You can only find these signs in San Carlos City, Negros .... my beloved hometown.

Takatuka.... my place, my haven

My husband and I usually take at least some time off twice a year, just the two of us without the kids. One of our favorite places to go is Takatuka Beach and Dive Resort at Langub Beach. It is situated in Sipalay, about 4 hours away from Bacolod.

Takatuka derived its name from a children's story book written by Astrid Lindgren: "Pipi in Taka-Tuka-Land". This story tells about Pipi Langstrumpf's wild and exciting escapade at a tropical island. The owners, inspired by the story designed their own vision of “Taka-Tuka-Land” with concepts of eccentric architecture. The materials used are all ravaged from garbage turned pieces of artwork: Soda tin cans used as headboard, old stereo transformed into plant boxes, lady maniquins are used as molds to create railings, and other unique crazy ideas! The owners built and did all the structural design themselves.

Visiting this place never cease to amaze me. The food in the menu are all sumpteous, you want to try them all.

Everything is reasonably priced. This is one hiding place where you get your money's worth. The owners are purely down-to-earth people who pampers each guest with personal attention. Sunsets are breathtaking here. This is one place I want to come home to anytime, all the time.

http://jensnursingchronicles.blogspot.com/2007/06/sipalay-sunset.html

http://www.takatuka-lodge.com/

on baby colognes

I learned.... that I cry watching a baby cologne ad on tv.

(by the way, my favorite baby cologne is Johnson's blue)

Mirror, mirror on the wall....

I learned ...... that Children are the best mirrors.

Adobo de Hamonado

Adobo de Hamonado
(Adobo Festival Awardee, 1998)

This recipe was inspired by my husband who developed his own sauce concoction or “sawsawan” present in every family meal. Now, you know how creative and “savoroso” his tastebuds are! Little did I know, his own sauce concoction turned out to be an award winning recipe for adobo! We all know the older the adobo, the better it gets. For the budget conscious moms, this recipe goes a long way. You will need: 2 kilos of pork, cut into serving slices, 2 kilos of chicken, cut into serving slices, 1 pack of Ajinomoto Ginisa Flavor Mix ,3 heads large garlic, peeled and crushed, set aside two equal portions. One portion is sautéed until golden brown, set aside, juice of one buco (or coconut), salt to taste, 1 cup lechon sarsa, ½ cup Del Monte cane vinegar, 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar. You will need a large casserole with lid. Arrange the pork at the bottom of the casserole. For every layer of meat (pork then chicken), sprinkle ginisa flavor mix and part of the crushed garlic. Pour in the buko juice, cover and let it simmer for about 30 minutes or until meat is tender in medium heat. Do not mix as of yet for it will cause the chicken meat to fall to pieces. Mix together last four ingredients and pour them into the casserole, stir in with the meat. Let it simmer 15 more minutes. Salt to taste. Serve on large serving dish topped with the sautéed crisp garlic. Garnish with fresh basil leaves. This recipe will yield approximately 4 meals for 6 people. Prep Time: 45 minutes. Approximate Cost: Php. 600

“She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.” Proverbs 31:27

The best Choco Chip Cookie Recipe

My little monkeys would always ask me to bake their favorite cookies and what else but the famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. My search for the best chocolate chip cookies ended when I made this recipe adapted from Alton Brown with a very few alterations to achieve the ultimate chewy, thick cookies! Notice that I use bread flour, an egg yolk, melted butter and refrigeration prior to baking to specifically achieve a thick and chewy difference. These cookies don’t last very long around my home for my little ones with creepy fingers and hungry mouths masticate them way before they even reach the jar! As my little daughter, who would like to be a baker someday, says, “Mommy, when I’m big, I would also bake the best cookie that landed on planet earth!” Indeed, this is the best choco chip cookie recipe I've ever baked!

2 sticks unsalted butter (melted), 2 ¼ cups bread flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ cup sugar, 1 ¼ cups brown sugar, 1 egg, 1egg yolk , 2 tablespoons milk , 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips. Hardware: Icecream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper, Baking sheets, Mixer. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
Pour the melted butter in the mixer’s work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for at least half an hour, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet (cookies will be about 4 inches in diameter when baked). Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies every 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container (that is if these cookies even reach the cookie jar!)

