Monday, August 31, 2020

How this Year started?

Let me recall......

2020 actually started with major devastation in some parts of Australia of the huge bush fire. A lot of attention and funds poured into the country. Homes, livelihood, flora and fauna suffered from this. It was definitely the result of the global warning enough to cripple the country.

It was a year that we look forward as a family because Nedz is getting married! I had to cut short my parent's trip here in Sydney so we could all fly back to Philippines. But didn't come seamlessly as Mt Taal's eruption threatened our flights. And my fellows in Philippines suffered a lot of this experience--- their livelihood, and their lives.

Nonetheless our flights were not affected and we flew via Singapore as planned. Had a very short catch up with our Sg friends that we haven't socialized in ages! Oh, how we missed Singapore! We had good 5 years of memries as a family in the country ( i will prolly right something about this stop over.)

So, here's the wedding that my sister conceptualized, we planned and executed.
                                                                         
                                                                         Nothing fancy, just LOVE!



That day was very humid, I think we all soaked in our sweat while we were dancing but the most important thing is the good LORD blessed us with the grace of marriage that day.  And I can only pray and hope that my sister and brother in law will tackle this journey with openness and in pure desire to be each other's shoulder.  When one is weak, the other had to take over.








Had Nedz and Cyril executed this ceremony in July as originally planned, we wouldn't have witnessed this day.

Believe it or not, this was probably the major positive memory I had of 2020.  We had a good start and I still am hoping badly that human lives will recover from these tragedies of 2020.

Overall, a difficult year for all of us!


Thankfully, we had a very good start of 2020 to hold on to, sealed with a KISS!






Friday, April 24, 2020

APPRECIATION

of the small things often the ones we neglect but the ones that truly made me happy these days.

Thank you for the quiet morning without the pressure to rush. The mornings that I could soak in the bounty of the days that passed and what's to come! A time to stay quiet and ponder.

So, on the morning of today, I opened the blinds in my bedroom and saw the glimmer of the sun, I can already tell the sun is going to shine pretty!

I was tempted to think of the agenda at work but I resisted it but instead decided to start the day listening to a talk from Dr. Shefali, an inspirational speaker which I started to follow recently. I was captivated to say the least and was planning to continue listening another session within the day.

I had to start the zumba immediately after the session I listened to , so I have enough time to get my coffee and go for my 8am meeting. Today is Friday by the way, end of week and I am usually creative on Fridays :-) and also today, I have focused on things that I am thankful the most;

- that I have a job and that it enables me to take care of my children while earning

- that I am not away from my children in this unprecedented times

- that my heart is CALM and my temperament is STABLE

- that my husband loves me

- that I am capable of realizing my limitations, my mistakes and what I can and cannot change



a Special privilege for 15 years....


A very late post indeed but in September 2019, Cheyenne turned 15.


Sʰᵉ ᶦˢ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ Rᴀʀᴇ Oɴᴇs...
ˢᵒ Eғғᴏʀᴛʟᴇssʟʏ Hᴇʀsᴇʟғ.
ᵃⁿᵈ ᴡe ᒪOᐯᗴ ʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ


She never demands, she don't overdo things, she thrives on simplicity BUT---make sure she has her skincare products, ELSE.

In short, she is never LIKE me and I love that, because I want her to be who she is,  not because I am her mom.  I am merely a vessel who brought her up and would strive hard to be the parent she needed.



I am truly grateful to God, He allowed me to become your mother. I know that a lot of wonderful surprises is in store for you in the future and i can't wait to see your eyes glitter when you feel most happy! 



It was a cold September morning on the 11th of September 2019, a winter's tail.

Thank you for coming into our lives! 






As we enter April 2020.


All these commotion started last month here in Straya but earlier on other parts of the globe.
The virus killed 88k of people around the Globe in a very short span of time.
As of this writing, there are 1.6M people infected , 330k recovered globally. These are mere numbers, I became dumb of this for sometime now and I felt like the past days were a blur. I have stopped looking up on news trying to live normally.

Living life to the fullest daily has become a struggle, when the future is uncertain. I know, I am asked to keep positive, but I cannot pretend it is business as usual. So , these pendulum of emotions haunt me- I am either very happy, or panicky, I cannot focus on tasks at hand and easily I get distracted.

So, took me a bit of time to gather my senses and re-focus as I was on denial for 4 weeks. Thought this is just a nightmare but looked like this is going to  be our new normal and whilst we grieve of the past, we also are hoping for better days.

So, I am going to keep my days entertained whilst waiting but also progressing on my acceptance in a way.

Let's start with this Q&A , inspired by instagram @abideph:

THINGS THAT I HOLD DEAR:

An ordinary object that I find beautiful: 

my newly re-potted plants as they thrive

A sight or sound that makes me smile: 

the voice of my children talking while taking out the dishes from the dishwasher
high-pitched Kylene and soothing, calm voice Cheyenne

A person who inspires me.

