Happy Birthday Tatay Arnold

happy birthday sweetheart @titsertatay !!🎂
And congratulations as well... 👍🚢
...here is my birthday prayer for u today...
 
...May you be provided with God's infinite wisdom and physical strength to face new challenges and various tasks for each new day🌞
 
...May our Lord bestow upon you a heart that delights in His word... so that you will be able to lead our family towards His way and lead your vessel fairly when onboard
 
... May He keep you safe at all times most especially during months of separation when you are onboard...🚢 during low and high tide.. when navigating through different seas and oceans and even while at various ports until your homecoming
 
...May our Lord continue to give you a humble spirit so that all your success will be credited back to Him...
 
...finally, I thank you Lord for my husband and may You continue to bless him all the days of his life

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; 
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

❤❤❤ #singianfam #bahaynipandaandtiger #aeronmark

Hi Tuesday!

"This is the day that the Lord hath made let us rejoice and be glad in it".

There are days that I do not have to drive and I am truly blessed on that particular day because.. (compliments  to my bff S)... we carpool on particular days of the week. We have a car schedule on whose turn to bring the car and drive and today is that day.. Tuesday!

This means I will have a couple of days car-free , implying that I can enjoy the perks of having someone to drive for me.. enjoying the view of the traffic laden metropolis.. saving up on liters of diesel .. and enjoying my ride in the passenger seat...

So what are the PERKS of carpooling?

1. Pray - you can pray silently... utilize these rare moments to pray for the welfare of my husband, my children, my loved ones, friends, office mates and even national and global concern. We can always keep a list of prayer items so that we can make the most of this time to lift everything in prayer.

2. Enjoy the time... the best part of travelling is being the passenger.. enjoying means I can do a bit of my make-up, my hair, make conversations with my friend, bits and pieces, from funny anecdotes, make up tips, saving tips, health matters to heavy conversation stuff.

3. Reflect... rare occasions during the week that I can have my own time to reflect on the different hats I had been wearing.. nanay hat, wifey hat, daughter hat or friend hat .. it is the best time to asses my goals for the week.. these are moments I ponder on decisions I had made and the choices that I will be making for the week ahead.

4. Keep a moment of silence... time to contemplate... time to asses my goals for the week or just a being silent is a perk itself. Sometimes we need to feel the stillness inside ourselves to fully appreciate the beauty around us.

5.Sleep... my favorite leisure... nothing beats the luxury of being able to sleep all the way to the office without any disturbances.. with all the added security and comfort to reach my destination.. sleeping is truly a way to be fully recharge for the day.

So Hi.. Tuesday!! Indeed, it will surely be a fine day ahead!

Happy Birthday Mariella!

Thirteen years had passed by , from a  bubbly little baby girl, my baby Ella is now a teenager. It seems only yesterday when I had to go to the hospital, after walking more than a thousand steps in the mall, so that I can have a normal delivery. I was  very excited to give birth for my firstborn with my best friend W accompanying me to the hospital. Only to find that another friend, Lary Nel, arrived in the hospital an hour earlier than us...(isn't he more excited than us?? heheh) My mother-in -law,  Diko Perry, Ate Miyame and close friend E came in next in the hospital to give me the much needed support during the labor hours... unfortunately, due to duty calls, my husband was overseas during that time and he cannot come home. But his calls every now and then gave me comfort during this most challenging time of my life.   The labor pains continued for what seems like eternity...  until the time came for Baby Ella to finally decided to come out...  and there she is.. the most beautiful baby I had seen.. loving her more with unexplained mixed emotions that I cannot describe.

Little did she know that her name came from Ariel- meaning Lion of God, and I wished from the beginning that she will be a Godly girl, finding strength and wisdom from God. Then, I added A in the end as last letter to make it more feminine and added the letter M so that both of our names will start with  the same letter.

