The August of Beginnings

August: The Month of New Beginnings

A lot has happened this August.

Looking back, I realized that this month quietly became a month of new beginnings, new experiences, new projects, new routines and even new little additions to our home. Some things were planned, while others simply happened at the right time. Somehow, everything seemed to fall into place.

A New Beginning with the Band

From the very first day of August, our band played a gig under a new production and with our new vocalist.

As always, after playing our set, we stayed to watch the other bands and jam along to their songs. One of my favorite things about being in a band is not just performing, but also being surrounded by people who share the same love for music.

I am grateful to be with these people. People I can laugh, play and make music with.
And somehow, there is always something new waiting for us.

Our band also got the chance to play at a new bar this month.

My Small Business

During the second week of August, I finally had the courage to start my small printing business.

I live in a small community, so I was hesitant at first. I had wanted to do this for a long time, but there was always that little question in my mind: What if no one comes? What if no one wants to avail of my services?

But I decided to do it anyway.

I prepared everything myself. From choosing and buying papers, making layouts, setting up the space, and creating and putting up the signage. For now, everything is being done inside our home, but I hope to upgrade the setup soon.

What surprised me the most was that my very first customer came in for a photo ID.

I originally thought that most of my customers would be students needing school papers printed. I never expected that people from my own neighborhood would also come by to have their pictures printed and ask for other printing services.

It may be a very small business right now, but seeing people actually come and support it made me incredibly grateful.

It felt like a small dream finally becoming real.

Starting a New Garden

That same week, I also started a new garden.

The last time I seriously gardened was in 2022. After that, I slowly stopped because I no longer had the same amount of time. When I had my fifth child, I chose to slow down and be present while taking care of him during his little years, along with his four older brothers.

Now, I am slowly finding my way back to gardening.

I moved my garden near our well, built a fence around it, and made six raised beds. Unlike my gardening in 2022, when I would sow and plant wherever I could find space in the front or backyard, this time I wanted to create an actual space dedicated to growing vegetables.

The best part of making the garden was having my children help me.

They were so excited to see how the garden would turn out. It became more than just a gardening project. It became something we could build together.

When the Universe Aligns

In between all these new beginnings, I noticed little things happening at just the right time.

While I was building and organizing my small printing business, one of the things I wanted to make was a bench outside where customers could wait.

I was already tired and had so many things to do that day, but the Sagittarius in me wouldn’t let an unchecked item stay on my to-do list. So I quickly finished making the bench.

And right after I finished it, a customer came in.

She also asked if I had photo paper because she wanted to print some collage photos. I told her that I only had matte paper at the moment and that my glossy paper would arrive on Friday.

I quickly made a layout for the photo collage pricing. And right after I finished putting it up, she came in again on Friday.

It was such a small thing, but moments like that made me pause.

Sometimes, you prepare for something without knowing why, and then suddenly, you understand why you needed to do it at that exact moment.

Maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe it’s timing.

For me, I like to think that sometimes it’s God’s way of reminding me that things can work out even when I don’t know how they will.

Another unexpected moment happened when Roland and I went out to buy bananas. We stopped by the restaurant where we were planning to eat for his birthday. As we walked through the door, we happened to meet one of my relatives, who had just opened a new bar above the restaurant.

I jokingly asked if it would be okay for a band to play there.

What started as a simple joke turned into an actual conversation. We sat down and talked about it, and somehow, that little conversation became a real opportunity.

Now, our band is scheduled to play at the bar’s grand opening.

It’s funny how some things happen when you aren’t even looking for them. One moment, you’re just going out to buy bananas, and the next, you’re talking about your band playing at a new bar.

Maybe these are just coincidences. Or maybe some things really do find their way to us at the right time.

Whatever they are, I am grateful for these little moments that seem to fall into place on their own.

There is always room for new beginnings.

Catching Up with Friends

At the end of the second week, we visited a friend at their house for a fiesta celebration.

We ate together, talked, and had a short karaoke session. It was a simple afternoon, but it was nice to catch up and spend time with friends.

On our way home, my son spotted some colorful chicks for sale.

We ended up buying six.

This is our first time taking care of chickens, even though having them is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time.

And just like that, another little beginning came home with us.

Sketches

This August, I also started sketching cute cats.

It actually started because I was beginning to sell stickers, after one of my son’s classmates in Grade 4 requested some. I started thinking about what designs I could make, so I began sketching cute cats, dogs, and more little characters that I could eventually turn into stickers.

It has been fun creating these small drawings and imagining them as little stickers that people can put on their notebooks, water bottles, school supplies and other things.

What started as a simple request from my son’s classmate became another little creative project for me. It reminded me how one small idea or one simple request can sometimes lead to something new.

It may seem like a small thing, but finding time to sit down and draw again feels special. Sometimes, creativity doesn’t need to be a big project. Sometimes, it’s just a pencil, a piece of paper and a few quiet moments.