Photography

Kay tagal kong sinusuyod ang buong mundo
Para hanapin, para hanapin ka
Nilibot ang distrito ng iyong lumbay
Pupulutin, pupulutin ka

Sinusundo kita, sinusundo

Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo

Sa akin mo isabit ang pangarap mo
Di kukulangin ang ibibigay
Di kukulangin ang ibibigay
Isuko ang kaba tuluyan kang bumitaw
Ika’y manalig, manalig ka..

Sinusundo kita, sinusundo

Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo

Handa na sa liwanag mo
Sinuyod ang buong mundo
Maghihintay sayo’ng sundo

Photo credit: Chris Sanchez

I do. Not because I’m a hopeless romantic (because I’m not), but I simply believe that signs come from someone up there who conspires with the whole universe to make things happen. And more often than not, before whatever ultimate thing happens, there are signs that lead you to it.

For the past eight months and 18 days, I have been looking for signs (and maybe answers) as to when my husband and I will be together and as to what we have to prepare so that we can be together. As far as I know, we have done every little and big thing that needs to be done. Everytime some idea comes up, we’d always ask “Baka we need to do this first bago tayo magsama?”. And we’d do it as we have always been proactive about things. At the same time, I thought our ideas were signs from the universe.

When February crept in, another idea came up to me and I told Chris “For months, all we ever get ready for is your coming here but now I think we also need to be ready to wait some more.” That was my moment of ultimate let go and surrender.

Last Thursday, as mentioned on my previous entry, I was tricked into going out on Vday. For some reason I found a sign during my dinner with my friends. We were seated at Table #20 (when we were ushered in, I immediately said, “Ara, anniv namin Chris”) and while Ara and I were talking about Chris’ visa application I noticed a spectrum of colorful light on our table—a rainbow!

I saw the sign!!!!

It was a sign and I felt it. I really felt very happy seeing that rainbow shining on our table. And before our dinner ended, I uttered the words to my friends “Thank you Lord, you haven’t given it yet, but I know you will give it soon.”

The following day at work, I had this innate sense that I have to get things organized because I’m going to be on leave soon. I felt that certain urge to get as much stuff done coz I have a feeling that a big change will happen.

Friday morning, there was another sign. My Australian Citizenship exam got moved to an earlier date. Original date was March 27, too long a wait and might interfere with our travel plans. Good thing my friend Chloe emailed me telling me to call Citizenship Office ASAP coz apparently there are slots for March 1. And I did call and guess what? I got moved to March 1!!!! Yay!

Friday night, I told Chris the good news. Since feel ko na talaga na malapit na kaming magkita, nag-discuss na kami ng list of itineraries namin. Before we hung up, I told Chris “Malapit na tayong magkita” (We will see each other soon). At ang effect eh parang nagpo-prophesized ako hahaha.

At 5:56pm today, Chris called. Ganito ang dialogue:

C: Are you online?
I: No, why?
C: May email akong pinadala sayo, open mo.
I: Okay, eto na…nag-online na ako…ano ba to? Shyet! Good news ba to?
C: Basta buksan mo dali.
I: Shyet, kinakabahan naman ako. (Pag kinakabahan ako I seem to say “sheyt” a lot!)

…after a few minutes, when I opened Chris’ email, the sweetest eight-letter word I’ve ever read:

APPROVED!

Oh ha?????? Buti na lang malakas ang pakiramdam ko!!!! Buti na lang, my mind and heart were able to see the signs!

I cried tears of joy when I read the email. The happiness and excitement was overwhelming. When I told my relatives about the good news, I was still teary-eyed. When I called my parents, I was fighting the tears, naiiyak pa rin ako after an hour and a half.

Finally, finally, FINALLY my husband’s coming home.

