A moment of stillness and prayer

Dear God, this year has been tremendous. Beyond what I could every hope and dream of. It is your hand that has moved all things into being and here I am standing before you with such joy and happiness and love.

I fall and I stumble and I continue to do so each and every single day. My temper gets the best of me and my impatience is overwhelming. My mistakes are frequent and I often hold on to regrets and what-ifs a bit more than what is needed.

Father God, thank you for being so kind and gentle with me. Your forgiveness is more than I deserve but I continue to yearn for it knowing that in my stupidity You still have your reasons why You love me.

My prayer for this year is that in my journey through this life, I will always hang on to You as my one true hope. That all the things I pray and beg for will come to pass in Your right time and in Your right way. My ways are far from Yours and I dare not even challenge your wisdom, Oh God. Do as You will, my Father. Let me have your patience as I wait for my prayers. Let me have the strength and the courage at the right time and not be too strong willed when it is not the time yet. You know my heart, Lord and I do get stubborn for Your sake. But even then, that is not Your way. The thing I pray for the most is all because of my love for You. And You know my heart, Lord.

I pray for my daughter. May she love you with her whole heart and may she see how awesome and marvelous You are. Tears come to me as I recall your kindness and generosity towards me all these years. How you have held me close even during the times when I felt alone. May it be the same for her as well. I will do my best to raise her in Your ways Lord. That has been my vow from the beginning and it will be so until I take my last breath.

2012 holds so much already. I take each step with you before me, Lord. Let me not take a step without you. Hold my hand still, Lord, as I go by my days.

Thank you for the blessings, the healing and the hope that you provide. In your hands once more. May I make you proud.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Counting down to 2012!

Time for the annual list of New Year resolutions! Probably a reminder of what should and should not have been done during the previous year. But it is fun to look back at my previous resolutions. Thankful I've actuall improved somewhat.

1) More quality time with Dani and Bryan. Making family work and making things more meaningful, so to speak. Having a baby and still adjusting to living away from home, sometimes I find myself so sleepy and tired that its hard to appreciate and make the best out of the moment.

2) Reread the Bible again this year. Its been a while and this is probably my 3rd or 4th go. Its never enough as long as there is breathe in me. No more excuses.

3) try to read more in general. Not to mention I just discovered Audible.com for the lazy bum in me. Wuhu!

4) seriously have a healthier lifestyle. Watch my diet and EXERCISE! This is so cliché but it is such a big resolution if none of the shirts I have fit and my belly button starts showing. That fad was left in the 80s. Moving on!

5) More me time which equals pampering and making myself look more like a lady than a frumpy bag of ugh!

Surprisingly, I can only think of 5 right now. Maybe in the next few days I get to add to this list.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My first Noche Buena spread

Stuffed baked chicken (actually practised this 2x beforehand).


Steak and mixed veggies made by moi! Paella by HDR.

Im just proud my cooking didn't come out as one big flop!

Its not yet over. We can still make a difference.

In closing the year 2011

Obviously its been one big ride of a year, 2011. Barely a few days left and it still keeps coming up with new and exciting ways to make my jaw drop. A blessed year indeed and looking forward to the new chapter that is 2012.

Top 10 high moments to remember for 2011:
1) My baby Danielle Beatrice is obviously my top highlight.
2) My brother and his long time love, Vicky got hitched in beautiful Boracay with family and great friends in attendance despite the nasty weather.
3) My brother and Vicky's expecting a baby boy!
4) Despite all the health situations our family faced, His face shines brightly and His healing is always near. Praising God that my father is doing so much better.
5) Rediscovering amazing friends who were with me through the last phases of my pregnancy. Their support and encouragement were with me all the way.
6) Special moments with me and Dani each day. A miracle to behold and I am still speechless with gratefulness.
7) Seeing Dani and Bryan together. Is there anything more simple and profound? A father and daughter together.
8) On the business side, it has been a lot of highs despite having some lows. But again, God provides and He has brought me to places my little puny, scatter brain could never would have dreamed of. Reaching new horizons and pushing forward with God's hand.
9) Trips with Bryan and Dani have been so fun and exciting. Its still a new experience for me and definitely relishing every single moment of it.
10) Finding out that Michael and Tina are getting married next year! I am so excited. Love these two dearly and wishing them all the joy and happiness they can dream of.

I prefer to look at the positive rather than the negatives. Life is so full of bad vibes to begin with. Time to look at the horizon and see whats before us rather than looking back and stumbling all over the place.

Hmmm... Time to get my resolutions in order.