Yield: 2 ½ dozen cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes (excluding the chilling)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Approximate Cost: Php. 250.00

“When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.” Proverbs 31:26

Is Your Car Available?

September 04, 2005

As I was about to leave the house to attend the 5:30 service, the car wouldn’t start. Impatiently every minute, I tried to start it several times and frantically was so concerned that I was going to be late. I prayed but my dilemma was overpowered by impatience. I sent a text message to my husband to rescue me, but since he was doing his regular monthly teaching at church, I was left with so much hopelessness and frustration. Finally, Bim arrived. He patiently tied a rope at the tail of his motorcycle and the other end to the front of the car so he could pull it to get it to start. At 6:15, we were able to get it started and I, with so much aggravation, stepped on the accelerator and took off without saying a word. (pabulhutan ko aso bana ko kag pa igotan ah! Init gid ko!)
As I was driving towards Ikthus, fuming thoughts began to fill my mind. “If only we had sold this car for a much better one, if only…...etc. etc.” I admit, I was mad and irritated to have such a defective car!
We acquired this double cab pick up truck from an uncle when we no longer fit in our single cab red pick-up in 1993. (Our family then was growing very fast!). When we had it, the body was worn out but the engine was in good condition. We had to do a lot of face lifts to get it to crisp condition.
We've had other cars, they come and they go, but this car has been with us for 12 years of trusty service, and somehow we could not part with it. It has hauled our belongings when we moved in to our built house in 1997. It has served in the church hauling the youth to and from their summer camps. It has been a great part in my other extra income generating activities: planning weddings and child dedications/christenings, this car has been such a great help with heavy duty paraphelnalias! It's so hard working that if it were human and dies, surely, it will receive a crown in heaven.
This car has gone through a lot too. Every now and then, it stalls in the middle of the road. The lights wouldn’t work so it’s often seen and parked at the service station for all kinds of repairs. But one thing I noticed about this car that brought me into a striking realization. It never complains and would always be readily available to serve my family as its master for the next haul.
God’s word tonight hit me like a big blow when I suddenly realize that my car has taught me a big lesson. When Pastor Joe asked, “Is your car available?” The Lord was speaking to me in my circumstance. It takes a while for me to reach overwhelmed. I can competently manage most things I'm responsible for and have an independent nature, but months of strain had taken its toll. Thus when little “irritants” such as this unexpectedly happen, it was easy to admit that the situation was too much for me to handle.
A good thing about being overwhelmed is the realization that we are not in control.
Intellectually, I remind myself of that truth often, but it doesn't sink in to a gut level. Instead, I continually live my life as if everything depended on me. Therefore, it is a positive thing to face the reality that circumstances and people are beyond the scope of my power to regulate.
Still, the best part of being overwhelmed is that God looks after us.
There was nothing I could do about the situation; I couldn't fathom a solution -- I couldn't even try.
Then, God intervened (as He always does!). He sent my husband to do something about it. God provided for ways for a solution, just as He has always provided for all of my family’s needs, both physical and emotional. I was thoroughly amazed by His mercy and grace.
To whom does God show mercy? To those who fear and honor Him (Psalm 103:11), To those who ask (Acts 2:21), To those with sincere hearts (Deuteronomy 13:18), To those who don’t deserve it (Psalm 103:8-10), To anyone God chooses (Exodus 33:19).
So, let me ask myself again, “Is my Car Available and does it conk out in the middle of the road?” There was only one question left in my mind: Why didn't I stop trying and let God look after me sooner?

Basking in God’s Magnificence, His glory!

