What I know for sure @ 29

I was re reading my last year's birthday blogpost and I ended it with this:

"So here's to aging beautifully and opening beautiful doors and chapters."

True enough,here I am embracing the most exciting chapter of my life,the challenging yet  beautiful 

door of Motherhood.

A day after my 29th birthday,I finally find time to sit in solitude with my dusty journal not knowing where to start my yearly birthday blog.It feels  really good to the soul  since Ive been caught up by the buzz and rush of life..Work a 12-hr shift oh most of the times, 13-hr,spend most of the time sleeping with  alot of eating in between while rubbing my growing baby in my tummy.

I rarely celebrate my birthday at home with a party. We usually hit the road for "something-new".But being my most careful self and paranoid mom-to-be,  no long drives this year,instead I chose to celebrate it with the closest persons in my life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             I started my day with the morning run of course!I mean,buckets of blood sample.haha! To add up  the  annoyance of the day,my husband is irritatingly sweet by pulling off a surprise.Just forget the annoying part  and focus on my colorful cake and my hard-earned apple watch..He never fails to make me cry the bad way and in a good way at the same time.Perhaps,that's the reason why Im still head-over heels inlove with him.Cheesy ko sa part na yan!

   
  

As Oprah puts it,being aware of and creating four and five-star experiences makes you blessed.Just like receiving an inspiring book from a friend in Colorado in the morning of my birthday with a heart warming birthday message: a double 5-star.Thank you Jozara! I love you more for this.

              

A handwritten card and carrot cake from  Zoey ate ethel and kuya: 5 star. My favorite dinuguan that reminds me of my Papa Ger's 

version and yummy siomai by Ate Myla and Kuya Benny: 5-star. 

Sweet effort of home-baked red velvet cupcakes by Criss and Arvy: 5-star

A delectable ice cream cake from kuya Lads and Ate Jing: 5-star

That oh -so- creamy salad from ate Cherry and family: 5 star

At this age,I rarely received any birthday gift anymore,but I got gifts from Baby Dani&ate Weng Ate Joyet and ate Rachel that made it so special: double 5-star.

And the birthday feast prepared and cooked by Kuya Ariel: triple 5 star.

and to everyone who spare their time to spend it with us,to  sing happy birthday with, and eat as much,I couldn't be more blessed to be surrounded with the nicest people in the mountains of America!I thank God for you!Thank you for giving me a family away from home!

I always thank God for  my life's constant:my family who loves  me across the miles.My truest friends across the world..Dawn in Oman,Aljay in Australia,Ana in UAE,Joyce in Pinas!Super friends in UAE(i miss bahay ni kuya)
And friends who never fails to greet me!
Thank you!It means a lot to me!

On the other note..

Ive been hooked to  "What I know for sure" by Oprah Winfrey the whole day.This is your fault Ota!

And now trying to answer the same question Gene Siskel once asked to Oprah Winfrey

" Tell me.: he asked, what do you know for sure?"

Being so inspired by this book Im sharing my own version  of  the lessons  I learned  and struggled with,laughed about, and at long last come to know for sure.

1. You always want more.A better job,a higher salary,a better car.Ive always been craving for something better.When I was in Pinas,I want to go abroad.When I was In UAE,I want to work to Amerika,now that Im in America I want a higher salary.What I know for sure is, the grass really isn't greener on the other side.The grass is greener where you water it. So here I am, watering my greenest side.

    2.   The simplest things are often the truest.As I practiced minimalism in my life,I come to a point             where I dont want to own more than I already have,from there Im freed from comparing my                  stuff with others.From there,I discovered more room for generosity.What I know for sure is                   owning less is great but wanting less is even better.Learn to live less.Be content with what                   you  have but not with what you become.

   3.   Benjamin Franklin was right when he said that " Money never made a man happy yet nor will              it.The more the man has,the more he wants.Instead of filling a vaccuum,it makes one.It made             me sad sometimes that some of the people who had the money always crave for more money in            such  a  way that puts their character on test,that I know for sure.

   4.   I read an article that struck me to my core,it says :Stop chasing success,seek significance.

         I never thought before that embracing motherhood gives me a sense of purpose,a sense of                   direction,More than fulfilling my bucketlist like wanting to spend my 30th birthday in Paris or             travel the  Swiss alps one day or  ride  a hot air balloon in Cappadocia. The happiness of                     knowing that I'm growing and carrying a miracle with me  gives me a sense of significance.                Hypocrisy aside,a little scary,yes!But I'm up to  it and  can't wait to be the coolest  best  mom                this child will ever had,that I know for sure.

  5.  God always made everything beautiful in His time.This truth has simplified and charmed life for           me in most ways possible. I'm re reading my blog and there is this post from 2017 where I                 wrote, "what I really want is to get pregnant after a year working in the US."

         True enough,God answers prayers  in His time,that I know for sure.

  6. Its always part of my prayer,to just be healthy,alive and kicking especially for my parents and for        the whole family.Its a challenging year for  the family when my tita battled up for brain surgery.          (Thank God for a successful operation!.Prayers can do wonders.

      And cliche as it may sound, health is wealth,that I know for sure.

 7. Marriage is meant to keep people together,Not just when things are good but particularly when        they are not.What I know for sure,marrying my insanely patient,hard-working  husband is the best leap of faith in my life.Ready for our next stop: Parenthood? It will be tough,but i know we are tougher.We have all the years spent together to back us up!

After finishing the book,I think I need to add this as the 8th lesson.It speaks true to my life too.


8.Be kind.Try to do well and be well with everyone.Because I know for sure that what I think,what I say ,what I do-- everything will be returned to me.And the same is true for you!

So,there you go! my 29th is an exciting year ahead!Will be navigating it blindfoldedly but with God's

grace  and love that spoils me, I put my trust in Him.I entrust my life,my fears and my hopes.I love you Lord.Thank you!

I love you, life!

So here's to a healthy pregnancy,safe delivery and a healthy baby on the way..a happiness like no other!Just pure bliss!