Post Mother's Day Lunch Date

Thanks Honey for the treat, and for the time we spent together today and everyday :-). I love you!

My dessert, cheesecake...

our main course.....

and his dessert, salt cake with vanilla ice cream :-).

Yesterday was Mother's Day celebration, but hubby and I couldn't go out to eat because it was Sabbath day where we are not allowed to go, but church. I got a present from hubby and son though. I teased my husband whether he has a plan to take me out on a date the next day. And sure enough has; he did take me to a nice lunch at T.G.I. Fridays in Mesquite today :-). We both enjoy our date and the food. Anyway, above are the meal I ordered...we pretty much ordered the same food except the dessert.

My Weight Loss Plan, Biggest Loser Competition, Etc...

Two weeks ago, I joined a Biggest Loser Competition group that my friend set up. There are 40 members, all of who pitched in $25. If you lose 8% of your weight by July 7th she rips the check up. If you don't, the money goes to the Biggest Loser (the person with the greatest percentage of weight loss).

I started losing weight a week ago before this started. The first week the competition started was actually the first week I gained weight since Christmas and I have had trouble losing it since. About three months ago when; went to have my routine check up with my doctor. Everything was fine when the lab work came out and we were very pleased with the results. My doctor told me that all; need to do is to lose weight since the holiday is over, and eating is no longer an excuse. He challenged me that after three months that I would need to lose at least 5 pounds before I see him again three months from that day. For whatever reason, I kept telling myself that I would follow his advised, I would eat less and exercise more. But that goal didn't happen. And I only have less than three weeks before I see hm again for my annual exams.

So far, I have lost, more or less 10 pounds, and I am feeling great. Been eating less and exercising more for the past three weeks. My blood sugar level has gone down from high to 60 (the lowest), plus my insulin shot was decreased to 20 units each night compared to 60 units before I joined the competition.

I hope that I would be able to continue losing weight even when the competition is over. I really want to go back to my ideal weight before I got married which was 100 pounds. I know I can do it.

My Moment, My Little Time

Being a Mom is not an easy job, but it is rewarding, fulfilling, and priceless. I love it even though it took my whole time like I work 24/7 a day, 365 days a year. I am a babysitter, driver, shopper, all around maid, teacher, reader and story teller, playmate, a photographer and etc...You can hardy see me in our family album. But the other day, I had my moment. Hubby and son took a lot of pictures of me when we were out having fun time together. here are the few of them, lol.

This was taken when we were out of the aquarium after we see fun things inside the place.

Inside the DWA, on the tunnel I posed :-)

Husband had fun taking a photo of me.

And this one was taken by my son outside the Harbor place in Rockwall where we have pizza for dinner. We had a blast!

Pink Friday: Personalized Valentines Card from Hubby

I am joining this meme again after my long absence blogging :-); I miss joining memes and hopefully, I can join every week. Anyway, here is a photo of the Valentines cars my husband gave to me last week. He made it himself that is why it is my favorite card he had given me so far. The one on the left with red heart was the one I got for him. I gave him a box of chocolates, too.

Valentines cards we have given to each other this year.

Things I Learned As a SAHM

Back in the country where I was borne and raised, I don't remember learning to do some arts and crafts at school. That is why I'm no good at it. I can draw, but that's about it! After high school, I started working a part time job....and been very busy...no time to discover or even develop any talents that God given me. I don't even know how to cook till I started to live on my own. Now, that I am married with a child and living in a foreign country, I don't have any choice but to live the way people live here. I became even more independent, crafty, cook, driver, painter, and accountant. I am grateful to live in this free land where I have the potential to become what God wanted me to be.

Butterfly Lollipop

Bookmarks

Bee Mine cards

One of the many things I learned living here in United States is arts and crafts. I can make afghan (crochet), decorate my house, and make cards for my son to bring to school every Valentines Day party. So, here are some of the few items I have made for him.

Missing My Home Country

My mind has been busy lately thinking about my life here in United States. Frankly speaking, I was very happy for the past seven years living here with my own little family (of three). With my very supportive, responsible, hardworking, caring, loving and thoughtful husband, I can never ask for more. The birth of our second child, Jacob has made our life more meaningful and eventful. We love him so much and he is our pride and joy! He is now seven year old, turning eight this July. I am still happy when I think about how God has blessed me with such a wonderful family (of my own). But lately, I feel very unhappy and incomplete. Something is missing and I couldn't figure out what it is that would make me the happiest person alive. I realized now, that I am just missing my family overseas. I am missing my relatives, friends, and the country where I was born and raised. Believe it or not, but I still feel homesick, longing to spend my life in the Philippines. Yes, I have all the things that I need, except my parents, siblings and their families and the country and its culture. I am active at church, magnifying my callings as a teacher in Sunday school, trying to live the gospel, but no real friends in there. I don't feel like belong there anymore. But I have no choice, but be active and keep God's commandments. Then today, I was reminded that I don't need many friends to be happy. The quote below made me realized that I have few friends that I can call "real friends". I love them and they make me happy. They don't belong to the church I go to, but they are my real friends, who appreciate me for who I am; and I am so grateful for that.

