Major CHANGE

Hello everyone! It's been a while since my last decent update on what's going on in our lives and I have so many things to post, have to remember to make separate blog post for Christmas and New year celebration and of course or gift giving activity in Aurora.

But for now, I'm letting you all know that a major change in our life is coming in the next few months. We were told early of this month that the building where we live (which happens to be a very old building owned by our company) will now be taken down and then they will rebuild a new one. That means, we have to vacate the place and we were given at least 6 months to look for another place to live.

So these days, we were in the hunt again for a new place, which made my husband  excited because finally in he is putting up his home music studio soon in this new place. Now, he is slowly completing his stuff, he bought new computer last December specifically designed for recording and also his musical instrument accessories, hopefully this month he'll be able to buy the audio interface.

I know, it will be totally different and new again for us, moving is not easy, packing and unpacking things is crazy and pure headache but I try to be as excited as my husband, change is inevitable and we have to embrace it whether we like it or not.

The only major concern for me now is to be able to find that perfect place for us, one that suits our needs and of course suits our budget.

New year, new place, new beginnings :)

Happy 2016!

From our heart, thank you for the gift of friendship, for the love and support in all of our endeavors last year. Wishing you all a happy,amazing and wonderful 2016!!! 

10 days before Christmas

And I haven't wrap a single gift yet :( I don't want to stress my self though so I am not cramming, have bought a few gift items for our nieces and nephews and will try to buy few more for our godchildren just in time for our church thanksgiving party on Sunday. 

Like last year, I am organizing a gift giving event for our ministry again and this time our beneficiaries are the kids from San Luis,Aurora-   their area was badly hit by typhoon Lando last October. We are giving them small toys, hygiene stuff and cookies :) I hope that will make them smile and happy this Christmas.

*~*

I dreamt of my  Tatay last night, in my dreams, he was holding my hand and guiding me to a path going to our relatives place. It is in this time of season that I miss him most, because during Christmas, he gets excited, he plans for the food and whats not, he loves to open gifts from us. I guess our Christmas will never be the same again without him.

BUT, I refuse not to be on the celebrative mood this Christmas. I refuse not to be happy. I am blessed, I have family to spend the holidays and all my nieces and nephews are excited as usual.

10 more days to go and it's Christmas :) I hope you enjoy your time with your love ones!

Durian Ice Cream

This is DURIAN, Mindanao's most famous fruit.

It smells bad,ok really really bad but they said it tastes good. I can't bring my self to taste it because of the smell, I attempted many times (recently on our trip to Davao this last weekend) but I can't take it talaga.

Surprisingly, the durian ice cream is altogether different. When I had a taste of it last Monday (still in Davao) It was good and I liked it! No smell and no after taste of the durian fruit :)

I guess I'm okay now with the durian ice cream, I'm giving up on the fresh fruit. :)

Be strong and courageous

To anyone who might be facing difficulty or challenges in life, may you be encourage by the Lord. Happy Friday!

image not mine :) ctto

Surfing in Baler, Aurora

Our family went to Ma. Aurora, Aurora last weekend to attend a cousin's wedding and since it is an hour away from Baler we decided to go and visit the beach. Baler is well known for its big waves (Pacific Ocean) so it is also famous for surfing enthusiasts.

Now, it has been on our bucket list to try surfing (at least for my husband) and we did not let go of this chance. He did enjoy it and want to try it again someday soon.

Here he is, listening to the instructor giving basic lessons in surfing. Trying the board. Beside him is my eldest niece, it was his first time too but I think he is pretty good for beginners.

 I think that surfing board is way too heavy!! haha :)

paddle pa more! look at his instructor's big smile :) 

I didn't get to take a decent picture of him riding the waves but I have videos

After an hour of battling the waves :)

It was fun indeed!  I think I should also try it on our next visit lest I want to be the photographer again.

 

Hungry much?

It's past 5 in the afternoon, currently sitting here in my office table, waiting for my husband and I don't know why I am soooo hungry all I can think of is food.

Craving for all of these, yes, all of these.

Garlic Longganisa

Crispy fried chicken ( and  I only had this for lunch today) not the one from Jollibee though

 Sushi and maki

sigh, this is making me all the more hungry. Thank God it's weekend and I can at least cook fried chicken for us :)

Have a happy weekend everyone!

30 RULES FOR GODLY WOMEN

Got this on facebook and thought of sharing it here in my blog (CTTO)

I checked my self and sigh. I am a wife in progress. Married for 9 years and yet so very far from being a Godly wife. 

1). Never raise your voice for any reason to your husband. Its a sign of disrespect.(Prov 15: 1)

2). Don't expose your husband's weaknesses toyour family and friends. It will bounce back at you.You are each other's keeper.(Eph 5:12)

3). Never use attitudes and moods to communicate to your husband, you never know how your husband will interpret them. Defensive women don't have a happy home.(Prov 15:13)

4). Never compare your husband to other men, you've no idea what their life is all about. If you attack his Ego, his Love for you will diminish.

5). Never ill treat your husband's friends because you don't like them, the person who's supposed to get rid of them is your husband.(Prov 11:22)

6). Never forget that your husband married you, not your maid or anyone else. Do your duties.(Gen 2:24)

7). Never assign anyone to give attention to your husband, people may do everything else but your husband is your own responsibility.(Eph 5:33)

8). Never blame your husband if he comes back home empty handed. Rather encourage him.(Deut 3:28)

9). Never be a wasteful wife, your husband's sweat is too precious to be wasted.

