Food Cravings

Ever since I could remember, whenever I have a food craving, it is quite specific.  A few days ago, in the midst of all the Christmas gatherings and table spreads of so much good food, I was craving for a simple home-made macaroni salad. It was a random thought that popped in my head that I didn't bother telling anyone.  Neither did I look for any commercially available macaroni salads, because what I craved for was something home-made, those with the cheese bits.  Then yesterday, a colleague / friend dropped by our home to give me some finished paperworks.  And guess what, out-of-the-blue and for the first time ever, she brought with her a big tub of home-made creamy macaroni salad. 🍽

Last night, while I was walking in a department store, I passed by the snacks and chocolates section.  I was thinking how come I do not like chocolates as much as before.  (Hmm.. Is it because I'm getting older?) Then, in one counter I saw Nestle Crunch.  I then realized I wanted Nestle Crunch over all the other more premium chocolate brands available already at home.  And because we still have a lot of chocolates, I decided not to buy.  Then tonight, when David came home, he brought with him Nestle Crunch.  Just the right size to satisfy a random craving.  It was a gift from his officemate. 🍫

Apart from these two foods, I do not recall having any other cravings in the past week.

I am reminded today that:
(1) God knows what we want, even those we neglect to mention in our prayers.  He knows a great deal about us, from the minute random thoughts that run through our minds to the monstrous problems raging in our hearts.  He is working something out.

(2) God likes to give gifts to His children.  Sometimes because of "unanswered prayers" and unchanging circumstances, plus my impatience, I tend to forget that God, our Heavenly Father, loves to bring us joy.

(3) God's fingerprints are all over.

#SimpleJoys #MerryChristmas #SpecificAnswers

Not Your Typical Bride

Dear Friends,

One month has passed since David and I exchanged our vows, and I think it is time for me to write about what happened.   How did a girl-who-never-imagined-herself-getting-married become a girl-who-actually-got-married in a span of less than one year?

No, it was not arranged marriage. And no, I definitely did not get pregnant. 

Earlier this year, I attended a women’s conference and one of my girlfriends asked when I would be getting married.  You see, I have been with David for the past eight years of my life.  And this friend of mine, echoed the question I had been asked a lot of times.  As usual, my answer was, “No, I still cannot imagine myself getting married.  There’s still so much I want to do.”

Then normally, there were the follow-up questions, “Do you love David?”  “Do you see being with him in the future?”  “Why don’t you want to get married?  So many women want to get married.”  I would reply, “Yes I do love him.  I cannot imagine myself with someone else, but it’s just that I’ve never pictured marriage in my dreams.  I never even daydreamed of getting married, or having children.  I don’t even have a dream wedding.”  Some of my friends and relatives would look at me in a weird way after that.

PROPOSAL 1

My birthday came a few weeks later on April 2.  I had to work in the morning.  We had lunch by 1:30PM.  We were supposed to have dinner in the late afternoon at a fine dining restaurant on top of a building facing the sunset on the bay.  But I was too full from lunch, and I was craving for Starbucks.  So the fine dining plan got cancelled.  When we got to Starbucks, he was a bit more serious than his normal serious self. 

I had a gut feel that David wanted to propose.  I asked, “Are you trying to propose to me today?”  He was surprised, and did not deny it.  “Please, no,” I said.  “I am not yet ready to get married.”  He smiled and replied, “It’s okay, I will think of more ways to propose to you.  I will propose to you again and again even if it will take a hundred of times.” 

I felt quite sad; I knew something was wrong with me for not wanting to get married.  David is a great guy.  He is a God-fearing man.  He is loving & self-sacrificing, even my friends were amazed at his perseverance with me.  We love each other.  I just couldn’t pinpoint what the main problem was.

THE TURNING POINT

Less than a week later, David’s grandfather passed away.  There’s this certain Chinese tradition that states when a relative dies, you either get married within 100 days or after two years.  I prayed to God if it was His will for us to get married.

PRAYER (1).            For God to reveal to me why I don’t want to get married and help me be ready if it were His will.

PRAYER (2).            If it was in God’s will for me to get married within 100 days, these things would transpire:

PRAYER (2A)    My parents would prefer I get married within 100 days.

PRAYER (2B)    Allow most of my relatives and friends from abroad to come and attend my wedding.

