Celebrating almost 40 years of God's graces

Last Monday, I celebrated my birthday as Mrs. Remo for the first time.

As always, Ruel tried his best to make my birthday extra special.

First, I thought I wouldn't get anything anymore on my birthday because he gave my birthday gift three weeks early--the Coach bag that I showed you last time.  I was wrong.  He still gave me another gift...a light pink Lacoste top which he gave me two days before my birthday.

On Sunday, August 25, a day before my birthday, we had a simple celebration in Bulacan with his parents.  Then in the evening, we had dinner with my family  Kogi Bulgogi, a Korean restaurant in Libis -- still his treat.  

Whoah! Don't I look pregnant here? I hope that's a sign!

my sister's family in front of Kogi

My family

 

                                                                                And this is our family

                                         enjoying a cup of sweet drink after dinner


On the day of my birthday, we went out for ice cream and Ruel bought me a Tiramisu cake which was just super.

I had a really happy birthday.  The fact that I went to school on a national holiday (which incidentally was also my birthday) for a seminar that was cancelled at the last minute without my knowledge, was not enough to dampen my spirits.

So, anyway, I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings and graces that God has bestowed on me for almost 40 years.    I realized that despite all  the trials I've had, I can still say that I have lived a charmed life compared to most people I know.  I praise and thank God for HIS goodness and love.  Most of all, I thank Him for all the people I care for and who care about me.  They are, after all, my greatest blessings.

Lucky to have him

I must admit that there are times I still act like a child.

Ruel, Toots and I were on our way to Bulacan to visit Ruel's parents this morning when we stopped at a drugstore to buy some medicine.

Ruel found an ice cream station and asked me if I wanted some Magnum.  I said no.  He reasoned that they would give us a free notebook if we bought three.

I needed a meeting notebook so I agreed.

When the ice cream and the notebook were given to us, my son took the notebook and there, I decided (well, not intentionally) to act like a 14-year-old.  

My son and I started arguing about who should have the notebook.  He said he was going to use it for drawing and I told him I would just buy him a drawing notebook. Still, he wouldn't give in. He complained that drawing notebooks didn't have hard covers.  

So Ruel said he would just buy me a notebook.  I argued that unlined notebooks like the free one they gave were rare.  

My 14-year-old son and I continued to have our debate for at least 20 minutes.

Upon reaching another gas station, Ruel stopped to look for an ice cream station.  When he came back, he had ice cream for the three of us and a notebook for me!  Awwww!  Isn't my husband so sweet?

Yes, I am ashamed of my behavior and I shouldn't be writing about it.  But you wouldn't know how great my husband is if I didn't.

So that's what today's post is all about....my husband putting up with my childishness and him making sure I am happy all the time.

Am I lucky or what?

Tweny simple pleasures

We often try to find pleasure in complicated things or in things that require us to spend so much.  We forget that a lot of life's pleasures are actually inexpensive or free.

Here's my list of simple pleasures.

1. reading and finishing a good book

2. snuggling in bed with a special someone (my child or my hubby)
3. waking up late on a lazy day (how I love that!)

4. watching the sky turn into different shades of orange, pink, and red on a clear afternoon

5. gazing up at a starlit sky

6. tickles!!!

7. a kiss from my child...

8. and a totally different kind of kiss from my husband

9. waking up to this

10. performing in front of an audience

11. watching and listening to my son play the violin

12. eating ice cream with someone I love

13. petting or playing with my doggie

14. listening to other people praise my son

15. looking at flowers

16. interacting with birds

17. dressing up

18. decorating the house

19. looking at old photographs

20. playing with babies

and the list goes on and on.

Five things I'm looking forward to

Day 11: Things You're Looking Forward To This Year

I guess the first on my list would be my birthday which is on the 26th of this month. In a way, I'm a little sad because this means I'll be another year older....and I mean OLDer.  However, I've always loved birthdays.  It's always a day of celebration and thanksgiving.  So yes, although I'd be another year older, I am so looking forward to my birthday.

I'm not expecting any more gifts though.  My parents stopped giving me gifts when they retired...totally understandable.  And I already got an early birthday gift from my husband last August 4.  I was dressing up for my son's birthday celebration then he suddenly asked me if I would like to have my birthday gift.  He thought it would be nice for me to use it that day because of the top I was wearing.

Second on my list is my D&C under hysteroscopy.  I'm not excited to have it but I am looking forward to being done with it.  It's causing me too much stress and anxiety.  I want it over and done with so I can go back to planning a pregnancy.

Third is our wedding anniversary in December.  This is going to be our first anniversary and we want to go back to Tagaytay to celebrate it.  I want us to hear mass in the church where we got married and maybe we could ask the chef at the reception venue to prepare some of the dishes in our reception menu so we could try them.  We weren't able to eat during the reception.  I'm guessing no one would in that situation.  Come to think of it, the only meal I had that day was breakfast.

Fourth is my nephew's first birthday which is eight days after our anniversary.  It's going to be a big celebration at the new Magnolia House and as early as now my sister is already busy with all the preparations.

