Superdad.

Dearest L,

I debated whether or not to write another blog from my end because I didn't want to take your turn, but today is Father's Day and I just thought it fitting to share something from today that involved my Pops.

Last night, someone smashed the side view mirror on our van that was parked along the curb in front of the house. It was probably late, the driver was probably driving fast, and didn't even notice he or she hit it. At least, that's the way my dad explained it to me. My first instinct was to assume that the driver was speeding and that the driver did know that he or she hit it and didn't have the common courtesy to leave a note. When I expressed these thoughts, my dad simply said, "Well, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. That's how you say it, right?"

My dad spent part of the afternoon sweeping all the glass from the mirror that had shattered on the street. I stood on the curb keeping him company as he meticulously swept every visible piece of glass on the pavement. Didn't make a big deal about it. All he said about the matter was, "Just in case the kids walk along the street."

I admire my Pops. A lot. I hope that the man I marry, if I marry, has the same humility and peace that my dad has. Not so sure about his humor, though. Depends on the guy. HAHA.

Talk to you soon!

Love,
G Love

"A story untold is a story ignored..."

Dear L,

For the past two weeks, we've had relatives from my dad's side visiting at our house. I've gained weight from eating Filipino feasts every night. I've lost sleep from staying up all night with my cousins. I've had to share a bedroom and bathroom with my parents. One could say it's been a "rough" two weeks, but honestly, I have loved every second of it.

Being around my family made me realize that people are books. I guess that's not an original idea, but this idea came to life as my dad and his cousin looked through old pictures and shared stories with the rest of us. I have always been curious about my parents' lives and my relatives' lives before they came to the States - what it was like to grow up in a close-knit community in the Philippines half a century ago- and I've only ever heard bits and pieces. Many of those bits and pieces, however, came together late one night last week when we were all just hanging out in our living room.

Stories. A story of my uncle stealing a neighbor's chicken at night and using it to cook Arroz Caldo (a Filipino dish). A story of my dad getting hit by a taxi and his older brother getting his friends to beat up the guy driving the taxi. A story of my mom shaking her booty at the disco so my dad would notice. A story of my dad and his cousins playing basketball late at night in the rain.

My dad. My mom. My aunts, uncles, cousins. You. Me.

Books.

My dad has often said that it would have been nice to have a video camera when he was younger so we could have images of the stories he shares with us. Part of me a wishes that, but a bigger part of me doesn't. Home videos and pictures are wonderful, don't get me wrong (I LOVE MY FLIP) but they serve their purpose. The stories that are shared by word of mouth can be just as vivid, if not more, because one is able to hear humanness and honesty in the sound of the words.

It's important to ask our parents to share their stories. It's important for us to share our stories with others. And it's important for us to realize that our moments, good and bad, are our stories and to never take them for granted. Who is to say when our books will end? All we can really do is to live with open ears, open eyes, open arms, and an open heart.

In one word - love.

Everything you said in your last post :]

You're beautiful, inside and out.

Love,
G Love

Falling slowly, eyes that know me, and I can't go back.

I'm sitting in my room drinking peppermint tea listening to Joshua Radin on Pandora. It's pouring outside. The sky is dark grey, and the rain hasn't stopped since 9 this morning. The rain is cooping me up inside my house. I am inside my room and inside my covers and inside my skin, really. If that makes sense--all I've been doing today is thinking. And usually when I spend a whole day thinking, it's not very productive, lol. But today I didn't care much for being productive. I even watched like 6 episodes of The Office on Netflix, tehehe.

But seriously. I read your blog again today and it really hit me hard. Like, in a good way. Your friend's story is amazing. Marriage has been on my mind so much lately. I've been having dreams about weddings and dresses and being married and my sister wants to lend me a book about commitment and then you post a blog about your friend's wedding. It's strange that I am thinking about it, really. I'm only 18.

I think it's so incredibly cool that people marry their best friends. Someone you can tell anything to. Someone you can pray with and share your worries, your fears. You can cry in front of them and laugh about it after. You can go on adventures together, even if it's to the grocery store or the park. You can lay next to each other on a tennis court and watch the sunset. You can go for walks every night and you always have a hand to hold.

