Day 31

1. Spoke up! Much like yesterday, although this time at work, I was asked to join the management team in discussing the health of our department. Ususally people don't really speak out at these things for fear of offending their boss (who is also there). Maybe I've matured now or I don't really mind speaking my mind (on the right things) because I view work as just work now becuase I did voice out my opinion on important things like people and happiness at work. I think my confidence comes from this shift over the last 2 or 3 years in my view of what's important in my life and that I no longer see my work as "sacred" and walk on eggshells around it. Nice to know I know what counts nowadays.

2. Got free dinner! My trainee decided on an act of generosity and treated us to his birthday and program graduation celebration. The food was good and the company even better.

3. Had a good one on one talk with my leader. We've been going full steam in the community for the last couple of months that having a cup of coffee just to catch up. He's one of the guys who inspire me to keep this up and its nice also that we can talk about stuff outside our interests. He's a humble and real and I really appreciate that about him and that's really why I have no hesitation following his lead. I get good people to lead plus I get good a leader. Sweet.

1 month down! (Day 30)

I've been blessed for a whole month with proof, baby! Wow there were times back there where it was so hard to blog or get myself to sit down and think hard about what to write. Sometimes it would feel boring, sometimes I'd get sad thinking that I couldn't think of a thing to list down, sometimes I felt shallow. But I realize, after one month (a long month at that), that we are conditioned by what we "believe" to be blessings. But if we just think about the joy in quiet mornings or nice text messages received, we slowly chip away at our selfish notions of what a "blessing" really is. Its still a journey for me but I think that i'm chipping away a little bit everyday.

Glad you're still here to read:

Day 30

1. I made it to Day 30! Even if internet is hard to get these days, that I come home tired and spent, that I can't seem to come up with a short entry, I have made it to Day 30. I aplogize for all the backlog but at least now I am more determined to get started on Month 2! Thanks to the guys who have been reminding me to keep blogging when I fall behind! Thanks to the Lord who has been giving me the inspiration to keep at this!

2. Happy Birthday, my trainee. I'm glad he got to graduate from the management trainee program a little before his birthday! I'm blessed to have a smart, hard-working, and funny team mate who is serious about his faith and his family. God sends us angels or helpers to help get us through the challenging portions of our life knowing we can't do it on our own, this guy is that helper in my work.

3. Found out I'm working with an old friend. We're doing a project now and I was surpised to find out that one of the suppliers is an old friend of mine. Very cool! Nice to be giving business to a friend and having someone very qualified across the table to discuss work with. Truly a convenience in stressful times!

4. Had my first meeting in this new big role in the community. I was afraid at first about being with big names. I tried my best to be early or at least on time but office work kept me in my chair 45 minutes longer than I hoped. The roads weren't empty either. The group turned out to be a fun and un-stiff one so I had a great time. I felt comfortable speaking my mind and I even enjoyed dinner :) Good start :)

Day 29

1. Didn’t spend Monday in the office. On a monday of the month-end closing (the week where everyone just get curious about how much you sold and the reasons why) three of us lucky souls spend the day really far away from the office :) And in turn we...

2. Saw the inner workings of show business. Ha! Yes we were at a shoot of a mini movie we’re making for our launch. We were rubbing elbows and exchanging stories with actors and getting their views on the showbiz industry. I was very fortunate to have worked with real pros who are very smart and are out to uplift the image of actors here in the country. They’re also not the gossip magazine variety and they take their work very seriously. Nice to have met real people from a made-up world.

3. Heard from one of the people in my prayer group that he wants to be a missionary. Got a message on my phone that one of the guys in my group is praying over applying as a missionary for the community in another country. Its very thrilling to know that someone from your own little circle is thinking about this very rare life choice and if he does decide to go then we’ll have first hand stories of what life is like as a missionary abroad! Nice!

4. Family day part II: Mom’s back! We had dinner in my place today. I prepared my place and mom and my brother came over. It was like having meal in our kitchen back home. We shared stories of our Christmas and hers since we weren’t together this holiday season. Its nice to have her back after lending her to our brother and sister. She was like Santa bringing us all our goodies (for me it was stuff i bought online and for my brother it was stuff everyone bought for him). Whatever age you are, you are always your mom’s baby when you’re with her.

Day 28

Day 28
1. Woke up at just the right time. Got home at 4am and had to be at service at 9am. In spite of really bad dreams, a long drive, and a tired body, I still managed to wake up in time. My batting average for pulling off these things is the same as the sun setting in the east so this is definitely a legit entry :)

2. Another fun sunday morning service. This is the second straight sunday we decided to keep up the planning sessions for the guys we serve on the inside. We finally came up with a program with structure for this ministry and, probably not the most ideal program, this will be the first of its kind. I feel blessed that such a diverse and unlikely bunch of volunteers has come up with this program because one year ago you couldn’t fill a phone booth with volunteers and there was nothing on paper to guide us through our ministry. What was even sweeter is that we didn’t have to fight, argue, or take very long to come up with this-- we laughed, ate and laughed some more through this whole thing.

3.Lunch at a college classic. If anyone knows this classic spicy-ground-pork-with-cheese-and-coleslaw-in-a-hamburger-bun sandwich, you’ll know the legendary status of this uh...dish...food item...sandwich! Ok its so good that I tend to forget what its classification is. It is a legend of the 90s college student or movie goer and its back! And I had one for lunch!

4.(Extended) Family day. Instead of just me and my brother this particular sunday, a cousin came along and joined us. It was like being home all over again-- we bumped into so many people from back home, we over ate, we talked sports. Good times.

Day 27

1. Got good sleep. I needed sleep knowing I had to take a bus ride to one of our best cities early in the morning. I guess the talk with the cute girl did it because I slept so well even if I only had 4 hours to sleep in time for this next item...

2. Had a safe drive up to one of my favorite cities. So I was happy to have slept well the night before because I woke up to the news that I might have to drive 5 hours at 5am! I was praying that God makes me stay alert and awake throughout the whole drive since I’ve been quite the sleepy head lately. I was also praying that He make me not feel bad about the whole thing in spite of having to drive down that evening and not getting anymore sleep till then. But I was glad to know that when my friend passed for me, he found his missing and driver! We had a quick and very safe trip up to this favorite city of mine. This is where I first got assigned when I started working... beautiful place, great climate, and lots of character! After almost 1 whole year, I was back!

3. Attended a nice wedding of a friend and took a lot of pictures. It was our friend’s wedding that brought us up there to favorite city. I enjoyed the wedding a lot since the chapel was very quiet and isolated and there weren’t many guests. The homily was personal and the vows they exchanged were said ad lib without a guide. Also, the reception was also cool because they had this neat idea of having a long table full of the couple’s memorabilia from the time they met-- presents to each other, photos, and other small stuff. I felt very lucky to have been invited to this wedding. Of course I could not be without camera so I shot away. I think I took 500+ between 10am and 10pm. Its pretty ironic I’m getting a lot of practice during this busy time in my life :) He makes a way I tell you!

