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.