faith · family · food · Live It Well · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through · work

With Gumption!

The first time I heard this word “gumption,” it intrigued me. I didn’t quite understand what it meant, but I really liked it and I wanted to exemplify it. I wanted to live it and I wanted to be it.

Kate Winslet personified it while playing the role of Iris Simpkins on “The Holiday,” my favorite film of all times.

faith · family · food · Getaway · God · Italy · Nostalgia · Switchfoot · Testimony · Travel · vacation

questi sono i nostri ricordi: these are our souvenirs

As my feelings of nostalgia deepened, I couldn’t stop thinking about the disciples after losing Jesus to the cross. Confusion, disbelief, perhaps even deception? They probably wondered if they had just woken up from a long dream and if the years of ministry were nothing but an illusion. Despite their imperfections, they loved Jesus and they knew they were unconditionally loved by Him. But Jesus was …gone? Did they doubt? Were they disillusioned that their time with Him was over?

faith · God · mercy · Uncategorized

the economy of mercy

Often times, we are so blinded by our plans, our friends, our families, our small circle that we don’t care to practice hospitality to strangers or unbelievers. We are too concerned about what movie we should rent or what we should have for dinner that we forget there are others who don’t have the luxury of a TV or the opportunity to enjoy a hot dinner, or even worse…they don’t have a place they can call home. And that, my friends, is what the Pope meant. Let us love. Let us heal. Let us forgive. Let us not be obsessed with sin. Let us care for the sinner. Let us be a light in this world!

911 memorial · faith · family · food · genuine · God · godliness · Luca Manfe · Masterchef · New York · service

be genuine.

I’m a big fan of Masterchef, a competition between America’s best home cooks! Last Wednesday, America learned who the new Masterchef is: an Italian and NYC restaurant manager named Luca Manfe, whose American dream came true. For the second consecutive year, the home cook I’ve been rooting for wins the whole enchilada: a quarter of a million dollars, a cookbook, and as Gordon Ramsay loves to say in his British accent “the most prestigious trophy in the culinary world and the title of Masterchef.”

discipline · faith · family · food · Getaway · God · godliness · naples · restaurant

the getaway

With everything that’s been going on lately, we’ve been feeling like it was time for a small getaway. Since we couldn’t celebrate our wedding anniversary and Kenny’s birthday is coming up, I took my mother’s advice and “surprised” Kenny with going to Naples for two days. (Note: Next time, I must not use Kenny’s Priceline account or else he will find out through an email confirmation and the surprise will no longer be a surprise!)

cancer · faith · family · God · mom · Ovarian Cancer

others

A good reminder is to always find that “peace that surpasses all understanding” in the discomfort we may be feeling to understand that we are not the only ones suffering, but to look at our surroundings and comfort those who are also in this struggle of life. To find joy in the trials and afflictions by appreciating how good and faithful our Lord is in other areas of our lives. To find empathy and consideration for others is what Jesus constantly practiced as He lived among us, but now as He resides in our hearts, may that be our expression to others: His unconditional love!

faith · God · New York · Patience · restaurant · service · summertime · Travel · vacation

day one: patience is a virtue

We have been looking forward to this trip for about a month now, and to be finally here blows our minds away! The funny thing is: we almost didn’t make it!

Kenny worked a full 7 day week, so between being tired and the anticipation of coming here didn’t help him sleep last night. We set our alarms at 5:30am, but we snoozed another 15 minutes. Our flight was at 7:15am; we got to the airport at 6:50am. The gentleman at the Delta kiosk told us our luggage might not make it on this trip and told us to run to the gate because they were done boarding. So we ran like gazelles and apparently, so did our luggage. I was so relieved and so thankful by the airline for being so PATIENT , but who knew they would be teaching us a lesson today.

faith · God · mom · restaurant · service · Testimony · work

Psalm 22: From My Mother’s Womb…

Originally posted on From Friends:
Lately, I’ve been inspired by the devotionals given at work.  Each week servers at The Grill (a restaurant at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale) are assigned a psalm, and we must come up with a 5 minute or so devotional sharing what God’s been doing in our life.  This was mine…