Hello and See You Around

Hello.  It has been ages since I last posted here. I've been doing a lot of thinking and finally came to a very hard decision.  This will be my last post for Pia's Journal. As I read back my old posts, I realized that since I started blogging at 2004, everything was about challenges, disappointments and trials of different kinds. I've waited for a long time to change the theme of this blog, but it didn't happen. That's okay though.

2015 is a new year and I'm starting a new life. Some would say it's been long overdue, but I say it's better late than never. Besides, as the saying goes - Life begins at 40. 

As I venture into a new beginning, I have also decided to cease blogging. I'm not saying it will be forever. Who knows, I might just start a new one. In the mean time, I'm closing this chapter book of my life and am very excited to step into my new life.

Here's wishing you all a very HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR!

I wasn't able to post this last Christmas, but I'm still posting it anyway. 

See you around!

Afternoon Chill

I spent my entire afternoon yesterday just chilling with very good friends. We had fun talking, eating healthy, laughing and most specially praying and being grateful.

L-R: Bing, Amelyn, Zenda,Nen and me!

Michael Young, the German-Filipino Saxophonist, was also with us. Too bad he didn't have his sax with him to play for us. He promised to do so next time though.

With Michael and Brian

He did give us his signed CD. Thanks, Michael!

It was a pretty relaxing day yesterday. Hope to do this more often. See you guys again soon!

Life is Beautiful

Not always is actually, but we have to choose to see the brighter side in everything.

When one is busy, one can either see it as a deprivation or simply a disadvantage. Me? I look at it as a blessing. 

God is truly good! Did people ever tell you that God's plans for you are better than what you can imagine? Well... That's the bold truth!  I have prayed for a lot of things in the past and right now, God is showing me glimpses of His plans for my life. I tell you, I'm speechless and in awe! I'm walking through some of it now... The best is yet to come.

God's word for me for this year is OBEY. Even if He says something that doesn't make sense, just OBEY. The rewards of being obedient is limitless!

In the mean time, I'd like to share some photos with you that spells HAPPY. 

August 8. Fellowship with my spiritual family at Victory.

August 10. Mini family reunion at my Grandparent's house in Pampanga

August 17. Another mini family reunion at my Aunt's house in Pampanga

August 28. My family... We miss you Mom and Dad!

Me and Gabby

These are just SOME of the things I'm grateful for in life.  Life is beautiful indeed.

Happy...

God's timing is truly impeccable! I don't know how else to illustrate how perfect His timing and His ways are. He is beyond words! He creates the perfect situation on how His perfect plan has to happen. The result? Absolutely flawless!

For years, He made me go through things I didn't understand why. I really felt like He totally forgot about me already. I was wrong! All these years He was equipping me emotionally, mentally and physically for that time which I never thought would still happen. When it did happen, I was prepared. Boy, was I prepared! You have no idea!

My God! Why are there times that I still doubt You? Why do I still doubt your Words? Forgive me for my unbelief! 

On a different note, last Saturday was Sun Life's August Championship Kick-off at the World Trade Center. I'm excited on how God will make things happen for me again! Thank you, Lord, in advance!

Lastly, today is my Mom's birthday.  

There are so many things to be happy about... These are just a few... God, thank you for everything!

Random Thoughts

Had my check up last Friday. Blood test results were not good. I was disappointed, of course, but I had to remind myself of what God and I talked about before I came out of the hospital two years ago.

I did not hit my target last month and I was disappointed again, but this season is a whole new ball game for me. I'm given another chance to try again.

When bad things happen, it's just like a sack of fertilizer being poured out on me. It may smell and look nasty now, but look at what it can do to a plant after a few months.  I'm being prepared for something great, that's for sure!

No matter how screwed up one's life is in the past, no matter how many times you screw up, God's faithfulness is constant. It never changes. It never depended on US, never did.

I know God listens to me when I pray because when I ask for parking in spite of a "full parking" signage up, a slot gets freed up just in time.  If He bothers to hear me pray for the simplest thing like a parking slot, I'm sure He hears my other requests which are far more important than that.

When I know I didn't do anything wrong, even if somebody accuses me of something I did't do, I can sleep peacefully at night like a baby.  

I can tell God anything, things I wouldn't even share with anyone. 

