Updates updates

Yes, I am still alive! Haha!

Have been busy with work and house thingies kaya I was not able to update this blog. Bad bad me. I do not even have the time to blog hop. Yes, ako na ang reyna ng kabusyhan haha! Wala na ako sa circulation' Ano nangyayari sa Philippines? Tapos na ba ang impeachment? Haha!  Oh diba, walang alam.

I am thinking when kaya ako magiging parelaks relaks ulit? Though, hiningi ko to kay Lord, tanggap lang ng tanggap =)

What have transpired in the last few weeks? Weekends are allotted for grocery time, shopping for house items and time for Antonio and Arch...or diba, kahit weekends busy pa rin?

We went to Calatagan last Black Saturday and Easter Sunday...and I so want to go to the beach again!!!!! Hopefully, we will have another family outing first weekend of June. If not, I have to wait for December. Boracay here we come! Woohoo!

Oh by the way, I have reserved for Antonio's preschool na. Which reminds me, I have to enroll him na pala haha! I am also looking for his school service. Tricycle na lang ba or school bus? Hmmm.

Antonio is enjoying naman playing with our kid neighbor...Palaging nasa labas. Minsan, ayaw muna kumain lalabas na. Unfortunately, he got sick this week...so bed/house arrest muna sya. Ang sama ng ubo nya grabe. Last Monday, he was coughing all through the night...kawawa naman. So I asked my husband to bring him to the doctor. I was ready na our pedia will give him antibiotic kasi ang sama talaga ng ubo. I told Arch, wag sya bibili ng gamot pa kasi I can get free medicines. Ayun, pagtapos sa doctor, sabi ng doctor..sipon lang yan. Viral lang yan. She just asked us to give Antonio Dimetapp, Solmux and Calpol. After 3 days, wala ng ubo (paminsan minsan na lang). Wow I so love my pedia!

So ayan, hopefully, I will be able to update this blog regularly na =)

A Short Conversation between God and Man

This is a nice read. Got this from here.


Timing na timing because I have been questioning God about the recent events in my life.  Nagtatampo ako minsan kay Lord. But I know God knows I try very hard to trust in Him...to believe that He has plans and those are for our own good. Kaya after ko magtampo at maglabas ng sama ng loob sa Kanya, I feel  positive...I cannot wait for His plans =)

----------

Me: God, can I ask You a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise You won't get mad...

God: I promise

Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do u mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late

God: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start

God: Okay

Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait

God: Huummm

Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call

God: All right

Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?

God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that

Me (humbled): OH

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed):Okay

God: Your phone went dead bcuz the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): I see God

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm Sorry God

God: Don't be sorry, just learn to Trust Me.... in All things , the Good & the bad.

Me: I will trust You.

God: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.

God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children...

Source: Shaine Songco

Stolen Water Meter and Incompetent Barangay Officials

Our water meter was stolen yesterday early morning. Oh diba, pati water meter pinatos. Sabi ng husband ko ghetto na daw yung community nila. Dati side mirrors lang ang kinukuha, now pati metro...naman. Now, nagmamadali na lumipat ang asawa ko ng house.

Anyway, sabi ko naman water meter lang yan at least di kotse ang ninakaw. Pero hassle pa rin kasi we are taking a bath sa ground floor CR dahil nakiki-igib lang kami sa house ng tito ni Arch.

So our yaya went to the Barangay Hall to file a Barangay Report, which is needed to get a new meter from Manila Water. Naka 3 beses na nakapunta yung yaya ko sa hall, wala daw pwedeng pumirma. Alam niyo kung ano sabi? Tulog daw si Barangay Captain kasi fiesta last Sunday. Sana daw maintindihan namin. Oh diba ang bongga!!!! San ka naman nakakita ng ganong sagot? Buti pa ang chicharon may laman, yung ulo ata ng kausap ng yaya ko e hangin lang!

Binalikan ng yaya ko yung Barangay Hall ng mga 6pm. Yung kausap daw nya sabi, sya na lang daw pipirma. Hay, pinagod lang nya yung tao.

Nakakapang init ng ulo!

NBI Clearance Application - Las Pinas City Hall

I have read horror stories about the looooooong lines and horrible system in getting NBI clearance. Since NBI has changed providers and now have biometric system, all applications will be deemed as new applications.

