#GPinCanada: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Maru Sushi Japanese Restaurant

Since we didn’t have the chance to attend mass on our first Sunday in Canada, we made sure that on the following Sunday, we would visit one of the local churches. So on the morning of the 26th of July, while my brother and his family left to attend their church, we borrowed his other car and headed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church which is just near Fraser Highway.

The pews were full (although not as full as what we’re used to at St. Mary’s Catholic Church), but we noticed that most of them were from the older generations. And unlike in Dubai, the voices of the congregation weren’t as loud when singing the hymns. No biggie, though. That’s just something I noticed.

I can’t remember the priest’s name, but we enjoyed listening to his Homily. One of the messages he shared that struck me was this:

The Gentle Art of Blessing

In the Couples for Christ community where Hubby and I serve, saying “God bless (you),” comes somewhat automatically...to the point that sometimes, we forget how special it is.  The below excerpt by Pierre Pradervand allows us to remember and realize the powerful effect saying those words and praying for others brings, and how much blessing others actually matters.

Image taken from CFC-KFC Dubai Cluster A

An Excerpt from The Gentle Art of Blessing 

How to incorporate blessing into your life

Declaration of Abundance

I’m still trying to gather my thoughts and notes of the Kerygma Conference Grand Feast that we attended last month. There were so many stories, lessons and advice that the speakers shared, so I’m at a loss on where to start.

In the meantime, I’m posting this Declaration of Abundance prayer from that day, which is just too good not to share. And as Jay Yogawin (one of the speakers) said, “When you pray for something, pray as if you already received what you are praying for.”

I Was Blessed When I Gave My NOL Card To A Stranger

A few weeks ago, like I often do when Hubby needs to work longer, I rode the bus home.  I sat at the front seat, the one near the door and it was a normal, uneventful journey. That is until we reached a certain bus stop.

A lady carrying a heavy bag on her back and another in her hand boarded the bus and asked the driver if it was going to her destination. He said "Yes" and she gave him her NOL card, which he told her what to do with it.

She tapped it to the machine, and looked at him confused. He took her card and tapped it, then told her she didn't have enough credit and needed to reload it.

There was no way for her to reload it then (the stop didn't have a machine and the nearest metro station was far away) so she asked if she could pay in cash. Not possible. Then she asked if anyone had an extra card. No one did.

At this point, the driver had continued driving the bus. If an inspector boarded, the lady would get caught and be fined a big penalty. Risky.

That's when I recalled a few videos I've seen on YouTube from the program What Would You Do? And then moments later, I remembered a question I learned years ago: What would Jesus do? I could practically hear a voice asking me that question.

So I made a decision.

When the bus stopped near my apartment, I tapped my card to the machine. Instead of putting it back in my bag, I handed it to the lady. It still had about Dhs23 in it.

She was confused at first, but when I told her she could keep it, she was so grateful. And as I turned to go she gave me a relieved smile while saying "Thank you very much! God bless you!"

And those words were enough to tell me that I did the right thing.

How about you? Have you done a random act of kindness to a complete stranger? Please do share.

My Daily Fix of Inspiration

I’m sure many of you would agree with me that there’s so much negativity in this world that you can’t help but accept it and just be cautious with everything you do and say. However, in spite of all this, there are still people out there who go out of their way to do wonderful things to loved ones and strangers alike.

Being part of a Christian community, I’d like to believe that everyone has some goodness in themselves, no matter how small it is. After all, we were created in the image and likeness of God, right?

Which brings me to where I get my fix of inspiration every day. I came across these sites a few weeks ago when random friends would share heartwarming and interesting clips. Sure most of them are from YouTube, but at least I don’t have to type and search all the time to look for similar stuff. And I can say most, if not all, of them have helped me restore my faith in humanity more and more each day. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve smiled, laughed, been amazed, or cried simply by watching a clip.

Here’s a summary of what they’re about (taken from their sites):

FaithTap - Just trying to deliver the best entertainment possible. Always searching for inspiring people, videos, quotes.

