the joy the season brings

This Holiday Season was surely filled with joys and laughter. We have celebrated Christmas with my parents. This time, my daughter at 16 months enjoyed the celebration. Unlike last year, when she was a mere infant and slept christmas eve away, this year she had fun running around with her cousins. Though being the youngest, she was one who slept latest.

We also had a few celebrations aside from Christmas.

My parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, My twin also had her new baby christened, and the wedding of Raymond, My Husband's nephew  and his long time girlfriend Rhea.

Bryan was the bible bearer and boy, was I again so proud of my son.

my parent's 45th wedding anniversary

at the church for my nephew's christening

all smiles during the wedding

all proud in a tuxedo

Here are just a few of snap shots taken during the celebrations

time flies

I have written in one of my previous posts about my son growing so fast, and how his baby tooth was about to come off. Now, his first his first permanent tooth is in sight.

Well, this is not just what has been coming as signs that my first born is on his way to independence.
This Holiday season, as he was on his Christmas Break from school, he started sleeping on his own in our living room.

My 6 year old son sleeping alone at night in a separate room from ours is a milestone. From the time he was born he never slept away from me. Except when I am away for work of course but he still slept with Daddy in our bed, in our room. On rare occasions that his Kuya My is home to visit, he also sleeps in the living room, which I of course allow because I want them to have a special kind of bond being brothers. But on all these occasions, he slept away from my side but in the comfort of either kuya or Dad.

This December, he started sleeping alone. I don't know what to feel when I woke up one morning and learned that he slept the night through alone in the living room. I was expecting him to creep back to the room in the middle of the night. But no, he slept the night away.

Of course, I am proud of his bravery. Because this is a first in his 6 years of life and truly is a milestone. On the other hand, I felt a feeling of longingness for my boy. It made me thinking that he is on his way to be on his own. Soon enough he wouldn't need me to  bring him to school, fix his clothes for school, or fix his bag and his baon for school, or take a bath. Soon enough, he will outgrow his need of his mother.

As I ponder on this thoughts, I can't believe how fast time has gone. I still remember so well how I carried him in my arms each night to put him to sleep. Now, he is fastly growing that I hardly could keep track.

Soon, he will be all grown up, like a bird living his mother's nest. Oh I how I wish I could freeze every moment that I could hug and kiss my children.

I hope he grows up the way God wants him to be. But for now, I will be a mother to my kids, while they are here and while they need me. And when they are all grown up, I will be right here where they have left me. And when they come home broken or with a milestone of success, I will be there to listen to their joys and join their sorrows.

I love you dearly, children of mine.

the life of me

Ok. so I haven't uploaded pictures of my kids for quite a while.
So much has changed all these time.

My son is now six years old but acts and talks like a sixteen year old.
My daughter is merely 16 months and is as adorable as can be.

Here are the latest photos I have of them.

Trina at  15 months

my two adorable kids

at Christmas Village in Baguio Country Club

As you can see, these two are the ones keeping my hands full.
But it's all worth it.
I don't mind if the house gets uncleaned for days, or if  everything wreaked havoc. 
All I know is all the time I spend with these two Godsend are worth everything.

Thanks to my beloved husband who has set aside his career to put these two bosses in the priority lane.

I am the most blessed person. I can not thank the Lord enough for all the graces he has entrusted me.

the week that was

Saturday, November17, 2012, I had the chance to meet up with my college friends.
It was quite a thrill for I have not seen them for almost a decade.


We had coffee at John Hay and as soon as dusk settled in, we headed to the Baguio Country Club where there was a display of Christmas lights and a snow machine that emitted somewhat a resemblance of snow.

They called it SNOW VILLAGE. We walked around and watched as a choir serenaded the sight seers.

After which, we headed for a tummy filling dinner at Chocolate De Batirol just a hundred meters from SnowVillage and devoured on filipino dishes.

I headed home with happiness in my heart. This was a first time in many years since settling down that I had a time to go out with friends. Although I must admit, i missed my kids during the walk at snow village.


Thank you Junette, Beverly and Mira for a funfilled evening!!!

my son, you grow so fast... i can hardly cope!

Last Friday night my son came up to me while I was watching TV and said, " Mom, bad news.. I have a lose tooth." I said, "Anak, that's not bad news, its a normal thing and it happens as you grow older. You're milk teeth will soon be replaced by permanent teeth."

