It's One of those Beautiful Fridays I've Had

Today, I've expressed in my Rare Ordinary Thoughts blog how grateful I am for the gift of good health, peace, and love. This afternoon, my day even turned to be so beautiful as four of the most important people in our family came over for a visit before Triz and I fly home to Philippines next week. They are the Malak Family who drove all the way from IL (more than 6 hours drive), from our old place and after more than two months of last seeing them, today, as I was so excited to wait for them, when they arrived, I was so happy to see all four of them (Jerry and Janice plus the kids Amy and Joshua who have grown so big and tall since the last time I've seen them).

They only dropped by for three hours as they still had to proceed to Tomahawk, some 80+ miles north from here and though short, we had a wonderful time reconnecting with each other. I hugged Amy and Joshua so tightly because I so missed these kids a lot. They've been like my own and Jerry and Janice trusted me that much that they're confident enough to leave these two children to me even for days. Yes, we are that close and like a family. For that, I am forever thankful to God for bringing them into our lives.

While I was playing with Joshua, Amy and Triz enjoyed spending time in Triz's recreation area as well and it was so good seeing them remembering each other even their age. I served the family some spaghetti, chicken tenders, banana bread, and some of my viands and it felt awesome to have them dined with us as they used to do back in IL. It's such a joy to have them who are typical Americans engaging with us typical Pinoys.

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We've had neverending chats, unfortunately, time isn't enough at all, so we bade goodbye with hugs and prayers that we'll see each other again someday soon. These people are very special to us and they really are gems. They're the ones whom when I think about, I can utter the words in Philippians 1:13 that says, "I thank God upon every remembrance of you."

Because of the Malak's visit to us today, I can greatly say that today is one of those most beautiful and unforgettable Fridays I've ever had.

Meanwhile, the fall season continues to amaze me as leaves seem to never show any signs of losing its beauty. We drove around the Schmeeckle Reserve early today and the everywhere I see, my eyes are filled with God's amazing character through the nature.

So much to witness to affirm that God is the creator of all these things and this lovely tree which is my favorite is beyond comprehension as to why such lovely color. Don't you want to agree? Take a look:

Isn't that marvelous?

So I had the chances to take a lot of photos today as we drove around town. Tomorrow is Sabbath and for sure, the scenes at the church will even be more rewarding. It's going to be Triz's and mine's last Sabbath tomorrow as next week, we will already be in Philippines if God desires, so I'll make most of our time to have another one happy and unforgettable Sabbath day celebration tomorrow.

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise

God, in all His majesty is worthy of honor and glory and praise. Today, I praise HIM for all the wonderful and marvelous things He has done and given me.

...in Wisconsin and Beyond Part 2

I've had details of what started our WI living in my old posts (here and here) and now that I am about to tell the last part of it, here I am in such a dilemma. Perhaps I'll never gonna be able to end that story for now. That's because now that I've learned to really love my WI lifestyle, I am about to leave WI to embark on another journey, though not that unfamiliar but quite strange, considering that it would involve a physical separation from my very dear sweetheart. Yes, soon, I am going to be away for a while as I go home to Philippines together with our daughter and stay there for some months as I'll enroll myself in a nursing program at a particular medical school in southern Philippines.

TOUGH LUCK, I know.



But one thing I'll never do: to ignore updating this blog of mine as I swear to myself, I'll go on blogging, as long as I have the time. I can always find a chance as long as I've got an internet connection. I'm sure I'll have a lot of stories to tell. I am already very very excited.

So in relation to that mission that I'm gonna be partaking soon, next week, me and our daughter Triz will leave our Dadi behind as we'll head to Las Vegas to join my in-law's for five days and after that, we'll fly home to Philippines, God willing. The classes there start on the first week of November, that's for the second semester of the school year 2009-2010 and I am aiming to get started as soon as possible to seize the opportunity. Our initial and very definite plan is for me and Triz to stay there straight from the start of my Nursing program till I'll finish it. We didn't realize that Triz, being a US citizen, isn't allowed to stay out of the country for more than a year. Because of that, we will be coming back here next year after the classes. A lot of setbacks and tough decisions to make, and financial resources play a huge factor in everything, but swithart and I are confident that God will supply all our needs. We'll just pray for good health always while we are away from each other. It's the toughest, really, but things will work out together for good with sacrifices such as this.

It isn't easy for the three of us to be apart, especially for our daughter who is so close to her dad. But we trust that technology can bring us closer one more time, though virtually only. We know that deep in our hearts, each one lives eternally, though physically apart.

With that mission of mine being said, this blog's updates then, when I'm in Philippines entail the "...in Beyond" part of my being a Sabbath-keeper here in WI and beyond! Thank you for your visit, as always!

