Bahay BJ...a home of LOVE

Bahay BJ's Bday Boy at Pan De Amerikana

2009-03-15T11:37:00.002+08:00

March 7th, 2009........Husband turned 25th.
I had a simple preparation for him at 12 of Mar. 7th.

Little cakes, topped with almonds choco.....everything was choco since he loves it with colorful candles, a card........and more LOVE

In the afternoon, we enjoyed a mouthful foodies not to mention so affordable at Pan De Amerikana....a peaceful, countryside ambiance, open area resto, eco friendly filled with plants, inspiring with messages of encouragement, relaxing with a big unique water fan (hahaha), playful....hehehe let's us play big chess/dama and sungka.

All at Pan De Amerikana, Gen Ordonez St. Marikina

(foooooooood) my brewed coffee at P15!! yahoo!! carbonara atP35!! saya saya.
my boy loved it..

Saturday Afternoon

2009-03-14T17:56:00.005+08:00

(sarap maglakad lakad, Jeff and I love this bonding moment, walking together......
exploring and appreciating nearby community or our neighborhood)

Loving the countryside setting of Parang, Marikina City.

Yesterday, quarter to 4pm..we were on our way to NGI, Parang; our nearby Market and Pamilihang Bayan. hehehe. Andoks, Jollibee, Kwik-B Supermarket, Mercury, etc. can be found in 5-7minutes walk.

We had a little jogging while on our way to NGI. Husband decided to roam me not only to the usual Pamilihang Bayan ng NGI, but he wants me to see the nearby villages where MRF is located. MRF is the Material Recovery Facility of Parang, Marikina.

Jeff didn't know it's close on weekends. Yet, we explore the nearby villages of Tandang Sora St, Del Pilar ave where Pizza Smile is located (we never knew there's Pizza smile there), Crystal St..

We saw the Parang High School, was big.kakatuwa

Above all, the ambiance of the villages serenade me. Peaceful, countryside setting, simple people, kids are everywhere playing, the clean, beautiful community of Parang Marikina both encourages us.

We had a light jogging of less than 10 minutes, and more than 20 minutes roaming the community we haven't explored together yet, not until yesterday (",)

it touches the heart of pinoys

2009-03-13T14:10:00.002+08:00

The whole nation of the Philippines had witness and mourn the death of Francis Magalona. Ever since his fight of BIG C, almost everyone knew through television and blog.

Many admired his "makabayan" through music and his "makabayn" t-shirt business and
everything he contributed to music and showbusiness at large.

Here are some things that Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love~ personally appreciate and was touch by his heart/fight/and family

* "He surrendered to the will of God"
(He yield himself to the will of God)
It was the very words of former President Cory Aquino.
It's painful to depart from your loved ones, yet also a sweet victory to leave and
go back HOME

* "We were devoted to each other because WE WANT TO, not because
we had to"
Appreciate this so much. In one of Pia Magalona's interview
Faithfulness as husband and wife should come from a willing heart and
spirit.

* FM's bravery and "unparralled optimism"(as describe by Pia Guano) while fighting
the big fight of leaukemia
No one will say that big fight of C is easy.
We must say, their family have shed tears knowing it last year
yet Francis himself and his wife showed bravery and trust in the Lord
and their loved ones while on that intense challenge of life

* There's one thing that speaks inside our hearts as we watched
the most televised FM's burial...........
"We believe he had fulfilled God's will in his life as a father, husband,
artist, and fighter of a BIG C of leukemia."

THE MESSAGE THAT WE GOT ACROSS:

THE SWEETEST AND STRONGEST EXPRESSION OF OUR FAITH IN GOD IS WHEN WE FACE THE UTMOST , DIFFICULT, AND PAINFUL CHALLENGE IN OUR LIFE WHILE HOLDING ON AND BELIEVING THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ACCEPTING THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN LIKE DEATH."

Husband Appreciation Day

2009-02-16T14:29:00.002+08:00

I think I read this marriage article a few months before as I subscribe to Marriage Connections Newsletter.

In the U.S, they celebrate Husband Appreciation Day in Summer.
Quite a cool idea isn't it?
Since some of my closest friends are married.
I think this is an inspiring idea to get together and to bond not only with girlfriends but with their respective partners.

Surely, to appreciate a husband has to be done on a daily basis. Yet, we're not perfect sometimes we take this for granted. On my case, I have been so blind that most of the time I complain, and forget to simply APPRECIATE.

so thankful for Jeff

2009-02-14T12:19:00.002+08:00

husband is at work today.
as i reflect our days first month of 2009 and the years back in 2007 when we were dating, while looking back to our old multiply photo albums...

realized even more, how blessed i am to have Jeff as my husband, bestfriend, buddy, confidant, playmate he he we love toys, we do!! and my partner in life.

am so thankful to God. I've seen my shortcomings, how I hurt him a lot of times.
i became unreasonably jealous, doubtful and distrustful. i hurt him deeply many times but am amazed how God shaped and blessed his heart to easily forgive me and continuously doing so.

thanks God, 2nd to Jesus, Jeff is such an amazing gift from you.
undeserved gift.

am so touch within how husband stayed so loving, patient, understanding, and sweet in times am so insecure, selfish, ungodly, and unloving.

