Joshua is my hubby's oldest grandkid. He was just 9 years old when I got here in the US. Now he's 13 and he still loves collecting hot wheels. He got lots and lots of them. I remember when hubby was in the Philippines, he talked fondly of Josh. Hubby said he's a good and well-disciplined kid. Being an only child of a christian parents, he was raised up in a christian way. Hubby and I love him. Hubby also said that Josh got his good looks from his papa and that's my hubby of course, he-he-he!!!
I checked my e-mail last night and finally my sister has e-mailed me their photos while opening the balikbayan box that we sent them. She and my two brothers had thanked me and hubby a million times already for sending them some stuffs. She said they were all so happy. Simple things from us really make them happy and appreciative even though some of the things I sent were bought from a yard sale. I told them I'm happy if they're happy. While looking at their photos, it made me miss them more. I haven't seen them for more than 4 years and how I miss them.
Lorenzo Alexander or L.A. is my hubby's youngest grandson. He is now 2 and a half years old. Hubby and I are so fond of him and also his baby sister Consuelo. In fact we wanted to take him with us even just for a couple of weeks but we're afraid that he might miss his parents and he will cry and cry. He was cooperative enough when I took photos of him.
Last Sunday after church service, hubby and I drove to Alvarado. We spent Christmas there with his kids and grandkids. The last time we were there was last October and we're so glad to see all of them except Wayne and Melissa because they live in Iowa. We spent 4 days there in Alvarado. I took lots and lots of photos of course. If I'm carrying my camera, expect it to click and flash. That's my hobby, taking photos. I just love photography. I took lots of photos of Consuelo, my hubby's only granddaughter. She's more than 9 months old now and she's a cutie, chubby and a good baby. I just love her.
I was still sleeping early this morning when the telephone rang. I looked at the clock and it was 5:45 AM. I got up slowly and I went to listen to the voice message. It was from my sister Violy in the Philippines. She said that the balikbayan box that we sent to them last month just arrived very early today there. She said that I should go online so we can see them in the webcam. But the thing is their webcam didn't work so we were not able to see them open the box as we used to do whenever they receive a package from us. They told me that they will just send photos of them while opening the box. They were so happy to receive those stuffs that we sent them like chocolates, canned goods, shampoos, bath soaps, clothes, and a lot more. That's their Christmas gifts from us. I talked to my sister, my aunt and my 2 brothers on the phone afterwards and they were all so happy and thankful. Just simple things from us made them very happy and appreciative. I will post the photos when my sister will e-mail it to me.
Hubby and I went to the mall after lunch today. He bought me my Christmas presents which I have been requesting from him. I wanted to have a silver necklace with matching earrings. He also bought me a silver wrist watch and a necklace with swarovski crystal pendant. They are not that expensive because they're on sale. It's Christmas time and sale are everywhere so we really had a big discount. I've been asking him to replace my jewelries which were stolen early this year. We didn't have a budget for a diamond ring to replace my diamond ring which was also stolen. But anyways, I love my new jewelries though they're only silver and not gold especially it was given to me by my dearest hubby.photos+195.jpg)
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Our revival in our church started last Sunday. Our guest speaker Bro. Dave McCracken is a very good evangelist. Last Sunday morning, he preached about repentance. He said that you can't be saved without repentance from your sins. He also said that repentance and faith are like siamese twins. You repent from your sins because you believe that God will save you if you do. Bro. Dave knows how to catch the audience attention. He told stories that relates to the verses that he read. He makes it easy for us to understand the verses by explaining to us in a simple way. He also cracked jokes that made us laugh. He even jumped and laughed when he gets excited while preaching. He was really on fire. Last night his preaching touched our hearts that most of us were teary-eyed. Tonight Bro. McCracken will preach again. Our revival will last until tonight. It's our prayer that after the revival, all of us will be revived and our faith will be strengthen. We took photos with Bro. Dave and his wife Nancy McCracken last night as souvenirs.photos+188.jpg)
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My hubby had invited me yesterday to attend the Christmas lunch for the teachers and staff in the school where he works. It was my first time to go to his workplace and meet his co-workers. They were all so nice and I ate lunch with them. I got to see Mary and Cathy finally. Mary and I had been sending e-mails to each other and I talked to Cathy on the phone twice. They told me how they love my lumpia and they said they can eat a bunch of them. It just made me smile. I've seen the kids gave high five to my hubby. The kids were so cute. Hubby had been receiving gift cards from the kids in the school as Christmas gift. Some gave my hubby shower gel, granola and candy bars. My hubby said that the school where he works now is the best place he's ever worked in his life. All his co-workers are so nice and friendly and also the kids in that school are so cute. My hubby loves kids and he enjoyed working around them everyday.
