Big Day for my Sister!

My one and only sister is getting married in 6 months time! This has been the most awaited wedding in our family being that she is the only one left single. Also, she has waited for so long for the man of her dreams to come sweep off her feet from the world of aloneness . Oh, wait... I also waited for many years! In fact, I didn't get married until I turned 34. In that case, my sister is following my steps because she is also getting married at 34! Oh, this is getting more interesting. We have been praying for this to happen and God, in His time and wisdom, has given us the desires of our hearts for our precious little Gigi. When I chatted with her fiance for the first time last week, he was telling me how he knew that God answered his very detailed prayer for a wife when he first met my sister. Oh, how God answers prayers according to His plans and purposes. This guy is a very young devoted missionary in southern Thailand. Grace told me that she has never met a prayerful man like him. I've also heard that this guy has been mentored by a 72-year old veteran missionary. Sounds to me like Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha and Paul and Timothy. Awesome! They are planning to continue to live and serve God in Thailand after their wedding.

My Open Birthday Letter to Kuya N

Dear Kuya Nem,

Happy Birthday, Risktaker!

I'm so proud of what you have become today. After many years of faithfully working with grade schoolers and pastoring the church in a small village, you came to a point where you have to leave your comfort zone to obey what you believe God is calling you to do. It would have been easier for you to remain and enjoy your promotions at school but you desire to obey and grow, even if it demands you to sacrifice your ego of being called a "starter" after what you have already achieved in life. I am so proud that you are able to take a seemingly very risky decision. You're unafraid of where that road you are traveling in now will take you and your family and completely trusting God to bring you to the place where He wants you all to be. God bless your heart! May He continue to give you stamina to finish what you have started right now. May He continue to provide you and your family a safety refuge from the unnecessary cares of life and may He sustain all of you with His grace and joy.

Muchas muchas Amor,
Dines (for Paul and Belle flower too)

Janet and Peter

I am posting these photos for Janet. I was browsing through my albums today and found this one. If my memory still serves me right, Janet was pregnant with her second baby then. Am I right, Jan?

Help!

My little girl hates shopping! Every time I bring her out shopping, she always acts as if it's the end of the world. And as if she was in the right place at a right time to display her worst tantrums. She would cry and scream like I am beating her. Curious heads turn to us! Oh, it's embarrassing. This evening, I wanted to enjoy shopping at a craft store but she had to come with me so that her daddy could have time to read at home, so I brought some candies to help (or bribe! bad! bad! bad!) her act normal at the store. It wasn't effective! As soon as we entered the store, she started crying and screaming. When I gave her a piece of candy, she grabbed and ate it while crying and screaming! Can you believe it?!

This morning, we walked to a kid's apparel store near our house, and as expected she had her bad temper. The store has a small play area, so I put her there. She was playing and smiling for a minute and after that she remembered how she hates shopping, so off she cried and screamed again. Oh, well, I can only hope things will change with her feelings about shopping in the near future or else I'll be forever a lone-shopper in our family.

Painter Wannabe

She really does belong to our family- the family of painters. Her dad paints! Her mom paints too- nails! And daughter paints her face!

Paul's Sofball Season

Paul has been playing for Eagle Heights Church softball team this summer. For a baseball pitcher like him, he is doing extraordinarily well in the out field and hitting home runs. In fact, he is the top hitter and catcher in the team. Well, that's my husband! He doesn't settle for "seconds". He goes for the best and works hard to obtain it.

Paul hit the ball home run!

Eagle Heights Church Team (Paul is in far left on the front row)

Izzy and her daddy after the game yesterday.

Paul always runs Izzy around the bases every after each game. Izzy loves it.

First Letter of your Name

Got this one from Aisha... "I'm trying Aish, see?"

ITS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS! Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, and things. Nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your name: Dines

Four words: Darling? Debonair? Diva? Dynamic? Hahaha!

State/country: Dominican Republic

Boy name: Dan

Girl name: Dina (? so realistic! I can't stand it!)

Occupation: Dazzling Mama

Something you can wear: Diamond ring?

Something found in a kitchen: Dry Roasted Peanuts hahaha!

Something you shout: Duhhhhhhhh!!! (well i just have to do it louder :)

Something you do at school: Do not cheat.... hahaha! gotcha!

Name of an animal: Dogie

Name of a Beer/or liqour: sorry, no idea!

Name a holiday: D Day

Name a body part: D eyes (haha! see, I don't cheat by searching one in the internet)

Now pass it on. Tagging, Gigi.