It’ll Be His 10th!

When Nate was born, I started a separate blog to document his growing-up years. I haven’t religiouly updated it since the family lives far from us. I wrote about those events that highlighted his achievements, yes, he is an academic achiever, the days when he experienced those lovely episodes in his life – his first plane ride going south, his first time going abroad to Singapore and Legoland in Malaysia when he was seven, those school activities that he was awarded with medals and Certificates of Merit and many such events that made me so proud of him.

Tomorrow, he is turning 10. I wrote this letter on his first birthday. How lovely to see that he is growing up a good, loving, lovable and smart boy.

A LETTER TO MY DARLING NATE ON HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY darling baby Nate. Yeay, and you are counting  How time flies, now you can walk on your own even if they’re just baby steps. It’s  time to see the world from a higher place and discover many, many things dear to your heart.

I can’t believe it, was it only a year ago when your Dad and I patiently waited for you to see the world and hear your first cry? Was it only a year ago when your mom excitedly showed us your pictures while she was in the delivery room  even if she was groggy from anesthesia? And I promised myself I would write about your growing up years. You’re one year old now and we’ll have more days, months and years to discover the world through your eyes. And may you grow to be  strong, smart, healthy  and loving and  may you continue to possess that innocence so endearing to see in a lovable child that you are. And I wish you all the precious things that a loving Nonna could wish for.

I love you baby, you are God’s greatest gift to us. We are indeed blessed having you in our lives. Again, happy birthday❤️🥰❤️

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Busy, Busy

Aside of course from being hit by the lazy bug to make a blog post, I was busy.

Finally, we got to meet again after several years. What a lovely time with the family. We had a mini reunion last November 1 when Noel and Lanette were here. A late celebration for my birthday. I just ordered food online so we had enough time to exchange news. We invited my oldest brother Kuya Roy and my sis-in-law, Nissa’s family too. They brought with them lots of goodies for the family. Nissa and Noel took a lot of photos. I am compiling them in an album at Facebook.

At first mom could not recognize Noel but when he embraced and kissed her, she smiled and shouted “Oweng”, Noel’s nickname.

A family pic but the others were busy with lunch. (Josef, Noel, Nissa, Nate and me).

Ang maglolo.

With Noel and Lanette

Look at how old my mom is now. She’ll be turning 94 by April next year.

Nate’s legs are so heavy😘

They spent four days in Mindoro with Lanette’s family, then yesterday, they were off to Pangasinan to visit Alden at the cemetery and a quick visit to my niece and sis-in-law and some cousins. Good thing one of Lanette’s brothers was free to drive them around. They’re coming back today and on Saturday, Nissa and Obet will bring them to Tagaytay to enjoy another tourist attraction.

Mae is Alden’s only child. She said she looks more like his tito than her Papa.

Just a hectic two-week visit.

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Double Six

I started blogging about my birthday back in 2008 at Multiply. I didn’t even know that there is a WordPress, I was blogging at Multiply. A good friend recommended it to me and I set one up but it took me a year to come back, customize and update it. Been blogging about my birthday since then.

I can’t resist writing about all these years. The year 2022 brought so much pain when my younger brother Alden left us. And mom could not even remember that he is no longer around. She kept telling me to call him so she could go back to the province.

In a few hours, I’ll be turning 66. I am not asking for material gifts but I would like to ask you to say a little prayer for me for my health. Got so many issues but I like to think they are being addressed now. I’ll be having lab tests again come November 4 then I’ll go back to my internist. First week of December, I’ll be seeing my ENT. She wants my ear test repeated by an audiologist, a different one this time. Eye cataract operation is out at the moment until my blood sugar goes back to normal. Oh, the pain and hassle of getting old. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful to my loving God guiding me, loving me and egging me on to trust Him always.

Maybe, we’ll have a late celebration when Noel and Lanette arrive. Jovy and Josef have work tomorrow.

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It’s Sef’s Birthday

His full name is Alvin Josef. At home we call him Sef or Osef but his officemates call hi Alvin.

It is his 38th birthday today. Every year, I would take a photo or two on his birthday. There was a time I collated all his birthday photos which I started when I was new on Facebook. Every year we get to celebrated by ordering food online and sometimes I cook one or two viands when I am not so busy. I took a shot early this morning before he left for work at JP Morgan Chase bank. If you’re wondering why he is in maong pants, they are allowed as long as their shirts have collars. All their clients are US based.

I went to the wet market early to buy something to cook for dinner although Sef told me not to prepare anymore.

For the first time in a while, I saw the orange hue of the sky breaking into an early morning. The clouds looked three- dimentional paintings in the sky.

HAPPY AND BLESSED BIRTHDAY JOSEF. Love you so much.

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It’s Her 92nd

Mom had her 92nd birthday yesterday. We had a simple lunch but we forgot to order a birthday cake early. Just ordered some food online because I just prepared a kilo of spaghetti. As always, anything new to her taste is always yummy.

