I've always loved photoblogs. I feel like I'm more of a visual person than a writer. Sometimes though my brain loves to tell stories and thanks to Inquirer, one has been published already. So this blog will be a mix of both: things I see through my lens or letters I type down on my laptop. (: Best viewed using Google Chrome.
One a Hey Turns into Something More..
Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 12:24 PM

It all started with “Hey, how are you?” It’s funny how I added J in Facebook without really knowing who he was. We had two common friends anyways, which were both our older sisters, so what do I have to loose, right? But honestly, I thought J was his older brother who I’ve met before and a profile picture of a black Mazda 3 helped in concealing his true identity.

And then a red notification popped up saying I had one reply on a message I have earlier posted. It was from J. A few minutes later we were chatting in Facebook. This was almost two years ago, so everything was still vague to me at that time. We decided to continue the conversation through a popular messenger. And there it was, a confirmation he wasn’t what I thought he was. He was the youngest of the Tapia’s who I have not heard anything about. This was really weird especially when you think of all the things that links us together. See, her sister stayed in our home together with another cousin of his when they were fixing paperwork here in Manila. His older brother, the person I’ve mistakenly thought he was, has been present in some of our family dinners in Bacolod. And the most valued link is that my mom was his aunt’s best friend since they were in second grade!

Likewise, J never really heard any stories about me. He has known and has constant communication with my older sister since he was 18. And again, my mom was a link, being with their family at the airport when they were about to migrate to the States. We never existed in the lives of each other, not until that one simple Hey was posted online.

And who would have know that in just one random wall post he would be the man I’ll be marrying in the next two months?

Life gives us random twists of faith. An invitation for a cup of coffee could mean nothing but could also start a deeper friendship. That’s what happened to J and I. A friendly non-romantic Hey will turn into a deeper and more meaningful I do.


I love you J, happy 17th month! 





Labels:


Leave a comment? // 0 Comment(s)
J has a Creative Bone
Saturday, October 9, 2010, 11:25 AM

A gift from J, don't you just love Post-its and the instant artist it makes you into? :)

Labels:


Leave a comment? // 0 Comment(s)
39,484,800 and counting :)
Friday, October 8, 2010, 8:35 AM

How beautiful life is if you're spending it with someone you really love! Today, J & I are celebrating our 15th month together as a couple. And one thing that surely makes me smile is the thought that every day is a single day closer to seeing and being with J.




Labels:


Leave a comment? // 2 Comment(s)
The Brightest Star
Saturday, August 7, 2010, 3:12 PM



Earlier, he took a teaspoon of cough syrup and told me to grind a tablet of ibuprofen as he followed both medicines with a sip of mango juice. “J can’t swallow tablet-form medicines,” that was a reminder of her sister when she knew that J was coughing really hard and had fever.

It was almost midnight. I was sitting on the bed right next to my J who, unfortunately, was sick on the eve of his birthday. He was sleeping soundly, knocked out from all the medicines he took. We booked a room in this beautiful resort months in advance but I guess the 10-hour trip did no good for his condition. I felt so sorry for him and all I could do was to hug him under the comforter. I felt the heat of his body as I too fell into a nap.

It was around two in the morning when I woke up. It was already J’s birthday. He was still sleeping. I thought it was the best time to write him a letter. I hurriedly went to the bathroom and took out our handy non-permanent marker. I locked the bathroom door, afraid he might catch me, I hurriedly wrote down a short message.



Written on our bathroom windows:

January 21, 2010

My Dearest Jhayar,

You are the love of my life. I can never stop thanking God for bringing you in my life. Spending time with you made me realize that I can never afford to lose you. I hope you get better soon. Happy Birthday Mahal ko... I will always be here for you...

Forever and Ever just like what I promised...

I love you!

Love,
Karen




I turned off the bathroom lights, went back to bed, and hugged him. I must have fallen asleep for a few minutes but woke up when I felt J hugged me back and asked what time it was. I glanced at his laptop that was just sitting on the nightstand right next me. “Three AM,” I said. He got up and went to the bathroom.

Strike one, he missed my letter.

As his voice formed echoes inside the bathroom, I heard him tell me to go look outside and see if there are still stars. He might have wanted to see what he has missed while he was sleeping. I felt a gush of wind as I slid the door open. I took a few more steps and looked up. It was so beautiful. I shouted, “You need to see this.” He was taking forever to go outside, so I went in. I found myself inside the bathroom, innocently luring him in. That’s when he saw my letter. He stood there, reading. He took his time and turned around to face me. He said, “Don’t worry I’m still gonna marry you.”

Strike two, this time for me who did not get the clue.

As we walked outside, him being sick and all, he felt chills as the cold wind greeted us. He requested for a blanket so I ran back to the room to get him one. When I got back, I held his hand and told him there’s a nice hut over to our left. He was looking around for a spot so we could stargaze and the hut’s roof won’t allow this. So we walked around the resort. It was too early and the resort looked deserted as other guests were still sleeping. It seemed like we were alone. The waves seemed louder as we get closer to the beach. But our feet climbed the stairs and we found a spot by the poolside. He spread the blanket and shared it with me.

