First Week Back Home

Here are some of what's happened in the one week I have been back home!

- Was greeted by family whom I have not seen in months/more than a year
- Got sick and got well
- Went to the Victory services in Ortigas and Pioneer
- Saw and caught up with friends: Charis, Jan, Chryso, Jiji, Voica, Macy, Iya, Pinky, Lhorris and more!
- Celebrated Angela's 4th birthday in her school. She is so cute and growing up so fast
- Visited Ateneo (where I studied and taught)

- Went shopping with Mama
- Had dinner at the Mumars' after such a long time, and saw Lorenzo and Mateo
- Saw friends at the Fort (where I used to work) and had lunch out, just like before (new place, new faces, same kind of fun)
- Attended the youth service in Ortigas (memories!) and had dinner after
- Did not get attacked by jetlag, thank you very much
- Driving around the city as usual

The first week has been great and I can't wait to see what's next...Hopefully more fun, more time to rest and more time to figure out all God has in store for me here!

Being Thankful

A lot of times, it's so easy to look at what we don't have, what we want, and how we want life to go. But every day that passes and every moment God gives us is truly something to be thankful for.


I'm a firm believer in celebrating life every day, and that's why I don't really like Valentine's Day (that's not the only day you show how much you love someone), or just being thankful during Thanksgiving, or appreciating someone only on their birthday. Relationships are meant to be valued and appreciated, and there is much to thank God for, like:

1. My family. My morning begins with a phone call from Mama, and I can definitely feel my family's love from 8,000 miles away. The rest of my family is right here in Nashville, and they are a tremendous blessing too.

2. My friends...old and new, in Nashville and Manila. "No man is a failure who has friends." I am grateful to have friends I can just hang out with, take road trips with, talk to for no real urgent reason...And even though most of my friends are so far away I am grateful God has preserved and further developed these friendships in special ways. Relationships are great blessings and cultivating these will always be a blessing.

3. My church and spiritual family. I have shared my testimony a lot lately, and I know I would not be where I am without my spiritual family. I am grateful to have people I can run to, or call via long-distance, no matter what.

Here in Nashville, God is doing great things, and I am excited to see all He has in store. I also love working for the church and serving God's people with some of the best people I've ever met. I am also really enjoying our youth ministry and leading a group of young girls.

4. My home. I love the peace and quiet of my home, fixing it the way I want to, and enjoying God's blessings every day. I am grateful for the experience of running a home and living independently.

5. My health. Sometimes we don't understand what a great blessing good health is until you get sick, have an accident or are faced with a test you never knew you would have to take, and are suddenly claiming all the healing verses you know of. I am also grateful to have 8 hours of good, restful sleep every night! Thank you, God, for good health!

6. My God. He is faithful, He is sovereign, and He is good. He does things the way He wants to, and He deserves to be trusted always. He made us the way He wanted us to be, and we live for His glory no matter what.

Every day is an opportunity to know God more, to walk with Him more, to make Him known and to rest in Him.

For all this, I am grateful.