Friday, December 29, 2006
VERY busy
i have so much on plate...too many things going on. what with the new position at work, a young daughter, a wedding to plan, exams to take...it's so hard to juggle all of them and not allow even one to slip. haaaay!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
found me a new scent!!!
i've been using the same perfume (miracle by lancome) for about three years now but today at bloomingdales, i think i may have found a new favorite scent.
i have allergies and my nose gets easily irritated by perfumes...this one is really mild and feminine. it smells good when sprayed on skin, if you go to the mall and spray it on the cardboard thingie they have, you wont get the perfume's real scent...so spray on!!!
i have allergies and my nose gets easily irritated by perfumes...this one is really mild and feminine. it smells good when sprayed on skin, if you go to the mall and spray it on the cardboard thingie they have, you wont get the perfume's real scent...so spray on!!!
white tea by bulgari
Eau Parfumée au thé blanc joined the Eau Parfumée family in 2003. A generous and elegant expression of refinement and personal indulgence, Eau Parfumée au thé blanc’s intimate notes envelop body and mind. Characterized by the unique note of white tea, it is the ideal fragrance for men and women seeking sensations of deep relaxation during private, precious moments of luxury.
Bulgari’s “White Tea”, the number 9 winner on The Style Group’s Top 10 Perfumes List, is a delicate bouquet of ambrette, white pepper, musk, woody amber and white tea (which helps create a sense of well-being). Need a break from all the city chaos? Spritz some of this on, chill by your Koi pond, and catch up on that meditation you’ve been promising yourself this week.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
lessons from veggie tales
the other day, out of boredom, i watched veggie tales on tv. the story was about madame blueberry and how she was "blue, blue, blue, blue, blue."
madame blueberry was rich and lived in a house high on a tree 
and had two butlers at her beck and call. 
despite her wealth, she was still unhappy. she wanted what her neighbors had: better appliances, better tableware, a better house, etc., etc. she thought that buying everything she wanted would make her happy.
on her way to her shopping spree, she saw a girl who was celebrating her birthday with her parents. they only had one slice of apple pie to share among the three of them. and yet she heard the little girl say, "thank you Lord for always being there, and for always hearing my prayer. thank you for my parents and this pie we are to share." despite not having a lot, the little girl was happy and thankful.
while madame blueberry was shopping, she saw a little boy with his father shopping for a toy. the boy wanted the big expensive train but they could only afford a bouncy red ball. he was a little bit disappointed but he smiled at his dad and thanked him for the ball. he said he was looking forward to playing with his new toy once they get home.
madame blueberry and myself realized that no amount of material wealth can make us happy. there will always be another person who has more than what we have. i noticed that the older i get and the more money i get paid, the more expensive my lifestyle has become. but nothing i owned has given me the true happiness that i get when i look at my family and my daughter's beautiful eyes, or when i soak in the presence of the Lord.
as i was watching veggie tales, in my head i had a mental picture of the many things i owned but don't need (some are a complete waste of money). i'm sure i am not alone in this, but many of us seem to have an insatiable appetite for material things. my christmas wishlist is full of things i want to have but don't necessarily need. i saw the ipod shuffle and found it so cute i wanted to buy it even though i don't need it. i want a new big leather bag for work, i want a new pair of shoes...samantalang i just bought a purse and shoes the other day...and yet i want more, more, and more =(. sabi nga ni paul, "new purse and new shoes nanaman???" before i saw that episode of veggie tales, my response would always be, "a girl can never have to many shoes or purses!" =( but that shouldn't be the case.
i pray that the Lord will give me the grace to really learn to appreciate what i have now and not to look for temporary happiness in material things; to consider myself extremely blessed for having so much, to be grateful and thankful for all that i have. i don't want to be materialistic, that's not what the Lord wants me to become. i have to do my best and and be a good steward of all the things that He has given me so far. in matthew 25:29, it says "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But for those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."
lesson from veggie tales: the secret to happiness is having a thankful heart. a thankful heart, is a happy heart.
madame blueberry was rich and lived in a house high on a tree 
and had two butlers at her beck and call. 
despite her wealth, she was still unhappy. she wanted what her neighbors had: better appliances, better tableware, a better house, etc., etc. she thought that buying everything she wanted would make her happy.on her way to her shopping spree, she saw a girl who was celebrating her birthday with her parents. they only had one slice of apple pie to share among the three of them. and yet she heard the little girl say, "thank you Lord for always being there, and for always hearing my prayer. thank you for my parents and this pie we are to share." despite not having a lot, the little girl was happy and thankful.
while madame blueberry was shopping, she saw a little boy with his father shopping for a toy. the boy wanted the big expensive train but they could only afford a bouncy red ball. he was a little bit disappointed but he smiled at his dad and thanked him for the ball. he said he was looking forward to playing with his new toy once they get home.
madame blueberry and myself realized that no amount of material wealth can make us happy. there will always be another person who has more than what we have. i noticed that the older i get and the more money i get paid, the more expensive my lifestyle has become. but nothing i owned has given me the true happiness that i get when i look at my family and my daughter's beautiful eyes, or when i soak in the presence of the Lord.
as i was watching veggie tales, in my head i had a mental picture of the many things i owned but don't need (some are a complete waste of money). i'm sure i am not alone in this, but many of us seem to have an insatiable appetite for material things. my christmas wishlist is full of things i want to have but don't necessarily need. i saw the ipod shuffle and found it so cute i wanted to buy it even though i don't need it. i want a new big leather bag for work, i want a new pair of shoes...samantalang i just bought a purse and shoes the other day...and yet i want more, more, and more =(. sabi nga ni paul, "new purse and new shoes nanaman???" before i saw that episode of veggie tales, my response would always be, "a girl can never have to many shoes or purses!" =( but that shouldn't be the case.
i pray that the Lord will give me the grace to really learn to appreciate what i have now and not to look for temporary happiness in material things; to consider myself extremely blessed for having so much, to be grateful and thankful for all that i have. i don't want to be materialistic, that's not what the Lord wants me to become. i have to do my best and and be a good steward of all the things that He has given me so far. in matthew 25:29, it says "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But for those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."
lesson from veggie tales: the secret to happiness is having a thankful heart. a thankful heart, is a happy heart.
i'm getting there!!!!
i've lost 35 lbs!!!! yahoo!!! just 15 more lbs to go and i'm back to my prepregnancy weight. i just hope i can do it by the end of december! =)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
undecided
libre naman ang mangarap di ba? hehehe
we are claiming one of these three cars will be ours within the next 6 months, in Jesus' name!!!
Land Rover LR3
Acura MDX
Volvo XC90
all cars are safe...a high priority for me because of my baby. but should we sacrifice the features for more leg/shoulder room or vice versa???
please vote for your personal favorite. =)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
great phrases...
"we may be full of material things, but unless we are filled by Christ Jesus, there is no fulfillment."
"we should read the Bible with the mindset to obey..."
new 7 wonders of the world
i've always been fascinated by travel, architecture and art (i almost minored in art history back in college). so when i read on cnn.com that people like you and me can vote our new 7 wonders of the world, i immediately googled the website and found out what it's all about.
The SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD (from left to right, top to bottom):
Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Mausoleum of Maussollos, Colossus of Rhodes
Lighthouse of Alexandria
of the 7 ancient wonders of the world, only one remain today, that is the the pyramids of giza in egypt.
so here's our chance to vote for the new 7 wonders of the ancient world. 21 sites are in the running (from left to right, top to bottom):
The Acropolis (Greece), Alhambra (Spain), Angkor (Cambodia), The Pyramid at Chichen Itza (Mexico), Christ Redeemer (Brazil), The Roman Colosseum (Italy), Statues of Easter Island(Chile)
Eiffel Tower (France), The Great Wall (China), Hagia Sophia (Turkey), Kiyomizu Temple (Japan), The Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), Machu Picchu (Peru), Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)
Petra (Jordan), The Pyramids of Giza (Egypt), The Statue of Liberty (United States), Stonehenge (England), Sydney Opera House (Australia), Taj Mahal (India), Timbuktu (Mali)
of course, the nerdy me registered and voted for the following sites: the Acropolis, Angkor, Pyramid at Chichen Itza, the Colosseum, the Great Wall, Machu Picchu, and the Pyrimids at Giza.
the New 7 Wonders of the World will be announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
restaurant review - thristy bear
last night, my friends and i went to thirsty bear to celebrate theresa's birthday. i've been to thirsty bear before with my co-workers during happy hour so i knew that food was good and that's why i suggested we celebrate there.
what we had:
Costillas
Baby back ribs glazed with smoky mustard bbq glaze & white bean-chantrelle ragout
Carne a la Parilla
Grilled hanger steak with mojo piquante, grilled green onions & oven dried tomatoes
Albondigas Spanish meatballs with wild mushrooms & chickpeas
Paella Valenciana
Saffron rice, chicken, chorizo, clams, mussels & shrimp with roasted peppers & peas
we also had grilled pork loin and fish, but they aren't on the website so no detail description on those =)
anyway, the food was good. servings (except for the paella), despite being filed under the heading "heartier plates" were smaller compaired to other restaurants but they were filling nonetheless. hindi yung 'american serving' na good for 3 people! the servings were a good size, enough to fill up a person with a not-so-big appetite.
the paella serving was large enough for two people to share. our only complaint regarding the paella was that the shrimp was not peeled. hehe maarte no? but it was good...if i were not on my south beach diet, i would have ordered the paella myself.
we had dessert, too. the Boca Negra (chocolate torte with whipped cream, ruby port syrup & chocolate sauce), Flan de Queso (cheesecake flan), and apple pie (i think). we were all ice cream junkies so all the desserts were ordered, ala mode. they were all good. i particularly liked the flan de queso, a good twist to the traditional flan. the cream cheese cuts the sweetness of the flan.
some had spanish wine, some had beer, some had sangrias and cocktails. the cocktails were potent, the wine could have been better (california wines are better, but maybe i'm just biased), i don't like cinnamon in my sangria, the beer was good (it's a brewery after all!). the drink menu was so extensive, there's bound to be something that will please every person's thirst.
the downside:
parking is a hassle, just like anywhere else in downtown san francisco. difficult to find street parking and expensive parking garages.
maybe a little too loud to carry a good conversation, not a very good place to go on a first date hehehe. but still 'quieter' than your average bar.
overall, thirsty bear is a good place to hang out, eat, and drink. prices are not too steep...although we racked up a bill that's over $300! but there was 13 of us and gratuity was included...everyone enjoyed their meal and had fun so it was all worth it.
what we had:
Costillas
Baby back ribs glazed with smoky mustard bbq glaze & white bean-chantrelle ragout
Carne a la Parilla
Grilled hanger steak with mojo piquante, grilled green onions & oven dried tomatoes
Albondigas Spanish meatballs with wild mushrooms & chickpeas
Paella Valenciana
Saffron rice, chicken, chorizo, clams, mussels & shrimp with roasted peppers & peas
we also had grilled pork loin and fish, but they aren't on the website so no detail description on those =)
anyway, the food was good. servings (except for the paella), despite being filed under the heading "heartier plates" were smaller compaired to other restaurants but they were filling nonetheless. hindi yung 'american serving' na good for 3 people! the servings were a good size, enough to fill up a person with a not-so-big appetite.
the paella serving was large enough for two people to share. our only complaint regarding the paella was that the shrimp was not peeled. hehe maarte no? but it was good...if i were not on my south beach diet, i would have ordered the paella myself.
we had dessert, too. the Boca Negra (chocolate torte with whipped cream, ruby port syrup & chocolate sauce), Flan de Queso (cheesecake flan), and apple pie (i think). we were all ice cream junkies so all the desserts were ordered, ala mode. they were all good. i particularly liked the flan de queso, a good twist to the traditional flan. the cream cheese cuts the sweetness of the flan.
some had spanish wine, some had beer, some had sangrias and cocktails. the cocktails were potent, the wine could have been better (california wines are better, but maybe i'm just biased), i don't like cinnamon in my sangria, the beer was good (it's a brewery after all!). the drink menu was so extensive, there's bound to be something that will please every person's thirst.
the downside:
parking is a hassle, just like anywhere else in downtown san francisco. difficult to find street parking and expensive parking garages.
maybe a little too loud to carry a good conversation, not a very good place to go on a first date hehehe. but still 'quieter' than your average bar.
overall, thirsty bear is a good place to hang out, eat, and drink. prices are not too steep...although we racked up a bill that's over $300! but there was 13 of us and gratuity was included...everyone enjoyed their meal and had fun so it was all worth it.
little by little...
i gained a staggering 47 lbs during the 9 months that i was pregnant with my daughter, michelle. early in the pregnancy, i told myself i would only allow myself to gain a maximum of 35 lbs but obviously, that didn't happen. =) but now, i am proud to say that i have lost 27 lbs since giving birth and on the path to losing the 20 additional pounds that i have gained. i am confident i will lose the weight by january, thanks to the south beach diet and exercise. =)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
love immeasurable
The thought of my suffering and homelessness
is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:
Let them sit alone in silence
beneath the Lord’s demands.