Just thought of quickly writing this and share my utmost thankfulness to God and my husband.

Happy Hearts Day everyone!!

Bahay BJ's Business School Community!!

2009-02-07T15:51:00.002+08:00

We recently made a community at ning.com. We simply share the things our Bahay BJ family is learning about Finances or Financial Literacy, and business.

Come, learn with us! Join our communnity and enjoy nuggets to enrich your mind in Finances and Business.

Right now, we compiled articles that we are reading.
Soon, we will write our own articles and blogs about Rich Dad Poor Dad, and other things we learn from IMG as well.

Be one of our friends at Bahay BJ Business School and let's help each other prosper according to God's will in our lives.

Here's the link: http://bahaybjbusiness.ning.com/

Love,
Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love~

The Love Month (",)

2009-02-07T12:37:00.003+08:00

The second month of the year 2009 has just started a few days ago.

How are you? How has been the first month of this year?
Each day in our journey, we face many things. It's either a blessing or a challenge.
And no one can stop it nor control circumstances in life. Only God, the KING and the CREATOR has the control because HE alone is POWERFUL and MIGHTY.

Again, how have you been for more than 30 days of 2009?

How's your heart for the upcoming Valentines?

For me, I face countless of failures in my attitude, in the way i think in relationship, in my habit. I hurt my husband in ways I may not intend because of those failures.

I've often told myself every morning while commuting in a van......
"Face this day GRACIOUSLY"

No matter how I desire and tried to do good things towards my husband, coworkers, friends, family, I somehow FAILED along the way. Yet, God has graciously gave me the GIFT OF GRACE.

I'll face the LOVE MONTH GRACIOUSLY. and each day in God's leading........I will face this JOURNEY......GRACIOUSLY.
I'll continue to strive in GENUINE REPENTANCE, until such time that I finally see a SMILE in the heart of my KING. As he would say "This daughter of mine paints joy in my heart by the way she lives."

How about you? How are you?

Happy Valentines Everyone!!

Love,
Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love~

11 months married!!

2009-01-27T12:05:00.005+08:00

We turned 11 months married today (",)
One more month, and we are officially 1 year in blissful marriage.

We had a tradition of celebrating our monthly wedding anniversary.
You may visit us in our multiply page to view our anniversaries' albums.
http://ngetngetko.multiply.com/

I am always grateful to GOd who gave me such a loving and understanding husband.
Last year, I started to study "A Wife's Biblical Submission" with other sisters in Jesus, and I will continue my study and want to learn more on God's will for me as a wife.

Second, I will compile what I learned, and I have new resources for good reflections in marriage at www.crosswalk.com. I want to hold God's hands as He gently leads me on this wonderful journey.

Just two weeks ago, we fought over something I wasn't comfortable with, but I realized the things I have to repent and we passed that challenge in God's Grace & help.

In His help, we desire to grow spiritually, emotionally, and even financially all in God's will.

Happy 11th month wedding anniversary husband nget!!
I love you (",)

Speak Your Spouse’s Language

2009-01-21T16:13:00.008+08:00

Speak Your Spouse’s Language

Whitney Hopler
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Based on Gary Chapman's book

Your husband seems to say one thing yet do another. Your wife seems to expect you to read her mind. You and your spouse are frustrated that what you heard each other say wasn’t what was meant. Sometimes it can be like your spouse is speaking a different language from yours – one you don’t understand.

But you can learn to speak your spouse’s language when you work on communication skills in your marriage. Here’s how:

Make your marriage a covenant, not just a contract. God intended marriage to be much more than the contractual relationship it typically is in our society. Viewed as a contract, marriage is simply about what and your spouse agree to do for each other (and if either of you fail, the relationship can be canceled). But God designed marriage to be a covenant, a permanent relationship that’s built on unconditional love. The first step in effectively communicating with your spouse is for both of you to view your marriage as a covenant. Be willing to love your spouse with a steadfast love. Decide to focus on what you can do for your spouse, instead of on what you want your spouse to do for you.

Realize that communication leads to intimacy. The better you and your spouse communicate, the closer your relationship will become. Aim to build intimacy by focusing on your communication skills. Think of how loved you each will feel in a truly intimate marriage, and let that thought motivate you to improve the way you communicate.

Plan a daily sharing time with your spouse. Schedule a time each day or night to give each other a few minutes of undivided attention. Take turns asking each other to share three experiences that happened in your lives today and how you feel about them.

Change unhealthy communication patterns. Instead of trying to achieve peace at any price, recognize that conflict is necessary to deal with issues and find solutions to problems. Rather than blaming your spouse for everything, ask God to show you how you’ve contributed to problems. Then take responsibility for your own failures, confess them to God, and ask for His help to change. Instead of expressing only your reasonable thoughts and hiding your feelings, realize that you must share your emotions as well as your logic if you’re going to build true intimacy with your spouse. Rather than ignoring your spouse’s offensive actions or comments, hoping that they’ll go away, realize that the problems between you will never go away on their own. The only way to get them to go away is to work together to solve them.

