Da Vinci

Right now my aunt is bending over to fix the drawer of her desk. Surprise, it's a DA VINCI!!!!!

Ok well I guess I'm not making sense, so lemme start over. When I came back from the states, I was staying with my parents and just so happen that in the first month they decided to completely change all the furnitures in my room with Da Vinci products. Yea I went with them to the Da Vinci tower and went through the selection process. Those items are so expensive! So anyway, my parents fell for the sales pitch and bought a set of bedroom furnitures.

Soon after that the delivery guys came and start assembling. There is no guidance (markers) on the pressed-woods to let these guys know where to place the screws, so they had to screw and unscrew many times. Surely I was not very happy to find unnecessary holes on my furniture. I have to say even IKEA products has better instructions. And if Da Vinci are not willing to provide training, at least they should provide instructions.

In just 2-3 weeks, things start to fall apart. The wardrobe doors would sometimes jumped from the rail, the drawer handles broke or simply fall loose, the drawers would miss the supporting rail and fell, and I find myself not even able to lean on the wooden frame that surrounds my bed because I'm afraid it would break. In addition, the drawers bottom thin wood (triplex-like) bent over because it can't handle the weight of a few books. Worse, even the 1.5cm thick pressed-wood can't handle the weight of my folded shirts.

So now I have desks with drawers that has missing handles, scarcely populated and half-broken wardrobe, and a ripped pants. Why ripped pants? Cuz the drawers has such sharp edges that my pants got stuck as I walk.

My advise, AVOID DA VINCI PRODUCTS LIKE A PLAGUE!!

Prosperity

This past one week holiday let me learn a lot of things about marriage life. One thing for sure, it's a blast! A friend asked me "What makes it a blast?". It's just the simple fact that we really enjoy each other's company: the meals together, cooking, sleeping, house cleaning, doing laundry, watching DVDs, etc.

These simple things must never be taken for granted.

The Little Things

I love the way we appreciate the little things we do together. We don't need to go on special dates or events. I suppose it works as such: when the love from the Lord overflows, our love to each other is plentiful, and everything else becomes an extra gift to be grateful for.

The Life After

And of course, people asked me "How's marriage life?"

I am very happy - truly happy. I think Indra is truly a blessing from the Lord. We didn't have the difficulties that most couples face - mainly because we were always truthful to each other in our relationship. Therefore there were no surprises, no weird quirks that I never knew before, no wrong expectations. We give the best to each other and we feel the presence of God through each other.

I am always thankful that I am married to him. He is my pride and joy.

One thing we noticed: it seems that our feelings for each other becomes stronger whenever we go to mass. I suppose the Lord is trying to say that He IS Love itself, and from this fountain we must rejuvenate ourselves each day.

The Wedding Day

I had people asking, "How was the wedding?". I tried to explain but it never do justice to how it really was.

The Holy Matrimony

Recalling the moment when I started to walk down that aisle. I heard the song "Wonderful Day" sung very beautifully as I walked slowly with my Dad. Then I saw the candle lights lining up the sides of the aisle - I didn't notice that those were blue, but they were so wonderful I actually felt like a princess. As I averted my sight to the end of the aisle, all I could see was Indra. He was standing there with an expression/aura of such brilliance that everyone else is a blur around him (literally). What I felt from him was pride, mostly, combined with overwhelming joy and love. I, myself, was overwhelmed as well, and I remember thinking "Standing there is the man I love. This is the man I'll marry.". When I finally regain myself, I looked to my left, intending to greet the guests. The first and only guest I saw was Edith - I remember her saying "You look pretty!". I smiled and nodded to her comment, then looked back to Indra - He was still the only one I could see.

Nothing I say here would ever justify the look of Indra's face as he waited for me at the end of that aisle.

The moment I sat down, I noticed two napkins was being readied for me - none for Indra though. I thought it was funny that only the bride was supposed to cry. Everything else from then on was auto-pilot. But I did notice how beautiful the choir was throughout the matrimony.

