Sometimes, I browse through my archives and I can`t help but feel so blessed {and funny!} keeping a lot of wacky pics taken with my laptop`s webcam during those pre-DSLR days. I miss those times. People don`t pose in front of their computers nowadays when they`re bored, do they?

 

Looking back, I think I`ve really enjoyed my webcam to the fullest. I spent my 21st year taking a lot of fun moments with friends! I really don`t remember having boring times back then. Could it be because we took  a little too much photograph?

 

Whoa! Although that was two years ago, it feels very yesterday!

 

 

We had more than 200 taken on this day alone!

 

 

I just couldn`t believe it!

 

 

 

I actually have more {the real wacky pics} but I`m afraid to upload them because I might lose my best buds. They`d hate me for it! lol

 

Actually, four of them are on their way to become pastors now. Two are worship leaders.  One is a missionary. While the rest are being used by the Lord mightily in different ministries. I`m a proud friend!

 

When I look at these photos, I can`t help but really be amazed where the Lord has brought us now. We were once wacky kids taking a lot of photographs after youth service and every time we get the chance! God is really amazing, so choose to serve Him! He brings you to places you`ve never imagined! And everyday He makes you more and more like Him!

 

Anyway, do you happen to keep photos like these in your computer? How do they look like? I wish I can see too! If you would upload, please leave me a link!

 

Found this soooo cute video on Tumblr tonight.

 

Aaaah! Cuddly kids who laugh and feels happy over very simple things! I`m in love! Really adorable!

 

We were once like those kids, right? I really miss getting extremely excited over the little things Mom and Dad make me enjoy. Like water spray, and candies, bubble baths and tickles…oh, and paper cut outs from milk boxes {My Dad used to cut my favorite bear logo from milk cartons when I was a toddler and I never forgot that}.

 

Back then, things were much simpler and mist from a spray bottle feels like a fairytale! We really didn`t know what the word expensive really means so cash, gadgets, and luxury clothes don`t appeal to us. What catches our attention are the simple things that matter much. It takes a car, a bank account, or a big achievement to make grown up laugh like that now. haha

 

No wonder Jesus said we must have faith little little kids.

Not to be childish, but childlike. To learn to trust and love Him like little children. Fearless and mind not influenced by the world. Just trusting Him. Just trusting our Father.

 

^2-5For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. Matthew 18:2-5

 

I wish it would look so childish to play like this again. haha

 

But maybe then, I can.

 

To our Heavenly Dad, no matter how hard we try act like we`re grown up and think we don`t need Him, we`re still His little children. We`re always children needing a Father. We`ll always, always need Him.

 

Aaaay! Would my sisters get angry if I get my Mom`s sprayer and wake them up with this early in the morning? hahaha They would get crazy and I might get kicked out of the house on a Sunday morning! *wink* I think this is just the perfect surprise! haha

 

It`s  feels so nice to be like a kid again.

Did I already tell you our house is closer and closer to becoming a zoo?

Aside from our two dogs, Twinkle and Star, we`ve also got this little cat. She doesn`t have a name…or maybe I should just ask Viola who loves naming everything—dogs, cats, birds… and she comes up with funny names.

 

And this morning, she introduced me to the three little kittens the cat recently gave birth to. And I was surprised.

 

Look at how she named them!

 

 

 

And she really had an explanation why she named the kitties as such.

 

To be honest, I am impressed. She named them opposite of their personalities… like a positive declaration.

 

I love their names and my funny sister.

 

♥♥♥

 

Now we`ve got Twinkle, Star, Faith, Hope and Love…

and a nameless cat. I wonder how Viola calls her.

Aaah, that lovely cat who cuddles with the dogs.

 

Pets are funny—and lovely—after all.

 

And I think God brought them to our lives to remind us to shine our light, always have faith, never lose hope…

 

and to always, always show and give LOVE.

 

♥♥♥

My cousins and I went for a short break at the park on Sunday. And it brought back a lot of little girl memories! Don`t you miss playing with your cousins under the sun? Or dressing up your dolls with them?

