A friendship made in Singapore

Sincerity begets sincerit

3 months ago, I barely know these 2 ladies.

If there's one thing I know about them it's just their names, NOTHING MORE.

After 6 days from our first day of work, we were sent abroad for training.  And these 2 were my roomies.

one of the many bonding moments

    

Though I know that I will be able to make friends with them, I thought that 3 months is quick to pass through the get to know you stage,  It is short to gain someone's trust coming from a total stranger.

Everyday was a new day for me to learn something new from my roomies.  Surprisingly, the 3 months which I thought was short was just enough to know them both.  

 

With sincerity and openness from each other, we passed the get to know each other stage.

We were different in many ways yet we find the means to compromise and have learned acceptance.

We have common traits yet we manage not to clash and have learned to give and take.

 

I have always believed that it takes time to know someone and takes time before you can consider someone your friend.  But these 2 just proved me wrong.

The training is over, but our friendship is just starting.  And I will always be grateful for the opportunity that I had not just to travel and be trained but the opportunity to meet new people and gain friends.

 
    
I have mentioned this before, and I will mention this again.  What happened in Singapore will remain with me always..  Cheers to the girls of 1704 and to more years of friendship.

Happy at 30

Late post

Age as they say is just a number.  One should not worry much about aging instead one should be grateful whenever a number is added to you.  So I must say,

I am 30 and I am happy. sarcasm aside, I am indeed happy.

When I was younger, I often think that 30 is old and that 20's would always be better.  But reaching this age made me realize many good things to be thankful of.

As I leave the 20 something age, I would like to look back at the decade that passed: the blessings and the
wonderful experiences.. and here are some of them..

> I graduated college
> Worked with good companies and have met few good colleagues who eventually became my friends
> Experienced independence by working abroad
> Got married to my first boyfriend and my first love
> Had my first niece (from my brother)
> Gone through life changing challenges like heartaches, financial struggles and lost of child twice
> Travel here and abroad
> Career stability

20 is sure fun but I think 30 is better and awesome because at this age I can say "been there, done that" to the problems that I have encounter and had no idea how to resolve when I was 20.

That I am totally responsible for my decisions and ideals by the experiences I had when I was 20 and trying out many things and committing mistakes.

That at 30, I am strong enough to stand by my word and realizing that I do not need to please other people.

At 30,  I realize that at one point in my life, I have gone through an experience where I almost lost everything and was able to pick myself and rebuild my whole life.

There are still a lot of things in life that I may have not figured out but I could say that I would know better now how to deal and face struggles as it come my way.


An adult by experience and responsibility and still retaining the child within me who is always eager and excited to explore the world and the opportunities it bring.

I am 30 and happy.  I look forward to enjoying this phase of my life as I reach the next decade and look back at the blessings and wonderful experience.

Someone cares...

Every one has their own battle to fight and own struggles to undertake.  It may not be the same as to what others are facing and definitely will not be the same weight as what others are carrying.  One can never tell the depth or degree of their difficulty unless otherwise, we are put in their shoes.  The point is no one is excused or exempted from facing difficulties that life has to give.









We experience all sorts that fills our memory box.  From good to bad experiences, happy to not-so-happy memories.  We have seen different kinds already and have faced and surpassed them all.
And at the end of the day, we gladly tell ourselves that it has made us a better person.  I always hear the tag line "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" and I believe that it's true.  Because it's human nature to act for it's survival and as part of our being humane is our ability to improve ourselves after we have surpassed the trials and challenges.





Our ability to survive depends primarily on ourselves, our FAITH.  The way we deal with the situation and our attitude towards it..  After which, credits should be given to our loved-ones, family and friends, who acts us our support system in times of our disparity and brings a positive environment which plays big factor in overcoming trials and difficult situations.      
                         

Of course, after all else has been said the Glory of surviving remains to God Almighty.  He who knows the reason why we face such difficulty and He who helps us surpass every trial we encounter and He alone who never neglects us.

When everything is not going as planned, when you have done everything to ease your worry and solve your problem, when all things are not clear..

Pray.
                                     
He listens to them and answers them.

Today, Tyrone and I have lit a candle and whispered a short prayer for you, someone we know who is struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually, that you may be able to have the strength to endure the pain and the courage to surpass this.  His ways may not be easily understood, but God has his reason.  Just keep the faith.

**Credits to my husband, Tyrone for the wonderful pictures (picture 3, 4 and 5)

One Laid back Friday

Some days are just so busy while some days are casual.  For a change, we had a one laid back friday.  No beer, cocktails, loud music and not in a crowded bar.  Just at home with my husband, a simple dinner which I prepared and a suspense movie.

