All posts by Reah Padla

Ready for school, Noah?

Noah's Ark

I’ve been meaning to buy my baby a small backpack with wheels to work as a luggage. I want to teach him how to haul one because I can see the three of us traveling a lot in the future. Haha! And since he’s getting bigger and heavier each day, I’ve been having a hard time carrying him, his stuff, and my bag whenever we’d go out without the daddy.

More often than not, Noah wouldn’t walk and would always like to be carried. I though maybe this mini-luggage would get him to walk and bring his own bag. Apparently, my plan failed. He did enjoy at first but he still chose to be carried. He made sure though that mommy would also carry his bag. Sigh….:/

Photo was taken during our church’s Father’s Day celebration. He looked like a little boy getting ready for school. His outfit was even perfect for school! Parang uniform lang. 😀

Stolen

Random

bike theft

Ever had something stolen from you?

Something happened early Monday morning at our compound. A sports bike was stolen from my neighbor’s gate at around 3 am. I am aware of akyat-bahay gangs but never did I imagine that I will be a victim. Well, it’s not really me and the item was not really my friends’ Ying and Marco’s property. A friend of theirs’ asked to have his expensive bike be parked there for the meantime while he’s on a trip. I’m just almost a victim because it was stolen right under our noses. As in the thieves were less than 20 meters from where my friend Aileen and I were seated.

At 12:00 midnight, Ying went to our house, together with her dog Chewey, for our regular midnight chika. My boys were already asleep and she just got home. At around 3 AM, the dog went to our door and started barking. Ying just told Chewey to stop and be quiet. I heard the sound of a gate being opened thinking it was Marco. At such hours, I’m used to still hearing or seeing him outside to meet some of our neighbors. We didn’t notice anything unusual.

And then after around 10 or 15 minutes, Marco called for Ying and said the bike was stolen.What?! We hurried outside and saw that the gate was opened. I couldn’t believe it! Our next-door neighbors have been robbed while we were busy exchanging life stories. How did it happen?? Their lights were turned on, the car was parked outside, and our light inside the house was also turned on. It was obvious that people were still awake and yet the thieves were able to destroy the gate and get the bike. They even tried to open the main door. Fortunately, nothing was stolen from inside.

Marco, Aileen’s better half and the trusted, go-to guy in our compound, heard the sound of their gate. He thought it was Ying finally coming home. After a while, he realized no Ying came up and asked wondered what could be taking her so long. It was really weird. And then he saw the door was wide open, went out to see the bike gone, and the main gate which they don’t usually open, also wide open.

After calling us, Marco called the Barangay Tanod guys he knows and within a few minutes, they came. They tried to survey the area for the thieves with a black bike but to no avail. Perhaps they’ve already gotten away or have hidden somewhere near. We don’t know. The bike was never recovered. They even asked the nearby gas station if someone tried to have his bike tires vulcanized because the tires wire flat.

I woke up my husband Joshua to share the news. He was completely shocked. I asked him to come down but he couldn’t leave the baby. I just gave him his phone (just in case something happens) as I will be staying outside with my friend.

Ying and I checked how it happened. We were able to figure it out. I’m not going to illustrate how because it’s kind of difficult. The thieves didn’t destroy anything except for the tiny metal welded on top. They were clearly experts. They could be surveying the gate and the bike days before. These were no amateurs I tell you because one won’t be able to figure out how to open the gate unless he’s seen it a dozen times.

And the time of the crime? Man, I got scared thinking they could be watching our moves. You see, being the night owls that we are, we are still up and very much alive at those hours. The thieves were probably watching us: Ying went inside our house with the dog and since Chewey was known to be a mean barker, the thieves took the opportunity. The sound of the gate they’d be producing was normal. And the probability that we (my friend and I) would hear something but think it was just the neighbors…etc.

I stayed with my friend inside their house for a while. My husband couldn’t get back to sleep and was bothered so he went outside to check on us.

We were shocked. We couldn’t stop analyzing what just happened. We were thankful though that nothing happened to us and that only the bike was stolen.

