Live life to the fullest

Life can never be full of ups as it is not life but maybe a fairy tale. Problems and trials are going to be a part of it one time or another. When I was young, I thought that life was stretched far right ahead of me and that there will be a long way, then I woke up and found myself in the present with a good years already behind me. Where did the years go?

I am still amaze how fast time flies and how the kids are growing right before my very eyes. 

...and the only thing we can do is make the most out of each day and love them even when they are grating on our nerves.

I love this poem in my past scrap page back in 2009

* 2009- Kimi at one year and 5 months

... and my little ball of energy :)

* 2011- December

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So teach us to  number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

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Kony 2012- By Invisible Children

A friend of mine shared this link to me through her blog
Apparently, this video has gone viral on facebook and a lot of people are made aware of the injustice being practiced in Uganda.

I didn't realize that this still happens. I watched a movie before that shows this kind of scenes but never thought that it was still being done in our age. Little children abducted. Little boys trained to be armies and little girls as sex slaves...

I hope that awareness will at least make people act. No help is small enough. 

Our kids deserve a better future.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

HOW TO HELP:
1. Donate to Invisible Children: stayclassy.org/checkout/donation?eid=14711
2. Purchase KONY 2012 products: invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com/
3. Sign the Pledge: causes.com/causes/227-invisible-children

Family and.... Like a Family

I am finally adjusting to life here in Canada

I must say, a big part of it is due to the fact that I have friends that are more than just friends to me

I came across this quote and I completely agree with the words

Source: ...and Spiritually Speaking

Cheers!

To Family 

... and Friends who are Like a Family 

Thank you to my favorite photographers, Charlie and Steve

for the photos used in the collage

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SUN SUI WAH

Main St, Vancouver

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Discovering the Church Family and Getting Baptized

I didn't realize that joining the Discovery group would be a turning point in my faith.

I just wanted to get more involved in church and get to know some people. 

Maybe start the kids early in the right path...

Turns out that I got more what I bargained for.

Much more. I gained a mentor and a group 

that will guide me through this journey of the spirit.

I am so grateful that God has knocked upon my heart and I actually listened!

I was new in church and I decided to join Discovery the Church Family led by Alison Pauls, with a friend, Glenda.

It was a journey that both of us embarked together and I am so happy that she was with me every step of the way.

After 7 or was it 8 weeks? I lost track of how many times we had to go through to finish the course but we did and the last part was... getting baptized.

February 19th, we had to do a video record of our testimony as a way to share our journey with others.

I am scared of being onstage and I took comfort that it was recorded, despite the fact that the church was full of monitors and hundreds or maybe it was even thousands of people will be tuning in on that day of our baptismal with my voice echoing throughout the church... (goosebumps!)

I did it because I wanted to, and it is with great joy that I wanted to publicly share my testimony and hopefully touch a life. One life touched will be well worth all this nervousness.

* Thank you to Derek Lee for this collage

This was taken the date of the interview with the elders and video recording of our testimony

My Testimony

"I grew up with Catholic parents, Buddhist grandparents, and studied at a Christian school. I was surrounded with different types of religion and had regular chapel service in school every week. I knew about God’s word from the time I was still young, but being able to hear His words regularly didn't strengthen my faith; instead I unintentionally took it for granted. I grew up, got married, and moved to Canada. Following this, I became busy and faith was moved to the backseat as I focused on being a mom and a wife. Amidst all this, I woke up one day, feeling empty, and realized that I needed to go back to church. I wanted to set an example for my kids and let them grow up with the word of God instilled in them. I was still new in church, adjusting, when another test early this year, came to rattle my faith. I decided that maybe God was telling me that something was coming and that I needed to hold on more to Him rather than turn my back once again. In the end, I realized that I needed Jesus in my life to pay for my sins and shortcomings for it is through Him alone that I may be saved.  A favorite verse from when I was younger came to mind, Proverbs 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean unto your own understanding. It is easier said than done, I, for one, have questioned why some things happened, but God knows everything, He sees the whole picture. I just have to trust in His plan that all will be well and for the best in the end."

