Two years of silence on this blog meant so many changes have taken place. Some were good, best things I should say, while some not so. Nevertheless, one thing remained all through those months, God is ever faithful and He remained the same - all glory belongs to Him!

My family has changed now. So much to say but let me start by posting us! :D We're four now! Meet me and my three boys - Daddy Chard, Kuya Psalmboy, and Baby Hymno. 

After All, It was He who created and started it all

This is one of the longest birthdays I've ever been accustomed to. Yep, you heard me right. Today is my birthday! Yay! :D I'm in nightshift so from 12AM of this July 17th, I'm already getting messages and greetings, wishing me the best and most happiest of this day.

But nah, day did not start as jolly. Maybe, just so maybe, I'm already desensitized from things I myself don't know (or ok, maybe I know). I wanted to hide, really not looking forward of getting those cheers from friends and officemates. Years back, I'd always want to drop hints that this month's mine and that I'd brighten up and anticipate as my day draws nearer. But this time, it's different. Earlier, I honestly felt this is just one of those regular days when I'd look forward to my end of shift and rest away in our bed.

Must be the aftershock of the Typhoon Glenda that set the gloomy setting . She was here yesterday. Should I celebrate? Should I keep myself busy with work and just go with the flow? Oh my, never thought feeling blank would still make me anxious like this.

Pulled out my headsets and thought on drowning myself to random music. Looked up Marie Hines. Scrolled down for that first sound. Nothing fancies me. Pulled out my Hillsong list. Then it dawned on me. I need to start it right. Start the day right. After all, I came to this world 32 years ago and it was bliss. I know God was and is still is with me starting from the day I was born. And I ought to understand and focus my life back to the one who created me in the first place.

In that moment, I felt great. I felt refreshed. It's astonishing and amazing to see and feel how God works in what we think are the most simplest of ways. Never need to hear any word,  no touch at all. It all grows and goes straight to the heart. What more can I ask for?

And for this day, it uplifts me for once to not think about how I feel but on how God has been SO good and SO great to me, to my family, and to future! He truly is a GREAT GOD!

How Great Is Our God (Hillsong)
How great is our God – sing with me
How great is our God – and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
Happy Birthday my dear ME! You were made to do great things. And do those things for the glory of the one who created you. :)

~

The Tatay that I love

I WAS thinking of shutting down this blog for sometime now, but it's still here. I thought I could write and share my stories here but the laziness in me is way stronger than my passion to write. Even so, I'm glad to drop by this blog again to say hi.

This year started not so good for us. My beloved grandpa died. He sure is already old but I was still so distraught when the news came. I was at the office, mom called my husband, and he delivered the news to me. I cried frantically and we drove home as fast as we could. He's 85. No, it's not expected as he's still strong. If not for his smoking and drinking habits, he still could have lived over a 100 years. 

Thing is, I've had regrets before he passed away. Everyone knows Tatay favors me and Bernice, my cousin, over all his grandchildren. He loves us all alright, but he's particularly close to me and my youngest cousin. That makes Psalm also his favorite I suppose. Weeks before he came down with sickness, it was my boy's second birthday. Tatay is the type who is not fond of going out. My son's birthday is out of the city which is about an hour ride. I asked him to come but he said he's not feeling well. I said ok, but did not bother asking what I can do for him. We came back, he's still fine but looking back, I know he's already in pain. Looking back, I know he wanted to come and celebrate with us. Fast forward two weeks after, he was bedridden. Another week, he passed away.

I have bouts of what ifs every now and then. I may have heard my head say sometimes I was not the good granddaughter I was supposed to be. Heck when he's already sick, I didn't even stayed by his side for few hours like I used to. Like we used to chat hours about my grandmother's flaws but always at the end he'll say she's the only love of his life. And that he wouldn't trade getting to another plane ride just because his last ride was with my grandmom. I wouldn't forget the Lucky Me commercial with the Manzanos because that's when Tatay managed to carry Psalm because my 'lil boy's afraid of the Kiss impersonation of the commercial. And that for one moment when Psalm's not yet around, you'll never see him get up the stairs for he thinks he's not able to climb up and down anymore. Lo and behold, when Psalm was born, Tatay never missed going up the stairs every two hours, every day and he'll be content to see his little grandchild sleeping soundly in his crib.

Everytime I think of this, I can't help but cry. My grandpa stayed with us from the time I was born till he died. He's like a father who saw my life. He taught me how to love unconditionally. He will always be a hero to me.

I love you Tatay! You'll forever be missed.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 2013 was a great year for our family, so many things to be thankful for and it's overwhelming that when I count all, I seem to not notice I have been greatly blessed this past year! Promotions, health, absorption, work, victory group, 2013 has them all.

