I Love You!!

I love you. I love you because you make our children happy. I love you because you have found happiness in being with us, despite circumstances, despite hardships, and despite me--how I can be sometimes.
You are a wonderful person, hony! You live for others. You live to see other people happy, and that goes against human nature. That simple love, understanding, and kindness that guides all of you actions is something that until this day I have not been able to fully understand, but the fruits are good, and that's what matters right?
Thank you for being you, for not being anybody else even when at times it would seem like the world is telling you otherwise. Thank you for just being you and for having patience with me--knowing that some day I will come around. I have a life-time of things to learn from you, hony.
You look really happy in the photo's below. If I had one wish, it would be to personally ensure your happiness. Please pray that I can be the man that you need, who would make you happy.

Prince or Peasant

Written--July 16’ 2007
Welcome to the real world, the world of no limitations and of endless opportunities, but also a world of reality…
In the world that I grew up, even if I wanted to, and had the ability to, I couldn’t make it to the top of the ladder of success in the way that this world sees it. That world seemed a lot smaller than this world now—the real world, far bigger than the one I became used to.
I didn’t know reality, because my world was small and had bounds. Now I find myself in a much wider expanse, with no bounds, and with both worlds. But one thing doesn’t change—reality. Whether being aware of it or not, it doesn’t change. Just because I’m out here it doesn’t mean that I can wake up one day and say that I want to be rich, or become a movie star, or a celebrity, and become one.
Reality is that, no matter what I do, I may never make it there. I could forsake my family, my friends, work like mad, or become a total idiot, but I still might not be able to do it.
My point is, in a way I decide my future, but in a bigger way I can’t. Someone who is born a prince may be able to choose whether or not he will have the throne, but there is no way a peasant can assure his success of the same thing. He may or may not, because his path has a lot more to it than does the prince’s. He may have to over-throw the king, yet, the prince just has to wait.

Later: … So that’s all there is to it… men willing to do almost anything for sex or for a woman that can give it, and women willing to do almost anything for money and a house or for a man who can give it? That’s the big gamble, huh? It makes things discouraging… There must be so few quality woman out there who take you for your heart and your heart alone, and who you don’t feel measures you by your wealth and house.
It’s discouraging, ‘cause it’s built into a woman to desire security from the man. There’s nothing wrong with that. But there are so many who desire security in the form of wealth, and a beautiful house, and a stable job. When that falls through, so does the woman many times. There are few who find the sense of security in you, for the reasons that they feel love from you, and you make them feel special—the love concept.
These days people might really frown at you for marrying someone who doesn’t have a good or stable job, without a lot of money, and without a nice house. Love doesn’t carry weight in the picture anymore. So even if you love someone like you’ve never loved before, if he doesn’t have those special things mentioned above, forget it!

The Majesty of Choice

Written--July 7, 2009
I think the majesty of choice is an intensely interesting subject. Normal people don’t want to think or talk about it deeply, and those who do are often a little eccentric. There seem to be extremes on both ends, both never reaching clear conclusions. Results like “no absolutes” and the saying “destiny is governed by choice” are two conclusions that a brilliant mind will come to in one life-time, but that are direct contradictions of each other. Can one actually determine his fate? Is destiny truly something that is in the hands of a human being to decide? Is the majesty of choice really given to every man? If all three of the above are so, then what is the answer to sudden and unexpected disasters, deaths, and happenings? Not knowing the future combined with natural gifts, talents, and abilities, weaknesses, and faults alike, can one decide his destiny? I say not. There is too much in one’s life for him to know what he will decide. Every man will make wrong choices. Who is to say which decisions will be good ones, and which won’t? The best efforts of a man can be shot down by the most seemingly random of circumstances. The conclusion? That if I am to choose to not believe in God or in the unseen, I will live the rest of my life in confusion and uncertainty. But if I will determine to put my trust in God and believe that he is here and cares and sees everything, even if I see or feel him not, I can live the rest of my life knowing that there is a plan and reason for my life. I will live knowing that though I have choice, God is the one in control. He is the one guiding my life and causing me to go through things to teach me and help me learn what I need to.