I went home and tried to sleep at 5am but it took me an hour. Joshua stayed downstairs.

The next day, we could hear their gate being fixed. As for us, we started to use the padlock again. Between me and my husband, I’m the one who’s more OC checking on the doors, locks, and windows but since that incident, Joshua checks the gate before going to sleep. He even wants to buy a baseball bat just so we’d have something to hit the thieves or whoever with. Just in case…

We’ve learned a few lessons:

1. Make sure the gate has padlock or is chained. Even if you live in a gated village, you’ll never know when crooks would strike. For a few years, Josh and I live inside a very secure village in Makati. We were not used to locking our gates and doors because it was that secure. I guess it was never a habit for us.

From my husband: When it comes to a non-gated village, always assume the worst in people outside your house.

2. Even if there are chains or padlock, always lock the door! Another bike was inside the house and the thieves could have stolen that one too. Plus there’s a mobile phone and a netbook somewhere. The thieves opened the door perhaps to steal some more stuff but maybe they heard footsteps and the dog barking so they went away fast.

From my husband: You can never be too safe with padlocks and chains. When in doubt, use more.

3. Never under estimate the power of a dog barking at ungodly hours. The dog was barking near our door but we simply dismissed it. Who knew really that Chewey was sensing something strange. We were too confident that night. Or maybe just so into our chat. Some people would immediately say it’s annoying but a dog only barks that way when something is wrong or strange.

Husband: Get a good guard dog– a noisy and loud guard dog.

And some more from him:

Learn to defend yourself, just in case. A baseball bat might be your best friend.

The best burglars come when you least expect them.

The smart thief steals when you’re not at home. The brilliant thief steals when you’re at home.

We’re okay though. Thank God that we weren’t harmed. I wasn’t really worried because the item stolen wasn’t theirs or ours. But the fact that they came even when we’re home and awake, somehow scared me.

Some people may worry about our security where we live but please don’t. Asking us to move into a gated village or a condo won’t help. I believe that there is not one place in this city where one is too safe. Crimes happen wherever, whenever. To anyone. Young and old alike. The rich or the poor.

The only safe place I know is in the arms of Christ.

And with these verses from the Bible I close:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. – Psalm 18:2 (NLT)

The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen. – 2 Timothy 4:18 (CEV)

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

Photo By: Jonno Witts

Harvest Time

Faith

So many people I know are getting engaged, married, giving birth, or pregnant this year. I guess it’s safe to declare that 2011 is ‘Harvest Time’. You know, that time when mature crops are being gathered from the fields. I see this as the year for some people to finally show they are mature enough to make a decision, become man and wife, or ready to become parents.

Congratulations to those friends and family! You know who you are. ♥♥♥

“As you can see, I’m about to go the way we all end up going. Know this with all your heart, with everything in you, that not one detail has failed of all the good things God, your God, promised you. It has all happened. Nothing’s left undone—not so much as a word.” – Joshua 23:14 (The Message)

Revelation 3:16

God's Word

Eugene Patterson’s The Message version of this famous lukewarm-neither-hot-nor-cold verse is just too straightforward:

I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

May this serve as a reminder for us. It sure did struck a nerve.

Daddy

Family

“Anyone can be a father, but it takes a man to be a dad.”

Thankful to God from giving me and my siblings our daddy Pete Bunsoy, my husband his dad Tem Padla , my son his daddy Joshua, my nephew his daddy Michael Chad Visca and lolo Abraham Visca.

The next generation of BVP is blessed to have these godly men in our lives. My brother Reno Bunsoy someday, will turn out to be a great dad in God’s perfect timing because you are good role models.

Joshua, Noah, and I say this with all honesty, we love you all! ♥

joshua and noah padla

Ola!

Random

I’ll try to make this my permanent home in cyberspace. I haven’t renewed my old site (www.reah.info) so I decided to finally get this.

I had a hard a time deciding which domain to buy. And then I thought why not just blueberry010.com since I’ve been using that handle for more than a decade now.

But why BLUEBERRY010?

