Larry Boy!

Dear Sabrina Banana, 

Let me tell you about your current obsession....Veggie Tales.  I don't know what I was thinking since I have never even seen this show but 2 weeks ago something told me to look this up online. You watched the first episode on youtube and you were hooked. I would have to admit, I was hooked too! It was just so funny. 

Yesterday I found 3 CDs on sale and I snatched them up. You don't know that I have them yet. I'm giving them to you one at a time. I hope you like them. 

Love you,

Momma

I Hope You Dance

Dear Sabrina,

It's often times hard trying to sum up everything I want for you. I don't want your life to be perfect...I want you to have the tools you need to be able to hurdle all the imperfections life might throw your way. And through it all...I hope you dance:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat But always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance 
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance I hope you dance 
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance Never settle for the path of least resistance Living might mean taking chances But they're worth taking Lovin' might be a mistake But it's worth making Don't let some hell bent heart Leave you bitter When you come close to selling out Reconsider Give the heavens above More than just a passing glance 
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance (Time is a real and constant motion always) I hope you dance (Rolling us along) I hope you dance (Tell me who) I hope you dance (Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) (Where those years have gone) 
I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance 

Love you,

Momma

Lessons While Cooking

Dear Sabrina, 

This morning you wanted to help daddy prepare our lunch. You've been doing that since you were little...helping us cook. You really love being surrounded by family and just being helpful in general. Daddy assigned you this very important task, you were to remove the tails from the bean sprouts.

Your heart was willing, oh but your gut is weak. Hahaha. You don't like holding slimy, wet, cold things. You're easily disgusted by those. Yet you tried, you persevered...and eventually you asked for help. Then when you saw me working beside you you said "Okay mommy, now it's your turn". I asked if you will help me, like I helped you and you said "But I'm finished doing it already". It was funny. I laughed, but I didn't let you go. Sorry but I had to teach you about finishing what you started, no matter how unpleasant. That's just too important for you to learn. 

Love you, 

Momma

Oh How You Are Loved

Dear Sabrina Banana,

I don't know if you know this but you are loved by so many people your dad and I are awed. We have, at multiple points in our lives, paused, looked at each other and exclaimed "What a lucky girl we have". You have no idea how many people are hopelessly in love with you--just because. They don't love you because you're pretty or because you're smart or because you're obedient. They just love you - period.

My grandmother, Nani, loves you enough to prepare a snack for you every single school day.That way you have something to eat after your school. She calls the grocery daily, trying to catch the fresh batch of chicken skin to make chicharon which you love.

Your dad's grandmother, Lola Mommy, made clothes just for you. They're incredibly cute too. She also chuckles in delight every time she calls and you're the one who picks up the phone.

Your Lola Rosa has only met you once but has already given you a small party for your birthday.

My mom and aunt, your gramma and abapi. Call me incessantly when there's rain to check if you're safe, and check on you every hour or so when you have the slightest of colds.

You know what, yesterday in class my professor talked to me about your Wowa. She was surprised to find out that your Wowa is her dear friend. She then told me that your Wowa's crazy about you and that she talks about you all the time. Isn't that so sweet?

This is just a handful of the people whose lives you touched and who have loved you so much since you were born. And I'm humbled by how loved you are. Just because, I hope you grow up knowing and feeling this love.

Love you,

Momma

Typhoon Falcon

Dear Sabrina Banana,

You got to stay home today because there's a typhoon in town. The typhoon is called Falcon. To tell you honestly, I'm really scared. I'm afraid it will be just like the typhoon we experienced way back in Sept 26, 2009. That was a huge mountain our family had to go through. It was during that time I realized just how amazing your dad is.

After that typhoon, our home was pretty much a wreck. In order to keep you safe, I decided to send you to your gramma's house. You and your nanny stayed there while dad and I cleaned up the house. It was incredibly painful. Imagine seeing everything you own covered in dirt, most of them destroyed. I remember sitting on the mud covered floor feeling absolutely numb, I just kept scrubbing and scrubbing. Your dad was scrubbing right beside me. I learned so many lessons during that time:

1. I was illogically in love with you. I have only known you for 2 years at that time, but during the flood my only thought was how to keep you alive if ever I die. It didn't even matter if I died, I just wanted to make sure you remained safe.
2. Your dad is amazing. Your dad walked for miles, waist-deep in floodwater, just to find milk or water or food for us. He also made sure your wowo and ninong are safe. He was a rock. He was amazing. I hope, when you grow up you will find a man like him.
3. The only thing that matters in life is your family. We stayed in an evacuation center for one night. It didn't matter who was educated, who was rich, who had great fashion sense. At that point everyone was equal. The only thing that made it bearable was being with people you love...your family.
4. Don't get attached to material things. My shoes, clothes, bags, even some jewelry disappeared. 80% of my books did to. I was devastated for a while. Then I realized how little need I had for them.

All of these things come back to mind as we wait with bated breath for Typhoon Falcon to pass. I hope that we won't have to go through the drama of the flood again. But you know what? If ever we did, I'm sure we can get over it again.

Love you,

Momma
p.s.
You asked daddy to help you pray to Jesus tonight. You prayed that we're not going to get flooded. I love it when you tell your dad "Daddy can you show me how to pray?" ;p

Have an Obedient Heart...Please?

Dear Sabrina Banana,

These past couple of weeks, your dad and I have been trying to teach you about having an obedient heart. It's generally easy making you follow things but now, before following you ask so many more questions. We have no problem with your questions. In fact, we love them. It's just that we need you to understand that God wants you to follow your parents. Learning obedience is very important. I am just struggling with having to explain this to you at your age.

"Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment with a promise: 

Ephesians 6:2 

I hope I'll be able to explain this to you soon. 


Love you,


Momma

Who Do You Want to Be?

Dear Sabrina Banana,

I wonder what you really want to be? Now, at 4 you tell me you want to be a panda. Sometimes, when the mood hits you, you want to be a knight-in-shining-armor, then you switch it up and you want to be Pocoyo.

I hope you do end up as affectionate as a panda, as strong and resilient as a knight and as playful as Pocoyo. But just in case you change your mind  or if the panda thing doesn't work out....remember:

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
- Author Unknown

Love you,

Momma

Dear Sabrina Banana

One of my greatest fears is dying early and not being able to teach you things I think you should know. I also fear not being able to let you know who I am as a person, or not being able to share with you things or words which inspire me. I long to have conversations with you in the future discussing life and love and people...that may or may not happen. Just in case that doesn't. At least I'll have this blog for you to read. So to my dear Sabrina banana. This blog's for you.