Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

No matter what situation you’re in and what’s going on in your life, may the spirit of Christmas which is PEACE, the gladness of Christmas which is HOPE, and the heart of Christmas which is LOVE be with you now and throughout the coming year. From our family to yours, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

It's Christmas Time Again...

Time flies so fast indeed...and Christmas is here once again! Everywhere, people are busy preparing for this most celebrated day of the year! People's thoughts are consumed by decorating their house, sending out cards so everyone can see how wonderful their family is, buying holiday outfits, spending too much on the best gifts, and making sure their children have a magical holiday. But is this what Christmas should be all about???

It's true that Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration. It is the day that reminds us of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world to save us from our sins. But for most people, it isn't like this anymore, and that is tragic! Christmas becomes a time of frantic schedules and overspending and other pressures, and Jesus gets lost in the process. 

Let us all try to consider the true reason behind Christmas. Regardless of what activities we choose to do, the most important focus should be on celebrating who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Everything else is extra. Just as the word Christmas starts with Christ, so does our celebration of it… that’s what it’s all about after all.

Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection… a day to remind us to always be grateful for everything!  A friend sent me this poem and I felt the need to share it with you:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.

No matter what situation we face in life, there is always something to be thankful for.  Even if we don't have that much as far as material things, there are still so much things to appreciate. It can be non- material things…things that are not seen…things that to some, seem insignificant – loving family, true friends, love, good health, emotional stability, peace of mind, spiritual fulfillment, etc.  These are all priceless blessings from God that we often take for granted. It can also be things that we didn’t get or that didn’t happen - illnesses and financial problem that didn’t come our way, those losses we didn’t experience, accidents that didn’t occur to any of our family members. For me, these are things that we should be more thankful for. And though, it’s so difficult, we should also be thankful for all the tough times in our life. Tough times could bring us so much pain but they make us grow and show us the love and power of God. Everything happens for a reason and God wants us to realize this, and be thankful for everything whether good or bad. He wants us to learn to be content in whatever circumstance we are in. He wants us to look to our current and past challenges and failures and find something positive in there, and give thanks for it. This is what full gratitude means, and this is what Thanksgiving Day is all about.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! May today bring peace and contentment within you…May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be… May you turn your whole life over to Him and never cease to give Him thanks…May you keep gratitude alive in your heart and make every day Thanksgiving Day!!!

Until We Meet Again...

Many people walk in and out of our lives, but only true friends are the ones who never leave our hearts. Even if they leave for a while… even after years apart, we pick up with them right where we left off. And even if they die they're never dead in our hearts for they leave footprints that will forever remain…

Sept. 29 was a sad day for me and those who have known Engr. Victor B. Sulit. Vic was truly a very good friend! He was one of those people from my UST-EE group of friends who I felt so comfortable with. He was such an excellent confidant, good adviser & expert listener.  He was a very serious yet funny guy. Most of the time he would remain quiet, just listening to conversations then all of a sudden, he would say his punch line which can make us all laugh.  Vic’s house has been our favorite hangout.  Whether from section A or section B, everybody felt welcomed at Vic’s house! It has been our venue for group reviews, post prelims & final exam celebrations, project making, birthday celebrations, plain kitakits and even my despedida party before going to TX. He had more friends than I can count, because he made each one of us feel like his friend. And even after college, even though we had our own families and careers, he managed to get the group together in their house at least once a year.

Vic’s death was so sudden.  I remember when I got the message from Ian. I simply could not believe it. He was too young. I was hoping it was just a joke. But who would use a friend’s death as a joke?  I kept on asking why a good person like him died at a young age. But as it slowly occurred to me, I have realized that Vic indeed lived his life wonderfully. He was a good person. He was well-loved and he had done so many good things. So maybe, he already fulfilled God’s purpose for him….that’s why it’s time for him to go. Or maybe God wanted to spare him the pain of having to go through a severe ailment, that’s why God brought him home at such a young age. But who really knows? We have so many unanswered questions, but God alone has all the answers. For God to explain to us why Vic died at this particular time, would be like an electrical engineer trying to explain the theories of electricity to a 2 yr-old. In a situation like this, when the life of a family member or friend is interrupted so abruptly,  the hardest thing to do is simply to trust God.  And yet, that's exactly what He wants us to do.  He wants us to believe that He has plans for us and He knows what’s best for us. He wants us to accept that even though the death of  someone close to us is a very painful experience, it will give us a new beginning. At this point,  I am comforted with the belief  that God has good reasons for taking him. I know that Vic is now in the most perfect place imaginable…and someday,  we’ll see him  again.

For now,  let us just be grateful for having known Victor Sulit – a truly  compassionate, generous and kind friend.  Each of us knows how blessed we were to share 20 years of friendship  with him.

Thank you so much for the friendship, Vic!  All the good times we have shared with you will forever be cherished and remembered.  You will forever live in our hearts. For all of us, things will never be the same without you… We will miss you more than you’ll ever know…

Rest in peace, my friend!  Your family is in good hands. God will constantly comfort and protect them. He has you in his keeping now…and we have you in our hearts. 

