jammi

another answered prayer

The Hubby and I hung out with a few of our younger friends after church service last Sunday. We chatted and did some catching up in a resto with J, B and K.

K had just graduated from University and told us how he had already begun to apply for his dream job. This was a field he had always wanted to be in, and we've been praying about it since he was in high school; the Hubby and I had supported him and trusted with him that it's his destiny. It's something that we believe God placed strongly in his heart, and we can envision how the Lord can really bless him and use him to bless others in that area.

It was like watching the rising action part of a movie - it was already becoming a reality for him, that kid we invested our lives in (who is now no longer a kid, by the way). It truly was exciting, and we hoped for the best with K while he waited for a callback. The only problem K perceived was that there was one other more qualified applicant for the particular position he was aiming for. K still felt confident about it though, somehow knowing this job is really for him.

We paused to pray right then and there for K. It wasn't a begging, pleading "whatever happens happens" kind of prayer, but a positive and faith-filled one, phrased as if K was already sure to land the job. We all just sort of knew; after all, God had already made it known somehow years before.

Just as we finished, another friend of ours came into the resto. Our older friend L. The Hubby came over to him to greet him, and led him to our table to introduce him to our younger friends. As I introduced them, I felt the urge to include brief, interesting details about each person (a useful tip I picked up from Bridget Jones' Diary a couple years back, haha). As it came to K's turn, I mentioned he had recently graduated from university and applied for this particular position in this particular organization. Who does that, right?

Without pausing, L asks K to write his name and the position he was applying for on a piece of paper. It turns out L personally knew the head of that conversation. No promises of course, but he did put a word in for K.

Earlier this evening K gave me a call, announcing that he got that job. Wheee! Though we already believed he was getting it, it still felt great to hear that he actually nabbed it. Even if it wasn't my personal success, I celebrate with him. It somehow feels like my accomplishment by extension, because he's a person that I love.

I stopped by his Facebook wall to leave him a note. "I believe in you," I said, "this is the start of something big".

knowing there is a heaven

Of course I believe in Heaven. Knowing that there is a Heaven is not just a way of coping with the grief of loss, but an assent that God is sovereign and good.

Deaths and funerals aren't new to me, but losing a loved one isn't something you get used to. Sure, you grow familiar with the traditions and rites and various grieving processes associated, but it doesn't diminish the sadness because every loss is unique.

My father-in-law passed away recently and though all those who love him were grieved (and likely still grieving), still a sense of joy is very evident in each one. We rejoice because he is in a happier place, free from the limitations of an aging body, free from the illness he suffered in his last days with us. We rejoice because our separation is but temporary; we will all get together again sometime under better circumstances.

Knowing there is a Heaven changes death: Death is not merely an end but a beginning; not merely a cause for sorrow but of celebration. Death is no longer cold but kind.

two happy thawts in the same minute

My dad came home yesterday and provided me with two happy thawts within the same minute:


(1) My dad has just been promoted.

I think that's really cool, considering his age. I'm just a bit worried about his blood pressure and stress levels, but he assures us that there will be less stress in this job because he will have a lot of people working for him. Besides that, he gets to do less but will be paid more.


(2) He came home with something for me, from my ninong

The last time I saw my ninong was on my wedding day almost nine years ago, and the last time before that I was still a kid. Well, yesterday he handed his camera to my dad and said to give it to me, and now its mine. :) It's not a DSLR or anything, but it's a 12-megapixel idiot-friendly point-and-shoot. In a lot of ways it's more convenient than always having to borrow my sister's bulky 8-megapixel semi-DSLR.

Papa says my ninong must have been feeling guilty for not being around all these years, but I don't really mind. I don't mind either that he gives me a second-hand camera; I'm happy that he thought of me, and that I have a convenient "new" cam.

beach wedding weekend

This past weekend was a sweet one.

First of all, I attended a wedding.


I generally like weddings because they give me a reason to girl up more excessively than usual, and I get my paws on some free yummy food. This particular wedding was of the Hubby's second younger sister to her significant-other-for-three-years.

Secondly, the Hubby's brother flew in from Singapore, and sister #1 and her hubby flew in from the U.S. just to be at this wedding. I thought that was an extremely sweet and special surprise for the bride and groom. Besides that, it was quite refreshing to see them again.

Of course I also appreciate the pasalubongs I got from the balikbayans. :)

Thirdly, this wedding was held at the beach.


I loooove the beach. And this beach we were at was a clean, pretty one that i happen to like - the light-sand Laiya in San Juan, Batangas. We stayed in one of the nicest resorts.


Just a few months ago when the Hubby and I spent a few days at another establishment in the same stretch of beach. I would walk along the sand and look at the other resorts. I stopped by this particular one and mused about staying in it next time. Well, I got my wish.

Fourthly, this wedding was one of the nicest ones I've ever been to. The bride and the groom obviously spent a lot for this, but it was well worth the cheer and the memories. The ceremony was held right there on the sand, facing the stretch of sea.


The reception followed right there beside the makeshift outdoor chapel. There were these creative flower arrangements garnished with vegetables.

The guests took part in launching these fire-lanterns that shone as beautiful orange orbs in the sky.


The buffet was wonderful, the food voluminous. There was a non-cheesy video presentation. Then they had a live band to come in and entertain the guests.

And of course, the cake - the cake was in the form of a sandcastle, with little sand-bucket cakes for giveaways.


Fifthly, i had a rad time snapping photos with the cam. I took over 200 raw ones. It's not that often that i get to go out of town, and i really love having the opportunity to take shots of things other than the same old same old city things.

Lastly, it was the first time in years that the Hubby and I got to do something different while somewhere different on a Sunday. It was quite a treat, quite a treat.