Generational Blessing

(This is an entry inspired by Bo's recent journal entry : When Bad Things Happen to Good People. )

We oftentimes are compelled to make parallelisms of how our parents lived their lives. There has been a Tagalog saying, "Kung anong puno, siya ang bunga."

Some would find inspiration from their tales. They would even take pride in bearing their name.

Some would find frustration with their mistakes. And would feel shame in bearing their name. When bitterness lingers, he/she might find himself/herself trapped - falling for the same curse. Perhaps, NOT to oppose the gravitational force behind this curse was easier and required less effort.

I once heard that the bible spoke about this generational curse. Something that the forefathers have suffered will consequently happen to their descendants unless one confesses and breaks away from the path that would lead them to commit the same mistake.

Fortunately for some, the mistakes of the parents became the driving force behind their goal to succeed and turn things around in a way that will benefit the generation ahead. And the way to break off from the so-called generational curse is to start becoming a "generational blessing" to their children.

So if, (heaven forbids!) and when we find ourselves in the same pit as where our parents were at some point in their lives, remember that we don't necessarily have to follow their ways if we believe that there could be a better way. We should pray for a God-directed way. Our past does not define our future.

Egg-celent Night

We spent Black Saturday painting more than two dozens of hard boiled eggs. From the pictures you can tell that the activity was most enjoyed by the adults. The kids were contented to play Wii.

As for the Holy Menu, the palabok and buko pandan were "blockbuster hits" (note: I borrowed that tag from SimplyMuah). The Food for the Gods, became Cake for the Gods. Hehehehe! But most importantly we shared the company of our good friends. (Next year, bawal ng magkasakit si Mommy Carla!!!)

Holy Menu...

Tomorrow, Good Friday is the start of another loooong weekend! Hooray!

Anyway, before my brain shuts down, I'm trying to think of what to serve the kids and the young-at-heart this weekend. And because we will be, (more of try), observing abstinence, I can't have meat in my dishes.

You see (and I'm pointing at my mareng April who emigrated to the Swiss Alps two years ago), the Manasan's and LS will be getting together at our new abode for an egg-painting session on Saturday afternoon. (We've been missing you in sooo many events na mare!).

I'm thinking of palabok. But I must confess I've only tried my hands on this recipe, ONCE! I need a backup recipe. Since Carla is bringing fish. I might whip some ensaladang labanos (radish salad) . Also, thinking of salmon head in tamarind soup (sinigang sa miso). Or maybe munggo soup (mung bean soup).

My biggest challenge is the kid's menu. My goddaughter has allergy with seafoods. So I might bake some spaghetti. Hahahaha! No meat sabi eh! Esep esep muna! But imposing abstinence from chocolates and cakes before Easter Sunday seems to be a better alternative for them.

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This morning Wiji even had a request, if we could make some treats for the guests. Here goes another challenge. So I'm thinking of Food for the Gods. Again, I have only tried this once. By the grace of our Lord, may I find the recipe and the ingredients I have used four years ago.

Tag: Fill Me In

I AM… resilient.

I WANT… a Wii, (“…right now” – in Janina San Miguel’s tone).

I HAVE… acrylic nails.

I WISH… I can start a business.

I HATE… pathological liars.

I FEAR… losing my children’s love and respect.

I SEARCH… for recipes, parenting tips, home improvement tips, furniture styles, fashion.

I WONDER… when we can be debt-free.

I REGRET… being friendly to almost anyone.

I LOVE… to be distinct. It makes me feel comfortable.

I ALWAYS… dress up.

I AM NOT… stupid and neither gloating!

I DANCE… when I hear, “Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa”

from Michael Jackson’s old hit “Wanna Be Starting Something”.

I SING… songs of worship and praises.

I CRY… when I remember Jesus’ passion and death.

I WRITE… on my journal (diary) and on my blogsite.

I WON… in a duet contest a long time ago

(with my dad when we sang “When I Fall In Love” when I was in 4th year high school).

I AM CONFUSED… when some people say they love you and yet they hurt you most.

I NEED… a spa/massage.

I SHOULD… read a new book. Suggestions are most welcome.

THE LAST THOUGHT YOU GO TO SLEEP WITH IS… how great is God’s love and grace.

They calm my raging seas.

Next to tag is Gem, Irmee, Cata, Mia

Simply Red

I was tagged by LitCoo who was tagged by Cata and was tagged by Mee and the list goes on...

