Roo's Way of Coping

Tuesday 15 July 2008

At the hospital, outside the ICU...

Roo:  Mommy, I want to see lola please!

Mommy:  Roo, I'm sorry but you can't.  Lola is very sick.  

Roo (shouting, in a tantrum):  I want to see lola!  I want to sing for lola!

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Wednesday 16 July 2008

Lola passed away about 7am.  In spite of everything, because I promised him earlier, I brought Roo to the beach, and we stayed there while everybody else was making arrangements for the burial.  At one point, Roo asked...

Mommy, where's lola?

Lola's sleeping anak.  We won't see her anymore till Jesus comes.

Daddy E and Roo stayed at home during the funeral and burial services, then came to the memorial park right after.  As soon as Roo saw Lolo's very, very sad face, he bawled out loud and started crying so hard we didn't know how to comfort him!  

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Thursday 17 July 2008

In the morning while we were cuddling...

Roo:  Mommy, did lola die?

Mommy (choking back tears):  Yes, anak.  Lola died.

Roo:  Why, mommy?

Mommy:  She was very sick anak.

Roo:  Why, mommy? Did bad people hurt her?

Mommy:  No, anak. Nobody hurt lola.  She just died.  We don't know why she died.

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Friday 18 July 2008

Right after he woke up...

Roo (with tears in his eyes):  Mommy, when I'm big, will you die also like lola, then I won't have a mommy anymore also?

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Saturday 19 July 2008

Roo:  Daddy, let's go home to Thailand.  I like it better in Thailand!

Resting in Peace

Dear friends,

Our beloved mother passed away yesterday morning, and we had a simple but meaningful burial service last night. Our hearts are deeply saddened but we are comforted with the blessed hope of seeing her on the resurrection morning when Jesus comes again.   I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers, encouragement, and support that you have given me through your comments, phone calls, text messages, emails, thoughts, and prayers.  I may not be able to respond to each of them right now but please be assured that your sympathies and concern are greatly appreciated.  I am grateful to God for all the people He has sent our way, family and friends who were and are giving us so much love and support at this difficult time.  

We take comfort in the words from John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Love to all in Christ,

IA

Trust in the Lord

My mom had a stroke.  She is in the ICU unconscious.  I ask for prayer.  I'm praying that God will heal her.  I claim the promise in Malachi 4:2 for my mom.  ..."Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

I am afraid.  Yet will I trust in the Lord.  He is faithful.  He is powerful.  O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?  2Chronicles 20:6

Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed...for the battle is NOT yours, but God's.  2 Chronicles 20:15

Praise the Lord for He is our God!  Do pray for us as we travel home to be with my parents.  I believe prayers work wonders, and we do need them.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sophie Comes to Bangkok

When Roo was just a few months old, his lolo (grandfather) met a French lady whose baby was nibbling on a rubber giraffe.  The baby seemed very happy and content with the toy that lolo determined his apo (grandson) should have one too.  He asked the lady where she got it, and she replied that it's from France, and that it's a must-have for all French babies.  Thus, the search for Sophie the giraffe started.

Lolo went to several shopping malls to look for Sophie.  He didn't find any.  He ended up buying a stuffed cow that moos which his apo greatly loves to this day.

I googled Sophie and found only one result.  Then I remembered Tina was in France!  I asked her to check if she can find Sophie there, and she said she'll try.  I didn't hear from her for many, many months.  Too many months, I should say, for when she finally shouted "Eureka, I found one!" Roo was not a baby anymore.  

Anyways, Tina arrived from France and when we met up yesterday, surprise, surprise!  She brought Sophie the Giraffe to Bangkok!  Well, she still made the not-a-baby-anymore Roo happy with it!  Thank you Tita Tina!

Here, meet Sophie la girafe in the Land of Smiles...

And here's Roo with Sophie, wearing my green Barcelona shirt from Tita Tina...

Sophie the little giraffe was born on 25 May 1961.  Statistics show that over 10 million babies have enjoyed Sophie's natural beauty and charm.  It is said that in France, 6 out of 10 newborn babies are given their own Sophie la Girafe.  

Produced by VULLI, a company based in Rumilly in the French Alps, Sophie is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree.    Until now, Sophie is still "traditionally" produced, and that means, it's still made by hand, and requires 14 manual operations.  Features include:

· Lightweight & easy to grasp for tiny hands. 
· Painted with non-toxic, food-grade paints. 
· Stimulating to baby’s senses with her soft colors & gentle squeak. 
· Sophie the Giraffe is Phthalate-Free with NO Vinyl (no-PVC)! 
· Bumpy head helps soothe sore, teething gums. 
· Sophie makes a soft squeak when squeezed - such fun for a baby! 
· Slender, flexible & soft - babies love manipulating & teething Sophie. 
· 7” Tall (17cm) 
· Natural Rubber is soft, safe & non-toxic for baby to teethe & chew.

