Father's Day

This is a photo of the most hard-working people in life that I've known and probably will ever know, taken on their 25th anniversary at Altitude 9 restaurant in Eiffel Tower, Paris. (yes, they forgot their kids in Sydney while they went off on their world tour. *sigh)

Could only pray that one day, one of my sons will celebrate father's day with an Indiana Jones movie marathon like my dad and I did today. 4 movies in one sitting! I can't remember the last time I did that with something other than tv series and I honestly don't think that I've ever done this before with my parents. (even blogging this as the 4th one concludes)

This has probably been the best Father's Day I've ever had. Although regrettably, I haven't had a shower yet and it's 11:11pm. But you know what? I don't think my dad has had one either. [:

YD Junior High Launch

So last night? Let's just "relive" it with a few photos.

Youth With A Destiny (YD), Junior High. "To relive the life of Jesus Christ". Together, let's continue to reflect, elevate, love, imitate & equip. [:

Spring Sessions

I miss & love this place. I am ready to start posting again, just because I've finally got Noel, my SLR back. [: I was tempted to use my tumblr account but felt neglectful of my little hole here in blogspot. So long story short, I can't wait to start posting again.

I bought an A5 art diary and a pack of new highlighters to start SOAPing on paper, although I'm nervous as to how this will turn out as every single time I physically journal, it fails. (re-enforcing my decision to keep Yanentations). I should really re-read my first two posts on here, shouldn't I! (01 & 02)

At the end of it all, I'm still at work munching on fruitbars and peanuts. Excited for this new season of spring & September! It hasn't been such a welcoming season but I walk by faith and not by sight. Ready to embark on a new adventure! [:

Good Things Come In 4s.

Last Saturday was my brother's 24th birthday. (eugh, I can't believe I'm typing that number in relation to my brother's age) And oh boy, what an adventure! 4 Ladios families took 4 4-wheel drives armed with 4 legit walkie-talkies/radios and together we conquered some sand dunes! Seriously putting that on my to-do list when I have a family of my own! Need a 4WD though, there goes my Mini Cooper plan. Jks, we'll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I didn't bring Noel, my SLR so I just took photos on Ivysaur. Converting to an iPhone was one of the best decisions I've made last year, no doubt. Here are the ones I deemed blog-worthy. Enjoy! [:

To top off the night and this post, a rendition of "Because of who You are" & "You are good" by my 5-year old nephew; Francis Caleb Dagandan. (aka. Kiko) Truly sensational.

PS. That's usually what happens when our families are together. [:

Stars

At this very moment of this night, of this life, I'm thankful for friends. They make this life bearable, a little bit warmer, and a lot less scary. Sometimes, my friends believe in my dreams more than I do and they run when I'm out of breath! I do wish that this world wasn't such a harsh place to live in but then I know I wouldn't appreciate life in the capacity I do now. C.S. Lewis hit the spot when he said that "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather, it is one of those things that give value to survival."

I mean the little things count! Like how I can call a fierce, fierce friend for advice on what colour to pick on the new PJ's I'm purchasing, or how friends just randomly surprise me with a whole block of Milkybar chocolate! I treasure and treat these memories & who created them with me as if I had won a trophy for something. Simply put, these people and the memories we share are something I am proud of. (ironically, it humbles me at the same time)

A mere blog isn't sufficient for the span of things I can be thankful for when it comes to my friends, but I want to take it beyond that. I am thankful for my "companions" in this life. Just like well-composed music, I have no doubt in me that we are God-orchestrated. The way you guys push me closer to the very heart of our Creator is priceless. The way you guys mimic the life of our King. The way you guys run the race for the One that stands triumphant, thank you. Surely every word of encouragement you've spoken, every seed of prayer you've planted, every avenue of belief you've taken to making my life better is a cuddle from God above. I'm forever grateful for the stars of my night. (it's really never dark!)

PS. This post was inspired by one of my future groomsmen. I will never forget last Thursday, April 22 of 2010.

Grrrrraaacceee!

Some of the photos I took with Ivysaur from our trip to Jervis Bay over the weekend. Blindingly white beaches that made squeaking noises as you walked = beautiful. [: Our house was massive too, next time we should stay there for at least a year. Jks.

