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!

How Has Your Year Been?

In two days 2012 will be gone.  How time flies.  

Today I asked myself this question - How has 2012 been to me?  There are definitely so many challenges that happened this year, but I've also received so many blessings and miracles.  

Dad left this imperfect world to be with Jesus last April... I got sick two months ago, but I'm recovering pretty well. I received miracles after miracles of healing and divine provision... I deleted "friends" from my life who are toxic; turned out to be a blessing in disguise... This is also the year when I became debt free.

I didn't see the beauty in these seemingly tragic events while it was happening, but now I do.  

God is good.  

Although 2012 is marked with tears and sadness, it is also marked with joy and happiness. God sure knows how to balance things. 

So, how has your year been?

Here's looking forward to a year of abounding blessings, grace and favor as we welcome 2013 with great expectancy and hope.  

Confined Again

Hospitals are never in the list of my favorite places to be in. Unfortunately, I am confined in one now.

Saturday (September 29, 2012)

• I wasn't feeling well, so I took my temperature: 38 degrees Celsius. 
• I took medicine for fever and rested the whole the day. 

Sunday (September 30, 2012)

• I took my temperature again. It was still 38: the medicine did not work. Something's wrong. I have to see a doctor.
• I rushed to the ER of Cardinal Santos Hospital, the nearest hospital. They examined me, took a blood sample and asked me to wait for the results.
• When the attending physician returned, she said that my WBC, RBC, hemoglobin and platelets are all way below normal levels. She said that I have to be confined. The doctors think that this could be a case of dengue.

• They inserted an IV. That hurt a lot! The objective was to rehydrate me because I was so dehydrated. The tests showed this, too.
• Fortunately, I have a health card. My plan entitles me to a semi-private room. The personnel at the admitting section of the hospital said that no semi-private rooms were available. Since I was an ER case, they gave me a regular room instead at no additional charge for the first 48 hours. On the third day, if I choose to stay in the room, I just have to pay for the difference.The room was bigger than I expected it to be. Plus, it had a good view! It had cable tv, a refrigerator, a phone, a toilet and bath.
• I was not able to eat well on the first night. 
• The doctor gave me Iterax to help me sleep well. It did not work.

Monday (October 1, 2012)

• I underwent battery of tests. 
• My CBC figures were steadily going down at an alarming rate. The doctors add SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) to the list of suspects.
• I had no appetite in the morning. I was highly irritable. (Later that day, an intern said my irritability could have been caused by hypoglycemia since I was not eating well.)
• The doctor started low dosage of steroids every 12 hours.
• The dextrose was on fast drip.
• I started regaining my appetite in the afternoon.
• Friends started coming to visit.
• I had a bad case of colds.

This is how sick I look. =(

• They started to nebulize me to ease my clogged nostrils/nasal passages
• Mom dropped by to check on my condition. She had to go home early because she wasn't feeling well after her dialysis that morning. She brought me some clothes because I had nothing with me when I was confined. When I went to the emergency room yesterday, I had no idea that I would be confined.
• My sister and her husband visited me and brought some food
• A friend brought salad made from camote tops. We call it "talbos ng kamote." The old folk say that this is good for improving the condition of one's blood. She also brought a drink that was produced my boiling the camote top leaves in water. Instead of drinking just water, I also drank this.
• I closely monitored my liquid intake and outflow.
• The nurse gave me Stilnox to make me sleep better.

Tuesday (October 2, 2012)

• Slept well. The medicine they gave me last night did its job.
• Test results came in: not good. My CBC was getting worse: dropped further. Funny thing was, my appetite was steadily improving. I ate a lot more than i did yesterday.
• I regained enough strength to allow me to move around on my own. Still weak, but not as weak as I was on the day I was admitted.
• My right hand was really swollen. Had to request the doctor to transfer the IV to my left hand. It was really, really painful. 
• Had a conference with the doctor. How they will treat me will depend on the results of my latest tests. She also said that there is a possibility that I might need blood transfusion if my platelet count becomes critical.
• When she got to the part that dealt with the costs, I nearly fell off the bed when I found out how expensive these medicines cost!
• Although my symptoms are similar the symptoms of dengue, the drop in the other CBC figures seem to point to something other than dengue. Just the same, she asked me to prepare two donors, just in case I needed a blood transfusion.
• Last nebulization session. Both nostrils are clear! I can breathe properly again! Woohoo!