Marriage is kind of like having a sleepover...every night. You can curl up and watch movies at night. You can fall asleep next to them in your sweatpants with your hair in a bun, no makeup. It is someone to do the dishes with. Someone you can have a pillow fight with. Someone who will always be there to open the freaking pickle jar. Someone who will stroke your hair and tell you that things are going to be okay. Someone who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself. Someone who loves you sometimes more than you love yourself. It's the closest you can get to feeling God's love through a person.

And I catch myself searching for what love is. How do I know if it's really love? How do I know if it's real. I keep putting one foot back on the ground. Never fully allowing myself to love. But honestly I don't think there's any trick behind it.

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I think I know. Love is self explanatory, really. When it's there, you will know it. Because God's love wraps you up. And when He puts it in someone else to love you, you know it. And when He puts it in YOU to love someone else, you will know it.
And it's okay to have doubts. Because God will keep things sewn together. He won't let anything rip apart if it's right.

Sigh. :)

Just a few thoughts from New Jersey to Maryland. From a Hannah to a Hannah.

Love,
L

You may come in June, you may never come at all, but I'll keep singing this song, righting my wrongs, keep walking along...

June Fifth. One of the most epic days in history. Well, in my history, at least :]

I started my day off early. The time-I-usually-go-to-bed type of early. But, I didn't mind at all because that day was the day my beautiful friend, Jen, was finally getting married! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy weddings and I have been so happy to attend my relatives' weddings. They're always so much fun and I'm so happy for my family members when they get married. But, for some reason, Jen and Dave's story sticks out to me. It is one of incredible patience, faithfulness, and hope. I don't think words are enough to describe the struggle, the pain, and the joy of this story.



I met Jen when I was in high school. She just started working for the church and immediately I was drawn to her. She was this beautiful young woman, in her mid-20s at the time, who loved God, loved people, and loved music. I consider her one of my "mentors" in this life, someone I look up to, and who I have been able to share my struggles with. Jen was always so patient with me and was always willing to listen, no matter how major or trivial my problems were (I know a lot of other young women would say the same about her). She's kind, humble, but most of all, real. She shared with me and other girls about her struggles in being single and her desires to be married. I am only 20, and already, my desires to get married grow stronger and stronger each day. Hormones? Maybe. But even though Jen longed to get married, she waited.



But she didn't just wait. She prayed. Hard. She used the time to invest in others, like myself. I know it was difficult for her heart, but she continued to love and love well, free from bitterness. Everyone else, we didn't understand - here was this beautiful woman who knew Love, but where was the man, the best friend whom she longed to spend the rest of her life with?



After many years, their paths finally crossed. Dave was a match for her. We all saw it. Like her, he loved God, loved people, and loved music. Humble, kind, faithful. They had to overcome many obstacles, but it finally happened and their paths merged. I was ECSTATIC (that's an understatement) and honored to witness their marriage yesterday. The bridesmaids walked down the aisle to a song that Jen wrote before she met Dave:

I've been on this road for a while
Waiting for a glimpse of your smile
Coming around the bend
What a sight for sore eyes to win

Until that day, I'll keep singing this song
I'll open my arms, keep righting my wrongs
You may come in June, you may never come at all
I'll keep singing this song, keep righting my wrongs, keep walking along

Walking alone is hard to do
God's love and grace will get me through
And if He chooses to
I'd really like to walk next to you.

Then, Jen walked down the aisle to a song that Dave wrote for her when he proposed. Talk about snot! I had a lot because I was crying so much, and I don't usually cry. They have impacted others and changed the world individually and now they get to do it together. That is truly awesome.

That was something else special about this wedding. SO many people - family and friends - worked together to make this wedding happen. I really took notice of the couples who were already married who helped out. Matt and Kim were the wedding photographers. Mark and Rose spoke at and coordinated the ceremony. Man. Marriage. It can be a beautiful thing. Marrying your best friend. Sharing in this life together. Impacting people. Loving. I can wait, but at the same time, I can't. Maybe a better word is "will." I will wait.

