A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one

While cleaning the house, I saw a piece of paper in my closet. Out of curiosity I read what in it and found this verse," A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one". Then I remembered one event in my life that contradicts this verse. Before I left the Philippines, I have a lot of loans,  left and right, to public and private companies and individuals because during that time, the construction of my simple house is going on. So in order to finish my house faster, I loan money with interest from one of my friends( at least I count her as friend), and I promised her to pay back monthly. I really worked hard those days, almost 16 hours a day just to pay back all my loans. After a month, I paid half of my loan to this person and promised her again to pay back the remaining balance in installment basis monthly. Then next payment day, I wasn´t able to get the money intended for paying my loan because my tutee whom I will get the money was in vacation. Then my lendee came to me to get the money. I told her what happened that I can´t pay her back that day. Instead of understanding my situation , she gave me insulting words and blaming me of many things. She humiliated me that hurt my feelings so much. To end my conversation to her(and I don´t want to talk to her anymore that time because I felt bad and wanted to cry) I told her that I never run away from my debts and I know how to pay my loans. I promised her again to pay her on payday.   And that´s what I did. As I received my salary, I asked one of my friends to give her the money back with interest. I gave her all my remaining money and nothing left for my family that time. Since then , I didn´t borrow anymore from her. Next day, I found out that it was only me whom she insulted among her lenders aside the facts that some of the other borrowers didn´t pay her too. That incident forced me to come to Europe to earn bigger money so that my way of living upgraded and I will never experienced that situation again. Because in this world, there are people who used their money to insult other people especially the needy like me. Some of them use such situation to humiliate and to hurts someone feeling. They act indefferent to penniless people. Instead of helping the borrowers, they buried them or us with big interests that we could not able to pay them at once. As I evaluate what happen, this person didn´t help me anyway that time, she added more burdens on me paying her money back with big interest. Shame on her for having such attitude.
Now I am here in Europe. Some friends borrowed money from me and I lent them without interests. If they don´t have money yet to pay back, I never forced them nor tell bad words against them because I understand their situations. I know how they feel because once I was a borrower. I know that they borrowed money because they are really in needs. I want to lit their candles and not to be an added burden to them. How I wish and I pray to get more jobs so that I can earn money. I am planning to save some of my friends in the Philippines who are buried with great loans to her or to these people by lending them money  in order to pay back their loans and lighten up their burdens. How I wish I can light their candles, and give them hope. 

Lesson in Life

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
  Give more.

Expect less

Someone Thinks About You

A friend of mine from USA always sends me meaningful and very inspiring messages through email. I want to share it here in my blog. This is one of the messages I love to read often:
 
Tequila and Salt
 
This should probably be taped
to your bathroom mirror
where one could read it every day.
You may not realize it,
but it's 100% true.


1. There are at least two people in this world
that you would die for.


2.. At least 15 people in this world
love you in some way.


3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you
is because they want to
be just like you.


4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone,
even if they don't
like you.


5. Every night,
SOMEONE thinks about you
before they go to sleep.


6. You mean the world to someone.


7. You are special and unique.


8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.


9. When you make the biggest mistake ever,
something good comes from it.


10. When you think the world
has turned its back on you
take another look.


11. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.

And always remember....
when life hands you Lemons,
ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!


Good friends are like stars........
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.


"Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though
Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway"




I would rather have one rose and a kind word
from a friend while I'm here
than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only
God keeps You Going

Lessons from ... Ten .. Sions

One Moment listen please

The Moment you are in Tension
You will lose your Attention
Then you are in total Confusion
And you will feel Irritation
Then you will spoil personal Relation
Ultimately, you won't get Co - Operation
Then you will turn things into Complication
Then your blood pressure may raise Caution
And you may have to take Medication
Instead, understand the Situation
And try to think about the Solution
Many problems will be solved by Discussion
This will work out better in your Profession
Don't think it's my free Suggestion
It's only for your Prevention
If you understand my Intention
You will never come again to Tension
 

So there are actually more than Ten (10) of the Sions.

But what counts are actually the lessons.

