I WANT....

Anyone? Hehe :)

Happy BIRTHDAY Bro!

I remember how Mama was so pregnant with you when I graduated from Grade 6, and how she almost went to early labor at the Louvre Museum (you were almost born in France! Haha.. )

I can't believe it's been SIXTEEN years... and our little boy JUMPY is now ALL GROWN-UP (at nililigawan na. Hehe ). I'm so proud of you. I can't believe you'll be in college next year.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jumpy!

I love you BRO! Achi and Dichi will always be here for you.

PS. You'll always be one of my favorite shopping buddies.

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY..

I'm June born, but I've always disliked the rain - especially when I was in medical school and I lived all but a few blocks away from school/hospital. That just means I had to WALK through wind and rain, no matter what - because DEATH was the ONLY excuse when you were a medical student. Try walking through Pedro Gil in full white - and it made me appreciate having a car, or being cooped up inside my room, warm and dry.

Currently, there's a big storm in the country... And the rain hasn't let up since last night. Because power was out around 230am last night, I was up until 5am FREAKING TOSSING AND TURNING, hearing the howling of the wind, the rain and every little sound - only at 5am did I drink a Neozep tablet to get a few hours of sleep before it was time for Sunday service. It was just my luck that late last night, there was a big leak in my bathroom that almost caused flooding in my room - so we had to shut off the water (to my bathroom and Ginger's) and use our parents' instead. Sigh.

We attended the 11am service today, surprised to find the GCF parking lot with only about 5 cars at 1040am... And since power was still out, the whole building was aircon-less. Thank God for Iwata, at least. Sometimes it shows you how modern the world is when we neglect simple ventilation. Most buildings and houses now do not even have windows (that you can open). Today was one of those times that we sat at the back row (to be near the fans). The service started with barely a hundred people, and I felt so blessed to see the whole first floor of the worship center fill up as the service progressed, and the rains started to let up a bit.

We (Stel and I) were supposed to have our birthday lunch today at Chelsea with my family (my Mom's treat this time), but the RAINS couldn't even allow Stel to leave his house! Our family ended up in Powerplant (where there's power 24/7, siyempre), at Classic Cuisine instead. It's too bad the 'other' birthday celebrant couldn't even join us for lunch. I was thinking of Pepper Lunch (where Stel and I WERE planning to have dinner tonight), but my mom does not eat meat or rice. We still had a sumptuous lunch nevertheless.

Just as anyone can imagine, when you're in Rockwell, and you see all the people, you forget that the whole metro is under a big typhoon and a major power outtage. It's the 'false' sense of security that somehow makes you sad... and think. *Sigh.* Basement 1 was FULL.. and the two other levels were slowly getting filled up.

Praise God that at around 3pm, our power at home came back... Which explains why I am now sitting in my room - with wifi, with water in my bathroom (yey!), with everyone in my family safe and sound.

It's a good thing Ling's wedding was last weekend. My heart goes out to Ginger's friend who's getting married today. My sister's getting ready to attend the reception. Hopefully most of the guests are still able to make it. The rains don't seem like they're stopping anytime soon. Classes have been suspended for tomorrow.

If I were in grade school, or high school, rain (and wind) would've been music to my ears. BUT now that I'm much older, and our chosen vocation gives us NO EXCUSE, I don't really like the rain. For some selfish and stupid reasons. Thank God that He allows us to remember and be grateful for things we take for granted. Sorry, Lord.

Please say a little prayer for our fellow countrymen who are victims of this present calamity. That would be a BIG help already.

Hope everyone's safe and dry.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Chua!

*************
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…" Ephesians 3:20

Thank you, Lord.

Surprises

It was a LONG and busy whirlwind of a weekend. Which figures why I spent the afternoon of my birthday SLEEPING. That was something I hardly ever did. Existing on only a few hours of sleep since Saturday for my best friend, Ling's wedding. We spent Saturday night with her at the Presidential Suite of Hyatt Regency Hotel and Casino, and Sunday night at our own hotel room as well. That meant I only slept a total of 7-8 hours the past weekend. It was an impromptu slumber party-slash-wedding preparations-slash-wedding stress-slash-chismisan FEST.

The wedding was lovely, and I felt so honored to be her Maid of Honor. After ALL that, I'm glad to have seen her walk down the aisle, and finally tie the knot with Mark Andrew Chua (Andrew/Chewy). More on that later when we post the pictures. It was a HAPPY day. But yes, I made her cry. (I love you Mr and Mrs Chua!)

Today, I had an early breakfast with Stel at the Market Cafe, ran errands (equals stress) the whole morning. We checked out right before lunch, and was too darn tired to even move - we had a quick lunch at CPK Shang - then everyone had to go back to work.
That left me with a FREE afternoon (I had a self-declared holiday from clinic ) which prompted me to just head home, and SLEEP. I've been sleeping at 3am and waking up at 6am the past two days!

God has blessed me with twenty something years on this planet. And through it all, I know He's been faithful. I may have strained and doubted Him at times, but He has never ever left my side. I was just a stubborn little girl who behaved like a crazy and naughty child.

And still, He never FAILS to surprise ME.

There have been developments in my life the past days that have left ME speechless. Beyond measure. Beyond my wildest dreams. It looks like one of my wishes will finally come true. It was something that wasn't even in the works when I wrote my first entry for this month.

I'll explain when everything's concrete and written in stone. As for now, just please say a little prayer for me, and allow me to be in AWE of God's greatness. And for everyone reading this who knows, please please PRAY for everything. I am so thankful and am deeply comforted by your support and prayers.

