March starts with a recount of Chapter February.
As I march into March with nonchalance as I kiss my children’s cheeks before they entered school, I had a plan to post a few key moments of February.
Come evening, I was suppressing a slight feeling of panic as I thought of the things I have to do before May arrives. It’s also the month when the children will have their fourth quarter exams.
It’s always a stressful time for me. To nag and help my kids review. To print pages upon pages of review questions for them to answer.
I could see February as a calm before the storm.
The First Day Of The Month
The first day of the month began with a sweet moment with my youngest child. We stood right outside our front door, on the walkway that wraps around the second floor and overlooking a mini atrium. Our eyes were trained on the sky, watching for the ascent of the sun. She wanted to see the sunrise. It’s a moment I am thankful for, with a child I am grateful for, who helps me notice the free yet wonderful gifts from the Lord.
The first day of the month ended with a belly full of delicious pizza from Steveston. The grown-ups of my husband’s side of the family got together for a simple dinner and a meeting. It was late when we returned home to snoozing little ones.
Chinese New Year
Today is Chinese New Year. Yesterday, the eve, in the evening, we went to my eldest brother’s house. We all partook of a dinner of Chinese food. Think Yang Chow fried rice, pata tim, sweet and sour pork, siomai, bihon, Canton noodles, seafood roll, and more.
Now that I am a mom, I could imagine being in my parents’ shoes, you know? I’d love an excuse to see my grown children and their own kids or families gathered together – enjoying the food, sitting around the dining table and talking animatedly.
Occasions exist to justify shoveling a variety of dishes into our mouths to our bellies in a short period of time.
There was another dinner on the day of the Chinese New Year itself. This time, it’s with my husband’s family again. That’s how it is! Twice the fun, twice the food!
Time Is A Gift
A time well-spent is a time spent with loved ones. There was an article that said, “Study Claims That Spending Time With Your Mother Can Make Her Live Longer” by StyleFruits.
So, while the children were in school, I went to my parents’ home and ate lunch with them.
Afterward, my mother and I went to a mall called Santolan Town Plaza. There, we headed straight to Piandré Salon to get haircuts.
They served me coffee and a plate of cookies, my mom tea and cookies, too. The combing, snipping and blow drying made me so sleepy. In the end, I received side bangs and shoulder-length layers.
What’s an outing without food? When we were done looking around True Value – a store that sells hardware and items for the home, we went on a hunt for snacks. We parked ourselves at a table in Press by Fully Booked. It was wonderful to have Butterbeer Latte, Fish Sandwiches and Pistachio Sansrival Cake surrounded by books and stationery.😍 My mom and I shared the food and conversations.
A couple of days ago, my husband Rix and I finally returned to the gym. Believe it or not, I was kinda craving for it. Not as much as for cake, but it’s like my body had a need to move and sweat.
It’s one of the things that we do together. For I’d be too lazy if it were just me. Somehow, his company is my motivation.
Happy non-Valentine’s Day
As a couple, my husband and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day much.
On our first Valentine’s, we met up in my university after school. He handed me a single red rose in a box. Together, we walked to the Sunken Garden and hanged out at the U.P. Fair. We sat on the grass, munched on food and listened to a local band play.
It’s probably not for Valentine’s, but on the eve of this year’s Heart’s Day, he ordered two whole legs of Crispy Pata from his friend for dinner.
A few days after, I expressed to him my craving for cake. He came home from a dinner with his friends bearing three slices of Apple Caramel Crumble Pie. Not exactly cake, but close enough. I shared some with our children. And I had one slice left to pair with coffee the next day.
I suppose he shows his sweetness and love through the giving of food.
Each person shows his or her love and affection in various ways. It sometimes pays to be sensitive in order to voice our our appreciation for his or her efforts.
I read that: A person who knows that he or she is appreciated will do more than expected. A paraphrase.
These are just some of the highlights of my Chapter February, underlined with love. How was your February? Was it filled with love and celebration?
