I woke up this morning and turned on the tv. A Jesus Is Lord Church Service is going on and it is Hongkong's chapter Anniversary. I was surprised to be touch by their presentation about OFW's life there. How some of them were cheated on by their husbands, some have their kids got sick or met an accident, some stopped studying. There are some who has very demanding and rude children who doesn't care much about what their OFW parent has to say but just ask for stuffs that they need and money and even have the guts to talk back to their parents with anger in their voice. Some are really pressured and sacrifices their own welfare just to be able to provide their family's needs. It's sad but it is true. After the service, some of the OFW's were interviewed and they expressed how much they want to go home to be with their family but that's not an option for them because they need to work in another country to be able to provide their family's needs and have a decent life.

The background song is just perfect. I don't know the title nor the artist but it tells about how OFW's leave with tears in their eyes, fear in their minds but their families serve as an inspiration for them. The sad thing is that, most of them become broken families after some time. Something that they are totally not hoping and working for.

It's nice that after all of these, no matter what happens, they can always find strength with God. That he's always there for us.

But what I think is that, FAMILIES ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.

The plan of our future nest is done.... Here's some part of it... ;)

Today is my cousin, Jojo's birthday. He should've been 20 years old now, or 21? It's so sad because he missed out on lot of things. Like his very own daughter, Pau:

I am so happy to have her as my niece although the last time I saw her was two years ago? I miss her. It's so sad because Jojo could've let his baby feel really special and loved. Well, maybe he can still do it now, but not like when you're here...

She looks like her dad. I know that he's up there right this very minute, celebrating his birthday with Tatay, maybe a little party going on while they're watching over us. And I have only one birthday wish for him. That may justice be served. Or better yet, may Karma do its job.

And since this blog is for the "best things", I'd like to emphasize that I am not losing hope. And hope is really important in times like this.

Maybe I don't make any sense. I am really sorry but I can't find the best thing for today.

Oh, now I remember... On this very day, twenty years ago, Paul Julius M. Roque was born and he touched our lives deeply that we'll never forget him no matter what... I miss you Jo!

This is the most, super, laziest day of my life to the highest degree. I know because I felt guilty this afternoon looking back at how my whole day went. We woke up and after having  breakfast, we went here to the shop. Then, Bath from Knowledge Vantures called me up and told me that they'll be renting out the shop for today and from now, they'll be holding their tutorials every Tuesdays and Saturdays. So we went back home and watch tv, nap, eat lunch, watch tv,nap.

Then I had this scary dream. I was in the plaza here in our place. I am walking alone in the dark when a jeepney came by to pick me up. Inside it are my cousins. They are not my real cousins but in my dream, I know that they are my cousins. Then, it started to rain, after it, came flood. We were really getting scared when I started to ask them questions. I was about to ask them a question about them having experiences of losing a loved one. I wasn't able to finish the question because we heard loud thunders and the soon, we found that the jeepney we are riding is now on a very big ship. We were in the middle of an ocean. It continued raining and what scared me is that there were pieces of meat with blood that are coming down from the skies. And I heard someone said, God's Blood. Then clumps of mud followed. We were running around the ship when my husband woke me up. Now I am gonna look for a significant meaning of my dream.

Here's what I found:

Cousins
To see your cousin in your dream, represents something or some aspect of your character that is somewhat familiar. Perhaps you need to spend more time in cultivating and developing some emerging ability or character.

Rain
To dream that you get wet from the rain, signifies that you will soon be cleansed from your troubles and problems. Rain also symbolizes fertility and renewal.

To see and hear rain falling, symbolizes forgiveness and grace.

Flood
To see a gentle flood, indicates that your worries over a certain matter will be soon be swept away.

Ship
To dream that you are sailing the high seas in a ship, denotes that you are standing tall in times emotional turmoil.

Meat
To see raw meat in your dream, signifies that there will be many obstacles and discouragement in achieving your goals.

Blood
To see blood in your dream, represents life, love, and passion as well as disappointments. If you see the word "blood" written in your dream, then it may refer to some situation in your life that is permanent and cannot be changed.