Trust Me

The only time I get to post is during my lunch break at work. So really, I post whenever I want! [: I was meant to put up videos a long time ago of my new Bible study & Roy & Daisy's engagement, but I never got the chance, so I'll do that now. If a picture speaks a thousand words then videos must make for ten thousands.

The beautiful engagement of Roy & Daisy. Slightly getting used to the fact that their gonna be married. El & I were nervous for the dance but it blessed the couple at the end, so praise God. Party at the wedding soon! Oh and partied so hard at the engagement that my head was throbbing, feet were so sore, etc. Didn't get off the dance floor 'till the music stopped! [:

So that's nearly all of my new Bible study. Such a transition for me to lead such young boys since my original boys were 3 years their senior. We wrote our time capsules a couple of weeks ago (a letter where you write something and it gets given back to you in a number of years), and I couldn't help it, I wanted to read them when I got home. (It wasn't totally confidential, I mean to say that no one asked me "not" to read their letters) So a time capsule contains your deepest desires and dreams, who you are in the time you write it in so upon receiving it, you would've noticed your growth. So I'll be holding these letters until they graduate from their HSC, which is in 6 years. Haha, what an adventure.

I instructed them all to write "dear your-name" and off they went. I'm not going to go into too much detail since it's their life on paper, but I will post here one thing to keep me humble before God & remind me why I have counted the cost to be a leader, a Destiny Shaper. There I was home after Bible study when I started reading through the letters, and I giggled and awed my way through letter by letter when my heart suddenly sank as I came across a dream that one of the boys had. it simply read; "I want to be like kuya Yan". *sigh

I believe with all my heart that you boys will exceed me. Boys, I love you. But don't follow me, follow Whom I point to.

One Shot

I think it's a little too early to be reacquainted with Noel (my SLR), 3AM to be exact. I don't know what's taken a hold of me but work and YD still awaits me. Oh boy, I might need a can of poison to last this day.

So as a result of what I purchased at Borders today, I can now tick off one thing from my bucket list. The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Collection is now mine. Cost me a few hundreds but it was more than worth it. It's satisfying beyond imagination and I can't help but smile. Praise God for my job! Refer to the first pic for 1/3 of the collection. It's as big as my torso and as heavy as Penelope (my car). I can't believe that I have one of the most treasured pieces in the history of comics in my room! My kids are definitely blessed, growing up with a dad who will not only be out to embarrass, but also to creatively educate. I can hear the laughter. [:

To top off the night, (since it's 3:16AM, it's basically yesternight) I had SOAP with my SM at Nando's. Discounted chicken never tasted so good. Perinaise? Make that two.

Only Hope

Made by El. She's a precious little taco. Y'know me, funny Yan! (In joke) I saw this video first thing today when I came in at work. Had to control my laughter even though I saw it without sound. Times are too good indeed!

Lost Ones

Gave this place a new face-lift. Again. I probably will change it again later, until my eyes are satisfied. About to go to churtz for a group SOAPing with the high school leaders. Gonna be good! Will update when I get back home.

Oh and watching Zombieland with Joyce and Joyette atm. Watching it the second time is even better. Especially with these two. That's what Joyce gets for wanting to see my new room. [: Anyway, I must drop some toytles off at the pool. I wanna shower too. *sigh Wish I wasn't the epitome of lazy.

Blue Jeans

So I touched base with home around 10 last night, and as per normal I had random little things to do like put away clothes, etc. I sat down to take a 30 second breather before I start all the things I wanted to do, and before I knew it, short hand was past 12. 'Twas midnight. I found myself putting The Fray on rotation for over 2 hours and I rarely blinked. You Found Me was highlighted and was put on repeat for a while and I don't know why but I felt every word. I re-read the lyrics. Re-read. Re-read. I think I was getting confused as to why the fray was singing a song I wrote? .. (leaving that to your conclusion)

I missed a good friend of mine sorely last night, confided in another and survived through a distant aunty. (who'll [praise the Lord] be here soon) I was unbelievably in touch with the melancholic in me last night, it was kind of .. comfortable. I guess it's because I haven't done my SOAP for a couple of days. I will do it later before Bible college. I was gonna do it now during my lunch break here at woyk but I'd rather post about last night before the memory passes me by. Which reminds me, kudos to my first post here at my God-breathed work. [:

Oh and Yanentations is welcoming autumn with a personal, humble & a warm shade of green. Yay / nay? I've already got one yay from her. (I miss you)

Freedom Time

Okay, so I rotated Lauryn's Unplugged album right? I can feel the wind on my face. I'm soaring higher, and higher. I can sit and stare and listen. Listening to her is like sitting in a class room and enjoying it. Contrary it makes me want to punch someone for not owning up to "borrowing" my CDs. I can't help it, my hands are tied. I HAVE to go look for them tomorrow after work!

