After three years of blogging hiatus, here I am again writing about a party\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it\u2019s not just \u201ca party\u201d, but a double celebration party at that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confession time: I\u2019m not exactly the party-planning pro – not even a big fan of throwing a big shindig of anything. The last birthday party I threw was ages ago when Prym turned one. DIY chaos galore, a mad dash to find party suppliers a week before, but hey, it was a blast! Birthdays since then? Well, it has been a culinary tour de force at restaurants or a chill home-cooked affair with family and the folks next door, minus the whole birthday shebang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Celebrating at home\/restaurants was simply a practical choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My last blog post entry was in 2020, sharing three valuable life lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic had taught me. After that was a whirlwind of events, including the havoc that Typhoon Odette brought into our lives in December 2021, setting the stage for our decision to expand the family and give Prym a sibling. But hey, that’s a story for another blog!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then came little Marceline, our chubby-cheeked 2nd daughter, born on November 1, the holy feast day of Saints. An answered prayer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had been thinking a lot about whether or not to baptize her right away. I\u2019ve seen people giving their babies double celebrations – baptism and 1st birthday party at the same time. Even celebrities do that! For me, that\u2019s practicality at its finest. I mean, come on, after shelling out a small fortune at a private hospital for Marceline\u2019s birth, our wallets deserve a breather! We are not the Sys or the Ayalas who can throw unlimited parties on a whim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I said before, planning parties stresses me out. So you might wonder why I dove headfirst into planning Marceline\u2019s big baptism and 1st birthday party in Cebu City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A health scare!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Short story time: A few months back, we found ourselves in the ER with Marceline, battling a common cold turned labored breathing. Her breathing and cough, the latter resembling a barking puppy, escalated into a terrifying ordeal. The ER doctor dropped a bomb that scared the sh*t out of me \u2013 intubation might be the next step if things didn\u2019t improve. Cue panic mode, zero sleep, and an all-night prayer marathon. I even asked our friends to pray for Marceline. I am a believer in the power of collective prayers. Enter a guardian angel in the form of a young pulmonary pediatrician early the next morning. After hearing about the barking puppy cough sound, he quickly diagnosed croup. Correct treatment ensued, and after an exhausting three-day hospital stay, Marceline was on the mend. Lesson learned: never underestimate the power of collective prayers and a mom\u2019s description of her child\u2019s symptoms \u2013 in this case, a barking dog impersonation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, I decided to celebrate Marceline as best as we could afford. It’s a good thing a huge blessing came along in the form of a new client. God truly provides when we pray and ask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of answered prayers, and answered prayers need some sort of thanksgiving to our Lord. I wanted it big!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to skip the baptism part and go straight to party planning details, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPrivate Baptism at The Archdiocesan Shrine of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2023<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n