FINALLY!

After months of preparation and the full force support of my loving family and friends...I AM MARRIED!

Introducing *drumroll* Mr. & Mrs. TJ & Neth Ermitano!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone!

First of all...God, thank you for preserving Neth for me...thank you for your Word that gave us the means to grow...thank you for grace that sustains us...thank you for mercy that gives more chances than we deserve...thank you for your divine provision during our "NO WATER" tests...thank you for providing us a church where in Doctrine is not watered down..thank you for our Pastor and his family for loving us unconditionally and personally!

To my parents and in-laws...thank you for raising us up as unto the Lord. For all the hard work you have put forth during those years we were under your care and authority. Thank you for making us come to church even though we didn't feel like it. Thank you for not sparing the "rod" and making us feel loved even in discipline. Thank you for not being perfect...and allowing you weaknesses to still teach us grace. Thank you for being there for us even though we sometimes forget to acknowledge you. Thank you for consistently loving us...despite our shortcomings and stubbornness. Thank you Dad, Mom, Tay, Nay...for everything!

To our siblings...thank you for being patient! Thank you for going with us on our food trips. We are blessed that you have been there for us through thick and thin. Eunice...I personally thank you for respecting me despite the times when I don't deserve it. Thank you for being patient with me during my phlegmatic days...you are a Godsend in our family...you will be a good wife someday. Steph...thank you for trusting me with your private and personal life...I know I have so many short comings, but I'm blessed to be called "Kuya" every single time. Your strengths may be different from your ate and me, but God has called you to be great! enjoy life but take on your responsibilities. Tan...thank you for taking care of your nanang...I will take care of her always and will be glad to be officially called your KUYA. You are blessing to you nanang...and to me as well. Pursue your dreams...you are bound to be successful. Ate Nerl...we have known each other for so long...yet we have not been that close...but during these past months, I have seen your love for family. I know that you always mean well...and I have high respect for that. I love you and thank you for being Neth's ate!

To my extended family...I LOVE YOU ALL! Tito Arnold...thank you for the unceasing support you have been showing me and my family. I am grateful to be your nephew. I will gladly repay you with many grand-nephews! Tito Junior...your support for me is on a whole new level...you have showed me the meaning of kindness like no other...you are a very unique individual and your son and daughter are blessed to have you lead them. Joane and Jonathan...cousins are always the best kind of friends we will ever have...and I thank you for your love, support and company! We may not always be together...but I know we speak the same language of grace. I'm glad that you both are growing in grace...continue the path...you will always be in out prayers.

To our other family...thank you! Kuya Don...you have been a silent supporter all through out...we are blessed to be showered by your short yet exact to the point words of wisdom. We appreciate your artistic side that contributed to the all in all perfectness of our wedding...thank you ninong! Ate Ce...thank you for giving everything you've got to our wedding. We have seen the stress you've gone through and I pray that God would repay you a million times over. Thank you for sharing your dinner time with us...this is something we will treasure forever. Your kindness and grace to me and Neth will be something we will always be grateful for. Thank you for loving Neth and being with her even before we became a couple. Thank you ninang for all your hardwork...loveyou! Benok and Oneng...or onemeg according to mommy...thank you! You have been our brothers from another mother...we enjoy the time we have spent together...and we are looking forward in spending more time with you in the future! Study hard...love your parents...and never stop studying God's Word! Salamat Ruiz Family...wag kayong magalala...aalagaan ko ang inyong prinsesa! :)

Pastor Hooge and Family...Thank you! You have always considered us as part of the family...and we are thankful! Pastor...thank you for officiating and making the ceremony meaningful. I was blessed by every part...thank you for standing beside me, not just during the whole ceremony, but during my spiritual journey. I am always grateful to be under you teaching ministry. Ma'am Hooge...thank you for being our second mother. Your guidance is and will always be a part of our lives...you have trained us so...we owe our melancholic and musical side to you! We will always look up to you. Kuya Philip...Joe...thanks for everything! staying for the wedding means a lot for me and Neth...I never had a kuya...so, thanks for being one! See you next NSC! Ate Paula...thank you for blessing us with your presence and being part of the ceremony. You were AWESOME! I still get goosebumps when I remember how you sang the first line! Thank you! Kuya Perry...wish you and Mindy could have been there...praying for you always! See you soon! :)

To our ninong and ninangs...thank you for gracing the event! We are blessed that you have accepted our invitation to not just attend the event, but be part of our married lives! We will keep you in our prayers. We love you!

To my bestman and Neth's maid of honor...thank you for taking care of us! Dre...you and your family has always been a blessing to us...words cannot explain how much I appreciate you...kaya, kita na lang tayo sa office sa monday...mag pupush tayo! :) Mist...thank you for the friendship you and neth have that bled over to me :) Kung tutuusin, saling-ket-ket lang talaga ako...but you have always considered me as a long time friend...thank you! Libre kita tanglad juice next time!

To our friends...thank you! Kathleen & BJ...thank you for emceeing and coordinating the ceremony! We are praying for you and BJ always. Lourd & Lovely...thank you for the wonderful music...we have been blessed! Edmark...sorry if you were forgotten during the ceremony...di sinasadya...buti na lang narinig ka parin namin! Thank you! Mr. Bayhon...dude...thanks for gracing the event and playing beautiful music...i'm always blessed by your musical talent! Jayvee...the food was magnificent! You have made our guests ask for seconds...good job! Ate lulut...my loves...kahit kasal na ako, tatawagin parin kitang my loves...you have moved us with your rendition of PANUNUMPA...thank you!

