Answered prayers

[tl;dr: God delivers. :-)]

We started the year full of plans filled with hope and expectations. Some plans fell through, others were fulfilled in ways beyond what we imagined.

In January, I went to Amsterdam for a job interview. It was exhilarating: my first time in Europe, interviewing for a dream job. I got to travel for free! Sadly, the offer didn't materialize.

But, a few days after that, we received better news: kuya Gab got accepted to Pisay. That started the ball rolling as we brainstormed on whether to have him reside in a dorm or relocate with the entire family. We decided on the latter.

After that, it was a mad scramble to look for a suitable place. There were doubts, for sure: can we financially support this, how will the kids cope? But one by one, the pieces fell into place.

Through a church friend, we met people in Clark who helped point us in the right direction. We leased a unit inside Clark, very near Pisay. In a matter of days, we closed the deal.

It took a while to kink out the details, and after the turnover during the first week of May, we found out that we had a lot of work ahead to improve the house: the air-conditioning unit was missing, the kitchen sink and counter were damaged, plumbing in the bathroom didn't work. The house wasn't lived in for more than a year so one can imagine all the gunk we had to strip off the place.

Again, it was a mad dash with lots of hand-waving and hair-pulling, until we got our acts together, and systematically, in a matter of days -- just last week! -- began in the home improvement marathon that would rival reality TV shows.

In between these events, we had to contend with anxiety on the results of Peng's medical examination -- we had nothing to worry about, she didn't need new treatment; and Julian's new school (we narrowed down our choices to two, until another one, with tuition closer to our budget and nearer to where we'll live, popped out).

And then there was my plan to work in Clark. My client has a facility in Clark, and I was planning to ask my manager if I can work from there instead of travelling to the main office. I was still formulating my pitch, when, during a casual conversation with him, I mentioned our move to Clark. He asked if it would make more sense for me to work from Clark instead. (!!!) I could barely contain my joy, but I held back and controlled myself, and nonchalantly said that that would be a great idea, and will be a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Throughout all these -- my aborted job prospect, kuya Gab's acceptance to Pisay, Peng's continuing improvement, Julian's new adventure, and our move to Clark -- there was a common thread: that of hope and anticipation. Because all the plans we made, we prayed for first. We set out our plans, keeping in mind -- and believing in our hearts -- that God will guide us, and will not forsake us. At times, when it appeared our plans will not fall through, by some twist, right at the last moment, an opportunity will appear -- better and more than what we expected.

Those who know me well, know that I'm not prone to superstition, nor am I deeply religious. But the events that transpired -- opportunities suddenly opening up; people going out of their way, for no apparent logical reason; to help us -- point to a power far greater than what I can imagine. Hipsters will say that the universe conspired to help us out. My activist friends will say that objective conditions are ripe that led to these situations. Me, I believe that God was -- and is -- at work.

We laid out our plans to Him, asked Him for guidance and providence, and He delivered, amply and beyond what we had imagined.

There's this oft-repeated passage in the Bible, in Jeremiah. To paraphrase: "For I know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future." It's so often cited in church, it tended to be a cliche. (The context, of course, was God's promise of deliverance of His people from exile, but I digress.) There's a reason why the Bible is called the "Living Word": this cliche, this "mantra", still resonates deep within those who sincerely believe that God has a plan, and that His will is "good, acceptable, and perfect."

We laid out our plans to God, and He initiated, He facilitated, He consummated, and He continues to deliver.