Let them lie face down in the dust,
for there may be hope at last.
Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
For no one is abandoned
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow.
Lamentations 3:19-33
is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
And it is good for people to submit at an early age
to the yoke of his discipline:
Let them sit alone in silence
beneath the Lord’s demands.
Let them lie face down in the dust,
for there may be hope at last.
Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
and accept the insults of their enemies.
For no one is abandoned
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people
or causing them sorrow.
Lamentations 3:19-33
Thursday, November 02, 2006
tidbits...
it's been a long time since i actually wrote something in my blog. motherhood has been keeping me busy. but here's an update on what i've been up to.
michelle got her first set of shots yesterday. my baby girl was so brave, sandali lang sya umiyak after 3 needles pricked her skin. =( she's running a slight fever right now and cries more than usual because her skin is sore around the area where she was vaccinated. she's still eating fine and we're giving her baby tylenol.
paul went to his 2nd interview at cypress yesterday also. i was waiting for him for 3 hours...namuti na ung mata ko kakahintay!!! i was just listening to christian talk radio the whole time and praying to the Lord...thanking Him for all that He has given us and i apologized sincerely for not being able to spend more time in praise and prayer. we are so lucky that we have a Savior who doesn't change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. i'm blessed to have developed this personal relationship with Him...He is truly my source of strength. to everyone out there reading my blog (to the 3 people who actually read my blog hehe), i encourage you to read the bible and get to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. better is one day with the Lord, than thousands elsewhere.
job prospects...i'm asking for prayers from my prayerful friends to pray for me and paul sa aming job prospects. the Lord said in His word that He will make us the head and not the tail...i hold Him true to His word. ngayon palang, we already thank the Lord for whatever lies in store for us in our careers. we are confident that whatever happens, it is the Lord's will for our lives.
weightloss...should we even talk about this?!?!?!? hehehe i have successfully lost 5 lbs! (booooo!) yeah super baba! but i'm working hard to lose as much as i can. i tried on my wedding gown the other night and it doesn't fit!!! i'm at least 1 dress size bigger so i have to work really hard and fit into it by second or third week of december. if not, it's either i get the gown fixed (maggie sottero style) or buy a new dress. (gastos nanaman!!!)
wedding...well, i have a florist now and i'm waiting for them to send me the quote for the wedding ceremony. i'm working on the wedding invitations and will try to get them all done by saturday to be sent out on monday. i'm looking for a hairstylist and make up artist to help me look like a blushing bride on that day. madge lejano's booked for my wedding so i can't hire her. does anyone know any magicians...i mean, beauticians that can help me look beautiful on that day? suggestions please!!!
grandma...i just received a text message from my brother that my mom's mom is in the hospital. doctor's will give an update on her health tomorrow. please help me pray for her. she's one kind of a woman, my grandmother. kakaiba!!! but we love her...without her, my wonderful mom wouldn't be here!
so far yan lang muna. i'm going to work out right now...here is what i do when i work out...i do 30-mins of pilates, 30 mins of aerobic workout, 30 minutes jogging, 20 minutes light weights, and 10 minutes abdominal work. kaya nyo yon!?!?!?! i so hate working out...really, i hate it! i don't use the word hate because it's such a strong word, but i do hate it! but i have to. really have to!
oh, to all you ladies who also want to lose weight...oprah claims her doctor has a new 'diet' that can help people lose at least 1 dress size in 10 days. watch oprah today 11/02 at 4 pm on ABC. i know i'm watching!!! =)
michelle got her first set of shots yesterday. my baby girl was so brave, sandali lang sya umiyak after 3 needles pricked her skin. =( she's running a slight fever right now and cries more than usual because her skin is sore around the area where she was vaccinated. she's still eating fine and we're giving her baby tylenol.
paul went to his 2nd interview at cypress yesterday also. i was waiting for him for 3 hours...namuti na ung mata ko kakahintay!!! i was just listening to christian talk radio the whole time and praying to the Lord...thanking Him for all that He has given us and i apologized sincerely for not being able to spend more time in praise and prayer. we are so lucky that we have a Savior who doesn't change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. i'm blessed to have developed this personal relationship with Him...He is truly my source of strength. to everyone out there reading my blog (to the 3 people who actually read my blog hehe), i encourage you to read the bible and get to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. better is one day with the Lord, than thousands elsewhere.
job prospects...i'm asking for prayers from my prayerful friends to pray for me and paul sa aming job prospects. the Lord said in His word that He will make us the head and not the tail...i hold Him true to His word. ngayon palang, we already thank the Lord for whatever lies in store for us in our careers. we are confident that whatever happens, it is the Lord's will for our lives.
weightloss...should we even talk about this?!?!?!? hehehe i have successfully lost 5 lbs! (booooo!) yeah super baba! but i'm working hard to lose as much as i can. i tried on my wedding gown the other night and it doesn't fit!!! i'm at least 1 dress size bigger so i have to work really hard and fit into it by second or third week of december. if not, it's either i get the gown fixed (maggie sottero style) or buy a new dress. (gastos nanaman!!!)
wedding...well, i have a florist now and i'm waiting for them to send me the quote for the wedding ceremony. i'm working on the wedding invitations and will try to get them all done by saturday to be sent out on monday. i'm looking for a hairstylist and make up artist to help me look like a blushing bride on that day. madge lejano's booked for my wedding so i can't hire her. does anyone know any magicians...i mean, beauticians that can help me look beautiful on that day? suggestions please!!!
grandma...i just received a text message from my brother that my mom's mom is in the hospital. doctor's will give an update on her health tomorrow. please help me pray for her. she's one kind of a woman, my grandmother. kakaiba!!! but we love her...without her, my wonderful mom wouldn't be here!
so far yan lang muna. i'm going to work out right now...here is what i do when i work out...i do 30-mins of pilates, 30 mins of aerobic workout, 30 minutes jogging, 20 minutes light weights, and 10 minutes abdominal work. kaya nyo yon!?!?!?! i so hate working out...really, i hate it! i don't use the word hate because it's such a strong word, but i do hate it! but i have to. really have to!
oh, to all you ladies who also want to lose weight...oprah claims her doctor has a new 'diet' that can help people lose at least 1 dress size in 10 days. watch oprah today 11/02 at 4 pm on ABC. i know i'm watching!!! =)
Friday, October 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
body after baby
weight:
it has been a little over 3 weeks since i gave birth to michelle jean. i have lost 20 lbs. but have such a looooong way to go that i am beginning to resent the fact that i allowed myself to gain so much weight while i was pregnant. i didn't "let my self go" too much (i think). i still had a little bit of discipline and self-control back then (i think)...(i probably thought wrong, but too late for that now hehe)...but i guess i should have known that i gain weight just thinking about and looking at food...it sucks i gained so much weight...but still do not regret a single ounce of ice cream i ate during the last 9 months...i blame the weight gain on other food, like rice for example! =)
i probably shouldn't be working out just yet but knowing how stubborn my body fat is, if i don't start this early, i wouldn't be able to shed all of the weight by january. i have been eating waaaaaaaay less and i have been walking on the treadmill six days a week, for 1.5 miles (speed of 3 mph), plus lifting light weights and post-natal abdominal work. doctors suggest starting a weightloss program 6 weeks after having a baby, longer if you've had a c-section. i started working out about a week and half after giving birth (talk about stubborn, huh? tigas ng ulo grabe). i'm not over-exerting myself, just really determined to regain my old self and fit into my old clothes--funds now go towards michelle's needs and not a whole new wardrobe =).
my face looks skinnier...but i don't think i can say the same for the rest of my body. i step on the scale with dread each time and see very little change (like half a pound less since the last time i checked). but i look in the mirror and i do notice a difference, enough to keep me motivated but still not big enough! =) i hear some encouraging words from my husband paul and my bestfriend chel. i say some because i don't hear a lot from them (magparinig daw ba?), but maybe i don't hear a lot because they haven't seen a big enough change to comment on. oh well! chel, christel, and cham (the 3 c's, half of the six speck) are running laps at jef almost everyday...they keep me motivated as well (don't want to be left behind!!!!).
stretch marks:
i think this issue deserves a whole other blog but im too lazy to create a new one...plus the fact that this is also a 'body after baby' issue so it must be discussed in the same blog no matter how long the blog gets.
before i got pregnant, i admit to having a few stretch marks here and there. i've struggled with weight since becoming a teenager so it's just natural that i have them but they were hardly noticeable. during the last nine months, i have slathered palmer's cocoa butter all over my body in order to avoid getting any more stretch marks. from month 1 to 8, i have been successful...but then came the 9th month and (gasp!) STRETCH MARKS!! =( there's not a whole lot of them (just below the belly button...sa puson), but i haven't met a stretch mark that i liked so, MUST GET RID OF THEM!
i searched all over the internet and read a lot about retin-a being effective in making stretch marks that are less than a year old appear less visible. retin-a is available only by prescription here in the states and costs $57 for a 20 gram tube (ang mahal). buti nalang, paul's former co-worker was going here from the philippines so i asked paul to ask his other friend to get retin a for me (thanks maanne!). the price for the same 20 gram tube, P500...that's ten bucks! imagine, we sell retin a here for almost 6 times more! talk about ripping american's off!
anyway, i've been using retin a on the stretch marks and have seen a big difference. the stretch marks are less visible now. still a long way to go but the results are very encouraging! johnson and johnson (retin a's parent company) should pay me for this free advertisement hehehe. i really want to get rid of the stretch marks that i have discussed with paul about having them lasered off if the retin a doesn't work and he says i should if i want to. (need to ask his permission first since he will be paying for it hehe). hopefully, we wont have to spend $$$ for the laser.