I was never a fan of thriller, suspense or horror. But watching this movie made me enjoy my Friday. Quality time with my husband.

Fun-filled Love Month

February is a month of many occasion in the family.  Birthdays, reunions, chinese new year (my mom has been very fond of attending this celebration) and valentines day.  It has been a very busy month for us and undeniably a happy month for me.  Occasions are best celebrated with family and loved ones.

Starting out the month of Love is a sudden meet out with 2 of my closest classmates in my senior year

Just like the old times, we laughed like we used to.  Teased and talked like the old days and exchange advices like the usual. 

This was followed with the double celebration of Carmi's Birthday and the Christening of their daughter Marty, our friends little angel.

Welcome to Christian world, Marty! 

a night filled with stories and a lot of catching up...  

The ties that bond is just getting bigger and better, with our spouses as part of our circle..

A week after, we started the week long celebration of my husband.  Spent the time together, laughed and celebrated together.  And as part of our celebration, we tried our luck as we stayed in this hotel with casino. And He was surprisingly lucky!

He is just so busy playing nba.. :)

With our matching shirt.. Red is Love. He is love.. :)

Celebrations continued as we drove our way to the Chinese New Year Celebration at Mandarin Hotel.  To meet my mom and siblings.  It was a bountiful and fun night.. It surely ruined our diet, but grateful because the dishes that were served were really great.
                           

It was a night of predictions and readings which was informative and entertaining.  

This is also a lucky year for those born in 1984.. Lucky husband, indeed!

How can I forget Heart's day.  Normally, we just prepare dinner during this occasion because we know that restaurants are almost full and that malls are piled up with numerous of love birds.  But for a change we had lunch out.  Taking risk of a restaurant that's not full, we succeeded.  Looking back during our college days, I personally am not the type who would celebrate hearts day with the bunch of lovers.  But I must admit, it was fun and sweet. :)

One happy wife..

February is also the birth month of my mother.. Of course, we also celebrated her birthday with our family and relatives.  It was a simple lunch to dinner celebration and I can see that my mom's super happy with her birthday celebration.  Having all the people she wanted to be with, she depicts an image of a happy person.

And she just doesn't look like she's 54.. :)

Before I bid busy February goodbye, I had the chance to meet a college friend who just came back from Canada.  From hi's and hello's, we had a lot of sharing from experiences, stories and thoughts.  Exchanged advices and what to's.  Something's just never changed.. 

A cup of coffee tasted better when shared with a friend who has a lot to say and talk about.

It was a really busy month.  Nevertheless, I do not regret it.  February is really a love month for me.

                                           

Embracing reality

In the process of soul searching, the more we find ourselves lost.  Seeing and realizing things tends to blind you more from the previous person you used to be and only to realize that you have been not yourself lately.  Weird right? But most of the time, the more you seek for answers the more you discover questions.  And the more vague things become.  The process of searching was never easy, who said it was?!  But it was worthy, regardless of the impact of the outcome.  Searching for oneself, is something worth the risk.  At the end of the journey, you feel intact and connected very well with the person you used to be and the person you wanted to be.

Age is not a matter when you try figure things out but time is of the essence of course.  You can't stay in a "soul searching" mode forever.  Because if you opt to stay in that course, then the moment you snap out of it, you'd realize you are long behind reality.

Maybe that's the harsh truth of reality, we only have a few moments were we can search for what is really inside us.  And that few moments lies between our capacity to handle our thoughts and our reality.  

Look back to plan ahead

Whenever the year ends, I always encounter people say that the year that past was one hell of roller coaster ride for them.  And I am no exception to that.  2012 was one hell of a ride for me, though I hate roller coasters and the nauseous feeling it gives afterwards, what I experienced in 2012 was nothing close to something I should hate, it's actually more of something I have learned to embrace and came to love. I had my share of good things and bad things but God is sooo great that He made sure the good things outweigh the bad ones.

Before fireworks were lit on the last seconds of 2012, I made sure that all the negative thoughts were whispered to the wind.  To bring it to a place far from me. I wanted to welcome 2013 fresh from everything and with a light heart.  Giving myself space to embrace the great things and new experiences that will come in 2013.

As part of my 2013 resolution, I would like to look at the year that past to be able to plan a good future.  Because the past will serve as my guide in avoiding the past mistakes and misfortunes I had.  It will also remind me how blessed I was and will always be.