Lightning struck with my first waking moment on this first day of my fortieth year, when I realized that I've been loving the same man for the past twenty years! We met in June of 1985 when Freida (my baby sis) and Gigi (Sales-Landicho) first introduced us at an Antioch meeting. I was 19 then, he was 20.
A couple of months later, I turned twenty. He took me to Victory Church in Recto on the eve of my birthday. I thought I was in heaven! No, not because of him, but because I found my home in the Lord...
Many relationships have come and gone in the years intervening, but there are bonds that have grown stronger. My love for this man is one of them. I attribute the strength of this marriage to our God. For truly, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
I thank my Lord for being that third strand...
[PICS BELOW: As young lovebirds at TWENTY ... Still in love TWENTY years later ... Our kids today: Jon(18), Jen(17), Joe(14), Luis(12), and Sabina(4)]
Hi Idz,
ReplyDeleteWow... you and Jojo's story is an inspiration for me :)
May you have more years of marital bliss to come!
ReplyDeleteYup yup!!! I agree with Paul. Happy 40th Ida!! Love ya!!
what a story!!! a testimony to young people today... till-death-do-us-part-kind-of-thing.
ReplyDeletehi ida! this is riza b.happy happy birthday! the Lord has blessed you with a beautiful family! love can be felt all around!
ReplyDeleteAwww shucks, thanks guys... Jojo appreciated it too. He kept hugging me this morning in bed. Ooops, you singulars, close your ears. God's love is a most-splendoured thing!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Ida! I can't believe we're actually in our 30s and 40s! I remember being 17 and gathering around Nonong at the piano! (Whatever happened to Nonong?). You and Jojo have the most beautiful family and you both look the same after 20 years. I especially love that my Jonathan and Jenny are all grown up! Anyway, thanks for keeping in touch. Love, Jenny H.S.
ReplyDeletePretty cool. God must be that hird strand in our relationships. It's hard work, but they are so worth it! And, the best part is that... there's is a lot more beautiful things to come!
ReplyDeletetita thats so cute :) it inspires me just to wait on God and trust Him for the right person to come along ... we miss u all! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm reminded of the love between you and ptr. Jo...I never fail to look at my husband with so much passion welling up within me...fighting the good fight of faith together with growing love for one another...what an inspiration....Jacqui Gayoso-Albano
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