Clarise's Winning 3rd Grade Student Council Class Representative Speech

Just want to share with you Clarise's campaign speech for the Student Council Class Representative election.

So proud of my daughter! She's new in school but she made it to the student council! She said this wonderful speech mesmerized her classmates and made almost all of them vote for her...

My parents always tell me that it's good to be of service to others, and that is what I want to do. This is why I want to be Student Council Class Representative. I am a very responsible and motivated young girl & I know that I can make a difference in our class & our school. If I will be given the chance to be student council class representative, I will do my best to be of service in my own little way. In the classroom, I will help Mrs. Labry with simple tasks like passing out papers, maintaining silence & order in the classroom when she is out, helping classmates who are struggling in different subjects and taking out the recycle bin. I would try to stop fights and help classmates get along and make friends. When a new kid comes to our class or to our school, I would be friends with him or her, and encourage others to do the same thing. When someone gets ill, I would help them with their work when they get back to class and show them some love by sending get well cards that we can make in art class so we do not have to buy them.

As Student council class representative, I will also help in school activities and participate in projects that will benefit our school and our community. I will make sure that all our class ideas, concerns and suggestions will be reported to the Student Council and I will inform you of all the council projects and activities so that we can all participate and have fun!

So vote for me!

I am Clarise De Guzman, and I really want to be Student Council Class Reperesentative!

Thank you!

Our House Blessing

House blessing has been a long time Catholic tradition in the Philippines. Because we want to mark the joyful event of having our own home and thank God for that, and at the same time, to invite Jesus to come and dwell with us in our home and in our hearts, we had our house blessed yesterday. Fr. Vincent, Parochial Vicar of St. Francis of Asisi Parish officiated it.

It was truly a day of celebration as our good friends & relatives gather in our new house and make us feel how blessed we are to have people who truly love us...

Finally, A Place We Can Call Home

After 5 years of apartment living here in DFW Metroplex, we finally decided to get our own house...and we are truly loving it!!! (^.^)

Proud Mom Again!!!

The 2nd grade Year-End Awards Ceremony at Clarise’s school was held this morning. Ryan & I are so proud of her for once again getting the highest award in class which is the Principal’s Award, and of course, the Academic Excellence & Star Student Awards. Since her first day in Kindergarten, we have watched Clarise grow into an amazing girl. She has been recipient of these awards for 3 consecutive years and she has been in C-FB ISD’s GT program since first grade. She has been chosen to tutor a 1st grade Japanese girl in reading and writing, and I really think she has done a great job. She’s our shining star..and we’re so proud of her and all her accomplishments.

I would like to share with you all the awards she got from Kindergarten to Second grade at Sheffield Primary:

2nd Grade Awards:
Principal’s Award
Academic Excellence Award
Star Student Award

1st Grade Awards:
Principal’s Award
“A” Honor Roll Award
Star Student Award
Art Award

Kindergarten Awards
Principal’s Award
Academic Excellence Award
Star Student Award

*Principal’s Award – award given to the #1 student of the class
Academic Excellence / “A” Honor Roll Award – award given to students who have
straight A’s for the whole 36 weeks of school
Star Student Award – award given to students who foster academic excellence and
good character

As she bids farewell to Sheffield Primary, and gets herself ready for a new environment in Robertson Elementary of Frisco ISD, we are so anxious to guide and watch her prepare for a future of opportunities and infinite possibilities…

A Day To Celebrate...

February 12...What a wonderful day, and what a wonderful occasion to celebrate --- the 65th birthday of my father, ERNESTO AGUILA FLORES!


I’ve always felt so blessed to have a father as good as mine. A real father is very rare….that’s why I’m so grateful to have one who is a real father to me and my brother…a father who’s responsible, strong, smart and filled with love…a father who fulfills all his duties - to teach, to guide, to protect. I am the woman I am today because of the strong foundation he built. I’ve grown up with his values, and I'm very glad I did. To others, he's just a simple man and fame was never his, but he's the greatest man I know, and I’ll always be his #1 fan!


To my father, my mentor, my friend --- Happy, happy birthday!!! I love you and I wish you many more happy & healthy years. Thanks for giving me the finest things in this world…your time, your care, your love!!!


This song is for you…


I'll Always Be Your Baby
by Natalie Grant

You were my first love, always there for me
You taught me how to walk and how to dream
God gave me your eyes
But it was you who taught me how to see
Now I can stand on my own
But I know that you'll never let go

I'll always be your baby
No matter how the years fly by
The way you love me made me
Who I am in this world
I'm a woman now, not a little girl
Wherever this life takes me
I'll always be your baby

You are my hero and that will never change
You still can dry my tears with just a smile
The one I've leaned on
From my first steps to walking down the aisle
Now there's another man in my life
But I know by the look in your eyes

I'll always be your baby
No matter how the years fly by
The way you love me made me
Who I am in this world
I'm a woman now, Not a little girl
Wherever this life takes me
I'll always be your baby

Your faith, your love
And all that you believe
Have come to be the strongest part of me
And I will always be your baby