4. Had a nice time with good friends in one of my favorite cities. One fond memory of that city was that I was always with good company. This time was no different.

5. Had a safe late night drive home. My big worry was if we would be safe driving down since none of us was getting any sleep, the driver included. But apparently, he is a super driver and we drove home in record time and in one piece. 24 hours later, I’m back home with good memories and a bunch of photos.
One of the best saturdays of my life :)

Day 26

1. Had a “good news” meeting at work. From the jumping up and shouting “YEAH!” comes today’s “let’s discuss the fantastic results meeting.” All results good, hard work paid off, everyone smiling.

2. One of the biggest guys in the company took a bothersome issue off my back. We’ve been pining over this issue in the office for almost a month now. Every meeting we set we’ve been either missing one new bit of information or need to make one more assumption. Its been going back and forth but today someone finally put a stop to it and he only happens to be the biggest guy in the regional office. Basically, his suggestion (and his suggestions are actually nicely worded commands) is to stop number crunching and to start implementing. I am so for implementing.

3. Had a nice and happy 5-minute talk with my boss. The stress of the week caused me to not be nice to my boss last wednesday. I was feeling bad about it for two days now and I didn’t know how to approach her about it. Today, before the day ended, she came into my office and shared how happy she was about how our work is shaping up. She didn’t leave my cubicle for a whole 5 minutes gushing about her excitement about our work!

4. Had a nice talk with a cute girl. To end the day at the office I had a fun conversation with one of my cute office mates. I know. I’m shallow.

Day 25

1. Had my first meeting of the day 5 minutes from my house. Not only was it near my house, it was a very productive meeting too. A leisurely walk from the house started my day and at the meeting I found out that my partners, people I haven’t consulted with in a over a month, and I are surprisingly on the same page for this project.

2. Good news about something I’ve been working hard on. I got the good news after office hours in a group with people not from work and I just jumped up and shouted, “YEAH!”. Then everyone looked at me funny. It was that kind of good news.

3. Had good lunch with good friends from my last job. After my morning meeting I headed to lunch with my old office mates. Like old times it was a lot of laughs and of course I couldn’t not resist missing my old job. But later I realized that it wasn’t the job that made my last job good. It was the people I had become friends with.

4. Had fun being a model at a photo shoot. Today, for a change, I was in front, instead of behind the camera. I must say I had a lot of fun being on the other side. I was even choreographing myself! ...stupid poses and all!

5. Led a prayer at a wake of a friend’s grandmother. The night ended with a trip to the wake of our friend’s grandmother. As we came up to the coffin I was asked to say a short prayer for the group. I felt good doing it because it was like leading a prayer for my own late grand mother, someone I loved more or just as much as anything I love now.

Day 24

1. Got up early, had good early morning, and got greeted on TV. Nice leisurely start to my day. I watched a friend’s TV show and she greeted me on air. Also you seem to enjoy your cup of coffee more when you’re not glancing at the time every 2 minutes.

2. Had a good and quiet breakfast. Breakfast food in our canteen was good today. Corned beef, just what I was craving for. Yum. No bosses following you up in the canteen either.

3. Had a peaceful ride to and from work. Took a cab to and from work today. I got to organize work in my head for about 5 minutes then I decided I’d much rather enjoy the peace of not driving so I closed my eyes and took a nap.

4. Good fun with good friends at our prayer meeting. I so needed to get out of the office today. I think I even snapped at my boss. I needed to put a good end to this crazy day and I’m glad I ended up with my prayer group. I went from haggard to hyper in one evening :)

5. Got my back scratched-- well. And to cap the night I suckered one of my friends into scratching my back for 10 minutes. I will say this now, no massage will beat good back scratching. Got good back scratching tonight. Now if only I could get her to do this on a regular basis.

Day 23

1. A good workout. Just what I needed in the busy work week! Got some stress out through mitts, glove, and a skipping rope. I will only work our once this week but it was a good workout with good trainers. Also, it was an added bonus that I was working out with someone cute-- makes you push yourself harder so as not to look like a complete couch potato.

2. Talked to my dad. It was a short 1-minute talk but at least I got to make him feel he was on my mind. I got to ask him how he was and I told him I’m sending him a present. He was in a good mood even if my call woke him up. It was nice hearing him on the other end of that call.

3. Inspiration that led to turning in really good work. Finally I got time to get down to real work. No meetings, nobody popping in and out of my cubicle. Somehow this calmness finally turned into work that made me think, “Now this is what I bring to the table.” I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants lately but today I think I turned in something that will reassure my employer that I was picked for this post because of things like these.
4. Heard that the surgery of my friend’s mom went well. I don’t know her mom personally but anytime a family battles cancer and wins a small battle, it is definitely a blessing. Although I fear cancer, I think many families have experienced little miracles of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing when struggling with it.

5. Got a credit card for free. Ah the little joys of life. This is up there with finding a few bills in your jeans or your jacket.

6. Got assigned to a special assignment I like. Today I was given the special assignment of helping our team have special learning sessions. I love this stuff. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and now I get to be a teacher of sorts within the office. No need to drive to the class you teach, no need for a master’s degree, plus its a subject you like. Sweet.

7. Realization: Loving another is an end in itself. One of my friends shared this and it stuck. If we stop waiting for something as a result of loving another, things like getting loved back or nice things being said about you or favors being done to reciprocate your kindness, we won’t be let down so much. And we shouldn’t be because the command to love was not about getting something back but rather it was about giving of yourself.

Day 22

1. Was warmly welcomed into a home. Today our prayer meeting was held in our friend’s home. I always like getting welcomed into another’s home regardless if its a mansion in a private village or a small hut in the province (my work gets me to places like these). When people invite you into their homes and allow you to eat there means to me that they’re sharing more than just a meal with you, they’re sharing something more intimate, more personal-- especially if they’re inviting you in their homes to pray. To top it off, the house was beautiful. Plus, i got some decorating and furniture hunting tips from the owners.

2. Made a new friend. He’s from another country and he joined us at our prayer meeting. His example is an inspiring one because he’s trying hard to be a leader, much less remain in the community, in the states. I’ve always thought it was more challenging to live out your faith in a place like the states where there’s just so many more distractions and a much smaller support group. Turns out he’s a really nice guy who extended us an invitation into his home when we’re in his neck of the woods.

3. Tense meeting turned into a smooth meeting. Like I’ve been blogging in the previous posts, its been a very busy time in the office. Its has also been very testy lately with everyone on edge knowing that there’s so much at stake with this project. We discussed maybe the most critical item today and this is an area where we failed (in the initial stages). I was leading this meeting attended by even the bigs of our company and our partners. I was getting a little scared going into this meeting that it would turn into a finger-pointing mess instead it turned out to be one of those meetings where we put aside our egos and went straight to work and came out happy with the outcome. I’m glad the group put teamwork ahead of things like intellectual arrogance, ego, selfish interests.