Friends, may I ask that you please pray for me. Please pray that my CBC results fall within the normal range. Please pray that my SLE test turns out negative. Please pray that my hospital bill remains within the limits of my health card. Please pray that my health improves significantly over the next few days.

Thank you very much.

God's Suddenlies

Have you ever experienced God's suddenlies?  When you feel like what you're praying for is taking so long to get answered or maybe in the natural you can see the words "it's too late" or "it's hopeless" written all over your situation...  Remember, God is still in the business of showing up SUDDENLY.  He is neither too early nor too late.  He is ALWAYS right on time.

God's suddenly happened to me last Friday.  

Nothing extra ordinary was happening that day, but when God showed up I was left in awe.  

It was our last day of submission of applications for a dollar placement product in Sun Life.  The three weeks had passed and I haven't even closed a single sale for this specific product. I wasn't even thinking I'd be able to close any sale that day. I didn't know that God had a different plan for me.  

The CEO of the company where my friend works, who I just met two hours before my deadline, trusted me with his investment of $200,000.  I didn't have a prior appointment with him.  He just happened to be there when I decided to drop by my friend's office to say hi.  

I believe God orchestrated everything that happened.  He already made a plan to show up that day and bring me my SUDDENLY.

If God can show up suddenly to solve my financial concerns, He can certainly show up suddenly to solve my other problems.  And if He can do it for me, He can certainly do it for you too!

"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

God is good!  God is awesome! God is faithful!  God listens, He answers and He restores!

Praise God!!!

Amazing Favor

Dad's chemo went well.  He's on his second day of infusion today.  His face got a bit dry though, probably because of the chemo medicine. So, I applied some of my moisturizer on his face.  It worked!

I slept way too late last night, so I got up very late this morning, too. I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Anyway, I was awakened by Dr. Chen's voice talking to Dad.  He informed Dad that somebody with a good heart left a huge amount of money here at the hospital and instructed the president of the hospital to choose Filipino recipients to receive a free ¥15,000 ($2,348.70) worth of Combined Immunotherapy for Cancer (CIC) which normally costs ¥48,000 ($7,515.85).  Dad was chosen as one of the recipients. This CIC will help boost Dad's immune system to fight cancer even after the chemotherapy sessions are over. 

Isn't God totally amazing?  God has been showing us favors ever since we got here last Wednesday.  Praise God!!!

We met new friends.  They were referred here to Fuda by the same man who referred Dad here.  Small world.

Dad with Sarah and Edison

Amjd and Reema's mom gave me this. It's from their country and it is called Fatira. It is bread with white cheese.

They are leaving tomorrow morning, and will be back after two months.

Dad with Amjd (with his new do)

I continue to marvel at how amazing and faithful God is.  Thank you, Lord!

My Salon Adventure

I'm back at Fuda with Dad.  We arrived last night.  Got a nasty sore throat and fever two days before our flight.  Argh!!!  I hate antibiotics!

Anyway, God is soooo good.  The night before our flight, I got an email from the hospital informing me that Dad and I will share a room with another patient because the hospital was fully booked.  I must admit, I was quite disappointed with that because the last time we shared a room and I slept on a bunk bed, I had a back ache and got a bump on my right brow.  Anyhow, I said, "God, please do something about this and give us our own room.  But if You want us to share a room then Your will be done. Just please help me with my attitude."  When we got to the hospital, guess what? The nurse led us to our very own room!  The other patient opted to stay in a hotel, so we got the room all to ourselves.  Woot!  

Isn't God awesome?

This morning, I went out to my usual hang out place and, well, it's too quiet there already.  My new friends went back to their countries a week ago and I was actually there all alone.  Sigh... 

Anyway, I got a digital perm this afternoon from a nearby salon here at the hospital.  I was a bit worried though because the hair stylist spoke only two words of English and those were thank and you.  Yikes! But since my friend Elaine said that they were actually good, I tried my best to keep calm and let them do what they do best.