This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! God's presence was so strong yesterday at Centroplex and I couldn't help but stay in awe of His goodness and glory! When I arrived home, my heart still was in the state of worshipping and giving honor to God. How awesome is His glory indeed. I remember the time when Bunty Collins from Australia shared God'sglory to BCCB so many years back. When she shared a glimpse of howbrilliant God's glory is, I couldn't help myself but to go down on myknees, bask at His magnificence and worship him! It's unfathomable!In Exodus chapter 33 to 34, it reiterates that Moses' prayer was tosee the manifest glory of God. He wanted assurance of God's presencewith him and desired to know that presence experientially. Because weare finite and morally imperfect, we cannot exist and see God as heis. To see God's back means we can only see where God has passed by.We can only know him by what he does and how he acts. We cannotcomprehend God as he really is apart from Jesus Christ (John 14:9).Instead, Jesus promised to show himself to those who believe (John14:21). How awesome is this thought? My simple interpretation ofthis is that, only Jesus can stand in His presence. For us to witnessGod's glory, we will not live!

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face glowed from being in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face and from seeing the radiance fade away. Spending time with God should have such an effect in our lives that our faces glow of His goodness and grace.

Let me just site a few lines in Exodus:Exodus 33:1919The LORD replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, andI will call out my name, `the LORD,' to you. I will show kindness toanyone I choose, and I will show mercy to anyone I choose. 20But youmay not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live."21The LORD continued, "Stand here on this rock beside me. 22As myglorious presence passes by, I will put you in the cleft of the rockand cover you with my hand until I have passed. 23Then I will removemy hand, and you will see me from behind. But my face will not be seen."What is God's glory? It is his character, his nature, his way ofrelating to his creatures. God did not give Moses a vision of hispower and majesty, but rather of his love. God's glory is revealed inhis mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness, forgiveness, and justice.God's love and mercy are truly wonderful, and we benefit from them. Wecan respond and give glory to God when our characters resemble his. Notice also in Exodus 33:14, "My presence will go with you, and I willgive you rest." If we maintain living our lives giving glory to God,as Pastor Joe shared with us, it is really for our benefit. It is notfor Him, but for us to enjoy and share with others.

I see God's glory in my everyday life. Simple as they are, they manifest God's brilliance and magnificence!I give glory to God ……..……….when I hear the birds chirp in the morning while drinking coffee,……….when I lay in bed every night with the wonderful husband He gave me,……….when I call on my WOP cell group and Jonathans for a prayer support,……….when I see my children, my precious jewels, and getting tons of hugs and kisses from them everyday, ……….when I get a bar of chocolate from a secret generous giver,……….when my flowers bloom in the garden, ……….when I get to see the beautiful, radiant faces at Ikthus Center, ……….when I cry in pain and when I know God is there, ……….when times are low and troubled, and in all circumstances, God's glory is revealed.When somebody asks me the secret of staying beautiful, I simply replyby saying, "Must be God's glory!" We find rest in God’s glory. That's how life should be lived! That's how simple it is.

OUR HERO

Father's Day
June, 2005

As we ponder the love that we see in his eyes
A godly love, given without compromise…
We recall many times that he stood by our side,
And prodded us on with great vigor and pride.
His voice ever confident, firm and yet fair,
Always speaking with patience, tenderness and care.
The power and might of his hands was so sure,
We know there was nothing we couldn’t endure.
It’s true, a few others provided insight
Yet, he laid the foundation that kept us upright.
His the grandest of men to have lived on this earth,
Although he’s not royal by stature or birth.
He’s a man of great dignity, honor and strength
His merits are noble, and of admirable length.
He’s far greater than all other men that we know,
He’s our Pop, he’s our mentor, our friend and hero.

Here's a serenade for you Pop. Love ya love ya love ya!!!!



You’re the greatest, Pop! We love you!

A Song

a message
a melody in the air
an intense emotion
a poetry with a tune

a call
a hush
a gong
a brawl

an opposite of silence
a dance
an expression
an oblivion

a can’s clatter
a noise
a shattered glass
a drum’s clash

a mind in a dream
a bird’s chirp
a reminder
a love affair

a mother’s voice
a heartbeat
a deep sigh
a child’s cry

Meet my favorite band

Meet my band. I'm sorry I cant post their video here but click the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Sb2lOtQMA. Savor their music! Enjoy!

My brother is healed!!!!!

Thank God! It's a miracle! My brother is healed completely from drug abuse!!!!! He is the God that never fails! This is a time to celebrate!