 

{on the photo: Ate Glaiza, Gladys, My sister Ava…

and Viola on the swing.}

I missed that very much!

You must have heard that I`ve got two sisters. Yup, that`s me plus two lovely, younger sisters (they`re both taller than me…) and no boys. And as you can imagine when three girls come together, you can never predict what happens next.

 

Last week, after church, all three of us went to the mall to buy clothes for Ava and to get some things from the drugstore. We went to McDonalds to have snacks afterwards…

 

And while waiting for Viola to come back with food from the counter, my sister Ava, who`s the most business-minded of us three, inquires of my money-spending that day.

 

Look at her expression! Sooo funny! You should have heard her voice when she said those words in the speech balloons!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love Ava and how she works as my financial adviser! haha And how she makes me laugh everytime. {The bottle was covered in a plastic wrap that feels crunchy when you squeeze it. I tore it all up to show there were no seeds. She still thought there were seeds. I opened the bottle, right there at McDonalds, so she would believe.}

 

Ava is funny! So how could I live without my sisters?

 

How about you? You have a sister too? Or a brother? What do you love about him or her?

 

PS. Both of my sis left for the National Youth Prayer Gathering this morning and I showed Ava the photos before they head out the door. She said she doesn`t look good here, but laughed even thought and said it`s okay to post. So that`s why I posted it away. She really doesn`t care about image or anything. haha

I`m not usually fond of cats. The one we got at home is a bit spoiled. She doesn`t give way to me, but wants me to give way to her all the time. But kittens are always cute, aren`t they? Even if they are really stubborn sometimes.

 

I saw this video from Choi Siwon on Twitter and it`s really so cute. I love cats now! They`re really like me and my Mom.

 

 

I remember the night before my first day in a pro video editing house last year.  I was too anxious that I couldn`t sleep. I climbed onto Mom and Dad`s bed at midnight and Mama just hugged me tight. I tossed and turned in bed for the whole evening and anxious thoughts ran in my mind. My Mom hugged me like that little kitty having a nightmare.

 

I love Moms. And kitties, now, too!

 

And, and… I want to to share a funny video me and my friends did almost 3 years ago in Hongkong (Funny `cause it`s corny and a mini adaptation of a Korean Drama).  I suddenly missed them tonight. They`re in my heart always.

 

You can view Episode 1 here. Sadly, I`m still not done with the 3rd part. I hope I can finish it before our HK trip`s 3rd anniv.

 

Goodnight now, friends! It has been a busy day. I made 3 posts today. Not to mention, I exercised long enough to lose too much weight this morning. haha (Did I really need to mention that?) Anyway, I`ll see you soon!

 

Blessings!

I am proud of my country. On the late night news tonight, they said the the Philippines is one of last two states in the world where divorce is not legalized. And it feels good that we are one of the last countries standing, adhering to the Word of God regarding the sanctity of marriage.

 

But my rejoicing didn`t last a long time. They said that divorce is now being talked about in Congress and they are considering passing a law that would legalize it.

 

If I could write a letter to Philippine Congressmen, I would tell them this:

 

---

To Every Filipino Congressman who`s Pro-Divorce:

 

I am a young lady in my early 20`s. In a few years, I may get married and may raise my own family.  I used to be a little girl who dreamed of fairytales. I am still the same girl who dreamed of wearing her wedding dress.

 

 

I know marriage is not easy. I know that couples have differences. I know there would be fights and there would be times I would be more willing to get away that to work it out. But even then, I would secretly wish we could work it out. I may think of giving up, but deep in my heart I would quietly wish we could hold on much longer. I would need you push me and encourage me to believe that things can be turned around, to try my best one more time, and to be strong give it all I`ve got.

 

Please don`t make me lose hope that marriage can be lifelong and beautiful. Please help me believe that things can be fixed if only we are willing to do so. Please teach me not to get into marriage easily thinking I could erase any trace of mistake anytime I want to. Please don`t make me think that when marriage is not going well, then marriage is a mistake.

