannot help but agree that when people around us, family or even strangers, makes an unexpected act of kindness, the Holy Spirit is at work. And yes, I agree that “we have to pay more attention to guardian angels and other spiritual powers (p.67)”

I am actually challenged at this point because many people have been used by God to serve as an angel to me. I don’t know if one way or another, I have been an angel to them as well --to my family or even strangers, to people who needed to hear the right word or needed the right inspiration. I don’t know but I can tell you that I am trying.

I hope that this one is a better version than the first one. I was actually inspired because I got the results of my first assessment and it yielded good results. Hope I'm on a lucky streak.

365 Days and Counting

I really can't believe that in a few day's time we will be celebrating our first anniversary as migrants here in Sydney, Australia! Time really flies when you're too busy doing a lot of things and when you're having fun!

Looking back at what had happened the past year, wow, it's been a roller coaster ride! We had a slow and rough start but I feel now things are slowly falling into place. I can't beleive that after 12 months, we were able to invest on some things we might not have the chance of getting if we stayed in Manila.

Our own car, LCD TV, washing machine, lounge set, microwave oven, bed linens, corelle and pyrex kitchenware, wow the list would go on and on.

But more than the material blessings, I am happy that the past 365 days, we got to spend it more with my family. I was able to spend more time taking care of my son. Though I had casual work every now and then, I can say that I was able to witness many, if not, all of his milestones. I am amzed now on how his vocabulary has improved in a span of 12 months! He keeps on surprising us everyday! His newest statements are "Of course, Mama!", "How is school Mama?", "How is office Papa?" These are just three of the many. It keeps us happy and inspired.

Next, we got closer and more bonded. Oh yes, there are trying days when I would just like to go back to my comfort zone in Manila, with all the maids and helpers around to do the house chores. But we managed. I managed. In those rough months, we stuck it with one another, pushed and inspired one another. Kept the faith for one another.

Third, we got more prayerful. Imagine calling out to the heavens and all the saints just as so you can start the ball rolling! Yes, we became in constant communication with Him. And I think, we would be forever.

Lastly, we became more hopeful. Yes, we still lack a lot of things. We still want a lot of things and plans for the family. The list would never end. But the thing is we are here, hoping and knowing that someday all will be well for us. Dreams becoming a reality. After all, migrating here was once a dream.

We are in a trying stage once again as we try to make ends meet. Our finances became a bit tougher when we got a place of our own and moved out from my brother's house. It was not also helpful that my casual call was not as many as the previous months. We worry, yes we do. But we're not losing hope. We're hanging on. What keeps me hoping? Well, we've just had our first 365 days here...we have a whole LOT of time ahead of us. Like the rest of those who migrated and started like us, someday, we will be okay. No more worries. Just looking ahead.

Say Aaaah

My two-year-old son had his first dental check-up two weeks ago and it was a success!

My hubby and I had our appoitnments set for that Monday afternoon and I thought that since the two of us are there already, why not make an appointment for my son as well? After all, having studied Dentistry in college (but I didn't get to finish it), I knew the importance of having a healthy set of teeth. I promised myself that when I get to have kids I would make sure that they grow up visiting the dentist regularly, not getting scared of them, and having a nice and healthy set of teeth.

I wore braces therefore, I am not afraid of the dentist. I was hoping Liam would imbibe the same spirit when we visit the dentist.

On the day of the check up, I had my turn first. It was unfortunate that I wasn't able to bring Liam with me inside for him to see that Mama was not afraid of the dentist. I was relying on his memory, because he has seen me with a dentist a few months ago. Allthroughout the check-up, he was sitting very still and quietly, observing what the dentist was doing to his Mama. The dentist praised him for a good behavior after that! But I know that this is different, because this time, it will be him who will be sitting on the chair.

After my turn, I called Liam. The dentist didn't wear mask as this might scare Liam. She probed Liam's mouth, instructed him to have a big aaah, then after 5 minutes, he was done! No crying, no tantrums, whew!

The dentist said that we have yet to wait for his 2nd molar to come out. So far, his teeth are healthy.No cleaning was done because he is too young to have that. The dentist said he can have his first teeth cleaning when he is about four years old. It was also good to know that Liam never sleeps with his feeding bottle inside his mouth. He actually knows that he needs to put the cover back of his bottle when he is ready to sleep. Having the habit of sleeping with the bottle still inside the mouth can cause cavities later on. However, she mentioned that Liam has some overcrowding in his teeth. We are expecting that the same will happen when he get his permanent set of teeth becuase, they are far more bigger than his milk teeth. Oh well, blame it on the genes. That gives us to prepare financially in the next couple of years.

