Try Everything

Happy New Year!  I know it’s late but it’s the only and best way I could think of to start my first post of 2017☺

So, a new year.  Since the beginning of January, I've been wondering what 2017 has in store for us. What are my plans to make it an unforgettable year?  What am I going to do?  To tell you the truth, I don't know, and I'm not the type who makes resolutions at the beginning of a new year simply because I've always felt they were nice to see listed down on paper, but so difficult to achieve in reality.

Wish I May

I just like the lyrics and the melody...oh, and the guy who sang it, of course ☺

Wish that I could say these words tonight 

Wish I have the courage, wish I might 

Have the chance to show you, speak what's on my mind 

While you're right next to me 

I've loved you from the start 

Wish that I could walk you down the road 

Share each moment, have my hand to hold 

My imagination's beginning to unfold 

Every wish is granted, every dream and hope 

Wish I may, wish I might 

Find a way to your heart 

Wish that I'll be the sun to warm you all through your life 

Wish you may feel my love that is hidden in the stars 

Wish I may, wish I might 

Be the one 

Maybe now I'm ready to be found 

Then I'll be a part of who you are 

Promise of forever, never break your heart 

Always there to listen, always by your side

music monday: we are the world for philippines

I was all set on blogging about a particular song for today’s Music Monday, but while looking for its music video on Youtube, I came across this one. And I knew it was meant to be shared.

I know so many artists have made so many versions of the song, but this one really struck me because it was sung by Filipinos for their kababayans who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. What’s more, the singers aren’t famous (at least, not to me) but their voices are so powerful. But best of all, the video really showed how united and strong the Filipinos are, despite being faced with practically the worst and most difficult situations ever. Thanks of course to all those who helped and are helping the survivors get on their feet to move on with their lives.

 Ang galing talaga!  Nakakaiyak sa ganda.

the marriage prayer

Our recent weekend began and ended with the Marriage Enrichment Retreat 1 where Hubby and I were part of the service team. The retreat calls for a separate post because so many things happened and I’m still having second thoughts on whether to share all the details or just parts of it.

In the meantime, I’d like to share this clip that one of the speakers showed yesterday. It’s a song wherein the lyrics are a prayer, and it’s a very beautiful prayer for all married and soon-to-wed couples. 

i can...sign!

Every month we have an activity in Kids for Christ. This month's theme was Respect: More the Same than Different, and one of the things we did for the Juniors was teach them a song using sign language.  Allow me to share the final outcome of what the kids learned yesterday. 

Big thanks to Ate Che-Che and Ate Gina of SFC for teaching all of us something new!

he brought me to you

happy 7th (gg) and 4th (wedding) anniversaries, mahal!

In search of my life and my one true love

I prayed to Almighty God above

And His masterful voice directed me to

The many things I was destined to do

So I sailed across the mighty sea

Pursued knowledge of the highest degree

Took to learning new skills

Experienced new thrills

Felt my life was completely fulfilled

At the end of my amazing quest

After proving myself by achieving success

I hoped to find the prize so rare

A priceless treasure beyond compare

For God promised He would bring me love

A love without measure, trusting and true

And behold, my dear Sapphire

He brought me to you

He brought me to you

In search of my life and my one true love

I prayed to Almighty God above

His compassionate voice directed me to

The many things I was destined to do

And in my private reverie

I read of lands across the sea

I imagined enchanting hollow and hill

Worlds beyond my window sill

And through all of these my fancied quests

I cherish the secrets held close to my breast

I hoped to find the prize so rare

A priceless treasure beyond compare

For God promised He would bring me love

A love without measure, precious and true

And behold, my dear Christian

And behold, my dear Sapphire

He brought me to you

He brought me to you

My heart knew this without a doubt

That's what destiny's all about

God promised He would bring me love

A love strong and true

A promise He fulfilled above

He brought me you

He brought me to you

He brought me you

He brought me to you

What is this I feel

Is this for real

A longing inside that I just cannot hide

In search of this feeling they all call love

How could I’ve known somewhere up above

I’d find this rare and priceless treasure waiting

This isn’t a storybook fantasy

It’s as real as his love for me

The feeling is true

What I feel for you

And I promise I will come to you

carpe diem

I couldn’t find anything interesting to watch on TV at home the other day, so I settled on a show of Phineas and Ferb. It was a normal episode where they were up to something and Candace was trying her best for their mother to find about their “project,” while their pet Perry was trying to stop Dr. Doofenshmirtz from working his latest whatever-ator. Nothing exciting actually.
But at the end, I couldn’t help but sit up and notice the song that the stepbrothers and the rest of the show’s cast were singing. It was catchy and the lyrics reminded me of a message that our teacher/priest (who gave me and my classmates a retreat during our high school senior year) told us.

our family song

There’s a cassette tape we have recording an ordinary day when we were living in PNG. You could hear Mama cooking at the background, I was a baby so there wasn’t much I was doing, and Papa had gathered my siblings around him so that they could sing a song together while he played his guitar. The song was John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads, and even though the only one who sang in tune was Papa, that song automatically became our family song which we would sing during gatherings.

ACTS: here i am to worship

Another favorite worship song, because God is truly awesome and deserving of all our praises. He is the greatest, but He was humble and loved us so much to suffer and be humiliated, and continues to accept us and love us over and over again, even though we fall into sin so many times.

ACTS: better than i

I first heard this song when I bought the DVD of Joseph King of Dreams, and liked it right away. It’s a reminder that God has a reason for everything that happens in our lives and we should just trust Him, no matter how confusing His road and plans for us may be.

