My Brother got Second honors in Med School!

Shameless shout-out.

 I'm a proud, boastful sister, I know that & I kind of don't care. You see, he's 34, stopped schooling for 10 years & where he is housed now that he is studying is not necessarily how you'd describe the best of conditions. That & the fact that he had to endure being painfully separated from his two charming kids & deal with a major relationship problem while in Cebu to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor is in my opinion, quite a remarkable feat. So imagine my glee when I learned he bagged 50 dollars for placing 2nd honors in medical school! It just makes all these ordeal seem worthwhile. It just affirms how I feel that he is really called to this vocation. God surely saw he has major doubts about bagging this dream at 34 & He must have delighted in assuring him that He's with him through this journey unto completion.

And to Him who caused all good things to happen be glory & dominion forever, Amen.

Simple Things

These days, I'm relishing so much the simple joys the Lord is blessing me.....like catching my favorite song being played on the radio, worshipping with the multitudes during Sto. Nino novena masses, scoring a lovely dress in a thrift store somewhere, savoring the smell of a paperback when I enter a bookstore, chancing upon a lovely Robsten photo (this is lame, I know haha - but look at me not caring), dreaming about HK- Macau (oh sweet days, pls move fast!), and then lately, thoughts of my feet getting buried in the sand (I can almost dance writing this)

So much happy thoughts.

No room for negativity.

Praise the Lord

BEST memories of 2012

I know I have taken an unusually long break from blogging, updating my journals & anything Sugar & Spice. The past days have been like a blur – blame it to my 12 year old self & her crazy indulgence to a silly addiction with some fictional characters that believe me, is really too embarrassing to even mention here – so yeah, that really is just my 12-year old self breaking free, like I said. I’m putting her behind so I can finally get back to blogging & what better way to end this year than write about some magical, awesome moments of 2012.

Moving on, let me share with you some remarkable moments of my 2012 that I am so grateful to God for. Here goes my long list:

1.        BORACAY VACAY, February 2012

Boracay is my go-to vacation haven whenever I crave for some real, mind blowing rest & relaxation. I come here annually & this year was great because we had Nika, a first-timer, for company. Add to that, the hotel we stayed at was incredibly amazing! Earl & I had a blast! Plus lots of girl bonding with my sissie Gang & Nika too ;)

2.       MOM’S CEBU BIRTHDAY, May 2012

Since settling in Cebu, I don’t get to see my family as often as I want to. So the few times I see them during the year is special for me. Mom spent her birthday in Cebu, so Earl & I brought her & my pamangkins to a hotel to celebrate. Of course we had a ball! Maxine & Axel are rowdy little kids but they’re also all sorts of cuteness & rainbows & I’m pretty crazy about them. So yeah, this definitely makes the list.

3.       MY BIRTHDAY, May 2012

My A-Team (HR fam) & company staged a birthday surprise that had me confused whether I should be ecstatic or disappointed (ahahahahaha). But really, they do get an A for effort. The fact that they were able to gather every single one of my loved ones for a late night soiree was awesome. And by the way, we had a REPEAT the next day, at our home this time, just the way I wished it to be J Oh by the way, did I say that the Clock & the Mag-Card were some of my best loved gifts of all time? (and of course you know that my language of love is receiving gifts, so you can just imagine)  I know it was painstakingly done & I am floored that you monumentally captured what I like, so thank you guys – Mich Gracie Shey Tin Sai, i super duper love you guys!

4.       MANILA-TAGAYTAY-EK TRIP, August 2012

What else is there to say that I haven’t already in my previous blog post about this trip? Well, probably that Mich & Yana are such great travel buddies – just thinking about them & the fun we had together makes my feet deliciously itch for another adventure! That is why we are heading for BORA this summer – and Palawan soon....and Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, New York, Italy next. (Cmon’, nothing wrong in dreaming )

5.       LEAP OF FAITH, August 2012

Around this time, I finally mustered the courage to decide on a big change & I can’t forget how liberating it felt once I did. There’s a lot to jump into but no, I will wait. Let me just say I delight in breathing in the future. Bring it on 2013!! (Sorry I have to kind of be vague here cause I can’t really reveal some things yet & honestly, the future is yet to be shaped by the Lord anyway. I don’t actually dwell there but whatever that is, I AM CERTAIN OF GOD’S HAND, so yeah, I really am excited ;)

6.       SUGAR AND SPICE APPAREL, September 2012

Suffice it to say that even I was surprised that my online store actually happened. I mean it’s not like I haven’t dreamt of owning a Boutique one day but honestly, this was not part of my plans for 2012. This really had me as in literally awed, like jaw-dropping- eye-widening-head-shaking awed – because I never imagined I’d go into business (hahahaha, although I don’t really see it that way, believe me. I’m just happy being around clothes & seeing people getting all dolled up) But the Lord, good, mighty & kind that He is, opened a BIG door, moved stones, rained provisions & finally, one fine September day, we launched.

By the way, I am on a temporary hiatus now, (mostly due to my crazy schedule) but I promise to be back with bolder, more fierce pieces next launching!

7.       www.iamsugarandspice.blogspot.com

About the same time that Sugar & Spice Apparel was launched, I finally started my blog. Originally intentioned as a Style Diary, and essentially to let the fabulous Sugar & Spice customer peek into my journey as a Style Junkie & also have them view behind-the-scenes of each of our Collection’s photo shoot – I reasoned it’s practical that I make it my online Faith Journal as well. I maintain several at home, I’ve been journaling ever since I can remember and since I can’t rid myself of technology this time, might as well write about my faith walk here J. God I love my blog. I don’t even care that nobody’s reading it – with the exception of my paid friends (now I’m really laughing here), but it really does feel mighty special to be moving on from just wanting to do it for a loooooong time & finally getting around to doing it. 

