Traces of Faith

Tonight reminds of some traces of Christianity I captured in Dublin, Ireland.

Destiny Christian Church 
It's a relatively small church but with a great Pastor :)

The green poster made me smile. ;)

Yes He does! 

Someday, God willing, fiance and I will settle in Ireland. We hope we can find accountability group and a church community where we can grow more in Him, where we can pat a shoulder and give encouragement to other toddler Christians like us. I believe God is already preparing and moving for this desire of our hearts.  Wherever He leads us, be it in Ireland or elsewhere (wag naman sa Timbuktu Lord! hehe), I know it will all work out for our good. :)

Perfect Sunday

Sundays are awesome when spent with Him and him. :) We waited so long for this day. Often, in our countless Skype dates, we would always dream about a Sunday where we would go to church together, eat in a fancy or not-so-fancy restaurant depending on our mood, watch a movie and watch the sun bid goodbye in the horizon. I guess, that's our definition of a perfect Sunday. Us and church time.

Today is an answered prayer. We went to church. We held hands and sang our hearts out to God. Fiance missed worship at CCF and we were just thrilled to hear what the Lord wanted to say to us through the Sunday service. After the service, we ate in Mcdo (not so fancy for his first lunch in PH) because we ran out of cash and we were just hungry we couldn't care less. :)

Then we headed off to my office in Makati to fetch some things. We walked to Greenbelt and Glorietta. While walking, I was just thanking God because finally, I have him here beside me, holding my hands and throwing me glances that speak of how much he loves me. :) Hahaha! Lovesick noh? Can't blame us, we don't have the luxury to see each other everyday like this. Then we finish the day with New Year's Eve movie! (our first movie in PH)

It's a very light movie, a feel-good but with a kick. Personally, the movie tells me to move ahead in 2012 with a grateful heart, to take second chances, to do something about the dreams written in the depths of my heart, and most importantly, to be a more loving person. I'll leave you with these quotable quote, the one that Hillary Swank said when the ball got stuck:

"It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. To remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt coz that is what new years is all about- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more.

Reunited

Reunited after exactly 76 days apart is just awesome! Fiance is home for the holidays and wedding preps. I'm happy. Simply happy. :)

Us, reunited again after  being separated for 76 days @SM North EDSA

On another note (OAN), our Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) needs major major overhaul! The airport sucks big time! I'm not saying it's the worst, all I'm saying is that it needs major renovation. It has become so small for the number of Filipinos flying everywhere. It's Christmas season and obviously a lot of people flock the airport at this time of year to have a peek of their OFW family, relative, friend or sweetheart. The waiting area is just too small, too hot, too dirty, too crowded. The whole structure itself has become so obsolete. If not for the desire to see my dear loved one, I wouldn't be there. No one would. I hope, I truly hope it will get the much needed attention after being listed as the worst. Hello dear President, time to fix the NAIA! Hardworking Filipinos need it... and deserve it. ;)

Sunsets in Ireland

Sunset is actually one of my fave photography subjects. See my 2011 Sunsets in FB. I still haven't found the time to update the album though but that doesn't mean I stopped capturing. :) I just love capturing sunsets wherever I find them! Remember the one I captured while riding the MRT? Remember the one I captured in HK while dealing with a broken dream? Remember the one I captured at a mountain in Zamboanga? I could go on and on... 

Then I managed to capture some in Ireland! :) It was more than just a dream coming true, photography wise. 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. :)

Sunset in Dublin City (16 Sep 2011)

Sunset in Dublin City (19 Sep 2011)

Captured on top of Iveagh Court (19 Sep 2011)

Sunset in Howth (3 Sep 2011)

One of my fave Howth Sunset shots (3 Sep 2011)

Dublin City (*_*) 7 Sep 2011

*** 

The next photos were taken by fiance in Ireland in April 2011 to help me out in my 2011 Sunsets because I was already losing the energy then. Somehow, these photos remained un-posted, thus let me give them justice by posting them in my blog. Credits of course to RCE. ♥ :)

20 April 2011

20 April 2011

20 April 2011

23 April 2011

23 April 2011

23 April 2011

23 April 2011

23 April 2011

A Tagaytay Wedding

So what's the awesome thing I found today? This video, definitely. Love is in the air people, inhale it! *Sniff*Sniff* :) I'm not a big fan of Jolina and Mark, but they do have a beautiful love story. And that beautiful love story was told in their lovely wedding in Tagaytay! Now I want a Tagaytay wedding all the more! Hahaha! 

