Another Weird Dream

Sleeping seemed so hard for me the past few weeks. I don't know why I can't get myself to sleep although I feel really tired and sleepy. Anyway, I miss being able to sleep and dreaming. The last dream I had is kind of weird. I'm writing it here as a counsel from dh to write down all the dreams I can remember each night. lol. Ask him why, every time I wake up I have one or more stories to tell from the dreams I had. 

Of course this dream has something to do with the 72 hour kit just like the previous dreams I had. In my dream I can see New York City, although I've never been there, I can see four nuclear power plants at the same time and all those four started to melt-down and there's a big explosion. Then news started flashing on tv about it telling that the radioactive wave has reached Thailand and almost 3/4 of the earth is affected. In my dream we( dh, hevyn, and me) happened to be having our vacation in the Philippines and we're safe but we're warned to be alert, stay together and be ready for any possibilities. Also I didn't worry much about my 72 hour kit, having it right beside. And when I woke up, I told dh about it, and asked him how many nuc power plants are there in NY. He advised me to google it and to my surprise there are four just like in my dream, of course its just a coincidence. Again a product of my not too wild imagination,  and worries. 

I'm happy that we have our 72 hour kit ready, but to be prepared means more than the 72 hour kit, I know its important to stay together and be ready in all things as family. If our family has to stay together we have to do things together in unity. Our preparedness always starts with our family. 

 Elder Henry B. Eyring said: "In our own time, we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. . . . When the words of the prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time.

"Looking for the path to safety in the counsel of prophets makes sense to those with strong faith."

How grateful I am for the leaders that we have to guide and counsel us.Happiness is when we obey the Lord and the counsel of his servants, there is no other way to be truly happy except when we try to live a righteous life.

We often talk about how uncertain things seem to be these times, global crisis and slipping moral footings.  Those who stand for their beliefs and fought in defending their values find themselves picketed, ridiculed or persecuted by so doing, I'm happy we found this place where we can find common moral values with the Muslims. 

 As Pres. Monson said "It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful or what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell on only which is wrong in the world and in our lives" 

"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

I think the best thing we can do, is to continue doing what we know is right, continue in faith, and stand firm in our values and for what is right. Wherever we are in world, there is no other place we can trust to be safest other than our homes, with our families and the key is to strengthen it and keep each one united. Nothing can influence our children more than what we teach and do inside our homes.

Global Launch of the 2009 Pinoy Expats-OFW Blog Awards

Any successful endeavor is worth repeating and much more sustained. Especially when it touches and inspires the lives of the people for whom it dedicate its toils, pain, and achievements. Such are the motivations for which the 2009 Top 10 Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Award (PEBA) is once again being launched online. Wikipedia mention of PEBA  here.

In its second year, PEBA will recognize Pinoy Expats and OFWs bloggers making a difference in their lives, workplace, community, the Philippines and the world in general. 

This year the theme is 

“Filipinos Abroad – Hope of the Nation, Gift to the World”. 

Cognizant and directly affected by the brunt of global financial crisis, Filipinos continue to anchor their hope and trust to their family members abroad as herald of better news and good tidings. Thus, reinforcing the OFWs and Filipino expats role and image as new heroes and saviors.

PEBA also recognizes that Filipinos wherever they are, be it land-based, sea-based or air-based as the case maybe, are shining examples of dedication, diligence, and excellence in almost anything they do. It is not uncommon for them to be praised as assets to companies and organizations contributing to the social and economic well being of their host country.PEBA considers the more than 12m overseas Filipinos scattered abroad as gifts to make this world a better place to live.

The award which started last year had a very simple objective. It was created to award bloggers who infuses enthusiasm and inspiration for others to do good and be hopeful in this world of hopelessness. Filipino expats and OFWs with their talents, means, resources and blogs unfailingly served as voice and beacon of hope. Ten top bloggers were identified from around the globe such as theAmericas, Europe, Africa and Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific, who, up until these days continue to blog and their commitment re-ignited in contributing change through their own little ways.

So for this year with the valuable help of numerous individuals from around the globe, the search is on again. Filipino bloggers and netizens are invited to recognize Pinoy Expats/OFW who tireless blog in making the blogosphere a better space and place for exchange, discussion, and service of the Filipinos and the citizens of the world alike. It is worth knowing and learning those stories of Filipinos overcoming difficulties and challenges. Although it is a reality that not everyone is successful but still their stories are way for others to gain insight from their life lessons and experiences.

