the best weekend of the year...

well, it's been the best weekend thus far.
and actually it's not like i went out and partied.
spent most of it with the Lord and with awesome friends.


friday:
I woke up, then it was off to work. Work was trying on friday but it was a short day!After that I drove up to Irvine and went straight to UCI to pick mel up. We head over to Target to buy some cards, a wedding gift for Matt and Nicole, and a graduation gift for Em. We end up seeing frances, erwin, and matt there. That's always nice...to see beautiful people! Well, we finally get all the goods and luckily we had time to get some food before the dress rehearsal at Interfaith. It went as expected, long yet fun as usual. It's always a blessing to be able to praise the Good Shepherd. Unfortunately, we end up missing out on the rehearsal dinner at Gina's but we met up with some friends and head on over to the Hat for a late dinner. Great company and great food. A huge sorry to those who went to Starbucks...sorry for bailing out, but I was pooped.

saturday:
After getting ready (and that was a battle in itself since everyone knows that I hate dressing up), mel and i head on over to St. Liz and wait for the Wedding Coordinator to open up the doors for us. Apparently, she told the couple that she would show up to unlock the doors for us, but she'd lock the doors immediately after we brought in all the equipment. So if any of us weren't there when she got there, we'd be screwed. She ended up coming a little bit late, which meant that the music min lost some prep time. But the teamwork was great! Each of us helped in any ways we could. And the wedding was beautiful. I was already tearing by the Responsorial Psalm. I LOVE WEDDINGS!!!! And when I've seen the couple go from friends to lovers to being engaged and then married...WOW!!!! It really REALLY gets to me.
The wedding reception was held in the Radission in Newport, in the same room where Joe and Lisa had theirs 2yrs ago. Memories. The cocktail hour ended up lasting longer than expected due to poor scheduling on the staff's part. But the newlyweds didn't let it weigh on their special day one bit! I had fun. I did. Special parts of the reception:
-Brian and I were admiring Dee's dress and Nicole's dress.
-Catching up with Caroline
-Watching the anxious faces of Dee and Angie during the bouquet toss. Dee even held onto me to keep her from dodging into all the other single ladies just to catch it. hahaahhahha.
-When Liwanag made me go up and give an impromptu message on behalf on LOG.
-the Money Dance...LOG all went up together and danced with the newlyweds.
-Just being amidst awesome people and good friends.

Afterwards Reg, Beej, Mel, and I head over to Emely's graduation shindig.
I got to see so many people that I haven't seen in ages...chris and trish, jeff, vince, renaldo and kim, glen ancheta, noreen and mike, lauren and robert, and Em's family. Plus a number of LOG people came. It was nice. Em and I really got a chance to catch up. I think we must've talked for almost an hour, which was pretty selfish of me since everyone was there for her. But it's been sooo long. She's grown alot as a person and as a servant. And I realized that I have too. Gosh I love catching up. Before Mel and I left I just HAD to get my magic mic on with Angie and Dee. Twas very fun and very funny. Except JANICE DID NOT SING WITH ME!!! booooo!!!!!

sunday:
Lead for the noon mass since Dee went up North. I was nervous, almost like I was a beginner. But praise God things went well!! Afterwards Noreen, Angie, Cristina, and I went to In N Out for lunch. It was awesome...all the reminiscing and sharing and catching up and just talking. Wow. I haven't really spent QT with you girls lately. So it was really nice.
I go home to rest up for the 6:30pm mass. I lead for that one too since Jimmy had some cousins visiting from London. For some reason, I was even more nervous for this mass than the last one! I have no clue why. But through prayer I was able to calm down and it went great!
Thanks are in order for such great sacrifices.
For those that came and sing for each mass: THANKS!!! I know I put you through alot but our gift to the Lord was a beautiful one. May you continue to serve as you do.
For those that served for both masses: Mel, Beej, Angie, Cristina. You amaze me. Your sacrifice for the Lord goes neither unnoticed, nor unappreciated. And it warms my heart to know and witness the beauty of His Love through each of you.
to kaylene: wow. i was like falling in love with your music. and thank you for rearranging your schedule just to come join us praise Him.
to those who traveled far: Emely, Regina, Noreen, and Beej. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!
and to those who sang "How Beautiful": Em, Reg, Noreen, Beej, Mel. you were AWESOME!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!! INSPIRING!!!! and yes the singing was good...but I'm talking about the heart. once you let it all go and focused on the reason, all the imperfections were made perfect.

Wow. that was long...k, so after mass beej, joe, flo, wolfe, angie, cristina, leo, nimz, reg, em, brian, mel, and I went to tenko/subway to grub. Umm...we ended up staying there for a little more than 2 hours. Flo and Wolfe peace cause wolfe had work at starbucks in the am. Reg, Cristina, Em, and Brian leave to Chino Hills. The rest of us head over to find warmth and do more talking in Interfaith. Reg and Cristina make it back from CH and join us. We end up playing 10fingers and doing ALOT of sharing....bonding. (I love catching up with you, reg!)

monday:
so we're still at interfaith. and leo and I notice it's already 4:30am. We all start heading home. Nimz, Beej, Mel, and I decide to go to Starbucks, remembering that Wolfe starts his shift at 5am. And there was more talking and bonding there. Then we finally go to Madrona to get some sleep.
and well today....Beej, Mel, and I go to Seoul Garden for lunch. That was nice. and Nimz, Khristine, Beej, Mel, and I got some Jamba Juice earlier. That was fun too. I love all the great company!!!



You know I realized that during the week I have no life outside of my work and my family. I have very little time for myself and my music. But I praise the Lord that I do have time to reflect on His Great Love Divine....that I get wonderful days like these where I am reminded of the wonderful moments of my past and the growth I have made to be who and where I am today....that I have awesome people in my life who have inspired me to continue to love and to live the Christian way. And that my days are spent with You!! It's wonderful!

Thank You!!!!