Day 16 McSpicy is Here!

Whaddyaknow? I won another contest! This time with McDonald's! They had announced winners almost a month ago, when they first launched the McSpicy. It's been a while since they were in touch so I totally forgot about winning in their Twitter contest.

These came today! Yay! McSpicy mini-party for my mini family!

5 McSpicy BOG cards! Yay!

Love ko 'to! Thank you, McDonald's!

Day 15: Tumatalon-talon sa Super Saya!

It started with this post! My good friend (and cousin!) Thammie Sy wrote about a Nido Supermom supplement where she contributes as writer. I haven't been getting Smart Parenting since I moved out of SYSU Marketing, so I thought to buy one when we went to the bookstore to buy A's school supplies. The Nido Supermom supplement comes with a password that actually gives you a chance to win an iPad Mini!

That was over a month ago.

Today, while working on permits, I received this.

Oh. My. Gulay!!!

I can't believe it! An iPad Mini! For FREE!

Lord, You are the sweetest love of all! 

Day 14: He More Than Provides!

I've been feeling down the past couple of weeks. 

Why? Well, you know how some people live from paycheck to paycheck? Well, I've been living the same way recently. Only because my life is currently full of unexpected expenses. Thankfully, not emergency cases, but still, unexpected.

So last Friday, I was telling my friends at the office how stressed I was that the 25th was still a weekend and a day away. It has reached a point where I will choose to just stay home because I would rather save the last few pesos in my bank account over spending it.

Expenses. Bills. And then there's that tuition payment up next month.

Then I remember Pastor Dennis' message in church about two Sundays ago. He said something in the gist of "When you are in need of something, why tell your friends? Tell God!" So I shook off my worry and spent my weekend in faith.

I was actually thinking of sitting out the second service at church (I volunteer for two services during 4th week Children's Church) because I didn't want to spend for lunch (we get a 2-hour break in between services). But then my folks invited us for KY's despidida lunch at Sambokojin so I got to do two services! Yay!

Monday night, the nanny hands me two envelopes from Meralco. She says in a worried tone, "hala, disconnection notice!" I look at her and quickly refuted, "Of course not, I always pay ahead of time!"

I opened the first envelope and read that I was getting credit for my good payer status and my bill deposit (which apparently earned interest over the years). I opened the second envelope and found this:

Zero!

God gives the sweetest surprises! You take care of His business, He is faithful to take care of yours! Unexpected expenses and yet with my awesome, Heavenly Father, you can expect the "good kind" of unexpected.

Thank You, Lord!

Day 13: Raincoat!

Last Saturday, after our pre-Father's Day brunch at Solaire, the kids and I spent a good hour looking for a Spider-Man raincoat to match RL's backpack and lunchbag. The little boy is into Spider-Man nowadays, for reasons unknown to anyone in the house. One summer day, he came up to me pretending to shoot web from his folded hands, declared me his captive, and that was that - the start of an obsession.  I don't even remember introducing him to Spider-Man. Nope, I don't think he even caught any of the movies. So how? I have no idea.

But anyway, so we spent that good hour looking, to no avail. In fact, Sunday evening, I told RL he was bringing his old Mickey Mouse and Friends windbreaker to school - an expensive one we got two years ago at Disneyland. And although he still adores Mickey, he resolved he was getting a Spider-Man raincoat, and asked me to include it in our bedtime prayer.

Fast track to Tuesday at the office, my graphic artist and ever-helpful assistant G asked me if RL needed a raincoat. He tells me his son has two that were too small for him, and that they were new and from the US. He then proceeds to let me know that one had Mickey on it, and the other one was a superhero - Batman, he thinks. I asked if he wanted to sell me one, but he says he's giving it to RL.

I didn't think much about it and thought RL would probably settle for Batman. And maybe I can have him watch some of the early (and brighter) Batman movies, just so he'd develop a liking for the character. So yesterday, when I got to the office, G tells me he has the raincoat. I went to his work area, and surprise! Surprise! The superhero character turned out to be Spider-Man!

Yay, Spider-Man! Amazing power of prayer and child-like faith!

RL was ecstatic when I showed him yesterday! "Jesus answered our prayer!", he declared!

Yes, baby, He sure did!

Thank you, G! And thank You, Lord, for answering my little boy's prayer!

Day 12: Vietnam!

No, I am not going to Vietnam! LOL!

My dad came home from a week-long Vietnam trip with his eldest sister, and brought home a Starbucks Vietnam tumbler for me (I collect tumblers for overseas locations and mugs for local ones). Actually, KY asked him to get it, and he actually thought he was getting it for her - he prolly wouldn't have bought it if he knew he was getting it for me. LOL!

Yes! My Starbucks Vietnam Tumbler!

But yes, he gave me the tumbler, complete with the receipt and credit card slip - just so I know he spent for me. Haha! My dad's such a comic. And I love him!

Thank you, Dad, for the new addition to my collection! And thank you, KY, for telling him.

Gifts are L-O-V-E!

Day 11: Unexpected Gift!

Right before church last Sunday, we bumped into our pastor and friend (I shall not name him here for privacy reasons). He asked if we were attending the 2pm service (we were actually late since RL wanted some grub, and we took a detour to Jollibee). Because we had to enter the center, he asked me to look for him after church service.

I wondered why he needed to talk to me. I wondered if he had heard that I stepped down as CC Coordinator (I did, but N took over, she is way better than me!). So after church, I made a beeline to the church office, only to find out they were in a meeting. 

So I waited.

After a few minutes, he steps out, and I asked if he still needed to have a word with me. 

It turns out he wanted to give us a gift! This gift is nothing small, I tell you. It is a big blessing.

Thank you for thinking of us! May God bless you back a hundredfold!

Day 10 and an update!

I've been MIA, I know. We had events the past week - events that I am very thankful for. Plus! It was my birthday last Thursday!

So today, I shall post a thank you for all that has happened the past week.

Lord, thank you for another year! You have been faithful, and I cannot thank You enough! Has it been x years already? I think back to yesterday and it feels just like so - yesterday. But through the years, my Father has been the same - awesome, magnificent, strong. 

We were granted a merchandise booth at this year's IGNITE. An unexpected event, but we are most thankful! God used the right people to grant us this opportunity, and it was timely, as we had just launched our new baby - Worship Generation. Since we were late participants, we couldn't sell our shirts (competing products, etc), but God's favor was with us. By Thursday night, we received a text message giving us the go-ahead to start selling our tees! 

I praise God for this opportunity! We have been praying for restoration for the past month. I am thankful. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday gift! What an answer to prayer!

I had an extra blessed birthday! Happy birthday to me!