I was thinking of getting the clearance in Mandaluyong because it is nearer our house, or Robinsons Otis because I have read that the processing there is faster and the lines are not that long or Las Pinas because I can ask a staff of my dad to fall in line early. I decided to try in Las Pinas yesterday - January 30.

The messenger arrived around 6am I think. He queued in the line for women. When I arrived around 7, the line is sooooo long already. We were thinking maybe only 50 women were in front of me. They started distributing the application forms by 730am. I was so nervous because I still did not have my cedula, the messenger was still getting it from the other building. A lot of women before me were not given an application form because they, too did not have cedula yet. When it was my turn, I did not show the front page of my cedula, I just told the person somebody is still getting the new one for me. Thank God, I was given an application form...oh by the way, I was already the 108th. If the women before me who did not have the cedula were given application forms, I will need to go back next time. The cut-off for application for women is 120 and for men 180 per day.

I was praying that the processing will take half a day. Unfortunately, I was there until 4pm. Yes, it took that long. I did not take lunch anymore since I do not want to lose my place in the line - though we, the people who were left, honored the numbering still. Bigayan na lang diba =) Ang bagal kasi ng encoding. There are only 2 computer terminals. One terminal is dedicated for those who were asked to go back kasi di na-process yung application nila last year - during the transitioning to the new system...though konti lang yung mga taong yun. The other terminal is for the new applicants. Tapos, yung mga nagtatype e ang bagal bagal. Naturingang students of an IT school pa sila.

Good thing, the applicants were nice and jolly persons. Wala na lang nagsusungit kasi kung may magsungit dun malamang lahat kami bad trip na. Pinagtatawanan na lang namin yung case namin. Then one applicant, kasama nya mom nya. The mom was directing people like ayusin ang line, walang pinapasingit, etc. It was favorable for us. Pero kung nanay ko yun, siguro mapapacringe na lang ako. Hehe!

I was able to get my clearance yesterday. Last year, when I applied in Mandaluyong, I was asked to go back after a week. Syempre the praning in me, I was thinking na baka may kaso ako na di ko alam. Haha!

Tips:
1. If possible, ask somebody to fall in line for you early like around 4 or 5 am. (Yung isang applicant galing syang Alabang that day, 4am pa lang ubos na yung slot. Buti naka abot pa sya sa Las Pinas)
2. If applying in a city hall (like in Las Pinas or Mandaluyong), make sure you have cedula from that city BEFORE falling in line. Feeling ko pinagkakakitaan lang ng city hall yan e. Kasi wala naman sa NBI website yung requirement na yan.
3. Wear light or comfortable clothes.
4. Bring fan, candy, snacks, books or magazines, water jug.
5. Be friendly to your 'seatmates'.
6. Pray
7. Smile at wag uminit ang ulo....matatapos din ang processing. Hehe!

Crossroads

I am pretty sure lahat tayo dumadaan or dumaan sa crossroads...that our heads (sometimes hearts) are aching kakaisip kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Deciding and discerning are so difficult to do. Ipagsolve mo na lang ako ng puzzle or math problem wag lang mag decide kung ano gagawin ahaha OA.

Before I wrote this entry, I was in a crossroad. Di ko alam kung ano ang tamang gawin. Yung isa, alam kong hiningi ko talaga kay Lord yun pero may major isang problem lang talaga (minsan napapaisip ako na di talaga binibigay ni Lord lahat ano? =p Siguro dapat we will earn it.). Yung isa naman, I will not do anything, ganito pa rin ako...pero sayang yung opportunity ng isa. Ahaha palabo na ng palabo. Basta my decision was to go forward. Sayang ang opportunity. Bibihira yung ganong opportunity, ang hirap palampasin. Bahala na si Lord sa akin. Ipinagdasal ko naman yun thus, I know I am on the right road. =D

Looking forward to 2012

In 2012, I look forward to …

1. Transferring to our new house
2. Buying appliance, furniture and fixtures
3. ‘Decorating’ the house
4. Cooking
5. our PRIVACY! =)
6. School Hunting
7. Antonio's school
8. God’s plan regarding my work =)
9. Our 5^th wedding anniversary
10. Long weekends!!!
11. Going to Boracay in December
12. Simbang Gabi 

Happy Happy New Year! 

