Been doing this on my IG and FB. Personal photos with Bible verses using InstaMark App custom feature.

The long wait is finally over, it was so near yet so far... 

I am talking about dining at P.F. Chang's Chinese Bistro located in our neighboring mall Alabang Town Center. Read great review about it from my fave blogger, Patty, and hubby was also raving about it when he once dine there together with some clients. Also, let us not forget that it was actually mentioned in one of the episode of comedy TV Series Big Bang Theory.

A photo beside the horsey...tigidig, tigidig

But enough about the waiting, actually the night was a bit special compared to our usual Friday dining. It was afterall the 28th of Feb, so it was our last hurrah for hubby's birthday month...and just the day before that, we got the official letter from hubby's office that he got promoted!!!

Double celebration for God's double portion. The timing is impeccable -- to receive the news a few days after his birthday and coming back from our Boracay trip. But looking back in 2009 a few months before our wedding day, in the same company at around the same time of the year, my-then-fiance actually got laid off due to recession that year. He also got the news few days after his birthday and we were actually very sad at that time as we were in the middle of our wedding planning. Despite that we held on and kept saying "by faith" things would be better.

In 2011, he returned to the company after recovering from the recession and now five years after that incident we received this great news. It is only God who can truly turn things around only if you trust Him and obey His will. So to God be the glory, honor and praise... Thank you, Father!

Again, happy birthday to my dearest husband and congrats! It is chow time...

The serving size of the meal is good for sharing between two people and ranges from Php 300-500 per dish. We ordered brown rice together with Crispy Honey Chicken and Shrimp with Lobster Sauce and it was deli-C-I-O-U-S. For full menu and branches, check out P.F. Chang's official website.

Our congregation just finished our 5-day prayer and fasting. It is not an obligatory act but encouraged to re-align ourselves at the start of the year to seek God's will in our lives. Now, before you raise your eyebrows in the idea of fasting, you may be interested to read through the practical guide and also the devotionals here.

"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD

will do amazing things among you."

Joshua 3:5

First off, let me clarify that I am not sharing this to you to receive attention towards me surviving the week but on the contrary, the experience is actually the most humbling act I have done so far -- to fully rely on God for my daily energy in every moment of each day. 

I was introduced to the spiritual discipline of fasting in 2011 in VCF. Even back then, it made a lot of sense but  I wasn't mature enough in my Christian walk to be part of it. Since then a seed was planted in my heart to come to that point, every year I would pray to God for me to be able to partake in it and finally this year, I did.

It wasn't just skipping meals for me: it was my personal battle. As I shared to you in past posts, I don't have any vices nor did I tried those even when I was young, wild and "free". But food...it was my road block -- finding comfort in it during my emotional highs and lows. Getting immediate gratification every time I indulge in my favorite sweets. Simply put, it was the idol in my life. Idolatry is putting something else before God. 

But as early as last month I already wrote down my number one Faith Goal for 2014 which is Divine Health. For the passed few years, I am chained to sub-clinical hypothyroidism which led me to gaining weight exponentially. It hindered me to live my life to the full. 

I humbly asked the Lord during this time for breakthrough and I am expectant! Ready to fight and even before this year ends, I will claim that my prayer requests had come to passed. But please, do not be misled that the Lord will answer my prayer because I fasted. Definitely not by my own works or anything else I did, could and would do. But it is according to His grace and for He is faithful in His promises.

I pray that you who are reading this will experience an encounter with the Lord this year through the guidance of the Holy Spirit bringing you to a point of thanks giving. In Jesus name, Amen.

Started reading 21-Day Devotional Plan "Made To Crave"

Attended Day 5 Prayer Meeting at Victory Alabang

Right after we broke our fast, I redeemed my Starbucks 2014 Planner. Just in time for me to write down the rest of my faith goals and armed myself to note down my breakthroughs for this year.

I will be lying if I tell you that I do not like the rain, raining while at home that is... honestly, it is my favorite weather. I can recall that I actually wrote a poem for our English class in high school as the rain being my subject. I could hear the line from 90s grunge band Garbage in my head -- 'I'm only happy when it rains'. 

