Last Saturday, a calamity struck Metro Manila. A typhoon ravaged many areas of Manila and nearby provinces. Families lost homes, properties, and even kin and children. Jay almost didn't make it home that day because of the big flood that blocked his way but he got back to us and to our tragedy-free home. We were safe in our apartment with our two little children while others were wading through chest high water, trying to make it out alive and many others were floating helplessly on whatever buoyant object they could find. Rich and popular Filipino actors were not spared. One even shared that it was their air bed that saved her and her 3 year old son. Videos of what happened were all over youtube and pictures were posted on facebook. Highlights on news were sad and frightening. It didn't happen to us, though I thought the water was going to come into our house as our street was unusually flooded.
I don't really care about the things in our house, none of them are as important as those school things were to me in my 3rd grade. All I can think of now is how I can save my children -- a six month old and a 4 year old, in case it happens to us. I can't imagine not being the one to hold both my children. I don't know if I can trust anyone enough to swim to safety with them. I'm having all these restlessness and fears. Nightmares when I'm asleep and when I'm awake.
Today, we took the opportunity to teach Pablo to give to others. We packed old shoes and clothes and helped repack for the relief operations of our church. We told him about the families who lost their homes and their shoes and clothes. I wish I can say that it was a joy but it was a very sad moment for us. I can't imagine receiving a pack for our family that includes a top and bottom for men, a top and bottom for women, and the same for kids. Though many of the clothes were really nice, nicer than what I have in my closet even, but there were also a lot that I dread being in the shoes of the recipient. Although wearable, many of the clothes were very old, worn out and ugly! It's depressing! They have to make do with sizes that fit them...never mind if it's not a perfect fit, never mind if they don't match . And although many donated food, it just wasn't enough for all of them. Some of them lined up so early only to have to come back for the next batch.
My heart breaks for them. And I pray that this will never ever happen again to our people and it will never ever happen to our family. In Luke 4:18-21, it says that Jesus came to tell the blind that they can see again. I think that not only does the blind refer to those who literally cannot see, but I think that the "blind" are also the ones who have lost hope. When tragedy happens, amidst hopelessness, it is so hard to see the love of God. I have found it in my heart to go and help so that we are able to share the love of Jesus and bring hope to those who have lost it.
The following images are grabbed from: http://helpondoyvictims.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/typhoon-ondoy-in-pictures/
Lukas is about to turn 6 months in 4 days time. He started going up on his knees two weeks ago and is quite quick in learning how to propel himself forward. He's so inquisitive that I think, it's what motivates him to speed up on learning how to use his limbs to move around. We also let him eat baby food & some solids since two weeks ago and he loves it!
Truth is, Lukas seems so much happier. He can actually stay seated on his stroller for a much longer time now and he has been smiling a lot, not just to us, but to other people, too.
I said to my friend, though, that nowadays, the babies are far more advanced than the batches before them...no parent can actually boast that their kid is more advanced than the others because all of them are advanced! This time, I don't really care about being advanced or not. I'm more vigilant on Lukas' developmental progress after the scare we've gone through with Pablo. Also, character is just so much more important. If a kid has good character, the rest will follow.
So, this is what happened: We were invited to Ethan's place one afternoon for a little salo-salo (get together), so we went. Pablo & Ethan have been friends for, I don't know, since they were months old (?). They get along really well since both are very much into action, jumping, bumping, running up and down stairs, sometimes wrestling with Pablo getting creamed by his buddy who is rather larger than him. They really enjoy each other's company and enjoy many things together and share with each other what they know. Pablo now knows what Star Wars & Ben 10 are all about and Ethan has got about all the coolest Transformers gears there are which started with Pablo talking about the autobots just about ALL THE TIME!
Talk about being advance! Not only is Lukas is syllabicating, waking us up with his "dadada" and asking for milk with his "mmmmm...mamama" but he also has his own schedule! Yesterday, he had his first official playtime with Kai & Maxi, a few months older than him. I don't know if I can keep up, considering our latest developments as a family, but we'll see....
