It's Your Sixth Birthday

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)

Dear Anika,

Happy 6^th birthday! I am really proud of what you have become and what you have achieved.

You are growing more and more beautiful, gracious and kind. Though, we still need to work on the obedience part but you are getting there. You are finally recognizing the people in authority over you.

There are three things that I want you to remember as you are in the threshold of leaving your toddler years behind and as you enter Grade 1.

1. Your worth is more than your gold medal. I know how excited you were with your first medal in school but let me tell you this – this award and hopefully the awards that are yet to come should never define who you are. It’s good to be rewarded but I want you to know that you are not Anika the first honor or the gold medalist. You are Anika who is loved by her parents and more importantly you are God’s precious little princess.
2. Do not ever stop pursuing your dreams. Sometimes God allows for us to take a pause in our pursuit of our dreams and passions or sometimes God allows for us to change the course of our lives. When this happens, pause and learn what God is teaching you and then go back to pursue your dreams. Go and be the best doctor! Go and be the best ballerina!
3. Lastly, love others. You are an only child (so far) and in most cases, the only child thinks that the world revolves around them. But no, that is absolutely false! Give your extra toys/books/clothes to the poor. Defend those who are being bullied. Comfort your sad friend. Make friends with special kids. Many are in need of love and you have so much love to give. So give it to those who are in need.

I hope in 10 or 20 years, you have completely embraced these values. We love you very much and you can be assured that whatever happens, we have your back.

We Love You Forever and Always,

Mama (and Papa)

Your Advice to Taylor Swift

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5: 25-27)

Dear Anika,

Blank Space crying scene, photo from Mashable

Just like any other little girl, you adore Taylor Swift. I don't blame you because she is talented and very pretty.

Just like all the other kids, you memorized all her songs.

But what is amazing about your Taylor Swift worship is you did not only memorize her songs but you also wanted to know what her songs meant.

After my long explanation, this is what you said and I quote, "Mama when Taylor Swift comes to the Philippines you have to really tell her to find a man from CYA."

All I could do was laugh because not every 5 year old would think that way and give that advice.

To my non-CYA friends I know this is a jargon to you. Sorry. CYA stands for Christ's Youth in Action, it is a national Catholic movement for college students who worship and love God with all their hearts. They are trained to become leaders with the right values.

Sunset Boulevard, Dipolog City September 27, 2014

So what is a man from CYA like? Based from my own personal experience (ahem ahem yes I married one), he is someone who loves God above all else. He has a missionary spirit - he will go wherever God leads him. He will make sure that his family (that's us) will go to heaven with him. He walks in the ways of the Lord, not perfect but he is guided by the principles of what would Jesus do. Respect and fidelity are up there in his virtues. And he lays down his life for the people he loves.

So my dear Anika, I hope one day you will follow your own advice to Taylor Swift. It does not guarantee a perfect marriage, but you can be sure that he will love you with all his heart and he will help you become holy just as our Heavenly Father is holy.

Happy Valentine's Day my little one.

And to the man from CYA I married, thank you for loving us with all your heart.

With Much Love,
Mama

#TaylorSwift

An Ode To My Mommy

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. (2 Timothy 1:5)

This photo was taken in 1978 at the studio of Tito Leslie, family friend and photographer.

Dear Anika,

As we celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow, I want to remind you of who Mommy Vinia is to us and what she means to me. Here is my letter to my mommy. I hope that your grandmother, Mommy Vinia will inspire you to be a better woman whose heart is after God and to have a sincere faith in following God because this is the kind of life that your Mommy Vinia lived out.

With Much Love,

Mama

Dear Mommy,

There is not a day that I don't think about you. If only I could have one more day with you, I would move mountains just to be with you.

Oh how I wish that you are one phone call away. That I could press your number on my speed dial and voila, the two of us would be talking again. Had you not left us this is probably how our conversation would go...

I am dancing again, Mommy. I am going to have my first recital after 25 years and this time I will share the stage with my daughter, Anika. You would have been so proud of me. By this time all your friends in Pacita Complex would have known that I am pursuing my passion and living my dream. I hope this time my skirt would not fall off. And then you would laugh because you knew how embarassing that was for me. I could hear the sound of your laughter reverberating from my phone's earpiece.

But my reality is you are gone. I would not be able to talk to you anymore. I would not be able to hear your laughter anymore. I would not be able to see you from the stage.

Mom, thank you for all your sacrifices. I knew what you endured to keep our family together. You were truly the light of our home.

You were our strength. When everything else failed, we could all go home to you knowing that you would bring comfort to us.

You were our lifeline to God. Your prayers for my conversion were answered because you prayed unceasingly for me. I know you are not done praying for all of us especially now that all you do is sing praises and lift our prayers to God.

You were always the life of the party. Your personality was so endearing to many. Your charm have made a lasting impression to every person you met.

You had the most delicious Kare-kare, Sisig among many of your food specialties. You would always remind me that the most important ingredient of any recipe is love. No matter how simple the dish is, it maybe Adobong Bicol or Bicol Express, it always gave me a taste of heaven.

You had the most generous heart. You always shared your blessings to others. Even when others put you down and even when you had nothing, you helped other people.

You were the most loving person I ever knew. You loved us unconditionally. You never gave up on us. You would always put our needs and even our wants first.

You are selfless, gracious and so loving.

I love you, Mommy! Happy mothers' day!

Loving you always,

Badette

Rosevale Got Talent!

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

You are a manager of the gifts God has given to you. They may be great or small in your eyes, but they matter to God. - Rick Warren

Dear Anika,

I still cannot believe we won the Rosevale family talent show! When you said you wanted to join, winning was farthest from my mind. I only said yes to you because I wanted you to discover your talent and not be afraid to use it.

