MaK!MeJ!

This will make the dentist very happy. It means business! (no offense meant to the dentists reading this)

But really, I don’t normally give my 2-year old son some candies.  I’m a mean Mama, I know. But one day, this mean Mama accidentally bumped her head on the wall and realized to make a concession in that department.

This was Matt’s first time to try one. Taken last month - a day after we attended a birthday party. That lollipop was included in the loot bag. Usually, I give the candies to other kids and keep the toys for him but not this time. It was love at first lick for Matt -but I haven’t given him any since then. *Mean Mama mode is ON*

It’s been awhile since I posted here and I’m just glad to be able to post now. I’m having a pretty hectic schedule at home and in the office.

I’m just thankful to be alive. For everyone’s good health.

I’m thankful for moments with my son - playing blocks and playdough with him, watching Cars with him, laughing with him, getting mad at him… Among other things, so goes my reason for the hectic home schedule. *grin*

I’m thankful that he’s responding well to his asthma maintenance - he does have it now. It took few days before he stopped fighting when we give it to him but it has greatly helped him manage the frequent attacks.

Everytime we drop by the gas station, it seems the price of gasoline is higher compared to when we last had our tank filled. I complain, sometimes. But still, I’m glad for the blessing to pay for every fuel refill. And also thankful for that we can pay our bills.

I’m glad for a very hardworking husband.  His career is on a roll and I’m so happy for him.

For more of Thankful Thursday participants, please visit Iris.

Hunger is an issue worldwide -be it in developing countries or otherwise – with poverty being cited as cause. A source stated that as of 2008 (2004 statistics), the World Bank has estimated that there were an estimated 982 million poor people in developing countries who live on $1 a day or less (World Bank, Understanding Poverty, Chen 2004).

A worldwide concern. Asia. Africa. Even in America. In fact, there are 35 million Americans who are hungry or living on the brink of hunger.

That is why the Stamp Out Hunger! drive is launched. Already in its 16th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! drive is the America’s largest single-day food drive, having collected more than 836 million pounds of food since 1993. And on Saturday, May 10, Campbell Soup Company and the United Postal Service will again join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to help Stamp Out Hunger! across America .

For those of you in the US and who wants to participate in this noble drive, here’s what you have to do: Prepare a bag containing non-perishable foods, like canned or boxed goods before the postman drops by with the regular mail delivery on May 10. There will be about 230,000 postal carriers in more than 10,000 communities who will collect donations from homes across the country and deliver them to food bank members of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network and other hunger relief organizations.

Again the big day is on May 10, Saturday. Mark it in your calendars, please. And remember you can help end hunger with just a bag of food - a simple effort that will go a long way.

For more details about the annual Stamp Out Hunger! drive, you may ask your local postal personnel, contact your local post office or visit http://www.helpstampouthunger.com.

As a last note, wherever we may be, we can help. We can help in little ways. We can participate in the Feeding Projects of our local community or of our local organizations. In any way we can, let’s all help. Let’s share our blessings to the less fortunate.

***

Sources:

Hunger in America

World Hunger

An hourglass or sandglass is an old device to measure time. Now, it is used more as a game timer or as ornament. Do you still remember the time when Windows OS use the icon of an hourglass as mouse cursor? It indicates that a task is still being processed.

“Hourglasses were the first dependable, reusable and reasonably accurate measure of time. The rate of flow of the sand is independent of the depth in the upper reservoir, and the instrument is not liable to freeze.

From the 15th century onwards, they were being used in a wide range of applications at sea, in the church, in industry and in cookery.

During the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan around the globe, his vessels kept 18 hourglasses per ship.” Source.

This week my father have gone through a couple of medical tests. I am thankful that all of the results are favorable. For awhile there, I was really worried.

We’re currently having trainees in the office. I’m thankful for the chance to teach them, to share knowledge with them - even I am really far from knowledgeable ;-).

Then there’s one trainee who reminded me how blessed I am. I am truly humbled.

I’m thankful for an officemate who constantly makes me laugh. Sometimes, a good laugh is all we need to drive the pressure and stress away.

A week or so ago, I received packages from Sonya and Regina. Thank you so much for these.

I’m thankful that Houston has arrived safely in the country. He’s still a flight aways from home but we are looking forward to spending time with him this weekend.

For more of Thankful Thursday participants, please visit Iris.

View More Wordless Wednesday Participants.

Visit the Wordless Wednesday HQ. Also, 5minutes4mom.

Sounds familiar?

Oh, kids! They love to get hanged upside down, walk on either a tightrope or on shards of broken glasses and eat fire. An exaggeration. But aren’t they cute attention-seekers little entertainers?

My son is no different and I find myself playing along a willing audience to my cute daredevil’s antics. Imagine, the proud mother waving pompoms in the air! Though sometimes, with terror in my eyes. But generally, I don’t mind. And more so if the show is mental in nature - like identifying flags, opposites etc… I couldn’t be more ecstatic knowing that his mind is absorbing things like a sponge. I really don’t mind him showing off what he has learned - especially when he does that on his own accord. No prodding from anybody, no outside forces.

I only mind when someone prods him to. Like the affectionate grandmother.While I’m so grateful that I don’t have to leave my son to a stranger when I go to work (Thanks, Ma!), it bothers me when she starts showing off what Matt can do to guests who come by our house. I know she’s proud and amused that Matt knows this or that but my throat would start to hurt (as I swallow jagged and chunky words) everytime the affectionate grandmother turns into a ringmaster and directs the grandson like a circus star.

You just won’t hear me say “Tickets, anyone?” for this.