4. I work is the good guys. Today I was made to realize that the following people are into their faith like I am: my department head, my trainee, a major supplier at work, the R&D manager I work with, my banker, my real estate broker, and my cleaning lady. I didn’t choose them on that basis yet somehow our paths crossed. How comforting it is that the people you’re with on a regular basis are people you can, in one way of another, talk God with.

5. Realization: “Taking things for granted takes away the joy of being grateful and appreciative of God’s love.” Think about it. The higher you set your bar for happiness, the harder it is to be happy, and therefore you won’t be happy that very often. On the flipside, try and appreciate the little things and you’ll realize how blessed you are. Why make it so difficult? And after only getting it 31 years into my life, I choose to be thankful it didn’t come one year later.

Day 21

Can it really be 3 weeks since this started? It feels much longer. Maybe becuase we're trained to look at what's wrong with our life rather than what's good about it. Maybe in the middle of this all, it will feel like this went by in a flash.

1. Had a good time planning our 2007 program with other volunteers. Today we spent the whole morning planning programs for our kid brothers on the inside. Not only did we have good plans we had a lot of fun. Everyone brought food to share and we also traded stories about how fulfilled we are to see changes happen in the guys we take care of and to witness the miracles that happen in their lives. In the group we are all so different (backgrounds, personalities, humor) and the only thing in common we have is this service and strangely enough, we always seem to have a good time together. We're not a lot and this service is far from being the most popular one in the community but I think this year, with these plans, we're up for another year full of pleasant surprises and answered prayers.

2. Yummy lunch. Nothing like Chinese Food after a meeting. Its almost like NBA talk over steak.

3. Got a present. I was thinking of getting a nice key chain last week and just like that, i got a new keychain as a present. It also happened to be one I liked. Now the problem I have is not knowing which keys to put in in... But another thing is that the present came from someone who doesn't have all the means to be giving presents. So I guess when it comes from soneone who really went out of his way to buy it, its more than a nice keychain.

4. Got to hang out with my brother (and planned mom's birthday). Sundays are my busiest days but they are also the best ones and a big reason why they are the best is becuase of the time I spend with my brother. We didn't have this time before and now that we're catching up, it seems like I was missing out on so much in the past. He's not only my brother, he's a buddy-- someone you really like hanging out with. Today we planned our mom's birthday (which is still in June) and we got pretty excited because we plan to have it in a high-end beach resort where we can enjoy quiet family time and the pampered life all in one place. I've been blessed with a family and doubly blessed because I really enjoy being with my family. So if I count how long its been since i was born into this family, I've been blessed 11,434 days.

...caught a good movie too, by the way :)

Day 20

1. Had good breakfast with college group. This year we're down to 4 from 8. 3 moved to another country. 1 lives in another province. This year it will be, uh.. a very long time, since we graduated from college and since then we've been meeting up very regularly that many of the jokes and stories have been recycled 20x over. This morning, even it was only 3 of us, we still had "one of those good times". Some of us are fatter, some with less hair, some have kids now, and some are quite successful but it the same people and the same good company.

2. Quiet time at home. After breakfast I got to spend a few hours just relaxing at home sorting stuff out, finding time to be still, and thinking about the things I put off thinking about on weekdays. Yes, I am a busy person and when you don't get 8 hours of sleep or find the time to think about personal things like furnishing an empty house, doing the bills, or finishing a book, this time is PRECIOUS.

3. So in my quiet time I came upon this thought: "Does anyone ask a hammer, 'Why do you allow the carpenter to use you so much?" Ok you must be a little bit crazy to be talking to a hammer BUT think about it. If you find your purpose, the one thing you're supposed to be doing (what you were created to do), why should you not do it every chance you get? Nice way to look at things considering we waste so much time doing the things we think we should be doing.

3. Pleasant visit to City Hall. Like security guards, the cops, and public transport drivers, I'm not very fond of government offices. I know its not very good to generalize and I'm really working on these things. But today I went to City Hall to beat the deadline on my real property tax and I came in towards the end of the day. To my surprise everyone was helpful and I even got service with smiles! That stuff I really didn't expect. The line was short too-- two people.

4. Saw friends, got more inspiration, and got called to higher service at a community assembly.Went to our monthly assembly and like the last time, and the speaker's message was again something I needed to hear. Coming to assemblies like this always give me some new learning and also the reassurance that I'm not alone in this life choice I made. It assures me that I have good friends who are there to support me and that we're in this togther for the long haul. Ok so listening to the talk and seeing my friends sort of prepared me for what came next. Before the night ended, I was pulled aside and given my new assignment. I was in shock when I heard it because it was something I never thought I'd get to or be considered for but I guess this is God's way of saying, "I even use an imperfet bum like you to be a big part of my perfect plan." And that feels good.

Day 19

Basically this post revolves around just one event today. I know I've been blessed a lot today but this is one of those all-in-one blessings that it requires all the space of this solitary post.

The best wedding I've ever been to happened yesterday.

One of my buddies got married to his girlfriend of 9 years. I've known quite a bit about his relationship and its ups and downs. I've seen them in the good times and the no-so-good times. Today the got married. And here are only 10 blessings of the many that took place in the context of that wedding today:

1. The wedding ceremony was small, intimate, and quiet and the homily was good.
2. The groom cried through the ceremony showing all of us how much a man can love his wife.
3. I was asked to be a groomsman.
4. The photography and videography was excellent. (i.e. no cheesy videos or photos). Just to know that a video production so good can shown merely 3 hours after the church ceremony is available to me blows me away.
5. Saw old officemates and got the chance to catch up. These are the guys you bled at the office with. You will always be bonded.
6. Saw an ex-officemate who is about to be my officemate again. And I remembered why she was someone we all had a crush on.
7. Caught up with one of my old cube-mates and talked about important stuff like God and life (and tech). Its always comforting to know that you have friends you can switch back and forth talking about deep things like sports and God.
8. Seeing practically all people in the groom's humble hometown drive 500 kilomemeters so see him marry.
9. (REALLY) Feeling the love of the bride, the groom, and their families throughout the church and the reception. Wow.
10. Being at the best wedding, eating warm and good food with friends (for free), laughing half the time, seeing your buddy so happy and in love, getting excited for your own wedding, the opportunity to take photos?? You have got to be kidding me. Lord, thanks so much for today!

Day 18

1. Got a call from my mom and my sister. The phone rang early this morning before I hit the showers. My mom is visiting my sister and she's been gone almost 2 months. They sound good and its nice to know they're enjoying each others company and its nice hearing them gushing rather than complaining. My mom thing is really travel and sometimes she's gone so long that even the pots and pans at home miss her. But for all the work she's put into the home and the family she deserves these indulgences. I was so happy for her that I almost sent her money. But after 2 seconds I shook off the idea. My sister also gets her for a while so they can catch up and have mother and daughter time. Overall, knowing your family is happy being family even if they're halfway across the world, life is good.

