Coffee Moments with Sam

Sometimes the best way to succeed is to be yourself.

Last week, I was helping my son, Mico, with his school assignment.  The instruction was to list down "10 Things that Make Me Happy".   So I asked my son what makes him happy and he answered: 1. "Hug" 2. "When I listen to my Teacher" 3. "Playing" 4. "Mommy or Daddy Kissing my Cheek" 5. "Having Toys" 6. "Watching Cartoons" 7. "Family" 8. "Dancing" 9. "Sharing Toys and Food" 10. "Love" Children truly knows the real essence of HAPPINESS.  What a great way to be reminded that HAPPINESS is within us.  It may be expressed in simple ways but the true meaning of it lies in the purity of our hearts.  It's up to us to decide how we choose to be happy each day.  

“I’m participating in the Keeping LOVE in LENT Blog Link-Up 2013, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints ,  Truly Rich Mom   and  Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families . We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Lenten sacrifices, prayer and good deeds, and how to carry them out with LOVE instead of a GRUMBLE. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of link-up entries." It’s simply amazing how much I can learn from someone so young.  A child can definitely teach us - older ones - a lot about love…  Out of nowhere, my son told me, “ Faith is my life ”.   He was actually referring to his playmate, a girl about his age named, Faith.   I honestly didn't know where he learned to say those words, but in the pureness and innocence of his heart he was happy and proud to express it.   There was another time he came up to...

"I’m participating in the Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival, hosted by Raising (&Teaching) Little Saints , Truly Rich Mom and Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We'll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Jesus as the Reason for the Christmas season. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries.” Sally’s letter to Santa Claus: “Dear Santa Claus how have you been?   Did you have a nice summer?   How is your wife?   I have been extra good this year so I have a long list of presents I want.   Please note the size and color of each item and send as many as possible.   If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money.   How about tens and twenties?” -   From “A Charlie Brown Christmas” TV special 1965 The real essence of Christmas has become too commercialized and extravagant through the years.   Material g...

(A Reflection on the 3rd Candle of Advent: The Candle of Joy) For this week's advent reflection, I wish to share another Christmas story.  It's a modern Christmas Children's Classic entitled, "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree", written by Colleen Monroe.  Here's a video version of the story as narrated by Mitch Albom: The story is about an old, overgrown pine tree, who for many years had been waiting and hoping to be selected as someone's special Christmas Tree.  He witnessed how many other trees had been taken into different homes, decorated with lights and tinsels... beautifully bringing joy into the lives of those who live in it.  As years passed, he has already grown too big to be someone's Christmas tree.  This made him so sad and lonely.  But his friends from the woods all believed that he is quite a special tree.  They told him how much he has brought joy into their lives.  He has provided shelter and ...

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment. To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go is to fear less and love more. - author unknown image source: http://weheartit.com/entry/41455692 # What does it really mean to "let go"...  I had my shares of dealing with it.  I often encounter various situations wherein it is extremely difficult to move on and get on with my life. But one thing I realized is that letting go may be a painful experience, but it is an essential part of life.  Some people believe that we are strong if we keep "holding on".  But in reality, we become even stronger when we learn to let go.   Letting go doesn't mean we are giving up... It means ...

Only God can accomplish miraculous make-overs .  He can turn sorrow into joy, hideous into beautiful, and mistakes into moments of opportunity.  All we need to do is believe.  Ask Jesus into your heart and get ready for a change.  (excerpt from A Cup of Comfort for Women Devotional)

Have you ever wanted something so badly only to realize that it isn’t as good as you hoped it would be? Are you currently waiting so long for something to happen in your life and are already getting impatient?  Have you ever hoped for something but received a different thing?  Do you desire something that’s not really meant for you? Image Credits: silhouette of a girl praying (icarly.wiki) We all desire the best in life.  Most of the time however, we are misguided by our worldly desires.  We confuse “our best” to be “God’s best”.  We can easily fall into the trap of aspiring the most beautiful, most famous, wealthiest, most expensive, most prestigious, best job, the perfect relationship, the comfortable life, the easiest way out… we are made to perceive that the best things in life can only be fulfilled by vanity, money, fame, power, ultimate perfection.      But God’s best is beyond what money can buy or what power can acquire. ...