PRAYER (2C)   Wedding preparations will be very smooth, like the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place and fit perfectly.  Weddings in the Philippines are planned years in advance, so to get married in three months would mean most suppliers have already been booked.  

In the next days, upon much reflection, God answered my prayers:

ANSWER TO PRAYER (1)   God revealed that I didn’t want to get married because of FEAR and SELFISHNESS

a. Fear of letting someone else enter permanently into my life, and I couldn’t get him out anymore.  I’ve read in books and watched in movies about certain relationships entering a vicious cycle of nagging and spattering, of being disrespectful and unloving, and I just wanted out of it. 

b. Fear that I might just ruin both our lives because I don’t know how to be a wife and a mother.  All my life, I have been busy with school, work, business and extracurricular activities.  I don’t have time, passion and skills to cook, clean, do laundry, organize home, beautify home, or do anything else in the house. 

C. My selfishness caused me to want to live for myself, and for my dreams.  I didn’t want to be slowed down by another person.   I didn’t want to share or give my life to another.

I realize getting married is a step of faith for me.  While praying, a verse popped into my head that says, anything that is done or not done outside of faith is sin (what was holding me back was fear and not faith).  I also realize that getting married would also teach and train me to be less selfish, to share, and to live for others.  And I guess, this is a good thing.

PROPOSAL 2

Ten days after the death of his grandfather, we had candle-lit dinner in a restaurant in Quezon City.  I was not prepared.  I was in my oversized shirt, jeggings and rubber shoes.  Other people there were in gowns and dresses.  I ate heartily.  When dessert came, there were words written in chocolate icing on the plate.  It read, “Shall we go on an adventure?” 

“Are you proposing to me again?” I asked with the brows closed together.  “I want us to go on an adventure together.. forever.” David answered.  I cried, not out of tears of joy.  "Fine," I said.  My tears welled up because I had to say goodbye to my single life. 

ANSWER TO PRAYER (2A) When I told my parents about David’s proposal the next day, they smiled and told me he already proposed to them beforehand .   Apparently, David scheduled a lunch date with my parents when I was out of the country a month before.  And they encouraged me to get married within 100 days.

ANSWER TO PRAYER (2B) Many of my relatives from USA, Canada, Singapore, and Taiwan would be able to come over.  Some had already made plans to come within the year even without the wedding.

ANSWER TO PRAYER (2C) We got to book my beautiful home church and a historical hotel for our wedding!  The Manila Hotel was established in 1912, the same year as Titanic sailed for the first time.  We also were able to get hold of the finest suppliers in the country as our events coordinator, wedding host, musicians, florists, videographer, photographer, events stylist, makeup artist, etc.   Our family and friends have also been extremely helpful in making the wedding beautiful and memorable!

Within three months, we were able to have prenup photo, prenup video, a beautifully designed church & venue, our wedding vows, and one fine day to remember for the rest of our lives.  Everything just fit perfectly together.  And I wasn’t stressed in the planning and during the wedding day itself!

MY FAVORITE AGE IS 30

For the past 2 decades, I had always been looking forward to the time I reach 30 years old.  It is, for me, a phenomenal age -- the age when Jesus began his ministry, when David became king of Israel, and when Joseph began to serve Pharaoh in Egypt.  I was always curious with what I’d be doing when I turn 30. 

This year I turned 30, and unexpectedly, I got married.  (Good thing it is to the love of my life).   Getting married, I guess, is part of God’s wonderful plan for me.  And I believe He has a purpose for me and for our marriage. 

Now that I’m married, I realize it’s not so bad after all.  Everyday has been a mini adventure.  We get to navigate through an unknown rugged path, discover interesting life lessons, and build up new skill sets along the way.  (Oh, if you only hear about how I learned to cook a cup of rice.  That's reserved for another post.)  

This is my story.

Yours truly,

Not your typical bride

P.S.  For the chapter one of our love story, read it here.

P.P.S.  If you would like to get a glimpse of our wedding, feel free to click the links below:

• Prenup Photo Slideshow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59KrOtVZ2B4
• Prenup Video:  https://vimeo.com/175010429
• Same Day Edit Video:  https://vimeo.com/175028865
• Special Music Video & Message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH9ZMiAr1qs