2. A nice relaxing kick-back day at the office. Due to some unexpected circumstances, my boss and trainee weren't at work today and the entire group of bosses were at a meeting the whole day. I was like a vacation only inside the office. I could actually watch leaves moving in the wind in between emails. With work going in Ludicrous Speed, days like these are very very appreciated.

3. Got invited to Y! groups. Ok everyone is a member in at least one Y! group-- your class, your family's, a tech group perhaps. But today I got invited to the group of full time workers of our community. Its either they want me to leave my job and join them serving full time or they feel that I should be kept in the loop of the heart of the goings-on of the community itself. Either way, its very honoring. I look back and see how far I've come now in terms of setting my life on what's really important, I can't help but feel so blessed to have made that U-Turn. I'm still working on a LOT of things but I'm in a better state of heart than I was 5 years ago and where I am now, I never thought I'd be back then. God is good (and very merciful), dude.

4. Access to yet another camera. My bestfriend got suckered into a lens+camera deal he saw on the internet and he's been crazy over it since he saw it. He elevated this obsession to Defcon 3 which is about the same as"moth to a flame" level. So now telle me he gots the new lens and he's stuck with a really nice camera body he's never going to use. Ka-ching! I've always wanted to use that camera and now, at zero cost to me...

5. Got good eats with one of my buddies. I left the office late today and I headed for this cheap steak place with one of my buddies. Some of you may not really appreciate this but when you have cheap steak and good NBA talk, you could be stuck at the bottom of a well and still be having a great time. Nice end to a nice day.

Day 17

Today my leader was going to absent from our prayer meeting. Over the weekend he asked me to stand in for him and lead the group. The days leading up to today I had nothing to give or say and today I got a bad bout of allergies (that I almost sneezed my nose off). Today posts will be about the blessing that happened around these realities.

1. Had a great message from God through my morning prayers. The gospel spoke about the Pharisees questioning Jesus for basically working on the Sabbath. Jesus told them off by telling them that there is no time NOT to do good. It was a good message from God especially for me who is getting bigger responsibilities in our community, at work, or in the family. Sometimes I fall into the trap of going overboard with rules that I forget the 2 greatest commandments: To love God and to love my neighbor. Simple as that. This message was for everyone in my prayer group since we're all leaders in the community already. It was also the theme of our meeting tonight.

2. Recovered from my allergies just in time. I was so weak today. I could not stop sneezing and my nose was runny for most of the day. The medicine wouldn't kick in and work was piling. I was blessed not to be driving today and the extra bucks spent on cab fare was more than worth it. I was also blessed to have gotten nice cab drivers who didn't have the AM radio blaring, who didn't drive herky-jerky, and who made nice conversation even if I was dozing off in the back. Even as I got the the house of our host, I was still woozy but after a few minutes with them and some dinner I was well enough to lead the group. We had a really meaningful prayer and discussion about real things, honest things, real inspiring stories. I felt even more blessed having to just rely on God in my state of physical weakness and seeing Him come through for me.

3. Heard about a miracle happening to a friend of mine. For some reason I called my old team mate at my old office. She then told me about this miracle that happened to her family. She had a nephew and a neice who were taken and hid by their mom (my friend's sister in law) 11 years ago. They never saw or heard from these kids after that and my friend's whole family has been looking for them since then. This week from out of the blue, someone saw a one of their MySpace accounts and contacted them. It was so moving because these kids have also been looking for the family they were taken away from for the same 11 years. Now they found each other halfway across the world by some random stumbling over the one of the thousands and thousands of MySpace accounts on the web. The reunion over the phone led to so many tears of joy and the family acknowledged that miracle and the goodness of God through it. Now they're planning to meet up even when some are halfway across the continent and some on the other end of the planet.

Sometimes God really uses our struggles and pains to as the stage to show us how great He is and how much He loves us. I can't wait to hear what happens next.

Day 16

1. Woke up really well. I bet it was the prayer meeting the night before.

2. Came in to a bright cubicle. Today someone raised the blinds of my big windows so when I came to work... wow! It was nice and bright outside and cold and bright inside. And though I only enjoyed it for a few moments becuase I had to run down and witness that #3 item down there, it was a good few moments that reminded me how blessd I am to even have an office with windows!

3. Saw my trainee put on a good presentation. After preparing all weekend and doing big revisions to his first draft, I think my trainee made a pretty solid case as to why he should graduate from his program. This guy is smart, funny, good natured, active in his church, and he does a pretty god job at work. Plus he's been pinch-hitting for me and his previous 5 bosses who have come and gone in the last 8 months. It was a blessing to see him do well and to cheer him on.

In the future (obviously I am anti-dating these posts) my trainee will drive up 3 provinces to go pick up his girlfriend who figured in a car collision and drive her home.

4. Caught up with an old friend. Got a message on the phone and I decided to put a call through. Nice to know my friend is doing fine. We caught up on a bit stories and I realized that it is a blessing to find a good friend where you work because it makes work fun.

5. Got a nice present for the house. Finally picked up my best friend's christmas present to me. Perfet for my clutter. This is a device made for me! It organizes what is usually in disarray in your kitchen! Never seen something like it before so I guess my life will be getting easier... after I take it out of the box install it! The bigger blessing is I don't think there was ever a time it crossed my mind to recycle one of his presents and give them to someone else. Thank God for friends who give good presents!

6. Transacted with good natured phone banker. I've never really had good times with phone banking agents and I with all this stress at work, I was half-expecting to butt heads with the phone banking agent when I called in the middle of my busy day. But i was wrong. I got a really good natured person I was more than willing to be patient with and even though he lost my business, it was a good way to cut business with someone. Nice person and transacting with him made my day.

7. Got my first exercise of 2007! After months of fearing I would die if I exercised again, I got a good workout in today. All my irrational fears of dying in the guys after months of no exercise finally melted away and I was actually happy to be sweating like a hog. I went with 3 cute girls so I think I pulled one over the rest of the male poulation tonight :) But seriously, it was a good workout. I'm blessed that my health is ok even if I haven't been diligent at the gym but now I plan to make up for lost time and get some good exercise in on a regular basis at this very affordable gym.

Day 15

1. I can pay my bills through my personal computer! I used to always stress about paying my bills online because the site only works on Internet Explorer on PCs. I use a Mac at home and it really used to bug me. Now after 3 weeks of slow connections and a quirky site, it finally works and works with on a Mac program! Finally! You don't know how happy that makes geeks like me!

2. No traffic on the way to work... on a monday?? Ok so another strange monday where it seemed like no one was going to work. I tried thinking about it and after 10 seconds I decided to forget the thinking and enjoy the drive instead. Good call.

3. Got good reviews on me from my boss. The first meeting of my morning was an informal discussion with my boss on how the year will go and how I've been doing the last 5 weeks. I was happy to hear her say that I was doing well, I was seen as mature and competent, and that I know what I'm doing! Nice to hear amidst all the stress!