Dr. Shefali www.DrShefali.com
I have seen her talk twice until today and plans to listen to her talks more

A song that calms me

This song from Mama Mia OST, Our Last Summer

A phrase that makes me feel hopeful

we are allowed to grieve

A glimpse of spring in Amsterdam last year visiting Van Gogh!





Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Kylene is 6! ( wot???)


Kylene turned 6 in August 23, 2019

No BIG parties but our HEARTS are HUGE with these CELEBRATIONS!
Thank you God, for this year of health, happiness and laughter! 

2019 was a year to bring back what matters most.  Simple and memorable.
I find it really special that we spend those important days of our lives together.

No fuzzy preparations. All energy and attention to "us"
We played 'shato' in the park and did some crafts!
It turned out to be beautiful!

Happy , cheerful , You!
My Kylene, I thank God you came into our LIVES!





Happy Birthday song on this link!

Throwback!
Cheyenne's 10th birthday post here



Monday, February 17, 2020

I LOVE being your MOTHER

I wouldn't want anything more than being here with you as your MAMA. I will not apologize for not always being 100% NICE because I can't 😁,

BUT here's what I could promise.

- I will strive hard to  be someone you will look up to that means I will be a better version of myself everyday

- I will show to you that you cannot rely on your own abilities alone and that you have to call on God in all circumstances
- I will let you experience difficulty and let you find ways to cope with it 

- I will be quiet and still when you need me to. I will not nag when not needed. ( i will try)

- I am your safe place, come to me.


I will let you live independently in this LIFE.  I will not be over-hovering you but I will LINGER around you so that you know I am near.  Call on me and find comfort with my company.

I LOVE YOU my dearest daughters. 

OPEN my HEART and you will see HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO ME! 

( Chy & Ky in South Korea - April 2019)

2009 to 2019!

I haven't written. Blame it to social media. How our lives are dictated by it, I hate it!
I am seriously thinking on how I could separate myself of this unhealthy lifestyle of browing insta and fb. I have to admit, It is not a healthy habit.  It is killing my productive time.

I should say, blame it on me.  But I am kind to myself giving myself time to move away from it slowly. DISCIPLINE is Key!

But this entry is a culmination of our 10 year journey since we got our Australian visa. It is an important turning point of our lives actually and has to be written because whenever I look back at it, I can't help but to be immensely GRATEFUL.


Let's rewind to October 2009, when we got the Permanent Visa which is actually some 3 months after we got our Singapore PR visa. Boom! So God, didn't give one, he granted us two. Choices that are equally good and we have to pray a lot of his Enlightenment to be able to Decide.  Looking back, either choices were good and after careful thoughts, we decided to move to Australia..


January 21, 2012. Flew to Sydney to start a new journey.  Eventful journey to say the least. And we are definitely blessed with friends, kindness from strangers, health, jobs, and many other things  that God showered to us for our journey to be successful. He gifted us with wisdom, courage and a new child in 2013.

August 23, 2013. Along came Kylene. Our addition who definitely commanded our world. She was born brave but loud :-)

Cheyenne on the other hand is very much a driven child, focused and enjoying the lifestyle we have.  We drive around Australia and we enjoyed the great Straya outdoors!

August 2014. Flew to Philippines for Kylene's first birthday! She looked very tiny, frail and sickly as a child.  She had eczema and has issues sleeping.

September 2015. Moved to Seven Hills, our new dwelling. Yet, another journey.  Thank God for surprises along the way. We have afforded this house and many others because this was the year when the real estate market was high and we sold our old property at a growth price that we couldn't imagine after only 3 years of holding the properly. Another surprise that kept us astounded!

December 2016. Cheyenne graduated primary. She is moving up to a secondary school that she dreamed of.  We couldn't have afforded it but oh my God! She was a granted a scholarship, holy moly! Lord, bless my children!

April 2017.  This was the first bucketlist trip where we thought splurging a bit is OK. So, we took a helicopter ride over Queenstown and landed on glacier. It blew our mind.

January 2018. This is not an easy year to start especially for me but I decided to Fight on and be HAPPY, no matter what. It was a battle well fought!A positive breakthrough happened as well.  Thanks to a friend who helped me along the way!

2019. Is a BIG, BRIGHT year!
          We traveled to Europe! It was like a DREAM! The 4 of us, having the time of our LIVES in      London, Paris, Antwerp, Amsterdam & Prague! I have to write more deets of this trip so my kids can read on in the future!


God's grace is AMAZING. His FAITHFULNESS lives. His PRESENCE in us is FOREVER!



Chuck & Yen, 40.
Cheyenne, 14
Kylene,5



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