The Big 2011 Recap

I haven't been able to update this blog as much as I want to. Either I am too busy or just plain lazy. There's so many things I want to write about because there's so many things in my life worth writing about- hahaha! I do feel important sometimes, and there is this urge to share my story to the world...like me thinks people can learn a thing or two from my experiences. Lol! Feeling jud!

Warning. I will be blabbing so you may spare yourself the trouble and stop reading right now.

But Mama Inday, I know you will patiently read this so here you go...

The biggest blessing this year would have to be managing to get members of our family to come over to look after the boys and help us at home. What a big relief this has been. I've been struggling with the fact that the boys are spending so much time in childcare while Armand and I work.  You  know, the usual guilt working moms feel. I will be eternally grateful to my inlaws and my sister Ck who have shared their time with us even if it meant giving up their own plans for awhile. I owe them big time!

"P" has become my favorite letter in the alphabet. From passing Audit and Assurance and Financial Reporting to passing the actual driving exam. Never has the letter "P" sounded so sweet! This year has been a busy year of worthwhile learning, exams, acquiring life skills, readings and self-learning. My stress levels were at their highest, I think, but I can now say I am glad I made time for these things.

There's been plenty of travels this year. We've been to so many new places and revisited our favorite spots. We've done a lot of mini-vacations which I know have created wonderful memories for our boys. And the best trip was visiting the home country and spending quality time with my parents and sisters. It is my prayer that we will be given the means to visit home more often.

Work-wise, it's been a very rewarding year for the hubby and me. He's been promoted at work and would have been promoted again in barely two months but we both felt it was too soon. We have other plans for the family still. As for me, losing my other job at DC proved to be a blessing in disguise. It was a reminder that there are so many opportunities out there and it affirmed the reason why I am actually killing myself doing my CPA exams :)

As in all years past, I am most grateful that I am blessed to be a mom. It is heartwarming to see my boys grow up before my very eyes. Amazing how much they learn everyday. Rafa has learned plenty of words and phrases. I would say the best is "This one's really good!" Hahaha! Murag korek! Kuya Vince, on the other hand is now 8 and is growing up to be more like his Papa. I am both happy and a little apprehensive with that. Haha Kidding! Of course, I want him to grow up idolising his dad!

There have been bad days, too. But I choose not to dignify them here. As they say, "What you focus on multiplies." So I am only focusing on the good things.

Four days to a new year. It's time to RE-ORGANIZE, RE-CHARGE, RE-ARRANGE and RE-PRIORITIZE.

Bring on 2012!

Two Faces of Christmas

I am having mixed emotions this holidays.

I am crushed with the floods that have affected two of my homes- Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. It's been several days since it happened but I can't seem to shake off the sadness this tragedy has brought. It doesn't help that everyday, there are photos and vids of the devastation posted on Facebook. There are just so many of my friends and relatives affected that although we are so many miles away, it feels like we are there, experiencing this tragedy with our kababayans. I have spent four and a half years of my college life in Iligan and established a home in Cagayan de Oro for ten happy years. I just can't begin to imagine the devastation, much more the pain and uncertainty people have been facing back home. It is massive beyond belief. 

I watched Philippine news this morning and I am amazed and very proud of the resiliency of the victims.  I haven't seen anyone blame God. Instead, there is just gratefulness to be alive despite having lost everything and more importantly, there is hope that they will rise above this tragedy. Makes me proud to be a Filipino, really. We are truly among the happiest people in the world. Praise God for that!

And I take my cue from the flood survivors. To be grateful and count our blessings because whether the world has turned upside down around us, there is so much more to be thankful for.

Gifts under our tree this year.

I am grateful for the tremendous love in my life. Everyday, I am reminded how blessed I am to have so many people who love me- my husband, my boys, my parents, sisters, in-laws, relatives and friends. Yes, friends who are very dear, they are like family.  As cliche as it may be, at the end of day, only LOVE matters really. The rest are just a bonus. 

So I praise my God for this big, powerful gift of love. If there's one special wish I can give out to you all, it will be that all of you may have so much love in your life. Let's all spread the love. Only that makes a real difference.