Weekly Update!

Baby Banana @ 2 months and 18 days old

I love writing these updates, especially na ngayon balik 


work ako di ko na ma monitor 24/7 si Baby Banana.  But I 


cannot stop writing, and I cannot stop this blog, as much as 


I would like to crawl into bed and never come out.  I am 


compelled to record for Banana of her life, in all its detail. 


 This is something that is going to effect her forever, and 


will shape her life and personality.  I want her to know 


where it all started.  And that it all started on January 31, 


2012.  And that the first 2 months of her life were lived in 


blissful ignorance and all-consuming love.  I know she 


won't remember that, but Baby Banana, if you are reading 


this sometime in the far future looking for some kind of 


insight into me or you or us, know that the first two  months 


of your life were filled with snuggles, naps, giggles, tickles, 


games, dancing, singing, friends and family.  The only thing 


I ever want for you is for that to continue.  Most of it will, 


certainly you will remain the most loved child there ever 


was, but things will probably change from here on out. You 


wont be aware of it though, and whether its a blessing or 


not I don't know.  All I know is that from your perspective, 


in your memory, you will always be our Baby Banana. 


Mahal na mahal ka namin ng tatay Rik mo kaya sisikapin 


namin mapalaki ka ng may takot sa Diyos. 

Day 24: No More Tantrums

Proverbs 14:29


A patient person [shows] great understanding, but a quick- tempered one promotes foolishness.

    

     Temper tantrums are so silly. And so is pouting. So, of course, is whining. When we lose our tempers, we say things that we shouldn’t say, and we do things that we shouldn’t do. Too bad!

     The bible tells us that it is foolish to become angry and that it is wise to remain calm, that’s why we should learn to control our tempers before our tempers control us.

A Bed Time Prayer

Dear Lord, You know that I can be impatient at times. And sometimes, I lose my temper. When I become upset, calm me down, Lord, and help me forgive the people who made me angry. I know that Jesus forgave other people, and I should, too. Amen

Day 16: Obey Your Teachers

1 John 2:17


And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remain forever.

     It’s good to obey your teachers, but before you can obey them, you must make sure you understand what your teachers are saying; you must be a student who knows how to listen.

     Once you decide to be a careful listener, you’ll become a better learner, too. But if you’re determined to talk to other kids while your teachers are teaching, you won’t learn very much.

     So do yourself a favor: when you go to school or church, listen and obey. You’ll be glad you did… and your teachers will be glad, too.

A Bed Time Prayer

Dear Lord, when I play by Your rules, You bless my life. But, when I disobey your rules, I suffer the consequences. Help me obey You and my parents and teachers… Starting right now! Amen

Part 1: Bible Stories

He also saw how it hurt Leah to be loved less (it always hurts to be loved less, so always love the best you can!).

“What troubles I have,” Leah cried herself to sleep one night. “If only I could have a baby, then Jacob would be happy, and he would love me more.”

Well, maybe Jacob loved Leah less, but God didn’t.

And so God blessed Leah, and soon she was going to have a baby.

The necessary months passed, and soon Jacob was the father of a newborn baby. It was his first child. It was a boy, and Leah named him Reuben, a name that sounded like “God has seen my trouble” in her language.

“Now Jacob will love me more,” Leah thought.

But he didn’t.

“Dear God, if I had another baby, maybe Jacob would love me then,” Leah prayed one night. “Please hear my prayer, and answer me.”

And sure enough, God did hear her prayer, and she had another baby. She named him Simeon, which means, “God hears.”

But still, Jacob didn’t love her any more.

And so she had another baby. She named her third child Levi. That means ”Tied together.” “Jacob will surely be tied to me, now that I have given him three sons,” she thought.

And then she had ANOTHER baby. She praised God for his goodness to her, and named him Judah, which means “Praise God!”

(One day, in the long distant future, another baby would be born. His parents would name him Jesus. He would come from the family of Judah. But he would be the Son of God, born on earth. His perfect life would be the highest praise to God.)

All this time, Rachel wasn’t able to give Jacob any children.

She had to watch her sister cuddle and play with each new baby. And she had to stand by and watch while Jacob spent more and more time with Leah and his children.

Every time her sister had a baby, it bothered her more and more. She was afraid Jacob would stop loving her.