Raise the level of your communication. Get to know the five different levels of communication. Then aim to go to the highest level – level five – with your spouse. Level one is hallway talk like “Fine, how are you?”. Level two is reporter talk like “Just give me the facts.” Level three is intellectual talk like “Do you know what I think?”. Level four is emotional talk like “Do you know how I feel?”. Level five is the most intimate – loving, genuine truth talk like “Let’s be honest.” On this level, you can speak the truth in love to each other. You can be honest but not condemning, and open but not demanding. You can give each other the freedom to think and feel differently about issues, situations, and people. You work to understand each other’s thoughts and feelings, looking for ways to grow together in spite of your differences.

Get to know yourself well. You must know yourself before you can share yourself with your spouse. Train yourself to become more attentive to your five senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting) to be able to fully experience situations. Pay closer attention to the way you interpret your experiences. Notice how the way you interpret experiences affects your emotions and your behavior. Consider what your spouse may have said or done lately that you interpreted in a wrong way. Ask God to help you avoid jumping to conclusions about situations in your marriage, and instead take the time to find out what truly motivated your spouse to speak or act in certain ways. Get to know your emotions, what triggers them, and how the way you feel affects the way you behave. Recognize your desires, and the different values you place on each of them. Consider whether your desires are good or bad, loving or selfish – and how those desires and their varying intensities are affecting your marriage. Then come to understand how your behavior reveals the reality of your choices. When you act a certain way toward your spouse, you’re making a choice, whether you’re fully aware of it or not. If you pay more attention to the choices you’re making – even at the subconscious level – you can change your behavior by changing your choices. Ask God to help you integrate your feelings and desires with your intellect and your will. Instead of letting your changing emotions rule your life, decide to live by the timeless truths of the Bible. Pray for the strength you need to deal with your emotions maturely, so you can remain committed to your marriage even during tough times.

Learn the art of self-revelation. Once you discover who you truly are, be willing to share yourself with your spouse in order to build intimacy in your marriage. Practice telling your spouse about your experiences, interpretations, feelings, desires, and behavior. The more you reveal about yourself, the less your spouse has to guess, and the better he or she can understand you – which will draw the two of your closer together.

Clarify your priorities and goals. Aim to work with your spouse to grow together into the people God wants you become. Think and pray about your current priorities in life: your faith, family, friends, work, church, personal enrichment, etc. Consider whether or not each one reflects what’s important to God. A successful marriage depends on both you and your spouse bringing your priorities in line with God’s priorities. Once you and your spouse agree with God and each other about priorities, it’s time to set goals to help you accomplish your priorities. Be sure to make your goals specific, realistic, and measurable. Set goals for the growth you’d like to see happen in your marriage, and keep in mind that growth usually happens gradually, so be patient with each other as long as you’re making some progress. Discuss your goals with your spouse regularly to keep each other motivated and on track.

Make time for what’s most important. You and your spouse may be very busy, but how much are you actually accomplishing? Examine the ways you’re currently using your time. Write down how you spend your time over the course of a week; then analyze the information to decide what to eliminate. Delegate some of your responsibilities, such as by having your children take over certain household chores or hiring someone to help with tasks like doing your taxes or mowing your lawn. Schedule time to be your spouse in focused ways, rather than hoping that you can do so spontaneously and having other activities take over. Encourage each other to take time regularly to be alone, and use that time to think, pray, and reflect on life.

Identify your differences and make them assets. Notice the many differences between your personality and that of your spouse: one of you likes to stay up late and one likes to get up early, one likes to save money and one likes to spend, one talks a lot and the other is quiet, one is neat and one is messy, etc. Remember that God has created each of you to be unique. No matter how much your spouse’s different approach to life may irritate you, decide not to view your differences as liabilities. If you work together to discover how your differences complement each other, those differences can become assets, strengthening your marriage. Don’t condemn each other for being different. Instead, ask God to help you make the most of your differences so that they’ll enhance your lives together. Whenever you and your spouse notice how one of your strengths is helping the other in an area in which he or she is weak, thank each other.

Change defensive attitudes. Remember that your spouse is not your enemy; he or she is your ally. Figure out what’s causing you to feel defensive in your marriage: perhaps self-esteem issues, unresolved conflict, or physical deprivation. Understand how you usually express defensiveness: through verbal retaliation, withdrawal, or speaking to your spouse through your children instead of directly. Whenever you catch yourself reacting defensively, learn from the experience by asking yourself: “What emotions did I feel when I responded defensively?”, “What message did my spouse’s statement communicate to me?”, “What did my response, verbally or behaviorally, communicate to my spouse?”, and “What did my response reveal about me?”. Also consider how larger issues in your marriage may be contributing to your defensiveness, and discuss those issues with your spouse. Then explore ways of relating to each other more constructively. For example, when you want your spouse to do something, approach him or her with a request instead of a demand. Also, rather than saying “You should …” or “You ought …” say “In my opinion …”. The more you and your spouse feel that you value and believe in each other, the less defensive you’ll each become.

