Sunday, August 16, 2009

A Quick One. . .

Just wanted to send off one short post before calling it a day? Why? Simply because I just wanted to express how much I am grateful for all that is in my life today. This morning Junby and I with Therese attended BCBP NorCal's breakfast. As part of the Breakfast program, someone shared his life testimony in an effort to showcase how much God can love each and everyone of us. It was a good reminder to keep my eyes and heart open to that truth -- God is with me in every detail of my life, if I but only take the time to look. After a quick lunch at Happi House we headed home to give Therese her afternoon nap.

When Therese woke up from her nap, we went to a family gathering, a small get together for one of Junby's nieces who was leaving for Paris for a 4 month study program. I had to leave Junby and Therese there though since Karen and I had to head off to St Maria Goretti parish for the Baptism Preparation Class we were facilitating. It was a considerably smaller group than the first one I had conducted a few months ago so we ended earlier than expected. I just pray that some of the words I spoke regarding the sacrament of Baptism and the gift that God bestows on us through it, will find good soil and bear fruit. I hold on to the promise Jesus gave in saying His word would not return to Him without it doing the work He intended it to do. That is as much as we can hope, right. We are but bearers of the Truth but it is God who can convert hearts and renew minds. That's why I am not particularly worried :)

After the class, we headed back to the family gathering -- to the food and company that awaited us. We headed home after a few hours later. During that time with family and friends I realized that Therese would be turning a year older next month! I looked at our baby, who was happily crawling around, cautiously approaching the pet dog and standing while holding on to various people's legs and furniture -- and I marveled -- that God would entrust such a sweet soul to our care...It still boggles my mind and fills my heart with gratefulness.

Thank you Lord for blessing my life so richly. I fail to thank you at times because I fall into the rut of thinking these are mine by right. Today, I was reminded that all these are gifts -- undeserved, unmerited yet given with such love and care that I cannot help but say -- Thank you. By thy grace may I give these gifts back to you, having cared for them the way you believed I would. Amen.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Natapos din...

Today, we had BCBP's annual summer picnic. This time, Junby and I spearheaded the event and by God's grace, all went well -- the weather was perfect (sunny yet with enough breeze to cool everyone), there was enough food (with some left over to take home and feast upon for the next couple of days, and there was a good mix of old friends and new ones to make the day interesting.

It was a welcome change to be concerned over something other than the state of Therese's sleep patterns, the upkeep of my small home, and the number of things on my 'to do' list that remain 'to be done' rather than 'done'. Organizing the picnic brought me back to when I would organize events as part of my normal job description and I found myself reveling in knowing what needed to be done next. Quite unlike how my life has been the past months.

I have yet to find a training course for motherhood on the web :) It's a full-time job, 24/7, no vacation or sick leave available and the payment is through toothless smiles (for now), coos and gurgling laughter. I wouldn't have it any other way but it was good to be able to exercise some of the stuff I used to know and find that I can still do them quite competently after all, however much I think I am failing in my current job. :)

The day is drawing to a close. I thank God for His abiding grace and providence. Natapos din...I say that with relief and just a bit of regret, that what I had known how to do is now done and now I am back to learning how to be a mom. :)