so there it goes... my two 'body after baby' issues. hopefully, i become successful in ridding myself of both. after all, they go hand in hand... if i lose weight and get rid of the stretch marks, maybe i'll be able to confidently step into a bikini like i haven't had a baby. shaaaacks!!! AMBISYOSA!!!! =D
it has been a little over 3 weeks since i gave birth to michelle jean. i have lost 20 lbs. but have such a looooong way to go that i am beginning to resent the fact that i allowed myself to gain so much weight while i was pregnant. i didn't "let my self go" too much (i think). i still had a little bit of discipline and self-control back then (i think)...(i probably thought wrong, but too late for that now hehe)...but i guess i should have known that i gain weight just thinking about and looking at food...it sucks i gained so much weight...but still do not regret a single ounce of ice cream i ate during the last 9 months...i blame the weight gain on other food, like rice for example! =)
i probably shouldn't be working out just yet but knowing how stubborn my body fat is, if i don't start this early, i wouldn't be able to shed all of the weight by january. i have been eating waaaaaaaay less and i have been walking on the treadmill six days a week, for 1.5 miles (speed of 3 mph), plus lifting light weights and post-natal abdominal work. doctors suggest starting a weightloss program 6 weeks after having a baby, longer if you've had a c-section. i started working out about a week and half after giving birth (talk about stubborn, huh? tigas ng ulo grabe). i'm not over-exerting myself, just really determined to regain my old self and fit into my old clothes--funds now go towards michelle's needs and not a whole new wardrobe =).
my face looks skinnier...but i don't think i can say the same for the rest of my body. i step on the scale with dread each time and see very little change (like half a pound less since the last time i checked). but i look in the mirror and i do notice a difference, enough to keep me motivated but still not big enough! =) i hear some encouraging words from my husband paul and my bestfriend chel. i say some because i don't hear a lot from them (magparinig daw ba?), but maybe i don't hear a lot because they haven't seen a big enough change to comment on. oh well! chel, christel, and cham (the 3 c's, half of the six speck) are running laps at jef almost everyday...they keep me motivated as well (don't want to be left behind!!!!).
stretch marks:
i think this issue deserves a whole other blog but im too lazy to create a new one...plus the fact that this is also a 'body after baby' issue so it must be discussed in the same blog no matter how long the blog gets.
before i got pregnant, i admit to having a few stretch marks here and there. i've struggled with weight since becoming a teenager so it's just natural that i have them but they were hardly noticeable. during the last nine months, i have slathered palmer's cocoa butter all over my body in order to avoid getting any more stretch marks. from month 1 to 8, i have been successful...but then came the 9th month and (gasp!) STRETCH MARKS!! =( there's not a whole lot of them (just below the belly button...sa puson), but i haven't met a stretch mark that i liked so, MUST GET RID OF THEM!
i searched all over the internet and read a lot about retin-a being effective in making stretch marks that are less than a year old appear less visible. retin-a is available only by prescription here in the states and costs $57 for a 20 gram tube (ang mahal). buti nalang, paul's former co-worker was going here from the philippines so i asked paul to ask his other friend to get retin a for me (thanks maanne!). the price for the same 20 gram tube, P500...that's ten bucks! imagine, we sell retin a here for almost 6 times more! talk about ripping american's off!
anyway, i've been using retin a on the stretch marks and have seen a big difference. the stretch marks are less visible now. still a long way to go but the results are very encouraging! johnson and johnson (retin a's parent company) should pay me for this free advertisement hehehe. i really want to get rid of the stretch marks that i have discussed with paul about having them lasered off if the retin a doesn't work and he says i should if i want to. (need to ask his permission first since he will be paying for it hehe). hopefully, we wont have to spend $$$ for the laser.
so there it goes... my two 'body after baby' issues. hopefully, i become successful in ridding myself of both. after all, they go hand in hand... if i lose weight and get rid of the stretch marks, maybe i'll be able to confidently step into a bikini like i haven't had a baby. shaaaacks!!! AMBISYOSA!!!! =D
Thursday, September 21, 2006
happy anniversary!!!
happy anniversary to me and my husband! =) today we celebrated our first year wedding anniversary by having dinner at brindisi at the belden place. it was a cool nite, perfect for sitting outdoors which we did. i've been to the belden place before...it's a small alley between kearny and montgomery street. the alley is a row of restaurants. it was a somewhat busy night for a thursday, i guess people are out to enjoy the beautiful weather san francisco's having.
but on to our dinner...
we had the cannellini bean soup and the ahi tuna for starters. the soup was creamy and the diced up cuttlefish added texture to the soup. i'm not a fan of beans but canellini beans were mild and not overpowering, very tasty. the ahi tuna was rolled into balls then deep fried and dipped in marinara sauce.
for the main course, i had the mixed seafood skewers over couscous while paul had the blackened risotto with shellfish. i like paul's dish better than mine. it was one of the best risotto's i've ever had. i told paul, 'parang babalik-balikan ko tong risotto na 'to.' hehehe
dessert was ice cream! yey!!! paul's was actually gelato and mine, i think was gelato also but sandwiched between puff pastry and covered in semisweet chocolate. *sigh* i was in ice cream/chocolate heaven.
plus!!!!!!!! to celebrate not only our anniversary, but my giving birth to michelle....i had two glasses of chardonnay! yey! hehehe i haven't had wine in 9 months and so tonight, i had some. well, more than some. =) actually, paul and i each had a glass. i finished mine before his was even half gone. (did someone say thirsty?!) and since he doesn't want to turn bright red (paul's allergic to alcohol, or just has low tolerance), i finished the rest of his chard...*sigh* i was in wine heaven. hehe and no, i'm not drunk. i know how to pace myself. the almost two glasses of wine was drank in a span of 2 hours so the effects were very minimal if none at all.
during dinner, paul and i talked about michelle and how much she has captured our hearts. we talked about wanting the best for our daughter and wondered how some parents are not able to put their children's needs on top of their priority list. we are thankful and blessed that our daughter is well loved by our family and friends.
paul and i thank the Lord for bringing us together...for giving us a beautiful daughter to complete our family. we pray that the Lord keeps us strong and continue to bind us together in His love.
but on to our dinner...
we had the cannellini bean soup and the ahi tuna for starters. the soup was creamy and the diced up cuttlefish added texture to the soup. i'm not a fan of beans but canellini beans were mild and not overpowering, very tasty. the ahi tuna was rolled into balls then deep fried and dipped in marinara sauce.
for the main course, i had the mixed seafood skewers over couscous while paul had the blackened risotto with shellfish. i like paul's dish better than mine. it was one of the best risotto's i've ever had. i told paul, 'parang babalik-balikan ko tong risotto na 'to.' hehehe
dessert was ice cream! yey!!! paul's was actually gelato and mine, i think was gelato also but sandwiched between puff pastry and covered in semisweet chocolate. *sigh* i was in ice cream/chocolate heaven.
plus!!!!!!!! to celebrate not only our anniversary, but my giving birth to michelle....i had two glasses of chardonnay! yey! hehehe i haven't had wine in 9 months and so tonight, i had some. well, more than some. =) actually, paul and i each had a glass. i finished mine before his was even half gone. (did someone say thirsty?!) and since he doesn't want to turn bright red (paul's allergic to alcohol, or just has low tolerance), i finished the rest of his chard...*sigh* i was in wine heaven. hehe and no, i'm not drunk. i know how to pace myself. the almost two glasses of wine was drank in a span of 2 hours so the effects were very minimal if none at all.
during dinner, paul and i talked about michelle and how much she has captured our hearts. we talked about wanting the best for our daughter and wondered how some parents are not able to put their children's needs on top of their priority list. we are thankful and blessed that our daughter is well loved by our family and friends.
paul and i thank the Lord for bringing us together...for giving us a beautiful daughter to complete our family. we pray that the Lord keeps us strong and continue to bind us together in His love.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
2 weeks of sleepless nights
2 weeks of sleepless nights...i now have dark circles around my eyes and my eyes are bloodshot. *sigh* but when i look at mj's beautiful face, i just smile. what can a mom do, right?
life has changed a lot. no more late nights for paul and me. mj has total command of our time. but paul and i will make an exception on the thursday, our 1st wedding anniversary. =) thursday night will be about 'us'. we will go out to dinner at brindisi cucina di mare at the belden place. we haven't told my parents that they will be the designated babysitters again on thursday, hopefully ninang chel will assist. =)
life has changed a lot. no more late nights for paul and me. mj has total command of our time. but paul and i will make an exception on the thursday, our 1st wedding anniversary. =) thursday night will be about 'us'. we will go out to dinner at brindisi cucina di mare at the belden place. we haven't told my parents that they will be the designated babysitters again on thursday, hopefully ninang chel will assist. =)
Friday, September 08, 2006
love at first sight
on sept 3rd, at 10:42 am, i gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, michelle jean.
as soon as i stared into her angelic little face, i knew i was in love with her forever.
it's hard to explain what giving birth was like. it was a very physical, emotional, and spiritual moment for me. i prayed through each contraction and asked the Lord to give me the strength to go through the delivery, to be with us at that very moment. i was so blessed that i had the support of my husband paul, my parents, and my best friend, chel. it was an emotional ride for all of us and as soon as michelle was born, tears fell from our eyes. it's amazing how such a small baby can rock our world and change our lives. when she was placed on top of my chest, i could feel the warmth of her body and i am sure she could feel the warmth of my love for her as well.
mj is now 5 days old. paul and i have had 5 days of very limited sleep but immeasurable amounts of joy. as each day passes, we will try to mold mj to be the best person she can be, she, in turn, molds us to be the best parents we can be, too. mj is our legacy. the three of us pray together, that the Lord will strengthen our family and we thank the Lord for bringing the 3 of us together.
Friday, September 01, 2006
maternity leave
today was my last day at work (for the time being) and the start of my maternity leave. i am so glad i no longer have to work next week and just take it easy while i wait for the baby. my stomach has ballooned to an incredible size and i can't even believe i weigh this much!!! but i'm happy. =) paul's here, my baby is due soon and we can all spend time together as a brand new family. =)
i go back to work on december 8th. so i have a full 13 weeks to concentrate on being a mom and housewife. i've always wanted to be a housewife. that's how i've always imagined myself once i have a family. but it's different now. the ideal would still be that i stay home and take care of my family, but we want to be able to provide the best for our baby (without spoiling her!) so maybe i'll work for several more years, save up, and then decide. we would like to send her to a really good school, get the best education, save for college...give her all that we can through God's marvelous grace, ofcourse.
paul got his first 'american' guitar today. =) by 'american' i mean, his first guitar purchase here in the states. he's playing right now as i write this blog. it's really nice to hear him play again. the guitar is his first love so i know how important it is for him to have a guitar when he gets here. we didn't buy an expensive guitar (he said he'll buy an 'nice' electric guitar at some point, but not soon)...we bought a takamine acoustic guitar from the guitar center...i think we got a pretty good deal and paul's happy with how the guitar sounds. i'm happy he's happy. =) he hasn't been spending too much time playing his 'ran online' video game. hehehe i'd rather he improve on his musical talent and have mj hear him play than see him sit infront of the computer and play video games. (i'm obviously not into video games hehehe).
back to pregnancy...i am now 38 weeks pregnant. am i scared? not really. just a little worried about the pain. i just tell myself that millions of women have gone through the ordeal of child birth and have survived so i will, too. the Lord will be with me as i deliver mj within the next couple of weeks. He will be my source of strength...and also, with the love and support that i'm getting from paul, may parents and my closest friends, i shouldn't be scared. =)
i go back to work on december 8th. so i have a full 13 weeks to concentrate on being a mom and housewife. i've always wanted to be a housewife. that's how i've always imagined myself once i have a family. but it's different now. the ideal would still be that i stay home and take care of my family, but we want to be able to provide the best for our baby (without spoiling her!) so maybe i'll work for several more years, save up, and then decide. we would like to send her to a really good school, get the best education, save for college...give her all that we can through God's marvelous grace, ofcourse.
