4 years ago, we stood still

We did stood still,  made a very important decision and never looked back.

We are moving to Australia. The year was 2012. Although we got our Permanent Residency confirmed in 2009, we delayed the decision to move because life in SG was super convenient. Who wants to move from a tax haven, affordable lifestyle, traveling back to Philippines is cheap and you can get a maid!

How ironic it would be when you are willing to drop everything because you feel that it is the best thing to do for you and your family. I couldn't find a concrete reason just that gut feeling of an unexplored future. We were at that sliding door in our life - where we either succeed from it or fail.

Fast Forward>>>> 2016, and getting used to the lifestyle here! The past 4 years had passed like a bolt of lightning. We had Kylene , our second bub who brings so much joy just like her Ate. We couldn't ask for more.  Lord, we are blessed with the best in the world. Friends.  Family. Health and Australia.

There will be more important decisions to be made as we live our life here. And as a family, we stand together in traversing this LIFE joyfully , prayerfully knowing that everyday is a blessing and an opportunity to be Thankful, no matter what!

This year, we will be entitled to get the citizenship , hoping and praying will go in smoothly. There are heaps to be excited about this year. Goals would be;

- completing the CPA
- passing the driving exams
- Cheyenne's high school plans ( whether she goes to Selective or Private Catholic school)

Sussex Inlet, Feb 2016

my Cheyenne is on her last year in elementary.

I feel elated about her excitement! I am one proud mom looking at her now. In charge of herself and so much enthusiasm about life. I am beaming with mixed emotions.

Of infinite Joy- for pro-creating such beautiful soul.

of Fear- of becoming too independent that sometimes she gets really over-confident

of Gratitude - that she is such an easy little girl to manage

of Anxiety- of what lies ahead.


Dear Lord, you know what is best for us. Only in you that i entrust my family. I know you are going to guide us along the way. I love how you gifted me with children that keeps my heart so full, happy and alive! I wouldn't live this life any other way than what you have provided for today. Our life is a blessing, And everyday is a miracle.

She is back from her 2- night, 3 -day camp and she did have a ball! I am very glad she enjoyed it to the maximum!  She came home very exhausted and told me how she misses home! And now she has the best mem'ries of camp especially the love letter that made her cry. Will post it soon!

Gracy & Agie's No. 2

is coming soon.

This family had given so much inspiration to me. Yes, Heaps!
Happy to see the excitement of the roller coaster ride ahead!
Cheers to the Cellacay's !

From 2

To becoming 3 with Abie.
Trivia: Gracy was on her family way with Abie when we came to Australia. So, this little sweet kid will turn 4 soon!

And more to come for the Cellacay's beautiful family.

and beautiful friends.

and I am becoming better with this events planning thing. 

How awesome I have pulled this off with last minute planning. Oh, the jitters.

with the help of my sis of course!

C H A N G E S

Some unexpected changes did happen to us.

We changed  our address in 2015, without even planning for it. See, our God likes adventures---- I certainly got what I wanted. Spontaneous & unplanned.

We had no idea we could be selling the Richmond house - although I know it was of good value already, the property was very close to me. Quick decisions had to be made. Sell the existing property and move to the new one! As we move to our new place, I realized that a  house is indeed  a mere structure- it is actually HOME that we are building on. We thrive on each family member's strengths, hopes, aspirations and prayers.

It was not easy move. Took longer than I thought to sell the Richmond property so, for some time, we were paying helluva of mortgage and the tank ran out.But just before Christmas 2015- the settlement happened and whoaaah....what a very nice surprise to be in ! God, I know I should not act surprise about me being so pampered and loved. But I am astounded of the amount of HUGENESS you showered to me. Not the money actually but more importantly the kind of people you surround me.

My family is top 1. My papa and mama - they never questioned me for anything. They are just there supporting me every step along the way. I am very happy seeing them healthy and enjoying their lives. That what matters most to me. I appreciated so much the amount of unconditional LOVE they showed to me.  The kind of LOVE that is Exhilarating and you want to breath in everyday.


