Bob and I been married now for seventeen years next month. We have been blessed with 3 good looking boys. We never thought of having more babies just to have a girl. When we had our first 2 boys, we even decided that two is enough already. Our third child was unexpected. We are happy we have him though he is the funny one out of our three boys.
After living here for over 3 years in the Philippines, my mother-in-law came here for a visit. While here for a few days there was a black out here in Davao. The advisory was that the black out will last for 12 hours. Mom can’t handle without aircon so Bob decided we should go for a ride. Well the ride brought us to GenSan so that mom can at least be cool for awhile in the air conditioning of the car. We then decided to get 2 rooms at Isla Parilla Resort. One room for mom that she could rest and the other one for our us and our kids. While there we also invited my family in GenSan to come with us to the resort. At that time I didn’t notice that Jeanjean was there with her mom at my parent’s house. Jeanjean is the daughter of my sister.
Bob and his mom saw Jeanjean and she was sort of talking and playing with our 3 boys. She’s shy at that time to talk to us. Then my mother-in-law and the kids invited her to come with us to Isla Parilla. While there at Isla our boys already started to bond with her. We stayed there for the whole day. When it was time for us to head home to Davao our kids were asking us if we could take Jeanjean home with us to our house? Bob and I just look at each other for a minute. Finally Bob told me to ask Jeanjean’s mom if it would be okay for her to go with us. When I asked my sister, she said it’s okay. So we brought Jeanjean to Davao with us that day. The plan was she was just gonna stay with us for 2 weeks because school is coming up. Well, when 2 weeks came up we asked her if she wanted her mom to pick her up for her to go home. She told me and Bob that she wanted to stay with us. I guess we saw it coming because she’s already used to be with our boys and we treated her good here too. So I called up my sister and told her if it’s okay if Jeanjean will stay with us and we will send her to school too? She said okay, few days after we talked on the phone we received all her papers for her to enroll here in Davao. She was enrolled first in the private school near our house, being from a small town we want her to be used to the city first before enrolling to big school. On her second year here in Davao we did let her enrolled in Ateneo. She likes it at first but later she can’t handle the pressure and she’s not happy there anymore, we can just see whenever she gets home everyday. So we then asked her this year if she wanted to be transfered back to her old school when she first came here? She told us yes, so now shes back to her old school then. She seems happy in her school now. Like now she’s a class and a club officer too. She likes to bring some friends over during lunch time at our house to play at the trampoline. Were happy seeing her happy though.
Honestly we love her so much. We treated her like our very own child. Whatever our kids would have she will have it too. She can come to us anytime even if we are busy. Our love for her is no different than our love for our boys. She’s really daddy’s girl now. 😉 Bob will confirm that, right Hon. Every time she comes home from school she would come to our bedroom or our office and give us love and a big smile. We could never imagine our life without her.
You guys probably wonder why she’s staying with us instead with her parents. Well the father is an irresponsible dad and my sister is a battered wife. My parents took care of their other kids before too. I told my sister awhile back that she’s part of the problem. She should stand up for her kids. Oh well I can’t change her. I wish someday she will open her eyes and see what she had taken for granted. Right now Bob and I will be here to protect Jeanjean. we could never let anybody hurt her and we promised her that. We would never send her back. There are some reasons why we would not want her to go back to her parents. Sometime I will share that. Anyway, she’s not yet legally our daughter but we told her in our hearts she is already our daughter. We are thanking God for giving us Jeanjean. I hope someday she will also help others in similar situation as she is. We know she has a good heart.
Next month Bob’s mom is coming to attend her and Aaron’s (our 2nd son) birthday party. Jeanjean already told Bob tonight what she wants for a gift on her birthday. She’s kind of spoiled too. They are all excited for Granny to come and visit us here. It’s going to be a very busy day for us.
MABUHAY!!!
I’m touched with your story. This reminds me of my cousin’s husband who is irresponsible, lazy and alcoholic. I’m glad you take good care of her. By the way I’m originally from Cebu “cebuano” currently living in the US. I enjoyed reading your blog.
Mabuhay kamong tanan!
Dexter
Feyma & Bob,
Your daughter has an angelic smile. You're so lucky to have this wonderfully diverse family that has a lot of love to share.
May your family always be showered with light and love.
Warm greetings,
-Angie
What a sweet heart! She is blessed, and your is your family! It is so nice for boys to have a little sister!
Hi Everybody – Thanks for your nice comments. Yes, I do feel blessed to have Jean as part of the family. I love her so much, and I can see how much she loves me too. Sometimes when she sits down with me, or lays down to take a nap with me, I can just look in her eyes, and it is as if she is in a state of amazement that she fell into the family the way she did. I am so happy that it worked out the way that it did, though. I could not imagine having a life that did not include her. I feel such a strong love for her that it is really no different than I feel for my boys. And, she knows that too. 🙂
Hi Feyma and Bob your daughter is very nice god bless her.
Also my wife's sister is lucky of her husband. And I call the sister my wife's in Greece come to work because tell she is like
to work in grece.
regards
Wonderful article & a fascinating story, Feyma. It really shows how much you care for your family.
It's good for the soul to read some good news these days, good luck to you all especially JeanJean, when I saw the photo I just thought it WAS your daughter as there are facial similarities.
This post has got my morning off to a really nice start !!
Thanks for that,
Kind regards
Gerry
Hi Feyma & Bob,
You are truly blessed! 🙂
Thank you, Tina! I do feel that our kids really do bless our lives! 🙂
She's very cute, Feym!
Being the father of two adopted daughters from Ethiopia (as well as a bio son), I can assure you I understand the ability to love children who happen into your life.
no wonder your family is so blessed, you have so much love to give and do not think twice about sharing and welcoming people into your family 🙂
I saw a photo of your other children in one of your other blogs and they are all gwapo. Walang sinabi si Sam Milby sa kids niyo 🙂
Hi Dexter Zaf ,
Thanks for visiting our site. I studied in Cebu for college. That was way back then. 😉 What part of Cebu your from? My mom's originally from San Fernando. I'm glad you like our blog.
Hi Angie & AmericanLola,
I think that was one of the reason we are hooked to her. Her smile. We are so in love with her.
Thanks for the nice compliment.
Hi Macky,
Thank you so much.
Hi Gerry,
Lots of people say that she's my real daughter. I am really happy about that though because that's how I felt for her.
Thank you for your nice comment.
Hi Tina,
Thank you so much
Hi Jul,
I can't agree you more. She's really a pretty girl. Mana sa mommy Dhay. 😀
Hi Tom,
Yeah we got so much love to share. I'm really happy for you too. Keep it up too.
Hi Raz,
Thank you so much for a nice comment. I really appreciate very much.
Hi Feyma,
I just wanted to ask you if you dont mind re your past blog, about your friend in Gensan who built a house and you said her house is nice. I am wondering if you could give me her architect's name or site because I am going to build a house there in Davao next year. I hope you will find time to respond to me and thanks a million. Buena
Buena Oran
Not trying to jump in here when this isn't addressed generally but just for your information i had an extension done last year with a guest house and swimming pool in central park Bangkal, Davao, and the job went very well….i was pleased with our architect who was
Salvador Mascardo
808 LRA Building
Mezzananine Floor
Lapu-lapu st
Davao city 8000
Tel (082) 305-3590
sorry i lost his e mail add
hope this helps………………………
best regards