The sounds -- the dripping of each rain drop, the quietness around, it brings me comfort and solace.

Well, the flood and traffic during the heavy rains... that is totally a different matter. I pray for everyone's safety those who are directly affected by this typhoon.

Isaiah 55:10

New International Version (NIV)

10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

I have decided that starting this Sunday, I would set apart a weekly post in some of my intimate thoughts in my life. A break from all the product, places and service features. It is thinking aloud to the concerns of a woman my age. So here goes...

At this lifestage, the most question I oftenly get these days is -- Kailan kayo mag-aanak (When are you planning to have kids)? A few years back it used to be kailan kayo magpapakasal (When are you getting married)? And being in a Christian community, we oftenly get encouraging words like "Just pray for it and God will hear your prayers".

Image From IllustrationsOf.com

Errr, that is the thing... At this point we never really asked it in prayers just yet. Although, Hubby and I have been together for a dozen years, it is only when we got married that we get to enjoy the TOTAL freedom of being in a relationship with each other so up to now that we are nearing our 4th Wedding Anniversary we are savoring being together: just the two of us. 

Financially, we are not ready to have a kid but I know the Lord will provide for our needs. Once in awhile, my ovaries would ache to have my own baby and at times I get a little bit sad when I have my period. But funny thing, I would report to hubby that indi ka pa daddy =( and he would respond "Yey!" for real. See, we are just a couple of rascals at home so can you imagine us having kids?

But seriously, I grew up in a business-oriented family so needless to say I am not domisticated at all which in effect I am career-driven.  My basic cleaning and cooking skills are beareable to adults only. So taking care for a tiny human being would be a great challenge. Don't let me forget to mention that I am also totally out of shape and having a thyroid issue has not been easy for me to get back into normal weight. But I do not doubt for my capacity to love my own child but realistically speaking the daily grind of motherhood is really out of my comfort zone. I've always been ready to be a wife but to be a mom, I am afraid to say, not so much.

At this moment, I am just asking the Lord for guidance and if it is His will for us to bear for the next Ramos-Yap generation, for Him to give me the promptings to pray for it and the strength to endure the challenge of parenthood.

Hubby's wallet had already worn out after two years of daily usage so one day he came home with a new one. I actually chuckled because it looks almost the same as the old one. It was a McJim Classic Leather Wallet.

Available at Robinson's Department Store

So while he was transferring all the contents from the old wallet, I picked out the $1,000 play money that came with the new wallet and to my (pleasant) surprise, I found these bible verses printed at the back.

Now, that's what I call the wallet that could save your life. It comes with bible verses that leads you to salvation by accepting Christ Jesus!

Image from their website: www.skitguys.com

You know I enjoy watching Tom and Eddie on their take on Christian living through their funny videos and at times drama ones. The Skinny-On series shows how different personalities including believers themselves perceive beliefs individually.

Skinny on Prayer



Skinny on Tithing




Skinny on Worship



Find more of the Skinny-on videos here: http://skitguys.com/videos/theme/skinny-on

Two years ago, God blessed us with Victor, a second hand Mitsubishi Lancer model 1996. It was our first conjugal car and we were thrilled to have it since it was a great testimony how the Lord has provided for financial provisions. But earlier this year, Hubby started to have promptings to pray for a brand new car. So individually we prayed upon it then as a couple then ultimately leading to surrendering it all up to the plans of the Lord in the Worship Night we have attended at our new home church, Victory Alabang.

To be honest, it wasn't a desire of the flesh to have one, I personally didn't experience sleepless nights over it although I did a few searches for possible options. The only thing that I felt all through out this experience is that He is bringing us to another level of maturity individually and as a couple in terms of decision making and trusting His plans. It also felt like He is preparing for the tools that we will be needing for a 'bigger assignment' and a brand new car would help us to do so. We didn't really need one but His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His will be done over our life. As His blessing unfolds, we were just right there at the front row seat in full of awe with the Lord's goodness..

Just like the first one, He brought the right people at the right time for us to have a smooth transition. We were able to sell Victor to another couple then one week later we brought home Jarvis. 

