Not Manolo Blahnik shoes or a Birkin Bag..

...but this is my treasure.  My dreams. The second thing I live for. 

Early this Sunday morning, I asked ate to be online on Skype. We spoke in soft voices because everyone was still asleep, or so she thought.

Then I shifted the webcam to my left, and everybody sang, "Happy Birthday!"

Instead of birthday wishes that vanish in the air, we all bowed down and offered our birthday dreams for my ate to the Lord who we enthrone in our family.

Beautiful Sunday. Beautiful Birthday. Owing to the great truth that everything we enjoy is blood-bought.

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

- Psalm 34:3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ATE!!!

jen making ate laugh

taking their positions while I distract ate in Skype

Offering our birthday wishes for ate to the Lord

Raquel's 30th birthday

I don't really know what's the deal with turning 30. Maybe because I haven't been there. But hey i'll be there in a couple of years. Anyway, I may not understand it but I agree with her about rounding up all your friends in one room.

I hope to do this too one day. Not just my--let's see... 15 small group friends, 4 Brigs, 4 Katips, more or less 7 individual girlfriends I met and kept through the years..so about 30 girlfriends of mine--but also my family (but of course because I'm a family-girl!) and several favorite aunts and cousins of mine in one room.

Yes I will do it one day.  

Not just in my funeral :) but I hope to be able to honor them and thank them all together for everything that they have done for me. 

And to honor God for giving me on earth treasures that moths don't eat and rust doesn't destroy. 

So this is Raquel's 30th birthday.  

God spoiled her and gave her a great night last July 21 with all of her girlfriends. :)

Sunrise Buckets.  

When I told my cousins that I am so in love with Bon Chon, she promised me she'll take me somewhere where Bon Chon will pale in comparison.  

Yep. This is the place.

The place has a beach-y feel.

The plan was to have a little drama about some of us 

not being able to make it since it was a rainy night.  And then we're going to enter together, carrying our cupcake wish for her, say a little speech before we sit down.

She hardly noticed our cupcakes. But she did notice that the people who canceled were there after all. 

We're not able to pull off the cupcake speech because the place is not conducive for little dramas like that...

...but it's ok because she was happy nonetheless.

So this is our cupcake wishes for her. 

Notice the common denominator? :D

Food time!

BRIGS

If you want to gobble up and lick the buffalo wings to the bone, you gotta put on some gloves. 

Singing happy birthday for Raquel

After party we moved to Starbucks to catch up and play a little Guesstures. 

We were very careful not to laugh so loud because this Starbucks outlet was filled with students studying thick books.

Maxine's Scrapbook Partea

Marianne's unica hija is celebrating her 12th birthday. 

She wants Maxine to be surrounded with mighty women of God and be given words of wisdom as she prepares for teenage years.  So Marianne rounded up the small group and invited Maxine along just like old times.  

She didn't tell her that it's not just going to be a small group session. Winks!

We had lunch at Mcdo first and did our small group session there

Van printed some of Maxine's facebook pictures

We chose the picture that will symbolize our advice for her.

I chose Max's pic with her mom and dad and encouraged her to always cherish her family even during impatient moments.

I like Charmaine's picture (bottom-center)  She gave an advice to Max to always keep her feet on the ground. :)

We didn't expect Maxine's eyes will sweat. :)

 

Maxine and me.

Ps. I'm so craaazy about Chatime!

With momma

Praying for Maxine

Gen, Tin and Tats' Birthday dinner

I always relish being with my small group.  This evening was filled with tons and tons of laughter as we played Unspeakable. 

Happy birthday Gen, Tin and Tats!

Effort to write birthday wishes under the table

Super fun!

They didn't mean to do this at the same time hehe

Team Left

Team Right