blessed!

how fast time flies....once more its end of this year! here comes cool month of December and people tend to be busy - with all celebrations coming up. After the section 2 holy ghost explo held at hcjc last sunday we now focus on our upcoming year end thanksgiving and family sunday. We have so much to be thankful to the Lord for.. what He has done to us and to hcjc this year! This has been one of those glorious and fulfilling year for us... Being able to start on building the house of God, leading us through hills and mountains of financial struggles but at the end of each day all we can say is "thank you Jesus! with you on our side the journey has always been victorious. Each day we behold the awesomeness of your greatness and faithfulness..... you`re everything and all that we need!!

well, has been months since my last post :-) AND I MISS this blog.

I am happy and contented about the boys performance in school since they enrolled this year.... charis is elected the editor-in-chief of their school official paper. Has been getting flat ones with his grades and because of this they have granted him full scholarship. His dad and I won`t have to pay a penny for his schooling this year. Being in a private college and this... is such a blessing!

about verniel, he`s been consistent with good, high grades also. Helping and sharing burdens with us in paying for his tuition fees... I don`t know how he is doing it but he has a good permanent paying job in the internet... this youngest son of mine is an intellectual writer and sure he writes well..
Couple of months to go `til his graduation in college and he will have his own place in the world..

i can`t thank God enough for dave & joy. Both their talents compliments us all. From the music ministry, children, creative arts and many more. They`re such an asset in and for the church. They have given their best for God through ministering at hcjc...don`t know what to do without them... but foreign ministry are beckoning them to go.....no, i won`t think about it yet.. They are with us now and tomorrow will take care of itself, huh?

This year have been wonderful... some people came our way that were blessings. How can i thank God enough?

and a cat we named "blessing"... I thank God i am blessed! :-)

update HCJC worship center (august. 2010)

Here is our worship center. The pulpit and its walls already put up. Pero puro rough pa lang... Hopefully by next month we`ll finish all the walls. Sana matapos ang church na ito before this year will end... God knows our needs.. :)

lonely feelings

Most days i got the lonely feelings again only because of an empty house during the day. The boys, charis and verniel are both back to school and pastor dan is busy with the men on the construction. I am left with my marketing and cooking. So routine. sometimes i am tempted to feel that my life is just going so, so nowhere!

Last night i felt a stubborn headache and aching back. Found out that my blood pressure was up to a dangerous level..... 220 over 110! Husband immediately placed an orange-colored capsule medicine under my tongue to help the blood pressure to go down. (really hate its taste...) I realized i am hooked again with this thing called "rice". (how can i resist you?) This time of my life i need to say goodbye to sweets, oily foods, carbohydates! goodbyes are difficult and painful... Ngaun ko lang alam hindi lang pala para sa tao kundi sa pagkain din, lol!!! It`s time i discipline this hard-headed "me"... dahan dahan sa kanin naman!

My brother dan in Richmond, Canada was rushed to the hospital and is in the ICU this very moment. Can`t explain why the doctor put him into a chemical coma..His condition might be serious, we don`t know yet what happened. My siblings from california, Bong & Jay with mom, and Jane from other side of canada are all driving there to see him. Nothing can i do to see him but to kneel and ask the Lord to reach out to him and heal him.... I believe my God can! guess i should hear more reports from them once they get there about his condition...

For now, waiting is forever! i wish i am there to see for myself! (but we all know its just impossible)... :( :( :(

hanging on....

It rained heavily this morning.... Rainy season is here! They said its a little bit early but quite a relief that the annoying heat is gone, although being humid is very much a part of this country...I don`t like it raining everyday. We don`t need too much rain :(.... will lead to floods if prolonged. of course, set of typhoons are expected to come this time of the year!

Bit by bit we continue working towards our church completion. The roof is complete, also the rough cement flooring, we`re working on the pulpit area walls hopefully to be completed this week. Everything is taking shape, praise God! I am real thankful for such wonderful saints of God of HCJC who never tired of sacrificial giving week by week. Always willingly reaching out to help financially just so the construction work will not be suspended.

