Highlights of Year 2019

As expected I’m always late in posting my year-end post but it is better to be late than never. To be honest I’m having a hard time finding the right words to describe my year 2019. If 2017 is a rollercoaster ride, 2018 is a challenging year, ano pa ba ang pwede sa 2019?

2019 is not an easy year too, it was overwhelming. My emotion is on the extreme level, kung hindi ka super happy, super sad naman. Sa totoo lang, nakakabaliw kung iisipin ang never ending up and down ng feeling. Ganito ba talaga kapag tumatanda ka na? I know that writing this year-end post would bring back the tears of pain and tears of joy.

2019 is a year when we started a family business and we were able to cross out some places on our travel bucket list. We were able to visit Batanes, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, The Farm at San Benito, and some hotels and resorts. Remembering those moments and experiences makes me happy so I’m really thankful for God’s provision to be able to visit these places.

But 2019 is also a year when I felt so sad because we lost two family members, I lost my grandmother and sister-in-law. She was not only my grandmother but also my mother because she raised me since I was 10 years old. I’m forever thankful to her for taking care of us because we don’t have a mother nor father beside us.

Then several months after, my sister-in-law was gone too soon. She was so young and we all know that she has a bright future but God called her home. Cancer taught me that life is short, don’t just focus on the future but learn to enjoy the present. Don’t forget to create moments and memories with your loved ones. We really need to take care of our health, if we can spend money on material things, invest also for our health needs.

"I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given to me to live" Thich Nhat Hanh

Lastly, after our summer vacation, I don't know why and I don't understand but I felt so bored. I’ve been a full-time mom since 2008 and I feel that my life is a routine. I want to do something for myself so I enrolled in two courses. These courses will help me to look for a part-time job so at least I have something to do aside from this blog. This is also the reason why I have fewer posts this year because I’m enjoying living my life “offline” and exploring my new hobbies. You can check my page here.

So what happened last year?

January 

We started our year in Batanes so for the first few days we’re preoccupied with our North Batan Tour, Sabtang Tour, and South Batan Tour. It was a short but memorable vacation because finally, I was able to cross-out Batanes on my travel bucket list.

Start of the year and we had a series of check-ups again, yung mga naiwan ko last 2018 that I need to finish before summer vacation. My husband experienced Colon Cleansing for the very first time. It is also the time that I started completing our Schengen visa requirements. We need to apply for visa before my husband’s flight to the USA.

Read: How to Apply for Schengen Visa for your Europe Trip 
One Day of Colon Cleansing 
4 Days in Batanes with Kid 

February 

February is a rollercoaster of emotion, I was so happy during the first week of February because our Schengen Visa application was approved, we were able to buy plane tickets and luggage for our Norway trip and my husband was here during my son’s Field Trip, so may tagahatid at sundo siya.

Read: Philippines Travel Expo Experience and Tips
School Field Trip 

But I was sad because my husband went to the USA for a business trip so for the first time in 13 years, absent siya sa wedding anniversary namin. No wedding anniversary celebration for us. I was sad na nga then I received the bad news that my grandmother passed away. It is hard to accept but I have no choice but let go because God called her home. Good thing that my husband was on his way back to the Philippines so we were able to attend my Lola's wake and internment.

We took advantage of my husband’s bereavement leave and I was able to do some of my lab tests. My husband underwent surgical tooth extraction too so nakapahinga pa after the extraction.

March 

And because my Lola passed away last month, our family is almost complete so we had an early summer getaway at Palm Beach Resort. Then my mom celebrated her birthday at The Alley by Vikings.

Read: Weekend Getaway at Palm Beach Resort 
Birthday Celebration at The Alley by Vikings 

When my mom went back to Norway, life became busy again because of my son’s final exam, I need to finish my laboratory, check-up, and surgical tooth extraction before our summer vacation and I’m trying my best to finish our Copenhagen - Stockholm - Oslo itinerary. It was hard to plan when you have less than a month to book for boat, train, bus, and hotel. And sa dami ng pwede puntahan sa Scandinavia, ang hirap pumili ng attractions.

Read: My Surgical Tooth Extraction Experience 

We attended my son’s recognition and he got a Gold Eagle Award again this school year. We had a simple celebration at Cafe Mary Grace and we went back to Kidzania Manila for his reward. We had dinner at Cabalen for my Father-in-law’s birthday celebration.