Our friends Pastor Yanie and Sis Modie treated us for lunch at Golden Corral buffet restaurant yesterday. It was their 28th wedding anniversary and we celebrated it there. They spent the night with us last Friday and they went back to Bowie yesterday afternoon. It was so cold and windy yesterday so we had to wear layered clothes and thick coats. While we were at the restaurant, we keep taking photos as souvenir of that special occasion in our friends married life. They will be flying to Los Angeles, California on Tuesday and after three weeks they gonna fly back to the Philippines.
They've been here in Texas for one and a half year to attend the Bible Translation class. They're so excited to go back and see their kids and their church members. Anyways, we had a good meal yesterday. I got to eat again my favorites meatloaf, chicken fried steak, grilled chicken and corn on the cob. I wish I can eat more but my belly get full easily. My mouth wanted to eat more but my belly said "stop, no more place". But I managed to eat a small slice of carrot cake and a cookie for my dessert. At night I didn't really eat because I was still full. Thanks to Pastor Yanie and Sis Modie for a delicious meal. We will miss you guys. Have a safe trip.
Yesterday, Sis Modie and I went shopping at Wal Mart. I just bought something for myself and of course a Christmas gift for my hubby. I don't want him to see what I bought for him so it will be a surprise. He doesn't know that I bought something for him. He was at work that time so he would be surprised when he get his gift on Christmas Day. It's so nice roaming around without being in a hurry. Whenever I go with my hubby at Wal Mart, he's always in a hurry and doesn't want to roam around. I just like seeing what's on sale. Before checking out we took pictures infront of the Christmas tree. photos+152.jpg)
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We had such a great time tonight in the church. We held there the Ladies' Christmas Party. It was hosted by Ms. Marsha, our pastor's wife. She prepared mostly finger foods and some ladies brought some desserts. I was so hungry that I ate to my heart's delight. The foods were delicious. After we ate, we picked our gifts. By the way each lady had to bring a gift worth $10. Ms. Marsha let us draw lots and I got number 13. The lady who got number 1 was the first to pick a gift. Then she opens it and have to display it. If the next lady wanted the gift that Lady number 1 got then she can steal it. It was really fun. The gift I got was a pair of candle holders. They're so cute and I already displayed it in our coffee table. I was the only one who brought a camera so as usual I took some photos.
This award was given to me by Cecil. Thank you very much for the thought. It's my pleasure to receive this award. I want to pass this to Ging and Sis Modie.
These are old photos of me and my hubby when we went to California 4 years ago. We had such a good time visiting my college friends there. We stayed in Stockton at the house of Lina, my best friend in college. We stayed there for 17 days, free board and lodging, wink! My friend and her hubby took us to the beautiful spots in California like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, the long and winding road at Lombard Street in SFO, the Universal Studios in Hollywood, and Lake Tahoe.My friend Lina wanted us to ride the Heavenly Gondola but it was closed that time because it was snowy and windy. So we went to Lake Tahoe and took some pics then we proceeded to Cesar's Palace in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
We also visited one of our college friends in San Diego who is now in the navy and he took us to Sea World. All the entrance fees were taken care of by my friends but we treated them to lunch. So we saved money and we really had a good time there. Our navy friend wanted to take us to Tijuana, Mexico because it's just beyond the border of San Diego but I didn't have yet my green card that time so we didn't go. We just drove by and he showed us the border and across it is Tijuana. We had a grand time touring California from north to south. Hope to go back there someday.
I just want to feature here one of my digiscrapbook works that I did last summer. This was taken infront of our house. Hubby took the photo and I just posed. Here it is.
My blogger friend Juliana gave me these awards. I am so delighted to receive these awards and so I grabbed it at once. 
I would like to pass these awards to Jerla, Liza, Nancy, Rosemarie and Vicki.
