If given a blank canvas – what picture will you draw?
If given a blank page – what ideas will you write?



Sometimes…there’s just nothing to say…just a lot to smile about!

In reading Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life”, a few things stand out:

I was waiting at the DMV last week. Big mistake going to get your license renewed at the end of the month! It took over 2 hours to get it done...

I was reading the book while waiting and coincidentally, the chapter I was reading was exploring the topic:

“Life is a test…”
I don’t really like taking tests. There are days that I’m “A-cing” it, there are days that I barely pass it…and then there are days that I’m F-ing it!


We hear the phrase, “G-d does not give you a challenge you can’t handle.” ..but there are times, we would rather let the challenges pass us by…

Needless to say, I calmly waited for my turn, and with the help of a dear friend, I didn’t need to rush home to get my little guy! (So lucky I have a friend closeby!)

“Partial obedience is disobedience.”


I told my little guy that phrase and of course he said, “Yeah, but…”







I replied, “Yes, sweetie.”
He continued, “Then why do we get gifts?”

"Love is a gift..."
God is happy when we’re happy….Just like every parent…Just like Grandma!

Almost every year when it’s grandma’s birthday, she’s the one who’s giving us gifts – with her baked goods, goodies, hugs and kisses. She enjoys seeing her children and grandchildren smile.

So this weekend, on her birthday – guess who’s making dinner and giving us goodies?

It’s that unconditional love…
      that never ending song that warms our heart…
      that ever ready arms waiting to give hugs and assurance that we’re good!

(Happy Birthday, mom. )

LOVE is saying thank you and giving praise…

Enjoy the holiday season. Try to see the bigger picture. Keep smiling.

My day to day is more like the unpredictable active rock slide in Smuggler’s Notch, but there’s always that little twig that is strong enough to give the support I need.


1) Moodiness – this can definitely drive my family insane. But luckily, they know that my hormones are at a whacky stage that they all give me a pass : ( I think that’s why they’ve been ignoring me, hehe!)

If I have my means, I would just retire in the countryside half of the year – just to be close to nature, and the other half of the year – to be in NYC! (But in any scenario, I’ll be that little old lady who’s swaying her hips and swinging her arms to the tune of Prince’s "Purple Rain", the Script's "Breakeven/Falling to Pieces", Owl City’s "Fireflies", Yiruma's "River Flows in You" – or that "Dynamite" song from Taio Cruz who seemed to be playing on Z100 every 5 minutes! OR HOPEFULLY by then, I'll be listening to my little guy's own composition being played on national radio!)



2) My ever changing body type and physical challenges. I am still petite compared to most people, but unlike last year, I can no longer keep my size 0 body type. I feel more comfortable in size 2 or 4! I am no longer an XS. I am not fully embracing this new size but I do like my new assets – hehe!


Although I noticed that my hair is thinning and that I forget things often. Could it be that I forget the bad things that are happening in my life that all I can remember are the good ones? Hhmm…what was the topic of this post by the way?







PEACE. JOY. HAPPINESS. A lot to be thankful for!


While you are playing Wii "Just Dance" with your little guy (which I must say is a great fun activity with my little crumbcatchers), taking a walk to Barnes and Noble with your honey, or gathering in your dining room this week, be it Thanksgiving week here in the US or a regular week anywhere else in the world, let’s try to focus on what we can be thankful for.

I have known that no one’s life is without trials. Every day that I wake-up, I feel like I’m on a particular state of “peace”. I feel like, yes, I might cry today, but there’s always that something or someone that will make me smile again!

To those who are following my 40-day spiritual journey through Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life” , here are the 2 points to ponder:
    Day 4 : There is more to life than just here.
    Day 5: Life is a test and trust.


Be happy everyone :)

"A man isn't poor if he can still laugh. "-- Raymond Hitchcock
How would you feel when your “jester” child has lost his happy tune?

The worst thing a mother goes through is seeing their child not feeling well. One of my kids has been sick on-and-off for 4 weeks now. My child has not really complained until recently and this week had been totally frustrating.

The ironic part is that 4 weeks ago, the pediatrician commented on how healthy my son was, and then a few days later (after his flu shots), he has seen the doctor/specialist at least once or twice a week.
The sad part is that my son is feeling the way he is feeling because of the antibiotics/medicine.






My one wish is to have happy children!

Everyone’s life is driven by something” – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life.
And for me at this time, I only wish for my kids to remain happy.


I’m on Day 4 of “The Purpose Driven Life”. With the chaotic week, the few peace I get from reading a chapter day had helped.

Here are some points to ponder.