Lord, I surrender all to YOU. Let your will be done in my life. Thank YOU for your gift, Lord.

It is indeed a HAPPY birthday. I've never been this HAPPY in a long time. Best birthday EVER.

P.S. And wala pang celebrations 'yan ha.

I'm SUPER grateful for everyone who called, texted, sent messages on multiply, facebook and friendster, and just everyone who REMEMBERED.
I'm truly touched.

Wait...

...GOD told me to WAIT.

At the start, I grudgingly OBLIGED. I cried. I was frustrated. I felt hopeless. I complained. I whined.

But slowly, He took hold of me. God has broken ME.

The past months, I have honestly come to the point of surrender. I surrendered it ALL to Him. I wanted HIM to do HIS WILL, and HIS work in my life. And whatever it was, I knew I was prepared to accept. Whether He allowed me, or not, I'd be OKAY with it.

Then surprises of all surprises. GOD is amazing. And He has the best surprise up His sleeve.

Just last week, He surprised me. And He gave me the best birthday gift ever.

Yes, He answers prayers. Beyond our wildest imagination.

Just when I thought I've given it up.

Thank you, Lord. :)

School starts tomorrow...

...NOT for me.

I WISH

This is just a gripe.


That means it's TRAFFIC once again.

And Ortigas Avenue will be ONE LANE AGAIN.

Have a great SCHOOL year everyone.
I wish I were a student too.
Jumpy's a Senior in Highschool already.

I'm old.

To THE Man...

To the MAN who puts up with ALL my quirks and 'katarayan'

To the MAN who supports me through ALL my crazy life decisions, and understands.

To the MAN who would understand just how a cup of Starbucks coffee can perk me up.

To the MAN who shares my love for FOOD.

To the MAN who can do so many cataract surgeries in a day - and still have time to be my SLAVE.

To the MAN who will go to the mall with me, even if he utterly detests SHOPPING.

To the MAN who will watch chick flicks with ME (coz I also watch his guy flicks with him)

To the MAN who drove ALL the way to the mountains, who waited for the sun to set so that he wouldn't have to drive through and see the cliffs (COZ he was SCARED of heights), who brought FOOD for us POOR HUNGRY souls, only to see me for less than an HOUR - and ALL I could offer him was cup noodles from the store.

To the MAN who would always tell me to STOP shopping, but would endlessly SPOIL me to bits.

To the MAN who will drive all the way to our house, after a 36hour duty, just to visit me when I'm sick or just lazy.

To the MAN who went to the States and did not buy a single thing for himself - but he brought me a luggage full of stuff, that I felt that I went shopping there myself.

To the MAN who shares HIS love for gadgets (and HIS gadgets) with me.

To the MAN who will eat ASIAN food with me, even if I know how much he really hates it.

To the MAN who understands MY plans, and WAITS.

To the MAN who has given me
the BEST 5 years of my life.

Happy, happy, happy BIRTHDAY Stel!
To the MAN who loves me just because.
To the MAN that I love just because.

My BEST

It's my birth month once again. Stel's too. And before all the busy-ness and toxicity this month is sure to bring, allow me to look back, and reflect on God's faithfulness over the past year.

So much has taken place the past months. He gives. He takes away. He answers prayers. He withholds. There were instances when I didn't know why. There were instances when I asked why.

When I see where I am, and I consider all those little sad moments of difficulties, I know that IT was all worth it. It was worth all the pain, and the sadness, and the feelings of worthlessness, and doom.

I found myself at one of the lowest points of my life last year. And being surrounded by my loved one, my family, nor my friends was not even enough to keep me from isolating myself. I chose to be silent. I chose to retreat in my little corner. I chose to be alone. Yes, they were there, but I felt so useless, I couldn't even bring myself to believe in me again.

BUT God never lets His children down. He never let me go. And He drew me near to Him. He allows our success, as well as our struggles. He allows disappointments to make us fully dependent on Him, and HIM ALONE.

GOD picked me up. From the depths of oblivion and despair. He showed me that He is in control of everything. There are reasons beyond our comprehension. There are reasons that only He can give.

He allowed me to smile again, to wait patiently, and to be grateful.

He allowed me to do things I didn't think I would, or I could. He allowed me to enjoy my idle time - to work, to find opportunities, to live, to give, and to become a better child.

If you know me well enough, you'd definitely see that I'm now much happier, I'm much more calm and at peace. Now, I take things as they come.

I don't really know where He will lead me, or where I'll be by the end of the year. But I know what He has in store for me - something magical, something surprising, and something beyond my dreams.

I thank a whole lot of people, who I haven't even known the same time last year. Your lives and your hearts have touched me more than you'll all ever know. And to you all, I'll be forever grateful.

If this month is a glimpse of what the coming year has in store for me, then I'm sure to brace myself for one wild and crazy ride. I have taken the month off from the hospital - and at the same time, started another part-time work opportunity which will help augment my 'leave' of sorts. We prepare for a bridal shower, a wedding, celebrations and a million little things that are sure to make the month one great ride.

As I look ahead, I look forward to MORE good things, MORE blessings, and MORE celebrations. As my 28th year comes to an end, and a new year dawns, I open my arms and my heart to Him who is in control and who holds the power immeasurably more than we can ever ask and imagine.

THANK YOU, Lord. I'm now at MY best - and I will continue to be. For YOU.

Pray for me. :)