ACTS: heaven

One of my favorite songs since my SFC days; when we sing this during the community gatherings, I always feel at peace and one with God because that’s when I feel His presence. I’m sure all of us would like to go straight to heaven when we die, but in the meantime that we’re here on earth, we get to experience a little bit of heaven when we’re one with God.

ACTS: no greater love

Truly there is no greater love than God’s (and Jesus’) love for us. Jesus came and walked the earth, knowing full well that in spite of all the goodness he had shown and done, he was going to end up crucified on the cross. While this song was being sung by the Music Ministry, slides were being shown on the screen of how much Jesus endured and suffered from more than two thousand years ago. It was really heart-wrenching to watch, at the same time nakaka-guilty.

ACTS: the song of my soul

It was my first time to hear this song during the ACTS Prayer Assembly, but I instantly liked it because of the tune and message (plus the soothing voice of the sister who sang it). Everyone has experienced storms at least once in their life, times when we feel that our soul is all confused and weary, and this is a prayer to ask the Lord to embrace us and give us peace.

ACTS: still

This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes when I sing it at CFC gatherings or during households. It’s a reminder that we cannot rely on ourselves alone to fix our problems. When we feel we’ve done everything we could, nothing seems to be going right, and it seems like we’re all alone, all we have to do is relax, be quiet, let God take care of everything, and just trust His plans for us.

ACTS: glory glory lord

I always enjoy singing this when it’s included in the line-up of songs during CFC gatherings. The Refrain of this song being sung in different languages/dialects makes us feel that we’re all children of God, praising Him in one voice.
If you have your own language’s version of the Refrain, could you please share it with me? I’d love to add it to the lyrics.

who says

Since last week, I’ve been hearing this song playing on the radio almost every time we’re in the car. Although I'm not a big fan of Selena, I admit that the song has a catchy tune and the message is nice too.
Hmm...isn’t it a coincidence that this is practically my LSS at the same time I’ve been feeling unpretty because of last night?
Thanks for making me feel better, Selena!

I wouldn't wanna be anybody else

You made me insecure
Told me I wasn’t good enough
But who are you to judge
When you’re a diamond in the rough
I’m sure you got some things
You’d like to change about yourself
But when it comes to me
I wouldn’t want to be anybody else

Na na na...Na na na
I’m no beauty queen
I’m just beautiful me
Na na na...Na na na
You’ve got every right
To a beautiful life
C'mon

Who says
Who says you’re not perfect
Who says you’re not worth it
Who says you’re the only one that’s hurting
Trust me
That’s the price of beauty
Who says you’re not pretty
Who says you’re not beautiful
Who says

It’s such a funny thing
How nothing’s funny when it’s you
You tell ‘em what you mean
But they keep whiting out the truth
It’s like a work of art
That never gets to see the light
Keep you beneath the stars
Won’t let you touch the sky

Who says
Who says you’re not star potential
Who says you’re not presidential
Who says you can’t be in movies
Listen to me, listen to me
Who says you don’t pass the test
Who says you can’t be the best
Who said, who said
Won’t you tell me who said that
Yeah, oh

smile

Lately, this is Caila's favorite song which she asks me to sing every night before we sleep...

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky

You'll get by

If you smile through your pain and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

For you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile - What's the use of crying

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

she's always a woman

Happy International Women's Day!

She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child,
But she's always a woman to me

She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe
And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free
Yeah, she steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me

Oh...she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh...and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best and the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she's always a woman to me
Mhmm...

Oh...she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh...and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

She’s frequently kind
And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She's nobody's fool
And she can't be convicted
She's earned her degree
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me
Mhmm...

please and thank you

Words that we were taught so early in life, you’d have thought that it would be automatic for everyone to say when they ask or receive something.
It seems to me that people with good manners are becoming a rare specie these days. What a pity!
Let's hope that the kids who watch Barney will remember at least this song of his even when they've long outgrown him.

There are lots of things
We can do to be nice,
Sometimes they're hard to remember.
But there are two little things
You should never forget,
From January through December.
He's talking 'bout please and thank you,
They're called the magic words,
If you want nice things to happen,
They're the words that should be heard,
Remember please and thank you,
'Cause they're the magic words.
Use 'em in the morning, at noon, and night,
'Cause it's a great way to be polite!
Please and thank you,
They're the magic words.

happiness

This version was sung by Lea and Gerard Salonga when they were very young, and lately, it's Caila's favorite song.
When she wants to listen to it, she hands me my mobile phone where it's saved, and says "Mommy, Happy-aness. Please?" Of course, I oblige, and we sit down to listen...

(Spoken)"You know some kids ask us what happiness really is.
Well, to me happiness is a hamburger, going to the movies, new clothes.
Well, what's your happiness, Gerard?"
"My happiness is a hotdog sandwich, new rubber shoes, new t-shirts, new jeans.
And also my favorite part of happiness is LOVE."

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream
Finding your skate key, telling the time
Happiness is learning to whistle
Tying your shoe for the very first time
Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band
And happiness is walking hand in hand

Happiness is five different crayons
Knowing a secret, climbing a tree
Happiness is finding a nickel
Catching a firefly, setting him free
Happiness is being alone every now and then
And happiness is coming home again

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime, too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you

Happiness is having a sister
Sharing a sandwich, getting along
Happiness is singing together when day is through
And happiness is those who sing with you

Happiness is morning and evening
Daytime and nighttime, too
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That's loved by you