Murphy's Law: Even the best laid out Plans Can Unravel

Our bucket list involved starting the kids on travel this year. Our firstborn started early, she was able to accompany me on some trip with my sister (her aunt) when she was younger, but for our "bunso", 2015 is the start of his out of town trips.

We timed it perfectly - as soon as their dad's plane flew in from abroad, our plan was to hop terminals and then fly out the same date. This will help maximize the short vacation my husband had, and will also optimize the leave that I filed with my company.

But God it appears, have other plans. What we anticipated to be a 1-2 hrs waiting time for my hubby was on target. He came out of the terminal a little before an hour after the initial declared ETA. We already have our friend commissioned to drive us from one airport to the next so there were no issues with getting transportation. At the same time, my mom was there because she was going home with the rest of my husband's baggage, his backpack for our out of town trip was already prepared (so I badgered him from across the distance to do this - remember, me the "planner"?).

Off the Pan and into the fire

So off we went -- and into the heavy traffic. Let me advise a disclaimer here, this trip was not made for the holidays, it was sometime in June of this year. It just happened that I was not able to consider the infrastructure or construction that was going on in the area. In a bid to make airport experience more convenient, our government is pushing for the creation of additional roads that will be devoted to servicing the airports (yey!), but that is another topic, let me move on.

Anyway, we were still able to arrive at the airport after around 4 hours, but this time, we had a delay with the actual flight out. The Air Asia reception desk was very good however, and wisely suggested that we move our booking to an earlier flight (since we were there already), since all the flight outs have been delayed anyway. This move to another flight was for free and hassle-free. After this, we just sat and waited for our plane and time to depart. 

Other family members may have been screaming blue murder at this time, but guess what? Me and my family have the grandest time ever. Even with all the waiting and the heavy traffic that we experienced, these were opportunities for us to spend time TOGETHER and BOND as a unit again.

I guess we all make adjustments. Mine is a simple family, and my husband is an OFW (Overseas Foreign Worker). In order for our set up to work, we have to compromise on so many things. Internet, and travel makes it easier, but some concerns like logistics in this case can be a peeve -- don't let it be one. Look for the quirks. Find your silver lining in every situation that may not work out as you have planned it to.

And oh, that trip? That is a separate blog post to follow...

Septem-BER means Birthday Prep!

-BER month na po...

For other parents, this would mean that Christmas 2014 is soon to be rolling in. For me however, before I jump on to that particular bandwagon, there is another significant event that is being propelled by this quarter --- the kids' birthdays!

Let me get this straight. I do not have twins. I just happen to have the fortune of having kids born almost exactly a year apart, with their particular birth dates ONLY ONE DAY apart.

When I was pregnant with my son, I would always pray that his arrival not coincide with my older kid's birthday. I wanted them to have their own unique dates arriving into the world - because my belief was, they would begin to value their own selves, and bask in their individuality, if they did not share such a special date together (the year immaterial).

And as usual, GOD answered my prayers in a very special way.

A day after celebrating my daughter's first birthday - there I was again at the hospital giving birth to our baby boy.

Almost five years later, here I am (here we are). And now it is again -BER month.

In the earlier years, this would mean preparing for two parties, and worrying about bills/expenses associated with kiddie parties times two.

Not this year.

This year - both kids will have a shared, and simple family celebration - a real toast of gratefulness for the lives that God have entrusted to us. This year, the birthday celebrants will not have a big party, but will instead celebrate life by having some bit of fun with their friends, and special bonding time with family.

It will not be much of a party, but it will be a very special celebration..