Here I am trying to get a good shot of myself while the stylist puts white, square sponge thingies in my hair

See, I can't get a straight shot of myself without the phone on my face.  

And, here's the my new hairdo...

My hair stylists - Jin Zhe, Wang Peng & Liu Jie of LFC Salon

Tomorrow, Dad will have his fifth chemo session. Unlike the previous sessions, he will be trying the local chemo treatment. Before doing the chemo, the doctors will do an ultrasound on him to check his current condition. Dad seems to be doing well. If it's any indication, he gained 6 pounds. =)

A Humbling Experience

"Hey! What's the big idea? I did everything you told me to and this is what I get?! It's so unfair! Where are you? Can you hear me?" Does that sound familiar?

We talked about the life of Joseph at church and I took note of these verses because I found comfort and assurance in them. His story is just one of the many stories in the Bible where God showed His sovereignty.

"Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (Forget), saying, 'God made me forget all my hardships and my parental home.' He named his second son Ephraim (Double Prosperity), saying, 'God has prospered me in the land of my sorrow.'" Genesis 41:51-52 (The Message)

All of us go through sufferings in this life, but though many are our troubles, God has promised to be there with us. I never realized and appreciated the depth of this truth until I've gone through valleys in my life. You see, if you don't humble yourself, God will humble you and

mind you He will, really.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:11

Joseph, like us, went through the humbling process as well. Imagine receiving a dream when he was still a teenager and arrogantly telling his parents and siblings that they will bow down to him (Genesis 37:5-10). After that we know that he was sold by his own brothers, then landed in the house of Potiphar. God did prosper him there. But that's not the end of his sufferings.

"With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am..." Genesis 39:8-9 (Emphasis mine)

See that bit of arrogance there? Well, yes he feared the Lord that's why he didn't give in to temptation. But again for standing for what is right, he was thrown to prison. What was that all about? I think it is just right to say that God wasn't done with him yet. But in spite of this set back, God was still right there with him.

"The LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden." Genesis 39:21

For showing kindness to his fellow men, in return, he was forgotten.

"The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Genesis 40:23

Can you imagine the frustrations he might have felt that time? If I were in his shoes I would probably be kicking and screaming already. But God has a plan.

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrew 10:35-36

He knows what He is doing. He has everything figured out already. God spoke to Pharaoh in his dreams, but didn't know how to interpret it. (See, God does speak even to unbelievers and backsliders so let's not lose hope in praying for our loved ones) Now this time the cup bearer remembered Joseph (Genesis 41:9-13). God has already set up people ahead of us to do something good for us, yes, even people we don't know. How's that possible? It's God's favor upon us.

After all the pains and sufferings Joseph went through all those years, God's promise to him came to pass even when it already looked impossible and hopeless in the natural. His dreams when he was just a teenager...

"We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." Genesis 37:7

"I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." Genesis 37:9

... finally came to pass.

"Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground." Genesis 42:6

Are you going through valleys in your life too? If we surrender everything to God, if we would put our trust in Him, He will also make us forget our troubles and hardships; and prosper us in the land of our sorrow. He makes everything beautiful in his time.

Be patient. The best is yet to come.

Looking Back

Christmas is over and in just a few days, so is 2009.

2009 was a great year for me, better than 2008 I should say. It was a year of supernatural blessings and favors from the Lord.

When people around me kept grumbling on how bad the economy was, honestly, I didn't feel the pressure. God has provided for me supernaturally. I am in awe of how great and mighty God is.

When so many people are accumulating debts just to make both ends meet, God has been so good to have allowed me to pay up more than half of mine. He even allowed and provided for my travel. I was able to purchase stuff I didn't even imagine I could two years ago. I am simply amazed by His goodness. He kept me under His wings.

Truly, I am greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved by our Almighty God. In the past, this was just a fact that I know is true; but now, it is a fact that I've experienced and could attest is true.