My son is turning six this month and I couldn't believe how time flies.

It all seems like yesterday that he was handed to me by the nurse in the hospital. I remember so well seeing him for the first time, in my hospital room. I remember what it felt like to look at him and carry him in my arms. So tiny, so fragile yet brought so much joy to my heart.

I remember all those sleepless nights that I have to comfort him to sleep because of a colic. All those round the clock feeding time with barely a few hours of sleep.

I remember him walk for the first time.

I remember him learn to talk.

I remember his eye surgery when he was 6 months old. He woke up the next day playing like nothing happened.

I remember how when he saw his ading in the hospital the day she was born, he thought the new baby was a doll he could carry around. The instinct of a big brother came to him naturally. He is now so protective  and very caring to his little sister.

I remember his first day in school.

He is now in grade 1. Turning six and making his parents proud.

And as days go by, he turns out to be so smart and so wise beyond his age.

I think he teaches me more than I teach him. He makes me realize that life, in the eyes of a child, so simple yet can be so magnificent.

My son, you will grow and out grow your need of me.

One day, when you're all grown up, and you will be able to read this blog, you will realize how mom and dad are so proud of you.

Each day is so full of life since you came to us.

Thank you for teaching us more of the value of life just by being you.

Bryan, my strong and mighty one, you bring so much joy to my heart!

my healing process

These past few months I have always been weary of my health.
A day doesn't pass by without me worrying and distressing of my health condition.
And because of my weariness, I experienced shortness of breath, palpitation and I have notice a spike in my blood pressure, all because of me thinking that I might suffer from illnesses that will be brought about my hypertension.

All these has caused me unnecessary stress and has made my bp from bad to worse.
All because of my unnecessary thinking.

I have missed out on so much of life that I have been dwelling on my illness for many months and I noticed is leading me to a certain level of depression.

It made me grow old thinking of my kids and what would happen to them if I would be gone forever and leave them for good. This made me more nervous and stressed each day. Day in and day out, I thought about these thoughts.  And the more i though about it, the worse my blood pressure has become.

I noticed myself more and more consumed with my fear and worries that I have missed out so much of the beautiful things around me.

I started to pray the rosary everyday in church after bringing my son to school. Everyday I prayed that God would heal me of my illness. Slowly, thing started to change. My outlook in life also started to turn to positive curbs.

My Annual Physical result showed good indications. All blood chemistry results turned out normal.

During my scheduled visit, for unknown reason, I was made to meet somebody with the gift of healing.

Auntie Lin was her name. She touched me and instantly knew of the status of my blood pressure without me telling her. She touched me and I claimed healing that day. I don't think it was coincidence that I met her that day. Mother Mary led me to her as a result of my daily devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

From that day when she touched me, I instantly felt relief and I experienced healing. I felt a certain happiness that I have not felt for a long time because I was suppressed with my worries about my health.

I claim healing! I am miraculously healed!

Today, I have been researching on natural ways to fight this disease.

I have changed my diet and am doing lifestyle changes as well. I have inserted routine walking, instead of riding from the church to my office to give me that extra exercise  to keep my heart and blood circulation healthy.

Little by little, things are being revealed to me on how to manage stress to normalize my blood pressure.

My meals now consists more of vegetables, and fruits. 6-8 glasses of water per day. I have eradicated pork from my diet. Well, at least for the past 3 weeks I haven't had any. Which actually brought about good results.

Today, I take half doze of my amlodipine medication and am working my way on natural ways to normalize my blood pressure.

This is quite a bit of a challenge for me but I know, nothing beats a healthy lifestyle.

I am now more focused on the more beautiful things around me. I also enjoy the morning sunshine as this gives me vitamin D for a healthier immune system.

Yes, I know, I have a long way to go. But my target is set that by the end of 2012, i would have completely weaned myself off the hypertension medication.

Determination is the name of the game.

I have also noticed an improvement in my daily life. I am no longer stressed and worried. If ever I am, I am learning to manage it and avoid it to affect my well being.

Yes, I am truly healed. I am blessed and I am healed.

I AM HEALED!!!!

... by the great mercy of God, I am miraculously healed...
... through the intercession of Mother Mary, God has healed me by the blood of Jesus....
...I am healed!!!