Anchor

November 21, 2007

When I was moved to a different site, I got depressed. I missed my comfort zone at the old site I came from. I missed my colleagues. It was a huge adjustment, different account, new set of people to adjust to, new environment, new everything. I went through a really tough time but the thing that got me through was the husband. His strength, his love and his support. He was there listening to me whine and constantly assuring me that I can do this.

He is going to the same thing right now. Being new in his job, he also misses his old friends, his old work schedule - basically his comfort zone. He called me the other day, out of the blue, just to talk because he was feeling so down. I felt for him. I knew what he was going through and I also knew that being there for him is the only way to get him through.

I guess, just as he is my anchor, I am his. Whenever I am lost, I look to him for strength and he does the same with me. This is one of the best things of our marriage, we are each other’s anchor.

Move Updates

November 11, 2007

I have been away this weekend so my apologies for not posting. The husband and I spent the weekend over at my parents house. We had a blast, as usual, spending time with my family.

There’s great news about the move though. We might be buying instead of renting. :) I don’t know the full details yet and of course it will be subject to a lot of meetings and thoughts but at least, it’s an itsy bitsy step forward. I have never seen the husband gush about the move ever! He was so excited and so willing to move out. Please pray for us that we make the right decision about this. February is approaching fast! :)

Appreciation

November 1, 2007

I know I don’t often tell you how much you mean to me or how much I appreciate your whole being. But I do. I appreciate everything and everything about you, even though I don’t say it aloud. Thank you for always being there when I needed someone. Someone to talk to, someone to laugh with, someone to share my frustrations and anger and me not having to worry about what you think or whether I am talking your ears off. Simply put, you are my best friend. It’s sad that we only get to see each other every once in a while.

That said, I want you to know that you mean the world to me, more than you’ll ever know.

Frustrations

October 24, 2007

How do you even deal with infertility? Well I don’t know yet if I am infertile but it feels like I am. We have been waiting for that miracle for so long and yet it always seems out of reach. Top it off with monthly dysmhenorrhea and you do the math. It is just soo frustrating you know. To have always dreamed of having a family and yet never being given the chance while countless others just keep on aborting their babies. It’s just unfair.

Change Part II

February 4, 2007

Just got home from spending the weekend at my parents place. Special shout out to my younger bro, Ivor, Happy birthday bro! You’re the best!

Anyway, we had fun at my parents house. We cooked and had lots and lots of chikas to share. I realized, I missed my parents and siblings so much. I missed our talks during siestas and I missed the sumptous food. It makes me sad to think that in a couple of months, they will be moving out of that house.

That was our third house and one that my parents owned. The first house we had was somewhere in Mother Ignacia. It was an apartment my parents rented. That was where I was born but I remember little about it. The second was a house that my parents also rented somewhere in Project 6 and we stayed there until I was in Grade 6. My younger bro and sis were born in that house and there was a lot of fond memories. I was sad when we had to leave that place but I guess, the excitement of moving into a house of our own exceeded the sadness I felt. And now they’re moving again.

The house my parents owned was built in a land where my maternal grandfather and my dad shared ownership. That was why our house was only built on half the portion of the land. My parents worked and saved hard to be able to build that house. When my “lolo” fell sick with cancer, he had to take a loan from the bank to be able to buy meds using the whole land as a collateral. My dad had no choice but to sign the agreement as my “lolo” still had a wife (his third) and 3 young girls. Towards the end, when lolo felt his life was nearing the end, he and dad decided to sell the land, pay the loan, and divide the money. When “lolo” finally died, he wasn’t able to sell the land and pay the loan. His wife (who wasn’t his wife yet when they bought the land) was so itchy to get her hands on the money that she was pressuring my parents to sell the land. She was even spreading a lot of rumors about our family. It was a hard time for my parents as my dad just retired, my youngest sister still in school (college) and that bitch of a woman refusing to pay the monthly interest on the loan. Take note though, that my parents did not get even a centavo when lolo took out that loan. Meaning, that woman spent most of the money on her kaprichos and her spoiled daughter’s braces, expensive rubber shoes and cellphones.