Not that techy

*While Antonio and I were looking at the Toy Kingdom Catalogue*

------------

Antonio: Oh look, Super Mario.

Mommy: Yes, correct that is Super Mario

Antonio: Just like what Ate Alexa's (cousin) playing.

Grabe ang memory ng anak ko! E bibihira lang nya makita yung DS ng ate nya kasi di naman palaging dinadala dito. And di nga nya nalalaro yun because ayaw namin....dahil a year ago nasira nya yung DS na yun. Haha!

-----------

Antonio: (pointing at the Nintendo 3DS) where is Super Mario here?

Mommy: Oh, we have to put a 'chip' first

Antonio: No, card

I was speechless! We do not own a Nintendo 3DS here or kahit anong game console (yun ba tawag dun? haha). So gusto ko sana sabihin na anak, chip ang tawag dun, kaso tama naman talaga sya e...hehe!

Ako na ang low tech, old school! Buti na lang di ko sinabi - anak, we need to put a cartridge first. haha!

Rainbow

I love rainbows...whenever I am down and I see a rainbow, naku matutuwa na ako nyan...kasi I know God has a pleasant surprise for me haha parang ang selfish, akin lang...syempre for us =)

The most memorable one I had concerning rainbows was last March 2008. That was the time that we were trying to get pregnant. I used a home pregnancy test kit and negative ang lumabas. But my husband said na di daw, positive daw kasi 2 lines. Kaya I thought negative kasi the second line was super faint....parang aninag or reflection lang. So I told my husband that we do the test after 3 days. That was a Friday. The next day we went to Tagaytay to hear mass at Pink Sisters. Syempre I was praying na sana nga pregnant na ako. Then, we saw a rainbow. Sobrang tuwa ko kasi I know yun na yung sagot ni Lord! So after 3 days nga, we tested again, ayun kita na yung 2nd line. =)

Last Sunday, I was praying to God na magmanifest Sya to tell me that I will be okay, that He has plans and that these will be better. I asked for a sign and one of those is a rainbow. We went to my parents house last Sunday. So the whole time traveling to and from Las Pinas, I was waiting for a rainbow. But sadly, di ako nakakita.

Yesterday, as I was driving along EDSA, wala na sa isip ko na makakita ng rainbow. Then, I saw a rainbow. It was bright and clear and it was in front of me! Gusto ko nga tumigil sa gitna ng EDSA para lang titigan ahaha! I cried while driving kasi alam kong God sent that rainbow to tell me that He is here with me. I believe His plans will be unfolded soon!

''For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.''
Jeremiah 29:11

This too shall pass

I am sad...anxious...afraid. I keep on asking God why. Why now, why me, why this, why why why? Mabait naman ako. Nagdadasal. Tumutulong. Pero bakit? 

I am trying hard not to question Him anymore. If I start worrying and pitying myself, I think of happy thoughts. I force myself to think that I am blessed. Marami pa rin naman talaga akong blessings to be thankful for. I pray. 

If I feel down, I just try hard to trust God. That God has plans and His plans will be better, maybe grander. And these are the quotes/verses that I keep on saying to myself (kasi kungdi baka dalhin na lang ako sa Basement ng Makati Med. Haha!) 

• This too shall pass
• Behold, I have carved you on the palms of My hands - Isaiah 49:16 
• If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
• There are always uncertainties ahead, but there is always one certainty--God's will is good. - Vernon Paterson 
• For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. - Isaiah 41:13
• Something good is going to happen to us

Masakit pero kaya ko ito. Dapat. Kakayanin ko to.

Kapag umuulan

...masarap humilata sa kama habang kayakap ang asawa at anak! =)

I super love my work. I work from home, I am paid, and I am with my son almost 24 hours a day. San ka pa, diba? Pero there are days pa rin (lalo na these past few days na naguuulan) na gusto ko lang magrest for a day. Parang bitin kasi ang weekend e! Hehe! My husband will just tell me, e di wag kang pumasok...ahaha! As if naman ganon lang kadali...for me.

