I thought it was going to be a quiet holy week at home when suddenly plans were made by my papa to go to Tarlac with the entire Avellana family and go up to a monastery that has a piece of wood from the actual cross of Jesus Christ's crucifix. Without thinking twice everyone agreed and we all trekked the high mountain to see it.

The monastery was situated on top of a mountain and it was really serene and beautiful. We had to wait for our turn as you go in the chapel per batch. So we waited for our turn, the priest told us the history of the relic and how it was brought to the Philippines and that we could stay for as long as we want and pray in front of it, and that we will be allowed to touch the glass holding the relic.

Vin was kinda fussy na while waiting for our turn, kasi inside fall in line din papunta sa altar (though mga 30 people lang naman kami per batch) so kung ano ano na ang mga sinabi ko to keep his attention.

Finally turn na namin (last nga pala kami sa pila ..heheh!) Pagdating dun sa harap ng wooden box na naka-enclose sa box, we all kneeled then i asked Bea and sam to pray aloud, then Christian, then ako naman, ewan ko ba kung saan nanggaling mga words ko, dirediretso ako nagsalita about all the blessings namin, thanking Him profusely na di ko napansin umiiyak na pala ako (nakatingin sina sam sa akin) talagang nakaka-overwhelm yung feeling. I have so many blessings talaga and i owe it all to Him ... i prayed that He always be in our family and that we never do anything that may displease Him. Ako kasi di ako naniniwala dun sa mga sinasabi ng tao na gusto nila yung mga anak nila ay maging "God-fearing" .. i do not want to teach them to fear God, i want them to respect and gain His love by being good people. I hope my job as a parent to them (yan kasi sinasabi ng papa ko sa amin, ang trabaho ng isang magulang ay maituro sa mga anak ang tamang daan, give them all the knowledge that you can to guide them to be good) sana i do not fail them. My parents has taught me so much, at dala dala ko yan ngayon, something na di matatapatan ng kahit na anong degree sa college, and i only have my parents to thank for.

So nung natapos na at lumabas na kami sa chapel, aba picture taking galore na! Kasi may mga ginawa silang parang mga castle-like structures dun, mga gazebo at super nice na mga garden na entice nga kasi nila yung mga families to go up there, hear mass then set-up a picnic, it's really giving the family a chance to be together, and that we did!

Then we went down na and went back sa resort kung where kami mag-oovernight. Everyone having a warm feeling that we did something meaningful this holy week! Next year uli!