..life's a train..

We come to faced many of life's crossroads. In my life's hilarious journey, I was once in a dilemma to take one road over the other. To choose between the one I am familiar with or the other one I haven't been to. Fear is the most difficult obstacle. It can derailed you in an instant and hinders you to go on.

November 16, 2009. It's been 2 years since I took courage to traverse the road that never had occurred in my million thinking. I stepped inside the train of life called Journey bound to a destination I never once imagined to be this beautiful. There's no turning back as the machine started to give a hint that I am on my way to another place, another time, another experiences, another memories.

The train stopped. I dropped off my fear, entrusted my fate to my Lover knowing that I'll be safe with His guidance, having His Love as my ultimate light. I came to met my family away from my own dear family. Homesickness, I understand is another obstacle I came to struggle with. But the passing of days taught me to become more stronger, persevering in serving our patients, carrying love everywhere, compassion to aid in my difficulties, prayer to boost my determination, and seeing God  anywhere knowing that He never left eversince I decided to take a major turning point in my career. The blessings kept pouring until to this writing. They say you can never go to where you will be without having to look back on your history. Here are some of the photos I found as I went back down the memory lane: 

\

Our first party attended after stepping foot on the barren land. Is wasn't that barren afterall=) 

This our very first New Year away from our family. As I remember it vividly, there was no plan of celebration since we were still establishing rapport with each other. But then again, we might really be destined to celebrate life with joy. This was the start of everything..the rest, is a happy history=)

Celebrated our first 6th monthsary. We are happy people, especially in front of the dining table!!!

Our first flat 8 family portrait. We are indeed camera-shy type so to say,LOL. This was taken on my 1st birthday here in the East.

Yayo and Feda's Ranch Party. I told you, we are shy-type people=)

Hahaha I am speechless. Maybe because this is a "bangag-ers" photo. celebrated Chen and Britt's controversial "off-limits" party!! censored photos are available but to protect our dignity, be satisfied with the above photo, LOL

Find it hard to look for a photo where our eyes are normal in color. But since DSLR did not exist yet in our flat during that days, please bear with me as I share to you the 10-10-10 birthday celebration of Madel and Ate Maricar in black and red motif. 

Winter is definitely here as we had our first rooftop experience in line with Marj and Pip's winter party celebration. 

Ended the year 2010 with so much improvements in flat 8. Decorated the flat for Christmas celebration. Though we did not won the prize for the best flat contest, we have the best memories for the year 2010--the stronger friendship and bonding!

Welcoming another year of celebration as Carla turned 26! It's a Holsten night! No "bangags" this time!=) This was Feda's last party attended since she flew back home in early February.

Ehem..it's not full-moon. In tagalog, hindi "kabilugan ng buwan",LOL Celebrated Marj Uy's birthday with our first DSLR shots! Improving=)

No plans and theme for Shine's birthday party. But we always find ways. Spent her birthday with simple dinner and rooftop memories thereafter. Who said it wasn't celebrated afterall?=)

 

The past years were a tremendous blessings! Looking back, I could have think twice of pursuing such an unpredictable journey. I could have backed out and let the train go on its journey. Looking at the present, I'm sure it was not a mistake I had given it a try. To my flatmates, we are down on our last year. I can already hear life's train machine starting to jump-start for the next journey. I don't know where will be the next stop, if we will still be together in that travel, or if we will ever rub elbows again. I'm just thankful that during one of my life's stopover, I've come to know you all, made memories in my life's map; something I could have not known should I let fear conquered me 2 years ago. I love you guys. We'll continue the journey. May we meet or not in the next stop, I don't know. Life's full of unpredictable twists and turns. Life's like a train. It will have a stopover. And in my life's journey, you are all of of those many beautiful stopovers! I love you Flat 8! Happy Anniversary! =)

..she's more than a sister..

Photo credit to Lee's Photography

My sweetie pie,

How time flies. It's been another 365 days since I wrote my first love letter for you. And it has been twice the 365 days I'm missing you. As I look back down the memory lane, I cannot helped but smile at how we were able to surmount life's enumerable storms.  You and me back to back, one strong shoulder for the one who's feeble. One's source of strength when the other is at verge of losing hope. If I can compare our relationship, we are like the opposite ends of a seesaw, and God is our lever. Your weight on the other end of the pole is not a burden for me just as mine was never to yours. There were times when God allowed us some downfalls. But that's why He created a seesaw with opposite poles so that when the other is down, the opposite would aid the other to meet halfway to a balance. And it is never impossible since God is at the center of it.

I am so humbled of how we emerged better souls after all the blows. On your 25th, there is nothing less I can wish for you. We have gone through way ahead of  the whips and cords of  life. Expect that it will occur once in a while. What's important is for us to use those scars to heal other's wounds. And expect that I will just be on the other end. I may not be so strong to lift you up everytime but never be afraid when you are down. Never lose nerve to undergo downfalls because that's what made us to what we are now and to where we will be in the future.You can always rest assured that I am just on the other end seeing you through, pulling you through, loving you all the way up and all the way down.

Someday, when the 365 days will turn to a 60th or the 70th times, I will still look forward that there will be you and me holding hand in hand in our golden wheelchair. We'll both watch our own family growing in love for others and most especially, serving and loving our Lord. If someone will ask if we are sisters, I will deny it. Because you are not just a sister. You are more than that to me.

I love you so much Robz, and I would not have chosen life any other way. Happy birthday my other pole!

Love,

Manang

..of shooting stars..

For the past days, I have a repeated prayer. You know the feeling of  anticipation? That something wonderful is about to come? Is it hope? Or the universe really knows how to conspire? 

When I was a kid and the moon's bright, I love going out of the house and just watched the peaceful sky. They say that when you see a falling star and make a wish, it will be granted. I'm a type of person who would believe in what I see, but on the discreet side, I'm also a hopeless romantic. I'm a sucker of romance and happy endings. I believe in fairy tales and prince charmings. I even believe that shooting stars have extended ears for wishes. In my journey of love so far, I never missed out to say my wishes on shooting stars. Some of them are for the people that I love. Some are for the highest good. Rarely I wished for my personal profit. But then as I said, I recently felt the "anticipation" of something wonderful. One night as I lay my tired body in bed, I looked up to the ceiling of our room. The dimmed light added a feeling of nostalgia. I don't know how to start my prayer. The feeling is intense. Tears are already starting to fill the edges of my eyes. And it fell before I knew it. I know I wasn't able to utter words but I already said the prayer. And it was genuine, it was real. On the night that followed, we had a picnic under the blanket of clear sky at the rooftop. On a windy evening, I saw the shooting star painting the sky gracefully. I said my silent wish, this time for myself. As it speedily culminated to nowhere, hope shines my heart... As it always does.

An excerpt from my note entitled "Solitary Star"..

....I'll be a solitary star for the meantime. I know someone out there is seeing the light coming from my a not-so-starry-starry-world. I know you are in search for me and be glad to know that I  am patiently waiting..for the right time will come we'll together build our own starry starry world=).....

Sweet November!=)