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!

Day 9: Just Enough!

Today, as I was paying off bills, I was worried that I won't have enough to tide us over 'til the next payday. Payday doesn't happen until the second week of June. I know, so far. May is always a bad month for us financially - there's tuition, supplies, etc on top of the usual expenses.

But as I paid for the last obligation, I realized I had more than enough left for our everyday expenses.

Once again, today, I am thankful because God never fails to provide for what we need. Our bills paid in full... Thankful!

Day 8: Swimming Lessons

My mom woke us up early today. Too early, if you ask me, hehe. But she called to say the driver was on his way to pick the little boy (and his nanny) up. It turns out, she enrolled him again - this time for a 10-day swim course at the village pool.

RL is the only one who can't swim (if you don't count R), so swimming lessons made it to our priority summer bucket list. 

And just like that, mom made it possible.

Thanks, Mom! Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with a wonderful mom. 

Day 7: Human Stuff!

My daughter A had her Showcase last Sunday. Like RL, my mom had her take a class with Trumpets for the summer (on top of Volleyball classes).

Her teachers picked her to play Scuttle as they were doing The Little Mermaid (the Disney Broadway Musical). I had no idea my daughter could sing so well! To my knowledge, she could memorize lyrics, but to carry out a tune? Think do-re-mi in monotone, Lol! Just kidding!

I have a video of her singing "Human Stuff" on my Facebook page.

Seriously, we were all surprised! She even had a solo - Human Stuff (the script was cut short to one and a half hours for the showcase). 

I can't tell you exactly how proud I felt! There was my daughter on stage - singing so well! On top of that, she made my parents (my mom most especially) soooo proud!

Thank You, Lord, for talent. What a blessing!

Day 6: Meeting Nick Vujicic!

Ever since I watched his videos on Youtube (plus his guest appearances on TV), I've always wanted to meet Nick Vujicic. I guess I can consider myself extra blessed since my aunt produced his Philippine tour, and meeting him was a high possibility.

Anyway, I didn't think to ask my aunt until yesterday during the event at the Big Dome. There we were at backstage and she tells me she's going to ask me to take her photo with Nick! And just like that, I was there in the room with Nick - taking my aunt's photos - not exactly meeting him, but wow!

But then, she introduces me, asks Nick if I can get a photo with him, and calls me over!

Aunt B, Nick Vujicic (yes, in a barong!) and me! #toohappy!

I love my aunt B, she is a blessing - not only to me, but to countless others. Thank you for the opportunity!

With my Aunt and Godmother (twice over), B! 

I am blessed!

Day 5: Goosical!

Today, my little boy finished his Trumpets class with a showcase - Goosical. It is actually his first time with Trumpets, but he did pretty well!

RL plays Robin Red Breast. His costume was made by Regine Tolentino.

The girls have always been Trumpets babies. It was actually KY and my mom who decided to let Riley try out for this summer's Playshop. And my little boy surprised us that he indeed could be on stage!

Today, I am thankful God gave me a mom who loves me unconditionally - who cares for my kids (and gives them opportunities such as this). God knows how much heartache I've caused her (and my dad), and yet they choose to love me (and my family) regardless.

Thankful. Blessed. Loved.

Day 4: Simple Joy

I've been thinking about having balut for about two weeks now. Maybe more. Ever since watching the first few epis of Survivor: Caramoan, where they snack on balut for a challenge, this native delicacy has been on my mind.

So for the past two weeks, I've been watching out for Manong, the balut vendor. But I never seem to catch him.

Tonight though, as I got out of the car, there he was - right in front of our courtyard gate! 

So I finally had a balut tonight. Yay!

I am definitely thankful - even with the smallest of things. And you? What made your day today?

Day 3: Dinner Ticket!

I actually woke up to stress today. I am skipping details because I don't think it is worthy of this blog. Anyway...

Mid-afternoon, I got called up to my aunt's office. I was actually feeling a tad sad because of this morning's events, so I wasn't expecting much. Maybe this was a dash of salt to already-painful wounds. 

Turns out, she just wanted to hand me dinner tickets to a special Nick Vujicic event! Yes! I wasn't expecting a seat for this, maybe just a role with our selling team. But God wanted me to know I was His child, and that in spite of trials, I am still blessed.

Yay! I got a golden ticket! 

Thank you, Auntie B, this is a big blessing, and it definitely made my day!