Fifth of course is Christmas which is my favorite time of the year.

A balanced mix

Day 8: Who are you most like? Your mom or your dad?

In more ways than one, I am like my mom.   I look a lot like her.  I enjoy looking for mistakes in grammar. I'm scared of unfamiliar things and  I hate taking risks.  I love folk dance and folk music.  I enjoy the finer things in life.   I like teaching literature and I can quote lines from famous literary works at the drop of a hat.

In many ways I am also like my dad.  I like to argue, and I believe I can argue my way out of anything.  I can be a difficult customer, knowing fully well that I have every right to get my money's worth.  I can get very passionate about things, specially about things I believe in.  I love arts and culture and I find history fascinating.  I like dancing and singing and I love the audience's attention. I have the confidence to commit to things I have never done before. I love to write and I can write well when I have the time. My elbows, my toes, are things I also got from my dad.

So I guess I am actually a balanced mix of my mom and my dad.  However, I am also my own person, there are things I can do, things that I like, traits that I have which  didn't not come from either of them.


Who are you most like? Your mom or your dad?

Firsts

I am failing.

I set two challenges for myself this August -- to lose 20 pounds and to blog every day.

I have been eating a lot lately....thanks to the birthday of my son and all the leftovers.  Today, we went to the bookstore to buy a periodic table after classes and Ruel asked if I wanted some ice cream from DQ. I said no.  But the minute I saw his ice cream cone, my resolve melted faster than his ice cream did.

I did not post anything for two days in a row.  I've been busy with making exams for the kids and with my son's birthday.  I knew nobody was waiting for the linky so it was fine and there was no pressure for me to post anything.

I'm now forcing myself to post something in between chores.

Day 5: First

On the day after our wedding, we woke up to this -- our first sunrise.

first trip to Starbucks as a married couple (the night after our wedding)

                                                        first ice cream cone as husband and wife

                                                        first movie together as husband and wife


And we're still collecting firsts.

Sometimes We Have to Be Cruel to Be Kind : Day 2

Day 2: The most important lesson you learned from a teacher

I learned so many things from my teachers but  some stand out among the rest. Today, I am going to tell you about one of them.

When I was in fourth year college, we went on a religious retreat (we did this every year, actually).  That year the retreat was held in  Benguet....a town on the mountains, around 8 hours away from school.  We had to leave early.  Assembly time was at 6 am.  Departure time was at 6:30.  I've always been a punctual student, so I was so annoyed with my classmates who were still not around at 6:30.

We waited  for them for 30 minutes more...much to my dismay.  At 7:00, Sr. Viane, our teacher, decided we had waited long enough and that it was time for us to leave.

The bus exited the school gate. We hadn't been travelling for two minutes when one of my classmates suddenly said, "Sr. si Emily!" which is "Sr. it's Emily!" (not her real name) while pointing at a car traveling in the opposite direction.

Emily's  friends wanted us to turn around and go back for her. I was secretly hoping we wouldn't.  (Yes, that, I guess was my bad side.) I was excited and couldn't wait to get out of the city and see Benguet for the first time in my life.  Why waste time going back?!

When we were right in front of Magnolia House,  Sr. spoke in her gentle but firm voice, "We had waited for 30 minutes for her.  That is enough.  . In the real world nobody will wait for her.  She has to learn her lesson.  Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind."


Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.  That stuck to me.  As a parent, as a teacher, there are really times when we have to be "cruel" in a way.  It's hard, I know, it breaks my heart.  But we all have to do it once in a while so that the little ones we love will learn the lessons they need to learn.

What about you? What was the most important lesson you learned from a teacher?

A letter to the 9-year-old me

It's the first day of August, the start of the challenge I set for myself -- to blog every day.  The challenge is actually for me, but it is open to anyone and everyone who is interested. All you have to do is to link up. You can find the linky below.

  

Today's prompt is: Write a letter to the 9-year-old you.

Dear 9-year-old me,

on the day of my first communion

I miss you. I miss not having a care in the world, except taking quizzes and exams, or thinking of ways I can make my mom allow me to stay home on a school day, or how I can remain inconspicuous when I am in class.

I miss being good. I miss being hopeful for things to come, I miss having your blind faith, your innocence, your simplicity, and your rose-tinted glasses.

I miss the simple life you led.  I miss the afternoons you and Candy spent together in our terrace while eating atis or dalandan, or the Saturdays you spent with her playing house, hide-and-seek or some other game the two of you invented.

I miss the way you kissed and hugged Mom and Dad and the way they kissed and hugged you back.

I miss you but no matter how much I wish I could be you again, I can never be.  And though I can never be you again, somehow, you are still in me, and I guess you will always be, just like all my other younger selves will.  I am, after all, made up of several layers of me, just like those painted dolls that have several smaller dolls inside them.

You are, however, one of my favorites.  When I am prim and power, when I am satisfied with simple living, when I just want to please God, when I look at the world and think it's beautiful, I know that's you.  You make me a better person and for all those times you come out, thank you.

I love you, little girl.

30++ old you.


Check out other prompts for this challenge.