Day 20: No Return, No Exhange

20/30: The Rings. It's the 30th again, a date that is so precious to us. Let our love story in typography amuse you and tell you why. To date, we've been a couple for 22 months and married for 4 months. Time flies eh? But there's no grand celebration nor a romantic dinner at a posh restaurant nor a getaway trip today. Just us in the confines of our tiny but cozy home singing to Kenny Loggins' song:

"And eventhough we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you honey,

And everything will bring a chain of love.

And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes,

And tell me everything is gonna be alright."

Just four months in this marriage and we've already been overwhelmed both by the blessings God has showered us and by the things that God is teaching us. Happiness doesn't really have to cost too much and that everyday is an answered prayer. Most importantly, our marriage means persevering together, bearing all things together, and as cliche as it sounds, sticking with each other for better or for worse. Our wedding rings will forever remind us of that commitment to stand by each other forever. Simply no returning. No exchanging. *Hubby dear, eventhough we ain't got so much, I love you this much! Hugs! (photos by me). 

Day 19: In Awe of Autumn, In Awe of You

19/30:  Autumn Again. Yet again, my feet brought me to St. Stephen's Green Park where the autumn season had rendered me speechless for the first time. As I sat there in the park taking in the delightful fusion of yellow, red and orange below and above the ground, I couldn't help but be awestruck of God's invention of autumn. I know Science has an explanation as to why leaves are changing colors and falling inevitably from their mother tree and all that stuff. But don't you wonder what God was thinking when He created autumn?

I read somewhere that the ultimate sacrifice of leaf-bearing trees in the autumn is the ultimate visual pleasure for us. So I'd like to think that when God created autumn, He was thinking of me! :) Experiencing autumn used to be just a dream. I know that God has purposefully allowed my first full autumn in Ireland to be a time of taking pleasure in nature, a time to harness some skills, a time of waiting, a time to be content and a time to practice faith more than anything else. Sometimes, it's easy to lose sight of how far God has taken me. But right there, in that moment, filled with awe and gratitude, I was reminded.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecc. 3:1)

 Dear God, thank you so much for this fab autumn, and please help me endure the coooold winter. I know I will be under Your tender loving care (TLC) through all the seasons in my life :)

Day 18: Family Portraits, Part2

18/30: Family. Still on family portraits but don't cha worry, I have less to say than the first part. :) I am really blessed to have joined this family, the Ebunas. From the first time I visited them in Ilocos, to the Pamamanhikan, to our Prenup Shoot in Ilocos where Nanay and Tatay arranged for all our needs, to the preps, to the wedding and beyond, I've been really blessed beyond measure having these people around in my life and to be carrying the surname they have. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve this extension of family. Sobrang bait nila, sobrang simple. The most awesome thing is that I have their son to be with me for the rest of my life!

So now the portraits of my Ebuna family:

Hubby and his awesome family

Nanay and Tatay would only smile on "Wacky"

I've known the simplest, kindest and most hard working parents in the world, that's Nanay and Tatay.

My beautiful sisters-in-law with hubby. Whereas I'm the only girl, he is the only guy. 

Thanks again Ate Jane and Ate Leah for all the help!

The Ebunas (extended and complete edition).

Day 17: Family Portraits, Part1

17/30: Family. "Family... they're the people in your life you don't get to pick. The ones that are given to you, as opposed to those you get to choose." ~ Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key

That's why family is the best starting point to practice loving others unconditionally. You didn't choose them and whether you like it or not, you are forever bonded to them by affinity, and sometimes, by proximity. But loving others is easier said than done. I am, by no means, the most loving person in my family. Since I embraced Christianity, it's the loving part that I've struggled with the most. Time and again, I am reminded of Jesus' command to love. In Luke 10:27,  he summed up our relationships to two levels of priority:

First: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Second: Love your neighbors as yourself. 

