Love Analogy

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states that...
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

In the bible it is also said that God is Love. (1 John 4:16) So, it also means that God, without an iota of a doubt, is everything written below...

"God is patient, God is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. He never fails."

In Genesis 1:27, we are told that man is made in the image and likeness of God. I am a "man". Thus, I must try my very best to be God-like.
"I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keeps no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I always protect, I always trust, I always hope, I always persevere. I never fail."

A simple analogy, when truly thought about and lived-by by every man, can make the world a better place =)

Happy 2nd and Happy 4th Birthday!

I guess they will always be little kids to me even when I'm old and gray already =P

Awwwwwwwww, tomorrow Arkin will be turning two already. By next week, it's Kuya AJ's turn to be a four-year-old. My little boys are getting not-so-little anymore.

I don't want to sound melodramatic but there are times when I want them to stay as kids forever, specially during those times when they are in their behave-mode hehe. On the otherhand, I wish they'd just grow up and outgrow their tantrums, the sibling spats and their hardcore hard-headedness. But hey, come to think of it, who says that there won't be more spats between them, or they won't be as hard-headed or much more when they grow up. And so, just like what I always hear from one of their favorite characters as of the moment, Special Agent Oso...."It's all part of the plan, more or less." Everything is indeed part of the plan, God's plan that is, part of their childhood, part of hubby and I's parenthood, part of life itself. =)

To my two AJs, Aldric Jarett and Arkin Jayden, a happy birthday to you both. Always remember that papa and mama loves you. Even when you two grow up, in my heart of hearts, you'll always be my little boys.

The Gift Called Motherhood

My boys...my AJs

My husband and I waited for almost three-seems-like-forever-long-years to be parents after getting married. We almost gave up due to my miscarriages and ALWAYS high-risk pregnancies. But everything was worth the wait when we were blessed with our AJs...Aldric Jarett and Arkin Jayden. Two inviduals that truly and oficially made me a certified mother.

Reality smacked me into my senses that i am really a mother while talking to a friend over the phone. I was telling her about my kids and stuff, when suddenly she said "Mommy ka na talaga!". It made me realize that indeed I really am a mother now. True, that being married had me used to the "we" or "us" principle already, but motherhood is a different story. It made me look within me and see myself in a new light.

I've realized that my time is not mine alone anymore. There are times that i'd delay and forget my own needs for their sake. I even have mastered the art of taking a less-than-5-minute bath. I willingly and whole-heartedly gave-up my career so as to fully devote my time to them most especially now that they are in their formative years.

I've realized that money in my hands are not mine alone. When in the mall and I see a pretty dress or a really hot stiletto or a good book, I think about a hundred times before purchasing them (and more often than not, I end up going home empty-handed hehe). I think more of my kids' future, what they need, what will look good on them or what's the newest "it" thing for kids their ages. The following will have to wait at bay for now: my pocketbook collection, fashion sense, food cravings, my "dream" to study again and other personal wants and needs.

I've realized that my life is not my life alone anymore. As kids, their lives depend on me. That's why i have to take care of my self better than ever, most especially after being being diagnosed with hyperthyroid and hypokalemia (I'll make a different story about that later hehe). I have be a SuperWoman to protect my boys from anything that might hurt them, to be able to enjoy playing with them and watch them grow up.

I must admit that at times it all seems like all I do is to sacrifice, but really, it is no sacrifice on my part because as cliche as it may sound I love being a mother. But honestly, i don't love every single minute of it (especially when the kids get hysterical or gaga over something and the disciplining part), but as a whole I'm thankful to God that He entrusted me with this gift. A gift that I will forever treasure.

I'll Listen

Lately, I have been faced with friends having troubles with their own marriages. Some having third parties, and some just having a hard time with their partner and relationship itself. I am no expert when it comes to love problems so I really don't know what's the best thing to say to them. So I chose to just be the LISTENER. Yeah, the soundboard, the shock-absorber, the shoulder-to-cry-on. Sometimes I do give my two-cents regarding certain things, but that doesn't mean that it's the solution to their problem. Because in reality, people with relationship problems just want someone who will listen and not someone who will judge them and shower them with sermons and advices. It's a great relief for them to have someone who will empathize with them with what they're going through, an outlet of all the emotions that they are keeping inside.

I always say that a "Thank you" is not needed after the talk. Because indeed it really is not needed. The fact that I have been trusted to know the details of the problem is a big thing in itself. Another thing, in some cases their problems become an example of what I should and should not do with my own marriage. It also validates the "love and care" that I have for my own marriage.