Build intimacy. Ask God to help both you and your spouse be transparent and open with one another so you’ll enjoy the freedom to know and be known. Make sure you’re each experiencing intimacy with God, since you can’t be experience intimacy with each other until you each are close to God first. Communicate with God often through prayer, and communicate with your spouse honestly and openly each day. Confess your own selfishness whenever you recognize it and ask for mercy and forgiveness whenever you need it. Ask God to pour out His love for your spouse through you and make you an agent of positive change in your spouse’s life. Over time, work to regain trust that has been lost in your relationship. Develop stronger emotional intimacy by expressing love, respect, and appreciation to your spouse more often. Build stronger intellectual intimacy by learning how to listen to each other well and discussing ideas in ways that respect each other when your opinions differ. Develop stronger sexual intimacy by working together until you both find mutual fulfillment in your physical relationship. Stay committed to each other, refraining from looking outside your marriage for sexual fulfillment. Communicate often and openly about your sexual needs and desires. Look out for your spouse’s best interests in other areas of your lives, too, to grow the kind of love you need to fuel a healthy sexual connection. Build stronger spiritual intimacy by encouraging each other to become more like Christ every day. Pray together, talk about what God is doing in each of your lives, study the Bible together, and serve God together through your local church and in other ways as He leads you. Dream together about the future, and ask God to make His dreams for your marriage come true.

*Taken from www.crosswalk.com

All Glory To Jesus!!

2009-01-14T22:23:00.006+08:00

Long holiday vacation was over.
Time flies so fast, Christmas was over too.
It's been two weeks past new year.

Bahay BJ is so grateful to God, for a wonderful 2008!
We thank HIM for a meaningful holiday season, which star Jesus,
the main character of the Celebration.
All Glory to Son of God who bore the pain in the Cross with JOY in HIs heart.
Simply because He knew, it will benefit us.

We have different ways of celebrating this very important season of the year.
We hope you had a meaningful journey uplifting Jesus last Christmas!
HE is so awesome, so great!!

We saw how lovely the Christmas lights of DBP at Makati Ave.
The Toyota Office in Pasig was full of light all around a spacious lot.
The Elementary School of Concepcion Marikina where trees were filled
of lights and there was an impressive gazebo full of colorful christmas lights.

And our house? Bahay BJ set up our very first Christmas tree and other decoration
all over the living room of our Bahay Kubo. So lovely,was fun doing it together.

Last Dec. 24th, on our way home from Makati, we saw the Metro filled with people.
Arriving at Cubao at past 9pm,almost 10pm! Wheew, everyone I guess was
pressured to make it home before midnight.
All jeepneys, fx, taxis are filled with so many passengers, and if you commute like us
it was really challenging. Good thing, I have a smart husband. He thought of a solution.
Instead of waiting for a Public Utility bound for Parang Marikina.
We went to Ali Mall instead and took a ride in jeepney bound to Taytay,
we got off near Sm Marikina and caught a ride to Bayan Marikina
(the jeepney route of Pasig to Bayan Marikina).

Great! We arrived Bayan Marikina in less than 30 minutes, while we know many
people were still at Cubao. The challenge didn't stop there. Public Utilities at Bayan
Marikina were still full.When we are about to get inside a jeepney, there were a
couple who got ahead of us, knowing am a woman, he never gave a seat, hahaha.
Good thing, Good Samaritan still exist!!! Awesome! God so great for providing our needs.
That good Samaritan generously gave up his seat.So sila dalawa ng asawa ko eh sumabit nlng.
We really can't forget his kindness which able us to arrive home almost 11pm.
We felt so blessed! We saw how hard it was, we experience it along with others.
That made Christmas so great, meaningful, touching.

On Christmas, we went to SM Marikina. We still did some grocery, and have some
merienda in our fave Greenwhich! In the parking at SM where van terminal for Antipolo,
Montalban, San Mateo, and Marikina was located. There were still many people especially
those bound to Montalban. I thought mababawasan na tao. We saw for the first time
how crowded SM Marikina was.

That's not the end, when we passed by Bayan Marikina comfortably sitting in a van bound
to our place, we were so surprised to see hundreds of travellers stranded, in the terminal
bound to Montalban, and Antipolo just in front of Marikina Sports Complex.

We are sharing this because it touches our hearts, how humbly Filipinos can sacrifice
inconvenience just for the Spirit of Christmas.

Let Jesus be the center not only in Christmas but eveyday in our lives.

All Glory to HIM! All Glory To Jesus! Our Beautiful Savior!!

Make 2009 A Blessed Year

2009-01-05T03:37:00.002+08:00

We welcome 2009 differently (",)

On the other hand, we have a unique 2008
I believe, I've got many things to thank God for, not only for the year 2008 itself but for everyday living. Each of our lives have different theme at a certain phase or chapter on earth.

2008 has been meaningful. Not only counting down the things that I saw happened but moreover of the things that's not seen by a naked eye. And those are spiritual blessings that God always poured upon me and my husband.

God has always welcome us with LOVE and ACCEPTANCE.
A year may just be a few days to God and a few days might just be thousand years to HIM. His TIME is infinite.

2008 is another chapter of God's Abundant Grace and Unfailing Love.

* He endowed me and Jeff, a Gift of Marriage.
Opening our hearts to genuine love, friendship and faith.
Leading our weak knees and hearts to HIS LOve and Grace so abundant that we'll never run out of it.