Our First Fall Here in Stevens Point, WI

The trees all around us right now have been changing their colors. Everything looks so nice and beautiful, especially when you go drive around the city with trees along the way and in major trails as well and reserve parks. I bet when we go to Schmeechle Reserve these days, the view is more beautiful and lovely compared to when we went last September 12th. In the woods by and at the back of our church building, the trees are already very colorful. And even though this year's fall season has been my fifth year of experiencing the season, I still get amazed and overwhelmed by the beauty of the Autumn.

The fact that we live here in a secluded place in the midst of the woods is a reason for me to enjoy Fall. Just seeing the gorgeous colors of the trees turning from the natural green to a breathtaking orange, yellow, purple, red, or pink is marvelous. If one can't acknowledge the majesty of God's creation through them, then I don't know what else to call it.

In the university where the hubby works, he said the leaves are already falling even if the colors didn't turn red yet. I think it's because of the cold temperature that changed drastically. I wish to capture some more shots in the university campus, but these days, the temperature dropped to 50s which signals I won't be going out that much. LOL

See, my shots are limited to what I feel like capturing just here by our complex and at our church. Hopefully, the temperature will rise later this week as there are a lot of subjects I wanna take at the trail where I want to go and at the reserve as well. Right now, it's very windy outside and it's raining, too. Though, it's really cold considering we just came from warm temperature, I am thankful for we are spared here from the horrible flooding that my fellow Filipinos in Luzon and in some parts of Mindanao are going through right now because of typhoon Ondoy.

So there really is a lot to enjoy when it's Autumn. There are a lot of subjects worthy to be captured, including sweet smiles. For now, I hope that wherever you are, Fall or Summer, may you'll continue to enjoy the beauty of life, despite the odds.

Sabbath is a Delight

I've a song that I learned during my childhood and the lyrics go like this:

Six days we have for work and play
The seventh is for Jesus
We rest upon the holy day
For it belongs to Jesus

One, two, three, four, five, six-- for us
The seventh is for Jesus

I've learned that song when I was still a child (thank for for Sabbath-keeper parents!), and now that I'm a mom, I dare not forget teaching it to my daughter (which she is now so good at) because I can see nothing but everything good about the whole thing. Indeed, when one can spend a day resting and forgetting everything that happened in the week and just being spiritually nourished and refreshed, such day becomes a delight. No wonder Jesus reminds us in Isaiah 58:13 (NIV): “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord ’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words . . . (v. 14), then shall thou delight thyself in the Lord...”

Being a seventh-day Sabbath keeper is a big part of my life. Having married to one is a blessing and raising our child as one is a privilege for us to teach her about God and His commandments and His soon coming. So no matter how busy and tough our week is, the fact that there's the seventh day awaiting us for a good rest is a reason for us to keep rejoicing. If we have enjoyed the Sabbaths eversince, you, too, can have the same enjoyment if only you will.

Of course resting on a Sabbath doesn't mean sleeping and all. God intended the Sabbath day to be a date for us and Him, thus, our Saturday is always spent at church, fellowshipping with the the church family, enjoying the time with them, and studying His words. It's a break from all the labors and cares of the week. God knew how tired and weary we all become with all the busyness that works and life offer, and so He gave us the seventh day for a good rest. Not only that, He sanctify that day so we could all be sanctified as well. The Sabbath given to us by God at the time of Creation (Gen. 1; Exo. 20:8-11) is what we celebrate each week and there is a heavenly joy that we always feel each time! From sundown on Friday, the Sabbath begins and ends when the sun sets on Saturday. A 24-hour-cycle, like all days are, and is perfect enough to be spent communing with the Creator and with our family.

Wherever we are in this world, when it's Sabbath day, we can always find a church to go to and spend the time with the church brethren.

Sabbath church service at our beloved Carmen SDA Church in CDO where swithart did the sermon


Sabbath night setting when we watched a concert at SPUC Garden Church in CDO


A visit to my childhood place in Talakag, Bukidnon one Sabbath day (2008). It was great seeing old familair faces and relatives

No matter where we are, if there's an SDA Church in the place, we can always be seen in such sanctuary on Sabbath days!

At the front lawn of the church back in Central Illinois


Nola and I led the closing song after the church service


With some of the church family in Central IL

We've come and gone, lived in places and leave them behind, but our keeping the Sabbath will never be set aside. It's a part of our lives that we treasure so much and we don't want anything or anybody take it away from us. In Philippines, Sabbath day is such a glrious day of rejoicing as we always have a whole-day church service there. It's different here in the US, but still, again, no matter where and when, Sabbath for us is always a delight!

Last week's Sabbath was a blast! Mheldz, the UK-based Pinay nurse stopped by to say goodbye as she goes back to UK the day after. Hopefully, she'll pass all the necessary exams required of her to work here in the US as a nurse so she can move here the soonest. We'll see her next year!


