My thoughts outside the box

The Riches

Dior — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:35:20 +0000

“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.” -Anonymous

Jay found that quote a few months ago. We’ve been really trying to live by this quote. Basically, LIVE SIMPLY. I have always been around a world that revolves around material things. Brand name clothes, purse, shoes, nice car, big house and etc…

Mid 2007, I met an elderly couple at work, Mr. and Mrs. Rich. They were the sweetest couple. They weren’t mushy in front of everyone but they were that type of married couple that have been in love and still in love with each other after many, many years. Their secret to this? God. Well early this year, Mrs. Rich told me that Mr. Rich is writing a book. So I asked her what the book is about and she told me it was about their 48-year experience in Peru. And I said, “Ohhh.. I hope I’d be able to read that someday.” So one day, Mr. and Mrs. Rich came by and brought a small book for me. It’s entitled, “To Tame A Savage Heart” by Robert H. Sandberg. Mr. Rich said to me that his book is taking quite a while to write but in the meantime, he wanted to know if I would be interested in reading a similar one. I said, “Oh, definitely!”

So after a month of reading, I found out that the author, Robert H. Sandberg, along with his wife Ruth Sandberg, were Wycliffe Bible Translators in Peru. The Sandbergs were with the Iquitos about the same time as the Riches were with the Arabela Indians. How amazing is that? Missionaries who are on a mission to spread God’s Word and His love to people who’s language is not a written language.

So after I finished the Sandbergs book, Mr. and Mrs. Rich loaned me their “roughdraft”. It’s basically their first five years in Peru with the Arabelas. I was so amazed by how far they had to travel to get to the Indians.

Anyway, I will continue blogging more about them and their journey in Peru in my next entries. Ciao!

Happy 2010!

Dior — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:06:39 +0000

It’s been about six months since my last blog. Wow! I can’t say I’ve been busy but it’s a little more like, I’ve been lazy. So, I was reading my ramblings from six months ago and I seriously cannot believe how fast time has flown by. I guess I can say not much has changed but with the new year and all, Jay and I are looking forward for a more challenging, yet, fun 2010.

Let me just list a few of my 2009 highlights:

1. V-day wedding in Manila.
2. New family at Harvest.
3. Saw how God worked in places with so much poverty. It was amazing to actually see that saying, “Money can’t buy happiness”.
4. Had more desire, than in 2008, to learn about God’s love.
5. One step closer to my spiritual growth. 2010, I’m ready for more!

Here’s what we’re looking forward to in 2010:

1. Our big “move”. Only Jay and I know about this location. It’s quite a distance from where we are right now. We’re keep this on the DL right now until escrow closes. Haven’t made any offers yet but we’re waiting.
2. Back to school for me. Hopefully, Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. Contingent upon #1.
3. Babies? Ha! Not yet, but if God blesses us with a baby or babies, we will be more than excited and happy parents, but as of now, we’d like to get settled first.

Heeeyyy it’s TTTTuuuesdaaaay..

Dior — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

iLove Tuesdays because it’s nothing like a Monday. Taco Tuesdays @ PFG. $2 discount at the carwash. Pedicures are $13 instead of the usual $15. $1 Single scoop ice cream at Baskin. As am I blogging, I am enjoying the early afternoon breeze in the kitchen while waiting for water to boil for my mushroom cavatappi. Chabby, on the other hand, is outside sunbathing-again. Jay is at work but he should be home in about four more hours.

So Happy!

Dior — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:56:39 +0000

My new book arrived in the mail on Monday. It’s Greg Laurie’s new book, Discipleship: The Road Less Taken. Already started reading and it’s been a blessing learning about discipleship. I am so thirsty for God’s Word and so eager to share His Word to others.
I will blog more about it as I read on.
Oh! I mentioned in my last entry that I am on a “no white rice” diet. Today, I actually had it. Grrggh! I couldn’t resist the honey walnut shrimp with mayo for lunch from Phoenix. Other than that, I have been following my diet. Good girl!

I’m excited about tonight. My niece, Ally, who is my cousin’s daughter, is turning eighteen and she is having her debut tonight. I can’t believe how time flies. Nearly ten years ago, my cousin attended my eighteenth birthday and was part of my eighteen roses. That was a decade ago! Jay and I are excited to go. He’s never been to a debut because I didn’t invite him to mine. It’s a long story. Hasta manana!

No rice for you!

