Most of you probably know that I live in the boondocks of Sta. Rosa, Laguna and that I always seem to fit as much of my activities (depending on the line of priorities that I have for a particular day) into one day.

Why I do this is basically attributed to the fact that it costs me significant time and money spent on travelling from my home to whereever I am going and back.

But what happend to me over the weekend is probably one of my record breakers. Sure I always go straight to the office whenever I come from one of my local travels (usually from various places in the Phils other than Luzon, and even when I got back from China). But my August 24 to 26 was one exhausting weekend that burns a hole in my planner.

So here goes…

When I woke up Friday morning, I immediately recognized the fact that going to work that day won’t be physically possible for me. My throat was sore, my neck, shoulders and back felt that they weighed a ton, and my nose felt so clogged I breathed through my mouth - yes I was definitely sick. I asked permission from my boss to go on half day sick leave, but as understanding as she is, she told me to rest for the day. Praise God for her consideration! But though I cannot lift my body (literally) to commute to work, I still had to work at home by working on a report and accessing my office email, and I had to work on our YA council report also. So I ended up still working… only I have not taken a bath yet and I was still in my not-so-glamorous clothes we often called pantulog.

Already up by 8am, I worked till 3pm before getting ready for my LGI class which starts at 6pm. When I got to Church, I was feeling so woozy that drinking Ponstan 500 was a good idea. (Though got later on rebuked by Pastor Mina’s lesson on rebuking bodily sicknesses even before they take over me. Illnesses are also the enemy’s ways to attack us and that we should consciously be aware of it and rebuke it before it even makes us weak). Nonetheless, I prayed for my stiff shoulders, back and neck - after I took one Ponstan capsule.

As usual the class was another eye opener for me. Indeed the Lord didn’t want me to miss LGI for there are Kingdom Secrets that He wants to tell me. ( I love the splendor of Solomon kingdom secret!! -a separate blog on this shall follow ). 

After the interesting class, which extended until 9:30pm, I hurriedly took an fx going to cubao - our bus going to Baguio (We attended the Florendo Segundo Family Reunion which was attended by Florendos from all over the globe) was leaving at 11PM. Or so I thought. When I got at the bus station, I learned from my dear cousins that our bus will leave at 12:15am and not 11PM. So at 10:30pm, I was irritated by the fact, that I was there alone, that I had to wait for a while at Goto King (yeah yeah I know…. not very me nor very ALP but did I have any other choice? Yes 711 was there but what, I’ll stand around the store for 1 1/2 hours?), and I wasn’t even informed. But then again, I had to keep my cool.

Finally my cousins (nessa, von, vince, joyce and ate kay) all arrived at around 1130pm and we immediately boarded our bus. The comfy Victory LIner bus immediately took away my irritation. It had spacious seats and leg rests that I can actually sleep comfortably during the entire trip -which happened literally since we arrived in Baguio even before I even consciously reached dream land. By 445 am, we were breathing cold crisp Baguio air. The cool breeze totally took away my irritation. I bought a return ticket to Manila (330am bus trip) since I will have to go back even before all my family leaves Baguio, since I will have to attend to several things in Church.

By 510am we were already at the Manor Hotel, where I was trying to wake up my mom who was still in her deep sleep. It must be the good sleep or the ponstan that I took, but my body didn’t to sleep the moment we arrived in Baguio. By 630am, everyone was awake. How my day went after that was crazy and I guess I have to share it with you with less details since it will take me forever to write it down. Let me plot it by time sked:

8AM- With mom, tita jen, nette and tricia at the Mines View park eating corn a cob and shopping knitted tops and pasalubong to our heart’s content

10AM- Walked to Good Shepherd convent to buy yummy ube jam and other goodies

1030AM- back in the hotel. took a bath, and before I know it, my auntie noris wants us all to go with them at… guess where??… back to MInes view and Good Shepherd! (I was like…. what???!!! We were just there a few minutes ago?) But then again….

11-12:30 - I was back in MInes with some more aunties and cousins and amma too (took a pic of us with the huge Saint Bernard ) and later again walked going to the GS convent. At this point, I was already so exhausted from all the walking).

1:30PM***- having lunch with entire Lorenzana family at the Baguio Golf and Country Club. At the end of the meal, my eyes were threatening to shut down.

3:00PM*** - back at the hotel. I told myself I was going to sleep but no…. the very presence of ate kay’s magic sing kept me awake.

4:30PM***- cousins came to our room to practice the dance that we didn’t want to dance but aunties and uncles were giving us no choice.

