Showing posts with label wander. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wander. Show all posts
Rewind is a Filipino movie that I heard that was so last year during the Christmas season and I did not pay any attention, not a bit. I must admit I am not much of a fan of the mainstream Philippine movies right now. I would prefer the old movies and the ones that would be considered as classics.
At the beginning of summer vacation, I was kind of curious and had free time and a little desire to watch a movie. A Netflix app has been sitting on my tablet, so I decided to browse the huge selection of movies and series, and the Rewind movie got my attention. I remember the good reviews and raving reception of Filipinos here in Manor. It got me curious about the impression they had about the movie.
What's the movie about?
Netflix says, "After his wife passes away during a tumultuous period in their marriage, a man strikes a peculiar bargain that transports him to the past with the opportunity to mend their relationship, albeit at the cost of his own life."
Alright, so I was ready and prepared for whatever the movie would throw at me. If it was dramatic, I was ready not to cry because I was tired of crying last week. I needed to rest my eyes and tear glands, please.
But that did not happen. I was crying, practically bawling my eyes out. I was not prepared, was not born ready for this movie. Oh my. My eyes got swollen throughout the scenes in the movie.
What did I learn?
- Life is not about work or the job we have. We have to set our priorities right. Give time to what is more important and something that money cannot buy or material things cannot replace.
- Forgive. We should not stay angry for too long. Learn to forgive to free ourselves from all the hurt and pain.
- Say sorry if you must, if you have to. Be humble to accept that there are times that we can be wrong. Do not let our negative emotions ruin good relationships.
- Communicate our true feelings especially to the ones we love, to the ones most important to us.
- There is no such thing as rewind in real life. Make the most out of it. Be good, and give grace to others and to yourself. Show our love and care to the people most important to us through any form of love languages we know and can.
- Surrender to the One who is in control of everything, it is going to be hard, but we have to have faith and entrust all the things we cannot control. He knows what is best and good for us and the people we love.
Do I recommend this movie?
Definitely! It is the kind of movie worthy of your time. Watch it with your family, with your partner, or the ones you love. Plan a movie date with them, right now!
Tuesdays With Morrie is a book that I got to know through a friend. I saw one of his online posts, and didn’t waste my time having a second look. It was just one of the many passing updates on my news feed from my online friends which I rarely put too much attention to.
It started with curiosity and a book that was on sale at Goodwill. It was cheap and I could afford it hehe
The book left me with the impression that nothing is forever. Nothing lasts for eternity. Well, except for the One who is Eternity.
People come and go. They stay for a season and a reason. Some choose to stay, some choose to leave, and some just have no choice but to submit to the natural way of life, which one of them is death.
Humans die. Human death is a dead end, everyone must face it. To leave the physical world is something that no one could ever run away from.
But the memories we create with our loved ones, with the people who stay for a season and a reason worth all the struggle and pain we face in life. The experience of being alive and living and loving the moment is a gift from the One who lasts for eternity.
The present is a gift I am in the process of consistently trying to be grateful for. I can be an overthinker sometimes and that ruins the gift of the present. I am always praying to have a grateful heart, a heart that is overflowing with gratitude. In good times and bad times, I desire to be grateful to the LORD.
The attitude of gratitude is a good way of living a good life, of no regrets, of contentment, and of joy.
I hope and pray we also find peace as we journey to a life that is filled with gratitude to the One who stays and lasts forever.
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This book was my companion during my stay at an airport in FL. I stayed the night at the airport since my flight back to TX was scheduled the next day. I tried to sleep, so hard, but it wasn't even a sleep. Nap in between waking up was a better term for it.
I had a long chair all by myself so I could stretch out my legs and sleep in comfort even just a little, thank God, but the bright lights and the tall Christmas tree screamed at me as if telling me I should be wide and awake. I kept an eye on my things just in case, because no one else would.
The book, Dandelion by Gabbie Hanna, reminded me of the books I also wrote. Yes, you heard that right, I write books, I tried to write. God knows I tried.
Her writings brought me back to the times when I was so scared to tell the dark little secrets I kept in me out of shame, out of guilt. I bottled up all my feelings, the good and the bad, until I ended being depressed.
I needed a savior, a healer, someone who would accept me for who I was, someone who would lift me up from the dirty pit.
Someone. I needed someone.
But nobody came the way I expected it. I waited and waited. God knows I waited. I started to question Him. I thought He didn't listen. He ignored my prayers, my mourning, my lamentation.