Get Santa's code here
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Hubby took these photos last night right after we came home from the Church's Christmas Banquet. I asked him to take photos in our front porch. I just want to capture in picture the Christmas decorations that we put in our porch. The pics didn't really turn out that good. It's kinda blurry but still I wanted to post it here. The battery of my digicam was exhausted that's why. I would just take other pics next time. Anyways, after we had put up our Christmas tree and also those lights and ornaments at our front porch, I can say that I really feel now the spirit of Christmas. Last night we got a gift from our church, a beautiful Christmas card with a Christmas songs CD. I just love listening to it.
Last Saturday my hubby was busy putting up our Christmas tree while I was here infront of my computer busy blogging. After he assembled the Christmas tree he put the ornaments and the lights. Then he called me and asked me to go and look. I was so thrilled to see our Christmas tree standing again with all the decorations. Hubby did a good job. The next day I just added the red bows as finishing touches of our Christmas tree. It made the tree look better. Our Christmas tree is 6 1/2 feet tall which I bought at Wal Mart a day after Christmas 4 years ago. It was on sale, 50% off when I bought it. This is the 3rd year that we used the same Christmas tree and I still like it. I plan to use it for as long as it's still in good shape. If you noticed in the picture, I was wearing my new blouse which I blogged previously.
We had a good Christmas banquet in our church tonight. Lots and lots of foods were brought in by the church members. There were ham, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a lot more that I can't remeber. Of course there were lots of desserts, different kinds of cakes, cookies, pies, etc. I brought lumpia and as expected they were all gone not too long. The dining hall was well decorated with garlands, Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments and Christmas trees. After eating, Bro. Hugh had preached a good message. We had such a good time tonight in the church. By the way, our Pastor and his wife arrived yesterday from a week vacation. It's good they're back safely and we missed them.
Hubby and I went to church this morning. We had a great service today. Bro. Allen preached because our pastor and his wife are still on vacation. From Ohio they headed to Georgia and they will be coming back on Tuesday. After lunch I asked my hubby to take me to JC Penney in the mall so I can do Christmas shopping for the grandkids. At first hubby doesn't want to go because he said a lot of people are there in the mall shopping today. I persuaded him so we went. We just bought clothes for our 6 grandkids and of course I bought also for myself a magenta, fleece long sleeve shirt and a pink bath towel. Is it obvious that I love pink color? The fleece long sleeve shirt was on sale. The regular price was $29.99 and they marked it down to $14.99 plus tax. I just love the soft fabric of this shirt.
I just love doing digiscrapbooking. It's one way of expressing my creativity and style. But lately I haven't had enough time to do it. I've been busy blogging and doing other things. I had made quite a few before so I just want to show it here. I already posted these in my other sites.
Last Wednesday night, my hubby had the chance to preach in our church. Our pastor and his wife are in Ohio right now and he designated some people to preach while he is away. Fortunately my hubby is one of those he designated to preach. I was so excited to hear my hubby preach again. It's been a while since the last time he preached. While he was up there in the pulpit I was busy praying for him. I prayed that God would give him heavenly wisdom to bring his message in the church. Our service went well and hubby delivered his message that God wanted him to preach. I praised and thanked God because it's a great honor and privilege for my hubby just to stand up there and preach the Word of God.photos+071.jpg)
We had such a good church service last Sunday. Our pastor had preached a good message and after the church service we had a good time fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Though it was cold last Sunday, still a lot of people attended the church. It means that we truly love the Lord and the cold weather was not a hindrance to go to church and worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. I'm always excited to attend church service and I always look forward to it. Tomorrow night my hubby will be preaching in our church during the midweek service. Our pastor and his wife are in Ohio right now so he asked hubby to preach on Wednesday night. I'm excited and looking forward to hear my hubby preach again. By the way hubby took a photo of me with my sisters in Christ last Sunday after our church service.
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I was tagged by Nancy. Thank you so much sis. Now its time for me to tag Vicki, sis Modie, Ging, Irel, Losel, Jerlalou and Twerlyn. I thank you guys in advance for taking the survey. It's one way of learning things about you my co-bloggers. Let's get to know each other better, okay? Oh btw please let me know when you're done. Thanks.
Four things about me that you may or
may not know in no particular order.
