Crossroads.

I am so pregnant. Tomorrow, I am on my eighth month. I'm not complaining. In fact, I have been feeling guilty. I feel that I haven't been giving this pregnancy the focus it deserves. Aside from being overweight since the beginning of this pregnancy, I commute more than when I was pregnant with A. I drink coffee. I eat some things borderline "bawal." And lately, I have been stressed by a number of factors. Well, one more than others. And that is what I wish to write about and share to you  today.

The year ushered in so many blessings. Among those, a nomination to one of the first-level courts in the Metro. Since April last year, I have been at a crossroads. Deciding to act upon the advice of several people, I took the plunge and applied for judgeship positions. Thankfully, I was recommended by a "kuya" and mentor, and all my reference persons have given their permission to add their names to the list I provided.

December 2015, I was interviewed (oral recitation by none other than THE retired SC Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez) and I took the psychological exams. Truth be told, I was more nervous about the psychological examinations. I mean, how do you even know you are psychologically fit for any job, anyway? :)

And yesterday evening, I learned I am among seven candidates shortlisted for the President to choose from for one of the posts.

Now, about the crossroads.

I am blessed to have a stable job. It pays well, and allows me to have a work-life balance. I have a boss who is very reasonable and who has taught me quite a lot about administrative law in the past 3 years. I have had people come up to me to ask why in the world I choose to apply for a judgeship position when they know/assume that my current job is a dream for most.

Believe me, I have thought about it. I still do. My husband and I have talked about this countless times from the time I decided to apply... and until today. I assume, we will continue to talk about it until I get that appointment (fingers crossed, CLAIMING IT with full faith in the Lord).

A comfortable few more years await me at the road I am currently on. It will afford me at least three more years to raise my kids and enjoy the work-life balance I am currently blessed with. I am financially secure. However, it does not provide the opportunity to practice my profession at a higher level. Neither does it offer professional growth.

Meanwhile, I am staring at another road. this one is an uphill climb. It is riddled with challenges that can only be tackled by the best and the brightest legal minds. It is a scary road to be on as it is lined with cliffs on both sides. One false step towards temptation and all my hard work in keeping my name clean all these years would literally crumble. It will also hold me criminally liable. But the hold this road has on me lies not just at the very end of it, but on every step of this journey towards it. It is the quest for the degree of excellence it exacts from this traveler that invigorates my very core. It is a challenge --a thirst, I feel I have to quench in my lifetime. Yes, I want this. To be utterly selfish would be me choosing this road without regard for the family I seek to nurture.

I find solace that God provides. I take comfort in the fact that He will place me where I can best serve His Will. And in my heart, I know what I want. I submit to His Divine Wisdom. I know, He has already given it to me.

I know, at the end of the day, I shall be standing alone at that crossroads. It will be me who will take that step. And when I make that step, I will be guided by Him, by my family, and by the people I hold dear.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

(WIMP) What's In My Purse? Chanel Classic 2.55 Flap Bag

This is my first WIMP blog entry. As a working girl, I take my purses to work most days.  I rarely switch bags save for two reasons: style clash and security.

Style clash is self-explanatory.  If the bag I’m using does not fit the occasion I am attending (I sometimes go to congressional hearings), I swap. More importantly, I go to work most days via carpool but occasionally, I have to ride the public transportation (MRT or Taxi) and for security reasons, I have to swap bags if I’m wearing a pricey one.  Although my LVs and this bag has enjoyed an excursion via the MRT once or twice.

I digress (as usual).

So here’s one of my favorite purses: The Chanel Classic 2.55 with silver hardware in lambskin.

So, I can fit in all of these:

1.    A small bottle of alcohol (What can I say? I’m a mom!)

2.    Two pens (a lawyer’s essential tool)

3.    Keys

4.    A cardholder

5.    A coach wrist-pouch that holds my earphones and phone charger

6.    A pouch that holds two NARS lipsticks, burt bees lip moisturizer, Clinique gloss, MAC

concealer, and Clinique mascara

7.    Chanel boy wallet

8.    My phone

I didn’t bring it today to work, but my iPad mini fits in it as well. Yep.  It’s quite a wonderful compact bag that fits everything I need. And like all my other purses, I love this one to bits!

Til next time!

A Mommy a Second Time Around

It has been a while since I posted anything. It's not that the last three years have been uneventful --quite the opposite, actually. The past three years have been blessed with so much mommy and career adventures that left me with little time to paint them in words. I have a huge collections of pictures though, but it's not even a fraction of the memories we have created as a family.

August 2015, we were pleasantly surprised to know that we are to be blessed with an addition to our family of three. And as of December 2015, we learned that it is going to be a baby boy! Oh, what joy!

Despite the challenging pregnancy symptoms (I never had nausea as bad as this during A's term.), we are doing ok. I am tired most days (I am pushing 40 --and I'm not denying it!), and I can feel the strain of commuting from work to home (Ron used to take me to the office during my first pregnancy.).

We are on our seventh, going into our eight month. While there will alwaysbe fear and apprehension on my part, I take consolation in the promise that God is faithful. He always provides. He alone saves. Most of the baby stuff we have are hand-me-downs from generous friends and family. We have but little more to spend on. We are very grateful.

Now to plan that baby shower...