Read:  Birthday Celebration at Cabalen 
19 Activities in One Day at Kidzania Manila 
Cafe Mary Grace   

April 

First week of April, we were busy with the Annual Physical Exam, planning for our Scandinavia Trip and packing for our 2 months summer vacation. It was a happy month because we did not imagine that we can go back to Europe after two years. We visited Elverum, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. I know that I haven’t finished blogging about our Europe trip but hopefully, I can finish everything this year.

Read: Day Trip in Elverum Norway
4 Days in Copenhagen Denmark with Kid 
5 Days in Stockholm Sweden with Kid 
4 Days in Oslo Norway with Kid 

My husband went back to the Philippines after our Scandinavia Trip and thank God because he arrived the day before the Earthquake happened. Kasi yung time ng earthquake, for sure nasa Clark International Airport pa siya nun and we all know kung gaano nasira ang airport that time.

We spent Easter in Norway and for the very first time, we watched a movie abroad. Of course, we don’t want to miss Avengers Endgame.

May 

For the month of May, we’re glad that we were able to visit Kristiansund and Atlantic Ocean Road. It was a short weekend getaway but I’m happy na natuloy din because of the unpredictable weather in Norway. And because of the weather, most of the time we just stayed at home. It was also the time when I learned how to crochet so I was able to make some crochet projects before going back to the Philippines.

Read: Weekend Getaway at Kristiansund Norway 
Atlantic Ocean Road: The Best Road Trip in the World 
The Day I Learned How to Crochet 

We attended two Confirmation events and May 17 Celebration. We visited Torrem, Garten, and Home for the Aged where my mom works. We had a fishing adventure too and caught a lot of fishes.

Read: Confirmation in Norway 
Fishing Adventure in Norway 
May 17th Celebration   

June 

After two months of vacation in Norway, we’re back to reality so I was preoccupied with household chores and back to school duties. We arrived just in time for my husband’s birthday so we celebrated it at Buffet 101. It is also the start of our family business so if you are planning to install CCTV cameras in your home, go to this page.

Read: Flying Back Home 
Birthday Celebration at Buffet 101 

July

We went to the Dentist for my second surgical tooth extraction, my son’s tooth extraction, and tooth filling. After two years, I am back to baking because finally, we bought a new gas range oven. This was the time when I felt bored; blogging, baking, crocheting and watching Korean Drama don't excite me anymore so I enrolled in an online course.

August 

We started the August month low because my sister-in-law passed away so after the interment I was cramming because I need to catch up with my online lessons and finish my project before graduation. After my course, I celebrated my birthday in Yurakuen and Sheraton Manila.

Read: Birthday Celebration at Yurakuen 
Birthday Staycation at Sheraton Manila 

September 

Our passport is due for renewal so we went to DFA NCR South to renew, medyo nakakstress pa nga kasi nakailang balik kami.

Read: How to Renew your Passport via DFA Courtesy Lane 
How to Book and Pay for your DFA Appointment Online 

October 

It was the birthday month of my son and he doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday. Ayaw niya magparty, magtravel or magstaycation. He wants a gift. This is a moment of realization that my son is no longer a kid and nagsawa na siya sa staycation which is a good thing kasi several months from now, hindi na siya FREE sa hotel and considered adult na rin siya.

We went back to the Dentist for my braces, after so many years I finally have the courage to do it. Ayaw ko kasi ng pain and ayaw ko na maraming bawal na food. Food is life pa naman. Hehehe! My son had 2 weeks of sembreak and hindi kami prepared so we went to Travel Expo to score a budget getaway. 

Read: 4th World Travel Expo Experience

November 

We had a staycation at The Farm at San Benito with my in-laws, we celebrated my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday at Yakimix and we visited my sister-in-law and grandmother in the cemetery. We went to Madison Galeries for my husband’s KARADA session. 

Read: What to Eat at The Farm at San Benito
Sweet Escape at The Farm at San Benito
Birthday Celebration at Yakimix
Pain, Pain Go Away at KARADA

December 

It was a busy month because I enrolled in an online class again so 3 weeks of lessons and at the same time I was preparing for the Christmas Holidays. I was so stressed so I intentionally took a break and focus my time on what really mattered “my family”. We went to Tagaytay and Caleruega during the holiday break.

Read: Holiday 2019

As I’ve mentioned, the year 2019 was overwhelming but I’m thankful that we survived. I don’t know what will happen this year 2020 but I’m looking forward to new travel adventures, new opportunities, and new memories.

“Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening, don’t you see it?” Isaiah 43:18-19