My time is coming soon. I will shine bright like a diamond!

Post Summer Fun

Last June 27, Red Spruce had our yearly outing this time at Tagaytay Highlands. We get together once a year, out of town to have fun! No work, just pure FUN!

Thank you, Lord, for my Sun Life family!

I wonder where our next destination is next year...

PS: Sorry for the poor quality photos. I will try to get the original photos emailed to me so I can replace these with better ones.

One Step at a Time

So many things are happening in my life, both good and bad.

Lost a friend, gained 10 more. Reached my purpose, missed my target. Health progression, financial recession. The list goes on... That makes life balanced and at the same time interesting.  To achieve something, sometimes we need to give up another thing. We can't have everything we want, but we can have everything we need.

Most of the time I walk my life's journey seeing only the step where my foot is at, following THE voice from the many familiar voices. One step at a time. Life is hard, but life is still beautiful. I have experienced a lot of disappointments and injustices in life, but I know my days are destined to shine brighter because God is faithful. I am so relieved (you have no idea) to have God's promise etched in my heart.

"Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61:7 NIV

His promises are the ones that give me hope and keep me going.

Health Update

It's been a while since I last posted. So long that I feel like it's been ages. I'm doing good. God has been very good to me. I'm focused on getting well. So focused that I've joined a health club. It's just a 10-day program I'm trying out. I'm really excited because when they weighed me, my weight for my height is within the normal range. Something I wouldn't have imagined a few months back.  What made me even more excited was my metabolic age as compared to my calendar age. I'm almost 10 years younger! Five days into the program, I had my routine tests done just to be sure. Praise God! My crea went down, CBC are all normal, urine test is very good except for that nasty UTI that keeps coming back. The protein in the urine is just a trace from a +2 before. For some of you, these may sound like something from Mars, but for people who are not too well (to put it lightly), these results are excellent!  I'm so excited to get my health back! I'm going to try a new medicine which of course was prescribed by my doctor. We're just waiting for the shipment to arrive. Based on my personal research, this medicine does wonder to people suffering from autoimmune diseases. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that's why I'm excited.

Science can only do so much. I make sure I do my part. God is my ultimate healer. When He allowed me to get out of the hospital alive last 2012, I know in my heart that healing is mine.

Happy Resurrection Sunday

If God gave His only Son to make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, what can He not do for us? 

When, Lord, When?

I ask that question a lot lately.  Am I being impatient? Probably.

Like many Christians, I am still waiting for the many promises of God  to come to pass in my life.  I tell God how much I want to walk into my Promised Land already.

I was watching "In the Beginning" last night with my yaya, very timely for the upcoming Holy Week. It's her first time to watch that movie and for me, well, I already lost count.  I know the stories of each character even from the Bible, but I still did pick up something towards the end. God never ceases to amaze me.

There was a question at the end of the story - Why have we wandered the desert 40 years... Because the people rebelled against the Lord. The people have sinned...

This made me think of my own Promised Land... my life... my circumstance.

When, Lord, When?  Only God knows, but He made me look at the bigger picture. Am I rebelling against the Lord by doubting Him and His promises every so often?

Do you ask this question too?

If Only

I'm almost done moving stuff in my new home. I only have a few more stuff left at my old house which I will transfer here by next week.  I could say that by April 1, I'm fully settled in my new home sweet home.

Life has been bittersweet for me. I lost some and then gain some more.  You know, I'd say that I have been truly blessed in life in spite of all the trials I went through.  I may have lost a great deal - losing a husband and both my parents, but God carried me through it all. He gave me loving siblings, a nice home, a new car, health that's continuously improving everyday, loyal friends, a caring yaya, a sweet cat... the list goes on. And He's continuously blessing me with so much more.  As I always say, the Lord is not done with me yet.  He plans to prosper me and give me a beautiful future.  I am highly favored, greatly blessed and deeply loved.

With Cousins at my my niece's first birthday celebration

I miss my Mom and Dad very much.  If I could only have a day with them again... If only...

Anyway, I believe I received an instruction from the Lord last night on how He wanted me to start this new chapter in my life. I still believe that 2014 is going to be my year of favor and blessings. This is going to be a year of healing.   I'm very excited to walk in to my Promised Land already.  I think I'm more than ready.