4. Had a great prayer meeting today. I couldn't wait to get to this all day. Like I said before I feel so luck to have this new group of people. They are so inspiring to be around becuase they are just so positive and raring to do so many things. Sure enough we had a great discussion that was honest and very encouraging. We tried to start and end early but we were having such a good time we ended at almost midnight. Maybe its hard for some of you to understand but this is where I see miracles over and over. To hear stories of personal triumph becuase of God in a person's life, seeing them take on a more positive and hopeful outlook, hearing them say they have meaning in their lives... its hard to top, seriously.

5. Had a nice walk home. I left my car at home and walked to my prayer meeting and back tonight. Even if its just a small block or so, the night time weather was great for walking leisurely. It gave me time to really appreciate the prayer meeting that just took place and how in spite of this 100-mile-an-hour pace, I get to end the day like with so much peace and comfort.

Sorry for the delay

Hi! I haven't been posting diligently lately because I have been so busy at work to even sneak out a post via email. And the past couple of nights I've been coming home to a vanished free WiFi signal. I'm glad I have this project going because it constantly reminds me that in spite of the long and tough days I remain very blessed. This truth has been keeping me feeling very positive everyday, reminding me of how blessed I am where it counts and that the everyday problems are peripheral and in now way can they keep me from being joyful in the Lord.

True, its been a tough week but as it keeps getting tougher, it just keeps getting better. Read through the posts below (Day 9 onwards) and see what I'm talking about. Have a good one!

Day 14

Ok folks we're two whole weeks into this and I must say it is more challenging than it looks! But of course I will try my best to get 351 more entries in before 2008 rolls in. I just found out the the blogging via email service is busted so I have one less way to get you a post. But anyway...:)

1. Visited my friends at their place and taught them "honoring". Today we taught the concept of honoring to our friends on the inside. Honoring is basicall saying nice things to other as your way of appreciating them. We usually have this on birthdays so we gathered all the birhtday celebrants of December and January and tried it out. For guys who have been through a lot, saying nice things about others might not really come as second nature to them but they took to it really quick and I think they even enjoyed the experience. It was a sight to see.

2. Nice weather. My sunday mornings are usually spent outdoors and it usually am out in the hot sun at the wost times. Today was overcast and the breeze was cool. Perfect weather to be out! :)

3. Got a haricut (finally). I was so happy to find the time to get a haircut. It was so relaxing that I fell asleep. Call me spoiled but I love getting my hair washed by someone else-- I love the scrubbing, the scratching, the cold water... I can go on and on. Oh and the haircut wasn't a disaster so its all good :)


4. Had a good time with my brother. We spent the day talking about stuff, we attended a really nice mass in a really nice chapel listening to a homily that was simple and easy to understand, we had sausage for dinner, and we saw a movie. Pretty nice way to end the night. If my brother had a blog like this he'd be thankful for the girl who was in the seat beside his :)

Day 13

1. A conference gave me the inspiration that's been lacking lately. I've been a little lacking in inspiration lately but that all changed today. Today I was invited to my first leader's conference in our community where we start the year. The talks and the worship really moved me and it reminded me why I signed up for this life. Admittedly all of us stray sometimes and lose sight of why we're actually doing things. Today I was reminded of my duty and my passion for doing it. God is so good that he didn't even wait a month to shine some light on me.

2. Got to take pictures. It was a big event and I as always my camera was with me. Not only did I take pictures, I took good pictures :)

3. Ate at Taco Bell. There is no meal more complete than a good burrito-- meat, rice, rich flavor, easy to eat. 'Cmon, how can that not be a blessing. I was even wishing I was hungrier!

4. Met new friends, saw old ones, saw some from back home. Met some foreingers who are also in the same community today. More than making a new friend is the comfort in knowing that I have connections to my community all over the world! I saw my old friends from my mission as well as new little old friend named Alex-- she even gave me food! Most comforting was to see friends from back home. It made me happy to know that where my phyisical home is, my spiritual home is as well.

5. Had a nice conversation with one of my leaders. I has a nice talk with one of my leaders on the drive home from the conference. I'm happy I can be open about my thoughts to my leaders and that they don't judge me for them. It sure beat commuting home alone!

6. Had a good quiet time this morning. Ah one of the first free mornings I've had in a long time. Got time to fix, file, catch up on chores and blogging. I never apprecitated quiet time when I had a lot of time. Now it almost up there with a good burrito!

Day 12

1. Had another good night's sleep. Seems like on a sleep roll here but guess what? Check out yesterday's last entry, think it could be that? ;)

2. Got good news about my friends' once rocky friendship. These guys used to serve under me and they were like oil and water. I've spoken to them individually about their personal differences and how it could affect the group their leading. I'm glad that towards the end of the year they decided to each be flexible and more understanding of one another and that all they're there for is to serve the people entrusted to them. After yesterday's talk I got a text from one of them on how good its getting for their group and for each other. I got the whole "I'm rooting for my partner" vibe and I think the storm is calming between them. I know that they put God and their members ahead of their personal preferences and peculiarities and that faith is being rewarded now-- you can feel it in the way they speak and the way their messages sound, I'm very happy for them and just to be able to see this happening.

3. Payday! Quite self-explanatory but YIPEE! just the same :)

4. Got recognized (and awarded) for being a good Christian. I'm getting recognized as one of those who embody the christian ideal we are encouraging. Its a nice award and quite flattering but truth be told, all I did was act on what God wanted me to do. He wanted me to put in more time for Him so I did. He wanted me to drop bad habits so ok, I did. He wanted me to love others more, so I made an effort. I really believe I was not doing anything special, I was just doing more of the things He wants me to do. And ever since I made those choices life has just gotten better for me. I always tell myself, "There is no one who has followed God's call or sought His will and acted upon it and has not been joyful in the end." Its not the end and already I am joyful. The award is not the the public recognition, it is that I know I am glorifying the Lord more today than I was yesterday. And since then my life has been blessed.

5. Held my afternoon meetings at a scenic place out of town. Today I had an afternoon meeting away from the city and in this garden-type place that looks like it came out of a children's story book. The abundance of plants and flowers and the cold january wind blowing made you forget you needed to hit your sales quotas to be happy because you could be happy right there in the middle of the place. It was so calm and leisurely that you would consider living out your remaining years in that place just reading a book or watching the plants sway in the breeze. Even if I didn't get the whole "A Walk in the Clouds meets Under the Tuscan Sun" lifestyle I was happy to have lunch there and know that a place like that exists a drive away from the city.

6. Amy got promoted! I found out that the person who reported directly to me in my last job got promoted! And to add to that, the product she re-launched last year hit its sales targets and continues to do very well. This person is one of the quicker learners I've coached and she has this rare curiosity to learn more and more things everyday. I've never seen someone so thirsty for knowledge! She has great potential and she's a great team player. I'm so happy that she's coming home with a bigger paycheck next payday!

