GROW OLD WITH ME!

Grow old with me, the best is yet to be!

This line is so appropriate for us, because we will literally grow old together, whether we like it or not, since our birthdays are just one day apart. Today, Edge told me, "Again, we are the same age for the next 24 hours." 13 years ago, when I first met him, and I found out that his birthday was right after mine, I thought to myself, "Is this a sign? Does this mean anything?" And I guess it did. It meant that we were meant to grow old together and live out the best years of our life together.

So here we are, 13 years later and thousands of miles away from where we first met. We have come such a long way, literally and figuratively. We have celebrated every single birthday together since we first met. Pretty soon, we would have celebrated more birthdays together than apart.

It's really hard to say what Edge is to me now. In the beginning, I created an overly romantic picture of him as the brave and strong knight-in-shining-armor, who would be there for me always and anytime that I required his services. But then I realized that that person doesn't exist, and that would be too much to ask of any living person! Right now, I try to live one day at a time, and appreciate him as each day comes. He continues to surprise me everyday with his openness to try new ideas. I really admire how willing he is to learn ways of further strengthening his relationship with me, and his determination to have a loving, nurturing relationship with his sons. That was one of the things that made me fall in love with him in the first place -- how well he got along with kids. From the start, I always knew he'd make a great father.

But most of all, Edge is my best friend. And this is not the typical "my partner is my best friend" required line that couples are supposed to say. I truly feel that our relationship has evolved to truly reflect this, especially now that we have no one but each other here in Australia. Right now, I truly feel that he has my best interests at heart, and I have his. We are focused now, we have the same goals for us, and for our family.

Edge, forever, this will be my song to you. You're my best friend. I love you. Happy birthday! I celebrate this day because this is the day my best friend and lifelong companion was born. Without this day, I'd be lost!

You're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true
I really love you
Oh you're my best friend

Ooo you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo you make me live now honey
Ooo you make me live

You're the first one
When things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend

I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh you're my best friend
Ooo you make me live
You you're my best friend

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Happy Birthday to me! I am 34 years old today. I don't feel any different from how I did yesterday or the day before. In fact, this birthday is in the running for one of the worst birthdays I've ever had. Well, it wasn't really bad, so much as it was sad. It wasn't that anything bad happened, it's just that nothing much happened.

I've always made a big fuss of birthdays. I like giving cards, gifts, cooking up surprises for people on their birthdays. I usually eat out with my parents, sister, Edge and the kids and have a million mini-celebrations for my natal day. Usually, our birthday is a week-long celebration.

I guess the worst part about this year's birthday was that Edge has work on both nights. In fact, Edge had to leave for work today at 3 pm, just when I had to pick up Diego from school. So they didn't even get to sing "Happy Birthday" for me all together.

But this wasn't a totally awful day. When I woke up, Edge had a very touching note for me on the kitchen counter -- written in the way that only he can make me cry. Then, when Diego realized it was my birthday, he greeted me in the sweetest voice and gave me a warm hug. Then he rushed upstairs to get my gift. He came back with a crumpled piece of paper. "Mama, my gift is inside!" When I opened it, it was his "Lumpy" (from Pooh's Heffalump Movie) doll which he got from a McDonald's Happy Meal. How sweet! Then Edge let me choose a chocolate cake and declared I should go off my diet for today. He washed all the dishes for me too! (Now I have to do the same for him tomorrow!)

So my day was not lacking for sweetness and thoughtfulness. (I got many text and email messages from people who remembered -- Thank you so much! You don't know how much those messages mean to a new migrant like me!) I guess I'm just homesick.

Hope next year's birthday is much happier!

THREE REASONS TO CELEBRATE!

Oli on the 28th, moi on the 29th, and Edge on the 30th! No wonder the three of us are inseparable. Edge and I met Oli at Xavier School, where we were all teachers. Little did we know that both our families had pending applications to migrate to Australia! In March 2004, Oli's family left for Sydney. We promised to follow in 9 months' time. However, we did better than that, we got here in 6. We've seen each other through the ups and downs of the first years of a migrant's life. We've burned the telephone lines 'til we just got cut off because our cordless phone's batteries had run out. Oli and Arnee met us at the airport when we first arrived, even if they had to catch a very early train (I think it was an hour's ride). We help celebrate each other's milestones and achievements as we both travel down this lonely rode we have chosen.


Last night, we gathered at Oli's new house (still in Ingleburn) for dinner and drinks. We had sinigang, steak, salmon salad, quiche and for dessert, Oli made peach float (we remembered Sheila Valencia as we were preparing it that afternoon). Oli also invited her cousin, Tony, his wife Noni and daughter Christine. It was a relaxing evening, spent talking, reminiscing, planning for the future. Noni gave us a pep talk, encouraging us to just keep the faith, and telling us not to settle for anything less than what we are qualified to do. She and Tony have been here for 20 years now! She told me not to fret because I will never feel this low again. She says there's no way to go but up!

We just talked the night away, until we realized that it was already midnight and the kids were masungit na because they were sleepy and tired. It was a night well-spent, full of laughter, fellowship.....and alcohol!

