Spending quality time with my beautiful and loving wife... four very bright and exceptionaly good looking boys... and a one-and-only sweetest, "prettiest baby girl in the whole baby world"... to me as a Husband and a Father is heaven on Earth.
During daytime, the running, jumping, crawling. climbing and of course the ever-present clowning around may appear like the circus is in town to the untrained eye. But I must admit watching this circus-of-a-family do its thing and having a blast at it just warms my heart to no end.
And at night, huddled up in the family room watching a movie or sharing stories is a common occurence that I always look forward to.
And when the little ones are fast asleep, the non-stop laughing, joking and talking with the big boys always follows until the wee hours of the morning. This is what usally ends my day.
But all of these would not have been as pleasurable without MY WIFE's delicious adobo for Friday, sensational curried, boneless/skinless chicken breasts cooked in coconut milk for Saturday, and mouthwatering, slow cooked, tender to the touch pot roast for Sunday.
I really treasured this time we all spent together.
What a fantastic way to kick off summer vacation for our brood!
(Also featured in our matrimonial blog, SERENITY.)
You used to always bake for lunch and dinner, our oven was your best pal, twice or thrice a week. You would always run and keep your distance at the first sight of oil in a pan atop a burner. Doing laundry to some extent was alien to you; perhaps it is not even in your vocabulary. And when it came to dealing with kids, on occasions you reminded me of my music teacher in grade school, Ms. Saenz (the Emperor): very strict, no nonsense, a "stick it where the sun don't shine" sort of person.
Slowly but surely now at any given night (I used to do this) there is always something simmering on the stove and it is not reheated food. And lately you took breakfast (used to do this) from me. You can actually cook eggs, without burning them (you've learned well, my lovely young apprentice)! You even have the battle scars to show for it.
And when I awake from a nap, there would be a snack waiting for me, a pile of freshly washed (used to do it too!) laundry neatly folded with matching pairs (had a difficult time pairing them) of socks to boot.
You sure have changed my love.
After we decided to move back Stateside, one thing I'll never forget is when you said that your housekeeping skills are not your strength and your motherly instincts are not in tune. I sensed a furtive unrest in you, struggling at best to blind unreasoning panic that you might fail as Wife and a Mother. (let go of your fear...)
I thought to myself, it is bad enough that life at times is full of twists and turns on a narrow dark road, but coupled with insecurity and doubts about one's ability...there is no way that I am going to let this happen my love. (embrace the Force that surrounds you...)
I knew you've always had it in you. (The Force is strong in you) I just needed to cultivate it with love and tender care. It could take a year or a lifetime, but I will make sure that the transition to change is one pleasant experience that is worth remembering.
Besides, happiness truly is where our heart lies. After being blessed with three wonderful children, we've never held secrets from each other, we've always stood united at times of crisis, and we've always enjoyed the simple things in life.
We have endured trial by fire, and because of this we emerged stronger with our commitment and wiser with our decisions...as one. (the Jedi way.)
Congratulations, you've come a long way, Babe. (from a galaxy far, far away...)
You surely have changed (into a Jedi Mom).
Thank you for being a great mother to our kids and a loving wife to me.
You've loved me unconditionally. I've never felt so loved the way you do. You completely understand me when I am impossible. You never miss to encourage me when doubt sets in.
After being blessed with three magnificent children together, we still laugh at the same old jokes and talk until the wee hours of the morning about anything and everything.
We were only strangers for a moment in time, followed by an absolute gut-wrenching, heart-warming pure intensity, coupled with an overwhelming out-of-this-world unadulterated emotional, psychological and physical oneness.
We were not looking for it...am just happy to know such a relationship does exist.
I am going to cherish every moment and live it to its fullest.
(This is dedicated to my coming baby daughter, REANNA LOREN, to remind her of the night we first interacted as Father and Daughter, while she was still in utero.)
Dear Reanna Loren,
Our family has a bedtime ritual, which usually starts with your kuyas taking a warm bubble bath, after which we brush their teeth. When they are both ready for bed, Kuya Lance and Kuya Troy would ask for their favorite bedtime stories. Your MOM and I would take turns, each reading at least two stories. We then say our prayers and tuck them in bed.
Tonight, however, was a very special night for all of us. MOMMY finished reading her story and we discussed it briefly with your kuyas, as we usually do. And then it was Daddy's turn to read. As I began reading, Mommy started grinning, which got my attention. I stopped to ask if she was okay, prompting your kuyas to demand that I keep on reading.
At this point, your Mommy held her tummy, saying to your kuyas, "Your baby sister is moving around." I quickly put my hand on Mommy's tummy and said, "Hello." To say that you were moving around was an understatement. Instead of a baby girl, it felt like a boxer on rollerblades was inside!
Soon after, your kuyas also placed their hands on Mommy's tummy. They also spoke to you through Mommy's belly button, introducing themselves the way they usually do when they greet Mommy (and YOU) "Good morning" everyday.
We all kept our hands on Mommy's tummy after that. While I kept quiet, trying to feel your every movement, your kuyas were just talking away and having a great time. And then I noticed that you had stopped moving.
