Finally graduated! Power of prayers.. woohoo!!

Here are few of his graduation pictures.. I am so happy! We made it.. 

woohoo!

..and the diploma,, for you na mommy!

we are so proud of you!






Thank you  Indiana Aerospace University

Praise you in this storm

Just loving this worship song. 

In the most stormy days of my life, I met the real HIM. I praise His name for His glory and the abundant blessings He has poured in my life. I praise His name both in the brightest days and the stormy ones.

It’s a matter of mind setting

 “One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average person’s familiarity with the word ‘impossible.’ He knows all the rules that will not work. He knows all the things that cannot be done.” ~ Napoleon Hill

At work today, I had a short conversation with one of our business class passenger. She was about 25 years old, used a crutches, and was weighing least 57kgs, pretty,. As a result of being hit by a drunk driver several years ago, she told us, “She was limited physically.” I listened to her story and understood her challenges. However, a different story flashed in my mind of Bethany Hamilton, Surfer, 13-year-old girl who was attacked by a 14-footer shark while surfing. She was left with a severed left arm. She also was limited physically because her left arm was amputated but still managed to become the 1^st place in the Explorer women’s division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships- winning her first national title.. Two people with limited factors in their lives have yet two very different outcomes.

We all have a story. Many of us believe our story defines us, but what really defines us is how we interpret the story or facts and choose to move forward.

Take a moment and move through the key areas of your life — Career, Relationships, Finances, Fun, Creativity, and Healthy Living — to consider if your mindset is holding you back from reaching your greatest potential.

Remember, you decide how you think and what becomes a can or can’t. Start asking yourself what’s possible and what you really want to accomplish.

“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret to success.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

..you're beautiful

..struggling with letting go and letting God.

Once we realize surrender isn’t losing something but rather is gaining something is when we begin to hold things a bit more loosely. We are ready to drop anything and everything if asked to. 

Sometimes you have to let go of the friends you have (that are bringing you down) so that God can give you the friends He has for you. 

Never be afraid of letting go. Rather think about what you could be missing out on by hanging on when you shouldn't.

I am reminded me of an old sermon example that our pastor used before…

A father loves his little girl, so he gives her a plastic toy necklace made to look like a string of pearls. Just something cute, no biggie. But the girl freaks out, she puts on her plastic necklace and refuses to take it off. She wears it to bed, she bathes in it, it never leaves her neck. Soon it starts to get all gross and her neck is turning green, and things are getting out of hand.

So moved is the father, that he decides to give the daughter a real pearl necklace. So he finds his daughter, and he holds the real pearls in his hand behind his back, telling his daughter that he has a surprise for her, then he holds out his other hand, and he asks his daughter to take off her favorite necklace and give it to him.

The daughter runs away crying! How could my father ask me to give up this thing I love so much. If he knew me, and understood this situation, he would never ask me to surrender the one thing I care about most. But she knows she can’t hide forever, so she gathers up her courage, and with tears in her eyes, she hands the father the old cheap plastic necklace. Only then does she see what the father has in store.

On surrendering, it’s not about what you’re giving up, it’s about the real and authentic and much more valuable thing you’re receiving. It’s about asking God to take away something you want, to make room for the thing that He wants for you. This is a prayer He will honor, and that you won’t regret.

♥♥ Keo   

...thinking about weight loss

So, this morning I was thinking about weight loss. I thought of all the conversations I’ve had about weight and looks. It occurred to me most people want to lose weight because they hate their body. They find something wrong with their body and they think that losing weight will fix all their problems. This isn’t the case. I’ve even lost weight because I thought it’d magically make me happy. That was not the case. 

I think we shouldn’t worry about the number on the scale. We should love our bodies. We should love them enough to treat them right. We should love them so much that we want to get healthy. Getting healthy doesn’t mean you go on some strict diet and obsess over a number. It means you eat right (enough and the right things) and you exercise. Of course you’re gonna have days you eat badly and days you don’t have much time to exercise. But that doesn’t change how you view yourself. You see yourself as the beautiful creation God sees you as. You treat your body right because it’s not yours. You treat it like the Temple it is.