Thank you:

  • Kay God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mama Mary, Papa Joseph, Sta. Clara, St. Jude, Lord of Pardon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Manaog—yes, silang lahat dinasalan naming mag-asawa at ng mga nanay namin.
  • Our Parents and Relatives – for their prayers and support at sa walang sawang pakikinig sa mga “waiting” dilemmas namin.
  • Our Friends–you know who you are: sa paga-analyze kung ano na ang ginagawa ng immigration sa papers ni Chris, sa pakikinig sa mga emote ko, for praying for us, for cheering on us and for simply being there for us—kayo ang mga cheerleaders ko!
  • Our Online Buddies: we never thought we’d have so much support from special people whom we’ve only met thru the blogosphere, thank you for your sincerity and words of encouragement.

What Now?

The focus is for Chris to make a graceful exit from work and for me to just get our travel plans and his coming here firmed up. No final dates yet on when we will see each other (we’ll be working on it in the coming days) but we’re looking at possibly reuniting four to six weeks from now.

If you turn it over to the Universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered to you. This is where magic and miracles happen.

– Dr. Joe Vitale (The Secret)

The sun shone a bit this morning so I brought Mrs. Kanyon with me to the supermarket.

I’m very fortunate to be living near a park with a lake and what’s good is that it is strategically on the way to the supermarket. What joy to have the luxury to walk buying fresh goodies to and from the grocery store!

At 11:05am, on my way to the supermarket, the lake looked like this…

woodcroft lake

Spend about 15 minutes taking shots here and there but didn’t stay long as clouds were already forming over the horizon. And so I had to continue walking towards the grocery store.

The reason why I went to the supermarket today was because I needed to buy ingredients for a dip that I wanted to make and bread to go with that dip. When I’m all done with that, I walked back home and as usual, I had to pass by the park. It was about 12:00noon and this was the sight the awaited me…

dark horizon

It was such an amazing sight to behold!!!! I have only seen clouds forming like that here in Australia. It looked scary but I was more in awe at how immaculate God has made such a creation. It was terrfyingly beautiful.

You can probably understand why after about 10 shots, I had to walk home fast. Even if I had an umbrella with me, I didn’t want to get my camera and groceries wet.

When I arrived home, it took about 10 minutes for the rain to finally fall. Very angry rain that was. I just had a quick lunch and a little bit of net surfing, then in a few minutes fell asleep inside my room listening to the rain. And this time, no more bad dreams.

Everyday I never forget that I’m blessed. Of course, I do have problems and my life isn’t perfect but that is reality, that is life per se. But time and time again, I’m reminded that I may not have everything I want in life, but the one up there surely gives me what is enough to make me feel loved and blessed. And he has reminded me this lots of time during the course of my birthday celebrations.

Imagine having a weeklong birthday celebration? Imagine having so many people greet me via phone, email, SMS, Friendster, Blogspot, Multiply? Imagine receiving gifts from the husband, parents, relatives and friends?

My birthday may have been incomplete, but someone up there is always making sure that I have a lot to thank for in my here and now.

With my birthday week over, I just had one final gift to myself—and that is a day-off .

So last Saturday, I went off to the mall and had some Me time. I kinda missed myself you know? hehehehe. I haven’t been having day-offs lately coz I’m saving them up for later travel.

And so I went and did a couple of errands, went around looking at stuff. As a birthday gift to myself, I got me a DVD of The Lake House and The Notebook. I only wanted The Lake House actually but it was part of the 2 DVD collection thingy and it was on sale, so why not?

Then, I celebrated my last birthday hurrah at Starbucks with a cup of my favorite Americano…

and by watching a movie!

My day was perfect!!!! The movie was very funny and romantic and not so cheesy…it was the perfect anniversary movie (even if husband is away) as it made me remember my own wedding day. If you haven’t seen this film, I suggest you watch it.

Here’s a little tip for you: Never ever forget to give a gift for yourself on your birthday–it could be anything cheap or extravagant, it could be some time alone, it could be something you’ve been wanting to do, it could be something you haven’t done before–it doesn’t matter what. What’s important is that you are able to make yourself feel that you are loved by you and that you are blessed. Love yourself…you deserve it!