NILAGANG BABOY FOR LUNCH

Our dad loves cooking! In fact, he cooks better than our mom. He says this is his small way of showing his love to his wife and to his children. We are so lucky to have such a handsome chef in the family!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Elder Ammon Jarom Padilla, Philippines Cebu East Mission (June 2026- June 2028)

Image
  Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan! What a week it has been! Even though he got sick for a little while, Elder Padilla shared that the Lord reminded him that His work does not stop. And neither does he! He kept moving forward, creating miracles, and helping others come closer to Christ . He has seen so many blessings this week. Hearts progressing, and the Spirit working in beautiful ways.    They gathered for a wonderful Family Home Evening combining interested friends and ward members! The support was so great that people didn’t even fit inside the house. He said some had to stay outside! Everyone enjoyed one another’s company, played a fun game together, and truly felt the Spirit and the warm love of the ward family.     This week brought a precious milestone! Nanay signed the papers for her daughter’s baptism, and you could truly see the joy and excitement in both of their faces!  And then came a memorable s...
Read more

Parted for a Season, Sealed for Eternity

Image
This time last year at the Calgary Alberta Temple. It feels like just yesterday. And yet, so much has already changed. It may take some time before we are all together again, as our children will be serving missions in the years ahead. We look at this memory now with hearts full of gratitude and a little bit of gentle longing. Because we know that it may take some time before we are all together again. Our children are stepping forward, one by one, to serve the Lord in the mission field. In the years ahead, they will be scattered, far from home, serving, growing, and blessing lives. And while our hearts swell with pride, we also know our family circle here at home will be a little smaller, for a little while. But we know too that separation is only for a season. The temple stands as a beautiful promise that the bonds we share are not broken by distance, and not measured by time. Families can be together forever.    So we wait, and we pray, and we treasu...
Read more

The Doors Will Soon Be Open | An Invitation to the 2027 Salt Lake Temple Celebration!

Image
It was truly a tender, sacred, answered prayer that just before we turned toward home, the barriers were removed, and we were invited near. For the first time, we were able to walk right up to the Salt Lake Temple to touch the sacred stone walls, to rest our hands upon the holy doors, to stand in the very shadow of the House of the Lord in a way we had not been able to before.    As our hands rested upon the temple doors, we marveled at the exquisite, historic doorknob and lock plate, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and symbolism! Carved into the brass knob are the sacred words: "Holiness to the Lord". The reverent declaration that defines every temple of God. At its center sits the beehive, a symbol of industry, unity, and the faithful labor of the pioneers who built this holy house.  Above it, the dates 1853–1893 are etched deep, marking the forty years of faith, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion that it took to construct ...
Read more

United States Meridian Base | Temple Square’s Historic Marker

Image
  This stone monument marks the U.S. Meridian Base of 1869, the official starting point for the Salt Lake Meridian, the survey reference line that defines the addressing system for the entire state of Utah!  It sits on Temple Square grounds, just north of the Salt Lake Temple, precisely at 40°46′13″ N, 111°54′00″ W. Every street, property line, and land survey in Utah traces back to this exact spot.   Its Story   - The Survey Begins (1869) : The U.S. Coast Survey established this marker to define the principal meridian and base line for the Utah Territory. It was placed here because Temple Square was already the geographic and cultural center of the city, and the temple site was the most accurately surveyed location in the region. ​ - How It Works : All east–west addresses in Salt Lake City are measured from Main Street (the meridian line), and all north–south addresses are measured from South Temple Street (the base line) — with this marker a...
Read more

Sister Cerah Hennah Padilla, Philippines Iloilo Mission (June 2026-December 2027)

Image
It’s already been nearly a month since Sister Padilla stepped into the mission field and time is flying! From the MTC to teaching, meeting people, and seeing miracles every week, she feels the Lord’s hand guiding her step by step.  One of the sweet highlights she shared was working during what they joyfully call their "miracle hours".  She and her trainer, Sister De Dios, would head out fully geared up with reflector straps and belts, glowing missionaries on a mission to find and teach. She said it was fun, a little silly, and a beautiful reminder that the Lord wants them to be safe so they can keep serving. And she added with such warmth: "Miracle hours are always better with Sister De Dios by my side."  Even with rainy weather and sickness in the district, His work moves forward, and He is strengthening them.  The Buruanga District She said she is so blessed to serve alongside these wonderful missionaries! They meet, plan, then...
Read more

