jeisnaps-blog

[jeisnaps-blog]

Life Lately #001

Hola! It’s been a awhile since I actually did some real ~blogging~. I decided to wake this part of me up again since I’ve been wanting to have an avenue to really express what I feel about some things. Sure, there goes Twitter, IG Story, Snapchat, and all other real time platforms, but nothing really beats having to read and write without character and time limitations. :) (And let’s be real, you can’t be as intimate on Facebook anymore, lol)

Meanwhile, here are some major life updates!

Update # 1: I turned twenty and I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. Finally out of uni! Haha. It is a major cliché to say this, but my college years have been the craziest four years of my life. It’s not even enough to say that I learned SO much – but I really did.

I learned not just from my academic training, but also from tons of failures that I couldn’t keep count. It challenged me on so many aspects–spiritual level mostly. But as the author of my current favorite book, Kristen Welch, has said: “If it were easy, I wouldn’t need God”. She was right. College was the time I had clung most unto God. I was vulnerable and what kept me going was holding on to the fact that my God is stronger and that the battle is His. (Greater is He that is in me than he than is in the world)

When they tell you college is tough yet fun, it is true, and here goes the fun part: Having the privilege to meet a number of wonderful people. My blockmates (who btw are the most supportive and helpful peeps ever), my professors, all the people with the most inspiring stories, and of course, this family – my organization. 

These people are some of the most creative, passionate, and talented people I have ever met. Sometimes they just leave me in awe of how they work. Don’t get me wrong though, being in an organization isn’t all fun and games because I tell you… it wasn’t entirely so.

I’ve told you about college being challenging, and as for me, half of it was probably because of this org. Not even kidding. Having to lead this organization was just too much for me to handle, especially as someone who has been nurtured inside her comfort zone for years. But for some reason, I had to say yes.

And to be completely honest, there were times that I wanted to quit. Badly. No one in my team knew it, but there was just something in them that continued to inspire me not to. So, after a year of anxieties, keeping up with the deadlines, dealing with different organizations and individuals, fighting for a teammate who wanted to leave, failing, and disappointments, you ask, ‘was it worth it?’…

Looking at the photo above, I could say… yes. It might not be easy but in my pocket I got tons of memories and learnings, a lasting friendship built, one award, and zero regrets. Of course it was all worth it. 

Update # 2: I started to read again! Yay. Finally having that time in my hands to invest on reading more books. And I’m so glad that I’m having that luxury again to go out (and go off of social media) just to read a book.

For the month of July, I’ve had the following:

- Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch

- Ask Me Anything by J. Budziszewski

- For my daily quiet time, I’ve been following a Paul’s letters series. (I’m at Romans 14 as of today). I started to journal too! :)

Update # 3: I’m currently on my journey of conquering hormonal imbalance so I started to take pills.

I was so afraid to do it at first, but what made me to finally do it are the worsening hormonal acne breakouts and the visible thinning of my hair. I am hopeful! I pray it’d get better and I’m hoping I could post (positive) updates regarding this journey.

So, that’s all that is for me so far. Life’s crazy, ain’t it?

[jeisnaps-blog]

To Mr. Santa,

“This year again, Santa couldn't reach Amalfi. He was stuck to Manila because of lack of snow for his sleigh.” 

I was just starting my teenage years when I first met you. Now I’m almost ending that season of my life yet you still have not changed-- you still have that knack to pull off punch lines as excuses.

That was your last email. It was supposed to be a merry Christmas and a joyous new year, but maybe for us it wasn’t.

“This year again, as usual, I will not be physically with you. But I'm still thinking about you.”

I know.

As a matter of fact I know very well how much you think about others. And perhaps that is what you really are. Such genuine and thoughtful person who would almost always put the needs of his loved ones before his own. That’s why many people are deeply saddened that you are gone. It is even unfitted to just say that you are a great loss because the pain is much more than that-- You took a piece of us with you.

But as a cheerful person that you are, I also know very well that you wouldn’t want to leave people with mourning hearts. And so with this, I’d like to make this a letter of gratitude for every good memories that we will doubtlessly remember and keep alive.

I know I’ve been emailing this to you a lot, but maybe for the last time, I would like to just say thank you.

Thank you for saying yes to going to adventures with us no matter how crazy it is. From mountain hiking to theme parks, you’d always say yes because you know the child in us would be happy and satisfied.

I would always remember our trip to Caramoan Island. This was the day you injured your foot so bad that you can barely walk properly. The thing is, you can always go back to the hotel and rest, but you didn’t. You kept your energy until the end of the trip and I admired you so much for that.