paul got his first 'american' guitar today. =) by 'american' i mean, his first guitar purchase here in the states. he's playing right now as i write this blog. it's really nice to hear him play again. the guitar is his first love so i know how important it is for him to have a guitar when he gets here. we didn't buy an expensive guitar (he said he'll buy an 'nice' electric guitar at some point, but not soon)...we bought a takamine acoustic guitar from the guitar center...i think we got a pretty good deal and paul's happy with how the guitar sounds. i'm happy he's happy. =) he hasn't been spending too much time playing his 'ran online' video game. hehehe i'd rather he improve on his musical talent and have mj hear him play than see him sit infront of the computer and play video games. (i'm obviously not into video games hehehe).
back to pregnancy...i am now 38 weeks pregnant. am i scared? not really. just a little worried about the pain. i just tell myself that millions of women have gone through the ordeal of child birth and have survived so i will, too. the Lord will be with me as i deliver mj within the next couple of weeks. He will be my source of strength...and also, with the love and support that i'm getting from paul, may parents and my closest friends, i shouldn't be scared. =)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
HUGE!!!
i am HUGE!!!
and it's not an exaggeration. (sigh) good thing my husband doesn't have the habit of criticizing or else i'd feel worse about my body. my belly has become very big that i can hardly walk. my back is always sore, i wish i could just sit down all day. =( paul said i shouldn't worry about the weight because he knows that i will definitely lose all of it after giving birth. talk about positive thinking!!! =)
we had the baby shower on saturday and that was a lot of fun. i would like to thank all my friends and family who helped make the event possible. they all worked hard and paul and i really appreciate everything they did. mj received a lot of presents and almost all of what the baby needs have already been provided. we feel so blessed because we know that our baby has the love and support of all those people even before she's born.
my mom told me that my cousin's wife in anaheim gave birth today. she had a c-section because her water broke last nite but the baby wouldn't come out and the umbellical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck so the doctors had to operate. they had a baby girl, laura jasmine. i pray that the Lord will bless baby laura with good health and happiness throughout her life. i'm sure she will be the apple of her parents (and grandparents) eyes.
as for me...i'm due to give birth on the 15th of september but i have a feeling the baby will come earlier than my due date. pastora mons had a dream that i was to give birth in late august or early september and mariano from work said he suspects i'm going to give birth on september 3rd. was that a confirmation? hehe
tomorrow, home depot will be coming over to change our windows (yey!). the windows badly need replacing because they are hard to open and are not energy efficient...no insulation from heat, cold or sound. we can hear people's conversation as they walk past the house. we were told it will take about a day and a half to replace the 16 windows in the house....yes, 16 windows. it is a big house and it has more than 16 windows but only 16 need replacing...we could replace all of the windows but that would be too expensive....we have a limited window budget. =)
paul's been getting a lot of well deserved rest. he's been waking up past 9 am since i started going back to work. we've already submitted the application for his work permit so he can really start looking for a job. it wont take long and he'll be bored out of his mind if he doesn't find a job soon...but i know that will change as soon as mj arrives. he'll be all over his precious little baby and work will be the last thing on his mind. i'll be going on maternity leave soon (next week will be my last week at work) so paul and i can sit here at home and wait for the baby to arrive. i pray that i don't have too much difficulty giving birth. i feel a little anxious about giving birth---normal for a first time mom, i guess. i told chel im bringing my ipod and will be listening to christian music during labor to keep me occupied. =)
and it's not an exaggeration. (sigh) good thing my husband doesn't have the habit of criticizing or else i'd feel worse about my body. my belly has become very big that i can hardly walk. my back is always sore, i wish i could just sit down all day. =( paul said i shouldn't worry about the weight because he knows that i will definitely lose all of it after giving birth. talk about positive thinking!!! =)
we had the baby shower on saturday and that was a lot of fun. i would like to thank all my friends and family who helped make the event possible. they all worked hard and paul and i really appreciate everything they did. mj received a lot of presents and almost all of what the baby needs have already been provided. we feel so blessed because we know that our baby has the love and support of all those people even before she's born.
my mom told me that my cousin's wife in anaheim gave birth today. she had a c-section because her water broke last nite but the baby wouldn't come out and the umbellical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck so the doctors had to operate. they had a baby girl, laura jasmine. i pray that the Lord will bless baby laura with good health and happiness throughout her life. i'm sure she will be the apple of her parents (and grandparents) eyes.
as for me...i'm due to give birth on the 15th of september but i have a feeling the baby will come earlier than my due date. pastora mons had a dream that i was to give birth in late august or early september and mariano from work said he suspects i'm going to give birth on september 3rd. was that a confirmation? hehe
tomorrow, home depot will be coming over to change our windows (yey!). the windows badly need replacing because they are hard to open and are not energy efficient...no insulation from heat, cold or sound. we can hear people's conversation as they walk past the house. we were told it will take about a day and a half to replace the 16 windows in the house....yes, 16 windows. it is a big house and it has more than 16 windows but only 16 need replacing...we could replace all of the windows but that would be too expensive....we have a limited window budget. =)
paul's been getting a lot of well deserved rest. he's been waking up past 9 am since i started going back to work. we've already submitted the application for his work permit so he can really start looking for a job. it wont take long and he'll be bored out of his mind if he doesn't find a job soon...but i know that will change as soon as mj arrives. he'll be all over his precious little baby and work will be the last thing on his mind. i'll be going on maternity leave soon (next week will be my last week at work) so paul and i can sit here at home and wait for the baby to arrive. i pray that i don't have too much difficulty giving birth. i feel a little anxious about giving birth---normal for a first time mom, i guess. i told chel im bringing my ipod and will be listening to christian music during labor to keep me occupied. =)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
paul's here!!!
i haven't had the chance to blog about anything...especially since my husband arrived on sunday night. finally!!!! the long wait is over and im happy to have him beside me during this last phase of pregnancy. =)
the baby shower is this saturday, too. yesterday paul and i finished working on the favors. and tomorrow we'll work on the prizes for the games.
we went to the social security administration office today and pretty much wasted the entire morning. we didn't know he had to apply for the work permit first and once he has that we can get him his social security number. oh well! we'll mail his work permit form tomorrow and hopefully he'll get his permit with a couple of weeks.
paul spent a good hour and a half to two hours cleaning my car. he doesn't care if it's cold or foggy. i told him the tree next door will just ruin his work but he did it anyway. at least now my car will always be clean. =)
the baby shower is this saturday, too. yesterday paul and i finished working on the favors. and tomorrow we'll work on the prizes for the games.
we went to the social security administration office today and pretty much wasted the entire morning. we didn't know he had to apply for the work permit first and once he has that we can get him his social security number. oh well! we'll mail his work permit form tomorrow and hopefully he'll get his permit with a couple of weeks.
paul spent a good hour and a half to two hours cleaning my car. he doesn't care if it's cold or foggy. i told him the tree next door will just ruin his work but he did it anyway. at least now my car will always be clean. =)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
not by might, nor by power...
...no amount of personal strength or talent can make us adequate for this life and its challenges. Only as we rest in the strength of Christ will we find His provision. When we acknowledge our frailty and dependence on Him, Christ’s strength can empower us for the troubles life throws our way. (taken from http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml Aug 10, 2006)
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6
"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty." Zechariah 4:6
Friday, August 04, 2006
today's culinary adventure: indian/pakistani food from naan-n-curry
i've never had indian food before because i was turned off when i was living with my roommate in college. she was indian and was a vegetarian. she was a great roommate, but i didn't like the smell of the food she ate...maybe she just doesn't prepare food very well. now i've changed my mind about indian food. it was really tasty...really spicy! i will take paul to naan n curry when he gets here. i told him i was going to have him try different cuisine. i don't think he's ever had indian food. this will be an adventure for him, too, just like it was for me today. =)
for lunch, our office had the following:
naan-n curry
for lunch, our office had the following:
Vegetable Biryani (Fried Rice Cooked with Vegetables)
Naan - Indian Bread (Plain Naan Layered with Butter)
Garlic Naan - Indian Bread (Stuffed with Ground Garlic)
Chicken Tikka Masala (Boneless Chicken with Sauce)
Lamb Boti (Boneless Lamb Marinated in Spices on Skewers)
Palak Paneer (Spinach Cooked with Homemade Cheese)
Aloo Gobbi (Potato with Cauliflower)
Baingan Bhartha (Eggplant Cooked with Onion, Tomato and Spices)
Gulab Jamun (Carmalized Milk Balls)
Naan - Indian Bread (Plain Naan Layered with Butter)
Garlic Naan - Indian Bread (Stuffed with Ground Garlic)
Chicken Tikka Masala (Boneless Chicken with Sauce)
Lamb Boti (Boneless Lamb Marinated in Spices on Skewers)
Palak Paneer (Spinach Cooked with Homemade Cheese)
Aloo Gobbi (Potato with Cauliflower)
Baingan Bhartha (Eggplant Cooked with Onion, Tomato and Spices)
Gulab Jamun (Carmalized Milk Balls)
the food was a little greasy so i'd suggest go easy on the sauces...but they're all really yummy (becuase of the grease probably! hehe) and very very spicy...i love curry so the taste wasn't new or weird to me. i enjoyed pretty much everything i put on my plate...i didn't try the Aloo Gobbi because i don't like cauliflower.
i read mixed reviews online...more raves than rants. the rants are usually because the place doesn't look very clean, etc. i'm not too picky about things like that as long as i don't get food poisoning and the food is good...im fine eating a cheap, hole in the wall places like naan-n-curry. =)
downtown locations:
398 Eddy St
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 775-1349
Financial District
533 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
i read mixed reviews online...more raves than rants. the rants are usually because the place doesn't look very clean, etc. i'm not too picky about things like that as long as i don't get food poisoning and the food is good...im fine eating a cheap, hole in the wall places like naan-n-curry. =)
downtown locations:
398 Eddy St
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 775-1349
Financial District
533 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
when life gives you lemons...make lemonade!!!
just when you think everything's ok...life gives you lemons.
we thought that the plans for paul's work transition to california has been finalized. we believed the promises made by the company that paul was to work from the santa clara office to be with his family in the bay area (handa na nga daw ang desk ni paul e!), but a week before he was to leave, they drop a bomb on us...an ultimatum. it's oregon or resign.
he chose to resign.
i admire my husband for having the guts to quit. i know how much he loves his work. he has spent long hours and sleepless nights working really hard for the company. as his wife, i would have supported his decision even if it meant we would only be together on weekends while he worked in oregon. but God's will is for our family to be together and that's the direction we should go.
this is a big bump in our young marriage. in moments like these, one has to be strong for the other. i praise God for the strength that He provides...if i were not a believer in the Lord, i would have crumbled into pieces right now because of the disappointment and anger. but the Lord said, 'sa Akin kayo magtiwala. sa Akin lang' and that's what we're going to do. i've always told paul that if it's not this job, there will be something bigger and better waiting here for him. all we have to do is really trust God...to rely on Him in every aspect of our lives and this is what we are going to do.
last nite, after my tears have subsided and after we prayed to the Lord, i found peace...and again i prayed and thanked Him for all that He has given us. when we are faced with troubles, let us not forget the number of times He scooped us out of our problems...the countless times He turned our sadness into joy. the Lord said in nehemiah 8:10, '...do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' the Lord has given us the joy of knowing that starting next week, we will be together as a family...and this bump in the road cannot take away that joy.
we bear no grudges on the managers or whoever decided this is how it was going to be. while we are disappointed...more than anything, we are sad that this is how things must end. we are sad that while they knew for at least 8 months now that paul was moving to california, they gave us an ultimatum a week before his departure. maybe they thought we would fold. maybe they thought we were after money (what money?! they're not even going to pay him fair wage! hehe)... i guess they underestimated the strength we have...unbeknownst to them, we serve a true, living, and powerful God who is never weak and whose plans for His children are always perfect...