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The Baptismal

March 4th, 2012. I got the whole family ready to go with me to church. Kimi and Kenzo was not going to the  church preschool as we did regularly but they are coming with hubby at the church proper to watch everything. We managed to get our friends (Mommies and family, Twinny and Stone) to come and cheer on us for our baptismal. It was a celebration and we got 2 tables reserved for lunch after the event ;)

I was right on the dot and we were given corsage and our certificate

then, we were ushered into the music room and was introduced to the one who was baptizing us, Sergiy Chernits. He led us into prayers and got to know us. He was really nice and I wouldn't know that it was his first time to baptized someone had he not told us.

We were told to change and we watched from the back as we awaited our turn.

It was nerve-wracking but we were full of excitement. Some songs, communion and an introduction to baptism, we saw Angie's testimony then she went into the large see through pool and some questions were asked, she answered then she was baptized with a camera zooming the exchange in real time.This is it... 

...and it was done just as fast :)

We are officially a member of Willingdon Church

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We went to listen to the sermon with our family.

Kenzo was so happy to see me he kept on kissing me and doing his little language and kissing me again.

I feel so blessed.

then, Kimi went to me and whispered

"That was good mommy", my heart burst with pride that my daughter came and offered assurance as soon as I sat down.

then she said that "Mommy, I saw you in the ipad (monitor) haha!" 

Kids are just heart-melters

then right before she slept that night, "Mommy, you did good, I saw you dive into the water then you came up and fix your hair...and you didn't get scared!"

I just love how this little mind works, but most important of all. I was so glad that she got to see the act and hopefully that image will stick into her mind as she grow older and as we guide her through her path to faith.

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Bianca's Uber-Sweet First Birthday

As soon as you step into the event, the amount of decorations, planning and love put into the party will surely overwhelm you.

* Cakes and Sweets Station

* Sweets Up Close

Not just one, but two sweet bars!

* Candy Bar

* Loot Candies

Even if you try to resist the temptation of eating those colorful sweets, another temptation is sitting right smack at the center of each table so...

* Centerpiece

Decors are just as coordinated with colorful pom poms and candy styrofoams hanging from each beams and blank walls

* Wall decor

* Decor up in the ceilings

The magician kept the adults kids entertained with hours of magic, and games

* Kids sat behind the spot light to watch the show

The kids enjoyed being the Magician's Assistant. I actually recorded the kids assisting

CLICK THE NAMES TO WATCH VIDEO

* Assistant KIMI * Assistant JUSTIN * Assistant SAM * Assistant KALEN *

* Kimi post for the camera

Thanks to Ninang Honey for the UGG boots 

and Ninang Ciara for the Dress :)

At first, Kenzo sat on his own with an iphone to keep himself busy. He loved the chicken and ate by himself using his hand and ate 2 chicken all by himself... Then he was released from his booster seat, he went straight to my leg

* Shy Little Guy

* Asking to get carried away

Kimi, on the other hand, was a bit shy, thinking that she does not know the kids who was sitting on the kiddie table, but then she saw some familiar faces... Kalen, Justin, Samantha...

* Finally at ease

Bianca was sleeping the first part of the party (as was Kenzo for the duration of his first birthday then), then I chance upon her finally awake, Yey!

* Bianca with Mommy Van

It was a great party full of friends, both big and small, catching up; great food; great entertainment.

* Kenzo and MacKenzie trying to get acquainted again

* Kimi posing for a full shot :)

* Mommy with Macky

* Pretend Bite

...and the loot bags that are candy related as well

* Lots of kids are going home with a nice little tag and a Chocolate bar pencil box

* Personalized Bag Tag

... and a group picture with my favorite moms :)

* (L-R) Jo, Glenda, Van (Biancas Mom), Joy, Sarah, Mel

* Thanks to Charlie for this group photo

** I am using my reliable (small enough for any bag)

Sony Bloggie compact camera so some pictures 

especially with kids have movement captured with the picture :( . 

DSLR would have been much better with kid pictures. 

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HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY

BIANCA

Thank you Andrew and Vanessa

for inviting us to this uber-sweet party :)

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I entered a wee bit late so i am not expecting.

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