   Day One: It’s not about me
   Day Two: I am not an accident
   Day Three: Living on purpose is the path to peace



So today, try to laugh! It definitely is the best medicine!

The house was quiet…once again.

Kids were in school and hubby was at work.
Out of the blue…I had the urge to just let my husband know that I love him…

So I sent him a text…”I love you”
And then I sent the same text to my three crumbcatchers…
Somehow today, I just want to quietly utter those three powerful words – via Verizon wireless!

My favorite author, Kahlil Gibran wrote,
        “Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”

I guess today, my tree is just blooming with flowers!

I wonder why today – of all the days?

I’m kind of feeling “blah” today. It’s probably because I am nearing the completion of a year-long project. I’ve been writing a book about my family’s struggles – tragedies that make “Angela’s Ashes” a nice walk in Central Park. I’ve re-read and re-organized the beginning of my book – probably 10 times! Stopped, asked a few friends to read the first chapter to get their feedback, put it aside, and now that I’m ready to submit it to publishing (or editing), I am having second thoughts!

GottaLoveMom has been my stage for almost two years now, and now I think I’m ready for a bigger venue. (But I’m kind of getting queasy that I started procrastinating again….)

But I made a promise…

Life has not been easy for my parents, my five brothers and I, but one thing that keeps us going is LOVE. My parents showed us how to count our blessings. The love we have for one another is one thing that helped us go through the tragedies we had to face. And when I say “tragedy”, I mean total misfortune!

We are not the “Leave it to Beaver” kind of family – not even close. We’re not the Brady Bunch either (maybe just the musical part). We have had disagreements, and yet even now that our eldest is turning 50 in a couple of days, we still enjoy making fun of one another, chat, listen and vent.

So when a new acquaintance-editor asked me,
    “Why did you write the book?
      What’s the purpose?
      Who’s your audience?
      Why would someone want to read your memoirs?”

My first reaction was “I don’t know why would anyone want to read someone’s tragic life?”

But then again, the tragedies are part of who we are. Maybe we are here on earth for a reason – a purpose. Just like that “Quantum Leap” television series, maybe we end up in a situation because our mere existence is part of “putting right what once went wrong”. Maybe we truly are super heroes in our own little way.

And hopefully the next generation – my children, nieces and nephews will realize how blessed they truly are.

    Because after you’ve shed every tear drop, a smile will eventually resurface.
   Because after the sun sets, the moon and stars brighten the dark skies;
   Because after dark night, the sun shines the next day...to start a new day of adventures.


Have a great week everyone and thank you for listening :)

A blogger-friend, "Off the Beaten Trek", just reminded me that Veteran's Day is coming up...I just want to say "thank you" to all those who risk their lives so that I can enjoy this peaceful day...

I’m a neat freak. I can’t seem to be creative unless the house is organized and tidy – and my obsession is becoming a hindrance at times because I can’t seem to get anything done but clean.



Over the weekend – after a hectic schedule getting my kids to the pediatrician, dentist, Emergency Room and ENT specialist, I was getting grumpy over the “chaos” that had ruled the house. It felt like I wa suffocating from the clutter that decided to rule my house.


Can I change my obsession?

Can I limit the things that I obsess on?



One of my kids was walking around eating brownies…and that’s when I lost it.

My eyes followed the chocolate crumb that fell from my child’s lips, that left a trail on his shirt and landed somewhere on the dining room’s hardwood floor.
I gasped, did a “Home-Alone” gesture of holding my face with my hands, and pointed to the crumbs on the floor- as if the crumbs were in a position to attack me!


My kid laughed because he knows how OCD I get at times. In my defense, my husband stated that “we are all OCD with the things that we care about.”

There are things in life that we value more than the other. It may seem trivial to some, but to us it glues us together. And in preserving it, we sometimes obsessed on any little thing that can affect such stability. So to keep every thing in harmony, we have to respect each other’s little obsessions.

Have a great week everyone, and keep smiling :)

I can go philosophical about the change of colors, life, inspirations and all that..
But Barney sings it best:
    “I like to roll in the leaves, feel the cool breeze
     Stuff a scarecrow top to bottom.
     And you can call it fall if that's what you please.
     But I say I like autumn.
     Oh, scoodle whoppa doodle whoppa deedle whoppa deeze.
     Our jackets, we're glad we brought 'em.
     And you can call it fall if that's what you please.
     But I say I like autumn. “

After the sugar shock of Halloween Trick-o-treats, the scent of autumn reminds me of family gatherings and holidays – just sitting in the living room, holding warm ciders or chocolate, logs burning in the fireplace and kitchen filled with comfort food.

There's no time to frown..
So keep smiling, everyone :)