I am happy that the day turned out well. I look forward to out next dentist visit. Hopefully, it will be as relaxing as this one!

Oh, I forgot to mention, he got stickers and a balloon aftr his check up for being well-behaved allthroughout!

Am I Too Late?

Am I too late? Yes, that is the question I am asking myself right now. I think I have been too busy the past couple of years that I neglected my love for writing. Now that I have all the time in the world to write I still see the need to do more. The need to do more, where? Well, last year, when a life-changing decision happened in my life, I decided to launch my writng career again thru blogging and earn on the side, I've realized that I might be a little too late already. It's just sad that now that I am getting into it I see that I still need to read more and more and study more and more.

The internet is so clogged nowadays and there are so many bloggers out there, who like me, would like to earn from writing. The question is, how will I get noticed?There are a number of opportunities to earn through the net but I am still in the stage of being cautious of getting trapped into something that is bogus or not legal.

Am I too late? Well, I still don't know. I am still a work in progress when it comes to paid blogging. A big number of competitors out there! Hopefully, someone will chance upon my site and start the ball rolling!

We'll know. You'll know. I'll let you know.

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This is effective 3 March 2010

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Click Click

Have you ever wondered what it feels to be followed by the Papparazis as soon as you stp our of your house? I remember watching a TV show and it showed an aging actor oh so furious with the reporters all around him!

I was amused seeing them trying to do everything just as so they can stay away from the cameras. But they are public figures, so can we blame the cameras for following them? Yes, they are public figures, but being one does not make them any different from the rest of us. Movie stars are humans. Yes, their lives are more exciting, their lifestyles are so tempting, but they have the right to make things private for them.

Sometimes, I find myself thinking that their life is something I wouldn't want to have. Yes, it's tempting to have all those mansions, designer clothes, cars, and money. But I wouldn't take it for the precious time I spend with my family, such as a stroll in the park, a play in the community playground with my son, a family vacation, without the cameras spying on me. Real quality time.

I think entertainers are used to these already but my heart goes out to them whenever I see the frustration in their faces as the cameras continue to click and document everything that they do. I know that deep inside they yearn for some peace and quiet time. No wonder they keep on buying acres of land and mansions!

Pu-pu and Wiwi

My son is almost toilet trained. Why almost? Almost because he already knows how to tell us when he needs to poo but not yet when he needs to wee.

When he was 15 months old, my brother -in-law saw the signs that my son is ready to tell us when he needs to poo. Following his suggestions, we became successful in toilet-training him when it's poo time. Some friends were amazed because as what they have said, it is quite early for a boy. We were happy of course, because we were able to save a number of nappies and wipes because of that.

Now that he is 26 months old, we feel that we should already start teaching him to tell us when he needs to wee. So we can say that he is fully toilet-trained. This is in preparation for his pre-school next year and for his current swimming lessons. But it is much harder than we have imagined!

Let me share now our misadventures as we try to fully toilet-train him. Oh yes, we are still not successful! So what have we been doing?


For two weeks now, we have tried to remove his nappy every morning or every afternoon.
1) In the mornings (or afternoons, depending if he has pooed already), for about 30 mintues to an hour, we don't put his nappy.
2) When he does not have his nappy, we remind him constantly, every fifteen minutes at that, to tell Papa or Mama if he needs to wee.
3) We ask him as well, "Where do you wee?"
4) We need to hear him say that he needs to wee in the toilet.
5) We tell him not to wee on the lunge or the carpet (but so far, has has wet the carpet twice, once on the lounge, and once on the kitchen)
6) If he does wee accidentally on the carpet, we let him feel his short pants and see for himself the effect of not telling mum or dad.After all he knows the difference between wet and dry.
7) We try to tell him that when does not wee on nappy anymore, we will just buy him a new Wiggles DVD.
8) If he accientally wees on the floor or wherever, we bring him to the toilet to let him try to wee again. We tell him it's alright but next time, he needs to tell Papa or Mama that he needs to wee, BEFORE he wees and not AFTER, which he now does.

We're not yet frustrated or anxious that after two weeks of trying we are still not successful. We are enjoying the misadventures of toilet training. We know that after this toilet training on daytime, we still need to toilet train him when he goes to sleep at night-- no bed-wetting on night time. Another challenging task ahead of us! It takes time, yes, we know that. That is why we believe that in due time, he will be mature enough and ready to wee on his own, like when he does when he poo.

So now, on with our misadventures.