A Must Read Story: The Boy and The Apple Tree

Let me share this must read story about a boy an apple tree.

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow.. he loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by.. the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. ‘Come and play with me’ the tree asked the boy. ‘I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more’ the boy replied. ‘I want toys. I need money to buy them.’  ‘Sorry, but I do not have money.. but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.’ The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited ‘Come and play with me’ the tree said. ‘I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?” Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.’ So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. ‘Come and play with me!’ the tree said. ‘I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?’ said the man. ‘Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.’ So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years. ‘Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you’ the tree said. ‘No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite’ the man replied. ‘No more trunk for you to climb on’ the tree said.  ‘I am too old for that now’ the man said. ‘I really cannot give you anything.. the only thing left is my dying roots’ the tree said with tears. ‘I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years’ the man replied. ‘Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest.’ The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears..

When I read this story, I was touched. It's the story of everyone and the apple is tree is like our parent. When we were small we love to play with our mother and father. They are our world. So true because I am seeing that now with our son.

Then we grow older and have our own world that we often forget our parents. I am guilty as I look at my mother. I regret the days when she was still young and lively but I have no time for her. I am busy building my life that I forgot the person whom I owe who I am now. I know I cannot pay all her sacrifices for us but I hope she can feel how much I love her. And even if she can't recall my name, I promise to be with her until her last breath. 

I hope this story reminds you also that yes, our parents will always be there for us. But don't forget that they are getting old and time will come that we will not find them at the place where we always leave them. Make them feel our love and give them our time. For we cannot tell what tomorrow will be.

Love Your Parent Quote via Pinterest

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First Aid When Children are Vomiting + Stomach Flu

Our little boy got sick last week. It's his usual sickness na vomiting followed by low grade fever. Sakit na nya yun talaga. Maybe he had eaten something that his stomach didn't like. It's been almost 6 years na may ganitong eksena pero kahit sabihin kong sanay na ako, hindi pa din pala. Kinakabahan pa din ako and I kept on whispering "Lord, please heal my son."

Ay, gising pa pala!

My son is such a strong boy talaga. Imagine muntik na nya isuka pati bituka (pasintabi po...) nya pero he still manage to smile like this.

Children are like that talaga ano? Hindi nila iniinda ang sakit, happy lang. I wish ganyan din tayong adult. Gusto pa nga niya pumasok the next day kung hindi lang sya napuyat kasi nagugutom daw at mainit, haha. I told him to rest and thank God he's not vomiting na. 

Here's a first aid when your child is vomiting non stop or when he's vomiting whatever he's eating. Blend a carrot and extract the juice. If you have a juicer much better. Little by little, let your child drink that. The carrot juice will help stabilize the acidity of the stomach to prevent acid reflux causing the vomiting. It also better to store Erceflora at home. Erceflora has 2 billions of probiotic microorganisms that can help the stomach fight the bad bacteria in there.

Usually in children, vomiting is followed by loose stools to flush out toxin or bacteria. You need to keep your child dehydrated. Feed your child the BRAT (Banana, Rice, Apple Sauce, Toast) diet. (Read: What We Should Know About Toddler’s Diarrhea)

Also, watch out for symptoms like these:

• diarrhea, 2-3 loose watery stools
• nausea and vomiting
• stomach cramps or tenderness
• chills and fever
• loss of appetite
• over-all weakness
• dehydration

Which can be signs of Gastroenteritis or stomach flu, which is caused by a virus. Also called as intestinal flu since the virus mainly affects the stomach and intestines. Symptoms may vary from one person to person but generally, Gastroenteritisis marked with loose stools. Since it's viral, there's no medicine for this except to treat the symptoms. When the symptoms get worst and unmanageable already, you should see a Doctor immediately.

Lastly, we parents know our children. Always track back their sickness history and remember the medicine or prescription from the doctor. If the sickness is still manageable don't rush to ER or to the doctor that very moment because that would stress more our children. Stay calm so you can think right.

Have a blessed weekend!

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Happy Birthday to the Most Selfless Woman in My Life

Today is a special day. As my Nanay is celebrating her 69th birthday.

Happy birthday to the most selfless woman I know. May God blessed you with more years and good health. We love you Nanay. #happybirthday #blessed #mother

Tunay nga na and mga Nanay, isusubo na lang nila ibibigay pa syo. Naalala ko noon, kapag may merienda sya sa meeting nila iuuwe pa nya sa akin. I grew up secured and loved by her. I can't thank her enough for all the things she have done for us. Wherever I am today, it's because of all her sacrifices. So now that she needed me, I promise that I will always be by her side and will never leave her no matter how many trials life will give me.

To the most selfless woman I know, happy 69th birthday. I love you now and forever Nanay!

