pictures from jeff`s b-day

I just got hold of this pictures and i am posting it here. Jeff`s b-day and our get-together the night before Bong and Mhel`s flight back home...

Happy birthday jepoy!!

prayer devotion restored..

It`s papa`s birthday........... and i miss you most today pang!

It`s wednesday morning...... somehow i feel light and good. The joy and contentment that only the Holy Ghost could give makes my heart sing... We have restored the early morning devotion and prayer as a family even just once in a week. It is to be on a wednesday morning. I recall we used to have daily prayer with the children when they were younger but as they grew older, got their own schedules, find it hard to insist on one in between. Although i could attest they always have a private devotions themselves before getting out of bed each day. I`m glad they are raised doing that.

But i missed those days when me and hubby would gather the 3 of them, sing a few songs, would read the Bible together, each would give a memorize verse, give out testimonies, share our prayer requests, kneel, and pray together as a family. I thank God for this day. We have bring back this old family practice that we once loved doing.... We feel so much renewed in the spirit.... I could do a lot today, i promise you!

And guess what..... I had a hearty breakfast.. help yourself with the tuyo, daing at danggit na binili namin sa bagong itinayo na SM supermarket dito lang sa malapit sa amin, only a walking distance from Malacanang`s gate.. The ever present breakfast favorite - itlog, kaning sinangag at kape.......hehehe!

Pero excited pa akong mag-diet niyan ha? But how could i with such a tempting breakfast? These are my temptations, lol. Last night, hubby installed an old treadmill equipment in the house and we`re all excited to try it..... Medyo nakakahiya pero puro may mga bulges na kaming lahat dito sa bahay, haha...... :-) kaya kawawang treadmill. Its in for a great job...I will see what will happen.....effective kaya ito sa amin?? will make it sure it will serve its purpose. Wait and see in the coming days, :-)

Hubby has signed up a dealership with the spirulina vegetablet yesterday. And distributors can avail of the products from us at a lower price. I wish i could share the benefits of this amazing thing. Its complete profile of proteins, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and Phytonutrients has but given good results physically wise to those who are taking it. Heard testimonies its doing them good.. Si Bro. Milo patuloy na lumalakas at si Bro. Victor ay hindi na masyadong nahihirapan after each chemo sessions gaya noong umpisa ng mga sessions niya... I would do anything just to be healthy for health is a great wealth that we could ever have in this world.......how about you?

well, `la lang. i just thought of sharing this day to you. I know and feel that something good is going to happen, blessings coming.... overflowing..

Thank you Lord for yet another promise from your Word that has been assured to us this day! Praise God.....

:-) :D

prayer request!

Please pray for Bro. Victor Lanuza. He`s recently diagnosed with Nasal pharyngeal cancer. And is on stage 2 when it was discovered...

My mind has questions - but what would the answers be? : Why these people? They are innocent to evil and did nothing but to serve God and given themselves into helping and supporting His church?

For a week now he`s been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment at the Makati Medical center. His doctors said this will go on for 39 days.....everyday!
Please pray that he could go on and will come out of his treatment free from the desease....In Jesus Name!

The radiation kaya niya, its the chemo thing na medyo nahirapan siya....Our heart goes out to him..

Brother Milo, his father, on the other hand, although the doctor said that the lump in his colon must be operated and taken out. My God, it`s also diagnosed as cancer, choose to just give his case to God in prayer for the meantime. Walang choice mga kapatid. He will need 180 to 200,000 for the thing to be remove via operation. Saan kukunin yun?

We want to support them by our prayers. The Bible says, the prayer of the righeous man availeth much...

We will remain standing upon God`s Word. There`s nothing impossible for our God to do....

Verniel`s 23rd year...

How time flies on its wings....and so fast! My youngest "little boy" is now 23...

Anong magagawa ko? something in my heart will continue yearning na sana palagi nalang siyang maliit, lol, you know a mom will feel that "forever"... But i praise God that we see him grown up into a godly, responsible, and intellegent adult that any parents would be proud of.

ayan nak ha....i`ve given you much space this past days :D.... computer lagi ang kaharap mo, hehehe..... and your writings.. I am truly amazed at how well you write, at putting your thoughts into prints. i greatly admire you nak... (patts ka nga!)

No big deal... sabi mo. Kahit hindi ako magluluto, walang party-party basta may konting "cash", lol. Balak mo pang solohin huh? :-)
segi na nga, luto pa rin ako ng favorite mo. The everlasting spaghetti ni mommy, na sabi mo ang pinakamasarap sa lahat ng natikman mo, (of course, bola na naman :D), at ice cream, isama na ang cake..... yea pwede, basta ikaw!!

All i really wanted to say is: We wish you a happiest birthday today nak.. Kahit tayo-tayo lang mag-celebrate, we`re glad that you are in good health, happy in your service to God, got the peace in the Holy Ghost that passeth all understanding. We continue to wish you good luck in all your dreams to come true at lahat ng nais mong marating na kasama ang Panginoon sa buhay mo!

As always, i could go on and on. Madaldal si mom, hehehe.....at alam ko sasabihin mo na naman na narinig mo na lahat ito.
keep doing what you`re doing, as long as it pleases God foremost, ok?

love you and as the song says, "I will be here", we will always be here for you, Dad, mom, kuia dave and kuia charis..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

your famous mom :D,
mommy gie

Postscript:

to read my son`s articles pls. visit http://triond.com/users/verniel+cutar

God`s promise is true...

it`s four in the morning.......i`m still wide wide awake! Maybe it`s because of the coffee i drank early in the evening.. I remember, i don`t take coffee on evenings, kaya heto, however i tried just can`t put myself to sleep...Btw, what`s in a coffee that can keep you awake?

i have quiet days lately. During daytime only hubby and me in the house, except if we needed to go somewhere. How lungkot naman! ok, i won`t start this story again...