“So God created mankind in his own image, 
   in the image of God he created them; 
   male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

Things I Wished I’d Known When I was Younger

I've learned many lessons in life, and every single one of them I am grateful for. I just want share few of 

the things i wished ive known when i was younger =)

• I wish I’d known that failure was an option.
• I wish I’d known how much my mommy really loved me, and all the warnings I got came from a place of love.
• I wish I’d known that my thoughts don’t have to dictate my life.
• I wish I’d known that home really is where the heart is.
• I wish I’d known that intelligence is not something you’re born with, it’s something that can be worked on.
• I wish I’d known how to say No!
• I wish I’d known that the phrase ‘just try it’ should apply to everything we do in life.
• I wish I’d known that not being perfect is okay, and, in fact, striving for perfection is an impossible task.
• I wish I’d known that not being ‘well off’ didn't mean I didn’t have a rich life.
• I wish I’d known that my thoughts actually control how I feel, and how I feel affects the way I see the world.
• I wish I’d known that sex is a physical act and that love is something different altogether.
• I wish I’d known that starting a business didn't require as much planning or money as I’d thought.
• I wish I’d known never to settle for second best, whether it be in relationships, product choice, or employment.
• I wish I’d known that loving yourself was a pre-requisite to truly loving others.
• I wish I’d known how to plan my finances better.
• I wish I’d known that everything I ever stressed out about would not matter one year later.
• I wish I’d known that TV numbs the mind.
• I wish I’d known that my mistakes would define me as the person I am today.
• I wish I’d known never to actively participate in gossip
• I wish I’d known how to express my love more.
• I wish I’d known that my regrets in life stopped me from moving on.  When it’s done, forget it and move on.
• I wish I’d known that change is inevitable, and rather than fighting it, I should have befriended it.
• I wish I’d known not to waste my time and mental energy on people who didn't matter in my life.
• I wish I’d known that it’s okay not to know everything.
• I wish I’d known that trusting myself would allow great things to happen.
• I wish I’d known that what’s right for me is not necessarily right for others.
• I wish I’d known that happiness is not defined by financial wealth.
• I wish I’d known the importance of working out what was right for me.
• I wish I’d known that my needs and desires would change over time.
• I wish I’d known that doing what I wanted to do was not necessarily me being selfish.

Christmas far from home ...

We're kicking off the last month of this year. This is another Christmas far from home,not  with my brother again neither with mommy. I'm not sad, but I'm not so happy either. Unfortunate things have happened not only to me but also to the whole country that broke hearts and shattered hopes. Even our people from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan is experiencing the hardest this season.

December also means the end of another year. This year didn't start great for me. Then it got worse. Then it got a whole lot worse. Then it got better. Then it got waayy better. But the one thing I know for sure as this year winds down and I get ready to begin a new year of my life, God used this year to change me. To make me 10 times the person I was in so many ways.

I am sure I will look back on this year for the rest of my life as some of the happiest moments and some of the saddest moments I will ever experience. But no matter what happens to me from here, I know that I will carry with me what I've learned this year. That God loves me. That He is in control. That He wants me to place Him first in my life. That He will always lead me through His word. That He is capable of sooo much more than I could possibly imagine. That if I can truly let go and allow Him to be the central focus of my life in every way, He will fill me with an everlasting joy and peace that is exactly what Christmas is all about. 

With the continued stories of tough times I'm not quite sure of what lies ahead and what is Gods plan for me and my family.. I am looking forward to 2012! =)

Have a blessed Christmas everyone! Keep smiling! =)


♥♥ Keo

Why do couples feel the need to make a relationship work, when it’s clearly irreconcilable?

It’s hard to be on the outside looking in, but I believe it’s even harder to be on the inside looking out. There are a number of reasons people stay in bad relationships, and nearly all of us have done it at some point or another in our lives. It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t always know the entire story. You may ask why? Why do couples feel the need to make a relationship work, when it’s clearly irreconcilable? Truth is, there are many reasons, and to those of us who are in healthy happy relationships, it’s hard to empathize. For starters, not everyone recognizes that their relationship is a bad one You have to remember that love is blind. In other words, when you truly love someone, a lot of the time you tend to look past the faults one has, you are more accepting of their behavior as well as other things. Nevertheless, there are those relationships that people are in and they know it’s a bad relationship, but they are used to it and they stay.