It was just beautiful looking up and seeing a dark sky filled with thousands of twinkling stars. “Find the brightest star,” J said. The nerd in me gave him a trivia. I told him that whatever is the brightest is not a star but planet Venus. I heard the sound of silence as J didn’t react to what I’ve just said.

Strike three, again this is for me, for being such a nerd.

He did brush me off. But he continued asking me to just pick the brightest one. So I went on playing his game, and literally was looking for one in a million above us. As his finger was pointing up above, he suggested, “How about this one?” Confused, I asked, “Which star?” I focused on his finger and something caught my eyes. I pulled his hand closer and asked, “What is this?”

I looked at him. He had the biggest smile. I knew this was not a game anymore. He finally asked me, “Will you marry me?”

There was something in sharing the blanket with him, something in the mix of the cold wind and the sound of the waves and something in his eyes that made me cry before I could say yes and hug him. How beautiful is the game of love? It’s not the stars or the princess-cut diamond ring he gave me that made it beautiful. It’s that twinkle in his eyes when he asked me to marry him. In that moment I knew, we made the home run.

Labels:


Leave a comment? // 0 Comment(s)
Recommended Book: Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul
Friday, August 6, 2010, 9:34 AM


"I realized a perfect wedding day does not a perfect marriage make. But the strength of love between two people can make every day perfect."






I love packages and that might be an understatement. I received these items as a part of J's anniversary gifts. Too bad it didn't make it through the day itself. It was stuck in PhilPost Customs for a really long time before I received an urgent notice yesterday to claim it. The thing I really hate about Customs is that they need to be the one to open the package. They strip the box out of it's perfectly taped body, lift the item and check it in front of me. It's excitement gone to waste.


But even though I was drenched from the rain, almost fell on my butt because my A&F slippers didn't like the Post Office pavement, and even if the Customs fee went up and is now Php40... I'm still ecstatic that finally the package is in front of me since I've been waiting for it for over a month. It has been exactly 40 days since J sent it out!


The moment I was home, my sister-in-law saw the letter and how it was all set up with a "key to his heart", a rock with LOVE engraved on it and rose petals all over the red lacquer box. She asked in Tagalog, "Creativity Contest between you and your hubby? Who's winning?" I guess she remembered all the effort I put into all my letters for J especially the one for our anniversary where she thought it was a sample of our wedding invitation. :p


But if we are in a competition, I would gladly hand the trophy to my J for being the sweetest. J's letter made my day.

A part of it says,
"I've looked around enough to know that you're the one I want to go through time with."

How sweet is it to love and be loved, huh? :)

Labels: , ,


Leave a comment? // 0 Comment(s)
365 Days of Love :)
Thursday, July 8, 2010, 9:37 AM


I love the feeling of having step up to "that" level. It's something that you can be so proud of when people ask you how many months you've been together. You can just tell them to their faces, "ONE YEAR!" Haha! Pathetic I know, when I know a friend who is celebrating 11 years together today and will also be married next year! :)

Love just grows on you. The fact that I'm in love with love doesn't over power that I'm in love with J. Right now, hitting this important time in our relationship, there are just so many things that I am very thankful for. For starters, I'm thankful that I've met J at 24 and not when we were 14. I don't think our relationship would have worked if we started it when we didn't have any life experiences yet and we're still immature. I'm thankful for all the heartaches that I've felt because if I didn't have those I'm sure I won't know how to put importance on the relationship that I have right now. I'm thankful that J became a part of my life. :)



To my J,

More than a year ago, we started opening ourselves to each other not knowing what was ahead of us. What began as an innocent friendship developed into something deeper. When I started missing you, I knew I was falling for you. It was a scary step to admit that after almost three years, I was ready to let someone in and become a big part of my life. It was hard to say NO when you asked me to be your girlfriend. It was hard to say NO when you asked my hand in marriage. For now and always, it will be hard to say NO to you. So don't ask anymore, because I'm willing to be your wife, the mother of your children, the person who'd be there for you until your goatee has gray hair already. Happy anniversary and I love you so much!

Forever and ever,
Karen



Here's an anniversary gift I made for J, enjoy!





[Update]
I love it when J sends me flowers. Here's the one he sent me during our special day.
And here's the one that I sent him.. :)

Labels: , ,


Leave a comment? // 0 Comment(s)


be counted!
Web Site Hit Counter
Welcome to americandreamofapinay :) This is my own personal blog where I was hoping to give a little light to the world of immigration based from my experiences. Use the drop-down menu above to navigate through old posts and use the chat box below to leave any comments or questions. Enjoy!



chat with me!



check them!
frequently asked questions
blogger profile
find me in visa journey
add us in facebook
big thanks!
This layout designed by Cynthia
Resources: One Two Three Four Five