Your Kuya Troy said you were probably tired and needed to take a nap. Kuya Lance agreed, and asked me to continue on with the story, reading it softly so I wouldn't wake up Baby Sister.
So I started reading the story again. Softly, or so I thought. Within seconds, Mommy started to laugh. Before I could even ask why she was laughing, Mommy told me, "Your boxer on roller blades is at it again!"
Kuya Lance then said, "Daddy, you didn't read it soft enough!" Kuya Troy was already all over Mommy's tummy, saying "Hi Baby Sister, I'm Troy. I'm two years old. I love you, Baby Sister!"
Well, this went on a couple more times that night. Your kuyas and I would make a mad dash to your Mommy whenever she felt you move, we would put our hands on her tummy, and then I would continue to read softly after you stopped moving.
Finally, your Mommy figured it out: you were responding to my voice! Sure enough, she was right. You DID move whenever you heard Daddy talking. So we all kept our hands on Mommy's tummy until I finished reading all three stories, taking your Mom's turn just so you wouldn't stop moving. We then said our prayers and tucked your kuyas in bed.
Later that night, as your Mom lay in bed with her head resting in my arms, we couldn't stop talking about how blessed we were for experiencing this very special night, when for the first time, you, my precious baby girl, literally interacted with us, your family!
As the night wore on, Mommy finally fell asleep and I could feel myself drifting off as well. Half-asleep, I softly said "Good night my baby girl! I love you!"
When you heard my voice, you started doing your thing again. How did I know? Because when your Mommy fell asleep, her tummy was less than an inch away from my upper left thigh. I knew you started moving around when you heard me because I actually felt Mommy's tummy touching me!
That did it. That little movement was all it took to rouse me from slumber. I picked up a book and read you a short story. I talked to you and sang to you. And through it all, Mommy slept. It was a moment that we shared, just the two of us.
To this day, I still wonder: did you really recognize my voice, or was it just a coincidence? Whatever it is, I thank you, my darling baby girl, for that lovely moment. I can't wait to see you, but no rush, take as much time as possible. I'm sure your Mom and kuyas will be thrilled, when I share this with them tomorrow. But for now, my little princess, I wish you good night, in silence.
How is it that you quenched my thirst .....when I wasn't thirsty? How is it that you gave me air .....when I wasn't drowning? How is it that you gave me light .....when I wasn't in the dark? How is it that you gave me direction .....when I wasn't lost?
You were the missing piece that I didn't know was lacking in my life. Now I can't imagine going through life without you...
To my wife, who has brightened up my life. Happy Valentine's Day, here's to brighter days ahead!
As a 5-year-old, life was a never-ending playtime. An everlasting game. I played to my heart's content. I had a happy life growing up as a child in P.I., with four brothers and a sister. But somehow, even at a very young age, I knew our family was different. My Dad was never around.
I grew up not really knowing my father. He was a good provider, but he was always away. His work took him away from his family most of the time, if not all the time.
I remember one day in 1975, I was in kindergarten at P.N.C.. I was 6 years old then. Class was over and I was waiting for my yaya (nanny) to pick me up. She was never late. I must’ve waited for hours because I was the only kid left by the school gate. I was deciding whether to head toward the guardhouse when I heard a deep voice calling me: “JOJO”! I turned and saw this huge, tall bearded man looking at me, motioning me to go to him. With fear in my eyes, I started to run towards the guard. I kept thinking what did this stranger want from me, and how did he know my name? Again, I heard him call my name, this time in a calm, soothing voice: “Jojo”. I thought the voice sounded familiar. I turned for the second time, and then the stranger said, “Ako ang Tatay mo.” (“It’s me, your Dad”.) By then, I recognized him. I remembered him. With tears running down my cheeks, I ran to him saying, “Tatay, Tatay!” (“Dad, Dad!”) He gave me a big hug and he said, “What’s wrong? Don’t you remember me?”.
I hadn’t seen my Dad for five years. I only knew him from pictures that he sent us, and his voice on the phone when he called. But today, I didn’t care why or how long he had been away. All that mattered was that my Dad was home. I was so happy. He picked me up and put me on his shoulders and said, “Come on, let’s go home.” I was so proud of my Dad.
The next day, in school, I would brag that I have a Dad too, that he’s back and that he’s going to pick me up “today after school!” Little did I know then that he was only going to be with us for a day. The next time I saw him was a month later, for two days. And then he was gone again for two years.
Looking back at my childhood, I only have fragments of memories of my Dad. Sometimes, I wish he had spent more time with us. But I still consider myself blessed, and I am thankful for every minute of the hour and for every hour of the day that my Dad spent with us. It made me who I am today as a Son…Brother…Husband…Father...and Friend. - posted by Lorenzo @ 5:56 PM,
Saturday, December 13, 2003
I found myself, when I found you... The longing... the aching... the fear... The sorrow... the uncertainty... drifting thru life aimlessly with no definite answer, with no known destination... Then I found you... I found myself...
Lorenzo Sereno
This is dedicated to my lovely wife, Renee. Thank you for being a big part of my life, for the rest of my life.
People say, you don't know what you have until you've lost it. I didn't know what I was missing until I found you...