From May to October 2009 any Filipino blogger can nominate or be nominated except for last year’s top 10 PEBA awardees. Guidelines are available from its official blogsite (click here). By December 2009 winners will be announced in a public event in the Philippines whose details are still being prepared and ironed out. Sponsors, supporters and volunteers are very much welcome to make this endeavor a success.

Be part of another historic event of Pinoy Expats and OFWs!

Creamy Chicken Squash Soup

I learned this recipe when I was in college, because it's easy and requires only few ingredients. Hubby requested for this yesterday, and he enjoyed it together with Hevyn.

Creamy Chicken Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast

3 cups water

1 medium size butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes

1 small can evaporated milk

1 tsp salt

1. Boil 3 cups of water, put the chicken and boil for 20 minutes in low heat or until cooked and tender, add the squash.

2. Remove the chicken breast while cooking the squash. Let it cool, debone and flake the meat.

3. Let the squash boil in the chicken stock for 10 to 20 minutes on low heat, or until tender. Mash it or puree the squash. This will thicken the chicken stock. 

4. Put back the flaked chicken meat in the squash soup and mix well. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pour the evaporated milk and stir gently. 

 

Power Of Name

What's in a name?

My husband always ask me this. Whenever we go shopping, I always look for certain brand names. I always remind him though that there are brands worth looking for, brands that has established good impression to customer not because they are sooo expensive rather because of the unquestionable quality of goods they sell. Its better to spend more for an item that can stand wear and tear than buy that which is cheaper and gets worn easily. 

I wonder if it's the same when it comes to our names.  Does it also give an impression of who we are. As to what I know names have their own meanings. My name is an Irish name which means blind and beauty; my husbands name means a leader- which I can assure you true based on the things he's doing now and even before. Beacause I'm a little paranoid about the meaning of my name, I did make a careful research on names when I was pregnant to make sure my daughter will have a name with good meaning which is heaven's wisdom. 

Only today did I learn the names also has its power, and here are ours.

This is my daughter's name power:

Your Name's Power is Perception

Your name's power is that it helps you be perceptive. Your name conveys both wholeness and wisdom. People who meet you can't help but think you are enlightened. You try to live your life with flexibility and insight.

My husband's:

Your Name's Power is Beauty

Your name's power is that it helps you be beautiful. Your name conveys both a pleasant and kind attitude. People who meet you can't help but think you are delightful. You try to live your life with honesty and affection.

And mine:

Your Name's Power is Creativity

Your name's power is that it helps you be creative. Your name conveys both purity and skill. People who meet you can't help but think you are charming. You try to live your life with people you trust, surrounded by nature.

What's Your Name's Power?

Another Face of Pride- Gossip

As the days go on, everyday gets busier.  Household chores, Hevyn, some part time jobs, and some of dh's heart warming project to help a friend who is in need... these are only some of the things that takes my time. I still feel depressed (due to PPD) at times, and the more I feel depressed the more I try to isolate myself from a lot of people I know - my social absence with them has given them time to develop the wrong impression of me being unfriendly . The impression turned into false rumors and now into really dirty gossips, which I think is not really healthy.

I'm venting here because I know they wouldn't be reading my blog anyway unless they know I do blog. At a point I do hope they stumble upon this blog and read this.  There's a feeling that I wanted to confront them but I don't want anything hurtful to come out of my mouth, and the thought of an argument which might end up to contention involving a lot of people doesn't really fit my personality. It feels like I'm a  hollywood star, they are the producer of course. The production will never be a hit, with the contract unsigned, story unacted by the actress.

How could someone find pleasure making up stories and spreading it. As President Benson said, "We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them." Gossip is another face of pride we should never welcome, and if it ever knocks on our doors we should put end to it and not pass it on. 

Gossip is  another face of PRIDE- the universal sin, the great vice. It is the same pride (or gossip) that offends people,  cause contention,  results to broken families,  destroys our relationship with our friends and those we love, it is that destroyed the Jaredites, Nephites and many civilizations in the scriptures. Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. "It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous."-(Beware of Pride- E.T. Benson)

It results in secret combination to get power or gain the glory of the world. 

Gossip is a very hurtful and destructive thing you wouldn't want to get your hands dirty with. Lets get rid of it, and try to find and share good things about others instead. There's really nothing good we can get from it.