“Let’s have a baby together, before I waste away and die,” she finally said to Jacob late one warm summer evening.

But Jacob said, “Who do you think I am? It’s not up to me whether you are able to have a baby or not. Only God can do that!”

But Rachel was desperate, so she said, “Then marry my servant, and have a baby for me by her.” And so Jacob married Rachel’s servant, and soon they had a son.

Now Rachel had a baby too, well, sort of anyway. She named her servant’s baby Dan, which meant, “God has judged in my favor.”

Rachel’s servant had another baby.

Rachel said, “Now I am starting to win this fight with my sister!” She named her new son Naphtali, which means “The Fight.”

It seemed like Rachel and Leah were having “Baby Wars.”

They were trying to see who could have the most babies, to see who Jacob would love best.

Now Leah was the one, watching Rachel bouncing a new baby on her knee. And Jacob was spending more time with Rachel again. Leah saw how happy Jacob was.

This didn’t sit too well with her. So she said to Jacob, “Here, you can marry MY servant and have even more babies with her!”

“Okay,” Jacob said, “I guess that would be good.”

And soon Jacob had another son. Leah named her new son Gad, which means, “God has given me good fortune.”

Soon, Leah’s servant had another baby. Leah said, “How happy I am! Now other women will call me happy too!” And so she named her new son Asher, which means "Happy."

Now Jacob was the proud father of 8 growing boys! Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.


It was harvest time, and Leah’s son Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrakes. Mandrakes were a kind of plant that people thought helped to make it easier to have babies. And so Rachel said to Reuben, “May I have some of your mandrakes?” Well, Leah heard this, and she said to Rachel, “Isn’t it enough that you are trying to steal my husband, now you want my son’s mandrakes too?”

Rachel said to Leah, “If you let me have some mandrakes, you may spend the night with Jacob, and maybe you will be able to have another baby.”

And so that night Leah and Jacob were together, and God blessed them. They did have another baby. “God has rewarded me with another child!” Leah said, and so she named the baby Issachar, which means “Reward.”

Leah had another baby after that! It was her sixth son. “What a wonderful gift God has given me!” she said, so she named the baby Zebulun, which means “A Gift.”

And then, surprise of surprises, Leah had ANOTHER baby - only this time - it was a girl! She named her Dinah.


But, in all of this, God hadn’t forgotten about Rachel. And so he blessed her, and at long last she had a baby of her own. Rachel prayed, “God has taken away my sorrow! May he bless me with even another son!” So she named her new baby Joseph, which means, “God has taken away one thing, now may he give another.”

Jacob was now the father of twelve; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, and Joseph.

This last one, Joseph, was going to change their lives forever.

And ours too.

                                                       Genesis 29, 30

Day 23: Everlasting Protection

2 Samuel 22: 2-3


The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior…

     Life isn’t always easy. Far from it! Sometimes, life can be hard indeed. But even when we’re upset and hurt, we must remember that we’re protected by a loving Heavenly Father.

     When we’re worried, God can reassure us; when we’re sad, God can comfort us. When our feelings are hurt, God is not just near, He is here. We must lift our thoughts and prayers to our Father in heaven. When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why? Because He is our Shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

A Bed Time Prayer

Dear Lord, because you watch over me, I don’t have to be afraid. Because You are with me always, I can have hope. Thank You, Lord for protecting me tonight, tomorrow and forever. Amen

Day 22: Try to Memorize This Verse

Psalm 27:1


The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

This is an important Bible verse. Practice saying it several times. And then, talk to your mom and dad about exactly what the verse means…

A Tip for parents:

Tonight, talk to your child about…. God’s protection.

A Bed Time Prayer

Dear Lord, you protect me and keep me. I thank You, Father, for your love, your protection and Son. Amen

Day 21: The Words You Speak

James 1:26

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

     The words you speak are important. If you speak kind words, you make other people feel better. And that’s exactly what you should do!

     How hard is it to say a kind word? Not very! Yet sometimes we’re so busy that we forget to say the very things that might make other people feel better.

     Kind words help; cruel words hurt. It’s as simple as that. And, when we say the right thing at the right time, we give a gift that can change somebody’s day or some day’s life.

A Bed Time Prayer

Dear Lord, when I’m about to say something, help me think about my words before I say them, not after. Amen