 

Please teach me to become responsible. Teach me to value family. Teach me to love. Teach me to obey God above all. Teach me not to be selfish, but to put others above myself. Teach me to value loyalty and fidelity. Teach me that I couldn`t just leave and find another man if things wouldn`t work out well between me and my husband.

 

I may sound selfish now. But I wouldn`t want to be selfish then. If I would give up on marriage before I even begin, I might give up on marriage when I`m already there… if you give me reasons to give up when I`m already there.

 

Right now, I am still hopeful. And I am still hoping that my generation would also learn to hope and believe that where the others have failed, we could stand up and begin…and we could also finish well.

 

I believe in marriage and  I believe God can make it last forever. Please build up our faith, our belief on marriage as a lifelong gift from God.

 

We are counting on you. This generation is counting on you for encouragement, for faith.

 

Please don`t fail us.

 

My sisters and I did a little *photoshoot* after church yesterday. And it`s funny that all three of us girls took our turns standing in front of an electric fan to get that hair-flying effect in photos.

 

 

 

I`m laughing at myself now. My blog looks like it turned into a wedding blog in just a day.

 

But will you forgive me and let me pass this time? This flipbook is SOOOOO cute.

 

Well, you can use it for birthdays, your Mom`s birthday, or on Father`s day (hehe Lame excuse!)

 

FLIPBOOK SAVE THE DATE from Chris Nagle on Vimeo.

 

But I got another one for you. Since it`s close to Father`s day and my Dad`s birthday is next week…

 

 

Share it with your Dad and say it loud with me…

I love you, Pop!

It`s Mother`s day in few days. Do you have anything coming yet?

 

My Mom really loves treats. She likes chocolates and lipsticks…and clothes…and flowering plants. I`m thinking of finding a few of those brands she likes… She`s very much craving for dark chocolates these days so I might get her some.

 

But more than the treats she would like for mother`s day, I`m wondering if there`s anything else.

 

Aside from this cute class pumpkin thing she would probably love.

 

My sisters and I have been reading Tommy Tenney`s Finding Favor with the King several times during the year and I guess it had sank to me that to please the King, you must put his desires first—esp. when you want to give him a gift.

 

 

I guess that applies to our Moms, too, on Mother`s day. Instead of getting something we would like to give them, why not give them something they would actually want to receive.

 

And so today, we`ve still got 3 days to spy about the 10 things she would love on Mother`s day (it`s good to have choices `cause she might put a car on number one and you can only afford the massage on number 2).hehe

 

Here are some ways to find out Mom`s top 10.

 

1. Ask her to come with you to the mall when you`re buying something for yourself, and look to which directions she would go. Notice what stuff she would pick up and ask if she likes them. Moms sometimes don`t say it but she might actually love something she picks or tries on.

2. Stay at home for one day and engage her into a conversation about fashion, recipes, and interior design. She will definitely mention something she really likes.

 

3. Ask your dad, your brothers and sisters and her friends about where she probably would want to go or what she would want to do over the weekend.

 

4. Try to remember her favorites. Favorite book. Favorite spa. Favorite color.

 

5. Make her answer the 5 Languages of Love Test `cause her love language might not be gifts or treats, but actually service, or words or touch. If that`s the case, offer to give her a massage for a week or take over her household chores. Write her a card, make her a video or hug her tightly on mother`s day for an hour.

 

Maybe that`s what I`m gonna do tonight first. I want to find out her love language and it`s gonna be great and easy to know how to make her happy, not just on Mother`s day but all the days after that.

 

Happy Mother’s day to all the moms out there!

 

 

Photo credits: Ms. Pearl on Flickr

and via strawberriesandchampagne and yinniemouse

and marthastewart.com

We still have children, aunties and a baby sleeping over in the house tonight. Last week`s grand family reunion has been extended even today and I guess until the end of the month when my Aunts would go back to their hometowns.