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Doug levels up his game for Chesca this Valentines

It's February, the Love month. Already have a surprise for your special one? Well, let me give you an idea how to make a perfect surprise. Here's a video Doug of #teamkramer surprise for his lovely wife, Chesca.

Look at my early Valentine's Day surprise for Chesca! With the help of Red Ribbon, I was able to achieve this. Thanks so much! Buti na lang walang traffic on a Sunday! Hahaha! Check it out
Posted by Team Kramer on Sunday, January 31, 2016

Super kilig isn't it?

From the Press Release Kit:

The sweetest surprises come in the most unexpected circumstances.

Doug Kramer—a player in the Philippine Basketball Association who is known as GlobalPort Batang Pier’s power forward—revealed last January 31, 2016 his biggest surprise yet for his wife, Cheska Garcia-Kramer.

Cheska is a known actress, social media icon and mother to Kendra, Scarlet and Gavin. The family is widely known in the country as ‘Team Kramer.’

According to Ned Bandojo, Head of Marketing of Red Ribbon, Doug took his Valentine’s Day surprise to Cheska to new romantic heights by proclaiming his love for his wife via a 40 by 60 ft billboard along C5 Bagong Ilog Bridge in Pasig City.

“Doug found a very unusual way of showing his love for Cheska, and it is something beyond imaginable,” Bandojo said. “We, his Red Ribbon family, are really glad to be part of Doug’s pre-Valentine’s Day surprise to Cheska because this only shows how the brand complements Valentine’s.  We hope that, together with our Valentine’s Black Forest cake, we were able to bring in more sweetness to their relationship and to the whole family as well.”

Red Ribbon—one of the leading bakeshop chains in the Philippines—is set to launch on February 12,2016 its Valentine’s Black Forest Cake, a limited edition heart-shaped variant that’s made with rich chocolate, fluffy cream and juicy cherries.

“The Valentine’s Black Forest Cake allows couples to rekindle their sweetest memories on Valentine’s Day. If you want to surprise your loved one with something different just like what Doug did to Cheska, then Red Ribbon’s limited edition offering is the right one for you,” Bandojo said.

He concluded, “Surprises may come in different ways, forms and times, but it’s always for the right reason—it’s to show how much couples mean to each other.”

You can also make your loved ones’ Valentine’s day sweeter with Red Ribbon Valentine Black Forest cake which will be available from 12 to February 14, 2016.

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Goodbye January, Hello February!

Yay! One month of the year has gone already. It's the first day of February na. Super bilis ng araw. How's your January? 

So far, we had a busy yet fruitful January. Before the year ends, I received a paid campaign and blog opportunities continue to flow. Hindi naman masyadong big time but I am thankful to God for giving us other opportunities to earn. Which made me think of concentrating on blogging and be a work at home mom. BUT, we have yet to decide after Daddy's meeting with our house's developer.

Two years na lang kasi and we are done with our house's monthly amortization. If we can afford to pay the remaining 2 years now then we will decide if it's already possible to quit my job. For now, since I can both work offline and online naman, I would take this opportunity muna. Konting sacrifice na lang muna that I can't be with my son and my mom as much as I want. Soon every thing will fall in place with God's grace.

As I was saying, January was a busy month. Aside from work and blogging, ang dami namin house projects ni Daddy A. Like house repainting and gardening. Daddy had all the tools na except time, haha. But he started with his garden project na.

Last year, after I think 2 years, our Dragon Fruit yielded a fruit. Nagsanga sanga na kasi kaya wala na nutrients makuha ang mga dulo ng plants where the fruits grow out. So this time he saw na what's the right way of growing Dragon Fruit on pail or pot. Next will be growing vegetables and herbs naman at our back yard.

This January also, we started with our fitness goals to start the year right. This time, Matthew is included and he's so eager to exercise to be fit too.

I forgot to share pa pala that Matthew is now on top 4, from top 5 last year.

I can't be any prouder. Makulit pa yan ha, as in super. Because of a job well done, he deserves a treat from Red Ribbon.

Red Ribbon has Sweetipid Savers, wherein you can buy 4 cake slices + 1 for only 99 pesos. Perfect for you kids' baon with four yummy flavors: Mocha Marble Cake, Double Dutch, Choco Marble and Chiffon cake. Check out #RedRibboncelebration cakes as well. 

Speaking of celebration, this February, my Nanay will turn 69. With her condition right now, I am happy to see her eating on her own.

She's suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Patients with such disease has the tendency to lose self control and ability to grip. Kaya naman masaya na akong makita ang Nanay ko na ganito. She and Matthew are the reasons why I want to work at home. Gusto ko sila matutukan, lalong lalo na ang Nanay ako. But I know it will happen in God's time.

Yay! That's our January. How about yours? Hello Feb-ibig month!

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