Well Rooted Life; Day164/02; My Two Mothers

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. Psalm 1:3 

Two Mom’s
My mother was born in 1932, yes that was 78 years ago.  She lost her husband 27 years ago [1983] and she retired from her teaching career in 1992 [18 years]. One of my top objectives here while in Cebu is to spend quality time with her.  I lost my father when I was 16 and I was not a good son at that time yet [I think] and plenty of regrets of how I live my life back then.  In October of 2010, I received a bad news from my sisters in Cebu that mom’s kidney is failing and told me that she might need to start kidney dialysis soon because her lab works and nuclear tests were not so good.  I did not know anything about kidney failures and all I know that my dad’s cause of death in 1983 was renal failure [a complication from diabetes].  I did some reading about kidney diseases and found out that the news that I’ve heard were not good. 

Fast forward to the present time-today she had her monthly lab works done in the morning and in the afternoon we received the results.  I’m not in the medical field but I can read lower and upper spec limits and me and my sister Hyades were thankful that her #’s were trending up for the good side.  When we went to her doctor [ Dr. German Mayo Jr.] he was astonished by my mom’s progress.  My mom is a trained emotionless person just like me and I could not even see a smile in her face when Dr. Mayo gave her the good news that he will continue the medical treatment through medication and that he will put the dialysis treatment on hold for now.  I think I can go back home to Texas now.  God is really good – as always.

Wait! The great story of day was not that. It’s what my other mom’s action [Britta] that amazed me and how she is being used to make things come to pass today.  After lunch with Amour, Dayline, Hyades, Tootsie, Britta and Biling at Golden ____ .. ground floor SM, my mom needed to rest [her Dr.’s appointment was at 3pm] so we used our hotel room to take a nap but instead me and my mom talked for one straight hour [heart to heart].  It was such a great pleasure to really have a good conversation with someone close to you.  We were just lying down in bed closing our eyes but talking.  The theme of our conversation was “the end of a good life-we are all going there”.  [this is before we got her good lab results].  I don’t celebrate for anything but I am always grateful for the good things that happen in front of my eyes. To Britta, thank you for all the things that you’ve done. [others might be wondering why I have to write a message to my wife, I am staying with my sister’s house in Pardo beginning last night and probably won’t see her for a week because I am leaving for Merida this Wednesday]

Here’s the pictures I took today. 

Brittney-18, Mom-78 and Brent-14. In 1992 when Brittney was born, Me and Britta decided to send her to Merida where mommy chit took care of her because Britta was not able to handle the new child due to work and my deployment to South Korea for 1 year.  My mother was also with us in Round Rock to help out with Brent’s arrival in 1996.  I have to keep reminding my kids about what my mom and mama bulak did for them when they were little.  This picture has more story behind it. [Location-Briccio’s home]
 

Me, mommy chit, brent, brittney, dayline, hyades

Morning Cebu traffic

sister bebs taking a shortcut somewhere

My two mothers.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Stabilize diet [food intake is not normal]
2. Getting ready for Merida Trip
3. Some mild shopping
4. Purchase cruise ship tickets from Cebu to Ormoc

After Action Review
A. What went well?
1. Mommy Chit’s good lab results
2. Spent time with mother and sisters
3. Watching people opening the balikbayan box [Chadd-many thanks to you]
4. I am spending PHP instead of $. [sisters hesitant when I said “Full Tank” at gas station.]
5. Being at the backseat watching instead of driving.
6. WIFI everywhere. I am able to connect [RDP] to my servers in Round Rock and check.  WIFI speed is decent-It’s like being there.
7. People I met today-papa Jojo, Mama Bulak, Bo, Timothy, Biling,

B. What did not go so well?
1. Day03 of no cardio workout, [I can’t wait for a long distance open water swim at Pantalan this Wednesday]
2. No bagel breakfast and no morning latte [but will adjust, switching to black instant coffee-Nescafe, better than Starbucks]
3. Ineffectiveness of doing things in Cebu due to traffic.
4. S and R, unable to use my Visa because the registered name was not same as me. [Costco/Sam’s version in Cebu]
5. My Cebu driving skills took a while to comeback-ok now.  Imagine not stopping the car until it is close to 6 inches or simply trusting the driver next to you-that he will not hit you sideways.
6. No base camp yet, my stuff are in backpacks and ready to go.  I feel like I am back with my US Army unit, always on the go and don’t know what to expect.  [I love it though]
7. Unable to make contact with friends and classmates due to 1. no phone numbers 2. I have no cell phone or 3. Simply I don’t have friends.  So please, if ever you were a friend of mine before or knows me, leave a message in FB and I will try to arrange a meeting or lunch or dinner or starbucks.

