Blessing 259 - Mr. and Mrs. James Brown!

a & j

Congratulations James and Anneline!

May this new chapter of your life together

be one that many will love to read over and over again!

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:3

I praise God for allowing me to be part of a beautiful day with a beautiful couple! There is nothing in this world that I can think of but to have this honor to help Anneline and James on their wedding day! BUT .. I'm just so happy that I can finally kick off my shoes!

Blessing 258 - Anneline and James Wedding Rehearsal

Anneline and James

Wedding Rehearsal

"Ms. V"

What a beautiful blushing bride-to-be! As soon as I took this picture, she said that she hated taking pictures! Oh well! Too bad, Ms. V! Soon to be Mrs. B! We had such a lovely time at the rehearsal. Everything went pretty smooth! Here are just some captured moments of today with the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and of course, the bride and groom!

Liway, Anneline, Maribel, and Thea

Spaghetti Factory!

Ronnie, Gino, and Aaron

Romance!

Anneline and James, we are just so blessed to be part of your wedding and your lives! Thank you for a great dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and we all look forward to having dinner with you as Husband and Wife tomorrow!

Praise God for the rain and the sunshine and the love that overflows from the two who shall become one!

JAMES WADE BROWN

and

ANNELINE VALENZUELA

Blessing 257 - Paris with Leiza

A long awaited and planned date with Leiza today was such a sweet blessing! I took her to Crepes Oh La La in Walnut Creek and neither one of us have ever been there. But it was a nice surprise to walk into a "Paris Cafe" again and share stories about our past trips to France. Just like in Paris, our day was blessed with a down pour of rain! But it didn't stop us from having so much fun!

Here's Leiza trying to look cute! Hahaha! ...

And there I am trying to be a photographer!

Yes, can you believe it? A heart that was half crepe and half strawberry! Before Leiza ate it all up, I had to stop her to take this picture! I bet it was "Love at first Bite"!

Another HEART was found on her plate! This time, it was whip cream heart! Love seemed to be found everywhere in Paris today! I promise you that each heart was not planned or manipulated to look like one.

I guess when God is in the midst of two friends...

He makes it easy for LOVE to be present for ...

HE IS LOVE!

It was so nice just to sit and catch with Leiza! She shared her experiences when she went to Europe last summer. We talked about what was new and old and everything in between! We laughed a lot which has always been a norm with us. She showed me pictures of England, Paris, and Italy and made me even hungry for a dream vacation in Italy! She made me miss my Paris even more! In spite of the rain, we had a beautiful time together! The sun actually came out on our drive back home. What more could we ask for? =)

Blessing 256 - When God Is Present

I Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

God is never more present when His children are suffering.

If you believe that God exists to make you comfortable, then you will find him very absent in your discomfort. If you believe that God exists to make your life run smoothly, then you will find him very absent when your life hits a bumpy patch. If you believe that God exists to make you happy, then you will find God very absent when your heart is broken and your tears are flowing. BUT ... if you believe that God exists to make you HOLY, then in the midst of the trial, you will feel His arms around. You have to have a right view of God to sense His presence in the midst of your trials.

You will feel His arms around You...

like a house feels a carpenter,

like a sculpture feels the sculptor,

like a painting feels the artist.

James MacDonald

Blessing 255 - NBC Bay Area News Interview ... I was on T.V. channel 3!

California Academy of Science

I was interviewed by NBC Bay Area News today in front of Target Starbucks! The camera man was making me nervous! Niko and I were doing math outside and noticed that I represented a parent of Vallejo. The lady who interviewed me wanted to get my reaction and opinion about the incident that happened in Florida. A whale attacked his trainer during a show in front of a live audience! She wanted to know how I felt about it and how I feel about the Shouka Show here in our own Discovery Kingdom. This was so random! I said a few things, but nothing that would really make a dent. Now, if she were to ask me about the school systems in Vallejo and why I chose to homeschool my kids, then she would be speaking my kind of language! I feel really bad about what happened in Florida. But let's get to real news of what's really tugging at my heart, my fears, and the future of my kids while we are still living here in Vallejo. And it's not just the schools that I fear about Vallejo. My faith and hope is in God. I just get a little fearful when violence and crime overwhelms my city. Then a song by Chris Tomlin echoes in my ear ... 'You're the God of this City. Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city."

God, Please protect those I love in this City.

Anyways, I was told that we where shown on Channel 3, (NBC Bay Area News), early this evening. Gloria Guevara was also interviewed. All this came about just because Starbucks didn't have an empty table inside. =) The blessings of sitting outside!

School of Fishes versus Schools for My Children

Now that's worth talking about!

Blessing 254 - YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!

It is my privilege to share with you an essay that Ashley had to write for her Bible Class. For her mid-term, and all from memory, she had to compare and contrast the Calvinist position to the Armenian position. She also had to take a personal position on the issue and defend it with Scriptures. Be Blessed:

From the Calvinist position, they believe in many things. They believe that without God, you can do nothing. They also believe that Jesus came down and died for only believers. Calvinists say that only the righteous people will be alive. Since we are "dead in sin", when God wakes us up, we have to obey him. Those are the points from the Calvinist's position.