* HE allowed us, in His good will to face emotional tribulations and some challenges that usually encountered by new married couple, the time of adjustment and a test of love and acceptance. Through those moment, HE gently lead us and help us to better understand each other, genuinely accept, and helping us to communicate kindly and lovingly. All because of HIS Love and Graces!!

* The Gift of Having a Loving and God-Fearing Husband, A Partner in Life, Bestfriend, and a Family.

Words are not enought to express my gratefulness how God blessed me with an amazing husband who loves me, accepts me and serves me endlessly. He never demands about household chores or cooking or laundry, those stuff that a wife should carefully and lovingly handle yet invites me gently to learn and grow to better serve our family and fulfill God's will for me as a woman and wife.

Jeff helps me with household chores, we are a team. A team works together!!
He often cooks for me even if he is extremely tired from a long exhausting work which requires him of getting up as early as 2am or 1am, and goes home at 11pm or even late.
I never heard him complaining. He has good attitude towards learning and persevering.

* A Gift of Quality Time and Simplicity
I can't count how many times God has blessed us with a quality time with each other.
Even in a busy routine of work, Jeff always make ways to have time with me like having dinner in our fave fast food resto, hahaha. or bring me to Riverbanks for our much awaited footlong snacks along with yummy mango shake in a Friday night ready to face weekend with so much fun, love and adventures.

He choses me over work esp. when I am sick. He gave his warm hug when I'm down and kiss me at the forehead and carry me in his arms even if I gained so much weight and it's not easy to carry me just to comfort. hahaha. He carry me at his back when we are walking so far in a bustling city in Marikina that some people who sees us just smiled and wonder maybe that we do that without shame. hahaha

He encourages and supports me with my dreams. Even reminds me to take an advance course for me to learn and have a wide understanding of things I want to pursue and am passionate about.

A Gift of simplicity because husband and I lives simply. We live in a small house, and I called it a modern version of Bahay Kubo but we are so much happy and grateful.

Simple that we refuse to live a materialistic life. Yes, we buy things we love like a good rubber shoes we need in our exercise regimen, a guitar for him not to forget to play music. He is a good musician!!

* A Gift of Loyal and Loving Friends.

Jesus endowed us with friends whose hearts are genuine and who walks with HIM too.
They are Honey Lovela, Angela, Charis, Jen, Mhaimhai, Marichel, Mhay, Ryan, Joms, Ericka.

* A Gift of Spiritual Victory

Each one of us have struggles not only financially or emotionally but also spiritually. Like when we seem to distrust rather than trusting is one form of a spiritual struggle.
I struggle in insecurities and downhearted when some people tease me and insult me by gaining so much weight but with Jesus love, reminding of HIS Great Sacrifice on the Cross.....God leads me to choose to WIN. TO win over insecurity, to win over distrust, to win over selfishness because HIS power is upon me through Faith in Jesus.

God blessed me that I've found "A Wife's Biblical Submission", a study of Proverbs 31, a journey of a wife or woman wanting to follow God's will. Led by Sunny, a Korean married to American passionately loving God, wanting Jesus to be known, abandoned her heart all for HIS Glory!!! Met some sisters who have the same passion. I thank God for them!!

* A Gift of God's Trust

God trusts me with his resources by allowing me to work. He trusted me with loving Jeff, my husband, believing that I can help this person to love Jesus more and draw our hearts together to our Beautiful Savior. We have a habit of praying at 6pm whether we are together or not. God encourages us in countless ways.

He endlessly believe in us even if at times we hardly understand each other but now we learned a lot and grow in that aspect. Only because of Jesus!! Thank you!!

* A Gift of Opportunity, Learning......

An opportunity to learn from our work, activities, and our relationship and circumstances in life.

Jeff continues to learn from his work, Outbound Education, from history , mountains, first aid, economy, grooming, leadeship training, theater rehearsals and a lot more.

On the other hand I learned more about promotions, brand marketing, media planning, business plans, SWOT analysis, market analysis, market watch, among many things to mention.

We better learn how to take care of each other, understand, communicate, and accepts our weaknesses.

* Last but not the least, A Gift of Having Jesus

He abundantly blessed us with a heart still wanting to seek HIM, know HIM and lavish HIM with praises and thanksgiving. In the midst of opposition and unjust judgment among others........, He never fails to touch our hearts and never stop praying faithfully.

Jesus is the greatest Gift, Jeff and I could ever have. His Precious Blood On The Corss Shed for my sins.I can't stop but thank HIm and worship HIM and wanting more and more to lavish HIs Altar with Praises and Gratefulness.

His Undying Sacrifice for the good of all, exemplifying Eternal Love.......God's Love.

Cheers to Amazing 2008!! Praises and Gratefulness to Jesus!! Jesus, the STAR in our lives, star that will never fade HIS Shining Glory!!!

Welcoming 2009, faithfully looking forward to witness continuesly the amazing Love of God to Humanity, witnessing more His Good deeds, good will, VICTORY.

and more and more of HIS Graces..........

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."- Jer 29:11

Amidst the anticipated economic crisis, we are certain that God plans a future for us filled with hope!!

In Awe of God's Mightiness!!

Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~ A Home of Love~

Merry Christ-mas Everyone!!

2008-12-24T15:32:00.002+08:00

Jesus is the very reason of this holiday, let’s give him our praises and thanksgiving as we celebrate Christmas and face a new year of 2009 filled with Hope, Faith, and Love.