It really feels good to have a big family. I posted on my Facebook status last time that we discovered  during the reunion that my Grandma on my Mom`s side had 15 siblings ( 2 pairs were twins). And it`s really amazing. I really want to find all of our relatives and know them all. Manila is not really a big place and I might be bumping into a relative and still don`t have any idea…

 

This whole week had been noisy, and busy, heartwarming and fun! Kids running everywhere and everyone chatting with another… I love these scenes. I love the stories that I hear. Btw, my aunts had been telling their love stories. Ava and I are doing interviews one by one and you would go crazy when you start to hear them laughing loudly and telling their past. It all seems fresh in their minds.

 

Well, here are the things I love about our grand family reunion. You might also want to get to plan yours soon. You really wouldn`t want to miss a single moment…

 

Aaaaw! My heart feels so warm. I love the whole family getting together!

 

1. Family reunions is where you find all the good food!

2. You discover stories and secrets you`ve never heard before.

 

3. You come thinking you know everybody only to find out you haven`t met everybody just yet. 

 

4. People are asking you who`s child are you.

 

 

5. Family reunions makes you talk endlessly for 48 hours.

 

6. Family reunions teaches you patience.

7. Everyone blurting out “Look,he/she has grown so much!".

 

8. Hugs, kisses, and new Facebook friends. haha

 

9. Family reunions opens rooms in your heart…for you to love more.

There are more people to love, more people to share God`s love with. I love that I have a big, big family. I love it because the more I people I let into my heart, the bigger my capacity to love becomes.

Finally…

 

10. Family reunions make you humble. You see the good stories… but there would always be some bad apples to the family history. I`ve learned to accept the hard truths, the painful stories that would normally make people feel ashamed. Every single thing is a part of who I am and I believe that in these stories, God really shows His grace the best. Well, Jesus family history wasn`t perfect too. And I take comfort that He has experienced and known it all.

 

You, what do you love about family gatherings?

I`m back after a month of living the parsonage life.

I never thought I`d ever love living like this even for a while.  But God was very gracious…and he completely blew my mind away with His plans.

 

 

I thought I would get bored, but what happened was the opposite. My sisters, Ferdie (our guitarist) and the other young people who comes during weekdays had a great time talking just about anything.

 

|  We talked about it all, learned from each other and I believe we grew stronger in our relationship as a team and as a body of Christ because of that.

 

Now, I`m back and we`re unpacking… (I can`t believe we`ve brought too much stuff enough to fill the four-seater back of the van.) That means we`ve got plenty of stuff to sort and put back into their rightful places. In fact, I`m sitting in the couch now with two bags behind me and another two beside me. Bags are everywhere!

 

I hope you have a great dinner tonight, friends. Meanwhile, I have to go and see what we`ve got for dinner. I think Ava will cook the Arabian Dried Fish like the ones we had for breakfast this morning. I didn`t know there was such a thing but  I tell you, it was so good. Only that vinegar don`t get absorbed easily when you dip it in. You would have to prepare a lot of vinegar to get the sour taste.

 

Have a great night!

Day 3 Today, I couldn’t believe the power of love! I mean, really!

I was having breakfast this morning when Papa pulled out his old suitcase which he’s now using to keep his documents—preaching stuff and other church papers. The things is, Papa forgot the combination to open the lock! He asked me if I remember it since he taught me how to open the suitcase some time ago. I made a guess, but as you expect, the suitcase didn’t open up.

So we were wondering how would Papa ever open his suitcase and get his papers. But before I could even device Plan B, Papa said “I`m giving this to you. Find the combination.”

I was like laughing `cause how would I get the combination? Well, of course, there`s only one way—to try and try until the suitcase finally opens up.

9x9x9=729 729 combinations to try!!! I mean, that would take me a day and my knuckles would all get buffed up pushing the buttons every time I’d enter a new code!

But as crazy as love can get, I decided to get past my calculations and just do what needs to be done.

So dad left for church and I went on with my Korean language practice sessions, and on my break time, I pulled the suitcase and told myself that “Yeah, even if takes a whole day, I’m gonna do this.”

