Happy Monday - April Showers

I already featured the story HERE, but I didn't show the picture behind the story, so I decided to share it today for the Happy Monday challenge, since the prompt was all about "April Showers."




That's my sister showing off the Tangadan Falls, a place we visited together with two of our cousins and some of their friends. I am not much of a traveler, but I could say I have checked quite a lot of places already, and of all the challenges I have faced as a traveler, this would have to be the toughest ever. So tough, none of us were willing to go through it all again, even if the "pot of gold" at the end was a paradise like this one. I guess for now, I will just be satisfied with the pictures, but of course, given another chance in the future (like next year kind of future), I might go through it all again.

Of course, I was very thankful about the trip, and I guess for this year, this was the most rewarding trip I made. There are still eight months to go this year... will this be topped by some other trip? Only time will tell.

Happy Monday everyone!

*** Jenn ***

ps - I encoded a wrong year for the picture... it's 2011, not 2010. Will just replace the picture tomorrow morning, it's way past my bed time.

Joy of Luck - Day 07: My Rainbow

I wanted to take a fresh picture for this last prompt, but I couldn't find the time and the inspiration to do so, so I will use an old picture.




Day 07 - My Rainbow.

"At the end of the rainbow, you'll find a pot of gold...."

...so goes the first line of the song, "The End" by Earl Grant. When I was a kid, I used to wish I could see the end of the rainbow and find that pot of gold and I would buy lots of candies with it. Of course, as time went on, I realized it wasn't real, though I got to learn as I mature, that rainbows aren't necessarily those seven-colored stripes we see in the sky. Rainbows are something that gives us hope, that gives us a promise for a new day, kinda like when God showed a rainbow as His promise to never destroy the world by flood again.

Currently, I am having a lot of monsters in my head. Discussing the details would take up all the space, but even if I am not going to tell anything about the problems, these problems are slowly eating my mind. For the past few days I have been coping up with heartburn because (maybe) of slight indigestion (I am also involuntarily throwing up after eating for reasons I don't understand), and I always get a little crazy whenever I hear the phone call or when I hear motorcycles passing by. Last week has got to be the "worst," as I start and end my day with thoughts that I am not supposed to think about.

Last weekend gave me a little time to breathe... and though the problems are still there, I know I just have to lift all my worries up to the Lord, and trust Him that everything that is happening is something I can deal with.

As for my rainbows, well, I am pretty much a simple person, so I am praying to have a little piece of land I could cultivate. Just this morning, I discussed with sister the thought of me taking care of some livestock, but yes, as simple as this seem be, it's a big mountain to climb. Should I pursue my dreams of becoming a farmer Jenn may mean giving up the city life, and even if I am a country girl at heart, I am not sure if I can actually leave the idea of giving up certain things, including living away from my family.

I also pray to have a family of my own... I will be 31 next month, and I still am single. I sure hope Mr. Right is somewhere near, as I am waiting so long to finally meet him.

Lastly, I pray to have a good life. A good life that is not necessarily having all the riches of the world, but good in a way that I am happy and fulfilled with the simple joys God has showered me.

*** Jenn ***

ps - The Joy of Luck class has ended, and even if it took sooooo long for me to post all my take to the lessons, I am glad that I was able to get into my inner self and reflect about some things.

5MinFri - If You Met Me...

Last week, I had no connection, so I wasn't able to join. I am happy that this week, Internet has been nice. This week, the prompt is "If You Met Me." Ready?




Go.

The very first thing you'd notice about me would be my size. However, despite my extra large frame, I seem to be fading in the background because I am fairly quiet, especially during gatherings. Well, at first I could be really timid - I am not really the type who voice out a whole lot of opinions and points of view, but as you get to know more of me, I think I have a little sense of humor and that I am a little crazy at times.

If you met me, you might consider me a walking contradiction because I love organizing my things alphabetically and I arrange my files according to their dates, yet even if I have this OC-ness, I am a pretty messy person literally. I just hate cleaning, so at times my room turns into a storage area.

