Charityrdelacruz's Weblog

I texted my travel agent friend the good news that I’m 2 months on the family way.  She was very happy and excited for me.  She had been praying (like everyone else) that I conceive a baby soon, and indeed it was answered.  But you see, I guess it also meant for her “no business with Cloyd and Charity” because I suppose traveling won’t be an option to us for the next 2 years or so.  Actually, the fact that I won’t be traveling for quite some time saddened me.  Not that I like traveling better than having a child, but because it means our happy “couple only” traveling days are over.  Our responsibility now is to our child.  Gone are the days that we would only think and spend money on ourselves.  I will surely miss those days when I and Cloyd would just book a flight, get a tour package and off we go.  Good thing is, we have enjoyed somehow our 4-year honeymoon stage.  We have been to the States, been to various places in Asia and have experienced cruising!  Somehow, these travels made us better persons.  By now, we probably understand each other better.  We probably know how to please each other already and learn to love the idiosyncrasies of each other’s person! And on a more positive note, probably, we have half-fulfilled each other dreams.  Cloyd always says that we were just readied by time and I would like to believe that our castle in the sky has been built in a strong foundation.  Truly, everything happens for a reason.  

But back to the point I’m driving at.  It would really be painstaking for us not to be traveling the way we were used to.  Just recently, we were even eyeing Macau as our next destination, until the pregnancy test pack showed two clear lines.  J

At any rate, the next time we travel again, we’re not just a couple.  We’re a family!  As to where on earth, what country, what beach or what place will be heading for, via land or an airplane or in a cruise ship, we will have to plan it well, save and set aside enough money for leisure, execute the plan smoothly and enjoy.  By then, no one or nothing else can ever halt the travelers!  Now, that sounds comforting to me!

After four long years of waiting, I am happy to reveal to the world that I’m finally pregnant.  I and Cloyd would like to thank God for this blessing and we are truly happy that God indeed answers prayers in His time.  I wasn’t really expecting the baby at this time.  We had a fertility work –out early last year but we only lasted till the 1^st stage.  I wasn’t brave enough to go through the next stages because of the more invasive procedures as our fertility doctor has explained.  Anyway, I really didn’t keep track of the days.  I got tired of it actually.  I got tired of answering the usual questions too.  “How are you?  May baby na?” “Di ka pa ba pregnant?” “When are you having kids?”  Until early this month, I was wondering why I still haven’t used up the sanitary pad I bought last February.  Then I started counting and told Cloyd that I haven’t had my period.  He told me to buy a pregnancy test pack just to check, I shrugged the idea off thinking my period might come the day after.  He reminded me almost 4 times.  The last time he talked me into buying (we were talking on the cell phone), I was exactly passing thru a drugstore and bought one.  To cut it short, I did the “home” pregnancy test.  I saw the first line appear but waited for a minute or two to see the second line appear clearly.  I immediately called for Cloyd.  He was in cloud nine that he just kept on kissing me.  Of course, I can’t help but be delighted too but I wanted to confirm with my doctor if indeed I was pregnant.  I went to my obgyne the day after and she congratulated me.  I was 6 weeks and 4 days pregnant with our first baby.  Had an ultrasound and saw the little baby’s heartbeat!  I really got so excited.  The feeling can’t really be explained.

The first ever to know of the news is of course my family, then I started texting my other relatives and friends.  They were all elated with the good news I’m announcing.  We also checked the Chinese calendar just to see the gender, and according to it, it’s a girl.  Well, let’s see if it’s true.

I am not feeling any morning sickness yet and hopefully I won’t.  I am not craving for any particular food too.  I just have to take extra care now and I could only pray for my baby and my safe pregnancy especially that a lot of people have been telling that the first trimester is very crucial.  But I would like to stay very positive about my pregnancy.  I will carry this baby for next 8 months or so with utmost care and a happy disposition, and I will deliver a healthy baby by the end of this year.

It’s my dad and my mom’s 33rd wedding anniversary tomorrow and we’re having a picnic with the family at Taygaytay tomorrow lunch, to celebrate the occasion by. 

