35 Reasons to be Thankful

[inabear]

It hasn't been a year since my last Reasons to be Thankful entry but SO MUCH has happened since that last one that my list this year could be a complete overhaul. I mean, my lists are getting longer and longer each year (a reason to be thankful!) in that each number is cheatingly about many many things. This one, I think, should focus on the new things to be thankful for.

35 Things to be Thankful For

1. The Plan. I wrote about The Plan in my last entry. So far, all we can really do is go with it. We're still in transition, we haven't moved yet. But I am thankful for The Plan because I could never have come up with a more perfect way to raise our children. How things fell into place was nothing sort of miraculous. For me it was a clear sign of God's hand in my life.



2. My Job. I applied to be a Student Supervisor. the powers that be decided to make me a teacher. A TEACHER! Teaching is hard. Ridiculously hard. BUT, I can realistically see myself doing this for the next 15 years. It challenges me, it needs my organizational skills, it suits my OC nature, it lets me be creative, and, even if I complain everyday (my feet hurt, I forgot to eat, it's so cold, it's so hot, I have to submit what NOW?) I like teaching. I've never taught like this before, so technically, I'm learning on the job. But I do like teaching. It's something I could be good at eventually. And it is a means by which I can help provide for my family. So I am thankful that I can provide my children quality education with a job I actually like.



3. The XSN Community. The people I work with are heaven sent. They are (and I'm not just saying this because they might see it online, I'm saying it because it's true.), one and all, inspiring. Not just in their considerable teaching skills, and the deep passion they have for educating young minds, but also in how they truly are good, compassionate, and admirable human beings. I wasn't looking forward to my birthday last Thursday because the only person who makes a big deal of it was away, and there was a death in the family, so celebrating didn't feel appropriate, and so I thought it would pass by without notice, but my co-teachers surprised me with gifts and cards and notes and candy. It's been a while since I felt that much love on my birthday. AND TO THINK we were all cramming and scrambling with end of the quarter deadlines, they still went out of their way. I love my co-teachers. I feel deeply grateful that I'm learning to teach through them.



4. My Boss. She does't want me to call her that. Hehe. I'm so thankful that Elsa is my direct supervisor, because she is a friend, and becoming more like the Ate I never had, We can be friend-mode in the office (I once blurted out to her, "you are so dumb" and she laughed.) and we can be work-mode (she makes sure I do everything correctly and well) and I really learn a lot from her. I don't remember all my Theology because I hadn't studied CLE since high school. But everything seems really clear and organized in her head, it's easy to approach her with questions on lessons. And she's forgiving when I need to put my family ahead of my job. So yay! For Elsa, I am so thankful.



5. My Partner. All of grade school CLE is taught by two people, me and my partner Matt. Sir Matt is my hero. Because last year he taught ALL the CLE and I still can't fathom how he is still alive. He is so patient with me, making him kulit every 2 minutes even when he's busy. And so meticulous with his writing, checking and recording. He knows the masses inside out. He is swamped with work in school, and when he goes home, he takes care of all the chores. AND he manages to help me with the things I don't know how to do. My partner is a true Man for Others. He is a hero.
6. That my girls are in XSN. I truly feel that they have grown more into themselves in our new school. Not only are they doing well with their academics, Lia has started writing books. And Desi has befriended nearly every person in school (seriously, she has high school friends. What first grader has high school friends?). I love that I know how they are being taught. And I love that I am there for them in school. And I love that we get to bond together in the car on our way to school and back. This won't be true for long. But for now, it's the one things I'm thankful for in the long car trips before we finally move.



7. My Students. In the beginning I was determined to be the stern, super strict, scary teacher that could shut whole classrooms up with a look. I wanted them to fear me. Instead, they seem to love me. Baffling, I know. I love when they GET IT. I love when they ask questions, even hard ones I can't answer, and I especially love when I hear that they repeat what I say in class to their families or friends outside the classroom. I am thankful for my students because I learn so much from them.



8. My Club. At the end of a week full of lessons on God and Jesus and the Bible and the Sacraments, it's nice to sit with my club, let them lead the club activity, and talk/learn about books and stories. They are crazy, but they are fun. They show me that learning doesn't need desks and chairs and a white board. And they show me that if you give them a chance to decide what they can do with their time, they can come up with something worthwhile.



9. Cars, E-passes and the Sometimes Driver. I complain daily about the commute to and from Laguna. But I am thankful that we travel comfortably, and usually without traffic, and many times with a driver. I am thankful we can afford to drive, and that I can drive. I hate having to travel this much, but I am thankful we can do it.



10. The future house. It's mostly done. We will move when it's ready. I'm already thankful for what it will be to us, a home in a place with no traffic, or tall buildings, or pollution. The kids are safe to play outside, with mountain, trees, sky and clouds as our daily landscape view. We can't wait!