The Price of Love

Written--June 26’2008
When all your dreams have been shattered, all your hopes gone to air, and everything you have ever held dear taken away—then maybe, only maybe, will you be able to appreciate true love. Until then love is but a fragment of your imagination and your definition of it is skewed. After you have lost everything, if you are still alive to face love when it comes, you will be privileged to see it in its entirety and you are the luckiest man in the world. It’s the price of love, because love is so beautiful and it’s worth more than anything you are willing to give up. The price of love is much—too much to be desired. But when life sends you that mortal blow to your world—which comes to every life, sooner or later—it is your chance to look love face-to-face. Most will not be sane enough to recognize it. Very few will live to enjoy it.

A Portion of my PMA Advertisement

I wouldn't have met Fay had I not gone to the PMA. I remember clearly as I sat there in one of our drawn-out home meetings--as a soul who thought he'd be changing diapers, washing laundry, and pushing strollers till his hair turned gray--I wondered if I should, for once, deny my conventional reasoning and grab this opportunity of the PMA to fulfill my dreams.There was a petition for volunteers. I viewed the silence and thought that surely a hand amidst the crowd would be drawn up from one of its warm pockets, but to my surprise not a single arm was raised. So I bravely confronted the giant of unorthodox behaviour and challenged the occasion.That was the day my life changed from stay-at-home daddy to Home Manager, schedule maker, witnesser, fundraiser, and... "PMA student." That decision of changing my whole life in every aspect of the word, taking the PMA, has made me a very happy man. Because of the PMA I attended the graduation ceremony, through which I met the most extraordinary of woman.

Gut feeling

The gut feeling is a feeling that one feels really deep inside concerning something, and is usually right about what they feel. It's not that they spend a large amount of time thinking or analyzing; in fact, it's just the opposite--they don't. Rather, it's usually a feeling that is felt in a moment of time.
I don't know whether our future together will pan out or not. There are thousands of thinkable paths that we could take. But I have a gut feeling that whatever we end up going through together or whether we stay together at all, our being together right now is right, and that there is no where better that we could be then right here with each other.
I believe that that's how life is. You can only pull the strings to the air balloon of your life and future to a certain point while staying on the ground. But there comes a time that the weights are taken off and your balloon becomes airborne, and you need to learn to put your trust in the wind.
Even if you end up somewhere completely unplanned or unhoped for, you need to trust the wind--trust that there is a greater power behind that wind. Trust that no matter what happens, the important thing is that you're on the balloon and going places and learning things, rather than staying tied up on weights back at home.

The passion of love

There are times that, yes, I wonder whether we'll actually work or not; times that the thought of separation crosses my mind. But when it does I remember that I entered this relationship knowing that those times will come. I remember that in little ways as each day passes I've been committing a little more of myself to you, and that right now my commitment is stronger than it was yesterday.
I don't understand love, but I have long given up on trying to understand it. Instead of thinking so much about whether I love you or not, I've been thinking about how much I need you. And baby, whether this is love or not I don't know, but I need you and my heart tells me that I love you.
For most if not all people, it's been said, that the passion of love dies at one point anyway. What is important then is friendship and the need of the other person's strengths. You are strong where I am weak, and weak where I am strong.

Hi hony. I just wanted to say that I love you; to remind you not because you did something outstanding, but just for the heck of it because I love you so much.

Illuminations

These photo's and the one's below of the fireworks are of the same night at the beach.

Birthday Firecrackers

If there was ever a rule of all work and no play during festival ballooning, I broke it. We sat on the beach for a full hour to enjoy to amazing display of fireworks.

If I had taken a photo of the joy on my face, I would have blown it up real big and posted it on the top of this page.

Sadly, fireworks are best seen in the pitch dark, and bright flashes from a photographer's camera would have stolen the joy from others.

Would you believe it if I told you that I took these photo's with my keitai? Though we did have a good camera as well, it seems, after looking through the assortment of photo's, the one's that were taken off my phone were better.

Well, I do have a 5mega on it.

Hey Yo' Homie!

Abe and I dressed as twins, and Fay and Sei alike, in our Gemini Birthday party of 2009. Dim lighting, music, and laughter were only 3 ingredients of the fun that night.

And like you would have guessed, Kenj and Deryk dressed as twins, in their Japanese dress called, "the Jinbe."

I'll just put this in here for good measure. 30 or 50 years from now, if blogspot still exists, I'll be looking back. Cheers!-- m' homies!