I am also been in an expectant heart this past months. I am going through my days listening for the sound of a delivery vehicle at my door... a surprise box from a loveone is coming! I don`t know when it`s gonna come. We have such a bad weather this time of the year, and i would like to believe this is the reason why it has taken for my surprise box not to arrive much as I desired it.... hope it will soon. When it will come i know it would be worth the wait!

Just remind me of the promises of God and the answer to my prayers. Often times I thought He has forgotten me. Things I`d hope for hadn`t seen fulfillment, even things i thought He had whispered He would give me. Sometimes i`d almost quit expecting them. yes, unfulfilled expectations.

This delayed gifts is a good example of how we have to learn trusting that God is working on our behalf, even if we don`t yet see it in the meantime, that we should expect God to be working for our heart`s desires.

These times our family is going through a difficult season of our lives and resources are slow in coming..... but i am always reminded that God knows our needs......the desires of my heart. And His gifts aren`t heading to the wrong address. They are sure to come...They just haven`t arrived yet. Because when He gives a promise, we can believe it will happen in His perfect time and will........We just have to claim and thank Him with all of our heart, Praise God.. Eventually my sister and I communicated and told me that she had made follow-up with the courier company and they told her the box is gonna be delayed because of some handling reasons but surely it will come, safe and sound right into my waiting arms, haha...

wow.....it`s almost daybreak. I have to hurry and get breakfast ready for my darling sons...
I could always take that nap in the afternoon, huh?

see yah ol around...

angry and sad...

galit ako......pero hindi masyado, hehe.

hayaan ninyong maibulalas ko ito kaya magtagalog na muna..

3 days ago may naamoy kaming "foul" mabaho talaga sa itaas ng bahay. Pero sa baba ganun din, kahit sa labas. Siguro may namatay lang na daga dahil di ba andami naming alagang mga pusa sa bahay.... Ang problema, hindi ko alam kung saan ko simulang hanapin. Nagwalis na ako lahat-lahat, hindi ko pa rin makita...

ah, saka na lang yan! ang daming lakad ngaun kaya isantabi ko na lang muna ang paghahanap noong mabaho na yan.... nakakahinga pa naman ako..

Bayaran ngaun ng mga utilities na lahat deadline na gaya ng electric, water and telephone bills kaya agahan namin ang pagpunta para magbayad or else maabutan kami ng tigaputol, hehehe! Ang sabi ko kay hubby gamitin na namin ang kotse at didiretso kami sa ospital para dalawin ang mommy ni Imee. So ang beauty punta na sa garahe at ayusin ng kaunti yong sasakyan at isang linggo na rin naming hindi nagagamit dahil sa ulan ng ulan.....alam n`yo hindi yan pedeng gamitin kapag umuulan kasi nga sira yong mga bintana sa harapan at nakakapasok ang ulan doon.

Naku, doon pala galing yong sobrang baho! sa garahe.......este....sa loob ng sasakyan! nakita ko ang daming langaw na malalaki, (bangaw) na nagliparan dun at nang binuksan ko, grabe, hindi ko nakayanan ang amoy...lo and behold, doon mismo sa upuan ko ay may nakapatong na tatlong tumpok ng "tae" lang naman, pati yong driver`s seat ni hubby may tumpok din. "malalaki" at siguradong sa pusa yun kasi sobrang baho nga! Pero hindi yun ang nilalangaw, doon galing sa back seat ang mga nagliliparang mga peste kaya tiningnan ko....

Doon ako nagalit sa panghihinayang! Noong Saturday kasi namili kami ng pang-ulam sa SM kasi kami ang magluluto para ipakain sa saints noong Sunday. Bumili kami ng 15 kilos na chicken, nakalagay na sila sa sealed na styro.... at iba pang mga pangangailangan, so medyo madami dami ding bags ang nakalagay sa backseat.....As usual tuwing umuuwi kami salubong sa amin yong mga kasama namin sa bahay at palagi hindi na ako nag-aabala pa sa mga gamit kasi sila na ang nagdidiskarga....

haayy naku, may isang bag na ang laman ay anim na packs ng chicken ang nakalimutan sa loob, how come hindi nila nakita? o nag-asahan kasi eh! yun ang inuod at bumango ng katakot-takot mga ilang araw din yun... Ang sarap talaga tirisin itong mga kasama ko dito sa bahay.....mga pabaya, hmmmp...

Nasira ang schedules namin for that day.... nag-jeep na lang si hubby sa dapat puntahan, pero sa hapon na nakaalis kasi nilinis pa yong kotse, nag-vacuum lalo na ung mga upuan.....nilagyan ng pabango at nag-spray ng kahit ano-ano mawala lang ang amoy... Hindi kami nakapunta sa ospital at nag-decide na tomorrow na lang.....

Noong gabi bandang alas onse yata yun, i received a text from imee, binalita na wala na ang mommy niya! Ganitong araw din last week noong andodoon kami sa ospital na sinabi sa amin ng doctors that she would only have a week to live.... and it happened. They were right all along. The next days that followed ay hinanda ng Dios ang mga kalooban ng family...causing them to just let go and let the Lord have His way... He knows what is best for His children.. Sabi ni Imee pumanaw ang mommy niya na walang struggle at masaya dahil nakasama niya ang lahat ng mga anak sa huling mga araw niya...... Now we know she is with the Lord!

Naalaala ko tuloy yong feelings ko noon nang mawala din si papa.....`kala ko hindi ko kakayanin... but that`s life. Malungkot dahil hindi na natin sila makikita, visible, physically but glad knowing na tapos na paghihirap nila at nasa Panginoon na sila...Yes, He give and take away......blessed be the Name of the Lord!

well, my story today is kinda weird, haha... Galit sa umpisa at malungkot ang ending... kayo na bahala umintindi..

love, love, love.....