I envy those people who can just 'call in sick' or mag emergency leave just because...for example, napuyat dahil sa gimik, absent sila the next day. Or tinamad pumasok, absent na rin.  Diba, maraming ganon? Haha! Ewan ko ba, feeling ko nakakahiya kasi to be absent diba? Minsan nga pag may sakit na ako, ayaw ko pa magleave. Hehe! When I was about to give birth, parang nahihiya pa ako to start my maternity leave ... crazy!


Di kasi ako sakitin e (knock on wood) so I was rarely absent sa school or sa work. Kahit yung sa college, uso yung cutting of classes, siguro mga once or twice lang ako nag cut ng classes....dahil parang may major exam lang kami the next day haha!

Pero syempre I take leaves naman, di naman ako martyr...lalo na pag kailangan na kailangan. Like pag may sakit si Antonio, na we need to go to the doctor. Or pag may vacation plans! =) Like, next month, I will be on vacation leave. Woohoo! Exciting!

not so common sense

this will be a rant post. sorry, pikon na pikon lang talaga ako!

there are renovations going on here. i specifically told arch na pag nagpintura na dapat wala kami ni Antonio, kasi kawawa ang bata. pumayag naman sya. what i did not expect was there will be grinding of cement last tuesday. tatabasin yung lalagyan ng sink kasi mas malaki na yung bagong sink na binili nila. Oh my, ang alikabok!!!!!!! nasa first floor yung ginagawa, imagine umabot yung alikabok sa 2nd floor??? Hay, sabi ko kay arch, kung may sakit lang ako sa puso, inatake na ako last Tuesday. galit na galit ako! inaway ko tuloy sya! e sabi nya di daw nya alam na that day gagawin yun. hay, e bahay nila to no. fine. di na ako nakipaglaban. ang isa pang kinaiinisan ko e yung manong dito (asawa ng manang namin) di man lang sinabi sa akin na maalikabok or wala silang ginawa. kasi kung ako nasa position nila, nung nagsimula yung grinding at nakita kong nagstart ng maging maalikabok, syempre papatigil ko yung carpentero...at sasabihan ko sa boss ko at tatakpan ko lahat ng dapat takpan. aba nakatiwang wang ang  mga plato, sofa, at mga condiments sa baba. ayos!

at di pa natapos yun. kanina, tatapusin na ung sink. syempre ako di ko naman bahay to so di ko alam ang gagawin. pag open ko ng faucet, walang lumabas na water. bumaba ako to ask if they closed the main pipe. Sagot sa akin nung manong, oo. Nagpintig na tenga ko. Umakyat na lang ako at nagtext kay arch para magsumbong. Grrrr! Hello, buti na lang pala e di ako nagnumber 2 or naliligo. Wala man lang nagsabi sa akin na papatayin na yung water.

galit na galit ako kasi sobrang pet peeve ko yung nangyaring dalawa e. madiriin kasi ako so konting alikabok, bwisit na bwisit ako. at yung maghuhugas ako at walang tubig. hay. maybe i am just expecting too much from people. hay.

Praying

Praying for those who are victims of the earthquake and the tsunami!

I am wondering if we experience an earthquake and a tsunami (just like what happened in Japan last Friday), will we be able to survive? I am scared....really. I just hope if and when it happens, Arch, Antonio and I will be together. I do not know if I can stand the agony, thinking if Antonio or Arch are okay.

I have read and heard lots of comments and/or articles that these are signs of the end of the world. Actually, I am not afraid if it is really the end, since it only means the suffering will also end...ang nakakatakot e yung kung magearthquake and magkatsunami, tapos di pa pala end of the world... so pano na ang Pilipinas? Mas matinding suffering pa ulit ang pagbangon! 

Oh Lord, please protect us!

Symphony of Parols and Wee Nam Kee

Good thing that the Symphony of Parols at Ayala Triangle Gardens has weekend schedules. Since I am working from home and my husband's office is in Commonwealth (and with the Christmas traffic as well), it would be impossible for us to go to Makati on a weekday.