Principle of Life

I open my email today and reread all my emails with sense. I decided to post some in my blog for better access. This one is something we should all read at least once a week entitled Principle of Life. I really like this and become my own principle in life, too. Hope you like it too.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone for everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."


Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves!

You will know why you should send this( another forwarded message)

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:
"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."
He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

"She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on , was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:


"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less. I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.

I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a sou rce of experience to be lived up to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day.. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.
I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to. The words "Someday.." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobod y can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... that I wanted to write

"One of these days".

I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters, son and daughters, not times enough at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives..
And, each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day..
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.


If you got this, it's because someone cares for you and because, probably, the re's someone you care about.

If you're too busy to send this out to other people and you say to yourself that you will send it " One of these days ", remember that "One day" is far away... or might never come...
No matter if you're superstitious or not, spend some time reading it.
It holds useful messages for the soul.

Do you wear a bra the whole day and even at home

 One of my friend forward this message to me. And I decided to copy here so that I know and I am aware of it. Here is the message:
 
Do you wear bra for the whole day and even at home? I think we should go bra-free after reading this article. It's a message for your health. Please pass this to all female friends you know. I think it's important to be aware of the following facts...

For years, a lot of articles with regards to the causes of breast cancer point to an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise as the major links to this disease which happens to be the biggest killer among women during these last two decades.

These studies would have been most credible if it were not for the fact that several women including Linda McCartney who have been religious vegetarians and exercise- freaks have also been unfortunate in suffering breast cancer.

Perhaps the most convincing article I have ever read with regards to this matter is one which links breast cancer to the wearing of bras. In the 'Bra and Breast Cancer Study' in the United States , It was discovered that women with breast cancer had a history of sporting tighter and longer bra-wearing than did the women who had not (yet) developed the disease.

In fact, virtually the entire cancer group wore bras over 12 hours. When a woman wears a tight bra, she subjects her breasts to pressure, closing off the lymphatic pathway from the breast to the nodes. This causes fluid built-up swelling, tenderness and cyst formation. Toxins must be flushed out via the lymphatic. However, a bra-constricted breast cannot adequately perform this cleansing process, resulting in toxin accumulation in the breast.

Truthfully, bras are creating droopy, weak breasts....the breast relies on the bras for artificial support; the body loses its ability to support the breast by itself. This is why many women feel uncomfortable without the bra.
What is the solution to breast cancer then? DON'T WEAR A TIGHT BRA! And maybe sleep without them..

There is a remarkable success rate for recovery from fibrocystic breast disease within 10 days to two weeks of going bra-free.. Many women have tried going bra-less and recorded
a miraculous improvement in their health! Bra burning is no longer a feminist issue....It is now a battle between life and death. We should make others more aware of the hazards of wearing them......
To create awareness Malaysian Women welfare organization declare Sundays as Bra free day in Malaysia .

Learn the German Language

Time is running so fast. I have been in Deustchland for half a year but still I can´t speak the language. I know some simple sentences now but I am so ashame to speak out what I know. How can I learn the language faster and easier? I had my language course free from the internet but I got bored of these repeating exercises. I finish the 5 levels but my problem is I can´t practice what I know. If I talk to my friends we used our mother tongue, I can´t follow them when they use Deustch. Well, I am so eager to learn the language. I set up some rules and guides in order to learn faster and easier. Here are some. 

                                            Rules to Learn New Language Faster 

1. Buy good dictionary
2. Write 10 words daily, know the meaning then memorize .
3. Memorize simple words or sentences commonly used in everyday living.
4. Read newspaper, book or magazine everyday and jot down 10 words. Look the meaning of the words in the dictionary. Read these words often.
5. Watch tv and jot down 5 sentences you heard. Take note of the structure of sentences.
6. Write 5 sentences. Read and memorize them. Use it if necessary.
7. Avoid using your mother tongue or english when mingling to friends or countrymen.
8. Go out and try to talk to the people. Talk to older people or children, it is nicer to talk to them always.Try to express yourself little by little.
9.  If you talk to someone and you can not understand, feel free to ask them to speak slower and ask them if they can translate to you but you must memorize the sentence.
10. Sit down everyday and read repeatedly all the words you wrote. Use it regularly. 
11. Practice, practice, practice. Practice make perfect.
12. Set goal when to master the language. You must do your own rules.
13. Or If you have enough time and money attend formal language course in formal school. There you can learn the correct grammar and you can interact with other students.