I will greet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet i will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always I will dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize i will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.

Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth I will remember this secret and it will change my life...

I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me; I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share. I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.

I will love myself. For when I do i will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

I will greet this day with love, and i will succeed. ( - Og Mandino )

And most of all, i will love the Lord with all my heart, mind and soul. Because He is worthy of all praise and adoration and all the love in the world....

feeling good :)

the frogs at the vacant lot next to our house won`t stop croaking. It had been for the past 3 days in a row. Hubby said it will go on until there`s still typhoon coming.... one frog`s voice stand out among the rest....parang "baka" ang tunog niya. So loud. If it will continue to croak, its heralding that the worst of typhoons are not over yet. (sabi daw ng matatanda...??)

its been so uncomfortable, with the rains coming almost everyday.. Everything is wet and messy. Much more can`t accomplish much around here. The news said seventeen more typhoons will be passing before this year will end. I pray wala munang lalaking bagyo, haha.

But my world suddenly brightened today! The sun finally came out of its hiding place shedding its warm over us, giving warmth to my heart. Somehow it made me smile. Let it be just for now....Typhoon can come tomorrow. I need this break, can`t you see?

I realized i needed to smile more often....:-) Perhaps it was the chat with my sister that did it!! I just have to smile, with all the things that we`ve talked about....it was an endless "success" topic...

i could do with it over and over again.... hahayyy...

one faithful saint...

If you have visited our church, you probably heard of Bro. Milo. Who doesn`t know him? He`s one faithful saint.
God has given him to us a sort of inspiration, a pillar of strenght not only to every member in particular but the whole congregation.. To HCJC, he is very precious, a priceless gem. I will relate why...

He has invested much of his time for our church. He is a full time worker for a very long time. As far as i could remember, from the time he came and got baptized. He`s a soul-winner, had brought souls into the kingdom of God.

Never missed one single service......except when he was sick and too weak to get out of bed. But he`s seldom sick.. He resides in cavite, a province next to manila. It would take one-hour travel from that place to Manila( kung walang traffic). For most of us, to walk and take a hike that far just to be able to attend church is unthinkable when commuters are just within reach. But not with him. He has done the hiking couple of times whenever his pocket were empty of funds.... limang oras lang naman ang paglalakad para makarating sa church. So if the Bible study service will begin at 8 in the evening, he will start walking at one o`clock in the afternoon and still arrive in church way ahead of everybody. No one has ever done that but him....all for the love of the Lord!

He`s an example of how it is to serve God. His faithfulness brought blessings to his family. Who could think that a man "jobless" in the eyes of the world, could send all three of his children to school and now graduated to be professionals. He has a mass communication graduate for a daughter, an electrical engineer for a son and another teacher daughter... God blessed him with all the things that all parents wishes for their children. He has won all his family members to the Lord who are all faithfully serving God with the best of their capacity.....

He`s one example of a christian who has given his all, i mean "all" and trusting the Lord for his life, tomorrow and future. Are there many of his kind?

Now, as i write this, he is absent for the first time for overnight prayer. He is in a hospital undergoing series of tests. The doctor found a lump in his colon and try to figure out if its a malignant one. He had not been feeling so well the past couple of weeks, but mind you,during these times he is still present in all of our services.... It`s lonely not having him with us now as we gather together for prayer.....Normally, he is always the first man to arrive and the last one to leave in the morning...

We pray that nothing bad and unusual will come out of his test... nothing serious, i should say...

Bro. Milo, we are all with you in prayer. We will whisper your name in our deepest plea.
We still need you, HCJC need you.....you know that, and God does know how much we do!!

happy birthday dave!

anak, 29 years old ka na pero para sa amin ng daddy mo ikaw pa rin yong maliit na batang panganay namin. You will always be that in our hearts... You will always be our little "boy"...

In this your birthday, i just wish that all your dreams will come true. That God will grant all your desires, the blessings that you very much deserve.
I`m speechless anak.....just standing in awe for what you have become in the kingdom of God... He has answered my prayers. You are in our Father`s business.
This is every christian mothers dream. To see their offspring giving and offering his life for the glory of God.

I will continue praying for you anak.... When life gets tough and lonely, hard and oftentimes you find yourself in a crossroad, confused of which path to take....... my prayers will see you through!

We love you nak....always have, always will.

daddy & mommy

our 30th year wedding anniversary...

We celebrated our wedding anniversary one very rainy and stormy day... We just ate out with our dear children at lahat kami sa bahay lumabas para kumain kahit bumabagyo!!

30 long years together. I give God all the glory and praise because He is good to us, remains the center of our relationship..

My, my, ang daming bagyong dumaan sa buhay....all kinds of difficult situations. Some have placed us on shaky grounds wanting to break us free from the solid rock of marriage... Through His grace our bond remained strong kahit sa ano pa mang pagsubok and the love we both feel for each other is stronger and sweeter than ever before.

Thank you Lord for fighting our battles for us. For being there no matter what.

Gusto ko pang makasama ka "hubby" ng matagal pa........ say, another 30 and more years...

Happy anniversary dad....

sigh :->

A storm just passed us by, as usual claiming many lives. Until now the casualties count is still going on. It was unbelievable that a ship as big as "Princess of the stars" could just capsized like it did. It is Sulpicio lines again! This is the fifth ship since l989 (of this same maritime company) that is accountable of the same mishap na pumatay ng napakaraming tao na naman..... I remembered MV Dona Paz couple of years back.... 4,000 people died and buried in the ocean. Many were missing and never found.. Then another......and another.

Ngaun, heto na naman! Ang tigas ng ulo nila. Alam na nila na may bagyong darating still umalis pa rin. When will they learn? Sa gusto nila at sa hindi, dapat na nga sila matuto dahil suspendido na ngaun ang company nila... Teka, bakit ngaun lang? kung kelan ang dami nang namatay?