So tonight's SOAP placed me at Psalm 139, and boy oh boy, need I say more? So much verses stood out to me, but I decided to blog about verse 23. Okay if I had written a book myself like good old David and I were to pen something similar, it would read .. " Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and .." Then the book would finish with a note from the publishers explaining how the author got struck by lightning mid-writing. Haha, don't worry, I know God's not like that. Why use lightning when He can just make the earth swallow me up? There goes my humour again. Anyone have a moisturizer? 'Cause I'm so dry.

Yeah so just coveting David's righteousness before God. How can any man ask God that? This is one of those passages that I would like to be engraved on my tombstone. (along with heaps of other verses) But one of those verses that I can only pray to be able to say or even think for that matter, because I want to live a life that is worthy of such a question to end. Application; To live a life righteous before God.

God grant me the strength to endure. Help me never to give up because You never gave up on me. Help me to constantly count the cost and bring to mind why I live the way I do; To live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I Love U (Yes I Du)

Cringing to the spelling of that ^ song, but I love the artist. Mary J. Blige's new album FTW! .. So, *clears throat* today's SOAP, I read Psalm 136-138, and the verses I read were all enlightening and fitting, especially Psalm 136. If how I was feeling about my first day at my job was ever penned, Psalm 136 would fit the mould. An uninhibited, unparalleled all out praise to my King ..

Then my eyes wouldn't let verse 23 just be read once, or twice. NKJV says "Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever", and it just hit home. My God didn't forget about me, and failed not to deliver me out of my troubles. I feel so, rewarded. I guess it's because I didn't quit when I wanted to, and waited on Him instead. I love how God doesn't let my worries slip past Him, and He cares about my thoughts, even the littlest of them. He knows what troubles me, what frowns my mouth, what aches my fragile heart. Funny that in the midst of all of these, I still doubt and am fearful of my future. What will happen in 6 months when my contract is finished? That's just one of the questions in my mind. Make my mind at ease oh God! (I posted that question for future reference, for something to laugh at when my God proves victorious in this area of my life again)

I guess I'm only left with one thing to apply from this devotion; God remembers. [:

On a lighter note, a few nights ago I tried to give Yanentations a face-lift, but I couldn't lift my face of my new sofa-bed and snored it through 'till morning! [: So I'll try to match this blog with the new season God's bringing me into. You just got Yanentationed. Take that!

Promise

I wrote one of those things again where I have one word in my mind, which causes me to write with my fingers on Ivysaur (my iPhone), mind on the word & heart on God. My word of choice was "Promise". Here it is, without being proofread:

You promised me. No matter what I've done. No matter how I've been. No matter what I think of myself. Even if I had faith that made a mustard seed look big, You promised me. Even when trying to live a purpose driven life and inevitably stuffing it up, Your promise is greater than my mistakes. Your grace is sufficient, that's what You said. Your hand is not too short to redeem, that's another one. If I abide in You, I will not get weary and I will fly on wings of eagles. Oh how I long to feel the wind on my face. How I long to soar above the storms of my life, gliding in your winds of love. Like a sparrow, an eagle, a dove. You promised me.

To Know Your Name

HAHA. [:

You Are For Me

So last Sunday, I withdrew from the crowd and penned down my thoughts and feelings. Based it on one word: Integrity. To my horror, I deleted it at the Castro's by accident. I tried re-writing it though, so here it is.

Integrity. How I am inside and out, the person that I am at home, outside and everything in between. How I treat my parents. Who I am in the privacy of my room against who I am when I step out of my door. To always remember that His plan is massive and my life simply isn't. To always remember that genuine happiness is not achieved but it is found when I realize that His love for me couldn't have ran out. His mercies are new every morning and He makes me new. My life in all it's fragility and frailty is held together in His hands. Hands gloved in grace amazing, never-ending compassion & insurmountable love. He restores my soul. I will wait on the Lord. My heart waits for Him.