Spring Flowers

 These are some spring flowers that caught my attention.

 

daffodil

 tulip

 

daffodil

Der Frühling ist da ( Spring is Here ) !

            It is  spring time. Our sorroundings beautify with spring plants with blooms.Cherry blossom plants display their wonderful flowers. Flowers with different colors came out all around the vicinity. The apples trees in the backyard started to show their leaves. The bees are buzzing everywhere and sipping nectars from the flowers.
            And look at this picture! This is the nearest castle( Schloss) to our house. This is the Poppelsdorfer Schloss. This belongs to the university here in Bonn. During spring time, the castle shows again its real beauty with these big green Chestnuts trees on the pathways. The lawn is so nice with these well trimmed lawn grass. People love to visit and stay in the benches under the trees again. Some students are taking their rest time here to review and study their lessons. Mothers love to stroll with their babies here. Old and young people come to sit and relax around the castle. And every corner you can hear the birds singing on the trees, the bees buzzing around the flowers, and you can smell the fragrance of the flowers all around. This place is worth visiting if you want to forget  your problems, worries and anxieties. Indeed,  it is very relaxing to walk around this castle and stay for the moment. 

Imagine Very nice song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBscFRlXTXk&feature=related

My Easter Journey along Rhine and Mosel Rivers

 

Every journey begins at home 

with these trees blooming with pink flowers along the street

first castle along the Rhein River own by actor Thomas

church along the river

another castle on the top of the mountain

a steam train going to the hills around the castle

Rhein River to the left side and railway to the right 

                                                        a town on the other side of the river

 

another castle 

 

stop over at the Deustche Eck- this is the meeting point of Rhine River and Mosel river

Koblenz, Germany 

 

the Kaiser

 

2000 years history statue of Koblenz

 

another castle on the top( left side of Rhine River)

 

vineyard to the right of the River

 

another castle on the top but my hand is not so quick to press the camera

another middle aged castle 

another castle to the left side

 

another castle to the right

l

now we are in Loreleyblick-the place where a mermaid lured sailors

 

this  where Loreley sat and waited for ships-she was seated on the top of the mountain

another old aged castle

 

would you believe! I am  really in fantasy land

this is my favorite place....you know why? go and see

 

A castle in the middle of the Rhine River-this was a toll gate during the middle aged. A chain placed

both side to the river bank in order to block ships in passing through. This chain   put down when they pay tax to the owner of the caslte above.

 

I feel I am the queen

 

or I am Loreley 

 

my cam is battery low this time

 

this is the last castle, battery is empty as I am so sleepy taking all these castles.

                My easter Monday is so wonderful. Journey along the fantasy land where Grimm Brother´s fairy tales took place makes me one of the princesses or queens. All these castles are part of Germany´s history and most of these were the true settings of Grimm Brother´s fairy tales. Next time, I will visit Sleeping Beauty´s castle and the Seven Hills. And I will show you more beautiful, wonderful and scenic pictures of castles own by Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.

See you next time in the fantasy land!

My magnolia flower

A magnolia cut from the tree

   

from bud

 

it opens petals by petals

 

little by little

 

day after day

 

until it blooms 

 

and become a fully grown up flower

Never Sick Again

            When I attended our Lenten Retreat last March 20, 2010 in Frankfurt, one of our sisters in Couples for Christ gave us a bond  paper with a drawing of human body and written  " Never Sick Again ",  written  are some of common sicknesses and the corresponding foods to eat. I tried some of these and it helps. Maybe its helps you too.
                                  "Never Sick Again"

