I'm glad I married you.

Sometimes I look at my husband and can't help but think that the decision I made to marry him is far more reaching that I have ever realized.

This man is amazing, in so many ways.  But one that really stands out  as I watch him is how hard working he is, not just in his chosen career but more especially at home.  Everyday he puts in his hours at work, comes home and tirelessly does more work, work, work.  From all sorts of home renovation projects like flooring, bathroom overhaul, kitchen magic, home theater awesomeness, to plumbing, car maintenance and car repainting.  Oh and he even cooks, cleans, organizes, does laundry and grocery shopping on a regular basis.  Seriously.

What people don't know is most of the work he does are things he has never done before, like fixing a water heater, a leak, or replacing a garbage disposal.  He has a gift of learning and creativity. He has the patience to learn things from scratch and research as much as he can to know better, to do better, to be better. 

Many times, I hear people say, "What can't your husband do?"  Our neighbor after seeing Adney work day after day told me once, "You didn't know you won a big prize when you married your husband, didn't you."  And he was right, I didn't.  I remember when we were still dating and I was unsure and just about called it quits.  Actually, he thought I did.  I was still living in Utah then, he in Arizona.  He drove to Utah that weekend to be with me.  After I told him I wasn't sure about how I felt, he bid his farewell to everybody else but me!  One of our good friends wisely called to tell me that Adney had left and driven back to Arizona.  I panicked.  I just remember feeling like life left me that night.  I wasn't sure about how I felt until he walked away.  So I called him and told him that we ought to talk about it more.  And he agreed.

In between all the work that he does, he finds time to constantly surprise me with the sweetest little things in life.  Like always filling up my tank at night so I wouldn't have to wake up early to do so the following day.  He leaves me money for lunch in my car because he knows I will forget my wallet one of these days.  He buys me things I didn't even know he knew that I liked.  He's observant and thoughtful beyond I can ever ask for.

I could have missed my chance of a lifetime.  And boy, I'm glad I didn't.  I don't know if I will ever know how far reaching his influence is--his life, his love, his sacrifices, his obedience, his diligence and his work, in this life and in the eternities to come.  I don't know if I will ever grow to be as hard working as this man.  I just know that some day when we have kids, if they will even be just half as diligent as their father, they will turn out fine.

PS. Written in our garage (Rose Garden Ln) as I watch my husband polish his car and see every neighbor slow down as they drive by to see what he's working on this time.  They're always curious to see what's he's working on next. :)

Adney and Cindy turned ONE!

In 2010, we moved from Tempe to North Phoenix, Galleria Palms to Trillium, meaning Petersen Park ward to Buffalo Ridge ward.  We had our series of firsts as married beings!  Our first valentines days when we also both spoke in church for the first time!  We had our first birthdays, our first temple session with Grandma Koga.  We  registered our marriage both with the US Government and the Philippine Embassy. We bought our first little charcoal grill and made our our first home-made burger.   Adney's first work day at Blackhawk. We met Cameron Cavins for the first time.  Our first travel together to the Philippines, Hongkong and Macau.  Our first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first New Year celebrations!  And our  

It has been an eventful year but the most important part is the growth we experienced.  Our relationship has grown, our love for each other has grown and even our bellies did!  We are more more used to each others routines, mood swings, and quirks.  There is something about knowing that you always have someone there for you, having to ask them before making decisions, rescheduling to accommodate theirs,  thinking of what he wants to do, to eat, what he needs.  It's definitely hard but I think this is why marriage is an essential part of His plan.  Because it is in this relationship that you learn to be more than what you thought you could ever be--more patient, more loving, more understanding, more kind, more forgiving.  It hones those attributes, and in the process you experience the most fun, most exciting, most happiness and most rewarding part of being alive.


Cheers to 2010. 

Making vows

We got married, yay!

December 26, 2009

LDS Mesa Arizona Temple Sealing Time at 3:00pm Sealer: Robert Welker It was simple, succint, and very very special. My heart is full of gratitude. For all the people who shared that day with us physically and in thought! :) Christmas day was the day before our sealing and many people gave up a good part of their Christmas day to help us decorate the cultural hall for dinner. There wasn't a program that night, really. We shared a meal together, heard a few words from our parents, and of course we had to have the cake-cutting part so we can eat the cake! I remember sitting in the waiting area with my then soon-to-be-husband. I was excited. Adney was nervous, I think! Because his hands were cold. He was probably thinking, "Am I really signing my life away today?" Hah.

