Springtime, biking time

It's a great day today. God grant me my prayer, my mom and dad received their temporary resident visa for Canada today. The weather is good after the gusty winds and rains at the beginning of the week. What a good time to let the kids out with their bikes. Here are their pictures in their bikes:

New or Resale Home?

We are blessed and God continue to pour out His blessings. Being a God's child, it is a privilege to ask from Him. But it is still His will that prevail in the end. It is our prayer that God give us our own home. I don't know when that happens and while waiting, I'm preparing the list of wants and needs in the house that God will provide.

One of the considerations we have to make is whether to buy a brand new house or a previously owned ("resale") home. Here's a comparison of some advantages to each choice:

New house:
1. Modern floor plans that could include a "great room," bigger closets, more baths, etc.
2. The opportunity to choose upgrades and customize floor coverings, colors and more
3. More energy-efficient insulation, windows and heating/cooling systems
4. The added protection of a warranty from the home builder

Resale home: 1. Existing features, including window treatments and mature landscaping
2. Location -- existing homes are often closer to metropolitan areas
3. Established neighborhoods that provide a sense of community
4. The opportunity to use an existing home as a base to remodel and create a unique property

I think we are leaning towards the latter because of the location. We still want a house that is accessible to public transport and near our workplace. Actually, I'm checking out the houses for sale that I see on the way to work while I'm on the TTC bus and I have this particular one that I'm very interested in - the Sagamore house. Would you believe that I can actually walk from this place to Molson? But for sure with the location, accessibility and the pool, this will not last in the market. It's free to dream so I can just hold on to it in my dreams for now.

I'm blessed, free and delivered!

I just came from a Lenten Retreat. It's called Encounter God Retreat sponsored by 3 inter-churches in Toronto. It was held at Countryside Camp and Conference Centre in Cambridge, Ontario and started last Good Friday. The place is awesome and appropriate for the retreat, a secluded place far from the busy city life so that campers will be able to focus on meeting God. At first, I was hesitant to join because I don't want to leave my family but I was praying everyday a week before this event. God revealed how He loved me, He first loved me. I should respond to this call to love Him first and trust that He will be in-charge of my family. I was not disappointed and I really feel blessed. From the praise and worship (our music team was really great even my new found friends from other churches commented that they were also blessed) to the lessons and the speakers were what God really wanted to give and impart to us. I now understand why God designed this event for me. To fulfill his commission - to win souls, to make every believer a leader (Matthew 28:19)

Maybe you are wondering what happened? I was revived! I met God face-to-face, knew Him more, remembered the suffering of Jesus Christ for my sins and the true meaning of the cross. I know I was a born-again Christian a long time ago and I have been baptized in water but it was really a revival for me. I cried a bucket, raised my hand in surrender to Christ and jump for joy while enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit. For those who don't understand, the following are some manifestations that the Holy Spirit is working in you:

1. Cry - When you pray or when you sing at praise and worship, tears fall on your face. You let it happen without being ashamed or conscious of what others think of you. You just let it flow when you want to talk to God and be with Him.

2. Participate in Praise and Worship - You dance, you raise your hand while singing. That gesture is a sign of surrender. I was so shy in doing it in church but now I feel free. I feel Him holding my hand while I sing praise. In Psalm 119:48, David talked about his hands "I lift my hands to your commands."

3. Saying Praise the Lord, Hallelujah - This confirms you say the words of praise to Jesus Christ.

4. Saying Amen - This sets your heart in alignment with the others in the room praying. It also tells that you are fully engaged with them in prayer. God loves it.

5. Speak in tongues - This happened before on the first Pentecost. I may not be able to explain this further because I have not personally experience this but I have heard some who spoke in tongues.

Wait a minute! I'm not sure if you know how to have the Holy Spirit in you. It's not joining a religion or being religious. It's about a life in the Spirit. While your emotions are connected to your soul you will notice that the singing, praying or crying brings joy, excitement and love. You will only fully experience this when your spirit become alive upon accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is where the born-again term was derived. Your spiritual life was born when you accepted, believed, trusted and obey Jesus Christ - the author and perfecter of your faith.

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Being an internet savvy

I just watched The Social Networking and I was amazed at how Facebook was invented. Actually, I'm so 'bilib' at these geniuses who came up with sites and apps that make people busy with their gadgets. The internet has come a long way and technology is evolving fast. Next thing you know, the app or gadget has been updated even before you try it. I can't believe I am seeing different tablets now, when it was only last year that IPad has been launched and now Apple has the IPad2 version.

I was a graduate of Computer Science but I am not one of these geeks, did not even pursue a career in this field. But I am an internet savvy - from email to blogging, social networking, yes I have it all - friendster, multiply, facebook. I also own several egroups and I am also a member of the online communities in the Philippines and here in Canada. I have a Plurk account and about to try Twitter but did not. I realized that all these will require too much time on the internet and less time for my family and other important things. I can only do some updates in this blog once a week when the kids are already asleep.

It never really occurred to me that I have been addicted to the internet for quite sometime now until I received an email from Yahoo today. It said my yahoo mail is 13 years old now.

Thanks to Yahoo and the internet, I learned a lot and still learning because it will never end - the influx of information from the clicking and scrolling of pages in all the available gadgets. I can't wait for voice activated commands because my CTS is also not ending.

Seeing Disney Cars up close

My kids are Cars fans. I remember Cars was the first movie that Aloysius watched in theater. Kyle became a fan too and started collecting everything that is Lightning Mcqueen. Lex has watched the movie with his brothers a million times and until now they can't get enough.

Last Friday morning, they were shrieking when they saw Mater on Breakfast TV and I was intrigued to find out what they were excited about. I too became excited when I saw Mater and Lightning McQueen on TV especially when the newscaster announced that they will be on display at Vaughan Mills Mall this weekend for a closer look and photo opportunities. The Disney Cars 2: Agents on a Mission is the latest movie showing this summer and they are starting to promote it. I can see that this is going to be another big hit as there was already a long queue when we arrived at the Nascar Speedcar entrance to the mall.

We were parked in front of Statefarm's (the sponsor for this event) own version of Mack and we got excited we forgot to bring the stroller, hahaha. It was fun seeing them up close and although we didn't have our pictures with each one of them. The long queue leads to the Disney official photographer and if we lined up it would take us another hour before we have our pictures taken. We just used our own camera, saves time and money :) Here are our video and photos of Lightning Mcqueen, Mater and Finn McMissile:




On the Parking Lot with "Mack"

Lightning McQueen up close

Mater on the far end

"Look Dad, Lightning is on my shirt" - Lex

My 2 new superheroes

My firstborn has outgrown these 2 superhero costumes and about time that he hands it down to his brothers. Here are my new Batman and Superman who wore them while dancing to "Jesus is my superhero", the kids presentation in the recent church's anniversary. How time flies, my babies have grown. I just wish they will enjoy and cherish their childhood.