Last Saturday, we arrived at the place at 545pm. We first reserved a table at Wee Nam Kee. Since we were number 11 in the list, we told the waitress that we will just catch the 6pm show and we will just go back. Our 15-minute wait was so worth it. We really enjoyed the show! This is highly recommended for families =)

 

After the show, we went back to Wee Nam Kee. Apparently, we were called na daw so we have to wait a little bit more. Like the Light Show, the wait to get a table at Wee Nam Kee was so sulit! =) It was kinda expensive but the food was so yummy! =) We will definitely go back! =)

Roasted and Steamed Hainanese Chicken

Cereal Prawns

2 years ago

This is a repost from my multiply account, with some minor revisions =)

My due date was November 19. But I can give birth 3 weeks before that or last week of October. I really like to give birth before my due date so our son will be bigger and a little bit older on Christmas, so we can bring him anywhere over the holidays.

I planned to still work until I give birth. But when I had a check up last November 8 and my OB told me that the baby was still high and my cervix was still closed, Archie and I decided that I take a leave already so we can be serious with our walking sessions.

My last day at the office was November 10. November 11, we went to Megamall. November 12, we went to Shang Plaza. November 13, we went to Greenhills. November 14, we went back to Greenhills. We were really serious with our walking sessions. During those days, I did not experience anything that would suggest that I am already in labor. I had a few contractions but not regular, I also lost my mucous plug, but not too serious to leave the house and go to Cardinal.

I read in one of my yahoogroups that foot massage can trigger labor. So last November 14, I went to The Nail Loft in San Juan to have a manicure/pedicure. Luckily, they have a package that included a foot reflexology. Hehe!

On early morning of November 15 (around 1am), when I went to the bathroom, I had a bloody show already. So I texted my OB then woke up my husband. I told him that there is blood already and asked him if we will wait for the reply of Dra. He said we go to Cardinal immediately and not to wait for Dra’s reply.

When we arrived at Cardinal, the resident doctor did an IE and she said that I am already 1cm. She asked me if I have contractions, I told her yes but not regular and still tolerable. She did a stress test and I think the results were normal since the resident doctor and my OB (they called her) told me to go home and to see my OB at 9am at her clinic.

Archie and I were disappointed; we really thought it was time already. We went to see my OB at 9am. She said that I am already 1-2cm and she predicted that I will give birth that night.

So after going to the doctor, we went to the grocery to buy some stuff for the hospital and we also withdrew some money for the hospital bills.

Early morning of November 16 around 3am, I had regular contractions already but still far apart from each other and the contractions were still tolerable. So as not to have a false alarm again, I did not wake up Archie yet.

When Archie woke up around 630am, he asked me what time I want to hear mass. I told him, we go to Cardinal first. He asked why and I told him “kasi masakit na”. Hehehe!

We had breakfast, took a bath and went to Cardinal afterwards. We arrived there at around 8am. The resident doctor did an IE and told me that I am already 3cm. Then I was surprised to see my OB there already. She told me that she has another patient and she even mentioned that she was already expecting me the night before.

My OB decided that I stay at the hospital and be admitted already. Since I can still tolerate the contractions and we will also pay using my credit card, I asked if I can still go down to the admitting office to have myself admitted. Hehehe!

After that, I went straight to the pre-labor room, dressed up and walked to the labor room. I was telling myself that this is it. The nurse put an IV on me. It was my first time to have an IV. So it was really painful. Then, they added a medicine and immediately I was drowsy. I was falling asleep but waking up again because I can hear myself snore. Hehe! It was kinda embarrassing since my OB was there all through out.

Archie visited me at the labor room, but he was asked to leave since my OB will pop my water bag already. After that, the painful contractions started to kick in. Then, after lunch, my OB did an IE on me again and she told me that I was still at 4-5cm and the head of the baby was coning already. She suggested having a CS already. I said yes immediately since I don’t want our baby to have a cone head. When the anesthesiologist arrived, they did an IE again to check if the opening progressed, but unfortunately, I was stuck at 4-5cm for 3 hours already.

So I was transferred to the delivery room. Before giving birth, I was serious on asking for an all-female nursing staff. When I was at the delivery room, I did not care anymore. I just wanted to have the whole thing done and over with.

When I saw the bright lights in the operating room, I felt so many emotions, from fear to excitement to pity to being grateful. I told myself, “ganito pala ang feeling na nasa operating room” but I thought I am still lucky because I am there because I will have a CS and not because I was sick.  

When they asked me to do the fetal position for the spinal block, I was shivering because it was cold, I was nervous and I was crying. Surprisingly, the injection was not painful. The allergy test done that time was more painful. Hehe!

