Category: Family Stuff

Christian, Family, Family Stuff

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Today, I remember my Dad.  As he would’ve turned 85 years old!

Time really heals all wounds.  But I am finding that there will still be times when it hurts really bad because I miss him so much! It hasn’t been a year so it’s still fresh but God’s abundant grace and mercy have been truly my anchor.  Jesus Christ is my rock and my redeemer.  And continues to give me peace and comfort because He is in control.

“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” Job 12.10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.”  John 10.10

I continue to look to Christ as I miss my Dad.  And know He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Christian, Family, Family Stuff

65 Years Strong

Today my parents have been married for 65 years.

Though my Dad passed away 3 months ago, their marriage continues to be alive in our hearts. There is not a day I don’t think of my parents as an example of showing unconditional love to each other.

Their marriage was far from perfect yet filled with so much hope and love which they truly exemplified in their lives.

Marriage is a commitment which pictures God’s grace and mercy.  And they believe in that truth and lived it out.  Thankful to have personally witnessed it in their lives.  Because they followed the original design of marriage, they have been blessed above and beyond!  And their children continue to benefit from their blessings as we personally see it being passed down from generation to generation.

Through good times and bad times, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.  My parents truly showed me and my siblings how our marriage vows should be lived out.

So thankful and blessed to have them in our lives.  Happy 65 years together Mom and Dad!  ❤

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Christian, Family Stuff, Halo Halo, Strength In Difficulties

Unconditional Love

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.”  1 Corinthians 13.4-8

This beautiful couple showed me and my siblings how it looks like to love one another.  Unconditionally.

Today, as we celebrate Valentine’s Day, and knowing what it’s all about, I can’t help but think of my parents who were more than just attracted to each other.  As they grew in their marriage, they learned to go beyond feelings and took the next step of loving each other unconditionally.  They learned how to think of each other and serve one another.  There is no such thing as a perfect marriage as we all get selfish.

But year after year, I witnessed their marriage beautifully blossom.  Especially, sometime after my Dad had a severe stroke. Whereas Dad had always been the provider and leader of the home, now he needed my mom to care for him in every way (big and small).  Man, did my mom step it up.  It was then I personally saw the diamond of God’s love shining in their marriage from a whole new angle.  As they both learned to continue to show unconditional love to each other.

Their new “norm” could’ve broken their marriage.  Instead, it made their marriage stronger and continued to grow for 64 years!  Despite the difficulty of my Dad having to recover from his stroke, my Mom and Dad were a picture of unconditional love between a husband and a wife.   What a beautiful display of God’s love and common grace to all men and women!

In sickness and in health, till death do us part.  They truly lived it.  My hope and prayer is to emulate their example in my marriage.  So blessed and thankful for my parents as I have lived to see what  true romantic Valentines really look like!

 

 

Family Stuff, Halo Halo

Dahil Sa Iyo

My Dad loved to sing.  And I mean he really loooooved to sing!  He would sing to my Mom when he came home from work, he would sing at home, he would sing in the kitchen, in the living room, in our bedrooms, and even outside.  He would even make up a song that didn’t make any sense, but these songs had my dad’s love and warmth written all over them.  And he didn’t care if people would hear and notice him.  He was more concerned that we heard him.

A song I remember that my Dad always sang to my Mom is “Dahil Sa Iyo” translated to English “Because of You.”  A Filipino love song very recognized by most Filipinos.  I still clearly remember growing up that my Dad always cared for my Mom.  One way I remember this is that we would get in so much trouble when we gave my Mom a hard time.  That show “Wait Till Your Father Gets Home” comes to mind  ;-D

And other ways he would show it was by always singing to my Mom, showing affection by hugging her and kissing her, even in front of us!  I remember getting all yucked out about it back then, but loving it so much when I got older.

So, I dedicate this song to my Dad as I know he most likely was ready to sing this song to my Mom this Saturday on Valentine’s Day if he were still alive.  And he would sing it even if it was not Valentine’s Day.  Regardless, we continue to hear him sing this song as we will forever hear and feel it in our hearts.