Aside from that capsized ship, maraming areas sa visayas ang kawawa.... Like Aklan and Kalibo. Tell you, Boracay also!! matagalan pa siguro bago business as usual ang boracay. Maraming nasira...Salamat na lang nakauwi na muna ang mga bakasyonista ng pattsclan before nagka-bagyo!!

That typhoon was fierce. No wonder they called it by a man`s name, Frank. So watch out for storms with a male name and the likes.....remember melenyo?

sigh:->

adjustments....

I thank God for the strenght He supplied and helped us to go through the past week..

Lahat ng "due" sa mga financial obligations ay nagsiksikan sa isang linggo lang...plus enrollment, tuition fees, to top it all, sumabay na naman si victory...bagong battery for her. Ayaw makisama, hehehe!

i`m in a lot of adjustments lately. Everytime relatives come and go, i always get the "blues". Missing them and all - hard to go back to my normal phase of life, haha..

Dave has started his teaching job in a private school last monday. His hands are so full of schedules teaching from elementary to high school level.... On July, bible school starts and he`s in it too. I don`t know how he could handle his already hectic scheds plus the additions. He`s out of the house so early and comes home late - straight to bed, Zzzz.. I miss talking to him.

charis, got two jobs at the moment but will get rid of the former one next week. I hardly see him at home. when i do, he`s in a much needed sleep, preparing for another graveyard shift....

and verniel, he`s back to school. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan sa bahay...

Find it somewhat lonesome being not a full time mom anymore... Am thinking having something to keep me busy during the day just so hubby and me will not just be staring at each other all day long lol. oh, that`s okay. i think we have given each other our space. He`s in his computer most of the time and me trying to keep myself busy over something and anything....
I am thinking that maybe it is best at this time of my life that i would have something.......like a homebased business that i would be indulging myself in. I`m sure it would be a source of outlet and strenght, di ba? (para hindi madaling tatanda...) Pls. give your insights and suggestions....

But i`m still and will always be thankful for the internet...At least i could have the effort to keep in touch.... to all of you. I could handle that.

sorry, if you think this is what venting is all about...

By the way, we`re supposed to meet with our landlady here in the house today. She`s home from the states and wanted to see us before she leaves again. She is already more than an hour`s late!! Walang magawa ang pagiging time conscious mo sa traffic dito sa pinas...... (just an afterthought)...

:-)

loveones visit from San Francisco...

it`s our usual hot day again..... makes me feel weak and old.. hehe.. I thought rainy days has stepped in.... but far way ahead by the look of it. Our rains were merely outcomes of typhoons passing us by the past weeks.

just gotten home from Tagaytay. This day was only planned on visiting papa but our service van came very early as 7 0`clock this morning to fetch us, so after papa, we had plenty of time and decided to proceed to Tagaytay. Lenny said this was her first time to go and jay his second time (it was night time daw on his first visit... hahaha.. wala ring nakita!!) We just went to picnic grove.... settled in one of their paid open cottages with a large table enough to accomodate our "konting baon" na masaya naming pinagsaluhan...... Then the boys went horse back riding, at kaming mga babae ay naiwang nagdal-dalan, hehehe!! ( one of pattsclan`s favorite pastimes when in pinas). I don`t know about everyone, but i enjoyed the day immensely..I slept on the way home, and found out i have swollen gums when i woke up... and a hell of a headache... i can`t find anything to blame but the heat..

so good to have jay`s family and mama for a visit. But my one regret is that i have none to offer.....or should i say, very very little to offer. I just feel so incapable... I wish that time will come when i will have every means to make everyone`s visit worthwhile.....yong ako ang "babangka" (if you know what i mean?)........But this time and age of my life, it`s not just possible, not yet..... no, i don`t feel bad but sad..:(

But here`s the happier side. We asked Jay to preach in our church on their first Sunday here...what a surprise to hear him preach like an evangelist would do....Tuwa talaga ako, teary eyed throughout the service, told him, i am very proud of him.. Because that`s how i really felt.. Here`s another answer to papa`s prayers about all his children becoming servants of God.. i will continue praying that jeff will somehow be convinced to enroll in the Bible school not because i keep on nagging him to do so...... sana it would be because of a real conviction from the Holy Ghost....

well, at this writing, they still have 7 days more to stay before going back to San Francisco.. Sorry Bong, but your condo has an overflow of occupants , guests, whatever.....( ganun kasikat ang mga nakatira dun, hehehe), and of course mama`s grandchildren.. Yong iba hindi humihiwalay sa kanya.....what can i do? andodoon sila while mama`s there. I promise i will keep that place of yours in spic `n span again when they`re gone...

for the meantime, it`s so far, so good...

i`ve more to tell in the coming days..

excited!!

five more days and mama is here..... she`s coming from California with my brother Jay and his family to visit home (pinas).

we`re preparing my brother bong`s place (condo) where they are going to stay during their two-weeks stay here. In the pictures was gingging, hubby`s sister. We brought her to the condo to help me with the cleaning.. She was over at our house for sometime and that was surely a big relief for me. She did all my chores.

Bless her heart! Kung hindi nga lang kelangan niyang umuwi sa Mindanao kasi may mga anak na rin siya - gusto ko dito na lang siya sa akin, hehehehe!

well..... that`s all for now. :-)

another season..

In my hammock during an afternoon na "brown-out". For a while really feels good... drifting me off to dreamland :-).
guess our hot season has at last come to an end!! For a week now we have rains and the annoying heat is gone..... i can smile again!

