Happy Birthday Johnson!

The Siblings: L-R: Ryan, me, Johnson, Janice and Jordan (Missing In Action = Benson)

My brother Johnson celebrated his birthday today, Sept 29th working on the Area 3 movie poster for the upcoming CFO Night.  It took him 5 hours to complete because he was using such an old laptop. The laptop was a hand-me-down... it came from me when Ryan arrived from PI bringing along with him a faster computer.

Today, Ryan and I decided to buy him the computer he's been hoping for. After work, we drove down to Best Buys in Downey, CA and got him a computer, a flat screen monitor, and a printer. We drove home and left it in front of his bedroom door. I told mom, papa, and jordan not to say anything to him because I wanted it to be a surprise :-D We were all going to the Area 3 taping that Johnson would be directing and editing.

During the taping, Johnson was working hard as director. Afterwards, he planned to go home and rest because his feet were hurting and he was tired.  I kept agreeing that he should so he can ;).  When he got home and saw the new computer, his sleepiness went away and so did his weariness...  He's at his room getting his computer all set up. I guess you can say that he loves his birthday gift :-D

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Johnson.  You're a cool brother..... irritating at times... but you're cool.  You better enjoy the compliment, because you know me, I'm not good at giving them to you.  I know I'm hard on you at times, but know it's for your own good.  I know you'll be successful in life so you need to believe in yourself and most of all our Almighty God.

Seriously, you have so much talent... sometimes I think you don't know what to focus on because you have so much talent! But stay focus and you can accomplish anything you want. I'm thankful to have you as a brother and I hope and pray that your wishes in life come true as long as it is not against God's will.  Keep active always in the faith because you know that it is the only treasure, the only true wealth we have on earth.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS believe in what God can do for you... He is the only reason why we are still alive... and like what your Kuya Ryan told me... EVERY SINGLE BREATH is a GIFT from GOD.

Happy Birthday again! Oh and I need you to finish editing the video in a month please! ;-D

Love Ate Joan and Kuya Ryan

Dawson Family Photoshoot

Karen had emailed me a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to get family photos taken as a birthday gift to themselves since she, her husband and daughter have birthdays in September. We decided to take photos at Seal Beach, CA because it was one of the closest beach around and a favorite weekend beach location of the family.

We met at a party the day before the photo shoot because she knows Kuya Richard. Her family is so nice! Her daughter is sooooo cute and I love her personality. Everything seemed to amuse her from running around on the beach with her parents, finding a big chunk of seaweed and then throwing parts of it back into the ocean, to playing with her toys creating sea creatures with sand and then balancing on the railroad tracks. I'll never see tire tracks on sand the same ever again. She called them "WAFFLE PATTERNS" on the sand. I enjoyed photographing them and I hope they enjoy the slideshow and the photos.

Special big THANK YOU to Kuya Richard for the referral! ;-D I appreciate it A LOT kuya!

Please click on the photo to get the slideshow started.

We'll Miss You Ka Romy!

(photo taken during the Santos-Balbuena wedding)

Yesterday, we received sad news again about Bro Romy Flores passing away. He was a pioneering INC member not just for Long Beach locale, but the district of Southern California. On the way home from the wedding yesterday we had worked in Irvine, Ryan and I were talking about our memories with Bro Romy.

Ryan said that Bro Romy was the one who admonished him to come early during our Buklod Meetings in order to have enough time to prepare and play the organ. From then on, Ryan was never late... There was a way Bro Romy would speak to the brethren when he would give advice. He did so in a gentle way that made you understand it was for the better and I will miss that about him.

CFO Night this year was planned because he had requested it to happen. Who could say no to his request? Although it was a tough job planning for the previous CFO Night and we didn't want to do another one until 2010, he requested it in a way that made us realize that we needed to have the program not to give us another tough job to prepare for, but it was for the brethren and their edification.

