Only a True Friend Can

Talk to me but use no words

Cry wells of tears with me

Laugh with me like crazy

Feel my deepest hurts

Put up with my quirks

Hold my hands tightly

Read my perplexed mind

Be with me here and now

With a silent powerful bond

And just perfectly understand

Only a true friend can

THANKSGIVING IN A DAY OF CONTRADICTIONS

I am in a quandary, 
but You LEAD me, Lord.
I still feel bad about recent events, 
but my FAITH is far bigger than my feelings.
I still think a lot about the seemingly bad decisions I've made, 
but Your WORD reassures me time and time again.  
I still have apprehensions about my next steps, 
but Your LOVE casts away all my fears.
I would just like to cry my day away, 
but Your SPIRIT moves me on.
I am in a state of struggle, 
but You AFFIRM me.

KOREAN CHAOS

I enter the room. It's just me, Zel and Kel.  But I hear a roomful of crowd talking with foreign tones, accents and words.  What's happening? It turns out Zel and Kel are each watching a Korean Drama in their respective gadgets, full volume, no earphones.

"Ate has it double!" Kel quips, explaining that the episode her sister is watching has a scene where the TV is on, with conversations going on in the TV while the drama characters are also talking, doubling the conversations in that scene.  So, I'm hearing three different conversations all at the same time.

Ariel enters the room and turns on our TV, full volume. He watches an old Chinese martial arts movie.  It might as well be a Korean drama. 

Now. Here. Korean chaos!

Kids Say... Spill It!

One sunny Sunday in March 2017, we had our breakfast at McDonald's. Ariel had a minor mishap - spilling some of his brewed coffee on the table which we quickly cleaned up. As we were enjoying our food, he noticed the breakfast packaging - "Oh, so that's how you know what's inside the box!", referring to the slot of the carton that is labeled and folded inwards. "Hmmm. So, how can you tell if your cup has coffee or chocolate in it?", he mused. Kel remarked, "Oh, easy! Just spill it!",...quickly stood up and ran out of her Dad's reach.  

Kids Say...Star!

I commended Zel (12) and Kel (10) for their narration for their class presentation during the Dec. 24, 2009 Sunday School Christmas program.  I told them that their narration was very clear.

"Thanks, Mommy," Zel answered, "although it was a bit hard because it was in Filipino."

"And I was very careful to pronounce the words right!" Kel added. 

Ariel was also excited "I also did some narration for our Sunday School class presentation...did you hear the star?"

"Oh, yes, Daddy!" Kel quickly replied, "we know it's you..."

Pause.

"...the star sounded old!"

Laughter.



Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Kids Say...Sisters!

One evening at home...

"Let's put up a band and call it Santamaria Sisters, with all of us in it!" Kel suddenly declared.
"But you are just two sisters!" Ariel remarked.
"Oh, me and Ate are sisters. Mommy can be our sister." Kel casually replied.
"And how about Daddy?" I asked.
"It's ok. Majority wins!"
Kel gives her joker-face look.  Zel smiles. I laugh.  And Ariel shakes his head.


"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:10 NIV

Kids Say...Staff!

After a visit by my staff at our home, Kel (around 3 y.o.) came to me and asked, "Who are they, Mommy?"

"My staff from office", I casually replied.

"Oh, I see", and she went on to play with her pink Cheer Bear.

Amused, I asked her, "Do you know what staff means?"

"Yes! Staff...like staff toys!"

Ahhh...hmmmm.  Ok.

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."