bye 2010, welcome 2011!

Day 1 of the year 2011. Thank You, Lord, that You have given us Yourself and Your word, so we will not get lost in the jungle of life. We can face the new year with confidence. 

We had our new year dinner earlier at around 9 pm coz we were already hungry. Could not wait for 12 midnight or the media noche dinner. My mom who is visiting is our main guest. So there were only the 3 of us. I prepared tuna spaghetti and pesto spaghetti just few hours before. We had the queso de bola which I brought from the Philippines when I was there in mid-Dec. Then a bottle of red wine by Siam Winery which tasted surprisingly ok. We read from the book of Psalms, sang Great is Thy Faithfulness, and prayed to worship and thank the Lord for His blessings, and committed the new year to Him. We also thought of Dad, remembering him and missing his presence during this time of the year. He would have loved the red wine and the queso de bola. We did not have his other favourites such as walnuts (did not find them in our local supermarket) and sweet ham (finished last Christmas).

So it's now 2011! We witnessed two countdowns: an hour before midnight struck in Thailand, the Philippines welcomed the new year. At least one of the times when you can't say 'Filipino time' coz we were ahead not late, if you know what I  mean. We watched the countdown live through http://www.hayag.com, where we could connect with the major TV stations. Of course along with the new year festivities in Luneta and Eastwood, as well as at the TV stations, there were also some news flashes from hospitals in Metro Manila area where those wounded by firecrackers were being treated. 

The second countdown we watched was of course the ones here in Thailand - the local TV stations featured those in Pattaya, as well as in Bangkok (Future Park, Siam Paragon), Khon Kaen and Chiangmai. We were also able to see real/live fireworks at midnight from our condo balcony...we were not so near them but we could see them light up the sky. The fireworks were beautiful. One just had to stop thinking for a while of the costs financially and  environmentally, as well as the effect on health for those inhaling the smoke from these firecrackers.

Switching channels was quite hectic but fun. At the same time we were also video chatting with my younger sister and her kids in Manila through YM. We wished the others were also online. But due to time differences, we had to schedule our video chats accordingly.

Wishing everyone a happy new year! May our hearts have that "hopeful faith" that 2011 will be a better one than 2010, because we know that our future is in the hands of the One who created all things, knows all things, and especially knows what is best for us!

time really flies when ...

So it has been said and heard ... time flies when ... what do you think comes next? The most popular one is ... when you're having fun. In our case, I would say ... when you have lots of things to do and there is not enough time to do it!!!!! Of course, I love what I am doing now so I can say I am having fun as well. So they are related. This came to mind today when I looked at the date. I am always watching the calendar these days because of planning for our intensive project work, as well as for my upcoming travels to Philippines and elsewhere in the coming months.

Soon and very soon I will meet loved ones and dear friends again. Even for just a short while. I am sure I will be meeting some new ones, as I am planning to attend the PEBA event. Too bad that I have to leave the same night of the UPFish Reunion at UP Diliman.

November is ending, and tomorrow another month starts. It is not just any month though. It is December, already! The 12th month. Last month of the year. 2010. Then after 31 days it will be another year. A new year. 2011. It just seems like yesterday when it was the beginning of 2010. And now it is nearly ending. So time really flies...when you have lots of work to do...so many things to finish...and when you are having fun doing them, and so much more along the side.

Celebrating Christmas ... then the new year ... reflections, reflections. Thanksgiving. Giving glory. Worshiping God. Praising Him. Committing everything to Him, for He knows what is best for us. For in Him we live, and have our being. Thank You, Lord for all things that have passed, and for what is in store for us in the future. There is no fear because we know you hold the future.

Even though time flies so fast, we can be still, and know that you are God. And You can make all things beautiful in Your time. So we live, and experience that life is indeed beautiful because You make it so.

Looking back, stepping forward

Reflections are the norm when something ends and a new one starts. Such as the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. There was hardly any time to do such during the last few days of 2009. But I still tried, albeit mentally without writing it down, yet. The main reason was that where I am, there were only 2 official holidays, on 31st Dec and 1st Jan. Since the 2nd & 3rd Jan fell on a weekend, the break seemed longer. But this was nothing compared to those whose holiday break started long before Christmas. This was not so for us here. Even during Christmas eve we were still somewhere out there in the field, under the heat of the sun, conducting a pre-survey of field trip sites for our January workshop. Christmas day was spent in the office, with the usual workload. And so on. And yet, being reflective can be an attitude of the mind and heart. One can be busy and yet reflective. The mind doesn't stop thinking deep thoughts whilst doing something else.

As we talked about what we thought of 2009 and what 2010 holds for us, we could not help acknowledging the sovereignty of our Lord at all times. His care, comfort, provision and guidance are just a few things to thank Him for. We experienced successes and joys, as well as sadness, grief and disappointments in 2009. Some more than others. And yet as we enter 2010, we know that in allowing us to face these things in 2009, God has taught us a lot. He has taught us to be more: patient, sensitive to His leading, forgiving, prayerful, seeking of His presence, open to others, helpful, understanding, and to show more love , kindness and appreciation. To be more thankful each day. To be busy with His affairs more than the world's.

In terms of slowing down, yes, we also need that, in as much as we need to spend more quality time with each other as well as with other people: our loved ones, friends, and others whom God will lead us to meet.

Though we still feel the impacts of 2009, we can step forward and forge ahead in 2010 knowing that we are not alone. We hang on to God's promises at all times. Basic they may be, or too simplistic as others would say, but we would rather be simple and joyful, than complex and sophisticated but not rich towards heaven.

Let's face the new year with courage and determination to make a difference.