The next thing to remember... Indra lifted up my veil and I was readying myself for the kiss of my life (afterall it IS recorded). Turned out he FORGOT to kiss me! It took the Monsignur to remind him of that. HMPF!

During eucharistic ceremony, I was so surprised when the priest called us up to the altar that I wasn't sure what to do. Regardless, that was a nice gift! Thank you Mgr. Mandagi!

Intercession

In between the Holy Matrimony and Reception, we had some time to take pictures around the Hotel. That was fun, especially the part of hearing David's trademark comments of "EX-CELL-ENT" and "NICEEEE".

The Reception

While parents and siblings were already up on the stage, me and Indra stayed outside the ballroom entrance door. We were getting ready for the "grand" entrance when Indra suddenly asked "Hey, my part of the lyrics is 'so-and-so' right?". He was so nervous that he had to remind himself of the lyrics. So the doors were finally opened and the music of "At The Beginning" was playing. I smiled my best smile but my legs were trembling. All the while I was worried that I'd trip on my own dress. Also, Indra was holding and crushes my hand. Both of us were mighty nervous but THANKS BE TO GOD that we still could sing quite well!

As we got on the stage, Indra did his speech and I did mine. The piano intro of "All in All" started at the perfect time right before the end of my speech. When I started singing, I immediately realized how my voice was at a peak that was never before. It was a temporary gift the Lord gave me to praise His name. We sang very beautifully. When we decided to sing this song, we wanted to proclaim that the Lord is the ONE Lord that unites us, to glorify the Lord, and to touch the hearts of others. Judging from guests' responses, it seems that the Lord achieves all. All is from Him, and all is for Him.

When I stand on the stage to greet the guest one by one, I just couldn't stop smiling as I was really feeling grateful for their coming. When I thank them, I was genuinely thanking them. Someone even commented that it's rare to see a bride smiling from the beginning of the reception until the end. I was energized too! But of course after the burst of adrenaline wanes, it took me a week to recover.

I can't thank anybody but the Lord for His involvement in this wedding. Praise be to God!

The Steps

The steps to my wedding day...

As I prayed for my wedding,
----Jesus prayed in the olive garden.
As I went to spa and got a massage,
----He was being scourged.
As I was crowned with flowers,
----He was crowned with thorns.
As my face was covered with a beautiful veil,
----His face was covered with blood.
As my aisle was decorated with beautiful candles and people blessing me,
----His road to Golgotha was decorated with beatings and people cursing Him.
As I was carrying a beautiful rose bouquet,
----He was carrying a heavy cross.
As I had my dad to walk with me proudly,
----He had nobody but Simon who was forced to help Him.
As people commented on how beautiful I was,
----nobody wanted to look at His face.
And as I was called up to the altar to receive His body,
----He was up on the cross to be united with the Father.

And what a fool I was - for He did give me everything I asked, to show me that I already had His all.

If

Thank you, Lord
for letting me taste Your love
for surrounding me with Your presence

I would gladly be a strand of grass in Heaven
to feel the breeze of Your Mercy

If I were the dust on Your feet
I would then know the weight of Your cross

If I were the stones on scourging ground
I would then know the count of blood drops

If I were the robe on Your body
I would then know the number of Your scars

If I were the wood of the cross
I would then hear the last breath You took

My Lord, if You pour out ALL Your love on me, I’d die.
For my life will never be sufficient
to repay Your Love

So just spare me a glance and look at me with mercy
past the shroud of my sins into my soul

My Lord

Let me understand the mystery of your passion
Your suffering exalt me from the world
and raise me into heaven

Which of your wounds bears my name?
And which opened flesh carry the mark of my sins?

How many times have I scourge you?
And how often have I nailed you to the cross?

I desire to love you, oh Lord
But LOVE I do not have
For You are LOVE itself!

So send Your Holy Spirit unto me
Without You, there is no LOVE
and there is no LIFE

Please let me bear the scars and wounds
Such that I can glimpse the extent of Your love

If I were to be Yours
Strengthen me from all temptations
and make me worthy of Your love