We're Back

Yes, we're back home now.

We had a great time with family and was able to accomplished our 'mission' which was to do Lyle's passport (more from My Li'l One) and my check up too.

The whole train journey was a breeze. Lyle was so cool while Tricia was so excited the whole time. When Tricia's excited, she'll be her bubbly self and couldn't keep still. She went up and down the bunks, danced on the aisle and noisily chatting away. Good I brought some coloring books for her, so there were also some quiet times for us when she did her coloring. ( More from Tricia's Diary)

When we arrived Taiping, it was already 12midnight. Amma ( my hubby's mom) didn't know we were coming. We wanted to surprise her. Our brother told her that a couple from JB are going to stay in the house for the night. So, when we came inside the house, Amma was jumping up and down with glee. Hahahha!

The rest of the days were spent doing our 'mission' and spending time with family. Of course I was able to eat most of the food from my wish list. Yum! THe only thing I wasn't able to eat was the Kuaytiaw Goreng, Popiah and pizza. But that's okay, if not then I would have some calorie overload over the weekend.

Tesco didn't have any MPH bookstore too but they had they Groiler's shop where they were offering excellent books for kids. It was really a book haven for Tricia. When we were there and the salesman was introducing their package, Tricia was with the other salespeople and 'reading' with them. Their books were just excellent but it was also quite expensive since they only sell in sets. I would say it's worth it but the problem is we don't have that much $$$. Hahahah! But I would really want to invest in good books just as how my Nanay did for us when we were still small. I remember that my favorite was the Children's Enyclopedia (24 volumes) and Book of Art (10 Volumes). And that was from Groiler's too. Anyways, when it was time for us to go from the shop, Tricia refused to leave. She also loved their books. Hmmm..what to do lah! hahahah! I myself couldn't stop thinking about the books and how to buy them. Hahahha! Why don't I monetize my blog and maybe earn extra cash? hmmm...esep, ...esep....but have to ask my friends first if they really do earn from this and how to do it...heheh!:) Calling Noemi, Janet and Ruby...need help! ;)

Okay have to go now..been babbling about different topics already. Still have to unpack.

Weekend in Malaysia

We're going to Taiping, Malaysia tomorrow! Yeah, we actually just decided on this a few hours ago because we found out that I needed to have a medical check-up urgently ( for insurance purposes) and the check up must be done in Malaysia.

We had an option to do it at the border and come back immediately but then we're worried about leaving Baby Lyle with my cousin for a long time because he has really been a cry baby lately. (Oh, we can't bring Lyle with us outside Thailand since he will only have emergency exit with no visa yet.) There was this time we left him with our friend and he was crying the whole time. Oh it just broke our hearts when we came home and he was sobbing. And we were just gone for 2 hours! So, I won't risk leaving him again because the whole border trip with the check up might take the whole day. Pity Lyle and pity the one who'll be watching him too!hehehe!

The trip to Taiping will just be in time too since Lyle's Ammachi ( Grandma) already missed him so much. ANd this time we'll need to get him a Malaysian passport so he could travel with us anytime.

I love going to Taiping (my Hubby's hometown). Aside from the loving family we have, the place is also beautiful. It's laidback. It's always cold since it rains all the time there. And you have to try bathing in Taiping water, it's icy cold! Nice!

Now, I'm already excited to meet the family, smell the Taiping fresh air, eat some Curry Mee, maybe go to Pizza HUt (yes, because their Pizza is much cheaper there than in Thailand), and guess what Tesco has opened in Taiping! I heard they have Secret Recipe inside Tesco too..wow!! I just love their cakes...so, which means I won't be thinking of my weight or diet or healthy food for the weekend lah! hahaha! So, it'll be an eat-all-you-can weekend! Eat-all-you can Roti, Apam, Poppiah, Kuaytiaw Goreng and etc..hahaha!! Anyways, I hope they also have MPH bookstore there. I'd like to get some books for the school, for Tricia and maybe for us too.

Okay, have to go now. Still have to pack our things. I just pray that we'll have a pleasant journey. We'll be riding the train. Tricia's sooo excited for the train ride but I hope Lyle can take the travel. Since it'll be his first time to travel 'abroad' ;)...

Good night for now and see you next week!

Balulang :(

There was this time that I missed home so much that I asked my family to send me pictures of the kids, our house, the river near our house and etc.

So, finally today I received the photos and when I saw it, I missed home more and more. I showed the photos to my HUbby and he also felt the same way.

Our home is like a like refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It's a place of rest and relaxation. Oh how I miss the rushing sound of the river which can be heard all day long. How I miss the times when I wake up every morning and feel the crisp,cool morning air. I could remember my unhurried breakfasts in our dining area and just enjoy the scenery outside. How I miss to see the swaying of the trees and tall grasses. How I miss to see the chameleon who'll be showing itself at the river banks from time to time. No matter how we much we disturb him, he'll just be still and go away on its own will. How I miss the TUkkko sound which the giant gecko (?) makes every night. How I miss the cold during the rainy season and the wind during the summer.