8.       ARGAO

I’m in love with this town. I’m loving that it’s just an hour and a half drive & I love that most accommodations offer breathtaking beach views. Well, frankly – Oslob still tops my list. But since Salay’s no longer there & I have to find a place where Earl & I could get away (we do this all the time – we’re such beach people, that’s why) - Argao certainly fits the bill. We frequented this town this year & pleased to find out that there are plenty of things to discover about Argao that makes every visit special.

9.       Elim EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE 2012, Pray (October 2012)

I came to EC12 crammed with great expectations. I came home spilling over. I only missed one conference since I started with my Catholic community, that was the conference last year but already it felt like I drifted so far I am beyond mending. But trust the Lord to stage the finest of surprises.

That particular trip to Manila was different. Those who know me would get the shock of their lives to see I brought only a backpack for the trip & filled only a third of the bag. Travelling light is STRANGE to me – but I had a different agenda for this particular trip – P-R-A-Y. And  boy, did I pray. Just me & Earl being there for the conference is already a prayer in itself. The act of the will to squeeze in the time despite the demands of work, business & family & deciding to invest in what matters most for us is prayer.   It was also a pilgrimage of sorts. It felt like I journeyed back to a place of revelation. And just like that, the Lord has shed light on so many questions I have been carrying for long. I know extraordinary grace has been dispensed because then I came back to that place in time where I worry about nothing. I carry a simple truth in my heart coming home – I love the Lord and the Lord loves me. I seek for nothing more.

 

1  Azkals vs. Singapore Lions Face Off,  November 2012

I.have.got.no.words.for.this. I’ll be crazy if this doesn’t make the list. I mean, really, the energy was something else! It was craaaazyyyy!!!! I remember sweating like mad, dancing, hollering, jumping with the crowd for the entire 90-minute duration of the game even when we were seated right in front! We managed to stay for yet another hour to soak in the fun! You can just imagine what happens in the World Cup. And yeah, seeing Phil & James up close was also something else. The whole experience is INTENSE I’m just rearing to do it again! ( And Baby, I get it love, it really is so much fun hahaha)

11. This isn’t supposed to be happening

But it did. The latter part of the year found me digging my head into books that have turned into big movie franchises. Of course, Twilight was so 2008, but I just went back to reading all four books 4 times!!!! Talk about being obsessed! The reason mainly being that I got to read the Fifty Shades trilogy, got interested with the character of Christian Grey & after awhile shifted to despising him for not being like Edward whose love for Bella was super & so self-sacrificing. So I went back to reading the books & the rest is history. I mean, you who have read it know how vicarious the experience is. Good thing Peach lent me her Hunger Games Trilogy - that certainly afforded me a break from anything Twilight, which I loved, really – but then I got wound up with Robsten & it was sort of mad from then on. (You know what I mean Sheylou bebe)

12.  Spending Christmas with my Family

Like I said earlier, I always hold dear & precious every single time I am able to spend with my family, so again, this should make the list. True, I dread the long hours of travel (especially on the boat, at night – no plane yet directly from Cebu to Masbate & vice versa, paging Cebu Pac!) but it’s all worth it. I lose all manner of stress, anxiety, all sense of not being secure - once I’m home. It’s a safe haven for me – somewhere I don’t have to worry about bills to pay, food to eat, challenges to overcome at work etc etc etc. I am fed to overflowing, lavished with love & attention, I get to play (and at times fight – i’m such a baby) with my pamangkins & marvel at the rate they’re growing. One of my favorite things to do is just be around Max & Axl – they really are perpetually happy little somethings. Zach, Beb & Zya are growing up fast too – and they’re great kids whom I love dearly. It’s also heart warming to bump into old friends & be amazed at how different, and by that I mean good-different, things are. By the way, I’m proud to say Aroroy now has a Department Store hahahahaha. Sunod ana mall najud, why not chocnot?

I began 2012 resigned to the fact that it’s gonna be brighter. 2011 had been heartbreaking in plenty of ways to me. It was a season of purification, dark corners, pain, confusion & helplessness....it was one cold winter. I had hope for 2012, because I thought the worst was over. I was right.  I had no idea the Lord was brewing grand surprises for me J Needless to say, 2012 has been amazing for me, all due to God’s mercy, provision & love. The heartaches were over, I won’t even go there because I find no trace of the same in my heart. There were nerve wracking moments too – but on hindsight, and knowing how it is now, I shouldn’t have sweat it out really – cause it was really just a matter of surrender. And then there was plenty of trying, dull, frustrating moments in between. There were friends who came & some who went. Some just went out of radar. Still, plenty stayed & for good reason – because they were really people sent by the Lord to journey with me & will be with me in the long haul (my Tuesday group, I mean you)(And Sissie, my Soulmate, you too). I am blessed to be forming new friendships with some people I hardly exchange sensible conversations before, it’s incredibly astounding. 

So now I bid 2012 adieu....

and I'm gloriously breathing in 2013. And I don’t know about you, but I am thrilled with new beginnings – God specializes in creating brand newness in everyone’s life. And my fearless forecast for my 2013 (according to my new year’s message) is tadadadadadada, Peace, Restoration & Grace Abundant in all areas of my life! Bring it on!!!! Thank You Lord!