Back To Reality

We are finally back from our Manila trip and now on the road to figuring out how to blend our lives together. Going from the wedding to the holidays and then to our trip to Manila was quite an adventure. We seemed to have come out of it still smiling and with fond memories of our trip.

MANILA, MANILA

Being back home was a refreshing feeling. The longest time I've spent in any one place was my 11 years in Manila. It's interesting how even after being away for a number of years I adjust almost immediately to life in Manila.

The best part of this recent trip was introducing Bruce to my life in Manila and my numerous relatives. Introducing him to over 50 of my relatives the day after flying into Manila may have been too much. I didn't expect him to remember all the names and faces -- that would have been too much to ask for!

Vincent enjoyed the food (of course, who wouldn't?!) and being with relatives. It was nice to have people who were available to check in on him or take him out while Bruce and I were at the beach. This is a connection that I miss a lot when I'm in Corvallis. I can go over to my grandparent's house in the morning and chat with my aunts and uncles. Or we would often be invited to eat out or go out of town by another aunt or uncle. On Sundays we would have lunch with my dad's side of the family. Our last Sunday there they had hired a dance instructor so we did our best to dance, which made for lots of laughter. Another uncle and I spent our two-hour drive from the beach to our restaurant stop along the way catching up on all the latest news about other relatives. I could see why Vincent would enjoy being with all these people. It's sure signs of our roots and a source of our identity.

THE BEACH

Bruce and I got to get away for a few days to visit Boracay. Aaaahhh... It was so beautiful and relaxing. The calm, clear, blue water soothed our tired bodies (after four months of planning a wedding, working, and then the holidays, we were exhausted!). We had the opportunity to snorkel amidst thousands of awesome colored fish! Aaaahhh...

We also enjoyed taking the tricycle (a motorcycle with a covered side car that is a common form of public transportation in the Philippines) to D'Talipapa (a modernized way of saying "the market"). You can find stores that sell local crafts, produce, and other items. The highlight of this market, though, is the wet market. The wet market is a place that sells all kinds of meat -- seafood, beef, pork, poultry... They call it "wet" because they use water to clean up the areas around them, so it's usually wet. Or it could be the blood that's dripped down onto the ground. In any case, it's wet. We loved picking out our own seafood and then taking it to the restaurant across the way for them to cook. You can have them cook this anyway you want them to. Fresh seafood and buko (young coconut) for me and a beer for Bruce is the best way to spend your lunch!

The rest of our days were spent relaxing in our resort's cabanas right by the beach. We even got to have a massage inside our cabana. Heavenly... Bruce got to experience, for the first time, swimming in an ocean without a wet suit. The water at Boracay is so calm and blue. It makes you feel like you're in a swimming pool -- a God-sized swimming pool!

In my mind I'm already planning another trip to the beach. It keeps me sane because it reminds me that there is light at the end of this dark, rainy tunnel.

CALATAGAN

I also got to show Bruce one of my most favorite beaches in the whole world. It's the beach that we went to growing up in the Philippines. My dad's parents had a beach house in Calatagan and we would go there often. I have very fond memories of this beach. The house is now gone, but the memories are firmly in tact. It may not have the fine, white sand and the fancy resorts, but it's the one place where I find peace and joy. I remember the fireflies that used to illuminate the trees. I remember the late night card games with my aunts and uncles. I remember the stars that filled the sky and trying to count how many falling stars would cross the sky. I remember waking up to the sound of a pig being killed for our yummy lunch of roasted pig (lechon). I remember collecting shells and hermit crabs. I remember the long walks along the beach. I remember snorkeling right in front and seeing the most amazing creatures.

I remember all the people we went there with. We were all once so much younger and full of energy. Now I see some of them getting older and not being able to do quite as much as they used to.

