My first travel to my second home

When we think of traveling, it gives a feeling of excitement. We plan about what to bring, how much budget needed, where to go while the rest remain unplan...and that's where real adventure begins. It's when you don't have to plan it but just enjoy the ride wherever your feet lead.

Early spring, a week before my birthday, I left my country. It was my first time to go on a long travel..to another foreign land, far away from home. I remember so well while I was waiting for my flight, I wasn't thinking much about how it feels to be far from my family and good friends, I didn't soak myself to being emotional at all. I just kept praying for a safe flight because I have fear with plane ride. I'm not used to traveling such great distance. I'm an ordinary woman, content with my own comfort zone, the city I will always call home. I didn't get a good sleep in the plane, I was always anxious, however, praying. But the moment the plane landed in the airport, where my final destination was, I forgot the world around me for a while, emotion crept my whole vein, thought of my family, and then cried in silence. Just when I realized that the plane was almost empty and everybody went out, I headed and took my luggage. And then, I saw my husband, waiting for me anxiously from the exit door. Perhaps overwhelmed by my presence, we walked around the parking lot for almost half an hour, searching for his car. He forgot where he parked it. Right then, I started to feel the cold wind of this foreign land.

My first few months here was full of experiment. Dealing with Vince everyday, getting to know every detail of the house, all that one had to discover in marriage. We don't live in a big house. We live in a simple apartment with two bedrooms, one restroom, one kitchen, and one guest room.Vince is an ordinary laborer, responsible and content with what's simple and ordinary. I remember I told myself myself once, I don't want to marry a rich man, I only want a simple man who is responsible and will love me as I am. Indeed, God was listening. :)

I will park my contemplation for now...until next thought.

My husband and I have been learning a lot lately. And yes, it's always good to look at the positive sides of every story. I would like to share our artworks here. The first one is mine and the second is of my husband. If you notice, mine is more simple while that of my hubby is more complex and full of details, heheh..:)

"I don't think of all the misery. I think of all the beauty that still remains." - Anne Frank

May the Lord God continue to give us courage to only look at the beauty of life in the midst of this life's oddity. 

Godspeed, everyone! A presto! ❤

Magical Spring

"The earth laughs in flowers."- R.W Emerson

There's a big park an hour drive from our little city and so on one weekend, 

we drove off to see these beautiful tulips in bloom...such beauties!

I was supposed to take good shots of the flowers but I found myself ended up taking photos of these family and couple scenes. Love..oh LOVE!

I am actually studying how to get prefect angles and colors in photography. I hope I have improved.

I do not wish to spoil each of my article with too much photos, but I couldn't help but share this journey. :)

Each season has its own story to tell. For spring..it's just magic.
I wish to share more..but until next time! God bless everyone!

Sunday trip

We made a long drive yesterday to another city near Lake Garda. We also did a quite long walk because we couldn't find parking area near this tourist spot. The long walk was worth though because I enjoyed again doing photo shoots.

This is Castello Scaligero (Scaligero Castle) built on 13th century-15th century. The castle is bathed on all sides by the waters of Lake Garda, and on one of these sides was built, shortly after the construction of the castle, the dock, which once represented the place of refuge of the Scaligera fleet.

The Scaliger Castle of Sirmione is a fortress of the Scaligeri era, an access point to the historic center of Sirmione. It is one of the most complete and best preserved castles of Italy, as well as a rare example of lacustrine fortification. (info from Wiki)

The castle here facing the entrance..flocked with tourists.

Found this black bird nestling and taking care of its eggs sustained by this old wooden platform that stays afloat on water,  around the walls of the castle.

The entrance to the little village inside. There is a real entrance to the castle for those who wanted to see worth 12euro each,  but we were content to just see the view from the outside. (no budget..lol!)

This view of houses is seen once you access the entrance. (in my  fourth photo). The view is fronting the next real entrance to the castle.

Purple..purple! That's not me. (lol)

I just love this window view in one of the houses here, ready for Easter egg hunt!

Took a good shot of this little bird while having bread snack at the bench, fronting the lake and the castle.

Finally that's me having a good walk while hubby's taking the shot, as if I wasn't aware but I was..hahah!|

There is also an old church inside this village so we stopped awhile.

It's still cold all around but I saw some already enjoying a lick of their gelatos..yummy!

Just a view of this artistic bike while on our way back to the car...

..and a flowery walkway of narcissus.

The view of lake Garda in Lombardia, North Italy.

I hope you enjoy the photos here as much as I do. God is great! God bless us all! Have a wonderful Holy week everyone!