"Surround yourself with people who know your worth. You don't need too many people to be happy, just few real ones who appreciate you for exactly who you are." ~Unknown~

I know this is the way how God is telling me that I am of worth. I am important to Him and His plan. Now, the thought of not going to church anymore diminished. I realized that it is Satan who is there trying to discourage me to keep doing what I am doing. I am so glad with the Holy Ghost who always help me make right choices....thus guiding me through good and bad times of my life.

Trials and Tribulations are Life's Blessings

I have been very occupied with lots of things in my life that I have lost track of my blogs. I thought I still have six blogs and have forgotten my two new blogs! This is one of the two :-(. Shame on me. Can you blame me? With our recent trip to the Philippines and my health, I think those who really know me and love me will understand what I am going through. They would say that my health and family is more important than anything in this world. Life is still hard after we got back from our trip, but it has to go on. Trials and tribulations are part of life...they will help mold me into a better and stronger person....for me these are blessings for I can learn from them. I love my life even with those trials. They make my life better and happier!

Getting to Know Me

I am a wife, mother, believer, daughter, dreamer, sister, friend, achiever, servant, and a blogger. A carefree individual safeguarded by limits...which for is good. Without limit, I could be in danger! I do believe that writing is an art and it soothes the spirit and mind.

No matter how high the level of your intellectual capacity is, you will still end up a mediocre if you will not exert a consistent effort in studying and doing the best you can to excel. There’s nothing insurmountable in this life when you let faith or prayer prevails over pride or pessimism. There’s nothing wrong in wearing make up and dressing fabulously as long as it’s within the Lord’s standard and not for worldly gratification. Remember, physical beauty fades, but inner beauty and intelligence will be carried out to the highest realm. I’m a believer of inner beauty! Learning does not stop when a degree is earned, because every ending is always a beginning of a new knowledge and wisdom venture. Having a loving and supportive family, amazing husband or companion and good friends define the best support system.

My Son's Artwork

This is my very first entry for Willa's new meme "kids in doodles." Here are few of my son's artworks; aside from reading and math, my son loves to draw and color. I was surprise when he showed me this drawings one day! I am impressed! For a six year old boy, these photos are amazing...and he is awesome. We are very proud of you, Son!

Anyway, click the badge below to share your kid's doodles or artwork... :-)! We'd love to see them, too! Thanks Willa for hosting/creating this fun meme.

Things Worth Thinking

One time while I was reading my niece's blog, I came across this post. After reading it...I paused for a while and think.....What would you think if you were me? Share us you thoughts if you may; thank you :-)!

In a crowd, a man cracked a joke. The people laughed hard.

After a moment, he cracked the same joke again and a little less people laughed this time.

He cracked the same joke again and very few laughed this time.

When there was no laughter in the crowd, he smiled and said,

"When you can't laugh on the same joke again and again then why do you keep crying over the same thing over and over again?"

The question made me think harder and harder; my answer was...it is a matter of choice. You can choose to cry and make yourself miserable or laugh because you chose to be happy and not because whatever that is you were crying about "will pass" as well.

Playing Baseball at the Park

We had a busy weekend last week. On Saturday, we went to a friend's son's birthday at Chuck E Cheeses where the boys had a blast! After the party, we headed to the park and let the kids play baseball with their father's while I acted like a photographer as usual. At around 8pm since it was still bright we went to continue the birthday celebration at Freddy's house where we ate dinner, cake and more fun times with the kids.

Jacob and his friend, Charles love to play baseball with their Dads and they actually did a good job considering they don't practice often. Impressive! Anyway, my share on KID.

What Do You Think?

While I was looking for some images at Google, I came across the photo below. I thought I read it wrong so I re read it again; I read it right and it says " a clean house is a sign of a wasted life." I don't agree with it....maybe to those who live in a messy house it is a waste of life cleaning their abode. To me, I am sorry to say, but this statement means---laziness. The statement should be read like this: "a clean house is a sign of a happy homemaker/wife/mother."

Personally, I love a clean house; so I clean my house...and I am happy doing it. I feel organized, at peace and comfortable when my house is clean and in order. How about you? What do you think of this sign or statement. To some it means a great excuse not to clean...and to me...that is pathetic!