Hello

I hope you're doing well. I'll catch up with you soon! :)

♥
Vee

May - Oct in photos

May - Oct. Wow, I was out of blogosphere for 5 months. A lot of things happened in between and I don't want to go into details about everything that happened to me. :) I will surely bore anyone who reads this (if there is hehe) But for the sake of documenting my 2011, i'll post some here :)

1. I went to Philippines and attended a wedding of dear friends in Baguio. It was lovely and full of love. I'm so thrilled and thankful to be have been part of it :) Oh, they're the couple I shoot on my last engagement session.

2. Gerard and I, together with our "august babies" friends celebrated our birthday at Thailand (Bangkok + Ayutthaya). It's been a yearly tradition that started when we begun to work abroad. Our first was on 2008 in Malaysia, 2009 in Phuket Thailand, & 2010 in Bintan Indonesia. :) We want to continue this as we get old :)

3. I got engaged! :) Yes, this is by far the happiest moment of my year (second is my visit to the US last April!) ! He got down on one knee on the eve of my birthday (3 hours before). He and my 2 friends planned the whole thing and I must say it was well-executed! I cried a teeny bit and laughed and laughed! :) I have a video, but i'm still asking permission from my fiance *ahem* if I could share it to the www. (He's all shy, you know! And with all the nervousness on his face that night, I think he won't let me.) If you're really curious though, I can kwento it to you via skype or over a cup of kopi or tea. Hahaha!

4. I run my 2nd 10km race (first, together with Gerard <3 ). It was a great experience! I'm hoping to do this more often if my work schedule permits :)

5. I was privileged to become a prayer partner in our bi-yearly Victory Weekend. It's a seminar/retreat in our Church wherein participants are taught the most fundamental truths about our faith, and more! I love VW! When it was my turn last 2009, I got freed from a lot of generational curses, guilt, & shame. It was a really victorious moment for me! But this year, I was the partner of the participant. My friend (who's also my mentee) expressed her desire to join, and who am I refuse right? It was a really amazing experience. I saw how God freed her from bondage of sins, curses, and changed her! It blows my mind every time God does those things! :) He's still in the business of changing lives! For more of VW, see my church's site.

6. My year's not all ups as you may think. Just last week, my Papa was admitted to the hospital (actually he went there himself coz he's no longer feeling well, and I thank him for taking the initiative as not all dads as I've heard are willing to be admitted and checked by drs.) and underwent certain procedures to have his heart checked and ultimately, a pacemaker was "embedded" on his chest to aid his weak heart. It was heart breaking to not be able to be on his side and just rely on the updates from my sisters and Mama. This is one of the toughest that we have to go through as a family this year, but I am still grateful to God for the chance He's given my papa. He's now discharged from the hospital and recovering. I am still praying that his heart will be healed miraculously and it will be as good as new! :) Thanks to all those who prayed with me. :)

And here are the photos from the past 5 months:


Photos were processed by either Instagram, Hipstamatic or Leme leme iphone apps :)

All of these can also be found on my flickr photo set : Year in Photos.

Love,
Vee

PS
Here's my e-ring btw ;)



Isn't it perfect? ♥♥♥

When God answers your prayer...

In a different way, in an unexpected manner, with something that is totally the opposite of what you've hoped or prayed for in the first place, what you would you do?

God answers our prayers in one of 3 ways:
1. Yes
2. No
3. Wait

Yes - The sweetest answer God could ever give us. It excites, motivates and pump our souls up. When God says "Yes", we always always rejoice. We throw thanksgiving parties, host dinners, treats our friends out and delight and be grateful to God.

No - This is one the we don't always expect. We think that God will 100% answer us in the way we would like him to - to say "Yes", and "Go". When God says "No", we cry, we throw ourselves off in sorrow and sometimes we wrestle with God. We keep pleading Him, (sometimes twisting His arms like we used to do when we're younger and wants our mom/dad buy us that cute little toy we're eying on), praying (again) to give us the desires of our heart. When He answers your prayer in a way we don't like, more often that not we (myself included) wonder and ask God "Lord, is this really your answer? Are you really really sure?", "Why does this have to be painful?", "Lord, take this away, it's hurting, I don't want this!". We cry and cry and cry until God Himself will gently remind us that it's us who asked of Him, and He just gave us His answer by giving what He thinks is best for us. Then it will slowly make sense and we'll soon realize that His ways are not our ways, His plans prevail, and He wills what's best for us. When God says "No", it will take most of us a lot of time to ingest, digest and really accept what God says. This is not in any way wrong, but i'm not saying this is the best reaction we could give God when He answers our prayers. However, for some who really desires God's will for their life, they embrace God's "No" the moment it is revealed to them. They still rejoice despite the situation, obey God and move on. (I want to be like them :) God's "No" should deepen our relationship more to Him.

