It has been a while since I’ve written anything here. I have also not been that active on and lately. Life — a beautiful, “messy,” busy life — has been keeping me occupied, and juggling tasks related to home life (including chores, caring for an active toddler, and *trying* to keep a homeschooling routine), work, and ministry is no easy feat. (Praise God that I am not entirely “helper-less” though; because my husband and older kids have been doing their part at home!)

On top of everything else, we have started preparing for the Philippine Homeschool Conference, so you probably can guess why I have been more “quiet” than usual here.

Yet, I could not help write this post.

You see, I recently celebrated my birthday but this year’s celebration was very different compared to previous years.

A few days before my birthday, we received the heartbreaking news that Baby Yen Natividad, the youngest Couples for Christ missionary to date, had passed away.

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I could not help sobbing in grief when Julie, Yen’s mother, sent us the message that their precious little Yen had died. Because Julie and her husband, Paskee, and their eldest daughter Xia were in Timor Leste on mission, our family considers them “special” in a way, because we had been there on mission, too. Our first and second children were born there. Like Baby Yen, they both had to stay in the hospital after they were born. But their medical conditions at that time were unlike hers. The doctors in Timor could not tell why she was sick, so they advised Paskee and Julie to bring her home so that further tests could be done.

However, since she was still very young, no airline would allow them on board yet because of Yen’s age and condition. So they had to wait until she was 16 days old first. But she died before their supposed flight back home.

Our hearts broke for them, and I cannot even begin to imagine what they have been through these past few days. As I write this, they have probably already landed at the airport here in Manila, with Baby Yen’s remains. (Please do pray for them!)

So my birthday “celebration” was somber in a way. It was made even more somber because my sister‘s father-in-law also died last weekend. They flew back to Manila for his wake, and while I was happy to see Ate and her family on my birthday, I wish it had been under different circumstances. (I love you, mi familia! Missing my dearest Papa and my youngest brother, and the rest of my older brothers’ family in this photo!)

Just before my birthday, many parts of the world had been affected by , and the Philippines was battered yet again by not one, but two typhoons. The kids and I were at my parents’ place when the heavy rains started pouring… and eventually, we had to evacuate to another place, just to be sure that the kids (my own and my brother’s) were safe.

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Added to all these… our youngest child came down with a fever, just before my birthday. And now his sister is sick too. (Please pray for their healing, as well as everyone who is sick in mind, body, and spirit all over the world!)

Of course, the news about what has been happening in our country is also disheartening.. sickening, even. (Let us pray for the Philippines, friends! And for the rest of the world, too!)

So yes, it was a different kind of birthday celebration indeed. A mixture of sorrow, grief, worry… but beyond these, I can say that I was and still am very grateful.

Grateful to be alive. Grateful for family and friends. Grateful for our God. Our God is a gracious, faithful, loving, kind God. He has been faithful through all generations, and no matter what we may face in life, He will see us through.

We only have to look at the words of the Psalmist for today, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross  (emphasis mine):

R: Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old.(R) 

While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. (R)

But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. (R) 

But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. (R)

God’s mercy is everlasting. He is our Source of comfort, strength, healing, hope, forgiveness! He allows things to happen — sorrowful, painful, heartbreaking, frustrating things — for a purpose. We may not understand why but we can trust that He knows best. He has a plan for us all.

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So yes, sometimes we may not be able to celebrate certain occasions like birthdays the way we had hoped (my plan was just to go to Mass with my family before a talk I was scheduled to give to a group of parents but I wasn’t even able to do that because of our sick toddler).

And sometimes we might find ourselves overwhelmed by life and all the storms and trials that may come our way.

But again, through it all, we can hold on to God’s Word:

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We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 37-39)

So, if you are going through something now, please take heart! God is with you. He is with all of us. And that is definitely something worth celebrating.

P.S. Thank you to all those who sent me birthday greetings and prayers! God bless each and every one of you!

P.P.S. If you’re a mom, I have a special invitation for you! Please join us this Saturday, Sept. 16, 8.30-10.00 a.m. at The Parenting Emporium for the launch of Diamonds Among Diapers! Register via or here. Entrance is FREE!

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