Afternoon walk

I went on an afternoon walk and saw how trees start to show tiny mint green leaves

while other flowering trees along the way are such a joy to see. 

These are just some photos I took with me.

Catching sunset..I just love their colors.

The dog is just so adorable. I'm always a dog lover.

I've always loved spring. There's something about flowers that fills me with awe.

Then just a few colorful cobblestone pathways on the way...

One of the flowering trees in a neighbor's yard that will soon turn to leaves..amazing!How could flowers turn to leaves? Such nature's wonder and mystery!

And how I love hyacinths!

So often, nature just leaves us in awe.
Have a blessed weekend ahead!
Alla prossima...:)

Truthfulness

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:6-7

It's a snowy thursday here and perhaps there's something about cold season that makes us feel nostalgic or say..reflective. I thought about that Bible quote on top because, lately, I welcomed people here in my house who comes from other "religion". I allowed them to talk to me everytime, about everything that's beautiful in the Bible, they gave me pamphlet to read, and I don't see anything wrong about it. In fact, I admire their spiritual sincerity towards the words of God.

When we talk about God's words, who can say no, unless you're an unbeliever. However, along our talk, I saw some differences from what I believe from the very start. I respect differences in beliefs but coming to a point that I am no longer comfortable talking about that differences and my heart no longer feels content about it, I feel that there is something wrong, not with them ( because that's what they believe), but with me because that's not what I believe. In other words, I can no longer pretend to be nice or perhaps pleasing them in that way. I wanted to be true to myself. I wanted that my motive of building friendship with them doesn't mean we have to have the same belief in all. And so this morning, I wrote to them and sincerely asked I could not allow them anymore to do what they used to when they come and visit. I asked that we'd remain friends and hoped they'd understand.

It's okay to say "no" as long as you're telling the truth. It hurts more to say "yes", yet that is not the truth.  Once you feel you lie to yourself, you eventually feel conscious, anxious, and then unhappy about it (that means you are not that bad, by nature). Your guilt and your conscience will tell you at the end of the day.

So, here's my hope that we'll all find peace in our hearts in minds from things we believe, regardless of our differences in ideology or faith, however having common goals and that is to try to spread goodness alone. After all, we will not be judged by what kind of church we go to, but what's in the very inner of our being and how we live a better life ( if not best)  while on this earth.

Have a blessed Thursday!

Oh..it's already 1st of March, how time flies!

"These little things..."

My first year as a married woman simply brought me in awe and beautiful surprises in a totally different world being a wife and housekeeper. Growing my own flower in spring time was such a joy and going places during holidays felt magical. I enjoyed learning new language and going to school for two years. I loved meeting new acquaintances and our teachers were so kind and understanding to us, foreign students.

Until one day after finishing the course, I found myself missing the things I was used to. I would wake up feeling bored doing the usual home chores and left alone in the house(while hubby's at work). I missed working... and that old "ego" ( without being too dependent from over almost all things to someone (my husband). I felt like my life was in "slow-mo" while the rest of the world was preoccupied running after its busy scheds. I felt like I let go of all the possible opportunities I could have had back home while I hardly find one in this foreign land. It all never occured to me then. Worst, I felt sorry for all the person I could be, had I only been in my own comfort zone (my homeland). I felt miserable.

But if all stay-at-home moms or wives and even job-seekers would feel and think the way I did, it must be a sad world. I just forgot that I am also significant and special to someone else's life-- my husband, who works hard for me and for our future. 

In life, we define who we are by the way we first think about our self. And so one day I asked my self, "who do I want to be?", what do I want to just feel justified?" God didn't ask us to be great, He only asked us to do every little thing with honesty and a feeling of greatness. From that contemplation, I tried to set aside my unhealthy ego and put pride in every little thing I do and even tried to work extra-- by putting a touch of me in my own home (that photo on the side). I learn to draw, to sew, to paint. I tried the idea of making instead of buying (perhaps to keep myself productive or to esteem myself a bit high). My handworks may not be that great, but then to work on them with sincerity and a feeling of greatness is a different story. When you feel that the outside world is temporarily unkind to you, maybe you can try to focus on your inner strength and discover what you can do with the ability you are given from birth. Believe me,yes, everyday is trying and learning. Sometimes,my mind is still confined with the idea that while you still have no children, find a job---to be productive, to raise your self-esteem, and to defend your ego. Honestly, I'm learning not to think of these pressures at all. I just want to give my best in every little thing I do,though sometimes failed :-),  however, HAPPY. 

One of the saddest truths that can develop in one's mind is the fear of not being able to meet expectations (whether from your self or from others),hence there grow the fear of criticism. 

St. Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

Thanks for reading. :)