I narrated in this post that fiance and I want a garden wedding somewhere in Tagaytay.  I also mentioned that Splendido, where this wedding was held, is one of our choices. So when I stumbled upon this video tonight, it makes me want to forgo all budget considerations and sign up a contract with Splendido ASAP! You will say, "Dream on Lai!" Hahaha! Yes, I will dream on! Kukulitin ko talaga si God for this! But of course, I'll be thankful for His answer, be it a Yes or No. :)

*Sigh. A Tagaytay wedding (though logistically challenging) will be awesome, right? :) Goodnight!

Rainbows and Tiny Hopes

I was finding it hard to think of one awesome thing to blog about today because of so many storms and big waves rocking my lifeboat. *Sigh. Then I remember this post that's been sitting in my draft. Also this afternoon, I was talking to an old Canadian lady and told her that I'm engaged, I'll be marrying in June and that hopefully it won't rain that day. She cheerfully narrated her son's wedding in Canada when the weather turned mad. But the family decided to hold the wedding outside anyhow, despite the damp skies and cold breeze. Suddenly during the ceremony, a beautiful rainbow popped in the horizon and everyone was just happy! It was a beautiful beautiful rainbow, she said. And she told me not to worry and that what mattered was the marriage, the bride and and the groom. I smiled and thanked her for sharing the story.

Because that's what exactly what I needed today, a rainbow, a silver lining, a tiny hope. Even a story of it appearing somewhere or photos three months ago will do to cheer me up. Please God, any small thing that will foster hope in my heart will do. Then I also remember: I have always wanted to capture a rainbow. It's been written on my photography wishlist since I became an enthusiast in 2009. How God grants the smallest desires of our hearts, in ways and places we never expected, is something about God that makes Him all the more endearing.

After two years, I finally captured not just one rainbow, but three rainbows, not just in one place, but in three different places, all in one day (September 17, 2011)!

First rainbow: taken inside the train to Kerry

Second Rainbow: Dingle Bay, County Kerry!  (fiance was so cold! :))

Third Rainbow: At Sneem River, County Kerry!

***

What happened today reminds me that days like this will happen, days when the waves seem to be too high and destructive for my own good, days when I ask God why. But God answers our prayers and whispers to us in subtle ways. Only when we really take time to lay down before him our concerns for the day will we be reminded that his grace is evident everywhere, through that rainbow story, through some old photos and memories, through some answered prayers in the past, no matter how big or small, through some hugs from family, through a phone call from the one who loves me most on earth.

Fiance just kept encouraging me tonight telling me that He overcome everything for my sake and to cling on to Him more, continue to give my best, and that he'll stand by me no matter what. That, together will all the tiny evidences of rainbows today, especially the hug I got from Mama, are enough to install some tiny hope in my heart.

Rainbows always happen after the rain, right? I'll just take time in my journey, one by one following His steps, no matter how much rain I have to endure. Because He has already shown me that He draws rainbows in the sky, He answers prayers, He is faithful, He makes all things possible, in His own time, not mine. Because at the end of it all, I will not have just a pot of gold. I'll have more. :)

Note: will do grammar check tomorrow. i better sleep now.

On Weddings

I dedicate this post to my high school friends Nel and Ann, who finally sealed their 10-year love story with marriage vows this 4th of December. I know they've gone through all sorts of highs and lows, but they've managed to stay together. Just how awesome is that? :) Love really endures, yes? I truly wish them well and may their marriage last a lifetime. Godbless Nel and Anne. :)

Don't you just love weddings? I do. I love any kind, the grand ones, the simple ones, even ones on rainy days such as this. Why? Because every weddings tells of a story that makes me smile and sigh at the same time, it even makes me cry sometimes. Because it makes me believe more and more that LOVE does happen and God is at work writing love stories and allowing it to be sealed with a lifetime commitment. Because it actually makes my heart hope for something like that to happen too, someday, somewhere, sometime in my life, by God's will and grace. :)

 I was one of the bridesmaids, yet again. But I'll assume a different role soon. :)

Black and White Photos

I've always thought black and white photos are awesome! Everyone must have at least one good B&W photo in their FB profile. I have one! :) Unlike colored ones, B&W exudes a timeless feel and makes the subject say what it has to say minus the complication of colors. Lousy description from a photography enthusiast? I knooooow. Hahaha! :)

In reality though, I rarely take B&W photos or convert colored ones to B&W for obvious reason that I love playing with colors. But I know someone who loves taking them all year round. It's his type of photography. I am into dreamy, vintage and colorful ones. :)

What you will see now are the photos that brought a big big smile to my uber stressed face immediately after seeing the first one. These photos are really funny and sweet and the effort behind them is just priceless! I will truly treasure these for the rest of my life. Lovesick ba? Hahaha! Kinda. But hey, you'll only get to be lovesick for only a period of time. Someday soon, the familiarity of being with each other and the worries of life will take over. That's a reality.