Cagayan River as seen from our house.

Used to bathe here when we were small. Now, I'm not sure if the water is still clean.

Our humble abode

Most of all , how I miss all my family residing in that compound. Both my sisters' houses are just a stone throw away and when we're out of load (cellphone load) we'd just shout and call them out ( hahahah! mga taga bukid gyd!) without worrying about disturbing our neighbors as they're far away.

My family during NEw Year 2008

Haaayyyy.... I miss home...I miss my family .....hope Christmas and New Year 2008 will come fast..heheheh!!

*Photos courtesy of Emmanuel Acedillo (my bro-in-law) . Thanks Man for taking your time in taking the pictures even to the point of almost being bitten by a snake. hehehhe!

Christmas On The Street

With Thailand only having 2 % Christians (not sure of the current statistics), Christmas is not such a big deal here like back home. Christmas celebrations are limited in the churches and a few homes. December 25th is even a working day. So, when we heard that there'll be a Christmas Program at the city center, our family was happy, took the opportunity and went. It felt so good to hear Christmas carols, see all the presentations and even the street was very well decorated.

These girls are soo cute and they dance so well.

All these decorations are in the middle of the street. They purposely closed down the street for this event.

Everybody loves weekend, it is the time for leisure, recreation and other religious activities. And when everyone is having a grand time, you want to capture it and share it with others. That’s why Weekend Snapshot is here for you. Come and join the fun here.

Overstay

Out of our busyness and my forgetfulness (can I blame my C-section operation?) we didn't realize until last week that Tricia and I were supposed to exit the country on Nov. 26 for border run. It was a good thing that Jesu was going to the border for some transactions on that Saturday, so the night before that we were talking about his trip. While we were talking, he thought hard and with a worried look in his face he asked me, "When are you supposed to do border run?". Then without answering him, I immediately got up and looked for my passport, my heart was already beating fast. When I was going up, I vividly remembered that the last time I went to Malaysia was in August of my brother in laws wedding and haven't gone out ever since LYle was born. That means we've overstayed for almost a month!

I searched for my passport upstairs and couldn't find it. When I came down, I already saw my Hubby looking at my passport and Tricia's passport. THen, he said, "I think we're in trouble." Without any word both of us went to the living room and were silent for several minutes. Both thinking deeply.

Tricia and I overstayed the country for 23 days!!! And if you're in Thailand, you have to pay a big chunk of money per day times 2 ( for tricia too) for overstay. And when we calculated it, it was so huge!!! The amount totaled MORE than our month's salary. whew!

I thought that will be a long night for both of us. So many thoughts already ran through my mind. So, what will happen to our planned Noche Buena? What about the buying of gifts for the kids and family? Will it be a lonely Christmas for us? Most importantly, how to pay our house rental, bills and what about our daily needs, our FOOD and etc. if all our salary will be paid for the fine.

After all these doubtful thoughts, I prayed and entrusted everything to GOd. Like a little child, I even told God, "Lord what will happened now to all our Christmas plans?" I was really like a small girl who was so excited for Christmas (more excited than Tricia) And immediately, it was impressed in my heart as if God was saying, "Isn't Christmas is not all about parties or even giving of gifts but Christmas is about ME." And like a child, corrected by the Father, I just said, "Yeah, that's right. I'm sorry." And with that peace flooded into my heart.

Then before I slept, I read my devotional book by C.H. Spurgeon. And wow! It spoke right through my heart. All my doubts, all my anxieties was revealed and rebuked ( ouch!) but at the end I got strengthened.

Here is an excerpt of my reading:

If the disposal of the lot is the Lord's, whose is the
arrangement of our whole life?If the simple casting of a lot is guided by HIm,
how much more the events of our entire life- especially when we are told by our
blessed Savior, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt.10:30). IT
would bring a holy calm over your mind, dear friend, if you were always to
remember this.

When a man is anxious, he cannot pray with faith. ...Be wise,
attend to obeying, and let Christ manage the providing. Come and survey your
Father's storehouse, and ask whether He will let you starve while He has laid up
so great an abundance in HIs garner. If He remembers even the sparrows, will He
forget one of the least of His poor children? " Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and he will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalm
55:22)

With all God's assurance and promise. I slept peacefully like a baby.

THen indeed true to God's word, he sustained us and He provided for us. When we went to the immigration the following day, the officer only asked us to pay half of the total amount. He did not charge for Tricia's overstay anymore. WOw! So, it means we still have half of our salary left! So, at that time, my HUbby and I decided to cancel all our Christmas plans and stick to just spending the necessary things to make ends meet. But two days after, our friend told us that there is this group of people who wants to transfer money in our account. Realy?!! And you know how much? Almost the exact amount that we paid the Thai immigration! Wow! God is truly amazing isn't He? I'm always amazed with the way He provides and His grace for us.

So, that's our overstay experience. Once again, we experienced God's hand move in our lives and we're forever grateful and humbled. Glory to God!