Happy New Year

Few hours from now, we'll be bidding 2007 goodbye...

New Year.

I remember how New Year's Eve is just as exciting as our Christmas Eves...it's a double celebration actually to us as we also celebrate my Mama's birthday on the 31st.

And just as during Christmas, I have my moments during this time - a feeling of sadness like I'm bidding a loved one goodbye...

New Year Memories...

How I will surely miss how we jump as midnight ticks (hoping that could still add some centimeters to my height!), how we light our "pasirit" (you know, those gray thing on walis-ting-ting sticks?) and bang our "kalderos"! How we shout counting down along with Bombo Radyo (we do it with Bombo, really, every year as long as I can remember!). How we dance to loud music and sing our hearts out 'til we all get tired until dawn, that is! while finishing our pancit, pan and Pepsi (yeah, same menu during Paskwa but usually with some cake from Cakestop since it's mama's birthday!). Of course, we have our fruit basket! - consists mostly of fruits bought by piece (yep! isa-isa lng, iban aman pa!) or better yet, ayo from neighbors! ;) And how, I remember always feeling happy whenever we have grapes! Nevermind, if it's only 1/8 kilo...as long as we have grapes, that's it!

New Year at home. I wonder when we will have this occasion celebrated together again.

Oh well...hey! As I've written above, we always do our countdown with Bombo. One more thing I miss is hearing ABBA's song "Happy New Year" played over and over again as the announcer speaks his greetings! Let me share to you this song - (okay, take out those tissues now!).




2007.

It may had been not the best year, but certainly, it wasn't the worst.

Thank you for the memories, the friends we made during this year we hope to last; for the experiences we hope to learn our lessons and become better persons; for a lost opportunity that will hopefully, open us to better ones...and for rediscovering my blog site! ;)

2008.

May it become a brighter new year for us and our loved ones...A new beginning that brings new hope...May GOD continue to bless us as we offer HIM the failures of the past and our hopes for this New Year!

Lord, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will live every moment for You.

And as I end this entry (my last for 2007), let me share with you this New Year Prayer from my Inbox (thank you, Mr. Wilver!)...

NEW YEAR PRAYER

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.

Freely forgiving for some offense
And finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand;

That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad

Are asking today; Is life worth living?
The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.

By giving love, we can start this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

Author- Helen Steiner Rice

(Just a note: I'm actually writing this on December 31, 2007, 11:09am UAE time!)

New Year Reflections

Another one from my Inbox...
Just in time for the coming New Year...

Some questions were written & tried my best to answer them...though, I'm all tired & sleepy so, bear with it!

Here, let me share it to you. ;)

Top 11 Self-Reflection Questions for Years End
By: Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D.

1. What worked in my life this past year? What did not work?
Finding job, doing well…
Unfortunately, things didn't work out well in the company and I am back now to job hunting as bosses decided to temporarily slow down operation due to some problems within the directors. ;)

2. What brought me happiness/disappointment?
Simply, time with Nonoy Joroli is what happiness to me especially since he started to live in Dubai and just comes home on weekends or when they don't have much work…
Things not happening as you want them to be…those are always disappointments.

3. Where was I successful?
I believe I did well as a volunteer. ;)

4. What were my greatest challenges/lessons?
Not having that regular job and having delayed salary!
Lesson I still have to learn and practice: SAVE.

5. What am I most proud of? What do I most regret?
Despite of all the "hardships" and disappointments I'm still sane! ;) I'm keeping my faith and still believes that there'll be a brighter tomorrow…
No regrets. Just situations that can be charged to experience…

6. What attitudes and actions will I take with me into the new year? Which ones do I want to keep in this year?
Always seeing the brighter side of things even I already feel so down…
Oh! I hope 2007 keeps my inability to save! Promise!

7. What limiting beliefs did I shift? What negative emotions did I shift?
…learned to be more quite – more of a listener than to be the talker.
…keep secrets.
…tried not to talk behind people, at least badly.
…basically, tried hard to be good. ;)

8. When did I follow my intuition?
When all has been tried and feels that holding on may be a solution but, letting go & moving on is the best answer.

9. How did I grow, improve, and expand myself?
By learning through all the hardships and disappointments…

10. How much love did I share?
To family - Mama, Dudi, Tetet & Precious: I really did try the best I can! And this year has made me realize how important they are to me and how much I wish they'll realize it, too.
To my "Tatay" – I've given my all and will continue to do so…
Friends – I know I wasn't the best and this is something I want to get a refresher and review on!

