Wednesday, January 30, 2013

He put a new song in my heart
A song of praise unto my God

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

When is okay not okay;
And when did good become best?
You are never too big of a mess for God to redeem and nothing is beyond His ability to restore. - Joyce Meyer


Buffalo, Buffala, Buffaline.  I miss.
People have power over you, if you are not willing to forgive them for their mistakes.  Forgive, and move on, today. - Chinkee Tan

Monday, January 28, 2013

Facing the truth means going beyond just admitting we've done something wrong; it means not making excuses for that wrong behavior. - Joyce Meyer


Sunday, January 27, 2013

I found out, my eldest is more conservative than I am.
Who are you? Is that you?

Saturday, January 26, 2013

I didn't know, nails can give you such a happy feeling!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Being suspicious causes inner torment and we imagine things that either aren't true or will probably never happen. - Joyce Meyer
Before you ever get a problem, God already has your deliverance planned. - Joyce Meyer
Good morning Aa!
Good morning ma. I love you.
I love you too baby.  Do we have a text?
None pa.  I will text papa ok? So you will have a text.
Ok.

A!! Why are you calling your Papa?
Ay sorry! Was that Papa's number?

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. - Helen Keller

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

Laughter.  Compounding elements.  Coupled with occasional bickering.  Subject and predicate.  Aaron with his "brick game" while waiting for his text. Laughter.  Interview from Liwliwa. Ending the day with bubble safari.


Sunday, January 20, 2013

God has heard your prayers and your answer is on the way.  Your times are in God's hands and He won't be late.

This year is the year of God's favor.  This year will be a year of deliverance.  This year will be a year of breakthroughs.

I may not see it coming yet,  but I know God is working His miracles on my behalf.

I will taste and see that the Lord is good!
Believing God for the best...indeed, He makes everything beautiful in His time.
Manang Kathrine! You always make me feel good! =)
Yabada badooooo!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Good morning dearest!

6:00am
Aaron: Ate, can I  borrow your cellphone?
Ate: No, not yet.  Later.
Aaron: (Silently walked away. Went back to the room)

(Door suddenly opened with force)
Me: What is that Aaron?
Aaron:  (Pouting) I'm not handsome.
Me: You are.
Aaron: No!
Me: Why?
Aaron: I'm not handsome than Rhyss.
Me: What? Rhyss is more handsome than you?
Aaron: Yes, Rhyss more handsome than me.

   
Focusing too much on ourselves makes us incapable of loving others.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Single parenting 101 for a working mom.  It takes grace.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thank you Lord for my two boys - my liwliwa and my bff
Joy amidst sadness
Security despite being alone
Peace in the midst of turmoil
Gladness in times of despair
Laughter despite tears

God is indeed a promise keeper.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

As a wife, you feel your husband's pain ten times more.

For as long as my children and my husband are happy, I'm okay.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Ngotok ka pay essa. Hahaha.  Sha ay di!
Dear Mama,

I am so proud of you.  You are the smartest wife and mom I have ever known.  Thank you for teaching me by example.  I thank God for your quiet and gentle courage and strength. 

I miss you so much Mama.  I love you.  See  you when I see you. 

Christine

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Thank you Lord. I am one day closer to my miracle. 
Thank you Lord. You are a God in and out of seasons.
Thank you Lord. You are sovereign.
Thank you Lord. You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Thank you Lord. There is a time for everything.
Thank you Lord.  You love me so much.
Thank you Lord. You are never against the family.
Thank you Lord. You are God.
Grace is God doing for us what we could never do and what we will never deserve. - Joyce Meyer

Ala ni Daddy makaipakawa!

I was doing my regular grocery when I spotted Fox's candies.  There was a sudden rush of emotion.  I suddenly missed buying them for Daddy.

I was at the condiments section.  I saw a Kikkoman Soy Sauce.  I remembered how he wanted to eat chopsuey.  And as I was listing down the ingredients for Aldrin to buy, he specified we use Kikkoman for the soy. 

Then I remembered how I prayed while I was cooking the chopsuey.  And yes, he liked it!

After the funeral, we prepared for breakfast.  I went to buy bread.  I don't know why, but I wanted to prepare french toast.  After preparing one whole pack of bread french toast, my sister-in-law served it.  Then my brother-in-law came to me in the kitchen - "naimas met diay bread mo Christine." So I replied, "Hehehe. Laylayden et ni Daddy an kagtudi ya." Mama butted in, "Shadi an paborito na si Daddy yu."

How Daddy craved for yema in November when he was in the hospital and very critical.  I really looked for yema and it became known to my friends that Daddy wanted it so badly when they saw me buy all the yema sold by the students. 