The Armenian position is very different. The Armenians believe that man has the free will to do whatever he wants. They say that God is just waiting for man's choices, so he can do something. They also believe that you can lose your salvation.

I am not saying either one is right or wrong. I am actually in the middle of these two positions. First of all, I absolutely agree with the Calvinists when they said that you can do nothing without God. In John 15:5, it says that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. I also think that Jesus did not die for believers only. In John 3:16, it says that God loved the whole world and that he sent his son. God sent Jesus to die for everybody in the world, not just believers. Armenians say that man has a free-will. I believe that to an extent. Yes, we do have a free-will, but God is always in control of our lives and he even knows every action we will make 20 years from now! Lastly, the Armenians believe in the loss of salvation. I totally disagree with that, because in 1 John 5:11-13, it says that God sent his son and he told us that so we KNOW that we will have eternal life. We can never lose our salvation. All we have to do is accept Jesus and we will live for eternity. This is where I stand between these positions.

Ashley Pagmanua

13 years old

Wow! Jon and I rarely discuss deep theology with Ashley. But she has her own position. She has sat in so many Bible Studies, attended Sunday School, took Bible classes in school, and have seen our testimonies in how we live, love, and know God. But for her to come up with her own conclusion of what position to take, that is all the Holy Spirit's ministry in her own life... with no interference on our part. The best part of all this ... her stance between the Calvinists' and the Armenians' positions are identical with ours.

Praise God!

Blessing 253 - Happy Birthday, MONTA!

Our Monta turned 2 today!

This morning, he woke up really excited and started playing on our Warrior's rug that was to Niko by a dear friend! Hahaha ... Monta from the Warriors! It has been such a wonderful experience to have such a loving dog! I can't live without him =)!

The kids decided to buy him a few gifts:

a dog bone with chicken flavor,

some dog treats in a goody bag,

and a new dog collar from Petco!

And for his birthday dinner,

I grilled an awesome tri-tip for this joyous occasion!

He loved every bite!

Blessing 252 - Thank You for Your Support!

THANK YOU for your love!

Praise God! All the cards were sold today! I will have different sets next week for those who are interested in buying some. Ash and I stayed up till pass midnight putting them together. It's such a joy to see the smiles on peoples' faces when they receive their cards. God gets all the credit! We're just His hands.

I know that my Ashley will have an awesome time on her East Coast trip! And we have all of YOU to thank for making this a reality for her. For those of you who ordered on Facebook, I have yours on reserved and will be mailing them out to you very soon!

Hugs and Kisses!!! XOXO

Blessing 251 - Michelle's 14!

Smile, Baby-Girl, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!

I praise God for Michelle! She has been like a second daughter to me. I thank God for giving Ashley a best friend like her. I hope and pray that they both will go to the same high school, dorm together in college, be in each other's weddings, and go on vacations together with their families! I know it's a little too much, but I really feel in my heart that Michelle will be a permanent presence in Ashley's life.

So Michelle, I pray that you will pursue all that God has in store for you. You are a beautiful soul, an amazing friend, and a God-fearing young lady! We love you!

Blessing 250 - Sharing Doughnuts

Today, I shared a miniature doughnut with a friend.

The time we had together to catch up was almost equivalent to its size. So every minute and every bite had to be account for, but it made our time together very meaningful.

Maybe next time, Maribel and I will be able to share more than just a doughnut. But how thankful am I that she was willing to meet up at all. I'm looking forward to the next time our paths will cross. I actually cherish these times when we intentionally squeeze time to make time for others. Something magical happens when lives interact. Lives are enriched, burdens are lifted, and God gets the glory!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Blessing 249 - Trempedans Du Chocolat

Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies

I found these heart-shaped cookies at Starbucks for only $1.25. What blessings did I find in them? Their shaped, their price, where they're from (Paris), and their taste. Nothing spectacular about them you may think. But I had a pretty hard day and to find something so simple and comforting ... made my day.

I took this picture with my kit lens, not with my 50mm, for the Canon and 50 haven't been working together well. =( Just trying to still carry out God's work on this blog though heavy hearted. I woke up with a terrible cough as well. But God continues to encourage. I found out that my blogs and pictures have reached Mississippi, Spain, and Malaysia today. I am humbled. Even though I may have limitations, God is not limited by them. He is God.

I feel like I have been dipped in sweet chocolate.

Dipped in His Sweet Love...

Blessing 248 - Field Trip to Egypt!

What a blessing it was to finally see the

King Tutankhamun Exhibit at the De Young Museum!

