Another Allen Milestone

Our son graduated last week from Grade 8. I still can't believe how fast time went that I now have a high schooler!

Hubby and I are so thrilled for him and so proud of our baby!

Progress

Weighed myself this morning and the scale says 146.5 lbs. Half a pound loss. Yay! After being stuck at 147 for months, I'll talk the half a pound loss.

Oh a side note, we have our church trip to Montreal and well can you just imagine how challenging eating well will be this lonnnggg weekend? I reckon by the end of the weekend that 0.5 loss will be gone and perhaps more. Hoping to counter the food challenges with lots of walking. :)

2011 in review

Church Winter Retreat at Camp Frenda - Filipino Canadian
01.30.11

   

Cooking with FYYA

They make really good food!

Youth Week of Prayer - Ghettolympics
During March Break, when all the kids are off school, we had youth week of prayer which they called
Ghettolympics.  It's a very interactive study of how God is relevant to us today.  The end each evening
with a speaker.
03.2011

Music and Worship Conference at Andrews University, Berrien Springs MI
03.29.11

 

All the delegates enjoyed the conference, the fellowship with Michiana Fil-Am Church and of course,
the Chicago side trip on the Sunday before heading home.  I especially enjoyed hearing the praise team sing wherever they went that weekend.  God set ablaze the fire for praising Him in their hearts that weekend.

Attended my first Minister's Spouse Retreat in Gananoque, Ontario.  It was so beautiful!
This was taken after our 1,000 Island cruise tour.
05.27-29.11

            

My first Treetop Trekking.  It was so
much fun!  Challenging but fun! :)
06.13.11

Our son preaching his first sermon.  He was nervous but very good
for his first preaching!  Praise God!

Orion Pathfinders

My boy attending his first formal banquet.  Grade 7 & 8 Banquet.
06.2011

Friends dinner with the Lees and Adaps.
06.13.11

Migrino Family vacation
Vermont, USA
07.01-06.11

Hiking our 1st mountain together.
Mt. Ascutney, Vermont

2 1/2 hours later, we reached the peak of Mt. Ascutney.  Praise God!
What a beautiful view.

Celebrating the 4th of July
Independence Day 2011

Migrino grandsons
Love these boys!!!

Family picture at the Quechee Gorge.  Papa took the picture.

Us at Quechee Gorge

                            

Us at one of the many hikes we did in Vermont.  Loved it!

My husband was invited to be the chaplain for tween camp at Camp Frenda.  We both absolutely loved it!
07.2011

   

Proud of this kid! He did great drilling
with his club for the Pathfinder Camporee in Quebec.
08.2011 

Orion Pathfinder Club

   

Praise God for He is so amazing and good!  Several of our pathfinders decided to give their lives
to Christ at the end of the Camporee.  Wow, that was such a beautiful unexpected gift!

Good friends from Seminary visited with us for a week.  It was such a joy being
reunited with friends and had a pleasure of taking them around Toronto.
08.2011

Anniversary weekend in Montreal, Quebec.
We enjoy walking everywhere especially around Old Montreal.
11.25-27.11

Mont Royal

Celebrating 11 years with my dearest love.  Thanking God for what He has given us.
11.26.11

FilCan Church Choir after our Christmas Cantata
12.24.2011

  

Decena family vacation/reunion
Orlando, Florida USA
12.2011

Decena boys.  Love them!

Love these boys.  Cousins doing what they love... singing and being silly.

Montanano (Decena) Family Reunion
Photo taken by: Dot Ramirez

2011 was such an eventful year. Ministry has kept us very busy with two churches. We have been blessed with an active youth and young adult group. It's been truly a joy learning and growing in Christ with these young people and our small church, Faith Filipino.  The joy of fellowship with them has truly been a blessing in my life.  As much as I wish we had more down time as a family, son and I enjoy being with my husband and being involve whether it's bible study at the park, cooking with the youth, church retreats, visitations or game nights. 2011 also came with it's challenges but God is so good that the blessings that He has given to each of us far outweighs the difficult times.  I'm thankful for a God who has shown me over and over of His love and care.  He been so faithful in my life.

I also have to say that I'm most thankful for my family. The one thing 2011 has taught me is to appreciate family. They aren't perfect and even know how to love you but they are family and God gave them to you for a purpose and a blessing. They are gifts from the Lord!

Migrino Family ~ Christmas Eve ~ Toronto

Decena Family ~ New Year's Eve ~ Florida

Family on Christmas Eve 2011

Us at the Montanano Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida
December 2011

3rd Race this year

Dawn at the Don 5K Race 2011

Post race picture. Exhausted but smiling coz I finished my 3rd race this year. This was a bit harder coz I didn't have my awesome husband to run it with but he was at the finish line waiting for me.

This race was hard from the start. I wasn't mentally prepared for it or physically... just coming from vacation but hubby wouldn't let me back off from the race. lol. Praise God for him! It was awesome to hear my name as I cross the finish line. :) But what really was a treat was that I finished at 39:33! That's a new record for me. It definitely beat my goal of 45:00 for this race. :)

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Birthday Boys

Celebrating my nephews' birthdays (born on the same day)!

The family enjoyed an evening of bowling and eating at World Bowl.

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Wonderland 2011

Allen with his friends, Tommy and Aidan

at the 3D Theatre at Wonderland.

This ladder was the nemesis of the day.

All three tried to conquer this ladder.

Hubby spending his day off with us.

We enjoyed the rides and waterpark too.

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