It's been three years and three months since Jeff and I met, and twenty one months since we got married.
I'd like to share a note that Jeff wrote on his Facebook in Christmas of 2011. I meant to write this during the holiday season, but our schedules were really tight and kind of forgot about it. I still get teary eyed when I read this. And as I write this note, there's a lump in my throat that's about to explode. What Jeff wrote made me realize that true love is indeed worth the wait and worth keeping. Everyday, I feel very blessed to be loved like Jeff loves me. The best thing about us is not me loving him 101%, it is him loving me and is returning that 101%. Or maybe even more.
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday, friends!
I'd like to share a note that Jeff wrote on his Facebook in Christmas of 2011. I meant to write this during the holiday season, but our schedules were really tight and kind of forgot about it. I still get teary eyed when I read this. And as I write this note, there's a lump in my throat that's about to explode. What Jeff wrote made me realize that true love is indeed worth the wait and worth keeping. Everyday, I feel very blessed to be loved like Jeff loves me. The best thing about us is not me loving him 101%, it is him loving me and is returning that 101%. Or maybe even more.
Hope you are enjoying your Sunday, friends!
A Christmas NoteDecember 24, 2011, 11:35pmThe last time I completed a Simbang Gabi cycle was in 2009, which was a particularly challenging year for me. Aside from being in-between jobs, I came from a complicated dating scenario. So that year, I challenged myself to complete the 9-dawn cycle. I wasn't in it for the "wish", it was more of a personal short-term goal that I wanted to accomplish. Upon completing it, someone asked me what I wished for. I wasn't really thinking about it, but told myself what the heck, I'll ask for a job and for "the one" to finally come. Yes, I was a hopeless romantic, so sue me.2010 came, and the first 9 months were pretty much like what 2009 was. Stuck in a desk job I accepted since I got desperate, and yep, still no luck in the lovelife department. Then October came. I got a job in the Ayala group of companies, and I met Joy, the woman I'm marrying this coming April.I'm not saying that my completion of the 2009 Simbang Gabi helped me grant my wish. It made Christmas 2009 extra special, since it was an accomplishment in a down year for me. Just like my misfortunes of 2009 and 1st half of 2010, it made the blessings that came afterward so much more special. Just like what Mary and Joseph went through, finding a place to stay with Mary going through labor, the end result was worth it, the birth of our Savior, the beginning of our salvation.This particular Christmas, I'm thankful for my family. They may be crazy, and we might not be perfect, but I wouldn't be where I am without them. I'm thankful for my TRUE friends, through thick and thin, whatever the situation may be, they have always been there for me. And last, especially not the least, I'm thankful for Joy. She was the light at the end of my long dark tunnel., living proof that God knows best for me, that trusting Him is the ONLY way to go.We need not suffer so that our prayers may be answered. Suffering and sacrifice makes us our blessings so much sweeter, and thus makes us much more grateful.For anyone who is losing, or has lost hope, well don't. God has greater plans for all of us. Your prayers will be addressed in the right way, at the right time. Just ask Joy :)Have a Blessed Christmas Everyone!
One night, while playing mahjong at Topher and Sam's house in Katipunan, our friend Gots said the most enlightening statement ever -- that mother-in-laws are not evil, they are simply not our mothers.
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| Queen Narissa from the Disney movie, Enchanted. |
A few months before I married Jeff, my bestfriend Sarah asked me why I am getting married. It was a surprising question. I had two things in mind -- 1. maybe she's worried that we won't have so much time to hang out anymore and 2. why do people get married?
My college professor once told us that marriage is just a 'license to fvck". She said it's just a piece of paper that makes everything official -- couples can have sex whenever they want, they can live together, buy things and call it theirs, etc. But in today's world, people still do this even without that piece of paper. So what makes marriage different?
As Christians, our parents taught us that before the man can take you away from them, he must marry you. They also believed that God must bless your union, hence we marry inside the church. That wasn't really my reason why I married Jeff. The other night, I asked Jeff why he asked me to marry him. He just said that his life is happier since I did. I guess my reason for marrying him is a success -- I wanted to make him happy.
I remember during the early stage of our courtship, Jeff came home from an event at work and he was very ecstatic in telling me stories on what happened and what he did. I really didn't understand why he was telling me that. I'm not even his girlfriend at that time. I didn't know where he took the queue because he suddenly apologized and said that he just missed the idea of having someone to talk to whenever there's something good that happens. My heart swelled. It's good to be someone's confidant.
According to the Bible, marriage was designed for companionship and intimacy. My mother told me back in the day that I should be careful in choosing a husband. She told me that I should marry someone who I can have great conversations and not just someone who I am happy with at the moment. Let's face it, when we're old and not able to be intimate anymore, all we have left are great conversations and laughs.
I read an article yesterday which really touched my heart. Marriage Isn't for You was written by Seth Adam Smith and his father's insights were really eye opening. Marriage isn't for everyone of us, it is for the one we marry.
We marry them because we want to make them happy. I married Jeff because I love seeing him smile at me every morning. I married him because I wanted to tell him I love him even when he's inside the toilet. I married him because I want to cook for him and take care of him when he's sick. I married him because I want to make him feel complete, just as much as I feel complete when I am with him.
