We Now Have a Teenager in the House

Our little boy...



...is now a teenager.



Today is his big day, and we praise God for making us his earthly parents. Now that he is a teenager, we pray that he would continue to honor and glorify God with his strengths and talents.

Furthermore, we pray that like Jesus, he will grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. Everyday is a blessing, and the best is yet to come! :)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5

Another Year of Life, Love, and Laughter

Thank you for another birthday. Which also means that like this entry's title, I am blessed with another year of life, love and laughter.

After today, I pray for another year to grow richer in knowledge and insight of every kind... That I will learn by experience what really matters... That on the day that I appear before God, He will welcome me as a flawless gift, a rich harvest of praise...

May the Lord bless me and keep me... May He shed His light upon me... May He look upon me kindly and give me peace...

Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

DS's 15th Piano Recital

A week after his sister's recital, this afternoon is Migs's time to shine. This is truly a memorable day for all of us because the piece he played is a very difficult one, and is normally played by adult music majors. Our son says it makes it more epic because he gets to play the piece before he bids goodbye to tweenhood.

He performed a piece by Russian composer, Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), called "Etude in C# Minor, Op. 42 No. 5".

Here is the video as performed onstage by our soon-to-be teen...



In several days, Migs will turn 13 years old. We are excited as he enters a new phase in his life called adolescence. Praise and thank God for this blessing.

I always thank God for you
because of his grace given you
in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4

DD's 1st Guitar Recital

We are so proud of our Dancing Queen. Eversince taking up music, she has committed to this new interest faithfully. Today is her Guitar Recital, and although she has learned it only for a few months, she performed well before a live audience.

Here she is, strumming a classical piece called, "Country Dance" by Italian composer, Ferdinand Carulli (1770-1841).



Praise be to our God for a great and successful recital day.

Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits...
Psalm 103:1-2

The Blessing of Friendship

Last Wednesday was an ugly day.
But today I found something that made me realize there is still something beautiful in the world.
I found out that I have a friend in the place I just left behind.
She may be found here: Soundbooth Solitude
Yep, I attached the permalink; just so you'd know what this entry is all about.
Oh and I love her.
We may have been together for only a short time, but we simply clicked.
Our time together wasn't gonna be the last - last Wednesday.
I never thought she truly regarded me that way.
So through this little space of mine I want to thank her.
God bless this lady.
I pray she goes a long way.
This is the first time in a far-off, far-reaching, lingering time, that I am reminded of what friendship is all about.
May she continue to touch the lives of others like she did today.
I will never forget her because she was the only one who thought of me as a good egg even if I am half-cracked.

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.
Aristotle

DD's Steps Dance Concert

Today at 6 p.m. was STEPS' 17th Summer Dance Workshop concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Dancing Queen and her group danced a Spanish Dolls number based on the Ballet classic, "Coppelia".

My MIL and BIL watched along with us. We ate a late but hearty dinner at the Aristocrat Restaurant after the show. It was a successful concert and we all thank the Lord for good weather and an equally good show. Dancing Queen did very well onstage. :)

The glory and honor is God's -- the giver and maker of talents in all of us.

When you are onstage
you are having an affair
with three thousand people
Gelsey Kirkland

DD's Steps Award

Praise the Lord for our Dancing Queen's efforts are recognized!



She received this year's "MOST IMPROVED AND HARDWORKING BALLET DANCER" award in STEPS's 17th Summer Dance Workshop 2011. And she is very happy and thrilled! So are we, and we are very proud of her. :)



Dancers are not great because of their talent...
They are great because of their passion
Unknown

DS's 14th Piano Recital

DS wowed the audience this afternoon as he played a four-hands piece with his teacher and mentor in the U.P. College of Music's Extension Program.

Migs played Hungarian Dance No. 8 in A Minor by Johannes Brahms, and a solo of Prelude in E Minor Op. 11 No. 9 by Alexander Scriabin. Praise God for a successful recital.



For heights and depths no words can reach,
music is the soul's own speech.
Unknown

Third Scholarship For Our DS

The road is getting straighter and clearer for our DS. Just a few minutes ago this afternoon, we received an unexpected but welcome blessing from this private school --- offering DS a scholarship for high school. They said DS scored 93 over 100 in his entrance exam, and got the highest test score in the history of student applicants who took the exam in the school. Yes, this is the 3rd scholarship offered to our DS, but we are ecstatic and excited as ever. Praise be to our God!

We are deciding where to put DS, but DH and I think it is best to try both, to help us decide where DS will fit in best. More updates to come next time. :)

Education is not preparation for life;
education is life itself.
John Dewey

Dancing Queen's New Best Friend

Dancing Queen has a new buddy. Meet TAYLOR STAGG -- her newest best friend. Taylor Swift is one of her favorite artists. Her guitar is a Stagg brand. Get it? :)



Glad to see my children are hooked to music. My other one, my DS, is a pianist who will be competing by the end of this year in a Piano competition sposored by NAMCYA or The National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation.

Someday, it would be my and DH's pride and joy to see both of them perform for the Lord. Either in dance (for Dancing Queen), or music (for DS). :)

There is nothing in the world
so much like prayer as music is.
William P. Merrill

Dancing Queen's Facemask Fifth Monthly Check-Up

Gearing up for more good news...

