2019

Oh and just like that it's already December 2019. 3 weeks shy before 2020 arrives.

My 2019 Word for the Year is Connect! And this year, I've done many connections and reconnections. We were back at our home church at Gatbuca Calumpit after years of growing at CCF. We still love the church but we figured it's high time to go back  and reconnect to our home church plus Caleb is more at ease at the Sunday School here because the classmates were constant and well most of them were relatives or a friend of a friend and everyone  (almost) calls me Tita Em. We also started attending the LifeClass and connected to new and old churchmates in the YMO class.

This year, Me and Alvin turned 40! Fairmont it is for his birthday but just the two of us because he was super stressed those times when his visa to UK hasn't arrived yet. And he just wanted to destress for a little while and spend some time alone with me too. After the staycation, we had a boodle fight here in the house using his new white table (that we stained with soy sauce!!!). Days after his birthday, his Visa came. Just in time for his London trip :) It was like the Lord was telling him that He the Lord is in control. To not to worry. That this 40th year, Alvin needs to know who is in control. Months past after his 40th and the same lesson keeps on resurfacing. I am thankful that my husband knows who holds his hand and I hope he knows too that I am always here to pray and support him however tough the situations may be.

I welcomed my 40th year at Hotel Kimberly, Tagaytay. It was a sweet hotel, with a cool playground,  super cold swimming pools, there were ponies, peacock, ducks, rabbits too. I was with the whold fam with Nanay Dolores. When we arrive home I had a surprise dinner with the Mariano's at Shakeys, there was a video presentation with my closest friends and family. I felt different being 40, I think it is a age when life gives you more responsibilities yet less time. It is a time also that you choose to do less of the not so important things to focus on the things that really matter. Before I turned 40, I had been struggling because I find myself with too many lost opportunities. Being a CPA, I thought maybe at age 40 I will be like an officer of a company or I will own a business - a big one or someone who can influence many or just someone who gets a big pay check. But you see I may not be an officer of a company but I am the COO of our household, I may not yet own a big business but I am starting one and by God's grace one day it will be big and it will be a blessing to many, I may not get my own big pay check but I can always get my husbands atm hahaha. If my 20year old self will see me now, I think she'll tell me this is really really different than what she thought it would be but she will look forward to adulting and becoming me because it was 20 years well spent with loads of love, of laughter and of life. Life with not just great things but with challenges here and there. I thank God, He has brought me this far. My younger self wouldnt have thought she is this tough. So yeah, cheers to more years of blessings and love. 

This year, we transferred Thea to a public school. At first, it was challenging to make her come to school but now when we tell her we are going to Teacher she gets up and go. She's now back at Habilities taking OT twice a week. We still have ABA 4 hours a week. Thea now can do laundry, fold clothes, fix the bed and fold the blankets,  fix the table. She likes the color gray, she likes her 3/4 PJ's, loves ferrero, likes baking cookies, still loves paint and painting herself.  Dear Thea, Mommy loves you a lot. I will always be here for you. I will look forward to that day that we will talk about anything we like and love and hate :D 

Caleb turned 7 this year! We had a fun fun pool party with some friends and family, those who went are with kids that Caleb knows. The bubble show made it extra fun! Dear Caleb, oh how you've grown. Almost all your teeth are permanent, you weigh like 30ish kg and that's big! You still think Mama is the most beautiful girl of all, I showed you picture of Bella Padilla and Bea Alonzo I said they were beautiful and you said you're more prettier! My mama heart melted! Yesterday, we were eating m&m's and you said you don't want to eat anymore, you said so because you think I want some more :) You still need to learn a lot of things but I know in my heart you are a good good boy with a very kind heart. 

Few days to go before Christmas! I still need to finish my Sunlife validation, my BIR requirements, wrapping gifts and buying some more, organizing family and friends get together. Hoping I won't get too bombarded with all the busy-ness of this season. I pray that we can all find time to reflect why Christmas came about. The sacrifice and the love. Been reading one chapter a day of the book of Luke. It has 24 chapters. That way when I get to Christmas day, I know very well who this Christ we are celebrating. 

I don't know if I'll be able to write again, let me greet you in advance "Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year!"

Next year's Word is Blessing! Looking forward to more blesings from above and being a blessing to many more! Cheers!