CAPTURING PRICELESS MOMENTS WITH YOUR KIDS

1. Capture a moment with God

2. Capture a moment of knowing Him

3. Capture a moment of loving

4. Capture a moment of playing 

5. Capture a moment of fishing 

6. Capture a moment of walking 

7. Capture a moment of giving

8. Capture a moment of touching

9. Capture a moment of helping 

10.Capture a moment of hope

11. Capture a moment of bonding

12. Capture a moment of resting

13. Capture a moment of living

14. Capture a moment of defeat

15. Capture a moment of victory

Capture it. Children are God's little jewels given to us parents. They only become young once. We are to take care of them. They are fragile. 

"Oh be careful little eyes what you see...

Oh be careful little ears what you hear...

Oh be careful little hands what you do...

For the Father up above is looking down below...

Oh be careful big eyes what you see...

Oh be careful big ears what you hear...

Oh be careful big hands what you do...

For the little fellow down below is looking up above..."

Just remember what we see, hear or do . Capture it. Capture it right!

Merci Beacoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo taken with Nikon D80

THE SPRING YEARS

These I count the sweetest days 

Spring years of my life have just begun

Palm trees so tall and as they sway

Tasks and masks are not yet done

Bright light and cars on my sight

Never worry , If I may or if I might

Parchment and pens just aside

Things and good, I should abide

Pigeons , as they fly

Be merry and never cry

Man and woman is always on the side

Guilt and feelings that I should hide

And I will spend my pining years

As life has me addressed

And I can say throughout my yeas

That I have been truly blessed

This poem was written at the time that I lived with my grandparents in California. I was homesick , new with everything, missed my family in Manila and Mel. Studied for the board exams . More lifestyle adjustments. God was gracious. I was truly loved by my grandparents.I love them too. They took care of me. I love California. I left my part of my heart there. Precious memories. Spring entailed hope for me that I will pass the exam. That I will see my family. That I will see Mel. Hope that everything shall come to pass. God is the bearer of hope. If we focus our eyes on Him, we will not grow weary and we will finish the race.

Merci Beaucoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo taken with Nikon D80

A DINNER DATE

Three birthdays  in one week. My son Ethan, my sister Mau and mine!

Boy it was busy!

It is like this every year. One party after the other. My son likes to play on his party. My sister wants to celebrate it with style . I like to rest. Chuck E Cheeses has been good to us two years in a row now. My son Ethan loved his power rangers birthday with some special playmates. They were so excited. Little Isaac was running all over the place and sweet Hannah was so happy to see her friends. I saw God's grace through our lives last week . Mau Mau got her fine dining experience with all of us at the Currents restaurant in River Inn . This was a true treat. Anoush Bouch, and Prefix menu for a reasonable price of Asparagus soup, Filet Mignon ,the only meat dish I will sacrifice healthy eating, and sweet potato ice cream on pecan tart. Fine linens, Ritz service. Wow! Now, my celebration was different. The grand finale! We went to Orange beach, Alabama. I fell in love with this place that I have promoted it to many, many people. The place has its true Southern charm. White sands. warm weather. Great seafood. My whole family was complete. My sisters,brother and brother in law with my parents, husband and kids. It was tiring but worth every moment. 

This Easter  reminds us of Christ dying on the cross on that Friday. But thank God for Sundays. Life has come. He is risen! Man died because of Adam but through Christ we can live again. I thank Him for my birth. I thank Him for my life. I thank Him that I can be transformed from day to day by His mercy alone. He alone is perfect. And we can celebrate many birthdays . However we want. But Christ alone can change us. He is inviting you to a dinner date with Him. Make an appointment today.

Merci Beaucoup

Photos taken with Nikon D80

Chuck E Cheeses, Cordova, TN

Currents Restaurant, Memphis,TN

Orange Beach , AL

WHERE I AM LED MY BOOTS WILL FOLLOW

Just went to an awesome concert of Chris Tomlin and Israel Houghton on their Hello Love Tour. My whole family and parents went including the two boys with the exception of my daughter who chose to stay with one of her bestfriends, oh she is growing up too fast ! We had a blast! It was packed and people are on fire to worship and praise God. I grew up watching concerts, shows and plays.  Childhood memories with my dad bringing me to Kuh Ledesma's concert at the Folk Arts Theatre when I was 8. We went to Barry Manilow's concert and fell in line for hours and only saw half of the show. He also brought me to the countless ones including Menudo, Air Supply, Earth, Wind and Fire,and many , many more. During my high school and college days I was a mainstay of Music Museum and Music Hall just hanging out with The Tux, Martin and Pops , Gary V., Regine V., Apo and Side A band. I dreamt of once being in the theatre arts and maybe PETA.  When I got married , we spent a lot of time watching Broadway shows as well and it got a bit old after awhile and I guess just got caught with my other responsibilities and money spent on entertainment was just not going to fit in the budget.

 Though there was also a time in my life that I just did not want to watch anymore and had to many excuses and sort of lost my enthusiasm to do so. I just wanted to hibernate and stay where I am it is just a comfortable life for me . Let us say, I lost some hope, since I am growing old maybe I just needed to stay reserved. Until God opened another horizon this year. Lost hope, found hope. This time it is double the excitement to pursue the God given talents into the media stream.

