posted by Jennie on Jul 14
Thanks Joy for this nostalgic meme. The hubby and I were four and seven months prego in these photos. I wrote a post last month entitled “Belly Shots,” but I am nevertheless happy to oblige to do my share to keep this tag rolling. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 14
I love Mondays. Aside from it’s the hubby’s day off and the family gets to spend the whole day together, we also get to do things around the house. This photo was actually taken last Monday, when the hubby first worked on our little guy’s study table. I’m glad he’s working on that instead of a wine rack, which we don’t have a need for. Today he finished applying the second layer of putty and he will soon get it painted. As for me, I got busy the whole morning trying to turn the house around by getting rid of white elephants.
We really have no choice but to rearrange the house. I emptied the little guy’s main closet of all of my files and stuff, got it sanitized and got his own clothes in. His clothes used to be in his baby closet. It’s now goodbye to his baby closet to welcome in his very own study table. It’s very symbolic if you ask me. My son has practically moved from babyhood to boyhood in the blink of an eye! But I am nevertheless thrilled to anticipate and get him ready for homeschool. For now, I and the hubby are inclined towards that. Pre-school homeschool that is, then he will be good to go to attend the big school. 
posted by Jennie on Jul 13
In my most recent doctor’s visit, I was given a heads up by my insurance provider that I am almost at the maximum amount of my insurance coverage limit/illness. This means that when I have consumed my covered amount, I would have to pay the doctor’s fee, laboratories and everything else right from my own pocket. Ouch!
My doctor requests lab work on me done at least once a week, and given that the tests are done in one of the cities most expensive hospitals, the cost is really higher than the usual. I guess with all other insured people, it’s not really normal to total in everything and watch if he or she is anywhere close to reaching the limit. You see it was the same hospital I got confined in, so the most convenient is to follow up with the same doctors, given that the facility has all my needed records, the default really was for me stick with the facility.
At the end of my health contract, which would be December of this year, e Health Help will become very handy. This team will assist me in picking out the best health care plan that will work for me. With over 25 years working with health insurance and provider organizations, they provide a non-biased consumer education, paving the way to coming up with the health care that best suit your needs. Now, this is just what I need.
posted by Jeff on Jul 13
During the recent Big Apple Awards, Mort Zuckerman had a thing to say about hope (see this site: http://www.dssimonvlogviews.com/big-apple-awards-series/). He added his own take on the quote, “Hope is good for breakfast but not necessarily for supper.†This is actually the first time I heard this quotation and I think it has a deep and very practical meaning. In my opinion it relates to the Filipino quote, “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa†which implies that it is important to ask help from God but we also have to do our part as we depend on Him.
The former quote talks about having hope for breakfast, which may mean that at the beginning of a task or a problem it is ok to depend on something or someone greater than ourselves (who could be God), but having hope for supper, which may mean dependence when the task or problem lengthens. I think the quote implies a balance between having faith or hope in God but mentions that we don’t necessarily just sit and not do anything. And doing something or taking action doesn’t mean a lack of faith, but I think we have to take action on what we can control while depending on God still and let God work on the things that are beyond our control.
posted by Jennie on Jul 13
A picture of the hubby and the little guy chewing nachos and posing in the same manner as I clicked our trusty camera’s button. It’s funny how they are so alike in more ways than one. Our son recently calls himself, “Nemo” and his papa, “Papa Nemo” (or papa of Nemo). He coined this after watching the movie by Pixar.
posted by Jennie on Jul 13
My nagging health issues have pushed me to read on alternative medications and medical advances. One of the more surprising medical facts that I have encountered is the Benefits of coffee drinking to our body. The only times I consumed coffee was when I worked in a call center on graveyard shifts. Now with the proven data that it actually lowers the risk of heart diseases, I figured I have got to learn to love drinking coffee. I never quite understood the passion people have over coffee and since I am adaptable, I believe the love for it can be acquired. This following video reports from Rob Van Dam, PhD, of the Harvard Medical School on the benefits of coffee.
posted by Jennie on Jul 12
I went to the hospital to see my doctor, once two weeks ago and twice this previous week. Yes, I practically did a marathon to take advantage of my folks still being here at that time to look after our little guy. Anyway, aside from the blood lab work up to check my uric acid level, I also had my thoraco lumbar, chest PA and lateral x-ray done. Praise God that each and every result that came back made both me and the hubby smile! 
Answered prayer talaga, I am as good as new! Goodbye scoliosis! But I do have tensed back muscles. I was given prescription for the pain and the swelling and I also have to apply warm compress on my back every so often, which I still have not started with yet.
Just when everything looks bright and shiny after my doctor’s visit last Tuesday, I felt so sluggish and out that I knew I could not make it to my next appointment. That is to see one of the girls who attends our church in Makati. No wonder a few hours after we got home, I started running with a fever and aching joints. Argh! You could just imagine my frustration. All the sweet potato tops juicing is coming to this! Okay, so I have not really tried any of those colon cleanse procedures yet. Maybe I should, to get rid of all the remaining toxins in my body through that. One of the more interesting discoveries is that of one scanning procedure done by Life Force in Makati Medical Center. Here’s a description of that particular Laser Scan, which was sent to me via email: Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 12
Two days after our folks left for the States, we are yet again having our yard sale up. This time we are getting more of our bulky stuffs out and even the white elephants, like our microwave oven, for one.  In my quest to live healthier, I have altogether refrained from using the microwave.
