Our 14th Year

Today I praise God as we celebrate our 14th Wedding anniversary, and look forward to more beautiful times together as a couple and as a family.

We treated ourselves to watch The Grand China National Acrobatic Circus Splendide in a famous coliseum in the city and enjoyed a good Chinese meal afterwards.



It is the first time for both kids to watch a live circus act like this, and they said they wanted to see more, and decided they wanted to watch another one -- the American version -- this time in a different place and venue. Perhaps we will do that before the year ends...

Gina gave me a beautiful homemade card...



And Yani gave me this book by Gary Chapman (relationship counselor and author of the The 5 Love Languages series)...



14 years, two kids aged 12 and 8... We've known each other in 1991. My Math skills says we've been friends for 19 years already... Praise God for this day.

An anniversary is a time
to celebrate the joys of today,
the memories of yesterday,
and the hopes of tomorrow.
Author Unknown

Pre-Christmas Gifts Opening

I just want to share this evening's most treasured highlight -- since the kids were bugging us to no end -- we allowed them to open some Christmas gifts!

My ever-generous Mom from NJ gave both kids groovy presents --

A magenta-colored tulle and satin party dress and a Disney Princess Enchanted Tales LCD watch with inter-changeable face (3 princesses' faces to choose from, which she may also wear as pendant) for Dancing Queen...



...and two wrist watches -- one formal one with several hi-tech features, and a funky (Nickelodeon) Sponge Bob one for Migs. Just what he truly needs.



Each also received a One Year Devotional Book and an inspirational bookmark made of pvc from us --

This is Gina's (for Girls). Just in time because she's almost finished with Grace D. Chong's "What's for Breakfast 2"...



...and Migs's (for Boys). He doesn't have to borrow from me anymore.



We received this one from Dancing Queen (oh how I wish even for just one day we could make a SnowMan like that here, haha!)



And I also got this book from Yani. It is one of the books I listed down in my year-round Wish List. Great to have this book in my collection...



Praise God for this day.

When you look at your life,
the greatest happinesses
are family happinesses.
Joyce Brothers

Treasured Moments

Migs feels a bit under the weather (no thanks to hay fever/sneezing allergies from my country's wishy-washy climate) and requested to sleep beside me, so here he is sleeping soundly on our bed.

Yani is understanding enough to allow our 12 year old tween to sleep with us in the room. When weekends or holidays like today is "in the house", we allow our kids to co-sleep with us. (Dancing Queen follows suit upon learning that her big brother gets to sleep in Dad and Mom's bedroom). We turn up the a/c and everyone gets comfy with thick, wooly blankets. We have cushioned mats to use on the floor, and soft puzzlemats covering our hardwood flooring all over our home's second level help sleep-buddies a lot.

We treasure moments like these and we are of course one small, happy family + one Maltese dog who also feels like she is every inch a human being. :)

P.S. Look again and find the human dog. :))

A family is a unit
composed not only of children
but of men, women,
an occasional animal,
and the common cold.
Ogden Nash

Dancing Queen's Facemask First Monthly Check-Up

Dancing Queen just came from her 1st check-up since wearing the Facemask a month ago.



Praise God because our doctor said her upper jawbone has moved forward already! Orthodontist and I documented it as usual and took photos of her profile. I am confident that by the end of our 3rd month, Dancing Queen will be able to go back to regular school. We are excited! That means we have hurdled the crucial first 3 months of intervention, which will allow Gina to wear the Facemask during bedtime only!



Although it takes a trained eye to see the difference from last month's file photos, we believe that God's mighty hand has moved and granted us favor in this.



We are very happy, for our labor is not in vain. Dancing Queen did a very good job of being an obedient patient -- wearing her Facemask for 20 hours a day without complain. Obedience and diligence truly paid off.



We ask for continued prayers for our daughter, and thank with all our hearts -- family and friends who prayed, and are constantly praying with us for Gina. May God bless you a thousandfold! I will be updating you again about our "journey" next time.

For more stories about Gina's Facemask, you may visit my past entries starting HERE.


And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Steps Christmas Dance

Gina's Ballet school, STEPS had an informal mini Christmas concert in the school's Studio 1 this evening. Her highness, Dancing Queen danced well together with her Ballet-mates. Music was "Forget About Love", from the Disney animated "Aladdin II: Return of Jafar".



Dancing Queen enjoys performing even in an informal venue like this. During summer though, performing on a much bigger and more formal stage like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) takes place.



Formal or not, she dances her best, and we always claim that someday, she will dance to honor and glorify God, her Maker and Creator. :)



Here she is with her very good teacher, Eurica Balagtas...



And the school's kind director, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde...



Even if she is undergoing some major changes in her life right now due to wearing her Facemask for 20 hours in a day, our Dancing Queen is blessed, and maintains a happy, cheerful disposition. She is one of two major blessings in our life, and we thank God for her.



Dancing with the feet is one thing,
but dancing with the heart is another.
Author Unknown