I cried for help, for someone who could save me from all the misery, pain, and shame I willingly took under my care. I nourished them with all the negative and bitter thoughts I once had and gave birth to a perfectly healthy depression.
Then, someone returned to my life. I was lost but found. Again, always. He pulled me out of that dirty-muddy dark pit. He saved. Jesus saved me. The answer I didn't want to accept but what I badly needed. He is the answer to everything! Jesus is the answer to every problem!
You might also be a dandelion on a bumpy ride in your life right now, well I hope you also find Him, because He will definitely find you in a way you never imagine.
The book Dandelion by Gabbie Hanna was a good read. I bought this copy from Goodwill for a good price. It kept me company for two days. A short read I badly needed. Haha.
FL was great! I was blessed even when my friend's aunt and uncle drove us all the way to South Carolina. We were beyond grateful to them for spending Christmas with us. They have been in the US for decades.
Spending holidays away from home truly makes someone emotional. I thought it just happened in the movies or tv shows, but it was real. So real, I missed home.
Walterboro Downtown
My friend's housemate toured us around the Walterboro Downtown. It felt so vintage and classy. It felt like a mini theme park, but it is actually an old business center. Some stores were thriving and some weren't anymore.
Anywhere and everywhere you look appears to be aesthetic and historic.
Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary
A tour in a wildlife park ended our first day in Walterboro, South Carolina. It impressed a creepy atmosphere at first since we went there in the afternoon already. I thought the place was scary and a wild animal might suddenly appear on the path walk or a serial killer hid in the forest. I had those extreme thoughts but as we entered the sanctuary seemed more relevant and inviting. It was a literal and figurative sanctuary. The park with all its forestry demonstrated security and peace for the animals and human beings. It is a fortress.
Charleston Downtown
The downtown in Charleston was something I didn't expect and something that shouldn't surprise me. It felt like I entered a time machine. The place screams royalty, class, kings, queens, princes, and princesses. The structures are all well preserved. The place turned into a shopping district of high end brands I couldn't afford. (Haha)
Charleston Downtown felt surreal and magical.
Angel Oak Tree
Angel Oak Tree is a historical landmark in Charleston, South Carolina. It is a 400 year old oak tree. I thought it was just an ordinary tree on our way to its location. I was in awe when I encountered the humongous tree face to face. It wouldn't be called a historical landmark for no reason, a tourist destination you shouldn't miss.
Waffle House
The Classic waffle of Waffle House is one of the tastiest foods I have tried in SC. It was simple yet tasteful, just the way I wanted it. The place imbibed the concept of old American restaurants like the ones I saw in the movies. My friend's housemate boasted of its goodness and savory taste. Waffle House is a food chain all over the US. Their steak sandwich didn't disappoint me, the meat is juicy and tender. Chocolate milk brought me to nostalgia as I remembered my favorite chocolate milk drink back home.
SC is a green place especially in Walterboro. There are tall trees all over the place. It is a peaceful little town to fall in love with once you visit the place. It is a peaceful place and may the true peace be always with us!
Winter Break in TX, Christmas Vacation in PH!
Two-Week Winter Break calls for a trip or gala as we all call it in the Philippines. It's time for the gala we planned more than a month ago.
Universal Studios
We planned to go to Disney World, but fate led us to Universal Studios. The ticket was pricey for us but we ceased the opportunity and pikit-mata (eyes closed) we bought the ticket on their website.
The theme park exceeded our expectations. The experience was great! These are the rides we got to visit.
- The Bourne Legacy Stuntacular
- The Krusty Land
- Men In Black Alien Attack
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Transformers: The Ride 3D
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
The blockbuster ride is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter because of the long cue. There were a lot of people waiting in line for the Harry Potter ride. Many love Harry! But the scariest one is Revenge of the Mummy.
We missed some rides because we went to the theme park at noon so I suggest you go early. They have three (3) parks, my estimate is one day per park if you plan to visit them all. We just visited one park, budget and time wise.
Daytona Beach & Ormond Beach
My uncle's friend said that you've never been to Florida if you haven't visited some of their famous beaches.
It was raining when we left the house. I thought it was wrong timing to do beach hopping in such cold and rainy weather.
There were not many people at Daytona Beach. The waves were a bit strong even though there were two or three people surfing. I was in awe. There were also people who fished with their fishing rods. It seems like the cold never bother them anymore.
