Heard Any Bells Ringing Lately?

My post has nothing to do with sounds you hear a day after downing a bottle of Cuervo or any other alcoholic beverage you may have readied for the New Year's Eve celebration. It is also not related to my friend Jennie's recent blogpost (I realized that her wedding post is similarly titled! Just a coincidence, folks, hehe) And no, I am not going crazy and have not been hearing voices, or whispers, or any other audibles (although these past weeks' toxicity is enough to drive anyone insane!)

It has to do with a letter, or article if you would call it, my Auntie Minerva wrote one morning this Christmas out of impulse. To give you an idea of who my Auntie is, she's an 82-year old sweet, soft spoken and joyful woman who out of pure love and generosity just loves to give to others and finds pure joy in doing so. She has 10 children, all successful in their respective fields, and now lives with her youngest daughter's family blessed with everything and anything an old lady could ever need -- family, friends, good health and material comforts. I got the chance to visit her today to drop off some long-overdue Christmas presents, and in return was blessed with an outpouring of her love and affection through endless hugs and kisses. She shared with me this write-up, and in the process she gave me a piece of her heart. I would like to now share this with all of you, in hopes that it would bless you, inspire you, touch you, or maybe just to simply bring a smile to your face. We all need to be reminded time and time and again just what the spirit of the season is all about.

THE BELLS IN HEAVEN ARE RINGING

Do you have bells ringing for you in heaven? If you are not sure, start this year by doing something nice for a poor and needy family. If you do not strive to do good this year, you may never get a chance to do so. What is the reason for our existence on this earth? Just to live? Therefore, is it ok to be selfish, uncaring and deaf to the cries of those who are needy and near you?

We should have the unconditional love of God in our hearts. God is forever helping us with no strings attached. Do we ever stop to say "thank you"? Why is it that we only remember the Lord when we need something? Yes, at times people can be so ungrateful.

There was a time when I visited a friend. I saw her lying on the floor with a baby by her side. She was so haggard. Unfortunately, I only had P100 ($2), and I had to pay for the fare downtown. So what little money I had left, I bought a small can of milk which was about P20 ($.38) and P5 ($.09) worth of sugar. I talked to somebody who owned a small store and asked a favor to boil water so I can mix the two. When the milk was ready, I picked up my friend and held her in my arms. She drank the milk as if it were her first time to be fed! I told my mother about it and she said "child, don't you know that the bells in heaven are ringing for your good deed?". I was overflowing with joy for what my mother said! I promised then to let the bells in heaven ring for me a lot of times as long as I lived on this earth.

Now, I do have children who let the bells of heaven ring most of the time, and I do hope the bells would not be destroyed. I am so proud of all of them for they have understood the true meaning of "unconditional love". I owe this good trait to my parents, and I believe I have passed on this trait to my children, as they will hopefully pass it on to their children.

So let the bells of heaven be ringing for you also forever!

- Minerva Chavez

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

May the New Year be a year of giving, not just of material possessions, but of sharing one's self to be a blessing to others!

Warm (More Like Hot) Wishes This Holiday Season

I am pooped. I've been yawning every half a minute. December has been the most hectic month for me this year (and I don't mean involving just work). Starting a project a client recently signed on for me to do has never been this hard to begin, that I am now looking forward to New Year's eve celebrations.

But as promised, I'm posting photos of our recent holiday vacation at the beach of Cebu's Maribago Bluewaters Resort in Mactan Island. For all those out there who are neck-deep in snow, sick and tired of seeing white, wet and cold fluff, and silently wishing to see the bright, yellow sunlight hit a clear blue sea... these are for you! :-)

Nicky and I waiting to be checked in at the resort's reception / front desk. I played around with Nicky's hair and made them all stand up. Heehee.

In front of our unit...

Having breakfast with my in-laws

View from the 2nd floor of the apartelle. The pool is right outside our door.

Allan on a jetski with niece Neobi

Nicky, enjoying the sun (and for the first time ever, actually enjoying the beach!)

Father and son in front of the Seven Dolphins fountain.

Posing at the beach...with no one around to laugh at us. Hehe.
T'was a great four days :-)

In My Stables: LIFE MY WAY

Hi y'all!!! I'm back from my 4-day vacation in Cebu! Man, it was the BEST vacation I had this year -- I was more relaxed, I had more fun this time being around Allan's family (seriously...I had fun with my in-laws!.... Seriously!), and best of all, it was all expense-paid! By my in-laws! (but no connection to why I had fun with them... seriously! :D) Ate almost 5 times a day, went swimming, sun-bathing, jet-skiing, boating and island-hopping, shopping and did more eating! I'll be posting vacation pics soon (have to charge my camera first so i could upload the files), so hope you come back to check them out :-)

Anyways, my reason for logging on and blogging on Christmas Eve (Man, i'm all fired up! No Christmas holiday keeps me from checking my blog!), is to welcome my newest blog tenant -- Bozette! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

Bozette's blog is called MY WAY, a personal diary which shares with her readers her day-to-day accomplishments and her interests. She's been married for 26 years and has a pretty big family. She makes all these WONDERFUL wooden crafts and pens! I was so amazed to see how creative this woman is and how lovely her products turned out. Check out samples of her Christmas wooden ornaments and wooden pens!

If you're curious to know more about her, why don't you trot over to that stable space on my right side bar, and tell her that Chrixean whispered her name to you. :-)

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!! GOD BLESS!

