welcome, 2007!

Preamble:

One of the benefits of having a blog is, much like a diary, you get to flip through the past year (or past months) and get a glimpse of the person you used to be, the circumstances that surrounded you then, and the thoughts & feelings you had for the most important and the most mundane aspects of life. I am thankful to have this online journal because it helps me look back at 2006 and see just how good life and God have been to me.

Some highlights:

1. On Work: Finally got a good foothold on my new job, got settled on the new environment, the new culture and the new job scope. Enjoyed my newly increased salary and got pleasantly surprised by my boss when she promoted me upon regularization. Sarap ma-promote! :P Went to a couple of trips abroad courtesy of Smart, too, and I loved loved loved it! Oh, and towards the end of the year, my good friend Guia joined me at Smart.. quite literally, as she really joined me in my cubicle. Hehehe. It's all good though. In a place like Smart, you need as many friends as you can have around you. :)

2. On Family Life: Super thankful that everyone in my family was healthy this year, especially my lola. Though she sometimes has bad bouts of high blood pressure and of recurring palpitations, 2006 was a pretty healthy year for us. I must also say that this year saw my parents change their treatment of us from mere kiddos who know nothing about the world to young adults who may not know everything but can be useful in their own ways. I know it's been a big jump, especially for my dad, to shift perspectives on our contribution in this household, and I'm immensely grateful. Our voices are still not equal theirs in this house, but I'm cool with that. That's how it's supposed to be anyway. :P

3. On Love: Still madly and crazily in love with my darling beau, who continues to make me laugh and make me feel like the most special person on earth. He continues to love me with love so powerful it makes me feel like I can do anything and be anything. He continues to believe in me with a faith so strong that I prefer seeing myself through his eyes. He continues to really be my partner in facing and conquering life, and I'm so thankful to have him next to me as 2006 ends and the new year opens. Great love, great life :)

4. On Friends: Gonna bring all my key friendships with me into 2007, no falloffs :) I love love love FILC, and I love love love my Citi-gals. Even if Baby Bay had to move back to Sing, the wonders of technology keep us connected and updated. It's like she never left :) I love love love digdipper and my Uno barkada. As for my best friend, a big tragedy has befallen her brother this year. Thankfully, despite the odds, he continues to persevere in the tough road to recovery. I continue to pray for her and her bro everyday, and try to keep as much touch as possible, especially when she finds herself in moments of weakness or in puddles of self-pity. I love you, Li, keep faith!

5. On Money: Well, same as last year, I still spent more than I should have :P Hehe.. I doubt I have the willpower to change that sometime soon, but I'm still glad because 2006 saw me start to diversify in my choice of savings instruments. Mustered up enough courage to play with the stock market and started to read up more about other financial tools. One thing I really appreciated about my first job in Citibank is that it oriented me about financial jargon, helped me shrug off any last traces of fear regarding banking products and instruments, and enabled me to at least try them out. Hopefully, 2007 will find me at a better place financially. Please. Especially after my first taste of Christmas bonus at Smart (oh, it really makes me love my job tenfold, hundredfold, thousandfold). My financial goal for '07 is better financial management. That means less clothes and shoes and bags.

Conclusion:

Really, 2006 has been a pretty good year, full of blessings and full of love. So I won't bother God na by asking for more. If 2007 turns out as good as 2006, I'll be very happy already. Thank you again, dear Lord, for 2006.

*Oh, guess what, on another note, finally got that Family Computer console and spent the entire afternoon playing Ice Climber, Bomber Man, Adventure Island and Balloon Fight. XBOX 360 definitely cannot hold a candle to this classic invention. I love it!