During Christmas dinner with my sister at her house

2009 was also a year of transformation for me. A summary of what I've gone through in the past years ---

2007 was the year I was broken to tiny pieces. I have redefined pain in ways beyond description.

2008 was the year I was molded by God. I was like being marinated. I struggled. It was agonizing, but I also learned to submit to His will. This was the time I learned to let go and let God in its true sense. By doing so, I got to know Jesus in a whole new way.

Finally, 2009 was the year God transformed me into somebody even I, myself, could hardly recognize. I saw changes in me though I am still a work in progress. God is not done with me yet. But thank God I am no longer where I used to be. I don't even want to ever go back to how I used to be.

This coming 2010, I am full of hope that it will be much better than 2009. I'm believing God for more breakthroughs, favors and blessings. I'm believing God for answered prayers. I'm bolder in asking God what I want because I know He is able. I'm also believing that this coming year is a year of completion and perfection. And I claim this promise ---

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Let's all continue to have an attitude of gratitude. Our God is bigger than any mountain we face.

HAVE A BLESSED AND PROSPEROUS
NEW YEAR!!!

Prayer & Fasting

I finished the book This Present Darkness by Peretti last night. Hit the sack at around 4 a.m. I know this sounds crazy but I just couldn't stop reading until I finished the remaining pages. Anyway, I enjoyed the book a lot.

Tomorrow is the start of our annual seven-day prayer and fasting. This is my first time to participate in this annual event in our church. I'm excited to what God is going to reveal to me. I'm also believing God for my breakthroughs. So last night, my friend and I made a list of our faith goals for 2008. Then we put it in a small box and tied it with a green ribbon. We prayed over it then I put it on top of my cabinet. It'll be opened on January 7, 2009 to see how many of our faith goals God answered. Sort of like a time capsule.

As a spiritual family, we begin each new year with seven days of prayer and fasting. It is our way of humbling ourselves before God and consecrating to Him the upcoming year. It is also the time when we corporately come into agreement and believe together for breakthroughs in our personal lives, families, finances and churches.

I'll be writing down what I have learned, what God has revealed to me and my breakthroughs in the coming days.

Lifting up year 2008 to God almighty!

He Did Provide!

My weekend turned out to be a living nightmare. I completely lost my focus. Twice I walked out of a gathering on two separate occasions when it should have been two of the most joyous events this year. I was completely disoriented seeing all the mountains of problems flashed right before my eyes. I went home so discouraged and cried most of the night. I was telling God how frustrated I was.

I was tired of my situation and anxious about one of my bills due for payment the following day. I still didn't have the funds to pay for it. God said I'm not going to borrow money from anyone! I was short from kicking and screaming and was reciting over and over again, "But God, you promised!!!"

"The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none." Deuteronomy 28:12

I woke up at around three in the morning and I was able to read a text message from Rosemar, one of my officemates, who said that they just got back from Baguio. I was supposed to be with them on that trip but begged off the last minute because I said I needed to attend those two events which I eventually walked out from. After five minutes I got another text message from her which said our boss already gave them the 50% income we earned from our client from Baguio which will be divided among us five and that she will give my share later.

Wow! Hours ago I didn't even have the slightest idea where to get the money to pay for that bill and suddenly God provided! Just in time! And there's more. I received more than double the amount I was expecting to get. Our messenger just stepped out of our room to pay my bill. *grin*

God was true to His promise that He will provide for me financially and that I wouldn't borrow from anyone. His provision came just in time. I'm holding on to another promise He gave me. I guess for some of you who had been with me in my life's journey would know what that promise is. I wonder what God would do next.

Adventure With Sis

First, I'd like to thank my brothers and sisters in Christ for praying for us. You are all so precious. Thank you for not leaving me alone in this battle. I know in my heart that I am victorious because of Jesus Christ and because of all His prayer warriors who are interceding for us. Thank you!

I'm so glad I got hold of a computer so I can blog about this trip God blessed me with and share it to y'all. I still haven't gotten any decent sleep since the other night. Anyway, we arrived in Hong Kong at exactly 9:50 a.m. We're staying at my cousin's pad at the Grand Pacific View in Tuen Mun. Mom mom's wonder twin, Aunt Rosalina, welcomed us. My cousin is due to be back home on Friday from South Africa. I was feeling so sleepy when we finally got to the condo at around 11 a.m., but I didn't had time for a nap. Aunt Rosalina prepared us lunch. At around 1:30 p.m., sis and I went to Tsim Sha Tsui and the real adventure began.

