By Lauren V. Macaraeg #LaurenMacDoodles
Mama Uni & I enjoyed a birthday dinner treat with Mark – the QMC street kid who treated me to blue cotton candy – last February 22, 2018 at Tropical Hut 🍭🎁🎂👧🤴👸🐈🍗❤🍨 We finally found Mark after four times of searching at Quezon Memorial Circle, with the help of God, Kuya RJ the cotton candy vendor & your prayers. We invited Mark on the spot to have dinner with us, since we weren’t sure when we would see him again. It all worked out for the best even though we ended up with a simple birthday celebration instead of the birthday outreach & gift distribution (slippers courtesy of Tito Lito & Tita Emily) we were originally planning to have for Mark and the other street kids during my birthday month. My mom & I were able to really talk to Mark and get to know him better since he was our only guest. We discovered that this kind-hearted & generous boy’s birthday was February 4! We were only planning to celebrate Mark’s spiritual birthday (I shared the gospel with him last December) along with my physical birthday, but it turns out we’re both February babies. Galing!
Thanks to the Lord Jesus for orchestrating everything so perfectly and for making us cross paths with Mark again and again in His perfect times. Thanks to Him also for knowing me better than I know myself. The truth is, I acquired a trauma of organizing outreaches a few years ago (long story). I already feel that I am much better, but I realized during our dinner that reaching out to one or a few people in depth, instead of large crowds, is what I can handle – and what my hearts wants to do – at this point, now that I am still in the process of healing physically and emotionally. Thanks to God because He allowed us to take time in finding Mark… siguro para mas madalas kami mag-exercise ni Mama. HAHAHA! 💃👟🍲🐱🌱📚🌞
Thanks to Mark for inspiring and encouraging us with his warm, generous, selfless heart. If you read my early Live4Infinity posts, you might remember that Mark unexpectedly treated me to blue cotton candy back in December 2017. I was simply blown away because he, who had so little, found it in his heart, to give something precious to me, whom God has blessed with so much. During our birthday date, Mark surprised me and my mom with his selflessness again when he said he wanted to give away the rest of our birthday cake to the man who was begging outside the restaurant. Grabe, this might probably be the only time Mark ever had his own cake with his own name in his life… and he didn’t think twice of giving it away! I honestly doubt if I would do the same if I was in the same situation. We appreciated his generosity so we gave food to the man he was concerned about. However, we encouraged Mark to bring the box of cake with him after we parted ways so he would have something to share with his other friends, whom he was going to meet afterwards. When we ate the cake after dinner, we made sure to leave untouched the part with Mark’s name on it… and Mama Uni made sure to slice up the part with my name on it first. 😂🎂😜 HAHAHA! 😂 Mark even giggled because he ate the “Lauren” part. Lol! Seriously, I don’t mind. I can’t count the birthday cakes I’ve had over the years. Plus, it’s all for the sake of this thoughtful kid! We were amazed at Mark’s thoughtfulness: As we glanced at the Tropical Hut menu, he told Mama Uni and me to just buy him kung ano yung mura na meal para wag kami gumastos ng malaki. His only request and lambing was halo-halo for dessert. And even though he has a hard time remembering my name and the names of other adults, he still remembers that I like blue cotton candy. “Favorite mo yun, di ba!” he proudly told me. Although Mark is admittedly untrained in table manners at times, which is understandable given his background, he still has one of the noblest hearts I know.
Thanks to Tita Emily & Tito Lito for always being supportive & encouraging, not just of my Live4Infinity Life Project, but simply of Mama Uni and me as persons too. Thanks for offering to sponsor slippers as gifts for the street children. Even if we weren’t able to hold a big outreach this February, we still plan to distribute slippers to the kids in QMC in April. Even if it’s hard to gather the children all together, we can still go around and just give the slippers one by one to the kids we will see. God bless your generous hearts!