Thank you for being so thoughtful even on the smallest detail. The above photo was taken with my first ever DSLR when you visited Amalfi the second time. You knew how much I have been into photography, and so without me even asking, you bought me my own camera.

Also, the detail could be as small as you being familiar with our favourite drink. You would always notice us drinking Coke Zero. After a few days, you needed to buy us a drink and without even asking, you already knew what to get me and my sister.

Or even giving me “Miss Honesty” as a nickname after seeing my name under the “Honesty list” on my high school’s bulletin board for returning a 20 peso bill (C$ 0.53)

It may be strange but things like that meant a lot.

Thank you for being crazy around us. From wacky poses to randomly singing while dancing on the public.

To be honest, it was a bit odd for me and my sister to have a “second dad” around. But that odd feeling didn’t last too long because you would always make it comfortable and light when you do these things. It’s as if an assurance that my mom’s in good hands. My mom’s with a person who genuinely loves her and puts her happiness above his. Which leads me to the next thing I’m grateful for...

Thank you for loving my mom. I honestly have not seen her with such glow when she was with you. You were part of a huge chunk of her heart and that, I know, would forever remain.

And with that and many more things, I’d just like to thank you for sharing these good memories with us. Thank you for being a father and friend overall.

Now you’re gone, things may not get easier like we tend to tell ourselves, but I am glad that I am comforted with one thing --  it is the fact that you have touched so many lives that they may continue to do what you did. They may spread happiness and genuine care for others like you did.

We love you so much. So long, Tito Christian.

Mahal kita. Au Revior. - Jeianne

[jeisnaps-blog]

[jeisnaps-blog]

How calm a life could be?

[jeisnaps-blog]

[jeisnaps-blog]

[jeisnaps-blog]

Jesus met a grown man on a leash once. The man stops Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18). Jesus answers him, “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother’” (Luke 18:20). The man, filled with passion and confidence, says, “All these I have kept from my youth” (Luke 18:21). In our words, “I’m a good Christian.” He had done everything he knew to do to make his life look like a believer’s, to make it look like he deserved to go to heaven. How does Jesus respond? “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). One thing you still lack. Those five words didn’t highlight lines in the man’s budget as much as they highlighted the loyalties in his heart. He looked like a Christian, but lacked real love for Jesus. He had tried a pick-and-choose kind of religion, and ended up walking away confused and depressed. He left with his hands full and his heart empty — having the outward appearance of freedom with his big bank account, but hopelessly enslaved to his money and all it could buy. For this man, it’s money. What cords do you carry?We may gladly surrender all kinds of things to Jesus, doing whatever we can to follow the rules and fit in as a Christian. But we secretly don’t trust him with our work, or our comfort, or our health, or our marriage, or control over our lives, or our suffering, or our romantic or sexual longings. And like the rich young ruler, that lack of trust uncovers our lack of love. We love Jesus, but we love something else a little more. And loving anything more than Jesus, even a little more, means we don’t really love him after all. He never settles into second place in our hearts.If we will trust Jesus enough to leave behind our old ways of trying to manufacture and preserve our own happiness, he’ll give us something far greater — infinitely more than we might have settled for otherwise. But we have to trust him first, that he knows the difference between slavery and freedom better than we do. We have to cut the cord. “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:29–30).

[jeisnaps-blog]

i will forever pull over just to watch the sky fill with colors. i’m also forever amazed by how creative our God is. He paints the sky every morning & every night because He loves us. // as i head back to school soon, i’m holding onto this. psalm 27:1 “the Lord is my light & my salvation, whom shall i fear?” (at Bend, Oregon)

[jeisnaps-blog]

Bring the outdoors in.

United By Blue

[jeisnaps-blog]

Quick coffee break between classes

[jeisnaps-blog]

Taking the time to appreciate Tumblr.

I can barely remember the times when you had to go to social media to relax. But 2016 has done so much that social media now has been one of the causes of stress and anxiety. 

However, here goes Tumblr. 

Thank you, Tumblr for your light, therapeutic and motivational photos and reads. You never failed me since 2009. This site has honestly gotten better, with lots of communities to join in and different aesthetics and pegs. 

Meanwhile, hello. I’m back. It’s finals and I’m on my second to the last semester in university.

Matapos lang talaga ‘tong sem na ‘to lorde. 

[jeisnaps-blog]

[jeisnaps-blog]

☄

[jeisnaps-blog]

x

[jeisnaps-blog]

Alivia Latimer

[jeisnaps-blog]

[jeisnaps-blog]

If you’re doubting, don’t feel ashamed. Faith doesn’t come from you. Faith is so much of a gift that no man can come to the Lord unless the Father draws him. We can’t even have faith in our own strength, so ask for it. Ask the author and perfecter of your faith.