Search Is Over....Again!

Another blessing. Another big plunge!

Took us 2-3 weeks to find her.

We prayed for her a bit longer.

We first considered 11 to 12-year olds...but when we chanced upon her, we decided to give it a go. She is only almost 3 years old.

Not taking any chances, we made sure we are doing the right thing. We studied everything about her.

I hope that just like her sister Maggie, she will be one dependable and strong sweetheart. Ever reliable.

I am excited to meet her, use her and bring her with me as I serve my family (through errands and through my work). She is my first (here in Australia). She will be my 4th baby (hubby, Liam and Sam are my original babies). I promise to take care of her.

Today, we welcomed "Mickie" to our home.

"Us" Time

On one of my blogs, I have written about how I value my "me" time, especially after becoming a mom. Now, I would like to zero in on "us" time. "Us" referring to me and my hubby.

Since becoming parents we suddenly found our hands very full and always occupied with a lot of things for the kids. Conversations always included or are always about the kids. Aside from taking care of my little boy, we also had jobs and house chores to juggle as well. It is indeed a challenge to find an "us" time for the two of us. I am pretty sure many parents can relate with us. Liam is always with us, he sleeps between the two of us every night, and soon, Sam will join us. On weekdays we sometimes find ouselves already too tired at the end of the day to even have a long conversation like we used to during our "courtship" days. We try to catch up with one another by having short phone calls within the day, updating one another of how the day has been for us, but talking more about our children. On weekends, we also have quality time with our children, we go to shops, or we have long drives every now and then or we just stay home, trying to catch up with the pending house chores as well. Busy days and happy days indeed for the family. But again, it is quite rare that we find ourselves alone to spend "us" time.

Last weekend, as we explored around Sydney Botanical Gardens, I finally found ourselves doing HHWW(holding hands while walking), just the two of us, no strollers, or Liam in between. In addition to this, we had the chance to talk, crack jokes and laugh about some things that don't concern our kids or the family. Just two adults having fun while strolling together. We were just enjoying each other's presence like we used to when we were still not married. And I felt good. Finally an "us" time! Probably you are asking where Liam is, well, while we were strolling, he was with his Lolo and Lola the whole time.

I believe that as a parent, a "me" time is essential. But as couples, an "us" time is as important. I realized that there are a lot of factors that come into the picture that hinders us from having the "us" time -- career, house chores and kids! Especially the kids! We sometimes find ourselves to engrossed in becoming the best parent and best provider for our children that we sometimes fail to realize that we shouldn't neglect the "us" time. Personally, having the "us" time doesn't have to be expensive. Just having a cup of coffee or breakfast together while Liam is still asleep can be a venue for us to have our "us" time. It can be as simple as me extending my waking hours so we can have those usual conversations about life, about how our day went, or about the movie that we saw, something to laugh about, something to be "kilig" about. I remember watching an interview of Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan before I got married. She said that she and her hubby try to make it a point to go out at least once a week just by themselves and talk about everything except about the kids. It nurtures their relationship with one another. It is very ideal indeed and I would love to have that as well. But looking at our situation, where there are no helpers available, we might just do away with the simple things I have mentioned, and later on, when the kids are a bit older, then maybe we can have more chances of having our "us" time. We can also grab opportunities, like the one we have now, our parents being here with us to help in taking care of the kids, to have our "us" time more frequently.

As a parent and an individual, "me" time is important. You feel refreshed and recharged, which in turn benefits the kids and the family. Likewise, I believe that as couples, we should also strive to have our "us" time. It will also benefit our kids and the family as well.

365 Days and Counting

I really can't believe that in a few day's time we will be celebrating our first anniversary as migrants here in Sydney, Australia! Time really flies when you're too busy doing a lot of things and when you're having fun!

Looking back at what had happened the past year, wow, it's been a roller coaster ride! We had a slow and rough start but I feel now things are slowly falling into place. I can't beleive that after 12 months, we were able to invest on some things we might not have the chance of getting if we stayed in Manila.

Our own car, LCD TV, washing machine, lounge set, microwave oven, bed linens, corelle and pyrex kitchenware, wow the list would go on and on.

But more than the material blessings, I am happy that the past 365 days, we got to spend it more with my family. I was able to spend more time taking care of my son. Though I had casual work every now and then, I can say that I was able to witness many, if not, all of his milestones. I am amzed now on how his vocabulary has improved in a span of 12 months! He keeps on surprising us everyday! His newest statements are "Of course, Mama!", "How is school Mama?", "How is office Papa?" These are just three of the many. It keeps us happy and inspired.

Next, we got closer and more bonded. Oh yes, there are trying days when I would just like to go back to my comfort zone in Manila, with all the maids and helpers around to do the house chores. But we managed. I managed. In those rough months, we stuck it with one another, pushed and inspired one another. Kept the faith for one another.