God will use this to prove His glory in our lives...in our life, we want Him to be glorified. this may be a test to see if we are really going to put Christ in the center of our lives...we do and we will.
we chose to make lemonade out of all these. it may be a little sour and tart right now...but God will add the sweetness shortly...we just have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer while taking a sip of our very own lemonade.
we thought that the plans for paul's work transition to california has been finalized. we believed the promises made by the company that paul was to work from the santa clara office to be with his family in the bay area (handa na nga daw ang desk ni paul e!), but a week before he was to leave, they drop a bomb on us...an ultimatum. it's oregon or resign.
he chose to resign.
i admire my husband for having the guts to quit. i know how much he loves his work. he has spent long hours and sleepless nights working really hard for the company. as his wife, i would have supported his decision even if it meant we would only be together on weekends while he worked in oregon. but God's will is for our family to be together and that's the direction we should go.
this is a big bump in our young marriage. in moments like these, one has to be strong for the other. i praise God for the strength that He provides...if i were not a believer in the Lord, i would have crumbled into pieces right now because of the disappointment and anger. but the Lord said, 'sa Akin kayo magtiwala. sa Akin lang' and that's what we're going to do. i've always told paul that if it's not this job, there will be something bigger and better waiting here for him. all we have to do is really trust God...to rely on Him in every aspect of our lives and this is what we are going to do.
last nite, after my tears have subsided and after we prayed to the Lord, i found peace...and again i prayed and thanked Him for all that He has given us. when we are faced with troubles, let us not forget the number of times He scooped us out of our problems...the countless times He turned our sadness into joy. the Lord said in nehemiah 8:10, '...do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' the Lord has given us the joy of knowing that starting next week, we will be together as a family...and this bump in the road cannot take away that joy.
we bear no grudges on the managers or whoever decided this is how it was going to be. while we are disappointed...more than anything, we are sad that this is how things must end. we are sad that while they knew for at least 8 months now that paul was moving to california, they gave us an ultimatum a week before his departure. maybe they thought we would fold. maybe they thought we were after money (what money?! they're not even going to pay him fair wage! hehe)... i guess they underestimated the strength we have...unbeknownst to them, we serve a true, living, and powerful God who is never weak and whose plans for His children are always perfect...
God will use this to prove His glory in our lives...in our life, we want Him to be glorified. this may be a test to see if we are really going to put Christ in the center of our lives...we do and we will.
we chose to make lemonade out of all these. it may be a little sour and tart right now...but God will add the sweetness shortly...we just have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer while taking a sip of our very own lemonade.
Monday, July 31, 2006
post-baby reward or a motivation to lose weight...
oo mababaw lang kaligayahan ko! =)
Lacoste Retro-fit Polo
Lacoste Short-sleeve Stretch Pique Polo
Saturday, July 29, 2006
pa-relax relax
did nothing today. stayed in bed pretty much the entire day...and that's just exactly what i need! =)
Friday, July 28, 2006
33 weeks
since getting pregnant, i've noticed a lot of people have been nicer to me. i get offered seats at crowded bart cars, offers to step ahead of the line to use the bathroom, or to warn me about slippery floors and how to avoid them. i guess people realize how difficult it is to get pregnant, maybe some are appreciative of their wives or mothers who were once pregnant, women are nicer to me too maybe because they're glad they're not pregnant. hehe it's been difficult...i only have 7 weeks to go before mj is born and today (again) i feel the heaviness of my belly. it's hard to walk...i really really waddle like a duck now. i use the bathroom every 15 minutes and when i try to hold it, it becomes more difficult to walk. my legs are exceptionally huge (they were were extremely large to begin with) because of swelling. im gonna try to walk everyday from now and and put my feet up as much as i can when i'm resting. my wedding and engagement rings are getting tighter...i can still remove them from my fingers but they are now tight. i hope that's because my fingers are swollen and not because my 'fatness' has reached my fingers. my face is rounder now and i often see a hint of a 'double chin' when i look in the mirror.
on msnbc.com, i saw this book. and yes i will buy it! it's a 30 day guide to losing weight after having a baby. actresses have supposedly used this plan to shed their baby weight and i plan on trying it out. =) hope it works!
on msnbc.com, i saw this book. and yes i will buy it! it's a 30 day guide to losing weight after having a baby. actresses have supposedly used this plan to shed their baby weight and i plan on trying it out. =) hope it works!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
thursdays...
wrote these paragraphs at work:
im so bored right now i don't know what else to do! it's been such a slow summer here at work. i wish i just stayed home and slept.
today, i feel heavy...like i wish i hadn't over indulged myself with food the last 8 months (no regrets on the ice cream intake though). i will go back to 'healthy eating' after all the celebrations are over...namely: my nephew's bday tomorrow and the church anniversary on sunday. i will eat mostly veggies from monday until the baby shower on the 19th (Lord, help me!!!!)
today is my coworker's bday and we're going to get free lunch. mexican food...so rice and beans are part of the menu...yikes!
i was 'smart' enough to only eat half my burrito. the other half i've saved for lunch tomorrow. =)
wrote these at home:
earlier, i wished i hadn't picked up my phone. on thursdays, i usually just spend the entire afternoon at home, in bed, watching tv or reading. i had my afternoon all planned out today already...i go home, rest a little, walk for 30 mins, rest, pick up my car at the bart station, talk to my husband, sleep. i was hoping to do all that but i hit a bump in the road...
an old friend called...and while it was cool to see her again, i was upset at myself that i said yes to her invitation when in my head and in my heart i was screaming "no!!!" i didn't want to go anywhere because i take it easy on thursdays and already had the afternooon planned. but too late, i said yes and could no longer take it back because i always flake on her. (well, we always flake on each other!)
anyway, met her at starbucks...the ironic thing is that i just told chel yesterday that i do not like hangging out at coffee shops. while others find it a relaxing place to hang out and chat with friends, i don't find it quite as comfortable. i can go there every once in a while, but it's not really a place i'd want to hang out. there are too many distractions, the seats are not that comfortable and while i drink coffee now, i still do not like the smell of coffee or coffee shops. my friend and i talked for a little bit - less than an hour...she was busy working, too, so i didn't feel bad about staying for just an hour. we agreed to have dinner next week though, which i wont be surprised if she cancels. i guess we have a convenient friendship...we show up only when necessary and convenient...don't get me wrong, we're there for each other but we really don't hang out as much as other friends...we have a different group of friends we regularly hang out with...we see each other several times a year and that's enough for us. i felt bad feeling upset earlier about having to see her. but after seeing her, i felt glad i said yes. =)
im so bored right now i don't know what else to do! it's been such a slow summer here at work. i wish i just stayed home and slept.
today, i feel heavy...like i wish i hadn't over indulged myself with food the last 8 months (no regrets on the ice cream intake though). i will go back to 'healthy eating' after all the celebrations are over...namely: my nephew's bday tomorrow and the church anniversary on sunday. i will eat mostly veggies from monday until the baby shower on the 19th (Lord, help me!!!!)
today is my coworker's bday and we're going to get free lunch. mexican food...so rice and beans are part of the menu...yikes!
i was 'smart' enough to only eat half my burrito. the other half i've saved for lunch tomorrow. =)
wrote these at home:
earlier, i wished i hadn't picked up my phone. on thursdays, i usually just spend the entire afternoon at home, in bed, watching tv or reading. i had my afternoon all planned out today already...i go home, rest a little, walk for 30 mins, rest, pick up my car at the bart station, talk to my husband, sleep. i was hoping to do all that but i hit a bump in the road...
an old friend called...and while it was cool to see her again, i was upset at myself that i said yes to her invitation when in my head and in my heart i was screaming "no!!!" i didn't want to go anywhere because i take it easy on thursdays and already had the afternooon planned. but too late, i said yes and could no longer take it back because i always flake on her. (well, we always flake on each other!)
anyway, met her at starbucks...the ironic thing is that i just told chel yesterday that i do not like hangging out at coffee shops. while others find it a relaxing place to hang out and chat with friends, i don't find it quite as comfortable. i can go there every once in a while, but it's not really a place i'd want to hang out. there are too many distractions, the seats are not that comfortable and while i drink coffee now, i still do not like the smell of coffee or coffee shops. my friend and i talked for a little bit - less than an hour...she was busy working, too, so i didn't feel bad about staying for just an hour. we agreed to have dinner next week though, which i wont be surprised if she cancels. i guess we have a convenient friendship...we show up only when necessary and convenient...don't get me wrong, we're there for each other but we really don't hang out as much as other friends...we have a different group of friends we regularly hang out with...we see each other several times a year and that's enough for us. i felt bad feeling upset earlier about having to see her. but after seeing her, i felt glad i said yes. =)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
sweating in the warm california sun!!!
i have been living in daly city for almost 9 years now and this is the hottest it's ever been. one whole week of sunshine and rising temperatures...electric fans working non-stop...i've only experienced this when i was in college when i was still at davis. temperatures there get to as high as 110F so the high 70s and low 80s we experienced in daly city was still considered cool temperatures...today is another hot day. energy reserves are expected to dip as people return to work...black outs might occur, hopefully nothing like the black outs in new york where some people have been without electricity for more than a week.
last friday was my mom's bday. she doesn't like celebrating and it's always hard to find her a present because she always says she doesn't need or want anything. but on Saturday, we went to dinner with the family and i got her a little something, too. =) when we were at the restaurant having dinner, we were all perspiring because the restaurant had no air conditioning. most places in and around san francisco don't have air conditioning because it never really gets hot, but like i mentioned earlier, it has been a really hot week. food was good at hon lin...it always is. i love their peking duck and their fried noodles.
i've been up since 4 am and now im really sleepy and hungry. i woke up because i could feel my right leg was starting to cramp so i tried to stretch my leg...but i couldn't go back to sleep afterwards. i was also thinking about paul's nbi clearance and all the other things that need to be done by tomorrow. his interview is on wednesday at 7:30 am. i pray that everthing will be in order...no more hassles, no more glitches so that paul will be here on august 10th.
changed my next prenatal appointment from aug 10 to aug 11. i forgot that the nurse said not to schedule in on a thursday because they do not have tuberculosis testing on thursdays. i'm supposed to get a skin test at my next appointment which im sure will result in a false positive for me. since my skin is so sensitive, skin test are always inconclusive for me. i'm sure they'll ask me to come back again or do a blood test to confirm the test results. the tb test is routine for prenatal check ups. so far, mommy and baby have been healthy, praise God! =)
halatang wala akong ginagawa no? chel's taking over most of my work stuff so that she'll be comfortable when i go on maternity leave. i'm sure she'll do a great job. =)
last friday was my mom's bday. she doesn't like celebrating and it's always hard to find her a present because she always says she doesn't need or want anything. but on Saturday, we went to dinner with the family and i got her a little something, too. =) when we were at the restaurant having dinner, we were all perspiring because the restaurant had no air conditioning. most places in and around san francisco don't have air conditioning because it never really gets hot, but like i mentioned earlier, it has been a really hot week. food was good at hon lin...it always is. i love their peking duck and their fried noodles.
i've been up since 4 am and now im really sleepy and hungry. i woke up because i could feel my right leg was starting to cramp so i tried to stretch my leg...but i couldn't go back to sleep afterwards. i was also thinking about paul's nbi clearance and all the other things that need to be done by tomorrow. his interview is on wednesday at 7:30 am. i pray that everthing will be in order...no more hassles, no more glitches so that paul will be here on august 10th.
changed my next prenatal appointment from aug 10 to aug 11. i forgot that the nurse said not to schedule in on a thursday because they do not have tuberculosis testing on thursdays. i'm supposed to get a skin test at my next appointment which im sure will result in a false positive for me. since my skin is so sensitive, skin test are always inconclusive for me. i'm sure they'll ask me to come back again or do a blood test to confirm the test results. the tb test is routine for prenatal check ups. so far, mommy and baby have been healthy, praise God! =)
halatang wala akong ginagawa no? chel's taking over most of my work stuff so that she'll be comfortable when i go on maternity leave. i'm sure she'll do a great job. =)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
meaningless
I read something earlier about howard hughes and the life he lead.