We are on our 5th month of the building project. At some point we feel weary and desperate about the financial side of being able to go on. To be truthful - we are "hanging on"! Erecting a building is not easy task. sky high materials and meeting the compensations of workers every end of each week is something to really pray about. Outside help has stopped long ago. Perhaps the Lord would want us to dig what little resources we have( as a church ), place it into His mighty hand and believing that He would multiply them like we have never expected before.....

We are almost there saints of God! continue believing!!

God is good.. Just hang on there!

update on our worship center construction

We are now working on the 3rd but last portion of our church roof.. Sana we could start to put up the walls next. Planning on doing that on the pulpit area first... Then mga alulod to keep the rain from coming in the building. Yes the rain is fast approaching! I just hope that when it comes we will be dry and comfortable inside.

Miraculously the Lord continues to supply our needs especially the construction materials. There were times when we totally run out of funds and options prompted us to stop working but then all of a sudden here comes God`s provision, sometimes coming from sources that are completely unexpected... Totoong may mga kaparaanan ang Panginoon, all for His glory! We continue to walk by faith!

Truly we are serving a Great God...

hands of grace concert `2010

The concert was a great success! I remembered having different kinds of emotion before the event took place. What if people won`t come.....what if, what if??...But God`s assurance calmed me that night... it was amazing. His presence visited us and we had such sweet refreshing of the Holy Ghost..... it was Holy Ghost party indeed!! Those hard work in practicing the songs, the kids number, hand mime team and everything really paid off!

The gained funds (even though not much) will help cover the rest of the roof. The second portion completed and this week we are working on the 3rd portion... Ngaun pa lang ang laki laki na ng space namin. wow, nakaka-excite naman! Thank you Lord.

From here, we will start trusting God for His provision again. He has proven that His promises are true... We still have long way to go towards completion, but we believe that the One who started this will finish it `til the end...

HCJC thank you for working as a team. And what a glorious team indeed!! God bless you HCJC. Pastor Dan, thanks for your all out support. Dave and Jhoy, you are both our God-given gems. Keep using your talents for the Lord. Pagpalain kayo ng Panginoon!

=d =d =d

Pastor Dan`s b-day

I wish for you more years to come dad. Fruitful, healthy, and wonderful years with us. Love you so much. (You know that) We all do. Appreciate the things you`ve done for us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :-)

my birthday, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, its my birthday and oh no, another year older, hehehe! I slipped out of the sheets early as usual this morning ( been waking up early for the past 2 months now to prepare the men -working for the church construction- their meals). 3 times a day yan huh?. Passing by the mirror i stopped to examine myself, hmmm.. not much has changed since my last birthday, there`s still the same chubby looking lady staring back at me....( i love her smile, lol).... can`t help myself grinning, I feel great this morning.

I guess it will be another long day, but the one thing that makes it extraordinarily special is because today is the "day" when i was born.. ( let me shout it from the mountain tops, hahaha!) Pangga and me talked and decided the other night that I would prepare a simple dinner this day for the family, and also i guess some of our church people will be coming and share that dinner with us!

My hands are full of tasks lined up that needs my attention today and my mind is already tired of the idea, yet i wonder what would it be like when a time will come that there`ll be nothing to do and me unable to do anything? I already imagined it dull, sad and most depressing kind of life.. Its happier to be about, on my toes, stronger each day doing what i love doing, using the strenght that God provides. I just wish i could hold back the hands of time and i will continue to keep my youth.... palaging malakas, walang puting buhok at siyempre keep the figure ( oh forget it, lol). Nevertheless, today what matters most is that my family is by my side and life is good. I am excited and full of anticipation. God will continue to do great things for us...

i love birthdays and any form of greetings that comes with it... makes me feel loved.... The ladies in church surprised me with gifts. They know what i want and things yearned for a long time.=) (sobra babaw lang kaligayan ko...) Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Also thanks to some brethren who came and enjoyed with us the dinner I painstakingly prepared, =).

The day ends at last and i lay down again on my pillows, thinking of the past year, its ups and downs. Once more i thank the Lord for being my constant guide each single moment of my life. Thank you Lord for my family and loveones, church, and the privilege of serving you!

