Saturday, December 29, 2012

Through It All 2013

 Few more days and we will turn our calendar to another year!

The year 2012 brought us so many things to remember. Things happened that caught us unaware, good or bad. I had triumphs in my personal walk with God as well as with my family and church. Our church is experiencing revival and spiritual growth. Although there are struggles, we have seen things happen that perhaps shouldn't have happened and we have no control for any of this. Because without a struggle, there can be no progress. Nevertheless, God has been so good, all things work together for good to those that love Him. Victories outweighs it all for those who trust Him! God is so good!

 Many prayers had been answered and some are still waiting for God's go signal. Last Christmas and New Year, we were able to be with our loved ones in the Philippines, a time to cherished and remembered. A priceless bonding with my precious children! An opportunity for me and hubby to go to Europe for our 20th Anniversary which is memorable and unforgettable. There are more friends added in my life too.

The past years is full of blessings and promises! and I believed there are more to come that are waiting for us. Yes, inspite of ups and downs, God did showed me many beautiful morning sunrises. There are sunset in the sky too, happy and sad days, both brings colour in life and an opportunity to see clearly God's amazing GRACE. I am so excited of what God in stored for us this coming year!


This year my goal is THROUGH IT ALL 2013. Plain and simple. It is a new beginning! 
Whatever this year may bring I pray that I will have more faith, build more trust, to be closer and deeper with my relationship with God, family and people around me. I will keep reminding myself that whatever life brings this year God will carry us through, sustain and supply our needs. A Peacespeaker in times of trouble mind, just as what He is in the past years and always be. I should live each day to the fullest, value each moments, cause life is too short to waste on things that are not useful. I will not keep trying to do things on my own, because it will oftentimes brings frustrations but I will declare and give in into God's will and loving arms to hold me and carry me through and my family to where He wants us to be.

This will also be a year to pick up an old interest, a hobby maybe? a project? :) who knows? God knows :)

So bear with me. This year will be a fruitful year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! May God's abundant blessings, grace and mercy and love will follow us through the years of our lives. God bless!
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone! hope you all had a great Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. I love this day so much :) not only because it's my husband's birthday, but also to remember the One who love us so much and gave His life for us! Jesus, our Emmanuel, the real reason of this season.


Each year, we baked cookies with kids, wrap it with other gifts and gave them away to new families and friends in our church :) Last year, when we were in the Philippines, we gave away goodies to street children on Christmas eve, to spread the love and giving to others.


We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with my niece, Renda and her husband Dennis. We had devotions and enjoyed our noche buena ( Christmas Eve dinner) with delicious meal and desserts. We squeeze every ounce of enjoyment that night. We had board games, fun till midnight and unwrapping gifts, then blowing of cake for my husband.

On Christmas morning, we had a wonderful breakfast and unwrapping gifts for little ones who can't stay up till midnight on Christmas Eve. It's so good to see their faces beamed with joy as they unwrapped their gifts. That is precious! The rest of the day spent with my dear hubby for this special day.





Kids had fun building their gingerbread houses...



...and decorating cookies


Looks nice :)

I baked cookies as well, most of them are new recipes. I think Martha Stewart will be very proud of me lol. All of them tasted so good.

Some of our noche buena meal. We had a big roast turkey!



Board games and fun all night long :)



Unwrapping gifts




more games...

Blowing of cakes. I made that mango cake specially for my hubby! He loves mangoes.





Christmas morning kids unwrap their gifts and stockings.


Eat, fun, eat...


...and the rest of the day spent to the most wonderful dear hubby in the world :)

Hope you all had a wonderful time of this year, just like we did :)
Merry Christmas to all!


From us to yours :)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Christmas Fun

It's Christmas time again! and this time we will be staying home for Christmas :) Two consecutive years we've been away. We went to Australia and Philippines and celebrated christmas and new years with our loved ones which is memorable and precious. It's good to see and spend time with them all!
But this year we are looking forward of spending time with our church family and friends. There is no place like home :)
I haven't decorated that much this year. I want it simple and easy :) We didn't even put up our outdoor lights. Just christmas tree with few gifts underneath and candle centerpieces. We did a little reorganizing in our basement, hubby's office is moved to our family room, so it means that I can't hang all stockings there in our fireplace, so I hang them all in our stairs which I think is not bad at all. Other than that everything are the same. My son gave me beautiful ornaments from his work, so that will add up a festive look.



Our Christmas tree. I go with blue, silver and white this year.









These are all for kids and my daughter add those extra socks down there for our dogs Coco and Jack :) I think we need a longer stairs lol.


Well, reds in our basement :)


and this one is given by a good friend. Aren't they cute?


More of my son's creations :)


So that's all folks :) May our hearts be filled and adorned with God's unconditional Love, the very reason of this season!

Hope you all have a great week!