marriage – Princess Pepay

I Do, I Do, I Do

Sometimes, the unexpected is just inevitable. Just to be clear, I did not get married. Not getting married anytime soon, either. Well, not yet… 😉

I was looking forward this year for my best friend, Rhodes’ wedding. Such an amazing story written by God! And, I’m just privileged to be able to witness that from Day 1. Their love story is a testament that indeed nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. 🙂

KVN_7225 The lovely bride, Rhodes

It was a blessing & truly an honor to be her maid of honor (MOH) and just to be able to help in whatever way I can up to her wedding day. I did not know that special event would somehow open little doors for me.

BBM39498 That’s me, trying to be the “Maid of Honor” of the Year (lol)

I thought that was the only wedding I was going to witness this year. Now the story of the unexpected…

Two amazing ladies at our church, aka “The Verzosa Sisters” got married – different time, different place but same year, this year!

Few days after I got back from Philippines (after attending my bf’s wedding), Ria, one of the Verzosa sisters and I had our usual quick catching up after the worship service at church. This was days before her wedding. Who would have thought that our conversation would end up, me being the on-the-day wedding coordinator of her DIY wedding. When she said she didn’t have an on the day coordinator, my “event planning siren” just went off. I kinda volunteered myself, there. 😉

41787122_10215465625488460_6764261174063136768_n The lovely bride, Ria

I’ve never been to a DIY backyard wedding, nor coordinated one. Thank God for being a MOH and really saw the nitty-gritty of my best friend’s wedding. I had a great time executing all the details of the wedding, from the ceremony to the reception. Ria did a good job in planning her wedding, an event planner herself. 🙂 Being there to witness not just the wedding but really the celebration of love and family that whole weekend was already a blessing. But being able to help and be the on the day coordinator was a privilege. And I’m truly thankful for Ria & Miggy for just really trusting me to do that.

As I said, there’s another Verzosa sister. Months after Ria’s wedding was Frances’ wedding. And when she asked me if I could do the same for her wedding, how can I say No? It’s such an honor. This time, the wedding was a little bit DIY and mostly setup by the staff at the venue. So, I had to make sure that Frances’ plan for her wedding were properly executed which she also did a I great job. Very organized. A skill every bride needs to have. 😉

45956978_10215908946891218_166715177138388992_o The lovely bride, Frances

It was another fun experience for me. Thanks also to Frances & Christian for allowing me to help and for the trust! I had organized a couple of events but those were mostly seminar/conference type of events. I never thought wedding coordination could be this fun. My primary goal was to take off the stress from the bride on her wedding day and I hope I was able to achieve that!

41327543_10215401460764382_4296591205954748416_n That’s me with the bride Ria, in “action” (lol)

It’s just amazing when door of opportunities opened on such an unexpected season. Those experiences truly made an impact in my life this year. To have courage to just go and do it, can indeed open to possibilities. I’m excited to more “on the day wedding coordinator” gigs. And I don’t mind doing it for free for all my friends who are getting married. So, if you need one, don’t hesitate. While it’s still of no charge… lol

At your service.

AO#1: Papa & Mama

As I commit to be more appreciative to people, I will use my blog as one of the platforms to do that. And why I’m doing this? (Click -> Here’s why )

I start my Appreciate One (AO) per week with the people whom God has used to bring me into this world – MY PARENTS. Meet Rodolfo and Susana, aka Bonjing and Bebe 🙂

28418044_10204616670213749_1976724706_o

You would agree with me that a page in a blogsite will never be enough to appreciate our parents. But don’t worry, this will not turn out to be a novel 🙂

My parents are not perfect. They are flawed just like all of us. But one thing that they really showed to us which I truly appreciate about them is they choose to accept each other’s weaknesses. That is very important to us, their children. And, I’m just grateful that in the midst of “crazy” & “chaos”, my parents choose to love. Being single and still waiting for my own time of hopefully being married someday, I need that example. Papa & Mama – thank you for not just loving us your children but also showing to us what love should be through your commitment to each other.