Happy birthday myself..:-)he,he,he. I would say, only my body is getting older every passing year but my heart feels young as ever coz of all the people who surrounds and constantly loving me.... With this thoughts i am on my way to a sound, dreamless sleep.

=)

building hcjc worship center

as you all know we are into building a new structure of hcjc worship center that has started a month ago. I am so excited as i could see this is whole lot bigger,more spacious, thrice than the old place. The first section of the roof has been put up already and hopefully it will be completed this week with galvanize materials fitted in place...

we are long way to go as there are still 2nd and 3rd sections to complete not mentioning the ceiling, walls, floors, receptions, interior designs and finishing touches-oh so many more, but God knows it all. We thank the Lord for helping us go through the first portion of the roof and we will continue to trust Him for the rest until its completion. The funds needed are HUGE and my finite mind is groping, asking where it will all be coming from? yet there is assurance and sweet peace in my heart that God will finish what has been started.

For now i will do the task entrusted to me. Doing my part in this endeavor - and that is to feed with food those who physically toil in the construction. Walking to and from the market, cooking and preparing the meals everyday is just too much of a routine job and i can`t help feeling weary at times....but only my body does, my spirit is soaring high with hope and expectancy seeing the developments day after day as the Lord continues to supply and provides our needs.

We will have busy months ahead. There are projects planned to gain funds. The most recent is a concert to be held next month.. Go go go hcjc praise team! Goodluck as you play the main rule in this "God`s hands of grace" event...

With the Lord`s help we hope for the completion while the rain is still far away. I know that when it comes the work will become a little bit harder to do. I pray, wait till all the roof be put up!

Generous people, those who have great love to see the work of God done has promised to help and bestow their support needless to say - financially. Be assured that you are helping building up God`s house and your acts of love will not be in vain.

will be updating developments in the coming days!

happy =)

Three days ago we received a box from mama, stateside- San Francisco....Of course happy, di ba? I guess it`s a late christmas presents for all of us her children here in pinas.... mama, thanks for the goodies..... and the sheets, i mean bed sheets. i really love those that comes from there! They look good on my worn-out bed, although it badly needed a replacement but with these stateside sheets on it, it always looks elegant. so why care for a new one? at least for now.. lol.

One more thing, i found this pair of sandals with no name on it (kasi lahat ng padala ni mama may kanya-kanyang pangalan na, para walay away, hehehe!), it fits me so i guess it has found its rightful owner - me!

Thanks mother for everything! thanks for the love..... hanggang sa uulitin!

chong`s 27th birthday =)

Happy birthday anak! Perhaps i could well express this in writing than saying it outwardly to you and what it says is what i really feel towards you as your mom.... with all that you have gone through, i know you are a strong person, its not because you are that way but because Jesus is true to His promises!

here it is:

If i could bring you a world full of happiness, i would. If i could take your sadness and pain and feel them for you, i would. If i could give you the strenght to handle the problems that this world may have for you, i`d do that too. There is nothing that i wouldn`t do for you to bring laughter instead of tears into your life.

I can`t give you happiness, but i can feel it with you. I can`t take away all your hurts in this world, but i can share them with you. I can`t give you the strenght when you need it the most, but i can try to be strong for you.

I can be there to tell you how much i care. In times when you feel you need to reach out to someone, i can be there for you, not to change how you feel, but to go through these times with you.

When you were little, i could hold you in my arms to comfort you, but you`ll never be too grown up for me to put my arms around you. You are so very special to us, your dad and me, and the most precious gift we could have received was you on the day you were born....love you so!

First day, 2010

i guess for most people (if not all), new year is a time of celebration and then starting afresh, putting on a new leaf like having a blank clean sheet of paper to keep record about life`s performance for the coming year. Forgiving those who have hurt us and to make amends and forgiveness from them that we have wronged. It is forgetting, leaving behind and letting go of our pains and mistakes of the past.

I can`t help reflecting how my life had been the past year. There were achievements tho` there were failures, many answered prayers tho` many hopes and dreams unfulfilled. But it was a great year, for me, my family and our church..We had made steps forward toward our godly goals.

