classic filipino spaghetti for brekkie

sometimes, pregnant women decides in a flash... sometimes, takes a while. today, it's already late morning until i made up my mind to whip a classic filipino spaghetti. early or late, we are a happy twosome. the secret/s?

-decide to never quarrel. no reason, big or small, is enough to make your heads bang and your mouths tactlessly run.

-make your husband coffee the moment he wakes up. i do this everyday. so something's hot is in his tummy already. it gives you time to work your way in the kitchen!

-talk and plan your day. we make sure we are excited of what the rest of the day would be like and we bring into prayer all the highlights. a day started with prayer keeps all the bad vibes aways! (if there are such!)

-always treat your spouse more important than the breakfast. ask him what he likes to eat. or tell him what's available in the fridge.

-always say things nicely. especially, if there are concerns! teehee!

-be open. tell him openly if ure totally clueless on what to prepare. you can even offer him the laddle and the kwok--yes, sometimes, it's his turn to make up a surprise!

marriage includes breakfast! mornings prepare the day... and wives setup mornings most of the time! thank you, Jesus, for wisdom!

safety first

Gen strapped us for safety. 

Now that I'm pregnant, I hate seatbelts. But what can I do. It's imperative more than my larger self could understand! (photo: We're off to Abreeza to buy milk and vitamins to catch on coupons. We love discounts and that's God's favor, I believe. If you're not grabbing those as God-answers, it's unwise spending! -this is from my Papaps)

behind the name

Yay, we finally got the name for Baby Zi!

For quote a while, we want the names Zoe and Zion should we have kids. Zoe Victoria which to me, means Victorious Life if we have a darling daughter. Not that I want a daughter for an eldest. (I used to want four boys! hahaha) It's a name I was just carrying in my heart. (Yes, I want Zoe Learning Atrium for our dream school = "life learning center") and now we are trying to register Gen's desired IT Company (yes, another dream) as ZOElutions for life solutions. Oh, taxonomy! =D

The name Zion was born when we prayed for a child who would be a carrier of the presence of God. And just right, because it also starts with letter Z! =D We were conceiving the name and mostly sure we are going to badge our son with this declaration. It means, the place where God dwells or presence of God; and sometimes keen to heaven.

The quest for the second name went a bit long. We were actually tempted to settle for one name only. Mothers tell us that little boys are more slack in writing their names than girls so we have to give a shorter name. Nonetheless, we kept listing names from the most popular to most unique; biblical to secular; modern and back to vintage. Despite the growing list, Gen jests me to name our eldest Zion Exodus since a lot of people would look for the ghost during acquaintance: Ah, Genesis pala name mo?! Saan si Exodus? 

Of course, he was joking. I hope. =D

We waited. We knew God would give us a name that comes from His heart. We asked the help of our families. Bem (my brother) and mama said we should look up Jewish names. And we did.

Then, we came across Isaac.

#swoon

We smiled. Big smiles. There was confirmation in our hearts!

Isaac was the son promised to Abraham and Sarah. And we did receive a promise from the Lord, too. That by this time next year (dated last year), you will have a son. Gen 18:14 He was also the son of covenant when God tested Abraham. And he was the only patriarch, a prince, who stayed in Canaan, the promise/d land. And we love all these.

Not much combination of our names happening. But really, we thought, Isaac's life story is in the book of Genesis and it actually means laughter or he will laugh--so close or synonymous to my name, Rejoice. So, there, our names merge. Subtle, we know.

Zion Isaac. [zahy-uhn]*[ahy-zehk]

God-given. #smitten

nesting at 28+6 weeks

waaaah, 11 weeks left! (could be 8 if this guy decides to come out early). I thought I still have a long journey. Can I say, I can't wait to be pregnant again? hahaha.

The Lord is good. Pregnancy was His thought. Very, very brilliant God. Sovereign all in all and always! 

church alive

getting ready for Church...

ministering... & be ministered!

our joint klosel... others are not in photo...

love the sharing today about "dream disciples"--a sequel to the midyear service's preaching =D

well, nothing much except taking more photos of my prego state... i might not be in this fatified state long enough. at least, i hope to get back to my previous weight & state--to side with my aching heels. 

anyhow, the day was full (Gen taught post-encounter & sol1 classes) & our primary klosel tonight was truly refreshing & igniting! we are advancing!

a promise fulfilled

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and your wife will have a son.” Gen18:14

It's always wonderful living in the promises of God. One thing I do with my sermon notebook (before I shifted to digital jotting on my phone--to maximize its use and to lessen the weight on my bag), I set apart pages at the back to list down promises or prophecies said to me/us. And it's wonderful going back to them and see more life than they were first said. 

I thought it would be too early to have a son after a year. As we married with very short time spent together in one place. It would be good to just bond first, despite all the demands of marriage life, career and ministry (well, that's how marriage is supposed to be like, right?). Should we have a son, I thought, it would be the conception. My mind was settled at conceiving by the end of the year. However, as God works always in His ways, and not on my ways and calendar, we conceived early this year. And that was a sign (of staying in Davao for a longer period than planned) I thought would be impossible. Then, of course, God doesn't respect your belief in the impossible.

So, here we are... almost entering the third trimester. I am amazed at God's work of putting things into fulfillment. He never fails. And He never will. 

27weeks 5days

i'm flooding, all right. just had great time chilling and resting; in a while, we're off to BCC for our primary klosel. sunday afternoons are epic--you don't spend money or strength; you just spend time with the one/s you love!