March 9th!

                                                             

Forty-four!

That's the number

Proof of Your faithful love

Why? Where would I be

If it weren't for

Your Grace and Mercy.

But because of Who You are

Here I am

Rejoicing

Praising

In grateful adoration

For Your goodness, Oh Lord.

The past few days were full

Of so many different emotions

Joy for the Father's gracious redemption

Excitement for weddings and babies

Yay, Nana!

And visas?!?!

Wow!

Then...

Broken for a loved one's loss

Yet..

Blessed, oh so blessed

Lord, I wanna live a life like that

Of ceaseless prayers

Of deep love for Scriptures

Of service and love for people

Faithful to the end.

I look at the mirror

I do look like 44

Sometimes even more

Thinning hair turning gray

Lines, wrinkles and all

Filters and edits, okay

But my heart

Oh my heart!

How it is warmed

To tears sometimes

By the sweet gestures of love

From so many near and far

I can only say

Thank You

My Abba, Father!

Honey

 Honey!

You and I

Oh how opposite

We disagree about many things

Pero puro dili importante

Ug ngano pud

Wala jud gusto magpa-pildi

But for things that matter

I know you are there

Salamat.

These almost 20 years

You have tirelessly

Made my coffee

Rubbed my back

Walked thousands of steps with me

Helped me make sense of things

When i panic

Or get confused

Hanged the laundry

Washed dishes

Cooked when I'm too busy

Drove me crazy,

Drove me around bitaw

Hala uy dili kaabot ug 20?

Mosunod man unta ko

Sa 11 reasons ni Gene Quinn

Dili man ko perfecto

Usahay sakit sa ulo

Kay sabaan kaayo

May pagka-yawyawan usahay

But I hope you know

I love you

Yep, all these years.

That even if I have to do it again

I know, ikaw pa rin.

Charaught!

Dinhi na lang kutob

Bekenemen!

Happy ka?

My Valentine!

RESET!

 Power is finally back on
the campus.

Thank You, Lord Jesus.

We had a 3-week crash course!

Reset!

That's what I have learned from Typhoon Odette's aftermath.

Dependence on the Lord.

Interdependence with the community you're in.

Humility. Service. Love.

When you are so used to

Pushbuttons

On and off switches

Electric water pump

Automatic washing machine

4G+ Internet connection

Purified drinking water is always available

And so many more conveniences of life

Then, in just one night all these were gone.

Then you have to relearn

To laugh out loud with family and friends

Around candle-lit tables

Playing table games

Telling stories

Just like from the time of old

To fetch rainwater

Conserve every drop

Wash laundry by hand

And hang them to dry outside

To sleep earlier

No more staying up for Facebook or Instagram

To read the Bible not using an app

Thinking. Writing.

To be quiet

To take things slower

Appreciate the newly sprouting leaves

of the fallen mango tree

Reset!

Oh how we need this from time to time

No, not the typhoon

But to be intentional in

Solitude

God's Word

Prayer.

Oh and today, I am reminded

To love in a "soulish" way

The Lord

With all my heart

With all my soul

With all my might.