Photographs & Memories

After a year of trying photography as a hobby, I've learned that the premise of "Taking Pictures" is that every picture has a story. I've discovered that my photographs come from my own inner world; they are quiet images that speaks to me intimately.

My subjects are not distant; they are not isolated from my feelings. I always think about my childhood, friends, my family. I'm reflecting on who I am at this stage of my life. I see places I knew when I was growing up, I visit places I have never been to, some look familiar, many are new to me, but in each case the place calls up a story and all those stories trigger the same response: I've got to photograph this!

my bestfriends and daughters
prestine, clear water from Kawasan Falls, Cebu

a picture of innocense in one of the beaches in Cebu, Philippines







familiar scene in the Philippine countryside

The next time you go places, take your camera with you, if you make attempt to photograph those places, let me know what you capture in your pictures....

Interview With God

I awakened this morning and the whole world is white with snow but the sky is clear, the sun is shinning and as I looked out my window, I could see that even the birds seemed to be celebrating the promise of a gorgeous day. They are skipping from one tree branch to another, singing beautiful notes...I am so happy, everything seemed perfect! Feeling like this,I started reading my mails and found this email from a friend with this very inspirational website, I couldn't help but share this to anybody who will happen to be in my site. I hope it will touch you like it touches my soul, know that God is real and ever present in our lives....


Inspirational Quotes

What's New???

I have not been up to date about creating new posts on this blog as I had intended when I started this. And so much time has elapsed now and it is virtually impossible to keep you updated, but there are few things that have been happening since my last post.

Wherever you are and whatever you may see when you look out your front window, I want to share with you what was going on in my front yard this morning. It was just 2:00am and I was just getting ready to go to bed. It was dark and very quiet. The sky was black and starless but the ground was blanketed in white snow which made everything visible, even in the utter darkness. There are no street lights here, but still the world can be seen with eerie clarity. Except for the hissing sound of my breath and the rhythm of my heartbeat , it is quiet...absolutely quiet.

Here Comes The Morning

The dawn was so pretty this morning. Even if it is still middle of winter season, I can see that the sky looks clear. As I was leaving the driveway at a few minutes before 6:00 and starting up the hill, I could see the first sign of dawn. The sky was a very faint but gorgeous sight to behold behind the darkness of the hills and the silhouettes of winter trees, and there was so much hope and so much promise for today and for the future. The sky seemed to be talking to me, saying "be patient for many good things are coming, the promise of spring is at hand." I felt so at peace even though my schedule as I looked at it, threatens to overrun me....but there is my life and all my dreams just waiting for the day I come to claim them. It is soon and getting sooner.  Life will be perfect....someday, somehow, somewhere

Everyday, My New Beginning

One of my greatest gifts, is the chance to be
born again each day.Beginning with every sunrise,
I can let go of the past and any regrets,
mistakes and sorrows it may have held.

I can look ahead and see where I'd like to go,
I just have to reach toward the light always,
love will be my guiding star even though my heart has
been broken time and time again, I'll dream
for that beautiful rainbow, catch that first raindrops
on my fingertips or see the wonder of a child and watch
the glory of the last fires of sunset.

Knowing that there is an infinite
other ways I can be happy, I will leave any emotional
baggage where it belongs-in the past.
I can always choose to leave yesterday behind
and start over again, to be whoever and whatever
I dream of being... BEGINNING TODAY.

Goodbye

I made a box of our time together,
Of memories we shared all those years,
Now is the time to pack away,
With Sadness and with Care.

The first is a simple smile,
When ever I thought of you and our love,
Neatly folded in the four corners of my heart,
It’s the best that I could do.

Next are all the memories,
Of the times when we were two,
Wrapped with love one by one,
Sealed with tears as time goes by.

Then there are the happiness,
I had when you were near,
Now in a cage of sadness,
And locked up with a tear.

Next are the times we kissed,
Each one wrapped with a sigh,
Placed next to a rolled up list,
Of all the times I've asked my self why.

Now to pack are the pieces of my heart,
Gathered in a pile, not knowing what went wrong
Each one wrapped up tenderly,
And placed next to a distant smile.

Then there are all the shattered wishes,
Placed in softly so no more can break,
Covering them over trying not to cry,
So they would not all ache.

Lastly walking round each room,
Closing each and every window,
Shutting each and every door,
Leaving behind each and every pain.

Gathering up the memories we shared,
Making sure I've got them all,
Packing them softly because I cared,
Leaving them in the boxes in the hall.

