OfnRain ... Friends ... Family ... and Pure Happiness ...

Yesterday ...

It rained so hard we didn't have anywhere else to go but inside the cultural hall. 

Lightning and thunder roared loudly outside. A few of the kids found delight in it. Some attempted to get themselves wet in the rain. 

But not Andrie. He hugged his Mama tight. 

So finally we decided to get inside the hall, otherwise we'd get ourselves soaked wet.

The cultural hall was like heaven ... bright lights, clean floors, and it was dry!

So in we went, like cattle finally finding refuge from heavily pouring rain.

Inside the cultural hall, the primary kids were there -


ages ranging from less than 1 year to 11 (they had an activity the whole afternoon);

the RS sisters were there (we had an activity);

the youth were there (they too, had activities);

 the Primary leaders were there (they just finished their leadership meeting);

the men adult leaders were there (some presided over meetings earlier in the afternoon, the others nanglimpyo sila sa chapel with the YM) ...

But here's the catch: we all were talking at the same time!

And to top that, the young children were all shouting.




After a few minutes, someone started to cry ...


It was either Handsome Ecko or Quick Smart Andrei ...

Mikki and Lalai were laughing together with Josh and Alecs and Jay and Ether and Drian and Arjun ...

Children were RUNNING AROUND everywhere... going that way, or this way, or round and round and round...

Then add to that some more the youth playing badminton in the middle of the hall ...

O'neil, Dave, and other young men were practicing dance moves in one corner ...


Zsanine was seated with other young women watching everything ...

On the far end, on the stage, a few young men and a number of leaders were playing table tennis ...

Yes, there was noise ... even too much noise! 

What with all the crying Ecko and Andrei did when they were fighting - first- for the shuttle cock;

and then later on for the ball ... 3rd and fourth and fifth ... for the same reasons, over and over again ... and again hahaha!

WHAT AN AWESOME SATURDAY THAT WAS FOR ALL OF US ! ♥

Silently, as i looked, listened, and took everything in, I came to appreciate what it really meant to belong ... ♥♥♥

to have friends ... ♥♥♥

the challenges, the pains, but most of all - JOY - of having children and Motherhood... ♥♥♥

the beauty of church service ...

The privilege of serving in the church ...

I looked at Dottie, and Goldy, and Jen ...

at Mikmic, and Omega, and Neneng

How grateful I am to have sisters in the church -  friends to talk to and laugh with ♥♥

I looked at all the children present ...

I looked at my own kids: Myco who was having fun taking pictures ...

Ella who was guiding Mikki and the other primary children ...

April who just finished a full day of practice with her church and school friends ...

Sarah who just came in with her Dad ...

Romelson who was with the other young men ...

Then I looked at Joel and Carlo

and Bishop Sacay ...  

and finally, at Romel ...

I smiled and said a silent prayer ...

Grateful that we have a Heavenly Father who really loves us ...

He ... ever so mindful ... forgiving ...

and I thanked Him for good friends to grow with in this life ♥♥♥