Been hectic the last couple of days......it`s not a joke to entertain visitors. They were in my house for two full weeks. Mabuti na lang yong dalawang mga bisita ay mga kamag-anak na naging katulong-tulong ko sa mga chores. I`m finished without them! at least i could only concentrate on what food to cook.....aba, hindi madali mag-isip kung ano ang lulutuin sa loob ng dalawang linggo.....finally we see her off at the airport to fly back to indonesia yesterday. i hope i did make her stay with us comfortable and worthwhile...

so back to normal....

do you think time just fly? i wake up and found out we`re already in the middle of this year....not much of an accomplishment we`ve done for our year of favor... how can we come out of this rat race that we`re in? We are force to the wall. When would be the pouring of blessings overflow? Going on with our many plans and working it as planned. But waiting upon God`s resources is a different matter. I become weary at times. Seems the light of my goal flickers and become dim.. But that`s the human side of me. Being forgetful on the promises of God........... still i know that to continue holding on to it will make me emerge stronger in my faith than ever before. Lord teach me to wait! just teach me how...

i`m ready for change, ready for rain, ready for favor.... LORD i know you are able!
Pour out your blessings Lord.....blessings that we cannot contain..
Let it rain......whoaaa!!

We need your prayers guys.. ok everybody needs prayer. we`ll just be praying one to another.

day out with hubby

The boys are all in Pampanga attending the district youth camp...

its alone again naturally with hubby. We`re inseparable these days. Not much choice. Our children are adults now and always has their minds on other things, i hate to say further and further from hubby and me.... can`t keep them with us all the time anymore, huhuhu! :-(

Looking at ourselves in the mirror we see two people not getting any younger.... that`s why we decided to stick together. Though lot of times we spiralled. Fighting battles within ourselves. The disagreements, we have them more often now... `lam mo na, parehong may alta-presyon....mahirap mapag-isa....hayaan mo yan, that`s part of "growing" up, hehehe!! people when they get older, parang nagiging bata na daw...matampuhin na, pero`wag ka, somewhat impossible to live without the other. In the true essence of the word, its TRUE!!

I must admit i love and need hubby now more than i ever needed him. I feel great comfort being with him and glad that i would grow old with him in my side. He`s the man i`m gonna sticked it out with. B-) cool....... hehe. So, this week, with the boys at camp, i immensely enjoyed our days outs but of course the dining out... As usual or most of the time, he won`t order any but will eat some of mine! (ganyan yan..... di ko alam kung nagtitipid or.......)
We were full of good fast food and filled with the comfort of our togetherness. But the part i like best is the ride home......sitting quietly beside him!

cakornihan......:p

nothing but heat....

Today is my favorite day again.... I got 30 minutes before church will start. Don`t know what to write here but i`ve been silent for the past couple of days, just wanna say hi.

Reflecting upon the last few days, (although can`t think properly because of the heat) my brother Benpatts from San Francisco came to visit. He had handful of things to keep him busy while he`s here, among those is getting their condo unit organized and in a liveable condition. Finally the place is theirs to occupy, very much a place of their own to come home to everytime they will pay Philippines a visit. A wonderful change from expensive hotels and of course from eating out a lot. Yong condo, fully furnished with the needed furnitures, may cute na kitchen, everything in order...... i can say "spic `n span". I like the place a lot and love the trips my family made going there. We had bonding time with pattsclan and you know I enjoyed this kind of details....

This week are preparations for jewel`s wedding. Joe`s family and their pastor are coming to attend this "wedding of the year" in pattsclan. I heard they are nice people and we are excited to meet them.. I guess its not a bit disturbing that they belong to the conservative apostolics. No wedding ring for jewel.... At first, it took her a while to digest the whole situation but after a while she`s learned to embrace it naturally.

My three (babies) are all have their part in the event. Emcee daw si dave, charis is singing and verniel is one of the groom`s men. Well, guys, i`m looking forward to attend this wedding rites. Feeling very much a proud aunt of the bride... Ako na lang ang aatend para sa inyong lahat....

I have so much in my mind to tell you guys.....but it`s time for church.
I don`t know what to wear... something light and comfortable. wheww, the heat, the perspiration..... gusto ko lang magbabad sa tubig!!

got to go... Happy sunday...

easter sunday & hubby`s birthday...

did not have sunrise service but the usual time at 10 oclock in the morning... I woke up very early and cook my way through the wee hours until it`s time for church. Hubby wants to treat hundred people for lunch, timely for his birthday.

we had a wonderful service. The air has been fully charged with the spirit of God.We danced and shouted our praises. Feels really good..

I saw a teary eyed man as he blow the cake that the church members offered him. Napaka-sentimenal ng hubby ko pagdating sa ganyan.... He did not have much birthday cakes when he was a boy kaya my heart goes out to him... Or maybe he has reasons, deeper than what we know but somehow we made his heart smile and that`s good enough... Once in a while make your pastor feel good and happy..... he deserve it.

Praise team`s practice in the afternoon. If you ask, i am one with the group. I love to sing, one of my life`s love, and i wanna use this voice to sing for the Lord.

I feel satisfied and blessed at the end of the day. Sunday will always be my favorite day. No matter how tired and occupied i become, it`s always worth it...... and worth smiling!

biyernes santo..

we had 5 days vacation for the holy week (lenten season). You know how it is here in the Phil. we have all kinds of holidays, and this whole thing is not helping us. Biro mo, limang araw, walang trabaho...... walang suweldo! Five days backward and poorer too. I am speaking for all filipinos. Hindi nakakatulong sa "hirap" nang kalagayan natin, financially........including all the political unrest going on.... ( i can`t avoid these thoughts).

Instead of going out of town to explore the beaches and resorts........or try to witness some people nailing themselves on the cross, doing what Jesus did (when can they know better?), we at HCJC had gathered at pastoral house to pray and fast... What a beautiful way to re-dedicate our selves to God and reflecting once more (really reflect) on what He has done for us.

on friday night, we watched a film on the story of Joseph...Mas nauunawaan mo kapag na re-inact sa film. Ang ganda pala ng story niya..... Umiyak ako dun sa part na nagkita silang magkakapatid..... ung pagmamahal na hindi na niya maitago at pagpatawad niya sa mga kapatid niyang gumawa ng masama sa kanya.... I enjoyed the whole film. Every part of it...

