We opened our Christmas presents after lunch on Christmas day. We waited on Shelly, Robert and Josh before we opened the gifts. The boys of Steven came in the evening with their mom. The kids got lots of presents of course. They got a lot of toys from their aunts and uncles. Hubby and I didn’t give toys. Instead we gave clothes. Wayne in Iowa had sent all the kids Christmas presents. The boys got remote cars from him. They were all happy with their gifts. Kids here in the US are so lucky. They have a lot of toys and clothes on Christmas. I remember the poor kids in the Philippines. They don’t have what the kids have here. Maybe just a simple toy, a new shirt or chocolates will make them happy. I really miss Christmas celebration in the Philippines. We eat the foods that we prepared on Christmas eve. It’s happier there, we go to our neighbors’ house and eat. Karaoke/videoke singing is all over the place. In our house, we had a videoke and my brothers, friends and brother-in-law sing songs with all their heart. I used to sing too though my voice is not that good. Oh well, those were the days.

Tweet

Hubby and I celebrated Christmas in Alvarado with his kids and grandkids. That was my 5th Christmas here in the US. How time flies! Stacy and Sherry cooked lots of delicious foods like baked ham, stuffing, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, green pea salad, pistacchio pudding, banana pudding, sweet potato casserole, pecan pies, green bean casserole, dinner rolls and of course I cooked pancit. We went to Alvarado last Sunday afternoon and just got back yesterday. We spent 4 days there. We’re so glad to see everybody especially the little kids of Stacy, L.A. and Consuelo.

Tweet

My niece Shaira Faith whom I blogged a few days ago is now 2 months old. My sister Violy had e-mailed me some of her photos. She has really grown. I talked to my brother this morning and he told me that his baby is their delight. She responded to them when they talk to her by smiling. A week from now they gonna dedicate her to the Lord.

Tweet

Hubby and I went to the mall after lunch today. He bought me my Christmas presents which I have been requesting from him. I wanted to have a siver necklace with matching earrings. He also bought me a silver wrist watch and a necklace with swarovski crystal pendant. They are not that expensive because they’re on sale. It’s Christmas time and sale are everywhere so we really had a big discount. I’ve been asking him to replace my jewelries which were stolen early this year. We didn’t have a budget for a diamond ring to replace my diamond ring which was also stolen. But anyways, I love my new jewelries though they’re only silver and not gold especially it was given to me by my dearest hubby.

Tweet

When my hubby and I got home from the mall yesterday afternoon, there was a voice message on the phone from a lady in the post office saying that there’s an express mail for him that just arrived. He decided to go and get the mail and when he got home he opened it and it was from Wayne, his son in Iowa. He sent us a $100 check as his Christmas gift to us. Hubby and I were so delighted of course. It’s really a blessing from the Lord. Just a couple of days ago, my youngest step-daughter Sherry deposited $100 in our bank account in Alvarado to pay our way in going there. We’re so thankful for the blessings we received. We’re planning to go to Alvarado on Sunday to spend Christmas with the kids and grandkids. Merry Christmas to everybody!!! Happy birthday Jesus, you’re the reason for the Christmas season.

Tweet

My hubby had invited me the other day to attend the Christmas lunch for the teachers and staff in the school where he works. It was my first time to go to his workplace and meet his co-workers. They were all so nice and I ate lunch with them. I got to see Mary and Cathy finally. Mary and I had been sending e-mails to each other and I talked to Cathy on the phone twice. They told me how they love my lumpia and they said they can eat a bunch of them. It just made me smile. I’ve seen the kids gave high five to my hubby. The kids were so cute. Hubby had been receiving gift cards from the kids in the school as Christmas gift. Some gave my hubby shower gel, granola and candy bars. My hubby said that the school where he works now is the best place he’s ever worked in his life. All his co-workers are so nice and friendly and also the kids in that school are so cute. My hubby loves kids and he enjoyed working around them everyday.

Tweet

Last Sunday afternoon, our friends Jeff and Mary Ann dropped by in our house just to give their Christmas gifts to us. It was so sweet of them to think of us. I didn’t even buy a gift for them. Mary Ann said it’s okay, anyways she said she’s working and I don’t. She broke the good news to me that she’s preggy now. She’s been praying to God to give them a baby and it’s an answered prayer. Ann said her hubby is so happy. I told them that’s the best Christmas gift ever. I told Jeff to take care of Mary Ann and their baby. We took some photos before they left left.

