Tag: david

Another Day Closer to You

Rhiza7 Comments

It’s a month too late to have a 2010 recap, but February, for all sentimental reasons, is what I consider to be the first month of the year 2010 for both David and me. Not only is it the month of love, but it’s also around this time last year that we *blushes* got back together. In this regard I can say that year 2010 is somehow just about to come to a close for us.

And what a year it has been! :)

Underneath the promise ring I gave him last November, these words were engraved: “Another day closer to you” —a line from a song he wrote for me in 2007:

Sure it was a long day today
Sure we both have ups and downs to say
It’s okay, my love, it’s through
Another day closer to you
So as we end the day I want to say to you
I love you, and I’ll always be true
I love you, in spite of all that we’ve been through
So rest and close your eyes
Everything will be okay
I’ll stay, with you.

It was just a silly goodnight song he made up while we were saying goodbye on Skype one night. But as nights turned to months, and months turned to years, the song has become more like a commitment, a promise that keeps us sane whenever the time difference, the distance, and everything that comes with this long-distance affair, starts to drain us out.

It’s not a walk in the park, keeping a long-distance relationship, being oceans apart, but in all these months I’ve learned to dwell in the truth that it was God–undeniably–who brought us back together. And He’s the One who will keep us together too.

When I look back into my life and think about defining moments, I think of my salvation, the day I chose to follow Him and declare Him to be my Savior and Lord, and how everything was never the same since.

And then I think of my other salvation, how God saved me from my wrong choices and bad relationships. David is, and will always be, one of my most favorite plot twists. It’s a story I’ve been trying to preserve in a little space in the web for the past 8 months, albeit my inability to give it justice, and oh how I love looking back at how God pulled it off! You can call it a “love story” but ultimately it was a story of God’s grace–God giving us another chance to make things right, undeserving of a love like this as we are. <3

What a year, indeed! Happy New Year to us, D!

Rockefeller Christmas Tree at Midnight

RhizaLeave a comment

A few nights after the Rockefeller Christmas Tree was lit, and on one of the coldest nights in my life (heads up: I’m from the tropics so what’s cold for me may just be a normal cold to you), David and I, with his whole family, had a late night road trip to the city to see the most visited and photographed Christmas tree in Manhattan.

Nothing here but a bunch of photos, really.

Merry Christmas!

Bikeathon at Central Park

Rhiza4 Comments

It’s my third week here in NY. I wish there’s a way I could make time slow down a bit!

David and I have been to just a few places so far. As much as we want to spend more time outdoors during the day, he has to be at work and so do I, so we only get to date out in the evenings and over the weekends. But that’s okay, I’ll have more time to get to know New York next time.

The leaves have started falling off, the temperature has dropped close to 30F these past couple of days, everyone’s been layering up. Thank God for Black Friday, I managed to score some discounted layers at an outlet store over the weekend.

But how can I complain? New York is just as I remember it—mysterious in so many ways, and there’s always ALWAYS something to do. Staten Island, on the other hand, is everything I never expected it to be (in a good way)—a lot more laid back than Manhattan, with a commute system that’s good enough to take you wherever you need to be.

On my second Saturday here, David took me to my first ever Central Park bike ride. As for my most favorite New York moments, this one has definitely climbed the charts (sorry for the tacky Serendipity reference). What a contrast to my “ordinary” Central Park experience in 2008!

If you’re my Facebook friend I’m pretty sure you’ve come across this album already, but blogger duties, here are some of the photos from that Central Park trip. :)

We rented out these bikes at $14 per hour from CP Bike Tours and Rentals, impulsively if I may add, at West 58th street near the corner of 7th avenue.

I wasn’t sure I still knew how to bike, I can’t remember the last time I rode one of those and was a bit apprehensive at first, but I took the challenge and I’m just sooo glad I did! :)

I can’t get over these photographs David took from that day. He was actually taking these shots! With his heavy Nikon D90!! With one hand!!! From his moving bike!!! How awesome is my fiance? <3

We stopped by the Bethesda Fountain to take photos.

