Jill and the Books Talk

Restless. Hopeless. Broken. You could be in the midst of a nightmare as you read this today. You don't have the faintest idea on what to do about your situation.  Have you ever felt that God is too busy to pay attention to you? Yes. He is busy alright. Busy orchestrating something great to take you out of the mess you are in right now. Things may not turn out the way you expected it to but one thing is for sure. He will deliver you from your circumstances in His perfect time and in His perfect way. Why? Because He loves you.   And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,   neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.   No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.  - ...

Exactly one month today since I last wrote anything here... Sipping tea and savoring mouth-watering dimsum in an authentic Cantonese restaurant is not something I get to enjoy that often. The traditional Cantonese morning or afternoon tea called Yum Cha was truly a delightful experience for me during my latest visit to Hong Kong with my family and closest friends. My Yum Cha experience is very different from the light afternoon teas I am accustomed to. For one, the table setting uses Chinese utensils like chopsticks and tiny bowls instead of the usual tiny cake forks and dainty doilies/napkins. Secondly, bite-sized dishes were served in small steamer baskets instead of the elegant cake tiers and sandwich plates. A trolley full of steamer baskets goes around and it's tempting to try every appetizing dim sum there is! Contrary to the intimate Western-style tea settings, the ambiance of Yum Cha is rather more vibrant since large groups of...

My dearest Melissa, The Lord Jesus answered my prayers when you came into our lives. Thank you so much for  everything. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am to have a sister like you.  May God grant you the desires of your heart according to His good, pleasing and perfect will. May you always be in good health and may your days be filled with love, joy and peace. Happy happy birthday Mei-Mei! I love you! With my sister in law on their wedding day, July 16, 2011 at The Marriott Manila Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character 10  A wife of noble character  who can find?      She is worth far more than rubies. 11  Her husband  has full confidence in her      and lacks nothing of value. 12  She brings him good, not harm,      all the days of her life. 13  She selects wool and flax      and works with eager hands. 14  She i...

We survived college life together.  And now, we celebrate the kind of friendship  that surpassed the test of time  and challenges of building careers and families. 

In the midst of this chaotic urban life,  I often find myself retreating to seek serenity  in special places that make me feel like  i'm a queen for a couple of hours.  I usually go by myself  but there are special moments when  one of my best friends joins me for a day of pampering.  Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.  - Ovid (43 BC - 17 AD)

One of life's greatest pleasures is to languidly dine and catch up with good friends in a charming place like this. Great food, excellent service, eclectic interior.  There's just something about this quaint and fancy restaurant that keeps us coming back. Dining with friends at Cafe Juanita “One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.”  – Luciano Pavarotti

Tea time knows no bounds.  It is no longer just an afternoon delight for us.  Oh how far we've come  from drinking cocktails in sparkling glasses  to sipping tea in fine china. From enjoying girly talks  to having interesting conversations between ladies. Indeed, we have come a long way  my dearest best friend. Happy happy birthday! Midnight tea at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel to welcome my best friend's birthday.  My best friend Genevieve's birthday.