FAMILY

I guess trips to Manila always just brings me back to family. I may not have very many friends (and those that I do have I treasure dearly!), but I never felt lonely because of how close I am to my relatives back home. Dropping by my dad's parent's house (my grandparent whom we call Momay and Popay) was just so much a part of me because I grew up there, I lived there, and I spent time with people there. I love dropping by to find my Momay and Popay still at the table with my uncles and maybe an aunt. We would end up chatting there for as long as time would let us. Or getting together with my mom's mother, or Lola as we would call her, and Tita Chary to go visit my Lolo's (grandfather) grave site. This, of course, would lead to lunch. I enjoyed the weekly gatherings once at my dad's side of the family and once at my mom's side. There would be lots of conversations, laughter, and food. Sometimes lunch would lead into dinner even. There was never a lack of company in Manila. I miss this tremendously. People are busy, yet available.

Well, I better continue this later on. This is my brief update for now. More to follow later. Time to relax with Bruce. This I like about Oregon :)

Finally! A Post Wedding Update

My little household is still sleeping, so I thought I would take advantage of this quiet moment to finally post an update. Times to write have been quite rare these past few months. First there was the annual bazaar, then there was the wedding, then moving, then the holidays, plus work, plus Vincent,... Phew... Thinking back is getting me exhausted again! But it was all so GOOD!

THE WEDDING

The most-asked question before the wedding was, "How are the wedding preparations?". I could tell that people were expecting that I would break down in tears because of stress or have a long list woes about dealing with Bruce about wedding decisions. It was nothing like that at all. Preparing for our wedding was so much fun! In our minds it was clear that God had this wedding planned for us. Everything just fell into place. We got married on December 12th, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who also happens to be the Patron Saint of Marriages. Everybody that we worked with had all the same ideas we had for our wedding. Most importantly, Bruce and I were on the same page with so many of the details for our wedding. This wedding was truly meant to happen as we even found out two days before the wedding that we needed to have a marriage license three days before the wedding! Bruce and I laughed about this all the way to the courthouse and that worked itself out as well.

On our mini-honeymoon at the Coast (which was so generously given to us by Katrina and Aki!), Bruce and I would talk on and on about our wedding. We were so thankful that we could reflect back on our wedding and see it as a truly joyous occassion. It was just lovely. We started the festivities with a rehearsal on a cold and icy evening. The People of Praise Community Center was lovingly decorated by a wonderful group of ladies. The details were impeccable -- down to ornaments that said "Michi and Bruce, Dec. 12, 2010". The food. prepared by those from the community as well, was so yummy, too!

The next day the ice melted and most of our guests were able to attend the wedding. Mass was celebrated by Fr. John Henderson, our Pastor and my boss. We looked out into the Church and all we saw were friends and family. Each and every person in this crowd was someone we knew and someone who really wanted to celebrate with us. It felt so comfortable being up by the altar. One reason because all the faces in the crowd were friendly. Another because marrying Bruce just felt so right.

The reception venue was full and more tables and chairs had to be added! There was a constant chatter and lots of laughter. As Barb Anderson, our Pastoral Associate and my supervisor, put it, "It wasn't like a wedding, it was more like a party -- which is a good thing!". Almost everyone knew each other from the parish. And those who didn't really know too many people were really made to feel welcome and got to make new friends. Vincent's tutor, Sarah, ended up having her daughter leave her when it was time to go because she wasn't ready to leave yet. She was then taken home by another guest whom she had just gotten to know that evening.

If I had to relive that whole experience, I would do it in an instant. Of course, only if I would be marrying Bruce again :) As it goes, I am most excited about moving forward though and enjoying each moment now. Our transition has been much easier than I expected. Vincent just loves his new stepdad and Bruce has been just wonderful with him. Vincent is learning so many new things from Bruce -- like enjoying things like a punching bag (which is very prominent in Vincent's room) and antlers on a rack. Males will be males...

WHAT'S NEXT?

Now we are excitedly preparing for our trip to the Philippines! I am so excited to be going back home with Bruce and Vincent. We are all looking forward to seeing Bruce in Manila and the kinds of reactions he will receive. There's non-stop talk about food, friends, family, and beaches. Bruce and I will be taking off for a few days to enjoy some time on a warm beach. Aaaahhhh... It really doesn't get any better than this.

