Pondering... Reminiscing... Celebrating...

It's thursday night, almost the weekend guys! Thank you for those of you who have read my 1st blog anniversary post. Although not many of you chose to comment, no worries, I felt the love :) 


And therefore, I'm giving my first giveaway to another mom blogger who is inspiring, talented and super creative...


Loralai's Mommy from Baby Chronicles!!!


I want to thank her so much with all my heart for all her kind words and support with my blog. And her personal blog is so adorable and way cuter than mine! She has so many beautiful creations as well at Sweet L Designs. So be sure to check it out! (I'll message you on facebook Loralai's Mommy to get your info)






On a more personal note, I want to share a short little story with you...

About 4 years ago, these two kids, as young and career minded they were, almost eloped at one point. But thank God they didn't!

And on September 15, 2007 they tied the knot... properly... with all the glitz of a big wedding, in the presence of all their loved ones and in front of God.


Those two crazy kids was obviously my hubby and I.


Fast forward to yesterday when we celebrated our 3 year anniversary...


We thought it would be neat to go back to the old ceremony site. It was on a beautiful garden on a cliff over looking the lake.

It was great to revisit that special day, to stand there where we said our vows and kissed as husband and wife for the first time.

Then, we went to have our anniversary dinner at The Keg Steakhouse. Although I was more opting for sushi, it was hubby's turn to pick since we already went to a sushi restaurant the year before.


But I enjoyed it to bits. It felt to wonderful to sit down and have a meal like adults. I'm sure those of you with children know what I mean. The ambience was romantic, our server Patrick was simply wonderful and gracious, the food was divine and the conversation was a delight. I felt blessed.

Dinner was...


Drinks: Pineapple Juice for hubby; Margarita for me
Appetizer: Crab, Parmesan & Spinach Dip
Hubby's main course: Grilled Top Sirloin cascaded with creamy wild mushroom sauce with baked potato

My main course: Filet mignon wrapped in applewood bacon with twiced baked potato

Side: Trio Sampler of steamed asparagus, sautéed mushrooms and sweet potato fries.

Dessert was compliments of the house! Billy Miner Pie, a mocha ice cream on a chocolate crust with hot fudge, caramel and almonds.

And I could not ever, no matter how I tried, finish my dinner. So leftovers was kindly boxed for me and I had it for lunch today!

During our dinner, my hubby couldn't get over how so much has happened between the 3 years of our marriage. It actually feels like we have been married for way more than that. I guess that just shows how we have grown as a couple since that time. 

With so many things that life has thrown at us, I am definitely blessed to have my hubby not just as a support but as a partner in this life.

Those vows we originally promised to each other and to God has now a more deeper meaning to us. 

Looking back to who we were 3 years ago, we certainly did not have the faintest idea what being married really is. 


I thank God that although we were just a couple of kids 
"in-love", He has given us the will power to stay strong and to stick with each other: for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.


And I do declare that these two lovey-dovey couple...

are newlyweds no more...

Word Wednesdays

Hi Folks! 

I'm so excited to introduce to you a soon to be regular guest blogger! He is a wonderful, handsome, incredibly intelligent and funny man that is very very close to my heart. 

I introduce to you the one and only hubby of mine, Dave!

He will be here sharing 'Word Wednesdays' with you.

You are probably wondering what "Word Wednesdays" is. My hubby has been sending a weekly devotional on facebook to our Youth in the church and I thought I would share it with you as well here (With Hubby's permission of course!) So every wednesday, be sure to expect my hubby sharing God's word. 

So here it is, today's 

Word Wednesday:

Last Sunday’s message has placed a burden in my heart to want to proclaim God to the world. The only problem is the world is so big I don’t know where to begin. There is debate on how to spread the Gospel and I don’t know the “right answer.” 

I look at the book of acts that takes apostles from the death of Jesus to spread of the Church.
I know that it everything has to start with prayer and the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5 “Once when eating with them, He commanded them, do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2 they received the Holy Spirit comes. Acts 2:42 they create a community with a common goal to spread the word. They go to Major Cites where the news can travel to remote places.
As soon as the word gets out persecution begins Acts 5:17-41 and even one is stoned to death Acts 8:59. The persecution creates a good result (God can use any situation for good this is where you say Amen) the believers scatter and spread the news all over. 

So where do you stand in sharing the word of God? 

What motivates you to share the word of God?

We should not feel guilty and pressured into sharing the word but it should be something we do out of great joy and love for what God has done to spear us.