I'll leave you with this beautiful song which I always sing lately. I sing this with all of my heart.  God bless y'all!

Remembering Mom

Last February 10, we went to visit Mom and Dad. It's Dad's birthday. And this year, he celebrated his birthday in Heaven with Mom.

When everything's settled, I will be posting old photos and beautiful memories to remember them by. I'm just very busy with the transition that's happening right now. In the mean time, let me share with you two of Mom's favorite songs by Patti Page.

We love you, Mom!

Till We Meet Again...

I just started packing Mom's stuff and it brought back memories. Tomorrow is exactly two weeks since Mom's gone. It's impossible not to be emotional.

What comforts me is the fact that Mom gave her life to Jesus years back and was rededicated to Jesus a week before she joined our Lord in Heaven. My youngest brother who's in New York felt very strongly to share the gospel again to Mom via Skype. I know in my heart that she is now reunited with Dad and together, they share everlasting life with our Lord Jesus Christ.

I miss Mom very much. When I was confined in the hospital last 2012 because of SLE, even though she, herself, was sick and had just came from her dialysis, she spent the night in the hospital to take care of me. She has been a very loving Mom to me and my siblings. She's not perfect, but she's the best Mom ever. 

Mom helping me choose stickers for the pens my sister is going to use for her daughter's birthday party two days before she breathe her last.

To all who prayed for Mom, thank you. 

Lord, thank you for the life of Mom. Thank you for welcoming her to your Kingdom. Thank you for granting her complete healing.

Mom, you fought a good fight. I know you are in a much better place now - free from sickness and pain. No more needles, Mom. I love you very much, Mom. We love you very much. We will treasure everything you and Dad taught us. You will never be forgotten... You will be forever loved. Till we meet again... In Heaven...

Together

Last night, at around 9:35 Mom finally joined Dad in Heaven. I say this with a very heavy heart because I was not prepared for it. We all did not expect it to be this soon. Just yesterday, she was recovering from the angioplasty that she had last Saturday. The doctors told us that she had to undergo this procedure to clear three of her blocked blood vessels. She had undergone several of these procedures in the past. All of the stents that were put during those procedures were still ok. This one was needed to clear new blockages.

After the angioplasty, she was brought to the ICU because her blood pressure was too low and it was fluctuating, from a low of 80/40 to a high of just 120/45. The operation itself was successful because the blockages were opened up. However, the stress of the angioplasty and the subsequent dialysis that she had to go through must have been too much for her already weakened body. She had a cardiac arrest at around 9 PM. The doctors tried to revive her, but Mom's body gave up the fight at around 9:35. 

Mom's wake is at Room 303 at the Sanctuarium along Araneta Avenue. Cremation is scheduled on Friday at 7 AM.

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank all of you,who have said prayers for Mom's healing. Now, she is truly healed and free of all the illnesses that plagued her during the last few years. 

Mom, we will all miss you so much. What comforts us now is that aside from knowing that you are in God's Kingdom, we know that you and Dad are together once more. 

See you someday, Mom, Dad....

Welcome 2014!

This is my first post for 2014 and I really want to encourage others with my post.

We just finished our annual prayer and fasting as a church.  I'm all pumped up and very excited for what this year has to bring.  2013 was a good year, but I'm believing that 2014 will be a better year... wait, let me say that again... 2014 will be a GREAT year!

No matter what situation you are in, be encouraged!

Three things that I'm believing God to happen this year.

RESTORATION.  The act of returning something that was stolen or taken from you.  In Joel 2:25 it says: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you." That speaks of restoration. What is it that was stolen or taken from you?  Money?  Time?  Health?  Relationship?The Lord promised He will repay the years the locusts have eaten. That's a great promise!

PROVISION. In Joel 2:26 it says: You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed." Plenty to eat until you are full... That speaks of provision.  And not just simply provision, but more than enough provision.   In verse 22, if God is very mindful of the animals, what more us?  We are His children. In verse 24, it speaks of fulness and overflow.  You see, God can change your situation overnight!

IMPARTATION. In Joel 2:28 it says: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." We will be filled more and more with God's presence.

These are some things we should be very excited about!

I am!