WHAT DID I LEARN?

This wouldn't be a Michi Blog without any lessons learned:) These past few months have been amazing. We all talk about trusting in God's plans for us and leaving it all up to Him. This has been such a struggle because I want to control what happens. I want things to go my way. I thought I knew what I wanted, but it wasn't to be. I fought it for so long. When I finally gave up and told God that, He took over. Boy, did He take over! I am now married to the best friend I could possibly think of. We talk, laugh, and just enjoy each other's company. God has brought to Vincent a man who understands him, cares for him, has fun with him, and is just an excellent role model. I always thought I had to settle for one or the other, but no. God is sharing with me someone who truly fits and then some!

I asked Bruce if it will always be this much fun. His answer? No. Fine. I suppose he's right. I have been reminded, though, that God will take care of us. I know I will need to be reminded of this constantly. Fortunately, God knows and expects this of me. The most powerful lesson of all this -- meeting Bruce to being married to him -- is that God knows me and knows what's best for me. He knows me and loves me. Wow.

I am Woman...

My dad would always say that in the Philippines there was never any need for women's liberation. That's because Filipina women are very strong already even in a country where machismo thrives. Maybe it's because of this that we've become strong. Women, in general, have definitely become more powerful and independent. But is this how we naturally evolved or has it come out of necessity? Is this what we truly wanted? Is this where we were meant to be?

I know that I've always wanted to have a career. When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher. In high school I wanted to be a marine biologist (until I was told by aunts that there's no money in this field, but sometimes I wonder "what if..."). In college I wanted to have my own business. The way my life unfolded, I had to ensure I had an income no matter what. I am thankful that my work is something that I really enjoy and believe in. Being a single mother -- to a special needs child at that -- has had its challenges, but you do what you need to do.

Studies show that one in four births are to never-married women. A fourth of all births! Have we changed the course of nature? Women and men are naturally made differently. It's so obvious from physical traits to personality traits. There's a reason that women are the ones that carry babies. Why have we decided that we want roles of men and women to be interchangeable? As I get older and observe more and more people, I come to ask myself this question more often... What's wrong with embracing what God has given to us?

I'm not saying that women shouldn't have careers, businesses, or be submissive creatures that follow their husbands around. Why can't we just embrace the fact that women are inherently women and men are men? Maybe if we value ourselves for who we were created to be, then marriages would be treated with more respect? When we start to think that men and women are equal in all ways, what is keeping us from learning and growing from our differences? What is keeping us from fully accepting our partners for everything that they are?

I love how Bruce and I are alike in plenty of ways. Yet I also love how we are different as well. We've definitely had lots of laughs about this. Our world is so much broader because of these differences. I love being able to cook for Vincent and Bruce. I love taking care of them whenever I can. It just comes naturally. I love how Bruce protects me. I love how he is willing horse-play with Vincent because I don't. We compare how our views on different issues vary because of our being male and female. In acknowledging these differences, we respect each others' views and learn. I've come to realize how important it is for me and Vincent to have his views and male-way of doing things. We have lots of fun, great conversations, and a greater understanding of each other. I especially find Vincent and Bruce's fascination towards "manly" things really funny -- movies, martial arts, etc.

Why do I like it? Then they acknowledge me as a woman. There are times when they agree with my point of view. There are times when it's funny. There are times when they just shake their heads. But, in the end, it's still my way and I'm accepted and respected for it. Of course, there's still a lot to learn from each other and sometimes I can tell that it's frustrating for all of us. But since the differences are recognized, we're willing to learn. I love how comfortable I am in asserting myself now. In the past, I had this need to be accepted as a full equal and often ended up not saying anything at all. Well, the whole dynamics of those relationships are very different as a whole. I was always unsure of myself and had more insecurities in these relationships. I tried so hard to please the other, tried to be just like the other, and ended up either not being accepted or getting worn out from all the work that it took.

I sometimes will take it to the extreme. If we want so much to get rid of gender differences, then why aren't men wearing skirts like we wear pants? I don't know. Just asking.

