Jared, simple pleasures

Today, The First of January, 2013

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family, Blog Photo Challenge, occasions, happy new year, simple pleasures, Jared, #fmsphotoaday

How is 2013 treating you so far? I spent New Year’s Eve at my parents’ house and me and my siblings Bel, Cel and Ken, together with my little man had a simple yet special celebration in the house where we all grew up in. It would’ve been grander if my parents and my other brother, PJ, was around together with my niece and nephew, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed the time we spent at home. It has been awhile since we’ve been there last and no matter how abandoned and deteriorated the place looks like, I really miss the refuge and the warmth it gives me. I really miss living there. One day I hope we’d be able to have it renovated and live there for good.

I guess the little man shared the same sentiments. It has been, after all, more than a year since we left to rent a little place of our own and he probably miss our old house, too. It was evident on the way his eyes lit up when he saw the place. He instantly have a bigger space to roam around and a big backyard to play in! True enough, even when we stayed up a little past midnight last night to celebrate the coming of 2013 by sharing a simple meal and lighting some fireworks, he was up earlier than all the grown ups the next day and was wandering around the yard in no time. He spent the entire day doing just that.

When we visited my parents at the memorial park, he was also up on his toes running here and there, playing with children who were also accompanying their grown up relatives to visit their dearly departed on New Year’s Day. I know my little man had a grand time, too bad I was busy running after him and carrying him when he gets tired, and having a picnic with my siblings on the side,  that I wasn’t able to snap some shots of him in action.

The only photo I managed to take today is this photo of him sleeping soundly like an angel. Oh well, after all the physical activities he did today, it was only fitting that he capped the day with a sound sleep and turn in early.  He was fast asleep right after I washed him up and fed him with a bottle of milk 🙂

Sharing this with Blog Photo Challenge and with #fmsphotoaday. Nothing like a good challenge to jumpstart the new year and I really hope I can follow through and finish this. Wish me luck! 😉

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mum's thoughts

happy 76th birthday ‘Pa!

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Papa, mum's thoughts, family

I remember you as a stickler to neatness + cleanliness + I would often think that you were a slave driver, trying to boss everyone around to do your biddings: sweep the floor, keep the house tidy, keep everything neat + orderly. It was probably no surprise that I am turning into the same  person that everyone thinks I am OC. I also remember you as a self-less father + a faithful husband who did everything to provide for his family + make them feel safe. I also remember how we spend weekend afternoons watching your favorite James Bond movies on the telly {I wish you were here now that the new 007 installment is showing in the cinema, I bet you’d gladly agree to watch it with me + the little man, even when Daniel Craig is not really our most favorite Bond + prefers Connery + Moore over everyone else}, or your favorite basketball team’s game on Sundays. I vividly remembered how you were not able to bear watching that Jesus Christ film by Mel Gibson up to the end, simply because you cannot endure the scene where they are hitting Jesus Christ, or those moments when you cry over a particularly touching episodes of our favorite local nighttime  soaps. You tend to cry easily + there is no doubt that I got that from you. Most of my memories of you will involve newspapers + books + crossword puzzles + I must say those are some of the legacies you left us with + we will probably to continue doing them as long as we can.

Thank you for all the memories, ‘Pa, thank you for your kindness + your grace. Thank you for everything you did for us. We will never be anywhere near where we are today if not for you + Mama’s love + sacrifices. We will love you both until the end + we will miss you every single day. We will always keep your memories alive + will be sure to let the little ones know of your story. Jared just recently learned to say your names + would just blurt them out all of a sudden when he finds the inspiration. If you were around, I bet you would’ve spoiled him rotten!

Happy birthday Pa! I know you are having a wonderful celebration up there with Mama, our Creator + all the angels. Hopefully they’d let you have a bottle of beer or two since it is your special day, anyway! 😉

We will be seeing you soon + will keep you dear in our hearts until then. I love you, Pa!

“When someone is in your heart, they’re never truly gone. They can come back to you, even at unlikely times.” 
— Mitch Albom, For One More Day

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mum's thoughts

Happy 63rd Birthday ‘Ma!

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Mama, mum's thoughts, family
the one-year old me with Mama

Dearest Mama, 

If you were still with us today you will be celebrating your 63rd today + I bet we will have a simple yet memorable celebration with all my siblings + your grandchildren. I bet you would have been thrilled to finally visit Baguio next month with your family. The what ifs are making my heart ache, ‘Ma, as well as all the possibilities, especially when concerning my little man. I was teaching him your names just the other day + he’s caught on quite easily. He was actually playing later that night talking to Mama Asion + Papa Narding on the “phonebox” {which is actually the broadband’s box} on the terrace, saying “see you later, bye!”. I told him you are in heaven + you are watching us everyday.  + out-of-the-blue, he’d motion for the skies, mentioning your names. He is such an angel + I really wish that you were able to meet him.

It has been 5 years + 8 months, ‘Ma, I terribly miss you + I really, really miss being a daughter! I miss having someone to cheer me up + reprimand me if need be, + give me invaluable lessons about life. It is true what they say, no matter how old you grow + no matter where you are in life, you will never outgrow your need for your parents. + you will never recover from the loss of a loved one, not really. I guess, as years passes by, you somehow learn to tone down the pain, but it will never really go away, would it? Just like I couldn’t possibly finish writing a post such as this without shedding tears….

I love you always, ‘Ma, your memories + your love will be in my heart as long as I live. I am one of your many horcruxes + I will make sure to teach Jared more about you + Papa. Happy birthday! I know you are having a wonderful celebration up there. Until we meet again…

“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.”

 

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