Always keep a little prayer in your pocket . . .

In my youth I've had a few rap-rhyme compositions I've kept for myself. That was when I was into hip hop & rap music (not the explicit/dirty ones though, just the clean ones... I was already an LDS then). So when I met Pam, I was so excited I wanted to compose one for her. But then I realized she was a lot more special than that, so I didn't. Instead, I made her something else with a little extra sprinkle of love from the heart.

Today, I'd like to bring her back in time - almost 16 years ago. March 9, 1993 when she gave me a love note that I've kept in my wallet ever since. It's been folded three-way and unfortunately the 2 sides that has been exposed all this time is now mostly unreadable. No, 2/3 of it has not been 'sealed'. It has faded enough over time so that much of it is hard to read. The part of it that has been folded inward though is still pretty clear. It's actually the bottom part and it reads, "Please never change, if you do, make sure it's for the better." At that time I thought, "Now there's my first commandment from my future wife!"

Anyway, as I went home that night I wrote down my thoughts at the back of her note. I know I have shared this to her the next day we were together, but today I'd like to rededicate this to her. It is a special prayer I made for her that I still keep w/ me in my wallet, even now. These may be simple words, nevertheless, straight from the heart...

"Heavenly Father up above
I come before thee so much grateful for thine love.
At times I wonder how loving thou art
For even with my weaknesses thou art never apart.
I know I have offended thee many a times
And today I pray that thine mercy be mine.
I thank thee Dear Father for blessings thou hast bestowed
Through which thine compassion I behold.
Most especially Father, for blessing me
With the girl I've been waiting for patiently.
Pamela has been one of my greatest blessings from thee
And I pray that thou would bless her everyday for me.
Guide her & protect her wherever she may be
And bless her to know of my love for her with all sincerity.
I pray Father that thou would help me to be
The kind of man she wants of me.
But most of all, that I may always be
Worthy for the love she has for me."
- elmer poquita 09Mar93

A line from a song once said, "Always keep a little prayer in your pocket and you're sure to see the light..." I do have a prayer in my pocket, only this time I'm not just grateful for Pam but also for our son Edric.

Happy Valentines Pangga!

Looking forward while enjoying the past...

As we have crossed into 2009, we look back to beautiful memories from the year past and build on them as we look forward to another year of making more wonderful memories with family and friends and another year of overcoming life's challenges.

ho ho ho!

I've read about Baby Mickey, Baby Donald, Baby Goofy, Baby Pluto & other Baby Disney Characters from Edric's books... now here's Baby Santa - on training with his reindeer (Cousin Jhalen). He also says, ho ho ho (notice, still in lower case).

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas Tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. 

by Burton Hillis

He's Flounder, He's a dino,... and He's having fun!

We had two costumes for Edric at hand so we thought it best to utilize them before he outgrows them next year. Flounder (from 'The Little Mermaid') was a gift from his cousin LJ and the dinosaur a gift from Pam's friend.

Oct 24 - Trunk or Treat at Church

Halloween activities at church have always been fun and this year was no exception. Edric went as Flounder. We also enjoyed watching some very nice trunk decorations as we went about trunk or treating. From there, we drove straight to New York to visit & spend the weekend w/ family.

Here, with friends Dawn & Rachelle (w/ her son Blake, the cutest bat in town)

Oct 31 - Trick or Treating

This time Edric was a dinosaur. He wore it at their Daycare Halloween Party earlier in the day and then later in the night with Daddy & Momma bringing him to doorsteps with his basket. In the pictures are; Aaron Michael (Scooby), Annika (Minnie Mouse), her brother Drew (he was a zombie but took off his custome w/ this shot, he was Darth Vader last year when Edric was Yoda), don't mind the headless chaperon (hey, it's Halloween - what'd ya expect!) w/ Edric & Yasmina the pretty pirate daughter of our friends Darren & Angie. At times Edric took his arm off from Daddy's hand to run around the empty neighborhood streets, stumping & roaring like the dino that he was. I think he had more fun this year. Like last year we also ended up at the McVickers where we enjoyed a nice time w/ their family on their driveway and of course Ken's warm & delicious soup. We also brought our bowl of goodies w/ us so trick-or-treaters got two treats from two families.

As for me, late last night when everyone else had gone home after getting their treats, I decided to get up and wandered around the streets to see if I could find my friend Casper... and maybe some left over treats that kids (or other creatures) may have dropped earlier.

Boy, when you're tired... YOU'RE TIRED!!

June 7, 2008: It was his nap time around 2:30PM when Edric was climbing to his bed and halfway just fell asleep. Exhausted after having played with Daddy the whole time since morning - a classic example of; "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.". You think he's tired, you should see Daddy. Nah, you won't see that picture here though...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

"Life does not come with an instruction booklet, that's why we have Fathers."

Here For You

I Live My Life For You

Not A Day Goes By

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

"Equally important to the head of the family is the heart of it."

A New Day Has Come

You'll Be In My Heart

What dreams may come...

Edric loves to play with all kinds of things. His favorite are his toy cars, but sometimes he enjoys playing his basketball too...


WINNING IT ALL!

Ako'y isang Pinoy... Bisdak pa gyud!

April 13, 2008

We had a wonderful Stake Conference at Church this afternoon. We attended the one in Christiana (where we used to go before we moved down to Smyrna). It may be farther than Dover but it was nice to see old friends.

A little after we got home, Edric went to the corner of the living room where we have a small glass cabinet for Pam's little ornament decorations. Among all the figurines there, he distincly picked up the small 'jeepney' souvenir we included as decoration. He was not playing that before because it wasn't numbered among his toys but I guess his 'barong tagalog' unveiled the Filipiniana spirit in him. As of this time that's as close as he can get to a jeepney but we'll make sure he'll have his chance to be in one sooner or later. Bisdak gyud ning bataa!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. by Burton Hillis

"Rings and jewels are not gifts but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of yourself."
by Ralph Waldo Emerson