Daday’s Handiwork: The Series...

Today, I am writing this post to start chronicling Jonjie’s do-it-yourself projects and handicraft…and will call it “Daday’s Handiwork”. The very first project the will be featured is the Eco-Friendly Dining Table.

He has a knack for transforming ordinary things into something special…something beautiful…something useful.

1. During our wedding preparation, he designed our invitation, created and handmade our giveaways. He worked closely with the cake designer on the design and decoration, and even built the three-tier cake stand. He coordinated the arrangement of the flowers in the reception venue.

Our Wedding Giveaways. Our "eyes and smile" was drawn by him using a sign pen...scanned and reproduced.

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Pulubi… by Einna Onainebas

Ika-30 ng Marso, 1998

Sino ka? Ano ang papel mo sa mundo? May halaga ba ang buhay mo? Yagit. Palaboy. Pakalat-kalat sa daan. Basura ng lipunan. Gulanit ang damit. Nanlilimahid.

Anong bukas ang naghihintay sa isang katulad mo?  “Palimos po ng barya”, ang sambit sa tuwina. 

Nakasalalay ang pangangailangan mo sa mga taong maaawa sa iyo. Paano kung walang magbigay ng barya, anong mangyayari sa iyo? Paano maiibsan ang kalam ng sikmura mo? Sapat na ba ang isang basong tubig para mawala ito?

Pagsapit ng gabi, saan ang uwi mo? Sa ilalim ng tulay. Sa hagdan ng LRT. Sa upuan sa Luneta. Sa harap ng gusali sa Mabini. Sa breakwater sa Roxas Boulevard. Kahit saan. Kung saan abutin ng dilim basta may kapirasong lugar na malalapatan ng pagod mong katawan.

This is the famous 2005 painting, Hapag ng Pag-asa (Table of Hope), by Joey Velasco. The children dining with Jesus are real children from the streets and slums of Metro Manila except for the one under the table who eats with the cat (he is modeled from the unknown Sudan boy of the 'Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan Famine). In 2006, Joey wrote a book entitled "They Have Jesus", to tell the story of each of the 12 children. 

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Monasterio De Tarlac, Home of the Relic of the True Cross

It was in 2011 when I first heard from one of my colleagues who hailed from Bamban, Tarlac about a monastery in Tarlac that house “the relic of the true cross”. When I asked her about the exact location, she could not remember it. In one of our free weekends, we traveled to Capas, Tarlac thinking that we could ask around the area to the way to “the relic”. We tried to inquire several times from different group of people…some have no ideas…some heard about it…but none of them knows where.

November 06, 2011…Jonjie, Daniz and I found the way. We traversed through rice fields, crossed a one-way bridge, braved the winding road and finally found ourselves on top of the mountain at Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac. And the very first thing that we saw was the 30-foot statue of The Risen Christ facing the hills and fields of Tarlac and its neighboring communities.

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11 Fun and Enjoyable Rides at Enchanted Kingdom

October 10, 2015, we celebrated Daniz 10th birthday at Enchanted Kingdom in Santa Rosa, Laguna... from 9:00am to 8:30pm. We arrived at the place 2 hours before it opens and left 30 minutes before it closes.

Jonjie and I are not fond of adventure rides, but it is her birthday...and so, "her wish is our command". The reason why we requested two of her beloved Ate...Cris and Bevs...to join us.

Tiring but "fun-joyable" day (new term short for fun and enjoyable courtesy of Daniz). Including the travel time from Mabalacat, Pampanga to Enchanted Kingdom and back, from 6:20am to 12:00am...it's almost 18 hours.

During breakfast the following day, we asked her to rank the rides, 1 being the most "fun-joyable". And here it is:

1.  Flying Fiesta

Experience an exhilarating swing ride on it. Guests get the feel of flying as the rotation speed of the 52 swing seats increases while a wave motion is created by gradual lifts, drops and tilts. Parent and child will have a thrilling and memorable ride on the tandem seats.

