Day 10: Deal Closed!

I've been waiting to close this deal with a foreign principal for the longest time... two whole years, to be exact.

Today, after a 15-minute long distance call, I heard the sweetest words: "We're good to go!"

Praise God!

Yesterday, today... And who knows what else is in store tomorrow? Closed deals, sealed contracts, BREAKTHROUGH!

I cannot be more thankful than I am today! THANK YOU, LORD! You are faithful and forever good!

Day 9: Approval!

Dear Lord, thank You! After 10,000 years, we finally got the go ahead from our principal! I think I was happiest after that Skype meeting today.

Yay! Received the best news for work today! I am soooo happy!

Truly, Your plans are not to forsake us, but to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Thank You, Lord! Have YOU been waiting for approval? To close deals? I pray for breakthrough!

Day 8: Blessed Hump Day!

I normally do not look forward to Wednesdays. See, my car is coded on hump days. And the wait to get out of the office just takes its toll, especially when the office gets deserted at exactly 6pm.

Over lunch yesterday, I was already thinking about what to write on this blog. It was M's post-birthday celebration so we all had free lunch yesterday. So midway through the day, I was already thankful.

FREE Chooks to Go for lunch! Thank you, M!

But you know how God pours out His blessings literally? Especially when you acknowledge all He has given and count it all joy? I had to rush to Taguig to attend a launch. And I not only got to take home a rice cooker, I also won P2000 worth of Gift Certificates from Rustan's! (The extra bonus is... I get to use these at Shopwise!)

P2000-worth of groceries! Yay!

Isn't God great! He takes care of you and gives you extras, too. What about you? What extra blessings have you received lately? Count it all joy! 

Day 7: Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Today is my mom's birthday! I am most thankful that God healed my relationship with my mom. Now that I am older and wiser, I appreciate all that she has done for me. I know she only cares for me and wishes the best for me.

Happy Birthday, Mommy! I love you! 

At Anvaya, circa 2010, with RL.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with a great mom! 

In other news, my lunch today was FREE, thanks to the Big N' Tasty BOG Card from McDonald's. I smothered it with Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce (only because I love Tabasco with my burgers) and finished my lunch in less than 10 minutes. Soooo good. If only the Big N' Tasty were to stay at McDonald's forever.

Celebrating true greatness with a Big N' Tasty! NOM!

Thank you, McDonald's!

Day 6: Great Friends!

This is a late post, since I was too tired when we got home last night. 

Yesterday, my kids got to spend time with Tito E, Tita A and their little girl C. RL was too excited to be spending the day with C.

We got to go around Trinoma, helped them run errands (buy last minute Filipino groceries for their trip back to Okinawa), and took them to Tiendesitas for dinner. Tito E wanted fishballs and squidballs, and I wasn't so sure there was a stall selling that in Tiendesitas. Alas, he found one right smack in the middle and had two large plates for dinner! Buti nalang!

Manong E with his squidballs and fishballs! LOL!

Good friends are hard to find, so it is a big (and rare!) blessing to find ones that stay for the journey. I am thankful to have found great friends in the Monteros. Tita A and I have known each other for the past 7 years, I think. It's nice to see our kids getting along so well.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with great family friends!

Day 5: Ironman and Thor!

I am blessed to have brothers who dote on my kids. Today, my brother KM took A down to Nuvali in Sta. Rosa to bike. A recently learned how to ride a two-wheeler, and just loves going around with my brother, his fiancee C, and C's nephew, E.

Happy biker!

Meanwhile, my little brother KA went to an arcade and won RL a small Ironman plush. He went to that arcade at Summit Ridge in Tagaytay, just so he could win something for RL.

With Ironman and Thor! Rawr! LOL!

We later went back and won another Thor Plush from the Claw Machine.

I am blessed to have two brothers who love and care for my family.

What are you thankful for today?

Day 4: Family Vacay

Dear Lord, today I am thankful that I have generous parents who constantly think about me and my little family, AND who continue to include us in their plans for vacations. Today, the kids and I joined my folks and sibs on an out of town trip for the weekend. Recently, we were told that the kids and I get to join them again this Christmas on a family holiday out of the country.

I love Vacations! Especially the sponsored ones. LOL!

What an early Christmas present!

GOD IS GOOD! Thank You, Lord! Did you ever get to go on a FREE vacation? Tell me about it!

Day 3: Extra Time!

Many of us are quick to count material blessings, but fail to see the other things that come in disguise.

My little boy RL has been fretting about spending more time with his friend, C - daughter of our family friends A & E. We're headed out of town tomorrow with my folks, so RL doesn't have the weekend to play with C. They're here only until Thursday, as they head back to Okinawa (where E is based as a US Navy nurse), and then eventually, back to the US. So this might quite be their last trip back to the Philippines until who-knows-when.

RL & C - best friends across the miles.

We went out for dinner last night and had discussed tentative plans for next week (so much to do, so little time). Needless to say, RL was sad he won't get to play with C over the long weekend.

But wait! God knows the desires of our hearts! He knows the desire of RL's heart! Just a few minutes ago, I got a text to let me know that we will only be out 'til Sunday, since the hotel couldn't confirm our booking for Sunday night. Yay! That means, we will be back to spend time with our friends on Monday! And the whole day, too, since I won't have work!

God knows. Aren't you thankful that He does? 

"We know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love him." Romans 8:28 NCV

Day 2: Adjustment!

Got a call from our Finance Director earlier today. Apparently, she forgot to credit two paydays-worth of adjustments, amounting to approximately P8,000++! I know that's loose change to some, but for a single, self-supporting mom like me, that's still big money! Never mind the fact that it's still really my money. The point is: I got it back! Over not getting it credited ever.

Just when I was thinking about how our budget has come up short this month, God has a quick solution!

Thank You, Lord! You are ALWAYS on time!

Argh! Back to Day 1!

The long weekend allowed me to reflect on life, and thus, has made me realize that because life is short, we must muster much effort to seize each day. So here's to new resolve to get this blog going.

Lord, I pray that I will put you first each day, and start it with You. I also pray that I will find time to count my blessings each and every single day. You have blessed me so, and I want the whole world to know that even the smallest of things add up to great joy.

I was actually waiting for this to jumpstart this blog anew. And it came today, so yes, happy birthday to this blog. I hope this journey takes us somewhere this time around.

DAY 1: BIG SURPRISE!

Back in June, I had joined McDonald's Big N' Tasty Blogger Giveaway with this post. A week later, I found out that I, along with two others, had won. Was told the prize was a camera but that they were waiting to procure it. Last week, I received notification that the cameras were already in stock and that they were shipping it out to us.

Today, I received this! The NEW! Samsung WB150F - a wifi camera that would help me photoblog easily! Yay!

Wifi-ready camera, makes blogging easier!

Thank you, McDonald's! And thank you, Lord!

Don't you just love surprises?! How did God surprise you today?