Lucky for me, the day didn't end there. My friends and I headed to Clear for Takeoff's CD Release party at Recher Theatre. Our good friend Mike is the bassist in the band. We joked about showing up in our wedding attire, but we ended up changing in a garage parking lot instead. I've never done that before. It was.. liberating? I mean. I don't plan on doing it often. But yeah. HAHA.





Clear for Takeoff is definitely a band worth checking out. I heard some of their stuff before last night and I really liked it. However, I was extremely impressed when I heard/saw them live. It's really disappointing when bands or musicians don't play as well live, but these guys are the complete package. Very likable onstage, open, not arrogant at all. The band was very tight and the harmonies were spot on. They have two lead singers in the band, each of whom write the songs. I really liked that.



CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF MYSPACE


Overall, an enjoyable night minus some dude who was hitting on me during the show... UGH. Geeze. I never know what to do in those kinds of situations. I mean, they don't happen often, but when they do, they are always extremely awkward and weird. Luckily, I had some of my guy friends willing to help me out to keep him at bay. Seriously though. Don't touch me if you don't know me. Don't brag about writing music with the band that's currently playing. Don't keep looking at me while I'm trying to enjoy the music. Not. Cool.

ANYWHO, your blog about the city... I can really relate to hating/loving the place. Crowds of people, smelly streets, no place to breathe BUT at the same time crowds of souls, busy streets, infinite places to explore... It's true, who knows what is to come, but I could TOTALLY see you living in the city. At least for a little while. If you do, can I sleep on your couch?? :]

Your pictures with Stephen... SO. awesome. Hehe. Aww, I miss you guys. A lot! I was surprised - he actually smiled for that one! HAHA.

Well, my relatives are over for the next two weeks and I'm uber excited. Cousins are always so much fun. Especially ones you haven't met before.

I'm trying to convince my parents to buy me a unicycle... it is ADDICTING. I can get on it and fall off of it with ease! Now, I just have to learn to ride it without having slip out from under me.

Well, I'll talk to you soon Larson! I miss you and making music with you <3

Love,
G Love

P.S. That lyric was from a song called "Good Question" written by this awesome artist named Tommy Butler. You should definitely check him out :]

I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps.

A part of me hates the city. It's too big, too polluted. There is trash everywhere and too many people who are too absorbed in their own personal agendas. The drivers are rude. The pavement makes it ten times hotter in the summer. My feet throb after walking blocks and blocks. The city is a maze to me, and I lose my sense of direction so easily. The subway system doesn't make sense. People bump into me left and right. The buildings cover up the sky and the roads cover up the grass. Everyone is go go go and work work work and buy buy buy. The madness never stops.



Another part of me loves it. Everyone is unique. People seem to walk tall regardless of the skyscrapers that tower over them. I am still small in this city, but slowly I feel like I am becoming a part of something big. I never know who I am sitting next to on the train, and you never know who you might meet. The sunset peaks through the buildings and it is absolutely beautiful. The buildings cast shadows and reflect sunlight onto the streets. And when the sun goes down, the city lights keep everyone's faces glowing.



There are endless opportunities and thousands of connections. And something about the streets keep me walking. I don't want to stop. I liked this feeling. And I spent the day with Stephen, which made the day even better.



I don't know. I WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY HANNAH! Hahaha. I just don't know if I should live somewhere that I hate as much as I love. I just feel like there are so many opportunities that I am missing out on by living in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. I just want to try it to see what it's like.

So who knows what the future holds. :)

In the meantime, has it really only been three weeks? Do we SERIOUSLY have three months left??? Blah. I need structure in my life. I've been watching too many marathons of America's Next Top Model. I think I'm going to start waking up early to do pilates or something. Or maybe enlist myself in military summer school. Maybe not that extreme...I just need to survive until the end of June. What have you been up to outside of hanging out with the kiddies?! I LOVE your blogs and how we do kind of the same things. The kids sound and look adorable. I think it's so cool that you wrote a song with them. The sweet thing. The title sounds like it could be a real song. I hope you are writing lots of stuff. And MAN did I love the lyrics you put on here about the fool shedding a different light. Who wrote that?

That's all for now. Love you Hanner. And I MISS YOU! Have fun riding that unicycle...that is the coolest thing ever.

