This I give to you (pamana) and birthday week highlights

This is a 2-in-1 post today. I sort of incorporated the contents as they are related and fall into similar concepts for both memes which are equally significant to me. If you are dropping by from Mommy Moments, please scroll down. Thanks. Friday's Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story is right next -

It's probably a matter of orientation: I am used to uneventful birthdays. What I'm not used to is missing a few things. But I didn't and this week's faves are about what I'm thankful for the most:

1. Monday which was the day came and went peacefully. No issues at work, I ate what I wanted to eat, did a little shopping and I easily found the 'celebration' restaurant for tomorrow. I'm excited.

2. Greetings from good friends. I didn't expect anyone to call or email but they did and I appreciate that.

3. A promise in the sky, woot! See heaven's kiss on earth to boot.

4. Ticket to David Foster and Friends concert in October purchased with a 10% discount. My seat is not too close to the stage that I'd be having Peter Cetera's heels on my nostrils, and not too far that I'd be squinching for Natalie Cole's facial expression. I'm anticipating a lovely night with the Canadian Tenors, Ben Studdard and The Hitman himself.

5. Cj's progress. This has to be my best birthday present. While watching a second cousin fix my mother's dog's leash, he uttered, "oh, it's entangled." The other report is that he sang Into my heart and Bayang Magiliw (national anthem) by himself last night. He also minded his homework which involved reading. I like the reading part. Selective mutism now sounds a bit less daunting. Celebrating my birthday tomorrow will be yummier.

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No, I'm not bequeathing my son a bookstore. Although the idea is wonderful and if I owned one he'd naturally inherit it when I'm gone. As I am no rich Mama, Cj will just have to settle on books that I am accumulating. One goal is to instill in him a love for reading.

Not very long ago, my ex went pensive on me, "If I die suddenly there's --- for Cj from my ---. The lawyers will sort it out." I thought of the divorce mess that Cj is caught in and quietly realized, "no hon, you go pray to your Buddha while I drop on my knees to my own God and hope that our kid develops faith in a power that will help him rise above this adversity we caused him."

A long shot, I know. But despite the setback I'm banking on the value of non-material things for Cj to live a happy life he deserves.

See what Moms are passing on to their kids at The Mommy Journey.