The sealing (ceremony) of course was the most special part. I have only seen a few sealings perfomed prior to my own and I remember all of them very vividly. There were about 17 people with us in the sealing room. I could still picture where everyone was sitting in relation to us. I remember seeing five new faces in the room. To my left was Adney, right by him was his mom, and then grandma Koga, then my adopted grandparent Richard Macfarlane who is also one of our two witnesses, Dad Koga as the other witness, then Dwight, Mark, Eve and Neil, Stephanie and Dave Platt, my adopted grandmother Karen Macfarlane (whom I should have asked to sit by me as well), then there's Adney's mission President and his wife-the Bloods, the Bacciocos from California, then my sister and then me.

Robert Welker spoke words of wisdom for about 15 minutes prior to the sealing itself. He talked about the preparation that comes prior to that moment; the understanding of the vows; the depth and magnitude of the commitment; the support system we have so called family and friends; the responsibility and eternal work that we have ahead of us; and the choices we make to keep our promises. I was crying the entire time. And so was Adney. It was a joyful moment of realization. All throughout primary, young women and relief society, we were taught to prepare and look forward to that day when we will be sealed to the person we love for all time and eternity. There and then was THAT moment for me-- kneeling across the altar was my prince charming, my knight in shining armor, my dream come true. (I can be cheesy, this is my blog.)

I was grateful to have the opportunity to covet the promises which come from honoring the vows made inside the Lord's temple, grateful for every person in my life and his who helped us get to that kneeling moment.

First Snowfall 2008

The first snowfall of 2008. Adney and I went bowling with friends, played arcade games so us girls can get enough tickets to get BFF necklaces, and then goofed around both inside and outside the bowling place. Disturbance varied from Barbie and Ken dance moves to after-strike poses, dance rev challange, modelling the arcade game and the boys' lame snowball fights. Headed to Tintin and Connan's after for SATC movie and sleepover. Oh, and let's not forget Connans' classic line "Do you guys need a blanket?".

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

August 2008 Salt Lake City

This was Adney's first "mailed" letter to me. They came with a bunch of roses in a vase and chocolates. He ended his letter with what I thought to be a normal greeting- "Hope you have a wonderful weekend." I spent the next two days thinking of him every time I saw the flowers on the table. I have forgotten how flowers can do just that-- remind you of the person who gave them to you! That Thursday night he showed up at my doorstep from Arizona. He drove twelve hours. For the first time, I knew that his visit was for me! His previous visits to Utah were for our common friend Ryan Rubio and the rest of the Filipino crew. But this time, I knew that it was just for me. Just me.

He had the whole weekend planned out. Friday night, we dressed up all pretty to go to The Roof, a nice restaurant located at the top of the JSM Building right on State Street, overlooking the magnificence of the Salt Lake Temple.

It was a gorgeous evening. We had dinner together for our first official date. Just us. We talked and took time to get to know more about each other. Although I have known Adney for six years that time, I have never really tried to get to know him with the possibility of “us” in mind.

We took a walk around the square that night. Just us. I learned more about him that night than the past six years that we have known each other.

When we got home to get ready for the rest of the night, we found my girls outside my place! While I was strolling around, there were my girls, locked out, freezing, but patiently waiting for me. J Gotta love the dream girls! The rest of the night was pure fun.

The following morning, Adney and I got ready for his “surprise”. Just us. He took me to The Kura Door, a japanese holistic spa.I haven't been so pampered in a long time.I was three months into my program and he knew that I was having the stress of my life.He said he took me there because he knew I needed it, and I sure did!He went to his own private room, and I went to mine.We didn’t spend much time together but it was almost like the flowers he gave me.Because I was thinking about him the whole time I was there.He told me that he fell asleep from the massage so we know he wasn’t thinking about me! Haha.We went to Tin and Connan’s place afterwards for some BBQ and summer fun. J

Sunday came too soon. We walked to the temple square and took pictures we will treasure forever! :)

To say that I had a wonderful weekend is an understatement. He made sure I had one of the greatest weekends I have ever had!

Hun, can we go back to the house now?!

April fools day of the year 2009.

Salt Lake City

Adney recently moved back to Arizona some weeks prior and I was still living in Salt Lake. He flew in just a couple of days ago to be with me. When he's in town, he drives me to school and picks me up after work. So I've scheduled for him to pick me up at about 9pm when I normally finish work. That day however, I forgot that I was suppose to pick up my graduation gown and cap from the U bookstore. I called him quarter to 5pm and told him to come pick me up ASA.P The bookstore closes at 5:30 and I lived a good 15-20 minutes away from campus. So he hurried and off we went to the bookstore.