She love the feel of flying, of speed especially in mid-air and the rotating motion. This is freedom...and fun...and exciting...and enjoyable. She rode this twice.

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Daniz 10th Birthday Celebration @ Enchanted Kingdom

October 10, 2015 was Daniz’s 10th Birthday…and we coined it Daniz 10 on 10/10.

We are supposed to celebrate it  with a birthday themed party...she even chose a “Garden and Nature” theme. Last July, before we got carried away with the preparation, we asked her again.

Lo and behold! She changes her mind and want to have a birthday trip…to France!!! To see the Eiffel Tower!!! You should have seen our reaction…”nganga” (our mouths wide open). As if France is just kilometers away…and as if we have a lot of extra money for such trip. We have to remind her again…that our family is not rich…that we only have enough to live comfortably. She understood…perfectly…until the next episode…hmmnnn.

By the end of September, she finally decided to spend her birthday at Enchanted Kingdom (EK) in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Jonjie check the website for Park Schedule and Ticket Rates: reservation windows opens 10:00am and gates opens 11:00am and closes 9:00pm.

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Happy 10th Birthday, Dearest Daughter

Always remember that Daday and Mamay love you very much. And we will always be here for you…

Tenth Year

10 on 10/10...Ten years old on October Ten. Six months earlier, we are planning to host a "Garden and Nature Birthday Themed Party" but just like on her 7th birthday...she chose a birthday trip...to Enchanted Kingdom. Chronicle of our 1-day trip will be posted soon.

This picture was taken last January 01, 2015 during New Year's morning mass at St. Raphael Parish Church, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

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My Bucket List: 101 Things To Do Before I Die

It took me a full year to finally have the courage to publish this “bucket list”. Every time I retrieve the list, some things would need to be changed…format, sequence, verb used. It was never finished…until now.

Last February 3, 2015, I posted My “Unwritten” Bucket List: 18 Things To Do. I called it TTD (Things To Do) List. Those were the first 18 things on my bucket list: 11 achieved, 5 not doable or applicable anymore and 1 was superseded…so these will be excluded in this list. The remaining 1 will be part of this list.

My Bucket List started as a simple and straightforward but random list of all the things I want to do before I die. Then I changed it according to categories below but in so doing, I realized that some of the things will be listed in several categories, so I scrapped it and and return to the original list.

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56 Signs That We Are Pinoys

It was ironic that it takes someone who is not a Filipino to inspire me to finish this list which I started last January 2015.

Who I am talking about? He is Kyle, a 26-year old Canadian who is trying to “Become Filipino”. His blog www.becomingfilipino.com is a chronicle of his amazing and amusing adventure and journey in the Philippines.  To quote him, “I love the Philippines and would be honored to be able to call myself “part Filipino.”” He is proud to be called by his Filipino name “Kulas”. Please check his post 25 Things I Never Did Until I Lived In The Philippines.

Most of the signs in the list came from the Stradmore notebook that I had in my office table for 5 years. I used it to write down minutes of the meeting and when I checked the first entry, it was June 8, 2010 and the last was June 7, 2012. It was of no use to me because the company that I used it for already closed down...but I do not have the heart to throw it away.

Here are the lists that I know most of us Pinoys will agree.
1. You nod your head upwards to greet someone.
2. Your other piece of luggage is a “balikbayan box”.

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Daday’s Kitchen: Seafood Boil with Corn and Potatoes

For me, weekend is not just a respite from days of working or just lazing around, doing nothing. It’s also looking forward to food surprise prepared by our very own home-cooked chef…Daday Jonjie.

Today is one of those days. Daday prepared a very simple dish…Grilled Gindara (Cod Fish) and Seafood Boil with corn and potatoes…a home-cooked version of the famous Shabu-shabu with a twist.