I will always praise the Lord for His faithfulness. For good health and protection. I have been weary at times yet i feel the love of Christ unending in my life. This year i refuse to make weariness a common feeling. I should not make it too familiar anymore and try to always make any situation better. Each day I want to fill the blank sheet of my life with words, deeds, thoughts and purposes that will only edify the Name of Jesus.

I will try (with God`s help) to give top performance to whatever i am doing and plan to do in my service to Him and my family.

Help me Lord to serve you better and with excellence!

Another new year`s resolution? I surely hope not because resolutions are meant to be broken..
This is my desire and prayer with all of me, please Lord help me!

year end holidays, 2009

The holidays had been memorable and much enjoyable! I super love this time of the year. Fun times! bonding with loveones and friends... I love the warm feeling!

We had our yearly thanksgiving service in church at the last sunday of each year. Ang saya! It was a whole day affair with our church people,their families and loveones tagging along...

It`s not an ordinary service on a sunday..... it was time of testimonies, special songs and food in abundance. We had games in the afternoon with everybody participating. It was such fun abd lots of laughter i wouldn`t trade it in all the world! Praise God.
Comes December 31 and the media noche. Although most of my siblings are abroad now and also mama, we still managed to enjoy meeting the new year with remie`s family, jeff & erica, with dave & joy whose just been married a year ago. This is the first year that our son dave spend new year with us na may asawa na! Jhoy and me did what we both love doing, ( we found out we have this in common), cooking and wrapping gifts for everyone. Though how simple it all was, we immensely enjoyed the part where we all opened our respective gifts. Can`t deny and hide the "baby`s side" in all of us. I really treasure this kind of gatherings! The fond memories of these times, i will always keep in my heart.... =)

ondoy

......finally an update! Been months since my last one. The latest family craze is facebook and though i intend to make a monthly journal of how life has been with me, i cant avoid not keeping my promise. ( andun sila lahat sa facebook, masaya, so go with the flow, haha!) I must admit that writing can really be draining. There are times my mind can`t think of anything to write. The well feels dry although at other times it is gushing with thoughts and life...



Two typhoons hit the main city (Manila) the last months. but "Ondoy" was the worst. All of Manila was flooded, a major one - and we were not spared. First time in our area surrounding malacanang palace.. For almost 2 days, we had no electricity and had to stay on the second floor of our house because of the flood. Our neighborhood was like an ocean spread before our eyes. No dry land in sight only water everywhere...Every house, big or small were invaded by water, mga stores at iba pa.... mabuti na lang may konting pagkain sa refrigerator na pinagtiyagaan namin until the next day... charis was not able to come home from work... every street was under water, naglutangan ang mga sasakyan everywhere, so even tho` i was so worried for him i told him to just stay where he was... (he can`t come home tho` except kung sasakay siya ng helicopter, ha!)
The next day when the electircity came on, we learned in the news that we were far more fortunate pa pala than most people. Their houses were swift away by the flood, losing everything they have, some lost their loveones, big businesses, many drowned, it happened to rich and poor alike. It was such a pitiful sight to see...we saw what happened in the news... Everyone in the NCR has their own story to tell - we were directly affected by that typhoon.... pero sa lahat ng ito, salamat sa Panginoon He did not leave us nor forsake us. He is still Lord and God even in the midst of a fierciest of storm...

Then there was the relief effort operation that we and our church participated in. Our brethren and friends in Norway, Tugon ministries extended their hands to help and we worked hand in hand with them in distributing groceries and clothings to our less fortunate citizens esp our brethren in some UPC churches. As our vehicle passed through some very much affected and damage areas I could not imagine worst things can happen to some people and how they suffered much from this kind of disaster at this point of their lives. My eyes were full of tears and everytime I blinked and blinked back to keep them from falling but i know they are just there, hidden in my heart.... :(

Summing up all the events and activities that we had, it was such touching and heart-warming experience. Being able to help is such a wonderful feeling...and i would willingly do it over and over again! Lord, give us the chance and resources to be able to help more.... reach more........... `til it hurts!

well, this is just an update. see you all around..