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What's Your Story? (Book Review)

2012-06-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

What's Your Story?
by: Deanna Kohlhofer

"God doesn't wants us to be shy with his gifts, but bold, loving, and sensible." 2 Timothy 2:7 (The Message)

What's your story? Has anyone asked you that? And have you been reluctant to share because you simply just didn't know how to answer? You are not alone! Would you be surprised if I told you that most people do not know how to articulate their story? It is a sad, true fact my friend. But it does not have to be that way for you. Weather you have been a faithful follower since you were three or you are a new follower---you have a story!

Reading the book is like thinking and looking back at life while sitting with a friend and talking about it over a mug of a frappuccino. It's like watching my life being played on the skies and seeing God walking besides me all the way through bad and good times. I will definitely buy one of this book and not only that I would be giving some to friends as gift to pass on the fire in faith!
Indeed "What's Your Story?" is a must have book!

The author Deanna Kohlhofer is a Christian blogger and writer. You can see more of her works at spotLIGHT316 ministries... very inspiring author!

If you do want to have her book for free all you need to do is follow her blog and FBpage. She is giving 3 copies each for the first 3 commenter and follower.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Indeed!

2012-05-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is indeed very true, easy to say but very hard to do.

I hope and pray that those who are in this situation will

have the courage to really really put it down and never look at it again

to avoid temptation.

God bless everyone. Happy Thursday to all!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Dinner for a Cause: Please support

2012-05-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

Proceeds will go to scholars!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

You are not so for me

2012-05-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

During my younger years I used to experiment things, I love to explore and mostly suffer the consequence early. Good thing though for all the bad things I've tried to do I never have liked it and friends who does it don't want to influence me that bad as well. When I tried to drink alcohol , I did first become dependent on it but later on I realized I didn't like it all and stop drinking. I also tried smoking but since it felt like it suffocating me I stopped right away.

I'm just thankful that the Lord has spared me for being addicted to those vices and have spared me of possible internal damage and sooner death. I just can't imagine myself going to the mall and stopping at discount cigar shops to avail the discounts. I probably poorer than I think if I did not stop this thing. May those who are into this would do it gradually to avoid problems.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Outdoor Speakers

2012-05-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

I was talking with my beloved husband the other day. We were talking about a new bought speakers for a small church we know. He told me that it's good to have a new stuff like that, but. if the people in-charge doesn't know how to use it... it's kinda useless. Well, I think this is very true because I know a church in one up in the mountain up North that was being given a desk top computer. The computer was all set, but they have a problem, they don't know how to use it. Sooner or later if you doesn't know how to use it... it seems useless unless the person will really give time to study on how to operate the thing.

My hubby on the other hand is also wishing that their band will be able to buy Speakers an out door one so that whenever they have an outdoor concert which they always do, they won't be able to rent/hire a mobile cost doing such really cost a lot. Whenever the band does concert, it's actually not a paid concert but an evangelism concert reason why renting an outdoor speaker is really a pain in the pocket.

We pray that someday we'll able to have a speaker.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Guitar tuner for hubby

2012-05-25T20:13:00.001-07:00

Wow! Here we go again. Hubby took his newly bought slightly used guitar to a friend. He told me that they will just do some jamming, then, later I found out that hubby is thinking of selling that guitar so that he could buy another one. Hubby was in front of me when his sister blurted out his secret, part of me would like to yell at him, but I decided to shut up thinking I don't really know why he's doing that. What bogs me is... hubby is so consumed of these things (guitars, guitar accessories, his fish, and his motorbike) when he is home. Whenever his done the thing(s) I have asked to, it's hard to ask another thing again. Here is where the trouble starts :).

Actually, I don't really care if hubby would buy all the guitars he wants in the whole world even if he buys this epiphone acoustic guitars for sale, as long as he gives us quality time as well. It's probably not too much to asked from him to just sit around with us even if he does nothing co'z we don't see him a lot during the day time. The moment I wake up.. he's in hurry to go and it's already dark when he gets home. Then, whenever he is home... he's tired or if not... he's too busy with other things.