A) Four jobs I have had in my life and what country:
1. Cashier- US
2. Bank Teller- US
3. Food Server - US
3. School Clerk -Philippines
4. Clerk- Philippines
B) Four movies I would watch over and
over:
1. Baby's Day Out
2. Facing The Giants
3. Love Comes Softly
4. Notting Hill
C) Four places I have lived:
1. Wichita Falls, TX
2. Iowa Park, TX
3. Alvarado, TX
4. Pangasinan, Philippines
D ) Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. The 700 Club
2. American Idol
3. America's Funniest Videos
4. Family Feud
E) Four places I have been:
1. Colorado
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa
4. California
F) People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. my hubby
2. friendster updates/notifications
3. spammers
4. PPP
G ) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Pinangat/Paksiw na Isda
2. Sinigang na bangus and hipon
3. Meatloaf
4. Pinakbet & RICE!
H) Four places I would rather be right
now:
1. Philippines
2. Israel
3. Baguio City, Phils.
4. Japan
I) Four friends I think will respond:
1. All
2. of
3. them
4. will ya?
J) Things I am looking forward to this
year: (what's left of it)
1. Christmas
2. our church's Christmas banquet
3. Christmas celebration with my stepkids
4. more gifts hihihi
It's good to see old friends this Thanksgiving weekend. Sofia, a dear friend of mine was here on Thanksgiving with her 2 kids. She drove all the way from South Carolina with her kids to be with her hubby during Thanksgiving Day. She came to our house with her nephew and niece and she was able to meet our 2 missionary friends from the Philippines who were still in our house last Friday afternoon. I was so glad to see her because I miss her so much. She's a good christian friend of mine and she's like a sister to me. She and her kids will drive back to South Carolina tomorrow. It's gonna be a long trip again for her, almost 24 hours trip. I wish her a safe trip. Meanwhile, our missionary friends left on Friday afternoon after spending 2 nights with us. So it's just me and hubby once again. I miss their company and I wish to see them once again soon.
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I pray that this will bless you as it blessed me.
Hello God,
I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you God for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a ! dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!
Hubby and I went to church tonight. For the first time I got the chance to wear my new tennis shoes. I told my hubby that it fits me me good and it doesn't hurt my feet. I like the inside cushion, it's soft to my feet. When we got back home after church I asked hubby to take photos of me. I did scrapbooking work for this pic. It was just a rush because it's already midnight but I think it turned out okay.
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Hubby and I went to Wal Mart this afternoon to buy some groceries and meat for Thanksgiving. We bought beef, chicken, grapes, canned goods, bread and of 4 gallons of bottled water. I don't like drinking tap water because I don't like the taste of the chlorine. Besides it's not good for our health. After buying groceries, I asked hubby to go to the women's shoes section. He said "you're buying shoes again"? He knows that I like buying shoes and of course purse. So we went to the shoes section and I tried different kinds of shoes. Then I decided to buy a black tennis shoes for this coming winter. I bought a white Nike tennis shoes three months ago but it turned out to be tight to me. I just used it two times and my feet hurt so I don't wanna use it no more. I will just give it away. I like the tennis shoes that I just bought today because it has cushion inside and it's comfortable to my feet. The price is reasonable too.
I was busy cooking this afternoon. In fact I prepared a 4 course meal. The first I cooked was broccoli with beef and carrots. Then I cooked beef adobo and mungo beans with ampalaya fruits and leaves and beef. I also prepared vegetable salad. Oh my, my hubby enjoyed the meal. How he likes the beef adobo and the mongo beans with ampalaya. He kept telling the mongo beans is good and he really likes it including the ampalaya. Hmmm, where on earth can you find an american eating mongo beans with ampalaya? But that's my hubby, he's not picky with his foods. He told me that he seldom eat vegetables before he married me. But since I like veggies and I cook it often, he said the veggies that I cook taste good. When we were still in the Philippines, he ate any vegetables that my aunt cooked. Even bamboo shoot and saluyot. I remember one time we were eating lunch and my neighbor came in our house. She's seen that we were eating saluyot. She can't really believed that George eat saluyot and she kept laughing. My neighbor was fascinated seeing an American eating saluyot. I told hubby that saluyot is considered a Philippine grass, ha-ha-ha! Oh well, I'm really blessed that hubby likes Filipino foods. The American husbands of some of my friends are so picky with their foods and they don't like some of the Filipino foods. It's good hubby is not like them. He likes almost anything that we offered him in the Philippines except for one thing - the chicken feet barbecue(adidas)ha-ha-ha!!!