Sweetie On-line

July 5’ 2009
Hi hony
I love you! Thank you for the mail you sent me while I was at the JT camp. I’ve been waiting for Christmas before expressing to you fully how thankful I am to you for coming into my life and all the good that you brought with it. Yes, this is a letter of appreciation and well… apology too, as I am writing this shortly after another emotional exchange we had. I’ll get into that later though, as the main focus of this letter is in appreciation of you.

Things that make you a good mother:
You care about our children’s education enough to put some of your other duties aside to make sure that it is up to par.
Despite your busy personality and schedule, you become personally involved in the needs of our children.
Our children are the first priority in your books.
You have a sense of a loving but firm disciplinary standard upon which we can build a balanced criteria together for the good of our children
You desire to love and be loved by our kids
Our children are like the apple of your eye

Things that make you a good GF:
Even when you are exhausted and spent from the day, you listen to my concerns
You avoid arguments at all costs
You encourage me to make choices according to my own faith
You are weak in yourself, and strong in the Lord
You put the Lord, the Word, and the Lord’s work above everything
You are willing to bend and compromise your convictions and ways of doing things for the sake of our relationship
You love me, and are faithful to show it and express it
You are very affectionate with me and show me that I am special to you

I want you to know, hony, that the list above would be three times longer by Christmas, if not more. Btw, I compiled that list during camp and hoped to continue adding to it as the days, weeks, and months rolled by. But seeing that I should probably express to you how I feel after what often seems like unavoidable friction between us on a daily basis, I thought that you should know these things. I want to add a few more if that’s alright.

There is no question in my mind that you balance me out like no other. (You complete me. There is nothing else that is more important and that sums up a perfect companion and help-meet for someone)

We experience problems, but never without remedy; arguments, never without compensation; hurt feelings and wrongs, never without forgiveness; questions and uncertainty, never without assurance.

You give and give, even until it hurts. You have such a giving and sharing spirit, that I am put to shame.


We sure do have our problems, and like has been said by millions of couples in relationships or marriages we can often feel like we have more problems than other couples or people in the world or in the Family around us. But it’s proven that most of the time we’re wrong in thinking that way. I can stop to think about It too, and I conclude that our problems are definitely minimal, and our uncertainties few. I need to apologize, though, for being frustrated and mad sometimes, and most of all, for making you cry. I apologize for all the tears I’ve caused you. I really don’t want to cause tears. But it’s true, if we can learn to take each others comments and reminders as the acknowledgement of the weaknesses that we’re bound to see in each other, we can not only avoid tears; we can also learn to be more the people that we need to be for each other.
I love you—Your Sweetie

Happy Hearts

This is happy hearts again, hitting the night life of Japan. We're going to a new city now--Kyoto--spreading our color into yet another city that might want it.

Me

Fay

River and Chris

Vacation--Beach

These photo's are taken at one of the three most scenic places in Japan, called Amanohashidate. And we are lucky to be just 1 and a half hours from its location. Amanohashidate literally means "bridge on the heavens." It's a strip of land, approx.100m wide and 2 1/2 kilometers long that is seen going through the ocean, connecting two sides. One side is lined with pine trees; the other a sandy beach along the coast; the center, a wide sandy path.

You're so beautiful hony. This photo with the flower behind your ear reminds me of the photo taken at the PMA, of you with the white and purple flower I gave you.

Pine tree and beach.

This photo's a little dark. Sorry about that.

The water is clean as well. Still a bit cold to swim, but we had come at a good time.

Contemplating going into the water, hony?

Vacation--Photo's

A beautiful Japanese garden. Pleasant to the eyes

Outdoor hot-spring. Yep, that's you sweetie, on the phone again. ha!

River secretly made a small cake for Fay, and we snuck it to the beach with us and had a little surprise birthday celebration. Luckily, it was made possible for us to have vacation together with Jonathan and River as well. If you remember, I have photo's posted of them at Angiolino (our coffee/ice-cream shop)

Fay made the pasta, River the sandwiches, and we had great fun eating them. Especially, on the way home. You should have seen me scrambling in the back for a plate of pasta and the last remains of the sandwiches with the car moving. If the car was bigger and provided more space for me to move, I would have eaten more. But because Fay was tired and wanted to lie on my lap and my moving about wouldn't help her do that, I decided to be still.

On the way to the beach, we just had to stop at this place to take photo's, as the view was breath-taking. If you're wondering what we're doing in the photo above--I'm feeding a rasberry to Fay that we had picked wild.

