Year 2007 is one of the best years in my entire life so far. It is this year when I was showered by so much blessings and I thank the Lord for all of them. I’d like to enumerate them and I hope you enjoy reading, as much as I enjoyed counting them.

            

1. 1.  Stronger Faith – I worked in Saudi Arabia for several years, and as we all know, the practice of Christian religion is not allowed there. That did not diminish my faith, though, but it has somehow made me miss my church. After I came back to the Philippines, I restarted hearing Sunday masses again.
2. My wife – I never knew that life will be this good after we started living together. She is now the reason of my existence.
3. My parents – They never got tired caring for me.
4. My siblings – It is this year when I got to make some real bonding with them.
5. Nicole and RJ – My darling pamangkins! They make me happy with their cute antics.
6. Relatives – I never knew we are such a very jolly clan.
7. The Gregorios – My in-laws. Thank you for the warm welcome.
8. Our dream wedding – Last June was a dream wedding come true. The weather was good. The ceremony was very solemn. Budget-perfect. Well-attended by people close to our hearts.
9. Kat and Diamante Event Organizers – Our wedding planner
10. Jun’s Studios – I was able to relive our wedding because of their wonderful shots – at a cheaper cost.
11. Ka Libring  – We had a last-minute problem with barongs a few days before our wedding. She solved my problem by making us rent her barongs with short notice, and at a cheaper price too.
12. Wedding gifts – Blessings indeed.
13. Friendships in Riyadh– I resigned from my work last May and I was saddened to leave a lot of  friends there. My older colleagues there are now my ninangs.
14. Jhun – My best buddy in Riyadh. I will always treasure his friendship.
15. Ma’am O – My second mother.
16. My barkada – Jing, Antot, Rymcon, Leizl and Meng. Through good times, and bad times. I enjoyed going out with them this year, than before, when my gimiks with them were done hurriedly because I was just on a short vacation.
17. Newly-found friends from my wife’s side – My wife’s friends are now my friends too. They are all so nice to me.
18. My Celfone – Ah, man’s greatest invention.
19. My laptop – My next best buddy. How can I live without you ?J
20. The Internet – Now the world is revolving in my hands.
21. My DSL connection – My key to the internet world. Faster.
22. My Mp3 songs – My world is colored by music.
23. Friendster – The network made me gain more friends this year.
24. Digital Catharsis – I never knew that I will discover this gift of writing through blogging.
25. My blog readers – My inspiration to write more.
26. Fellow bloggers – I also get inspiration from these people who are so deep themselves.
27. Our Antipolo house – My new home. Our love nest.
28. IKEA – My inspiration in interior design.
29. Woodrow Hills – Our subdivision. The peaceful atmosphere of the village is relaxing. The neighbors are friendly.
30. Shopwise – The nearest mall in our place.
31. SM Megamall – My new tambayan.
32. Television – I rediscovered television, since I came back from SA.
33. The Digital Pinoy website – I get most of my OPM mp3s here.
34. Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc – My alma mater. I am now hired here as a Clinical Instructor.
35. San Pascual De Baylon Maternity and General Hospital – This is the first hospital where I got my first batch of nursing students.
36. B.A. Hospital – This is where I am teaching now.
37. Dr. Yanga’s Hospital – The second hospital where I also teach.
38. Friendly hospital nurses – I would not have survived teaching in a hospital setting without the assistance of staff nurses in the hospitals I mentioned earlier.  

39. My nursing students – You make me proud. Show them what you are made of.  

40. Sacred Heart Hospital – This is where my wife gets her prenatal check ups
41. Aerogym – I restarted my work outs here. Great taebo instructors.
42. My Blue Caterpillar shoes – Very dependable, doesn’t go out of style. It’s just the shoe laces that always comes off…
43. My Adidas knapsack – Always behind me.
44. My Penshoppe bag – So stylish.
45. My Silverworks necklace – A gift from my wife.
46. My perfect health – I never got any major illness this year. Thank God.
47. My family and friends’ good health – Thank God.
48. Christmas 2007 – My first Christmas in the Philippines, and with my loved ones, in several years.
49. A better outlook to the future – I think it is a blessing to be able to have a positive outlook to the years to come. I have never been so excited about a coming year. I guess it is because of the changes that are happening in my life which all started this year.
50. My wife’s healthy pregnancy – I am so worried at times, but I know God keeps eyeing on my mag-ina.
51. Finally, Inigo – One of the best 2007 blessings ever. I am so excited to meet my child.

 

I am sure I can add some more in this list. I can go on and on. These are just some I can think of right now. There are other things worth mentioning, but I suppose this list will not stop if I continue going on and on. I actually just planned to reach up to #50, but then I can’t help but add one more

 

Let me also mention that some blessings listed were there all the time, meaning, they did not appear in my life only in 2007. But my coming back and staying in the Philippines made me realize their worth more. Experiencing life with your loved ones is simply one of the best ways to live in this world. Staying in the country for a while is one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

 

Like other people in this planet, I also had my shares of some not so good events this year, but I think I should just forget all about it. They are not worth mentioning. What is important is that the good stuff outweighed the bad stuff this year. But hey, I think misfortunes are blessings, too. It is from them where you learn new lessons of life.

 

A few more days till 2007 finishes. The year has been very good to me. I could not ask for more. I just wish that next year will be as good, if not better.

 

Have you counted your blessings, too?

 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!