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Month: April 2012

are you a giver or a receiver?

Yesterday, one of the couple’s from church were given love gift$ because they were going to the Phils, finally after 20 yrs of waiting. It touched my heart that God’s body wanted to bless them. As a young couple, I’m always hoping Perze and I can bless people as well instead of hoarding things in our storehouse.  It’s a great reminder to take steps of faith and bless people today instead of waiting to always be blessed. On the drive home, I was telling Perze about my burdens, questioning why people had it in them to give while other people don’t have the discernment to give back, instead, just take.  To be honest, I know love should be given unconditionally, but it still makes me feel uneasy when people want you to do so much for them without even the thought of wanting to do the same for you.  Why do people long for attention without giving attention to people who need it just the same?   Through the years, I’ve grown to single out and appreciate the most, those who give…and I mean, those who give.  Specific names pop out, unselfish souls who are giants in generousity, the ones […]

zienne conversation about potential future endeavors

So during lunch, I was talking to Zienne about college. Our conversation went like this: me: you know, when your Ate Emma grows up, she wants to be an astronaut. How about you. What do you want to be? zi: a zebra. #2yrs

my big brother is engaged!

After a while now, and my brother’s long hiatus in the Phils. trying out to be a farmer and activist in an Anti-Mining group in the Phils., he’s now engaged to LJ, also native born of Romblon.  They have so much in common, having met online because they had similar interests and knew similar people.  We’ve met LJ only once, and “supposedly”, we learned that we may have been classmates in Kindergarten, although we can’t really prove it, but we did have the same teacher, who was my Ninang.  She’s an extremely sweet soul and I can’t wait to know her more as my sister-in-law. I praise God for sending my brother someone who will love him, as it has been in my prayers for many years now.  Congrats you guys!  We’ll continue to pray for your wedding and marriage.  Please take care and protect each other. We love you.

Happy Birthday Mr.37

Last year, although not too many people knew, he’s been so busy…taking courses, working, writing testing articles, being interviewed for online magazine articles on testing, working on the website for his martial arts school and taking classes there, continuing with his ministries in SJBCI, and of course, being an involved and loving dad to his two beautiful daughters.  He’s had a lot on his plate… No pun intended, but recently, he also had challenges with his health as his doctor advised him to lose weight and diet.  To top it off, he was admitted two weeks ago to the ER for an urgent surgery to remove his gallbladder.  This, along with the previous health concerns really changed him in such a short time, changing so much of his diet, eating habits, and exercise.  For a whole week, he was forced to rest from all his commitments, even having had to miss Easter Sonrise Service and concert, and taking care of the girls and his pregnant wife :).   Through such prayer this past month, I too have grown to appreciate more God creation in Perze.  I’ve also grown (even though my regard for him so already so high) to admire […]

April Peacemaker. 1st Grade.

She came out of her bus today with a huge smile and a jump to her step. Guess who is “Peacemaker” for the month of April, voted by her peers! Priase the Lord!  She worked hard both years, trying to manuever her way into being a Peacemaker each year, trying to do her work, behave well, get along with others, and practice exemplary citizenship behavior towards her teacher and her peers. We’re so proud of her.  This time, her teacher asked her class to vote for this month’s Peacemaker award, and her peers voted for her, knowing it’s not about popularity, but because if they see what I see, they know Emma to be an exceptionally caring, cooperative, and hard working person. This year, she doesn’t get a medal like she did in Kindergarten, but she’ll be present for their Peacemaker breakfast receive the award.  Go, anak, go!

week 20

the size of a banana: It’s really difficult to even imagine a baby the size of a banana inside my stomach, but each day it seems my midsection is getting bigger and bigger. I’m on the halfway mark and it doesn’t get any prettier from here on out.  Believe me, I know.  Some people have been mentioning how I’m “glowing”, which means I’m having a girl.  They always say, “I’m sorry, I wish it was a boy, but you’re glowing.”  But then I hear them say my other pregnant friend is also “glowing” although she’s definitely having a boy.  I don’t know how that works, but nevertheless, boy or girl, God has the perfect reasoning and equation for our family.  There are reasons why I would want a boy, but God’s got the ultimate stamp of approval.  I’m on my 2nd trimester, 5th month so far and only gained about 4 lbs. to date.  This is not because I’m dieting or forcing myself not to eat too much, but it is a mix of lack of appetite and when I do get the snackies, I try to limit the unecessary fluff calories that have no nutritional value.  But if I […]

In the past two weeks, I’ve received two letters.

In the past two weeks, I’ve received two letters… My reaction has been completely different with each one.  The first email was a long message from a young friend who I NEVER get to see, who lives in a different state, who I even hardly talk to during the year, but he/she remembered something I’ve done for him/her, things I’ve said, and how I’ve affected him/her at that phase in his/her life which wasn’t always the easiest.  To make the long letter short, despite life’s circumstances, he never blamed me for telling him/her the truth.  Instead, the letter was just full of thanks, and it made me so humbled wondering what triggered him/her to remember me and write a letter.  The second letter was somewhat an explanation letter from another young person, just as long as the first letter mentioned, but I felt so turned off by it, not because of its content but because I’ve always felt that people should be braver and earn someone’s respect if someone’s wronged you byapproaching them directly instead of hiding behind an email, afraid of the consequences or dialogue shared.  It was like a safety letter to soften you, but instead of softening […]