I miss having a good breakfast so I thought of posting here our yummy breakfast at iHop, a couple of months ago.
Unlimited coffee refill is my most favorite in iHop.
Hello Saturday!
The reason why I love Saturdays is that we get to be creative. Today we are making rainbow loom bracelets. Look, what the kids made so far...
Oh, I miss Macau, so I've decided to post a few photos during our 2006 visit.
Hubby and I, together with our friends met up for dinner at Poco Deli a couple of weeks ago.
I love this article by my favorite author - BO Sanchez. I'm sure you will like it too...
Complicate Your Life
My title sounds shocking, especially coming from someone whose known by everyone as Mr. Simple—a guy who doesn’t even comb his hair and doesn’t wear a watch and who dons a 70’s outfit not because its faddish but because he’s trapped in that era.
But you see, I don’t believe that simplicity is the greatest thing in the world.
Take my life for example. I’ve deliberately complicated it.
When I was a single man some time ago, I didn’t even know what “savings” meant. Today, I have to deal with educational plans, health insurance, and sound investments. And even if the thief-in-diapers is still toothless as of this writing, I’m seriously saving for his teeth braces, which I hear, costs more than my car.
During my single days, I recall sauntering off by myself to a lonely mountain to pray for a day or two—whenever I so desired. I’d bring a guitar, a bible, and a tiny picnic basket. All by my quiet self.
That will never happen again in my present life. Because now, I’d have to bring a guitar, a bible, a picnic basket, my wife, my two kids, and 12 huge bags…
And in that mountain, I can only pray in short spurts every once in awhile—when my wife and kids are doing other things.
When I was newly married, there were days when a thought crosses my mind: What insanity came over me? Why did I complicate my very simple, happy, single life?
But immediately, the answer came forcefully when I saw my wife playing with our smiling baby in her arms. Peace overflowed my heart as I realize that I’ve exchanged my very simple, happy single life for a very complicated, happy married life.
Today, after 15 years of marriage, I’m so happy that I complicated my life. The two biggest reasons are my two boys—now 9 and 14.
Why have I complicated my life?
Because I have decided to love.
And here’s the lesson I’ve learned: As long as you complicate your life because of love, then it’s glorious.
Congratulate yourself.
Because simplicity isn’t the greatest thing in the world, but love.
Let me give you two other examples:
If you’re going to join a spiritual community, believe me when I say this: your life will get complicated. (Take it from one who’s been part of community for 30+ years.) Why complicate your life with weekly meetings, ministry responsibilities, and queer personalities?
A more basic example:
Why will you commit your entire life to God? I mean, won’t it be easier just to be a nominal Mass-goer? All you have to do is go to Mass on Sundays and presto—you’re guilt-free. You can do what you want to do the rest of the week. You don’t have to think about serving Him every moment of your life. You don’t have to love Him in your every word, thought, and deed. That’s just too complicated!
So make your life simple? (Simply meaningless.)
I urge you to take the other direction.
For the sake of your Divine purpose, complicate your life.
Wow, I can't believe that it has been months since Bruno Mars' Moonshine Concert Tour. I can still feel the excitement
I came across this beautiful story about the Mexican fisherman that I would like to share here.
Read on...
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”