Arirang!

 

Arirang! 

Day 4: Pray for Healing

 

For today's Prayer and Fasting, the prayer focus is on Healing. This is close to my heart as I have been praying for my own healing the past months. It's been 3 years since my Thyroid Cancer diagnosis 

Day 3: Praying for FAMILY and the YOUTH

 

No family is perfect. Even the most put-together families have struggles, but God is able to restore, rebuild, and hold every family together.

2 Kings 22:2, 8, 11, 13, 19 ² He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left. ⁸ Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. ¹¹ When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. ¹³ “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” ¹⁹ because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.

See you in 2027?!

 

Day 2: Praying for the CHURCH

REMEMBER, 

REPENT, 

RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE, JESUS 

Revelation 2:1-7

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot

tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

Day 1: Praying for the NATIONS

 

Today begins the Prayer and Fasting Week for which I am excited about. Though I'm not medically able to do physical fast, I hope to fast on certain things like lessening social media time and adding more time to my Bible-reading habit. I also plan to keep a journal of the daily messages from the CCF nightwatch sessions. 

As I messaged Cindy, I asked her to pray for me as she is doing her part this week: 

1 - improved health, good blood test results and cancer markers sa next nga check up; 2 - financial provision for my check ups; 3 - starting the new year with more closeness and intimacy with God; for me to finish the Bible and have a habit of prayerfulness; 4. - for my family's safety and protection

Today's message is

2 Chronicles 7:12-18 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 18 then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.’

Slow Sunday

 

This picture is an ideal photo of stillness - savoring a cup of hot tea. And this is what I want my Sunday morning to be. This image was grabbed from the Minimalist page and it talks about taking it slow.

Hope you have a blessed Sunday, everyone! 

Morning musings

Just show up, Shirly. Most mornings, I have a battle with my bed. I usually tell BFF Love about this. Well, my bed wanted me to stay longer and just be lazy. I want to, too! But then, I think of having to enjoy a long life, survive cancer and spend more time with my loved ones, so I get up and go ahead with my day. I start with a trip to the bathroom, get dressed, have my vitals check, and put on my walking shoes. I usually reserve Sundays to have a date with my bed, and lounge around. But on the other 6 days, I have to remind myself to show up. 

Today, I woke up a bit late at past 6AM for my walk. It's another slow morning for me, finished at around 8,000 steps for 62 minutes and went back home after. The roads are not busy as usual, as it is the weekend. I'd assume that most people are still asleep after a late night-out, or maybe just sleeping in. As for me, I will sleep in tomorrow. I will have to start my day with my usual walk and my morning routine. I miss my SB after-walk treat, but for now, the coffee at home would do. I cannot afford such luxury this week. Hopefully, I will get to treat myself once again for showing up next week. I think "Good job, Shirly" is enough! 

TGIF!

TGIF indeed! 

It's another slow day for me as I wind down my week. Got 10,000+ steps this morning, then just went home straight for breakfast. I didn't have my usual coffee run at Starbucks as I'm trying to have no-spend days this week. A tap on the back for me, yay! 

Since I was feeling a bit nauseous from my antibiotics for my UTI treatment, I decided to take a quick nap before lunch. Irwin came and had his lunch break at home (well, he just took a short nap and went back to work after). I'm now typing away this entry, and it's been a week since I started. 

I anticipate that I may not have daily entries in the future, but I do hope that this online diary will be something I can look back to, and reflect on the things that have been happening to me. Hopefully, I could see progress 

I Thrive on Thursdays

It's a good day as I had catch up day with friends. I received Christmas gifts from friends Kat, Dines, Erns (a second from her), and Tzi. We had coffee and breakfast at Starbucks and just had our usual chitchat about things, i.e. Tita things, as in family, chika and stories about friends. 

Then, we went on a scenic drive to Bit-os to visit Pryce Garden, a new memorial place. Mitzi asked Erns to drive her there to visit the lot she purchased, and we just enjoyed the view. Not bad for cemetery, i.e. final resting place for people. The place was full of lush trees, greeneries and there's a certain peacefulness (not eeriness) that you can actually feel. 

I had my day off from tutorial today, so I decided to binge-watch on something interesting. KTH made me watch this: "Heated Rivalry". I finished all 6 episodes before my bedtime. Not your usual TV show, but the plot is interesting. Now, I'm googling Hudson Williams and has been watching his TV interviews. 

Slo-Wednesday

It's a slow day today as I update my journal. I feel proud this morning with 9,000 steps, and had my coffee at home. I plan to have a no-spend day today. I hope I can succeed. 

Today will be a busy day with my tutorial classes. Session with Paolo resumes today as I had to cancel yesterday because of UTI. Eli will have his 2nd session this week with the MWF schedule. We will be busy for the rest of the week. 

