Serendra, Mezza Luna, January '07

jovy went back to australia today. i sent her to the airport a while ago. i feel a bit of sadness as i know it will take a long time for us to see each other again. although she'll be back in three months, it never is the same without her.

these past few months flew by so fast. but i'm really glad this visit brought a lot of great memories. i know that chances for communication are even going to get more frequent as we prepare for something great happening on December 30. But still... the thought she's three hours apart, the fact that she's in australia kinda dampens the soul a bit.

but the thought of june and december brings a bit of sunshine. and i know more great memories are going to come.

Jovy, miss na kita. you're not even halfway to Australia and i wish you're already back here. i'm really grateful for the memories we've shared. you're such an easy person to talk to. i'll miss your endless teasing, your being naughty without being irritable, my overnight sessions in your house, your always nagging me to go home early and our endless talks about Dec. 30. Don't worry, i'm not yet sick and tired of the topic. :D here's to our friendship, dear. may miles (and my being married at work) never be a reason for us not to communicate and be there for each other. God bless you dear! Thanks again for everything!

char set a post-valentine's date for us last thursday at galileo enotica. it's a quaint place in mandaluyong. the ambience there was so, so nice! it was really a great "date" place, but am glad i got to share with my most favourite people on earth :D

anyway, i arrived there late as i had a presentation to SM at Mall of Asia that afternoon. I was so stressed with the traffic! but the place was really worth it. I had to catch my breath upon arriving (i was that stressed with the traffic) but the ambience blew my frustration away.

jovy, char and allen got the set menu which comes with a glass of wine (nice wine! too bad i don't drink), soup, a ham and cheese platter, a pasta and coffee/tea. i just had soup and pasta cause i don't drink too much wine. if we went out on a friday or saturday, might have drank the wine... :D anyway, i got a taste naman on the wine and coffee and both are nice. char taught us this line: "the wine has a nice bouqet"... guaranteed to make us look like we're cultured, wine lovers. :D haha!

here are some pictures... :D had a really great time... mamimiss ko na naman ito when jovy leaves for australia... :(

group pic :D jovy, char, me and allen


















i love candid shots! jovy and char, ang galing mo na kumuha ng pictures!































goofy pictures

i started seriously walking with the Lord last 1998. it was a year full of significant events - my commitment to the Lord came that year, i got to know my best friend better that year, i had such great bonding with my choirmates that summer, my dad had a stroke that tested my faith, i graduated from college... and the list goes on. after the turbulent seas, we rested for quite a bit until the time that my commitment was tested further. my family does not see why i have to go to church every sunday, why i'd queue for communion every sunday because they don't, why i need to serve the Lord and all those stuff. we'd argue about praying over papa because i felt i was the only one tasked to lead the prayer and my family couldn't even help me out on this. as years go by, i struggled with the fact that i was so active in my church, yet I couldn't bring my family closer to the lord. at that time, i couldn't understand God's timing or why this was happening.

today, a reality came over me. as i watched my family all stood up and queue for communion, i was struck with how beautiful God's timing is. you see, i had mass at 10am today, and usually, i go with my family again for mass at mt. carmel around 615pm. so since i already took communion, i was standing and praying to the Lord when i was struck with the realization that my whole family was queueing up for communion each week. I then realize more things. We've now taken turns to pray over Papa. We now read the daily gospel together. although i know much has to be improved, i can say in about 9 years, this is a major blessing that made me realize how God's timing is always perfect.

it seemed such a lost case a few years back... but now I know in my heart, when it is the right time, He really grants your prayer. And not only will he just grant that prayer... he will also do it in such a big production that will always take your breath away.