To all my friends who have been down lately, it's my turn now to say "thank you". Thank you for the trust...with that trust, you made me feel special. And remember, you are more than welcome to come to me...I'll listen. =)

Friends tagged along with the Spider

i'm having a hard time breathing...hahaha...due to excessive laughing!!! I heard my 3-year old son singing the nursery rhyme "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" but he has his VERY OWN lyrics:

"The ipis, ipis spider went up the water spout..."

For the spider it's kinda sad nga naman being on the journey up the spout alone, so he tagged along with him his two cockroach (ipis) friends. What a wonderful hike it turned out despite the rain hehe.

I Support Breastfeeding!!!

As early as my 4th month of being pregnant, I noticed that not only did my boobs swelled up but are also leaking with milk-like substance already. I guess I am one of those really, really blessed with an abundant supply of milk. With that, plus the fact that my mother breastfed all 3 of us siblings, I wholeheartedly welcomed and embraced the thought of breastfeeding.

I exclusively breastfed my eldest. So when we learned that we were pregnant again, we talked to Kuya who is at that time almost 24 months old. My husband and I told him that much as I want to still nurse him, our bunso will have to be the priority when it comes to breastfeeding. After a lot of cajoling and heartbreaking whimpers from Kuya, he eventually was weaned. But when I gave birth and he sees me nursing our bunso, he would insist on being nursed as well. And so, Kuya regressed, something which his pedia and I approved of but only for some time. Because I do not want him harboring any bad feelings towards his baby brother.

As a breastfeeding mother, I know that I have to take care of myself as well by eating healthy and by taking vitamins or supplements. But I am not a fan of the latter, I tend to forget about taking those stuff. So, having the two kids nurse from me took its toll on me last May 5, 2009. I was rushed to the hospital due to numbness and paralysis of both my hands. After a battery of tests, it was found out that the potassium and calcium stores in my body crashed. Medicines were directly injected into my veins to help bring up the potassium and calcium levels of my body. Afterwhich, I was feeling a lot better already. I was advised to have a daily intake of milk and vitamins.

I didn't mean to scare any of you breastfeeding moms or wannabes out there with the story that I shared. It's just a reminder and wake-up call to those who are like me before. For us to fully enjoy this privilege of nursing our kids, taking care of them and watching them grow up we should be responsible enough to take care of ourselves as well. But what the heck, look at me despite what happened I STILL AM a proud breastfeeding mom.

Down He Went

Yup you've read it right, my eldest kid, kuya AJ (3y.o.), fell down from the stairs! just wanna share coz until now i still feel sad and shocked about what happened.

It happened last night, we went to my aunt's house to attend the despedida party for my uncle. i asked my tatay to look after AJ coz i'll be going upstairs to BF my bunso; my husband went out to look for another slot to park our car. knowing how hard-headed my kid is, wala nagawa si tatay when my kid followed me upstair. after a few minutes of playing, kuya told me he wanted to go downstairs already. i tod him to wait for me while i turn off the lights, electric fan and TV. so i turned my back on him, it was just a matter of seconds. and then i heard his footsteps as he goes down the stairs. i saw him reach the "corner"-part of the stairs (yung parang triangular slice ng cake ang itsura)...i was about to call his attention and tell him to wait for me...then IT happened...i saw his foot slipped that "corner portion"!!!!! i saw him tumble down the stairs...5 to 6 more steps pa un pababa. good thing was he was catched by my cousin before his head hit the floor.

I was carrying bunso that time...hindi ko alam kung ano gagawin ko. it was as if my feet were nailed on the floor, i was dumbstruck by what happened. nakagalaw na lang ako when i heard him cry. hubby got in the house, so he carried AJ...and then natulala na naman ako kase i saw his lips and his nose were profusely bleeding. the only time i moved was when my uncle handed me a towel with ice at un ang nilagay namen kay kuya. buti na lang andun sila nanay at mga titas ko...naku kung hindi baka hindi ko nakalma sarili ko. my uncle is a professional lifeguard abroad so in a way he has knowledge on first-aid and initial diagnosis on accidents. he advised us to observe kuya na lang for 8hours...kung wala naman sha irereklamong pain or anything pwede ng hindi dalin sa doctor. kua AJ didn't sustain any bump/bukol sa any part ng head nya, nor did he have any sprain/bali. ung sugat lang sa lips at loob ng nose talaga.

It's now 19hrs, after that incident...my kuya is UP and makulit pa din. i guess that's another part of his childhood and another part of parenthood that we experienced...hopefully wala na ulit mangyari na ganun...nakaka-guilty eh. it makes my husband and i wish na sana kame na lang nalaglag.