 
Another bulky stuff we are selling is a solid Narra rocking chair for only PhP1,000 (approx. $23).  The 29″ flat TV just got sold a while back. Most other items for sale from clothes to everything else are all at 20 pesos (approx. $0.47) . If you are anywhere near our area, it might interest you to take a peek. Yard sales can often be better than actually browsing through a furniture catalog – you just might find great finds up for grabs.
posted by Jennie on Jul 9
My current eye condition has got me into considering ways and technology that would keep me away from having to wear eyeglasses. I have found some LASIK information that made me hopeful that I might not have the need to wear glasses after all. This milestone technology in Ophthalmology has been around for sometime now, but I never got to really research about it. Now that the strange possibility of me going back to wearing glasses after more than twenty years scared the wits out of me, I got myself to read more on it.
Lasik is currently the world’s most popular elective vision procedure and is proven from the procedures that were performed for over ten years. Most patients can actually expect to get back their 20/20 vision. Now, that’s good news for me.
I have seriously hoped that I would always sport the same 20/20 vision until I get old. I am even willing to cut down my time in front of the computer, if this is the culprit. But then again, not! So if ever I would be advised to wear spectacles the next time I go visit my doctor, then I know I can always consider this alternative.
posted by Jeff on Jul 9
In previous posts about the “Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman, I have mentioned two languages, which are Words of Affirmation and Quality Time. The third love language is Receiving Gifts. If this is your love language, it just means that you feel loved when you receive gifts. There are people who have this as their primary love language. But for others, this is their secondary love language – as in my wife’s case. My wife’s primary language is Quality Time. But she also likes receiving gifts, especially on special occasions. What I have always done was always surprise her with a gift. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 9
My folks are leaving for America in two days. Our son is really going to miss the both of them. As soon as they got their visas to America and Canada, they have been telling our little guy, that they will soon ride the airplane to go to America and he will not see them for a very long time. The first few times, he would go square in the face, on the verge to cry any second. But now that it has been weeks since he has first heard of his grandparents going to a far away place, he would just respond with a quick riposte, as if assuring himself that it’s never going to happen.
These past weeks have been busy with all the things that mom has to leave me with. We call it “bilin†in the vernacular. She even left me a pricey set like an Apples of Gold Jewelry that my Aunt have her bought for her daughter’s wedding, but never got to wear them. So this same jewelry set goes back to Pakistan where they live because it never got sold here, as planned.
My sister and her husband have relocated to our folks’ place. We live in different houses, similar compound. These pictures were taken last week during the family’s last weekend together. It’s going to be a long while until we get together again for barbeques and weekends out.
Here are some photos of our last weekend together in a long time. We first went to Manila, where my mom and her siblings’ property is located. They are having this place rented so we are tasked to take care of the logistics, so to say. Then after which we went Ababu, our favorite Persian diner place in Xavierville.
1376 Maceda Street Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 9
One of the major things that I do in the ministry as I partner with the hubby, is counseling. It can be the most overwhelming tasks in the church ministry. Even as overwhelming as it is, it can also be the most fulfilling as I see through the years how the people under my care are ushered into a better life that the Lord has got in store for them.
The very concept of counseling can be scary to a lot of people. I have seen a few who would start but would withdraw from it before they are ready. But I encountered more than a few who, despite the many struggles, have passed with flying colors and are actually the ones discipling the younger generation. This encourages my heart to press on.
If you are anywhere near Ottawa, you might want to check out Counseling Ottawa. This team understands the confidentiality that is between the therapist and the counselee. More than just being educated, compassion is needed for you to be able to work through the issues you are struggling with. Read the rest of this entry »
posted by Jennie on Jul 9
One of the things that we need to work on for this blog is search optimization. After all the meta tags that we have placed within the blog, we are still landing on the second spot when we search via Google using the key words “marriage and beyond.” The second spot may not be all that bad, but we still hope to be able to land on the first. Tips, anyone?
posted by Jeff on Jul 9
One of the other sources that most stay-at-home moms use to add income to their households is through affiliate programs. In the internet, many bloggers use paid-to-blog services, but sometimes this could be time consuming. For those who have been blogging for a while, especially those with sites that are already getting constant and regular traffic, earning through commissions from sales and ads through their sites is a better alternative. Especially here in the Philippines where prices of fuel and commodities continue to rise, finding ways to increase household income is really important, particularly for growing families. But always remember that it is God “who gives you the ability to produce wealthâ€Â, according to Deuteronomy 8:18. So families need to depend more on God rather than themselves, knowing that it is He who provides us the means, the strength and even the opportunities for all the work we are able to do, whether it is blogging or any regular job.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