A lot of the times, this is due to having a low self-esteem and low expectations. Most convince them selves that there is a shortage of good men or women and are thankful to have “somebody” rather than nobody at all. Being alone is a hard thing to do, especially if you’ve never done it before. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a fear of being alone, but rather a strong yearning to want to be with someone else. Some have gown accustomed to being with their companion. Old habits are hard to break. In most cases, couples tend to get comfortable with the negative and damaging pieces of their relationship and stay together for the wrong reasons. So though to outsiders it may seem like the most straightforward of decisions to pack up and leave, to some people this is the hardest thing to do. It’s easier said than done, but possible. ♥

Marriage

Marriage is for men, it’s not for boys. And boys who get married, they do man-sized damage… If you’re a woman, its allowing those desires to cause you to walk faithfully with God, to look forward to the day of being married, but not to in haste get yourself into a relationship that is unhealthy. Sometimes women who are overly obsessed with marriage, dating, and babies can conveniently overlook some glaring flaws in a guy and naively paint him as prince charming… Those desires may be good but you don’t want to act on them prematurely. You want to use them as incentive to mature and get ready so that one day you can be married as God intends.

Boring site

Now that I have the luxury of time, I realized how boring this blog looks.  I guess I need to add some pictures in here.  For someone who loves photography, this site is quite a contradictory.  I need a major push to bring everything a niche higher than where this is now.

The thing is I really envy those who can post pictures of themselves and divulge some information in their own blog.  I really hope I will have the boldness to do so but I know it will come at the right time.
As for now, let me just make some changes bit by bit and hopefully I will be able to achieve the changes i want to happen.

headache no more..

A good night sleep can really do wonders.  I have been depriving myself of that for how many nights already since I’ve been trying to adjust with the new work I’ve pushed myself into.  So last night I forced myself to sleep as early as 9pm and I surprisingly woke up at around 7am.  I feel truly refreshed and the headache that persistently pestered me is gone!

Big smile. Enjoying my 4days off!

Cheating Down or Cheating UP?

So as I laid stretched out in my bed unable to rise from the warmth of my thick blanket. *lazy* And another topic came up in mind.. BOOOOMM.. cheating! haha! In Good times with Mo Podcast, there was one caller who was talking about cheating DOWN and Cheating Up.

It wasn't the typical, "Why do men/women cheat?" question. It was more along the lines of, "When you cheat, do you cheat UP or cheat DOWN?"

Hmmm....interesting.

The theory was that women cheat UP and men cheat DOWN. After all, it's rarely argued that BOTH men and women cheat - no surprise there. However, they may cheat for different reasons. It's believed that women cheat for emotional reasons, and men cheat for physical reasons. Or women cheat out of spite or revenge, and men cheat out of convenience. We can discuss the reasons why all day long, but the cheating UP and cheating DOWN discussion is what intrigued me more.

One woman said the man she cheated on her fiance with was better looking, made more money and had a bigger "package." She said if she was going to risk losing her fiance, it might as well be with man who was worth it. The men, however, said they cheated down, because no one was as good as wifey at home....they just needed a physical release and the "down chick" was there.

So what say you? If any of you are bold enough to admit to cheating, when you did the deed, did you cheat UP or cheat down? If you want to get into the specifics of why you cheated, feel free. Since I know most of you WON'T admit to cheating, tell us if your "friend" cheated up or down and why :-)

Let's go!

Slandering an Ex

Hello everyone..

I was drafting this topic since the other day and i finally made it to the finish line. haha! It really did make me wonder why people slander their exes after the relationship is over. 


All my ex-boyfriends are my friends. Yeah! really.. for real! haha! ;)

Honestly, I don’t like when anyone does it – man or woman. There’s a difference between venting and bad mouthing.