Finally I have my own domain name. It's a great feeling to have my own unique personal domain. The first one that I bought did not work at all. I don't know what was wrong. I was really frustrated when I can't make it work. I called my domain registrar maybe about 8 times and they kept telling me different instructions. Each time I called, I spoke to another person and told me another instruction. They really confused me. But in fairness, the last person I talked to was so nice and helpful. He took the extra mile to help me but it seems the technical problem is beyond his comprehension. I really appreciate his help though. So they were not able to fix the problem so I bought another domain. I just charged that to a bad experience. Never mind the money wasted, I can earn that by blogging. It's good the new domain I bought is working good now. Thanks to my friend Ivy. She was a big help to me. She's not only pretty outside but pretty inside too. She's Alice Dixon look-alike, a very pretty lady. I hope she won't change. It's such a blessing to have a friend like her. Thanks again my friend.
Everyday of my life I pray to my Heavenly Father. Prayer is the key to open a new day of my life. Early in the morning as I wake up I spend time praying. I pour all my cares and plans in my life to God. Then after praying I read my Bible. I read a few chapters in the Bible daily. Then I read my Daily bread booklet. Then I pray again. Prayer serves as a lock to close the day. At night before I go to sleep, I pray again to my heavenly Father and thank Him for all the things I've done the whole day. I thank Him for His many blessings and provisions. Then I ask Him to watch over me and hubby during the night and keep us safe always. I make prayer a part of my life. Hubby and I also pray before each meal. We always give Him thanks for the foods that He provided us. Prayer is powerful and when we pray God will be moved and He will answer our prayers in His perfect time. Following the A-C-T-S model in praying can help if you don't know how to start your prayer.
Adoration: “Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name”
Confession: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”
Thanksgiving: “Thine is the Kingdom & the Power & The Glory”
Supplication: “Give us this day our daily bread, lead us not into temptation, deliver us”
Jesus commanded us to pray without ceasing. Even Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father. Let's follow His example.
Gracious God, even in the wondrous tangle of wires and connections, you make yourself known. May my computer be more than a machine of information and become an altar on which I am able to offer my thanks for the abundance of gifts in this richly textured world. As I scan through images, as I learn and explore, as I create and produce, bring my soul to the awareness that I am not alone in this vast world of human energy. Fill me with that energy and give me a heart of gratitude. Amen.
According to the Bible, without faith, it is impossible to please God. So we need to have faith in God in order to please Him. The Bible said, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, that's why it's so important to go to church on Sundays and listen to the preaching of God's Word. We need also to read our Bible daily because that is where you will learn more about the Word of God. My faith in God didn't grow instantly. I had to undergo a lot of trials in life before my faith went deeper. God used those trials to mold me and transformed me into the person He wants me to be. When trouble comes into our lives, we sometimes feel as if we've been hit by a strong typhoon. We feel desperation and then we wonder. Why is this happening to me? One possibility is that God is using a painful experience to get our attention and to turn to Him and trust Him to help us. Is God using pain in your life to lovingly persuade you to change and deepen your faith in Him? Trials are not easy but if we let God work in our lives and completely trust in His Son Jesus, then new growth will result and our faith in God will go deeper.
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I've seen and experienced how God answered my prayers to Him. Many times in my life, I seek God for all the things concerning His will for me. I always go to Him in prayer. In the past, I prayed to the good Lord to give me the right man He wants me to have, a man who is a Christian and one who will love and accept me for who and what I am. God answered my prayers and He gave me my husband George. God answers prayers in 3 ways, yes, wait or no because He has something better for you. But whatever the answer is, we must always thank Him and praise Him. The Bible said, in everything give thanks, whether in bad times or in good times for it is the will of God. Through the years, I've developed my prayer life. I always talk to God and tell Him all my cares, my plans and everything that is within me. I really believe that when we pray, miracles happen.
The list of my answered prayers is too long and I will relate the rest in my next posts. But here's an incident that happened 2 years ago. My husband had been coughing and coughing and almost out of breath. The cough doesn't stop and his face was turning red already. I was worried, I didn't know what to do. He said he can hardly breath. Then I went to get my Bible and read to him Psalm 121. After reading, I laid my hands on him and by faith I prayed to God to heal my hubby. I claimed Jesus' promise in the Bible found in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them." I prayed intently and tears were running down my cheeks. Before I closed my prayer, I thanked God for healing George. That's faith, believing for the healing even it didn't happened yet. After I prayed, I told hubby that God has healed him and that he will be alright. I told him just believe. There was peace in my heart after I prayed and I went to eat my lunch. After a few hours my hubby was feeling okay and the cough subsided.