Do not be discouraged

This is a timely verse for me...

Happy Monday!

 

I woke up to this wonderful news this morning. Happier times ahead! 2026 is indeed BTS' year, and I'm so excited to share this special moment with them. 

It's a Monday today, so it's a start of another week. Perhaps a busy one as classes have resumed and people are now back from their Christmas break. I had a 1-hour session with Eli today (he requested for just an hour's session, so chill lang muna). 

I'm also grateful to have antibiotics prescription for my UTI, hopefully this will help my discomfort in peeing (and not catching enough sleep). I might need to resume taking Atenurix, too. 

This week, I aim: 

- to improve on my daily FBS levels (this morning, it's a 6.0 - I know this can be better at less than 6.0) 

- to focus on my small ipon challenge (less expenses; less SB coffee and breakfast outside)

- to get healed with my UTI and other aches and pains in between 

- to prepare lessons for my students 

Hope it all goes well...Happy Monday! 

How to live fully

 

Today's CCF sermon is about living wisely, based on Psalm 90. It's true, life is short. We need to spend our time here on earth more wisely and intentionally. 

It's a wake-up call for me, and inspires me to do well in everything I do. I also learned that we can be always at peace because God never changes - He is the same today, yesterday and forever. He is indeed our dwelling place. 

We should also know who we are - what we have is temporary. We are nothing without God, and we need to fully depend on Him. 

This new year, we can also pray for God's favor. Yes, we can ask God to grant us things to get through in life. We need to ask for: wisdom, loving kindness, grace, joy and a lasting legacy. 

Today is just a slow day, and I stayed home the whole day. I'm grateful for the chance to have this online CCF service, and just to sing praise songs at the start of the service. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings. Thank you for everything You have bestowed on me.  I hope to be better this year. 

Reference: 

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn people back to dust,
    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
    they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
    and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
    we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
    Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.

Caffeinated

I found myself the lone customer at Starbucks this morning. This is my reward after getting 7,000+ steps for my 60-minute morning workout (final log at 9,635 steps, 88 minutes). Yay! 

I think I will have to take a break from SB coffee runs for next week, and just put my coffee money in my new project: small ipon challenge before Feb. 21. Well, I still have to help out Kat complete her 18 stickers to get the 24 oz. gold cup. 

I must say, SB Butuan has been my morning refuge and has been part of my morning routine. It also helps that the baristas already know me, and somewhat I usually show up for "attendance checks". Well, it pays to know your customers, as they say. After my morning walk, I usually sit at this area of the cafe ("rehas", as Love calls it) and do my morning gratitude, short journaling, Bible reading and meditation. There are even times that I got to catch up on my reading and podcasts, and just at times be my myself. My usual order is  brewed off in an160z coffee press with a refill, which is relatively cheap at P110 (thanks to my PWD discount). I'm thankful for this cafe and the staff for being my place in solace. I think I'm caffeinated enough to tackle the day. Thanks to you! 

Don't be afraid...

This is today's encouragement. I'm just thankful that the Lord is always with me, who will give me strength and assistance whenever I need it. 

I started my morning walk a bit late today, as I was in bed late last night (felt a bit tipsy from the soju mix!). Thanks to BFF Love who was on the phone while I had my walk, I completed my 60-minute workout at almost 7,000+ steps. (yay!) I had my usual SB coffee and bagel, and spent the morning with Kat who got in earlier than me. We talked about family stuff, some chismis and some fears of growing old. 

When I got home, we had visitors. Auntie Alak came with saging saba which I had for lunch (with leftover adobo). Vincent's family came to visit before heading back to CDO. I'm called Tinang (Tita Ninang) by the kids, and I'm glad that I had small gifts for them. 

Today, I am planning to work on my expenses tracker (December updates), email catch-ups and maybe do some journaling today. 

So far, I'm now on my 2nd entry. Good job to me! 

Happy New Year!

2025 has passed. 

2026 is now here! 

Just happy to spend time with family as we also commemorate Tatay's 3rd death anniversary. 

It just felt like yesterday. Over lunch, we reminisced about him and shared fun stories. I was really glad to have QT with Nanay, brothers Irwin and Irving III (Enggay) and my Aunties. I even brought Enggay to Starbucks for his first experience, and had a great chat with him. I'm blessed to honor Tatay's memories with my family, even extended to his second family. 

I had my usual afternoon nap, and that refreshed me. It was a long nap (3 hours!) to catch up on my sleep as we were awake until 1AM to usher in the New Year. 

For dinner, we were invited by Auntie Epin, and we got to enjoy it with some videoke and soju drinks. 

Overall, 2026 started really well. I just hope I could keep with my blog entries.