Dearest Kharece (@4)

January 29, 2022

Our dearest Kharece, my favorite daughter,

Today, you are 4 years old. I promised to write you a blog letter every time you celebrate your birthday. I am happy that for the first time, January will pass and you are healthy. You did have some of the cough and colds a few weeks back but Ptr. Soh was able to manage and you are now well.

What should I thank God and pray to God about you today, Ms. Happy Pill? Well first, I thank God that you can comprehend well, even though you can not speak in sentences just yet. Two words -- mama didi, daddy pss pss pss pss, car go, bibi up, mama go, 'bay em' (short for yes labay please" and many other one word-sentences (if there is something like that :-))... are all you can manage, but we pretty understand what you mean when we just try to listen. You have weird words for many things and that's alright.

Second, we thank God because you still bring joy to everyone you meet. You are still Ms. Congeniality at church, and you give the bestest smile with a wave when they say hi or hello. At home, your laugh is contagious and my work from home is less stressful with you peeping and waving every now and then. 

Third, you can read and write letter "A". That's all you can manage so far but it is enough to thank God for. I wish I was a full-time mom, or wish I can be one, but it's just not possible yet so the residual time is all we got for me to teach you the As and the Bs, the B, you seem to hate. 

I don't have to go to your development pediatrician for assessment, because I figure, in many aspects, you are probably still in the 1.5 to 2 yo bracket, in some aspects, 3 yo. But Kharece, you are way, way, advanced in sweetness and maybe that's one big role you are made to be. You can melt even your "uyong" Kuya Khane away and your tough Dad away with your sweet gestures and pureness of love.

So as you continue in your journey in this life, my prayer is that God will continue to accomplish in you and in us, what He purposed you for, in the first place. Whether you can manage kindergarten a few years hence, or not, we will journey with you and will try our best to provide you the opportunities available. 

We so love you Kharece Ayen! We so so love you more than your "love love" gesture that never fails to incite a smile and good feeling to all the downtrodden. 

Today, I continue to pray for good development, good health, good words, any good that God has in store for you. I pray that you will reach the milestones again that God will allow you to reach in His sovereignty, grace, and mercy.  "I wish you Jesus, for when I wish Jesus, I wished you everything," goes Scott Wesley Brown's song.

Happy birthday anak.

Mama