Then now... he's looking for a tuner (where in fact he owned this gadget where everything is in it, but yet, he's thinking of giving it away... and now he's looking for one again). Ooh goodness! men are hard to understand :D.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

The poor, the rich, and the needy.

2012-05-22T23:20:00.001-07:00

We went to church last Sunday very late, in fact we almost hit benediction when we arrived, and we put all the blame on the slow bus to excuse ourselves. Well, how I wish we have a car to use to so that we don't have go the commuting ordeals. As you may know, it would take five rides for us to get to our home church and it's the same thing coming back home. (This is me wishing I have cars, big house, and more money in the bank).

It probably took us 30 minutes or more waiting for the bus, but when it finally came, it was loaded with people. We were forced to get in the bus even though we know that we have to stand in the aisle co'z there's no available seat for us. Hubby and I were grateful that we were able to ride the bus. I could tell that hubby was struggling hard to stand straight holding on with the side bar so that he won't fell specially that he was carrying our adorable baby.

I could feel hubby's uneasiness and so I took Ziah (our baby) from him, ignoring the risk that I am standing besides the mini-bus door and if I'm not careful when the driver hit breaks I might be pushed off the bus. Then as I was trying to hush my crying baby, the guy seated in front of me looked at us with concerns in his eyes and offered his seat for us. Of course I took it and was very thankful. I looked back though and I saw him balancing himself just like I did when I was the one standing up.

As I was sitting comfortably, it made think of the rich people who never experience what I just had experienced. I could tell that the person who just extended the help to me is no rich man an in fact was needing the seat too but since he saw that I needed it the most he it gave it up for me. The act that the man has given me made me thank God that we don't have a car and I have given this opportunity of being helped upon. As you should know, I was thinking of how I could be get rich so that I it won't be a hassle for me to do things. I know it wasn't a great thing (the guy did) though but it just struck me to my core that being poor is not a crime at all and in fact it's a blessing.

It just depend on how we look at things.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Tita B-gel @24

2012-05-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

Ooh! how I love the cake. It's so yummycious!

Prompting hubby to buy one today.

how I want it!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Like Mother.. like daughter

2012-05-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

"When are you coming?"
"On Sunday, why?"
"Because I want to get somethings, make the bed..."
"Oh, Mom," she said.
I felt an echo in me:
I had made the beds just the weeks before on a visit to my mother's, because of her back.
Always before she had, but now I did, knowing where everything was: I had moved her there.

Looking for recipes of dishes my daughter likes, I found the ones for meals I had made my mother,
in her new kitchen, and put them away like an echo in a drawer.
Reviewing their ways, looking for similarities in their rhythms (there were non);
I weighed them against my need to be alone.

I am related to neither now (their blue eyes are so dissimilar) and yet I am their link.
There are echos back and fort through me:
I live alone, as I do my mother and my daughter,
none of us in the house
where we were raised
or spent our marriages.
Each of us is careful of the others,
unyielding in small significant ways.

I now mother my mother
when I can no longer mother my daughter
who is older than I have ever felt myself to be. - Susan S. Jacobson

-Stories inspired by Robert Strand-Moments to Cherish devotional

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Month of May celebrations*

2012-05-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

May 1 - tatay's birthday (done)

May 6 - hubby's birthday (done)

May 7 - family outing (done)

May 13 - mother's day (not yet done)

May 16 - sister in-law birthday/Lian Abigael (not yet done)

May 22 - Ziah's 11th month birthday (Yay!)

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Who's the boss

2012-05-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

A farmer's son decided to get married. When his dad heard the news he said, "John, when you get married your liberty is gone!" The son questioned this and refused to believe it. The dad said, "I'll prove it to you. Catch a dozen chickens, tie them up, put them in the wagon, and go to town. Stop at every house and wherever you find the husband is boss give him a horse. Wherever you find the woman is the boss, give her a chicken. You'll give away all your chickens and you'll come back your team of horses intact.

