Bloom Where You Are Planted

SEVEN years ago, we packed our bags and left what is comfortable, in search of something different. It was and has been one of the hardest decisions we have had to make and we are grateful to have been blessed with strength of hearts. Finding our place in this part of the world has not been easy, but the journey has been great for each one of us so far.

Our first family picture at the iconic Opera House; Keith’s face is also iconic 🙂

For 6 years since we arrived here in Australia, we have been living in rented houses. We moved houses 5 times in our first 6 years, and boy oh boy… every time, it is physically, mentally and financially draining! More than half of the time, we had to move not because of our own choice, but because the owner was selling the property, which was really unfortunate. Our boys technically grew up while we were in transit. In each move, we had to let go of some of their stuff in a box labelled “For Charity”. It has not been easy to let go of Buzz Lightyear, big and small Dada (their hug pillows/my pregnancy pillows), their purple friend Barney which was bigger than Keith when he was 3, Boxy the stuffed puppy and lots of Transformers, Pokemon cards, CDs and Bakugan toys, especially the books that we read together while they were growing up. The lone survivor is Rocky, our first ever Christmas gift for Keith when he was 3 months old.

Keith with his beloved Rocky

More than the material things, we left behind childhood memories in each place. We left family and friends and a great neighborhood in Manila, the house where we celebrated their many firsts. When I asked them what they remember the most from the houses that we rented here, what they recall are the memories more than the actual place. They remembered how we ate on the floor during our first week because we still did not have a dining table then. They recalled being creative when their dad chose not to provide them with the luxury of having a TV until he found a job, and instead having to keep themselves busy by creating their low budget rendition of a “claymation” picture. We didn’t have a car then, so they had to walk more than a kilometer to school every morning while endlessly chatting on the way.

When we moved to a smaller unit, Keith learned how to prepare his own snacks from that small kitchen.

We will always remember our lovely neighbours who were very good chefs and how they passed on some baked goodies to us over the side fences. Keith invited some of his classmates for the first-ever sleep-over that we hosted where they slept in a tent that we set up on the sideyard.

It was also where they first made beautiful music together.

The boys will always cherish too the summer days spent in the community pool, and on the pitch, tennis and basketball courts within our village then. Watching them share experiences and memories growing up as brothers who adore each other is just priceless.

The last house that we rented was right across the street from the big sporting fields which became our playground. We loved how convenient it was to live a healthier, more active lifestyle with easy access to walking tracks with a great water view.

For all the things that we left behind, we gained something new. We were in search of something to satisfy a longing for a life that we envisioned for our family, and throughout this journey, what I have learned so far is that home is wherever we are together.

We got tired of moving, so when we were presented with the opportunity to invest on a house of our own, we seized it and held on tightly with two hands.

The whole process of designing, building and decorating the house the way we envisioned it to be was exhilirating! Around about the same time last year, the house that we’ve dreamed of was finally built! We again packed and unpacked our boxes, but this time around, we were fuelled with so much enthusiam and excitement! Just the thought of not having to move again in the very near future was just so satisfying. During the past year, we have defined our own rhythm and we are loving our new nest – our permanent container of memories now and in the years to come. We’ve already experienced 4 seasons here, celebrated birthdays, holidays, Christmas and New Year and hosted family and friends who have visited us, calling our home their home during those precious moments.

Our home has already witnessed love, friendship, heartache, triumph and the sight and sound of life in its truest form…

… the sound of the alarm in the morning, ringing from each room, except from Keith’s as he prefers our human alarm clock Seth waking him up;

… the morning chaos as I prepare breakfast and lunch boxes while Orly and the boys get ready for work and school;

… the sound of our footsteps rushing to the car;

… someone rushing back to his room upstairs – there is always something forgottten;

… the sound of an empty house that welcomes me after dropping them off at the station;

… a busy kitchen, the aroma of the hundreds of meals that we have already prepared here;

… the sight of dirty dishes in the sink and how Orly manages to clear all the clutter before he retires for the night so I can wake up to a sparkling clean kitchen;

… Seth being silly, quietly sneaking and hiding somewhere to scare his dad, brother or myself whenever he gets the chance;

… the dribbling of the basketball on the driveway;

… the table tennis matches on not so busy days;

… the sight of Orly gardening on not so busy days and also on busy days;

… the sound of music in the house – Keith playing the guitar to unwind on a busy weekday; Seth on the piano; Orly singing songs that melt my heart while strumming the guitar; all of them jamming in unpredictable times of days

… the never ending laundry and the pile of clothes to fold;

… Seth annoying Keith, Keith annoying Seth; Seth annoying Keith, again and again and again;

… the four of us snuggling on the couch while we gather to watch our favourite reality shows – Masterchef, The Voice, and now the Australian Ninja Warrior; a lure for the kids to join us instead of staying in their rooms watching their favourite series;

… the sound of my voice echoing in the house whenever I get annoyed with too much screen time; Our teens are physically present at times, but seems to be elsewhere once they have their headphones on;

… late nights coming from the kids’ soccer training where everyone is just too tired;

… growing boys opening the pantry and the fridge multiple times in a day to get something to snack on;

… me asking my boys for some cuddles and kisses, even though they stink sometimes;

… me working from home on some days, grateful for the freshly picked flowers on my desk, the sight of thyme and yuccas in the front yard from home office window;

… the sound of me typing away on my keyboard, stopping occasionally to listen to the birds chirping or just to gaze at the calming greenery in our backyard;

… the smell of coffee and the roasted rice tea on my teapot;

… the magnificent sight of sunset from the kids’ bedroom window when the sky turns orange, with the blue mountains as the perfect backdrop;

… the countless good morning hugs and good night kisses;

… the relaxing aroma of lavender and the flickering flame of the burning candle that calms my spirit at the end of a busy day

Experiencing life as it happens right here, right now, and looking back at all the circumstances and decisions that have brought us here, I find contentment in my heart. Throughout this journey, I come to realise that contentment is something that cannot be obtained because you are in a place that you’ve always dreamed of or because you fulfilled what you wanted. Contentment is getting to acknowledge where you are and what you have become and embracing the life that you have.

Once you STOP looking for something better or nicer, START appreciating the blessings that have been bestowed upon you, and DECIDE to be TRULY HAPPY is when you find CONTENTMENT in your heart.

We were searching for something, we have followed the path and by opening our hearts, we found our place. To call this house our home brings me so much joy. This is where the path led us, and so we choose to bloom.