If you met me, you'd see how I cherish my very few relationships. I don't have that much friends, but I do hold on to those few people. If you met me, you'd see how I love and respect my family. If you met me, you'd see how sweet of a person I am, and If you met me, you'd see how much I strive everyday to see the goodness in all things.

Stop.

Really? That's all I was able to write in 5 minutes? Awwww....

Anyway, time may not be enough, but if you check back here once in a while, you will surely get to know more of me though my pictures and words. Isn't it great to be a life artist? I just love celebrating life!

*** Jenn ***

SST - Anna Sui Slip Ons

I wasn't able to join last week because I didn't take that much pictures. The past week, I have been a little shutter happy, and among the pictures I have taken, this is my favorite:




I am a person who always wear flat footwear because of my weight. I do own some footwear that provides a little elevation (all have 1-inch heels), but I only wear it if I won't walk that much. I am not into shoes, I just have what I basically need, but I am a woman, too, and there were times that I admire certain girly things... like this pair of shoes.

As what I have written on my other blog, Shutter Happy Moments, us three girls (mom, sis, and I) saw a garage sale and knowing that this pair of Anna Sui slip ons cost only p190 (usd4.27), I instantly grabbed it and bought it, since the original price was p980. I took this picture in black and white, but in case you wanna know, the shoes are red in color. Red isn't a favorite color, but I just don't know what's my connection with red, that I just love some of my things (bags and wallets primarily) in red. Not too long ago, I hoped of owning a pair of red girly shoes (I already owned a pair of red sneakers while I was in college), and now it just came true.

*** Jenn ***

Joy of Luck - Day 06: Biggest Current Blessing

It's been a while since I last updated my Joy of Luck posts... two more days to go, and here is the second to the last prompt:




Day 06 - Biggest Current Blessing.

Last January, mom told me cousin Jayson (eldest son of Aunt Bing, mom's youngest sibling) will be staying here in our house for two months because he needed a place to stay while reviewing for the ECE board exams. At first I wasn't that happy about it - we weren't as close to our maternal relatives and the family wasn't used to having "other" people in the house. However, I understood the whole situation and we wanted to help him (it would be much better for him to stay here than rent a boarding house for two months), so I learned to compromise.

He is a week or so younger than my sister, so of course I am not really close to him. He is also the silent type, though as the days passed, we were able to share stories and he would sometimes laugh at my silly antics.

When sister and I went for a short vacation in our paternal hometown, brother sent me a message telling our Internet was disconnected. I wasn't able to settle it right away as I am having big financial problems and I didn't want to tell mom about it. When cousin found out about it, he was quick to lend me his Internet Stick, telling me that he rarely use the stick and it was postpaid (unlimited Internet connection), so he sight I might as well use it. I was really thankful about his gesture, and although I have to stay in our terrace so that the signal would be excellent, I happily grabbed the blessing and it made me stay online for as much as I can. The only disruption was whenever he would take it back because he would lend it to his classmate who also needed Internet connection because of their lessons.

Despite him being quiet, he was a real sweet cousin. He would volunteer to wash the dishes, and hearing I love playing games as my diversion while editing pictures or writing my articles, he would sometimes give he copies of games, including the PC version of "Angry Birds," which is annoyingly addictive (I love it).

Just the other day, he came straight to me when he got home and gave a copy of FOOD Magazine April 2011. I was surprised about it, and he told me he passed by the bookstore, saw this and remembered I love reading culinary magazines. I was really, really touched and mom was happy that despite our age difference and our gender, we are becoming good friends. If he didn't stay here, for sure I wouldn't receive all of these blessings.

Thank you for the kindness, couz! I will just let God pay you in my behalf as I couldn't give you anything. I pray you will pass the board exam. Claim your victory, engineer! :)

*** Jenn ***