So you're probably wondering why there are fall pictures throughout this. First of all, I think they look nice. Second of all... Just as nature has to go through its changes, so must we. Each season of our life brings a different look and feel, but all that we go through is meant to bring out the beauty in each of us.

DO I HAVE ISSUES? OF COURSE, I HAVE ISSUES!

As Bruce and I get close to our wedding day (as of writing, 86 more days!), it's easy to let stress and schedules overwhelm me. The past 3 days have been spent mostly in bed because I am burned out. Well, that may be oversimplifying it. I did have a fever and severe headaches through most of it, but this may have been caused by too much on the brain and body. I think of all that I have ahead of me and I wish I could sleep for the next 85 days. Wouldn't it be nice to just skip through everything and wake up on my wedding day with everything prepared. Poor Bruce!
I am thankful for all the love and support that I get from Bruce. These past couple of months have been challenging in so many different ways. I am thankful for the laughter, lively conversations, companionship, distraction, and shoulder(s) to cry on that Bruce has provided. This relationship has been so easy. It may be a funny word to use, but it's how I can best describe it. With Bruce the laughter comes easily, the conversations flow easily, the security comes easily,... As a result, he has made me feel better about myself in an indirect manner. He builds me up through his reassurance and presence. I never thought relationships can be this effortless. Hehe, I hope he feels the same way :)

WHO AM I?
A few evenings ago I had a meeting. Upon reflecting on what happened that evening, I am struck by something that was said during that meeting. For those in the Philippines, immigration is a huge concern here in the US. With such a large population of migrants and immigrants, there is a definite need to fight for rights for those that have come here -- documented and undocumented. There are health issues, food scarcity, equal access to resources, etc. What struck me was the immediate connection made to Hispanic undocumented immigrants. Yes, they are a large population, but they are not the only immigrants in this country. An immigrant is anybody who has uprooted from their home country to move to another country to live and work. It seems in this room it was completely forgotten that I AM AN IMMIGRANT. Why are all our programs so focused on one group of this large pool of people?

I still don't qualify for a lot of resources because I've been here for less than 5 years. Before working for the Church, I could not have access to Oregon Health Plan so that Vincent could get health care because we haven't been here long enough. I couldn't get into programs that I was interested in because I'm not an American citizen. Really difficult for somebody with a child with special needs. And you know what? I'm already one of the more fortunate ones because I have parents who can support me. What about the millions of documented immigrants throughout this vast country who don't have the support, who have less, and still trying very hard to adapt to this complicated world they've moved to. I've seen so many people lose their identities in order to fit into this society; so that they could have a chance at being seen as an equal. Does that seem right? In a country made up of immigrants (yes, pretty much EVERYBODY here has immigrant roots), why is it such a struggle to accept people as they are, from wherever they are from, and giving them the same rights as soon as they step foot here? I just don't get it. And why are we so easily set aside? I am not denying that undocumented immigrants need to have resources and be given what is due to them. I wholly believe that something must be done in this justice system to aid those who are in need the most. I am just wondering what about the rest of us?

DEEP BREATHS
I'm doing my best to take deep breaths and just take it easy. I definitely have a strong tendency to get worked up and to rant continuously about what's fair and what's not fair. What can I say? I've been doing it since I was much younger -- just ask my parents :) I am in the process of discerning how I can slow down my life. It is moving way too fast and it's making me physically sick. I believe that my blood pressure, stress level, and lack of energy is due to the overly busy schedule and lack of slow moments. Life does not have to be full of busyness in order to be full. Life is full when it is spent with people you love, doing what truly makes your heart happy, and being able to spend quiet moments with the Lord. Aaaaah...

Just Some Thoughts...

I'm always wanting to write about what's going on or what's on my mind, but finding the time to just sit down for at least an hour is such rare occurence. It's something I wish I could do more often and really need because it's how I best express myself. There are just too many things I need and want to do, so writing suffers.