Let’s lavish our Savior with our love, worship and faith.

May the Holidays fill our hearts and days with HIS presence and Love.

Let’s share HIS LOVE with less fortunate children or family, who are also close to our God’s heart.

Love,
Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love ~

This Lenten Season- Filled with God's Abundant Love and Graces!!!

2008-12-17T08:49:00.005+08:00

Nine (9) mornings......

Lovely mornings to heed God's Word and Received It with open hearts (",)
Husband and I decided to devote our nine lovely mornings to worship God together.

We understand that we don't deserve to worship God because we are sinners and He is Holy yet thru Jesus we can approach His throne confidently, with a heart desiring to continue to repent as He refines us to be pleasing to His sight.

In God's leading, we are in one with our three top petitions. Yet even if there's no 9 mornings, we will continue to ask God's favor.

We would like to share how our hearts has been blessed by hearing God's word:

First morning: A message of HOPE

* It started with a story of a mother who is pregnant with her second child (",)
Every night, she asked her first born to sing to her womb before sleeping.
And the child gladly do it each and every night singing
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy......"

9 mornings is a tradition only known in the Philippines, when Filipinos believe that by completing it their wish will come true.

The message said: "We are all here wanting our wishes to come true, but here's the good news!!
It has already been fulfilled. We long for happiness? It has been fulfilled through the HOPE God is giving us through Jesus who came to save the world."

As we listen to God's Word, good news and uplifting to our souls, I'd prayed that we will be able to bring HIs Word into our hearts and in our lives in His Loving Guidance.

Second Morning:God wants us to do Good

"Not because he needs it, for HE doesn't need anything from us. He wants us to do good for us to be safe.
The message further lifted our hearts to God, when it says, "even if we fall short to His Glory and we are sinners, still God take good care of us and loves us so dearly. (It made me almost to tears)

Further, it said: Encourage others to do good as well.
Those who do good shall not say "I deserve to draw near or come to God because I do good, and my neighbor who doesn't should not come near"

It's true, I believe no one deserves to come near to a Holy God but we are all given the privilege and gift to have a personal and intimate walk with God each and every moment of our lives through Jesus, only through God's abundant grace exemplified through His Son. The reason we can enjoy intimate and firm rel. with our Amazing God!!

We are so blessed with the richness of God's word that really makes a difference in our hearts and in our day.

More message we are going to share in HIS Grace (",)

Lovely days HE paints for us. As HE will for us to commune with HIm so closely

Enjoy this day filled with God's Love and Graces.

Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love~

Three Best Things You Can Give to Your Kids!!

2008-12-16T17:31:00.002+08:00

Quite a long time since my husband had the chance to fetch me at work.
He has been so busy at work, leadership trainings and theater rehearsals.

I am grateful again & again to God for showering us the blessing of quality time and bonding.

I will have to share what a lovely and sweet night that was.

Just I had a short reflection, in God's wisdom, as I pray and pray.

I realized that there are three best things we can give to our kids! (I don't have kids yet...heheheh)

1st: To raise them God-fearing,and have a personal relationship with God as they grow.
To love and honor God is the first and foremost thing they need to know.

I remember God says in the bible that, we should always tell kids about HIS love, whether we get up, walk or whatever we are doing. Wow!! That's really sweet.

2nd: I believe our love, support and our friendship with our kids is the second best thing or gift we can give them for a lifetime.

3rd: comes education......

I believe God has blessed me with these wisdom while am praying and I just want to share it. After all, there's joy in sharing!!!

Lovely Tuesday everyone ^_^

Gratefully Married

2008-12-11T11:56:00.004+08:00

Blessed with a Gift of Marriage. Blessed with a Loving Husband, who loves God and lead me with God's Word~TheBible~

Happily wearing his wrist. hehehe. Nagcompliment pa sa blouse ko. Palit muna tayo ng wrist hubby.

Sick Wifey

2008-12-11T11:49:00.003+08:00

It's been three days I wasn't able to report to the office due to my physical condition, cough,cold, intense headache, trangkaso.....

I'd like to work na but I can't force myself, at hindi rin maganda ang pinipilit ang katawan esp when it is sick.

We're about to see our family doctor this afternoon..

Look at my pics, poise pa rin kahit sick. para hindi halata.

hehehhe, poise pa rin. hahahaha

Fantastic Four Meme

2008-12-10T19:06:00.002+08:00

Finally, we can do this tag by Melody of http://matheadeanne.blogspot.com/

Here’s the rule: Click copy/paste, type in your answers and tag four people in your lists! Don’t forget to change my answers to the questions with that of yours.

4 Places we go over and over:Bahay BJ, workplace/s, Malls, Marikina/Makati

4 People Who E-mail Us Regularly: These days, we don't really use e-mail as mode of communication, we'd rather have mobile phones, chat room, blogs and multiply.

4 Favorite Restos that Bahay BJ Loves To eat: Jollibee, Greenwhich, Riverside seafoods eateries along riverbanks, and Baog of Beans in Tagaytay.

4 Places We'd Rather Be: Davao, Bohol, Greece, and Gibraltar

4 TV shows we'd watch over and over: Late Night News, sometimes we'd catch up Betty La fea, but we're not really into tv except for news.

