Celebrating Life

Last Friday, I flew back to Singapore just in time for my husband's birthday. I stayed in Manila for a month and being away from Juriz even for a short time filled my tummy with butterflies as soon as the plane touched down. Yes I was so excited to see him parang PBB teens lang hahaha! I even retouched my makeup before I headed to the immigration.

Yummy cake for the birthday celebrant

Birthday Boy, so excited to blow his candles

Well I guess the feeling was mutual upon seeing his post on FB, honestly let me say nakakakilig pa rin, even if we were married for more than 2 years and known each other for 19 years, hahaha puppy love or young love sweet love days. I love the look in his eyes as he saw me walking out the airport door and of course kissed me and hugged me tightly not minding the bunch of people around. After all these years he remained sweet and that made me fall in love with him over and over again...

Well please excuse me for being so cheesy. I just feel very blessed by God to have this man as my husband and best friend for life.

I got this Blue Mountain card from a small bookstore at Rob place in Manila. I want to share what the card says because those were the exact words that I wanted to tell him.

My Husband, You Are My Forever Love written by Linda Sackett-Morrison

Your friendship and love, and all of the wonderful things that they bring to my life, are like nothing else I’ve ever known. My heart is complete with the love we share, and our love grows more beautiful each day... As long as I have you, my husband, I have everything I need. Moments of success may come and go, and material things bring us momentary joy. But you are with me always... in a smile, a touch, a feeling, or a moment we share.

Friends enter our lives, sometimes only for a short time, but the friendship we share is deep and secure. Even if everyone else suddenly left me, I know that I’d still have you as my best friend.

We pass through different phases of life with all their changes and challenges, and one day turns into another. But through it all, our love is constant. You lend me strength when I need it most, and give me a precious gift each day by loving me just the way I am.

I don’t know how you do it, but in your own special way, you fill my life and heart with a wondrous joy that will always be present. You make my life complete, and I love you.

Of course with the cook, the happy wifey!

Sweetheart, thank you so much for the life, friendship, and marriage that we share. Looking at you in the morning and feeling all the love that you have for me makes me feel how God loves me for the gift of Life and Love.

With all his gifts

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I love you so much! God bless you always!

Charming Details

Whenever we come home to Manila for vacation we always stay in our Uncle Mario and Aunt Gina’s house. During my wedding, since we already moved to US our whole family stayed here, their three bedrooms were stretched to accommodate seven of us, my dad, my grandma, my husband, and my sisters. May I mention that this house once accommodated four families who were in the country for our grandparents’ 50^th wedding anniversary back in 2004. I wonder how we managed to fit in. Nevertheless, our family feels that this house is our second home here in the Philippines.

Maximizing this 120-square foot lot made every space functional. The unique decors collected by my aunt from their trips gave a personalized touch. Coordinating pieces made the collection more interesting and pleasing to the eyes. 

Timeless Chic

Vintage phone and customized lamp

Wooden carvings from Vietnam

Antique Ceba pendulum clock circa 1950's from our grandparents' house 

Stylish clock from Malaysia

Ceramic balls as centerpiece

Spanish Inspired, Baldosa tiles 

Ikea hanging lamp to light up the staircase

I admire my aunt with her taste of choosing the chic curtains and colorful printed pillowcases which she said shouldn't go beyond her budget. She loves shopping at department stores like Trinoma and sometimes having the luxury of time visits Divisoria to get a better deal. The secret is knowing the trick of "mix and match" that can create more different looks for the house.

Classic Corners

Sepak Takraw balls made of rattan

Antique table from my grandfather's barber shop circa 1950's 

Personalized Spaces

Customized dinning table

Cozy customized day bed from Abubot, SM North Edsa

Zen Space in the Backyard

Relaxes the senses

This is one of the many reasons why we keep coming back to the Philippines. This house reminds us that we can go miles away but we will always have a family to come home to. Philippines is still Home Sweet Home.

Captured and edited using Iphone 4s photos

New Hope after Death

We all know that death is the last page of our book of life. And death of a loved one is one of the most painful to get through. Some were taken in a snap and the others grieve in suffering of disease. Though any of these, we all caught unprepared to let them go.

My mother died of ovarian cancer she battled with the disease for 2 years. I could still remember clearly the last hour I locked myself inside the comfort room my tummy was aching terribly because of great stress. Somebody from my family knocked on the door and told me that my mom wanted to talk to me.

Sad place, the final resting place for those who left us and a painful
remembrance that they are not coming back.
Location: Himlayang Pilipino, Quezon City Philippines

I went out and stood on the side of her bed, my mom looked at me with tears rolling down her cheeks, she was too weak to utter any word and I said, “Mommy, its ok sleep now and go home to heaven.” I never said this during her battle because I was trying to give her strength to continue fighting.  As she closed her eyes our family knew that it was the end of it. My mom left us that morning and we were forced to accept it as winning the battle than thinking we lost it.

My mom won because she accepted cancer and surrendered her fate to God. She died but she got her freedom from pain and suffering. Our family kept her spirit burning inside us as we pray that she left this world for a better place. She found her peace and has received an eternal life in God’s kingdom.

But we could look at this place with HOPE that our loved ones left for a better place.
Death brings eternal life to those who believe in Christ's kingdom.
Location: Himlayang Pilipino, Quezon City Philippines

And for us, who lost a loved one hold on to this verse from the bible;

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4