Wedding Thank You’s

It’s been exactly 12 days after our Civil Wedding and 10 days after our Church Wedding. Unconventionally, it took me this long to post a blog because Luke and I have been busy touring my family around the UAE, and also because I have a lot to catch up on work (I had a two-week leave and work piled up).

I did not have the chance to elaborate our thank you’s either so I am going to dedicate this blog post to just doing that.

I know this is a cliché but this wedding would not have happened if it wasn’t for the overflowing love and grace of God. Before the wedding and even before the proposal, Luke had a plan. I had a plan. But God messed up our plans and showed us HIS plan. To some, it may seem that Luke and I just plunged into it without thinking things through. Trust me, we did a lot of thinking and praying. I actually think we overdid it. After a while, Luke and I just let go. We rode in God’s timing. We rode in His plans. We stood amazed by the provisions, the favors and the overwhelming support from our loved ones. It wasn’t a smooth ride but here we are. Praises to the King!

We thank our parents and our families for their support and love. Even from everyone from back home, your love has transcended time and distance.

We thank our Pastors, Ptr. Rey and Mommy Menchie Corpuz for their warm encouragement and guidance. It gives me such peace knowing that Luke and I could always run to them whenever we need guidance.

I never wanted for our wedding to be somber and just plain serious. Ptr. Rey made sure that it wasn’t.

We thank our Ninongs and Ninangs who took time to be there with us. Yung iba ayaw patawag na ninong at ninang, tumatanda daw kasi sila. K’fine. Haha!

We thank our EN family, especially Mothergoose CG and Luke’s CG. The moment I walked down the aisle, I could feel the electric love that is oozing from you. It’s one of the most wonderful feelings in the world.

Aphz, bro, thank you for taking care of the music. You did a wonderful job. Pati na rin si Bryn. Hehe maaasahan talaga kayo bro.

We thank the JCM family for your support and your prayers. Luke and I are always looking forward to our kain/picnic sessions with you. Hehe

We thank our Elbi friends, Denise and her siblings (Byron, Trisha and baby Kirk) and Sunshine who came all the way from Elbi… joke… from Dubai just to celebrate with us. Your presence felt like home. Densie baby, thank you for uploading the photos. Sorry sa pag-flood ng notifications, some from people you don’t know. Ang hirap maging trending. LOL

We thank the Abu Dhabi Kids who has been pouring out so much love to me and Luke. Ayz, your gift is amazing. We were surprised talaga and we had a good laugh. Josh, bro, your speech and your support to Luke is so heartfelt.

Props to Diane, Sarah, Richard and Kuya Otep. The stage is magical. I don’t know how you were able to do it. People are saying that the wedding is so bongga. It’s because of you guys.

Sarah and Frog, you did an amazing job hosting the reception. Sobrang professional. Alam nyo na. Hehe Frog, to be honest, I wasn’t able to hear you while you sang our song. Which is good diba kasi I was focused on my groom (naks!) pero I know you did great as always.

The Trippers! Grabe kakaloka kayo! Thank you so much for the prayers, the encouraging words, the love, the helping hand… for letting me stay sa Batcave for two weeks nung homeless ako… you are the most consistently loving persons that I know. I am blessed to have such good friends as you.

Dudai, thank you for helping Beh clean our flat. Pahiram ng magic wand mo one of these days. Hehe thank you din for being a big sister to me.

Frog, Judah and Ester it’s such a privilege to be the first event of your photo booth. Your output is amazing. May God bless your venture more and more. To book the Facebooth, please PM me for their contact number (ayan free advert).

Mama Frog, thank you for taking a time off to check my hair and make up. Your input made a big difference. Angel and Jonas, mga bakla, ang gagaling nyo! Nag-transform si wata! Andami kong tawa sa inyo. If you liked my make up, please PM me and I’ll give you Angel’s contact number (ayan free advert ulet).