C. What would I do differently?
1. Nothing. Just enjoying being with Cebuano.

Book of Life; Day163/01; First Daylight in Cebu

Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. Rev 3:5 

First Daylight in Cebu
Me and Vinny arrived at midnight last night and did not see Cebu clearly.  Me and Britta stayed at Radisson Hotel and then in the morning upon getting up at 8th floor, I opened the curtain at our hotel room and saw this view.  I missed this place already and can’t wait to explore.

Sidenote: My wife has a dramatic change of heart. She is serving coffee while I was just writing this entry.  This is also the first time she did this.

8th Floor Radisson Blu Hotel overlooking the SM Parking Lot

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Meet mom and sisters +reunite with Britta and kids
2.
3.

Right Relationship; Day162/00

Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.  Rom 5:9 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Destination-Cebu
2. Read: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership 
3.

Letting People Go; Day161/30; Avoiding PVS

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  Mat 6:14 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Work-10h, avoiding PVS [pre vacation syndrome]
3.

Avoiding PVS
1. Understand/Apply Newton’s first law of motion  – An object in motion tends to stay in   motion and an object at rest tends to   stay at rest unless acted upon by an   unbalanced force.
2. Take good notes about what you were doing on the week before the journey
3. Continue performing the same routine everyday [if possible]
4. Be at the moment at all times.
5. Stay focus and keep the same objectives – live for 24hours only.
6. Vacation is about the journey – not a destination.

Same Power As; Day160/29

And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;
And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father; Rev 2:26 –27

Blindman’s Life:
* Less stress – not seeing the whole picture [can’t see facial expression]
* Only see things while listening or feeling
* Being patient [always on the waiting/receiving end]
* Time somewhat is irrelevant [can’t see the time as normal people do]

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Rest
2. Drop off kids to Airport
3. Work-10h

Stop Doing Negative Things; Day159/28; Blind Caveman

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Work-10h, After Action Review Disaster Recovery
3. Finalize boxes

Blind Cavemen
This morning upon waking up, I went through my routines – latte, bagel breakfast, listen to 1 music over and over, read my daily devotion, write something in my journal, scan fb for headlines then … suddenly got the feeling in my heart to change once again the title of my journal to “Blind Cavemen”.  I really don’t know where this is going but I will just listen to my heart.  Maybe I am inspired by what I learned yesterday about blindness.

Being Blind:
1. You are missing one your senses [not perfect]
2. You listen more
3. More aware of sorroundings
4. Simplicity of life
5. See things differently

Being a Caveman
1. Food/shelter needs only
2.

More is Coming; Day157/26

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!  Luke 11:13 

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Indoor cycling
2. Grocery shopping
3. Sign out Brent
4.

Listen and Do; Day156/25

But He answered them, My mother and My brothers are those who listen to the Word of God and do it! Luke 8:21 

listen – hear; to make conscious effort to hear; pay attention
do – abide; commit; continue; deal; execute; exercise; fulfill

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. Celebration Church, 2h
2. Start/Finish 2010 Self Appraisal, 2h
3. Iron clothes, 1h
4. More packing/trip preparation, 1h
5. Windows AIK/PE read/test on Dell e6400 Notebook, 4h
6. Mow yard, 2h [if not too cold]

Full of Compassion; Day155/24

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them.  Deu 4:31

06-BeLiftedUp.wma
merciful – full of c0mpassion

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Work-10h
3. Continue on Supermicro server recovery
4. Create/organize Sharepoint Controlled Docs
5. Start self appraisal

Hallowed and Honored; Day154/23

Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing. Lev 10:3 

hallowed – sanctified; cleaned; consecrated; dedicated
honored – glorified;

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Prep reimage Supermicro server
3. Read about Windows AIK [AIK in Technet]

Love and Live; Day153/22

If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love.  John 15:10 

love – strong affection, benevolence [both an action + feeling]
live – to spend your life in a particular way or under particular circumstances
abide – continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Samsung Maintenance Day – After Action Review
3.

Sweet End Game; Day152/21

When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 5Mile Time Trial
2. Work-10h
3. Samsung Maintenance Day – Shutdown [execute master plan]