Compared to years ago, she no longer remembers it was her birthday. She made me write her date of birth on a piece of paper and she doesn’t even know that it is now 2021. Her mind is focused on when she turned 88 years old. So if you ask how old she is, she always says 88…haha.

I took a few shots. She didn’t even want to pose in front of a camera. Reluctant smile 🙂

I am grateful that despite her age, she’s healthy. Thank you Lord for another year of blessing for my mom. I posted another photo on Facebook featuring the two of us and it garnered a lot of likes and 274 birthday wishes and greetings. What a joy🎂🌻🧁

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A Few Thoughts Before The Year Ends

It’s just a matter of hours before I see another year of my life.  Since I started blogging, I made  it a point to at least write something about how the previous year ended  and the anticipation of how the next year will start.

It’s the eve of my 64th birthday. Wow, 64 is just a number, don’t you think? I don’t feel like I am.   I am reminded of the  upbeat song by the Beatles called “When I’m Sixty-Four” and it goes like this:

“When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine

If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four……”

 

There are more things one remembers during one’s birthday than just counting the years of  one’s life. First of all, we must be always grateful to our dear Almighty God  that we have reached a certain age still alive and kicking. Grateful too for all the blessings and challenges that made us even stronger through the years.

 

Birthdays always make us a little nostalgic, right? We remember the younger years. We remember the years slowly discovering what life is all about. We remember the happy times with family and friends, the struggle to live life the best way we can and the best way how.

 

This pandemic brought us a different perspective in celebrating birthdays. Gone is the anticipation  of having the  whole family around because  of this pandemic.  We still could celebrate, why not? But it may be not as grand as we used to have in the past. For me, a simple dinner at home would suffice. No need to prepare elaborate dishes. We are just  planning to order online. Besides, I am quite lazy to cook.  It’ll be a pandemic birthday, whatever that means!

 

“Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine forevermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty four?
Ho!”

 

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Some Birthday Photos

Nissa sent me some photos which they took last night. I was so happy to see them happy too. So glad she enjoyed her birthday even without us around.

With Nate, the ever-loving son. We had a video chat last night.

 

The loving family. I think Obet is older by 8 years.

 

They ordered Samgyupsal, grilled pork with all those side dishes. It’s a Korean cuisine. Notice the grill pan in the middle.

 

And the birthday cake of course.

I really wished we were there if not for this pandemic….haha 🙂

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Nissa’s 37th

I posted this greeting on Nissa’s wall today:

All the best for a happy and blessed birthday anak. It’s an event that we will always celebrate because when you were born, I’ve become a mother too. I wish you good health always and success in your career. Take care. I LOVE YOU!

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Thirty Five Years After

Another year, another celebration. Yes, he has just turned 35 a few hours ago.

Persuaded the birthday boy to have his photo taken today…for prosperity. He was in a hurry to leave for work but I just have to take his picture, haha 🙂

I always feel nostalgic when it comes to my kids’ birthdays. I remember those days when they were still cuddly little kids who were sometimes so inquisitive. Now they have grown and I am getting old. The memories we have will always remain forever etched in my heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALVIN JOSEF. Love you to the moon and back.

 

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Another Year Is Over

Sometimes I think blowing a candle on a birthday cake is something old-fashioned. But yesterday I did  it with gusto.  Nate said, “I’ll help you blow Nonna” while singing happy birthday at the top of his voice.  I guess, birthdays are not complete without blowing candles on your cake, having a liter of ice cream and sweets.  The ref is full with many left-over food and something I cooked earlier yesterday that we didn’t touch.  It’s just  the family, a friend and I. I guess I won’t have to cook for two more days until we’ve  eaten everything. Home-cooked meals are always the best I think. You can enjoy those moments without worrying about what to order in a restaurant setting.

Nissa told me she will bring me to the place where she learned to paint and we’ll have some moments to ourselves together soon. Not exactly looking forward to it but she said  I would enjoy it.  We’ll see.  My son gave me some cash and Lilet brought a jar of pili nuts and one of my favorite collections….keychains.  Received a nice shirt from Jovy.

We had some fun sorting out Nate’s loot at the  Halloween party at Nissa’s office last Friday.  He brought with him a big bag of assorted candies and chocolates. He gave all the wafer biscuits to Lilet because he is not fond of wafers, haha! Since Nate was born, Lilet would always give him gifts  on his birthday. Nate was overjoyed to receive more books and glow in the dark stickers from her.  He’ll be turning  six next month.

I received so many greetings on my wall on Facebook.  Some photos are just so lovely.  Nissa posted this yesterday. Just have to edit the resolutions so it won’t eat up my free space.

 

What does it feel like turning sixty-two? Growing old and getting older too but the enthusiasm of living life every day the best I know how is still there.  I look forward to the days that I get to spend more with the family and maybe learn some crafts too. I hope to make rosaries again for gifts to close friends who visit me now and then.  I have to start those coloring books that Nissa gave me  two years ago. Yes of course, I would love to discover more books and new authors too. Blogging of course would always be  a happy medium of getting in touch with online friends.  So really happy to find you all here.

Another year is over and another year is here to look forward to.

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