Pardon me because it might be a long post. I just decided to put everything here than make or write separate blog entries for each of the stories I want to share :)
We are already on the last quarter of the year and yes, it is becoming busier by the day!
While on school holidays and I have my niece and nephew to help me out in taking care of Sam, I decided to start preparing for her birthday party. I know it's still a month away, but since I'm already booked by the first three weeks of Term 4, I decided now is the best time to do it. As I have mentioned it before, I don't work well with pressure hehehe :)
Here are the things that are keeping me busy the past few days:
I made the lolly bags, prepared the birthday banner, bought the balloon pack, bought the lollies, made my own pinata (I find the ready made too expensive!), did and put the thank you tags for the party favours and bought the plates, cuttlery etc. needed for the party. I'm still thinking if I will be making personalized name tags for the kids...haven't decided at this point, although I already bought the materials :)
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| sorry upside down! lollies for the big kids' lolly bags (the little ones will have a separate one c/o the venue) |
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| additional lollies for the pinata |
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| my DIY pinata, saving me $15 bucks! |
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| labels of the girls' party favours |
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| the props -- birthday candles, sparklers, trumpets, face paint, tattoos, birthday banners, balloon pack, medals, lolly bags |
I still need to ask and think of people who can help me out with the face paint, putting on tattoo, giving of prizes, and of course documentation. I can already ask my two nieces to give the party favours for the kids after the party. This is the hardest part of having a party, the small details -- they are driving me nuts hehehe. I am stopping myself because I originally planned to have a VERY SIMPLE one, so I'm not going to stress myself with this (fingers crossed!).
That is the big event for next month. Although prior to that, most of our weekends have been booked with other kids' parties, not to mention that we will have the annual family day of BAT by the 13th of October, again at Luna Park.
Another thing that is keeping me busy is our next travel as a family!
Yes, I can now spill the beans as we decided not to surprise hubby's family anymore!
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| all ready to fly again as a family! weeee! |
Anyway, to make the long story short, God in His goodness put everything in place, Liam's graduation and Kindy transition will be happening before our the wedding so no conflicts whatsoever, including providing for the funds that we will be needing for the tripS. Yes, we will be stopping over Singapore first before heading to Manila. We will be staying there for four days :) Another bonding activity for the family and another opprtunity to expose our children to another culture. Lucky (very lucky) kids! (Kami ng tatay nila malaki na ng makasakay ng eroplano!)
God has been providing and we can't thank Him enough for allowing us to live comfortably and enjoy plenty of extras (more on this later). We haven't left for our trip but we already incurred expenses like passport renewals (for me and Liam) and flights (SQ flights are not that cheap and we didn't get the ones on sale because we had to consider the chances of possibly rebooking the flights just in case, touchwood, something happens). I'm excited to fly SQ this time because even if you pay more than the other airlines, your travel will really be very comfortable and relaxing. Additonal expenses are of course the hotel bookings (hotel booking has been confirmed, just waiting for the costings from our travel agent), the pocket money we will be spending both in Singapore and in Manila, the entrance fees that we will be paying for the sites we will be visiting in Singapore. Not to mention the wedding gift we will be giving to the newly weds and the early Christmas presents we will be giving to hubby's other siblings.
The funny thing though is we will only be staying in Manila for 7 days. That already includes our flights to and from Sydney! hehehe Most of our friends are saying, sayang naman ang ginastos sa pamasahe, but we can't stay long since Alvin cannot take a long leave from work and my parents and two younger siblings are scheduled to fly down under to celebrate the holidays with us. This is the first time, in years that my family will be complete, so extending our stay in Manila is non-negotiable.
Anyway, ganoon talaga, ipipikit mo na lang ang mga mata sa gastos para mapasaya ang mga mahal mo. I was actually very excited to see the faces of my in-laws when they see us arrive at the airport if we decided to keep it as a secret to the very end. Natakot lang ako, baka wala kami tulugan when we keep it as a secret hahaha. We just told them about the good news last week and boy, the smile on my MIL and FIL's faces? Priceless :) Joy radiated on their faces. I know they are very happy and excited to see and spend time with their grandkids again after almost a year :)
(My SIL and my parents knew we were all coming home, they had to because we will be part of the entourage. Trying to keep this one a low profile because we don't think we can meet up with friends as much as we would like to. Alvin's relatives from the US are also flying to Manila so I'm already expecting a lot of time catching up with them).
God is good. If this blog can be an instrument to sort of evangelize other people, then so be it. Last Sunday hubby and I were talking of how we felt so "maluwag" ...since I started working. Hubby's salary is more than enough to meet our daily needs and our "luho" every now and then. But me working again made us feel the difference. Some people learning that we will be going to Singapore and Manila are saying that we should grab the opportunity to shop because it's much cheaper there. It made me think, I don't have to go to another country just to shop because, God in His goodness, has allowed me and my family to buy the things we want (and need) here in Sydney. This includes maintaining our two other savings account, the kids' savings account and swiping everything on the credit card bills every month.
I remember our humble beginnings here in Sydney -- hubby doing manual labor, me helping re-pack hairnets he brings home from work and be paid 10cents for each pack, and comparing what we are now, I can't help but get teary-eyed. I get teary-eyed because my heart is just overflowing with gladness and thanksgiving, BIG TIME. And so when I see someone who looks like a new migrant (folders, papers on bag, holding a map)...I can't help but remember that three years ago, hubby might have looked like that person...I say a silent prayer for that person, that he will also be blessed in the same way we have been blessed. When I started working as a teacher again, I was extremely surprised with all the calls that I got this year! I mean, the past years, there were days when I didn't get any calls! This year, the calls just kept coming, not that I'm complaining, but I was and am amazed! I was also given my very first 2-week teaching block starting next term. This opportunity made me decide not to push thru with my enrollment. God has been giving me the signals, I'm just too stubborn, ignoring them, still doubting. But when this offer came? It's like one BIG SIGN from God, flashing in front of me saying: I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU! BELIEVE! HAVE FAITH! Not keeping all the blessings to ourselves, we try in our own small way to help others in need.
Hubby didn't get the job he applied for (the one which was 15minutes from our place) but we are okay. We after all prayed for humility to accept whatever He wills for us and for Alvin, during the time that we were also praying for him to get the job. So if He says no, then, we know that something better is in store for us :) Keeping the faith.
I'm already a self-confessed Facebook addict, but there are days when I feel it's starting to get boring. Recently, I have discovered new apps which takes my time away from Facebook. It's Instragram, Goodreads and Pinterest.
I am loving Goodreads because I get to have ideas from fellow friends who are book lovers, what books I can read. I have made it my own book club. I get to have ideas about good books and I get to share my ideas of good books that I have read. It reignited my love for reading :) I just finished reading The Time Keeper of Mitch Albom and now I am currently reading Days Like These. The book I am currently reading is a memoir of a cancer patient. Gave me a chance to see what they have to go through just to get Cancer free. I feel it is a good book to read after the Time Keeper. There were "lessons" in Albom's book that were proven in the life of author of Days Like These.
The other one which is keeping me busy is Pinterest. I get to see plenty of nice, cute, brilliant photos! Not only that, it also gives me plenty of ideas about anything under the sun -- weddings, photos, parties, fashion, schooling, home decorating, home keeping and a lot more! Try it :)
Weee! Natapos din. I hope you had fun reading my stories. I hope to be able to update you, time permitting, but if not, you know very well the reasons ;D