(By the way, this is an overdue tag. It took me a long while to publish this post because I couldn't dig through my files for a "red" photo. But I remember of a handful of red shots because red is a favorite colour of mine. Inatake lang ako ng katam...katamaran!)

I was able to buy a red styletto shoes yesterday from Joanne Mercer for a bargain so I had a reason to wear today for work this red silky skinny long sleeves - something I bought from United Colors Of Benetton in Rome. I had to put a stress on UCB cause we don't have it in Sydney.

I'd like to tag April, Carla, and Leng.

The Rules:

1. Post your photo wearing red, may it be a red top, bottom, the least would be red accessories if you hate wearing red. If you can’t find one, you still have an option. Either post your Significant Other’s photo or your child’s photo, if you have one. Of course, they should be wearing red.

2. Let us know the reason why you were wearing red that particular day. Was it your birthday? Is red your fave color or was it the shirt that you first saw in your closet that day?

3. Tag 3 people close to your heart. By the way, they have to be in your blogroll. No cheating heart please.

Obsessed to be the best...

PARENT for my own children alone... that is!

Nine years ago, I was obsessed planning our wedding. (Thanks to http://www.weddingsatwork.com/! I still remember its early days when the number of members subscribed was just down to a hundred something I think, or even less!).

When I became a wife, as we don't have the privilege of having helpers unlike in the Philippines, I became obsessed on cooking, baking, cleaning up toilets and kitchen and training dear hubby to be domesticated. (Hahaha! Successful naman so far).

When I first got pregnant, I became obsessed on nurturing my then unborn Wiji. I was eating 8-10 apples a day. (Well, it was the only food my stomach could take). No salt on my fries please and I hated oily, processed food. Listened to only classical music at home and in the car. Said adieu to pop radio station. Dear hubby and I read pregnancy books and was full of conviction that I would give birth the natural way. And we were able to achieve that by reading the Bradley Method book I have ordered from US. (I covered it with plastic cover and used it again for the second son, Yoyon.)

So now that I am a parent, my goal is to be the best mother to my sons. And just like my previous obsessions, I only have one take at this. NO repeats! One of my greatest fear is to fail them. One day they will have a mind of their own and I hope they will perceive me as the best mum they can ever have in this world.

I was reading Bo Sanchez's journal the other day and that of Jim Paredes'. And they made me reflect again and revisit the last six years of my parenting stint. While I can say that I have done my best, I believe there are still a lot of areas in me as a mother that needs a little tweaking.

So I will set a few goals before I hit 40. Whoah! That's another decade from now but we all know that 10 years can go by in a flash. And before I knew it, "Life has just begun" for me again.

1. YES. As inspired by Bo, I will always say YES when my children ask me to read them a story. Kasehodang, pati right vocal cord ko eh ma-paralyse. Oh yes, the left vocals have been damaged for a year now. Depressing but I just pray for a miracle.

But when it comes to requests such as wrestling, transforming Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, or sit on the couch and play PS... I think my sons will understand if I will have to beg off. Those are dear hubby's share to my YES.

2. SLOW DOWN. I said before if I hit an annual gross of 6 digit, then I'm good to quit. That was before petrol prices hit $1 per litre. Unfortunately, now's not the time to quit. Instead, I will slow down and minimize working late and going home late, and will have the discipline to be home earlier for my kids. Long hours will be limited to only twice (tops!) a week. As they say, quantity time with kids is quality time. Gotta hang out with them as much as I could.

3. GETTING REALLY FIT. Even if I'm on my ideal weight right now, I have to start to really look after my health. I can't wait to be 40 or 50 before I become conscious of what I eat and drink. With dear hubby's cholesterol level shooting up, I have to scratch the weekly menu and find healthier alternatives. The after dinner walks and jogs around the neighbourhood with dear hubby must be on a regular basis too. Come to think of it, it serves as a good bonding time for us also. We both need to be strong and healthy so we can enjoy a lot of years being together and bringing happiness and hopefully inspiration to our childrens' lives.

4. PRAY MORE. Need I say more? To be honest, I never appreciated the power of prayer until I hit 30. I never understood the power of His grace that suffices all our needs, that makes us whole, renewed and deserving of His love. And I believe with a lot of prayers, I can be stronger, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually so I can achieve these goals without too much strife.

So if you notice me going against these goals (which probably my dear hubby would do with regards to #2), please pull me back to this posting so I can rearrange my world again.

The Throb...

