Category: 52 Week Project

Photographs of our twin daughters, once a week, every week, this 2014.

I was having a rough day when I took these photographs and the girls were my instant pick-me-uppers. I have found the key to keeping my sanity and peace of mind, and that is to take a break from everything and just spend time with my girls.

I have a theory: As mothers, doing our mommy duties is the easy part. Personally, I can wipe noses and change diapers and sing “twinkle twinkle little star” all day long and not feel tired doing it. I’d be happy to do it, even. I would spend every single waking hour with the twins if I could. I’d trade places with our yaya in a heartbeat, if only it’s possible.

But I think what makes it challenging is, aside from being mothers, we also have to be other things—we have to maintain a career, sustain a business, be a boss / friend / sister, wash the dishes, manage the household, cook dinner, and so on. Once in a while we have to face extra challenges too, like having to deal with difficult people, beating a major deadline, getting stuck in the MRT during rush hours, and [insert other struggles that you dare not say here.]

All of these consume a huge amount of time and emotions, draining us and taking away the energy that is meant for our kids and our family. It’s not that it’s a bad thing, it’s just the way life is. We have roles to fill, and in retrospect, the Lord uses our circumstances to make us better persons, and better mothers.

Toni recently blogged a really nice piece on how to keep grounded and centered, and I found myself reflecting on the things that keep me grounded too:

1. God. And the fact that He’s real, and Sovereign, and that He holds my life and my future in His hands. Even though some days are tough, and other people don’t understand; even when criticisms are aplenty and affirmations are scarce, I’ve seen enough miracles in this life to believe that God is the God who vindicates, He’s my reason for living, my anchor, and my refuge. Holding on to His Word and to His promises is my source of joy and hope, in good times and in bad.
2. My husband. He keeps me calm, he makes me smile. He’s my punching bag, my prayer warrior, my comfort pillow, my best friend. All these while also being my defender and protector. I always find comfort in knowing that we never have to feel “alone” in our challenges, anymore. God has blessed both of us a partner to go through this life with, for better or for worse.
3. Dawn & Rain. They literally just, take my sadness away! Seriously. I can’t even begin to describe the joy these two bring in my life. Their smiles, the silly things they say, their innocence.. not only do they make me indescribably happy, they also make me brave and keep me strong.
4. A handful of friends and family. I don’t need a lot of friends, I’ve proven that enough; but I do know that I can’t go through life without my small circle of support, with whom I don’t have to explain myself or pretend to be someone I’m not. Family who’s always there on call. Girlfriends who are a Viber message away. My cell group who inspires me to be better, so that I can inspire them to be better. Such comfort to know that I can count on them when I need a break (or a coffee break, yes!), or prayers, or a shoulder to cry on.
5. This verse: Colosians 1:16-17. “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.“

When I focus my mind on these things, all my frustrations disappear into nothingness, leaving only the things, and the people, that truly matter.

How about you? What keeps you grounded?

Linking up with Toni.

Photographs of our twin daughters, once a week, every week, this 2014.

He wasn’t planning to do it every month, but somehow it became a tradition of sorts. On the 24th of each month, D would change his Facebook cover and caption it with a love letter for Dawn & Rain. He would write about their milestones, and anecdotes from their little lives, and how blessed we feel to witness them all. This month, his cover photo is one from this set.

They’re 22 months old now, which means D has been doing this more or less 2 years. Not counting the times he’s written them love letters when they were still two small holes in my ultrasound print.

I have to say, I may be the self-proclaimed writer between the two of us, but my husband surely writes better love letters (and songs!) than I do.

One day, when I find time, I will compile all of these love letters and cover photos, and put together a memorabilia for Dawn and Rain. Just thinking about it is already making me tear up! These two don’t know it yet, but God has blessed them with such a sweet and amazing Daddy who’s so in love with them.

Someday they’ll know. In the meantime, we keep writing, and taking photographs.

More about Project 52 here. View all posts in this blog series here.

Photographs of my daughters, every week, once a week, this 2014.

Let’s just say, it was one of those weeks that started with a trip to the Emergency Room of a hospital, two sick babies, one of them won’t eat or drink milk or take meds. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t work. We were so worried we almost had one of them confined.

So you can just imagine my relief when the fever finally subsided and appetite started coming back.

And then we started seeing those smiles on their faces again.

This song played over and over in my head this whole week:

You’re mercy flows like a river wild, and healing comes from Your hands. Suffering children are safe in Your arms. There is none like You.”

Healing comes from His hands, indeed.

More about Project 52 here. View all posts in this blog serieshere.

Photographs of our twin daughters, once a week, every week, this 2014.

Our darling fashionistas sporting their new sunnies.

Guess there was no need to say good bye to summer here in the Philippines! It may be the monsoon season now, but it’s good to know that there will always be warm sunny days all year round.

CAPTION THESE!

I don’t know if Rain being born 2 minutes ahead of Dawn any indication of what their personalities were going to be like. Even though it’s just 2 minutes, Rain seems to be the one who acts more like an older sister, while Dawn seems to be the more playful, carefree one. Exhibit A, these photographs above. If you’re confused, Dawn is the one whose face looks like she’s planning something schemy, and Rain is the one smacking her head at her sister.

These photographs were taken last week, just before Rain got the flu, and Dawn caught the virus from her sister. It’s been a crazy week of anxiously nursing two sick and cranky babies, on the week of our anniversary no less, and I’m just so relieved that the worst is now over. I have a separate post in the back burner for our recent ordeal with flu. For now, let’s just say, I’m so glad that we’re seeing those smiles on their faces again.

Having twins is just.. beyond me. If it isn’t obvious enough, we so love being parents to these two!

More about Project 52 here. View all posts in this blog series here.

Photographs of my daughters, every week, once a week, this 2014. Week 29.

Dawn goes, “I’m eating, no pictures please.”
And Rain’s like, “Don’t touch my fries.”

We tried it, my husband and I, to finish one order of BFF fries, just the two of us. We couldn’t finish it. There were some leftovers, and I felt like I gained 5 pounds after, which was horrible. I must have vowed never to order BFF fries again, until a few weeks later, when we found TWO valid excuses to order BFF fries.

Yep, these two french fries monsters!

We try to keep their french fries consumption in moderation, of course. But sometimes, we just can’t help it. We have to order french fries! Ordering french fries means we can let them eat on their own, minus the gooey mess, while my husband and I finish our burgers in peace. Hello, Mommy and Daddy’s new favorite place!

It doesn’t feel like a long time ago when I celebrated my 25th birthday with a McDonalds Kiddie Party. Or when my husband and I went to McDo one Saturday afternoon just to get caramel sundaes. And now? Now we’re taking our daughters to that place.

At the risk of sounding like a McDO groupie, I love the thought that McDo gets to keep small pieces of everyone’s memories and milestones just by serving us some burgers and fries.

It used to be just the two of us eating sundaes and fries at McDonalds, and now we have these two little girls sharing our McDo BFF fries with us. I know it’s nothing grand, this double scoop of fries; but we all know that at the end of the day, it’s simple joys like this that keeps us going. ;)

More about Project 52 here. View all posts in this blog series here.