The hubby at the church's lawn practicing a song that we'll be singing at the nursing home later that day. "How big is God", the song went.


Triz and Azaliah enjoyed the noon picking up flowers among the grasses


And I had to pose in the middle of our practice "just because" I wanted to. LOL


The beauty of the nature at back of the church here in SP. It signals that Fall is coming so soon! Yay!

There is so much to do on a Sabbath day, like there is during the first six days of the week. However, things to be done on a Sabbath is way different that everything that we do on the weekdays. The difference is that there is real joy and happiness, as well as peace and great time fellowshipping with the church family that can not be found in any other days. Like how the Sabbath day gives us the delight, I hope you can experience it, too!

More than a Blessing

I am so idle in here, I know. But yesterday's Sabbath was such a blessing that I hate to miss this chance of sharing it here.

You see, yesterday, September 12th was swithart's birthday, which, the fact that it fell on a Sabbath Day is such a perfect reason for a celebration. No, we didn't have a grand party nor did I cater and invite people to come over. I simply cooked three menus (sotanghon guisado, teriyako veges, and fried rice) which we will bring to the church for the potluck lunch after the church service, a custom that the SP SDA church has been doing every Sabbath and because it was the hubby's birthday, the two of us were very thankful for such a special day that the Lord has given him.

I didn't have something material to give him. He didn't ask for any either. He told me yesterday morning when he woke up, after I greeted him "happy birthday, I love you" that with me and Triz in his life, he has a lot of reasons in his heart to celebrate, but material things need not be there, nor money's presence a "must" in order for us to be happy. I know deep in his heart what he meant. He said he asked God for more years because he still has a lot of things to do with me and his daughter. Sweet, right? Anyway, we both asked God for a special blessing for us yesterday before going to church.

And sure enough, God never failed us.

It was "Children's story" part of the church service when a beautiful thing happened. I was left in our pew all by myself as swithart brought Triz to the front pew for the children's story and some moments later, a couple got inside the church and proceeded to where I was seated. Courteously, I scooted a bit more to my right side to accommodate the couple; the lady sat right beside be and I noticed she looked so familiar beauty-wise. I mean, she looked like Asian. A Filipina at that, though she has a fair complexion, we have the same height so I really thought she's of my race. You bet she felt and noticed the same thing, too. Avoiding ourselves to make some noise, we both had the mutual feelings of just keeping our mouth shut. But moments later, I felt like I can't hold my sense any longer. I turned to her and smiled (remember, less than 2 inches only kept us apart) and she responded with a sweeter smile, and whispered, "Pilipino ka?" and I excitingly asked back "Bisaya ka?" to both of our amazement. Can you imagine how we both felt like that very moment?

Smile after smile was printed in my face, I was so sure of that. And we stole a lot of chances to talk (just whisper) while still inside the church after the service was over. I can't wait for the church service to be over and though I learned that Mhelds, the Pinay who sat beside me was here for a visit only, I still was full of thanksgiving for such a beautiful time! The lady is Mhelds, and I learned that she is a UK citizen, originally from Koronadal in Mindanao, a place I was so familiar with, and she is a nurse who works in London.

Being a nurse wannabe that I am, my curiosity about her even led me to ask and ask some more. Tales were further told and we had a great time after church when she and her fiance Bob, the reason for her visit here in the US and the person she's with in coming to church stayed for lunch so we had a longer time chatting. Of course, the birthday celebrant was very much happy as well. We endlessly talked and chatted and after lunch, I invited Mhelds and Bob here in our home to finish our conversation and ah... it was really more of a blessing than a surprise to have met these two newfound friends.

Mhelds and her fiance Bob, moi and Triz after we ate our lunch

Knowing their plans was even more wonderful! I joked to Mhelds to come move here in Wisconsin and I was so delighted to hear from her that if she'll pass all the exams that the US required of her to work here as a nurse, she will leave the UK and settle her. Guess what, we even both have the same likes and tastes about living and lifestyle in general here in the US. She agreed that she'll stay here in Stevens Point if all things will permit her already to move here in the US, and our excitement grew to the highest level! LOL Oh God... yesterday was really a wonderful blessing! Her fiance, Bob was so nice and friendly, too, and find the us to be warm friends so it really was awesome. Hopefully, all the exams (CG, TOEFl, NCLEX) that Mhelds will be taking so that will give her a favorable result so that next year, the "best" thing will happen to us. What's even beautiful about it is that we both are Seventh-day Adventist so we really click together and we share a lot of common memories in the past.

There were countless of small things that that we have touched upon, but it all came to one point: we both were excited for the upcoming months ahead. I hope God will grant us the positive output. He has never forsaken us in the past until now, so I am 100 % trusting and believing that He will carry our plans through.

Indeed, it was more than a blessing.