It was when I started working and left home that I have understood the depth of the love of my parents for us, their children. I know my parents love me, I never doubted that. I just did not really realize how sacrifical and unconditional that love is until I started living on my own. There are days at work when I just felt like giving up. Or, I would complain of being tired. But then, when I look at my parents who until this day never stopped working so hard, I feel shameful and ungrateful. I’m just glad that Papa & Mama would always keep telling us when we were younger about how their life was during their time. It was never easy. I always tell myself – “Just imagine if Papa & Mama would just give up because their tired and quit their job?” But because of their love for us, they kept going no matter how hard the days were. Papa & Mama – thank you for showing to us your love through your hardwork. Thank you for not giving up on those difficult times. Thank you for choosing to give what is best for us. I truly appreciate that you have all brought us up in a family where laziness is intolerable. Because of what you have shown us, I have learned to value hardwork as well.

One of the things I enjoy in our family is our meal times. Mama loves to cook for all of us even up to now. We all love to eat. I am glad that my parents showed to us the importance of having good meals on the table. Good meals mean that we are well provided. And the reason I enjoy and appreciate food everywhere I go is because of that. It reminds me of the good meals I had growing up. It reminds me of family. Papa & Mama – thank you for all the delicious food you always provide for us on the table. Thank you for showing to us your appreciation for food – all the grilled, the raw and the greens. I truly appreciate that you always made sure we don’t go to school on empty stomachs. And because of that, we all learned to cook & prepare our own meals.

The most important that I am most grateful to my parents is for forcing us to go to church every Sunday when we were young. There is no escape. Our family today has differences on the church that we are a part of. However, I am still grateful that my parents introduced to me who God is. That became the starting point of my faith today. Papa & Mama – thank you that you brought us up in the knowledge of God and His Son Jesus. I truly appreciate that you have instilled to us the importance of having God in our life. Because of that, I have learned not to walk in my own ways but have been learning daily to abide and depend on God. I may have not understood everything you asked us to do before, but now, everything made sense.

As I say, there are so many things I am truly appreciative of my parents. However, these few I mentioned are the ones that truly had made an impact in the adult years of my life. I am always grateful that my parents never stopped being parents even if most of the time I don’t ask their help, seek their permission or consult them anymore. However, they are just there, keeps reminding me like a 5-year old of the do’s and dont’s in life. And, I have learned to appreciate that also. They have always been supportive in my decisions no matter what. My parents keep me grounded. And, I thank God for giving me parents who love us, never gave up on us and continue to stay with us.

For the love of Fatburger…

I just have to write about this before I sleep tonight or else this will just be another item in my blog list.

It’s been a while since I had the biggest laugh in my life. The kind of laugh that gives you stomachache and headache after. If you know what I mean. 🙂

This was a non-typical night for our discipleship group. We usually do our fellowship at Marj’s place in Surrey. However, there was a reason for a “burger” celebration that we had a long week of discussion of where to eat burger. Options were: Fatburger Lougheed, Fatburger Whiterock, Fatburger Langley. Yes, anywhere as long as it’s Fatburger. 😀

Tonight was more of an accountability night, just sharing and listening to each other’s life stories. No filter, raw and honest. It’s such a blessing that some of us singles get to learn from the married women in the group.

The most important thing I have learned tonight is about being “intentional”. For all of us to meet and really commit to go to Fatburger no matter where that is, that is being intentional. It’s never about the burger. 🙂 It’s being intentional in our relationships – to our families, to our friends, to our church, to our small group. If we want our relationships to improve, we need to make an effort for it. We have to be intentional if we expect change and results.I know this is not something new, however, it’s just good to be reminded about it. And humbling.

Tonight, I thank God for these amazing women whom I get to share stories, eat burger and laugh out loud (literally) with.