A Merry Messy Christmas

I am so tired. I have absolutely exhausted the number of hours in my day, and I still have so much to do! To name a few:

1) I need to submit two CDs of Final Artworks to 2 clients today. Sent one over just now thru my staff. One more to go. Halfway through that.

2) I need to wrap my Christmas gifts. Have I told any of you before just how much I LOATHE wrapping presents? I really, really do. Really. Really.

3) I need to buy presents. Realized I can't wrap anything I don't have. Am still not done with shopping! Darn it. Was selling our newly launched shirts at the Christmas bazaar over the weekend, in between attending Christmas parties here and there, that buying gifts didn't seem like a priority. Till now. Shoot...

4) I need to DELIVER the dang gifts. Realized also that these things don't just mail themselves. Darn it.

5) Pack my bags. Here's the upside to it all. We will be leaving for Cebu to spend four days at the beach. YES. The beach. All the way till Christmas eve I will make sure that I shake off every bit of stress I had put on for the past two weeks and just enjoy lying on the sand and getting burned crisp (that is, if it doesn't rain..)

So whole of today (my flight is tomorrow), I still have to do all of the above. Why the heck am i still blogging? Need to vent, that's why. So sue me!

I'm outta here!

In My Stables: JANE LOVES TARZAN

I'd like everyone to welcome my new stable tenant, Jane! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

Jane's blog is called Jane Loves Tarzan, and has probably been called insane by known friends at one time or another (Who hasn't, really?), but instead says "Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. I'm not insane; I'm bipolar." I think I'm her perfect landlady, if this is the case... Jane loves camping, cooking, reading, and enjoys listening to all types of music, except country.

Why don't you guys give Jane a visit right now (she's in my right side bar) and tell her that her name was whispered by Chrixean :-)

My Best Friend's Wedding

The day finally came… Jennie and Rein tied the knot and vowed to love and cherish each other, for all eternity.

It was a lovely, touching and meaningful celebration. Allan and I were so blessed to have been a big part in the preparation of this event, and felt overjoyed that the wedding affair turned out to be a great success. Jennie was truly a “goddess” that day, a beautiful blushing bride, indeed. It was the simplicity and elegance of all things that made this particular wedding memorable -- the thought that went into the details of the church wedding and reception, the garden layout which set the mood and ambience, the beautiful music – all tied into the calming turquoise and elegant butterfly concept that held it all together.

Here are some scenes from that enchanted evening...


Jennie's gorgeous hairdo adorned with various crystals that got people staring in awe.


Pretty maids all in a row.


The blushing bride


The wedding cast.


Allan and I in our evening threads.


Presenting Reinier and Jennifer Tatlonghari!

To the happy couple, welcome to our world! God bless your new and exciting life together :-)

We love you! Mwah!

Listening in the Loo

Overheard while in the ladies room (water closet, loo, bathroom, comfort room, powder room, or whatever room you want to call it)....


Girl approaches an old lady who is in line to pee at one of the toilet stalls.
GIRL: Hi tita!
OLD LADY: Oh hi! I remember you! You're looking great! I haven't seen you in quite awhile...
GIRL: (smiles) Thanks, tita. I've been busy lang po.
OLD LADY: (Trying to recall girl's name, she looks at her intently..) I remember you e. You're....you're... Nipple, right?

Awkward pause. All eyes turn to girl.

GIRL: (blushing) Tita, it's Dimple po.
OLD LADY: Oh.....

Remembering John Winston Ono Lennon

Watching The Wheels

People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing,

Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin,

When I say that I'm o.k. they look at me kind of strange,

Surely your not happy now you no longer play the game.

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away,

Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me,

When I tell that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall,

Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball?

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,

I really love to watch them roll,

No longer riding on the merry-go-round,

I just had to let it go...

People asking questions lost in confusion,

Well I tell them there's no problem,

Only solutions,

Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind,

I tell them there's no hurry...I'm just sitting here doing time.

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,

I really love to watch them roll,

No longer riding on the merry-go-round,

I just had to let it go...

I just had to let it go...

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa BCD!

I can't believe it's December....already! I'm not done with the work and errands i needed to finish in November! I still have so much to finish in terms of work, work, work... and wedding arrangements (Jennie's Dec 12 wedding date is just a week and so away!).

So forgive me again if I will miss some posts during the next few weeks (I will try my best to not miss a BCF post. TRY.). I am cramming three new project deadlines for different companies, as well as launching our new apparel line (vintage tees which we call Bubblewrap :-D).

Anyways, to get me into the Christmas spirit, i've decided to draw one of my son's favorite decor in the whole house -- our dancing Santa. This has to be the cutest thing we have here at home! By just pressing the tiny red button on his shoe, this miniature version of the jolly bearded fellow will do a boogie twist with his candy cane to the tune of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town". I decided to post all three versions of the Santa -- the BCD with color which i put in using Photoshop CS, the raw BCD where i tried to experiment with pen types and tried using a black felt marker pen (to get good solid lines), and lastly, the actual photo of the main man himself. Looking at the BCDs, i noticed that I drew two rows of streaked lines for the candy cane's striped-effect. I couldn't figure out why, though. Looking back, i probably thought i had forgotten to draw it in, and ended up with two sets of stripes.

Ho ho ho! Hop over to Inkfinger to check out new blind contour drawings for the week!