My parents ranted to us but never uttered a word outside the house. Even during the meetings, they never complained. Finally a buyer was able to buy the house. Side kwento: My mom let her “waray-blood” show one time in a meeting and shouted at the bitch. The woman had the gall to tell them that our house was only worth P300k. Hello! Our house is not that extravagant but it was decent. Tell me, can you really build a 5 bedroom bungalow house with 3 toilets and baths with just P300K??!! Stupid woman! But what can I say, my dad was right, never bother wasting time with someone who never finished grade school. Sorry, if only she had a decent attitude and sound character she would never hear that from me. Anyway, so the house and lot (all 956 square meters in a prime QC subdivision) was sold at way less than the value of the land. All because the bitchs’ hand was itching to get the money to squander away. She was such a noisy woman! She kept demanding that the payment go directly to her bank account when it wasn’t even legal to do that. Yeah, she was the wife and all that but she was not the wife yet when the lot was bought and divided. She should be thankful my dad even agreed to sell his share of the lot or else she would’ve gotten much less than she got. The buyer was so pissed off at her that he had to tell the woman to think things through before saying anything. The buyer even told her she should be thankful because she is getting four shares (hers and her three daughters) when my mom only gets one. I just admire my dad’s strong character. He was more concerned of the 3 young kids my lolo left behind.

Enough of the ranting. The buyer was kind enough to give my parents some allowance in finding a new place to move into. I know it’s going to happen soon enough and given the limited time that I have in going there, I took the opportunity last weekend to go around the house and reminisce. Gosh there were a lot of memories in that house. It was there that I cried over a broken heart. My parents room where I would sleep when they turn on the AC, my brother’s room where I spent my time when Ahiya R was still there; The beloved dogs we cherished and buried; The living room where I spent the night burning the telephone wires when my husband was still courting me. I could go on and on.

It makes me feel really sad because the house was something my parents worked very hard for, but I guess, like they say, when God closes a door, He opens a window. I said a prayer of thanks for the many memories our family shared in that place. I also said a prayer asking that God will continue to guide our family in the new beginning He has given us. Whatever lies in store, as long as God is with all of us and we stick together, wherever we may be, I’m sure we will continue to make and cherish memories.

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On another note, the weekend gave me time to finish another lay out just in time for Valentine’s day. I’m still a tad slow in doing LO’s but I know that with time and practice I could perform better. If and when i do get better at this, how do you join a creative team? Sorry am a digiscrap dummy as of yet. Can someone enlighten me on this? Thanks!

Hope you like my LO for hubby :

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CREDITS:

Paper:
Shabby Princess Moody Blues Square and Dots Paper, Shabby Princess Moody Blues Striped Paper, Shabby Princess Moody Blues Tile Paper, Shabby Princess Moody Blues MedBlue Paper, Shabby Princess Moddy Blues Light Blue Paper, Shabby Princess Moody Blues Swirls Paper

Embellishments:
Digital Scrapbook Place Wire Heart, MShefveland Staples, Heritage Cherish Tag

Alpha:
Shabby Princess Moody Blues Alpha

Journaling:
I am watching you sleep tonight and I can’t help but feel overwhelming love for you. I truly cherish these times when I can just watch you sleep. It is not everyday that we can be together the entire night and I feel like if I sleep I’d miss you more.

People may think that you are not the most ideal husband there is, but heck I’m far from being the ideal wife. You’re the ideal husband for me and so much more. Sure you have your flaws and shortcomings (heck I do too!), but you know, those things don’t even matter anymore because without them, you would not have been the man I fell in love with and married. You have been and will always be my very best friend. When everyone else has left me, I am confident that you will still be at my side, holding my hand. You have proved that to me right from the start. Through the years, you have always stood beside me. Even in my darkest days of impatience, nagging and irritability, you have never stopped being the ‘Ping’ I fell in love with 9 years ago - ever patient, loyal and sweet. I wish I could say that I was like that to you, but I know I’m not.

Please know that I truly appreciate you - your whole being and persona, your quiet gentleness, your enduring patience, your fierce love and loyalty to your family and friends, your fear of God, and your great love for humanity. Stay being ‘Ping’, for I know no other arms to embrace me with than yours, no other laughter, no other love than yours.