4 People I'd think will respond:

Rachelle of http://mysoulfulthoughts.blogspot.com/

JayRose Siriban of http://jayrose-siriban.blogspot.com/

Wendy of http://wenlopred.blogspot.com/

Ge of http://digerati-gerald.blogspot.com/

We Delight To Share.....What We Learn

2008-11-27T17:20:00.002+08:00

Beautiful Day Everyone!

To all who share your precious time and visit Bahay BJ, our sincerest THANK YOU!!
Those who leave comments and message in the chat box, much appreciated.

We delight in informing everyone that we added a new section for Bahay BJ's online blog.
You can see it at the bottom part of the site. There we share good sites helpful for your families.

* www.ivillage.com - a free service brought by NBC and ivillage, where family, esp moms and wife can find many useful stuff like home/household concerns, health, beauty tips, pregnancy concerns, (they even have a software to track down your fertility, for those who are trying to conceive like me!!), they also have a momtourage section where you can mingle and chat with moms through a forum esp designed for moms!! Also, there's section for parenting, love, issues and helpful facts on how to go green, weddings, entertainment, diet, food, etc.

When we say diet, it doesn't mean we want to lose weight but it's about finding the right diet for you in accordance with your body's needs. We found this site a few months ago, and we learned a lot. That's why we want to share it, so everyone who would visit our site will be blessed by it.

We delight to share with you what we learn that we believe will help you personally and your family.

Other sites we add on, are:

ilearn- also related with ivillage where you can study useful short courses for free!!
courses ranges from biz, home related, website for your small biz, etc.
I already participated in two courses that relates with business and website and it was great learning.

ilearn.gov.ph- esp for Filipinos brought to us by Commission on Information and Communications Technologyand Aklan State University.

Womansday.com- here you can find stuff like grocery list format, home decor, family activities and other exciting stuff useful for our family and home!! So awesome!!

Healthination.com-Videos for our health. Health concerns like migraines, asthma, name it, you may watch it there and learn!!

Yourtotalhealth.com (also by ivillage and NBC), here there are tons of exercise tips,& other related stuff that will help you and your family with health concerns.

walkdeep.com- a site helping people have deep walk with God!!

biblicalsubmission.blogspot.com- Biblical truth on being a wife. Things every wife needs to know on how to be the wife God intended us to be. So inspiring to be part of this online study.
Where God used Sunny of http://jesusrulzme.blogspot.com/ to lead this meaningful study.

Surely, we will be adding more that we believe is useful and helpful to family, moms, wife/husband or couple, and etc.

We pray that you will be blessed with it.

All for God's glory!!

Delighted to serve,

Bon and Jeff Galicia
Bahay BJ ~A Home of Love ~

The Desire To Revisit Camarines Sur

2008-11-23T23:14:00.008+08:00

I tasted life in Camarines Sur, two years of my high school life.

Our place is a few hours from Naga City.

When I was in the University, in Lyceum...gratefully, in God's Grace was still able to visit CamSur from time to time.

Hopping around yummy restos in Naga and newly established coffee shop and fine dining restos.

Also in my third year in college, I was able to visit the beautiful Eco Village.

Have a glimpse here: http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/photo_album/main.php?cmd=album&var1=Accomodations/EcoVillage/&var2=

I remember, Gov. Villafuerte was then having a meeting, I hardly remember his face though.

Also fresh in my memory is the forest like ambiance of Eco Village, hanging bridge, falls, cave, swimming pool, & the beautiful aviary.

I had the film way back then but failed to develop our pics. hahahaha

(here's the aviary in Eco Village)

On the other hand, here are the accommodation rates at Eco Village:

http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/hotels_villas_cabanas/p2_articleid/13

Though, di ko na naabutan ang pagdevelop ng Cam Sur Water Sports Complex, so famous these days esp to sports oriented people who love wakeboarding.

http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/

Husband and I wants to spend some time next year in my old high school place, in the beautiful Camarines Sur.

Also, early year after my graduation from the University I started to hear about beautiful Caramoan, i think more lovely than Bora.

It's a virgin island, not commercially developed compare to others.

In God's Grace, we'll able to visit it too next year.

God has an artistic hand creating those beautiful island , beaches and places so unique in the Philippines!!

More beautiful place / beach in Cam Sur...

http://www.gotavillage.com/index.html

More info on Caramoan Island:(which husband and I needs soon)

http://www.caramoanislands.com/index.html

http://caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com/

Nice pala sa Parco

2008-11-23T21:12:00.002+08:00

Nov. 5th, Wednesday when husband and I met at Tropical Concepcion after our work and decided to go home together.

We were waiting for a jeepney, it was past 20 minutes or so then we haven't able to catch to ride on. Jeff initiated if we can go inside Parco, that we haven't visited.

Ganda pala...beautiful. The good thing all the bread spread we are looking for were all there.

Perhaps we are just making the most of our time together since the past few months, we were so busy esp husband.