I asked him what caused his cough because before that he was alright and no cough. He told me that he took Celebrex, a prescription medicine with an empty stomach. I told him not to take those pills anymore and throw it away because it almost killed him. I remember that medicine has been so controversial in the past because of it's bad side effects. I just wonder why the FDA didn't pull it out from the market. I advised hubby to tell his doctor about the adverse effect of that pill. I was so thankful to Jesus for He is our Healer. He is the greatest physician and nothing is impossible to Him as long as you believe. Do you have any problem that you need God's help? Then go to Him in prayer my friend. Go to Jesus just as you are. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. He love you that much that even while we were yet sinners, He died on the cross for our sins. What a great love! To my readers I can be your prayer partner if you need one. Just let me know and I'll pray for you. Miracles happen when we pray.
Saturday afternoon we went to Robert and Shelly's house in Cleburne. They were working on their house because a pipe broked and wet their house. They were staying in a motel while the insurance is fixing their house. George and I spent Saturday night in their motel in Cleburne. We were supposed to go to Traders' Village in Grand Prairie Saturday afternoon but Shelly had to work until 3:00 PM so hubby decided that we will just go next time. Shelly is working now at Wal Mart, hubby's favorite store.
Robert and Shelly treated us for supper Saturday night. So five of us went to eat out, Robert, Shelly, Josh, hubby and me. They wanted to take us to Montana Grill in Grandbury because they have a huge chicken fried steak there but that restaurant was full of people. Chicken fried steak is hubby's favorite. We ended up eating in El Chico, a mexican restaurant in Grandbury. I ordered Poblano Chimichanga with Mexican rice and beans. It was good and yummy. Hubby ordered his favorite chicken fried steak of course. Well, after the main course, I was already full. No more room for dessert. Hubby ordered apple pie, Josh got cheesecake and Robert and Shelly got chocolate cake. I just tasted hubby's apple pie, it's too sweet for me. Hubby said it's good and he like it. After the meal, we were all so full, thanks to the Brownlees. We headed to Wal Mart and walked it off.
My hubby and I got back tonight from our weekend break. Actually we went to visit the kids and grandkids in Alvarado and Cleburne. We had a good trip back and forth except when we reached I-35 in Fort Worth the traffic was bad. It was heavy traffic when we went last Friday and traffic again this afternoon. My hubby and I hate the traffic. It's good here in Wichita Falls, the traffic is not that bad. My hubby said that's the reason he left Fort Worth, the traffic. He was born and raised there but he preferred a quiet life and he doesn't like to live in a big and busy city like Fort Worth. He can't stand the traffic and that I understand. Well, I'll just post more tomorrow. I'm just tired right now. I'm glad I got a 2 day break from this computer.
We had a blast last night at the church during the banquet. There were lots of good foods and it was catered. The fellowship hall was decorated with hawaiian motiff. Hubby and I enjoyed the foods and the fellowship. They served beef barbecue, sausage, coles law, potato salad, ham, beans, dinner rolls, pickles, ice cream and a lot of more which I can't remember. I didn't really eat that much, I got full easily. My hubby went to get 2nd serving. After eating, there was a program. Some of the church workers gave their testimonies. Some rendered special songs. There was also a skit that really made us laughed. Pastor Turner gave a message to wrap up the night's event. The program was hosted by Bro. Allen and Bro. Hugh. We had such a good time last night. I thought of sharing some of our photos taken at the banquet.
Did you ever marvel of how great and awesome our God is? Everyday of my life I can’t thank Him enough for all the things that He has done and all the things He’s going to do in my life. As I look back in the past, I remember my life before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I had big dreams, like I wanted to finish my studies, find a good job to help my family and also get married and have a family of my own. I also wanted to get rich, have a nice house and go abroad. My parents have no riches to give us except our education. My mom passed away before I graduated in high school and my dad had no stable job but I thank God that we had a grandma who was so loving, generous and willing to support my education and also my siblings. I can say that I really did good in my studies because from elementary up to my high school years I was a consistent honor student. I wanted to prove something that even though I came from a poor family that I can be recognized in the school because of my achievements.
