:)

it has been more than a week that i find myself suddenly breaking into a smile, heart beating to a merry tune. reading and re-reading such beautifully written words, looking at staring at a wonderfully-crafted gift. night after night, i am reminded of my blessing.

it was amazing.

but what was more amazing was the joy of those around me. i never thought my story would have made eyes tear up, nor bring out shrieks and shrills.

joy is more joyful when shared. i know that now.

thanks you, guys. :)

mr. magorium's wonder emporium

i remember back when i was a kid, before i go to sleep, with the lights off, i would scan the room for shadows and silhouettes of familiar things. in that corner is my plastic doll, and in that corner another plastic doll and on the shelf are my favorite books. then i'd close my eyes and listen if they would suddenly start moving once i go to sleep. i'd imagine the words of the books start jumping from one page to another and make a mess of the story i love reading. but i never got to hear those words crawling to another page or the toys going off to another playing on their own, without me. but i believed with all my heart that they did things on their own when i don't notice them. i slept soundly, knowing what few toys i have will protect me from the ghosts that lived next door. or my nanny would. ;p

(and even now that i'm older... when i'm in my sister's house... i try to see if my nieces' and nephews' toys would do something too. just in case.)

so i was so excited when i hear about "mr. magorium's wonder emporium." the same way i was excited when the movie "toys" of robin williams was going to show (exclusively) in SM North Edsa back in college.

when it finally came to davao, i took a break from the stressful, christmas shopping i was doing, dumped all the stuff i bought and got a ticket for cinema 2. a little grin was plastered on my face as i entered the cinema. in my mind, a little thought balloon was going agog shouting, "toys and magic, toys and magic. wheeeeee!"

and as the credits rolled and the movie unfolded, the little thought balloon was getting more and more excited, my smile getting bigger and bigger.

i love mr. magorium! i want to play with him. and i wish i could go to his store and just hang out the entire day with eric, the little kid and mahoney, the store manager. and even, bellini the chronicler. i love all of them... even henry the mutant. tee-hee!

the story, is magical yet simple and pure. it tells of wonder, and friendship in unlikely people, and finding dreams in a block of wood. and nothing can feel as good as that!

the movie feels like cotton candy back when it was known as fairy's thread, of caramel apples and a game of tag. it's the joy of mud ball fights (there isn't any snow here) and swimming until your hands are raisins. in other words, i thoroughly enjoyed it and want to watch it over and over. i think it may just have kicked charlie and the chocolate factory from my top children's movies of all time. tee-hee!

toys and magic! toys and magic! and dragons. and wooden dinosaurs. and krakens from a book. and petulant stores. and a book that has all the toys in the world. and giant balls you can never dodge. wheee! what can be greater than that?

and so i slept that night, knowing in my heart, that that little child in her room full of silhouettes and shadows never left and was just waiting in her quiet corner playing with her plastic doll and reading her favorite books, still sure in her heart that toys had their own lives and books rewrite their stories. ;p

:)

this one was from last week. that's catterwillar... my new microbeads pet. forced jan to get it for me. and look... he's staring at happy peanuts. and has that funny grin on his bug-gy face.

and then this one... from my favorite icanhascheezburger.com. now that's perfect photography timing... as for the birds... good job, mates. asteeg kayo! hehe!

so to everybody... have a nice day and an even nicer week.

moar funny pictures

grasya

the past few days i have been overwhelmed by unexpected kindness. people have been generous of their time and their resources with me. i have received wonderful gifts that i truly enjoy. i have received answers that have been very useful. i have received advice for something i really need.

just today, as i was about to leave from the training that i was facilitating for our teachers, two teachers gave me nicely packaged organic rice. then another partner came calling as i was walking to the gate carrying a bunch of calla lilies. things that i did not ask for but greatly appreciate.

my heart is overwhelming with gratitude. to those good friends who have been so kind and generous that i don't know how to repay. to other good friends who have shared their experience and advise to help me try for my dream. to work partners who have treated me like family. i feel so undeserving of all of these. i can only hope to repay you, or at least pay it forward to others.

thank you.

(at the back of my mind, i can imagine how much more generous God has been to me. at least to these people i have shown my gratitude. i know i sometimes forget to extend my thankfulness to He who truly loves me.)