Finally the last song of our love
The endless refrain that used to
give my existence any purpose,
"I love him, I love him, I love him."
And with that, the feeling of loss
and loneliness beyond words...

Who I am

Howdy. I’m Amie, Welcome to my frontier! I’m a forty-something single-mother of two girls, Michelle and Rhea. I am the oldest child who grew up in the mid-size city of General Santos in the southern tip of the Philippines but spent many summers of my childhood in the rugged, hilly farms in Alabel, Sarangani Province. It was there that many fond memories of my youth were formed. It was an oasis where I was free and be with my first love--my horse named Mula. I couldn't count the times we rode those mountains, sat by the stream and crossed river. I felt in love with him when I was 12, my father gave him to me as a gift. I lose him when I was 20, my first taste of heartbreak. I attended college in Mindanao State University and have  degree in BSBA-Economics . . . I’ve been to few great places in my life, travelled to some beautiful parts of the world, done crazy things, laughed, cried tears, made mistakes, fallen in love & broke my heart. As of now I live in Manassas, Virginia, USA. I love being with my daughters, meeting friends for coffee, go shopping, driving in the country side, play golf, read, write,cook, and scuba diving in the summer. I hope you enjoy my website. Here, I write about my feelings, thoughts, experiences, and my passion for life.I also manage to take pictures of nature, and compose poetry in an effort to chronicle this bizarre, beautiful, and exciting journey I’m on. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you by visiting my site.

Lonesome Nights

I stand and gaze into the starless skies...
My heart longs for the one I have been waiting for
to come and comfort me in lonesome night like this.

His kisses will melt me like butter meets the sun
his hugs will keep me warm in this cooling breeze
his love will inspire me to greater heights in life
our love will be as endless as the ocean can be...

This journey will never be lonesome again
when I have him walking beside me...
My God when will you hear my prayer
when will thou send my love to me?

From Miles Away

It's gray outside today, the bleakness of winter face me. It is very early in the morning & all is quiet. I felt the burning pain in the deepest recesses of my soul. Why am I feeling so down?

In that moment of solitude, I asked myself what made me feel that way.The pain is so irrational, but so real. Such a nagging, constant ache that refuses to be silenced no matter how empty and silent the rest of the world is. The ache is so relentless and there is no refuge because the feeling of consolation will not come.

I walked outside to stand & gaze into the sky to face my fears. The coldness of freezing winter numbed my skin but not the feeling of unease and loneliness & the lyrics of a song floating through my mind as I thought of where my life has taken me. The thoughts rage through the spaces of my mind and the strange sweetness of that pain is actually welcomed. I really miss home, the weather, my friends, my family and being around people I enjoy being with and who care about me. I miss the beach, I miss the mountains, I miss the hilly, rugged farms of my parents where I spent many summer of my youth. I miss driving along the coast on winding roads and feeling the engine respond to the touch of my feet and my hands as I shift through the gears with the wind blowing through my hair and bringing the smell of air salted by the ocean to my nose as the curves in the road rush up to meet me. I miss walking the beach at sunset and watching the sun lower itself, an orange red ball slowly dimming against the darkening sky over Mt. Parker as the waves of the sea lap over my bare feet. I miss hearing the rustling sound of the trees in a gentle wind as I sit under a pitch black sky illuminated by thousands of bright stars and the crescent moon. I miss staring at the lights of the towns of Alabel and Malapatan across the water as I listen to the gentle waves of Sarangani Bay bathing the shore. I miss the pulse of walking along the city's streets, the warmth of the lights peeking through the curtained windows of its quaint houses. I miss the spur of the moment trips to Dole Kalsangi, often begun in the wee hours of the morning just because I want to play golf and be alone with my thoughts. I miss the stir of the pines in the mountain wind as the miles go by in the darkness & I am all alone with the deafening silence of my thoughts as I drive home. I miss the smooth burning sweetness of tequila and the refreshing frozen margarita in my throat as my ears are soothed by the bold brassiness of a trumpet, the sleazy reediness of a saxophone, and the sultry haunting melodies of my favorite jazz club at The Fort & the conversation and camaraderie of friends on Saturday nights out. I miss the gatherings of my growing family, even though many are now missing. I miss my mother & the melody of her voice reaching deep inside of me & bathing my soul with a feeling of love and security. I miss trying to remember the names of the children and grandchildren of cousins, knowing that in the fleeting moments of time I spend with them I'll never know them all. I miss watching my girls play with their father and lament the bitterness and hatred that I had to go through to eventually find friendship and understanding with him. I really miss home, and the ache and longing to be there is surpassed only by the ache and longing to be home again..