With my second parents, Tito Lito & Tita Emily, and my Mama Uni 👧 👸 ❤🤴👸 12.03.2018
Thanks to Kuya RJ, the kind cotton candy vendor who helped us find Mark. When he spotted Mark in the underpass as he was going home, he immediately told Mark to go to QMC because we were looking for him. He even texted us right away so that we would know! And speaking of perfect orchestration, Kuya RJ is actually the same cotton candy vendor from whom Mark got the blue cotton candy he gave to me last December; he was the same vendor where I bought blue cotton candy on the same day we treated Mark to dinner; and as I found out that night from Mark, he was the same vendor who also treated Mark to cotton candy sometimes. God bless Kuya RJ’s helpful & generous heart!
Thanks to Ate Sally, the friendly lugaw stall owner, for also trying to help us look for Mark. And for giving Mark and the boys free eggs during our visit last December!
Thanks to the staff of Max’s Restaurant, where we bought the birthday cake, for gamely allowing me to borrow their lighter and bring it out for a while so that we could light the candle.
Thanks to Tropical Hut for being a cheerful venue for our simple birthday dinner.
Thanks to my awesome Dgroup sisters & friends who were so enthusiastic in voluntarily offering to help out with my mini birthday outreach for Mark and the QMC street kids: Ate Juliet, Ate Carol, Alice and the rest of Juliet’s Baby Bears Dgroup. Although my mom & I thought it best to attempt this particular project on our own because the street kids’ appearances were so unpredictable and we didn’t want others to go to QMC knowing that we can’t guarantee the children will be there, we are very touched by your kind offers. We were super encouraged & heartened by your interest & willingness to help during the times when it was discouraging because of the difficulty – and even what seemed to be the impossibility – of finding Mark and the other kids. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely take you up on your offer someday when God gives me the strength again to organize a big outreach with an official institution, where it will actually be possible to schedule a time with the kids. Your friendship is a gift from God!
With our Juliet’s Baby Bears Dgroup 2018 🐻❤🎂 02.20.2018 & 03.06.2018
Thanks to my Mama Uni for everything! My mom not only supports my wishes and plans to make other people happy, mas passionate at masipag pa siya sa akin tungkol dito. She’s not just my mother and my best friend, but my comrade as well. Even if we bully each other sometimes lol.
Thanks to Cutie the Cat for being her awesome self. Kahit na makulit ka, you give us a lot of smiles and make us want to make others smile too. 🐈❤🐱
Last but not least, thanks to everyone who has prayed that we will find Mark & to all who have shown interest or concern about our QMC personal projects and adventures. Answered prayers!
And I can’t help thanking You again, Lord, for all the surprises you have in store for us. And one of the best surprises is beautiful hearts in unexpected places, in simple people in simple places.
Happy, Happy Birthday to Mark and me! And to Mama Uni at si Cutie the Cat siyempre. Every day is your birthday 🍭🎁🎂👧🤴👸🐈🍗❤🍨
PHOTOS FROM MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018 (02.22.2018) 🍭🎁🎂👧🤴👸🐈🍗❤🍨
Mark & Lauren’s Birthday Burst Shots by Mama Uni 🎂👧🤴👸
SAME DAY: BEFORE MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018 (02.22.2018) 💃👟🍲🐱🌱📚🌞
SAME NIGHT: AFTER MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018: WELCOME HOME BY CUTIE THE CAT 🐈❤🐱 (02.22.2018)
HOW IT ALL STARTED: BEFORE MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018
My first time to meet Mark and the boys 🍭🤴❤ Banana Turon Bonding & Gospel Sharing (& a random TV appearance at KMJS lol) (12.01.2017)
Mark unexpectedly treated me to blue cotton candy 🍭🤴❤ (12.01.2017)
