Egg nogging, and Ho Ho Ho is over...

until 2007 that is! I was able to enjoy a few glasses of eggnog with a bit of dark demerara rum, because I finally decided to try those lactose pills, and they work!!:-)
Though I enjoy spending time with friends over the Christmas holidays, I miss my mom, dad and sister the most around this time, and I'm the one who quickly says "goodbye"when we connect by phone, because I don't want them to know that I'm crying:-(
Like most folks I'm looking back and reflecting on 2006, evaluating if it was a good year, how I lived, what I regretted doing, loved doing, enjoyed the most, and what I'll never do again, and those moments that I either want to capture or just erase completely from memory.
Looking ahead to a new year and again like most folks, write down new goals that I would like to accomplish, and maybe a few from 2006 that were not met.

One of my goals for 2007 is to read one book per month and watch less TV.
I love to read, have a stack of books that have yet to be read, and currently in the middle of "the devil wears prada". Picked up "Think and grow rich" by Napoleon Hill, that will be my next book to tackle. Decided on this book because for the past 6 months or so this book has been made reference to in many articles, and was recommended as a great read with valuable information.

OK, whatever goals you set for 2007, I pray the same thing for you as for me - may you be consistent, stay the course, take one day at a time, enjoy the moment, love you, be thankful, do good for another and may you find yourself at your prescribed finish line, arms raised as we celebrate our own personal victories. Set backs will come, but stay the course!

Whatever the reason or season

around this time of the year that Christians choose to celebrate the birthday of Christ, the generosity of people seem to flourish. It is about giving, loving, being thankful!

Peace on earth, good will to all men, joy to the world, rocking around the Christmas tree are words from carols that resound on the radio and in the shopping malls. Despite all busy malls, the overcrowded streets, the stress and pressure that is depicted on faces, there's a reason for the why of what we all do.

It's time to gather with old and new friends, co-workers, and family to celebrate what we do have, counting our blessing, because the reality is...there are people I know and some you do that are unable to celebrate because of losing loved ones, hearing bad news, can't afford to buy presents for their kids, or for whatever reason they're hurting, or lonely.

So, let us do what we can to help someone less fortunate - a prayer goes a long way, but doing something practical while yet praying is love in action. Make a good difference, every little bit helps.
To you and yours may this be a wonderful time of celebrating life, God's love, your loved ones, and best in every area for 2007.

Life's a vacation, journey, destination!

Is life a vacation? journey? or destination? could life be a combo of all three? I'm on a life's journey, vacationing and moving towards my destination? possibly! As a teenager I always lived in the moment; entertaining the concept that my life was one big vacation. As I got older and wiser:-) I realized that to me, life is a journey...I'm constantly moving, (not necessarily demographically), but if you're alive, there's movement...even if at times you don't wanna move~

Life is a journey because of what I experience - good and bad, I learn from them, and learn what emotions are evoked through what I experience. In taking this journey I continue to discover things about myself that I both love and dislike. The things I love, I fuel to grow stronger, and the things about me that I dislike I am working on changing.

I'll never find answers to a lot of questions, like why there are people in the world whose minds are so sick, that they derive pleasure from hurting people. Why so many people still die from hunger when there's a surplus of food and money in other parts of the world that is being wasted.

Though I may never fully understand it all, I can do what I can as an individual to make a good difference. Sure talk is cheap, but action does speak louder than the "talk".
So, as I continue in my life's journey towards my destination (goals), and enjoy my vacation times, I aim to let my journey be one that is more giving, forgiving, loving, content and thankful.
How about you? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

The Best Delivery!

In writing that title, I instantly thought that if you were a mom, that may not be your initial response as you labour to deliver your child - however, afterwards the joy of touching, and holding your baby close would cause you to say "this is the best gift".

No, I did not deliver a baby, wasn't pregnant and don't plan on it - my delivery is about this guy! Elmo is my all time favourite furry creature. You can find him subtlety displayed in my kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and tattooed on me, so needless to say when the 10 anniversary edition of TMX Elmo hit the market, I wanted one. I was on the wait list for the past 2 months, but walla a co-worker's son had a few extras and I was able to snag one yesterday.

No line ups etc...delivered right to my work-station...how's that for the best delivery? Bouncy, bouncy!!!:-)

The Rapid Acceleration of Time

My last post was Dec 6th...today is the 14th and wasn't it just a few days back that we flipped the calendar to welcome the last month in our calendar year?

I heard that the older you get the faster time goes:-) though I don't consider myself old or look it, and according to the yearly calculations, I have a B-day once per year and grow 1 year older each time...time seems to be high on caffeine:-)

Or, could it be that we're no longer given the full quota of 24 hours? is it possible that the time has been shortened, though our clocks and watches tell a 24 hour tale?
Or could it be that the rapid acceleration of time came about due to our fast pace, now generation?
Whatever it is, time does seem to fly by - we no longer have the luxury to worry about tomorrow...it appears way before we're ready for it!
Take time to smell the flowers, appreciate your life, enjoy your family and friends, and complain less...time is way too precious to be spent on things that wear you out...now move:-) Have a great day, week, month, year and be blessed!

Time to pull the brakes

not sure about you, but ever so often I take inventory on self. Why? cause the tendency to get into the complaining, worrying, negative, un-thankful mode surfaces. Partaking of this inventory helps me to stop the negatives, and maintain a healthy perspective on life.

Do I have every single thing I need? no, but I'm very content and believe that eventually I'm gonna achieve what I desire. In the event I don't I'm still going to be content, so regardless, I am living in a win win world!

With all that said, at times we do need to "pull the brakes". For the past 5 years I promise "self" to give to my local "Union Gospel Mission" to help feed the less fortunate for Christmas. Alas, every year would slip by and I would not fulfill my commitment. This year however was different...I did it, and boy the feeling I experienced was amazing! To think, I was robbed all these years - not just from helping others, but from the joy you get from giving to others who can't return the favor.

So, listen why don't you find a worthy cause to give either your time or money into! Not to yourself, friend, or family...to someone who will so appreciate and needs it!
Trust me, you'll want to keep doing it, just for the sheer sense of elation that you'll personally experience.

"I do" for a second time around

Scrumptious & delightful!

Bing, Shirley and daughters Dianna & Isabella

Congratulations to my friends Bing & Shirley as they tied the knot a second time on Saturday Dec 2nd. Not that there was anything wrong with the "first" knot:-) but the original knot tying was done via eloping, and this time around they wanted to be married by a Minister, and with their friends and family present.

It was a wonderful ceremony and reception!

Besides the great food, wine and company, I thought it was a great idea to renew marriage vows...it reinforces your commitment to each other, and reminds you that "relationships is work", but when equally done it is truly rewarding".

My best to the Gingoanas'!!

A time for everything!

I guess there is no debating the statement below - it is a fact of life, we can't fight it, but during the low points (we all have them), we can find comfort in knowing that it isn't necessarily because "I did a bad thing", it is just life, and it is important to surround yourself with people who will lift you up and help to carry you through those low times.


Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.