Hence, on this very special day, as you marked your thirteenth year, I thanked the Lord for a wonderful gift He had given  us  years ago.. and it is YOU ... we continuously pray that you be blessed with knowledge and wisdom to make sound and good decisions in your teen years ahead..  may you be continually be blessed with good friends as you grow up..             

Mariella  means like this...                  

                                     My

little                                Angel

who is always                     Ready to give a helping hand

and all set to                      Inspire others with her bright ideas

.. who is constantly              Enthusiastic with life

and   very                          Loving to her family and friends

Someone you can                 Lean on

And certainly very              Affectionate in her own unique ways.

But then, I cannot hold on to time and freeze it forever  , nevertheless always remember  Ella, you will always be our  little baby.. .

Nanay and Tatay will always here to guide you as you grow up to be a very fine young lady. We both love you so much more than words can ever  express. Just continue to dream, strive and study very well.. we will always support you..

God bless you and keep you safe each day,  and  always wishing you a great deal of happiness and sunshine for years ahead.

Happy 13th Birthday Anak!!!

***hugs***hugs**hugs**

Off to Camp

Last January 4 2017, my kids went to Word of Life Camp for their school’s annual retreat. My kids always enlist for this yearly event... a highlight in their school.. My eldest is now 12 years old and had been going to this camp since 6 years old... while for my bunso (youngest).. this is his second time to go there. They are both totally ecstatic to join this camp, thus preparation was done weeks in advance. I checked what bags they are supposed to bring, the clothes to wear, rubber shoes and black shoes to use for the chapel hour, extra snack food and water... I doubled checked the list provided by the school... change the batteries for their hand flashlights.. notebooks.. pens.. and their bible of course. Provided extra plastic bags and ziplock to keep important items dry. Aside from that, I tried to keep them healthy prior this event so that they will be fully prepared.

Coincidentally, I have to file for a leave from work the day before their departure for camp due to a very important reason.. a blessing in disguise because I was able to spend the day bonding with the kiddos..

Just the same, I was afraid that the kids will experience separation anxiety before camp but I guess it was the other way around. I will be spending the nights alone for two nights in a row...home alone... 

So how do you spell CAMP?

C-onnect.. First and foremost, connecting with them prior their camp is one vital thing for me... I brought them to school and  fetch them after class. We then had lunch some place new  for a memorable bonding time. Since my eldest is big on calligraphy these past few weeks.. I borrowed and utilize her art stuff and prepared colorful small notes that each of them will read while in camp. Each note is personalized for the intended time it is supposed to be read, whether before bedtime or prior breakfast.. a simple practical way to connect with the kids while away from home.

A-ffirm.. I affirmed my love for them by giving quality time prior their camp... something that will make them miss me.. hehehe! This includes gift of service wherein I personally prepared their stuff... prepared their favorite snacks and double checked all the items in their list. This includes words of affirmation too.

Motivate... I motivate them to be independent in their own way while gone from home.. I reminded them to be on a lookout and to take care of their selves.. their stuff and their friends' safety of course. I encourage them to be very responsible and tried to remember all my reminders for safety, at the same time enjoying their time in camp and learning as much as they can. This also includes being good stewards of their camp allowance with them..reporting their cash on hand once they get back home ;)

P-ray... I continually lift them up in prayers.. for God's provision for good health during their stay and their safety of course, not just for my kids but for all the campers and teachers that joined the retreat. I have full trust that the teachers will keep them safe... but still divine intervention from the Lord  is needed for a memorable and successful camp.

Hence, after having three days and two nights of deafening silence in the house, their  arrival from their retreat was a welcome respite ...The eldest came home with her pasalubong of Buco pie and special Espesol... the youngest one with his none stop chatters.. and lots of laundry.. and unexpected bruised knees .. but then,  I guess my kids, as the rest of the campers, had come home renewed... refreshed physically and spiritually... geared up for the year ahead.

(Special thanks to #Fairviewbaptistacademy teachers and staff for a memorable camp)