The most amazing thing happened, it didn’t take me an hour. Not 15 minutes. And well, not even 5!!! The suitcase opened up in like three minutes! No, I didn’t shook it neither did I give it a hard blow. God just led me to the right combination and it was really amazing! I never thought it would be that easy! Or maybe it’s really not easy. It was just God’s grace.

I can’t help but be amazed with what God is doing. He honors people’s hearts and when you take the initiative to do something out of love, no matter how impossible it may seem, He will just help you out. He will give you the grace to do it! He made a miracle for me!

You know, I’m so happy with what happened that I even gave Twinkle, our doggie, a massage on the head. And now she’s sleeping right in front of me.

DAY 3: Try to do even the most impossible thing out of love. God will help you! Find a forgotten lock combination and give your dog a massage!

DAY 2 Some of you might have heard that we`ve got a family store. My mom is the one who`s taking care of it but because she can`t do that all the time, my sisters are taking their turns in manning the store.

I really don`t tend to it, just occasionally when the girls are out or when mom`s busy. So, I thought that maybe I can take my turn and commit to helping out in running the store.

This morning, I made a shift schedule for me and and the girls and committed myself to help out in the morning from 8am-12nn. It`s gonna be great since my sisters, my mom and I would be back by 8am from our morning walk and I`ll also have time to study Korean while tending to the store.

It`ll be a comfort to my sisters and my mom since they could do other things in the morning instead of being in the store.

I guess if you really love the people around you, you would care about the things they also care about, right? ;)

 

DAY 2: Help out in the family business.

DAY 1 It`s 5am and I was on my laptop taking a photo of myself. ;) Dad woke up, opened the store, and went out to walk the dog. When he returned, he asked me to make him a cup of coffee.
It`s not the first time he asked me to do his coffee early in the morning, but I this is definitely the first time I stopped what I was doing and made coffee while deeply meaning in it my heart that I`m doing this because I`m putting him above myself—not because I was only asked to do it.

I never really liked the idea of stopping what I`m doing to do something else. But you know what, one thing I learned today is that if you love somebody, you could put down anything you`re doing just to meet the need of the person you love.
And it just brings joy to your heart.
The rest of the thing you`re doing—you could do it later. But you couldn`t miss an opportunity to show that you really love someone—and in this case, my dad.

DAY 1: Make coffee for your daddy and drop whatever it is that you`re doing to meet a need of a person you love.

Ok. I give up. I've been looking around for pretty Wordpress themes only to find out that you can't change a Wordpress.com theme and if you really want to, you could go to Wordpress.org which obviously is not a free site.

So here I am in Blogger. ;) I'm moving my first Perinkle Confession here, too. ;)

______________________________________________________________________________
So, here’s my first shameful confession. I don’t know how to change my WordPress theme, although I can get satisfied with this cutie, minimalistic theme I have found on the presets. Suits my newly polished pink nails.. Will show you a picture tomorrow ’cause I don’t have a camera with me.

By the way, I was trying to hold back tears the whole morning because in our staff devotions , we talked about how we first came to Christ. I always get teary eyed whenever I speak about me, encountering God as a child, as a 6-year-old, and seeing my life change as I was growing up.

I realized, there is an endless list of things to be thankful to God for. It always amazes me that God could reach a kid like me, as naive as a pre-schooler can be. It always breaks my heart when I come to think of it that God reached my parents at the same time, even though they were physically apart (Dad was in Japan, mom in the PI.) which made way for me and my two younger sisters to grow up in a Christian family. I love it when I think about my mom not wanting secular songs in the house, forbidding us to watch kissing scenes on TV, taking every care for us not to get saturated with media.

Now, look at what the passion we have for Jesus. Every little obedience that my parents have followed, made way for God to mold us into godly girls… and now women of God.

I just can’t help but stand amazed on how God is working in my family. And personally, on how he constantly pursues me to Himself. How can I just walk away?