• Headaches : Fish ( Protein ) :Eat lots of fish as fish oil helps to prevent headaches. So does ginger which reduces inflammation and pain.
• Hayfever : Yoghurt : Eat lots of yoghurt before pollen season.
• Strokes : Tea : Prevents buildup pf fatty deposit on artery walls with regular doses of tea.
• Insomia : Honey : Use honey as a tranquilizer and as a sedative.
• Asthma : Onions ( Red ):Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes
• Arthritis : Fish :Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.
• Upset Stomach : Bananas, Ginger : Bananas will settle an upset stomach. ginger cures morning sickness and nausea.
• Bladder Infections Cranberry Juice : High acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.
• Bones Problems : Pineapple : Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in peneapple.
• PMS : Cornflakes : Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.
• Memory Problem : Oysters : Oysters help increase your mental functioning by supplying much needed zinc.
• Cough : Red Pepper : A substance similar to that found in cough syrup is found in hot red pepper.
• Breast Cancer : Wheat, Bran, Cabbage : Wheat bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at healthy levels.
• Lung Cancer : Orange, Green Vegetables : A good antodote is beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in orange and green vegetables.
• Ulcers : Cabbage : Cabbage contains chemical that help heal ulcers.
• Diarrhea : Apples : Crate an apple with its skin. Let it turn brown and eat it to this condition.
• Clogged Arteries : Avocados : Mono-unsaturated fat in avocados lower cholesterol.
• High Blood Pressure : Olive Oil, Celery : Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers blood pressure too.

• Blood Sugar Imbalance : Brocolli, Peanuts : the chromium in brocolli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar. 

          You can copy this and attach to your refrigerator  door, wall or to your bulletin board for handy reference because........
                            " Health is Wealth "
         

School Awards

        A while  ago, I called up my sons and asked them about their closing program in school last Tuesday. My sons said "It´s Ok mama". "Do you have ribbons?", I asked.  "No mama, we do not have any recognition. You are not here and  noone tutoring us during the school year", they answered. " You have to come home now mama and teach us so that we will get ribbons next year",  they added. I felt so guilty and my heart really pound hard. My eyes became wet that time. I know my sons needed me this time. They need my guidance and my support not financially but physically, morally, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I am so sad, really, really sad. As I am typing the words, I could not see what am I writing here. I am already crying. I couldn´t explained my emptiness and lonelines when my two boys come to my mind. I want to give them  brighter future. I have better plan for them. I want to earn money for their studies in the future. I want to build house for them-a house to stay and feel free to do what they want to. I want to buy them nice clothings, toys and school things. But these two little  boys didn´t appreciate these material things. They need more my presence. They want more a mother with them rather than these things. I know its hard for them to live away from me. It is hard for me too being away from them.
        Going back to my sons status in school. I couldn´t blame my kids not having ribbons or any awards. Its not important for me anyway. I know they are good boys. They have their own abilities and talents. They are intelligent boys in their own ways. Maybe during school days, they don´t know whom to us help when they have assignments in school; could they ask my sister, who is busy with her work? Could they ask my mother, who is occupied with many things too? Who will assists them if they have projects? Really, I never blame my kids for these instead I pity them for I am not there. I could give them what they need. I blame myself for these. My sons are right, It was my fault that they did not have any awards in school because I am away from home.

Frohe Orstern, Happy Easter, Felices Pascua

           It´s Good Friday again and this is my 3rd Holy Friday away from home. I missed the way how we celebrate Holy Friday in my country. Well, to start my day here, I woke up early to prepare for our simple celebration. First, I cleaned the house and put everything in place. I arranged my magnolia flowers in a vase and  hanged  easter eggs decoration among the branches.. After that,  I helped my "liebling" placed the chocolates in four bowls .We place also four rabbit chocolates in the table. We just ate cake and drink tea for the lunch as fasting. We enjoyed staying home the whole day. We played board games and chatted a lot. For our dinner we went to a Chinese restaurant nearby and eat our favorite vegetable foods.

        

I want to share this quote reminding us the Love of God to us:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life".– John 3:16

         Thanks God for giving us Jesus to save us from sins. We beg pardon Lord for all our sins.