Shabu-shabu is a Japanese dish featuring thinly sliced beef boiled in water. It was introduced in Japan in the 20th century with the opening of the restaurant "Suehiro" in Osaka, where the name was invented. Its origins are traced back to the Chinese hot pot known as instant-boiled mutton Shabu-shabu is most similar to the original Chinese version when compared to other Japanese dishes (nabemono) such as sukiyaki. Suehiro registered the name as a trademark in 1955. Together with sukiyaki, shabu-shabu is a common dish in tourist hot-spots, especially in Tokyo, but also in local Japanese neighborhoods (colloquially called "Little Tokyos") in countries such as the United States and Canada. The dish was originally made with thinly sliced beef, but some versions use pork, crab, chicken, lamb, duck, or lobster.

 

Ingredients; (To serve 4~6 persons)

1/2 kgs shrimps, shell-on
1 pc big squid, sliced into desired sized
10 pcs squid balls
10 pcs prawn balls
10 pcs crab claws
1 small canned smoked mussels, drained
1 small canned smoked oyster, drained
15 pcs baby potatoes
3 ears corn-on-the-cob, medium, peeled, cut into three
butter
1 pc small ginger, cut into strips
1 clove garlic, minced
1 whole onion, sliced
rock salt  and pepper to taste
oyster sauce to taste
young chili leaves

Directions:

1. Boil corn and potatoes in a pot with mixture of water and rock salt that cover at least 3/4 of the corns until cooked.
2. With a slotted spoon, remove corn and potatoes from the broth and set aside.
3. Sautee ginger, garlic and onion in a hot pan with butter.
4. Add oysters and mussels and sautee for at least 1 minute.
5. Add shrimps and squid, remove squid from the pan when cooked (overcooked squid becomes rubbery)
6. Pour broth into the pan with the mixtures of shrimps, mussels and oysters, bring to boil.
7. Add chili leaves, squid balls, prawn balls and crab claws (you can use other varieties as desired), bring to boil.
8. Add corn, potatoes and squid that were set aside earlier.
9. Add rock salt, pepper and oyster sauce to taste.
10. Serve while hot. Chili powder can be served on the side for those who like it spicy.

It can be served as is or with rice.

ENJOY!!! Have a happy tummy…

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Daily Log: Wishes Do Come True

THE WELL AND THE MORNING SUN. Taken last June 14, 2015, 5:33am at Cafe in the Sky, Sitio Pungayan (La Presa), Tuba Benguet

I came across this quote a few days ago when I checked the google account of one of the persons who added me in his circle.

It reminded me of one of our famous Salawikain (Filipino Proverbs), "Nasa Diyos and awa, nasa tao ang gawa", with its English translation as "God helps those who help themselves".

THE RISEN CHRIST. Taken last July 19, 2015 at Monasterio De Tarlac, San Jose, Tarlac

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Daily Log: One Lazy Sunday Morning

It is Sunday…

Jonjie woke up first, and after several minutes he woke me up because he is hungry. We decided to let Daniz sleep a little more…to regain her strength as she had cough and colds and a slight fever last night.

We had breakfast.

And then, we decided to join Daniz in bed. She woke to her Daday’s crazy antics…and the “kulitan” and the crazy moments began.

I LOVE MY FAMILY...

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JADSpirits Travel Log

JADSpirits Travel Log is our way of chronicling our travel footprints with links to specific blog post as available.

Also included are our own photos with some of the best travel quotes that sums up the reason why traveling became an integral part of our lives.

We are not rich...as Jonjie will always say "may kaya lang kami"..."may kayabangan". But kidding aside, in our travels...most were unplanned...and we seldom splurge. 

We always chose the cheapest lodgings. The few times we were able to stay in a good hotel because it was booked months ago at a discounted rate. And right after we arrived to our destination, the first agenda is to ask around...from the hotel or lodging staff or tricycle drivers...for the best karenderia in town.

THE ROAD TO ADVENTURE. Taken last March 24, 2016 along the Quirino Highway during our trip to Naga and Albay.