HAPPINESS

So many things have happened these past few weeks. The passing away of my friend and co-worker, Sue, was not a happy event. But for the most part everything else has been very good. Today our pastor, Fr. John, focused his Homily on "The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat." What I liked and related to the most was his saying how all of us at one point in our lives have felt defeat -- defeat to the point of not wanting to live on and just losing hope. During the times that I've felt the lowest I have gotten so many advice from people around me. One that Fr. John pointed out was to eat, some friends turned to partying all night, some friends wanted to talk things to death, and others got to the point where they had to practice tough love and refused to talk to me during my self-inflicted depressed state. Earlier this year brought me to one of my lowest moments. All the well-intentioned advice helped me through for a short while, but the one that truly gave me strength was prayer, the knowledge that God was there for me even when I was so angry at him, and just my continued faith that God would help me out of this lowest moment. The happiness I feel now is living proof of His grace.

Throughout the tough times I forced myself to pray because it was not coming easily. Barb told me to just pray one decade of the Rosary in the morning and another in the evening. I did that using a decade rosary given to me by a friend. All the while I maintained a routine of meeting up with friends even though there were times when I just did not have the energy to do so. As spring came along, life started to take a different turn. I met Bruce and began to spend more and more time with him. My outlook on life became more and more hopeful. To the point now where I know that I have met the man that I am meant to spend the rest of my life with.

I reflect on my time with my friends and even that has changed. A dear friend of mine that I have lunch with every month told me how much I've changed over the past several months. She said that when she first met me (approximately 4 years ago) and up to last year, I was so serious and just not much fun. We still enjoyed each other's conversations, but she said that I took life so seriously. She says now I beam and she can tell how much more I'm enjoying life. She's so right. I have learned once again that it's OK to laugh, to feel secure in my capabilities, and to just be myself.

It's such a wonderful blessing to be able to laugh so much once again. Earlier this year I realized how much I missed laughing. It almost felt like I hadn't done that in four years. I felt as if the most laughter I had had was when I was working in the preschool. I even made it a resolution to laugh more this year. This is the first year that I can honestly say that I am living out my resolutions. I am once again living my life, I have found love and am loved, and my relationship with Bruce is so full of laughter. What a blessing from God! No other being on this Earth could have possibly given me this wonderful gift.

When Bruce and I decided on a date for our wedding, we picked a date that would work best for us. The day after we chose the date, we realized that the date we chose is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Bruce likes Our Lady of Guadalupe so much that he carries a card with her image in his car. Our parish always has a celebration on this day, so I worried that we would not be able to get the Church on this day. Turns out that since the day is on a Saturday, the festivities have to be moved to the morning. Not only would we be able to use the Church later that day, but they would leave all the roses for us to use for our wedding -- Bruce's favorite flower! When I was discussing these details with my co-worker, Ina Hecker, she pointed out to me that Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patron Saint of marriages. This gave me goosebumps because it further re-affirmed the fact that this relationship is really a gift from God. A few days back I was holding on to the decade rosary given to me by my friend, the one that I used to pray during my lowest moments, I realized something that gave me goosebumps once again. This decade rosary was purchased from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico. I always believed in miracles, but this is the biggest miracle of my life yet. It is most especially one that I never expected to happen in my life. Earlier this year I was so sure that I would spend the rest of my days alone. Now I am planning to spend the rest of my days with the only man that has ever brought me so much laughter, joy, care, and love.

I am surrounded by so much love and happiness. My friends could not be happier for me -- one got on her knees and thanked God, one immediately offered her services for any help that I would need during these busy planning months, and another was in tears. God has blessed me with such dear friends. Musician friends have offered their services for the wedding itself -- we're going to have the best music at our wedding! Vincent is excited that Bruce and Alex will soon be a part part of our lives. My mom is impressed with Bruce's willingness to help in any way he can. And I just thoroughly the laughter that fills the room when we all get together.

Bruce does so much to lift me up and to encourage me. He tells me everyday how much he loves me, how intelligent and beautiful I am (haha, still hard for me to accept; espcecially when I've been told in the past that I'm not :) ), and always wants what's best for me. His kindness, affection, love, intellect, sense of humor, and capability to care deeply amazes me and touches me so deeply. I thank God for sharing with me his son and allowing me to care for him for the rest of my life. I thank Him for the love of Vincent, family, and relatives. I thank Him for all the people He has surrounded me with.