Vacation--hotel

After the restaurant, I took you to a hotel. It was a world tour hotel, with 25 rooms--each with a country's unique design and style. We chose the room from Bali.

I think you're really special, and I feel really lucky to be together with you.

I want to use this occasion to wish you a happy birthday again. I hope it was special for you and that you liked it. Despite our busy lives in a pioneer home of 30 people, my brother and our good friend, Junior, helped to watch our kids while we were away. I packed a red table clothe and carpet, wine glasses, candles, lavander oil, and your present that you're seen holding in the picture above. It's a skirt that I bought you.

Just for the record, I planned all this from months before. Though my plans morphed into something different, I was able to make your birthday really special for you, which I hope you'll remember. From now as months pass, maybe even years, I don't know, I'm sure that there will be many hard times to come--times that we'll contemplate separation, times that we'll wonder if we even really love each other still. When hard times hit, let's remember these good times. I love you. No, we haven't signed those marriage papers yet, but my love for you is written, and it's a commitment.

I packed a suitcase with stuff to set up for you without you knowing. You were surprised when you saw that suitcase in the back of our car, weren't you? Ha! That skirt that I bought you. You were oohing and awwing over it, and when you and the kids were eating the car set at the little family restaurant, I snuck away and bought it for you. Same with the little bouquet of roses. I had that hidden. And on the morning of your birthday, you woke up to find it on the shelf with a happy birthday note attached to it.

These are memories that I will never forget.

This is one of the photo's taken of when Fay and I went to Food Fare. Yep, that's right, they had one here in Osaka as well.

Here's a photo of Kenji pushing Deryk in one of the super-market carts. He has been such a good older brother to Deryk--helping him change his clothes, use the toilet, make Lego's, and ride the bicycle. I am so proud of my new son!

I love this life

May 8th'09
As was planned, baby, you came on the early morning of the 28th, at 3:30 a.m and surprised me to a jumpy awakening--in more ways than one, ha! I had been waiting months for this day, but when it arrived I could hardly believe it. I embraced this dream-come-true, but half wondered if perhaps it would vanish like a dream.
I have always been one to dream--and in times past--onto which I had hung many hopes. But in recent years I had become leery of hitching my wagon to random stars. Yet, this was a dream that developed almost exactly as planned.
Now I'm sitting at my computer at a new desk in a new room that you and I have nearly finished setting up, resting with 5 boys under the age of 4 virtually at the foot of my chair. I love this life, and I can sincerely say that I couldn't have asked for more.
A lot has changed, for both of us, baby, but more for you. One thing, though. that hasn't changed is this love that I feel for you. I am so happy that you are here, and I pray that you are getting adjusted well. Much love -- Your Sweetie

Ahhhh! Only 7 more days and you will be here, baby. I'm getting butterflies!!

Simple Love

Here's a truly touching story that I read on one of the E-spresso issues about simple love. I was so moved by it, I called Fay and read it to her over the phone.

These true to life stories speak for themselves. Don't let life pass you by. Live, love, and have no regrets.

The Chain of Love
Author unknown
He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help her for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, "I'm here to help you ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.
Bryan never thought twice about the money just about helping someone in need, and God knows, there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Bryan added, "...and think of me." He waited until she started her car and drove off.
It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her.
Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.
The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on the napkin under which were four $100 bills. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It said: "You don't owe me anything, I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered softly, "It's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan."

Diary of our Lives

It's a little late to be posting this, but it's in remembrance of the 2008 Christmas gift that I gave you, hony--a classy red notebook beginning the diary of our lives. On the first page is written:

December 25' 2008
This book is dedicated to us, baby. Through good times and bad, we will write on these pages. Starting from our first night on the 16th's of October, 2008, our lives began, and now over 2 months later, I'm introducing this book for Christmas day.
These beautiful hearts and kiss marks are what you sprinkled around my room for my Christmas present, and this classy notebook is one of my gifts to you. Merry Christmas!
This notebook and the things written within are not only for the present but for the future--words we can read back on in times of struggle and hardship.
I love you!

Happy 6 months Anniversary!!

This is another amazing gift that Fay sent me. I am so extremely touched! I felt like crying when I found a 6 months Anniversary card on my pillow and 50 cards with love words written on them in every pocket of my room. Baby, I was not amazed that you had remembered this very important date that marks half a year since we first met. But I am very deeply touched that you did. Thank you!