..and by this lake, just because I had a photo of that building in the background last time I was here and I thought it was really pretty.

And then we stopped over to take photos by the trees and the leaves.

I could swim in a sea of golden leaves all day!

We took turns taking photos.

My friends think David looks like he’s from some Korean telenovela. I concur! Lol.

We found this bench and I sighed in awe. I don’t think I’ve ever found a more romantic place than New York. <3

I’ve always wanted to do an Elizabeth Gilbert, you know, go some place where I can marvel at something. And well, here I am. I’ve been marveling at everything since I landed, and there’s always something new to look forward to each day. <3

I can never enumerate in my hands all the things God has provided us with that made this trip possible, and everything we’ve gone through to get us to this day. I’m in constant awe at how good God has been to us, a lifetime thanking Him will never be enough.

Tuesdate at Downtown Manhattan

RhizaLeave a comment

Reposting from FB, November 16. Date backtracked. Photo Dump!

When I went here in 2008, taking the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty was a special event. Now, it’s a way of life. It’s the fastest commute to Manhattan from Staten Island after all. I could really get used to this, you know? :)

It was my first week here, and David took me to Oh! Taisho, a Japanese restaurant in the East Village.

We were playing with David’s 50mm Nikkor lens on his D90. Love it!

What I was wearing that night: Jeans from Folded and Hung; Scarf and Boots from Babo; Ridiculously expensive coat from Zara; and gloves from a sidewalk vendor somewhere along East Village ;)

It was drizzling on the way back home. We were somewhere in the business district downtown, and the wet pavement and the pretty city lights made it a perfect night to take photos. If only we have a real photographer following us around, it would have been another prenup opportunity! :)

Hello from New York

Rhiza6 Comments

Hello, I made it to New York! My first weekend here has come and gone. An Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship concert at Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan, home-cooked dinner by David’s mother, and the Pacquiao-Margarito fight welcomed me on my first day, with the rest of the weekend spent with David’s church friends and relatives in Jersey City. It was pretty hectic, but how can I complain?

Besides, no jetlag for me. My body clock loves EST. :)

This is us in front of CBCNYC at West 57th street on my first night.

OTD: Romper – Trunkshow; Cardigan – Landmark; Shoes – Cinderella

Because I was heading straight to Manhattan from the airport, I had to change from my 18-hour-flight-friendly jeans, t-shirt and slip ons, to a more presentable outfit. Isn’t this romper pants the prettiest thing? Thank you, Trunk Show!! I think I’m going to live inside this romper for months. The fabric’s a bit too thin for the chilly autumn air though, but the legwarmers I was wearing underneath did the trick!
Continue reading “Hello from New York” →

I’ll watch the night turn light blue

Rhiza

Hello, this is my room. Well, parts of it. Only the good parts. And by “good” I mean the ones that are photogenic, those areas that have some semblance of order. Photo dump!

I work here *sometimes*. (Haha, I think I spend more time working in bed, or in the couch.)

My mirror is duuurrty, but it’s like, one of my most favorite things. Ever.

It was Mom’s idea to have my bed built in, totally saves up space! Love it!

This is what I wore to Bible Study last Thursday.

OTD: Sundress – Some tiangge, Robinsons Timog; Leggings – Kate Torralba’s Leg Love; Cardigan – Nui Clothing; Bag – Girbaud; Shoes – Payless; Necklace – arbored from a friend’s mom

+ + +

Two months ago, I took this photo while he was getting ready to serenade me with one of his love songs. <3

THIS ROOM IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU, YOU HEAR??

+ + +

Vanilla Twilight is playing on loop, first on my iTunes, now in my head. I wish I thought of writing these lines first.

The silence isn’t so bad
‘Til I look at my hands and feel sad
‘Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly

But drenched in vanilla twilight
I’ll sit on the front porch all night
Waist-deep in thought because
When I think of you I don’t feel so alone

Owl City is seriously making me want to paint stars and clouds on my wall.

Okay that’s it. Mornings are, without a doubt, not the best time for me to blog. :))

Happy Sunday, y’all!