Another Step Of My Life!

Today was my birthday and I went to work. My husband and my mom both told me I should have taken off. I just see it as an ordinary day. A typical birthday celebration back home in the Philippines would be a relaxed barbecue, cake and ice cream, a nice dinner and presents to open and of course a few drinks with family and friends with karaoke singing... that's it. My mom always made a big deal about all of our birthdays. Now that I'm staying in Norway, my husband Geir has taken over with increasing assistance from our 3 years old son.

Usually, I take the day off from work, sleep in a little and spend the day doing whatever I want, which often means a little self-indulgent shopping. However, this year was different!

It’s amazing how differently people react to their birthdays.

Some want to party. Surround themselves with hordes of people and pay homage to themselves.

Others get depressed thinking they have not done enough with their lives.

I, like many, use my birthday (specially this year) as an opportunity to reflect on my life, to examine the ups and downs, and to remember the people, situations, and experiences in my life that I am so grateful for.

I attribute my success and happiness to many factors. However, gratitude is by far the largest contributor.

Because I take time to give thanks for all the good in my life, I recognize just how big a role things like family, mentors, and friends have played in my success. And this, in turn, helps me to be the very best wife, mother, and friend I possibly can. I owe so much to the people and things that have helped push me forward. So I give as much as I can in return. And this has the happy result of helping me get even more out of life!

Gratitude goes beyond appreciation; it goes beyond the emotional state. When you learn how to become deeply aware of the feelings of gratitude, you’ll find that your body actually reflects the emotion in physical form. Gratitude definitely is a choice, although one that is not always easy to make. But the reason I can make this choice is because of what God has given to me.

As I have taken another step of my life, I am honored to share my gratitude list with you.

Here are the top 10 people/things that I am most grateful for:

1) My husband Geir. I never question his love, loyalty (sometimes... lol), and partnership. He is a rock I cherish (and his good looks don’t hurt!).

2) My son Zander. He gave me the gift of motherhood and unconditional love. The compassion and respect he show to all people fills me with pride.

3) My father. He taught me the value of honesty and hard work.

4) My mother, who always tells me the truth even when it’s not what I want to hear.

5) The mistakes I have made in my life. The lessons I have learned from these missteps have made me a better wife, mother, and friend.

6) Having lived in Norway and experienced its wealth of theaters, museums, fine dining, and amazing views.

7) Living outside the city and being able to walk on the beach every day even though it's very cold. hehehe

8) My mentors and colleagues.

9) Music – especially Lifehouse – which allows my creativity to flourish.

And last, but certainly NOT least…

10) My friends all over the world. Your letters, emails, and comments touch my heart and soul every day and make me strive more.

Thank you so much! Maraming Salamat! Tusen takk!
CHEERS!!! :D

Life is a roller-coaster ride...

When I decided to leave everything and board a plane to Europe, I was certainly taking some risks. I was hoping for the best, confident that this was the right move for me and my son together with my hubby, sure that I wanted to live a life different than the one I had been living, and eager to take on the challenges ahead of me. That was one year ago this week, and I have felt sure (in some way)that I made the right choice, that the risk was worth it. I have loved living in Norway, and, more specifically, Stavanger. I'll admit that things were really hard when I first got here. I had no idea that Geir would go straight to work in the morning 14 hours after few days we arrived. I didn't realize all of the things I'd have to take care of while Geir was gone every day. I didn't know a single person, had never been here. Everything was completely new for me. I remember the strange feeling that came over me that first day, when I realized that I didn't have Geir's phone number, I didn't have anyone's phone number in case I needed something. I was on my own, hoping for the best! But here I am, one year later, feeling quite at home. I have friends, I love our home, I'm able to communicate well enough but still using English language and little Norwegian, my son is happy with his place in life here. Stavanger has been a great fit for us, worth the risk and difficulties, and I love living here.

While life in Europe has been everything we hoped it would be, Geir had an accident while working end of 2010. So he needs to stay home for few months. This has been a serious disappointment for him. This part of the experience has definitely clouded our time here for the last few months, but we both decided to just dig in anyway, continue fixing up our home and investing in our life here in other ways. I don't regret that. Something I feel like I've learned through this process is that you cannot be sure what is coming tomorrow, and you just can't worry too much. We have both done our best to simply enjoy the good things in front of us as much as possible.

I don't know what I will do afterward. I pretty much "cashed in my chips" when I made the move out here in the first place, and feel like I don't have much to lose, in terms of money or materials (I don't have any!). Sometimes, I just want to go back to the Philippines and do the things I really want to do. Then I realized, I'm already out here, maybe I can make it work to stay for another year. This is all one big adventure, so I might as well take an extra trip again, and see what it's like living in this place. Of course, I don't know what exactly is getting offered, and at this point everything is quite vague and complicated.

I have always wanted an interesting life. I think this qualifies as very interesting. There is a reason that most people go with what's safe and familiar-- they are far less likely to find themselves unemployed in a new country, far from family and friends, almost broke, and not knowing what's next! But I'm still glad I came. And I am just up for whatever adventure comes my way. Life doesn't always feel secure and cozy, and I have had a LOT of FUN for one year of staying in this country. And I'm sure more is headed my way. In fact, my main focus right now, apart from looking for a better job that I REALLY love is just to have the best time ever, where I am right now...

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I would not trade my mom for anything. While she lives in another country we are best friends. I can count on her love and suggestions even now that I am a mom myself. Now that I am in the shoes of such, I understand more of why she did what she did. It was out of an abundance of love.

