First, Fr. Joachim of Holy Family Artesia’s homily spoke of “The Gospel that teaches us that people are to be saved, welcomed, cared for, protected and not to be abandoned. We are lost, yet God continues to find us. The grace of the moment is to look for Jesus, to love, and not to kill Him. Let’s place Jesus first in our lives.” Second: Holy Spirit, thank you for blessing this family’s four orange trees, a full four sides of manifestation of your bounty to them. God, I was just thinking of buying corned beef as I miss my childhood meals and zero corned beef in my cupboard.
Then, a text from my beloved, loving, nurturing mom/god daughter of two geniuses, twins who raises them with parenting, rich in love of nature, outdoors, and trees; organic cooking, 50 books a day exposure; building their imagination and involving them in daily life’s cooking, baking, forming dough, juicing, came. Shortly after, her dad had delivered to us, two bags full of freshly picked oranges. These 3 yo twins wake up and tell their mom what they want – sinigang, tomatoes, and whatever they want to make with her and direct their play activities while mom structures the lessons by laying out the toys to build their fine motor skills. One of the twins woke up to say, “Mom, I want to draw an embryo.” Or another time, cars and animals.
I am grateful and appreciate all these spontaneous gifts from their hearts. I hurriedly cooked the Delimondo corned beef, garlic fried rice, and prepared freshly squuezed orange juice with half a banana. Hubby ate and said, “Hmm, it is good.”
God please continue to pour your bountiful blessings on this family, who are thriving with love, teamwork, music, organic cooking and love for nature. All the right values/themes during this #CoronaVirus!!
I have been admiring An Pham’s photos of sunsets and national parks. I have been to most of the parks that she has posted, but my photos are quite underwhelming. Her stunning photo is what I consider God’s grace. An area that I need improvement. Today is my 27th day of social distancing. I attended mass, livestreamed at Holy Family Artesia and the brilliant homilist, Fr. John Cordero spoke of a metaphor, that of a litmus test. As you know, pH, a measure of acidity, the litmus paper up to pH4.5 turns red. (In acid, much corrodes but also digestion is facilitated by gastric acids.) If alkaline, the paper turns blue.
Is it to throw stones at Jesus? Did it remind you of the hostility towards Jesus? Consider Dr. Fauci, we hear death threats against him, because others do not like what they hear. (Yet he is a credible scientist who tells the truth.)
In the face of trials, difficulties, facing The Cross, we encounter our own litmus paper test. How will you come out – from the tomb that we are in?”
Brilliant homily!
My family is my refuge these days. hubby experimented with making yeast bread, and two days in a row – my treat was freshly baked bread slathered with butter. Oh my, what a luxury these days!
My favorite daughter thoughtfully bought us bento of karaage, whose box conveyed the message – here is your gift of love and care! Thank you my dear @coriput. You are one of my #earthangel.
I started another Koreanovela, My First Love. I am noticing common patterns in them: sweet gestures of love, cooking and eating ramen, kimchee stew, rice, nature and high literacy in using books, poems, passages from authors and love letters. It would be difficult to transition to Filipino teleseryes of grievances, vengeance, violence, senseless infliction of trauma, and wallowing in victimhood and self-pity. #toomuchviolencetohumanspirit
Today, the 26th day of staying home, I woke up quite late. It felt days were being threaded indefinitely. Yet, my weariness turned into appreciating the mass at Holy Family Artesia and the homily of Fr. John Cordero: “Before our problems have been piling up together – the same God who rescued us in the midst of our problems, the same God who journeyed with Israelites, the same God who guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem is the same God riding this out with us, with confidence, with faith, with hope, who said, ‘Iam who I am. Before Abraham came to be, I am God.” I am mostly grateful for my family’s team work.
When my hubby prepared breakfast of tocino from L.A. Rose Cafe and homegrown avocado, I glanced at his face. I noticed his handsomeness, perhaps because my eyes has no blinders. I smiled.
When my good friend called me yesterday, the plate she gave me gained a special meaning. Speaking of friends, hubby suggested we help our musician/friends. So, I sent them checks to buy their cds, making it three jazz musicians now that I have helped. I also sent donations to four churches’ priests who have helped me with their spiritual wisdom. I also sent in a donation to another friend feeding families in a province. When I saw the receipt as proof that my donation was used to buy cavans of rice, I now feel like I am part of this global humanity.
I appreciated my handsome son who woke up early and who thoughtfully brought our grocery basics, and refused reimbursements. What a good, warmhearted son I take pride in giving birth to and raising at home for 18 years, until his friends nurtured him in college while we supported him until grad school. What a beautiful human being who lives for others that I love so much, my bunso.
I am grateful for my beautiful favorite daughter and her husband and child in bringing our dinner from MizLaLa. Would you believe I was missing being in the Holy Land and lo and behold, a Mediterranean dinner? Thank you truly Holy Spirit in guiding my family’s teamwork and our expressions of love for one another. My daughter’s frontline caring leadership gets a huge salute from me. Bravo to her and her husband and even my 5 yo granddaughter who is being taught how to care for family.
I lighted two candles at 7pm and felt a deeper sense of unity and connectivity. I felt one with those in prayers and those applauding the frontline healthworkers as they went home, though they maybe in Alameda or New York.