At age 45, howard hughes was one of the most glamorous and richest men in america. He went out with actresses, piloted beautiful aircraft, and worked on top-secret CIA contracts. He owned hotels around the world and even had his own airline, TWA, to take him wherever he pleased.
20 years later, he was worth $2.3 billion dollars. But the world’s richest man back then had changed and began to live a pathetic life. He lived in small, dark rooms atop his hotels, without sun and without joy. He was unkempt: a scraggly beard had grown waist-length, his hair fell well down on his back and his fingernails were two inches long. His once powerful 6’4" frame had shrunk to about 100 pounds.
This famous man spent most of his time watching movies over and over, with the same movie showing as many as 150 times. He lay naked in bed, deathly afraid of germs. Life held no meaning for him. Finally, emaciated and hooked on drugs, he died at age 67, for lack of medical device his own company had helped to develop. (The Student Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1986, 1992, 1996 Zondervan Corporation, Michigan, USA)
Howard hughes may be an extreme example of what it means to live a meaningless life, but he is not alone. The wisest man to ever live also saw life as meaningless. King Solomon wrote the book of proverbs, a book he wrote as a guide to righteousness and faith…and yet, there was a period in his life where he did not listen to his own advice and led a life of folly and selfishness. And then he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. In Chapter 2 verse 10 to 11, he said, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet, when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
At age 45, howard hughes was one of the most glamorous and richest men in america. He went out with actresses, piloted beautiful aircraft, and worked on top-secret CIA contracts. He owned hotels around the world and even had his own airline, TWA, to take him wherever he pleased.
20 years later, he was worth $2.3 billion dollars. But the world’s richest man back then had changed and began to live a pathetic life. He lived in small, dark rooms atop his hotels, without sun and without joy. He was unkempt: a scraggly beard had grown waist-length, his hair fell well down on his back and his fingernails were two inches long. His once powerful 6’4" frame had shrunk to about 100 pounds.
This famous man spent most of his time watching movies over and over, with the same movie showing as many as 150 times. He lay naked in bed, deathly afraid of germs. Life held no meaning for him. Finally, emaciated and hooked on drugs, he died at age 67, for lack of medical device his own company had helped to develop. (The Student Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1986, 1992, 1996 Zondervan Corporation, Michigan, USA)
Howard hughes may be an extreme example of what it means to live a meaningless life, but he is not alone. The wisest man to ever live also saw life as meaningless. King Solomon wrote the book of proverbs, a book he wrote as a guide to righteousness and faith…and yet, there was a period in his life where he did not listen to his own advice and led a life of folly and selfishness. And then he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. In Chapter 2 verse 10 to 11, he said, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet, when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
We work hard to achieve earthly riches. I was recently told that there was a man who held 2 full-time jobs for about 20 years hoping to retire before he was 50. He had bought land and owned a farm and still kept his two jobs. Recently, he was rushed to the hospital, both his kidneys had failed and needs regular dialysis treatment in order to stay alive. Who knows if he will be healthy enough to enjoy all the riches he amassed? It makes you stop and think, was it worth it?
Solomon says no. the wisdom that the Lord had given him did not completely disappear while he lived his life away from the counsel of the Lord. he lived his life the way he wanted to, he was the richest and most popular king of his time. kings from distant lands paid homage to him and gave him gifts. he had many, many, many wives...many of whom served and worshiped pagan gods. he did everything he wanted and got everything he wanted. yet when he reexamined his life, and all that he worked hard to achieve, he realized that it was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
the Lord Jesus Christ sums everything up in Matthew 16:26 "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can man give in exchange for his soul?" what are the true benefits of gaining wealth, of having everything we want? while the Lord wants us to prosper here on earth, that does not mean we have to sacrifice the things that really matter. when the Lord blesses, He adds no sorrow with it. we obey Him, we follow Him, we develop that personal relationship with Him. we call Him our personal Lord and Savior...not just the One who died for all, but the God who in His infinite love, lowered Himself and allowed Himself to go through the pain and death that you and i deserved...He thought about each and everyone of us when He died on that cross. when we make Him Lord of our lives, He becomes our true friend...our only source and resource...we seek first His kingdom, we delight ourselves in Him and then He gives us the desires of our heart. He blesses us because we are faithful and we are obedient.
what is it that a man wants? man seems insatiable in his appetite for wealth and power. howard hughes and the other man i wrote about earlier gained the wealth they sought at the price of their sanity and health. they overlooked their relationship with family and friends, they didn't take care of their health, and more importantly, they neglected the relationship they should have developed with the Lord. solomon turned his life around...in the end of Ecclesiastes he wrote "now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. for God will bring every deed into judgement, including everything hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. in the end he acknowledged that it is the life with the Lord that is important - it is the whole duty of man, and all our actions are subject to God's judgement.
the Lord should never be 2nd best. He is to take priority in our lives...otherwise, life would be truly meaningless.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
a day at ikea
spent a good deal of the day at ikea. here's what we bought:
ramvik side table in black-brown
replaced the old, and ugly side table we have in the living room
jall laundry bag (a.k.a. hamper)
need a hamper to hide jeans i've already worn but do not want to wash yet =)
lillholmen toohtbrush holder and soap pump
to replace the old ones in the bathroom
antonius basket insert
makes for a good tray for my accessories and an organizer for toiletries in the bathroom
jarpen shelf in beech veneer (color matches our bed)
will be placed on both sides of the window where i can put picture frames and little knick knacks
fagelbo corner sofa-bed with storage, right
we ordered this item and will be delivered to the house hopefully within a week or two
they don't keep this in the warehouse so it has to be pre-ordered
karby rug
for the living room
ramvik side table in black-brownreplaced the old, and ugly side table we have in the living room
jall laundry bag (a.k.a. hamper)need a hamper to hide jeans i've already worn but do not want to wash yet =)
lillholmen toohtbrush holder and soap pumpto replace the old ones in the bathroom
antonius basket insertmakes for a good tray for my accessories and an organizer for toiletries in the bathroom
jarpen shelf in beech veneer (color matches our bed)will be placed on both sides of the window where i can put picture frames and little knick knacks
fagelbo corner sofa-bed with storage, rightwe ordered this item and will be delivered to the house hopefully within a week or two
they don't keep this in the warehouse so it has to be pre-ordered
karby rugfor the living room
Friday, July 14, 2006
Enjoy your life!
Enjoy Your Life!
Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
When your alarm clock goes off in the morning, do you wish you could just stay in bed? Do your struggles and responsibilities weigh you down with frustration, boredom, or hopelessness? If so, rest assured that God wants you to have a much better life – one that you enjoy! God will give you the ability to enjoy life, no matter what your circumstances.
Here’s how you can enjoy your life:
* Look for fulfillment in the right place. Stop looking for true and lasting satisfaction in the wrong places, such as through your work, personal pleasure, or accumulation of knowledge or material possessions. Realize that only God can provide the fulfillment you seek. Make a strong relationship with Him your top priority.
* Give yourself permission. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying the blessings God gives you. Understand that denying yourself enjoyment doesn’t somehow make you a more seriously spiritual person. Remember that God Himself is joyful and intends you to fully enjoy the gifts He gives you. Go ahead and have fun pursuing your interests, knowing that as long as you don’t engage in anything harmful, you can enjoy your pursuits.
* Notice God’s gifts, and thank Him for them. Make it a daily practice to thank God for each new day after you awaken. Throughout the day, keep a running list of specific things for which you’re grateful. Then, before going to bed, pray over your list, thanking God for each one. Don’t forget to acknowledge basic blessings, such as your freedom or ability to buy healthy food.
* Place the seasons of your life in God’s hands. Ask God to transform your attitudes and bring positive results out of negative situations as you travel through life’s seasons. Rely on God’s unchanging power in the midst of changes you experience in all aspects of your life. Rather than battling the season you currently find yourself in, ask God what He wants to you to learn from it, and trust Him to give you the encouragement and strength you need. Whenever you’re going through a tough time, serve other people to take your focus off yourself and find genuine enjoyment as God broadens your perspective. Know that, while life is unpredictable, your faith in God will always stand.
* Don’t isolate yourself. Understand that God has created all human beings to engage in relationships – with Him and each other. Make sure you’re investing plenty of time and energy in relationships, which will give you lots to enjoy. Pray about specific challenges in your relationships, trusting God to give you the solutions you need.
* Use your time wisely. Regularly remind yourself of how fragile and fleeting life on earth can be, and that every day is a gift from God. Don’t fall into the traps of being either lazy or too driven, missing out on God’s best for you. Ask God to give you wisdom to use your time each day as He would like you to use it, according to His purposes for your life.
* Place God at the center of your marriage. If you’re married, realize that your marriage isn’t about just you and your spouse. Ultimately, it’s about God, the source of your love. Invite God to guide your marriage and use it to transform you and your spouse into the people He wants you to become. Trust that when you do so, you’ll open the door to a much more enjoyable marriage than you could have otherwise.
* Turn your worries into prayers. Whenever a worry enters your mind, pray about it. Know that worry can’t accomplish anything good, but prayer has great power, since nothing is impossible with God. Be specific as you share your concerns with God, and trust Him to answer your prayers in the right way at the right time.
* Pursue contentment. Ask God to help you be content with your money, your health, and other situations in your life. Realize that true contentment doesn’t depend on external circumstances, but on internal peace that only God can give. Trust God to do what’s absolutely best for you at all times and in all situations.
* Find friends with crazy faith. Don’t confront sorrow or pressure alone. Ask God to provide friends who have so much faith that it sometimes seems crazy – friends who will boldly proclaim that God can perform miracles in your life. Surround yourself with these friends, ask them to pray for you, and thank God for them.
* Regularly clear sin out of your life. Ask God to constantly search your heart and show you areas of sin that you need to deal with in order to truly enjoy life. Confess your sins honestly and frequently, repent of them, and embrace God’s forgiveness and grace to keep growing. Expect that the more you submit every part of your life to God, the more of His wisdom He will reveal to you.
* Forgive others and yourself. Don’t allow bitterness to poison your heart and keep you stuck in unhealthy patterns; instead, pray for the ability to forgive, and ask God to help you move beyond challenges with confidence.
* Be patient. Remember that there is an end to every trial. Instead of giving into temptation, press closer into God and ask Him to renew your strength during a hard time. If you don’t see immediate answers to your prayers, keep praying, and expect God to answer them at exactly the right time.
* Personalize Scripture verses. Every day, read the Bible and invite God to lead you to Scripture passages that relate to your current experiences. Then paraphrase them in a personal way, either aloud or by writing down God’s fresh messages for you.
* Don’t let your emotions lead you. Decide to trust in God’s reliable leading rather than your own unreliable and constantly shifting feelings. If you sense God leading you clearly to act, go ahead and do so, even when it doesn’t make sense to you.
* Trust that God will redeem your mistakes. Expect that, just like all imperfect people living in our fallen world, you will make mistakes. But also expect that God will right what you’ve wronged if you invite Him to do so.
* Give generously. Don’t wait until it’s convenient for you to help others. Decide to give whenever God leads you to, trusting that God will give you joy in return.
* Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Recognize that you’ll enjoy life much more if you’re in your best possible physical, mental, and spiritual health than if you neglect one or more of these areas. Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and exercise, constantly seek to learn something new, and stay close to God through Christ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adapted from Enjoy Life: Moving Past Everyday Struggles, copyright 2006 by Marilyn Hickey. Published by Nelson Books, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.
Marilyn Hickey is founder and president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries. She has been actively covering the earth with God’s Word as a respected Bible teacher to people in many nations for more than 30 years.
Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
When your alarm clock goes off in the morning, do you wish you could just stay in bed? Do your struggles and responsibilities weigh you down with frustration, boredom, or hopelessness? If so, rest assured that God wants you to have a much better life – one that you enjoy! God will give you the ability to enjoy life, no matter what your circumstances.
Here’s how you can enjoy your life:
* Look for fulfillment in the right place. Stop looking for true and lasting satisfaction in the wrong places, such as through your work, personal pleasure, or accumulation of knowledge or material possessions. Realize that only God can provide the fulfillment you seek. Make a strong relationship with Him your top priority.
* Give yourself permission. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying the blessings God gives you. Understand that denying yourself enjoyment doesn’t somehow make you a more seriously spiritual person. Remember that God Himself is joyful and intends you to fully enjoy the gifts He gives you. Go ahead and have fun pursuing your interests, knowing that as long as you don’t engage in anything harmful, you can enjoy your pursuits.
* Notice God’s gifts, and thank Him for them. Make it a daily practice to thank God for each new day after you awaken. Throughout the day, keep a running list of specific things for which you’re grateful. Then, before going to bed, pray over your list, thanking God for each one. Don’t forget to acknowledge basic blessings, such as your freedom or ability to buy healthy food.
* Place the seasons of your life in God’s hands. Ask God to transform your attitudes and bring positive results out of negative situations as you travel through life’s seasons. Rely on God’s unchanging power in the midst of changes you experience in all aspects of your life. Rather than battling the season you currently find yourself in, ask God what He wants to you to learn from it, and trust Him to give you the encouragement and strength you need. Whenever you’re going through a tough time, serve other people to take your focus off yourself and find genuine enjoyment as God broadens your perspective. Know that, while life is unpredictable, your faith in God will always stand.
* Don’t isolate yourself. Understand that God has created all human beings to engage in relationships – with Him and each other. Make sure you’re investing plenty of time and energy in relationships, which will give you lots to enjoy. Pray about specific challenges in your relationships, trusting God to give you the solutions you need.
* Use your time wisely. Regularly remind yourself of how fragile and fleeting life on earth can be, and that every day is a gift from God. Don’t fall into the traps of being either lazy or too driven, missing out on God’s best for you. Ask God to give you wisdom to use your time each day as He would like you to use it, according to His purposes for your life.
* Place God at the center of your marriage. If you’re married, realize that your marriage isn’t about just you and your spouse. Ultimately, it’s about God, the source of your love. Invite God to guide your marriage and use it to transform you and your spouse into the people He wants you to become. Trust that when you do so, you’ll open the door to a much more enjoyable marriage than you could have otherwise.
* Turn your worries into prayers. Whenever a worry enters your mind, pray about it. Know that worry can’t accomplish anything good, but prayer has great power, since nothing is impossible with God. Be specific as you share your concerns with God, and trust Him to answer your prayers in the right way at the right time.
* Pursue contentment. Ask God to help you be content with your money, your health, and other situations in your life. Realize that true contentment doesn’t depend on external circumstances, but on internal peace that only God can give. Trust God to do what’s absolutely best for you at all times and in all situations.
* Find friends with crazy faith. Don’t confront sorrow or pressure alone. Ask God to provide friends who have so much faith that it sometimes seems crazy – friends who will boldly proclaim that God can perform miracles in your life. Surround yourself with these friends, ask them to pray for you, and thank God for them.
* Regularly clear sin out of your life. Ask God to constantly search your heart and show you areas of sin that you need to deal with in order to truly enjoy life. Confess your sins honestly and frequently, repent of them, and embrace God’s forgiveness and grace to keep growing. Expect that the more you submit every part of your life to God, the more of His wisdom He will reveal to you.
* Forgive others and yourself. Don’t allow bitterness to poison your heart and keep you stuck in unhealthy patterns; instead, pray for the ability to forgive, and ask God to help you move beyond challenges with confidence.
* Be patient. Remember that there is an end to every trial. Instead of giving into temptation, press closer into God and ask Him to renew your strength during a hard time. If you don’t see immediate answers to your prayers, keep praying, and expect God to answer them at exactly the right time.
* Personalize Scripture verses. Every day, read the Bible and invite God to lead you to Scripture passages that relate to your current experiences. Then paraphrase them in a personal way, either aloud or by writing down God’s fresh messages for you.
* Don’t let your emotions lead you. Decide to trust in God’s reliable leading rather than your own unreliable and constantly shifting feelings. If you sense God leading you clearly to act, go ahead and do so, even when it doesn’t make sense to you.
* Trust that God will redeem your mistakes. Expect that, just like all imperfect people living in our fallen world, you will make mistakes. But also expect that God will right what you’ve wronged if you invite Him to do so.
* Give generously. Don’t wait until it’s convenient for you to help others. Decide to give whenever God leads you to, trusting that God will give you joy in return.
* Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Recognize that you’ll enjoy life much more if you’re in your best possible physical, mental, and spiritual health than if you neglect one or more of these areas. Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and exercise, constantly seek to learn something new, and stay close to God through Christ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adapted from Enjoy Life: Moving Past Everyday Struggles, copyright 2006 by Marilyn Hickey. Published by Nelson Books, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tn., www.thomasnelson.com.
Marilyn Hickey is founder and president of Marilyn Hickey Ministries. She has been actively covering the earth with God’s Word as a respected Bible teacher to people in many nations for more than 30 years.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
today's thoughts
today, lunch was spicy shrimp crepe (price is almost $8...ang mahal!) from 'crepe and curry' at the embarcadero center. it was pretty tasty. it had moneterey jack cheese, roma tomatoes, shrimp, a little mayo and vietnamese hot sauce. it wasn't that filling so i'm still a little bit hungry right now...makes me wonder if it was worth the money i paid because chel and i share chinese food for lunch for less than that we both end up feeling so full afterwards. but it put me in a 'crepe' mood so i might try to make some crepes this weekend and save myself $8.
im thinking whether i should buy another pair of maternity jeans from the gap. i currently have 2 pairs of maternity jeans but unfortunately, both are already masikip. =( i have spent a lot of money on maternity clothes already and i only have about 9 weeks to go. i probably wont buy anymore and just try to squeeze myself into the ones i have....sayang ang pera! hehe
aaaaarrrrrrrrrrhhhhh! we saw pirates of the caribbean on sunday. the first one was still better and this second movie was 'masyadong bitin' because it was preparing the way for the third installment of the movie. it was long, over 2 hours. the special effects were great but it lacked the excitement that the first movie was so full of. but still, the movie did extremely well in the box office. it had its funny moments and johnny depp's acting as captain jack sparrow is always entertaining. keira knightley is waaaaaay too skinny, a sight i'm trying to avoid these days. orlando bloom is still his charming, pretty boy, self...in a rugged, parang-hindi-naliligo kind of way! hahaha! nobody in the movie looked like they were fond of taking a shower anyway. =)
on to more serious things...israel and lebanon...i don't know all the details regarding what happened but i just pray that the fighting would cease very soon. i do not want to read too much about it because whenever israel gets involved in a
conflict, i get anxious because it involves God's chosen people and it makes me wonder about the greater spiritual significance of everything that's happening. the united states is being very cautious in its stand because from what i read, it was israel who shot the first rocket and since israel is a very close ally of the u.s., president bush is watching his words and being careful about the things he says regarding the matter. had it been lebanon to have fired first, i believe that u.s. forces will be all over the area within half an hour of the first strike. let's wait and see and keep the region in our prayers.
im thinking whether i should buy another pair of maternity jeans from the gap. i currently have 2 pairs of maternity jeans but unfortunately, both are already masikip. =( i have spent a lot of money on maternity clothes already and i only have about 9 weeks to go. i probably wont buy anymore and just try to squeeze myself into the ones i have....sayang ang pera! hehe
aaaaarrrrrrrrrrhhhhh! we saw pirates of the caribbean on sunday. the first one was still better and this second movie was 'masyadong bitin' because it was preparing the way for the third installment of the movie. it was long, over 2 hours. the special effects were great but it lacked the excitement that the first movie was so full of. but still, the movie did extremely well in the box office. it had its funny moments and johnny depp's acting as captain jack sparrow is always entertaining. keira knightley is waaaaaay too skinny, a sight i'm trying to avoid these days. orlando bloom is still his charming, pretty boy, self...in a rugged, parang-hindi-naliligo kind of way! hahaha! nobody in the movie looked like they were fond of taking a shower anyway. =)on to more serious things...israel and lebanon...i don't know all the details regarding what happened but i just pray that the fighting would cease very soon. i do not want to read too much about it because whenever israel gets involved in a
conflict, i get anxious because it involves God's chosen people and it makes me wonder about the greater spiritual significance of everything that's happening. the united states is being very cautious in its stand because from what i read, it was israel who shot the first rocket and since israel is a very close ally of the u.s., president bush is watching his words and being careful about the things he says regarding the matter. had it been lebanon to have fired first, i believe that u.s. forces will be all over the area within half an hour of the first strike. let's wait and see and keep the region in our prayers.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Toyota Vios For Sale
my husband will be moving to the united states very soon and he will be selling his 'baby'. this car is pampered and my husband has gone through great lengths to update the car.
parting is such sweet sorrow... =)
Click on links for more pictures
parting is such sweet sorrow... =)
Click on links for more pictures
24,000 kms mileage
15 inch rims from Altis G 2005
195/55/15 Dunlop Lemans Tires, nitrogen filled
Front Chin spoiler
Pioneer 4750 stereo, mp3 ready, ipod ready
Kicker 2 way component speakers - Front
Leather seats
All white headlight bulbs
Foglamps
Mesh Grille
Short Antenna
Fender Signal Lights
Rear bumper groove paint
Glass Plate Covers
WITEM silent wiping wiper blades
3M car undercoat
If interested, send me a message/post a comment with your email address so I can give you more information like pricing and such.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
around the world today
the issues in today's news has me alarmed...
first, north korea and kim jong il. north korea has tested 7 missiles over the last two days in a blatant display of aggression. it is said that the missiles are capable of reaching the western united states but according to the news, the missiles have failed and blew up shortly after the launch. this is something the global community should be concerned about. north korea has the 4th largest army in the world and obviously has nuclear capabilities. north korea is no iraq or afghanistan...the armies are trained well and trained to kill. who knows what kim jong il will be up to next.
next, ken lay of enron died today...somehow i feel as if there's a little more to it than just a heart
attack. when i first saw it in the news this morning, i thought to myself, 'oh! he decided to take the easy way out!' the love of money is the root of all evil and because of his greed, he scammed and took millions of dollars away from hard-working americans. i'm only speculating that he commited suicide after being found guilty of fraud last month. in my head im thinking the humiliation was too much for him to bear. his sentencing was supposed to be later this year but because of his untimely death, his victims will not see him go to prison.
first, north korea and kim jong il. north korea has tested 7 missiles over the last two days in a blatant display of aggression. it is said that the missiles are capable of reaching the western united states but according to the news, the missiles have failed and blew up shortly after the launch. this is something the global community should be concerned about. north korea has the 4th largest army in the world and obviously has nuclear capabilities. north korea is no iraq or afghanistan...the armies are trained well and trained to kill. who knows what kim jong il will be up to next.next, ken lay of enron died today...somehow i feel as if there's a little more to it than just a heart
attack. when i first saw it in the news this morning, i thought to myself, 'oh! he decided to take the easy way out!' the love of money is the root of all evil and because of his greed, he scammed and took millions of dollars away from hard-working americans. i'm only speculating that he commited suicide after being found guilty of fraud last month. in my head im thinking the humiliation was too much for him to bear. his sentencing was supposed to be later this year but because of his untimely death, his victims will not see him go to prison.
