Toy Wagons and Blue Balloons

The days have been getting longer and Florida's beginning to get warm again. It's now March and winter is clearly coming to a close. No more frost or need to turn on the heater, we've actually had to turn on the air conditioning a few times. The sun has been rising earlier and setting later.

At the end of last week Rhea got into her first accident. It was very minor with only cosmetic damage to the left bumper and driver door, and the side view mirror had to be replaced. Luckily no major damage to the vehicle, and most importantly, no one was hurt in the accident. They were travelling less than 35 miles per hour, and were both able to relocate into a gas station parking lot.

So Monday I dropped the car off to a collision repair center and my insurance company provided us with a rental vehicle, a 2018 Nissan Altima. It was very cool. Just like the last rental vehicle, I enjoyed the rear view cameras that displayed the rear view when backing up. I also noticed an alert light that lit up on either side if another vehicle was in your blind spot. I was a little annoyed by the fact that the seats were heated... although it helped some times... more often than not, I felt my butt was burning. I couldn't find a way to turn off that feature, even when I turned off the heat and air, it still warmed my seat.

The most exciting thing was the keyless entry and start up. Just keep the keys in your pocket and when you touch the door it will unlock, then when you press a button by the wheel it will start up. There's not even a key, so that was cool.

The shop kept the car for four days, so we had the rental for the better part of this week.

On Tuesday we had the Elders over for dinner. Rhea made the most delicious beef curry. Usually she makes a chicken curry that is a little spicier with a different curry broth, but the beef curry with the beef curry broth and the spice level just right is a rare occurrence, and I could really eat this dish every day. The missionaries challenged us to share what we believe with someone we know, so I'll do it here.

** I believe in God. I believe that He loves us so much that He sent His Son to live and die and live again so that we can follow in His way and grow and learn to become free and happy. By following Him we can draw closer to goodness and light. I know that families are forever, and that before all other people we should love and hold our spouses first, because families are forever. I know that as we follow Christ's example we will lead a life of strength and happiness. I believe that as we treat others the way Christ would treat them, through your demeanor those around you can further feel the goodness of God. I know that in forgetting ourselves by serving others, we can best come to know who we are individually and gain the most happiness and fulfillment out of life.**

As the winter turns to spring, Rhea and I have been excited to start planting. We already have a good idea of where we will put down our new flower beds and what we will be planting.

Through what seems like endless work literally half of my life every day... I often imagine the alternate reality where instead of bringing Rhea here to live with me in the US, had we chosen our original idea of me moving to live on a small farm with Rhea in the Philippines. I often imagine that life free of the piling and piling bills of health insurance, rent, dental vision and life insurance, car insurance, vehicle maintenance and repairs, renters insurance, jewelry insurance, gas, electricity and water bills to JEA, internet costs, phone bills, and groceries. Granted, we'd still have an electricity bill a phone bill, and some groceries on the farm, but in all living expenses would be comparatively nonexistent compared to here...

I often imagine a life had I chosen that route, where I'd be home on the farm all day with my family surrounded by my wife's parents brothers nieces and nephews, and so close to them all that I'd be easily able to welcome the new generation into the world... which by the way, I just found out our oldest niece is pregnant! We're super happy for her. It changes the whole dynamic of our family is changed. My blood is now third tier. Josiah is now an uncle which is crazy since he's only one, and Rhea and I are now lolo and lola (grandparents).

This week I became a regular trainer. Before this I had only substitute trained on Red Mids. But starting last Thursday I have my own trainee. It's different that's for sure, but it didn't take long for the trainer inside me to come out and really shine. Apparently a few coworkers have complimented my first three days of being a regular trainer to a supervisor, which has gone up the chain and multiple supervisors have given me high fives and pats on the back and words of encouragement. It's been a nice experience. Hopefully I can keep up the momentum and be worthy of all the support.

