notable notes from the past weeks

• have you ever passed down a clothing store, spotted a dress from afar, knew
  that was the perfect one and bought it? i did, well, i bought my stepdaughter's
  prom dress this way. she's an anime fan and i knew she wouldn't like a pastel-colored
  girly dress. it was while buying my own dress for my in-laws wedding that i
  came across this white halter top gown with subtle white rose print, whose
  a-line skirt was set off by a black lace belt-like material. i showed it to
  her when we took her shopping for her prom dress and she loved it! best of
  all, she really looked great in it.


• my niece told me candidly that she wanted to stay in the US and live with
  us. i guess it's her way of telling us that she really enjoyed herself. (she
  even mentioned that just in case her parents divorced, she wouldn't go with
  any of them, she'll ask the judge to give her guardianship/custody to us.)
  and we didn't get her a gift at all or shop for her-- still she felt this way.
  she said her mom never listens to her, but my husband and i both do. so i made
  her promise to write to us:)


• my in-laws wedding anniversary went off without much of a hitch. father
  larry was very patient with our disorganization and pretended not to notice
  that my other niece who was supposed to read the responsorial psalm did not
  go up to the altar to do so and proceeded with his homily. the reception was
  a hit because of all the food at the buffet, the big room we had rented and
  what was supposedly the program. everyone enjoyed themselves and that was the
  important point.


• our graphic artist just quit-- and has been gone all week. we have been
  busy trying to keep the websites up to date. i think we've succeeded so far.
  my boss and our content manager is going on vacation for a week starting tomorrow--
  hopefully all goes well while they're away...


• i have a new godchild. my mom's cousin, who is one of my favorite aunts--
  who everyone thought was never going to get married-- just had her first daughter.
  i'm so happy for her, now if only she'd send me pictures of the baby then i'd
  be happier hehehe.


• my bestfriend is on her sixth month of pregnancy. her next doctor's visit
  will be partly an ultrasound exam. so they will probably find out if they'll
  have a daughter or a son. she said i'm a godmother (--of course! wherever i
  may be when they have the dedication in December). i hope she has a healthy
  and happy baby!


• we're going to vegas tomorrow! i've been here almost 2 and a half years--
  and this is the first time i get to see it:) i don't really plan to gamble.
  i just want to see what the hotels look like and take lots and lots of pictures!
  hehehe... hopefull i get to post the pictures here.
  
• note to self: i still have
  pictures of the nieces to pick up at the drugstore near my in-laws place...
  plan to print out wedding pictures as well.
  

happy weekend everyone!:)

sixteen years ago...

when i was about twelve years old, a fortune teller told my parents that i will probably get married when i turn 13. it worried them to no end, but of course my thirteenth birthday came and went with no incident. i was 27 years old when i got married and that prediction is nothing but a funny tale to tell nowadays.

last sunday i met my sixteen-year-old stepdaughter who lives in New Zealand with her aunt. sixteen years ago, i would have been 13 years old. coincidence? maybe so. i like to think of it as fate-- God's masterplan for me.

when i first saw her, we were two nervous ladies, not quite knowing what to do. we hugged and smiled. my stepdaughter is hearing-impaired, so our smiles and hugs were our words. until she brought out her notebook and we started writing to each other. she is the most affectionate and sweetest sixteen-year-old i have ever met. and she wasn't afraid to come right out and ask me (in writing) if i liked her. i quickly wrote back that i do and asked her if she liked me. she said yes too-- it kind of feels like we were telling each other yes, i want to have a relationship with you.

she has been formally adopted by her aunt so she already has a mother. but i can be her favorite aunt, her friend and confidante if she chooses-- because we do share one very special thing in common-- her father, my husband. as my husband keeps telling me, he feels that my stepdaughter loves me already-- and i've loved her ever since my husband told me about her. our relationship feels like a tree that has taken root and we must continue to nourish and care for. i hope we have more time to get to know each other-- they're in Las Vegas until Friday then we have another weekend with them:) i can't wait til they get back!