mommy woes
i am now approaching 30 weeks and i am beginning to have more difficulty moving. i used to still be able to move around pretty fast but now, i really have to take extra precaution. getting out of bed and up from the sofa is harder now...it's harder to drive because i feel as if my stomach's in the way of the steering wheel so i have to scoot the seat farther back. i really try to move more slowly because the quicker i move, the heavier my tummy feels. i haven't exercised in almost a week because i'm getting scared the baby might decide to make an entrance (an exit from my body) as i exercise. that's how it feels whenever i try to go for a walk on the treadmill. she kicks me so hard now she makes me wince. i didn't realize how much a 3 pound baby can hurt me, but now i do and will no longer underestimate her strength. it's painful and scary. i think i'm starting to really feel what they call 'the braxton-hicks contractions' it's contractions that are similar to the actual contraction at childbirth. this is another scary occurance because since this is my first pregnancy, i don't really know the difference between the braxton-hicks contractions and the real one. i hope they are the fake ones because i've been feeling them for days and i don't want to go into pre-term labor.
im also starting to feel sad that paul has not been with me to any of my prenatal visits. =( we are to wait about 4 more weeks before he arrives and we are both getting impatient having to wait so long. he's getting frustrated with the american embassy in the philippines since he has to go back and forth and wait long hours only to find out that his papers have not been forwarded to the right office. i try to encourage him whenever i can and hide my own frustrations. our frustration wont speed up the process anyway.
i have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and i will request for another ultrasound to confirm the sex of our baby. i believe she's a girl but i want to be 100% sure because i want to get her all the right things in all the right colors =)
im also starting to feel sad that paul has not been with me to any of my prenatal visits. =( we are to wait about 4 more weeks before he arrives and we are both getting impatient having to wait so long. he's getting frustrated with the american embassy in the philippines since he has to go back and forth and wait long hours only to find out that his papers have not been forwarded to the right office. i try to encourage him whenever i can and hide my own frustrations. our frustration wont speed up the process anyway.
i have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and i will request for another ultrasound to confirm the sex of our baby. i believe she's a girl but i want to be 100% sure because i want to get her all the right things in all the right colors =)
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
4th of july
i have nothing better to do. today, i decided to just rest and take a break. i've been busy with our friends from Portland in town the last few days. it's been fun hanging out with them and getting to know them better. and now, while they are enjoying the heat of Southern California and Las Vegas, i am in bed with the TV on, wishing I were more ‘mobile’. it's been harder and harder to move. MJ’s getting heavier and heavier and i’m trying to be more cautious with my movements and all the things i do. i’ll cut back on my exercise and eat healthier (today doesn’t count because today’s a holiday! had ice cream for lunch and with dinner…who’s gonna stop me? no one! (chel and paul are not around so no ice cream police to stop me! hehehe not today at least)
so as i sit here and do nothing…i decided to make a list of my favorite things (not that people care)…some of these things I own and some of them i wish i owned. =)
Some of my favorite things (in no particular order):
1. Volvo XC90-loaded, still praying will have this by next year! =)
2. Ice cream from Ghirardelli, Cold Stone, or Marble Slab. On regular days, Dreyer’s Light Slow Churned ice cream will do.
3. Ginisang munggo
4. Crab-crabbing off of pier 3 has become a family past time
5. Lumpiang Shanghai
6. Nokia phones – the most user friendly phones I’ve ever owned are Nokia phones
7. Cable TV
8. Internet
9. Nasu Hasamiage from Spiral – the waiters at Spiral already know I order this as soon as I’m seated. It takes longer to prepare than their other dishes
10. Make-up and moisturizer from Lancome
11. Tsinelas-if I can wear tsinelas sa lahat ng occassions, I probably would
12. Isaw
13. My Bible
14. A nice glass of Chardonnay
15. Venice, Italy – the most romantic, dream–like place I’ve ever been to
16. Palawan – the most beautiful ‘natural’ place I’ve ever been to
17. A good movie at the Metreon while having chicken fingers and curly fries
18. A really good book
19. A warm jacket in cold San Francisco
20. Potato chips
21. A good pair of sunglasses
22. Jeans by Halogen-my best fit so far
23. F-R-I-E-N-D-S reruns
24. A good massage
it's a short list. i can't think straight right now, that's how bored i am. =) i'm just waiting for the fireworks to start on tv since i'm 'too big' (and too lazy) to go to the wharf to watch it live.
so as i sit here and do nothing…i decided to make a list of my favorite things (not that people care)…some of these things I own and some of them i wish i owned. =)
Some of my favorite things (in no particular order):
1. Volvo XC90-loaded, still praying will have this by next year! =)
2. Ice cream from Ghirardelli, Cold Stone, or Marble Slab. On regular days, Dreyer’s Light Slow Churned ice cream will do.
3. Ginisang munggo
4. Crab-crabbing off of pier 3 has become a family past time
5. Lumpiang Shanghai
6. Nokia phones – the most user friendly phones I’ve ever owned are Nokia phones
7. Cable TV
8. Internet
9. Nasu Hasamiage from Spiral – the waiters at Spiral already know I order this as soon as I’m seated. It takes longer to prepare than their other dishes
10. Make-up and moisturizer from Lancome
11. Tsinelas-if I can wear tsinelas sa lahat ng occassions, I probably would
12. Isaw
13. My Bible
14. A nice glass of Chardonnay
15. Venice, Italy – the most romantic, dream–like place I’ve ever been to
16. Palawan – the most beautiful ‘natural’ place I’ve ever been to
17. A good movie at the Metreon while having chicken fingers and curly fries
18. A really good book
19. A warm jacket in cold San Francisco
20. Potato chips
21. A good pair of sunglasses
22. Jeans by Halogen-my best fit so far
23. F-R-I-E-N-D-S reruns
24. A good massage
it's a short list. i can't think straight right now, that's how bored i am. =) i'm just waiting for the fireworks to start on tv since i'm 'too big' (and too lazy) to go to the wharf to watch it live.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
visitors from the northwest
last nite, paul's friends from intel arrived from their drive from portland. joel, jasmin and baby neema are our house guests while rod, janet, and their two adorable girls are staying with relatives. but they all had dinner here at home last nite along with jay (also from portland) and gracious. we were watching the pacquiao fight on pay per view and like comcast has done in the past, the picture disappears as soon as the main event starts. we wait for half an hour for the picture to come back on while i tried to get in touch with someone from comcast, of course, there's nobody there to pick up the phone. i remembered to order the fight on a different tv set and we saw the rest of the match. i'll deal with comcast tomorrow at work and give them an earful.
anyway, back to our guests...i spent the day yesterday preparing the food and tidying up the house a little bit before the guests arrive. i was tired by the end of the day but glad that they decided to spend part of their week-long vacation here in san francisco. i'm working until noon tomorrow and then i'll take them sight seeing after work. after san francisco, they're heading to l.a. then las vegas, and then maybe they'll head back here, maybe spend the night, on their way back to portland.
bought a cute outfit for neema, too. she's paul's god daughter (and ofcourse, mine too) so i got her a little something (from ninong paul and ninang mimie). in a few months, we'll have our own little baby, too. =)
paul's going to book his flight for august 4. we pray, all goes smoothly and he gets his visa by then. =)
anyway, back to our guests...i spent the day yesterday preparing the food and tidying up the house a little bit before the guests arrive. i was tired by the end of the day but glad that they decided to spend part of their week-long vacation here in san francisco. i'm working until noon tomorrow and then i'll take them sight seeing after work. after san francisco, they're heading to l.a. then las vegas, and then maybe they'll head back here, maybe spend the night, on their way back to portland.
bought a cute outfit for neema, too. she's paul's god daughter (and ofcourse, mine too) so i got her a little something (from ninong paul and ninang mimie). in a few months, we'll have our own little baby, too. =)
paul's going to book his flight for august 4. we pray, all goes smoothly and he gets his visa by then. =)
a nite at the movies...
superman's back in a very looong movie! the story's ok. not much action, more drama as superman/clark kent tries to get his life back together after being in a 5-year hiatus. brandon routh is a very good looking superman but i like his voice best. deep and sexy...i wonder if that's his real voice. anyway, it's still a movie worth watching because you there's going a sequel within the next couple of years.
looking forward to the spiderman 3 movie coming out next year. now that looks like an action packed, super-hero movie!
more movies...can't wait to see the pirates of the carrebean this weekend. will be watching the devil wears prada, too.
looking forward to the spiderman 3 movie coming out next year. now that looks like an action packed, super-hero movie!
more movies...can't wait to see the pirates of the carrebean this weekend. will be watching the devil wears prada, too.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
my precious
i was singing to the Lord last night and was praising and worshiping Him when He revealed something to me...
i've always complained about how difficult pregnancy is and how i don't want to go through it again. but the Lord said to me that He made pregnancy difficult for women to appreciate how precious is the life that they carry in their womb. the Lord said, 'had I not made it painful and difficult, you would not have taken such precaution to protect what you have now. you would have taken for granted the life that you carry. because I made pregnancy difficult, you will realize that the your baby's life is so precious that you will do whatever it takes to protect her life not only while she's in your womb, but throughout her life.'
i praise God for His revelation...we tend to appreciate things better if we labored to achieve it. we are more careful to spend our hard earned money versus if it were just given to us. we appreciate a good test score when we studied hard to achieve the grade. all the more with the life that continue to grows inside of me. when the time comes and i see her and hold her in my arms for the first time, i will realize that all the pain and difficulty that i went through was worth it, for my husband and i have been blessed with our precious little daughter.
i've always complained about how difficult pregnancy is and how i don't want to go through it again. but the Lord said to me that He made pregnancy difficult for women to appreciate how precious is the life that they carry in their womb. the Lord said, 'had I not made it painful and difficult, you would not have taken such precaution to protect what you have now. you would have taken for granted the life that you carry. because I made pregnancy difficult, you will realize that the your baby's life is so precious that you will do whatever it takes to protect her life not only while she's in your womb, but throughout her life.'
i praise God for His revelation...we tend to appreciate things better if we labored to achieve it. we are more careful to spend our hard earned money versus if it were just given to us. we appreciate a good test score when we studied hard to achieve the grade. all the more with the life that continue to grows inside of me. when the time comes and i see her and hold her in my arms for the first time, i will realize that all the pain and difficulty that i went through was worth it, for my husband and i have been blessed with our precious little daughter.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
28 weeks tomorrow
tomorrow, mj will be 28 weeks. her eyes are fully formed and she has eyelashes now. she can open and close her eyes too. she should be 15 inches long and weigh about 2.5lbs. mommy's weight should continue to climb from now on (yikes!). mj has a 95% chance of surviving if she's born now---but she wont...she will stay inside her mommy until she's due. =) she will wait for her daddy to arrive.mj's baby bag should arrive today, too! weeee!!! im excited! i hope i don't get disappointed with the bag. =)
i may have a florist for the wedding...my friend, etey, has responded to my email and he told me that jie (his girlfriend, owner of the shop) and oszie may are in touch and discussing the flowers for the wedding. yey! 1 more thing to scratch off my list. =)
chel and i were working on the template for the baby shower invitation. excited narin ako mag baby shower. =) i actually like the planning and everything. i should go into event planning but i'm to chicken to try a new career.
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