Upworthy - At best, things online are usually either awesome or meaningful, but everything on Upworthy.com has a little of both. Sensational and substantial. Entertaining and enlightening. Shocking and significant. That's what you can expect here: No empty calories. No pageview-juking slideshows. No right-column sleaze. Just a steady stream of the most irresistibly shareable stuff you can click on without feeling bad about yourself afterwards.

The San Francisco Globe - Everything Worth Seeing On the Internet.

I encourage you to visit any one (or all three!) of these sites today. I guarantee the stories will uplift your spirits and brighten your day.

Do you have other similar sites that you frequently visit? Please share in the comments below so I can visit them too.

Day 34: 24 April - God's Answers His Own Way

I prayed. I researched. I prepared. I negotiated.

In the end, I didn’t get what I really wanted…but God still answered my prayers.

It may not have been in the way I had asked, but if you add everything up, I’ll be getting the equivalent.

And for this, I am grateful.

Day 20: 11 April - Mama Mary's Visit

Mama Mary arrived at our home, and she’ll be staying with us for 2 weeks.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Day 6: 28 March - KFC RCCC

The actual conference of the RCCC.

Beautiful song number by the kids.

Heard many inspirational messages during the sessions:

• Be a “Plaster” Head: Bring people to Christ for their wounds to be healed.

• Being an evangelized couple is both a CALLING and a PROMISE.

• Whoever the Lord owns, He takes care of.

• "Hang on because I hung on for you"

• I am blessed because my wife/husband is beside me.

• Failure is success postponed.

 Sophie’s antics (and her nonstop talking) kept Hubby and me laughing and awake during the journey back home to Dubai.

looking into the positive side of things

Hubby recently shared this image on our FB account:

Since it also applies to negative experiences, I’d like to share how I’m looking in a positive way the recent things that have been happening to me and my family.

First case: Sophie’s hospitalization for 2 days.
The positive: I was able to take a leave off work to spend more than 48 hours to take care of her, play with her, and attend to her needs. Bonding time galore within the confines of a hospital room…just my baby and me!

Second case: Getting a bad case of food poisoning.
The positive: Losing approximately 7 lbs off my weight! My face became smaller, my tummy became slightly flatter, and I fit into a pair of slacks that used to fit me perfectly 9 years ago!

Third case: Caila fell ill and started vomiting so we had to take her to the doctor; at the same time, Sophie became feverish again.
The positive: Both girls became very clingy to me and Hubby, so we were able to enjoy countless cuddles, kisses and hugs from them all night while we carried them in our arms. I was also able to joke around with their pedia when we left her office that night by saying “Good night, Doctor. I don’t want to see you again for a long time.” She laughed real hard upon hearing that, and replied “Yes! Kalas! Go away!”

Fourth case: I sprained my ankle.
The positive: Upon seeing me limping around the office, my managers and colleagues are very understanding and aren’t pressuring me too much…at least, not as much as they usually do.

The frequent trips to the hospital would have made anyone cry out in despair. I admit that several times I would beg God “Tama na, Lord, please! Last na sana ‘to!” But then after a few minutes, I would realize that at least, these are the only things that happened. No lives were taken and we were all still together.

And those reasons are enough to make me see the silver lining and still be thankful in the end.

Stay positive, everyone! Good vibes all around!

victims of typhoon yolanda need your help

Who hasn’t heard about the devastation that one of the most powerful storms ever recorded brought to the Philippines over the weekend? It’s practically all over the news.

image from mb.com.ph

image from inquirer.net

image from ibtimes.com

These are just a few of the pictures, but you can see and imagine how much damage Typhoon Yolanda brought, and the lives it took and affected.  And as of the time that I'm writing this post, it has been declared in the news that the death toll may reach 10,000!  So much loss in just a couple of days!