MIGRANT BOYS GET NEW BEDS

Two migrant boys from the Philippines recently received a nice surprise as they came home late one night from a party. Instead of having to sleep one more night on a mattress on the floor, there were two silver steel-framed beds waiting for him and his brother inside his small room. The younger one, Luis, was fast asleep as he was laid in his bed by his father, who secretly assembled the beds earlier that day, when Diego was at school
and Luis was at daycare. This morning, when Luis woke up, he told his mother, "I like my Wina-Ba-Poo (Winnie the Pooh) bed! I like to sleep here!" The boys' parents hope that with their new beds, the two boys will be motivated to stay in their own beds for the duration of the night, and not transfer to their parents' bed in the middle of the night.

BREAKING NEWS!

Today, I received a letter in the mail putting an end (well sort of) to my long, long, long wait to hear about the results of my job interview with the Department of Community Services. I applied as a Child Protection Case Worker last April, got interviewed end of May, then never heard from them again. Well, let me share with you first what they said:

The Selection Committee considered you possessed the necessary skills and qualifications to successfully undertake the duties of the position.

Therefore, your name has been placed on an eligibility list for the position. In the event of the position becoming vacant within a period of 12 months from 17 June 2005 you may be considered for appointment.

So I still don't have the job, but I may have the job one day! Edge told me that they really do that here in Australia. They interview people even if they don't have an opening yet, so that in the event that a vacancy does arise, they have a person to immediately replace the one that resigned. So, OK. I guess I feel good about it. It's just so anti-climactic, after 4 months, it's neither bad news or really good news.

Another piece of good news. My teaching career is beginning to progress. I talked to the Assistant Principal in Diego's school, Mrs. Sibbald, and she has given me a regular schedule to assist in different classes at the school. She asked the teachers to sign up if they wanted me to help in their class and almost everyone did! (Of course, there are only 8 classes but I still got a lot of invitations!) My schedule is every Wednesday and Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm -- so I'm practically working there! (Wala lang bayad!) If I feel comfortable enough by October, I can accept casual teaching should they need me, and this time, I get paid.

So gradually, my career is somehow getting somewhere. Not yet quite there, but I'm getting there.

MONDAY IN THE PARK

Last Monday, we had a great family outing to the Bicentennial Park, which is part of the Sydney Olympic Park. The best thing about it was that we did not spend a single cent! Entrance was free, parking was free, and we brought our own food so that was free too.




It was a very relaxing day, spent playing soccer, climbing this rope-structure, letting the kids loose in the playground while Edge and I lay down on a sleeping bag on the grass. It was a fine sunny day too.

Si Luis hanggang baba lang

Ako hanggang gitna lang

The champions! They reached the top!

Since the park is quite big, we moved to another part of the park to take pictures. (The picture in my new banner was taken there). Diego had a fine time throwing his airplane down from atop the big tower.

That night, the boys slept early! We all had a very satisfying day!

ANG KULIT KO TALAGA!

I think I have worried quite a few people with my past blog entries. I am so sorry. I am just so aware of every single feeling I'm feeling and I just have to express them as they come my way. Because I felt like I was being sucked into a whirlpool, I have decided to deal with this problem spiritually.

I believe that with each crisis we encounter in life, God wants us to learn something. If we get the lesson right away, then the problem ends. The longer it takes for us to get the lesson, the longer the problem stays with us. That is why I have always been in a hurry to get the lessons right! I don't want to wait until God sends me the plague before I get what he wants me to learn! But maybe also in my haste to get the lesson right, I completely miss the lesson. Hence, it keeps coming back to haunt me.

Edge believes my lesson to be learned this time is PATIENCE. mwahahahaha! God grant me patience, and please God, give it to me NOW!!!! I firmly believe that God has a plan for me, and whatever it is He is planning for me is a hundred times more wonderful than anything I can ever think of. He has proved this to me many times in my life so I do not doubt that anymore. However, while waiting for this wonderful plan to unfold, I gripe and complain and get depressed. I just allow all the emotions to take over me and I just go with the feelings that I am supposed to feel in a situation like that. But, what if, this time, God wants me to go a step further, and just ACCEPT, without complaining? Just TRUST and not get stressed about all the whatifs. What if he just wants me to stop making plans and just leave all the planning to him? Because in all truth, I feel that there is nothing I can do right now that would improve my situation. It's all in God's hands.

Another realization I have had is that perhaps God wants and has wanted me to focus on my family first. Bringing us to Australia really forced us to make a lifestyle change and put me into the one job in the world I didn't want to take on : the housewife. At first, I said I would stay home for six months, then I would get a job. Easier said than done. It's been 10 months and still no job. But I don't think God wants me to stay home forever. He knows that will drive me crazy. He knows I will just wither away and it will not do anyone any good, least of all the kids. I think he wants me to take on a job that will still leave me with a lot of time and energy for the three loves of my life.

When I think about whether our move to Australia was the right thing to do, the answer changes, depending on my mood. But the one constant is that our family has really become closer, stronger and more "together". We have no choice but to share everything. There are no yaya or lolas to leave the kids with, there are no friends to go out with, so all our spare time is really devoted to family time. As a result, the kids are calmer, they have picked up so many new and wonderful skills, they have reached many of their childhood milestones without much effort, and best of all, my relationship with Edge has been THE BEST its ever been in the 14 years we've known each other.

So, really, I'm fine. I just have to sort this out myself and go through this. It's not something that will just go away. I have to work it out on my own. And I will, I know I will. I just hope I enjoy the journey and not be so focused on the destination!