Before arriving here in my hometown for the
holiday, I was praying for a meaningful and worthwhile experience with my
family. So I guess today just before the new year takes over, I got this
answered.
It's about 10 years ago when I and my mom had to
spend our new year's eve at the hospital due to her confinement over her heart
condition that time. tonight, here we are again at the hospital due to her
suffering a head injury from her accidental fall earlier this morning. We were
all worried about her sugar and blood pressure stats but thankfully the doctor
said she's now stabilizing. Surprisingly, I wasnt sad at all because to me as
long as I am with her, NYE is complete wherever we may spend it.
So along with this, I would also like to take
time to look back to my 365 grace-filled moments in 2013:
JANUARY - I along with Rodel, Monet, Heidee,
Marie Ann, Ate Wilma, Anne and Mark welcomed 2013 with hundreds of party-goers
to the Sentosa Year-end party. It's a first for me and yeah twas a good one
especially when I was with a bunch of happy people.
FEBRUARY - Every year I look forward to
start with an epic ICON experience. And true indeed, this year is another
memorable one with my girls who added more fun to it. It was also a first for
me to be part of the cast in a mini movie prepared by Singapore delegation.
This was also the month when 2 closest people in
my heart left Singapore to start their lives anew in Halifax. Then Prince Kean
happened.
MARCH - my second experience of visiting 9
churches in Singapore for the Holy Week "Bisita Iglesia". This time
it's toward north.
APRIL - had 3 of my firsts this month. One of the
highlights for 2013.
1 - To see and experience Seoul, Korea - really
beautiful. I would really love to go back there in the near future. Love
everything about the trip - not to forget the shopping for skin care and the
awesome food trip!
3 - To experience Mission for the first time.
This perhaps is the highlight of this trip grateful that I was still given the
chance to serve along with the inspiring and high-spirited MV. And oh, not to
forget I got my 4th first - first time to experience sleeping overnight in a
motel with my Couples for Christ family. Take note the taxi fetched us from the
motel to send us to church the following day. Imagine the confusion in the cab
driver's face. Haha!
MAY - Probably one of my favorite months as I got
Mama to visit me in Singapore. Since her VISA to Korea wasn’t approved then, I
promised to take her to another country. So off we went to explore and
experience Hanoi, Vietnam instead. One of the nicest hosts probably in the
world! We enjoyed Ha Long Bay and the food tasting - including the crazy
companions we had at the cruise and the shopping for cheap buys. My Mama surely
enjoyed this trip as much as I did!
On the other hand, I also had my first marathon
experience with Mel and Bell - the Nike Unleashed joined in by 8,000 other
women. I was empowered!
JUNE - We had Carr's farewell get-away #batambay.
Really enjoyed the time with my FZ girls - there never was a dull moment!
Unforgettable was the kagulo massage at Sawadika and the walang tigil na
chikahan with lamon sa bus.
This also marked the start of the Yes I had given
Him - the Yes to being the assistant DGL to 4 lovely sisters, Yani, Anne, Mikko
and Mina with mother Janice. Truly blessed to have been called for this role.
Lastly, who could forget the worst haze we
experienced in the last 5 years. Scary really. Thankfully, it didn’t last more
than 2 weeks.
The Princess Diary experience - a reminder of my
worth as God's princess that I am a mystery to be unveiled, a relationship to
be pursued and a gift to be prayed for by God's chosen knight.
JULY - The epic and unforgettable MMC! The
joyride with my FZ girls, the more intimate experiences including the workshop
"Where is the Love" - such a blessing for me to have had experienced
it with Mel, Carr and Daryl.
AUGUST - The Christian Character Weekend - a
reminder on how to be a good disciple of a Christ.
The E-heads concert with Mel and Dolf. Fun. Fun.
The Project Happy Feet Slipper Race with my girls
Maya and Tine - enjoyed the food and kwentuhan right after.
SEPTEMBER - The overall victory for eastars -
glad to be a part of the booster team!
The Zamboanga seige which lasted for almost 3
weeks. It was the hardest blow this year for me and perhaps for my fellow
Zamboangueno friends in Singapore as we had become the prayer warriors for our
families in Zamboanga. I experienced the miracles of communal prayer with the
intercession of my SFC family.
OCTOBER - Going home to Zamboanga to hug my
family after the war. It was really the shortest trip I had - 1 and a half days at home is worth every penny.
The NATCON experience - first to co-lead the
publicity team. Praise God for the success of the conference - it truly is a
working of a loving God.
The Cebu-Bohol earthquake - after the war in
Zamboanga - we joined our kababayans in prayer for the aftermath the magnitude
8 earthquake left - with sadly almost all of the historic churches of Bohol
brought down and even the chocolate hills got destroyed too.
This was also the time when I had one of my
fervent prayers answered – I got the job. Praying now that everything will ensue.
NOVEMBER – One of my happy months. I had an
awesome and fun time coming back to one of the world’s renowned Islands for its
beautiful beaches. Plus I had it with my bff Melizzah who added much fun and
memory to our beach adventure. 1 of my item in the bucket list crossed out – to
travel with my bff on an island.
Second happy happening is the wedding of my 2
dear friends: Erick and Gela and I am happy to be a part of their love story.
Aside from them, I was with more happy people to include my sweetie roomies
Beck and Vish who made my short stay in Manila really a nice experience and catch up with nay Apaule and dear Sigrid!
DECEMBER – my LOVE month.
The month started with the arrival of my Mama,
Lel and Don, my cousin. For the first time in the last 5 years, I got my Mama
to celebrate and cook for my birthday. I was delighted to have them with me and
help me pack my things up.
My Birthday – perhaps the most number of pic
collage greetings I received in years! And thanks to Melizzah! I had a number
of cakes too from my sweet friends.
The many farewell dedications – with the thought
that I will be leaving Singapore soon – a number of my closest friends and SFC
family offered me their prayers and well-wishes. I pray that it will just be a
matter of time when I can already start my life there. Not to forget that I got my entire team to watch "Frozen" movie with me. Imagine few of them don't even watch cartoons. Haha!
The coming home for the holidays – I went home
for 2 reasons – to be at my sister Cat’s church wedding and to spend my
Christmas and New Year with my family before I leave for Toronto. I am truly
grateful for every moment as we were complete here as a family once again.
I also had the chance to spend my time with my kids to Jollibee. It's always been heart-warming to see their smiles and genuine appreciation.
I also had the chance to spend my time with my kids to Jollibee. It's always been heart-warming to see their smiles and genuine appreciation.
The passing year indeed brought me hundreds of
miracles and blessings. It added Wisdom, Joy and Gratefulness in my heart.
And with this gratefulness in my heart, I am now
ready to embrace what God has prepared for me in 2014.
With all these Lord, I praise You and I thank
You! :)