From all around the world, all sorts of help are pouring out for the Philippines. To name a few, the UAE, Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the US, Canada, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Player’s Association (NBPA) have donated and pledged support and assistance programs and projects for the victims of the super typhoon. Even Pope Francis has asked for everyone’s prayers through his Twitter account.

The victims need all the help they can get. So if you are one of the kind-hearted souls who would like to help but don’t know how, please click on this site and/or this site which have updated lists of official groups and centers which you can contact.

No matter how small or big your assistance is, it will definitely go a long way…and I’m sure my kababayans would be eternally grateful.

Maraming salamat po.

proud of the pinoy spirit

We all know Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda hit the Philippines early yesterday and is on its way out today. It was scary, I tell you. Ok, I might not have been at the Philippines when it lashed out at the country, but watching the videos on Youtube was enough to worry me and all my Filipino friends who have loved ones back home. Who wouldn’t get worried? It’s a super typhoon and one of the strongest ones ever recorded in modern history.

I immediately called Mama to ask where she was and how they were. Fortunately, she was at my brother’s house where they were all safe and away from the centre of the tropical cyclone’s direct strike. Whew!

Our country has been facing terrible disasters lately: the PDAF scam, the recent earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu, and now this. Haaaay! But in spite of all these negative things, I’m so proud of the Filipinos’ attitude: that we don’t dwell much on the problems, and just move on as much as we can.

Truly, nothing can beat the Filipino spirit!

the blue rosary

While sitting on the bus this morning, I was thinking about the rosary.  A few seconds later, my thoughts shifted to the color blue.

After a few minutes, as soon as I got off the bus and stepped on the pavement, I found this.

lost and found

Coincidence? The power of my mind? Or a message from God?

bulong ni mama

Three years ago, during our vacation in the Philippines, our friends from Dubai who also happened to be vacationing at the same time spent the night at our home in Parañaque. That time, two of them (husband and wife) had been praying for a baby because months earlier, the wife had a laparoscopy due to an ectopic pregnancy. So, Mama joked that she would whisper to the wife’s tummy so that she would get pregnant soon...and amazingly, within a few weeks, the couple found out they were going to be parents soon!  Ann gave birth in February 2011.

When our family went to the Philippines for another vacation in 2011, my SFC baby who had left Dubai the year before visited me at home so that we could catch up. Ever since I knew her back in Dubai, her lovelife was always complicated and full of problems. So when Mama happened to listen in to our conversation and I mentioned to my SFC baby about Mama’s effective “bulong” to our friend last year, she asked Mama to do the same. But what she requested was for the perfect man to come into her life and that she would get married within 3 years. And, wouldn’t you know it...the wedding I attended last May was the result of that whisper.

On the 29th of July (just last month), we attended the birthday party of our friends’ daughter (not the one that Mama whispered for in 2010, though). While we were chatting with another of our couple friends, the wife was carrying (or playing with) Sophie and she wistfully mentioned that she would like to have a baby soon. Since Mama happened to be nearby, I told our friend about the two success stories of Mama’s powerful whispers and asked Mama to do the same. As you can probably guess, our friend is pregnant...she just found out today! Isn’t that great news?!

Honestly, I couldn’t believe it at first. When Dencio and Ann told us the good news, I thought it was a miraculous coincidence. Then when Gracie told me she was getting married and I remembered Mama’s whisper 2 years ago, I thought it was another funny coincidence. But this afternoon when I found out Pia’s condition, I couldn’t believe this was just another coincidence. There must really be some power in Mama’s voice when she whispers those words of hope and longing for those who asked. But when you come to think of it, this is just a perfect example of the effect and power of positive words, having faith, and simply believing.

because you were sick...

Thursday afternoon at home a little after 3pm, I was carrying Sophie. She seemed a bit hotter than usual which I mentioned to Mama and Yaya Juliet. But they simply said that it was because I had just come from outside where it was really hot. At 4 o’clock just before we started to get ready to go out, the baby still felt hot, so again, I told Mama. So we took out the thermometer and, as I suspected, she had a fever. It read 37.5 in one ear, and 37.9 in the other. This meant that we had to cancel almost all our plans for the entire 2-day weekend. Darn! 