I got these boots last year and boy they do feel comfortable . I wish I can wear them all year round! These are the boots I was wearing when I slipped and fell and hurt my neck and back for a week. But still love them! In life we wear different shoes . And shoes are needed to protect . Anointing . To make us comfortable.  Provision . To match our clothes. Grace. High heeled ones make us look taller. Dreaming big . They can cause us to stumble and fall also.  Failures. It can help us to walk or run .Endurance. Maybe jump and leap.  Victories. Work boots. Discipline . Winter boots. Waiting . Boots for rain.  Storms . Boots for gardening. Sowing. Hiking ones . Obedience.  Leather boots . Warmth. We might one moment be in another persons boots. Compassion. They make all kinds nowadays with different features to whatever need a person has. It just made me realize that no matter what kind we have, we are still the ones wearing them and they cannot move without the feet inside . Our feet is controlled by our mind. Mind sends signals to muscles . Muscles make it happen . We will be conformed at times to stay where it is predictable and just lose hope to perfect and chase a talent or gift . May it be in our career. Our family. Or just plainly our everyday walk. But things do not work that way. My boots are cozy but God directs our path. He is in control. Step by step He leads. He will show great and mighty things and introduce people to influence us in a great way. There might be times when the road is rugged and weeds need to be taken out. Or times it is smooth and wish we just get stuck on this. Or times when someone can just hurt us so bad and step on our boots. Forgiveness. It can cost us a lot when it is not on sale . Surrender. 

Life has many paths. But in the path I will choose, where God leads my boots will follow.

Merce Beaucoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo of boots taken in our backyard , Tennessee

Nikon D80

AND WHEN MY FRONTIER FROM THE WILDERNESS IS STRETCHED

What do you do when one day the frontier of your horizon from the wilderness is stretched? I woke up this morning at 4 am and wow ! Iam hopeful today! Had a wonderful time preparing for church, great sermon from the pastor ! Hope is what it is as it has been promised. Hope is defined to get or do something or for something to happen or be true. Nowadays it can be deceiving and also devastating if that which we hope for does not come to life. Turn  on the tube , radio or the paper. They all say the same. You are doomed. I just refuse to be bombarded with this and of it all the hope comes from Christ. Not the job we hold. Nor the partner we cling on. Nor our kids. Even our friends. The stuff we own to our name. But the one who holds our name in the palm of His hands. Hope is the fuel to move on and press on . I woke up one day and bit by bit things that I hoped for is unfolding before me. It is yes overwhelming for I thought it was going to still be a process but when God pressed the signal it was already done deal. Hope was the bridge that connected my dreams of writing to you  and you reading this post today. Hope is what you see with the shot that I snapped for this post. It is hope that defined the moment and the odebience to God that captured it.

Merci Beaucoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo taken with Nikon D80

WELCOME TO A NEW HOME

My family went to Louisiana last weekend and it was the first time my children actually left me as it happened only the other way around. After a long exhausting day of work I went straight to the house blessing of our friends and people with joyful faces welcomed me. God made me remember of His provision that even in the downfall of the stock market , He is able to give favors for those who trust and obey. The reason for the hope was not really into what the human eyes can invision but what was not tangible is really what gets us across the other side. And the sad part is we always analyze situations. It is by faith and not by sight. The most difficult is when we see it differently as what God is telling so on the other hand. Do we cling? or let go? or just completely trust? I say surrender it all completely. Clean it thoroughly and never live any spot. For a wound to regenerate , everything must be debrided and no granulation will take place if is not one hundred percent clean. We  can use all sorts of irrigation but if the necrotic tissue is present , nothing will change.

I can recall still , when I was living as a travelling therapist and nothing was really permanent. I was always moving . Everything that I had has to be portable, a 13 inch television and a small microwave, a luggage and my boom box made my little black Honda Civic full. Someone gave me a Shout to The Lord cassette tape and my life has never been the same again. God openly welcomed me into a new home . Ask Him today to come into your heart. The key is in you. It is waiting to be opened.

Merci Beaucoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo taken with Nikon D80

Models: Ariel and Rose Untal

Bartlett, TN

SPRING IN MY MIND

I brought my children for about four months to the babysitter and as I pass by this street, these trees caught my eyes . I saw it during winter and saw it sprung . It brought forth memories of me and my husband waking up a bit earlier to prepare the kids as we bring them to Nanay Buhay. I prayed to God to give us grace during this  season of our life which entailed physical endurance that meant lesser sleep and rest . My boys are growing too fast . I can still recall having only two hours of sleep , having them almost like twins . We made it and it was a matter of discipline . Spring is the season of the year between winter and summer during which many plants bring forth leaves and flowers. It is a time when people clean up their garages as I am doing now my spring cleaning. It is a time when I wonder how come I have accumulated so many stuff I do not need at all and need to get rid of. It is the season when everyone feels the vibrant energy to go somewhere and do something. Iam in the mood to make my abode look good and presentable. No more heavy clothes and boots. No more cold spells for now. This reminds me of spring in my life is a time of renewal . Thoughts of new growth and regeneration . I yearn for the water for my thirst that flows from the stream of the Almighty Father. It is about transformation and not conforming to the patterns of the world but blooming as what we were planted to be , not with one flower but with countless petals to whom which the Lord may be exhalted and lifted up. Making up my mind to change as only the blood of Christ can really cleanse my soul. Clean not just my stuff but every bit of stuff I have put in my mind and my body. The year of 2008 was good but this year will be better! And I surely know I cannot do this alone and I need Him. Through the people who can really be accountable to me.  Mel and I made a treaty that we will remind one another to  read God's Word faithfully everyday. and pass it on to our children and  put it into action . Mel is my bestfriend and he is accountable to me as Iam to him.

Iam looking forward for my spring in my mind . Are you ready for yours? If not, it is never too late . Ask God to change you!

Merci Beaucoup

Merce Veneracion

Photo taken with Nikon D80 

Dexter Rd., Cordova, TN