2016

12.30~31 – Ilocos Sur (Vigan)

12.28~30 – Mountain Province (Sagada)

12.27~28 – Ifugao (Banaue)

12.26       – Batangas (Santo Tomas)

10.30~31 – Laguna (Caliraya)

09.11~12 – Manila

07.02       – Nueva Ecija (General Tinio)

06.13       – La Union (Bauan)

04.29~30 – Pampanga, Lubao

03.23~27 – Camarines Sur (Naga) / Albay (Legaspi, Daraga, Camalig, Polangui)

03.05~06 – Benguet (Baguio, La Trinidad)

02.06~08 – Rizal (Antipolo, Tanay)

01.30~31 – Pampanga (Lubao)

01.01~02 – Benguet (Baguio, La Trinidad)

THE BOATMEN. Bolinao, Pangasinan taken last April 04, 2015

2015

12.30       – Camarines Sur (Naga City)
12.29       – Leyte (Tacloban, Palo)
12.28       – Samar (Allen, Calbayog, Catbalogan)
12.27       – Albay (Daraga, Camalig)
12.26       – Sorsogon (Donsol)
12.05       – Batangas (Lipa City - Our Lady Mediatrix Parish)
10.10       – Laguna (Santa Rosa - Enchanted Kingdom)
08.29~31 – Cagayan (Tuguegarao, Iguig, Piat)
08.29       – Nueva Vizcaya (Dalton Pass)
07.12       – Camarines Norte (Paracale - Pulandaga Beach Resort)
06.13~14 – Benguet (Tuba - Sitio Pungayan / La Presa)
06.13       – Pangasinan (Our Lady of Manaoag Church)
05.23~24 – Pangasinan (Dagupan City - Leisure Coast Resort)
05.23       – Pangasinan (Balungao - Balungao Hilltop Adventure)
04.18       – Pampanga (Candaba - Lola Corazon, Leisure Farm)
04.12       – Pampanga (San Fernando - Villa Alfredo’s Resort)
04.02       – Tarlac (Visita Iglesia 2015)
04.03       – Pangasinan (Visita Iglesia 2015)
04.04       – Pangasinan (Bolinao)
01.10~11 – Benguet (Baguio City)
01.01~03 – Aurora (Baler)

THE CARABAO AND THE CART. Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon taken last January 3, 2014

2014

11.01       – Camarines Norte (Daet - Bagasbas Beach)
10.05~06 – Benguet (Baguio City)
10.04~05 – La Union La Union (San Juan))
08.21       – Metro Manila (Quezon City - St. Pio Church)
08.18       – Camarines Norte (Paracale - Tabas Watermelon Plantation)
08.18       – Camarines Norte (Paracale - Labnig Beach)
07.19       – Bulacan (Bulacan (Malolos - Barasoain Church)
06.07~09 – La Union (Bauang, City of San Fernando, La Union)
05.04       – Pampanga (Porac - Sandbox @ Alviera)
05.03       – Pampanga (Pampanga (Clark - Haduan Falls)
04.16       – Bataan (Visita Iglesia 2014)
04.05~06 – Zambales (Candelaria - Potipot Island)
01.11~12 – Benguet (Baguio City)
01.05       – Tarlac (San Jose, - Monasterio de Tarlac)
01.02~03 – Quezon (Tiaong - Villa Escudero)

THE WINDMILLS, THE SHADOW AND THE PEOPLE. Bangui, Ilocos Norte last March 29, 2013

2013

12.21       – Pangasinan (Our Lady of Manaoag Church)
12.21~22 – Pangasinan (Alaminos - Hundred Islands)
10.12~13 – Bataan (Bagac - Las Casa Filipinas)
05.07       – Bulacan (Pandi - Villa Concepcion Wet and Wild Waves)
03.28~29 – Ilocos Norte
03.28       – Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur (Visita Iglesia 2013)
03.27       – Ilocos Sur
02.24       – Pampanga (Clark 18th Hot Air Baloon Festival)

