Note to Self #1: Contented and blessed

I remembered my favorite teacher said, " The greatest lesson you will learn in life is acceptance."
I may not able to get what I really wanted in my life but learning to appreciate the present by living it is one of the best feeling I ever had. It is called being contented and letting God work in my life. This is where God placed me and it is not that bad, really. I really like where I am now. The truth is, everything I dreamed before, now it is a reality. I am now living the dream. The best way to be grateful is to live eavh day contentedly and mindfully. Bear in mind that wherever i am and whatever i am boing through are the paths to that wonderful purpose of GOD why He let me live this world. Problems arises but these are normal! Life without it is not a life, as Helen  Keller put it, life is either an adventure or nothing.
So starting today, living contentedly and appreciating every moment that passes is the best thing I can do with a brave smile and sincere heart.❤

TO BE A KARATEKA

             It was my father who was my greatest influence in karate, the next was Jackie Chan. As I learned further, I now understand that Jackie Chan’s techniques are called Kung Fu (due to his Chinese origin) while karate originated in Japan. My interest was further uplifted when I met my better half whom was also a product of karate discipline. I enrolled the Shotokan class with a goal in my mind that I need to at least learn the basics of karate to protect myself, for self-defense. Karate is few of the sports I really love since I was a kid. Learning the basics, I know that I can partly take in the good values and principles karate uphold. But inside me, a voice is greatly rejoicing! It is also a way to keep my body in shape while enjoying what I am doing. Win-win.

How was my karate class? It was great. Yes, I had a good pain and soreness all over my body. Another thing that surprised me was that I am actually the eldest in the group. Hahaha! My classmates were kiddos which I am also thankful about because I love kiddos. And of course, my Sensei is way younger than me too. But during weekends, a senior Sensei came to teach us and we trained together.

with my young Sensei

 Karate is not a joke, more especially when it comes to training. Before training, it is most important to do the warm up exercises. I love every bit of it, especially when I need to flex my body and the way I need to stretch my leg in order to improve my kicking skill through a butterfly stretch. It was a really good feeling. Ahhh, wait.. am I a masochist? Haha! It really hurts like hell. During the first day, I also learned how to punch right and block some punch thrown to me by an opponent through various blocking techniques. But there is more to learn like the beautifully executed Kata techniques. This knowledge were taught to “sempais” with higher belt. As a beginner, one must start as a white belt student.

Learning karate I repeat, is not a joke. One must be physically and mentally fit. In order to learn, one needs extreme focus and committed heart. One must make all the adjustment to attend trainings every day. A sore body is not an excuse. Why? The more trainings one gets, the more the body became relaxed and flexed and then the soreness will go away as if you had a real body massage. I remembered, there were times when all I wanted was to train because my body really ask for it. After I was initiated for the next belt after white, I decided to stop attending the Shotokan class. I know there are more serious things to learn but I already fulfilled my goal. The most important thing I learned from my Shotokan classes is respect. Respect to self and to others. This is to make sure you gave yourself the chance, that room for improvement to grow every day; and to honor the body, soul and spirit in you. This is to be happy in harmony with others, the way they move should be in consonance to you like a dance in life that goes on and on smoothly, perfectly, peacefully. Every relationship you build with others must be treated with utmost respect for it depends on others how you react as a karateka, whether you are the attacker or the defender, so much like life too. Karate is never used to harm others but to protect yourself and possible, others too; never to start a fight but always to defend; and never to give up but seeks to move forward humbly until the end which started and finished with a bow and sincere brave eyes. This is how I learned I must apply in approaching life. I was so thankful for that karateka experience of my life.#

Do-It-Yourself Yogurt

Here is how to make nutritious and yummy yogurt: 

 You will need:

1 Liter Fresh or Pasteurized Milk

1 small pack yogurt

a clean pot

a clean container with cover

Procedure:

1. Heat the milk up to 70 degree Celcius and cool down to 40 degree Celcius.

2. Transfer in a clean container with cover. In my case, i place it in a clean pitcher.

3. Add the yogurt as the starter.

4. Stir well then cover for 12-24 hours at room temperature. 

5. After overnight, check its consitency. The yougurt should already be thick and has a clean milky taste. It will also taste sour like a yogurt. 