Brief Update...

The other day Vincent asked me why I haven't blogged lately. Hmmm... I don't really have any reason why. I just haven't. I always think of things I'd like to write about, but just don't get around to it. So here I am again. For a little bit anyway. I am in the middle of getting ready to go out with Bruce, so I'll keep this short.

VINCENT
This almost 12-year-old young man is definitely showing signs of preteen-hood. The subtle change is in his skin. He's getting those little bumps I knew so well as a teenager. The not-so-subtle changes are with regards to his medication. Fortunately, with the help of his psychiatrist, we are able to minimize the effects of these changes.

He goes back to school on Monday (yehey!) and he isn't quite sure how to feel about that. Part of him is happy to see his friends again and to be busy. The other part is not looking forward to waking up early and all the work that comes with it. He's looking forward to tae kwon do again.

WORK
It's been a glorious summer with regards to work. There's enough to do, but it's also quiet. Most of the people I work with have either tuned out for the summer or are out visiting their grandchildren. I'm talking about the volunteers who work with Social Justice committees. The office is very quiet, so I have plenty of time to catch up with the reading I should be doing. But there are still enough activities to keep my days interesting. I love it! I am looking forward to the coming year (our year is more like the academic year) and all the changes that come with it.

BRUCE
All is still going well with Bruce. We have been talking about visiting the Philippines in January. I look forward to seeing him in the midst of a busy mall. That would be a sight! This 6'5", redhead surrounded by a sea of black-haired people all around a foot shorter. I look forward to showing him my life in the Philippines and taking him to warm beaches! Even I am truly looking forward to going to the beach again. I'm most looking forward to introducing him to all my relatives (let's see if he can keep their names straight!) and friends.

I must say that being with Bruce has been such a huge blessing for me. He is truly a gift that I treasure deeply. Each moment spent with Bruce is filled with conversation, laughter, and spiritual growth. We are different enough to broaden each other's world, yet similar enough to really, really get along. He builds me up and encourages me like no other person has. I hope that I do the same for him. I am looking forward to what God has planned for us.

Well, I better finish getting ready. I will blog more often that I have been. As I said, this is short. Looking forward to blogging more!

Life as it Moves Forward...

It feels like it's been a while since I last blogged. There have been longer periods of time between blogging than this one, but so much has happened since the last time I wrote that I feel like it's been months since my last entry. Whew... That was a long sentence...
Vincent has been out of school for the past three weeks. He attends a school that goes year-round, so they have these 3 to 4-week breaks in between terms. In some ways it's nice, like I've been able to attend morning Mass. There are disadvantages to this as well. He has been so bored out of his mind because I still have to go to work and there really isn't much going on for kids in his situation during this time of the year. He is so looking forward to going back to school again to be with his little buddies (I call them little because they are all at least a head shorter than Vincent :) -- who would have thought that an Asian boy would be taller than his white, male friends!?).

It's hard to believe that Vincent is turning 12 years old this year! How did I get to have a 12-year-old son!?! I remember turning 12 years old and what I was doing that year... That's when boys were really cute. I was back in Manila attending Assumption (I was in the 7th grade) and hanging out with my WAB (We Are Bad -- oh my goodness!) group of friends. I remember going to Shakey's Pizza and ordering a pitcher of beer! Worst of all... They gave it to us!!! Aaagggghhhhh!!! I am very worried now!!!! Um, we may not be taking any trips to Manila until Vincent turns 21 years old :) This makes me realize how much more responsible and smarter he is than I was at his age. He loves to watch the news, give people advice about their love life (he told me at one point that I needed to learn how to give up a bad relationship and move forward -- he has since given more advice), and he enjoys baking with his tutor. I think I'm happy with how he's doing.