Mud
To?see mud in your dream, suggests that you are involved in a messy and sticky situation. It also suggests that some internal cleansing is needed.?

The interpretrations I got are really useful and kinda appropriate with my situtaion right now. Thanks to the ever reliable Dream Dictionary

It's so hot! I want to have an endless supply of Ice Monster or any Ice Cream right now. I would love to go swimming but it's so hot I'm sure to have sunburn after.

My father-in-law and sister-in-law paid us a surprise visit.

I have a new phone. It's a Nokia 6600. I know it's not that good but I'm satisfied with it. I asked my sister, Roxanne to look for a new housing and USB so that I can start uploading pix soon. It's much easier.

Check this out:

Cool huh?

This morning, while Franz, Kim and I were going to the shop, I felt like walking really slow without any reason at all and even it's really hot and sunny. Franz keep on looking at the roadside to the plants. And then he stopped and shouted "Makahiya!" then bent down to touch the plant. It didn't closed like what it's supposed to do when touched. And he said "Sampalok yan nay, di yan makahiya. Pag malaki ang dahon, Sampalok yun". And we walked again looking for makahiya but we didn't found any. I remember when we first arrived here and we were waiting for a bus to Kalibo, we saw lots of Makahiya plants and Franz had so much fun touching them. Again, I felt really happy seeing Franz appreciate a simple thing.

Then when we reached the market, he said "Nanay, don't walk too close to me, you don't have to because there isn't any vehicle around". Then I felt sad at how fast he is growing up.

Now he's here playing Computer games after eating some jellies.

And here's how the lot looks like now. They took down the building that was there before:

We talked to Ryan Masula, who's going to make the plan of the house and the shop. He's going to prepare a sketch and we can tell him if we want anything on that sketch to be changed.

Franz- my Precious Sandshine

Franz loves the sand... It's one of the reasons why he'd rather be in the resort than to go with us here in the shop. He loves making sand castles, drawing in the sand and playing with sand in any way that he could imagine.

I see the simplicity of his growing-up years being spent enjying doing things related to nature. Living here in the province helped in teaching him how to appreciate nature and the simple things in life.

Instead of seing lots of cars and sniffing pollution, he wakes up to fresh air, with the sounds of the birds and see cows and goats and carabaos on the way to the resort.

One tough decision that I made for Franz is about his education. About his school. At first, I was insistent about enrolling him in a private school in Kalibo, which is 30-minute ride away from here. I want to give him all the best that we can give. All the best things in life. Kim and I even argued about it because he thinks we should save the money first and use the money for Franz's college. But I didn't want to. I want him to study in a private school from the start. I want him to have the edge. I experienced studying in public schools and we're always behind our supposed to be lessons. I wasn't convinced. I was really firm about my decision that even if we have to find another job and break our backs working as hard as we could, we're gonna enroll him to the most expensive school here.

That's until I get to talk to Tita Ning-ning who studied about Child Psychology. She said that pre-school is just about two hours a day and it would be a waste of time and energy and money to go there for just a couple of hours everyday when basically, they will just be thought the basics no matter where he'll be enrolled. Then, the reason that changed my decision: He needs to get to know and be known to the kids his age here in  the place where he will be growing up. He should have the chance to bond with them and make friends with the kids around him, who will be growing up with him.

Now I've decided that we'll be enrolling him here for pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary and to the private school in high school instead.

This is definitely one of the greatest gift that someone gave me... Our nest... A place where we can start a life of our own... A place that will be a learning place for us... A place that will b eteaching us lessons of life and lessons of love...

I don't know how I can ever thank Tita Hedy for such a wonderful gift.. I haven't even thanked her enough for giving us our internet cafe business... I also thank Tito Fidz for the "starting fund" that he sent us...

I have such a wonderful family... I was told a lot of times... Be it with my family on father's side or my mother's side...

I just hope there'll be a way to repay their kindness and love... But I have nothing else that I can offer except for my love, care and eternal gratitude... For they have touched our lives with such an impact that would leave marks in our hearts forever...