FAMILY. I used to have an expectation on what a family should be, perfect, rich, and always happy. There were painful memories, hurtful arguments, happy times; these family went through it all. When I started to meet other people and their families (after being sheltered since I was a child), I realized everyone has their own dysfunctions within their families. Family isn't perfect. Just like marriage, it takes work, lots of understanding and forgiveness, a little helping hand here and there. There's give and take, and working out each other's differences.
I wanted it to be different for my family this year. In my heart, I've always asked God for wisdom on how to best handle my family as we have been separated for a long time and I've decided (inspired and hopeful because of my Lord Jesus Christ) that this time around, the enemy will not win. The devil won't chain us again in his clutches. He has taken my family captive for a long time through generational curses.
I remember after my God Encounter Retreat, I asked the Lord, "How do I win my family for you, Lord?" And the Lord answered me simply, "LOVE."
I didn't know how, but I knew that I'm doing it for the Lord.
Yesterday was the last day of my sister, Auggie, here in Davao because she's going back to Dubai again. She works there, and goes home every 2 years. We ate at Tien Ma's at SM Lanang. It totally didn't go as planned. We had the cake for my other sister, June Reo, because it was also her birthday yesterday. The birthday girl was late, and she wasn't really able to blow her birthday candle. When she entered the restaurant, we sang just one line of the Happy Birthday song, Hahahaha!
After eating, we took pictures outside of the restaurant and it was total havoc! The kids were running around, and parents have to go after them just so we can take our family pictures. There were lots of struggle with the kids because Julia didn't want to participate, Jasper wanted to be carried by his mom, and Zach was out of sight so my cousin, Paolo, has to go after him. Only baby Zia was behaved heheehe..
From the pictures below, it might look like we all got it together, but not quite. 😀😁
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| The birthday girl, June Reo |
Well, we tried the group picture thingy while eating.. Nope, not working.
And so here we are...
Of course, me and my daughter were somehow twinning on this particular day 😍😃
With my Mama and sisters sans Julee, my actual twin, who's in Dubai.
Last not but not the least, as I will be more forgiving and loving in my journey with Christ, I am welcoming a new bundle of joy. I am praying from the Lord for a smooth ride as I embark on a new journey. I know the Lord has prepared everything for me. I will be writing about the experience when everything has been ironed out.
For now, I would like to be happy for both of them and for our family. 😊
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| For baby Ean Pantaleon |
As I expand my heart, my life, my views, these are verses we can learn so much from. In order for God's love to transcend, we have to be more open to this love that He has given us and move beyond us so that many would believe that He is our God who loves and forgives and accepts.
“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you." John 5:41-42 (NLT)
"Many more believed because of his message, and they told the woman, “We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard him, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:41-42 (GNT)
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