gt: a summer to remember

May 5 – Most Memorable

One of my most memorable summer was back in 2007 when I went on a two-day vacation (with the rest of my teammates) to Coco Beach in Puerto Galera. It was a breathtaking island paradise + the cottages in the mountain slope are really very beautiful complete with dainty mosquito nets (they’d make you feel like a princess), the food is sumptuous, especially the seafoods! It was totally a dream vacation + what’s even better is we didn’t shell out a cent for the trip, it was an all-expense paid vacay, courtesy of our company, our price for being the number 1 team for 3 quarters, I think! The only thing missing is my family – if I am sharing the moment with them, it would’ve been really perfect!

My friend, Joey (who’s actually a mermaid in her past life ;)), taught me how to swim + I really learned how to float + paddle from one end of the pool to the next (now am not sure whether I can still swim or not, I am rusty + I haven’t gone swimming in ages!). I swam in the pools (with little kids, until I was brave enough to test the bigger water) + in the beach as well.

During the afternoon, we’d frolic on the beach whilst sipping on our green mango or strawberry shakes. We’d sunbathe for a while + would lie on the hammock situated near the seafront.

+ did I tell you I wore swimsuit for the first time in my entire life? I kinda liked it! Only because I never had this prodtruding tummy + ghastly saddle bags back then. But, of course, I didn’t have that much guts to stroll along the beach in my two-piece so I’d top it with a shirt dress for cover-up. Too bad the only photo I had without the cover-up was deleted by Jared’s dad from my digicam.  Me + the girls were fooling around our cottage + challenged each one to shed off the cover-up + have our photos taken. Which somebody took with my camera + then it was gone 🙁 Dang it! Had I known I’d miss my old body, I would’ve saved the picture + have it printed + preserved for posterity! Oh, well, I guess I can still work out to get the old body back, but it sure will be one heck of a hard work, plus am not sure whether the saddle bags would come off if I do!

We also did some kayaking (I did it twice, one with Joey + another one with Jas) + island hopping + went to the Puerto Galera main island. It was also my first time there + I fell in love with the place. I love the vibe + the ambiance + how it feels like a year-long beach party in there. We bought some souvenirs from the island shops + have some more photos taken.

The Coco Beach experience made me wish I live there or somewhere near the beach so I can work on my swimming skills everyday + hopefully practice surfing, too! Well, who knows, maybe when am 60 I’d get myself a cottage near the beach + I’d go onperpetual summer holidays + swim in the ocean everyday + probably raise my surfer dude. 😉

What is your summer to remember? 🙂

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the best mum? who, me?

To say that I am the best mum among all the mums in the world would mean I am not saying the absolute truth + that I am inflating my ego unnecessarily, but hey I am the only mum my little one got, so I guess it is okay to daydream once in awhile.  See, I’ve only been a mother for 1 year, 8 months + 6 days (yep, I’ve been counting!) plus the additional 9 months whilst my son is still in my tummy. So, all in all, that still makes me a greenhorn, a novice, a total noob! A rookie who is bound to lose her temper every so often, frustrated at the fact that no matter how much she explains, the baby simply won’t listen (yep, even if I am aware that he is just being exactly as he is – a baby!) or forget a mommy duty here + there, or stumble with the diapers (especially in front of a wriggly + uncooperating baby :))

mother's day

I have yet to learn so much to  become the best mum that I can be. I have to tone down the temper (yes, that again!) + swallow my sarcasm.  + I have yet to learn how to cook decent meals my son would actually eat, dang it! Or probably master singing that lullaby (with my husky voice + all) to put the little angel to sleep much easily. I’d wager at the best mum-to-be in practice, there! + I guess, I am a work in progress…;)

How about you?

brought to you by RJ’s Mama

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mother of pearl series 06: when mother’s day is difficult

Note: This post is part of a 7-part posts on the Mother of Pearl Series…

Mother of Pearl series
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Welcome to Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl Mother’s Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today’s best writer’s (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you’ll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother’s Day.

AND … do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT Mother’s Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother’s Day!

When Mother’s Day is Difficult by Holley Gerth

I have a confession (anyone surprised?). I have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day.

On one hand, I love celebrating all the women who have made a difference in my life
(thanks, Mom!).

On the other hand, a long journey of infertility has left my heart with some tender places.

On May 8th, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many, it’s a time of appreciation and joy. For others, it can be one of the most difficult days of the year. This is often true for women facing infertility, families who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, and many other painful situations.

At one point in my life it seemed as if I couldn’t take another step. In addition to infertility, I was facing several other losses. I felt as if I were in a dark cave. But then I sensed the Lord gently and lovingly speak to my heart, “You may be in a cave, but you still have a choice. You can sit in despair or you can diamond-mine your difficulties.” I decided I was not leaving that time in my life empty-handed. I was taking every hidden blessing I could find. Of course, I still had difficult days. But choosing hope made a difference.

As a reminder, I now wear two rings. The one on the fourth finger of my left hand represents my commitment to my husband. The one on the fourth finger of my right hand is a simple silver band inscribed with the word “hope” and it represents the commitment I have made to God and myself to hold onto hope no matter what happens.

The story of an inspiring woman named Terrie also reminds me to hold onto hope. She endured the loss of four pregnancies and waited seventeen years before adopting a little girl. She told me, “I think one of the most important parts of this journey is learning to trust God. I don’t mean the flippant kind of trust. It’s easy for people to say, ‘You just need to trust God.’ It’s much harder when you’re in the middle of all this pain. But he is trustworthy. Through it all, God has given us an amazing story. I wouldn’t have chosen this road, but he has been with us. I can look back and truly say every step was worth it.”

I don’t know how my journey will end and you probably don’t know how yours will either. I also don’t know how many of you will be silently grieving your losses as we sit in church together on May 8th. But I do know that God sees each one of us. He knows how many hairs are on our heads and how many cares our in our hearts. Whatever you’re going through this Mother’s Day, you’re not facing it alone. As King David, a man who experienced many losses in his life, expressed in Psalm 34:18 NIV, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May God surround you with love, fill you with hope, and give you strength for each moment—especially this Mother’s Day.

Excerpted from When Mother’s Day is Difficult.

Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer for DaySpring, a cofounder of the popular
web site (in)courage, and licensed counselor. Holley loves chocolate, coffee, Jesus and connecting with the hearts of women through words. Her next book, a devotional titled God’s Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman (Harvest House) will release this July. You can find Holley online through her blog Heart to Heart with Holley.

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