Change

January 25, 2007

Change is never easy. It means letting go of what you’re used to and unlearning the wrong things you’ve learned since childhood. It’s about taking risks and walking the unknown path. Learning and unlearning along the way.

I know what we plan to do is all about change. Change of lifestyle and atmosphere. It is not easy I know, but this is something we have to do to grow. Things aren’t going too well here and I’ve tried and done my best to adapt but I guess everything (or everyone for that matter) has its limits and I have reached mine. If you know me, you probably know that I don’t usually give up easily. You know as well, that I think things through before making a big decision such as this one. But I have made up my mind and we both agreed moving out is the best.

If we want to start a family of our own. If we want to have financial freedom, then moving out is the best thing we would do. You don’t know how long I have prayed for this. How much I cried out to God to open your eyes to the truth. God has His plans and His time and I’ve always believed He knows what is best. I am thankful that you have finally opened your heart and eyes to what’s happening.

I am scared of what lies ahead but I am willing to take the risk, willing to jump, willing to learn and take the journey as long as I know I have God and you beside me, I will be fine. I am fearfully excited. I hope you are too.

Happy Holidays!

December 24, 2006

Happy Holidays everyone! May you and your family have a blessed, peaceful and properous new year!

Nearing Christmas

December 18, 2006

7 days ’til Christmas. What has happened so far? Hmm..

1. We’re done with our Christmas shopping, yey! :) Gifts are all packed, wrapped and ready to be given out.

Non-solicited tips ;-)

a. Keep your current Christmas list and just add from there. Hopefully, you won’t have to cross out anyone hehehe.
b. Starting January and the months before Christmas season begins, keep a keen eye on bargains or good finds. If you see something grab it. This is a great way to avoid the holiday rush and the throngs of people in the malls. But sometimes, there’s the thrill of doing Christmas shopping whilst pushing past people. Hehehe! Oh well, different strokes for different folks!
c. Buy your Christmas wrappers and boxes by bulk in Divisoria. It’s cheaper and you can always use the extra wraps for next year’s holdiday season. The extra boxes, you can use for other occasions.

2. I got my early Christmas gift. My very own Canon Powershot S3 IS.

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I love it! I’m a certified trigger happy person nowadays ;-) You may visit my Photoblog here. I’m just beginning though, so please excuse my shots hehehe!

3. Last Sunday was another bonding day with my family. My mom had to meet a long time friend at the SM Mall of Asia. We trekked there to see what the mall looked like and all. It was huge! We had a grand time making chika while walking around.

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The mall was huge kaya lang the stores and the restos are small. Nakakafrustrate maghanap ng makakainan! All the restos were full! I don’t know, maybe because the mall is new and it’s the holiday season, plus it was Sunday. It took us almost an hour to find a place to eat and another 30 minutes to find a free table.

After lunch we again made rounds but our feet gave up on us! We were supposed to go home na but my youngest brother who was in Pasay at that time texted us that he was going to join us for dinner. We decided to trek to Starbucks and just as expected, it was full to the brim. There were a lot of people just sitting there without any starbucks product. My parents decided to sit by the fountain area to relax their tired feet. They shared some snacks.

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Hihi, they looked cute! Parang lovers in luneta ay Paris nalang para kunyari sosyal. hehehe!

After some time, my sister and I decided to go back and check out starbucks again. Gosh, the line was loooong. My sister was quick enough to snag some sofa seats after we got our drinks. My parents were like: “Thank God!” and slumped into the sofa. We stayed there and chatted for some time until my youngest brother arrived. We chatted some more. Who knows what time we’ll be able to find a place for dinner.

When we got out of starbucks, tons of people were rushing past us! Good thing there was a free concert by the Philharmonic Orchestra and San Miguel Chorale. They kept us relaxed. The Philharmonic Orchestra gave a great rendition of the Star Wars theme! Ang galeng! When we’ve had our fill of great music, we capped our MOA trip with great dinner and kuento at the Bangus restaurant. I loved their boneless bangus. Their calamares was good too! Setting the lovely day was a great view of the fireworks display! Too bad my camera was low on battery so I wasnt able to get nice shots.