A letter to my mother

Dearest Mom,

Having a mother like you while growing up was the greatest gift and biggest advantage anyone could ever have given me. It is because of the confidence and values that you instilled in me that made me who I am today. Thank you for shaping me into a person who I like and am proud to be. Thank you for letting us believe that we could be whoever we wanted to be, do whatever we wanted to do, there were no limitations except our drive, ambition and creativity.

Thank you for your unwavering support through out my journey.

Thank you for taking me to hospital and sitting with me through out my labor until I gave birth, remember how excited we were for our first one?

Thank you for always having hope for me when I didn’t have for myself.

Thank you for telling me not to give up when I said I couldn’t do it any more.

Thank you for never giving up on me when I went through that dark period, when I shut every one out of my life. When loving me must have been like trying to hold a cactus. Thank you for loving me through all of my rejections of help and love.

Thank you for staying with me when I was in hospital... until I gave birth with Zander. Thank you for washing my underwear, for bringing me all the things I need to make me feel comfortable, special treats. Thank you for bringing the nurses some cakes and snacks, I was their favourite patient.

Thank you for loving Zander so much while he was still inside.

Thank you for loving Zander so much while he was in the Philippines.

Thank you for loving him still. For never forgetting about him.

Thank you for having his picture in your bedroom and in your living room. For always talking about him and praying for his health.

The one we watched get bigger and bigger in my tummy, the one we loved so much... will be turning 3 in just few more months. Remember how proud we were of him when he used to roll around and kick on the scans. Remember how we laughed when we saw his bits, how you told Dad and Geir that our boy has big balls.

Thank you, for every thing you have done for me, thank you for every thing you have said, and for all the times when you said nothing and just listened.

Thank you for being my good luck charm, my muse, my hero, my savior, my cook, and my mentor.

Thank you for being such a wonderful mother. Thank you for being so wonderful to Geir.

Thank you thank you thank you. For a million things, for everything. I don’t know what I would do without you. There are so many many more things, small things, big things.

I love you very very much, if I could be half as good a mother to my children as you are to your children, I will have done exceptionally well.

Thank you mommy, I love you, more than words can ever express.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! =)

You're my Hero Dad!

Every year, your birthday reminds me how grateful I am that you are my father. With all that’s going on in the world today, I’m thankful I get to watch you, to look up to you, being an example of a good man. What a privilege it is to observe your strength, your competence, and your kindness. I am so blessed to be under your wing, your protection, your care, learning important life lessons from you. If all fathers were like you, the world would be a very different and much better place. Happy 60th Birthday Dad! We love you! CHEERS! ;)

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

I would like to make my post a little different today. I want to wish someone a very happy birthday. He was my hero, the one man that made every other one look like less of a man, the one man who was always there for me no matter what, and the one who always loved me no matter how dumb I was or what mistake I made. This man is my dad.

My dad was a great man, a kind man and most of all a family man. His family always came first, and he taught us to always remember that. This is the reason why I am so close to my family. He was the glue that kept it all together and reminded us every time we were mad at each other that we were family and nothing could change that. Besides being a family man, he was a fair and funny man. Ask anyone, he could tell a joke before you could even say hi to him.

He is the most amazing man I know. He raised us to be wonderful children and I must thank him for that and everything he has done. He is amazing. Dad, Happy Birthday on this milestone. Thank you for everything, I'm so grateful to be your daughter. The father/daughter bond is something any man would want. I love you dad. Many wishes to you on this very special day!

Happy Birthday Lolo Daddy! We miss you so much! See you real soon.
WE LOVE YOU!

Depressed! =(

Is it better to let yourself be depressed every once in a while or force yourself to stay positive?

Lately I'm struggling to stay positive. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to break down but I just keep telling myself I can't. Lately, i'ts become just this in the middle numb zombie like state and I hate it. Sometimes, I think I should let myself be a little depressed just to feel again but I really don't want to go into a depression mode but I'm trying so hard to be happy and it isn't working. Its just going blank. I'm not depressed but I'm not happy either. I'm just here or rather not here. I'm afraid to let go and just feel anything because I don't know what emotion will come out. I just don't want to lose control over myself. I’ve lost control of everything in my life but myself and I'm wondering if that's a bad thing.

I know, life is what you yourself make it , good or bad it's all up to us to cry or laugh. Sometimes we suffer from depression but we have to choose to move forward because if we would just curl in a ball... at the end we'll realize what a waste of life.

I know I'll be fine... maybe I just miss my friends and family way back home.

Utstein Kloster - the Abbey beside Mosterøy

It's Maundy Thursday (Last Supper of Jesus) and how ironic because it fell on April 1, also known as April Fool's Day. My family should visit the Oil Museum today but since we arrived a little bit late, my husband just decided to go to Utstein Kloster, a charming 13th century monastery on the island of Mosterøy 30 minutes north of Stavanger.




We went there by car. We took the E39 north from Stavanger, through the first undersea tunnel (233 metres below sea level), past the toll booth, over the bridge, then turn right at the sign for Mosteroy. Turn left at the roundabout, then follow the road across Mosteroy to Klosteroy.


The abbey is at the end of the road. Utstein Kloster is on Klosterøy (or Abbey island) which is connected to Fjøløy and Mosterøy, and more islands beyond. Restored over the last 100 years, it is unique in Norway. It is the best-preserved monastery in the whole of Norway.



Visiting Utstein gives us an insight into the country’s religious make-up. It is the only monastery to have survived from pre-reformation days in a strongly Protestant culture.


It’s a bit like clothes shopping when we went and visited the place, we might find something special hidden, that’s why we always open every door.