I SIGNED...

... the retention letter.  So I guess I will be staying for a few more years here in Cypress.  Been a roller coaster ride and I must admit I was not able to handle the emotions gracefully.

Anyway, done deal now.  What's important is that I'm still here and even closer to my family.  A blessing indeed.  After all what happened, I think it was just a matter of perspective... And I continue to pray that I will have the strength to allow only the positive ones to prevail...

Thank you dear Lord, for all your guidance and provision.

Amen.

TEMPORARY OFFICE

So after SSC shut down its office end of October 2015, the remaining employees with term dates beyond Oct 31 are either holding office at Regus, BGC, or at Deca Tech in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.  I am one of those who are holding temporary office at Deca Tech.

This move is actually favorable to me.  I live close to Deca Tech (about 5 minutes drive) so that saves me gas and toll.  Also, hubby's office is within Deca Tech's vicinity so we usually use one car.  Other times, we have separate cars if I want to go home early.  Another great thing this move has given me is the chance to go home at lunch, eat at our own dining table, and the chance to check on my kulit Kinder.  Thus, I have the time to check on his homework and review him a little.  In terms of work, I have higher productivity here since it's closer to work, I am not tired from driving, and gives me longer working hours.  Plus the environment is different in a manufacturing plant.  Everybody seems to be on-the-go, so you somehow get the vibe (although I still do get my "sleepy hours").

Temporary but still a blessing.  I just hope my next employer will be closer to home.  Is it too bad to wish for a good paying job, respectable and higher position, and work location which is manageable?  I hope not.  I still hold to the words and claim that the Lord has great plans for me... I am so excited to know what they are, dear Lord.  Guide and help me to wait patiently and with joyful anticipation.  Amen..

GREAT OCTOBER START

Grateful for a good October 2015 start.  And I must say, I look forward to even wonderful months ahead.

Oct 3rd... Papa celebrated his 66th birthday.  We had a really yummy lunch at Clawdaddy, Nuvali, and we're complete :)

Oct 4th... Papa had endoscopic ultrasonography of the pancreas.  Thank you, dear Lord, that the cyst is just a mass and there was no tumor... We continue to pray, dear Lord, that it will not progress to anything malignant.  All is possible with your great mercy and compassion.  Cover Papa with your precious blood, o Lord.

Week of Oct 5th... Praying for this week.  If this is for me and for the good of my family...  Lifting it up to you, o Lord.  Guide me in my "analysis" and may I arrive at a decision that is according to Your will.  Thank you in advance o Lord for your providence...

All of these, I lift to you, O Lord for your greater glory.  Not by my power or might, but by your grace... Amen :)

WE SURVIVED JUNE

Yes, we did it!

I have written in a previous post that June is a period of transition not only for myself but for the whole family.  So how did we survive?  By trusting our instincts, by trusting the capability of kids, by believing in ourselves again, and most importantly by letting go and trusting in God's great providence.

Here's what happened:

• Naomi and Nathan went through their first day high's by themselves.  Yep, no Mommy with them.  I must confess I was so uneasy waiting for them to come home.  I was imagining so many things and was so worried they wouldn't find their school service or might ride the wrong one.  But God's protection is with them and legions of angels did guard my chikiting patrol.  So there, they went home safely and with lots of stories.

• No stay-in helpers.  I have two stay-out helpers who do the laundry and ironing of clothes.  Both go to our house twice a week.  Despite this, we badly needed a stay-in helper to cook food, do the dishes, watch over kids, and clean the house.  Since we did not have any for about 2 weeks, we needed to do things by ourselves.  Good thing the big kids cooperated.  They looked after the little kids.  They helped clean the house and washed the dishes.  Everybody contributed and extended a helping hand to keep everything in order.  So how did I manage cooking for the platoon?  I did not! hahaha I cooked once then decided to utilize food delivery (with the strong support of hubby)!  Isn't that cool (and expensive)?  But hubby kept telling me the cost is nothing compared to the stress of cooking.  So there, we survived.  But shortly after this, we were lucky enough to have been helped by hubby's sister and soon found a stay-in househelp.  But that short stint allowed everybody to do household chores again.  A discipline that will help these kids when they're on their own.  Also, this  allowed me to revisit parts of the house that need attention.  Most importantly, this experience reminded me that I am strong and that yes, I still have that extra energy to do chores to make a lovely home.  Not bad at all.