Work continues to be something I enjoy tremendously. I still deal with challenging personalities, but it only makes my job all the more interesting. I am amazed at the opportunities that present itself and the people that I encounter through my work. I am getting more and more involved with homelessness in Corvallis, organizations that address poverty within Benton County and Oregon, and advocating for various ethnicities (primarily Asians and Hispanics). The people that are sent to me also make me wonder what God wants me to do. I was previously in contact with a woman who has had some brain damage and needing a bit of assistance. She was quite a struggle and very time-consuming because nothing was ever good enough for her. It came to a point where Barb, our Pastoral Associate who supervises me, had to tell her that there's nothing more I can do for her. There are times when I wonder if I could have done more for her. Well, God must have been listening to me because he decided to send someone else with a somewhat similar disposition my way yesterday. This one, however, is a bit more self-sufficient and is actually able to take action for herself. Our conversation, though, was quite similar to the previous one. What was heartbreaking for me with both cases is that they are both all alone in this world without anybody to really care for them. Yes, they have family here and there, but their families have given up on them because it's a neurological damage rather than a physical damage. Their families do not understand why they don't function well since there is no outward, physical damage. They decide that all the help and attention these ladies need are made up in their heads and turn their backs to them. As we talk, this is always the point they break down and cry. I am thankful that this second one mentioned to me that she turns to praying to find comfort. She is from no specific religion, she just believes in a higher being. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit gave me the opportunity to talk about her faith life. She now wants to attend our Easter celebration, receive a blessing, and asked me to take her to our Perpetual Adoration Chapel so that she could pray in peace even for just a few minutes. These experiences are more powerful for me than the person I am talking with I'm sure.

As for me... I am amazed once again with the power of God in my life. Truly and incredibly amazed. We always hear and talk about how God answers prayers in His own way, but never fully realize the power in it until He shows us the beauty of His work. As most of you may know, there was a time when I was struggling with a broken relationship. I went through so much in trying to figure out what God had planned for me and then one day decided to just let go. It was the best feeling ever and I realized that all I needed to do was trust God to lead me down the path that He had in store for me. Not too long after that God sent my way a most amazing man. I've known of Bruce for a few years now, but never really got to talk much with him. The first time we got to talk really was at our Mardi Gras back in February. During this time I was happy to have gotten to talk with him, but my mind was still in other places. Soon after I let go of past relationships and was feeling very happy about how life turned out, Bruce asked to be friends on Facebook (yay Facebook!). Ever since this time we've been continuously communicating, gone on hikes, spent time with each other's friends and family, and really been spending time to get to know each other.

I must say that I've been thoroughly enjoying Bruce's company. He makes laughter come so easily, time fly by so quickly, and sharing more meaningful. Most important to me is how he loves and follows God. His faith and the community he belongs to is very important to him. I admire this tremendously. For those who have been following my blog, you know how important this is to me. Bruce just makes me so happy. I never knew that a relationship could be so full with so little effort. It just flows and happens. It's even harder to believe that it's been just a little over a month. In this short amount of time, I feel as if I've connected with a man more than I ever have with any other. It's crazy! I love it!

It's hard to believe that Easter is just a couple of days away. I look back at this Lenten season and reflect on what I've learned. I am feeling a bit bad about not being able to live out all that I had hoped to, but I also did pick up on a couple of things that I had let go of previously. This Holy Week just brings to the forefront the love that God has for us. It blows my mind that Jesus died for us in such a cruel and painful manner, all to save us from our sins. Our Church just recently got it's new cross. It is beautiful not just because of how it looks. It is beautiful because of what it stands for. The Corpus (Jesus' body) arrived yesterday and I dropped by to see it. It wasn't hung yet and was lying on the ground wrapped in plastic. I was hoping to see it hung up in front of the cross, but they were still working on it. I looked at Jesus and was filled with joy. I touched the part of his shoulder that did not have any plastic. How many people in our lives would die for us? We say it so easily, but would we really do it? How many people loves us as deeply and abundantly? Who else will save us time and time again from our own mistakes, forgives us, and still loves us wholeheartedly?

I wish you all a wonderful Easter. I hope you are surrounded by those you love!