Open your heart to God in prayer and ask Him to tell you how he wants to use you for His glory. Be bold enough to speak in situations where you will be made fun of. If you are not bold enough ask for boldness in your prayers. Be ready to share the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way and how He has made you into a new person

I am still at the prayer stage.

Love you in Jesus



Dave

And I will be still...

This post is long overdue... Instead of listing down my excuses, I'm going to go right to the point....

I started a new job in a big medical corporation last week!!! If you read my older posts, this is the blessing I have been so excited about. You know why?

Ever since I switched my career into the medical field, I have been given an entry level positions through my family and friend's contacts. I even gotten my past two jobs without a proper interview. They just called me and said, "wanna work for us today?", or something along those lines. Although I am very grateful for the opportunity and the experience handed to me, I didn't get the sense of accomplishment. See, for more than a year, I was RELENTLESSLY applying constantly to get into the medical field, specifically the hospitals and big medical corporations. And after the hundredth resume submitted and a thousand prayers, I didn't even get one call. I became hopeless and broken hearted. 

And just when I thought I already have the greatest job I was going to get, I got that ONE call. That call was from the HR department of this big med corp. They said they have my resume on file and they have a position open for me and if I was interested to come for an interview. I mean come on! That resume was sent more than 6 months ago!!! I know this because I have that sent email to them saved. 

God knew I could do better and I deserved better. God knew I got desperate. God knew I felt like He does not hear me and I was broken down in spirit. And so I guess in proving that He does hear me, He put MY resume on top of the BIG pile in that BIG HR dept. of that BIG Corporation. I could've easily gotten lost in all the paper work. But he proved that my patience and stillness in Him was all worth it all and it still is....

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5

In transition

Today was a good great day! Yes, it was raining and cold outside (where did spring go?), yes I had a lot of work to do and yes I'm still bothered and worried that our house is still on the market after more than a month. But it all seems unimportant now because I had a phone call that made my day. Now it's still all hush hush because... well just because it is. But I will break the news when the time is right. (No, I'm not pregnant).

That phone call was so powerful and meaningful to me because it proved to me that God does know our heart's desires. Even though I was on my lowest point and had a broken spirit for so many times, I repeatedly got myself up and continued trusting in Him (which is extremely hard, I might add). But slowly He is revealing his plan for me and my family. It's not because He just wants to take His sweet little time but because His plans are much more bigger than you and I can imagine. It is pretty amazing to me that now it all makes sense because as soon I stopped asking and worrying, I was blessed.

Source

On another note, I kind of celebrated my happy phone call today by getting a brand spanking new....

MACBOOK PRO!!!

It wasn't an impluse buy or anything, my trusty old Toshiba was on it's last legs and broke down a few months ago. I have been "borrowing" my hubby's laptop ever since, and I guess he was getting annoyed with me hogging it. So we both decided that it would be best to get myself not just a working laptop but a darn good one too (hopefully it will last me longer than the old Toshiba).

Source

Well unfortunately, I still haven't played with my Macbook as it is currently occupied transferring files from my Parent's iMac. And tomorrow, I will be doing the same transferring from hubby's laptop to mine. So, long boring story short, there might be a lack of post in the few coming days.

To make sure you won't forget about my blog, here is what is in store for the upcoming post that you can look forward to:

• 
  
  Updates on "the challenge" with extra highlights on the 'no sugar' thing.
• 
  
  Pictures of what I have been eating on the new 'no sugar, no dairy, 1 salad a day' diet.
• 
  
  Post on how I avoid or give in to non-healthy eats during social events.
• 
  
  Pictures and stories on my little DD's shanenigans.

Oh, and I forgot to mention on the "the challenge" post that I can't consume any alcohol and do belly breathing for the whole 8 weeks. I only drink a glass of wine or two when I'm at a party and honestly, I haven't been to one since... March, I think. So I totally forgot posting that because I really don't have a problem not drinking for the challenge.

Now, I hope to get my files compiled on my Macbook soon so y'all won't miss me too much (or forget about me).

The weekend is coming up and I hope you have a great and sunny one wherever you are!!!

Whatta friday...

and I'm afraid that the weekend will be the same as well. Let's review shall we...

Friday morning started well... woke up, got ready, woke up my DD, got her ready then went downstairs for breakfast.

This is what I had:

Kashi Go Lean Crunch mixed with Kashi Toasted Berry Crisp with Skim Milk. (Yummy and waistline friendly)

My DD munched on some toast with cream cheese with a bottle of milk.

Then my hubby and I dropped my DD off to home daycare and we both commuted to work together. Which is a nice AM bonding time despite of the terrible city traffic.

