From the Mouth of Babes Part 3

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior. So are children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Psalm 127:3-5).

Alvin and I consider our children a reward from the Lord.   One of the greatest privilege the Lord has given us is to be — PARENTS!  It is sometimes tiring but in no way tedious. It is challenging and never dull. At times it is frustrating but not at all hopeless.  My quiver is full, and I am indeed blessed.
I constantly pray not just for wisdom in sharpening “my arrows”  but patience and perseverance to do it.  Taking care of 2 boys aged 4 and 5 can sometimes be backbreaking physically and emotionally but it is very rewarding.  I can echo what Mary felt in Luke 2:31, “…and His mother treasured all these things in her heart”.  Every moment I have with my boys is a treasured moment.  Surely, they are my heritage, my inheritance.

My prayer:
Dear Lord, Give us wisdom that we may raise our kids Your way.  We pray that our children will seek You and know You in a personal way and follow You all the days of their lives. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.
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Sharing with you some moments that made Alvin and I smile and laugh.  Riel read it and he laughed because he vividly remembers them.  He said: “Mommy, can I read them again… and again … and again…”
FROM THE MOUTH OF BABES PART 3
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1st quarter, SY 2008-2009
I was teaching my 3 year old son, Aethan the different animals and their habitats.  He mistakenly called the kangaroo - “rabbit”.
So that he won’t forget, I told him, “Aethan, remember, ‘Roo’ in Winnie the Pooh?, They call him Roo because he is a kangaroo…
After a few days, we reviewed the same subject again, I asked him the same question.  I was glad when he said,
Aethan:  “mommy, this is like ‘Roo’ in Winnie the Pooh”
Mommy:  Very good Aethan, you remembered!
Aethan: Mommy, this is a “Roobit”
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September 2008
During one of our “family nightly rituals”  - aka story and tickle time - Alvin pretended to “collapse” and “went unconscious”.
Riel: (crying) - Daddy!
Aethan: Kuya, Daddy is still alive - see! (forcing alvin’s eye to open)
Riel: “Wait daddy!” (Riel poured water on his cup. With Alvin still lying flat on his back, Riel poured the water on Alvin’s open mouth saying “”Daddy, please get well soon…here Daddy, you need this water…a lot of water.”
Alvin: (almost choking from the Water) Baby, why did you pour the water on me?”
Riel: Remember Daddy? When we are sick, you keep on telling us to drink a lot of water so we will get well soon.
Aethan: You said that before, remember? See you’re OK now? That’s so fast! Very good Kuya!
Riel:  Thank you Lord for the water…and for healing our Daddy now. That was fast Lord! Thank you Lord…In Jesus Name, Amen.
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October 1, 2008 While in the Ocean park…
Riel: Mommy, where is the gun of the soldier fish?
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Oct 19, 2008 while dressing up
Aethan: Mommy, I want to be a good soldier when I grow up. I will catch all the bad men.  If I see people pulling down the shorts of other kids, I will arrest them.
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October 2008
Of my two boys, Aethan has more fears. One day, Aethan was crying and his kuya comforted him with these words: “Aethan, don’t be afraid, remember, Jesus is in your heart”.
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October 2008
I had a terrible backache that day and I told riel about it. He immediately closed his eyes and prayed, “Dear Lord, please heal my mommy’s backache, You are our great doctor! In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”
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November 2008
One morning, there was only 1 Koko crunch left in their snack box. Aethan said, “Kuya, will you sacrifice for me and give me your Koko crunch?”
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November 2008
Riel: “Mommy, why does my book say ‘Love your enemies?”
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November 2008
Riel: “Mommy, If the devil was an angel before, who gave him the name devil?”
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November 19, 2008
I told Riel that someday Jesus will fetch us on earth.  His eyes grew big with excitement when I said that someday Jesus will change our bodies and that we will “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess 5:17)… he said,”Mommy, I’m excited for Jesus to come fetch us. I’m ready to die!”
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November 20, 2008
Alvin and I bought Riel and Aethan a coloring book with short descriptions of the apostles and disciples of Jesus.  I told them about Stephen, how he died a martyr and how he saw Jesus when he gazed into heaven (acts 7:55) Riel said, “I know what Jesus told Stephen, mommy!”  Then He got his coloring book, opened it to where the drawing of Stephen was and wrote (spelled as is…) -  “Stephen, you are good, come wiht me to heven”
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November 26, 2008
Riel suddenly woke up from his afternoon nap and said, “mommy, when I grow up, aside from being a pilot and a doctor, I also want to be a garbage collector”.  I hugged him and asked, “why do want to be a garbage collector baby?”. Riel answered “so that when people throw garbage on the road, I can pick them up and put them in a trashcan.”
… such simple dreams from a kid who wants to make a difference in the world!
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November 2008

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Dec. 01, 2008
While watching Meet the Robinsons
Alvin:”Who wants to be a smart kid?”
Aethan: “I don’t want to be a smart kid.”
Alvin: “Why aethan?”
Aethan: “Because I want to be a pilot. A pilot should be an adult not a kid…”