My sisters- who despite being independent , still enjoys time with us. No matter how chaotic my immediate family is. Despite their own priorities, they will choose to be with us on important occasions. I truly appreciate that. I am not a perfect Ate, sometimes I can be demanding and pushy but I am Ate you know.

My mom-in-law - who shows so much kindness and tolerance. I would be greatly indebted.


I changed to a new job in 2015.  It does give the money. Actually, it has afforded us a few luxury to enjoy this year!We are very blessed! The stress remained the same but I have changed the way I have approached a lot of things at work now. Which really worked well. I could sleep peacefully at night and it is good.


I changed my Attitude to life in general. And that to me, that is the biggest change that happened this Year.

I looked back and i can only find joyful, memorable times! My heart overflows!

 To God be the glory!

my 2015

are all but exciting surprises!

it feels that each year, i keep on surprising myself of moments that I would have never imagined to happen. This year has a different kind of flavor, a Year of Changes and of Relaxation.

Firstly, this year, my temper is much more relaxed. Yes, I don't explode anymore. I tried to avoid situations that makes me irate.  I think it goes parallel to the amount of stress I take in. The less stressful, the more relaxed I become. And I am thankful to God for the ability to make choices.

The choice to pick my battles,
to pick the kind of friends that will surround me of positivity, and
the choice of Job.
the choice not to set too High Expectations from Others.


Unlike, 2014- where we did a lot of long driving, 2015 - thought would be the same but surprisingly we stayed put but we were up to more surprises!

We didn't travel that much but we had adventures , mostly our firsts...

the first time we visited Port Stephens, saw the sand dunes and did sandboarding! Hot summer day but we went ahead took the camel rides!

quick visit to Pinas for Firjun and Elvie's wedding! The Baquial's reunited. It makes me very happy when my hubby's joy is elevated. He seldom shows ecstatic state such as this.

visiting Bohol means, beach life is not amiss!  Breathtaking view of  Bohol's sunrise!

Another first at Mount Wilson, best visited on Autumn day coincidentally, a 'Mother's Day' season here in Australia!

And then, August came for a trip to Goldcoast, away from the chilly Sydney! Thanks to qantas points for affording the trip. 

Did I say, we didn't travel in 2015? And yet another trip. But that was on the last quarter of the year after a very hectic , a roller coaster type at work. But, it was manageable. Short and sweet trips to Wyong and Bowral. This is what I love about Australia, you can go any direction, North to South and you will be relaxed of the unique beauty each town offers! Thank you God, for the experience. My children were very happy lounging at the pool exclusively for us! 

A quiet day with the love of  your life.  The place to be is no other than Bowral. An hour drive away from Sydney, the Southern Highlands! We rarely do the dating thing and thankfully, we chose  Bowral for our first! 

So, we actually did a lot of travels! 

Thank you, 2015. 

Thank you Lord, for letting us experience your beautiful creation of the world! For the many blessings that kept our hearts in awe. For the trying times and the challenges that kept us strong. I can never thank you enough. 

Peace not WAR.

God, what is happening to our World?   Can you Embrace us all in your LOVING ARMS and Protect us, please? I feel so helpless , vulnerable and insecured. God, Almighty, I lift up EVERYTHING to you. I have most fervent prayers to the children in Syria. God, hold them. Hold them. It is almost impossible to ask this ----- but can I say something crazy? Can you change the minds of those people planning to rage war? Whoever they are, can you make their minds clear and re-think of their plans?

I pray. We pray for HUMANITY, Forgive us. Help us.

and so the QUESTION.

My colleague got so intrigued of the years I have known my husband.
I told him --It seemed forever but Yes, I knew him since KINDERGARTEN.

