Back to Basics

Health

I have abandoned this blog for a few months. I have a good reason. I became pregnant!
It was unexpected, and truthfully I wanted to wait a year or two, but this is a blessing! So yes, we are embracing (yet another!) chapter in our life, getting ready to be parents. I am learning, feeling more about this growing child inside of me.
My first trimester was not at all easy. On my second and third month, I could not eat. I hated most foods, including chocolate. I would vomit at times, at night. I ate only about 1/4 or less of the portion of my usual serving.
So I grew really thin, and I slept almost everyday.
But thank God, I have recovered on the third and fourth month, and still growing healthy.

During that first trimester, I felt so helpless, I felt afraid. I could not really do much, not even go outside to buy food.
So I resolved to just keep my focus on keeping myself healthy.
Focusing on the basics on health for me has two basic components: Rest and Eat.

I needed to rest, to sleep, because I was feeling so weak. Sometimes I overdo it, but in fact I need to eat. Not just anything but a balance of protein and carbohydrates. I also needed to load up on healthy food - mostly fruits and vegetables, and milk.
I could also add exercise, but during that time, I had very little energy.


Married life
I dabbled a bit on my adjustment in married life on my last entry.
Married life is wonderful, enjoying each other's company, doing chores together, watching movies together. But it is not all that rosy.
There comes a time when you or your spouse does something or says something that the other does not understand. This usually spurs from your differences in house rules and traditions while growing up.

The things I have learned is communication.

 First is the communication, not yet with your spouse, but with God. The personal relationship you built with God is still very much key in married life.
You pray about your grievances, ask for wisdom, resolve your issues by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It also helps to seek advice from persons you respect with Godly character. But do not do this if your only intention is to find someone to side with you. This person should also be discreet enough, not to spread your marital problems. Best to talk to someone who is neutral, so better not a family member.

Of course, communicating with your spouse is most important. I have learned from the book "The Dance of Anger" by Harriet Lerner that we should not use the words "Always" and "Never". And we should state from our point of view rather than blame. Example, do not say "You always leave the door open". You should state how you feel or think instead, say "When you leave the door open, I feel that you are compromising our safety."


Food


The good thing about having your own place is learning how to manage the household. The bulk of which really is preparing food.
I now understand why mothers say it is the one of the hardest things because the food rotation has to be balanced enough, so no food should be repeated much that you get tired of eating it.

In doing the grocery shopping, I noticed there are staple food on the list. This includes: bread, egg, rice and fruit. Next are the ingredients onion, salt, garlic, then vegetables and meat.

I tried to learned how to cook before getting married, so the baking cooking skills of frying, boiling, sauteing, came in handy.
I recommend everyone to learn how to cook, as it is truly a basic life skill.



Love and Forgiveness

Being someone who prays novenas, I became drawn to the two most iconic personas of Jesus, found in  the Divine Mercy and Sacred Heart of Jesus.
My home parish is named Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it is also where I was baptized, so I think I have a deep connection to it.
As for the Divine Mercy, I always hear the prayer on a TV station at 3 o'clock. But it is truly when I prayed the Divine Mercy prayer, I realized it should be prayed because we all need forgiveness and mercy.
In our personal prayers, the time spent on saying penance is very minimal, yet we sin in thoughts, words and deeds. And we are alive because of the Divine forgiveness of God.
I realized that love and forgiveness goes hand in hand.
During my wedding reception, my sister shared in her speech that marriage is 50% forgiveness. How true. For none of us are perfect, that we should speak and act with forgiveness. It is easier said than done. But it can be done, with God's grace.