My second time to see Mark! Lugaw Night & Gospel Sharing w/ Mark & the boys 🍲 (12.06.2017)
QMC BIRTHDAY SEARCH FOR MARK: 4 TRIES: BEFORE MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018 💃👟🍲🐱🌱📚🌞
Part 1: Lauren: Zumba with the Titas and Titos of QMC + Book Browsing (Yes, there’s a second-hand book stall at QMC on weekends! Kuya Roland’s book stall is near the fountain) (01.20.2018) 💃
Part 2: Lauren: Plant, Herb & Flower Appreciation + Walk-jog + Outdoor Gym (02.04.2018) 🌼
Part 3: Mama Uni & Lauren: Lugaw Night (Ang bait pa ni Ate Sally, the owner of the lugawan) + Walk-jog + Outdoor Gym (02.15.2018) 🍲
Part 4: Mama Uni & Lauren: Blue Cotton Candy Night (sold by the helpful vendor, Kuya RJ) + Walk-jog + Outdoor Gym + MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018 + Welcome Home by Cutie the Cat (02.22.2018) 🎂
“My birthday theme for 2018 is #MyFavoriteThings. It may not be obvious, but I have struggled with birthday blues ever since I was a kid. When I was a child and a teenager, I allowed myself to be swept away by the annual birthday blues, while my mom, my relatives and friends all valiantly and patiently tried to cheer me up each time my birthday comes around (and forced me to celebrate with them lol!). As I grew up into an adult and as I grew closer to God, I myself did my part to battle the birthday blues by trying to cheer up other people on my birthday and also by doing the things I like. Yet even if it may not be obvious, it’s still a struggle almost every year, although being more proactive has helped a lot. Some of my personal cheerleaders are still by my side, while some are now far away or are busy or have their own lives and challenges. I am thankful for all of them and how they helped me when I couldn’t help myself. I know they will all be proud of me that I am now trying to help myself too, while acknowledging that I can’t do it totally by myself at the same time. This year, as I try with the Lord’s help to heal and recover from physical and mental challenges alike, I deliberately simplified my birthday in line with my #Live4Infinity #LifeProject. I also intentionally chose to spend time with my favorite hoomans and cats, to do my favorite activities, and to surround myself with my favorite things. I am also trying to relax and chill more. I want to celebrate and appreciate the things that make life beautiful and interesting, not just on my birthday, but in the days to come.
“MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018” is PART 7 of 10 of #MYFAVORITETHINGS Birthday Series. I pray that this series will encourage others who may also struggle with birthday blues.
Thanks again to everybody for your birthday greetings. Thank you even more for being part of my life, my family and friends. Even if I may not see you or talk to you that often these days, I am grateful for each and every one of you and for the role you played in my real-life story and for the role I played in yours, then and now. We love you all!
Flying cat kisses from Lauren, Mama Uni and Cutie the Cat 🐈❤😻”
“In Your presence is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11) #Psalm1611
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#Live4Infinity #LifeProject by #LaurenVMacaraeg #LaurenMacDoodles 🌟 : “MARK & LAUREN’S QMC BIRTHDAY TREAT W/ MAMA UNI 2018 (PART 7) #MYFAVORITETHINGS” (February 22, 2018). Written on 03.19.2018 🍭🎁🎂👧🤴👸🐈🍗❤🍨
#Birthday #QMC #Search #BirthdayTreat #Outreach #MiniOutreach #2018 #KidsAtHeart #AmazingGrace #LaurenMacScribbles #LaurenMacKulit
#ProjectTIME: #MyFavoriteBeings #Mark #QMCStreetKids #Friends #Family #Dgroup #SelfDate #ADateWithMyself #LaurenAndMamu #MamaUniAndMe #MamaAndMe #PapaBoyAndMe #LDRBonding #PattyThePinkPoodle #CutieTheCat #Cutie #Love #LoveIsSpelledTIME #GodWithUs 🐈❤🐶
#ProjectHEAL: #MyFavoriteThings #Exercise #Fitness #FoodieFun #Nature #Books #BookwormBites #GeekyJoys #Cats #Dogs #Animals
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