The Wet Wedding Proposal And My Reflection On Second Chances

Hello loves, how are you this Holy Week?  Some of you may have gone home to their provinces to spend the long weekend there and some of you ...

Hello loves, how are you this Holy Week?  Some of you may have gone home to their provinces to spend the long weekend there and some of you are enjoying a staycation in a hotel (which we used to do) and some, like our family, just stayed at home.

This long weekend is giving me some time to pause, rest, reflect and of course pray.  When we do pause and reflect, we get to think of the many blessings we have in our lives and it becomes a very humbling moment.  I have a lot to thank for to God for the outpouring of His blessings this first quarter of 2015.
First, as the title of this post suggests, the Wet Wedding Proposal.  Okay, I'm already sober from the surprise of my life which my loving life partner gave me.  I'm happy to share with you that finally after years of being together, Macky staged a wedding proposal to me with the help of his family and friends, who altogether made the plot and script convincing that I didn't have a single hint it was coming at all!  That beautiful and memorable day was 28th of March, our couple power number.

Here are photos of the life-changing surprise of my life.

The simple white gold diamond engagement ring.
When this after-proposal-photo was captured, I wasn't still on earth.
I was supposed to show the ring here, instead, it looked like a beauty pageant wave. :)
Still in shock, out of space, cloud 9 and anywhere else, except Earth.
So, here's the story behind it.  Macky planned his wedding proposal to me for a good one whole month with our group of friends.  We were really scheduled to go out on a family outing in a private rest house in Baras, Rizal during the last weekend of March.  Maybe, Mac thought, that was a perfect venue and event where I wouldn't have any hint at all that something's cooking.

It was a beautiful Saturday and I have been thanking the Lord on our way to Baras that morning, little did I know, I have a lot more to thank Him for later that day.  I even posted these photos on my IG.
A photo posted by Louise Antonette Fandiño (@mommypracticality) on

A photo posted by Louise Antonette Fandiño (@mommypracticality) on

THE PROPOSAL PLOT
Two couple games were scheduled to happen that night hosted by one of our friends, who at that time didn't bring his partner.  We lost the first game so I said to myself, we should win the second one.  

The second game was "Sisiran ng Piso" the couple who gets the most number of one peso coin, by diving into the pool and getting them, wins.  Mac and I were the last couple to do the task.  Little did I know, that while Mac and I were at it, our friends were already on to their rehearsed production like: lighting the sparklers, readying the fireworks, cuing the background music to the tune of our couple song "Better Together" by Jack Johnson, assigning the videographer, opening the headlights of one car to serve as our spotlight.

So time was up for us to get as many piso as we could, we were asked to get out of the pool.  Of course I was all wet and a little cold!  I didn't notice the headlights from the car nor the sparklers lit up by my friends.  I was focused on counting the coins Mac got and hoped to win this time.  The host counted only 10 coins while the leading had 15.

Mac turned his back against me to get something he hid in his shorts before he jumped to the water.

In my mind, "Haha!  Nandaya ito, nagtago ng mga piso sa shorts, so we could win!"  

When he turned around, I was really looking for more coins.  Instead, he got down on his knees and popped the question, "WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
The moment he went down on his knees and asked me to marry him.  I was in total shock and literally floating on Cloud 9.
I remembered saying, "Ano to?  Totoo ba to?"

Everyone was shouting pala "Say YES!  Say YES!" because it took a while before I did, not because I didn't want to, but because I was really surprised!

I was called back to earth when Mac jokingly said, "O-oo ka ba or Hindi?  Kasi masakit na tuhod ko!"

That was the time I said "OF COURSE YES!!!"  Tears rolled down my eyes.  Everyone around me said, they had goose bumps, even the guys were in tears (but just didn't want to show it to their wives!)

Indeed it was one of the happiest nights of my life, if not the happiest.  I didn't see it coming, though formal wedding plans had been discussed over and over again.  We were even supposed to get hitched last year, but my mom passed away, so we had to delay.  But seriously, I didn't expect that he would still propose because he already knew the answer is, and will always be, a resounding YES!  

Though, honestly, I have been bugging him to surprise me with a wedding proposal like what celebrities do, we both know it's just a "Nice-To-Have" wish and I didn't expect him to stage one.  Why?  It's not in his character to do such.  He's not a Romantico kind of guy, he's a rock star, a practical and low-key kind of guy and for that I love him!  So planning this whole thing was really a BIG step for him, which is why his childhood friends (his proposal production team) was truly happy for both of us!

I couldn't thank our friends enough for helping Mac with his proposal.  For the many group (and serious at that!) meetings about the plan, for finding a way to get the size of my ring finger (ang galing ng script niyo!), for purchasing the ring for Mac, for buying and lighting the fireworks display, for the full production that unforgettable night, and of course for the lifetime friendship!  THANK YOU for making this important event in our lives special and for supporting us all the way.

SECOND CHANCES AND LIFE BLESSINGS
Remember what I wrote a few weeks ago, about surviving being a single mom and believing in second chances?  Well, this recent life event of mine is a testament that we all deserve, and firmly believe that we do, Second Chances at LIFE and at LOVE.  

We all make mistakes, but we should learn the lessons well and correct them.  

We all fall one or more times in our lives, but we must focus on getting up, fighting back, and doing right.

We all must have hurt someone, sometime in our lives, and in the process beat ourselves with guilt for what we've done.  We should not only ask forgiveness, but we should more importantly FORGIVE OURSELVES and move on.