Ormond beach is more family and old people friendly. It has free and aesthetic tables and benches to sit on for some donuts and hot coffee.
My friend, since she'd been to, said that the beaches in FL with all the modern accommodations seem similar to our famous Boracay, back home.
Teddy Morse's Harley-Davidson
My friend's uncle and aunt are fans of big bikes and they love anything that has something to do with it. They brought us to the second largest Harley-Davidson shop. We saw brand new and vintage bikes, some were even historical. There were lots of merchandise in the store like hats, t-shirts, mugs, wine glasses and many more.
There are still a lot of places to visit in FL. It offers surprises that can or cannot exceed your expectations, depends on your perspective.
If you have the chance, grab it and cease it. Be grateful and show your gratitude the best way you can! Our Christmas this year 2023 felt like home away from home. Thank you LORD!
It took us 6 to 7 hours to reach Oklahama City. It was long yet fun and exciting drive. We visited a lot of beautiful, historic, and artsy places around the city.
A two-day trip from Texas to Oklahama was something we can afford from the one week Thanksgiving break. We weren't able to visit places with entrance fee. We tried to limit our expenses on this trip.
Oklahama is the second state I got to visit among the fifty in the United States of America. It's still feel surreal sometimes that I am already here. It wasn't an easy journey and I am grateful to God for sustaining me every single day, every hour, every minute, and every second of every moment.
 |
| Okay na okay sa Oklahama City! |
What if the governing entities of this NASA are heavenly bodies who want to return home? And they have been doing it since humans barely learned how to get out there, in outer space. They have been trying to put themselves back in the heavenly realms yet until now they haven't fully discovered the most efficient and effective way to return where they originally come from.
Or maybe, we as humans always have that intense desire to return home, to the heavenly realms. We, ourselves, are heavenly bodies and we're just trying to make it back home in our own way, in our own time, in our own effort.
These were just a few of the many thoughts I had when we visited NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas.
I was excited and so looking forward when there was a plan to go there, well, except for the unexpected expenses that might go beyond my budget but I had no choice but to take risk or else I wouldn't be able to visit it on my own because I had no car and the more the merrier.
All I could see were pictures and realia and souvenirs, and I was not enjoying it. I was looking for something that could make me experience what it was like to be in outer space. My expectations were too high.
We continued to roam around the Space Center and finally something caught my attention. I saw people sitting comfortably on a makeshift chair for astronauts. The two persons were looking on their own monitor as they felt how it was like to be seated on a skyrocket that was about to take off. The vibration added to the experience of the take off. There was a short line waiting to experience the same and we also did wait for our turn. I liked it. I enjoyed it.
We got to tour the facilities while riding a tram of the actual working area where they practice the astronauts and develop equipment and machines that would help the human race to further have access to outer space. A life size skyrocket ship amazed by how huge it was.
So what if humans really are heavenly bodies? What if we're originally from outerspace and we so desire to go back where we belong, to return back home? Just think about it, we might be the aliens of this world and the native dwellers are the animals we rule over with. What are odds!
Her eyes were filled with water from the heavy rain drops of life's joy and pain. Overwhelmed, she tried to hold up the tears in the corners of her eyes. Wishing time would stop and save her from the rush of emotions that was about to trample her defenses. But instead of fighting back the tears, she surrendered and let the rain fall down on her cheeks, on her face.
As the tears poured out, shame and guilt were nowhere to be found. Instead, she was freed, she was at peace, she had joy.
Tears persistently trailed down on her cheeks as she stood up in front of her class. Shocked, her students asked, "Are you okay, miss? Why miss?" Concern was evident on their faces. She was too stunned to even give them a response.
"Please, give me a minute." She pleaded and turned her back from them.
Inside the room safe from the eyes of the young ones, she wept and wept as she completely surrendered to the raging time of loneliness. As if that loneliness demanded to be felt, to be released. She thought to herself now was not the right time, "Damn it!"
Yet, it was the perfect time, not according to her, but according to the One greater than anyone. "Probably, now is the time to be lonely," she thought to herself again.
A few moments passed, she returned to where the young ones were.
"Are you okay, miss?" They asked again, once she made it to where they were.
She replied, "Yes. I'm okay, maybe I just missed home."
"Aww, miss..." Some gently interjected, as they group and side hugged her.
"You okay, miss?" Some asked again.
"Yes. I just missed home." Sincerely with a smile on her face, she replied.
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