Third, we got more prayerful. Imagine calling out to the heavens and all the saints just as so you can start the ball rolling! Yes, we became in constant communication with Him. And I think, we would be forever.

Lastly, we became more hopeful. Yes, we still lack a lot of things. We still want a lot of things and plans for the family. The list would never end. But the thing is we are here, hoping and knowing that someday all will be well for us. Dreams becoming a reality. After all, migrating here was once a dream.

We are in a trying stage once again as we try to make ends meet. Our finances became a bit tougher when we got a place of our own and moved out from my brother's house. It was not also helpful that my casual call was not as many as the previous months. We worry, yes we do. But we're not losing hope. We're hanging on. What keeps me hoping? Well, we've just had our first 365 days here...we have a whole LOT of time ahead of us. Like the rest of those who migrated and started like us, someday, we will be okay. No more worries. Just looking ahead.

The Search is Over

The search is finally over. We have finally found and bought our first family car. And it was definitely a good buy. When my husband passed his practical driving test in just one take last May, we already entertained the idea that in a month or two we will have to buy our own car. But it didn’t happen after two months because first I still didn’t pass my practical driving test and second there was really no immediate need to buy one that early. It wasn’t easy going around here in Sydney without a car of your own, especially if you have a 20-month old son, weighing 13 kilograms, in tow all the time. Oh, I forgot to mention the pram as well. So imagine riding some buses which were not pram friendly. I never realized I had that much strength! Kidding aside, I was glad that I was able to experience all these difficulties because I get to appreciate what I have now.

So on the 5th day of August, exactly the same date when our permanent migrant visas were granted, I passed my driving test. You can just imagine what I felt when finally, on my 4th try, I passed my driving test. A week after that my husband started to really look for our first car. We were weighing our reasons when we were ready to purchase a car already. Are we buying a cheaper car which can serve us for 6 months, maximum one year, so we can save on money? Or, are we buying a much expensive car that can serve us for 3 to 5 years already? Buying a brand new car is not among our options as our budget still didn’t allow it. At first we opted for the first option. Cheaper car, shorter time. But we had a hard time looking for that car. Since it was taking some time already to find the car for us, the budget we initially set for the car increased already. Now we changed our minds and opted to choose option 2, more expensive car but longer service time. It was not easy finding the car. There were a lot of other factors that we had to consider. Aside from the price was of course the year the car was manufactured, the total mileage of the car, the registration, the history, the accessories, the over-all package. I wasn’t the one who was painstakingly browsing through all the car websites and checking out all details, it was my husband, but I was getting tired as well. We didn’t stop looking for that car in the internet; we also went to places where most cars are being sold. But we were not lucky. It’s either it was too old, or too expensive, or the transmission was not automatic. Both of us knew how to drive cars with manual transmission back in Manila, but here in Australia, with their gazillion round-abouts, it will be difficult to drive a manual car. It was tiring already and it didn’t help that I started working. I really needed a car because most of the schools I applied to were not commuter friendly. I tried taking the cab on my first day but I spent almost 50 bucks on just one day! It was not practical.

And so the search continued. I prayed, we prayed so hard. In my prayers, I didn’t ask for any sign. I just couldn’t think of any. Will I ask for the plate number? the color? Well, I didn’t, I just knew that God will give us His Spirit and we’ll know if we have found the right car, our first car. Last Sunday, we did.

We tried out a new place this time. My brother, Alvin, Liam and myself went out checking the car garages. We spotted one. But we just told the dealer that we’ll get back after we look around for some more options. And then we saw it, a 2001 Mitsubishi Magna (I think the Magna model is uniquely designed and manufactured only in Australia). In Manila, the Mitsubishi Galant is it’s counterpart. Alvin and my brother took it for a test drive. Liam and I stayed at the office and then the signs just presented themselves one after the other. First, one of the dealer’s name is the name we will be giving for our future baby girl. Sorry, can’t tell you what the name is yet haha. Next, the previous owner is a Filipino. We are Filipinos. Third, the surname of the previous owner was the same as my maiden name. Fourth, the dealer agreed to pull down the price, now making it fit to our budget. When all was settled, the last thing that affirmed that we made the right decision was this: the colour of my rosary. When we were already on our way out of the car garage, I immediately put out my rosary so I can hang it on the rear view mirror. To my surprise, when I pulled out my rosary I saw that its colour exactly matched the colour of the car. It was bronze, a little touch of rusty orange. Not your ordinary colour. And by some twist of fate, our schedules allowed us to have it blessed by a priest also on the day we bought it. Everything went well. All was in place. This search taught me a new lesson. It somewhat affirmed me that like the experience we had to go through in search for the right car, the same will be true for our other concerns. All will fall into place. We will know. And we will be affirmed.

I am glad and thankful that our search is finally over.