11. My Teachery Stuff. My school notebook laptop, I inherited from Mike. It's perfect because it's small and I can carry it from classroom to classroom easily. It's hard to edit stuff in the tiny screen though, so I'm happy Mike got me a large monitor for my cubicle that helps me write and edit more efficiently. I like having a lot of colored pens and markers and binder clips, and binders and punchers and push pins and hooky folders and Post Its! Oh Post Its. I love having a clicker (another gift from Mike) and magic stick that stretches that lets me reach the unreachable projectors. Can you tell I love school and office supplies? Now I have a legit reason to hoard them all.



12. My Subject. I love that today I am teaching CLE. For me, it's easy to teach, it is intuitive and allows me to be creative in activities, tests and projects. I am so thankful I am a CLE teacher because it is the best and most awesome way to share with others the love that God has show me. I only hope my students can see how much I love God and my subject. Because for me, my most effective and memorable teachers were the ones who loved what they taught.



13. God's Voice. There was a day last month, I felt so weak and faint I had to spend the afternoon in the infirmary. While I lay there I was mentally beating myself up for not being strong enough to finish the day's work. I felt so guilty and inadequate. And then on the drive home, I was greeted by red tail lights as far as the eye can see. Waze was telling me i had 2-3 hours of traffic ahead of me, to think I was, at that point, less than a kilometer away from home, just on the wrong side of the highway. I thought it was really going to be the worst day ever. But God truly answers prayers because some Skyway guys ahead opened up a U-turn slot and I was home in 10 minutes. It was a miracle. And God's voice was so clear in my heart. It's ok if you're weak. I am stronger than anything. Even traffic. This has happened (not the traffic miracle, but the feeling that God was speaking to me) now and again the past months and weeks, be it through experiences, or people like Fr. Munching or Fr Johnny Go, God finds a way to tell me I'm ok, it's all going to be ok. He reassures me of His love and His presence and I have strength again to keep following The Plan.



14. Sandwiches. When I'm engrossed in something, I tend to forget to eat. I am thankful for the sandwiches our helper prepares for me everyday because they are easy to bite into even when I'm busy (although I'm not supposed to eat while working, I'll need to discipline myself better about eating properly). Sandwiches sustain me till the next long break when I can sit and finally eat my rice. If I remember. Ayayay.



15. The Internet. I get a lot of fun songs and Bible videos from the internet. Thank you kind YouTube sharers for all the great material you share. Don't worry I've properly cited you all in my lesson plans. You are helping many children get closer to God. Thank you!
16. Skylanders. This is a video game my children play on the XBox that Mike and I also play. I play this (only on weekends because the rules that apply to the kids apply to me too) to keep me sane because sometimes you just have to stop thinking about work, and blast away funny one-eyed monsters with exploding pineapples. I'm already a level 42 Portal Master. Um. Yeah.



17. Family vacations. We didn' t have a big vacation this year because we're prioritizing the new house. But we did get to go to Tagaytay withthe Dorseys, to Subic before I started going to work in May, and we just got back from Punta Fuego with the Mantarings this last weekend. This Punta Fuego I've been looking forward to, practically since the beginning of the school year. I think that's what happens when you work. You get through it by reminding yourself you'lre getting nearer and nearer to the beach every day. Thank you Nana and Mantarings for making sure we have a vacation to look forward to every year.
18. Our Small Staycation. On the day God rescued me from traffic hell, He also told me, you are not inadequate, you deserve a break. So I decided to give myself one, which isn't easy for me because I have issues about spending and deserving things. Anyway, I am thankful that when I asked Mike if we could overnight in Tagaytay, he not only said yes, he reserved me a massage in the spa and took me out to fancy dinner and let me sleep late the next day, and then took me turo-turo lunch before going home. Best staycation ever! And then after that, I was ready again to be the best teacher and mother I can be.



19. Helpers that Stay. None of the new ones are sticking. So I am triply grateful for the ones that have been with us for over two years, and that I can trust them with my children and our home. And that they will come with us when we move. They are really part of our family.



20. Books. I feel like I've read more than I should out of school books this year, that I've been reading instead of sleeping, or working, nevertheless, I am thankful for Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon, as well as Woman in a Frame, both by Filipino authors, and both I love. They didn't have locally written YA books when I was young. Also loved the Lunar Series, Cinder, Scarlet and Cress. Can't wait for Winter. And Lia's books, The School for Good and Evil. I also love that Lia and I are already reading the same things. This makes her impressive and me, um... let's just move on. Hahaha!



21. Facebook. It sounds like I'm an addict because it's the first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing before I sleep, but it really helps me in the morning when my first thought upon waking is normally, MORE SLEEP. But if my next thought is, I wonder what's on FB? And I check on my phone, then my brain starts warming up and in 30 mins or so, I'm finally ready to face the day. I may have been late for work half the time if not for FB. Mornings are my nemesis. FB is my shield.