Dior — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:56:04 +0000

Ever since we came back from Philippines, I have gained 8 lbs. I know it’s only 8 lbs. but I just feel so unhealthy. Let me tell you, before the wedding I was so disciplined about my eating habits. The day after the wedding, I had forgotten I was on a diet. I am still a pescatarian but rice, rice, rice, rice is all that I ate. By the way, I love rice. It’s the Filipino in me. I may not like Filipino food because of the oil and stuff but I love rice. So anyway, I started this last week – I am going to stop eating white rice! Jay and I went to Fresh and Easy, my favorite grocery store, and bought packs of organic brown rice, veggies, romaine lettuce and seven packs of extra firm tofu. Yummy! I get completely full just after having five bites of brown rice. Unlike white rice, I can eat four bowls and I still want more. Then it’ll sneak up on me; next thing I know I gained 8 lbs.
As for Jay, my meat-eater husband, he’s starting to like the healthy “stuff” but I’m not sure how long he can hang.

June Gloom

Dior — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:00:15 +0000

I had a wonderful weekend. Let’s start with Friday. It was Night of Worship at church and guess who rocked the house- The Katinas. I truly love their rock and soul music. Couldn’t take too many pictures because Jay and I were singing, clapping and hip wigglin’. Praise God for the wonderful night! Can’t wait to see them again in August at the Harvest Crusade.

On Saturday, Jay and I headed down to Newport Beach for some mouth-watering Sprinkles cupcakes. A cupcake is $3.25 almost the same price as a drink at Starbucks. We bought a dozen and a cup of my white tangerine tea, which was $2. And of course, we cannot go to Sprinkles without getting our baby some pupcakes and puptarts at Three Dog Bakery. Isn’t amazing what we do for our pets nowadays? Speaking of pets, after getting those cupcakes we headed over to Irvine Spectrum. Just strolled around and we saw a “puppy”. His picture is below. He’s a year and a half old great pyreneen. I want one!

I have more to blog about Sunday. Will do that another time. Ciao!

Poor baby

Dior — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:43:47 +0000

Chabby, our vicious little chihuahua mix, had an adventure today. Here’s what happened: We had a lot to clean Tuesday night in the kitchen. We had a little fiesta. Jay cooked his famous steak, that I don’t eat because I have commited myself in becoming a pescatarian. Khyra made her simply irresistable mash potatoes. Ricky cooked his tasteful criss-cut fries. Tita Jessica cooked her beansprouts over butter. I, on the other hand, tested our new Magic Bullet, one that we got as a wedding present. I made two kinds of smoothies, sour mango and no-taste strawberry. It was not a success. I put too much milk in both. I couldn’t really tweak it and just add sugar because we didn’t have anymore sugar. Grggh! Ok, so we cleaned up all this mess in the kitchen. This was Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, we had filipino food from the ever famous, Toto’s. We had bangus, string beans with chopped mushrooms and I’m not sure what the rest were because I didn’t eat it. By the way, before dinner everyone went on a Starbuck run.

Here comes Thursday morning, I was cleaning the kitchen and I noticed our trash can was oveflowing. So, I took out the little plastic bag, transferred it into the Glad Forceflex, which is a bigger bag, and place it on the kitchen floor. I looked at the time and said, “Wow! It’s already 10:25am and I’m not even dressed yet. I’m gonna be late.” I ran. Got dressed, put a little bareMinerals on my face, grabbed my keys and literally, ran out the door. At 10:50am, I received a call from Khyra. She said, “Ate Dior, Chabby got into the trash bag that was on the kitchen floor and eat fish and drank frapuccino.” I was speechless. Yup, he had an uncontrollable watery poop. Poor little baby. What I found cute about it was that he pooped near the front door, which means he can’t poop in the house. Must be outside! How cute! My little baby is all grown up and he knows the do’s and don’ts.

It’s not a manic Monday and I had a great Sunday.

Dior — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:39:39 +0000

Actually, it’s about 1:02am and it’s already Tuesday. Monday was quite interesting. It was Memorial Day. Freeway was solemn. The 71 to the 60 was smooth.

OOOhhhh, I’ve got to mention about Sunday during church service. So as I was reading the daily/weekly bulletin, there was a new posting regarding missions. “Yes!!” It’s another great opportunity to serve the Lord. Wait! Let me rewind. Many, many years ago, I had mentioned to Jay that back in high school, my “dream” job was really to become a volunteer in another country. I guess, kinda like a Peace Corps. So it’s been about a year or two now since, I prayed that may God use me in the missionary field. I told him that I am willing to go anywhere. Anywhere he wants me to go. Back to the bulletin that I was reading Sunday. Here’s what they posted:

“Philippines – Oct. 19th-30th 2009. If you are interested in being part of a mission’s team that will come alongside the Dizon family in the Philippines, please stop by……”

Wow! I’m really excited about this. It’s not for sure yet BUT we are praying about it. Please pray for us.

I’m really doing it!

Dior — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:05:31 +0000

The heading says it all! I woke up bright and early this Sunday morning thinking and saying, “I want to start blogging again!” Our wedding blog was not so much of a success because I got too busy and stressed out about the wedding details. Anyway, so here I am, again.