Holiday Reflections @Union Station in Kansas City

We are in Kansas City, Missouri and would like to share with you our short family bonding minus my second son, Zach. Thanks for watching everyone.  I pray your Christmas is blessed and your New Year bright.

Exploring #HolyFamilyShrine in Gretna, NE

Here's our latest wandering while in Omaha, Nebraska.  Enjoy!

Exploring Wildlife Safari in Ashland, Nebraska

Strolling along #BobKerreyPedestrian bridge in Omaha, NE

Longing for Home -- I mean Heavenly Home

 Hello y'all.  I'm back on this blog to write about life and yes, about death.  Why am I doing this?  Well, this COVID pandemic really put a screeching halt to all our plans and I don't know whether I should just roll with it or defy it.  One day we were free to do what we usually do and the next we were told to stay home.  Although my immediate family really never stopped the daily grind, I suddenly found myself on the home school front - again.

My first reaction to this pandemic was to get down on my knees and prayed to God that He would keep my family (here and in the Philippines) safe and secure.  I immediately went to my Psalm 91 mode.  Aha, thought you'd ask: "What is Psalm 91 mode?" While I was homeschooling the boys, we read Psalm 91 every morning - well, almost every morning - I believe with my whole being that this passage is all I need to get through with our daily grind, even today.

++ PSALM 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

2 This I declare of the LORD; 

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

 he is my God, and I am trusting Him.

3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague.

4 He will shield you with his wings, He will shelter you with his feathers.  His faithful promises   are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day,

6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 

8 But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling.

11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking you foot on a stone.

13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes, you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me, I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue them and honor them.

16 I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation." 

 

 There had been deaths in my family.  Last year, my cousin (about my age) died of stroke, this year my uncle died of COVID then my dad's youngest sister in Manila passed on and last week my cousin in Cebu passed away - both are non-COVID related by the way.

I thought of these dear souls who went ahead of us and I imagine everyone of my family who have gone before having a joyous time catching up on each other.  I imagine my cousin hugging her husband and my uncle and auntie and my grandparents on mom's side.  I imagine my dad's youngest sister being welcomed by my grandparents and my dad and all the family now complete again.  I wouldn't say they shed tears even if they were "tears of joy" as I read in the Bible that there's no more tears there.

The longer I imagined the scene of their reunion up in heaven I started feeling the pain of their absence here on earth.  Then for some reason I started feeling jealous or envious.  Wouldn't it be nice to go now and see them all - never to be parted again.  But then the LORD reminded me - soon Flor, but not yet.

So in the meantime, I love to listen to David Phelps "No More Nights" - what a wonderful song of hope for me, and for you as well.

I pray you enjoy this short blog today.  Have a wonderful and blessed day.  We love y'all!  And oh, I do have a You Tube channel called - you guessed it...Midlife Wanderings.  Please visit my channel and don't forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE and LIKE buttons to help me grow my channel.  Thank you.

++New Living Translation Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#RussellStoverCandy Outlet Store in Abilene, KS - WE BRAKE FOR CHOCOLATES

Yes, we brake for chocolates, especially dark chocolates....

Carmen Beach Resort

This blog was meant to have been done mid January, but again we had a computer failure. The keyboard on the laptap quit working. When we finally got a chance to go to Tacloban we bought a USB keyboard so we're back in business.

Back to the blog.

When we take our coconut meat to San Juan to sell, we pass through Hinundayan. There is a bad corner on the highway in this town. Sharp 90 degree turn on a T with no stop signs on any of the directions. Multiple stores on the corner with people milling about on the road. See previous blog about traffic:    ROAD RAGE

We started to cut through town to avoid the T corner and saw a sign for Carmen Beach Resort. After several times passing the sign we decided to check out this resort in mid January. We drove through a residential area and just followed the road.  As we drove on we came upon the property with the gate wide open.  We noticed a parking area so we went inside and parked.

It is about a 15 minute drive from where we live and we were surprised what we found.  It is located on a cove and we learned the barangay where this place is located is called Lagiwliw.  Before we found the place we thought it would just be a couple of grass huts on the beach. What we found was a nice swimming pool with facilities. There is also a beach with nice huts. A storm had just passed and the beach was kind of trashy on the day we were there, but it looks like a good beach.

There is no sign in the main drag or the national hi-way so here's my "direction" to get there.  Going towards San Juan from the north watch for Olayan Medical Center on the driver's side, keep going until you drive up Lagiwliw Bridge.  Slow down because the first street from the bridge is where you'll turn left (there is a church in the corner).  Then you keep driving towards the beach, the sign is on your left.  Follow that sign.

Here's some pictures of the resort:

Main facility, what you see when you drive in.  There are rooms to rent in the main facility.  They do have an eatery on the grounds as well.  They have their own Jeepney, did not ask them where they go with it.

The pool and it's facilities.  JJ the fish was in the pool most of the time we were there.

The pool overlooks the wide Pacific Ocean.

The beach and huts.

We had Flor's brother Marlon and Marilou and her son, Lorenz (Marilou runs the store for us). We enjoyed a nice afternoon of swimming and relaxing.

The entrance fee is 120 pesos per person if you swim; 20 pesos if you don't.  There is also a karaoke for rent if you want. When we left, we saw on their price sign that the pool facility can be rented exclusively for 3500 pesos (about $70). We went ahead and booked a day in March for Judson's upcoming birthday.

Thank you for following.  God bless you all.