During an appreciation night for the elders of our locale, Ryan and I were about to sing a song we wrote called, "We Will Carry On". Ryan made a short introduction and said something like, the song was dedicated for the elders in the church who are still strong in their faith despite their age and years being members in the church. He continued saying that the song we were to sing was dedicated to them. Bro Romy was sitting in the front and after Ryan said that they are our inspiration, Bro Romy said, "Thank you po". -- Ryan and I are the ones who are thankful...

We thank God for giving us the chance to know Bro Romy. He is an inspiration and will forever be one for as long as we live...

Jewel and Micah Wedding Video Summary

Kudos to Johnson and Gerard for being the videographers for this wedding. Gerard completed editing the video for Ka Jewel and Micah this evening! He did an awesome job editing! To view video, please click on the image below. Please be patient while video loads. It's worth it! :-D . For slower connections, please visit: http://www.vimeo.com/1806556 for the low res version.

Happy Birthday Jodick!

My cousin Jodick celebrated his 27th birthday on Sunday, so a group of us Endique cousins decided to eat out at Shin Sen Gumi to get some Ramen.  I'm really not a soup person, but the Ramen is really good! On the way to the restaurant, Ryan, Johnson, Jordan, ate Virmz and I passed by Baskin Robbins and got a birthday cake and candles for him.  Good thing they were still open!  It was really fun hanging out with the cousins again. It's been awhile and I miss them. HOpefully we'll get to plan a cousin trip again soon.  Maybe to AZ. Last night, they were talking about camping again... maybe next year... we'll see... probably a different place than Mammoth this time... but we'll see...

Anyways, I wanted to greet Jodick a happy birthday!!! You're still my most favorite Math Tutor ever! May all your prayers come true and may you have success in the years to come!

Who's Engaged!?

HE'S ENGAGED!? 

I had heard through the grapevine that Kuya Richard De Castro got engaged but I didn't believe until I got an evite to an engagement party from him...It was hard to believe because Kuya Richard is always kidding around!  Sometimes I don't know if he's telling the truth!  So when I finally met his bride to be, it hit me! HE'S ENGAGED!!

L-R: Me, Mimi, Kuya Rich, Ate Yolleta, and Karen

Mimi and Kuya Rich are wonderful together!  They met through a friend he had visited in North Carolina.  I was asking Mimi so many questions, that I started to feel bad because it was as if I was giving her a job interview... Sorry Mimi!  I just wanted to know all the details... how they met, how he proposed, when the wedding would be, where the wedding would be, the color theme for their wedding... but she was sooooo nice and answered all my questions... 

I found out that Kuya Rich had set it up to propose to her during her birthday.  He gathered friends and coworkers to meet at her parents house.  When Kuya Rich and Mimi arrived to her parents house, she thought it was some sort of surprise birthday party. When they started singing the happy birthday song, he brought out a cake for her. However instead of the cake having the usual Happy Birthday greeting, it read, Will You Marry Me? It was sweeeet! ;)

This evening while we were watching the video, Kuya Mel and Ate Leni were asking Mimi to come over to the kitchen. There was another cake!  Mimi came out of the kitchen and she started to sing Happy Birthday... she brought the cake out to Kuya Rich.

The delicious cake from Kuya Mel and Ate Leni

They are so cute together!!!

You two are so right together! Congratulations! I can't wait till your wedding day! 

Welcome To The World Little One!!

Congratulations to Myke and Vanessa!  Maia Angeli Caasi was born on August 23, 2008.  She is so adorable! Every time I see her, I just want to eat her up!  She's so tiny and did I mention adorable!?  

Myke and Van: You two are going to be awesome parents!  We're so happy for you both!

Maia: Welcome to the world! I pray you grow up to be an active member of the church! When you grow up and happen to read this post, I hope you see how much your mom and dad loves you through the photos you will see below... oh and don't forget your aunties and uncles as well who were so excited to meet you! ;D

Here are some photos taken a day after she was born.

Poem Time: The Reason We Endure

I haven't written a poem in such a long time. I think the last time I wrote one was about 6 years ago.. I've written lyrics to songs with Ryan adding the magical effect with his music... and I guess that may count as poetry.. but it seems like it's been so long since I've sat down and have written poetry about my day to day life experiences...the kind without music attached.. ;-D

I've decided to write at least a poem ONCE a month... hopefully it'll help me get back into what I've enjoyed since my elementary years...

