“Better Late Than Never”
I am in the second month of 2018, but my thoughts are still from the last year. I am really grateful for the special events happened in my life. So here it goes. I don’t have fancy plans and goals last year but I love to look back and realized how God has been answering my prayers. On the other hand, those goals weren’t met will still be pursued for this year. Let us not stress ourselves on the things we didn’t accomplish.
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Driver’s License – X
Man, it’s been two years since I am targeting this goal. My gracious Lord, have mercy on me! I supposed to have the test the August of 2017 but I had to go somewhere, out of the island and couldn’t make it. So I changed the date to this year, 2018.
2. New Permit, my 6th.
I got it! Danki Dios! (Papiamento words mean “Thank God”). I wrote beside it ‘Thy will be done’. For someone like me who works in a foreign country, a legal paper is very important to stay on the island. I am blessed and favored by God that I never got denied, It’s such a blessing. I’ve seen Filipinos who struggle to get a permit to stay or to work here, they risked because they want to help their family. I am not against with such bravery to risk everything even they don’t have papers, they still work and be just alert if immigration officers are around, to run when they have to. To stay home for a while if they are in danger. I feel sad for them and happy at the same time. We all have a different perspective on life. I do respect that. If you are a foreigner, legal papers are important for you to stay. I am grateful, the Lord never let me missed one.
3. Read 12 books.
I wanted to finish one per month. Unfortunately, I only have read 6 books:
- Have a New You by Friday
- You can Begin Again – Joyce Meyer
- So Close, I can Feel God’s Breath
- Living Courageously – Joyce Meyer
- Do It Afraid -Joyce Meyer
As you can see, I focused on motivational books this 2017. I really want to get up again so I chose to read inspirational and motivational books which I love most.
4. Blog MORE
Consistent. Oops. I skipped few months but I could say that I blog more this 2017 than 2016. It was my desire to have 15 more followers. I had 62 followers 2016 year end. The current followers I have are 80. Basically, 18 were added. Wow! Thank you guys and gals! Appreciate it. 🙂
5. Be Confident. Be Fearless.
I had a situation where I really had to be confident. I didn’t have a choice. Once in my life, I could say that I think about myself as Princess. And that is my name. It was my wedding day. There were things happened out of control but GOD taught me to stand up there walk down the aisle and think only about HIM being glorified in the event. God is good.
6. Job
Okay, this is a very sensitive topic for me. I found myself untouchable when this is to be talked about. I didn’t like the fact that I don’t have a stable job because of legal paper. But I am grateful that I could work part-time. I worked at Jewelry Store as Clerk from November 2016 – May 2017. I remember how happy I was working there but things changed later on. I left to visit my mom in the US for five months. I’m glad.
7. Be Beautiful on the inside.
What is being beautiful? I remember the year 2017 as one of the great years of my life. There were circumstances that I have to exercise forgiveness and love. When I asked God for this at the beginning of the year, I looked forward to good events, beautiful memories. Tell you what? The year became beautiful for me because of the painful events. I didn’t realize that until today.
Should I forgive? Should I get mad? I ended up forgiving. That is being beautiful for me. Guarding your heart against any anger and hatred is being beautiful.
8. More of God’s revelations.
WOW. I had plenty and they’re surprises I would never forget. God is a great God. He can make all things possible. He never fails to let me know I am loved and highly favored. In every event, God shows me that He is there working and planning things without me knowing until one day… SURPRISE! 🙂
God’s Surprise #1: Walt Disney World
God’s Surprise #4 Solar EclipseGod’s Surprise #5 North Carolina
God’s Surprise #5 North Carolina
Alam mo yung feeling na humingi ka lang ng konti pero grabe yung binigay nya? Sobra pa sa inaasahan mo. Sa pahinga at sa pagmamahal na pinakita nya sa akin sa taon 2017, wala akong ibang masabi kundi “Salamat po, Panginoon”
9. Travel to Europe – X
It’s not bad to dream, right? It didn’t happen yet but I still believe I would see it, one day.
10. Visit Mommy in the US again.
My second time. God is so good. I had a wonderful five month with her and my little brother. I give God the glory.
11. Visit the Philippines. X
I was to write impossible things to see at the end of the year how possible it would be if we only believe. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit Philippines but hopefully 2018 is the year for me to see my family and friends there. It’s been 6 years…I miss them so much!
12. Ate Queen – to be Happy
She is my gorgeous older sister. I miss her so much. She lives in the Philippines. We still desire her to come back to Aruba but I prayed for God’s will in her life. I just want her to be happy. She didn’t come back but I am really happy for her. After seven years (if I am not mistaken) she finally opened her heart again to someone. She has a boyfriend now and their love story is amazing. My family is rejoicing with her. She needs someone there to keep her strong. She was separated from us. I and my brother are here in Aruba with my father. My other little brother and my Mom are in the US. Ate Queen is in the Philippines. I love my family no matter what.
13. Cover Songs
I covered some songs but not a lot. I still sing almost every day but privately mostly.
14. WEDDING
Tadaaah! I got married last December 2017 🙂 Finally. I and my husband (now) were in a relationship for four years and two months before the BIG DAY.
15. Unexpected Monster Blessing 2017
Last 2016, I looked forward to an ‘Unexpected blessing’ and turned out it was a Monster Blessing. Didn’t expect that my US Visa will be approved. I and some of the church members tried and we are all approved. Thank God. Amazing!
2017. I was challenged to write again and expect more from GOD. Expect the Unexpected. Besides my Prayer and Goals for the year, I have a separate one for my Bucket List. Some of them were accomplished:
- Disney World – I only wrote to hope one day to go to Disney. God gave me the best, It’s not Disney Land, it’s Disney World. I am forever grateful.
- Kari Jobe Concert – To tell you honestly, she is one of my favorite worship leaders. I wanted to attend a Christian Concert of known artists. God just directed me to my favorite. I was in South Carolina at that time when I saw her post about her “The Garden Tour” and when I asked mommy how far Aiken from her place. She said it’s nearby. I begged her to attend this concert. And we did.
- Travel. I waited long for my papers to be processed here in Aruba. I can’t travel outside the island if my paper isn’t ready yet. As soon as I got it, my mom bought (unexpectedly) me a ticket to the US. Before going to South Carolina, I attended some conferences first in Georgia with church leaders. There, we also went to different places such as Stone Mountain, Baby Land / Cabbage Patch kids, Anna Ruby Falls. We also went to Alabama to worship with fellow believers there. It was an awesome experience!
16. Save More Money.
Well. you know? It’s really difficult to do this. HAHAHA.
17. Be Content. All the Time
I’ve learned to be thankful and content with whatever I have. And for that God pours more into my life. He is an amazing God and Father.
18. Be in A Magazine. X
HAHA. Dream dreams! It didn’t happen. Dream pa more.
19. Write a Story.
I always think about writing a story like the others, a novel. I am not there yet (hope, one day) But little did I know, I am truly writing one. MY STORY.
20. Compose New Songs X
I started writing songs five years ago. I stopped. And I literally forget about this. I should, huh?
‘Nah… there’s nothing to write about what happened last year.’ I was wrong. While typing this blog, I realized that there is plenty to be thankful for, prayers answered. Mostly, it’s only because of HIS GRACE why I received these things. To have a good check from what HE has done in your life is a blessing. You only not remember the painful events, but to really look at them, there is more good stuff than the ugly ones. So, for my hand who typed and my thoughts being poured out to this. I am proud. Wow. I said that “I am proud”…
All this time I could only see the negative ones. But I am truly blessed, loved and highly favored. Thank you 2017! I am ready for 2018…
Thank you for reading!
-Princess