It is not about the blessing but ALL ABOUT THE BLESSOR!

Chevrolet Spark 2013
at Freedom Park Aguinaldo Shrine
Kawit Cavite

I had no plans whatsoever to get a Starbucks Planner 2013, I haven't availed it for the passed 2 years. But I was  holding a promotional card which I got a while back when we had coffee with Bestie.

It was Jan 21 when my new manager treated us, the new team joiners, for some coffee in Starbucks Valero to officially welcome us to the team. Apparently, it was also the last day to get the card filled up and Starbucks was giving away two stickers for each cup. No one other myself had a card in our bunch so all of a sudden the 4 LONELY stickers on my card met the rest of their sticker posse making me qualified to redeem the 2013 planner! How about that huh?!

Later I learned nagkakaubusan pala ng black planner, mostly what was left was the white one na feeling ko dumihin so ayoko nun. There is also a green version. But a little bird told me that Starbucks E-Com Bldg in MOA still have the black leather one. So off we went there yesterday, just a quick stop, before we went home to Kawit Cavite for this month's visit. As I pray and reflect on what happened, I was sensing that God wanted me to have this planner for He will be filling up this year with activities He prepared for me. He wanted me to jot down notes on planning that I may remember how He unveils all things in its proper time.

That my lovelies, is just grace -- that I didn't have to rely on my efforts and allow God, my Father, to sent forth His blessing to me His beloved daughter at the right moment. I used to be one of those people who made-out-of-the-way efforts just to get what I wanted. I would however ended up hurt, disappointed and frustrated whenever I fall short from my own expectations and the high standards I put up for myself.

Of course, I have nothing against Starbucks especially this year when I got a hold of the planner (My precioussss... Just kidding) - it was well-crafted compared to some of the earlier ones that I tried. But to some the SB planner becomes their idol. You know, when all things and money started revolving into getting the coveted planner kahit di naman talaga nila afford. Hoping to find some kind of self worth in it, aminin nyo na kasi I used to be like that (guilty as charged). It is a status symbol, di ba? Having to spend ALL that kind of money for a planner. Sadly, that is idolatry: when we live for something other than Jesus (- Pastor Mark of Mars Hill Church).

There are a lot of things in this world that becomes our idol and my prayer is that by God's grace, we will let go of it as we focus more on having a relationship with Him instead of building relationship with earthly things. I thank God for the people He used to blessed me with this planner and how sweet He is as a father na despite His 'busyness' -- na naisip nya pa kong bigyan nito.

Psalms 8:4 "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"

Today, Jase and I celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary but more than that, this day also marks the 15 years that we have been together. Our relationship began as highschool sweetheart in 1997 then a dozen years after we got married in a simple but intimate ceremony in 2009. Today we can literally say that we have spent half of our lives together here on earth.

So how can one put into words those years...I simply can't. I can only say "Thank you Lord for being the center and third strand in our relationship. By your grace, you have allowed our love to grow towards each other. May Your Name be glorified through the testimony of our relationship."

To you my husband, I love you.

12 Years featured in our wedding souvenir

First 3 Years as Married Couple

Today is my mom's birthday -- it should have been her 60th year. She already passed away seven years ago due to a kidney disease. As a Christian, we don't pray or talk to our dead love ones. We believe that by accepting Christ as their Savior while they were still alive, we could be confident that they are already in heaven with our Creator. 

So today I just want to remember the life my mom lived. She was a devoted wife and a mother to a thriving middle class family. Her best asset was being showy and affectionate and in work she is very industrious: she started out selling 'talbos ng kakong', tindera sa palengke ng candy store, cashier at Rustan's (where she met my Tatay Tony) and so many others before eventually God blessed us when they ventured into different businesses.

Kabog aketch --- Reyna Elena si Galoria!

When my Nanay was still alive, my insecure teenage self would always whine to her about how I didn't get most of her genes! I mean the flawless skin (she never got a single pimple ever in her life) and even at her age she was a looker. I don't have a close up picture of her here in the apartment but she was a Rio Diaz look alike. Rio Diaz was a former beauty queen, TV host, an actress and sister to Ms. Universe 1969, Gloria Diaz. Ms. Rio already passed away in October 2004 while Nanay went to heaven January 2005. 