John accepted the proposition and drove to town. He stopped at every house and had given away ten chickens when he came to a nice little house. The old man and his wife were standing out in front on the lawn. He called to them and asked, "Who is the boss in your house?"
The man replied, "I am."
He turned to the lady and she said, "Yes, he's really the boss."
John was excited with the prospect of establishing the boss in this home, so he invited them to come down into the street; explained his proposition and told them to select one of the horses. The old man and his wife looked them carefully and the husband finally said, "I think the black is the better, I choose him."
The wife said, "I think the bay horse is the better. I'd choose him."
The old man took another careful look at the bay horse and said, "I guess I'll take the bay horse."
John smiled and said, "No you won't, you'll take a chicken!"*

Personally I really don't know what to say co'z I'm a woman. Things like this really happens with hubby and I. It may be a shameful thing to admit... that I sometimes/most times overrule my hubbiness.

May the Lord grant me with total obedience.

(inspired by: moments to give devotional by R.S)

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Happy birthday Tay!

2012-05-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of questions in our mind and only you could answer all these. Yet the big question is how, and if time comes that there is an opportunity to laid down the questions will you be willing to laid down honest answers as well? I doubt!

Sigh! in fact... deep sigh! I may not a blood related to you but being just a daughter in-law doesn't mean I don't care, I care a lot actually co'z seeing your children wondering... is really a hard thing. They may smile at you when you come home but behind such smiles are questions need to be answered with no one but you.

(a card greeting made by Lara, wish you could see this)

Actually if you just promise to come home on a regular basis I might have bought you a present a pandora bracelet not personally for you though because this is a girl thing but for you to give to mom as a peace offering. But I don't any material thing could make you come home and be a regular Dad to your children because as mom said you've been like this even before hubby came to life.

Well don't get mad if you happen to read this post (even though I know that there is negative zero probability) but still, I just want you to know that this is just a personal opinion of mine which don't matter to you.

I wish you good health and good life though!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Today is his b-day

2012-05-01T03:09:00.000-07:00

...and since yesterday we're waiting for him to come home co'z we promised him that we are going to treat him dinner somewhere. But since its almost past dinner and there's no possibility that hes coming home, we instead decide that we will still do the dinner thing but we will go out as our first plan but we will do it just here at home.

Hubby and his sister is going to pizza hut to get pizza, then I will a carbonara inspired pasta to match with our pizza. I just don't though what flavor their getting, but one thing is for sure... we're having pizza for dinner.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Yesterday

2012-04-26T22:02:00.001-07:00

Hubby's younger sister is working at McDonald-SM Bacoor and it was their grand re-opening yesterday. She has no work for about two months because their store was being renovated and for that two months all that she did was training (she trained people and at the same time she was being trained as well). It boggles my mind actually when I was being told that the training was not paid of (how could McDonald's do that: they are using people to help them get richer and yet they don't compensate their employees the exact thing).

Well, hubby and us (Ziah and I) together with my mom-in-law and hubby's two other siblings went to see the grand-reopening of McDonald-SM Bacoor store because we bought a ticket from her sister. The ticket is enclosed of food package (mcchicken, fries and a regular cook), and with the ticket you have you'll only not get the food but also some other freebies such us photo-booth, a pouch and other stuff.

Hubby got a chance though to pose for a picture with Ronald McDonald, but my baby Z was quite curious why Ronald looks like that. and it shows in the picture below.

Of course after having lunch we went window shopping at the department store. I was with my mom-in-law looking for Lara's school shoes. We do saw a lot of different kind of shoes some are leather, others where made of plastic and others of cloth. We do saw some designs probably made from a p kaufmann fabrics co'z it looks the same with the design I saw from their fabrics. Lara got a black school shoes, while hubby got a plastic kind of, I got the same as hubby plus a clothe kind of shoes. :)

Yesterday was fun specially co'z I brought home some a shoes (it was very cheap though), but, I don't care as long I have something to use.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

A Father's love saves us from most embarrassing moment

2012-04-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

I got this stories from my devotional book which I have read and re-read by Robert Strand.

