This year started with feelings of excitement. I knew that this year would mean a lot of things for our small family. We wanted another baby and I was hoping we can start trying this year. We wanted a house of our own and we were hoping we could find a place we could divert our monthly rent to. We wanted a newer car, not necessarily brand new, and although, we weren’t too hopeful on this aspect we still kept on looking at postings of cars for sale.
They say that the secret to getting what you want is to entertain thought of nothing else but getting what you want. I’ve tried doing that and I think for a short time, I was too preoccupied with all the things that I want for this year. Well, I haven’t exactly read ‘The Secret’ but one of the most important things that I’ve learned these past few months is to let go and have faith.
House. Ramil and I attended the Pag-ibig housing loan seminar because we wanted to avail of it so we that the money we’ll be paying every month will go to a house that will be our own eventually. We’ve scouted lots in our area and we found one that we really, really, really like. We pass by it everyday on our way home and not a day passes by when I don’t think to myself that we’re home once we’re in front of the lot. It’s also a huge bonus that the lot is being sold lower than the market price in the area. Unfortunately, when we contacted the seller, she wasn’t so keen on waiting for a Pag-ibig cheque. I’ve called her several times after our first conversation and I’ve managed to ask her to reconsider it. We’re just waiting for news from her. I was too bent on acquiring the property that it took all the strength I have not to regularly text her for any news. Then I realized that if this lot is for us then it shouldn’t be too much of a struggle. It’s enough that we’re doing something to get it. If it’s for us then she’ll relent and contact us. There are many, many more things going on with us with regards to our desire to have our own house. We’ve talked to our ninong, who’s an architect, and we also have explored several options with regards to the most affordable way to build our own house. We’ve browsed through numerous websites, contacted several contractors, researched and considered prefabricated building systems, considered utilizing container vans, and many more. There was some kind of urgency in me because I don’t want another year of monthly rent to go by. We’ve even asked the owners of the house we are presently renting if they would be willing to sell it to us but they have no plans of doing so yet. In the end, I gave in and let go. However, I hold the thought that it will come. It would be such an awesome thing if it comes this year.
Baby. There are many times when I would wonder if just having Mateo would be better for us especially with how our finances are. Still, I hold the desire to have another one. Actually, there’s an even more extravagant desire to have at least two more. However, we’re keeping the maximum to two right now. There’s so much hesitation for Ramil and me to go for another baby. I’m so scared of going through everything again knowing that it will be so much more difficult financially. Still, I know that Mateo needs a sibling and a wise man told me… ‘lahat ng ipinapanganak na bata may kasamang lunchbox’. So I am letting go. When the right time comes, we’ll know it.
Car. The only progress we’ve made with this one is to sell our old one. It’s not much progress though because the main reason for selling it is because of the increasingly huge maintenance it has been needing lately. For a long time now, we’ve found ourselves dipping into our meager savings for untimely repairs for our red car. It has become a liability. It was a great thing that Ramil’s parents gave him a motorcycle so he goes to school using it. We commute every time we go out which is often just on weekends. With the maintenance costs of the red car and the rising gasoline prices, it’s a good to confirm our opinion that it’s cheaper to ditch the red car. It doesn’t mean that we haven’t been terribly missing our old car because we have. Embarrasingly, both Ramil and me have shed tears for it for all the years it has served us. We’re still hoping for another, newer car in the future. One that will not be such a pain in the pockets becasue of all the repairs it needs every month.
It’s so easy to forget the basic things in life once you’re focused on some things. If only one can also buy memory for the brain then it would all be easy. We’ve just recently watched the movie ‘Up’ and I was so touched by the story. It made me realize the fragility of life and that whatever things we want right now it doesn’t really matter whether we have them or not. Because Ramil and I are at the prime of our lives. Life is at its most exciting for us not just because of this year. Decades from now, I’m sure that our unforgettable memories will not be of a new house or a new car (well, a new baby will be unforgettable).
So half-way into the year and I have nothing to show for our start-of-year plans except for lessons learned on patience. Everything in God’s time.