Photo from here

My day at work went without any glitches. Everything ran smoothly and although I had to deal with some "difficult" people, God gave me the patience and kindness to shower them with flowers instead of stones. Which actually works wonders, kudos to HIM!

I had to buy lunch because of lack of leftovers from dinner the night before and got lazy fixing a homemade lunch.

So I went to Metro for some sushi. Then the salad section caught my eye and I bought something called "Seven grain salad". It was basically mixed grains with lentils and other type of beans in a olive oil based dressing. It was delish and spicy but it was too oily! I'm sure I can make my own less-oily version at home.

I took the pic after I was done eating and had the leftovers for a second 4 o'clock lunch! Which was great because it prepared me for the unexpected evening that was coming.

So after work, I headed over to my hubby's office to catch a ride home. We were planning to go to our regular Friday night Bible study and then P90x afterwards, but that didn't end up happening.

We basically had to make a trip to the Emergency room becuase of my hubby's worsening condition. It was not life threatening but it needed IMMEDIATE medical attention.

We went to a walk-in clinic the night before and he was given medication for it. He was told that if it gets any worse, ER was the way to go.

Photo from here

When we got to the hospital, we waited a few hours but was seen by the doctor as soon as we got a bed. He was diagnosed, tested, then medicated properly. Although I can't reveal the details because I respect my husband's privacy, but it made me a nervous wreck up until now.

We were told to come back to the hospital tonight so he can get assessed and medicated again. And I just hate waiting for him to get better. I can clearly see that the medication they gave didn't work and I just pray that when we see the doctor tonight, she will have alternative meds or something so he can get better STAT!

I absolutely hate this waiting game....

I need prayers...

Good Friday

I wish everyone a great Good Friday and I would like to share this with you...

By His Wounds

Loved Home For Sale

Our house is out in the market for sale! This is such a big step in our lives because finally after a year of hard financial starvation, we are being blessed and will be house hunting in the Big City.

Original from here

Our house was bought by my hubby before we got married and it is in a smaller city about an hour away from Toronto, where we are from. I moved in with my hubby right after getting married and this is the house where we started our married life in. We got pregnant and became a family in this house. I really cherish the memories I have there from preparing our home for a baby to learning the ropes of being a new parent. The neighborhood was so peaceful and so is the city itself. 

At the house: Our first Christmas married and 3 months preggy

Enjoying the summer at the lakefront close to the house, almost 9 months preggy

At the house: DD's first time in the snow at the backyard

Unfortunately, I was having the hardest time adjusting living there so far away from my parents and my friends. It didn't help either that I couldn't find a job there as well. So when my daughter was only 6 months old, we decided to move back to the Big city with my folks. They are very generous to have us there and we got comfortable in their big home. We eventually found someone to rent our house for the time being.

For over a year we have been debating of moving back or selling the place. And I think God was telling us to stop planning and worrying about our future and just take a step of faith. And so we did. 

The house is on the market now and as soon as we get it sold, we are looking to buy a permanent HOME in the big city. Somehow, it all made sense and God's plan for our family unraveling before our eyes. Now, I'm not expecting for things to go smooth sailing but as long I trust in Him, He will get everything done in his time.

I'm feeling guilty

I am such a grouch when it comes to the weather. It's getting a lot colder now and here I am complaining how chilly it is outside. I even posted and grumbled about working out on a cold, rainy night. Now thinking back on how my attitude was, I am feeling so guilty... Why do you ask?

3 words: TYPHOONS IN PHILIPPINES

While I am being grouchy about being cold, my home country of the Philippines is a disaster area and it's people are dire need. The capital of Manila alone have hundreds of thousands of people homeless and hungry because of the worst flooding they encountered in years. Hundreds of people have died in the process and hundreds more are missing. More deets in this article here.



If you would like to donate, it would help out a lot. Another Super Typhoon is on it's way right now, and I'm just praying for everyone in the Philippines be blessed and have God's protection.



To make an online donation in Canada through Canadian Red Cross, select 'Philippine Typhoons' in the funds designation option.



To make an online donation in US, you can select the International Response Fund option in the American Red Cross site.



Now tonight, I will definitely brave the cold when I go to Bootycamp and not complain about it. Even when I strip down to my t-shirt to get my MEASUREMENTS! (I will surely write about it on the next post)

I am so blessed living in Canada compared to my fellow Filipinos back in the home country. Aside from donations, they are also in my prayers and I urge everyone to pray for them as well. God said in his word that there is definitely power in prayers and if you ask, you shall receive.

I pray that those who have lost so much in the flooding will RECEIVE bountiful blessings from the Lord.