So, Sophie, if you happen to read this, please know that because you were sick:
• we didn’t get to go to Fujairah for the overnight team building activity
• Daddy didn’t go to his FTB (For the Boys) bonding on Thursday night
• Mommy didn’t get a good night’s sleep the entire Thursday-Friday night because she would wake up practically every hour to check your temperature
• we had to take you to the hospital at 2am on Friday because your temperature reached 39.6
• we weren’t able to help Tita Lhen and Tito Joel with the preparations for Raine’s birthday
• we weren’t able to attend the (comeback) household of Tito Ryan and Tita Myrna

But don’t feel bad. Because you were sick:
• we were able to spend more time with you and Ate Caila; nakabawi kami from all the nights we were out attending meetings and activities
• if Daddy went to his FTB bonding, he wouldn’t be at home at the time you needed to be taken to the hospital
• Mommy was able to take extra, extra care of you, and you spent practically the entire weekend beside me or in my arms
• we found out you were teething!

Taking care of Sophie and spending quality time with her and her sister is definitely more important than going out. If we had gone out, what supposedly should have been time spent with the family would be spent with other people. And of course, no one else can be more important to me and Daddy than our daughters.

It’s true that things don't always work out the way you plan it to be. And for last weekend, I’m glad they did. Because as they say, things always happen for a reason.

tumpak

About half an hour ago, I was pissed off. I literally wanted to pull my hair, shout, scream and swear all the bad words I know over and over again. For those of you who know me, I very rarely swear. Those words only come out of my mouth when I'm going to explode and I’m really, really angry at something or someone. So, yes, it came to that point. But since I’m at the office, I had to stop myself and control my emotions. Our entire department works in a big room so everyone can see and hear what you do. No good would come out of me making a scene, right? Another option would have been to go to the washroom and lock myself in there for a while, but if I did, my female colleagues would immediately know that something was wrong, and would pester me to tell them what happened.

habemus papam!

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the cardinal from Argentina, was elected yesterday as the new pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Like other Filipinos around the world, a part of me was rooting for Archbishop Tagle...but honestly, I didn’t really think he would be chosen because of his young age and experience compared to the others.

cana weekend

As I mentioned in my previous post, this year’s National Conference took place last Friday.  And like the past NatCons, so many couples attended from all over the UAE. The ballroom of Crowne Plaza Deira was practically packed and overflowing!

You can probably guess from the title of this post that the theme this year was based on the wedding at Cana...nothing special for most, but it just so happened to be the same gospel we chose for our wedding almost 5 years ago!

magnificat weekend

This year's UAE CFC National Conference will take place tomorrow, and once again, Hubby and I will be among the participants.  I had made a post about last year's conference which was published in CFC Middle East's blog, but I would like to share it here as well...it's a longer version, though.  Anyway, I'm sure that all of the registered participants (me included) are looking forward to what the conference will have in store for us tomorrow.

guardian angels

I’m sure most of us, when we were babies, fell or hurt ourselves at one time or the other. For me, I didn’t fall from the bed. I fell from a whole flight of stairs (approximately 12 steps, I think)...from the wooden verandah of our house to the ground...while I was in my walker. Mama told me that when I landed, they saw lots of blood coming out from my chin, so of course, they rushed me to the hospital where I had to have a few stitches. She remembers that I cried, but only a bit...and after a while, I was smiling and laughing as if nothing happened, or as if I had enjoyed the tumble. Crazy, I know.

12 powerful resolutions

This was forwarded to me by Carol, one of my SFC babies.  And although I don't usually make any resolutions every year, it's definitely a good article to pick up some words of wisdom to guide us throughout the year.

So open the new chapter in front of you and appreciate it’s clean white space.  This chapter is called Opportunity and it starts today…