I remembered how he discussed with Mama how he wanted to be buried and where.  He didn't like to be buried near the house.  He wanted to be in the cemetery.  Then Mama started to cry.  Then she said, "duwa kayo nga agsau kenni Christine!" And Daddy said, "saan aya nga isuntu met laeng ti papanan tayo amin?" Then he smiled his mischievous smile. 

How Daddy would ask me to pray for him everytime he is in pain or he is not okay. 

Oh Daddy, I am missing you.  I didn't know, and I didn't realize I cared for you like this.  I didn't know I would cry for you, too. 

I miss going to La Trinidad to visit you with my bees. The hospital visits. The sleepovers.  The little chats.  How you would talk to me about how you felt at that time - what pains you so much, what you would like to happen. 

Now, I will no longer be receiving any call from you...asking me what time we are coming.  You just don't know how I felt when you called me up while I was in the middle of a party, asked me whether I am coming or not because your gums are bleeding, you can't eat anything but lugaw.  So I rushed back home, got the blender and brought it to you, only to find out you are very okay, watching tv.  That's when I knew, close na tayo.

Looking back, when Carlo and I was still staying in Bontoc, our weekly visits would include newspapers and bread.  Yes, because you loved reading news and you liked eating bread.

How you appreciated the first time Carlo and I bought a cake on your birthday and told us it was your first time to have a birthday cake.

How you sacrificed your time and finances to see us during the time when things got rough between me and your son.  And how you assured me when you said that he can no longer go back home to you and to Mama if he continues messing up.

Thank you Daddy, for giving me the chance to be part of your family.  Thank you for your respect. Thank you for welcoming me into your family as a daughter.  

Most of all, thank you for giving me a chance to do things for you and to care for you, the same way I would if my Papa were still here.  It was a privilege to serve you, because it was like serving my Papa as well.  It felt good to pamper you, because I hadn't had the chance to pamper my Papa or even took care of him before he died.  Thank you Daddy for treating me as your daughter.

I know you're better now.  You are now walking in streets of gold.  You are now in a place where there is no more pain, no more hurts, no more worries.

I miss you Daddy.  The bees miss you too so much.  Thank you for being a Lolo to them. 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

I will not be afraid of change because it will lead me to a new beginning.
The devil lies.
In fact, the devil doesn't know how to speak the truth.
- Joyce Meyer
Pride is the cousin of denial.
People live in denial because they are proud to admit that they were wrong.

Baguio City is really the home of honest taxi drivers!

This morning was not the first time I left something in a taxi.  I experienced dropping my cellphone and then nada.  It was different today.  The one I left cannot be replaced immediately...the documents of my brother in law that I am supposed to have signed by any of Daddy's doctors.  I was in a rush - from SLU Hospital, to Pines City Hospital, to AMDC and  I was supposed to go back to SLU then to Sto. Nino.

But I stopped first at AMDC, and made a call nearby to BGH.  After making the call, I realized, the documents were missing.  I rushed back to AMDC.  The Security Guard told me, a taxi driver came to return some documents but he returned it just the same because he cannot find Charlton anywhere in the building.  Of course he couldn't! Because he was never in the building.  I got so relieved when he gave me the number and yes, to make the story short, I got the papers back!!!

And yes, Tonton, if you ever get to read this, I almost jeopardized your 15 days vacation.  Thank God for working on my behalf.  And yes, I am so grateful to Rudy Diamas, the taxi driver who returned it.  And yes, I am so grateful I am from this city.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Rhyss and Arnis


Rhyss, are you still going to practice arnis? 
Yes, I will go tomorrow. 
Oh, ok. 
They might say, "nakakuha lang siya ng medal di na siya bumalik. Kumpleto pa naman ang gamit niya, sayang."

Rhyss' newest passion.

His very first competition was in December.

Mama, I am so ashamed na yata.  I am the only one here with a complete family watching me. 
Why, aren't you glad, we're all here to watch you and cheer for you? 
So shameful kaya mama.

Ate, is he representing the school? (My sister asking)
No. I just brought him here because he likes it.
Sino ngay ti coach na? 
Me.

And during the fight, his stick fell down (which is a violation...if your stick falls three times, you're out of the game already).  Oh, and yes, I almost shouted, that's okay baby!!!! you can do it!!!  Good thing I was able to restrain myself. Otherwise, I will be banned for a lifetime to watch him play.


And yes, he wants to join the Panagbenga Arnis Competition.  And yes, will support him all the way.  But I can't promise not to be the stage mom that I am.  Anything for my favorite 11 year old boy!
I choose mercy over judgment.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Oh my Aa!

Mama, look at Jesus.  He is locked up.  He can't pass through there is a cup.

******

Aa, you're so handsome naman! No, I'm not handsome.  You're letting me stay here lang naman. 

Friday, January 04, 2013

When trust is broken, forgiveness is offered instantly by grace; but trust must be re-earned over time.

I'm a sleuth.  I grew up reading Nancy Drew.