Happy Father’s Day Papa!

Dear Papa,

I know that you are in a better place now but sometimes I can’t help but  wish you were still alive because I miss you so much. I miss having a father to talk to when I’m upset and when I’m also ecstatic. You were a great father to me and my siblings. We were so blessed to have you as our father. You never complained despite the hardships you went through. I know that it must have been frustrating on your part that you could not provide much for each one of us, but we’ve come to realize that you were still a good provider. You were able to make both ends meet just so we could have food on the table, though it was not abundant, but we learned to be content, which until now this lesson in life has never departed us. Your love was abundant, it was more than enough and we appreciate the love and care that you gave us and showed us. If only you were still alive, I would do my best to make up for those days that I caused you pain and headache, when I was not the perfect daughter you probably wished you had. I hope that even when you’re not here anymore, I hope you know how much I love you and that I still miss you. I wish that you could be at my wedding, which I had been dreaming of since I was still a little girl. I would’ve bought you a very elegant tuxedo for this special day of my life. I still cry at times when I think of you. I wonder if things would have been different if you were still alive but I know you would still have been proud of all of your children. I will do my best to not let you down anymore.

I love you so much Papa. Happy Father’s Day! At least you’re there in the Paradise with your two kids, and I know you’re free from pain and hardships already. No more ordeals, no more trials, no more tears, no more problems. I love you, and I hope you still feel it.

Your daughter,

Elizabeth

 

P.S. I still remember the song that you specifically made and sang for me whenever I used to cry, and after singing the song, you would say very sweetly “Elizabeth, hindi pa katapusan ng mundo.” (Elizabeth, it’s not yet the end of the world.)

Grow Old With You

Hi Honey,

From the first time I saw you, you just took my breath away. Everything about you makes me want to hold you until the rest of the earth just melts away around us, and even then I would not let go. You brighten my day and I can tell that you will be part of me until I leave this place. I don’t know what will happen in the future but I’m sure with you by my side, it will be a happy one filled with sharing and loving until we grow old together. From this day forward I promise you that I will care and love you for the rest of my life. You are my everything and I can’t live without you. I thank God that He allowed our paths to cross, and that’s one of the best days of my life! I love you so much honey. I can’t wait to kiss and hug you. 8 more days to go, and you’ll be with me. I’m so excited. Thank you for making me happy, and for making our first Christmas together so special. I love you with all of my heart.

Love always,

Elizabeth xoxoxo

Quotable Quotes

Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there. ~Josh Billings

Imagination is a good horse to carry you over the ground – not a flying carpet to set you free from probability. ~Robertson Davies, The Manticore

Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. ~Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place

It is easy enough to hold an opinion, but hard work to actually know what one is talking about. ~Paul F. Ford, Companion to Narnia

The only way to see a rainbow is to look through the rain. ~Pullman Leasing Co. advertisement

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. ~Phillips Brooks

You can’t stay mad at somebody who makes you laugh. ~Jay Leno

We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are. ~Tobias Wolff, In Pharaoh’s Army

Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud. ~Hermann Hesse

A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. ~Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent

You can have it all. You just can’t have it all at once. ~Oprah Winfrey

Felt Like a Survey Kind of Moment

1. What’s one thing that’s heavily weighing on your mind? Finding a new place to live.

2. What’s one thing you’ve learned lately from love? It’s unexpected.

3. Is there anyone special in your life right now? Yes.

4. What’s a happy time you’ve had in the past week? I don’t recall.

5. Is there anything in your past that you’d like to try again? I guess.

6. Who do you like to spend your nights with? John Vlachoulis

7. Are you self-conscious? Yes.

8. Are you an emotional person? Very much so.

9. Do you think of others before yourself? Sometimes.

10. What’s something that can always make you feel better? Laughter, good sense of humor.

11. Where do you see yourself this time next year? Hopefully in Australia.

12. Do you tend to make relationships complicated? I don’t think so. It just so happened it has been complicated from the start.

13. What do you feel the most comfortable around? My closest friends, and of course, John (the love of my life).

14. Is there something that you’re waiting for? Yes, our wedding day.

15. One thing you’re not looking forward to? Work. I don’t have the drive to work anymore, but I have to.

16. How do you feel about change? Well, it’s the only thing in the world that’s constant, so I dread it.

17. What are you most looking forward to? Reunion with the love of my life.

18. What are your plans for your next birthday? No plans at all. Depends on the circumstances.

19. Do you even care about your birthday? Not really.

20. Do you think anyone in general out there loves you? Yes.

21. When do you think the world will end? I try to avoid the topic.

22. What’s the most expensive piece of clothing you own? A black coat which I left in Australia.

23. Why do you drive the car you have right now? I don’t drive one. I don’t even have a car.

24. Do you still talk to the person you LAST kissed? Yes, on Skype. It’s our only means of communication every day.

25. Have you ever seen your best friend cry? Yes.

26. What kind of vitamins did you take as a kid? United American Tiki-Tiki

27. Did you get any compliments today? Yes.

28. Are you friends with your neighbors? I don’t even make eye contact with my neighbors.

29. What were you just thinking about? A long email, actually it’s a long story about marriage.

30. Name the places you have lived in? Sta. Cruz, Manila; Tanza, Cavite; West Rembo, Makati; Whyalla, South Australia; Sucat, Parañaque city

31. When was the last time you drove more than 15 minutes? About 3 months ago, when I took driving lesson, and John was my instructor.