*Grady Nutt, preacher and humorist, now deceased, told this story about a young family who invited the new pastor and his wife over for a get-acquainted Sunday dinner. The mother of the home was quite concerned that this be a perfect affair. She drilled the children days in advance about their proper behavior, what fork s to use and when to use them, how to hold a napkin, and other important aspects.
Finally, the day arrived and the meal was prepared, and at exactly the right time everyone was invited to come into the dining room where the table was formally set with a white lace table cloth, the best china, good silverware, centerpiece, candles, and everything. They all sat down at the beautiful formal table. The father said the blessing and when it was over, their nine-year old daughter reached for her glass of iced tea and knocked it over. The little brother jumped to get out of the way of the spilling tea and knocked his glass over too.
There was an awkward moment of silence as everybody sort of looked to the mother, realizing how disappointed she must be. She had gone to so much trouble and now there was this huge spreading stain in the middle of the white lace tablecloth.
But before anybody could say anything, the father flipped his glass of tea over, and begun to laugh. The
preacher caught on and flipped over his tea and started laughed. The pastor's wife knocked over her glass of tea and joined the laughter. Then.. everybody looked to the mother and finally with an expression of resignation she picked up her glass and just dumped it in the middle of the table and everybody around the table roared with laughter.
The father looked down at his nine-year old daughter right beside him and winked at her. She... as she laughed embarrassedly, she looked up at her father and winked back, but as she did, it flicked a tear onto her cheek and it rolled down to her face. She continued to look up almost worshipfully at a father who loved her so much to be sensitive enough to save her from one of life's most embarrassing moments*

Moral (from my personal views): a father's love will rescue us from harm and shame. Let's then love and honor our earthly Dads!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Need a basketful of fruits

2012-04-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

I been eating a lot of carbs, more fats and loads of unhealthy foods these past few weeks and days. Actually I've been telling hubby to bring home fruits whenever he come across of them from work. It boggles my mind though why he always forgot about it and so I quit reminding him co'z if he comes home without it, it would only make me angry at him.

How I wish though that hubby will see this post and would buy us fruits even though it's not in a tropical fruit baskets co'z I know that it wont happen this time unless the Lord intervenes. Actually it's good to have a tropical fruit basket specially when its loaded of tropical fruits. Writing this post though makes me want so bad of these things.

tropical fruits

(pictures not owned)

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

In-laws talks

2012-04-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Was thinking of what should we do with our little three rooms (talking about our soon to be permanent house and home). In-laws and I talked about how could we seven people fit in, in that tiny little house. Hubby is the eldest among four siblings, his dad is an off an on jeepney driver, his mom works part time as a house help (not to mention though that during her younger years and was at school, she was always on the top list).

Now that hubby's parents are already older and they just rent a house, hubby is taking the responsibility to at least help them by taking them in our house. So now, we are planing to set up a wood bunk bed in one of the rooms for my in-laws. I hope though that our monthly expenses would go down when get to stay in our house.

As for now, I hope and pray that my sister in-law will be able to get the scholarship she just applied of.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

So true :(

2012-04-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

For me and the people who hurt me, and for those who trusted me and yet I failed them!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

You rob me off my sexy hubby

2012-04-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

The husband here is away for three days in a row. He did came home late the other day but went again very early (actually before I woke up) in the morning the next day. Then he did not come home yesterday, he decided to stay at work/ministry because he needs to do things very early. I really don't like the idea of him not coming, co'z to me.. I don't care it he comes home late, as long as that he comes home to us at the end of the day.

Hubby would love to come home if he could but the long travel in a dark road and riding in a motorbike by himself with loads of trucks and other fast running vehicles weakens his courage and made him decide to stay. As for me, I could press on my demands but I'd rather hold my tongue for his safety, but this thing is really making me uncomfortable co'z I am not used of not seeing the husband at night. It's hard to sleep when he is not around. My baby and me misses him so bad.