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Haay! I just love spending time with my family.

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Check out my LO for our nephew (Jasper’s nephew) Amiel Christian A. Belen!

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Isn’t he a cutie? =)

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

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CREDITS
Paper : Shabby Princess In the Groove Album Page 7; Embellishments: Shabby Princess Scarling Dinner Party Flower Red and Shabby Princess Scarling Dinner Party Flower Yellow

Realizations from a Tutuban Trip

November 26, 2006

Yesterday was quality time and bonding with my mom, dad and sister - amidts a throng of people at Tutuban Mall in Divisoria!

My mom sent me an SMS saturday afternoon asking if I wanted to come along and join them shopping in tutuban Sunday. I knew hubby would not be able to go because he had something to do Sunday, but I missed my family so much that I immediately replied “yes” to her question.

My dad had to bring the car to tutuban cause they were planning to buy give aways to business partners so there’s bound to be a lot of shopping bags to bring. Besides, tutuban mall has a parking space (albeit small), so off we went. Arrived there past 11AM and boy did we have a hard time looking for a space to park into.

We had fun, looking at stuff trying to find the right stuff they needed amidst pushing past and being pushed by tons of people. We had lunch together and it was great too! My dad had to leave after lunch to do some business in Binondo so the three of us girls trekked the entire mall. By 5PM, my feet was complaining already, as was my back from all the bags we have on hand, but I am not complaining. I was having a grand time with my family! My mom bought me 3 bags and a pari of sandals. I tried to dissuade her in buying me stuff. I guess, now that I’m married and all grown up (hehehe), I felt I shouldn’t ask her to buy me stuff anymore, but she insisted. Moms will always be moms, I guess. I think she misses me that much :) Ain’t my parents the coolest? Heh!

We rendesvoused with my dad at around 5:30 PM. We just sat for a while at one of the fast food store there cause our feet were killing us. Around 6:15PM off we went to the parking area. When we got to the exit counter, the guy informed as our parking ticket was at Php 150!!! What?!?! I tell you, their parking rates are exaggerated! Php 50 for the first 3 hours, then Php 20 for each exceeding hour. That fee for a small, dirty, dark parking with no guards in sight! The malls charge less than that! Oh well, even with all the complaining, we just went ahead and paid the fee and sped off to home, all of us thinking we would never bring a car to tutuban again. If we would, we would park somewhere in Binondo and walk.

After they dropped me home, I missed them all the more. We usually do this every Christmas. My parents and my 3 other siblings would pack ourselves into our car and drive somewhere to shop. My parents would buy us the stuff we want and that would be our Christmas gift. Ever since I got married, there are few chances of us being all together, with me married and my eldest brother with a crazy schedule. Chances like yesterday are precious to me now. And I cherish all the times we are together, even if we’re just lazing around at our house talking.

Funny how things have changed when I got married. I was not this close to my parents before. When I still lived with them, I couldn’t even have a nice conversation with either of them. Like everything I say means nothing. I used to feel so irritated when they nag us. I guess, absence does make the heart grow fonder. Or maybe, they now see me as an adult. My mom and I, now talk as if we’re best buds. We share everything. My dad, talks to me like an adult now. unlike before where everything he says feels like you’re being reprimanded (complete with a loud voice pa yan ha. But come to think of it, my dad’s voice is normally loud, heh!). I used to ask God, why now? Why couldn’t we have been like this before? Now, I miss them so much every single day. Then I came to realize, things indeed happen for a reason. Because of what happened I now have a much deeper appreciation of my parents. I am grateful to God that I have the chance to experience what I did, and a chance to experience what we have now.

Mom, Dad, thank you so much for everything. Looking back, your constant reminders have helped shaped me to be the person that I am now. I thank God for the both of you. The bits of practical wisdom you’ve shared with us, your children, over the years have not gone to waste. I always remember them and put them into practice in my life. When the time comes that I’d have kids of my own, I will surely pass those wisdom tidbits on to them. Please continue to take care. I pray for good health and overflowing blessings for the both of you! I love you both so much!

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