You know how God can turn circumstances around in an instant? Well, He broke through for me today! Blessed!

Day 2: Mogu-Mogu!

Since my daughter A mentioned that my youngest brother, KA, gave her a big bottle of Mogu-Mogu once, I've been on the lookout for one. See, this is A's favorite drink. But so far, I've only seen the small bottles. A says my brother got the big bottles from Shoppersville, but so far, three separate visits to the Katipunan grocery has proven futile.

Today, after his meeting with our finance director, Boss S comes into my room and tells me to pick a bottle from a bag he was carrying. Mogu-Mogu! The BIG bottles!

Turns out, he went to school with the local distributor, and today, the distributor met with Boss S and the finance director. So A, after 10,000 years, here's your big bottle of Mogu-Mogu Strawberry!

Mogu-Mogu!

Thank you, Boss! 

The small things still count. What small blessing are you thankful for?

Day1: Post-Mother's Day Lunch!

We usually do lunch on Sundays. But because it was Mother's Day yesterday, my folks decided to move lunch to Monday (to avoid the crowd). Thank goodness for holidays!

And thank you, Lord, for blessing us with this delish bounty from Passion! 

What a spread! Thankful for family! And an extra day off work. That, plus peaceful elections. 

What are you thankful for today?

Day 41: Thank You, Pot!

My office BFF JPot went to Davao on official business. Davao is love. Haha, if you don't know why, you should be reading my other blog (or wait, did I hide those posts?), LOL!

Anyway, because she read about that Starbucks mug my brother got in Cebu, look at what she had for me when she came back!

Starbucks Mug #2: Thanks, JPot!

Plus, she gave me a box of fruits! Mangosteen is by far, my favorite fruit! Hehehe.

That Davao Pomelo was soooo juicy, RL ate up half of it!

Thankful for friends who think of you even when they're away! Thank you for blessing me, Pot!

Day 40: Movie!

The kids and I haven't watched a movie in ages! We used to go on "Rockwell Sundays" with the 'rents but since I started volunteering for Kids' Church, I had to shelve it. Priorities, I guess. But also mostly because we now attend the 10am/2pm service (to avoid traffic) so having lunch and a movie becomes out of the question.

So when my mom asked us to watch with them, my kids were thrilled. We make it a point to watch the cartoons with them, because RL loves watching movies with my brothers - that and because my dad makes it a point to get him his own big bag of Cheetos. LOL!

We watched Hotel Transylvania. For free.

Yaya J kept laughing throughout this movie!
Think she enjoyed this one more than my little boy. Hehe.

Hehehe. Thanks, Mom! And Dad (for the Cheetos!).

Have you gone on a movie date lately? What was the last movie you watched with your folks?

Day 39: "Your Majesty..."

"..And honorable guests..." Oh yes, guess who got to watch "The King and I" for free? Haha, ok, not exactly free, because I'm sure my mom spent good money on our tickets but yep, she got A and I tickets to go watch with them. What a blessing!

Your Majesty, I beg to put before you, Wicked Simon of Legree!

I love theatre so this was a great blessing. "The King and I" holds a special place in my heart because we performed Uncle Tom's Cabin for International Week back in Middle School. We had won a competition and went on to perform this several times after. Yes, that portion from "The King and I" where Tuptim narrates the story in front of the king and his foreign guests. My daughter has yet to catch the theatre bug, but she loved this better than "The Sound of Music". Added bonus was seeing Sheila Valderrama after the show and getting a fan girl photo with her. She played Anna that day and was dazzling!

KY and I with Sheila Valderrama.

The King and I is currently being staged at the Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. For more info, please visit the RWM Website here.

Received any blessings from your parents lately? I love how this was a reminder that they still constantly think of me!

Day 38: An Extra Day!

My office mate ordered a NappyCake for Chef Bruce, whose wife had given birth to their second son. I had been busy those days with work and the S&R Sale (hehe) that I couldn't find time to finish this cake on time. That plus, she had tasked me to put together a gift basket of ge-lai stuff. But God is good and He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I was given an extra day to finish the cake!

Excuse the mess! Hehe, I have a toddler in the house!

I realize I posted this photo on a previous entry, but this cake is the one I made for Chef Bruce, so I'm posting again. Hehe.

What does extra time mean to you? For me, it is a precious blessing! I need more than 24-hours in a day!