11. What do I want my intention to be for 2008?
…Good health for everyone.
…Happy marriage. ;)
…Stable job for me & nonoy joroli.
…Reaching out & keeping friends!
…Financial blessings.

Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures.
- Aisha Elderwyn-

A Christmas Prayer

Not Only Christmas Day

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day

-- Mary Fairchild

Poem from http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/a/christmasprayer.htm

Pic from http://www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/nativity2.jpg

Christmas Memories...

It'll be soon the 25th of December...

My second Christmas away from home...

Most of us will agree that Christmas is one of the happiest times of the year...it sure is but let me share with you a secret ;) - there is and I think, will always have a moment during Christmas eve when I would cry.

Maybe it's the weather...the season...or maybe, the people we miss and wish to have celebrated the day with.

On Christmas Eve, I would always remember my Lola Lisa and say my "Merry Christmas" to her...I would remember our loved ones who had gone ahead of us and say my prayer for them...I remember families especially children and wish they are merry as well even with just pancit on their table...

And I always try not to miss to say, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!"

Now that I'm celebratng Christmas far from home, I'm sure I'll have a longer moment of crying spell on Christmas Eve... (geez, now my eyes are even starting to well up!).

Christmas is for children and I believe for the young at heart, too...

I remember sending Santa a letter, complete with a red ribbon (remember Santa Clause - The Movie where the letter just flies to Santa?) - 'til now, I wonder who between Mama or Lola has gotten that letter because the next day, it was gone and never saw it! Or could it have reached Santa? ;)

Yes, I do believe in Santa Clause even if I knew that it's our parents who placed those candies in our socks...and even did the same for my sisters when I got older. ;)

So much is my belief in Santa that I remember back in Kindergarten school when our teacher, Ma'am Amoyot told us to tell our parents what we want from Santa - I did not! Why should I? Santa already knows. Christmas party came and I got these chocolate candies instead of the walking doll I asked from Santa. Gotcha! Santa in Kindergarten is Mama or Papa or most of the time in my case, Lola!

Yet, these never stop me in believing that somewhere out there in the North Pole there's a true red-suit-wearing-old-man... and yes, one time he did stop by our house (might have have been a dream but seemed so real...).

I'm 28 now, getting married soon yet, nobody can't stop me in doing this - I'm writing, well, emailing Santa a letter! Here goes...

Dear Santa...

Pic taken from http://images.google.ae/imgres?imgurl=http://library2.nalis.gov.tt/Portals/0/601/SantaClaus.jpg&imgrefurl=http://library2.nalis.gov.tt/Default.aspx%3FPageContentID%3D95%26tabid%3D135&h=768&w=1024&sz=141&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=a2wm2q8OOc3adM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bsanta%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

BANGAG!

Parental Guidance is Advised...

Rebelasyon! Ebidensiya!

Makakasira man ng "image" pero inaamin ko - ako po ito! Harharhar...(and to think na wala pang alcohol akong naiinom nito!)

(Due to "kahihiyan" this post will be deleted sa oras na mawala na ang kapal ng mukha ng blogger na ito.)

Merry Christmas?

The title of this blog was written correctly - with a question mark.

It's the 1st of December and can't help but feel emotional again thinking that I'm again be celebrating Christmas away from home - away from mama, dudi, tetet and of course, dicky.

Christmas is one of the most look-forward-event we have at home...and though we may just have pansit with no sahog at all, pan from "Tibiao" and a Pepsi Litro on our table, it's always the happiest time of the year for us!

And can't wait for it to happen again....

it's christmas, i made it through the year
the days go slower when i'm far from home
i miss you, can't wait until you hear
all my stories 'bout the crazy things that i've been through
i'm all set for the journey
all my bags are packed
and soon i'll be right next to you
then my heart will be intact
i'm coming home to you
we'll have a merry christmas this time
and now i won't be blue 'coz i'm with you
it won't feel like christmas if we're apart
it won't feel like christmas with my lonely heart
it won't feel like christmas 'til i'm home again with you
it's christmas, our fav'rite time of year
the cards are sent, the presents neatly wrapped
i miss you, i'm through with all the tears
gaonna say goodbye to all the nights when i would cry
at last, this is the moment
now i'm homeward bound
my heart longs for that special place we call home where love abounds

'til i'm home agin by the company taken from http://www.thecompanysingers.com/albums/lyrics/xmasco.pdf

pic from http://www.dehmlow.com/archives/whiteboard.JPG