Patching Things Up with an Apology

Misunderstandings are a given not only in a marriage but in all kinds of relationships. Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a reality that shouting matches can erupt even from the slightest and smallest misunderstanding! If you and your partner haven't argued in any way watch out because one of you is probably keeping it all bottled up inside. When that explodes it'll be more awful! This also goes for family members, siblings and even friends. This happens because each one of us is different, unique, as God designed us to be.

Our differences have a purpose. These unique differences give balance as we interact in our immediate surroundings and in the community. According to the book "The Adventist Home" by Ellen G. White, "It is in the order of God that persons of varied temperaments should associate together." These unique differences should allow us to associate together and not tear us apart. But sadly, it's the latter that happens most of the time. This just makes it more critical for each of us to know to go about the reconciliation process.

The key words to make things right again are forgiveness and reconciliation. This goes for both parties involved. But let's face it, if you are the wronged party it can be difficult to forgive right? The one who's in the wrong must know that sometimes simply saying "sorry' is not enough. Some people need to see it through action. As the saying goes, "Action speaks louder than words." Some people, including me, have difficulty apologizing and actually verbalizing an apology. For my my part, what I do is rectify it through action but I know it's not enough.

In their article in the Adventist World magazine, Carol and David Tasker, professors at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Phils (AIIAS) outlined 5 Languages of Apology that can be of great help in patching misunderstandings and squabbles.

5 Languages of Apology

• Expressing REGRET
• "I am sorry"
• Accepting RESPONSIBILITY 
• "I was wrong"
• Making RESTITUTION
• "What Can I Do to Make It Right?"
• Genuinely REPENTING
• "I'll try not to do it again"
• Requesting FORGIVENESS
• "Will You Please Forgive Me?"

So, next time you hurt your partner, sibling, or friend maybe you should try these languages and find out what the outcome is. I'll sure keep this in mind!

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Life and Marriage

Marriage…it’s not easy! I think if you were to ask a lot of married people, many of them would say the same. Staying in the marriage and making it work really requires hard work and lots of sacrifices and compromises. I can say that because that’s what we’re experiencing right now. My husband and I have been married for seven months now and I must say those seven months have opened our eyes to the reality that marriage isn’t easy.

Imagine two individuals with different personalities, temperaments, likes and dislikes living under the same roof day in and day out! Conflict is bound to happen sooner or later. I guess ours happened sooner! These past seven months had been difficult. And I have to be honest, there were instances when my patience became so worn to the core and my love was really put to the test, I really felt like giving up. At times I’m not really sure where we’re going and it really makes me sad. But those are the bad days. There are good days as well when I feel like we can really do this and we’re both happy and we jive in the things we want to do and achieve.  But I know now ours is a work-in-progress. There are good days and bad days. As they say, the first year is the most difficult year of all because of the adjustments that have to be made!

And since my husband and I both have stubborn personalities, adjustments and compromises are going to be doubly difficult. But I believe we’ll get there with God’s help and commitment and dedication on our parts.

And so far, I learned that to make a marriage work both of you have to work hard at it! And I started reading “The Compleat Marriage” book recently and it enlightened me more about marriage and how it should be. The preface of the book says “Take a dozen wedded couples, and four will jump overboard; six will stay on deck without joy or love because of children, careers, family, and church; and only two will enjoy a compleat marriage.” I certainly hope that we will be among the couples who will enjoy the compleat marriage. 

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Cross Stitch Diversion

 Problems are a part of our daily lives I know that, but sometimes they can get so overwhelming. The overwhelming part is where I am now.  had so much jumbled thoughts inside my head two nights ago that I just had to write them all down otherwise my head would burst! I originally about posting those thoughts here but then I realized they're just too private and personal. I just don't want to think of these problems anymore so I thought I have to find a diversion.  And I found it!It's actually a hobby of mine in the past so I'm just rekindling it. Guess what it is? Cross Stitching!

I immediately went to the mall to buy the things I need. I originally thought about using as my picture as a pattern but I could not find a place that can make it into one, so I just settled for a ready-made pattern from the mall. Since I love dogs I got a pattern of two cute puppies! I already started my new project though I'm not sure when I'll be able to finish it. Its kinda big! But for sure it's going to look great when finished! I hope this will effectively divert my mind off my problems.

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Favorite Google Doodles Remembered!

