MOURNING - Death of a Parent

In lieu of "My Husband Rocks" post today, I am posting on 3 men who passed away in the past week... And although all of us (no one is exempted) eventually go that way too, their deaths struck a chord in me.

They are all aging fathers… and it reminded me of losing my own Dad about 8 years ago, too. But today, I just wanted to share a few words about these fathers. I will publish separate posts about them to honor their memories. Bear with me in the next few days...

RANCHO CORDOVA, CALIFORNIA
Manong Idrong is husband to Manang Atang and father to Manong Peter and Carm. We were neighbors in San Marcelino, Zambales for as long as I can remember. Manang Atang and my mother were very close - mutual confidante to each other. Carm and I went to the University of the Philippines together and even became dorm mate and roommate then. I was part of her wedding entourage. That is how close our families are… and I feel the loss of his passing away too.

BAGUIO CITY, PHILIPPINES
Attorney Quiano is Kathy's dad. I have always felt that he and his family were a fresh addition to small town San Marcelino - him with his different and large ideas. I was very touched by the poem Kathy posted on her Facebook (I think it is an original by Kathy's husband) since it resonated a lot with me.

AUSTIN, TEXAS
Smokey Jackson is Pastor Jeff Jackson's father. I have met him once only but I knew about him from the stories that Pastor Jeff and D'Lynda shared. Last Sunday when I asked how he was, D'Lynda said something very obvious but yet sometimes difficult to put into the right words - "he is feeling better yesterday but he is dying".

…..

Our fathers are precious -
… spend as much time as you can with them
… give them your FULL attention
… be patient with them even when they are difficult

Because when they are gone, they are physically gone.

…..

But...

We can see each other again if we believe that God exists, God loves us (very much!), we are separated from him because of sin, heaven exists, and that Jesus is the only Way - no other name - to God and eternity in heaven.

We can see each other again if we make Jesus our Savior and Lord. It is easy to "say the prayer" but God is not mocked - he knows if we truly mean what we are saying. Also, it is not humanly easy to follow Jesus as Lord because we have to take up our cross and deny ourselves in this world of self-entitlement. But is there really a better way to live now and for eternity?

….

Meanwhile, Paul's instructions about love is found in his letter to the Romans contains this in 12:15b -"mourn with those who mourn". So off I go to 2 funerals this week…

You guys have a great weekend though...

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.41

Al rocks because he's a musical man. I did tell you earlier that he is an artist by avocation, right? Well, it's not just visual arts...

He also plays the piano/keyboards and guitar. Here's a video of him accompanying Josh, our 5-year old nephew, play the hymn "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus".


I know, I know... I'm actually featuring Josh here more than Uncle Al :) Uncle Al will probably take down the video because it does not "showcase" his best playing :) :) :) So watch it while it is still up here!

Anyway, one time I had a very bad headache and just like the other times, I refused to take a painkiller for it. Al massaged my head and other reflex points. Then, he remembered hearing about listening to a stringed instrument play being able to ease up headaches. So he grabbed the guitar and played it. In a few minutes, I was one sleeping babe! And when I woke up, I was one happy and thankful woman!

And that is why My Husband Rocks!

.....

How about you? Why  does your husband rock?  Join us as we focus on our husband's (or husband, or husband-to-be,  or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials.  Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post.

Have a great week-end!

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.39

Al rocks because he is such a sweet man.

He always takes my hand and lovingly kisses its back. I feel like a nice and dainty lady from the Victorian days. Wouldn't you, too? In this time and age, I think that's precious!

(In the Philippines, we have a tradition of mano where in a younger person greets an older person by touching the back of the older person's hand to younger person's forehead a sign of respect. Granted, I am older than Al...I don't think he is doing the mano! I would like to think )

Twice in the last 2 weeks as I was multi-tasking again - laptop on lap while watching TV at the same time...As I reached out to my back to plug the power cord to the wall outlet (which was just behind my seat), my dear husband anticipated what I was going to do and plugged it in for me. Even if he was seating on the next chair and further from the wall outlet!

I think that he is taking this verse seriously:

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner..."
1 Peter 3:7

Well, I don't mind that at all!!!

That is why my husband rocks!!!

.....

How about you? Why does your husband rock? Join us as we focus on our husband's (or wife, or husband-to-be, or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials. Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post.

And Katy Lin has a contest with lots of prizes to celebrate her and Austin's first anniversary cum MHR contest. (Two of the prizes are my favorite - the His "my wife rocks" and Hers "my husband rocks" shirts from From*me Tees!) Go check out her blog and get a chance to win! Contest ends on 12MN Thu 10/2. Winners to be announced the next day Fri 10/3.

Have a great week-end!

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.38

(SUBTITLE: Of Puppies, Legos and Nephews)

Al loves children. He thinks that all babies of different species are all cute though. He thinks that...

EQUALS

No kidding! He is quickly enamored with babies. (See how he lovingly cups Timmy's head with his hands?)

Al enjoys playing with children, too.When we visited my sister in Winnipeg, he entertained the kids for sometime while the adults were visiting. He modified the dodgeball so that it is appropriate for my 3-8 year old relatives.

Closer to home, Al is Josh (his nephew) favorite playmate. (Of course, that is only after his Dad, his hero.) When we visit them, Josh gets so excited that he literally jumps up and down. Josh knows he can use his lambing voice on Al because he knows Al won't resist. Al lovingly obliges.

And did I tell you Al loves Lego too? Here is the Scorpion that has inspired Josh's latest insect Lego builds.