Break ups are painful - no matter why they occurred. When people have been hurt, it’s no surprise they may want to lash out. You want to purge yourself of the disgust, disgrace and anger you feel about even being involved with that person in the first place. You need to let the world know you’ve been wronged and you’ll tell anyone and everyone who will listen. 


Even if you haven’t been wronged per se, sometimes immaturity takes over and you just can’t let go. There may be one-sided bitterness, jealousy, a passion that still burns for that person that consumes you to the point that you change lyrics to rap songs.


There is constructive venting - and then there is character bashing. And even if your ex is without much character and everything you say about him or her is true, the question is: Do you want to sink to that level? And will getting down and dirty free you from the rage you feel? Probably not.


1. Slandering your ex is a waste of your time and energy. Power you could be using to do something more positive and productive in your own life.


2. Slandering is beneath you, and when taken too far can make you appear to be a bit "pathetic" or a "victim." Not sexy.


3. Slandering is toxic. You will be in a negative frame of mind, polluting your own body with thoughts of someone you should be putting behind you.


4. Slandering is rarely used as a real warning to other people. More often than not - it's usually a way to assassinate the ex's character to people who don’t know him/her . OR it can be that you’re trying to sway other’s opinion, but it doesn’t work…so now you just look nuts.


5. Slandering and venting are not synonymous. If you have the desire to talk about how you've been treated in your relationship - talk to one trusted person who will not spread what you've said into your inner circle of friends, family.


In a perfect world, exes can succeed at being friends and letting bygones be bygones. But we don’t live in a perfect world – we live in one where bitterness, jealousy, hating and human nature exceed reasoning and rational thought. Let it go. It’s better to leave things with pleasant memories rather than drag a dead relationship through the mud. Keeping a foot in the past makes it that much harder to enjoy your future. As Martin Lawrence said, “if that sh*t is supposed to be over, then let it be over”…so keep it moving…and keep your mouth shut.

the power of words..

What is it with married men?

Hello everyone!

Me and noreen (my co-snail-friend,haha) really had a boring day at work today so we thought of coming up some points and reasons on not go out with a married man.. Men tend to behave better when they're married that's why girls appreciate them more..

If you find yourself on the brink of temptation, look at these truths before you leap:

• u're kidding urself - Despite his reassuring you how much you mean to him, his not ending his relationship with his wife in an above-board and respectful way -- and not beginning a legitimate relationship with you -- are actions that speak louder than words.
• he won't commit to a future with u- A man who is in a very unhappy or unsatisfying marriage can feel swept away by how wonderful you make him feel. He may even blurt out, "I've never felt this way before and I can see spending the rest of my life with you." This may sound like a commitment to a future with you. It's not. Don't confuse his loving the way you make him feel with his loving you and making a commitment to you.
• cheating on his wife tells you how he deals with any situation he doesn't like. - u are evidence of his inability to avoid dealing with unpleasant situations head on. This means that he's likely to resort to some devious behavior with you if the two of you encounter relationship problems.
  he left his wife because something is wrong with the relationship. Do you think u will have a perfect one with him? i dont thinnnkkk soooo.. ;P
• hiding is exhausting. - having to keep your relationship a secret can attack your self-esteem and cause you to miss out on one of the wonderful aspects of a relationship. Walking together freely and radiantly through the world can fill you with the glow of being with someone who is proud to be with you. there wont be a HHWW (holding hands while walking) with this kind of relationship.
• can you love someone who is so disrespectful of his wife? - The existence of your relationship with a married man tells you how little he respects his wife by lying to her instead of being a man and telling her that he wants out.
• You're not a home wrecker, just an accomplice. - Like it or not, you are a willing participant in a man violating his vows and betraying the trust of his wife -- not to mention grossly disappointing his children and making it difficult for them to see him as a role model.
• Beware the guilt boomerang. - Many men (and women) have difficulty accepting full responsibility for their deceitful actions. Human nature finds it easier to blame than to accept shame. If he is caught by his wife or conscience, don't be surprised if he tries to blame you and get you to take the fall.
• Time is too precious to waste. - Ever notice how quickly the years go as you get older? Because it's convenient and comfortable, a relationship with a married man can go on for a long time -- and before you know it, eat up the precious time you might have had in a healthy relationship with a chance of flourishing. When people who have been involved with married men finally move on, they often regret having wasted the time in a dead-end affair.
• Lastly, God knows - You both may have kept it from the people concerned, but not with Him. 