I have this a little bit guilty feeling though co'z usually I packed hubby's stuff when he has out of town trips, but the other since he comes home late and left early, I was not able to do anything for him. Wish I could give him a briefcases for men for his b-day which is very soon so that he'll this thing with him for his important documents and other related stuff.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Leveling Up

2012-04-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

I was on facebook and was looking at pictures of some friends whom I haven't seen for a long time, it's only on this social network I am able to get updates from them. It's just amazes me how some friends manage to take the courage and hit the gym religiously reason why they were able to get a normal size body from a plus size one. I could actually tell that one of them is bringing himself to the next level and is taking some supplements. I'm hoping though that before they take such things they also read reviews such as lovegra reviews to know the product better.

My other girl friend has even gone vegan just to maintain the desired body she has at the moment. It took her more than year to be able to reach that size and I know that it has been one of her greatest desire and the Lord honor her heart and grant her the courage and patience to continue her diet and work out.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

..an Ipod touch instead :(

2012-04-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

My cellphone is as good as new co'z I don't really use it aside from playing songs. I barely receives texts or calls from it, I barely use its camera for taking pictures, and I haven't use its other features yet co'z I can barely connect. Sometimes I can't receives texts and when people calls me I cannot hear them clear, they sounds chappy. These things with my cellphone bogs me to the highest level and now I am partly unhappy with it.

I really like it though co'z it looks fancy and girly, wished I could get a cell booster antenna so that I could use it better with no hassles and frustrations. Part of what I am thinking this time since I really like to have an Ipod touch, I am thinking of selling it to buy the latter. I don't know though if hubby would agree with my idea, well I would like to keep it if there's a possibility of having both.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Jesus is alive :)

2012-04-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

He did not remain in the cross nor in the tomb.... He is alive!

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Just baby and me

2012-03-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

The moment our baby came to our world, life has never been the same anymore. The normal bed and up time is totally different now, our eating habit is not the same anymore: we usually eat together but when she came, we can hardly do it anymore. It' s either hubby has to go first or I have to eat like a soldier. It's better now though co'z since in-laws are living with us, they take care of my baby when I'm eating.

When it comes to bed and sleeping: here, there is nothing we can do really but to take change of who's to sleep beside the baby and in the bed. Hubby and I don't slept on our bed together anymore since the baby almost occupied all space, so hubby has to slept on the mat and I slept besides my baby in the bed. It's been my desire actually to buy a bigger bed frame and a bigger or expandable foam where the three of us could share. I miss sleeping with hubby by my side after all I, also, need some cuddling too.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Home alone with my baby Z.

2012-03-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

Home alone again. Hubby is in the office right now, mom and sister in-law are both at work and the other two kids are both at school. My life alone with my baby is a sweet crazy one. I'm tired but this is a sweet tiredness that I would remember when I grow old. She loves to crawl all over the hoouse, under the table, to the kitchen and behind the door. She loves to go to places where we told her no to go. She turns my life upside down and vice versa.

She just bumped her head on the door, she look at me first before crying, but when I went to carry her, she swung her head from side to side then look at the side of the door where she banged her head. She's cute to look at, I cannot help myself but smile at her silliness.

What I always do to stop her from moving around is I turn on the dvd and and play her favorite. We actually has four baby einstein vcd's and one children favorite songs. I just hope that I'll get a discount dvd whenever I buy children dvd's. These things really help whenever I want her to slow down and just sit.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!

Has pledge my netbook

2012-03-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

Yup!.. you heard it right, I'm giving my precious netbook to my beloved sister in-law as a token of encouragement so that she may be encourage to continue with her studies as she now stepping into a more serious college life. I told her the other day that if she gets into college I'll give her my less than year old netbook. This thing is very precious to me co'z it's light to carry and has sentimental value. The person who gave this to me is a very dear person whom hubby and I loved the most.

Though... this thing is too precious for me... I still feel that the Lord wants me to give it away. It's gonna be hard I know, but the Lord knows best and I know that when we give something important to us.. God honors it and who knows by my giving away my netbook, an iPad may come to me or an iPod! How I wish I could include a wilson booster to give her so that she'll be more encourage to pursue college life even though financially wise she lacking, but the Lord is good and He honors honest desires.

I hope to see Lara in four year time preparing for college graduation just like she prepares for high school grad this time.

Every Blessing that YOU poured out...turns back to Praise...!