Tweet

Our revival in our church started last Sunday. Our guest speaker Bro. Dave McCracken is a very good evangelist. Last Sunday morning, he preached about repentance. He said that you can’t be saved without repentance from your sins. He also said that repentance and faith are like siamese twins. You repent from your sins because you believe that God will save you if you do. Bro. Dave knows how to catch the audience attention. He told stories that relates to the verses that he read. He also crack jokes that made us laugh. Tonight he will preach again. Our revival will last until Wednesday. It’s our prayer that after the revival, all of us will be revived and our faith will be strengthen.

Tweet

Our friends Pastor Yanie and Sis Modie treated us for lunch at Golden Corral buffet restaurant yesterday. It was their 28th wedding anniversary and we celebrated it there. They spent the night with us last Friday and they went back to Bowie yesterday afternoon. It was so cold and windy yesterday so we had to wear layered clothes and thick coats. While we were at the restaurant, we keep taking photos as souvenir of that special occasion in our friends’ married life. They will be flying to Los Angeles, California on Tuesday and after three weeks they gonna fly back to the Philippines. They’ve been here in Texas for one and a half year to attend the Bible Translation class. They’re so excited to go back and see their kids and their church members.

Anyways, we had a good meal yesterday. I got to eat again my favorites meatloaf, chicken fried steak, grilled chicken and corn on the cob. I wish I can eat more but my belly get full easily. My mouth wanted to eat more but my belly said "stop, no more place". But I managed to eat a small slice of carrot cake and a cookie for my dessert. At night I didn’t really eat because I was still full. Thanks to Pastor Yanie and Sis Modie for a delicious meal. We will miss you guys. Have a safe trip.

Tweet

Yesterday, our Filipino friends Pastor Yanie and his wife Sis Modie came up here and visited us. Hubby and I were so glad to have them here in our house and they spent the night with us. They are good Christian friends and we really enjoyed their company. They invited us to Cici’s Pizza and we met there those people from their church in Bowie. They all came up here in Wichita Falls and have a Christmas celebration at Cici’s Pizza. This is a buffet restaurant that serves different kinds of pizza pies. They also have vegetable salad. The East Side Baptist Church paid our meals and it was really a blessing. Hubby had the chance to talk to Pastor Jamie Reed, their church pastor. I was only able to eat 4 slices of different pizza flavors and I already got full. That’s the most I can eat. My hubby had eaten a lot though. He loves pizza pies. We went home very full.

Tweet

This photo of my hubby and I was taken in Baguio City, Philippines when we were just newly wed. We went to a portrait studio and had a picture taking. This is one of my favorite photos of ours. Hubby and I loved staying in Baguio when he was there because of the cool climate. We didn’t need AC or electric fan there. Weather is great.

Tweet

I talked to my youngest brother on the phone the other day. He told me that they gonna dedicate to the Lord their baby girl Faith on the 29th of this month. My hubby and I will be one of the ninongs and ninangs. I just wish we are there to celebrate with them. I also talked to my other brother and he was so excited to break the good news to me. His wife is 2 months preggy and he will be soon a daddy. I’m so happy for my two brothers. They have now their own family. Both of them got married when I was already here in the US. My hubby and I were not able to attend their wedding. Now they’re having babies. Babies are blessings from the Lord. Below is the photo of baby Faith, a cute and healthy baby taken when she was 3 days old.

Tweet

Okay here are more photos of mine taken a couple of weeks ago after coming home from the church one Sunday noon. I always ask my hubby to take a photo of me after church before I change my church clothes. So here am I again striking a pose. Pasensiya na walang magawa si lola, he-he-he!

Tweet

This afternoon after I went walking, I decided to rake the leaves in our backyard. The pecan leaves were already piled up on the ground. It was so thick and I can hardly see the pecans on the ground unless I scratch the leaves like chickens do, he-he! I also uprooted my vegetables because winter is here and it might freeze next week. So I did raked the leaves but I wasn’t able to do it all. Our backyard is wider than our front yard and there are more leaves to rake and throw away. I will have to continue again tomorrow.

Tweet

My hubby and I had taken these photos last night right after we came home from our Church Christmas Banquet. We had a good time taking pictures beside our Christmas tree. Hubby was even hugging it, he-he-he!

Tweet

We had a good Christmas banquet in our church tonight. Lots and lots of foods were brought in by the church members. There were ham, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and a lot more that I can’t remeber. Of course there were lots of desserts, different kinds of cakes, cookies, pies, etc. I brought lumpia and as expected they were all gone not too long. The dining hall was well decorated with garlands, Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments and Christmas trees. After eating, Bro. Hugh had preached a good message. We had such a good time tonight in the church. By the way, our Pastor and his wife arrived yesterday from a week vacation. It’s good they’re back safely and we missed them.

Tweet