Dancing Queen's monthly check up this month tells us more that when we are truly diligent, persevering, and patient, we will get rewards in the end.



Gina will continue wearing her Facemask, but her mouth bands will remain as the Fox kind -- easier and softer bands that hurt less. Praise God for this, because the previous Impala kind is tougher to wear!



What we have to watch out for, is for her to wear it for 8 hours only, as extended wearing will pull out her jaw too far/much from what the doctor prescribed, and it is not definitely good for her jaw bones...



God is good and gracious. Dancing Queen is also a smart girl, she can even wear her Facemask all by herself, and note down the time in her blue tickler to record how long she's been wearing it. :)

'Til next month...

Surely your goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6

Dancing Queen's 9th Birthday

Yes, our little Dancing Queen is 9 years old today -- and it's Easter! Praise be to God for giving us a daughter who is sweet, kind, and obedient like Gina. We are the proud, happy parents of this darling daughter of ours.

Time flies so fast, because Gina is growing up fast, and she is turning out to be the lady we prayed for -- someone who loves and fears the Lord.

First thing in the morning, DH drove to pick up her favorite, Mango Tart from Conti's. We called-in the night before just to have this frozen cake reserved for us. It was one cake that she (we) loves very much, she (we) can eat it all week. We placed 9 pink candles on top which she blew after making a wish. :)



For this 9th birthday of hers, we gave her a Hello Kitty telephone for her room. Friends and clasmates from school call her often, so we thought of giving her this cute little gift. :)



We had a simple lunch with my in-laws, and then later in the afternoon, upon the Birthday Girl's request, we had the time of our lives singing our hearts out at Music 21 Plaza. We had so much fun singing in a private room with the videoke machine! Big Brother, Migs, had fun too --- eating. :)



Here are some endearing photos of the day ---

Hmmmmmmm.... What could this be...?



Excitedly opening the wrapper...



Busy hands...



What a sweet smile!



What a happy laugh!



A daughter is the happy memories of the past,
the joyful moments of the present,
and the hope and promise of the future.
Author Unknown

Another New Door for DS

We received word that our DS made it also as a scholar in the prestigious Philippine Science High School System, which is the National Science High School of my country. We are very happy and excited as well.



The only thing is -- the Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus where DS is being considered for is in the Clark Polytechnic Compound, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. For us who live and work in the busy city, Clark is way too far and off route. The campus is a 2 1/2 hour-drive from Quezon City where we stay, and that only means DS will have a rather difficult time juggling between home, extra-curicular activities (like Piano), and schoolwork...



My sisters-in-law, who are alumnae of the school encouraged us to make a letter of appeal, so DS will be given a slot in the Main Campus, which is nearer our home. Hopefully, and if it is God's will, DS will be going there.

Otherwise, he will be enrolling in the Quezon City Science High School, which is the Regional Science High School of the National Capital Region (NCR or host city where we stay). That's another prestigious Science High School, and DS was accepted as a scholar there too.

We are blessed that God has given us this opportunity again -- no matter how this new door has made our minds go a bit haywire about where DS will go for high school. :) We have complete faith and trust that His will is the best for us and DS of course. We pray for wisdom, discernment, guidance and direction for our family. Please pray along with us.

Will keep you posted about this new development.

There is no wisdom, no insight,
no plan that can succeed
against the LORD.
Proverbs 21:30

Teacher's Summit 2011

I just arrived tonight from a Teacher's Summit held at Dahilayan Gardens and Resort, in the municipality of Manolo Fortich, province of Bukidnon.

It was my first time to be in that part of my country, way, way up in that cold mountainous region, and that long-a-time away from my family too. I flew there, with my co-teachers in school, and stayed for almost a week in that part of Mindanao.

Here is a picture of me, together with my co-teachers and colleagues at work. Okay, try to spot me, instead. :) Am sixth from left, or fifth from the right, whichever way you want it, last row on top (somewhere in the middle). Hope you found me. :)



We had a week of doing team building activities, and a lot of short and long-range planning for our students, lesson plans and other important school stuff for the coming school year.

Although I do not like being away from my family this long, overall, I was able to see the goodness of the Lord because I was able to bond with some of my workmates and treasure new friendships formed while being there. Praise be to God.

Friendship is a sheltering tree.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

DS's Elementary Graduation

Today we praise our Heavenly Father for two reasons:

First, it is DH's birthday, and second, it is Migs's graduation from elementary! We had a great bonding and fellowship time with the family at Banapple, where we treated them all to a delicious lunch.

Migs's graduation was at 5:30 this afternoon. Time really does fly fast... I can still clearly remember his very first day in preschool, when he wouldn't even want us to leave him inside the classroom! He came a long way since then, and brought us pride and joy from his accomplishments in school and in his extra-curricular activities.



This afternoon, in his graduation, he gave the school's opening remarks, and delivered his simple, yet memorable speech in front of everybody. What we thank God more for, is His big blessing that Migs was accepted as a scholar in the prestigious Quezon City Science High School.We are proud of Migs and are excited about this new phase in his life as he enters high school and dolescence.

Once again, we give back all the honor to God. The glory is His forever.



I hope your dreams take you
to the corners of your smiles,
to the highest of your hopes,
to the windows of your opportunities,
and to the most special places
your heart has ever known.
Author Unknown