I love "Pasalubong"

2008-11-23T19:57:00.003+08:00

One of the habits of my sweet and loving husband is to bring "pasalubong" everytime he comes from Laguna, Clark Pampanga, and other places so far, and those with famous "kakanin"

These he brought home when he had his outbound work at Liliw Laguna last Oct. 22.2008

You can see there were Colette's Buko Pie, Special Piyaya, Uraro cookies,special pastillas and Espasol. All of them my favorites. Since there too many and we can't eat them all, I usually share these "pasalubong" to my friends in the office.

The Buko Pie I gave to helpers and drivers. The Special Pastillas which my 5 friends in the office love, the espasol that Rachelle and I loves. It's so great to share, because others are also encouraged.

One of the sweet things God has given is the Gift of Sharing and Giving. Which I believe not limited to Christmas season only, but everday we can give and share....

after such a long time

2008-11-20T22:32:00.003+08:00

that I didn't drink milo to avoid migraine attacks, last nov.6, husband allowed me to drink ...yahoo. so yummy. I missed it!!

~thanks hubby ~

After 3 to four days, I can feel am having a headache after a few hours of drinking.

hehehe. doctor said, there are food that really triggers migraine.

as for me, maybe this one. hahaha

after all it's one of those foodie doctor advised to avoid...

hindi araw araw ay Pasko

2008-11-15T23:14:00.008+08:00

(Just thought of sharing this old blog entry I had at our page www.ngetngetko.multiply.com, last Sept. 25th, 2008)

This was the tagline shared to me by my husband.
He was tellin me that the time he started to like me, this line was shared to him by his friend.

There was one time that he left his notebook (which has the important notes from one of his engineering classes), so after a Sunday Service, he would like to get it in our house in Makati.
Accompanied by his two friends, he waent home to get the notebook. He further shared that, he actually want to see me rather than getting the notebook.

But on that day, I wasn't feeling well. I went home immediately after a Sunday Service in our Region, (Manila), and went straight to bed and catch a sleep since I only had a few hours of rest.

So, he went there with his friends early evening, hoping he could see me (haha). It turned out, my stepbrother handed the notebook to him when he was looking for me. My brother just said "she is sleeping", gave the notebook, and immediately closed the door. (hahaha, taray daw ng brother ko.)

Just feel a little down today....hmmm. I want to take a major step in one area of my life, still am grateful that I have a husband who is with me throughout that journey or struggle.I just remember that line he shared "hindi araw araw ay pasko", hehehe. funny though it doesn't have any relations with what I feel, but came to my mind.

Just want to surrender my struggles and my sadness to HIM

As I look up to HIS Word: It says: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

But after feelin' that way this morning, I just headed to the pantry, and filled my pink bottle with water as I used to do a few minutes after arriving at the office.I saw Grace, mixing a calamansi juice in her green cutie cup, hehehe. I asked her,"what's that for?" She answered: " I'm having a "sipon" kasi.". Wow, that's good to hear! I was sharin to her, that I usually look for decolgen when am having a cold.

So, we had a short chitchat there and I mentioned my tummy. I said: "Look! my tummy is getting thinner these days"!! She responded " Oo nga noh", galing! We started laughing, I further shared "you know naman, ang laki laki ng tummy ko" at parati akong napagkakamalang preggy" (LOL), and she responded while laughing a lot "Nakunan ka ba?"

I told her, more than one month ago, I started to have a regular exercise early in the morning for 10-15 minutes, maximum of 20 minutes. Is was my husband who encouraged me to get started and would monitor me every now and then.For every new week that comes, he would encourage me to add movement to my exercise. I also mentioned that I did a lot of "tummy toning" movement and was even demonstrating it to her, hahahaha.

Just before heading to the pantry, I read quicky "

Laugh a Little: It's Good for Your Health" at christianwomentoday.com

True enough, I catch a good laugh after feeling a little bit down this morning.

I believe, it's truly God moving in my heart and in my struggles.

PRAISES TO HIM ALWAYS

Christmas is on the air!!

2008-11-11T13:30:00.003+08:00

Less than an hour ago, I received this in the company e-mail. Wow!! Christmas is here!!

Last year, the theme was Music. The Christmas Party was entitled: The 2007 ESL Music Awards. The trophy I received being part of the Committee is in my office desk.

We are back to our fave Strumms! hahaha.

Last Saturday, husband suggested I'll come up with a Scooby doo girl movie icon, clothes are causal and colorful. I said, can you suggest some more?

Hahaha....I thank God, husband was able to come up with a nice movie icon.Not the Scooby doo, but something casual yet classy and cool.

We were able to buy our blouse for this, and I have a necklace the one Vitannie gave me a few years back. Now we are in search of the shoes that this movie lady icon used in her fun and nice movie.

Bahay BJ's ESL Library!!

2008-11-08T21:54:00.003+08:00

Beautiful and Blessed Saturday Everyone!!

We are happy to share to you that Bahay BJ recently added on this blog an "ESL Library"
For ESL instructors, online or off, students, parents, and anyone can find links related to ESL!!

Whether it's a resource for lessons, worksheets, or you may be in need of an ESL supplier like that of American Accent cd's etc, you can simply visit our blog and browse our ESL Library.

For employment abroad, we advise everyone interested to please be cautious!!
Just a friendly reminder...

We're hoping that it will help everyone in some ways!!

Happy Saturday!