2013 milestones...and its just the beginning

     It has been a long time since I last posted in this blog.  My heart keeps reminding me to update, but my mind tells me I have better things to do.  :(

     It has been a blur of activities since we came back from the Philippines for our annual Christmas vacation.  The Wonder Twins passed their entrance exam (for kindergarten) at Xavier School, Nuvali (yay!) resulting in quite a bit of paperwork to accomplish.  There's a short story behind this.  

     We arrived in Manila on a warm and humid Monday evening (surprising for December), went to my sister's house to unpack and repack, then drove to my niece's house to stay there for the night.  She lives near the school where the test was going to be held, so it makes sense to stay there rather than endure the morning rush hour traffic.  The following morning, I was a mass of nerves, while the kids were the least bit worried about the test.  While they were inside the testing room, my husband and I were seated outside in these school chairs.  I prayed the rosary three times, getting more anxious as each minute passed.  Finally, they came out and this conversion with my son ensues:

Momma: How was the test?

Gabriel: Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Momma: Wow, really?

Gabriel: Yes Momma.  And I did very well on my worksheet!

Momma: And what did you do on that worksheet?

Gabriel: I wrote my name!

Momma: And how many times did you write your name?

Gabriel (in a very serious tone): One time.

     My daughter, Sofia, was a little more pragmatic.  Her response to my query was that some parts were easy, some were hard.  Talk about personality difference! :)  I was more akin to believing Sofie, and I was thinking Gabriel will never live this down, especially with my family.  This will be in the family joke book for the rest of his life had he not passed.  Thankfully they did!

     A week or 2 later after we came back from our vacation, we found a buyer for our 4BR condo (another yay!) - they visited the house on a Saturday morning and that same night, expressed their interest.  They agreed with our selling price and next thing we knew, we had a cheque for the reservation fee.  That was bittersweet.  I was happy that we didn't have to lower our asking price, and at the same, sad, as it has finally come to a reality.  We will soon leave the house we've lived in for the past ten years.  Sigh....

     Since then, my husband and I have been busy planning the relocation.  We requested for quotations from 4 international movers and from 3 pet moving companies, finally making a decision last week.  Moving back to Manila will cost us about SG$8K +/-... Not cheap, but I love my furniture.  I can't bear to sell them.  Those that I would like to sell were bought by the new owners, so that was a relief.  Getting our 2 yorkies relocated as well will cost around SG$2.5K.  

     Amidst all these, we're still getting my sister's spare house renovated.  We will be staying there until we find a place we can call our own.  It's really heard to monitor the renovations when you're living in another country, but fortunately, our contractor is a friend, and he has been updating us on the progress.  With that said, there are still tons of things to buy to get that house ready by the time my husband and the kids move there on April 25.

     Yep, I will have to stay in SG until I find a job in Manila, or until I go crazy, whichever comes first.  I have been in denial for so long, but as time draws near, I am starting to feel dread, sadness, worry, helplessness.  I see myself weeping at night as the twins lay next to me, sleeping peacefully, with nary a thought or worry in their pretty little heads.  

     Reality bites, indeed.