You are truly amazing, and you never cease to remind me of this fact. I am a lucky man to be loved by you, and indeed I know that there are many others who feel the same. There is no question that I love you and often feel unworthy of you.

On the card was written:

Happy 6 months Anniversary

It takes a special day like this

To just look back & reminisce,

And think of all the things you've shared

Since that first day I knew you cared.

And always there's that bond of love,

There's just no explanation of

And with the storms & trials it grows,

Like flowers do beneath the snows.

In every year that we're together,

Regardless of the kind of weather,

The bond of love grows that much stronger,

Because we've shared it one year longer.

I love you. Yours Always

And on each little card that was in like every pocket of my room literally was written something very special and heart-felt. Some of my favorites are:

I thought I had everything until I met you

You're so beautiful & handsome & sexy. I can't help looking at you.

Life would be much more of a challenge if you weren't by my side.

I can tell that you like romance, baby, and I like it too. I'm so happy that I am in love with someone who can express her love in such brilliant ways. You touch my heart hony. Happy Anniversary! 6 beautiful months have gone by since we first met, and your coming is in 12 days. I am so happy that you'll finally be coming to live with me. It's been difficult living apart. Many of my dreams have come true by meeting you, and this will be yet another. My wish is to make many of yours come true as well. Again, Happy Anniversary! I love you!

I was looking through some of the photo's you sent me, and I was missing you so much. I'm thinking about how lucky I am to have met you and how the Lord put this love in our hearts for each other. This photo has always made me feel special, because the way you're talking to whoever it is you're talking to through the phone is obviously someone you care about a lot--just by looking at the way you're smiling.
And to know that the person you were talking to was me.
When difficult times hit us, baby, which they inevitably will. And when we come to points in our lives that we contemplate leaving each other, let's look back at those times that meant so much to us, and to these times right now that make us so thankful that we have each other.
I love you

Definitions

I told you I'd post my thoughts on some of these GREATS sometime, so here they are:

I think a "bible woman" is someone who knows how to treat her husband (or husband-to-be, heehee!), and has all those practical talents that you'd imagine a bible woman to have. Cooking, baking, sewing, and multitasking are things she enjoys doing for her man, family, and yes, others. Baby, I think you're a bible woman, and I'm so proud of you.
A "good father": a firm, loving, RESPONSIBLE, and playful figure to his children; one in whom they can feel secure and protected.
A "good husband" is someone I'd say is reliable and loyal to his wife--one in whom she can depend, admire, and trust.

I think this was a good photo taken of us in the Saizariya next to Noda home. I remember that I said something about the sea food you were eating, hony. I hope you didn't mind. Hee hee!

Chris and Mercy are two of my good friends. The one on the right is like an ancient friend of mine, since 15 years back.

Bump-n-scratch

There are limitless possibilities beyond this veil
Of worlds and dimensions that would certainly pale
In comparison to this world of limited thought
And loss of moral, and dignity mocked

Indeed there is passion, and color, and beauty seen
But in a world where metal and paper reign supreme
The hope of peace and freedom from struggle can often be
Yes... Just a beautiful dream

Through life we learn from bump-n-scratch
For we are not as animals that merely hatch
Though value and depth can be preserved within
Is there one who can refrain from sin?

Sweetie On-line

I don't mind these misunderstandings and disagreements. I don't mind our differences. I don't mind how we don't agree on everything. I don't mind you not being like me. Because we're different in many ways, there's a chance that we can be a good team. But if we were so alike, and didn't have qualities that complemented one another, soon enough we'd feel we could do without each other.
I love you hony because you complement me. Yes, you compliment me too, but here I mean that you complete me. You have qualities that I don't. And if we can learn to work together and channel our energies in the same direction, there's no telling what our future can hold.
I love you!

Eve's-sky Hue

In your eyes I see a love so true
As the scent and richness of the deep red rose
Of patterns in passion in the eve's-sky hue
More delicate and tender than words in prose

Idyllic, cool, and calm
Your love like quiet waves lapse on life's shore
Romantic as peddles in the hollow of your palm
Can a man like me ask for more?

"Happy Hearts Entertainment"

Out of the hungry and desolate lands of Tanba arise a new happening. In a place where so much color did not formerly exist, clowns (now known as the "Happy Hearts Entertainment") in their garbs of shocking array, enter a world where they are bound to shake and change.