And thank you to Fatburger Lougheed for being so nice of not kicking us out even if we stayed a little bit past their closing time (we didn’t know, sorry…)

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Not Keeping Silent in Love

I have never talked about homosexuality in any form of social media because I know these are things that are talked about in a personal setting and not just a topic you want to post in social media so that people would either like your post or make comments about it.

But last Friday, I can’t keep silent about it anymore. Not that my purpose for making my posts were to attack the homosexual group but it was to give more awareness especially to the young generation who have unlimited access to the social media that not everything people seem to think is okay, you just have to agree with it.

I realize that if you really truly care for someone, you have to make sure that you do something as well. I’m not a parent but I have a 9 year old sister, I am a Sunday school teacher, I am a god parent and, I have cousins who are in their teen years. There is a generation that we need to look after for, to care for. If we just remain silent not teaching them what is true, then, how will this generation distinguish what is right from wrong?

I believe that just as God commanded us to share His love to people, He also commanded us to teach them, which is one of the ways we show our love.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20

I talked to my older sister, Otella, the other night and I asked her if she can ask our youngest sister, Dora what she understands about marriage. And then, I told her that she must teach our sister what the Bible says about marriage. I don’t want my sister to grow up with a knowledge about marriage in the way of how human law now wants to define it. I want her to grow up believing how God created marriage and defined it. But you see, the concept of marriage is suppose to be something that should not be taught but something that you just understand as you grow up seeing your parents.

I will never be silent when I know that with my few posts I can remind people of what is the truth. I will never be silent when I know that it could shed light to one teenager who is confused with what to believe anymore. I will never be silent when I could help affirm burdened people that it is okay to stand for what is true. I will never be silent when people are scared to stand for truth because they might hurt others. But then, that’s what truth is for. To break us, to correct us, to discipline us, to teach us, to make us better people.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5

It is not because I want to tell the truth, the reason for it is to prove that I am right and they are wrong. What do I really get from doing it? I hope people realize that we tell the truth because we love them, we care for them and we don’t want them to fall into a great deceit that just because it makes you happy and makes you feel good, you can just do whatever you want, believe whatever you want to believe.

I hope we all realize that telling the truth is very different with judging or condemning people. If truth bites you, then maybe, God is telling you something about it. Judging a person is attacking the person’s being. Telling the truth based on God’s Scripture is attacking the wrong teaching or belief. I hope we all see that difference.

And lastly, I hope we also understand the kind of love that God has for us. Loving others doesn’t mean we won’t hurt them. Loving others could sometimes mean we might hurt them because we want them to be better people, just like how my parents disciplined us when we were younger. There were painful times but those were motivated by love. When we say we must do things in love, we must model it on how God loves us also. When we start keeping silent because we say we love other people and don’t want to hurt them, then maybe we are more concerned of the relationship, than of the person.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

^“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:6,11

Always remember, God loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to remain unchanged. And if we say that we truly love God and believe in Him, then we must as well do what He asks us to do. “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15

Promise that Always Satisfies

Yesterday, you saw someone changing status to just got engaged with a photo of her big diamond ring.

Today, you attended a wedding of one of your college girlfriends.

At the wedding, one of your couple friends shared that they have a baby coming.

Then, you, a single woman and not in a relationship starts asking, “When will my time come?” Or, “Will it ever come?”

For the next hours, thoughts would just be filled of what if’s, who and what could be’s. Sometimes, a little longer, days.

Until, thoughts would slowly fade. Life becomes normal again.

Then, another announcement comes in. And it goes the same cycle again.

You can have a lot of different reasons of why it hasn’t come for you yet.

But truth is, there is always only one answer that can satisfy you.

God knows your heart. He knows your desire.

And being satisfied that He knows, you once again resubmit to Him that your time will come.

You once again surrender to Him, knowing that He is writing your story.

Then, you go on living your life for Him, trusting that the best is yet to come.

You hold on to that promise, believing that God is faithful to complete it.

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