Sino ang paborito ni Mom...?

Ang Unica Hija o ang Future Unico Hijo-in-Law?

Exhibit A
Mom (23 Oct): "Gusto pala ni Carlo ng cassava cake. Kung malapit lang ang Manila gagawan ko siya ng cassava at bibingka."

Points: Unica Hija = 0, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 1

Exhibit B
Mom (23 Oct): "Iuwi mo siya sa Christmas. Ipasyal natin siya sa Baguio."

Points: Unica Hija = 0, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 1.5
(Kalahati lang, nakapasyal na ako ng Baguio eh)

Exhibit C
(25 Oct) NO TEXT from Mom to Unica Hija! In the afternoon, while Unica Hija contemplates out loud on reasons why Mom is not replying, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law says "May date daw siya this afternoon with a friend from Insular." Aba, nade-throne na ata si Unica Hija from her position as sole textmate ni Mom.

Points: Unica Hija = 0, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 3
(1.5 points ito dahil mataas na posisyon itong naabot ni FUHL)

Exhibit D
Mom (25 Oct) on me and my savings: "Tama yan anak, mas appreciate ka ni Carlo kung maingat ka sa gastos." Aba, naisip ang value ko kay Carlo?

Points: Unica Hija = 0, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 4

Exhibit E
Mom (26 Oct): "Gagawa ulit ako ng cassava cake. Malapit lang sana si Carlo at padalhan ko sana" Eh ako po, di po ninyo padadalhan Mom?

Points: Unica Hija = 0, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 5

Exhibit F
Mom (28 Oct): "Kumain ako ng cinnamon kanina. paboritong paborito mo un" Hay salamat, may naalalang favorite ko.

Points: Unica Hija = 1, Future Unico Hijo-in-Law = 5

I'll admit, I have been a little jealous these past days. But it's great Mom like him that much. I just wander what he put in her drink...

Precious Moments

Me and carlo went home to Pangasinan this weekend. What a fun and filling experience it was! Wished we stayed longer!

Some of the highlights:

1. On the trip home. Carlo complained of a mouth sore and I teased him that they cook sinigang at home. I didn’t know what they’d be cooking for lunch but sure enough when we got home, pork sinigang was for lunch. But Carlo forgot all about his mouth sore and ate. And ate. And ate some more during the course of the weekend. I think he especially loved Mom’s cassava cake. If he had stayed any longer, I’m putting my money on it that he would have gained the six pounds back.

2. On the trip home. Chicken skin. Always the chicken skin on my arms. I can’t seem to get warm enough.

3. My nose about to bleed while Carlo and my mom discussed oil prices and stocks. And then my nose about to bleed when Carlo and Omar almost went into a similar same discussion.

4. Carlo discovered where I got my “I-can-do-this-myself” attitude when Mom puts away a heavy turbo broiler all by herself.

5. As my dad pulled up to the house, my mom jokingly told Carlo to go hide. Everyone had a laugh.

6. When Carlo made mano on Dad, Dad had to look twice because he thought it was Omar.

7. Over dinner. Dad slipped and asked if why we weren’t singing happy birthday to Carlo. Mom apparently forgot to coach him that they were supposed to act like they didn’t know it was his birthday. Carlo’s ears turned red. Hahaha...

8. Again over dinner. Family asked if we were born in the same year and they found out that I was a month older than Carlo. We were right about the shaving thing. Unshaven, Carlo looks more mature. Shaven he looks younger than his 24 years. Omar said “ Kaya pala mukhang mas bata kayo...” I’m assuming the unsaid words were “...kaysa kay Ate”

9. Carlo scraping the cassava cake crust off the aluminum foil. Told you he liked it.

10. After dinner. Carlo gets up to help me with the dishes and I surprise everyone including myself by saying “Upo!” in a stern voice. He promptly sits. While I was cleaning up the table, my brother tells him, “It’s not too late to back out, you know”

11. Waking up to my mom saying “Kristina gising na si Carlo” at 7AM. People. Sunday. 7AM. Carlo is such a morning person. That’s got to be the earliest I’ve been up on a Sunday in a long time. These morning people talaga o. But had some fun listening to him and mom tell stories while I sat next to Carlo at the kitchen table half asleep.