Try someone who doesn't have a wife and kids and see how it feels.  Who knows, you just might like the drama-free relationship.  Affairs with married men are never simple.

All the people i know who was in a relationship like this ended up regretting so if you still can, leave. Our God is a forgiving God and gives second chances. Its never too late. HE loves us to much to be an option as we are designed to be the only one to our partners. 

Planning ahead..

Some things are beyond planning. 
And life doesn’t always turn out as planned. 
You don’t plan for a broken heart. 
You don’t plan for a failed business venture. 
You don’t plan for an adulterous husband. 
Or a wife who wants you out of her life. 
You don’t plan for an autistic child. 
You don’t plan for spinsterhood. 
You don’t plan for a lump in your breast. 
You plan to be young forever. 
You plan to climb the corporate ladder. 
You plan to be rich and powerful. 
You plan to be acclaimed and successful. 
You plan to conquer the universe. 
You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever. 
You don’t plan to be sad. 
You don’t plan to be hurt. 
You don’t plan to be broke. 
You don’t plan to be betrayed. 
You don’t plan to be alone in this world 
You plan to be happy. You don’t plan to be shattered. 

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.  But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things. We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens. 
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God’s plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours. 

Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with. 
Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul. 
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole. 
Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger. 
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble. 
Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves. 
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us. 

My first tattoo.. Marked for life.

I had to share my most recent experience getting my first tattoo!

I’ve been thinking about getting one for a couple years now trying to decide exactly what I want, bouncing ideas around, and then trying to figure out where the heck I would put it. I knew it needed to be somewhere I could hide, but also show off if I wanted to, and not be in a place that would get ruined by a pregnancy or get stretched out if God forbid I gain 100 pounds… and most importantly it had to mean something to me.


I thought about getting a star on my nape. I know it’s a very common tattoo idea for girls… so it was a “no” to the star…

Then I also thought about something that would tie in with my Libra sign, but eh… another common tattoo and not very many pretty ideas to portray it. I wasnt really sure so i thought of not rushing the idea..

Last week when i speak to God in prayer, I was reminded that I am a unique individual. one of a kind, and a unique

creation who is of great value and worth to our creator. God’s word tells us that we are a masterpiece created by HIM, and valuable, of incredible worth to Him.

In Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”.

We are not a collection of genes, randomly put together. We are a masterpiece, we are God’s masterpiece, created by a creator who has put a great deal of love and thought into who we are and who we will be.
With the birds, well, they mostly represent freedom. I have often said that if I could be any animal I would choose to be a bird. Having the ability to fly sounds heavenly.

Above all, I just love the look of the design. It’s very “me” in the sense that it comes across as artistic and carefree. And it’s prettttyyyy  ,, Thanks to Albert of AltoTattoo.. It came out exactly the way i really wanted. You're amazing.. And you are God's masterpiece too. Blessed with such talent. 

The Experience:

When Albert first turned the machine on I thought I was going to puke… I was so quite.. like I was about to get tortured by mutilation… but then he started and it felt like getting stung by a bee… repeatedly.

I had to get serious, control my breathing, making sure I wasn’t moving, and stayed calm through the pain. The soft alternative music really helped with staying calm.but all in all, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

I’m so happy with the result and really glad that I didn’t chicken out. Now I just have to deal with the healing process, which feels like I worked out my shoulder for 8 hours straight. Ouch!

Oh, thanks to Noreen for staying up late with me. =)                                               AltoTattoohttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000995842316 

I am Gods original Masterpiece.. =)

‎"I remind myself of all that You’ve done, and the life I have because of Your Son.
Love came down and rescued me, Love came down and set me free..I am yours, I am forever yours…"

it is the very Spirit of God in us who constantly reminds us of who we are in Christ and what He has done for us :) Amazing Grace! Amazing God! Amazing Dad! :)