The nothing pie

Browsing pictures of cakes online for a party I'm organizing

Landed on a website with a picture of a sinfully delectable Red Velvet Cupcake

Filled with intense craving

Remembered Mercato--the night market near my office

Looked at my watch.

Plenty of time.

Hurried to the bathroom and put on clothes in 20 minutes (I average an hour).

Hailed a taxi headed to Mercato.

Mercato was closed.

Felt like God was telling me to fight the craving off.

Because I have been splurging on food this past week

and barely have enough office allowance left to tide me over this cutoff

Ignored it.

Mental note flashing: Find a banoffee pie

Went to Starbucks

Was just around the corner

Sudden strong downpour

and wind blew hard

braved it

and made it safely inside Starbucks

got what I was craving for

took a picture 

to remember how i strongly craved for this

rubbed my hands with mischievous grin

But my oh my

was in for a surprise

one, two, three bites...i was confused. Why was i not enjoying it? 

It's not guilt or something

Heck I didn't feel guilty I was ignoring what I thought was God's message in my heart

And the pie tasted the same as before

but the satisfaction just wasn't... there.

Finished my pie in silence.

Shook my head.

So much effort to appease the craving

only to end up empty

It occurred to me

only one Person is more than able to satisfy my inner hunger

to fulfill me

to complete my needs

JESUS

but He can wait...I gotta have the pie.

There it landed.

Taking this road of finding satisfaction elsewhere

other than Jesus

will always be a waste of effort, energy and time.

It will always come back empty.

Nuts about Nutella

1...

2...

3...

VOILA!

This is what happens when you wake up and the first thing you see on the table is this tempting jar. 

And a red spoon. 

Beau and Rein's red velvet cupcake

Just got home from Beau and Rein's wedding. They are friends in church. I woke up last night at 11pm for my shift and didn't have a chance to sleep which makes me exactly 25 hours awake...so I am sooo dead-tired. But before I change for my jammies, this cupcake is too cute and so YUMMY to not blog.

 Unfortunately, the icing already melted.

Quickie lunch

Tuna & Egg

and

Pork & Beans

They taste so good but I really, really need to stay away from this junk that was canned.

Outdoor breakfast

Brownie from Jenny

I went home from work to find this waiting for me

:)

Jen knows how much a sucker I am for anything sweet!

To heck with calories and no eating before you sleep

Looks like we're not the only ones who enjoy it 

and we saved some from someone who's not home yet

Crepelicious!

So fun to be whipping up snacks like this during the hottest part of the day or late late at night!

Easter breakfast 2012

We never celebrate Easter.  But yesterday I was talking to Van, my small group buddy, about how Christmas is celebrated worldwide because of the holiday and not necessarily because of Christ.  In fact, even atheists celebrate Christmas "just to participate in the season of giving" as one atheist blog says. 

The meaning of Easter, however, is actually the very essence of 

Christianity: Jesus' Resurrection.  

Yes, Jesus died for us but if He stayed dead, then all else is for naught.  So I told Van that when I start my own family I want to make sure that part of our family traditions would be to celebrate Easter with the same effort we celebrate Christmas.

After praying yesterday, so full I was with the joy of Jesus' Resurrection, I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I want to celebrate Easter with my loved-ones!

So I shopped after work yesterday and woke up at 3am this morning to start preparing breakfast for my family.  I want to invest in little activities that acknowledge God like this to build a relationship with my family...believing God that one day He will capture the hearts of my family so much that He is no longer a we-call-only-during-crisis-God.  But He will be acknowledged as the only source of our joy flowing to our lives, our jobs, relationships, etc.  

Oh Lord Jesus to have You as the exceeding joy!

Had fun cooking while singing and dancing along with worship songs.  My heart beats an extra beat whenever the story of  the Cross sinks in from the lyrics of the worship songs

My brother suggested I add choco syrup to my pancakes

This is the very reason why I put in so much effort into making this breakfast.  I want my entire family to gather together...to remember together what Jesus did for us.

Voila! Fruit of labor!

Hashbrowns

Corn muffins!

Jen and Anna "holding it"

Jen reading a verse from Luke when Jesus appeared to the apostles after His resurrection.

Nate leading the prayer in blessing the food

Papa leading the prayer in praising God and praying for the entire household.

Chow time!

Where, O Death, is your sting?

-1 Corinthians 15:55

Brunner!

...and Maple stays in the cupboard

Lunch in contentment

It's payday today and Jen requested that I cook that dish that until now we don't know the name.  So I went straight to the supermarket after work and shopped for the ingredients.

Ate lunch with family at home in the heat of the day while watching Friends. 

Even Nate's laughing when an occasional slapstick scene is on.

Something cream and chicken

I never cook. But I'm slowly scoring points on this one.

can't stop watching this

Finish your lunch so you get the treats!

haha!

Native cravings

Jen went home from Tagaytay and I have just about the perfect midnight snacks

Suman with Latik

Espasol

Breakfast

Cupcake angel