Then, Sabado na..... breaking na! Nakangiti ang lahat. Hindi na "Biyernes santo" ang mukha. Ang sarap kayang kumain ng lugaw na mainit. Pero hindi lugaw ang nangyari.... walang mabilhan ng manok at bigas.... kaya pansit na lang na hinaluan ng sardinas ( ang sarap, subukan n`yo...) my idea ha?...... hotdog, pandesal... at kapeng mainit!! hehehe, grabe...

officially summer!!

It`s officially summer here now. It is because days are in its hottest. I hate it. It makes me restless. uncomfortable...Just think of it guys..... you know what i mean. Grabee, basa palagi ang likod ko at kung hindi ako mag-iingat baka typhoid fever or broncho pneumonia ang aabutin ko... It surely makes me smile thinking about how opposite ang mga situations natin noh? You guys can`t avoid scorning the freezing cold, kina jean below freezing cold pa - kami naman dito, the heat.... getting hotter each year.

My birthday went well yesterday in church. Araw ng maraming pambobola lalo na ng mga ladies sa church. Sabi ko, hayaan at tatanggapin ko eh minsan lang sa isang taon nangyayari ang birthday!! First lady na first lady ang dating ng inyong abang lingkod...hehehe!! Masaya!!

Nagsisimula na namang nahuhulog ang mga bunga ng mangga at kaimito dito sa bakuran namin! Kahapon sa church enjoy na enjoy ang mga youth na lalaki sa panunungkit.... ang tigasalo at tiga-kain naman ay ang mga dalaga at mga matatanda...
Naalala ko tuloy noong andito pa si mama. Lagi siyang gumagawa ng mango juice galing sa mga mangga. Ang sipag niya! Diyos ko, kung gaano siya kasipag, ganun naman ako katamad..... hinahayaan ko lang silang mabulok sa lupa. Because of that, i miss my mother, huhuhu!!

I guess a couple of them members took pictures of me........blowing my cake. If i could get hold of those i will post some of it here. Pero kung hindi ko magustuhan ang kuha ko, sori, itatago ko na lang...... lol

I`ve some developments to tell you.....pero saka na kapag sure na... it`s good news. I think our "year of favor" is beginning to take effect for us....... our family and for our faithful saints. God is true and faithful.

I`m only trying to connect. Thanks to all of you for your birthday greetings. You don`t know how much i really needed it..

i have to go and take a shower... We have to go out to see someone. The boys likes to tag along. Nag-under time si charis just to join us. I am in some kind of jubilation.... Di ba masaya kapag kasama mo boung pamilya? Si jeff nasa Makati na naman....

Next time baka mas may sense na ang isususlat ko dito. Ngayon, "blangko pa rin" ang isip ko. Sorry!

random thoughts...

five days to go....... and it`s my birthday. Another year added for me....well, bawal nang itanong ang edad! Last Sunday a sister from church gave me her advance birthday gift. Guess what it was? shoes at isang brown sandals na gustong-gusto ko... I didn`t expect it but somehow she remembered. So nice of her.

Hubby and me plan to treat our church people with free lunch after church. Ibig sabihin, kami ang taya sa pananghalian, hehehe! medyo dagdagan lang ang menu ng konti....... some salad for dessert at siguro drinks na may kulay...... addition to our usual "nawasa" juice. okey na siguro noh?

guys, please help us pray that we could soon start the renovation of the church... Nag-iipon pa ng resources. We need your prayers..

just trying to connect. You are all in my thoughts. I kept wondering these past few days if mama will visit home. I`ve heard she`ll be with Bobong when he comes on the 25th. But mama never called me to say she`s coming..... somebody confirm?

Our life here in Malacanang is in its normal phase at this writing... All i could say is God is good and faithful. He`s magnificent eternally, wonderful, glorious.....No one ever will compare to you JESUS!!!

I hope all is well with you all. Wala na akong masabi..... blangko na blangko ang isip ko ngaun. .

The rest of February.....

you`ll be surprised at how quickly time flies..... It was just christmas and new year not so long ago, and now it would be another birthday for me that i look forward to. Parang kailan lang ang Jubilee celebration and the "reunion"..... papa`s gone a year ago. As if it was only yesterday. Hubby and me paid his gravesite a visit the other week, lingered for a while and observed at how diligently the caretaker took care of papa`s little space...

I realized summer could just be another blink or two away. It`s slowly creeping in my system. Thinking about the sickening heat that would soon change the atmosphere. At this writing, it is surprisingly cold compared to the past years we had. I just wish this would continue...

The rest of this month seems uneventful..... days just passed us by. Except the General conference in Cebu city and dave was the only one who attended as representative of our family. I received all the good news. The escapades of Mrs. Gloria Lelis and company to Bohol, hehehe!!. Hindi nakaligtas ang mga magagandang tanawin sa kanila - includes Panglao Beach, chocolate hills and caves.......i just wished i had come............. but i wasn`t there, so.......

Victory (the car) is now in running condition. The fast few days i have been waking up early again. As i told you before i enjoy the ride with hubby beside me as we drive charis to his workplace at 4 o`clock early morning. I feel joy, talking about just anything we could put our minds into. This is special in ways i cannot quite put my finger on. And Baywalk..........nag-aantay sa bangka na may dalang preskong isda, sipping my hot chocolate and he, his favorite "taho". Nice way to start a morning...... I really like this little details.