I was asleep during the operation. Ang lakas ng tama ng anesthesia. But before that, I felt when they started to slice…err open my tummy =(

I woke up when they were wheeling me in at the recovery room already. My first question was “lalaki nga ba talaga?”. I was there at the recovery room by 4pm. I was told I will stay there for 4 hours. By 6pm, I first saw my beautiful baby. The feeling was unexplainable. I can still sleep at first at the recovery room. But after I saw my baby, I kept on waking up. I was getting frustrated because when I wake up and looked at the clock, only 5 or 10 minutes have passed. I really wanted to go to the room already and see Archie. I wanted to talk to him already!

I was transferred to my room a little past 8pm. I was so happy to see Archie! Finally, I can ask what happened when I was in the labor room, delivery room and recovery room=) Hay, I missed Archie!

Up until now, I still cannot believe I was able to go through those things…the pregnancy, labor, operation, and the recovery. Sabagay, until now, I am still at awe whenever I look at our son…I cannot believe that I carried and gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby! I feel like crying, laughing, smiling, and telling the whole world how Archie and I are so blessed to have Antonio in our lives =)

I am blessed!

I have been having sumpong attacks (again) for the past few days. My ever so patient husband just tells me that we should be thinking of happy thoughts...positive vibes lang dapat! I know we have so many things to be thankful for...my husband and Antonio are on the top of the list. Pero madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin diba? Promise, I am really trying hard! 


Like what I have mentioned in my previous post that whenever I am down, God does something to wake me up...He did it again this time. Haha!


I received this Facebook message from my mother-in-law this morning (after I posted another video of Antonio).

Dear Rianne
Antonio is so smart. Hats off to you for bringing up a smart boy. It pays to be a stay at home mom. Love and Kisses for Antonio

O, bongga diba? =)

I am thinking of posting here all of the blessings, either big or small, that we have. So I can always always remind myself that I am loved by the Lord.

a very dear friend

It has been 10 years since a dear friend went home to our Lord. 

September 3, 2000 - Sunday, I was out with some of my officemates. My mom called me up and told the tragic news. I was so shocked that I even said a bad word to my mom.  Then, I started calling up my highschool friends wishing that they will tell me that it was just a joke...but they too have learned of the sad news.

Noemi was shot several times by her boyfriend, the father of her son. Our guess why he killed her because he was forcing her to get married but she told him to wait after her graduation in December. 

We always knew the guy was bad news and we were telling her to leave him. When we were in highschool, some of our barkada were hanging out at our house. Then, Noemi and the guy had a fight. The guy left. When he came back, Noemi hid under our dining table and we told him Noemi left already. We were so afraid that time because the way he looked at us was different! Noemi was such a sweet lady that she cannot leave him. I think she was hoping the guy will change his ways eventually.

When she got pregnant, she was telling us that she was forced. I think we told her to tell her mom so they can file charges, but she does not want to because she thinks the case will be dismissed since the act happened at the house of the guy. 

Her son is now 10 years old. So you see, he was only 6 months when our friend passed away. But even then, he has grown to be such a respectful and obedient young boy. Her lola, my friend's mom, is doing a great job in raising him up...despite the hardships of life. I sometimes think the what ifs (what if she is still alive, what if we told her mom about the guy, etc), but I always tell myself that Noemi has always been at peace ever since she went home. She has never manifested to me that she was suffering or lonely. Or maybe she knows I am afraid of ghosts =p

Noemi, please continue to help us pray to the Lord for the rest of our barkada and our families. We hope were doing justice of being ninangs to your son =) We love you and we miss you!

happy thoughts please

I am deeply disturbed and depressed with has happened to us...to the point that i was not able to sleep well for the past 2 nights. I do not even want to read the status messages of my fb friends...so much negativity! 

Since yesterday, I have been thinking of happy thoughts...good thing Venus Raj was in the top 5, so there is something to celebrate. But then, some were not happy about it. Oh c'mon, di ba kayo pwedeng maging happy for her or us? Yes, nakakapanghinayang, but still, we should be happy diba? =)

this morning, i saw this video from Chuvaness.com and it really made my day! =D sana maging happy tayo like them! =)

Smell of Christmas

Whenever I tell people that I can smell Christmas, they give me a you-are-so-weird look! Haha! But I am teling the truth, I really can smell Christmas..however, if you ask me to describe it, I cannot! Sorry! Basta, I know that is the Christmas smell! Haha!