First Few Days in the Missionary Training Center

Image
Maayong adlaw! Our daughter, Sister Cerah Padilla, has been at the Philippines MTC for just 5 days and look how much she has already seen, learned, and felt! She shared that they received their phones and key cards right away!  "It still feels crazy that missionaries today use high‑tech phones, but we use them to study, learn, and teach the gospel! In a changing world, the gospel keeps finding new ways to spread."  -Sister Padilla She received all five vaccine shots and yes, the soreness was real! But she wrote: "I believe healing in the MTC is faster because of the prayers of others for missionaries to stay healthy. I have felt the strength from your prayers."  She met her two companions and roommates, Sister Pascual and Sister Orcuse. "We relate on so many things and help each other grow. We’ve already strengthened each other’s testimonies!"  And get this, they even earned a reward and certificate for having the cleane...
Read more

Sacred Dwellings | The Sanctity of our Homes and the Role of Temples

Image
Having recently moved to a new neighborhood and community closer to the Urdaneta Temple, we started the week on a positive note with a morning devotional. As a family, we studied Elder Gary E. Stevenson's conference talk years ago, entitled " Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples ." In his address, he emphasizes the importance of creating sacred spaces within our homes and the significance of temples in our lives. From his message, we can derive valuable lessons on the sanctity of our homes and the role of temples in our spiritual journey. Lesson 1: Creating Sacred Spaces   Our homes can be sacred spaces where we invite the Spirit and nurture our relationships together.    Just as temples are dedicated to the Lord and are places of worship and revelation, our homes can also be sanctuaries where we invite the Spirit to dwell. By creating an environment of love, respect, and harmony within our homes, we can make them sacred spaces where we feel the presence of God and s...
Read more

More Than Just a Dad: What It Really Takes

Image
Okay, let's get real. Anyone can have kids, right? But being a dad? That's a whole different ballgame. As a mom, I've seen firsthand what it takes to be a great father, and let me tell you, it's so much more than just biology. It's Not Just About the Genes   Making a baby is just the starting point. Being a father starts when you step up and take responsibility.  It's about:   - Being Present : Like, really present. Not just physically, but emotionally too. Putting down the phone, turning off the game, and actually engaging with your kids. It's about being there for the good, the bad, and the messy. - Keeping Them Safe : Making sure they're okay, both in their bodies and in their heads. Teaching them how to navigate the world and protecting them when they can't. It's about being their rock. - Providing the Basics : Food, clothes, a roof over their heads. But also, giving them opportunities to learn and grow. It...
Read more

Our First Sunday Service at Home

Image
When the First Presidency announced a new resource to help Church members and their families study the scriptures at home:  Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families,   our family counseled together to include it in our daily family morning devotional as part of our homeschool program. Since we have been studying together as a family in January 2019, we have deepened our testimony that our  home is the best place to live, learn, and teach the gospel. In other words, ministering begins at home. So when gatherings of church members were temporarily suspended worlwide because of conditions related to COVID-19, leaders asked members to hold Sunday meetings in their homes. Our family morning devotional that we do everyday as part of our homeschool program prepared our whole family for this trying and difficult times. We had an added measure of the Spirit in our home when my husband and 12 year-old son administered the sacrament. In our closing hymn, we couldn...
Read more

The Eagle Gate | Strength, Vision, & Pioneer Heritage

Image
Standing proudly at the intersection of State Street and South Temple, right beside Temple Square, is one of Salt Lake City’s most iconic landmarks, the Eagle Gate Monument.    A Gate with a Story   The original gate was built all the way back in 1859, serving as the entrance to Brigham Young’s property and quickly becoming a beloved symbol of the growing pioneer settlement. What began as a simple wooden arch has been rebuilt and expanded over the decades, yet it has never lost its connection to the area’s faithful, hard‑working pioneers.    Symbols of Strength & Industry   Today’s monument features a magnificent bronze eagle with wings spread wide, perched above a beehive, two powerful symbols in one:   - The Eagle → represents strength, vision, and rising above just as the pioneers rose to build a city in the desert. ​ - The Beehive → the enduring symbol of industry, cooperation, and community, a reminder that we build bes...
Read more