Home, Highways, and Heartbeats: A Journey of Purpose and Presence

In some days I used to stay at home, have some rest, enjoying coffee and music and the laundry follows. While on other days I feel like I am a juggler, juggling from one thing to another twenty-four seven.

Yesterday morning, we left home very early. I dropped my eldest to her school and drove another miles to drop my partner at her school also. This thing is very usual to me everyday. But this time, it was a bit different, I had to drove another two hours to the site where we have our on-going project on PSU Gym Flooring. I had to fetch three workers as they couldn't continue yet the work because the gym is still used by the local government for the upcoming festival. They had to go home.

I reached the site at 9 am. The workers were ready to left the place for a week or two until further notice. It was then I understand why the LGU had to stopped the project before the supplies and materials are not yet applied to the flooring. They are using the gym for the rehearsals and props making for the grandest festival in our province.

Big grand props were placed on the sides of the gym. They looked very festive and beautiful. I could imagine how these things would look during the final performance of the dancers and the team.

We left the place at 10am and I had another two hour drive going home with the workers. We reached home at almost 12 noon, and there was my youngest in his barong Tagalog. It would be their culmination of the Buwan ng Wika. He looked handsome in his barong. I grabbed his backpack and brought him to school. I stayed inside his classroom for a while to witness some parts of their program but then I left after a couple of minutes. I felt hungry and went home.

We ate lunch prepared on the table. After lunch, I rest a little and at exactly 3 in the afternoon, I went out again to fetch the kids from school. I brought them home and had to go again the fetch my partner from work at 4:30 and had to stop in one of the hardware in our town to check tools needed for the work when the notice will come for us to continue. I never felt tired then.

We ate dinner at 7 and had to left home at 8 in the evening going to Laguindingan Airport since the workers were coming from Manila, we need to be at the airport at 3am. From our home to the airport is a 4 to 5 hours drive. At exactly 1 am, I dropped them off at Laguindingan Airport and it was then that I started to feel tired and sleepy.

My partner and I, together with the kids continued our journey to Cagayan de Oro. Another an hour drive with yawns and sighs. The kids were sleeping but good thing my partner never sleep. She used to sing along with my playlist, at least I had someone very noisy and loud, it prevented me from sleeping while driving, hahahahhaha.

We reached Cagayan de Oro at 2:30 in the morning and I never made it to my mother in laws house. I slept where I parked, while the kids and my partner went up to sleep.

I woke up at 5am and went up to continue my sleep. But at 7am we had to go to the cemetery, it was my father-in-law's death anniversary. We lighted candles and offered flowers and we missed him a lot. We then had pizza and at 2 in the afternoon, we left for home.

We reached home at 7 in the evening and I had my best sleep until this morning. I thank God for the strength and protection. Juggling between work and family time must be very exhausting but sometimes its the best test of our patience, endurance and dedication.

With so many things to do, driving, working, caring for my family, I often feel tired, but also thankful. Life is not always balanced. Some days are quiet, and some days are full and busy. But even in the noise and rush, I can see the purpose. Even when things are messy, there is love. And during the long nights and tiring trips, I remind myself: this is the life I once hoped for. I may be doing a lot, but I wouldn't change it. Because at the end of the day, what really matters is being there for the people and moments that count.