To the tune of Let It Go (Frozen); photo by Ms Liezl Virtudazo

I would like to share what I have learned from you in that week of intense practice.

1. Hard work + fun. We practiced every night, we practiced in the car, we practiced at every opportunity to get better at our presentation. We practiced because we wanted to perform really well. But most importantly, we practiced because we had fun doing it together.

2. Courage. I really admire your courage to perform. You are naturally shy and yet you grab every opportunity to perform. At a young age, you know your talents and you are not afraid to experiment and discover.

3. Confidence. You were so confident that we could do a beautiful performance. There were times that I wanted to quit because I couldn't memorize the steps. But you encouraged me, telling me every night, "You can do it, Mama!"

Honestly, when I was dancing, I didn't want to stop anymore. I felt so at home on the dance floor. You re-ignited in me my passion for dancing. So thank you Anika for the opportunity to perform with you. Thank you for reminding me that dancing is my sweet spot. Thank you for not giving up even when I so wanted to.

Here is the video of our special performance. Such experience is priceless and added a million joys to my love tank.

Love,
Mama

A True Love's Kiss

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18)

Dear Anika,

After watching the movie Frozen you asked, "Mama, why did the true love's kiss make Ana better and why did Elsa able to unfreeze winter after that?" While thinking about an appropriate response, a Bible verse came to my mind. "Perfect love drives out fear."

Anna saves Elsa. (All rights belong to Disney)

Ana gave up her life for Elsa because she loves her. It is the same with Jesus who gave His life for us because He loves us. Olaf was spot on when he said, "Love will thaw a frozen heart." In the same way, love can heal a broken heart and love can release you from bondage and give you freedom. That is perfect love. That is the love of God.

Jesus' crown and the Cross. (Owner of photo is unknown)

"So what is a true love's kiss, Mama?"

A true love's kiss is God's perfect love for you and me.

Love,

Mama

Cancer

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Dear Anika,

These are difficult times for our family (Roa-Quiblat side). Your Tita Angie passed away recently and we are still mourning her loss. She was a woman who loved unconditionally and I really enjoyed my conversations with her. And Grandmama (Q's grandmother, Roa side) is fighting for her life because the tumor in her lungs has grown bigger, now the size of a man's fist. 

Let me share with you my thoughts about one of my last conversations with Grandmama.

It's hard to see your loved ones suffer. Every time I see Grandmama now, I couldn't help but cry. She looks so frail now grasping for every breath. Morphine has helped ease the pain but the lines on her face show how her body has suffered from the pain that these cancer cells bring. I have friends whose parent died from cancer and I have seen them suffer too. So it is official; I hate cancer or any dreaded disease for that matter. Unfortunately dreaded diseases have been part of many families' lives and no matter how much I hate it, it is not going anywhere so I might as well see it from a different perspective.

I was with Grandmama on one Sunday afternoon last November and I am blessed to have witnessed how strong her faith is. For a woman who has been suffering for a year now, these are her words, "Badette, I still believe that God will heal me. If He doesn't I am ready." I was stunned when I heard her say it. You don't normally hear these words from someone who is suffering. Words that are full of hope. I believe it is the kind of hope that comes from her ability to love unconditionally. She took care of everybody and loved everybody from her husband to her children down to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had this wistful look on her face as she recounted to me how she took care of all her loved ones.

When it was time for me to pray with her, I couldn't help but cry because of how great her love is for her family. I couldn't help but cry because her thoughts and prayers are for her family. I couldn't help but cry because she remains faithful and hopeful despite her suffering.

"I admire your strength Mama. It comes from your confidence in God and knowing that you have done all you can to love your family."

Before I left, I told Grandmama to never give up. She said, "I will never give up I love my family too much."

Cancer causes suffering but it does bring out the best in people - hope, faith and love.

With Much Love,

Mama

Winning Isn't Everything

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

Dear Anika,

It was one of those nights again when all you wanted to do was talk. It was already way past your bedtime so I suggested that whoever closes her eyes first will receive a prize.

Then all of a sudden you started crying. When I asked you why, this is what you said, "I always want to win Mama. I don't want to lose." You were crying and saying those words over and over again. I just held you close and let you express your feelings. I only spoke after you have calmed down because I wanted you to listen to me very carefully.

This is what I said...

"Listen to me Nika. I want you to remember every word I will say to you. In life, you will encounter battles after battles. Sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose. When you win, that's well and good. But when you lose, you can cry a little but what matters is how you rise up after the loss. Will you fall into despair? Or will you have the courage to strive harder the next time and be better than the last? Remember the story of the bear who loved to run and compete in races. He never won a single race and yet he never gave up, he would always look forward to the next run hoping that someday he will win. Until one day, he saw someone ski past him. He was intrigued. So he set his mind on ski racing; he practiced and trained really hard. On the day of the race it seemed that it was his time to win because the bear was ahead of the pack. But in the middle of a downhill, he heard a cub crying. He stopped and looked for the cub and helped him out of the pile of snow. All his competitors surged ahead of him. By the time he was able to bring the cub out of harm's way he was already at the tail end of the competition. Despite the looming loss he still made an effort to finish the race. When he reached the finish line he was stunned because everybody were cheering him on. He may have lost the race but to all those who witnessed his heroic gesture he was considered the winner because he put the needs of the cub first before his desire to win. The lesson of this story is winning isn't everything. What matters is you finish the race with your head held up high. Sure you may not be able to bring home the crown or the trophy, but because you have helped a person in need, you have earned a much important prize."

I Love You To The Moon and Back,
Mama