Rare Ordinary Thoughts: My Mother: Tag

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

My Mother: Tag

I find this tag so great as it gives me the chance to flaunt my mother dear! The instruction is to qrite 10 random things about your mother. So here, let me share with you who my mother is!

It's her and my missed niece Shai-shai at our home in CDO, Phils.
1. Her real name is Erlinda but she's known to most people as Ellen, proud Waray who was born in Barugo, Leyte PH, eldest among their siblings as opposed to my late father who was the youngest.

2. She bore 8 daughters and 1 son, reason why I only want 1 or 2 kids, since I'm a product of such a big family. She now has 13 granddaughters and (only) 2 grandsons! Genes of girls right here!!! (Mao nga daghan kaayo mi kay tungod sa pagpangita ug lalaki, pero bisan unsaon ug paningkamot, babaye jud ang mogawas!) Her children right now are scattered in this world!

3. She is, I consider an almost perfect mother in this imperfect world. She left us when I was a little girl to teach my father "responsibilty" when he was becoming incontrollable with his life of barkada and earthly pleasure during their marriage. Oh.. how much pain it caused us but it did taught as a lot to be independent and mature in our own way. The good thing is, they reconciled before my father died, and yes, my father's responsibilty to us did return during Mama's absence.

4. She was raised a Catholic but became a believer in Jesus Christ's Second Coming and a Sabbath-keeper as well, when she married my father because of her mother-in-law's conviction to Seventh-day Adventist Church. Up until now, she's very active in the church, doing missionary service in the DORCAS', Deaconess' and Women's Ministry Department, and has a lot of good friends at church and in the neighborhood.

5. She's a disciplinarian. She taught us hardwork and sacrifice in every way possible. Growing up not having things we wanted, she taught us about Matt.4:4, and that, we can only have things we basically needed. Now, we teach her in return to enjoy life to the fullest.

6. Like my late father, she also is a GOOD cook. I guess all of her children do cook well, too, as I often hear that as a compliment. She's always hired as a cook by anyone who needs an assistant! (Assistant lang kay di man pro!)

7. Her dream, like that of typical mothers', is to see her children successful, not only in their field of endeavour but also in their married life, and most of all, in their spiritual journey. Talk about being religious.

8. She has a sense of humor and so very emotional. Can you believe it, she sheds tears while laughing and laugh while crying?! Huh!! We do have a lot of funny moments to reminisce because she has this memory that seems to not-fade despite her growing years. Her favorite crying time is when all of us siblings reunite.

9. She's very caring. If she knows anyone who's sick, she always finds time to visit or pray for that person, and encourage that person. When it comes to her apo's, she immediately will rush to the doctor even if it's just a very minor illness. But when it comes to herself, she's not showing it off. She just pretends that she's fine.

10. She will be remembered for having 8 beautiful daughters (I just can't show you the pic as evidence, it's all at home!). She is dearly loved for being who she is.