THE SHIP AND THE LIGHTS. Symphony of Lights in the Avenue of the Stars, Hong Kong taken October 13, 2012

2012

2012

10.11~13 – Hong Kong
04.05       – Tarlac (Visita Iglesia 2012)
02.12       – Pampanga (Clark 17th Hot Air Balloon Festival)
01.22       – Tarlac (San Jose - Monasterio de Tarlac)

THE ZIPLINE AND ME. Dahilayan Adventure Park, Bukidnon last October 16, 2011. I couldn't help but include this. I have a fear of heights, as in, but I was able to brave  Asia's 1st Longest Dual Zipline

2011

11.06      – Tarlac (San Jose - Monasterio de Tarlac)
11.01      – Pampanga (Clark - Nayong Pilipino)
10.16      – Bukidnon (Manolo Fortich Pineapple Plantation and Dahilayan Forest Park)
10.15      – Cagayan de Oro
04.22      – Bulacan (Marilao - Divine Mercy Shrine)
04.02      – Pampanga (Porac - Poracay Resort)
02.12      – Pampanga (Clark 16th Hot Air Balloon Festival)
01.27      – Metro Manila (Manila Ocean Park)
01.01      – Bataan (Pilar - Mount Samat Shrine)

THE COVE. Anawangin Cove, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales taken November 29, 2010

2010

11.29     – Zambales (San Antonio - Anawangin Cove)
11.13     – Cavite (Tagaytay - Picnic Grove)
10.03     – Tarlac (Gerona - Isdaan Floating Restaurant)
07.18     – Pangasinan (Our Lady of Manaoag Church)
07.03     – Pampanga (Clark - Zoocobia and Paradise Ranch)
04.02     – Bulacan (Visita iglesia 2010)
04.01     – Pampanga (Visita Iglesia 2010)

THE CROSSROADS. Taken last January 1, 2015...we left the house...ready to travel...but no definite destination.

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Daily Log: It’s Been A Year Madey…

Pinned from www.lovethispic.com/

It’s been a year since you left us…forever…and it seemed like yesterday…the pain in my heart…the tears of missing you. The realization that I would never see you…again…or hear your gentle voice calling me Nene…ever again. 

Will it be like this? When sadness overtook all reasons…and I will feel the pain of losing you…of longing to be with you…even just for a while.

Will the tears stop falling? Will the pain go away and be replaced with just a dull ache? Will the longing fade away? Will I stop missing you? In time???

One thing is sure...July...my birth month...will always be bittersweet. It's the time of year that "God took you home"...the same time I was born...through you from God.

One of my favorite pictures of you. Taken during our trip to Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan last December 22, 2013

I missed you so much Madey. And much as I want to remember your smile and the warmth of your love...but the pain won't go away.

You may also read:

• Farewell, Dearest Mother
• Remembering Mother A Day Before My Birthday
• Dearest Inay...I Remember You

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Sitio La Presa of Forevermore

Sitio La Presa is the fictional site of the famous television series, Forevermore. In reality, it is called Sitio Pungayan located at Mount Santo Tomas in the town of Tuba, province of Benguet.

Last June 13, 2015, after our visit to Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, and our dilly-dallying whether we go to the beach in Lingayen or up the mountain in Baguio, we finally decided to follow the road to La Presa.

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Cafe in the Sky: The Breathtaking View

Last June 13, 2015, we traveled the road traveled by many before us. All we want is to go to Sitio La Presa and visit the location of the famous TV series, Forevermore. To take pictures of the Calay’s house…the bench…of Bonita the pig, Justin Bibe the duck, the chickens…and the plantation where the strawberries were planted and where the “kambal na strawberry” was found. 

In looking for a place near the area to stay for the night…we found so much more. We found a place to relax…to just let the time pass us by…a place aptly called “Cafe in the Sky”.

