I will bring you back in time for a while so you will see how God is ever present in our lives...
I resigned from my job when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. My husband was working in a post production studio, putting together TV and Radio commercials, composing jingles and scores. When my first daughter was born, she only had the best! It was only after she turned one year old that I decided to do something that I really wanted to try, to teach ballet to children. My husband agreed to put up a ballet studio inside our home, that way our daughter will still be with me even when I "work". From a small ballet studio, a nearby school offered me a teaching opportunity, which I accepted since it was a two hour once a week schedule. So perfect! I was hands-on mom and still having a career. I taught in other schools after that, making my Fridays and Saturdays dedicated to teaching. The rest of my days were for the home.
Two and a half years after my eldest was born, another bundle of joy arrived, and this is a different story. Catch you all later!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
How God Changed My Heart 2 (After One Year)
This is the second part of the series, How God Changed My Heart...
We just couldn't start on the petition process because the budget just won't allow. Until my husband's aunt sent an email telling my husband to go ahead and send the petition papers to her and she will take care of the fees. We sent it in July 2007 when the fee was $157. By August of the same year they adjusted the fee to $355! This is what you call "God's timing is always perfect".
There were other fees after filing the petition, and thanks to my brother for taking care of the $400 visa application fee, and my husband's sister for the $70 Affidavit of Support Fee. Although we have to pay them back, it was still a blessing that my husband and I never had to be stressed thinking of all these fees when we had to make ends meet each month... feeding, clothing, educating three children??? That's how God provides for us, never short, never too much, and still always at the right time.
At the moment we are in the waiting process, we sent all the needed documents and my next step would be the medical exams and the interview. I am hoping that while I'm at this series blogging, we will be able to hear from the National Visa Center so that I could complete the story which the Lord actually authored. This whole thing happening right now never was my plan...stay tuned...
We just couldn't start on the petition process because the budget just won't allow. Until my husband's aunt sent an email telling my husband to go ahead and send the petition papers to her and she will take care of the fees. We sent it in July 2007 when the fee was $157. By August of the same year they adjusted the fee to $355! This is what you call "God's timing is always perfect".
There were other fees after filing the petition, and thanks to my brother for taking care of the $400 visa application fee, and my husband's sister for the $70 Affidavit of Support Fee. Although we have to pay them back, it was still a blessing that my husband and I never had to be stressed thinking of all these fees when we had to make ends meet each month... feeding, clothing, educating three children??? That's how God provides for us, never short, never too much, and still always at the right time.
At the moment we are in the waiting process, we sent all the needed documents and my next step would be the medical exams and the interview. I am hoping that while I'm at this series blogging, we will be able to hear from the National Visa Center so that I could complete the story which the Lord actually authored. This whole thing happening right now never was my plan...stay tuned...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
How God Changed My Heart
Introduction: This will be a series of blogs since the whole story might take so much of your time if I do it all in one sitting. I hope you guys follow the series, and hoping that our God touches your hearts as you read on.
How It All Began...
I never dreamt of going abroad. Being raised in a close knit family, the thought of leaving home gives me cold feet. Having an American Citizen husband did not change that at all. He just had to stay with me for twelve years in the Philippines even when it was so easy to petition me. He just can't convince me to go.
Then kids came, three of them. They started going to school... growing up... English was their first language, and the only language they spoke before school. I did not expect it to be a disadvantage, but contrary to my belief, the kids had to adjust quickly, due to Filipino subjects, and more, Filipino speaking classmates and teachers, which became the struggle for at least one of my kids...
Knowing that she can't adapt, she requested if she could study in the States. She, being only 7 years old at that time, opened my eyes to the needs of others, and made me forget about my own comfort zones. This is how God showed me His plan.
Our First Step
We registered the three children to the US Embassy in 1996, and they were recognized US Citizens. They were given a Certificate of Birth Abroad and a US Passport. Of course there were fees to pay, so the petition (for me) did not happen soon after the children's paperwork...
In the next few days, you will see God's work becoming a reality in my life. Stay tuned... and thanks for reading to the end...
How It All Began...
I never dreamt of going abroad. Being raised in a close knit family, the thought of leaving home gives me cold feet. Having an American Citizen husband did not change that at all. He just had to stay with me for twelve years in the Philippines even when it was so easy to petition me. He just can't convince me to go.
Then kids came, three of them. They started going to school... growing up... English was their first language, and the only language they spoke before school. I did not expect it to be a disadvantage, but contrary to my belief, the kids had to adjust quickly, due to Filipino subjects, and more, Filipino speaking classmates and teachers, which became the struggle for at least one of my kids...
Knowing that she can't adapt, she requested if she could study in the States. She, being only 7 years old at that time, opened my eyes to the needs of others, and made me forget about my own comfort zones. This is how God showed me His plan.
Our First Step
We registered the three children to the US Embassy in 1996, and they were recognized US Citizens. They were given a Certificate of Birth Abroad and a US Passport. Of course there were fees to pay, so the petition (for me) did not happen soon after the children's paperwork...
In the next few days, you will see God's work becoming a reality in my life. Stay tuned... and thanks for reading to the end...