I am being so entirely spoiled by this wonder-woman who can make something out of nothing and everything out of anything. Does it sound unreal? It really is unreal. As some would put it, she is a bible woman. Ha! I love you baby! Those costumes are amazing! It's surprising to note that you made all of them.

Are you looking for fever? That's right, you heard me, FEVER, not fervor (though that's certainly there too). If you're looking for fever AND fervor, which can be summed up in one simple word--color--in a country where much of this cannot be seen--"Happy Hearts Entertainment" my friends.

Family vs. Work--Lesson from a Child

For the first 8 months after returning home I spent like every day with my child (well, of course, because I was a full-time English teaching at our local school). But when I became manager and scheduler it became difficult to find this quality time with him.
For me, it's easy to work, to always be on the phone, communicating, working things out, making people happy, scheduling, printing. But then I remember my son, Deryk, and how much I had to fight to keep him, almost having a court battle, and going off the grid for a while, and the comfort he was in my saddest times. He reminds me to always put family before work.
So tonight, as he lay snuggled with his two favorite stuffed animals, happy and satisfied, I reflected on the week and saw that this was one of the few nights that I had actually payed quality attention to him since I got back from Noda. I fell sick and have been in bed for like two days and had a lot of time to think. I only now realize how little attention I've been giving my child. When I saw his happy and contented look, I knew that it would make me a very happy father to be able to see that look on his face and the face of Kenji as well, every night as they fall asleep.
I want to be a good father, because good father's are becoming more and more scarce these days. The definition of a "good father" also seem to be losing its meaning in this modern world. I would like to redefine the real meaning of a "good father" some time, and perhaps I will post it when I find it.

An Amazing Christmas Gift

Hearts and kiss marks were sprinkled all over my room, my bed had a complete metanoia (black sheet replaced my white one, black bed-cover over my flowery one, pillows were at the head of my bed where before there weren't any, with black cases to match).
I was shocked when I was called up by Seiko from the shower with the reason given, that Deryk was crying. With toothbrush in mouth, I threw on a shirt, and ran up with a towel. Clearly, I was taken by complete surprise. I thought I'd entered a freaky dream and a bomb had exploded in my room, leaving red and black everywhere. But to my amazement, it was Fay's Christmas present to me.
No one had ever done something like this for me before. It was amazing. Baby, I am amazed! Thank you! Clearly, a lot of love went into this, and it made me realize that maybe, just MAYBE, your love could be equal to mine.

Memories

Time passes us so quickly. Opportunities of compensation, forgiveness, love, and romance pass us up with such great speed, that often we miss it. But hony, our first Christmas in 2008, was special. And yet, even when we succeed to capture these matchless opportunities, if we do not remember them somehow, they do not become memories.
This is the two-pager that I wrote for you about the time we first met.

In this box that (btw, I spent like 2 hours making) was made out of cardboard and wrapping paper, was a Snoopy with a Christmas hat holding the two-pager.

When you came to visit me on the last day of 2008, I had this box tied with a ribbon, sealed with a rose, and surrounded by about 30 hand-made red and white roses. I know, I know, hony. Your present to me was nicer. By saying this I don't negate that fact. I just mean to say that I really love you, and that the love that led me to give this Christmas present to you in 2008 is a love that I hope will last forever in our memories.

At Juri's

Those are Kenj's and Deryk's new matching backpacks that Juri gave to them. They're sooo cute!! Now THAT is another awesome photo!

Hony, I think you look so HOT there!

Angiolino--Our Coffee House

Now THAT is a beautiful Coffee House, however one chooses to view it. Let's give credit to whom credit is due, and to the man on the very left of the photo who is letting us manage it for free. He's giving us 20% of all the income we make, is paying for the rent and utilities, and is keeping it stocked up with Italian foods, sweets, and icecream, of which his business consists of.

That is a very sweet couple who both Fay and I really like. River, on the left, is official manager of Angiolino, and the kindly looking man on the right is her Australian husband, Jonathan.

The coffee shop was built Italian style--brick walls, tiled floors, cherubims, stylish tables and chairs, you name it.

During Fay's 3 week visit, from the 31st of December, 2008, to the 20th of January, 2009, we went to Angiolino a few times to snitch some icecream and drink coffee. As you can see, I am very proud of my woman.