Well, if there is one thing I regret though is I was really a pasaway daughter. She got the best of my bratinella days. But nevertheless, I cherish her and will always be thankful to God that He allowed me to be with her for a time.

Most of us get drown from all the busyness during the holiday season often guilty of neglecting of taking time to pause and reflect that all the celebration really is about one person alone -- the birth of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

So gather up your family to a quick viewing of this video from my home church and start the ball rolling for making Christmas traditions in your own home. Here is Pastor Paolo and wife Jenn Punzalan.

 

From our household to yours, have a blessed and meaningful Christmas celebration! If you have any prayer request or even feeling melancholy during this season, feel free to comment below to share it with us or email me at sasayap.online@gmail.com. Rest assured we will partner with you in prayer.

More videos from Victory Fort Christmas Traditions Page.

If you follow me in instagram, you probably noticed I am kinda fancying the Samsung Smartphone WB150F.

But as said in the Bible, we should do all things to glorify God. So I am still praying on it if I should buy one. And if He answers YES, ask God for financial provisions. Ganun naman talaga si Lord ibebless nya tayo according to His will so don't be afraid to ask through prayer.

So while waiting upon the Lord, here is a hilarious video from the young and pretty internet sensation Petra Mahalimuyak. I recently learned about her YouTube channel. I like this video and to my surprise she was using the Samsung WB150F. LOL!

Who is Petra and why does she talk like that? Watch this 24 Oras interview of Ashley Rivera.

Mentions: Ashley Rivera YouTube Channel | Samsung Philippines Smart Camera WB150F

Description from SkitGuys.Com: Admit it, you’ve given some terrible gifts. There’s someone who has never given a bad gift, though…God! For Christmas, however, He gave us something no one could’ve imagined. This video by Dan Stevers illustrates the miracle of Christmas in a fun and poignant way.

Christmas day is just around the corner and we at Victory Fort invite you to join our spiritual family to celebrate this season in remembering the birth of our Savior and King - Jesus! See you in the following special services.

Christmas Greetings from Victory Fort Staff

They're so cute in this video!

Location Map of Victory Fort - Bonifacio Global City Taguig

In Front of Market Market and STI College

Blue Glass Building with Fountain and "Every Nation" name at the front

Mentions: Victory Christian Fellowship - The Fort

We were homebound to Cavite yesterday but DIL/MIL had activities of their own so we decided to pay a visit one of our good friends from our old church first before having dinner at our crib. Meet the De Leon Family!

Hubby&I with Erwin, Choi, Heart and Jen

Actually we kinda lost touch from each other for the last couple of years so we have been trying to track them down for quite awhile now due to their change of address. So finally praise God for His perfect timing, the unplanned visit served as our mini reunion. We are happy to know that the family is doing well and the Lord has blessed them. Erwin wanted to treat Jen to an island trip and asked if they could join us next year... Of course! So looking forward to travel with them already. Prayers and ipon na guys.

Here's a throwback photo of us in 2009 during Jase's birthday celebration. His last birthday as a single man... see my mischievous smile at the back hahaha. Also, in the photo is my BFF. See the kids have grown and our body sizes as well but the good thing is the friendship remains through times.

Hometown Video Fact

Allow me to indulge a little on this post as I celebrate one more year here on earth. Thank you my Lord for the life you have given me. And thank you my dear for making it so intimate and special. I appreciate you always.

At the Ace Hotel & Suites Facade

Printed Halter from Marmalade Market Market

Cobalt & Lace

Suelas Flats - Corte Tan

I love this candid photo of me by hubby as I eat on my pistachio ice cream at Ace Cafe Lounge. I kinda look like a little girl here but as I grew older and hopefully into maturity, I ask the Lord to continue to give me a childlike heart that is dependent on His grace.

You do know how to make me feel like a celebrant my love!

Thanks much Beb for the element of surprise