Yes, you heard it right. I am listed and blog#1876 on the Million Blog List!

Interested? Want to join? Just click that little badge up there and I’ll take you there

Ooooppps! Not only that. I am also listed at . . . . .

An old man was watching a teenager sitting next to him. The teenager had spiked hair with colors green, red, orange and blue. The old man kept staring at him that irritated the boy.

Teenager: Never done anything wild in your life?

Old Man: Got drunk once and had sex with a peacock. I’m wondering if you’re my son.

Here is another great story that will touch your hearts. Enjoy reading, people!

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then, she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, “What’s the point, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity — boiling water — but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which one are you?” she asked her daughter.

When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

–Author Unknown

Moms are so smart! What a great lesson for all of us to remember . . . . .

It has been a busy Sunday. My son and I went grocery shopping late in the afternoon and watched The (not so) Incredible Hulk. I saw the trailer last month and I didn’t like it, but since Jeff said ‘Pleeeaaasseee’, who am I to say no?

Then we went out for dinner last night. A mother and son dinner date. Nothing special. It wasn’t even planned. We just like ‘What’s for dinner?’ and decided to go out. We only had burgers and fries and chicken . . . . . just the usual. But the bonding is great! I told him that his father and I decided that we’re raising his allowance starting July and he was all smile the whole evening. Every time I looked at him he was grinning. And when he caught me staring, he will just laugh.

Then this morning, we went to his ENT doctor for his regular check up. As you know, Jeff has large tonsils and we visit his doctor every 4 months for ‘monitoring’. Well, the tonsils are still large, but they are not candidate for tonsillectomy. We just have to watch out for infections, as this may trigger complications. Anyway, we’ll be back to his clinic again on November.

And these are the reasons why I haven’t posted for days. Am I forgiven, people?

Working on a single blog post is exciting. It is even more exciting when it’s time for you to press ‘publish’. You think: ‘What will my readers say?’, ‘How will they react?’, ‘Will they like this?’, How many comments will I get?’ and some more other things. You must be open to criticism, as other people may not agree with your opinion.

Writing requires skills, attention to details, focus or concentration and proper delivery. You also have to have the passion. Writing is like public speaking – you must have at least a little sense of humor so you won’t bore your audience.

While some people prefer outdoors, personally, I find it more comfortable writing when I’m alone and away from noise. I like working in a quiet place (that’s how I came up with the title of my blog ) and my room is just the perfect place. When I get tired, I just lie down in bed for awhile then get back up again and continue. Different people, different style. My advice is do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I’m not just so sure if anyone of you people prefer to work seating on this Hawaii chair featured on The Ellen Degeneres Show . . . . .

Now, tell me . . . . .

This prayer tag is with regards to the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy and was started by Rocks (thanks again for this tag! ). My heart goes out to all the victims - those who survived and those who were not lucky - and to their families as well. I also offer this short prayer to all the other victims of Typhoon Frank, which include the fishing boats that sank off Aurora, the sad fate of MV Ocean Papa and the provinces that were badly hit.

Here goes . . . . .

Prayer for the MV Princess of the Stars fatalities and survivors.

Dear God, we pray that you comfort each bereaved family everyday as they grieved for their loss, we pray that you will supply all their needs, we pray for the survivors that they may have a good life after the tragedy, that you will bless them and let them know in the deepest part of their heart that in spite of what have happened, you LOVE and CARE for them. This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen

I encourage everyone to keep the prayer going.
LET’S P.U.S.H.
PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS.

WE PRAYED :
1. Through The Rain 2. God’s gift 3. Only in Silence 4. YOUR SPOT

I’m encouraging all my fellow Filipino bloggers to join. And everybody else too, Filipino or not. Thanks, people!

Seven things you should say to your kids – and seven things you shouldn’t
by Cynthia Dermody

The buzzer sounded in the gym and the basketball game was over. Even though 12-year old CJ Givens’s team had lost, his aunt Melanie was nonetheless ecstatic. CJ had scored every single one of his team’s 24 points – including a couple of three-pointers. As he loped over to his family waiting in the bleachers, the hugs and compliments started flying: ‘You were awesome!’ ‘Way to hustle for all those points!’

Then CJ’s aunt said, ‘Now, if you could just help your teammates play as well as you do, you guys would be unstoppable!’

What do you mean?’ CJ said defensively. ‘I did the best I could! What didn’t I do right?’ His aunt couldn’t understand the boy’s reaction. She’d just finished showering him with praise.

‘The message CJ got was that he didn’t do enough,’ explains child psychologist Vicki Panaccione, PhD, founder of the Better Parenting Institute in Melbourne, Florida. ‘His aunt was telling him he was fabulous, he could be a mentor to his teammates. But that’s not he heard, because of the words she used.’

A parent, or anyone else who interacts regularly with kids, knows that communicating effectively with them can be difficult.

In CJ’s case, his aunt simply explained herself and the boy later calmed down. But common words and phrases, no matter how well-intended, can do a lot of emotional and psychological harm. Young brains are still developing through the teen years, and kids can’t be expected to process words, context and nuance (sarcasm, for instance) the same way that an adult’s brain does.

If you want children to grow up into the best possible versions of themselves, it’s crucial to replace damaging words in your vocabulary with alternatives that help build character. Some of the things parents say to kids seem harmless or even constructive on the surface, but experts say, they may hurt more than help. Here are seven of these common phrases, and alternatives to get your message across in a better way.

Read the rest of this entry »

On the first day, God created the dog and said:

” Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.”

The dog said: “That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?”

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: “Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.”

The monkey said: “Monkey tricks for twenty years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?”

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: “You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.”

The cow said: “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?”

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: “Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.”

But man said: “Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?”

“Okay,” said God, “You asked for it.”

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you…

Another great story for you, people!

My husband is a Bank Examiner by profession. I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit that I am getting tired of it.

My reason for loving him before has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness. I am sentimental and extremely sensitive when it comes to relationships and feelings. I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.

My husband is my complete opposite. His lack of sensitivity and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage have disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce. “Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired; there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered.

He kept silent the whole night. He seemed to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of disappointment only increased - here was a man who can’t even express his predicament. What else can I hope from him?

And finally he asked me, “What can I do to change your mind?”

Somebody said it right; it’s hard to change a person’s personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered, “Here is the question. If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind. Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death. Will you do it for me?”

He said, “I will give you my answer tomorrow . . . . .” My hopes just sank by listening to his response . . . . .

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes . . . . .

“My dear, I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further . . . . .”

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading . . . . .

“When you use the computer you always mess up the software programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs.

“You always leave the house keys behind, thus, I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you.

“You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city; I have to save my eyes to show you the way.

“You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month; I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

“You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom.

“You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs so I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face . . . . .”

“Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die . . . . .”

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting . . . . .
and as I continue on reading . . . . .

“Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk . . . . .”

I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread . . . . .

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone . . . . .