Two weeks ago, 15 November to be exact, I started writing my daily blessings in a little notebook.
There were many things/happenings which led into this action. My main purpose for doing so is to keep my mind focused on God's blessings rather than my trial. I asked God to make me more appreciative of my life and everything in it. Writing my daily blessings made me become more aware of how generous God is, how God loves me by sending the right people and circumstances, for me to feel His presence in my life. I aspire to have a very generous and grateful heart, God is helping me, slowly but surely, to achieve this.
Last 29 October, my officemate, I call her Ms. Fe, handed me a very thin, small book entitled "Prison to Praise." She told me that it's a good book, this book is one of her many "pamana(s)" for me because she will already transfer to another department due to promotion. I had the privilege of working with her for almost a year, she was my mentor since I transferred in SANS in November 2009. I read the book about a week after, it was written in 1970, long before I was born, it's indeed a good book, a great book actually! The book is about thanking God and praising Him in all circumstances, believing that God is in control in every detail of our life, believing that every trial, every hardship, every sickness, everything has a great purpose, God is a great God and He will never leave us, never, He will turn our brokenness into the source of our greatest victory. I believe this by heart, I know God will make me whole again, my brokenness will soon finish its work in me, will polish me and make me whole, a more-deserving child of God.
Yesterday, 29 November, two weeks after I started writing my blessings, God has literally poured so many blessings to me! The very first blessing for the day was my strength to be able to go to work, I was down with cough and colds (and occasional fever) since last Friday, but I fought it and continued with my plans to attend the whole-day Kerygma Conference on 27 November and the Grand Feast on 28 November, both held in PICC. I thank God for giving me the ability and determination to attend both events, though physically weak, these events nourished my soul and spirit, strengthened my faith and restored my relationship with God.
The second blessing for the day is when Ms. Becca, my officemate and owner of my carpool, gave me 5 dalandan, after hearing my "terrible voice" due to bad colds. Thank God for wonderful, thoughtful people around me.
When I arrived at my workstation, my supervisor, Mr. Matsuo, who just had a business trip in Prague, Czech Republic, handed me two things as pasalubong, the first one is a travel kit which he got from his flight via Emirates airlines, inside the kit are toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, foldable brush and comb-in-one, shaver and shaving foam, tissue and a box of Bvlgari travel kit, inside are Eau de Cologne, body lotion and after shave emulsion. I will give this whole kit to my husband. The second pasalubong is a souvenir from Prague, pls see photo, it's a bell, of all the travel souvenirs I got from relatives and friends, this is my most favorite because it's not the usual keychain or magnet and it came from Prague, which according to Mr. Matsuo, is a very beautiful city!!! I will go to Prague, someday...;)
The fourth blessing is a call from my former supervisor, my most favorite supervisor of all, Mr. Ashraf, he invited me to lunch, upon hearing my voice, he suggested to eat in EDR (Executive Dining Room) so we don't need to leave the office. I always enjoy chatting with him and having lunch with him, though I initially thought of postponing it because I was not feeling well and was not in the mood to speak in English for more than an hour :), I was glad and very thankful I did go for it. As always, I had a great time eating and chatting with him, though a lawyer and a senior ;) (50plus of age), we had so much to talk about, we chatted for almost two hours! I also enjoyed the food (really yummy roast chicken and "dirty rice") and I tried for the first time, green mango juice, I liked it a lot! ;) I also had mango tart for desert and a cup of tea after the full meal. ;) Again, I thank God for wonderful, generous people around me, thank you for maintained friendship, great food and a really wonderful time!
The fifth blessing and a very pleasant surprise came thru our internal office messenger, he put the documents for my supervisor and one enveloped "document" for me on my table. I noticed it because it's a relatively thick document for me so opened it right away, lo and behold! The surprise of all surprises! It was the Starbucks 2011 Planner!! One of my dear friends in my former department, Leslie, gave her planner to me!! Pls see her note on the gift! Because of my excitement and because I was overwhelmed, I wasn't able to ask how she came across my blog, as you know, my blog is private and only very few friends know about this. Well, it doesn't matter, as always, God has His ways... I called her after receiving the precious gift but she was not able to answer my call. Not being able to contain my happiness, I showed the gift to all my friends/officemates in my current division, three of them are also collecting the stickers for the planner, they were surprised to see that I already got mine, I proudly showed them Leslie's note!;) When I came back to my workstation, Leslie was calling, I answered it and thanked her from the bottom of my heart, I was so touched (felt like crying, I'm such a cry baby) with her generosity, love and friendship, I felt loved, not only by Leslie, but by God. Thank you Lord for Leslie and all my wonderful friends, for pleasant surprises and for all the love that you are sending my way, I feel it...so much!
The sixth blessing came from UNICEF, I received a pocket-diary for 2011, it's their token of thanks to those who support their mission. Since I already have the Starbucks planner, I can give away this pocket-diary but I will not, because this small diary will serve as my visual reminder that there are many children who need help, many children who deserve to get a decent education, it will remind me that helping UNICEF is one great way to give back to God, one great way to give thanks by making a difference in other people's lives. Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to help out, I have this dream to be able to send 10 to 100 children to school through World Vision and UNICEF, I know this will become a reality, someday...
The seventh blessing was an email from a dear friend, Rocel, we started to exchange emails "on a more or less regular basis" early this year, she's in the US with her husband, receiving emails from her make me happy, it's good to keep the communication open with friends, near or far. It's been awhile since she last sent an email, guess she's busy, I was really glad to hear from her again. Thank you Lord for Rocel and all my long-time, loyal and trust-worthy friends, I am truly blessed to have them.
The last, but certainly, not the least, my friend, Nicki, has downloaded a new series and shared it to me. It's been a while since I last watched a TV series, after writing this blog, my next to-do is to watch this new series. Thank you Lord for Nicki, for small acts of kindness, thank you for new friends who bring new source of joy in my heart.
I praise and thank God for all these blessings, for all the wonderful people and circumstances He's sending my way. More than the gift, more than the blessing, I've learned to value most the Ultimate Giver, you know who?
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything, GIVE THANKS! For this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you!" - I Thessalonians 4:16-18
“Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important, and by far the most life-changing. – Zig Ziglar
The engagement ring looked typical to me, I personally didn't like it (as if I am an authority with jewelries). Anyway, on the same day that the news about the engagement (ring) was released, I have read (in the newspaper and in this blog) that a very rare pink diamond was being auctioned at Geneva, Switzerland. Pls see the photo on the right, this one l like. ;) It costs roughly around £24 Million (
Can I just feel your heart beating beside me every night
1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
For the first time, I will try to get the Starbucks Planner. The featured planner for 2011 has 3 colors, silver, brown and red. I want to have the red one. As of this writing, I have 2 coupons out of 17 that I have to fill in (so I have to drink 15 more cups). I have until 5 January 2011 to fill in the card. 