Wait - This is also something we don't usually want as humans especially in this day where everything is instant - microwave, instant coffee, noodles, fast food's, to-go's, 4G networks, ultra-fast computer processors, etc. We're so used to getting what we want, and we want it FAST! When God says "Wait" on our prayers, our reactions are somewhat similar to when He says "No" and sometimes even worse. On our impatience, we rush to the answers we're expecting and do our own thing. We think that there's no difference when we do our plans now than to wait for later. This leads to disobedience and eventually disaster. When that happens, we cry out back to God and say sorry for our hastiness. On the other hand, there are some who really wait, but they don't become complacent or passive. They wait eagerly, still doing what God wants for them to do and they ready themselves for the answers they're waiting to receive. When that perfect time comes, they welcome it, catch it and embrace it with joy, excitement and with deep gratitude. Most often than not, they're better and more mature than when the time they started to wait. They've already grown and bloomed and worthy of the things they prayed for. God's "wait" should also anchor our souls deeper into God's great sea of Love and grace. Waiting makes us depend more and more on God. :)

Personally, I've had my share of No's and wait's. And to tell you honestly, I'm not the one who rejoices right after God gives His answers. It will take me time to accept, dwell, desire and obey it. (I'm a little stubborn). Oftentimes, I disobey too. I do what I want and later suffer the consequences of my disobedience. But God is so great and loving that He still pursues me, and restores me to Himself. I am so amazed by His grace and unconditional love for me. :)

Bottom line is this: when you pray to God, be ready for His answers. Be expectant but don't push for your "wants". Know that His ways are always better than ours, His plans are way better than our grandest plans, and His will is always the best! Delight in Him and Him alone. Do not be too concerned of your prayers that you forget to really seek Him. Don't focus on what His hands can do (his answers) but focus on His face (His character, who He is). In that way, you'll be more secure whether you get a "Yes", "No" or a "Wait". :)

How about you? Have you had your share of "No's" and "Wait's" too? How did you respond?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
-Isaiah 55:8-9

Love,
Vee

{Engagement} Jeff + Annie: Pure Love

A New Beginning
Jeff & Annie

As we take on this journey
with His love and mercy;
We'll let you see beyond the words "Id do"
As you witness these wonderful things too

From a Fine City where our loves has began,
To the City of Pines where we w ill be united as one.

You'll experience an atmosphere filled with happiness,
That serves as an inspiration to all our guests.

It is our prayer to make this a truly memorable wedding,
That brings glory and honor to the King of Kings.

Two words: Pure love. <3 <3 <3

I know these two souls even before they found each other, and I can truly say that when God writes a love story, He makes if perfect. :)

Jeff and Annie are two persons made whole by God, now coming together as one. It was such a delight to personally witness how their wonderful friendship blossomed into a deeper bf/gf relationship, and to finally become as husband and wife. :) I can still remember a time when Jeff visited Annie on our life group meeting carrying a lovely bouquet of flower. Everyone smiled and blurted "Aaawwwww". Super sweet, right? :) *sigh*

Their e-session was one I thoroughly enjoyed because of their fun and light personality. Jeff was a natural comedian and Annie is his biggest fan. :) I tell you, Jeff can crack a simple joke but you'll laugh your heart out! I was laughing and smiling and feeling warm the whole time I was taking their photos. They were so natural in front of the camera, and I can't imagine how they are off-the-cam. I'm so sure they will have a laughter-filled marriage ;)

J & A, I so love you both! :) It is my prayer that you grow more in love with each other as you walk with the Maker of Love. <3
See you on your BIG day! :)


More photos here <3.

Last 12 photos courtesy of Gerard Castro.
Makeup: Madi Dionio.

Rest in You

Rest in You
Hillsong United


Your faithfulness endures always
Where mountains fall and reason fails
And You calm the raging seas
And You calm the storms in me, again

All I know is I find rest in You
All I know is I find rest in You

My heart will praise throughout the night
Where singing seems a sacrifice
Your grace is all I need
Your grace is all I need

Listen here.