A gem of A place that almost touch the sky

Where clouds seemed like an arm length away

Foggy Afternoon

This is what welcomed us in the parking area of the Cafe…the fog slowly creeping up. But it did not diminish the beauty of the place. Instead, it gave a hint of mystery…of what awaits us the next day.

Looking closely on the fist picture…I was surprised…as in truly surprised...to discover a rainbow beyond the fog and the clouds. I did not know that there's a rainbow when I took the picture.

All the four pictures are taken using my iPhone4S.

Look closely and look for the rainbow...

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Road Trip to Manaoag and La Presa of Forevermore

June 12, a celebration of Philippine Independence Day, falls on a Friday which means a 2-day vacation from work…enough reason to go on a road trip. But there’s more! Mommy Lydia, my mother-in-law, was with us plus we have an “old but new travel buddy”. And so we packed our bags…

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Daily Log: Lift Up Your Hands

The picture was taken last January 03, 2015 at Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora

Life is not all that bad, my friend, hmmm

If you believe in yourself

If you believe there's Someone

Who walks through life without you

You'll never be alone

Just learn to reach out,

And open your heart

Lift up your hands to God,

And He'll show you the way.

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My “Unwritten” Bucket List: 18 Things To Do

Life is short and I intend to live it to the fullest…

ASpirit_020315

According to Google, “bucket list” is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or to accomplish during their lifetime,

Last August 05, 2014, two months after I started blogging, I came across a very detailed post about 101 Things To Do Before You Die. And it inspired me to write my own bucket list.

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Year In Review: A Look Back At 2014, A Peek At 2015

Picture taken last January 02, 2015 at Sabang Beach during our trip to Baler, Aurora

All endings are a chance to rest, to breathe, to reflect on the conclusion of the journey in preparation for the new one.

– Author Unknown

Goodbye 2014…Hello 2015! Another year has ended and a new one is already unfolding. And I am trying to write my very first year in review… But just like with every first, I am struggling. I’d been meaning to start it as early as December, but it’s the busiest season for completing the Christmas list, parties, reunions, so I stalled. Then, we took advantage of the long weekend after New Year and went on a 3-day road trip, so it was put off again.

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Daily Log: Every Sunset is God’s Signature

This picture was taken last January 03, 2015 somewhere in Nueva Ecija on our way home from Baler, Aurora

I love sunrise

But I love sunset more

It never fails to bring me

a feeling of peace

...of contentment

Every time the sun set

Into the horizon

It signifies a promise

...a hope

That dawn will come

And the sun will rise again

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Daily Log: Beatitudes of Marriage

Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.

Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.

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My Daily Log

I inserted the ‘Daily Log” in the JADspirits Blog last September 03, 2014 to accommodate a very short post entitled Daily Log: Eco-Friendly Dining Table. And in 4 months, with 21 posts, it became a venue for

…my thoughts and ramblings
…the old chain emails popular during the 90s (which I saved until now)
…anything on the social media that affected me
…inspirational quotes from writers I admire
…passage from the Bible
…small moments with big impact

My work station...at home

The words may not be entirely mine but the picture in every log will be of the things and the places we visited…and that mean something to me, to us.

…waters and rivers and seas
…sands, lands and mountains and skies
…roads and bridges and pathways and stairways
…flowers and bushes and trees
…anything that caught our eyes

You are welcome to comment or to share your thoughts. Suggestion of a quote, a post, an article…anything under the sun that can be a source of inspiration will be most welcome.

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Daily Log: One Thing At A Time. A Plan For 2015

One thing at a time.
One mountain to climb.
One problem to face
One debt to erase.
One habit to break.
One risk to take.
One dream to fulfill
One part of God's will.
One more chance to make right
One more reason to fight.
For when it's all done
You are the one
Who will stand tall and say.
"I did it my way!"
One thing at a time.

~ by Bob Perks

Sunrise at Sabang Beach, Baler, Aurora. Taken last January 02, 2015

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