random thoughts

Gym

I've been religiously going to the gym for the past two weeks. In fact, last week, I even went to the gym 4 times! MWF + Saturday. Been feeling really great again. I can personally attest to the fact that going to the gym really makes one feel better, mentally, physically, and perhaps, even emotionally!

Vacation

On another note, amidst all the busyness and stress from work, I've decided to shift my worry concerns into something more "exciting". My Atlantic and Maritimes road trip happening next week!

I have to fly off first to east coast, to Toronto this coming Saturday. And then by Sunday, we're off to who knows where ( my aunts are preparing and planning the itinerary ). All I know so far is that, we're going on week long road trip passing through Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Halifax, St. John's. I cannot wait!! Initially I just wanted to see Quebec City as I envisioned it to have architecture similar to that of Europe. But I didn't expect that we would go all the way towards the east. So aside from Quebec City, I'm really looking forward to Prince Edward Island... a.k.a. PEI.

I remember PEI because when I was watching either Discovery or History Channel, it featured a documentary about how the Confederation Bridge was constructed. It's perhaps one of the longest brige ever to have been built. From the website:

The Confederation Bridge joins the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, making travel throughout the Maritimes easy and convenient. The curved, 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, and a decade after its construction, it endures as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century.

I'm going back to Vancouver May 2, instead of May 1. If I ended up getting the Sunday ticket instead of Monday, there would've been around 100-200 dollar difference. So I decided to go with the cheaper of the two, but will have to work remotely from Toronto on Monday.

Frustrations + Blessings

I've been having some serious work frustrations the past few days ( or weeks even ) but the past week until now just propagated my frustration to a whole new level. And this is to the point that I'm blaming myself already for something that screwed up. I keep on asking myself, was it my fault? Could or should I have done more? What were my missteps? My teammate said that I shouldn't beat myself too much over what happened. Things happen. According to her "hindi ka lang kasi sanay... ako sanay na madalas may sablay". But still, there was a miss! And I don't know why, but for some reason, I keep on blaming myself for it.

And you know what, I've been bothered by this so much since last Friday. And God is truly great because out of the blue, I got an email from a friend who I haven't even talked to for almost 3 months! And the content of the email? See below:

For whenever you feel life is too hard, don't forget God cares.
Hope everything's great over there at Canada!

READ: Isaiah 46:1-9

I will carry you! —Isaiah 46:4

The prophet Isaiah draws a picture for us in Isaiah 46 of the siege of Babylon and the evacuation of its idols. The carts and carriages that carry them creak, and the weary animals groan under the load (v.1).

In contrast, Isaiah says that God carries His children from birth (v.3). “Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!” God declares (v.4). The contrast is precise and vivid in the Hebrew text: The carts and carriages are “loaded” with the weight of the idols (v.1), but we are loaded upon God (v.3). Idols are a “burden,” a thing carried (v.1), but God has gladly “carried” us from the womb (v.3).

The Lord has made us (v.4). Nothing could be more comforting, for our Father loves and cares for His children. He promises, “I will carry you!” and that includes every care and worry that comes our way throughout our lifetime.

So we may let Him carry us and our every burden. This song by Annie Johnson Flint challenges us to experience God’s care: “Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, / Our God ever yearns His resources to share; / Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; / Thy Father both thee and thy load will upbear.” —David Roper

Heavenly Father, I want to unload my
burdens on You today. Help me to leave them with You.
I trust You with my past, present, and future.
Thank You for Your goodness to me. Amen.

Our work is to cast care; God’s work is to take care!

I was feeling so down at that time and then when I got this email, I felt like it was God's way of reaching out to me and telling me to just lift it up to Him. Don't keep it all inside you. Don't worry and everything will be fine. I've been praying a lot more the past few days, praying that things will get better. Please pray for me too.

I just wanted to share this to let everyone know (whoever gets to read this anyway), that God truly works wonders. We should always remind ourselves to trust in Him. That email sent to me, at the right place at the right time, made me feel so much lighter. Thank you Lord.

Spring is here!

Spring is here...

This picture was taken at around 6:30 pm. And yet ang liwanag pa!

Vacation Leaves

I still have around 7 days left from my 2010 vacation that I need to use by June this year, thus, I'm hoping I could somehow manage to gather the courage to ask for a one week vacation this coming May. Not that it's hard to ask for vacation time here, it's just that the timing is a mess. I have two upcoming production releases for June and July, and that's pretty much consuming a whole lot of my time these days. May might be a crucial month too. Well, we'll see. It may still be worth a shot to ask. If they allow it, good. If not, better luck next time. I can totally understand if they say no.

But if they do say yes, Quebec City here I come!!! Hi East Coast! I have not seen you in two years!