7. Realized another thing about my love life concerns. This may be true for you guys too so here goes. I think I've been asking too much for what I think I want for myself. I think I've been dictating too much to God who I think is best for me. I also think I haven't been praying to Him enough about the right person for me and seeking His will in this aspect in my life, instead I just wait for that person to fall from the sky. Today I stopped asking for someone who "fits the bill" of my standards rather I asked Him for someone who I can raise a good Christian family with. Someone who will make me a better christian and together we will be better servants for Him through our family. Today I asked Him to show me the things I need to work on to deserve that person He has prepared for me. I'm throwing out all the worldly standards and I'm trusting Him on this one. Like I said in #4, "There is no one who has followed God's call or sought His will and acted upon it and has not been joyful in the end."

Day 11

1. Had a good night's sleep. Coming from a long day yesterday, this was very good for me. Even though I didn't get a lot of hours in it was definitely quality sleep. I think this had much to do with the last item of yesterday's post, don't you think? :)

2. Got a message from my mom checking up on me. My mom's still away and she won't be back for a few more days. Even at 31, its nice to hear your mother check up on you to see if you're alright. I know she can't give me the solution to my office workload or the traffic or help me clean my house but checking up on me does make me feel good. Especially when you know she's checking up on you from halfway across the world.

3. Spent most of the day out of the office. Ah yes, today was spent outside the confines of my little cubicle. Although it was in a fairly dated hotel, the fresh atmosphere (of the 80's), and its very close proximity to my house, and the better-than-your-office-cafeteria-food did it for me. You know what, I should really be thankful even just for working in my office-- its not hot like field, there is no corruption like *insert big government office here*, and people are generally helpful. So today was a big plus on top of the great blessing it is to work where i do!

4. Got to visit my old office. Got the chance to pass by my old office today to drop off some stuff for my friends there. The guards were really nice letting me in and allowing me to park and I ran into an old team mate and my old boss. I had a short chat with my old boss and it was nice hearing that the year has been OK for her. We caught up on a few things and I remembered how we worked well together a few years back and how our work was one of the best stuff we did in out careers. I landed my job today because of what I went through with her and I'm glad we're still friends and that she and the rest of the team, seem to be doing fine.

5. Heard just what I needed to hear through a talk I attended. Today was long and very testy. I was late for the talk so I hurried to find my spot in the room. I haven't been on the high I was on last month and I've been searching for some inspiration in these times where time goes so fast and my day seems to take forever to end and yes, God's place in my life or at least in my schedule seems to become the one that is moved around a lot. Tonight we heard a talk from one of the elders in our community and he spoke of this year's direction. I was so hit / moved / touched / inspired / singled-out / liberated / energized by his talk that all my questions were answered. He simply reminded us of where God should be in our life. That we should always seek Him desperately in all things. That we should remember that we depend on Him for everything. And we should never get so full of ourselves and our worldly preoccupations to give our God less than our best and our all. And by following that, I will never rant about how bad my life is. That's His promise and I'm glad that I can bring that to the bank.

Day 10

1. Got a nice message from someone I used to serve. Got a message on my phone from someone I used to serve and lead last year thanking me for the time spent in our group, some small things I helped her out with, and the friend I was to her. I never really expected a message like this and I'm just happy to see them get more and more joyful as they grow in faith. But to get a message like this out of the blue just reassures me that I'm not wasting all of my time here on this earth, that I am doing a small part to help others, and that we must keep on doing my part so that others may do the same to the people they serve or come in contact with to show the whole world that God is present and real and loving through the gift of other people.

2. Saw two very good friends. Funny because these two friends are connected to me because but are also connected to each other because they share a certain person in their lives. To see them in the same night without all the tension of their connection was very good. They are both very good friends and I was happy to see them after the break to catch up on stories since they both were a big part of me getting to my goals last year.

3. Great teamwork in a tense meeting. With deadlines coming closer and closer the tension at work it building up. We had to cover so much ground today and I guess people were getting a little edgy. What started out as meeting with "a little more fire" ended up with a great show of teamwork, flexibility, and understanding for us and our partners. I believe that when you show that all there is to accomplish but the end goal and not the personal interests, everyone becomes more helpful and passionate. I'm glad were all on the same page as this one because it really brings out the beauty of teamwork.

4. Discovered I share interest in Steams in the Desert with one of my team mates. I had a small conversation with one of my team mates when I saw a copy of Stream in the Desert on his desk. This is the book that helped me so much when I started to work on my faith. It was given as a gift and I have given this devotional as a gift to my friends as well. More than owning the same book as this person, I think the blessing is really in the comfort in knowing we share the same interest in our faith and that the Lord has been good to put me in a place where I find people who share more in common with me than the address on my business card.

Day 9

1. Found out that my big bosses are pretty nice people. Tonight I had dinner with the "bigs" from the office since we had a visit from one of the regional bosses. Over the course of that dinner I got to talk to them and find out that they are really just very simple people who are into their families and the simple way of life. We hardly talked business but rather talked about life and what we do to have fun. Also my department head who was seated beside me checked up on me, patting me on the shoulder, reassuring me that I shouldn't worry about my getting regularized.

2. Got the chance to stand up for my values and did it. We were facing this dilema in the office about a a certain issue that impacts not only the business but the way the local country business is seen in the eyes of the bigger regional or global community. And it involves being transparent with data. In the fear of making the country's image look bad some suggestions of temporarily withholding information to team mates was put on the table. I felt very strongly against this because it could break up the spirit of the team. I also felt that it did not speak very well of how we should trust one another. So I spoke up quite strongly and I even told my trainee who was across the table to speak up if anything conflicted with his values. Problem was it was in front of the General Manager of the company and a member of the management board! They took it well and we arrived a solution that was both a aligned with our values and the local company. I felt good about the outcome but I felt better that I was able to show my trainee that his boss is a person who doesn't compromise his values.

3. New team mate voluntarily covered for me at a meeting I couldn't attend. It was such a busy day in the office and I got pulled into two big meetings I couldn't sneak out of. I was forced to ask a team mate to cover for me. This person his higher up the ladder than I am and I've been on my toes about him since I got in. But it was so refreshing to see him happily offer to take it on and to tell me to not worry about the meeting and just focus on what I'm preoccupied with. I think my defenses and apprehension are slowly melting away and I hope that one day we can all be sincere and transparent to one another in the team so we just focus on getting the job done rather that office politics or image. I think today was a step in that direction.

4. Came home a clean house. The entire last week I've been coming home to what you may call "domicile in disarray". After a long day today I was so happy the cleaning lady did a good job (as always) and left the house nice clean and clutter-free. It was just a great sight to end one of my longest days yet in this job.