6. Consume as it is or add honey and fruits for enhanced acceptability.

7. Enjoy!

Food for the body

Every one of us is in need of food. 

Boodle fight!

            God, upon giving us the gift of life, also provided two kinds of food - a food for the soul and a food for the physical body. Basically, Bible is the source of food that can nourish our soul. Without this kind of food, then we can find ourselves weak and helpless that anytime, a simple whip of the wind of hardship can blow us away. Not so many people who are physically well and full are also spiritually healthy. That is why it is very important to feed our soul. We may encounter many kinds of hunger in this life and one of these is the simplest and most common hunger - the deep fang we feel in our stomach. Many people in this world perished because there is nothing to eat or maybe, food supply is not well distributed. Food security does not exist. The question is, on your own ways, how can you help save food? Food is made by God for us to cherished and make us healthy so that we can have strength to work on our missions in this life. There are many verses in the Bible which tells about the food and here are few of them: "And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:30 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Luke 12:23 Food is more than blessing provided by God to sustain our life. And this is more why we should be an advocate in making more available food to other people and to the world. I hope that this will help you understand why foods are one of the basic essentials in life, appreciate every single food you take in to your body, say a prayer before every meal and eventually think of your own ways on how we can help save and produce or preserve safe high quality foods.#

a love letter

To you my dear,

I am wondering at this very minute if you are thinking of me, if like me, you are wondering what is taking us so long to find each other. Many times I thought I finally found you only to be disillusioned by the fact that my wait has not yet ended. I get up each morning hoping, dreaming, longing to meet you. I am thinking of how we will meet, would it be as romantic as the ones I have seen in movies? Or is it possible that I have known you all my life but we have yet to realize that we are meant for each other? Oh how I wish you were here right now because you are the only one who has the answers to all my questions.

Sometimes I ask myself if I have ever really known “love”. I do not have the answer to that question either but I believe that, more often than not, we will never really know what love is until we find that right person…and since I have not found you yet, then maybe I do not really know what love is! You just don’t know how often I dream of finally knowing what it feels like to be in your arms. Even at this very moment I am imagining how you will simply sweep me off my feet! Perhaps I would be drawn to you by your smile, or your eyes, or maybe even how you manage to make me laugh by your silly little ways!

I don’t really know for sure but I am praying that God will help me recognize you when the right time comes. I think of all the pain that I have gone through in the past and of how much I have cried since the day I began my search. I just wanted you to know that I find my strength in clinging onto my vision of the beautiful life ahead of me — the life I shall spend with you. In my mind and in my heart I know that you are worth all that pain and sacrifice. After all, the tears have become a part of my life and I believe that they are slowly washing away my flaws so that I would become perfect, not perfect in its truest sense, but perfect — for YOU!

I wonder if you’ve gone through so much pain as well. I wonder if you’ve been hurt so many times along the journey. But my dearest one, please don’t ever give up because I am right here… patiently waiting for you! I assure you that when we finally find each other I would slowly heal those wounds by my love. At night, I would look out my window and stare at the beautiful sky, hoping that somehow you are also looking up and wondering about me. I utter a silent prayer and send all my cries to the heavens above thinking that in time they would reach you. And when I feel impatient, I just close my eyes and believe that you are on your way and that you are longing to see me as well. It is funny but when I finally fall asleep, it is still you that I think of, for you are always in my dreams. It seems that, for now, that is the only place where I can hold on to you, long enough to tell you how much I love you.

In my dreams you would kiss away my fears and wrap me with your arms of love. And this, all the more, makes me want to wake up and face the new day ahead with the hope that soon enough, you will no longer be a dream but a reality and once again I am assured that you are worth the wait. And when that time comes, everything will fall into its place, just as I had imagined, just as I had thought and dreamed, just as I had believed it would be!

By then, I would simply look back and smile at all that I have gone through, in spite of the pain and amidst the simple joys of life — and I would be very thankful because they all led me to you!!! In the meantime, take care of yourself for me. Hold on to our dream and don’t even think of letting go. Believe in your heart that we will find each other no matter what happens. God has planned the course and it is up to us to follow the directions. Don’t worry, don’t be afraid about getting lost, God saw to it that all the roads, no matter which one you choose to follow, lead to me.

