We spent last last weekend in Batangas with our relatives from Germany. My Tito Freddie and Tita Mila were happy to be back in Manila and living in their very own home in Lipa. It's actually the first time for them to live in their house so they were very busy looking for house stuff including modern bedroom furniture sets. What they got for now is a brown L-shaped sofa set that is just right for the size of the living room.

Their house is actually so exciting to decorate. There are wide walls, a spacious living room cum dining room and a cute little kitchen area. There are also three bedrooms upstairs and a veranda to boot. A lot more work is actually needed to furnish this house. It still needs a perimeter gate and some landscaping work around the house. But nevertheless, it's actually livable already. The area is safe and has fresh air and it's only a few minutes from the city proper. Given more time and a few more "balikbayan" visits, their house would be a nice place to live in and retire to. 

Anyway, posting here a picture of us during our mini-family reunion. Tita Freddie and Tita Mila - it was nice seeing you again! We hope you had a comfortable and safe trip back to Germany. Take care always and see you again soon! 

We a fun time in the Happiness Palooza event c/o Stress Management last month.  

Zoe's school organized a fund-raising event which asked parents to buy tickets to the Repertory Philippines' rendition of Wizard of Oz. This was held in Greenbelt OnStage. 

Of course, we were ecstatic to go since we hadn't introduced Zoe yet to the beautiful world of the stage. Back then when my husband and I were still going out as boyfriend/girlfriend, we would consciously make time to watch those good musicals playing in town. We much enjoyed watching The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, They're Playing our Song, Rama at Sita, and many others. 

Now going back to Wizard of Oz, immediately Zoe felt excited as she learned about Dorothy, her 3 new friends and the Wizard of Oz. 

Here are some of our pictures.

I received this special gift last month from my circle group. It's a picture of the parents of St. Josemaria, or who we fondly call "Abuela and Abuelo". 

If you watched the movie "There Be Dragons" you will see there a snippet of the simple lives of Don Jose and Dona Dolores Escriva. They were a Catholic couple whom God had chosen to be seedbed for the vocation of a great saint. They had filled the Escriva home with love and cheerfulness that even though God  had sent them many trials and hardships in life (at one point, they lost their 3 younger daughters and went bankrupt). It was almost unimaginable how they faced all these problems with a lot of faith in God and serenity. 

Reflecting on their lives, I would naturally would go to them for inspiration (and ask them for favors!) especially whenever we feel the pinch. I would think about how the Abuela maintained her dignity and elegance amidst severe money troubles and the lack of even the family's basic needs. I would also imagine how the Abuelo, while he lost his business and received the ire of many, continued to work and find ways to fend his growing family with true trust in God.

Their example alone gives my husband and I the strength to carry on our duties to our family. And like them, we rely on the grace of God to help us with our needs. :-)