Come to think of it, it’s a great achievement for any couple to be together for 33 long years at this day and age.  In today’s times that society and its values have radically changed, married people are also faced with a lot of social and economic problems that sometimes lead them to separate ways.  I’m happy that Papa and Mama have weathered all these so-called problems that came their way.  Of course they’re journey as husband and wife still continues but I can see in them  that they’re still very in love with each other.  Even if at times I see them arguing about petty things, I still often see them happily sharing their concerns, the joys of adulthood and their day to day experiences with friends and love-ones.

Cloyd and I really would someday want to reach 33 years of blissful marriage in the same wonderful disposition as Papa and Mama, hoping that it goes the same way for every married couple we know. 

And us, their children & grand children, could only wish Papa and Mama more happy years together, with a love to last a life time till death to them part. 

Why is the color pink usually associated with girls/ladies/women in the same way that the color is blue is associated with men?  Why is it some girls’ favorite color?  (Although I know a lot of women too who just dislikes the color pink)  Why pink ribbon as a symbol for support to women with breast cancer? 

But really, why pink? 

When I got wed in 2004, I personally chose the color pink to be my motif.  Luckily, my husband didn’t oppose the idea!  He wasn’t that particular anyway.  He specifically told me that weddings are really a lady’s “thing” so I could take care of anything and arrange everything.   Anyway, again why pink?  I don’t know.  For me, it’s a feminine color.  I like it light in particular: light pink.  Probably because, I thought of myself having my “debut’ on my wedding day since I didn’t have one when I turned 18. J  In my mind, once I enter womanhood, everything has to be prim and proper or shall I say “pink” and proper.   

Or maybe, there’s still a child’s voice in me that still wanted to cry out for childhood when everything is but a bed of pink roses. J (Unlike now that I’m grown up, responsibilities and problems go hand in hand!) Well, the color pink for me is dainty, neat, delicate, exquisite and graceful.  Probably femininely flimsy but beautiful!

Familiar with the verse? 

I heard mass today and the priest had mentioned this verse in his homily.  I guess most Catholics or should I say most believers, know this by heart:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.”

It all begins with LOVE.  Because of love, God made an absolute sacrifice of sending one of his finest treasures and yet, not everyone appreciates it.  Not everyone is grateful for the fact that He cares for us so much.  And that probably hurts God. 

Let’s just look at our society and our government.  Admit it or not, it has changed.  For the worse, I don’t know.  Maybe, maybe not.  Morals and values have changed.  Many may have gone fierce and crazy probably because of the lack of love and the presence of greed, hatred and personal interest.  Corruption is just everywhere.  But we need not look that far, let’s just look at ourselves, our families, our personal relationships.  Has our acts been showing signs of gratitude for the love God has shown? 

God has always been faithful to us from the start, even if sometimes or most of the time, WE ARE NOT.  Let’s return the favor by showing respect and being kind to our families, by being more compassionate to our neighbors, by being more concerned of our country and our countrymen’s welfare, and most importantly by being plainly nice to our selves in a way the God has been genuinely nice to us.  In this way, we give back to God, in our little way, the love He has always made known to us thru His one and only begotten Son.

I hav always wandered why Apr1 have been cold april full’s they?  Is afril a month for jokings?  Or is it more logical thinking dat its jazz a dey for fools?  Id’ always remembers my mummy saying not to let anyones barrow moeny from me: otherwises I will not get the pay-off!  There were even an instant when my collage friendship called me on April morning saying she had a freaking car accident, that she’s lying in the hospital, and I should come and visiting her together with our other friendships before she passes away.  I were already excitedly nervous, only to hear her saying:  “Happy april full’s they!”.  Nothing hill, no good joking!  I’m not happy, I’m sad!

Hahaha.  Spelling and grammar, a joke!  Just wanted to make a fool out of myself, just for today!  Had a hard time doing this ha!  Here’s my serious version:

I had always wondered why April 1 has been called “April Fool’s Day”.  Is April a month for jokes?  Or is it more logically just a day for fools?  I would always remember my mom saying not to let anyone borrow money otherwise I won’t get paid.  There was even an instance when one of my college friends called me one morning of April 1 saying that she had a car accident, she’s in the hospital severely hurt and that I together with our other friends should come and visit her before she dies.  I was so nervous already, only to hear her say:  “Happy April Fool’s Day!”  Well, it’s no good joke and I wasn’t really totally happy about it.