Day 8

1. Realizing what could be the answer to my love life question. I realized this morning that it could be that I haven't been asking God to give me the person I need rather, I have been asking God to give me a person who a) I think I need or b) a person who will adjust to who I am or c) a person who i think deserves me. Now I think that could very well be on the conceited side...on the side of "the girl who meets me will be lucky" thus implying "I need not change, I have to find that person who deserves me or is up to to my standards". I could be the only one feeling this or there could be a couple of us out here falling into the same trap. I was lucky that God made me realize that even in this aspect of life I have to seek to become better and I'm not "already there". This is a lesson in humility in asking God to give me what I need (not what I want) and to seek His desires for me (while being fixated on what I desire) in this aspect. I think this is a prelude to a great story on how God's plan smokes my plan. I am both very thankful and very excited!

2. Good meeting with my trainee. I've been blessed with a really good trainee. Good at work and good in the heart. I feel so luck that I have this guy in my team and I'm excited to help him realize his full potential. If I end up reporting to him one day, I will not mind at at all. I will in fact be happy to have stepped aside and helped him live out the extent of what he could be. We had a good meeting yesterday where we just bounced off ideas devoid of the "boss-trainee" pretense and I think we came up with good stuff. We hope these plans of ours workout but just the "getting there" was a blessing in itself.

3. Failing a big test. We failed a BIG test in the office. I don't know how big BIG is in your offices but this was of "General Manager Importance" in ours. The beautiful thing that came out of it was that I didn't see it as a failure and so did our department boss (he even called it just a "minor setback"). I usually take these things hard but this time all I was thinking was "its only a failure if we don't learn from it" and on the way home I was so happy thinking "Yahoo! I'm on the way to my first prayer group meeting this year." Have I matured? Have I learned to leave work behind at the office gates? Have I learned to focus on what really counts? ...becuase there was no fire or enthusiasm loss on my end so I guess I'm in a healthier state of being nowadays :)

4. My first prayer group meeting with my new group was a huge success. This year is starts off with so many new things for me: new job, new (old) car, and biggest of all, new prayer group. As their leader I'm thinking "Am I starting from scratch? Will this be yet another year swimming upstream? Will they even allow me to be their leader?". I drove home excited but guarded and not knowing what to expect. I was surprised to know that people were early (before me!). Dinner was good and we had a lot of fun at the table but it just got better during the prayer and the discussion! I was so wrong expecting what I did because our meeting was one of the best I've every had. Everyone is inspired, excited, and just raring to serve and it is their energy that inspires and excites me. I am sure to be learning a lot from these guy and I'm excited to serve them! Now what I thought was a tough task ahead (taking on a new group) is actually turning out to be a convenience. And with work piling up (fast) in the office, this is perfect timing. Sometimes you really get what you need when you need it without even expecting it! Thank you Lord!

Day 7

I know I'm a little late on posting so for that I apologize. I didn't know it would be this challenging this early so here's making up for lost time. Sunday was a good day for me, very tiring but good nontheless. Here goes:

1) Saw my friends from my service. The christmas break kept me away from the guys for about 2 weeks and it was so refreshing visiting them again. I felt so at home when I went "on the inside" and it was like Christmas Day being greeted by all my friends I didn't see during the holidays. We caught up on stories of the holiday season-- what they did and what I did. We were a small group only but I think that helped a lot in making the time more meaningful. All in all i was really reminded on how lucky I am to know these guys and to be able to visit them every sunday.

2) Witnessed a small miracle and had a great group prayer. Hearing the guys pray and give thanks in spite of their lonely and largely uneventful Christmas was just so moving. I'm sure everyone saw we getting teary-eyed. But for some reason, I didn't mind because the prayers were just so sincere and real. If those are what prayers should be then I'm a long way off. With their help I should get there one day. Also there was this one guy who wrote was you might call hate mail to his mother and family for not visiting him over the holidays. After one of our friends convinced him to re-think his letter and come to terms with his hurt he wrote a kinder letter, one that where he asked his family to visit him becuase he misses them. Before our short time together was over, he gets a notice from the staff that a visitor was waiting. It was his mother. When God says your faith will save you, it will.

3) My grandmother turned 80! She's 80 years old but she looks nothing like it. She looks like she's in her 60's! She still works, moves around, and she's not even forgetful. Wow. She's also my model for hard work and patience. My grandma should be the living parallel of the 80 year old Energizer bunny. She's my last living grandparent and I'm glad she's still around. I owe her dozens of visits and I really plan to make up for it this year.

4) Hung out with my cousins. We were all together for my grandma's birthday and it was nice to be complete that night. Ever since I moved out of the big house, I've lost a bit of touch with them. It was nice to joke and mess around for a little while and see everyone grown up. I think we should get together more often while everyone's still here. Lots of laughs to end the day.

Day 6

1. Had lunch with more old friends. This seems to be reunion season. Again I had another chance to get some good food and laugh hard with old friends. I know there have been many, as the previous posts will prove, but I know I'll appreciate this "catch up time" even more when the year goes on and my friends are back in their offices halfway across the world.

2. Realized I know the perfect couple. Today I was chatting with a friend who was talking about how she married the right person and how they complement each other from finances to raising kids to leading the family. I know you read about such couples in books or magazine features but I really know one such couple! Its nice to know people like this when everyone is looking for the practical mate or a practical realationship thus, live an ordinary ho-hum life. Its nice to know that you can do things differently and it is very possible becuase I have the friends who've proven it.

3. Met bigtime photojournalists who shared their stories and gave me tips. I wrote about this in an earlier post. Back then I just thought I was meeting someone who was educated abroad but today I met photojournalists who work for international agencies-- people who contribute to NY Times and TIME! This was a story fest! I met 2 locals and one foreigner who each had their stories and tips for me. They even complimented my photos! Now these are the mentors I've been looking for!

4. Heard a really nice story from a really successful guy. The guy who introduced me to these photojournalists is a very successful guy in his field of photography. He shoots magazine covers and famous models. But what amazed me is his life story and how God continues to write it for him. He was married for years, spearated for a couple of years, and got an annulment. While the annulment was pending and he way separated, someone from his industry brought him to a church where he became very active and made peace with God and asked God to run his life for him. He went back home to his family, asked his wife and kids for forgiveness, committed himself to the family, slept in a seperate room for a while, courted his wife all over again, and now the family is back together. After he put God in his life, he says that his business just skyrocketed. And he says that he believes that the reason for that is God equipping him to be a better provider for his family. He credits God for all the success he's enjoying. I used to admire this guy for his pictures. Now I admire him for so much more. I'm so happy to have heard his story.

5. The line was fast at the place where I was paying bills. I'm not a very patient person when it comes to lines. I don't like getting pushed or nudged or seeing people trying to cut lines. But today I think I came in with a more peaceful state that I actually didn't mind the length of the line I was just happy listening to the radio music clashing with the basketball game on the TV mounted on the wall. Again I think, maybe the lines have always been this fast or this slow but I wonder if I was just as peaceful and worry-free as today.