10). Never pretend to be sick for the purpose of denying your husband sex. You must give it to him how he wants it. Sex is very important to Men, if you keep denying him, it is a matter of time before another woman takes over theat duty. No man can withstand sex starvation for too long(even the anointed ones) (SS 7:12)

11). Never compare your husband to your one time sex mate in bedroom, or an Ex-lover. Your home may Never recover from it if you do.(SS 5:9)

12). Never answer for your husband in public opinion polls, let him handle what is directed to him although he may answer for you in public opinion polls.(Prov 31:23)

13). Never shout or challenge your husband in front of children. Wise Women don't do that.(Eph 4:31)

14). Don't forget to check the smartness of your husband before he checks out.(Prov 12:4)

15). Never allow your friends to be too close to your husband.

16). Never be in a hurry in the bathroom and on the dressing table. Out there your husband is always surrounded by women who took their time on their looks.( 1 Sam25:3)

17). Your parents or family or friends do not have the final say in your marriage. Don't waste your time looking up to them for a final word. You must Leave if you want to Cleave.(Luke 21:16)

18). Never base your love on monetary things. Will you still submit to him even if you earn more money than him?

19). Don't forget that husbands want attention and good listeners, never be too busy for him. Good communication is the bed rock of every happy home. (Gal 6:9)

20). If your idea worked better than his, never compare yourself to him. Its always teamwork.(Gal 6:10)

21). Don't be too judgemental to your husband. No man wants a Nagging wife.(Eph 4:29)

22). A lazy wife is a careless wife. She doesn't even know that her body needs a bath.(Prov 24:27)(Prov 20:13)

23). Does your husband like a kind of cooked food?, try to change your cooking. No man jokes with food. (Prov 31:14)

24). Never be too demanding to your husband,enjoy every moment, resource as it comes.(Luke 11:3)

25). Make a glass of water the very first welcome to your husband and everyone entering your home. Sweetness of attitude is true beauty. (Prov 31:11)

26). Don't associate with women who have a wrong mental attitude about marriage.(Prov 22v14)

27). Your marriage is as valuable to you as the value that you give it. Recklessness is unacceptable.(Heb 13:4)

28). Fruit of the womb is a blessing from the Lord, love your children and teach them well.(Prov 22:6)

29). You are never too old to influence your home. Never reduce your care for your family for any reason. (Prov 31:28)

30). A prayerful wife is a better equipped wife,pray always for your husband and family(1 Thess 5:17)

Typhoon Koppu

According to news and the weather bureau, it was the worst storm to hit the Philippines this year. It was given a local name Lando.

Our home province was directly hit and we were greatly affected. Nueva Ecija was put under the state of calamity. 

I was very worried because of my Nanay who lives there and I wanted to go home immediately on Monday (Oct.19) but the roads are impassable due to flooding and fallen trees and debris. Finally, I was able to go home the day after. 

It is heart breaking to see my home town devastated, Cabanatuan City is almost covered with mud, people are starting to clean when I get there as the flood began to subside already.

Rice farmers are mostly affected as it was almost harvest time when the storm hit. Nueva Ecija is the rice granary of the Philippines because we are the largest rice producers so in effect the whole country will be affected by this calamity.

Despite of what have happened, I am thankful all of my relatives are safe, specially my Nanay. I have friends who were literally rescued from the roof of their houses but praise God they were all safe now.

 

   

I  took the photos during the repair of our roof  which was damaged by the typhoon. The Lord is good, He has provided for the replacement.

Thank you God for you have kept my family safe.

Choices

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you are being torn between two opposing sides? two friendships perhaps, or two ideas, or two Bosses?  I know it's hard to be in that situation.

I hope I only have to deal with the kind of  choosing clothes or shoes or places to eat-you know what I mean? the kind of whatever you choose you'll end up happy :) 

Say, if husband has to choose between Tay Tay 12 which I think is a 12 string Taylor guitar or a new electronic drum set, I guess whatever he ends up to, he'll be very happy. I would love to be in that kind of  situation anytime of the day.

Unfortunately, in life, harder choices have to be made. But at least you have a CHOICE. It is even more difficult when you are left with no choice right?

I know I have made some bad choices in the past and I ma not very proud of it, but I am hoping that today and in the future I'll choose whatever is right, whatever is more valuable in life and whatever is best for me and for the people I love.

Cheers everyone! 

Thankful

Last October 10, we celebrated Nanay's 76th birthday. We went home to be with her, we did not have any grand celebration like what we had last year but it's still meaningful. What matters most to me is that we got to spend time with her, letting her know that she is loved by us.

She said days before her birthday she dream of my Tatay, in her dream, he was asking her to come with him and stroll somewhere, glad she didn't go :(

When Tatay was still with us, he would always remind us of Nanay's birthday and will often ask us of what are we going to prepare for that day. No doubt, he loved Nanay, 56 years of marriage, it was only death that separated them. 

I just hope, we made Nanay happy even if we did not do anything special on her birthday, we were just there together with some relatives and her closest friends and yes it was such a happy time.

I love you so much Nanay, I am so glad you have reached 76 and am looking forward to more happy birthdays to come. May your prayers be granted. 

Her special prayer is that she be given more years, for her to see her grand kids graduate in college. My eldest nephew is graduating in 2018. I'm sure she'll be there to celebrate with all of us.

5 things to tell yourself daily

Let us all welcome October with a POSITIVE attitude!

image from twitter