Then when I was in my college years, the Lord had began to deal with me. My great aunt had been inviting me to go to church with her but I always had an alibi not to go. Then I asked her to sew a blouse and dress for me because she was a dressmaker. She didn’t want to charge me but she just wanted me to go to church with her on Sunday so I went with her. I remember that I was even ashamed to carry my Bible. I went there a few times but my heart was hardened and not yet ready at that time to receive Jesus in my life. I just went there just to return the favor that my great aunt did for me. It was a few years that I went there on and off. Then they had this revival and I attended it and that was December 1987. I was touched by the message of the preacher and during the invitation, the Holy Spirit convicted me to go to the altar. My heart was pounding, then I walked my way in front of the altar. I knelt down and right there and then, I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It was there at that moment that I realized that even though I have all the talent, intelligence, education and achievements in life, they are all void and meaningless if I don’t have Jesus in my heart. I realized that everything here on earth is just temporal and life without Jesus is void and empty. I thank God for He has waited on me. I was lost and He found me.
There has been a lot of trials and temptations in my life but I thank God because He used those trials to transform me from being a baby Christian to a mature Christian with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that I will be free from all these things. The Scriptures tell us in 1 Cor. 10:13 that God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Looking back now with all the trials I’ve been through, I’m amazed that God has been so faithful to carry me through. His grace is sufficient for me, because it’s when I am weak that I am strong because He is my strength. There were also times that I committed mistakes and sinned because as long as we are in this human flesh we tend to commit sin but I went to God and ask His forgiveness. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Our God is a loving God but he hates S-I-N. I thank God for He has given Jesus to die on the cross for my sins so I will be reconciled with Him.
I thank God for all the trials in my life because it increased my faith in Him. I thank God for He has changed me, my outlook and priorities in life. I thank God for the joy of my salvation. I thank God for I know that I’ll be with Him in heaven someday where there will be no more trials, no more sickness and no more tears. The Lord ain’t done with me yet. I believe He has more plans in my life and I asked Him to use me and my hubby to share the gospel to the lost. The Lord knows our hearts’ desire. We want to magnify the name of the Lord and serve Him all the days of our lives. Nothing can compare with the joy and peace that comes in serving God. God is awesome! God is great! No one else like Him.
It's exactly 4 years today since I first step foot in this land of the free and the home of the brave wherein most people in my country are dying to see. I still remember, my hubby and I left NAIA (the airport in Manila) at about 12:30 midnight. Before boarding the plane I was so excited and I told myself, America here I come, lol! Well, that was my first time to ride a plane and I had mixed feelings, nervous and excited. We had a smooth flight from Manila to Korea and I managed to have a little nap.We took the Korean airlines and we had a 7 hour layover in Korea. Oh my, that was a long wait for me. I was so eager to see USA.
Then finally we boarded the plane that will take us to Texas. It was a very long trip and the flight was not as smooth as the previous one. We encountered a lot of turbulence during the flight. At first I got so nervous, it feels like there was an earthquake inside the plane, lol! But after a while I got used to it and I got to enjoy the trip. The stewardess had served good foods and hubby and I enjoyed it. I looked around the other passengers and some of them were sound asleep and some even laid down on the vacant seats. I wonder how they managed to sleep inside the plane. Maybe some of them travel by plane often and they got used to flying. But me, that was my first time and I can't sleep while flying. Besides I got a lot of things in my head like what will my life be like in the US and I thought of my family that I left in the Philippines. Sure thing I gonna miss them.
Then after long hours of flying we were finally in the US territory. I was so excited to take a glimpse of how the US look like so I asked my hubby to exchange seat with me so I can sit by the window. I took a peek outside and all I've seen were trees and buildings. When we finally landed and got our baggage, hubby and I were in the lobby of DFW airport and there we were met by his 2 lovely daughters. I was glad to see them, my new family here. While we were on our way to the house I just kept looking around. I said to myself, so this is it, this is USA...my home for the last 4 years and God's willing, for more years to come. I thank the Lord for bringing me here.
