I'm feeling happy today.
Why? Because enrollment is done! Tuition is paid! Hallelujah!
New books and notebooks are piled high on the coffee table, smelling like a fresh start. I also just checked our bank account—the one devoted to just tuition—and it’s down to a grand total of… P5,702. Yes, mamas. Five thousand, seven hundred and two pesoses. And all I could think was: “Time to fill you up again, baby!”
Did I sound excited? Why yes, yes, I did! I’m not panicking. I’m pumped. Because we’ve done this before—and by God’s grace, we’ll do it again.
I think it's safe to say that all parents feel a little dizzy when we see the amounts of money we hand over to the bursar's office during enrollment. But weirdly enough, paying tuition gives me a kind of buzz. When we were newly married, Vince told me while we were collecting the mail, “You’re the only person I know who's happy to get bills.”
Well, I wouldn't say I'm happy. I dread getting my credit card bill huhu. So happy isn't the word. More on I feel... inspired.
Lemme explain. There was this one time someone interviewed me about writing, and when I was asked what inspires me to write, I replied honestly, "Deadlines!" Nothing gets me to write like a looming deadline! Bills kinda have the same effect on me. I swear, if I didn’t have bills to pay, I’d just veg out in front of the TV and Netflix until further notice. But thanks to tuition fees, association dues, utility bills, and yes, those dreaded credit card statements, I’m out every weekday, 10 hours a day, busting my butt being a functioning adult.
Mamas, this calls for a poem!
Look at me!
I pay bills.
I earn money.
I do this all
And that makes me
A responsible member
Of society!
Okay, that was a bad poem haha
Anyway! Nobody likes bills (not even me). But I look at them differently, especially now. They remind me that I have sons—3 growing boys who eat like they have black holes for stomachs, who love going to school where they are now learning Korean from their Korean classmates, which means I’m paying for extra classes this summer… so they can learn Filipino instead!
Ah kids. So illogical. So expensive. So very much the reason for me aging!
But, jokes aside, as I was going home, I realized that we've been paying tuition since 2015. That's 10 years, mamas! And so far, so good.
I'm so proud of this achievement. And also so very grateful that for a decade, God has been providing for my family. And I'm reminded of His goodness when I see those tuition receipts stamped: PAID. PAID. PAID.
What. A. Rush!
So, yes, the tuition bank account may be near empty, but my heart is very full.
No fear. Just a giddy expectation of more blessings to come. Because my God is good. And my God always provides for my needs.
So enrollment is done!
And I’m feeling happy today. May you be just as blessed as I am!
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