12. Slipping with calling Carlo “Hon” in front of my family. He had a couple slips too. Habits are hard to get rid of even in front of family.

13. On the way back to Manila. Family texts Carlo instead of me. It seems they have opted to communicate to the both of us through him when they know we’re together. Gee, did not expect that to happen this early.

14. On the way back to Manila. Carlo falling asleep mid-sentence. I couldn’t even understand what he was trying to say. Hahaha... But how I wish I could just freeze that moment with his cheek resting on my head and our hands clasped together.

15. On the way back to Manila. Someone cried. Good thing that was resolved quickly. Hehehe

We forgot to take pictures though. Boo.

The 15th again!

Official number of months together = 4

Unofficial number of months together = 5.5

Odds and Ends

Number of sundaes = approximately 20 (Hon, look it's not that bad!)

Number of new food places tried out = 6 (TOSH, Buddy's, Pizza Hut Bistro. Davao Tuna Grill, Sisig Hooray, Mrs Field's, World Chicken)
Number of pounds lost (him) = 6
Number of pounds gained (me) = UNDISCLOSED ahahaha
Number of pictures together = under 15 (must improve this number drastically!)
Number of plier incidents = Will update you on this after parents have met C this weekend. Hahaha
Favorite place to hang out: Ortigas Park
Our "couple" foods: sundae from McDo and Paella from Pizza Hut Bistro
Malls we've been haunting long enough to walk around blindfolded: Megamall and Galleria
Bookstores we use as hang-outs: Powerbooks Mega and Bestseller Galle

Number of times someone's feet have been stepped on...

Let's not go there. Hahaha...

Happy monthsary C!
Love you...
Meow!

Joining the Bandwagon

There seems to be a "Pastor's Wife" thing going on care of Ate Shii and Ate Happy... I'm joining the bandwagon.

But in a different sense.

I don't want to be one nor have I been entrusted to be one. I hope I never will.

I absolutely admire those women who go into it with their entire selves, those who dream and pray for such gift, those who flourish in that place. They are wonderful souls and their hearts are truly a blessing to everyone. Being a pastor's wife is a rare gift and high calling. It looks demanding but perhaps for those called to it, they find that the joy outweighs struggles. God will give His all sufficient grace where He leads us.

But I am one of those women "who evade that path" (Pastor XY's description in Ate Shii's post). I have never seriously pictured myself on that path. I want something else (want it sooo bad!) and think that my dream is a noble goal din naman (can anyone say housewife?)

But that doesn't mean God won't put me on PW path ever. But if that time does come, I'll be dragged onto it kicking and screaming.


Kicking and screaming.

Moves

A good friend it was a grab and go thing. Grab it, run like crazy with it and never look back.Seems like good advice.

It is afterall, a crazy oppurtunity. The type a lot of people would give their lives for. A near cousin to the desperate wish for some long-lost relative who suddenly dies and leaves you a fortune. I should grab it I know.

Grab it and run like crazy indeed. But I cannot discount what this race may cost. And I find no motivation to run it. I’m still trying to figure out if what I feel is a shadow of the immense fear that haunts me. I have never liked change. So many of my meticulous plans have been woven to try minimize the unpleasantness of change. And here I am faced with another "upheaval".

I believe God is above all things. The Sovereign Lord. I believe He has a perfect will. I might not always walk in that perfect path but somehow even my strays are incorporated to that perfect path. I believe that while it’s unlikely I’ll wake up to writing on my wall or bump into a bonfire of holiness along ADB Avenue*, He will direct my paths. Now to sit still. And wait in prayer.

Not something I do well. Appreciate your prayers on the decision making process. Thanks folks.

* I’m not saying this is impossible. God can choose to speak to me or any of us in supernatural ways.