We thank Kuya Alvin, together with his minions Kuya Jayson and the other guy (sorry nakalimutan ko name niya). It’s a great pleasure for me and Luke to be your clients-slash-friends. Next time sasama na kami sa shoots nyo as photographers*fingers crossed*. PM nyo rin ako if you like to contact Mr. Alvin Mark Buen (next time papabayad na ako sa mga ads na to).

Lastly, Luke and I would like to honor and thank the person who selflessly helped us in every way: BFF Battman. You are the best wedding planner and coordinator ever. Sulit lahat ng pagod, puyat at effort sa lahat ng feedbacks na natanggap natin. Ikaw lahat ‘yon. Your unselfishness is worth emulating. Sabi nga ni Ptr. Rey, I want to be like you when I grow up

To everyone else who greeted us, who prayed for us, and who went to the wedding in person and in spirit, please accept our heartfelt gratitude. No words could ever express how grateful we are.

It’s amazing how this bunch of people were ever so willing to help Luke and I put together this wonderful wedding. Walang professional help. Just pure love ♥ Amen!

Oh, and BTW, thank you din kay Ate Cherryvic and the rest of the guys from Le Meridien Abu Dhabi. Book your special occasions there, it’s worth your every Dirham (free advert ulet!).

Note: I will post the official photos soon. I did the collages online. Much easier than Photoshop #tamad LOL.

LSS: Happiness

Here’s my LSS* for the day:

Defining One’s Excitement

On my last blog, I answered one of the FAQ’s I receive lately regarding the wedding. Now I am going to answer another one: am I excited?

It’s funny that a lot of my friends are excited for me. I deeply appreciate that (just as much as how I appreciate all the help that we’ve been getting even before we ask). But at this point I honestly dread receiving comments or BBM’s or YM’s that say something like, “ilang linggo na lang! So excited!” I mean, I don’t really blame them for being excited. It’s just that I do not know how to react to these messages because I am not excited. My emotions are weird like that.

A Month Before the Wedding

As of writing, exactly a month from now, I’ll be signing that little contract that’s going to change my life forever.

I’ve been so preoccupied with so many things that I cannot put myself into posting a blog. I cannot even blog about the wedding preparation (which I was determined to do even before I got engaged). I also recently got temporarily released from the Worship team, which means no holding the guitar for at most two months (I hope) and as of last night, I am temporarily “disbanding”(if that’s the proper word for it) my Small Group.

A Confession to the Orchestra’s Conductor

Note: I am recycling an old blog post (as I have had a habit of doing) from Multiply that I wrote on 20th of September 2010 because I have been in no mood to write since forever. I remembered this post today because I am feeling quite desperate. I dunno. Anyway, enjoy.

My guitar broke. The strings sounded like an empty tin can rolling off a rocky hillside. My fingers hurt from futilely trying to make them sound right. My guitar was frustratingly out of tune. I was horribly even more out of tune. I was, worst of all, singing the wrong song. I was singing along the worldly lamentations. I was belting out the notes of bitterness, of deceit, of lust, of greed, of conceitedness…

Yet your love’s symphony drowned all the noise that I was making. Your music is as soothing as a lullaby and as powerful as a Woodstock concert.  It is strong enough to drown the hoarse dissonant sound of lies. Lies! Pure lies! Everything that the world screams and sings and chants are nothing but lies. My ears bled from hearing lies. My heart bled even more for believing those lies.

Yet your love’s symphony drowned all the lies. Your lyrics speak of truth and of hope – the kind of truth that conquers all the calumny and apprehension, and the kind of hope that kept me looking forward to spending another day listening to your voice.

Amazingly, despite my rebellion, you willingly take me in, again and again, and you let me sing with your glorious choir. Your chorus cleanses me and mercifully forgives my sins.

Listen to my heart’s cry, I pray. I humbly submit to your score. Every day, I will humbly submit to your score. Allow me, I beg of you, to sing and dance to the tune of your love’s symphony for as long as I pass through and beyond eternity’s melodious gates.