The whole week, Rhea and mom have taken the reigns on planning Josiah's first birthday party. For me, it wasn't until I got off of that Thursday shift when I felt the pressure. We ran so many errands and around to so many stores to get all the supplies we needed. One wholesale chain, a department store, a grocery store, and a couple craft stores. We picked up balloons, banners, photo booth props, cake, cupcakes, supplies for lumpia and all the food we were preparing, cookies, printed photos, thread and mini clothespins, streamers, bubbles, parting gifts, and donuts.

While we were setting up Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon, Josiah was getting very fussy and making it impossible for Rhea to work at a good pace, we eventually decided to have her put him to nap, which as she held him in the Mother's Room made our progress almost stand still, we didn't want him grouchy during his birthday party. He actually took 3-4 naps in the over the shoulder baby carrier throughout the day while Rhea continued to help set up and decorate.

We didn't get all the time that we wanted to fully decorate and be at Mom's in time to fry all the lumpia. Rhea and I planned on frying the lumpia throughout the night but fortunately the elders volunteered to help, so we had all batches of 300 lumpia fried, and Rhea and I were still able to entertain our guests and still keep a close eye on Josiah as he crawled around and visited all his guests.

After the party we dropped off a full car full of party supplies decorations and gifts to our house then went to mom's, we were at about two days without sleep or a shower so we weren't feeling so hot. Luckily we were prepared and I took a shower at mom's house while Bernie, Auntie Malou, mom, nanay, Rhea and Josiah were enjoying an after party downstairs. There were so many times I wanted to just lay down and sleep, but we still had guests. And it was all worth it. We didn't have time to actually enjoy a dinner at the party, but we ate at the after party and had homemade mango ice cream that Bernie made. That was so good.

Every night and day, Rhea and I send each other messages of when we will sleep or wake up, as if we are separated by time, as we really are separated by schedule. I work a night shift and Rhea and Josiah are awake during the day. As I write this post even, it's 3:48am and I just recently ate my dinner, and that's a perfectly normal schedule for me. But it does not fit well with the family. I'm excited that this separation of schedule will end this week. Only one more night shift and we will be on the same sleeping schedule. I'm excited about that.

Below is an excerpt from what I wrote on Facebook after Josiah's birthday party:

“Happy first birthday Josiah!

We just finished a successful birthday weekend with Josiah. We enjoyed a great Filipino dinner with lots of lumpia, pancit, meatloaf, calderetta and more. We had cake, fruit salad, puto, cookies, and a number of other yummy desserts.

People walked around the room looking through the snapshots of Josiah growing month by month. Parents and kids alike wrote messages and drew pictures for a time capsule that Josiah will open in less than 17 years from now when he becomes an adult.

Some of the kids who came pulled Josiah through the hall on his new little wagon while others were blowing bubbles and playing with the photo booth props. It was so fun seeing him interact and play with so many other kids mainly ages 2-6. They were all sharing Josiah's gifts and enjoying life being kids.

There was a moment I got choked up when all the kids gathered around the cake singing Happy birthday. When they got to the part when everybody sang "Happy birthday dear Josiah" I had to stop singing because of how much emotion came over me. I stood quietly and took a moment to look around the room at all these people who came out to support Josiah and our little family.

Thank you all who came out with your little ones. Of course I need to thank my wife Rhea and my mother Janet. Planning the party was a combined effort and stress between the three of us and it could not have been done especially without either of you. My brother Joshua designed the evites and ran errands and picked up things behind the scenes. Bernie and auntie Malou for the taco salad as well as for the homemade mango ice cream at the after party. The Aniels helped a lot with the take down and clean up with a few other families who remained long after the party was over. Too many names to thank, but so many people did so much to make this weekend a blast. The Elders of the Normandy ward were awesome and insisted on frying lumpia during the first half of the dinner allowing Rhea and I to entertain guests while still ensuring fresh lumpia throughout the party.

Thank you to everyone who has shown us friendship, fellowship and support during this first year of Josiah's life and this first year of parenthood. We've grown a lot through this first year, and we've gained confidence as parents that we can do this. Our hearts are so full of gratitude and love. Thank you.”