Last night's dinner conversation with my little boys were quite interesting. As usual, Yoyon would tell tales of how his day was at the childcare. If I asked him how his day went, he would enthusiastically reply, "Good! I play wid mah frend". If I asked what he ate, he'd say "I ate apple, bread, mac-roni... Daz all!". That's my 2 year old boy.

Now, my almost 6 year old son, had a different story of how his day was at school.

Wiji : You know mum, my friend Jarrod and Brooke (their classmate) kissed! I saw it! Some girls and some boys saw it too!
Me : (in shock!) Huh? Ahm, hmmm, how did they kiss? Was it on the cheek.
Wiji : Brooke just went close to his face and they kissed on the lips!
Me : (in shock again) Huh? Ahm, ahm, forget about it and don't do it to other girls! Okay? (My dear hubby did not approve of my advice. But I can't think of any at that moment.)

The other day he was telling me that Jamie has a girlfriend in class and her name is Jessica. So I asked, "What about you?". He said, "I don't have one. I don't like to have one." Haay, buti naman!

His stories are giving my head a throb. I just don't know how to respond sometimes.

Gone are the days that he'd tell me that he played in the sandpit, or did a lot of drawing, or listened to a nice story. I'm sure it's going to get a lot more interesting in the days ahead.

I saw this book before. I can't remember which bookstore. But it was giving tips on what answers you can offer for different age groups when they start asking "big" and intimate questions. I think I need to find that book...

The Kindie Heart Throb

My eldest who is turning six in a couple of months time, is a favorite in the Out-Of-School-Hours Care within their school. This young blonde lady (a carer) is smittened by his 'big eyes', apparently.

When the carer met my sister, she said she is looking forward to meeting the Parents of Wiji and all praises for his well-behaved character.

When she met dear hubby , she expressed "delight" in finally seeing where those cute genes came from. (At mukhang delighted din ang dear hubby with all the flattery!!!).

When we met... WE HAVEN'T. LOL! I'm sure she'd say it didn't come from hubby - but from ME!!! (I know someone will strongly raise an objection. Sige na nga! Sa yo na galing! After all, looking back over the last 13 years, certified matrona killer ka naman talaga! LOL!)

A family friend's daughter, Dani, was even telling her mum this story that this carer blurted out these words to my son, "Oh, you're so cute. I want to take you home". Teka, teka! Iba na ang dating! Of course I get it that it was said in jest cause she probably really finds my son adorable! Flattered I am. At the same time worried that he might be following the footsteps of his dad's matronish killing looks! Ha ha ha!

Some inspirational words I got this morning...

Sunrise marks God's message of PEACE, LOVE, and HOPE... While sunset stands for His GRACE. May you always have the best in between these two beautiful moments. Good morning! PS. That was the silhouette shot taken by dear hubby along the shores of beautiful Palawan, Philippines back in March 2004.

Waking up to Maroon 5

On my way to work, I heard this song, "Wake Up Call" by Maroon5 which reminds me of this whorrendous matrimonial bed incident as posted a few weeks ago. I still cringe in ... eeeewww! .

Anyway, I almost forgot that in a month's time, I will be seeing their concert at the Acer Arena, Sydney Olympic Park with my good girlfriend. (As in GOOD, walang kiyaw kiyaw! Don't ask me what that lingo is, I got it from my big Ate.)

I love Adam - his voice is unique even if some of his songs are quite weird just like this Wake Up Call... Haaay! Wake up na talaga!

Living in the Best City

That's coming from this Sydney is world's best city - again.

Well, if not for the housing prices soaring high, interest rates upto our neck, our "daily grind" on M2 (Motorway 2) that debits $4.40 from our E-Tag each way (but I would not exchange it for public transportation that would rather take a toll on my health because I will suffer a significant level of anxiety waiting and dealing with breakdowns and delays), and last but not the least - the limited shopping hours (makes me want to run for public office and introduce extended retail hours), I can agree in a heartbeat that it's the best city to live in.

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Through the nine years I have lived here, I can say that it took a few years before a part of me has been "Australianized" and before I have learned to appreciate the limitations of this city. Actually, I may have been limiting myself that's why it took longer for me to really settle here emotionally.

Hubby was the only big anchor (my sole family) that kept me here during those times. And he was great, that even drifting on sometimes lonely shores of this continent, the experience wasn't too bad cause I was never alone. Now that we have two boys, I take pride that people say it's the best city for them. For me it's the best because this is where me and my own beautiful family live. Hehehe! (Ang kumontra, panget! Hahaha!)