(***Simultaneously happening with the continuous texting with different YA’s and a long phonecall with Aleili regarding the preparation of the YA booth. God’s grace became our blanket which made communication effective despite the distance. Supervision is even more challenging when you’re not there to actually oversee things. But of course, I didn’t have to be there to ensure a job well done. Aleili, Marie, Daphne, Maurice, Aaron, Rita and the rest of the YA’s were there to make sure that everything was executed as planned. Galing galing nyo po!! )

6:00PM-Preparing for the Florendo farewell dinner

7:30PM- Having dinner at the Camp John Hay Club House

9:00PM-Despite the growing disapproval from my cousins and myself to perform in front of our family, our names were called, and we just gave our best shot to entertain them. One very embarrassing experience. However, brought joy and entertainment to our entire family. So I guess it was ok. Plus we have a new discovered talent among our cousins - Von, you’re the man, I’m your fan, and I know I owe you venti Starbucks! Its a date! hehe

From that time till around 12mn, the family reunion was in full swing, singing, games and laughter were dominant the entire time.

1230AM- back at the hotel. took a bath, prepared all my things and went to bed. (and set my alarm at 230AM)

330am- oh great! my alarm either didn’t go off or I didn’t hear it! Stressed, I called up the hotel operator three times to find out if shuttle service was available that early since I knew that I missed the cab that I contracted to pick me up at the hotel (and later on found out from the front lobby that the cab didn’t even arrive.)

4:00AM - I had my shuttle service which brought me to the Victory Liner Terminal

4:15AM- On board the bus where I positioned myself in my seat ready to snooze off.

430AM- Bus left the terminal

830AM-Woke up at the pit stop at Tarlac (missed the first one! I was fast asleep), ate breakfast and then went back to sleep.

1100AM-Woke up at the Pasay Bus Terminal.

1130AM- Attended 2nd English Service

12:00nn- YA Booth Manning. Fullfilling God’s instruction of being Fishers of Men for Christ. It was a hit Praise God! (The brewing coffee and Marie’s yummy cookies were plus factors too!!)

1:00 - Having lunch that was prepared by Tita Lily Navarro for the Church Council Meeting (mau and I were supposed to be hosts as well… but we just gave our contributions and dear Tita Lily did all the cooking. Praise God for her! )

***The meeting transpired for I think that was over 5 hours before I even got to report.

6:00PM- my turn to report about activities that the YA’s have lined up for the year based on the visions that we received to the Church Council. Fortunately and thank God, the council approved of it.

6:15- Putting away some things used at our booth.

6:30-Finally, on my way home!!!

8:15PM- Home at last!!!

I know there are other worse schedules experienced by other people, but this one holds a spot in my heart and memory. Thank God for the energy and motivation that He has provided all throughout the week, which actually sustained me upto the very last minute.

Now…. where was I….. oh yeah, good night! hehe 

In our church, we call it WK - an abbreviation for Word of Knowlegde. For every major decision and turning point of a Christian’s life, asking for direction from the Lord (or going for a WK) is really encouraged. As my friend Daphne had plainly explained (and quoting from our dear Pastor Bern)… "Hearing from the Lord makes everything simple" Yes I so agree.

I went to Pastor Bern a lot of times before to hear from the Lord - when I was elected to become chair of Young Adults, when we were seeking for direction, even before when I was still with the Thursday care group (we did nothing out of our decision), when my life got all tangled up, when my mom got sick, and even when I felt enough is enough with the old "one" that I was supposedly with. I am really used to coming to God before making major moves in my life.

Yet last night, I was reminded about it by my friend / church mate, kuya warren (and so Daph also agreed). The thing about WK is that when you hear the Lord speak…. obedience is the next best thing. (Even if you don’t agree with it, or even if you’re scared to obey).

The first thing that got into my mind was, WK?! Wait lang…. this is not that serious is it? Apparently, it is. Or at least that’s what  I was made to understand. I felt dizziness taking over while I munch through my chilil rice. Oh yes, apparently, this little tiny itsi bitsy thing that I’m thinking off, wondering about and even been confused of, for the past months is something that should be given more thought than it appears to be.

Now I’m more bothered…. now I’m more scared…Now….maybe I should ask the Lord what my decision and subsequent actions should be. I just hope I’m ready to obey.

Sabi nga ni Daph, "Mahirap sumugod sa gera ng walang bala." Ang sabi ko naman, "ni wala namang gera, Daph!"  Then she replied…"You need not lift a finger on this charms… God will put everything in their rightful places".

Then I felt like fainting….

Hayy….Should I now be thinking now of texting pastor bern?

I’m sure she would understand…. she always did…thank God!