Note: This letter holds all the words my heart has to say to the one God had prepared for me. But this letter is not mine. It was shared to me by my room mate back on my college years, which according to her circulate through the internet. I really do not know who the real author is but one thing is for sure, this letter gave hope to many hopeless romantics single out there waiting for the one true love to come. This letter also gave me inspiration as I patiently waited. My own version of continuation is this:

To my beloved DND,

This love letter is like a song. It was not compose by me but it tells directly what my heart contains. I hope, even if I already found you, this letter may remind us the times we were away from each other for almost 23 years, and the time we wait to meet each other. I cherish the feeling of being with you and I hope to fulfill our dreams soon, making it a reality. You are so near to my heart that I believe I have known you all my life. It was your character that makes all the difference from the rest. I cherish and love you always. I deeply trust you and will sincerely be faithful to you for the rest of my life.

Yours always and forever,
MAB

What the Bible says about honey

Eversince I moved here up the north (Province of La Union) I did not have hard time looking for honey. Lots of cultured honey are readily available in La Union market and also a project of the school I am working at. In the market every morning, I can easily buy a bottle of wild honey harvested from the market. Lately, I am working on a research about honey and I need to prepare a proposal. I have read that honey is the "liquid gold' in your kitchen. I myself love honey that despite the recommended 1 tbsp of honey a day, I get to take 1 tbsp every after meal as my dessert. Now, as I browse the internet, I get so curious on what does the Bible say about honey. Here are what I've searched so far:

1. PROSPERITY
"So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey - the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites." (Exodus 3:7-8)

2. GOOD
"My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste." (Proverbs 24:13)

3. PLEASURE
"I have come intomy garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam i have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; i have drunk my wine and milk. Eat friends, Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.' Song of Solomon 5:1

4. FOOD
"Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it." Proverbs 25:16

5. FOOD NOT FOR EXCESS
It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to search out one's own glory. Proverbs 25:27

6. ORGANIC 
"Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey." Matthew 3:4

7. GIFT
"Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds." Genesis 43:11

So I have learned not to take honey in excess (anything in excess is bad) and that it is a food that brings pleasure, signify prosperity and given as gift. It is good to know that this ancient food signifies health. I hope to make a high quality processed product out of honey.

###

How is life doing?

I usually accomplished things out of few minutes left.. i still have 4 minutes left before 1 pm struck and so, this is time left to tell you how am i doing by now here on the office of a state university, just finished eating my dessert of sweet pomelo and hoping to meet my student this afternoon at 2 for their Chemistry subject. They will be going to conduct a very interesting laboratory activity on crystallization. Well, I am doing fine, minus my delayed salary, i am fine here where am I now. I have a very good relationship with people, I love my boy friend and I miss my family.

Life is not so easy but I am trying to cope. As a new teacher, I need to study everything from the very beginning. As a daughter, I am dreaming to lift my family out of the poverty line, so working hard is the option left for me. I need to support my family. As a lover, i love a lot and whole, very committed. I am just excited with how God drives my life by now. I will just do my best in everything I do and never ever letting the bad takes course on me..

Why Shabu shabu?

Shabu is a prohibited drug in my country. But what is highly addicting to me is the shabu-shabu, or the hot pot. We created a hot pot for dinner and we were so full as bear!

I love this, crabstick!

Hello Mr. Ramen :)

With steaming hot soup that flooded the noodles, we indulged with this delicious ramen for dinner.

Say hello to Mr. Ramen

I will not mind sharing my bowl of soup, i will not mind waiting awake for hours, as long as we are together.
01-17-14

PROJECTS on my Food LAB

Processed Foods

1. Grape wine - December 2014 Accomplished (note: need to make more)

2. Soymilk - 

3. Kimchi -

4. Bubod (starter) -

5. Tapuy wine -

6. Strawberry wine -

7. Nata de coco -

8. Mozarella Cheese -

Cooking skills
1. Hot pot Shabu shabu
2. Ramen
3.