First, my husband said I am not enduring this, that I am enjoying. Indeed, through the Holy Spirit, I appreciate my sister Asuncion Ferrer who is blooming with God’ grace. She gave me a link to listen to Crystal Cathedral and my heart leaps with joy when she joins the 1215 noon livestreamed mass at Holy Family Artesia. Today’s homilist is Fr. Joachim Ablanida who spoke of sin as a slavery tool and a quicksand. Yet, “if you remain in God’s word, you are God’s disciples and His truth will set you free.” This is why I am enjoying God’s inner peace in me.
Second, I traveled to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon via Facebook, where Fr. Joey Faller led the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which made me cry so much. Yes, I cry easily these days and I don’t hold back.
Third, my handsome favorite son woke us up with a text to ask what groceries we need. My wonderful hubby requested he buy me celery stalks for juicing. Imagine that – no calls made, family’s hearts are providing for me. When I offered to reimburse, he said no.
Fourth, handsome favorite dad of #princess2015la came by with his daughter, my favorite granddaughter bringing us dinner from Mizlala. Now, how could they have known that I was missing the folks in my Holy Land pilgrimage? I could not wait and ate a portion for lunch. I offered to reimburse and my favorite son in law also said no.
Fifth, my hairstylist Lee’s Salon donated hundreds of thousand Philippine pesos to buy her family in one of the provinces, sacks of rice and included some of the neighbors, too. Imagine that, her business is shut down, but her heart of gold is wide open. I joined in with a small donation.
I am giving to the Catholic priests who are making efforts to minister to us: Fr. John Cordero, Fr. Joachim Ablanida, Fr. Rodel Balagtas, Fr. Rolly Clarin and Fr. Dan Leary who does spiritual retreats. It is April 1and at 7pm, let us all light candles for the Light of God to heal this world.
Sixth, my Koreanovelas that are keeping my heart open are: When Winter Comes – the Wind Blows, Chocolate and Secret Affair.
Thank you for Facebook and other forces of positive good. My 25th day of social distancing
First, there’s really a God listening to our prayers. I was missing my #princess2015la, now 5yo and she came to talk to us at the sidewalk, while hubby and I were 19 feet away, with my favorite beautiful daughter. She dressed up in her red Christmas outfit with ruffles as she wanted us to know she likes that dress I bought her. She has her own sense of self worth now. I told her I organized the library as I missed her so much. She gave me a tight air hug wrapping her arms on her chest, I did the same. Without prompting from her mom, she said “Thank you for doing that work in the library for me.”
Oh my, in her short visit, she planted love, joy, gratitude and kindness. I am crying writing this as I truly miss being with her, listening to her laughter and her observations about our surroundings.
Second, a beautiful and profound homily from Fr. John Cordero at Holy Family Artesia – it was as if he read my mind on a question about sufferings and its value. Friends on Facebook have asked why does God allow this pandemic? Fr. John Cordero said, “Suffering is not the end – it is a pathway to understanding the mysteries of life.” He also pointed out that we usually shoot from the hip, complain as a default reaction to difficulties, that it makes us so focused on our self-centeredness. Instead, he said, “Observe the loving, caring hand of God.”
Third, my earth angel from L.A. Rose Cafe‘s Lem Balagot delivered breakfast of garlic fried rice, tocino and fried egg plus homegrown avocado. My neighbor texted me he had his avocado with focaccia bread last night. Those messages of gratitude lift me up.
Fourth, hubby made a nice shelf for our indoor plants. He repurposed unused braces from a chair. How clever is that? Thank you so much @enriquedlz.
Fifth, at Facebook’s Q and A with @GovernorGavinNewsom, I am really appreciative of his strong leadership.
First, I was missing my granddaughter so much. Yet, my heart’s best gift came at the door, my daughter with her daughter #princess2015la. I handed them the freshly delivered food by my very good friend, Lem Balagot from his 35year old quality L.A. Rose Cafe. The homey, quality tastes of pancit bihon, fried lumpiang vegetable and fresh lumpia were exactly what I craved for.
I was content as I received God-delivered gifts to me. I see more of God in others these days. Maraming Salamat Lem for my orders that became gifts to my favorite daughter’s family, ours and my octogenarian neighbor.
Second, I attended the livestreamed mass at Holy Family Artesia and the homily was on “Judge not for thou shall be judged”. Another mass homily was by Bishop Ambo David of Caloocan who spoke of the poor, staying inside their shacks, in intense heat, without the amenities. If they don’t venture outdoors to earn a living, their families will starve.
Thank you to my #earthangels, Lem Balagot who delivered our food for 5 for 2 days and what a big heart of a good friend! I cry at the solid friendships and how the community’s love and support for one another is the gem these days of #CoronaVirus.
Third, God’s presence abounds. I see the little flower of my cactus which I seldom noticed, the beautiful cymbidium blooms of my orchids and my eyes that see more love of God and my sources of hope in the sightings of rainbows for over a week in different places: the Lourdes, Monrovia, and more.
Lastly, as Fr. Rodel said, “Live in Jesus Christ’s power” and in what Fr. Dan Leary said, “God’s mercy to those who fear Him from generation to generation.” I live in God’s word more these days and until I give to others my celery juice share my dinner and tip more to food delivery service, I sink to sadness. But, when I reach out to serve others, I feel more of God’s love protecting us all.