Welcome 2014! Glory to God! :)

Posting again

Hiyah! It's been awhile. I have not visited this site since I can remember. Seeing my last post it says, it's been almost 9 months, haha. Pretty evident that I've got no time to update any of my blogs, and almost forgot they've ever existed. The past 5 posts I think spoke of how much I wanted to write and write but I don't know, it seems I'm not really that writer type of person. Pretty weird though, I'm supposed to be a writer. After all, my background spoke much of editorials, articles, features, and the likes. Guess, I'm just simply one lazy person.

Anyways, I'd like to share though that my little one isn't that little anymore. Psalm's  a year and nine months old already. A fast walker and so talkative. His genes run with it, and no, he didn't get it from me (shhhh, don't tell the daddy I said this, haha).

I wish I can make up on all the misses I gathered for this blog. It's really been awhile. :)

Happy 31st Anniversary Pa and Ma!

Today is my parent's published wedding date. They are going 31 years strong! I say published because today is the recorded date on their Marriage Certificate. They claim that it's actually January 30. But correct date or not, I want to honor my parents with this -


Dear Papa and Mama,


Thank you for giving us our lives, for having our family. And just the same, thank you for giving us your lives - for wanting the best for us, for praying for our success, for keeping up with our worsts.

 

I could not thank you enough for the unconditional love you gave to us - Keek and I. It's cliche to mention this but heck it's all true -we will never be here if not for the sacrifices you've made. ANd making it through all those years of "without" I'm proud that both of you managed to stick through. There were times I made myself clear that ours is not a dream set-up, but let me tell you both - we know you pulled through for us and we are grateful for that. I pray it'll be over soon, this coming and going, it was so frustrating to see you both part ways when all I can see are two people really wanting to be with each other.  Thank you for working so hard just so we can have all opportunities come our way. Thank you for the prayers when we need them the most, for listening, for not letting go, for not rubbing in our shortcomings, and for crying with us. Much more, thank you for loving Psalm, eagerly giving him love and keeping him company when in the busiest of my hours I can't.

 

Above all, thank you for leading us to Christ! This is the best inheritance we have received from you and one that Psalm and my future kids will live with. God has blessed us with wonderful parents and we pray to become Godly parents too. We love you Mama and Papa. Happy Anniversary!

Psalm's First Birthday

I'm back! And so are my stories, my life, my baby Psalm (who happens to be not a baby anymore) and a whole lotta more!

I've got so much to share, pardon me if it'll take a number of posts to keep everything to date. After all, it was a busy 2012 and I can't relax enough to think about what 2013 has in store for everyone.

2013 started with us celebrating my 'lil boy's turning one. Party was on his actual birth date - 2nd of January. We've put in so much effort since we DIYed everything but all were happy on how the party turned out. Oh well all but not-so as much as the celebrant. You see, Psalm was sick the whole time of his party. :( He never smiled, would not want to touch anything, was extra clingy to my Aunt (his Mama Aleen) and would like to just sleep. Add a grungy stomach and lose bowel to that, you'll not want to really move and be social around. It's too bad that right after the party we went to the hospital to have him checked. He needed to be tested for any bacteria or whatsoever. Good thing by God's grace it was nothing serious. Let's get back to the party news. :)

The gists of the party

So we did a little carnival-themed celebration for our boy. It was one thing that we throw a big party with venue outdoors, full catering setup and bright balloons since it's his first birthday but that would mean having adults for guests. Psalm has only three little kids as cousins. On my mom's side, he is the second eldest grandchild. On Richard's side, Psalm is the youngest grandson, with just one cousin who's around 4 yrs old with all others in their teens. Psalm, being at my mom's place, has befriended a lots of the kids in the neighborhood. Everytime we go out for his morning walk, he'll be called by kids I haven't met. Richard, being so close to kids raised the idea to just celebrate my boy's birthday with the kids. While Psalm won't really remember how his first birthday went, these kids would surely remember how happy they were with the overflow of gifts, loot bags and food! And that's when we came up with the carnival idea.

Thanks to Pinterest and social media, this theme initially showed lots of potential for fun! And indeed, everyone raved how different it was compared to formal birthdays. All kids were able to play, all kids joined in the fun (oh not the infants though). :) Let me share some of the pictures -



Psalm's invitation

We have 10 Game Booths.

Super thanks to Psalm's yound uncles and aunts who eagerly manned the booths!

 

 

Duck fishing - one of the game booths

 



Psalm was sick so his cousin, Ahya Kashi, blew his candle for him.

Tic-Tac-Toe



We had after-party face paint outside. This is DIY still. :)



Did I say he's sick? He doesn't seem sick at all the next day!

 

Cutie Psalm! :D