22. School Clothes. I'm so thankful we wear uniforms and they're nice and comfortable. I'm thankful for garterized slacks from Uniqlo because it feels like you're wearing pajamas to work. And I'm thankful for hand-me-down suits from Tita Riza. Now I have more than enough black pants and skirts that I don't have to repeat a set in two weeks. Yay!



23. Safety and Comfort during the Storm. During Glenda, Mike was away and my instincts when we have no power at home is to suck it up and ride it out. That's what we did the first night. The second night without power at home, Mike was back and Michelle took us to stay in a hotel. The next night, she took the kids to another hotel Mike and I were able to stay in his office. I am thankful that when bad things happen, we have options, we are safe, and we are comfortable.



24. Mike's Office. I'm glad I can work in Mike's office on no classes days, when I need to get away from the kids so that I can check papers without interruption. It's nice too because we get to be "officemates" and have lunch and run errands together and then reward ourselves with a movie or some shopping after getting our work done.



25. Dr. Kong's Shoes. All other teacher shoes have been hell for me. These, while they are not as comfy as fitflops, get me through the day without wanting to walk home barefoot. Thank goodness we found them.



26. Katipunan-St.Ignatius Sundays. My world has fallen topsy turvy. My weekdays are nothing like they have been in years. But my Sundays are reliable because there is still always lunch with the Juans, afternoons with the Lapids and dinner with the Mantarings. I lean on these traditionss like the solid rock of my existence when everything else is new and different, we always have this. And they are here for us. They don't even mind if I spend my time in their homes writing lesson plans or checking papers.



27. Old Friends I Still Get To See Sometimes. We got to eat dimsum with sina Shiva and Zac when they were here, and we met up with the Chix on Celline's and Bobbie's birthdays. And we saw the JVPs when Dom was here. Most of these happened before I started working. But still, I am thankful.



28. That Carlo is home. YAY! And well and happy and working. That Ia helps me check the objective parts of my quizzes sometimes. That Norman got me a bear from Spain (gorgeous) and Ayo is candid and honest with me when I talk to him. My parents are well, healthy, and happy. They have a new family project to be excited and busy about. Lolo Fel is 101 years old PA LANG. The Lapids are great.



29. That Lola Cora recovered from her time in the hospital, and even if it's hard for her, she's been making an effort to eat healthier and exercise. She's been more energetic lately because, despite Lola Tentay's passing away, she's busy being with her siblings and being chika with people which is what she loves to do anyway. Thankful also that Lolo Art is strong and safe and his integrity will protect him against the lies being said about him. We are all really proud of him.



30. That Michelle has a job that allows her more freedom to take care of her family (us! haha!) and herself. That she is generous and passionate, and fun, and that Luis is happy and bright and funny and a joy to the family. I'm thankful also that they are following a very similar plan to ours and soon I will have all four Juans in school with me.



31. Ramon. He's been my "most neglected" since I started working because, well, work. But I'm thankful because I try to leave school as early as I can to spend some time with him in the evenings and he has already done his writing exercises, and greets me with kisses, and I-love-yous, and play-with-me-mommys. He has help up very well during our transition time, and next week he will join us in Nuvali and he will adjust again, to a new school, and a new routine. I am thankful for him because at the end of the day, coming home to him makes all the pagod worth it.



32. Desi. My shy baby girl has bloomed in XSN, and spreads love and joy to everyone who meets her. The person she is becoming in XSN is someone I look forward to knowing. She is popular and sporty and kind and loving. I find especially adorable how she goes around hugging teachers and they tell me that her hugs really make their day. I am so proud of her.



33. Lia. Impressive since day one. It was her willingness to transfer that sealed the deal of the plan for me. She has embraced this change with enthusiasm and grace. She works hard and studies on her own but she is also caring and thoughtful. She always has small tokens for me or her teachers, like little origamis or drawings. And it seems she has a great imagination, which I see in her pretend play and story writing. Lia is awesome. I see so much of myself in her, but she is better.



34. Mike. I would never have survived all of these changes without his support. Whenever I need something, he wants to give me that and more. And he has made the effort do the stuff I am unable to do, like go to the supermarket and come home early, so that Ramon is not alone. All this while still working hard and exercising and solving other peoples problems. But most of all he makes me laugh. And forces me not to take things too seriously. I really admire how he works so hard and so well, that's why I give my best in my job too. I'm thankful that we're following His Plan together. That we are happy and solid and steady.



35. My Life. I never aspired to be a teacher. Well, maybe when I was in preschool, but later on when it looked like a lot of studying, I didn't want to be one anymore. And yet, it seems, now that I am a teacher, everything I have learned and done in my life helps me in what I do. Art, books, prayer meetings and bible studies, kids praise kids, caring for children, debate and public speaking, tutorials and catechism, psychology, volunteering, events organization, even calligraphy and blogging, all stuff I picked up in the past 35 years, all contribute to the arsenal I bring with me to this new calling I find myself in. So even though I am not equipped with a background in formal education, I find I can do this, with help and grace and an open heart.

Happy birthday me! Thank you for reading.