We love you and miss you so much Dad!  ❤

Family Stuff, Halo Halo

Veteran’s Day

Being in the military is a high calling.  Because it takes a lot of sacrifice and selflessness.

So today we honor all of you who served in the military and THANK YOU for protecting our country!  And honestly, today is just a reminder for us to honor and thank you throughout the year.  I am privileged to have one in our family as my brother served in the U.S. Air Force.

And thank God for all the men and women who continue to serve and protect our United States of America!

Family Stuff

84 years and still going strong!

Today is a special day.  My Dad turned 84!

And he continues to be an inspiration to me and my family.  You see he suffered a major stroke back in February 2003.  And it forever changed his world.  My mom and my whole family.  My Dad is the rock of our family.  He instilled in all of us many lessons including how to work hard, respect others and to be strong no matter what life brings.  And he kept all of us in line and boy do we have lots of stories to tell!  Pretty funny now as we look back  🙂

For me personally, I can still remember the days when I just needed a hug, my Dad was always ready to give me one and even a song to go with it.  Today, I can’t stop giving him a hug whenever I get the chance to see him!

HAPPY 84 years of living a strong, happy, full life Dad!  And we look forward to how God is going to continue to show you His grace and mercy as you choose to live life!

Family Stuff, Fibromyalgia, Halo Halo

My One and Only

PicCollage I am so thankful to slowly but surely be able to get back to my role as a Mom.  I soooo miss it!  Fibro took over for many years and I feel like I missed out on so much. Including being a Mom.

So, as my condition is being reversed and I am getting my quality of life back, I am able to do MORE including Mommy stuff.  I was able to help out my daughter prepare for her prom night and it was so much FUN!

But how in the world did she get to be so much taller than me?  Even without her heels?  She has grown to be such a beautiful young lady.  Am thankful for the opportunity to nurture and raise my little girl who is now taller than me.

Love her to the moon and back!  And even beyond! ❤

Family Stuff, Fibromyalgia

The Shadow of Your Smile

As I was going about my morning today, I stumbled upon this song and reminded me how much I love it so much!

Tony Bennet reminds me of my Dad. I remember how he often listened to his music and would pretend he was Tony Bennet as he would sing to my Mom. I’m thankful for good memories as my Dad has not been the same since his stroke in Feb 2002. Our entire family had to adjust to the new norm. Having these good memories also helps me remember of who I used to be before getting so sick with Fibromyalgia. As I really lost a sense of who I am.

Talking to long time friends recently brought me back to my darkest days with Fibro and helped me remember how far I’ve come! When I have my quiet moments, He helps me see how my suffering and hardship all these years happened for a reason. His divine reason. Once I stopped denying and fighting this nasty disease, I became more at peace and felt content despite the onslaught of daily pain. The kind of contentment that it’s okay if I don’t heal right away. Or be cured. Once I did this, I became more focused in my journey of healing.

It was then I realized my ULTIMATE healing was not going to come from food, exercise, etc.  It has helped me heal and is continuing to help me heal.  But God is the one who put me on the road to healing.  I was again reminded I am not my own!  And though I lost a sense of who I am, I was pointed back to the reality that my true identity is in Christ alone.

As much as I wanted to take control of my healing, I was reminded God is in control and He will heal me in His time. My creator is my ultimate healer. He is the SOURCE OF EVERYTHING I’ve been able to find to help me heal. And He still continues to provide as I walk this journey.

Family Stuff

My Son’s Scholarship Essay

Okay, this post is not about food or my healing journey.  But it is my son’s essay for a scholarship he applied for college and part of the application process is to post it on a blog.  He actually wrote this a year ago before he attended CMA.  And I am happy to say he has finished his first year!  Woot!  Woot!   So, if you have the time, please read and enjoy!  I personally think it’s a worthwhile read 😉



School Pride Scholarship

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