On our way back home I asked him what he wanted to do and if he had made any plans for us that night. He said "Don't worry Hun, I have our whole night planned out." I thought sweet, at least he doesn't have to keep asking me what I wanted to do. We dropped off my sister Georgie at home (he picked her up at the library on his way to my workplace) and we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Sawadee. We ordered the usual pla-lad-pik. While waiting, Adney seemed to be preoccupied so I asked if he was OK. He said he's fine. We finished dinner a good hour after. It's about 7:15pm and we had nothing else to do. Then he asked me what I wanted to do. I thought he had the night planned out?!! I told him we still have a lot of time before we need to go home. We decided to go to Tabularasa in Trolley Square and walked around the area. We didn't really find much to do and so I asked him what he wanted to do. Then, he smiled and said, I will take you to this place.

He drove me to one of the lookouts in Salt Lake City. It is situated right behind the state capitol and has a view of the entire Salt Lake Valley. It's one of my favorites because it's peaceful up there. It reveals the genius of the city planning, the virtues of those who developed it, and the majesty of the mountains that cradle it.

We stepped out of the car and walked towards the edge of the lookout. He wrapped his arms around me as we stood still to appreciate the beauty. Five minutes later, I asked, "Hun, can we go back to the house now?" He replied, "Are you cold?" I said yes. He insisted on staying there because he really wanted to and I insisted on going back to the house. I am not a good liar. As much as I wanted to keep myself from telling him the real reason, I felt guilty that I lied about why I wanted to go back to the house right then. He looked like he really wanted to stay there so I finally admitted "Hun, because I have to go do number 2!" He started laughing really loud. For two reasons I thought. First, because I have never really told him before that I have to go do number 2. And second, he probably thinks it's funny that I couldn't keep the truth form him as embarrassing as it is!

He then agreed but first pulled out a black journal from the trunk. Inside are entries he had written prior and he wanted me to read them at the lookout! He told me not to read it yet but I insisted. As he drove down from the top of the hill, I started reading what he wrote...

The rules of this journal is simple. One of us will always have the journal. Then we write our feelings, thoughts or whatever you feel like writing in this journal then we pass it back and forth at random times.

I wanted to cry. Eversince I can remember, I have alwayd imagined doing this with someone special but I have never been able to. Here is a man who actually initiated an unspoken wish in my heart. How could he have known? I was trying really hard to keep the tears from falling. So many thoughts were racing through my mind at this point-- Was he going to ask me to marry him? Did I just ruin his proposal plan beacause I had to go potty? Will that be in the story forever? I wasn't sure if he was going to pop the big question. I didn't want to be too emotional. I can't cry, what if he's just bluffing, it's April fools day. He totally would! The believing part of me then panicked. "Did I just ruin it?" I said out load. He just looked at me, laughed, and kept driving. "Can we go back to the lookout?" He said it's okay so I continued reading. He went on to write about our journey and the choices we have made that lead us to each other. He talked about our dates and the experiences that has brought us closer together. As soon as I finished reading, we parked right outside my place. He asked tha I sit still because he has other things in the trunk. He pulled out a dozen of red roses, my favorite dessert, plates, utensils, and my purse. He said "I am not going to wait any longer."

He pulled out a ring box from his pocket and opened it. It was empty. He said "Someday, I will be able to fill this box with a ring for you." (Adney quit work nine months prior to that and so I really wasn't expecting him to buy me a ring yet.) He took my hand. His were cold and shaking. He finally said "Maaari ba kitang maging kabiyak?" which literally means "Will you be my other half?" But I figured he probably really meant "Will you marry me?" I laughed, I put my hands in his face, looked him in his eyes, smiled, responded "Awww, of course Hun, I will!" and kissed him! *censored, haha*

He told me about how he has planned to cook dinner for us that night, buy my favorite dessert pick me up at 9pm, take me to the lookout and do the whole proposal up there. He said he has been practicing his line the whole day that's why he lookd nervous at the restaurant. He was afraid that he might not be able to say it right. Haha.

Just when I thought that it was the end of all the surprises for that night, he told me that he had another and pointed toward the direction of my purse. I picked up my purse and inside I found a little brown teddy bear. (Two weeks prior, I had a dream about him proposing to me in a room full of about 50 teddy bears of different sizes.) I pulled out the bear and found a gorgeous ring tied around its neck. I said, "REALLY?" He laughed, I hugged him and at that point, I could no longer hold myself back from crying!