"King Niko-Tut"

"Queen Noe-Tat"

Niko and Noe had a pretty awesome time learning and seeing all the Egyptian artifacts! It just amazes me that even thousands of years ago, God's hand had woven together the Egyptian and Biblical histories to fulfill His purposes. Though the Egyptians worshipped many gods and their beliefs of the after life were totally false, not much have changed of how people perceive God or their gods (lowercase g) today. The royal families buried so many earthly possessions and riches in their tombs, thinking that they will be able to bring and use them in the after life. I have to admit that the artifacts I witnessed today were pretty awesome, but how far were they from the real truth about eternal life. Praise God that there were men like Moses and Joseph back in the Old Testament to share the only true God and the only true freedom and passage to the eternal after life! What great men of influence were they .... even to the Pharaohs!

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,

"Since God has made all this known to you,

there is no one so discerning and wise as you."

Gen. 41:39

Blessing 247 - Blossoms Fade, God's Word Stands Forever

I couldn't help but noticed all the cherry blossoms parading their beauty as I was driving to Benicia this morning! They were in full bloom along side the highways, in front of neighbors' yards, and in even in places where you wouldn't think their pinks and whites would bloom. But to think that they are only here for a short while. Soon, they will start to fall and cover the ground beneath them like fresh snow. I want to cherish them while I can still appreciate. Isn't this how our outlook in life and love should be? Everything will fade away. Relationships, possessions, and health. But one indelible thing that will never fade that comes to mind, the only thing actually, is God's Word. So, I met with my God this morning and he gave me this message. I really need to put more effort in getting to know HIM more. "In suffering and in studying." Praise God for a brand new day of freedom!

"APPROVED TO GOD"

"You must be willing to go through God's winepress

where the grapes are crushed."

ODB RADIO: | Download
READ:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth —2 Timothy 2:15

If you cannot express yourself well on each of your beliefs, work and study until you can. If you don’t, other people may miss out on the blessings that come from knowing the truth. Strive to re-express a truth of God to yourself clearly and understandably, and God will use that same explanation when you share it with someone else. But you must be willing to go through God’s winepress where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle, experiment, and rehearse your words to express God’s truth clearly. Then the time will come when that very expression will become God’s wine of strength to someone else. But if you are not diligent and say, "I’m not going to study and struggle to express this truth in my own words; I’ll just borrow my words from someone else," then the words will be of no value to you or to others. Try to state to yourself what you believe to be the absolute truth of God, and you will be allowing God the opportunity to pass it on through you to someone else.

Always make it a practice to stir your own mind thoroughly to think through what you have easily believed. Your position is not really yours until you make it yours through suffering and study. The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.

Oswald Chambers

Blessing 246 - Burlingame Ave.

Crepevine, Burlingame. It used to be my favorite place to relax and eat scrumptious crepes! Such a beautiful day to be blessed with! We met up with Anneline and James to discuss last minute wedding plans. Of course, we walked over to Peet's, Starbucks, Gap, Sephora, and the Apple Store. Praise God for a wonderful time of fellowship!

Ashley's Burlingame Crepe ...

Strawberries, Banana, Nutella, and Vanilla Ice Cream!

I had such a nice day back in my old stomping grounds. Being there made me miss all the awesome places, both new and old, that I was so accustomed to prior to our move to Vallejo. I told Anneline that God knew exactly where to place me at the right time. God knew that I would be more content with having just enough. God knew that in order for me to stay home with the kids, I would have to be in a place where the cost of living would be lower and that I wouldn't be tempted to shop and eat at all the wonderful places in the Peninsula area. In all honesty, I was starting to look at all the things that I didn't have. But I really appreciate all the awesome things I was able to enjoy today. More importantly, I praise God in how He has changed my outlook in life and how He has truly made me content. When I arrived back in Vallejo, I noticed the air was filled with the cherry blossom fragrant. I grabbed my camera and took some beautiful pictures of the blossoms growing in my backyard! So, back to reality for me.

It's a beautiful reality!

Blessing 245 - Happy Valentine's Day

So what did this man have in store...

...For this lady?

Big Smile =D!

I have never been here until JON took me

on our Valentine's Date!

Brunch for TWO!

...In a modern brick building! I loved the atmosphere!

Our table was next to this awesome

fish tank that towered over us!

I ordered a Crab Egg Benedict that was absolutely delicious!

Jon had a fabulous flank steak!

Jon was worried that I wouldn't see the breath-taking view of the Bay Bridge that was right next to us. We had a great view of the fog! I wasn't too worried over it, for I knew that God already planned this beautiful day way ahead of time!

So after our brunch, we had our dessert as we waited for the fog to burn. We ordered a warm chocolate pudding cake with mint ice cream! So mouth-watering!

And of course, we had our Sunday coffee!

Everything was perfect!

Just about the time we finished our dessert,

God burned the fog away and gifted us

with this beautiful view right next to our table!

We took a small stroll towards the Ferry Building and enjoyed everything!

Mr. Cupid definitely left his mark on this gorgeous day of LOVE!

I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day with Jon!

I praise God for giving me such a thoughtful husband.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!