Dear Lola

May 01, 2009


Hi. I'm Joyce Ann, my dad is Bernardo the 7th child out of 11 children from my grandmother (lola). I'm the eldest of two and I am turning 22 this year.

The other night I couldn’t sleep I felt like I needed to write what I was feeling on paper. And so I did. I wrote a letter that I want to share with you all and that I’ve asked my dad to either read out or get one of my cousins to read on my behalf at the funeral.

Lola, I want to thank you for raising up such wonderful children and grandchildren. I especially want to thank you for my dad. Without you I wouldn’t have a dad. A dad that I observe as a good man, a good friend, a good husband to my mom, a good father to both my sister and I, a good brother to his siblings and I believe that he was also a good son to you and lolo when you were both alive. I know that a lot of what you’ve taught him and my other aunts and uncles will remain in them forever and will be passed onto us grandchildren. I’m encouraged by my dads love for you and the rest of the family shown by his generosity and eagerness to get everyone from your family here on this day.

I’m sorry that I didn’t get to visit you often. You were the only grandparent that I remember seeing when I was young. I really wish I could have spoken to you more and got to know you more when you were alive. I respect you and my other lola from my moms side for having such big families. I take pride in telling my friends that I come from a really big family. I want to thank you for the happiness, love, disciplines, wisdom and knowledge that you have passed onto your children because I know in many ways they have passed it onto your grandchildren as well.


I love you lola, you will be greatly missed by us all,


From your grand daughter in Australia,

Joyce Ann Balongoy

s m e l l e m s

Curling up into a ball and hiding under the covers works for a few seconds...
Blowing amazing smelling tropical punch bubbles works for a few minutes...
Trying to distract oneself from a particular issue works for a couple of hours...
Avoiding the issue works a couple of days...
Denying the need to fix the issue works a couple of months...
Bitterness and resentment can last years...
But trusting in God especially when it comes down to His timing lasts a lifetime...

IN THE END WAITING ON GOD HAS TO BE WORTH IT....

My heart, Your home

Well it's almost been a month since my last post. Nothing big has really happened within the last month until now! I guess that is why I'm posting.. (haha)

I am so grateful that my God still is the same God He has been towards me ever since I took my walk with Him seriously.

He has always been the God that upholds me..
He has always been the God that protects me..
He has always been the God that has carried me..
He has always been the God that restores me..
He has always been the God that corrects me..
He has always been the God that has guided me..
He has always been the God that has picked me up..
He has always been the God that has showed me glimpses of His purpose for my life..
He has always been the God that has been so gracious when I wasn't deserving..
He has always been the God in my life that has worked mysteriously..

*I guess I am in a grateful mood today*

A LIST OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS:

- I have passed all my Units for the first semester of Uni (even though I didn't study enough)
- He has provided me with TWO jobs and now a stable job as an AIN at Liverpool Hospital
- He has given me more opportunities to work at the Childcare Centre still
- He has healed me from my sickness
- He has given me the courage to sing solo in a big crowd
- He has protected me when I made an unconscious decision to get into a car with a stranger
- He has allowed me to create closer bonds with the girls in the YD Leadership Team

That's just a few of the things I am grateful for. There's this song that ministered to me 2 weeks ago and it's still the song I listen to constantly and is currently my favorite.

It is called: My heart, Your home- by Watermark

(Listen to it if you get the chance I'm sure it will minister to you as it did to me)

CHORUS:
Come and make my heart Your home Come and be everything I am and all I know Search me through and through ‘Till my heart becomes a home for You

CHORUS

A home for You, Lord A home for You, Lord Let everything I do open up A door for You to come through And that my heart would be a place Where You want to be…

CHORUS

You are my portion, filling up everything You are the fortune, that’s causing my heart to sing That it’s amazing… That You could make Yourself at home with me


Bible Study tonight!! I should get ready! First night without our youth pastor and the rest of the young adults.... A bit scary because they aren't there, but then I'm kinda excited because I know that God will do some stretching of us highschool leaders tonight in how we lead and how to be responsible. Having a girls sleepover at Church afterwards too! I'm hoping to be able to learn more about the girls and help them in whatever way that I can...