But February has also his cruel side. This week i have been sick. Dry cough, fever, colds with matching headaches and muscle pains. punishment because oftentimes i am hubby`s pain in the neck? Maybe I talk too much? Been demanding at times, always forgetting that he is my pastor and with the two of us it works the other way around... ( but guys please believe me, i understand the words "to humble" especially to the people that God has place above us. Me, to my pastor husband....

somehow, this is one of my convictions..... God wants me to be in "my" right place... huh?

confession?? hehehe!!

This day, meron palang napakalaking rally ( they call it prayer rally) by the opposition side in Makati. Same old story - they want Gloria out - or step down... more revelations and more people coming out to say the truth??? ( who cares about telling the truth?.....we crave for the "real truth"..)

Discover the hidden meaning in your name....

( this is according to http://www.bostunok.com)

JEREMY VIRGIE

Your charm and confident personality assures your popularity and brings you many admirers. Your analytical mind and social concerns may draw you towards science or humanitarian projects. Idealistic and charitable, you use your influence as far as possible to achieve positive change in the world. You are a generous person with pure motives, always willing to share your material prosperity with others.


VIRGIE; maidenly "latin"

Gentle, affectionate and tolerant you are nonetheless determined and ambitious with the ability to lead. Symphathetic and understanding you are a humanitarian with wishes to improve the lives of others less fortunate. You have a keen intellect, strong intuition and creative ideas which are always to put to practical purpsoe. You are loved by others for your inspiring optimism and for being a genuine friend.


JEREMY: may Jehovah exalt "Hebrew"

Energetic and courageous you stand up for your beliefs and for what you desire. You are independent, strong willed and fiercely competitive when needed although your ambition is tempered with patience. You maintain a positive attitude and with a more organized or practical approach to life. Material success is very likely. Your immensely loving and generous nature brings joy into people`s lives and ensure your happiness.

thank you- from Cutar family

( this is my letter sent to a sister in Singapore church who arranged Dave`s mission trips.. just thought of posting it here as one of my journals. The T.J. saints..... they`re simply charge with the spirit of God.. nakakahawa! With this, i am thankful that dave was able to spend little but memorable time with them....)

Dear Sis. Sandra,


Greetings in the Most Lovely Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I am sis. Virgie Cutar. Dave`s mom. In behalf of my family, i take this privilege to be able to write you. I know i should have done so long ago, but just can`t put my words together.

Sis. even though we have not meet personally, our hearts are loaded with warmth and gratitude over how you have impacted, helped and encourage Dave in many ways. Thank you for believing in him and his ministry. We also extend to Tabernacle of Joy and also to the filipino congregation over there for being the channels by which he could minister and the opportunity to be used by God in the places that he has gone to with your help.

His trips to Malaysia, Indonesia Singapore and India were so far the best experience that he has encountered this year. He treasures the friendship and the fellowship of you brethren in TJ. Count it so rich a blessing from the Lord. To minister through preaching and teaching, sharing God`s Word especially to the younger generation has always been his great burden and passion. He love the Lord so much... oh, thank you for making my son`s dream come true.

Thank you also sis. for taking the time and making the effort to arrange everything for him while he is away from home......the hospitality, i mean everything. You have been a friend, sister and someone that he could look up to as also having a great passion for the work of God.

We have been blessed by your generosity. We are privilege to have known you. Truly we hold you close to our hearts.

May the Lord Jesus will continue to make room in your life to do more for His glory and praise.

Please also extend our heartfelt gratitude to: Pastor Steve & Sis. Willoughby, Bro. Timothy Lee, Pastor Dodgie and Sis. Cargando. You are all in our prayers.


Sincerely,

Pastor & Sis. Daniel Cutar
Dave, charis & Verniel

"The year of favor"

this pictures are not in order...




















another year is upon us. We have high hopes for the year 2008. With God`s favor, we hope to fulfill His ordained purpose in our life and church. HCJC, way to go....... keep on..... carry on!

here` some of our pics taken last sunday`s church anniversary:

new car, kelan?

it`s 4 olock dawn and am still up! I mean can`t go back to sleep. I was dead tired this afternoon, after our praise team`s practice, had an early bed rest but woke up at one oclock am. Ang ingay ni hubby habang nanonood ng wrestling match. Sigaw to the max..... nanalo ang manok niya, hehehe! Ayan, di na tuloy ako makatulog.

Charis just left for work. i feel bad that we can`t drive him to his workplace like we used to. I missed the early morning air and the occassional passing by the baywalk area to savor the smell of the sea. A month ago, our grumpy old car got busted again while we`re on our way to fetch dave at the airport from his mission trip. We had a mechanic to examine it over and said its the carburator. I guess it needs a new replacement this time.... i mean, the carburator, lol. Though the car itself is already considered "junk" by most people. 16 yrs. old na po siya. oldie one. Even cars needs to retire. We badly needed a new replacement of Victory. (that`s her name). And she lived up to that name. Nariyan na yong nalubog kami sa baha, sa putik at iba pang pagsubok sa daan, pero naiuuwi pa rin niya kaming safe and sound. lol. But then again, ang Dios ang nakakaalam kung kailan dadating ang magiging kapalit ni Victory. He has the resources. Kami, nag-aantay kung kelan niya ibibigay. .... For the meantime she`s still considerably good and running. Can take us places whether far or near.. kahit anong oras sa araw or gabi man.... Sira nga lang ang carburator niya ngayon... pero `pag napalitan na, ok na siya ulit...

We have been praying for a new one. This time meron kaming dream car. I already have a picture of it in my mind, of what its going to be. Mas maganda yata van na naman!! I had one posted in one of my entries. just one like it. I am protecting that dream and won`t let anyone tell me we can`t reach and have it. Ganyan katindi!! aba.... Pinangako na ng Dios yan... Hawak na Niya sa mga kamay Niya!! We claim it. granted!!