Did you notice that Google put different kinds of art on its home page at certain times? These art forms are called Doodles. Doodles are unique to Google and they make searching on the search engine more fun for users. Doodles are created to celebrate special occasions like holidays, anniversaries, and even to commemorate the lives of famous artists and scientists. 

Perhaps not many of you know that Google's Doodle concept originated in 1998. It started when Google founders Sergey and Larry manipulated the corporate logo so that it will show their attendance at the Burning Man festival in Nevada. That became the germ of an idea for something bigger and in 2000, the founder asked webmaster Dennis Hwang to develop a doodle for Bastille Day. They liked the result and the people's response to the Doodles hence, from then on it became a permanent fixture in Google.

Today, Google doesn't only make doodles that have significance in the United States but to the whole world as well. And as of now, over a thousand doodles have been produced already. That's expected because 1998 to 2011 is a long time I'm sure you'll agree.

Over the years I've seen some Google Doodle that i like so much! I can't remember all of them unfortunately. So I'm going to share with you my recent favorites. Here they are:

The first one is Pacman which Google placed last May 21, 2010 for Pac-Man's 30th anniversary. I like this a lot because when I could not think of anything to write I play it right on the browser in order to refresh my mind. Beware though, it's addictive!

Second one is guitar for Les Paul's 96th birthday placed last June 9, 2011.

And the most recent notable doodle are the gummy bears to commemorate its creator Art Clokey's birthday. This was placed on October 12, 2011.  

I like peas so this doodle for Gregor Mendel's 189th birthday is also one of my favorites. 

What are your favorite Google Doodles?

Photo Source: Google

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My Fashion Blog is a Winner at the 1st Annual Bloggy Awards!

I received a great news today and until now I still can't stop smiling! It's like I'm still in blogging heaven because my fashion blog "Pretty, Cute and Outrageous" won as the Best Fashion Blog at the 1st Annual Bloggy Awards. This event aims to recognize the skills of Bicolano bloggers/writers.

Three of my blogs were nominated in different categories. In My Silent Lucidity was nominated for Best Personal Blog while This Side of the Game was a contender in the Best Hobby and Recreation Blog. My Pretty, Cute and Outrageous was actually nominated in three categories namely Best Fashion Blog, Best Beauty Blog, and Best Blog Design but out of these three, Pretty Cute only came out for Best Fashion Blog! But I'm happy it won! I never dreamed this little hobby of mine would get some recognition someday but hey that day has come!

Winning the Best Fashion Blog just makes me even more inspired to write and share everything that is beautiful, chic and trendy to all you fashionatics out there! And to the Bicolano Blogger Republic thank you all so much for this recognition! 'Til next year!

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Angry Birds Make an Angry Me!

One of the popular games that people, young and old, are going gaga over is Angry Birds! My brother-in-law, that's my sis' husband, has this game in their PSP console, so I got to try it. My first exposure to this game annoyed me so much because I could not figure out how to manipulate the angry birds so that they'll knock down the blocks of ice and wood that protect the little sarcastic piggies!

Each time I take a shot and miss those pigs just smirk even more. How I wanted to wipe that smirk off their faces that time, with my bare hands not with the angry birds anymore. I know that's funny but this game can really drive you mad!

Since my brother-in-law's PSP wasn't accessible all the time, I tried to find a free online version of Angry Birds and luckily I was able to find one. But it was only a limited one. Once I started playing Angry Birds' online version I could not stop! The first few levels were a breeze but as I neared the end, it became more difficult. I had to come up with very good strategies in order to kill those smug pigs. The last levels took me several tries before I was able to kill all of them bad and smug pigs! Ha!

Since I finished all the levels in the limited online version, I'm thinking maybe I should buy the game? So that I can play it unlimited!

Anyone play Angry Birds?

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Steve Jobs Lives on in My iPod Nano

The whole world was shocked when news about Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs circulated in the Internet. I felt really sad when I read about this news last Thursday. Steve died at the age of 56. It was no secret that in recent years Steve suffered from ill-health. He had some form of pancreatic cancer in 2004 and has a liver transplant in 2009. However, it seems the cancer cells in his body weren't eliminated and continued to ravage his body to the end. Steve Jobs was a shadow of the vigorous man who led Apple to the peak of success. He looked really frail and gaunt during his last days.

Even though he's gone, I'll have something to remember him by, my iPod Nano. I think this is the 4th generation iPod Nano.. Still one without the camera. Steve Jobs is gone but his innovations will live on...

My 4th Generation iPod Nano

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