All photos taken from Yahoo News Photos

Tough day

Hi Friends,

Yesterday was not a good day for me. I was feeling really down and I had no energy for anything! I promised myself to sweat once a day and yesterday that phrase kept creeping up in my mind. But when my spirit is low it is hard to recharge with activity. Because no matter how great you might feel after that adrenaline rush, that burden is still gonna come back in your heart quite instantly.

So yesterday I DID NOT SWEAT.


My hubby sensed my lack of enthusiasm and he took me out to a nearby coffee shop to talk (My baby was already fast asleep and my mom was home with her, in case your wondering). We got ourselves a cup of tea each and sat down. It was hard to even say out loud how I felt. But he encouraged me and listened intently to even the littlest things I said. And after an hour or so, I was relieved. I cannot even thank God enough that I have my hubby. Without him, a day like yesterday would drive me off the wall. And today, he sent me a message through Facebook quoting a scripture from Matthew 6:24. I read that before countless times, but today, I found it's meaning and I would like to share it with you.

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

photo credits: here
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

photo credits: here

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

photo credits: here

Yesterday, my mind was too occupied with the now and of things I think I needed. Now, this verses refreshed my spirit and I know that God always takes care of me.

It is great to have goals in life and to obtain and accomplish things. But sometimes, we need that break, to go back and do some soul searching, pray and be with the ones we love.

I hope that reading these verses would touch your heart and comfort your spirit as it did mine.

In times of Loss and grief...

Hi friends,

I know I just started this blog about my goal to get back into my skinny jeans but I would like to take away the focus on that for a moment.
Last post, I spoke about healing because I had a loved one in mind who struggled with his battle with Liver Cancer. Unfortunately, he lost that battle yesterday around 9 pm at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, leaving his Wife and children in this world. My heart fell because somehow I thought God would perform a miracle in his life. We never could understand what God puts us through but I believe that even sickness and death can still be a part of his great plan for us.

I have comfort in knowing that Tito Fred had an intimacy with God when he was still alive. I believe that God's grace had saved him and he is now with our Lord free from earthly sufferings.

My husband (on the left) with Tito Fred Garcia (on the right) July 18, 2009
http://www.universalmma.ca/our-instructors/master-fred-garcia/

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
Nor will he harbor his anger for ever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
Or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
He flourishes like a flower of the field;
The wind blows over it and it is gone,
And its place remembers it not more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
The Lord's love is with those who fear him.

Psalm 103: 8-17

So now, I grieve for his loss along with his family, church brothers and sisters, friends, colleagues and students. But I know that God is my rock in whom I take refuge.

I will see you in heaven someday Tito Fred... we will miss you.

Bootcamp + Weekend + God

It's Thursday night and I just got back from booty camp. It was great! There was more push-ups, more cardio kickboxing, and more lunges (I hate it, but I love it). Oh I almost forgot, we did a fitness test! It includes sprinting halfway across the park the 10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups then sprinting back where we started. I did it in 50 seconds! AMAZING... I'm not actually sure if it is good compared to other people, but I am proud that I was able to do that in less than a minute.

Another note, this weekend is going to be pretty busy for me. Between events, hospital visits (that's another blog post in itself), homework and church, I just have to be creative fitting in my workout in the schedule. No, I'm not making excuses to skip it!

I will be attending a Christian conference tomorrow. Pastor Benny Hinn is in town and he preaching/teaching the word of God at the Toronto Metro Convention Center. For those of you who don't know him, he is a Pastor who does crusades and preaches all over the world to spread the news that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.



I want to share with you why I am a bit excited for tomorrow. Going to a Benny Hinn crusade was one of my fondest child memories. I was only 5 or 6 years old when I went and my family and I were still living in the Philippines. They had the crusade in a huge park and it was filled with tens of thousands of people. All I could remember was at that time, I was in and out of the hospital because of tonsilitis and infections. My Mom was a new christian then but she already had a strong faith in the Lord from what I could observe. I guess when we went to the crusade, my Mom was touched with what Benny Hinn was preaching and of course the presence of the Holy Spirit was definitely right there in that park. Even as a little child I could tell what was going around me spiritually, so I prayed along with the Pastor, my Mom and the mass of people. It was the only time I felt so weightless, comforted and overwhelmed with great emotions that I couldn't even understand. All I remebered next is opening my eyes after we prayed and worshiped and I was lying on the grass all along. I seriously thought I was floating in the air and presence was carrying me.

That's all I could remember from that experience, but according to my Mom, I never went back to the doctor for any complications of my recurrent infections after that. Now thinking back, I am certain it was God who healed me.

Proverbs 4:22 – For they (His Words) are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV)


May God always bless you...