I’ve been trying to be a better wife lately by learning new things… you know.. the usual stuff like, learning how to cook, learning how to bake, learning how to knit … okay maybe not knit, YET, but I have been trying to do more wifey things lately.

One of the things that I’ve been trying to do is organize! Yes, after 7 years of marriage, we have collected so many things and it’s driving me crazy!  So during these next few weekends, I’m going to dedicate most of my time as a “housewife” and figure out what to do with all our things.

Today, I found a video tutorial that I thought I could share with all of you.  It’s from the www.ehow.com website and it’s about “How To Properly Fold a Fitted Sheet”.  I was extremely happy when I found this video!! I always had trouble folding those sheets that I would roll it up and stuff it into the closet! :oP Why didn’t anyone share this information with me before?? 

Oh well, now I know how to fold those sheets and if anyone else finds this information useful, let me know so I don’t feel too bad about not knowing this information beforehand…

How to Properly Fold a Fitted Sheet — powered by eHow.com

12 years ago, Ryan decided that he wanted to be more than just friends with me. 12 years ago, Ryan told me he loved me.

We had never met in person and at that time we only communicated through chatting on the mIRC channel, #iglesia. Occasionally, we would send emails to one another, but that was it. Yet, I knew he was a special guy that I also wanted to get to know better and so 12 years ago, I told him over one of our Internet Relay Chats (IRC) that I loved him too and I wanted to get to know him better as my long distance boyfriend. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life :)

Truthfully, we didn’t know where our relationship would take us especially since we lived oceans apart and we’ve NEVER met in person… BUT we had devotional prayers for one another. We had faith that if it was God’s will for us to be together, then God will help us with our relationship no matter what we had to go through and no matter how far apart we were from each other. Now, 12 years later, we can see how much God has helped us in our lives. He has never let me and Ryan down. To Him, we are forever grateful!

Ryan: Thank you so much for being here with me. I REALLY LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH! :) Happy 12th Year Anniversary as Ryan & Joan!! Here’s a picture taken of us during our FIRST Anniversary as a couple! I’ll never forget that day because it was our last day together before I had to leave the Philippines for the US! My oh my! We’ve certainly changed a lot, huh dear? I’m looking forward to many more years of changes and growing old together :)

Taken today at 1:39 p.m. with our built in camera on our computer monitor. :)

Below are more photos of us.. just because I started scanning some old photos and might as well post some up for memories sake :)

Taken after the worship services of the Kabataan (Children’s Worship Service) in Evangelista. I was a CWS Teacher and Ryan was a CWS Chairperson.  I performed in the CWS in the Philippines. I didn’t get to teach CWS in the Philippines, but I helped as a CWS Officer :)

The following picture was taken during our 3rd Year Wedding Anniversary. We went to San Francisco :)

I know this Thank You is 5 days overdue, but it’s better to be late than never saying thank you at all!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who had taken time to wish me a happy birthday! I really appreciate all of you for the messages, the phone calls, the voice mail singing the happy birthday song (Gavin) heheh, the electronic birthday cards, and for the gifts! I’m so blessed to know each and every one of you, my dear friends and family.  I pray to God that all your prayers and wishes come true and I hope for more years of friendship with one another!

I came home today to find a nice surprise! I got a gift from the Beltran family and it was so unexpected, I wanted to cry! I know, I’m too emotional and sensitive.. but really, I have the best clients-turned-friends that a photographer could ever have! Thank you Woji, Amy, Ethan, Eian, and Elle :) Looking forward to photographing your growing family as the years come…

Here’s the package I received today.

I confess. I ate half a truffle. It.Was.Delicious!

I think yesterday, Ryan was getting a little irritated with me because with every conversation we had where I had to explain why we needed to do something, it always came with me saying, “because it’s my birthday.” For example: “Ryan, can you wake up now because it’s my birthday!” and “Ryan, can you leave work early because it’s my birthday!” or “Ryan, it’s time to brush your teeth now because it’s my birthday!”  After awhile he would just roll his eyes, but because it was my birthday, he pretty much gave in to my requests. :)

Ryan and I decided to go to Disneyland after work yesterday to celebrate my birthday.  We had reservations for the Blue Bayou Restaurant. I’ve heard reviews about this place and so it was nice to finally go there. The food was delicious, but I think what I enjoyed most was the ambiance. It really is a place that one must experience for themselves and I’m glad we finally did.

The crab cakes were really good and we also ordered the lobster tail with filet mignon.

Here’s a self portrait of us at our table taken with our p&s.

What’s a trip to disneyland without going on a few rides?? We decided to ride at least two before the park closed. The toad ride was really scary! Serious! I had to close my eyes the whole time because it was so dark there and just creepy.

Then we took some pictures with the castle.

I really don’t know how to pose in front of the camera.

Since there were so many people leaving the theme park, we decided to stay awhile longer and take some portraits of each other.

And because it was my birthday yesterday, I took the following shots of Disneyland to remind me what I did and where we went for my 32nd birthday.

I’m sitting on a chair, working on this blog post on our MacBook Pro which is now resting on my birthday gift from Ryan.  Yup! He got me a table for my birthday and it’s so beautiful hahah

Ryan has always been the kind of guy to really think long and hard about what gift he wants to get for me.  We’re not the usual, flowers and candies, or jewelry kind of couple. We’re more like, what is it that we really need and what kind of gift will help you kind of people. So when he told me that my birthday gift would be a trip to Ikea to get a desk, I was all for it!

You see, Ryan has his workstation table with his computer and his keyboard and speakers all set up. As for me, when I need to work on editing photos, I use the MacBook Pro and work on the bed with those wooden boards for laptops.  Then that started to get uncomfortable, so I started using my ironing board as a desk.  I know… pathetic huh? I thought it was a good idea at the moment! Kinda… until I kept knocking down the board and I almost dropped my laptop :oP. I’m realllly clumsy… :o( Ryan finally decided that it was time to get a table for me so I can work properly and efficiently :o)

We went to Ikea this morning and I chose a nice simple black table. He assembled it before going to choir practice. I didn’t know where to put the table because I’m currently trying to figure out how to organize our little office… so I decided to put it where we had our tv table set up.  We’re planning to move the tv to our bedroom, but Ryan thinks its better on the table so that I can use it as a monitor to view the pictures… but I don’t think so.. for now though, I’ve decided to leave it there until I figure out where to put everything… As always.. we’re reorganizing…

Anyways, here’s a picture of my birthday gift from my husband for my 32nd birthday! I’m officially 32 years old because it’s March 1 in the Philippines right now and I was born there :o) So I’ve already started celebrating my birthday until tomorrow evening where Ryan and I will be going to Disneyland to eat at the Blue Bayou Restaurant where we have reservations!

Thank you Ryan for my birthday gift! I love you very much! :o)