We went around the city and my sis shopped like crazy! My legs were already hurting, but my sis just kept going and going like her feet had wheels! Guess what we bought - toys!!! We had Transformers and The Justice League from Toys R Us. Geez!

I'll be posting pictures next time. I haven't uploaded them yet, will try later. Okay, that's it for now. I gotta get some sleep. Ayt! signing off.

Zzzzz...

(inset photo: the swimming pool at the Grand Pacific View)


Adventure With Sis 2

Adventure With Sis 3

God's Favor

Meet Kian and Ginger. I got these two adorable bears last night during the Unilab's Christmas party at EDSA Shangri-la. When you order a drink, you get one of these cute bears. The waiter gave me two! Ha! On my way home, I got to drive my friend's white Porsche. How cool was that?! And this morning, I got in the mail the book I requested online from Oral Robert's Ministry for free!
I told my friend last night that everything good that's happening to me these days is because of God's favor. It causes people to extend preferential treatment to us. I believe it didn't "just happen" or it was just a coincidence, it's simply God moving in our midst, God giving us His favor. It really pays when we obey God. And let us not forget that our God is a rewarder. When we obey Him, we can never outrun His blessings. Isn't God amazing?

Footprints In The Sand

I don't even know how to begin to tell y'all how grateful Jec and I are for all the heart warming support and prayers we got here during our most trying times. We've all prayed hard but I guess God has other plans for us. I felt so bad and didn't know how to break the news to all of you. You've all prayed in faith and I felt like by telling you the bad news I will somehow turn you all down. KC told me during our phone conversation that it was God who decided that it was not yet time and that it wasn't my fault. Most of all, Jec and I felt so lost and didn't know what to do next. I cried to God for help and told Him to please hold us together because we couldn't take it anymore. I cried myself to sleep asking God for direction. When Jec was telling me about all your support, he was in tears. I got to read all your comments and prayers just now. He said, "Babe, don't worry. God will take care of us. He will make a way. We have all the love and support of your blogger friends and I was surprised by how much they truly care." I told him that you're more than just blogger friends, you're family.

I once posted here that my word for 2006 is FAVOR. God has indeed showed me favor in so many ways that I hardly noticed. We've gone through so much already and here we are, still together. We've lost two of our precious ones in the past years and dealt with rejection here and there but here we are, still together. Friends from different parts of the world are offering us whatever help they could give. My neighbor told me this morning, "Pia, look how God shows you favor. He loves you." And I realized, yes, she's right!

As I type this post, tears are falling but I have a smile on my face knowing that we're not alone in this trial. God gave us all of you for support and love. I know that this is not the last trial we're going to face but I know that there will only be one set of footprints in the sand.

Thank you for the love and support you showed me and Jec all this time. From the bottom of our hearts, we love you deeply. God bless y'all.

**********

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

What Is your Word For 2006?

Y

I just came from Kimber's blog where she suggested to think of a specific word for 2006 and her word is ACCEPTANCE. I've realized that I have also been loved and ACCEPTED by the people who are important to me and especially God who loves me and ACCEPTED me for who I am. For that, I am so thankful.

Paula M over at Grace Reign wrote there that her word for this year is EXPECTANT. Just like her, I am also expecting God to move in my life more this year.

Now it's my turn. My word for 2006 is FAVOR.

I have gone through so much last year and when I think back, I couldn't imagine how I got out of those turmoils still in one piece. I know it was all God's doing that's why I'm still here posting. Trials will still come and go but life's a bit easier to live by having Him with me always and friends like you to support me all the way. Boy, I thank God for all of you.

This year, I'm looking forward to more blessings and FAVOR from God Almighty. I have been praying for so many things and I know in my heart that they're in line with God's will and this year, I am boldly claiming them in Jesus' name.

What's your word for 2006?