Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. Didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunization. Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom. I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom - I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

To all mothers out there… HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

It’s Holy Week once again, that special time of the year when we “boil the hell” out of our hearts in response to God who gave His only Son, and in gratitude to Jesus who suffered, died and rose again for us. May this Holy Week give us all a chance to do three (3) very important R’s in life: Rest, Reflect, Renew.

I got these three things from Fr. Jerry Orbos, and it’s nice to know that as Filipino Catholics prepare for the various events in the final days of Christ’s life - His Passion, we will also be able to get the message of Holy Week for all the world, and it is not only that Christ suffered and died for us, but that He also rose from the dead for us.

The way Filipinos spend the week in total solemnity is something peculiar to the culture that values religious traditions. Holy Week in the Philippines starts with the celebration of Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday. It is on Palm Sunday that the Story of Christ’s Passion is read from the Gospel, which acts as a sort of preview for what will unfold during the rest of the week. Palm Sunday not only marks Christ’s entry into Jerusalem but, more importantly, symbolizes the faithful’s desire to accompany Christ, according to Fr. Diwa.

So as we get this chance to rest, let us also do some reflections on how to renew our lives in this life. Let us hear the Eucharistic Celebration it also gives hope that we sinners would rise again from our mistakes and sinful ways. Let us be prayerful and reflective during the days of Holy Week and to focus our thoughts and actions on God.

My husband and I are celebrating our 12th year Anniversary today, (Feb.28) whew!       It’s been a long time for us both to have found true love, and be committed 12 years ago. And that love is always in our hearts.  Of course! ours is not a bed of roses we do have      our shares of ups and downs we might have sometimes regrets in the choices we have made especially during the times of hardships. But if you started it right every good  things will happen in its proper places. There is a hearsay that says; 1st year to 5th year  of marriage is called ‘ASAWA’, 6th to 10th ‘SAWA’, 11th to 15th ‘AWA’, 16th to 20th ‘WA’, and 20th above will ‘A’. Well, I’m sure you already knew what category you’re into. Anyway, it’s just a hearsay, you and your spouse must know on how to deal things  properly with each other no matter how long or short your commitments would it be.     

One good thing about me and my husband is that we always keep in mind that life isn’t perfect; it is a blend of joy and sorrow, that things may not always be the way we want them to be, but with God behind us we understand that He has given us the best. It is just a matter of how you deal with it and what is more important is that you will learn all the lessons it offers and starts renewing and rejuvenating your relationship to have a fresh and brand new married life.        

Never in my life have I known someone as special as my husband. It’s because I can only see him through my heart… And what I see is a beautiful person. I won’t see anywhere else but in HIM! We both realized that it must be a give and take relationship and most of all GOD should always be a part of the relationship. He should be the strong foundation in your marriage . We tried to have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts, and a love that never lies…

I’ll just continue praying that God will never ceases to bless us both in sickness and in health, in good times and bad and till death do we part as what we have promised 12 years ago, may we be bless more years, may we grow old together and be together until the last beat of our hearts. Thy will be done.

To my best friend, my brother, my father, my bunkmate, my pilot in life, my captain, the father of my children, my husband, who happens to be  my one and only love. . . HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! CHEERS!!!

We are now on the 3rd week of Lent, allow me to expound what Lent is all about. Lent comes from the Latin words ” quadragesima dies “, the 4oth day before Easter. It is the time of preparation “through which one goes up to the holy mountain of Easter”.

It starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Thursday, before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with which the Easter Triduum is inaugurated. Of great significance to the season of Lent as preparation for Easter is the biblical symbolism of the number forty (40): the forty days of flood before the Covenant of Noah, Moses and his stay of forty days in the mountain, the people of Israel and their stay of 40 years in the desert, Elijah who walked for forty days towards the mountain for his encounter with the Lord, and above all, the 40 days of Jesus in the desert before his messianic mission.

These experiences are moments of trial, Purification and preparation for a momentous salvific event. Consequently, Lent is significant of the church’s journey towards the celebration of Easter.

 

My husband Aaron is in his early 40’s today. We chose to celebrate his special day privately together with our three children. An intimate dinner can be a wonderful, elegant birthday celebration, where there’s enough time for everyone to talk together and our budget can go much further.

We have an elegant dish that requires time, not effort, to prepare. And everybody who partakes the food are enjoying. Though my husband is growing older it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate his birthday together and have fun! Celebrating life events like a birthday can be either a private experience or the celebration can include a larger gathering of friends and family, it’s really up to us on how are we going to celebrate it. Just remember we are never too old to have some fun.

Aging is truly a state of mind. As we aged, let us approach our life with a child-like curiosity, eager to embrace everything life can offer. I am full of gratitude for all the blessings in my husband’s life; his career, good health, our three beautiful angels who keep us going through and of course for having each other in good and bad times. And so it is my birthday wish for him that he will continuously be a blessing to everyone.