"The Reason We Endure" poem was written in the year 1998. I remember writing it at work when I used to work in Aerol Co., Inc. For some reason, I had the urge to pick up a pen and paper.. I just started to write... like I couldn't stop. Every word I wrote kept flowing freely like I had a purpose in writing it. It took about an hour to complete but hopefully it'll last for years to come for everyone to enjoy!

So I hope whoever reads this poem enjoys it and will find some inspiration and strength from it.

The Reason We Endure

Are you seeking for happiness

In a world that's full of pain?

In this place so many trials,

Hardships, sorrows still remain.

For every day that passes,

Your tears so easy to shed

For worries and troubles of this world

Are what's inside your head.

At times you even think

Of giving up this difficult race

Since sadness is always there

Right in front of your weary face.

Then you wonder how

You are able to endure.

You wonder what it is

That makes your life so sure.

You close your weary eyes

In prayer to God above

And there you feel his presence

As He embraces you with love.

A love that's everlasting

A comfort so secure

Now you've found the reason

Why you are able to endure.

In your heart you hear Him saying

"I will never leave your side.

I will give you strength that you will need,

For you are my loving child.

There's no reason to be frightened.

Why from Me should you ever hide?

I will always help you.

I will always be your guide."

Do you still seek for happiness?

Look real hard and you will find

It will truly be found only in

Our Father who is kind.

His love is everlasting.

His comfort is secure.

He is the only reason

Why we are able to endure.

Updated Blog - Free 2009 Mini-Calendars ALL GONE

Regarding my blog below... - CALENDARS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.. It's been reserved for the first 40 who responded.

Thank you and sorry if you didn't get one. :( Next year again :-D

------

I'm giving away 40 of these 2009 Calendars! They usually retail for more than $7 at stores! First 40 people to email me at joan.solitario@es-sense.com will get it.

It's cool because it's small enough to carry around, it has a pen with it that can be tucked into the back of the calendar, and there's lots of room to write your appointments. Let me know if you're interested in getting one!

One per person only! If someone you know is interested, please have them also email me. It won't be fair for others if I save 2 or more for anyone since it is first come first serve basis.

Please e-mail me your name and address in case I need to send it to you.

Perfecto Family Photo Shoot

The day Ryan and I were suppose to return to Long Beach, CA from New York City, I received a text from my friend Apple.  She asked if I could take their family portraits because relatives from Canada were visiting. Who am I to say no??  Of course I would love to take their family photos!  

I remember during my sister's wedding, the girls in the family practiced the songs the band were to play during my sisters wedding reception.  The night before the wedding, they went to the hotel late at night, set up their instruments (drums, guitars, keyboard, mics, etc..) with kuya Rouel and were making sure the sound system sounded just right! They stayed their pretty late practicing their numbers. They are soooo awesome and so very talented! I am forever grateful to them for helping out Janice and Benson on their special day.

It was an honor to have been asked to take their photos! They were one of my first clients when I started this photography business taking photos of the Grand Opening of their dental office and until now, they continue to support me :-D.  So I would just like to thank them and let them know that I appreciate their faith in me.  

I hope you enjoy this slide show po. Please click on the photo below.

Driving behind me...

I just needed to blog this to remember how Ryan shows his sweetness to me. First of all, although the things he would say makes me roll my eyes because of corniness, I have to admit that it does make me smile and laugh in the outside and makes my heart happy as well..

On the way home from work last week, I decided to drive. Not sure what day it was, but its really rare that I drive home from work. Ryan usually does all the driving while I get to rest and nap from a long day at work... So while I was driving, I kept encountering drivers who just wouldn't let me get through the next lane.. some would speed up, or other cars from the other lanes would change to the lane that I needed to be on without signaling so of course if I was not the careful driver, they would have hit me!=P (Note To All: ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE CHANGING LANES - ALWAYS SIGNAL)

I was getting really frustrated with those drivers and so I started to vent out to Ryan... After venting out and a couple of minutes of silence, he says to me, "I wish I could always drive behind you."  I didn't understand what that meant, so I was like, "Huh? What are you talking about?"  Then he repeated it again and explained, "I wish I could drive behind you, so I can always let you get through to the next lane."  

