Oh, does this image above make you want to curl up on a couch covered in that warm cozy blanket? A cup of hot cocoa warming your hands?

 

The cinnamon sticks and nutmeg envelop your senses as you stir in the marshmallows drizzled with caramel and chocolate fudge syrup. And then you close your eyes. You are now in the moment. And there is the part where you say, "Ahhhh..!” Almost instantly you find yourself taking a few minutes-long vacations—such vacations that occur only in your mental state. And now, the not-so-perfect stuff you ran into early on in the day—GONE, like the marshmallows starting to melt away. 

 

Then you reach for that book you picked up at your local bookstore—a novel, perhaps? That is the feeling I get each time, even in the middle of the dog days of summer! Simple joys that are easy to be had.

 

It is for the same reason I love the Fall and winter seasons because it is when the heart is in vacation mode, at least speaking of mine. And speaking of vacations, to me, it should be a combination of many things. It should be analogous to a beautiful tapestry with captivating yet subtle color hues and eye-catching patterns, but not busy. And with vacations, it has to be relaxing, yet the fun factor and ponderings are all woven in. It is the pondering that gravitates me to journaling more often, allowing the creative juices to flow.

 

Soon I will start populating this page with some of the things that crossed my mind, often unintentionally, not at all the fleeting kind but engaging sentiments that sit tight in my head and are deserving of reflection. And though not in keeping with the theme of the posts initially shared, brushed with divine intervention—were wholesome ponderings that put me in a festive mood and allowed me to experience things through my heart. 

 

And, speaking of novels, I have one of my own, but it still sits on the back burner—a contemporary romance novel. I know... pretty ambitious, alright. Would it land on a literary agent's desk? I hope so, and how I wish I could give a more definite answer to that. In the meantime, I will continue what I have started here while I pick up where I left off on the second novel that also follows the romance genre as the first one.

 

Many blessings!

Empty Tomb. Full Hearts.

20 Apr 2025 00:13

Our deacon, in one of his homilies, once invited us to place our hurts, failures, and quiet heartbreaks on the altar during the Offertory—when the bread and wine are brought forward to be lifted to heaven during the consecration—and to ask God, in His mercy and great love for us, to replace them with His peace and joy, so we can go about our lives with hopeful hearts. Yes, I’ve been doing it ever since!This belief rooted in faith and trust in the risen Lord, is that perfect invitation to surrender our burdens: the wounds we carry, the temptations we battle, the disappointments we still hide at the coming of Easter.  It’s in that sacred moment at Mass, and Easter itself, and any day in between  that we don’t simply offer gifts of bread and wine, but ourselves, too, and any brokenness as well and weariness that we carry. That in itself is the essence of it.

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It’s Black Saturday, but Sunday Is Coming

19 Apr 2025 19:35

I came across a thought today reflecting on God’s stillness on Black Saturday.It reminded me of a book I bought—"When God Is Silent." It centers on Jesus asleep in the boat with the apostles. Yes, that one stormy night. Relentless waves rocked the boat, and with each jolt, the apostles grew more and more perplexed—wondering, how the Lord could remain so calm in His sleep despite the violent winds and the roaring thunder. Today, Black Saturday, Jesus is not in the world. He is dead. After hours of torment and torture, the cries of a confused crowd calling for His crucifixion, and the agonizing suffering He endured, He breathed His last. Yet, even in this silence—with this seeming defeat—the will of the Father had been triumphantly accomplished. 

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Journaling All the Way

3 Apr 2024 10:24

It's clear that many people enjoy discussing their thoughts on God and His demonstration of goodness. This is evident by the large number of books published on the topic. Many people have become authors solely on this subject. Additionally, it has paved the way to podcasting, hosting TV shows fostering faith, and becoming ministry leaders to share their perspectives on spirituality.

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Celebrating? Take Your Focus off Social Network

18 Dec 2022 15:04

This sharing is my take on a Bible Study session via Zoom during the pandemic. I did not join the meeting, but I took the time to ponder and write about it, which I later shared with this friend who spearheaded this intimate Bible Study group.

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