JEWELS

BULACAN

11-12-15

Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19:14)

I had a wonderful opportunity to visit and do a photoshoot for BabyAnne's Mansion: a Home for Children. Schedule was extremely tight for me, but my heart urged me to do this. Perhaps because it was a rare opportunity to also drop everything and do what I love to do - capture images, take photos. It was also a rare opportunity to drop everything and head north without any agenda but to have fun. It was an opportunity to unwind. So I grabbed it. 

As I drove up the driveway of a small mansion-like home nestled in the midst of a golden rice field, I felt my shoulders go light. Ah, this was heaven for an introvert like me. I wanted to just dash out to the middle of the field and breath in the crisp, country air. But no time for that. I was already an hour and a half late so I wanted to get started with the shoot. The kids came out and their shrieks echoing through the hall that was quiet just mere minutes ago were proof of a life sans the cares of the world around them. 

Children can do a lot of things to you. They can have this effect on you in more ways than one.

...they can make you love

...they can make you hurt

...they can make you laugh

...they can make you cry

...they can make you dance

...they can make you run

or they can make your world suddenly feel like it stopped moving 

just by looking into their eyes.

After the shoot, I actually wanted to bring someone home with me!

PROMISE

PROMISE

04-16-15

Did someone say SPRING?

It has been a while since I had the ultimate experience of Spring - when bleakness and then suddenly you wake up to signs of new life all around you! Being in a tropical island country, where the seasons are only between "hot and wet", Springtime barely makes an appearance, if it ever even does so. Perhaps Spring-like seasons do occur and if flowers are the sign of Spring, then it can happen in February, in April, in May and in October...and depending where you are in the country.

Perhaps a trip to DANGWA can give one a wiff of spring anytime!

And so I was just filled with delight when our backyard floral plants came into bloom. Why so? Because they were all almost dying and hopeless when my husband rescued them from here and there.

Thus, I am again reminded of how Spring can be, even in my life.

(Spring is Coming, by Steven Curtis Chapman) 

We planted the seed while the tears of our grief soaked the ground
The sky lost its sun, and the world lost its green to lifeless brown
Now the chilling wind has turned the earth hard as stone
And silently seed rise beneath ice and snow

And my heart's heavy now
But I'm not letting go of this hope I have that tells me

 Spring is coming, Spring is coming

And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
It won't be long now, it's just about here

Hear the birds start to sing
Feel the life in the breeze
Watch the ice melt away
The kids are coming out to play

Feel the sun on your skin
Growing strong and warm again
Watch the ground: there's something moving
Something is breaking through
New life is breaking through

 

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And it won't be long now, it's just about here

Spring is coming, Spring is coming

 Out of these ashes, beauty will rise
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Sorrow will be turned to joy

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
All we hoped for soon will appear
It won't be long now, it's just about here
Out of the dark clouds, beauty will shine
All above in heaven, rejoice 
Spring is coming soon!