But he rephrased and asked, how long have you been together? I sat there and got confused. For we were not in continuous state , our relationship never was. So, i finally got what he meant. Recalling it was painful but funny at the same time .  Ours, was not straightforward, it was an adventure.

So, let me tell you a short story ( forgive me if It would take some time to read this though, it is hard to organize my thoughts) Besides, one of these days, my children will start reading this and I want them to know our LOVE STORY.

So, Chuck and I - the rumors are true, we first met at Kindergarten and fell in love. Oppsss.  I remembered vividly how I first met him. It was the local Sinulog Festival  ( 1984?) of our parish and he was the Sto. Nino, I was one of the girls showering him flowers. I can't believe how vivid that was. I remembered the exact dress I wore that day, it was a green gown , a bit ruffled with satin trimmings.  I carried a basketful of petals. My hair is short,make up on and I remembered him.

The second clear mem'ry of him was in Elementary, This time, he had a big crush on me, waaah. Oh yeah, he made sure I noticed him.  Events that convenes our schools are extra exciting. This feeling recurs each Sunday as he serves as an altar boy at church. He such a charmer but still, I won't have the courage to flirt nor to put across any feeling I have for him. My PRIDE is up there! Yes, I was always on guard.

And comes Secondary. Must be the mem'ries that I am most fond of with the hormonal changes, school dramas and heaps of things!  I love highschool LIFE to say the least.  I thought this is the time of my life that I was madly , crazily in love with the LOVE idea, too immature to even differentiate what is real and dreamy. I am mostly in dreamy state. So, I had crushes, but what was more exciting about highschool is more than that- I had admirers! And I enjoyed that very much! Had a couple of relationships and flings every now and then but with myChuck, we tried sorting out our feelings between friends or Lover.  We really were good friends and would have wanted to maintained that, however some crazy immature decisions were made on the night of our Gaduation, took the plunge.   It was March 24,1994. wohooo 21 years ago.

And the huge changes came. We were not prepared for this, nor our relationship. We were two different people wanting to fit in the College Life. Our relationship drowned with it. And then, I started a very crazy, romantic affair with someone whom I thought was the LOVE of my LIFE. It lasted for some 3 crazy years in multitude of emotions and state. I was soo young then. I was swept off, madly in love and had ' who cares' attitude. Where's myChuck in all these?- he was just right there, going for the same uni but we seldom see each other in the campus. There few moments where he snaps and asks me how I was--and Oh God, i remembered how I felt those days. It feels like a pang of PAIN. I was in a relationship and I know he wanted me so much but he doesn't fight , will not fight for how he feels for me. He meets new people and falls in love as well. So, for 4 years, we kept paths away from each other, not until 24th March 1998 came. SO, you are right. Exactly 4 years from 1994. The universe conspired and made it happen. The paths we've been avoiding made it's way upon us, it is almost eerie to recall but it happened.

Awkward, yes it was in the beginning. But it feels like two old souls picking up where they have left off. That day, we decided to believe in MAGIC. Oh yeah, that song from David Pomeranz is very relevant to us.

But our story didn't end there. We got separated again in very diplomatic way this time and we're back again on the 9th of May 1999. And this time, I had not choice but to stick with him for he is not allowing separation to be an option anymore. We cried until our only option was to work out our differences, our prides and our circumstances. We've been to heaps and mountains of issues together and each time we are in the brink of breaking down, we go back to that magical date and we knew--we were meant to be with each other. And that separation will never be an option.


So, we got married on the 21st of December 2003. And we were living separate lives literally in between the 1999 to 2003, but we've held on. And I am very proud of what we went through! Looking back, I see what an amazing journey it has been.

Then our life together in Manila. His life alone overseas. Our life together in Singapore. And eventually Sydney!

Our days together has always been a roller coaster ride and I enjoyed it so much!

This year marks our 12th year wedding Anniversary. The numbers of years doesn't count much now. Loving each other in this lifetime is what matters.

.