Masarap mangarap sa Panginoon. Ang dami kong pangarap.. Siyempre, isa lang ang sasakyan sa mga yun. Someone said, dreams give a life hope and purpose. and I believe this. For now i realize and enjoy it for myself

Can`t help being anxious about our upcoming church anniversary. So much things to do and we only got a week more to arrange everything.

i just wanna tell myself to think simple..... just simple. Time and things will come to pass whether we like it or not. Kung ano na lang meron, eh di yun na lang, di ba? But i hope it will be a time well remembered like all the past anniversary years we had... I`m sure many of our brethren na nasa iba nang place at churches ay uuwi sa HCJC and will worship with us. You know, ang mga brethren namin ay "morag mga taga Bohol. Mouli gyud sa bohol kung fiesta...." I don`t know what motivates them, but we`re sure we will be glad to see them again....

ok i am starting to feel groggy...at last i`m sleepy. I`m gonna dream of my van again...

oh well, nothing much that will interest you....but thanks for reading, hehehe!!

i have to be in dreamland right at this very moment.....nyt everyone.

another journey....

It`s been over a week ago since i last posted. it seemed days are more faster now. They passed me by so swiftly. where have they gone?

To recap, it was charis` birthday last monday (January 7). He didn`t want any big fuss about it. We just had it simple and quite. We managed to make him blow his cake at 11:30 almost midnight, a very late one as you can see and supposed to be a birthday dinner!!! My boy is now an adult. Pede nang magkaroon ng sariling pamilya. Where has my little boy gone?. The one who always has that big, innocent smile, jumping up and down with excitement everytime balloons and cake are present on his birthday...

just realized, i am now a mom to adults.

it`s a new journey for me. another phase of my life, and i am achingly learning and accepting to myself what that means.

I will never have those little boys back who love to hug and sit with me whenever i rested from a tiring day.

i will never have them who needed me to help with their assignments in school that was due the next day... and shouting, "mommm, i`m home" at the top of their voice upon coming home from school at the end of the day.

those little boys who love to tag along with me to the malls asking if i could buy things for them...grinning in sheer joy upon acquiring a toy and some simple things they asked.

what i have now are adult children who are responsible, independents, who have thoughts and mind of their own...

maybe that is why the sadness that welcomes me every morning... i miss those days...... i miss my little boys. lol. I was always a part of their days even their thoughts. Those times when their life were wrapped around mine and mine theirs... Now, everything they do are directed to the things they need to accomplish for themselves and for their future... and me, simply in the background. Not the main character anymore....

But i will not continue to dwell upon my sorrow...... but on so many comforting thoughts.

yes, they are that way now because of all the hours and hours hubby and I spent with them, molding, teaching and nurturing them. Now its time to step back and be the mom of these adults, huh?

It feels good to reminisce for with them are many treasured memories. But perhaps its now time to concentrate in looking forward to the new adventure with my adult children instead of always looking back at what we were and what they were.

I wish all the dreams they are building for themselves will all come true. This is my desire for them with every fiber in me.... I wish my kids all the happiness they deserve to have. God, you know this is my prayer..

When all good success be acquired, then i could say, my past days were well accounted for.

after all the celebrations, what do I get?

We had tremendous time of fellowship with our church people last Sunday. It was our thanksgiving service since it was the last Sunday of the previous year..... It was an all-day fellowship. We had time of worship in the morning and "foods" in late afternoon. So much food equals so much fun...That`s what it was.... food made the difference, i should say. Everyone went home loaded, satisfied and grinning. Nice way to say goodbye to the old year, huh?

I felt so lazy when i woke up the following morning. I did a heavy cleaning around the house before calling it a day that night. It was as if a storm came and messed the place up after all those people left me in total despair. Everyone in my family were dead tired and just slept it off, and all the others who were supposed to help me have gone home... I just can`t sleep leaving my place this way!! So as a good mother would be doing, i dusted, washed the floors `til it shined, swept and re-arranged everything in their usual places up to the last item...

And this morning, i have to rush to the supermarket, will do the cooking and preparations for the "media noche" tonite. I wish i will have this day for a day off and can the new year`s eve would wait until tomorrow?..... wahuhu....... move lady, the day will pass even without you!! So off i went, gone through the long lines in the store, did the cooking, serving and intertaining.... yeheyy, i survived it all.

We were having fun. lots of food again. Remie brought some menu that she cooked herself, and mine, our chinese neighbor brought us 2 kinds of recipes also. Lots of desserts. "lahat pampataba"!! Its always fun when you`re with the people you love. We had gift-giving. Simple gifts they were but made us feel real good accepting our little wrapped gift, whatever it is inside.... basta may regalo.

You know how Pinas new year celebration goes....The loudest noise, the merrier. In our place in Malacanang, where almost all our neighbors are rich, we had fireworks display left and right and it was all so beautiful. Kami, dalawang "fountains" lang na sinindihan namin when the clock striked midnight. Then "torotot" na at mga lusis na binili ni jeff. Fun, fun, fun, really fun especially when you can shout at the top of your voice without people apprehending you for doing so. Eh, new year nga eh!!

We watched one or two films until dawn, `til our eyes dropped. Oh, just so you`d ask, it was a nice inspirational movie. When i watched it the first time, it has brought tears to my eyes...It`s about hope. That hope is a good thing, and good things never dies... It`s a timely movie for the new year....We`ve got to have a great deal of hope in our system if we want the year ahead to be fruitful....

So that`s how things were three days ago..... Now, back to normal. Bumisita ung isang auntie natin kahapon, humirit pa. hehehe!! oh well, its always blessed to give than to receive, right? God`s principle is always effective and true.

The lady who is doing our laundry is in her battle downstairs today trying to finish our tons of dirty clothes. She started very early though and sure will have plenty of time to complete the job.

I gave out a sigh of relief... after all, it has been all worth it.

Until next time guys.... miss you all..