Nathan's first entry to his assignment notebook :)

• Nathan wrote his assignment all by himself.  How awesome is that!  Writing is a big chore for Nathan.  So this is really a big milestone for him.  I guess this time he does not have a choice but to write.

• Naomi does her assignment and washes herself without yaya's help.  Yep, because in the first place we don't have a yaya.  This has now become a routine for her so Mommy just checks and reviews her when Mommy gets home. 

• Gab's timing of college is a blessing in disguise.  Good thing Gabs will start college not until August 2015.  So back in June when we did not have anyone in the house, there's Kuya Gabs watching over the kids when they get home from school.  And if you're reading this Gabs, I want to thank you so much for taking care of your little siblings and for reviewing them.  Not just a big help for me but most of all for Naomi and Nathan.  You get to review them while there is still energy left for the day.  When they are not cranky yet.

So there. That's it.  And right now, even with our stay-in helpers back, we still do some chores.  It's much more relaxed now.  And we are not afraid.  

I just love my family.  And I thank you so much dear Lord, for helping me and the whole family get through this.  More challenges to come.  But you have shown so many times that you are with us.

P.S.  I am so busy as of this writing because of tons of office deliverables.  But I just have to write this now because my heart is just full of gratitude :)

FACE YOUR MONSTERS

I subscribe to Bo Sanchez's Soulfood Newsletter.  And the July 6 post struck me real hard.

As I wrote in my previous post, June is a period of transition for the whole family.  We survived June well.  Still the transition continues.  And lately I have been feeling another adjustment with regard to work schedule.  I was not very comfortable about it and I fear so many things.  I was not very graceful in coping with the changes that I end up hurting the love of my life, my hubby (to which I really am very, very, very sorry).  All these changes that is happening right now including the thought of having a new job is making me uneasy.  Fear is over-powering the blessings that are actually being given to us.  The good prospect for hubby and I are lost in my own negative imagination.  And yes, I'm not only hurting myself but my hubby too who only deserves support, love, and understanding at this time.

Oh Lord Jesus, open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the great possibilities these "transitions" will give me and my family.  You have greater and bigger blessings outside of what we already have.  Help me to trust in your goodness.  Don't allow me to leave your side.  Set our thoughts to what is good and right.  And in all these, dear Lord, thank you very much.

Amen.

REVELATION DAY

And so corporate office has revealed their plans for SSC.  

On March 12, 2015.  

So I guess it's bye bye time.  

Just a bit sentimental because I would have wanted to still work for CY.  I even thought about it as my retirement company.  And I can say that I am one of the founders of  the Internal Audit Group.  But right now, my personal plans are different from what CY has for me.  

On to the next chapter of my career life.  I just hope that the next one will allow me to fully perform my mommy and wife duties.  Praying and claiming for the next best thing for me and my family :)

OVERWHELMED

Yeah, it's that time of the year when it seems like all to-do's need to be completed at the same time.  I'm talking about work and the multiple deadlines.  Not complaining though.  Just sayin'.

Yes, I am overwhelmed with work.  I am overwhelmed with expectations.  I feel proud that others have high expectations but somehow they are misaligned.  I am overwhelmed with organizational movements.  

And it does not help that I get a little emotional about companies reducing their workforce and the thought that it would greatly impact not just one person's life but his/her whole family.

Times like this, I remind myself that these "incidents" are what you can call "good disturbers" in our life to remind us to:
- Be grateful always.
- Count our blessings.
- Do great in every task.  Love our work.
- Be on the top of our toes and two steps ahead of our boss.
- Be kind.
- Have faith.

At the end of the day, I still thank the Lord for His great providence to our family.  For the loving family that unconditionally supports me.  My family who I can trust about career concerns (super thanks to my hubby!).

Here are some quotes which I got from Pinterest.  I hope these will inspire you too.

Good vibes to all of us.

AMEN (11.07.2013)

Saw this on facebook.  

Very timely.  

Just overwhelmed at work.  This too shall pass.  Still thankful though.  

Can't wait to go home and just hug my kids and my hubby.  

Back to work :)

PANIC MODE

Shucks, 2 days na lang start na ng "ber" months.  And I only have 4 weeks to complete 3 major projects at anik anik SOX testing.  Goodluck na lang talaga sa CSFs  ko (Critical Success Factors which is the basis of quarterly performance).

Awww, sakit ng tyan, puso, at ulo ko.  Nakakataranta!

O sya, nag-hi lang sa blog ko at missing in action na naman ako.  Daming pending posts :)

Yun lang.  Back to work.  Bow.