To every one else I forgot to mention...THANK YOU!

I think this will do for now...again...thank you everyone! See you all in while!

*HONEYMOON MODE*

Entry #21: the countdown begins

10 days and counting...

I can't put into words the feelings I have at this very moment. I understand how undeserving I am to be in this grace-filled situation...yet, God has been so loving and merciful that blessings are coming from all directions. I am so grateful for second chances in my walk with Jesus...this allowed me to get a clearer and fresher perspective about life. There will always be that panic, worry and fear option...but because of grace, I understand that I am made to choose wisely according to my understanding of His plan for my life and the life of the person I will be marrying.

There's still a lot of things needed to accomplish in the span of 10 days...so I would like to request that you would remember us in your prayers. We are expecting a barrage of miracles in our lives as we journey towards the start of God's plan for our life together.

10 days more!

 

Entry #20: how beautiful

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder...well, I beg to differ. I think that true beauty is never relative. It is an absolute fact based on the integrity of a person.

From the beginning, nothing in me can be considered beautiful til God the Father adopted me into His family through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Since then, my position has changed for the better. I am now a child of God. My beauty is now dependent on my Savior who bought me with a price.

25 days from now, I will be marrying the most beautiful person I know. Someone who has also accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. From that moment on, we will be making beautiful things together for the glory of God. I cannot wait for the day when God will allow our beauty as believers to radiate over people we minister to.

Entry #19: mixed emotions

Hectic last minute preparations on one hand...pure overpowering excitement on the other! No doubt that a lot of emotions are involved during these last few days before we publicly declare our "I Do's." There are still a lot of things to do...but all is well, because God's mercies are renewed every morning!

As we cross the 30-day mark, I can truly say that there is no turning back. I have well decided to love you, be with you, support you and grow old with you till the time that death will temporarily break our union. It is such a blessing to have you as my wife...and will forever be grateful to God for preserving you all these years.

Thank you Pag for bearing with me...can't wait to see you at the altar!

Loveyou!

Entry#18: when God continued our love story

I will never get tired of telling everyone how God's grace became the turning point of our relationship. It was not us who worked things out for the better...It was and always will be God. Everything we are and everything we are enjoying right now is all because of God's grace. With that said, I am confident in the hope that we both have in Him...so there is no point for us (especially me) to get stressed out with our wedding preparations. The important thing is that we have prepared spiritually, mentally and emotionally for the marriage more than the wedding. If God could show so much love and grace in our lives individually, what more when we fulfill God's plan for us corporately...as a divinely instituted body...ready for God's work!

Honestly, the source of my stress comes from my desire to make sure everything runs smoothly and perfectly...fit for my future queen...but then, I realized that you are God's princess even before I entered the picture...and whatever He deems to be right for you and me, I have to learn to accept...after all, His standards are waaaaaaaaaay better than mine.

Three months and counting...I don't know what will happen after the 28th of October...but one thing I am very very sure of...it will be the continuation of His love and grace story for us!

Amazing grace...it will always sound so sweet!

I love you Pag!

Entry #17: Monotonous vs. Consistent

It's been a while since I've posted a keso chronicle...some people were already asking me if I've forgotten all about it...Honestly, I didn't...It was just hard to express something to you that wasn't new anymore...I was avoiding a monotonous relationship where I tend to repeat the same promises and vows over and over again. I was afraid that I might get boring and uninteresting to you. I felt like I was losing the kilig factor...until I realized that our lives are starting to shift into a different mode. A mode that demanded repetition and routines...a life that will need consistency in all aspects. A life that is never really dependent on KILIG moments, but on absolute truth...a life that will officially start on the 28th of October.

True love is never dictated by emotions, but by truths that we accept everyday. I love you because I know for a fact that God made me to love you and connect with you in all aspects...physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually...God has been preparing us even in eternity past. Truth will never fade away...therefore, true love will never expire...It is the perception of that love that is important. That is where consistency becomes very important. The everyday reminder of that love is needed....unconditional love that can overcome any bitterness and pettiness.

Don't confuse monotony with consistency...a monotonous relationship has no purpose, no meaning, no goals...a consistent relationship is driven by a bigger purpose...in our case, it's more than just "NOT being Single" It's the opportunity to experience the best kind of love God has planned out for us. It's living a life that is set apart from the world...it is partnering with someone who shares the same ideals and set of standards that I have...it's offering our lives for God's ministry...wherever and whenever.

I may not be as sweet and cheezy as before...but one thing I am willing to assure you, I will always try my very best to be consistent...

I love you Pag!

Entry #16: unexpectedly pleasant

Sour green mango ice cream topped with sweet and salty bagoong! A delictable pair prepared in an unusual manner...that's the reason you enjoyed every part of it! 

This reminded me of us in the begining of our relationship. We were jiving unusually well despite having the same weaknesses in personality. It only proves that God has already matched us up in eternity past for each other.people might disagree with us, but we found a middle ground...JESUS!

We might not be the perfect couple.
.but we did turn out unexpectedly alright!

Loveyou