Tag: 2012

Leap Day

Tina Leave a comment

Also known as: Because I’m a sucker for dates, and leap year comes every four years.

So today is a date that comes only every four years, and because like what I said there ^, I can’t let this day pass without a blog post. Yeah, I’m shallow like that.

But anyway, leap day! This calls for a leaping picture, or a jump shot:

Taken at Bohol Beach Club, photo c/o Billy

Corny. But anyway, I obviously owe a few more entries to this, and I’m finding time to work on it soon, especially now that I am back on normal day shift. I’ll find time soon, I promise.

On another note, I have major (major) updates regarding the things I wrote in this post: I have a word and a pretty okay draft of my five year plan! :) So exciting to finally get moving on that, but it’s also very hard to really live the word I chose, especially during times that I feel anything but that word.

Lent also started last week, and it’s been very interesting so far. I’d post about what I gave up and what I decided to do. It’s challenging, but I’d like to believe there’s growth somewhere there. Especially in blurting out random nonsense online. Suffice to say that this is also stretching me to be a nicer person, and it all connects to my word for the year again. Hm, it goes full cycle — I love it.

There’s really no point in this post, except to post for the sake of posting. Four years ago, I was too busy during leap day because our team hosted an event for work. This year, I’m just at work. Doing nothing really spectacular (except maybe trying — and sometimes/often failing — to be a nicer person), except facilitating a planning later tonight. I guess this is one of the times when choosing to have an ordinary day is already special enough.

So I hope you have an extraordinary February 29, and may it make you look forward to the next leap day. :) As for me, I’m just thankful that there’s an extra day in this year for me to feel and thank God for His grace. :)

And with that, I leave you with another jump shot:

Photo taken at Alabat Island, Quezon

P.S. OMG it’s March tomorrow! Hello, favorite month! :)

Great God

Tina 4 Comments

Also known as: My first SFC ICON experience

So they say.

It was during a sort-of impromptu meet-up with my Europe friends that it all happened. We were talking about possible missions for 2012 when we started talking about the upcoming SFC International Conference (ICON). It was about two weeks to the conference but I have long accepted that I wouldn’t be going. For one thing, I couldn’t take a leave from work. Another, I already had an event lined up for that week.

So we were talking about mission trips, right? Then they told me, “You have to be at the ICON if you want to go on a mission.”

“For real?” I asked, worried.

“Yes! You can’t go to a mission trip if you don’t go there!”

Truth be told, I didn’t really believe it. However, they were all very insistent (and I mean everyone at the table, even the ones who were still in YFC). Even if I can’t file a leave they said I can fly in on Saturday. Whatever argument I give, they have something to say back.

And I really, really wanted to go to a mission trip. Especially if it’s in Europe for this year. So if I want that, I have to go to the ICON, right?

So I finally said yes. Within a few hours, I got to register at the last minute (thanks to my two chapter heads present at the meet-up) and in less than 48 hours, I had my flight booked. At first, I didn’t even know if I would be able to afford it, especially since this was sort of an impulse trip. But like what my friend Dodge said, if the impulse was Spirit led, God will take care of it.

And take care of it He did. If you must know, I found cheap airfare and I actually spent a lot less than what I expected in the entire trip.

But let’s not get ahead.

So there. Before that week ended, it was sure: I will be attending my first SFC International Conference this year.

* * *

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Traveling Alone, and a Comeback

Tina 1 Comment

Also known as: A little send-off for a milestone

BUT FIRST! Thanks to everyone who sent messages, tweeted and shared my Valentine’s Day 2012 post. :)

It’s been a strange week, not only because of Valentine’s Day but because I had to battle fatigue with my sudden work schedule change and again, work stuff. It’s weeks like this that make me just so relieved and glad that it’s the weekend. I’m looking forward to this weekend more so than usual because it’s not a weekend spent at home or anywhere in the city, for that matter. Tomorrow, I fly to Bohol.

Dear Chocolate Hills, I hope to see you this weekend! (image from funtim.com)

But wait, there’s more! Tomorrow, I fly to Bohol alone.

I haven’t really traveled alone, so I’m a little bit apprehensive with the trip. But I figure that if I want to travel alone at one point in my life, I would have to do it sometime. And what better time than today tomorrow?

Like I said, I wasn’t really planning to go there, but circumstances had me deciding to go in a snap. Oh, it’s not that I will be in Bohol alone. I will just fly there alone and meet my SFC friends who have been there since early this week. I’m attending the SFC International Conference (ICon) in Bohol with them.

www.sfcicon.com

I’m considering this conference as a comeback of sorts. The last conference I attended for community was the YFC International Leaders’ Conference in Naga back in 2007. I joined SFC the year before too, and there were several times when I could have joined the SFC conferences (one time I even paid for my Metro Manila Conference registration but ended up not going), but I never did. It’s a part of me fading away from my community, I guess.

My attendance to this conference is actually a funny story, but maybe I’m write about it next time.

But since I did include going back to community in my 2012 goals, I have to make time for this. Even if it means spending a bit more than normal. Or traveling alone. Or not knowing what to expect.

But that’s good, right? I think God will surprise me in the next few days. :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!