It's getting cooler in the morning. When I got up this morning I felt cold so I have to turned off the AC. I went out and it's a little chilly outside. It feels good though. I went to gather some of my vegetables like the squash flowers and string beans. Yap, my veggies are still kicking. In fact, the squash are bearing more fruits now. There were quite a few and I lost count how many are there. Yesterday, I cooked squash with string beans, okra and I put ground beef and coconut cream. It's a typical filipino recipe and I love it.
We had a simple celebration of our wedding anniversary tonight. But as early as yesterday, my husband gave me fresh flowers. He said it's for his beautiful wife and for being married to him for 5 years. He said it was the best 5 years of his life and that I made him happy. I told him the feeling is mutual, he made me happy too and I had no regrets of marrying him and we embraced and kissed each other. So to celebrate the occasion, I cooked foods like meatloaf, potato salad, pancit, lumpia, blueberry muffins and cathedral windows jello. Wow! I was like a supercook cooking all these by myself. The preparation of the ingredients especially for the pancit took most of my time. I made the jello last night, the muffins yesterday and I wrapped the lumpia the other day and just fried them today. The pancit, potato salad, meat loaf and the lumpia I cooked them after lunch.
Anyway, while I was cooking the pancit, Malou came by and she helped me mixed the pancit and the vegetables together. The noodles were so sticky because my husband bought rice noodles made in Thailand. I asked him to buy me rice noodles which is made in the Philippines and I thought he knows how it looks like but when he came home, he bought a different kind. It tasted good though, only it was sticky. In fairness, the foods I cooked were all good according to my husband. He ate a lot. We didn't even have room for the butter pecan ice cream that he bought. I didn't invite others because I thought I would not be able to cook much. It's good Malou came by, she didn't know that it's our anniversary today. I just asked her yesterday to come today because I'll be cooking. We invited James to come for supper and he came after we ate and Malou had already left. He got off late tonight and he came here straight from work in his navy uniform. We had a good time eating and I gave Malou and James foods to take home. George and I give thanks to the Lord for another wedding anniversary that He gave us. Every good and perfect gift comes from above.
Tomorrow will be our 5th wedding anniversary. How time flies. Wasn't it only yesterday when George and I got married? I still remember, we got married in the Philippines. It's one of the happiest moments in my life. I prayed to God to give me the man He wants me to have. I didn't pray for a rich man to be my husband. I prayed to God to give me a man who is a christian and who will love me for what and who I am and He gave me George. We had only a short time to prepare our wedding, less than 2 weeks because George had to go back to the US after 3 weeks of staying in the Philippines.
So everything was rushed but I thank God that we had a good wedding. Our wedding was well attended especially during the reception. George was surprised to see all the people who came to eat. He said that people were coming out from wood works meaning people were coming from everywhere, lol! The reception was catered and according to the caterer, almost 500 plates were used in the reception. So that's the number of people who came to eat in our wedding celebration. Lot's of people huh! I was really surprised but knowing the people in our town, they come and gatecrash though they're not invited especially they knew that an American is getting married to a filipina. George and I really didn't mind. Maybe some of them, that's the only time that they got a decent meal. It's a good thing that despite the fact that many people came, there were still lots of leftover foods so we gave some to my kinfolks and neighbors. It's good to reminisce the past, it brought back good memories.
Now 5 years had passed by so swiftly. There were ups and downs we encountered along the way, but with God on our side we were able to handle them gracefully. George and I are looking forward to many years to come and spend the rest of our lives together with God in the center of our lives. We're praying to God to use us to further His kingdom and that we would like to go back in the Philippines. We know that God is faithful and we believe that He shall give us the desires our hearts in His perfect time.
It's nice to reminisce the past. I've been here in the US for almost 4 years now. It's like it's only been yesterday that I was with my family in the Philippines. I miss them so much and I wish I am there with them now. I miss my aunt, my siblings, my nephews, my friends and former co-workers there. Also I miss the fresh fish, fresh Philippine fruits and vegetables. If only the fare going there is cheap, my hubby and I could have gone there on vacation many times. But we have to save first and wait on God's perfect time before going back there.
Okay I created this blog and so far this is my 3rd. I'm just having fun blogging but I don't know how will I find all the time to update all my blogs. I need to have lots of energy and power to do it, he-he-he! Anyways, I will just go on and we'll see. I just ask God to help me along the way. He is my strength and the source of my life. I can do all through Christ who strengthens me.