Like I said before... first I rolled my eyes.. so he starts laughing cause he saw I finally got what he was trying to say... and then I suddenly realize... this is my Ryan being romantically sweet to me! So I joined him in laughing, but had to throw in a, "you're so retarded"... =P 

Ryan is like my stress reliever.. He does so much for me that sometimes I wouldn't know what I'd do without him... He's truly a gift...  a blessing from God that at times I don't know how I could have been so lucky to have him as my husband...

Anyways... enough of the mushiness from me... I just wanted to record this moment because I think it would be nice to remember these "simple joys" that God gives me in my life...

Cahigagan 15th Anniversary & Family Photo Shoot

Yesterday I met with Bro Asbel and Sis Beth from the locale of Henderson, NV. They plan to do their renewal of vows after 15 years of being married to one another. Ryan and I found out that they’re related to the Pamintuan/Dayrit/Arceo family here in Long Beach so that was cool to know brethren I know will be attending their renewal of vows on October 25 in Montclair locale. Thanks Jennalyn for the referral! :-D

Special thanks to Juliet Lozano (http://www.makeupbyjuliet.com/) for doing Sis Beth's make up! She looked beautiful!

We drove to Averille Park in San Pedro, CA to take their photos for their guestbook and to display on at the reception site. Here’s the slideshow! Please click on the photo below.


Bro. Asbel and Sis. Beth! We'll see you on October! Thank you for choosing us :-D

Jewel and Micah Wedding Slideshow

Ka Jewel and Micah, thank you very much for letting me, Ryan, Johnson, and Gerard capture your wedding day.  It was so touching that I couldn't help but cry during the ceremony... I got really into the ceremony that I had to remind myself that I needed to start clicking :).  The locale of Long Beach and National City miss you both a lot and can't wait to see you again here in Southern California when you get the chance to visit during CFO Night!!!!

We hope you enjoy this slideshow of your wedding with your requested song to be used to show them off... ;) We hope to post up your Wedding Video Summary soon as well!

Please click on the photo below to view your slideshow.

Isaac & Jane's Wedding Video Summary

This post is long overdue!! So, I'd like to personally apologize to Isaac and Jane for the long wait. We completed their wedding video and are excited to hand deliver the copies on Saturday to them :-D. However, that's still 2 days more of waiting.. so for now, here's the wedding video summary of their special day.

Thank you both for your kindness and understanding! You both are so sweet together! May God bless you and your families always!!

To view the video, please click on the photo below. :) (Please be patient while the video loads)

God Will Provide For Her Absence

Yesterday, we laid our beloved aunty vivian to rest at Cypress Forest Lawn.  It has been one of the most hardest two weeks ever... and I know it'll always be hard no matter how many days, months, or years pass...

It will be hard not seeing my aunty vivian. 

It will be hard seeing her family without her.

It will be hard having family parties without her and her specialty dishes...

It will be hard... but like I told Joy this evening.. it'll get hard.. but it'll just make us stronger. It's when we are weak that we are strong because God is all the more closer to us.  My uncle Jojo emailed me a short message that keeps popping up in my mind and would like to post up on this blog... It was the last sentence in his message that read, "God will provide for her absence".  

I thought that was one of the most perfect thing that anyone could have said in a situation like this...  God will provide like what He always does for His children... so Joy, Fred, Jodick, Tasha, and uncle Willy, I pray that with God you will find the strength you need to go on because God will provide you with the comfort you and the rest of our families are needing at this moment in our lives...  Everything will be "okay" we just have to "always pray" because He will never give us anything that we can't handle...

This song is dedicated to your family as well as all our loved ones who are still grieving...

Aunty Vi: We miss you so much!

This was the last photo I took of my aunty vi.  Taken on August 24, 2008.  She passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2008... :(.......  We'll see you again one day....