Listing down my needs and wants is part of my habit every single day. Whether I write them down on my planner, a sheet of paper, or visualize them on my mind, I make it to a point to organize my plans in order to achieve them. Organization has always been part of my vocabulary. If I fail to be organized, then bad things happen. All the time.

Two years ago, I started a habit of saving photos of the things I need and want. I save them in a folder entitled "My Wishlist for [insert year]." This helps me keep track of the items I have bought or are still in the list. There are some items that I erase in the middle of the year. But I have never got them all. If I decide that I still want them, I put them in the next year's folder.

In 2012, I noticed that most of them were coming true unexpectedly. I was able to finally buy a new laptop for my tutoring job with the help of a great friend. Moreover, the possibility of going to Europe and seeing my cousin in Hungary was only a plan this year. I never imagined it could be truly possible to happen considering the expensive flights I needed to save up for. Then came the numerous things such as some "kilig moments," the accomplished quest for the Jane Austen Seven Novels, black rain boots that could match almost any outfit, an almost complete family trip to Boracay, and even a new wallet in my most favorite color which was given to me by my lovely aunt. I could never thank God enough for all of these blessings. His Grace and Mercy are just so sufficient.

Experiencing these blessings caused me to think if I really deserved them. I could only answer, "Yes." Because God only gives me the things I need. If I want something and it does not match to the plan God has for me, then it would not do me any good at all. God is generous but He also ponders about the things he gives to us. Most of the things we want cannot make us happy for a lifetime.

This new year, I have some old and new things on my folder. Because I started reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, it now has a different title, "My Happiness Project 2013."The book inspired me to start out a plan for 2013. I believe happiness is a choice. And I choose to be happier this year.

Besides the folder in my computer, I decided to draw/post/write all of the things I need and want in 2013 on the Victory journal I received from the Leaders' Appreciation Night a few Saturdays ago. I finally had an idea on what to do with it. Yay!


My number one need and want is more of God. I have been contemplating during the last days of 2012 about the blessings He gave me. I could not make it through 2012 without Him. He really knew me well, more than I know myself. This is why my number one faith goal is to know more of him and less of me. 'Cause it was never really about me in the first place.

There are still so many things to look forward to in 2013. I have been so excited to welcome it for as long as I can remember. Now that it is finally here, I can smile and be thankful for everything in the past. Then smile and look forward to the future.

To God and to great family and friends, let's walk another year together! :-)

If there was a greeting that I would remember clearly about 2012, it would be "Surprise!" I did not hear it from my family and friends. But surprises came from my Father in Heaven who had brought the unexpected to reality. I was in awe this year.

Therefore, I am grateful and thankful for the five major things God gave me.

#5 Learning and Teaching

I am thankful that I am both a student and a teacher at the same time. I am getting the grades that I truly deserved in my graduate courses. Alongside my Masters, I am still teaching at Mind Matters Christian Academy (MMCA) and tutoring at RareJob. Whenever my students in RareJob hear about me, most of them reply in utter amazement. I know I am suicidal. I tend to be a workaholic. But I am only like this because I am meant to sow in this season. I planted the right seeds. Not because of my capabilities but all His. 

There are still a lot of things to learn. And a lot of people to give service to. I will never stop doing both.





#4 A Better Heart

I am praying for a better heart this year and it is exactly what I got. I began to become more concerned with what was happening around me. I am never going to be totally interested in politics, economics, and the like. But I am glad that God is renewing my heart. I have a heart for my nation and fellow Filipinos. I know time will come that I will serve my country or even the world not only in the field of education. Haaaaayyyyy!!! This calling is just too great. One day, I will understand everything.



#3 Provision

Whenever I need money, God is always giving me enough. He is just too incredible because He always does it at the right time and place. Even though I do not ask, He still provides for my everyday expenses at work, money for my travels, leisure expenses, and others. He is always on time. I can say I am rich this year because of Him.



#2 Family and Friends

People say that the more you get older, the lesser friends you get. Even though I have met a lot of people in the past years, there seems to be only a few of them who stay, who know the right words to say, or who help in times of need. To my immediate and extended family, Victory family, MMCA family, UPIS family, and some great friends who do not belong to any particular group but remain significant to me, THANK YOU.


#1 A Longer Walk with God

Every year is a tendency to fall back and get off track. But I am thankful that this year He was closer to me than ever before, making me joyful and thankful for the little things, surprising me with blessings, and saving me from harm. I will always be grateful for the walk we are having right now. He will always be in my mind and I am thankful that He never let go of my hand. 

Truly, God is the reason for this season. Each day that has passed, welcoming the new year, is one step closer towards Him. The walk may be long and sometimes narrow and weathery but there is no reason to stop, turn around, or get off track when we are with Him. He is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is in control of everything. Due to this, I am secured that He can take care of my 2013 and even the rest of my years.

"My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.." (Galatians 4:9)

When Jesus Christ is formed in you and me through a birth totally unlikely from physical birth, our human lives become Bethlehems for the Son of God. Let us solemnize His birth into this world and His birth in us in complete resonance.

Merry Christmas to you all! :-)

-Kaye

Through the years, I have never written a blog about my belief of special education and people with disabilities. But in part of a current issue regarding the Connecticut shooting, I felt the need to share a short blog about what I believe.

We cannot blame a person for his disability. The disability has already been biologically and ingrained in a person by nature. It is already expected that his actions may be uncontrollable at certain times. However, I believe this person can be blamed by nurture. His parents, for instance, played a big part in his life. They are the people who brought him up to the person he grew up to be. However, there could have been some loopholes left unfilled that separated him from them and everyone else.

A child with Asperger's Syndrome or autism can experience a lot of social issues. These issues can be addressed as early as possible. If a parent is knowledgeable about his child's diagnosis and witnesses his frequent unusual behaviors, then they become responsible for helping their child. If they see that their child is screaming and throwing tantrums frequently than normal and secluding himself from other people, then the initial step of a parent is to question and observe. Not just letting it pass.

Parents may undergo a stage of denial. Some of them will learn to accept their child's disability and love their child unconditionally. But some may remain in the denial stage. I emphatize with these children whose parents never accepted their conditions and who did nothing but hide the believable truth.

The way a child is nurtured is very crucial. No matter how kind a parent may be and no matter how seemingly quiet and behaved a child may be, a parent's nurturing may still fail in one way or the other. There may have been some ignorance or a lack of propriety that has taken place. Given the disability, what can a parent do to help their child handle it? Given the proper parenting, what can a child with disability do to help himself? All of these can be answered if a child is surrounded by a strong support group. If he lacks it, then he will really become destructive and uncontrollable in society.

Let us not blame his disability for what he has done. And let us not generalize all children with Asperger's Syndrome as destructive and violent only because of one child's mistake. Although there can be no doubt that he is completely responsible for his actions, environmental and social factors may explain a lot about his behaviors as well.

The disability will always be present in the child by nature. But the complete and utter nurturing from a parent or an adult, can definitely make a lot of difference.