(from the internet)

Twos

Thanks for the tag, Jenny!

Two names you've gone by: IA, Carnation (don't ask how I got that name :D)

Two things I’m wearing right now: Black capri pants and white tee-shirt.

Two things I have in a relationship (with my Man): Honesty: We keep no secrets from each other.  Friendship: He's my bestest buddy!

Two of my favorite things to do:  Traveling with my boys.  Spending time with family and friends.

Two things you did last night:  Emailed and texted family about a reunion.  Attended kids' social night.

Two people you last talked to:  my Man and Roo

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:  Proofread my transcriptions. Book Chiangmai trip for Tina.

Two longest car rides: Drive on the west coast of NZ, were on the last leg of our trip, scenery was pretty much like Asia so I got homesick and just wanted to get home.  Drive from Phuket, south of Thailand, we were driving at night, I couldn't sleep in the van and it was taking forever to get back to Bangkok.  I still wouldn't want to go back to Phuket if you say that we'll drive, because of that long, long trip.

Two favorite holidays: Songkran (Thai New Year) and everybody else's New Year :D

Two favorite drinks:  Smoothies and any chocolate drink.

Two things about me you may not have known:  When I was small, I drank eggplant down like medicine because my dad said I had to eat it.  And I never ate tomatoes until about a year ago (I took the spanking, no one could ever make me eat them red, seedy fruit!)

Two jobs I’ve had in my life: Teaching adorable 3rd graders:  The best job in the world, kept me occupied every minute, every hour of the working day.  Counting other people's money at a bank: I lasted three months, it's the most boring job in the world! Ask my mom, she did it for 20 years! 

Two movies I would watch over and over: Ohhh, can't think of any...Sound of Music? (At least I have to watch it over and over again, now, coz Roo likes it).  A Walk to Remember. I'm still a romantic :D 

Two favorite foods:  Nachos with lots of cheese and salsa. Lad Na Kai (fried noodles with chicken in gravy)

Two places I’d rather be right now: NZ, definitely, no dust and it's cold there right now (I'm sweltering in the heat here!)  Roxas, home with my parents (is it obvious that I'm homesick?)

Two people I tag: The Best Things in Life Aren't Thingsand I am Quiet Heart

Bring the King Back!

That was the title of the message at church today.  Bring the King back.  The pastor shared the story of Absalom, that time when he wanted to unseat David and be king himself.  David left Jerusalem because of the civil unrest, but God did not allow Absalom to succeed in his plans. When Absalom lost his life, David had to initiate the move to bring him, the king, back to Jerusalem to rule over God's people.

Who is the King of my life?  Does my King sit upon the chambers of my heart, or have I in my own selfish way unseated Him, and let me, myself, sit on the throne and rule my life?  Do I need to bring the King back?

Roo's favorite character, Pooh would say:  Think, think, think.

Jesus, You are my King!  I may not always be faithful, but I thank You that You are faithful!  I want You to be in my heart, all the time!  Take my thoughts, my heart, my life, O Lord, and rule within me.  May I be a blessing to everyone who passes my way.

God is Just Sooo Good!

The past couple of weeks, I was in a state of stress and turmoil.  I was worried about the Learning Lab 1 reports that I mailed to Penn Foster about a month ago.  I hadn't heard from them, and when I emailed the school to check whether my reports had been received, they emailed me back saying there's no record of receipt.  Now the school's policy is, I cannot submit my last requirement, the Learning Lab 2 reports, if I don't get the graded Lab 1 reports back. And it takes them a month to grade the work.  My deadline, September 15, is fast approaching.

We contacted the Post Office, had them trace where my registered mail went, and until now they are still doing their investigations.  Last we checked the other day, they are awaiting the reply of the US Postal Service.  What do I do in the meantime?  You bet I sent panic prayers up, and asked several people to help me pray.  Still it was difficult for me to wait and do nothing.  I could print out the reports again, but I can't mail a new batch because I don't have the answer sheet that the school requires to be mailed along with the reports.  So I emailed the school again, asking for a new answer sheet.

Last night, I requested my Man to go down to the mailbox and check if there are new bills in the mail.  He came back, rejoicing with a loud voice, "Praise the Lord, ching-ching!"  He was waving a big white envelope to me, and it took me a few seconds to realize that those were my reports! They came back!  That's good, at least I can now resend them.  Will have to DHL them this time. But no, when I finally sat down to look at them, they were graded!  Praise the Lord! (Ching-ching, by the way, is a Thai word, loose translation is really, truly!)

Maybe I have a chance of getting that medical transcriptionist diploma after all.  My Learning Lab 2 reports just need some fine-tuning; I need to compare them with the graded ones (boy, I sure made a lot of mistakes with the commas; can never really figure out where they want the commas).  

Anyways, got to run, have a little boy waiting to play (I hear him praying in the other room, must be playing church).   Hope your day goes as great as mine...Ciao!