My favorite food as a child was fried chicken! I think most kids love that food, it's crispy, tasty though not too healthy. As an adult, I still like it but my palate has grown to love different flavors but chicken still remains one of my favorites.
Now that I am learning to be independent, I have to prepare my own lunch. Since fried food is the easiest to prepare, one of the mainstays in my lunch menu is - guess what ... Of course, fried chicken!
I marinade the chicken (usually drumsticks) in calamansi and fish sauce. After some hours (or minutes if there's no time), it's ready to cook.
Easy at it may seem, but I failed in cooking my fried chicken perfectly.
I always use the chicken drumstick and it is so meaty. The first time I fried it, oh my, it was undercooked. I still saw pinkish parts, so I did not finish it. My mistake there was not putting enough oil and using a very flat pan, instead of a deeper wok.
The second time I cooked it, I used the correct pan and added more oil. However, I did not cook it long enough. So yes, less pinkish parts and still undercooked.
The third time, I made sure I had all the elements right - the pan, the oil, the heat, the cooking time. And finally, yes, I had the perfect fried chicken - fried to the bones :)
This simple recipe and simple act of frying taught me that little things matter. Each element - pan, oil, heat and cooking time all mattered. Like in our life, our body parts/systems matter for our overall health; our mind, body, spirit create a whole being; physical, mental, emotional/psychological aspects all need to be sound for us to live well.
Frying a chicken also taught me to be patient and thus proving the adage "Haste makes waste". Cooking is both an art and a science. I am blessed to have food to cook. Thanks be to God.
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Today is Thursday. It is actually my favorite day. Well, it shares the same spot as Sunday.
I think it started in my third year of primary school, when I sat on the fourth row, thus we were the "Thursday " group. We were assigned as cleaners on Thursday - to arrange and wipe the seats, sweep the floor.
Even though it may sound like child labor, I enjoyed those moments bonding with my groupmates while cleaning.
In my now country of residence, Thursday is shopping day! It is when the shops are open until 9PM. On other days, shops are open only until 6PM, except for groceries and KMart. I think it is good to have a designated shopping day, so it's not too tempting to buy stuff.
Thursday is also St. Jude's day. Those with devotion to St. Jude, the patron for hopeless cases, pray novena to him. St. Jude, for me, is one of the most popular patron saints, especially in Manila where people flock to St. Jude church in Mendiola.
I believe in novenas, as I prayed novenas to St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Joseph, and my prayer to have work was granted. It is one Catholic tradition that I am learning more about.
Even if I am away from my homeland, I do my best to keep Thursday a prayer day for St. Jude.
Thursday is one day away from Friday, the last day of the work week for most people. It is an anticipatory day, anticipating the last day of work after which people can relax, have fun and do what that wish because they do not need to wake up so early the following day.
It is one reason why I like Thursday too, because it represents hope.
We thank God it's Friday. But we need Thursday before getting Friday.
Happy anticipated weekend, my dear readers! I thank God for you. May you be blessed in ways more than you can imagine!
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Sunday, 19 May 2013
God Makes Dreams Come True
While watching one of my favorite Filipino tv shows, "Be Careful with my Heart", I related to one of the scenes. It was when the protagonist, Maya, was preparing for her first flight as an official flight attendant/stewardess. She thanked God that at last her dream has come true. In the story, Maya's childhood dream was to become a stewardess. But she was cheated by an illegal recruiter and had to work as a nanny.
In many ways I can relate because one of my childhood dreams was to go to my now country of residence. I wanted to visit my relatives here. It took many years before I was finally able to visit them, but still it was an answered prayer. And then I dreamt of going back and God granted that dream too.
In many ways, God made many of my dreams come true. In big and small ways, He is more than a genie. He said "Ask and you shall receive" (Matthew 7:7). He created the universe and He has the power to give anything we ask.
But there is a catch - God gives us things in His own perfect time. He first plants dreams in our hearts, allows it to grow and when we are mature enough, the dream comes into fruition.
Just like how I wanted to go abroad, I first had to work at my home country, increase my faith in Him, get close with my family, meet great friends. All these I had to experience so I am better prepared. Though I admit, it is still very hard without the people I love most. But I believe this serves a purpose for me to grow. And God allowed me to be here now that advances in technology allows me to talk to family and friends in a click of a Android phone :)
In simple ways, God has been granting my dreams. Like me wanting to buy boots and sweater at a reasonable price and I bought those for a really great bargain. When my keychain with flashlight was broken, I hoped I could replace it and I got one for free. For a facial scrub, I got a discount voucher. God guides me in shopping wisely so I can be a better steward of his provisions.
In the type of work I wanted, I got most of it in my present job. I am able to coordinate with people, work with data, and give service. With regards to leisure, I realized some years back that the dream destinations I had in mind, I was able to visit. Now I added more places to visit to my list, hoping that one day I can visit them all :)
God is truly a generous God. Though at times, we really don't get what we like. It's because God knows where we should be - where we will grow, where we can better make use of our talents, where we will meet the people who can help us be better.
Before I went to college, I had a dream university. But God did not grant that dream. But where He led me, to the university where I was meant to be, I got to be involved in lots of activities while still getting good grades and also met a lot of great people, mostly whom are still my friends.
Same goes with companies I worked for. I applied for big companies, dream companies of most. But where I was accepted, I was challenged, and met wonderful officemates who became friends.
Truly, each place or situation I was in, taught me something which I specifically asked to learn. Same goes for people God sends our way. Each one, whether the experience was good or bad, taught us a lesson.