Hannah L

The Sweet Thing.

Dear L,

I really must apologize because we keep blogging about the same things... I mean, the experiences might be similar but the thoughts about them are different. I kind of like that. I hope you don't mind. If you do, you can kick my right shin the next time you see me... I may or may not cry.

Last night, I slept over at my friends' house. Lauren and Amelia are probably my favorite elementary/middle schoolers in the world. I know what you mean when you say you can learn a lot from kids. An evening with them was a breath of fresh air into my lazy summer life.

I had dinner with their mom, who is a dear friend of mine, and we had a very sweet time together. After that, we went to the mall with the girls and walked around. Now, I'm not really one for shopping or even hanging out at the mall. The longest I can stay in the mall without getting antsy is probably 15 minutes, maybe 25 minutes if I eat at the food court. But, that changes when you're with two girls who want to look at all the poofy, glittery dresses and run around Bath & Body Works spraying and sniffing everything they can get their hands on. I don't think I've ever had that much fun at the mall - and I didn't even buy anything! Seriously, who needs money...

While we were at the mall, we also got to visit the pet store and play with puppies! This pet store is awesome because you can sign up to play with the puppies who are waiting to be taken home. We played with probably about 5 puppies, most of whom were jumpy and nippy and would not stop biting my shoelaces. There was one puppy, though, a cock-a-poo, who was so docile and so fluffy... I was so tempted to call my mom and say, "I think I found Bella." (NOTE: My parents want to get a dog and we've already named her Bella... even though we haven't gotten the actual dog. Weird. I know.)

Lauren and her mom drove home together since they had to pick something up on the way, so Amelia rode with me. On our way back to the house, she said, "Let's write a song!" One of our favorite things to do when I babysit or hang out with the girls is to write songs. She took a pen and paper from my purse and started writing the lyrics:

The sweet thing now
The sweet thing now
You think you've got it down
The sweet thing now

Have a cookie
Have some ice cream
Have a doughnut
Have a sweet thing

Uninhibited. Completely. Anything and everything is possible.

When we got home, she, Lauren, and I worked on adding some music. They added a "rap break" where Lauren freestyled about sweets, a "dance time," and chose to end the song with some ballet. After practicing a couple of times, we filmed it and then they had to get ready for bed.

Before bedtime, Amelia showed me her awesome Silly Bands (what a crazy fad... I love it, haha) and then Lauren asked me to braid her hair. So, we're sitting on her bed, I'm french braiding her beautiful, long brown hair and she proceeds to tell me about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and how she started to read it and loved it. "I love detail," she said and I could not help but be amazed at her ability to eloquently describe the book. I wondered, "How in the world did I get through AP Literature?" I started to read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and threw it across the room because I got frustrated reading it. Man.

Later that night when the girls were in bed, their mom and I had another sweet late night talk. Those are my favorite. At one point, she said something that made me take flight on the inside. She said, "I don't know what it is, but my girls just let loose when they're around you. They do things with you that they never imagine doing..."

That. That right there is IT. And I know I can say the same, even more, about them.

So, yes, I know what you mean when you say we can learn a lot from kids :]

I loved your latest blog. I think I've loved all of them and I will love the ones to come. Just to warn you. Addie seems like such an awesome 10 year old (your pictures are ADORBS...)! And I know it'll take time, this whole "fooling people" bit, but I believe you'll be able to move past that and just be. Be. I can say that because I am at that same place... I feel like I am JUST learning to open up, to not "fool" people, but willing to be a "fool" in a sense. The "wear your heart on your sleeve" thing. I've been listening a lot to a song in which the lyrics go, "The fool will find he may not be a fool in a different life, if you shed a different light..." Hmm. Something to think about :]

I. LOVE. YOUR. GLASSES. You look so cute! I say that in the most platonic way possible.

I feel like my blogs are getting longer and longer. Oh well. I guess I just feel like I've got something to say... HA! Man. Okay, I'll stop now.

Can't wait to hear from you!
Love,
G Love

P.S. One of my friends is going to teach me how to ride a unicycle! GAHH! I'm so excited.