I still cannot smell it now because it is too early...but 2 weeks ago, my heart jumped a bit because of excitement. I realized that Christmas is so near na! =) I think it is time to start doing my Christmas list =D Woohoooo!

right timing

i know my family and friends see me as a tough woman...that even if i have problems and trials, i am faithful to the Lord. yes, i try my very best to believe and trust the Lord that He will never abandon us...na di Nya kami or kahit sino iiwan sa ere. but honestly, tao din ako. i still doubt and get angry for the problems we had and have been experiencing...minsan okay ako. minsan di.

if di ako okay, i know God sends someone to knock me out of my kabaliwan. haha! sometimes natatamaan ako sa homily, minsan i read stories of people then i realize i am blessed...but last night, straight ang message...kung baga na "in your face" ako...we attended the 91st birthday of my husband's lola. while having dinner, one of our wedding godmothers were making kwento. kwento dito kwento dun. may mga lessons akong napipick up but there was one sentence na i wanted to cry...kasi sapul talaga. bigla lang nyang sinabi "kaya kayo, wag kayo magmadali, kami ni "ninong" niyo recently lang naman kami nagkahouse. kayo swerte nga kayo, you have a house" my husband said, "ay di naman namin house yun". she said, "practically, it is your house...wala naman si mommy niyo [MIL ko], si [SIL ko], si [BIL ko] may sarili naman syang buhay na. kami we lived with my mom, na di naman kasundo ng "ninong" niyo. so swerte kayo"

for the past few days, i have been down kasi...galit (for some other reasons), self pity...kung di nga ako nagkaroon, baka isipin ko, i was pregnant e. haha! anyway, ayun, those words affirmed that I know we are blessed pa rin naman talaga. minsan talaga si Lord nakakatawa na nakakagulat. Siguro sabi ni Lord, di na umeeffect sa akin yung mga "parinig" nya, ayan diretso ng sinabi sa akin.

June Bride

I am a June bride. It was not planned...actually, I really did not want to be one...no offense to those who got married on June ha...for me kasi korny dahil a lot of couples are getting married on the month of June.

When Arch proposed, he asked me when I wanted to get married. I told him either Sept 8 or Dec 8. (This was really MY plan, even before he proposed hehe!). The reasons why I like the date were - the 2 dates are for Mama Mary (Her birthday and Immaculate Conception) and 8 was our bf-gf anniversary and both dates fell on a Saturday. Arch did not want to get married on December. Kasi his parents got married on December and let's say - the relationship did not end in a happily ever after. Haha! So, September 8 was the d-date na!

After we told our families the date, may kumontra...the gf of Arch's dad told us that September 8 was not a good date. Her reason - it was the birthday of Mama Mary and Mama Mary suffered a lot (death of her Son on the cross)...so we might suffer daw or something. She told us to get married on June 10. Di ko lang pinansin...kasi I was really set on getting married on Sept 8 and June 10 was a Sunday no! And besides, I do not believe on those things kasi e...wala na lang nagawa si Arch.

So we scouted for suppliers na. Actually, we were able to book 3 suppliers when Arch told me that we need to talk. Akala ko magbabackout na! Ahaha! Here is the kwento. He told me that Anna, his sister, went to a manghuhula. Out of the blue, this manghuhula asked her if her brother, who is Arch, is getting married. Anna was surprised. The manghuhula told her to tell her brother not to pursue with our planned date. Ayan na, nataranta na si Arch...kasi 2 na yung nagsabi. I told Arch that I will think about it.

I consulted my colleagues and my boss, who will be our ninong pa. Our ninong said na even though I do not believe in those things, Arch does. And even if the success of the relationship really depend on us and not on some manghuhula, the fact that Arch believes...baka it might affect his relationship with me...and in the end magkasisihan lang!

So napapayag na ako. But before that, I told Arch, he should be the one to contact the suppliers that we have booked and change our wedding date...Surprisingly, all of them are available on the new date. And what is more surprising, a favorite supplier was not available on Sept 8, but on the new date, available na sila!=)