Just today, God granted another dream. That of jogging in a nearby park. I woke up early, ate light breakfast, put on my running gear and went off. Oh how lovely to jog in a cold weather! I barely felt tired but only realized it when I dozed off while watching tv an hour later...zzzz
Thank you God for making dreams come true. Guide my heart so my dreams will be in line with Your will.
So the next time we want something, we should pray for it, but be ready to be surprised for God's best.
In many ways I can relate because one of my childhood dreams was to go to my now country of residence. I wanted to visit my relatives here. It took many years before I was finally able to visit them, but still it was an answered prayer. And then I dreamt of going back and God granted that dream too.
In many ways, God made many of my dreams come true. In big and small ways, He is more than a genie. He said "Ask and you shall receive" (Matthew 7:7). He created the universe and He has the power to give anything we ask.
But there is a catch - God gives us things in His own perfect time. He first plants dreams in our hearts, allows it to grow and when we are mature enough, the dream comes into fruition.
Just like how I wanted to go abroad, I first had to work at my home country, increase my faith in Him, get close with my family, meet great friends. All these I had to experience so I am better prepared. Though I admit, it is still very hard without the people I love most. But I believe this serves a purpose for me to grow. And God allowed me to be here now that advances in technology allows me to talk to family and friends in a click of a Android phone :)
In simple ways, God has been granting my dreams. Like me wanting to buy boots and sweater at a reasonable price and I bought those for a really great bargain. When my keychain with flashlight was broken, I hoped I could replace it and I got one for free. For a facial scrub, I got a discount voucher. God guides me in shopping wisely so I can be a better steward of his provisions.
In the type of work I wanted, I got most of it in my present job. I am able to coordinate with people, work with data, and give service. With regards to leisure, I realized some years back that the dream destinations I had in mind, I was able to visit. Now I added more places to visit to my list, hoping that one day I can visit them all :)
God is truly a generous God. Though at times, we really don't get what we like. It's because God knows where we should be - where we will grow, where we can better make use of our talents, where we will meet the people who can help us be better.
Before I went to college, I had a dream university. But God did not grant that dream. But where He led me, to the university where I was meant to be, I got to be involved in lots of activities while still getting good grades and also met a lot of great people, mostly whom are still my friends.
Same goes with companies I worked for. I applied for big companies, dream companies of most. But where I was accepted, I was challenged, and met wonderful officemates who became friends.
Truly, each place or situation I was in, taught me something which I specifically asked to learn. Same goes for people God sends our way. Each one, whether the experience was good or bad, taught us a lesson.
Just today, God granted another dream. That of jogging in a nearby park. I woke up early, ate light breakfast, put on my running gear and went off. Oh how lovely to jog in a cold weather! I barely felt tired but only realized it when I dozed off while watching tv an hour later...zzzz
Thank you God for making dreams come true. Guide my heart so my dreams will be in line with Your will.
So the next time we want something, we should pray for it, but be ready to be surprised for God's best.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Preparing for Winter
I lived in a tropical country. We studied in school that we only have a dry and wet season. But when I was working, my boss from Canada said that is no such thing as dry and wet season. There are four seasons - spring, summer, fall/autumn and winter.
Now that I am living in a country where there are four seasons, I know what my boss meant. It is now autumn where I am and it's cold for me, coming from a tropical country. Temperature has been gradual dropping in the early morning. It starting from 13 degrees, then 12, 11, 10 and now it's 9 degrees. The forecast says it's going to be 8 degrees tomorrow.
Afternoons are fine because it shoots up to 20-23 degrees. But in the evening, the temperature drops again.
It's hard for people like me to commute because walking in the cold is a must, so is waiting on the bus stop and train stations.
I have been preparing. I bought winter clothes, though I feel I should buy more. I bought a small heater. I bought boots, which is enjoyable to wear because it looks good and keeps me feet and legs warm. I have yet to buy an electric blanket.
There's so much preparation because they say winter is so cold. And it does not even snow in this part of the country.
It is a drastic change of weather for me. But nature prepares us gradually. There is always an in-between from hot to cold and vice versa. After winter, it's a chilly weather again on spring then hot during summer.
It's also the way God prepares us for things. Though at times we feel we are caught off-guard, when we look back, some of the things we went through before are only preparations for things to come. Because God promised that His grace will be sufficient for our trials. And He will not give us something we cannot bear.
As humans, we forget that. We complain, we sulk. It's a normal human instinct. But God is preparing us for winter. And let's never forget that God will soon give us summer.
Now that I am living in a country where there are four seasons, I know what my boss meant. It is now autumn where I am and it's cold for me, coming from a tropical country. Temperature has been gradual dropping in the early morning. It starting from 13 degrees, then 12, 11, 10 and now it's 9 degrees. The forecast says it's going to be 8 degrees tomorrow.
Afternoons are fine because it shoots up to 20-23 degrees. But in the evening, the temperature drops again.
It's hard for people like me to commute because walking in the cold is a must, so is waiting on the bus stop and train stations.
I have been preparing. I bought winter clothes, though I feel I should buy more. I bought a small heater. I bought boots, which is enjoyable to wear because it looks good and keeps me feet and legs warm. I have yet to buy an electric blanket.
There's so much preparation because they say winter is so cold. And it does not even snow in this part of the country.
It is a drastic change of weather for me. But nature prepares us gradually. There is always an in-between from hot to cold and vice versa. After winter, it's a chilly weather again on spring then hot during summer.
It's also the way God prepares us for things. Though at times we feel we are caught off-guard, when we look back, some of the things we went through before are only preparations for things to come. Because God promised that His grace will be sufficient for our trials. And He will not give us something we cannot bear.
As humans, we forget that. We complain, we sulk. It's a normal human instinct. But God is preparing us for winter. And let's never forget that God will soon give us summer.
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