That is why My Kid-At-Heart Husband Rocks!

.....


How about you? Why does your husband rock? Join us as we focus on our husband's (or husband, or husband-to-be, or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials. Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post. (It's her 1st wedding anniversary on Monday, so why don't you visit her blog and greet her!)



Have a great week-end!

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.37

Al rocks because he's such a talented man - he's the classic right brain-left brain person. He's an electronics engineer by education, programmer by vocation but artist by avocation.

I can't describe his professional accomplishments here because that is reserved for the big corporation's periodic performance assessments. :) But I can definitely yak about his creative outputs:

He draws and paints (watercolor, acrylic and oil, still life and abstract).


He creates wicked graphics (and websites, too!).

And I am soooo excited when it is my blog's turn to have a facelift!

When he was still courting me, he drew me a rose with colored pencils and he made me a beautiful card (with flowers and all) by MS Excel - UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME!!! (I gotta dig those from storage somewhere.... :) )

That is why My Husband Rocks!

.....

How about you? Why does your husband rock? Join us as we focus on our husband's (or husband, or husband-to-be, or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials. Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post.


Have a great week-end!

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.36

Al rocks because he is such a giving guy...He had the whole Labor Day long week-end planned out to learn more about PHP. It progressed some but he prioritized being with and doing stuff for family and friends.

Joey (BIL) was not feeling well last Friday so he was not able to come by himself for the Experiencing God study. Al called him up and volunteered to go fetch him. So at 10pm on Friday, he drives 10 miles each way to go get his brother so that he doesn't spend the night by himself.

As for me, I volunteered to help a church mate see what was wrong with her PC. Turned out to be beyond my competency to debug the problem. So my dear husband had an additional item in his to-do list. And he actually squeezed in some time for that! (And we got free dinner for that too! Cool!)

And that is why my husband rocks!!!


How about you? Why  does your husband rock?  Join us as we focus on our husband's (or husband, or husband-to-be,  or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials.  Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post.

Have a great week-end!!!

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"My Husband Rocks" Friday - 2008.35

Al rocks because when he comes home from work, he comes straight to where I am and gives me a big bear hug!!!  Then I would request him to massage me on my shoulder - my favorite spot - and he would actually do it.  Then he would ask me how may day went...


Funny because he was the one who went out of the house to work - to kill and drag it home as Dave Ramsey calls it - and he is the one who is massaging me and asking me how my day went! 

Popular media mostly show little wifey asking "how was your day?" to the hubby. We just don't need to be overly influenced by popular media! Right?

Anyhow, that is why my husband rocks! 



How about you? Why  does your husband rock?  Join us as we focus on our husband's (or husband, or husband-to-be,  or wife-to-be) strengths and potentials.  Write about it and go link to Katy Lin's blog on the latest "My Husband Rocks" Friday post.

Have a great, long week-end!!!

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Blog Carnival - My Husband Rocks!

I've been actively roaming around the blogosphere for about 2 months now. The blogs that I visit are primarily written by women. These women come in all colors and stripes and that's what makes it interesting! 

In the blogosphere, there is what is called a blog carnival*. Katy Lin at the great adventure started one last June called, you guessed it, "My Husband Rocks" Friday.

As a newly-wed, she was looking for positive reinforcement about marriage in the midst of the in-your-face negative portrayal almost everywhere. She was inspired by a company she stumbled upon and thus started  the blog carnival.

Let me tell you more about the company.  From*me tees is the name of the company and they make shirts to "celebrate your spouse in style".  In their own words:

"From*me Tees was started by a married couple who knows what it is to work through hard stuff and yet stay together and stay committed and only grow to love each other MORE through it all.  One of the great and wonderful mysteries of life is that loving each other in action--what we do and say--produces romance. 

Everything in our culture today teaches the opposite, that romance turns into love, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Love is a choice and we decide how we're going to treat each other in the good and in the not-so-good times.  What a hope-giving reality that a strong, loving, thriving relationship can be built, simply by changing how we interact with our spouse.  

Marriage was created to be a blessing and a little kindness and respect goes a long way.  Accept the fact that your spouse isn't perfect and then start taking notice of all the good things they bring to the table!  Pretty soon you can train your mind to be grateful for who they are as opposed to feeling disappointed about who they are not.  When you allow yourself to believe that your spouse rocks, you will free yourself from the downward spiral and temptation of self-pity, disappointment, and even dispair. 

The fact is, your spouse is probably a greater blessing than you allow yourself to realize...so lay down your expectations and praise your spouse for his/her attributes.  After all, the key is to change yourself!  And you'll be surprised at the positive affect it has on the one you choose to love...and you!"

One of the shirts that From*me Tees has "my husband rocks" across it.  That's where Katy Lin's blog carnival title comes from.

What about the "Friday" part? That means, we post our article on why "My Husband Rocks" on Friday.

Anyhow, my participation starts today.  I will do my best not to embarrass Al too much as he can be soooo self-effacing. If you read my post and then it suddenly disappears without a trace, then you will know that he took the post down!

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*A blog carnival, in my own words, is one where a blog owner decides to write on a topic and invites (or makes it available for) others to write on the same topic as well.

The blog owner usually provides a banner to show off the blog carnival. The blog carnival participants could then grab  the code and display them also in their own blogs.

Also, the blog owner lists the blog links of the participants in her blog so that it is visible who is participating and where the post can be read.

Other examples of blog carnivals are:
Menu-Plan Monday
Works for Me Wednesdays
Mel's Show and Tell

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