My early attempts

Healthy me starts ASAP, as I previously mentioned. 

My lunch today.

Breakfast...

Dinner last night, courtesy of Ocean City. Who knew? 

Healthier me

Had a huge health emergency recently. Drastic changes need to be made and it starts ASAP. 

Healthy living is not supposed to be complicated. It makes things simple, actually. Its just a matter of rebooting what you know and what you have grown acustomed to. 

God gave us the best body for His temple. I admit, I've neglected it quite a bit over the years. It was bound to catch up sooner or later. 

For the sake of my children and husband, they deserve much more. I resolve to make every single day, thought, word, food count. Help me, Lord, I will at times fall. 

Found a chart earlier that does bring a bit of inspiration my way. 

Worth a shot. God gave us the natural means. Who am I to argue?

On health and worry

Matthew 6:25

Do Not Worry

6:25- 33 pp — Lk 12:22- 31

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Another trip to the hospital 10 days after giving birth has been a wakeup call.

What I thought was a regular headache turned out to be a blood pressure of 180/120. Scary. Tests results came in with my cholesterol level 3x above normal and my sugar level wading on the boundary.

I've been proud to say my cholesterol level has been in control. My family has had a long history of heart problems and my dad had focused on that during his life. He got hit by cancer instead. His heart was the last to go.

I've been active and playong badminton competitively for more than a decade. So when the results came in, I was shocked. How could i have slid so low in just 9 months? I had a blood test done a few mobths before getting pregnant and I was normal.

Fear and hopelessness came over me last night. Helpless and frustrated, too.  But upon reading my devotional today, God spoke at the right time. 

Yes, one of my passions has always been food. I love to cook. I love cooking for my family. But this is a complete change in perspective and priority. 

Even when I was pregnant with all that happened to my dad, I already knew I needed to change my eating style and my family's. I never want my children to go through the same thing my brother and I experienced with Dad. Its going to be a bit of a struggle at first. A lot of studying and planning. But it will be worth it.

At the end of the day, Matthew 6:25-34 rings true. Its not my place to worry because our God is in control. He always has been. We just like to think we can do it in our own falliable way. 

I am blessed with people who love me. God has made sure I have a wonderful support system. I am better with them around. My husband, mainly. Bryan has been such a rock. God has plans for him and I need to stay on my course and put my faith and hope in God's hands.

Looking forward to coming home to my two angels, my children.  Coming home with a new perspective and life prayer.  I hope to be an even better mother, by God's grace. 

 Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. —Corrie ten Boom

Welcoming Caleb Joshua

Call it fate. Call it destined. Thats how I see it. After months if being determined and hoping of having my 2nd child normally delivered, at 39 weeks, I ended up with my second c-section. 

Caleb Joshua was born 6 days ago, January 3, 2014 at Iloilo Doctor's Hospital. My operation this time was a lot faster, less stressful and I, personally speaking, had better doctors this time. Both Heaven sent. We fervently prayed to have had less problems this time, and I did! God works in that way! 

Gave birth on a Friday, came home Sunday. Thats half the time It took me to get home from the first c-section. 

It was a miracle as well that CJ came out healthy. All through out my pregnancy, from my first weeks of being pregnant to the day I was delivering, I had consistent bouts of UTI. Pneumonia was a possibility. But he came and was all right, thank you, Lord!

So its back to the old routine of breastfeeding every 2 hours. Funny to see how different Dani and CJ are this early in life. Dani was a character even then. Sleepless nights with nannies giving up after a few weeks. CJ, you barely notice at all! He sleeps nonestop and rarely cries, except when he's hungry and you've kept him waiting or has a dirty diaper. He is a very calm baby. 

Looking back on all the things that happened while I was carrying him all the emotions I was feeling (Dad being hospitalized, Yolanda, Dad getting critical and him finally passing away). 2013 was a very bad year and he was right with me in the middle of it all. 

Babies are indeed God's miracles. I cannot even begin to fathom how he could have come out like this. 

Dani was born to be a Manang/Achi/Big sister. She had the biggest smile on her face when we finally brought CJ home. She has been sticking close to him since then. CJ has been her inspiration. Her waking and bathing time has been faster and less stressful now with CJ as bait. Her walks around the subdivision has become rushed now since she wants to get back to CJ. Its Syoti this and Syoti that. 

Dani hates to see CJ cry. Her manang instincts have definitely come in. She gets so frantic whenever he cries during his bath. I had to pull her aside the other day because I didn't want her to be affected by CJ's crying. She had tears in her eyes and I had to explain it to her. I told her she was such a good Manang to feel to strongly for CJ. Which is true. I can see their future together and I am hopeful. 

So this is the picture of our day so far with two beautifully made children. God is great and awesome! More chapters to unfold. Missing Dad even more now. But we see the sun at the end of the storm. 

Psalms 23:2-3

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

 he refreshes my soul...

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Hello, Syoti!

On January 3, 2014, God blessed our family with our 2nd child, a healthy baby boy! 

Thank you, Father God! And so

many people kept commenting he looks like my dad. 

Welcome 2014!

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

2013 was a year of a lot of highs and really bad lows. But we should not base our lives on just these fragments in time. We have a God bigger than our circumstances and our hopes. 

Yes, 2014 will be a bigger challenge with dad no longer around. That ache will be there for the rest of my life. But God is enough and He has already provided for and above what we need. Not just financially. But in all aspects of our lives.

I woke up this morning with my beautiful daughter and loving husband next to me. Despite all the aches and pain I am in, I am looking forward to meeting my little boy soon. 

In the next days my faith will once more be put in the frontline. My fear should be pushed to the side as I choose to hold on to the Master of my fate. God's will be done. Whatever I fear the most, God is refining me as He did my dad. This will make me stronger in my relationship with Him. May my journey be a living testimony of the goodness of my God.

This year, my prayer is that my walk in the Lord be pure and filled with confidence and courage. To dwell in deeper waters and not just wade in the shallows. To be more involved in my walk and in the people God has sent my way. 

To be the wife that inspires, encourages and be used by the Lord for His purpose in my family. A mother after God's own heart. A leader in the corner of the world God has entrusted me with. To lead as He leads. But to serve at the same time. Strong but with humility and the ability to learn. 

Praying for a wonderful 2014 for us all. May the Lord be glorified!