As for your happiness, do not worry about it. If your partner has the right reasons on marrying you, it is his or her problem to make you happy.
In our life, we'll only have one mother. The one who you will stay with for about 20 to 25 years. If you get married, you get to acquire another mother -- your mother-in-law. My mother, who never had a mother-in-law because my father's mom died when he was just four years old, once told me that if I ever get married, I should love my husband's mother the way I love her. She told me that having a good mother-in-law is one of the best gifts that a woman can have.
Bucketlist,
El Nido,
Friends,
Life,
Love,
Marriage,
Palawan,
Relationship,
Travel
Bucketlist #27: Visit El Nido, Palawan
2:14 PM
Antipolo, as we all know, is on top of the mountain located in the east of Manila. Growing up there, I only saw the beach twice when I was in gradeschool-- during excursions in my mom's company. She used to work for a textile factory and every year, they schedule trips to Matabungkay or Quezon beaches. My next few trips would be with my family in Pangasinan and Quezon.
I've always loved the beach. The smell of salty water and the roughness of the sand under my feet are things that I'd kill to have every single day. Okay, no, not kill. Haha! In highschool, we studied about about geography and I was amazed on how beautiful El Nido and Tubbataha Reef. I then promised myself that I will one day see El Nido. I did.
Birthday,
Love,
McDonalds,
Party,
Relationship,
Surprise
How to Plan a Surprise Birthday Party for your Boyfriend
4:12 PM
So his birthday is coming up. You think of something to give him, like a pair of dress shoes from Cole Haan, or a new pair of Jordans, or a Swiss watch, or an out of town trip. But have you thought that it would be cheaper to throw him a surprise party?
I did. And this is how I did it.
1. Plan early. I did my planning exactly a month before Jeff's birthday. I contacted his closest friends, or at least the one I know, from each group and told them my idea. Everyone of them agreed to help. Decide on where to do it. Make sure the venue is easy to find, there is transportation, and there's parking. As for me, I called all the McDonalds' and Jollibees in Makati area. The one in PBCom Tower agreed to accommodate me even though they don't do parties. The manager said that they don't have a lot of customers on weekends, so it's not going to be a problem. Decide on the date as well. Make sure that he doesn't have anything that day. Make sure you can manipulate his schedule. Planning is the key.
Jeff and I love traveling. We've been together for almost three years and some of the places that we've visited are Bacolod, Boracay, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Bataan, Batangas, Laguna, and Tagaytay. Next month, we're going to El Nido! While we are young and childless, we plan to travel more.
We've stayed in so many hotels but sometimes, we get too surprised that they don't even have toothbrushes for their guests. As much as I love Moon Garden in Tagaytay, it is a bit disappointing that they don't have toothbrush. Another one that doesn't have a complete set of toiletries is Forest House in Baguio. So I've learned my lesson and always make sure that we have everything we need.
Here's our stash:
I have no work today. I just slept 'til 9:30AM, tried to revive my 500GB portable drive, and finally decided to go to the waxing salon for my underarm. Oh, the life of a bum.
On my way back to the house, I thought of making Jeff something special. So I dropped by the supermarket and went to the cold cuts area. I grabbed a 500 gram pack of bacon and went straight to the cashier. Also, I had to buy my favorite Quickly drink. Just because.
I went around to find plastic flowers but the woman in the flower shop won't sell me hers because she said it is for display. I hopped from one supermarket to another, but it was too hot so I just decided to stop. But then I thought, I am already sweaty so what the heck? I walked from Puregold in Presidents Avenue to the school supplies shop near our village. I grabbed some sticks, green cartolina, and colored masking tape.
I am making Jeff a bacon rose bouquet. How? Watch me.
Jeff is used to me giving him surprises of all sorts. I once threw a surprise birthday party for him on his 26th birthday. So today, I've thought of something special. I will give him a long-term, planned list of gifts.
Here's one of the many things a wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend can do. I got the idea from the coupons and vouchers craze today. I've bought Jeff coupons for his Titan special a few times already. So why not give him a coupon that he can claim from me? I googled it, and apparently, many people do it.
I tried looking for a template but it was eating up my time. So I just used my Phoster app in my iPad. At first, I just thought of making 14 vouchers, but I enjoyed it and ended up making 24. First, I thought of the things that he likes having the most -- shoes, haircut, massage, and eating anywhere. Second, I thought of the things that I want to do for him -- cook, cuddle, make him feel better. Third, the simple thing that I'm pretty sure will make him happy -- sleeping on my side of the bed (I don't understand why he wants to sleep in my side but yeah), me shutting up when we fight, swapping a chore.
Here are some samples of my coupons.
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| Breajfast in bed (redeemable on weekends only), a pair of shoes (redeemable on his birthday, Christmas, or anniversary), one duty swap (any day), and ending one senseless argument. |
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| 24 October 2010. Araneta Coliseum. BMeg vs. Ginebra. :) |
In the age when online presence is a must, it wasn't a surprise finding people like me and Jeff who met and started a relationship online. We met on Twitter in September 2010, started dating after a few weeks, became a couple and got engaged in six months, and got married after a year.
It was a great day. April 20, 2012 is when Jeff and I tied the knot. I am now officially Misis Tagle! Here are some of the photos that our photographer, Mot Rasay of Framed-Up Production took.
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| Bungisngis. |