Day 5

1. Heard a really good speech. Today I heard a good speech on character and doing a job well. At first I have to admit that I didn't really think much of the speaker and all I was really there for was the free coffee and donuts. But this person really inspired me when he spoke about his team and his kid and how he learned what values are all about and what's important in life from a bunch of profesionals and a 5 year old. I thought it was pretty cool.

2. My "terror" day ended well. I've been stressing over this big report that I've been back and forth with. I've been discovering things and making fresh mistakes almost everyday. But the deadline came and the buck stopped at 5pm. To my surprise the meeting went well, I learned a lot, and my fear turned into enthusiasm. The bosses were very kind and encouraging and they didn't make me feel incompetent rather they made me feel part of the team and that each of us was in this together. Now that makes work so much more comfortable.

3. Had a a good lunch. After a long and tiring meeting, we had a good lunch on the office. I saved my canteen credits and spent them on supplies for the house. Bought milk with my credits so I replenish my supply and I avoing having to eat my cereal dry :)

4. Ended the day with friends. Had a nice dinner with friends. As usual a lot of food and laughing was involved. Also quite unusually, the security guard at the parking lot was very nice. So nice that I tipped him big. I'm not very good with security guards but tonight I was shown that not every security guards are as bad I think. Hmm.. maybe they were nice all along and finally realizing it.

5. Friday came. I've been working for 4 days this year and it felt like 4 months. I'm so glad Friday came. I knew it was coming but it didn't feel real until I walked out the office doors. Whattarush!

6. Got to pray as a group again. Finally I got to attend an group prayer last night. Didn't know who much I missed it. It was far from perfect but I couln't care less. Last night also reminded me how little I'm writing down in this blog compared to the blessings I get. It also reminded me why I've chosen this path and why I haven't regretted it since.


Have a good weekend, folks!

Day 4

1. Officemate talked to me about God and life. Out of the blue one of the senior managers came to my desk to small talk and we ended up talking about God and life. She had all these concerns about about life and the talk seemed to calm her down and make her realize that there may be space in her life for more meaningful things. I think its a blessing that people talk to me about these things. It gives me a chance to talk about the things that give meaning to my life.

2. Met the person who lobbied (hard) to hire me. Apparently I was up against someone really qualified for this job. The person in #1 told me that it was this manager who's got assigned elsewhere who pushed hard to hire me and put me on this major project in spite of my out-of-office commitments. I never knew. This person is in town now and we had a nice chat tonight. You never really know who's silently rooting for you :)

3. Caught up with some old friends. It was all fun and laughs like it was 5 years ago. Same people, same place, same jokes. These are the situations when you tend to eat more than you should. Good times.

4. Had good coffee today and got free magazines. Not only was the coffee it starbucks, it was free too. Not only were they current issues, they were free too. I only have one magazine subscription so its like buy 1, get 10 :)

5. My stiff neck isn't so stiff anymore. I thought this would last longer than a day but inspite of the workload, I am healing pretty fast. Its only been 2 days now and I think this won't last 'til tomorrow night. Excercise here i come!

6. Got an inviatation to meet a really good photojournalist. My secret dream: to be a photojournalist. This possible mentor is educated abroad and has a lot of work experience and a common friend is trying to get us to meet. Sweet! Now I have the chance to work with a pro!

Day 3

1. Officemate asks to come along to my service. I volunteer to help troubled kids and today at the lunch table an officemate asks me if he can come along and when I go next time. I thank God that he's curious. Maybe this is God's way of adding a volunteer and making his life, and the lives he will touch more meaningful. I'm just happy now that there's a window of hope.

2. Massage after a long day. I got a massage not very far from where I work-- actually the term "stone's throw" is almost an exaggeration. To top things off I got it for about US $1.50! Wow!

3. Heard from a good friend that he's now together with a real special girl. Now how is this a blessing to me? It proves to me that good things come to good people. In this case, a good guy gets together with a good girl. This day is about hope, baby!

4. Found out where I can get cheap gasoline. Erstwhile hidden to me, these gas stations can help me save a buck or two for every liter of gas. Since I drive a long way do vounteer work, gas is precious to me. Now i can stretch my budget a bit more!

5. Heard from my mom today. She's out of town and its nice to know that she's safe, healthy, and having fun. That's perfect shape for coming back home :)

6. Had dinner with close friends. The holiday break led me to the life of a hermit but seeing my friends today was a very refreshing experience. We talked, laughed, and shared stories over good and affordable food. Not a bad way to end a day! Today reminded me how God has sent great people into my life to keep me company through this journey with Him.

Day 2

1. Drove to and from work with ZERO traffic. When your first work day of January is the epitome of "hitting the ground running (like mad)", a nice drive to work and a
nice drive home it a rare comfort. No cars on the road, not getting
cut off on both drives, and no rush whatsoever. It was almost like
driving on a weekend!

2. No bosses today. I was like the first day of school: no one
studies and everyone is pretty happy. No bosses = no pressure = the
calm you need to think straight. Not bad at all for what is supposed
to be the first day of the longest month of the year. God is telling
me that even in "hell month", He can give you comfort.

3. New officemate, old friend. After 5 years we're working down the hall from one another again. One of my good friends from two employers ago is my officemate again. Nice to have another familiar face in an unfamiliar place.

4. Got a really good email filled with kind words from a new friend.
As if the text yesterday wasn't enough, I got an email from someone
saying that what I did over the break was like an answered prayer for
her. And I did absolutely nothing for this person. She was happy I
did something for somone else and that was enough to inspire her. She
even called me an angel. We are blessings to other people not because
we of what we do for them but because of God uses us to bless them
(oftentimes, without us knowing). And then we, in turn, are blessed.
Never under estimate the power of a small good deed, God doesn't.

Day 1

1. Had a "God Conversation" with someone I never thought I'd have it with. with On New Year's eve with my family I had a great conversation about God with the last person in the house I thought it was possible with. My aunt is critical, quick to jugde, and quick to comment on anything but we spoke for 30 minutes both sharing how God works in our lives. I also learned so much about my late grandfather. The Lord once again showed me that with Him all things are possible.

2. Got a great heart-warming text from someone I found really difficult to deal with. I've been trying my best to be patient with this guy since I can remember. He is the one person I have to try doubly hard with to exercise restrain with my words and patience. He puts me to the "loving your neighbor" test all the time. On New Year's Day he thanked me for being a friend, family, teacher, and a good influence. All the while I thought he was a thorn in my side. I was wrong, he was used by God to show me that loving pays off.

3. Picked up a book that will guide me in 80% of what I want to accomplish this year. This year I've decided to imporove myself in and outside work to become better for others. I'm not even halfway through this book and I'm already so fired up to start. It has all the practical guides spelled out for me!

4. I found I had a licensed copy of Quicken! I've always wanted this program for me to take care of my money better and this Christmas Holiday break I really got into my finances and promised to take better care of my money. I was looking through the old installer CD that came with my computer and voila! I had it all along! Now managing my money has just gotten way easier!