2010 was a busy year for us. At the middle of the year we were busy with our planning to move away from Marfori to another area here in Davao. It was quite a challenge to find a house that suits our needs. Later when its just Bob and I and Chris we can settle in with just a smaller place. Right now with our big family we needed a bigger place. Luckily, I found one that nearly got what we wanted. We are pretty happy with it.
Really the exciting part of the year was the giving away for the poor people. This year was extra special for us. We met 4 special families through Loriann, the daughter of Teacher Bebe (Bob’s teacher in Bisaya). These 4 kids are her classmates. When we heard the story about these kids, it really made me think of how lucky we are of having what we have. I was in tears upon hearing the struggles of these girls everyday. I had to really think twice of what I spent with something that’s not so important in our daily life. Can you imagine for lunch you just have to drink water. That’s the lunch of these 4 kids. When Loriann found out, she brought them some extra food for them to share it with. Teacher Bebe can’t afford to feed those other 4 girls for a long time. So Bob and I decided that we will help them for the rest of the school year. We are hoping we can continue helping them until they will finished up the rest of high school.
Just talking to them and telling them the good news that we will be helping them, they were really happy. One of them the father really were in tears. He was really happy that at least someone would care for them. It was really good to see the reaction of my kids. They really felt sorry for those 4 kids. Later that day, during our Christmas dinner we were talking about it. Our kids really were so thankful of what they have. Seeing also the poor families during the giveaways really opened up their eyes. They saw lots of kids don’t have anything like presents for the holidays until we gave them something. The parents also were happy receiving the gifts that we gave that you guys helped and made it happen for them.
Two days before New Year we invited Teacher Bebe and her kids and the 4 needy students to our house. I let them help me make spaghetti for our dinner. That early morning I marinated some pork for our kabobs later. The kids enjoyed putting the meat into the skewers and they helped us cook. It was really fun chatting with them. At least they are not that shy to us now. They texted us and thanked us for inviting them. They said they had fun and wished that we will invite them again soon. Bob and I told them of course we will invite you guys soon. I let them make some cookies and my helper helped them. Wow, they really liked the cookies a lot. When time for dinner there were just like 4 cookies left. I think they were overwhelmed of how we are treating them.
I would have to say that all in all its been a good year (2010) for us. For one reason no major sickness and accidents in our household also to our extended family.
I hope that the year ahead will be same or better for all of us. Happy 2011 to everyone. I didn’t realize that its the year of the rabbit this year until I went to Robinson. They had lots of rabbit figurine at the kiosk store there. My niece Glenda told me that she bought one for her desk. Hmm, I’m happy since I am collecting rabbit figurines. It shows in my kitchen. Ever since living in the States I collected them. I have a few rabbit figurines were made of Fitz And Floyd. They were the good figurine maker.
So happy rabbit year to everybody!
Sounds like a wondeful way to end your year! What a blessing to be able to help those girls! God is good!
Hi AmericanLola – Yes, for sure. God really is good.
Good to see you here again.
Take care!
Feyma
Its really good to see those girls appreciating anything that they received. I wish the kids here in the US would follow the example the kids in the Philippines set. Wish you and your family a even more successful 2011. God Bless
I would like to say – Thank You!!! To you and Bob for sharing your blessings with these 4 kids and others you had lent a helping hand, throughout your lives.
Hi DanielY – Thank you. We tried to helped out. We also are thanking to our LIP family here.
Thanks for the nice comment.
Take care!
Hi Feyma
I hope you all have a wonderful 2011. I think you do a great job out there.
Weve just seen the photos of our family and extended family in the Philippines opening their presents and there was some happy faces. Its nice to know we helped to contribute, plus my son and daughter in law who live over here.
Someday we hope to join in with their celebrations over there
All the Best to you, Bob and the family
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie – Same to you. Thank you so much. Really a big thanks to our LIP family too.
Yes, the kids really had a blast opening their gifts. Hope you can experience Christmas celebration here in the Philippines soon with your family.
Good to hear from you.
Take care!
Feyma, it’s a good thing that your family is doing for those that have so much less. A job well done! I hope that one day I can help in person. I will forward a copy of your article as well as Bob’s article to my kids to let them know that are tremendously blessed even though they have needs and wants.
Hi Ed Griffin – Thank you so much. Its really a good feeling seeing nice smiles from people and kids. Really a priceless moments. Sure, an eye opener for your kids? 🙂
As always good to see you here Ed.
Take care and God Bless!
Hi Feyma,
It’s stories like yours that help us realize that even a little money can go a long way there. God bless you and Bob for what you do. Happy New Year to you, Bob and the kids. May the coming year bring you joy, happiness and prosperity.
Mark G.
Hi Mark G. – Thank you so much. I really applaud the helped of LIP Family. With LIP’s helped, more people received gifts.
Happy New Year to you too.
Take care!
And a happy and properous year of the rabbit to you and your family feyma,i think that the good you have done will come back to you i am sure that these four young girls will be forever gratefull to you and bob for helping them , our daughter is going through a stage where she has taken on a very unhealthy attitude towards her mother and i ,when i first met her she was 8 an a skinny poorly dressed child she was now since she has been here her mother and i have probbaly done the wrong thing and tried to give her all she wants i suppose you reap what you soe ,her mother has threatened to send her back if her argumentative and rude attitude does not change she has become lazy and very uncooperative towards bot of us perhaps it is peer preasure or something i dont know but this is not the little girl i met maybe she needs to be reminded of how good she has got it ?
chris
Hi chris – Thank you. Same to you too. Sorry to hear about your step daughter’s attitude. Gosh, she really forgot the life she left behind before. Maybe a few visits here in the Philippines will open up her eyes of how lucky she is to have the good life she have now. I hear you on you and your wife’s problem. I had a friend before in the States. Her son was similar to what your daughter was doing. He forgot the life that he left behind here. My friend sent him back here for the summer, and she lets him lived with his aunt (strict lady, not married full attention on him). He was a changed young man after that.
Good luck to you Chris and your wife. Hope your step daughter change her attitude for the better.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Take care!
Hi feyma from what my wife has told me last night i think part the problem could be the age she is at if you get my understanding things are changing ,i hope that she will become better as like your friend her mother has thretened to send her back ,when she was living there she lived with her aunt who is fairly strickt as well but now my wife tells me her daughter has a boyfriend and she is grounded oh well at least it is not only our child that is giving us oldies some greif hahahaha
regards chris
Hi Feyma! You and Bob are blessed because you just love to help and to give. I miss you guys!
Hi Cathy – Thank you so much. We miss you guys too. Hope to see you soon.
Take care!
Hey Feyma!
I just sent a comment to Bob on his article and i asked him how he learned Bisaya. When you said his “teacher in Basaya” i think maybe that answered my question. I need to do the same with Tagalog, get a teacher. I have been here 3 years and still can only speak like single words pretty much.
I also have a lot to say about poverty here and how to help. I will put that into an upcoming article. I just want to say that i admire you guys for the help you have been giving.
And then you talked about cookies! ah i miss home baked cookies! With no oven here can’t make them. But it was always one of my favorite things during the holidays. I can smell them now: Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, Sugar Cookies, Pecan Butter Balls, Cinnamon Cookies! Now i am getting hungry again!
What kind of cookies did you make?
Thanks for the tip about Rabbit Year! I didn’t know that. I think i will stock up on some rabbit figurines and the like to sell in my wife’s store, and eat a lot more carrots also.
Happy Bunny Year!
POPS