It's nice to have something to look back to someday when you need a reminder where you started and how much love you have for each other then and pretty much someday, when you're gray and old and you want your children and grandchildren to know how awesome God is for answering your heart's prayer. ♥

November 30, 2011 = 11 monthsary. :)

Friday Nights and Christmas Lights

Day 2/30:  Tonight is just one of the so many Friday nights I chose to simply spend at home, in the confines of my chaotic but cozy room. Though I like going out once in a while on Friday nights, I've always preferred curling up in my bed with a company of a good book, or with my laptop typing nonsense or editing photos, or just talking to God or crying out my frustrations for the working week that has been. Like for example tonight. 

I had a bad day at work. The last 30 minutes I spent in the office confirmed what I've been fearing since week 2 in my new job: a boss albeit indirect dislikes me. At first I thought of it as pro-activity issue. Just like in school, I've always been the silent worker but I've always managed to gain the proper amount of respect anyhow so what happened this afternoon shook the remaining confidence in my already depleted self-esteem. It's only by God's grace that I reached home without shedding a tear and with a perfect peace in my heart.

My walk with God this year has taught me that in all things, God works for our good. All things, the bible says, be it good or bad. A "No" answer from God ultimately leads to a "Yes" answer that is a million times better than the ones that God said "No" to.  

I consider my trials at work to be God's way of training me to persevere more and give my best despite the criticisms and doubts, of trying to see the truths in the criticism before being defensive, of not speaking ill of others who (I sort of feel) despise my existence one way or another, of learning to forgive.

***

On a more positive note, I still think that Friday nights are awesome because they put some pause on work, allowing us to breath in the goodness of life on Saturdays and Sundays.

Another awesome thing I ought to write for Day 2: the Christmas lights hanging all over Ayala triangle! Don't you just love the mirage of colors and the dancing of lights? I most definitely do! Haven't had time to capture this year's lights, so I'm posting the ones I took last year:

Agree? :)

Friends and lovers chillin' around! After all, it's Christmas and there's free entertainment at the Ayala triangle! :)

Bokehs brought about by Christmas lights!

Wedding Preparations

I just love planning and preparing for the big day; loving every bit of it! You see I have this innate creative side that loves the tiniest of details. I'm most alive admiring the beauty of the small details that are mostly left unnoticed. Aside from that, I'm also your resourceful bride. :) I can spend all night rummaging the web searching for inspiration! 

But the reality is: wedding preps are indeed stressful. Thank God, I'm getting by with fiance's heroic patience and some help from friends here and there who've been there, who've done that. At first, I was giddy and excited, having been engaged only 3 months, I got overwhelmed and didn't know where to start. Right now though, I'm more focused (well, I should be!) But dear Lord, please prevent me from DIY-ing or trying to DIY everything! Hahaha!

Maybe now you'd like to know where we are so far including some of the gazillion inspirations, as I also like to find out on my own, hoping I've made progress and have a sound idea of where we are headed. To recap:

Wedding Date -  first thing I learned upon joining the wedding industry is to set the date. June 30, 2012 is our wedding! I never dreamt of being a June bride, but I'll be! 30th is our monthsary so we kinda wanted it to happen that day, plus 30th of June is a Saturday plus the practical sides of June as the slackest month in our career. My boss even told me I can have the whole June by myself! 

Motiff - pink and purple are a MUST! plus lots and lots of pastel colors!

my inspiration for a motif:

(photo credits to Sarahrhoads which by the way are simply fab photographers! i so love them!)

Venue - We wanted a Christian wedding in a garden setting, so a garden wedding it is! I've already made ocular inspection in Tagaytay with fiance's sisters and my mama. Got some shock with the rates though! Top two choices: Hillcreek and Splendido.  This is how I want my wedding ceremony to look like:

A girl can dream, right? :)

Theme - One thing I learned from my friend Jahyra is to set a wedding theme! I was shocked, honest, telling her, "may ganon?" But because we love photography and travels, that's the theme! On how to put that into a comprehensible and doable theme is still a work in progress. I was stalking Rhiz, a fab blogger and just admire everything about her wedding. And this is what their travel-themed wedding look like (in details):

Wedding Gowns - Sigh. I wish I could gain 10 pounds to pull one of these out! I love Kate's gown and might really request for a copy of her absolutely simple but elegant gown!

That's all for now. :)