Loving our neighbors practically means loving everybody else. Since we spend most of our time with our family, it is through them that we should learn to be more loving each day. Our family is our first neighbor, the first zone where people have the capacity to nurture as much as the capacity to hurt.  My family has experienced a sort of "extreme adjustment" in the past two years that has left all of us feeling exhausted and unloved at some point. To be honest, I have given and taken my own share of the "hurting" piece of the family drama.  God has humbled me each time and I've learned to forgive and let go. I love my folks and my bros. And even though I'm still a stubborn apprentice in the "loving your family" department, I press on just as God wants me to, especially now that I have started a family of my own. 

Lastly, what we nurture grows and forms us. Jesus is the expert in relationships and if we keep ourselves attached to the expert, then it's likely that we'll pick up from His examples. Loving like Christ means being patient, being kind, not keeping record of wrongs, amongst many. I do have a lot to learn from the Expert!

And I know it's quite a prologue to our family portraits, but here they are: 

My family on my wedding day: (without my father who I wished were there to walk me down the aisle, but that is water under the bridge now.) 

Me and my handsome siblings (L-R, from youngest to eldest, my kuya filled in my father's shoes.)

My super sister-in-law and my beautiful nieces and nephew

The Look Alike (but perpetually denying the fact). 

Day 16: Just an Ordinary Day

16/30: A Tale of a Full Time Housewife. Someone asked hubby what I usually do while he's serving time in the office. Okay, I'll let you in to my ordinary day. I spend majority of my time at home (where else huh?) accomplishing all the not-so-glamorous-but-heroic stuff associated with running a livable home which I'd rather not write about. If you've read about my quest to learn how to cook, then that's one. Aside from the domestic stuff, I connect with friends and family through internet (we owe a lot to its inventor, don't cha think?). I read. I write. I have quiet times. I dream. I sleep.

My ordinary day is full of pretty ordinary activities. But you know what? I'm totally embracing this phase especially the days when the infamous Irish weather is fine (a.k.a. a day of blue sky and sunshine) because that means I'll get to see the world outside the four corners of our tiny home. A fine weather is always an exception to my ordinary day. It's a breather to be out there in a lovely autumn day capturing these little things that refill my zest for life:

Autumn photos on 12 October 2012: 

I won't lie, I have my worries about "waiting," but God has provided for my every need every single day in the past 30 years. That thing alone reminds me over and over again to simply embrace ordinary days with a grateful and expectant heart. I have a great God who is in control, just so you know. :)

P.S. I got to see a wedding photo shoot on a fine autumn day. Lovely! :)

Day 15: Sunset Spotting

15/30: Taking Photos Together. Yay, it's my 15th post to the 30-day blogging challenge, half way there! I was supposed to write for 30 consecutive days but realized my energy and my vocabulary can only pen thoughts sporadically, not consecutively. Even so, I'm carrying on no matter how long it takes because I learned that somewhere, somehow, someone reads my blog. Thank you, thank you so much. Your sweet messages keep this blog brewing. :)

Since relocating to Dublin, I've been busy domesticating myself and just lately, been busy sending job applications. I've also rekindled my love affair with photography and nature. Challenging at times given the notoriously unpredictable weather in Ireland.

One of the things hubby and I enjoy doing together is capturing sunsets, no cost attached, just our willing feet and eyes. Our mini collection of sunsets in Ireland will tell you why we love catching it. Last September, we saw a lovely sunset while strolling along River Liffey. Sharing with you the photos from that one fine day.

Some folks admiring the view the same way we did:

The Ha'ppeny and the Millennium Bridges:

And then there was us:

Filled with awe on the beauty of sunset, I'm reminded of what I wrote 9 months ago:

"Sunsets in Ireland will always remind me that God has taken me to a place I never thought I'd ever go to, that there's a reward in waiting patiently, and most of all, that He is a God of awesome surprises, that He gives you something (or someone) at the time when you are just ready to notice it and be grateful for it." 

How awesome it is to look back and realize the same words I wrote about yesterday speak to me now while I patiently wait and pray for a job (that does not involve the kitchen area). I still have the very same God who surprises me, whose plan is always better than mine. Waiting can be tough, but God is the best companion while waiting. He has proven that in my life, in our lives, one time too many. I trust the same God who paints the sky with colors in His perfect time when we're out there and ready with our hearts and cameras. :)