It was my first Yahoo ID. When I first registered an e-mail address back in 1998, some of my high school friends were using fruits as nicknames.  I joined the bandwagon. The 010, I only meant to add the 10 (ten) to represent my then crushes’ initials. Yep, crushes. Plural. 10 for J. Unfortunately, my husband Joshua wasn’t included in my crush list then. Hihi.

So yeah, I think this will be ‘HOME’.

 

God is Good!

Faith

And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ~ Romans 8:28

We should have been enjoying summer in Ottawa by now but God had other plans. By other plans I mean a promotion and four other employees will go there for training with the husband soon. God is really good! I’ve been preparing for the trip for weeks now (read: shopping) but I had to endure the pain once more of a cancelled trip. My best friend Cecille promised to fly to Canada from the US. I also thought of flying to Winnipeg to meet family and friends. I already made a schedule of our day-to-day activities while there: park and play with the little tot, cook, work, walk, explore, shop, pick up the husband, cook dinner, then work again. On weekends we would hit the tourist spots. On Sundays we’d go to a nearby Assemblies of God church.

All those and more won’t be happening anytime soon. Noah and I were denied our visas. Believe it or not, I wasn’t saddened by the news. I was pissed off! Majorly pissed off because of the fact that we were from a third world country. And you know how it’s never easy to get a visa to a first world country simply because of the previous fellow countrymen who went there and never came back. My son and I weren’t able to overcome the presumption that we will be coming back to the country or so the Canada embassy says. Fine. That, despite the official invitation from my husband’s boss, their sponsorship, the funds, documents, and more.

I cried. I asked God “Why?” For a moment, I took self-pity and hated the fact that I’m just a homemaker and a freelancer. “Maybe I should get a job”, I told my husband. “I could be earning more than you do”, I boasted. But he answered, “No, you are great. We don’t need to change that. I don’t want you to work again because I want us to be together all time and I prefer that you take care of our son.”

I cried again. I’ve been taking care of my husband and my son, running a household, all the while working full-time. Yes, I still work full-time for my boss of three years but on flexi schedule now. I’d get crazy juggling all the things I need to. I sleep late, 3 AM being the earliest, to finish my job. I’m the one doing the admin tasks for my other boss (the husband). I was the one who prepared all the requirements for the embassy and dealing with the agency—only to be refused a visa! I asked God, “Why?”. And you know what He answered during my quiet time the next day? STAY PUT.

God told me to stay put. Relax. And wait.

It’s not time for us to experience those things yet. He reminded me that my reward will come someday. It’s Joshua’s time to shine. His current job, I believe, is his breakthrough. What homebased job brings an employee to the US, Canada, and other countries for more work and training? It’s a blessing. We are blessed! Who am I to complain? I have been working at home since I left the corporate world four years ago. I get my husband’s full salary and manage our finances. I’ve got a great husband who is very supportive, loving, and one who is very hands-on with our child. We’ve got a good place to stay albeit still renting. I’ve got my family and friends. I have my husband. I have my sweet baby Noah. I have my God.

So I finally accepted. God comforted me right away by giving my husband a promotion. Hallelujah! That’s enough for me now. With promotion comes great responsibility. I know he’d be busier and that it would also mean more work for me being his Executive Assistant but I’m not complaining. God is really good!

You may not understand why things are happening in your life now. You may be hurting, suffering, or maybe even too overwhelmed with the feeling of success, remember that God has a purpose even when you can’t see it. My husband and I now understand God’s humor. We’ve seen firsthand how hurtful situations can lead to something better. We’ve finally understood how and why He’d taken us out of our comfort zones to bring us to a place where we could have a better life…to a place where we can be better utilized for His glory.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “God will not use a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” Psalm 34:18 also says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted”. It is the means that He uses mightily His people. He works more deeply within our hearts when we are hurting.

What used to be broken vessels are best for His service. I’d like to think we (my husband and I) were broken vessels made whole. We are works in Progress or “WIPs.” As WIPs, we are always inclined to come to Him always. In that sense, all of us are works in progress until the day we meet our Savior. Then, we will be complete works–Masterpieces.