We may have been judged by others, ridiculed and even gossiped about.  Remember, you don't need to explain yourself to anyone but believe in the power of God's grace and forgiveness.  We don't need to explain to people who don't matter in our lives.  And to the people who matter, they won't even mind.  Our family will stand behind us, love us unconditionally and defend us.  They are what matter most.

God is such a loving and forgiving God.  He loves you and me so much!  He picks us up when we fall.  He fixes what is broken in us.  He calls us back when He sees us turning away from Him in so many miraculous ways.  He finds a way to show us His love.  He's indeed our Savior and will never leave us alone, in the dark.  Never.

I know so because He has given me my children as His gifts, to care for and love unconditionally.  He has given me a second shot at LOVE in the presence of Mac, who's been an angel to me from Day 1 as a friend, as a confidant, later on as a band mate a business partner, then as a loving partner for almost a decade.  He and our little family are my Second Chances.

When I learned to let go and let God, when I trusted Him more even at the most trying times of my life, and when I listened intently to what He wants me to do to be His instrument (and I'm still a work in progress) to bless others through this blog, my job, and my other skills, good things have been happening in my life.

I ask Him what have I done to deserve them.  I know that He's teaching me to share more, to inspire, and help others more.  This is what second chances could do.  It reborns you to a better and more positive person.  I am living a more purposeful, more intentional and more peaceful life with my family.  With that, blessings keep coming, just like a few days before the wedding proposal of Mac, we finally got our family a brand new car.
Our first brand new car
So many good things had been happening since the day I accepted God's forgiveness, the day I reaffirmed that I'm God's child and the day I believed He has a mission for me.  That I have a purpose which is more than just being a daughter, a mother, a (soon-to-be-legit) wife, an employee or a friend.  That through this blog, I may be able to reach out to more people, more moms, and more women who seek to find information and inspiration too.

So right now, if you're feeling down due to a failed marriage, a tiring parenting, a fight with your husband or boyfriend, a business gone bad, death in the family, personal debt, or any problem that you may have, have faith my friend.  Trust in HIM for the many reasons for the things that's happening in our lives.  He alone knows WHY.  Have faith that He will not leave you in these trying times.  Seek Him, He will give you rest when you need it.  He will carry the burden for you.  He will heal you.  He will grant you Second Chances at Life and Love.  When you're at it, you'll definitely find it in your heart to give back and also lift others up to Him.

I told you so, this long weekend, Holy Week, is giving me enough rest and time to reflect on life and realize how blessed our family is.  May you also find time to breathe deeply, breathe slowly and realize how God loves you so much, that He gave up His only Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Have a blessed Easter to you and your family!

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Hi, I'm Louise Fandiño Santos, a wife, a mom of all boys and a campaigns strategist by profession. My family, singing, flowers, chocolates, coffee, and traveling make me happy. I passionately blog about pretty and practical things and choices concerning motherhood, relationships, food, travel, events, and shopping. MORE?

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9 comments

  1. Istin Dizon PaignaApril 4, 2015 at 7:14 PM

    awww. nakakaiyak naman po ang wedding proposal sa inyo..
    God bless you more Ms. Louise! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maye BeeApril 6, 2015 at 2:06 PM

    Aw.. This post brought tears to my eyes. God is truly great. Congrats and God bless! ☺

    ReplyDelete
  3. cheekeegirlApril 7, 2015 at 5:17 PM

    Congratulations and happiness is overflowing. God is great and good all the time even not in the happiest cases… But in your case, it's all putting everything at the right time and at the right place in God's time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Atty. Camille Fuentes-DumlaoApril 8, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    Wow, congratulations sis! This post of yours is so inspiring and kakilig. Wishing you and Mac the best of what married life brings. Congratulations to both of you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Louise Antonette D. FandinoApril 8, 2015 at 3:58 PM

    Thank you so much @Maye Bee! God bless you and your family too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Louise Antonette D. FandinoApril 8, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    Thank you @cheekeegirl! Indeed God is great all the time and He certainly knows perfect timing for everything! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Louise Antonette D. FandinoApril 8, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    Thank you @Atty. Camille Fuentes-Dumlao! :) Thank you so much!!!! :) God bless you and your family as well! Take care always!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yanna AbreraNovember 10, 2015 at 12:29 PM

    I've been a lurker in your blog for a few days, and I came across this article just now. Congratulations!! I'm very happy for you, as in even if I don't know you personally, ramdam ko the kilig! Your post gives me hope, because I'm a single mother too --- but wala pang nagkakamaling lumapit after I separated from my son's dad. Haha! I wish you all the best, and I can't wait for your wedding blog post!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Louise Antonette D. FandinoNovember 10, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    Hello Yanna! Thanks for dropping me a message to let me know that at least I had touched one person with my life experiences, the failures, realizations, and the triumphs.... God gifts us always with second chances in everything! In time you'll find what God has been molding for you dear. Keep the faith! Huuuuugs!!!! :) I'll post wedding articles, tips, how I applied my PRACTICAL SIDE in my preps after the event!!! :) Thank you so much for also inspiring me. God bless you and your son! :)

    ReplyDelete

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Mommy Practicality is a home and lifestyle blog that's about positive, informative, 
inspirational and helpful sharing of life experiences of a working mom 
with topics on motherhood, relationships, events, food, travel, shopping, and finances. 
It hopes to influence moms and women to realize 
that it's possible to live a quality life while choosing a practical lifestyle.



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