Sweeter

Today I had a beautiful day. I went to a job interview in the city, and had a lovely chat with two wonderful people. I'm not sure about the outcome of that interview, but I know that I had a great time chatting with them. After the interview, I ordered coffee at the nearby coffee shop, where I was served by the most lovely baristas, while I listened to another customer tell everyone in the cafe about her recent trip to Melbourne. I started to walk back to the train station, and as I mindlessly crossed the road, the kind taxi driver braked, gave me a big smile, and waved at me to pass. The weather was perfect and there I was in the middle of a busy street, holding on to my coffee and admiring the landscape on the park just beside the road. I got to the station, and I found out that all the trains were delayed, and my train back home won't come till another hour. I sat and waited while I drank my coffee and ate my lunch. I've barely bitten into my sandwich when a train comes and an announcement was made that it was a Macarthur train - my train going home!

I couldn't contain the joy in my heart. I knew God was behind everything - without a doubt. And it couldn't have been any sweeter. Only God knows these little things that I love. Only He knows the secrets of my heart.

Life is just so much sweeter when you're in love with the Creator of the universe :)

My Little Worshipper

My Gabe loves to worship!

Gabe's First Birthday!

I'm a proud mommy. My baby turned 1 today! I'm so excited but at the same time worried that he'll grow up faster than I thought.

Gabe's first 12 months with me has been nothing but love and joy. I still can't thank God enough for entrusting us with such a precious little man.

I'm excited for the years to come!

I love you my little bum-bum!

A Happy Aussie Easter

I'm enjoying a totally different Easter. Back in the Philippines, Holy Week for many people is a time of mourning and penitence. Others won't even dare come out of their houses on Good Friday and Black Saturday because those were the days when "the Lord is dead." But of course, as more and more Filipinos get to know the word of God better, many have come to see the truth about the Holy Week - that it's a time of joyfully remembering Jesus' victory over sin and death, and of His love for us.

But I can't help but feel the big difference between the atmosphere of Holy Week here in Australia and in the Philippines. It's kinda like Christmas - before the weekend comes, families rush to the groceries to get food to prepare for the Easter Weekend. Mummies are busy buying Chocolate Easter Eggs for the kids (and the kids at heart). And of coruse there's the Easter Shows, where there's rides and food and fun for the whole family. Best of all, after Easter Sunday, there's Easter Monday! (Talk about long holidays!)

I'm not saying that the happy atmosphere makes it a better Holy Week here in Australia. After all, it's all about remembering what Jesus has done for us. Some people might not agree, but I definitely find the joyful spirit of the people more appropriate for the season :)

So, Happy Easter everyone! (Take it easy on the chocolate eggs!)




Gabe and his 1st Easter Eggs & Bunnies!

What A Week!

It's been ages since my last post. Things just happened one after the other and it's been a roller coaster ride of emotions for me and my family. It all starts on Pat's birthday...

Last Tuesday, Pat turned 29, which is equal to 30. He's already got salt and pepper hair anyways :P We are blessed to have Karl, his brother from UK, with us. We had an awesome time with close friends and family :)


Pat's 29!



Gabe and Papa.



I made Pat a cake! :P (ooh, sounds like a nursery rhyme..)

The next day, Gabe had a high fever. He was so sick that Pat had to stay home to help me take care of him. The poor bubba wasn't the cheeky little destroyer that he usually is. He had no energy and just wanted to be held. We were so relieved when he was up again fishing out the DVD's from the DVD rack before the end of the day.


Sick bubba.

That night, while having dinner with the whole Velasco family present, we received the news that Pat's grandpa, Daddy Hermes, has passed away. That became a night of mourning. Pat almost flew to the Philippines but decided to stay in the end.

The next day, Friday, my cousin Mariecris, her husband Benson, and their cute and cheeky son Richie arrived from their Melbourne trip. They live in Hong Kong and have come to Australia to watch Lady Gaga and to visit us. Boy was mourning turned into fun (and funny) times! We spent the next 4 days eating, eating, eating and some sight-seeing. I KNOW I gained a couple of pounds but I wouldn't dare go to the scale to check it. No thanks.

On their last night in Sydney, we met up with Mariecris' other cousin Tania (whom I know as well and should have met-up with long before) and her friend Dana. We spent the whole night catching up, reminiscing and telling jokes, it was so much fun.


Mariecris in Oz!


Gabe with cousin Richie.


With Chef Tania!

We are still at the Aguderas accompanying Joe and Phoebe while Johanna and Susie are in the Philippines for Daddy Hermes' wake and funeral. Tomorrow, we're saying bye to Mat as he heads once again to the Philippines to visit the love of his life, my sister.

Whew. Even this blog got me tired! With all these ever-changing events and emotions and challenges around me, I'm so glad I have an unchanging almighty God to run to. He makes everyday a joyful day :) Goodnight everyone!

PinayInOz.com

Finally! I got my own URL. My new blog is now accessible at www.pinayinoz.com :) Makes life so much easier...

Meanwhile, I decided to revisit my old blogs. I just realised that I've been blogging for 5 years now. Reading through them, I can see how much I've grown and changed throughout the years. So if you want to get to know me a little bit more, feel free to browse through them :P (Click the links on the right...And notice how I patiently designed every button-link on my blogroll in my old blog...)











P.S. I put air in my own tyres today with my newly polished fingernails! I miss the gasoline boys in the Phils. Although I must say it was kinda fun..... and scary :P

Ikea To Clear!

As you can see, I love Ikea (this is my 2nd blog about them in a month), and this week is their yearly clearance sale. So yesterday, Pat and I decided to go and brought our good friend Nick with us (because of his HOT car with a BIG boot to fit Ikea flatpacks). In my list was a new cot or junior bed, a new highchair to replace the high chair that Gabe broke (what a terminator) and a shoe rack.

After 2 surprisingly short hours, we came out with a highchair, a side-sleeper pillow, a kids room organiser, 2 tins of thin gingerbread cookies, a soft soccer ball and a moose hand puppet which my hubby just bought to tease our friend Caspar.

We decided we should buy the cot from a more reliable Baby Furniture shop and also thinking if we should buy him a junior bed instead. No interesting shoe racks either. And we almost bought a big red bookcase until we decided to just buy it another time.


What a bargain! This easy to clean high chair is very practical and only costs $39.99. The detachable tray comes at only $10.


No aussie baby shouldn't have one of these :)



Perfect way to tidy up the room of Gabe's small toys.


These traditional Swedish christmas cookies is best enjoyed all year round! Gabe just loves them :)

The Ikea clearance sale ends on the 17th of March.