The Year To End, 2010

Looking forward to the coming year 2011. But before the current year come to an end, I suddenly made an effort to recall what "major major" things transpired in my personal life in 2010.

Hmmmmm . . .

My 2010 started with a bang for I was loaded with a heavy burden on my shoulders before 2009 ended and that was carried over in 2010. Whew! Heavy indeed.

It was solved in January (fine, for there were no longer a space left to fill-in the wrinkles on my face then). Business was at its lowest. My younger sister had a breast lump which was later on deemed malignant. I had some skin issues because of stress. I was struggling until "what seemed to be a very long" February, it was not hearts' month but "hurts" month. We stopped joining the dog shows. Now, that hurts too.

As a result of all of these, I was continuously gaining weight, until I decided to stop worrying and do something in March. I exercised come March 1. I did my routine in the evenings when I have finished my duties. I remember bending and jumping late in the night up to midnight, what a queer method to stay fit. My goal then was to lose weight, perspire my way back to how I used to weigh and learn a challenging pop dance.

I did! A taste of victory . . . went forward to tackle my other struggles.

Let's switch to another channel. For the succeeding months, April and May, I was into "K-Pop" - music, dances and mini-movies available in YouTube.

In June, my mom was diagnosed of cancer on the chest wall. (She had breast cancer in 2007.) We started chemo therapy sessions, running in July up to August. Because of this and other challenges, I decided to go back serving in the church. Good move. Blessings seem to pour like rain in dry, hot summer days.

My eldest child graduated college and took up his masters degree in Theology. My youngest, who was afraid of flunking Accounting, ended up in the Dean's List.

My sister's only child was deemed one of the Outstanding Students and was granted a scholarship. This sister of mine was key to my mom's treatment.

My brother and his family (including their only child, a very bright and handsome lad) are serving through Couples for Christ in New Zealand.

My other sister in the U.S., had been cured of her illness and the disease even brought her family to closer ties. Her eldest went into a fruitful leadership training and was awarded a priceless exchange program.

Who could have thought that my mom, in spite of her situation, was able to go Batangas for a retreat. She went through this spiritual rejuvenation together with her warm co-believers, Parish (Neo) classmates who have been visiting and holding vespers and prayer sessions in her home during the times she was recovering from her chemo therapy difficulties.

My father's grave has been frequently visited by us and finally, by his sister and brother, who decided to go home here in the Philippines this year. Balikbayan relatives of 2010!

Thanks be to God for all these blessings!

In September, I started to slow down playing tennis. My attention to the sport kinda faded.

Out of the blues, I went to Singapore for some bonding moments with my younger sister who has been living abroad for decades. My plans of visiting her in the U.S. did not push through. She is a cancer survivor herself, with a faith that is continuously growing strong. She is surrounded by a loving and supportive family.

In October, I was so fortunate to have visited the Holy Land with a lively group and Bo Sanchez as our pilgrimage leader. What a blessing indeed. I met a lot of friends plus a dear one, PinPin.

I also went visiting holy shrines, praying to different saints and to Our Lady (double-time).

In November, we were given the opportunity to start brewing up a new business. Some unlikely things that bind me and my husband.

My elder sister and I had our periodic check-up , mammography and breast ultra-sound. Results were fine, negative for anything bad.

My Uncle B passed away this year, joining the angels in Heaven in praising our Lord.

December proved to be a super busy month, I went back slowly to playing tennis, started preparing for the opening of the store in 2011 and went into having Mom go to a wellness center for treatment. I was also given the opportunity to complete serving in the misa de gallo (simbang gabi, Christmas midnight masses).

What a year! Good-bye 2010, hello 2011! Let's pack the coming year with full-filling milestones. Have yourself a great new year guys!