32. Have you ever had a crush on your sister’s/brother’s friend? Never.

33. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? You need to brush your hair!

34. What’s a word that rhymes with “LUCK”? Suck!

35. What’s your favorite planet? Earth, because I’ve never been to any other planet. Earth is blue!

36. What shirt are you wearing right now? Just a white singlet.

37. What were you doing at midnight last night? Writing a letter for John.

38. Last furry thing you touched? Probably, Missy?

39. Who told you he/she loved you last? The love of my life

40. If you’re alone in a room with two beds, which one do you sleep in? Either one.

41. What’s a word or phrase that you say a lot? “Sobra” and “yey!”

42. Bright or dark room? Bright, because I’m afraid of the dark.

43. Who’s the second person on your missed calls list? Zardy Luna

44. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? “Just the Way You Are” version of Diana Krall

45. What just so happens to be the best song in the world? I can’t pick one right now.

46. What do you think about the person who last took this survey? I don’t know her, I just stole this.

47. What is your current desktop picture? Default Toshiba desktop picture

48. How many drugs have you done in the past 3 days? Vitamins (Multivitamins, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E 400IU)

49. Your worst enemy? I don’t consider anyone my worst enemy.

50. Favorite age you have been so far? 27

51. Do you have any film that needs to be developed? No, since I don’t have a camera.

52. Hats or beanies? Hats.

53. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say? Some Manny Pacquiao jokes forwarded to me by my brother.

My Reflection

This I wrote on the 27th of August, 2006:

A mirror is a reminder of everything I wish I never was
so I smashed the glass…
… there came one thousand broken pieces
reflecting one thousand broken me
and despising what will never be whole. =(

Ate Cathy (Catherine Ladores), whom I consider as one of my best friends, once told me that I am so special in God’s sight and that we are made whole in Christ. Therefore, whenever I feel insecure, I should always remember what she told me: “Be reminded of your identity as a beautiful creation of God. He loves you, so do I!” I miss her and her words of encouragement.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

For John Vlachoulis:

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as the popular cliché goes. I have firsthand experience to attest this claim. This long distance thing is, without a doubt, painful, but my adoration for you just continues to blossom. Our love for each other is so amazing that I, myself, could hardly believe that it is happening to me. I cannot think of anything to say to you but thank you – thank you for the way that you have enriched my life. I am thankful beyond words for the things that you do for me, and the way you make me feel. You are my everything, honey. My world revolves around you. I think about you all the time, every minute, every second. You are my life. I already consider you my better half. Above all, you are my best friend. Thank you for always listening to me. Thank you for sticking with me through ups and downs, through thick and thin. I cannot imagine my life without you. You are absolutely the love of my life, and our lives, whether together or apart, will endure the test of time. I love you with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my being.

Watch or Read “Message in a Bottle” by Nicholas Sparks

Message in a Bottle is one of the most incredible and finest novels written by Nicholas Sparks. The story starts when a woman, named Theresa Osborne, who is a newspaper columnist, goes to Cape Cod on her break from work, and finds a bottle washed ashore. Inside the bottle is a letter that unfolds an intensely felt love of Garrett Blake to his wife. Theresa becomes curious and eager enough to search out others who may have found similar messages in a bottle. Without realizing it, Theresa herself falls in love with Garrett as she collects all those letters. She decides to search for this man, and finds him in a small, North Carolina town, from which the romance between these two characters springs. They both give into this strong feeling and fall in love with each other. However, Garrett still has not gotten over his wife and is not ready to let her go yet, so the conflict between them crops up.

A very unique love story indeed, the book makes you believe that true love exists, and makes you dream that perhaps someday you will find the love as strong and powerful as the main characters have in this novel. It also makes you realize that it is possible to love once more even though you think that you will never be able to love again.

A Simple Lesson from a Simple Story

“Once you are real, you cannot be ugly, except for those people who do not understand you.”

~ Skin Horse (from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams)

Eleven Minutes by Paolo Coelho

The title “Eleven Minutes” (a novel written by Paolo Coelho) refers to what the author’s main character Maria finds out about the sexual act: it takes only eleven minutes on average to finish but people are just so obsessed with it. This is a book seemingly about sex, and all the good and bad associated with it. But beneath the surface, once the reader gets through the more graphic parts with a broad and open mind, one will find that this story is more about love, and how people confuse sex and love, and how people do not seem to find love in sex. This book is about the journey of one woman from an innocent, naive young girl who believed that she had blown her only chance at love, to a young woman who chooses the life of prostitution, then to a woman, though still young, has decided to open her heart again to allow “real” love in. It is quite an interesting read, however, the author is trying to deliver that his book is not for the people who think or believe that sex is a sin. Probably on the author’s point of view, the only way one can gain anything from this book is if one reads it with an absolutely open mind, and just allows the author to take him or her along on this journey.

Just a Quote

The imposing performance graduates with my highlight.