This I will definitely miss.

The sad thing about LDRs is the "Goodbye for now…till we meet again" moments, which I am in right at this very moment. In a few hours, Dodong will be boarding his Emirates flight (hopefully upgraded to business class again!) back to the land of the camels and sheiks.

I already cried my eyes out, which is quite a  surprise. I know I should be used to this already since this isn't the first time he left. BUT it's not easy to let him go…literally go. Go back to the desert. I will miss him a whole lot. I even think a whole lot is an understatement!

I miss Dodong but there are some things which change during each homecoming. What will I miss about Dodong this time around?

The mere nearness of him

The fact that he is in the same time zone and very accessible via mobile phone. Even just a 5-minute commute to his house (He does live a stone's throw away from my place) or maybe a meet-up within Metro Manila (except Makati because he hates the place. Hehehehe!).

With him back in the desert, I'd have to wait until we would come to a common ground before he'd be able to get back to me. Yes, I'm used to it BUT, of course, I'd want him to be more accessible especially when I need him the most.

The rides with Sharkface (his new Mitsubishi Lancer EX)

With our new found mobility through Sharkface, it's so fun to just go around. Though gas here costs an arm and a leg versus the costs in Dubai, car rides are great for conversations, jokes and holding hands Cheezy? But I love it Especially that this time around, we did get around quite a lot…we got to Pagudpud right?

The food trips!

Well, it has been significantly less this time around since we are both "conscious" about gaining weight now. He also did the GM diet when he saw that it did work wonders for me. Competitive! hehehehe!

When Dodong is here, I do get to eat in more places…his treat of course! I really feel like a princess

The physical intimacy (of course!)

Hugs, kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs, kisses…need I say more? I think this will appear in all of the top things I will miss about Dodong's being here.

The prayers together

This I believe is the most significant of all. We were able to pray together, on his first Sunday here, during our roadtrip (for safety on the road) and earlier this afternoon before leaving for the airport. I do firmly believe that prayer has and will play a big role in our relationship for the future. We are thankful for all the blessings…most definitely! We truly realized how blessed we are now. And we also prayed for strength, daily safety, abundance, and good health for the coming months.

Hope you'd take the time out (just a few minutes) to pray with us as Dodong and I continue through our LDR journey

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

Homecoming = Love

Dodong’s flight arrived at 1030PM. His family picked him up from the airport, which is usually the case. I always waited for my knight in shining dusty desert armor from home (which was only a mere 5minutes away from his).

I had a bit of stuff lined up that evening to keep me busy instead of staring into space and counting down every second: I had a class at AIM (I am currently — for the Nth time — taking Anton Diaz’s Maven Secrets class for Internet Marketing and Professional Blogging) and a spontaneous powwow with my girls from my PSI Heroic class. So I got home a bit later than planned.

After the packed evening, I waited for Dodong, high emotional and very, very anxious. And then he called. He was in front of our house.

FINALLY FINALLY! He home for real after exactly 7 months and 18 days. Little did I know it was perhaps the most dramatic homecoming for us.

Here are the 5 defining moments of his homecoming…

First look

I opened our gate to see Dodong standing there with a bag of Dubai pasalubong for my family. The first look was actually just a blur as I rushed to hug him…

First hug

It felt like the longest hug ever. We were just holding each other for like 10 minutes. My emotional floodgates just burst with tears of joy and disbelief. I felt that everything was just surreal…

First exchange of words

Then Dodong uttered the first words: “Is this for real?” I tightened my embrace to make his feel the reality of the moment. I then said: “Yes baby, this is real.”

First hand hold

I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks and then stared into his eyes. We took both of our hands and interlocked our fingers, not wanting to let go at all.

First Kiss

Oh wow! How to describe it…I am at a loss for words. For one, it felt as if I didn’t know how to kiss at all. Hahahaha! I did not have any practice for 7 months and 18 days. It was just wonderful! Utter bliss! It was the sweetest kiss that I’ve had in the 7 years and 5 months that we’ve been together.

I am definitely in heaven right now. Thank you Lord (and Emirates!) for Dodong’s safe flight home. I am eternally grateful for him being with me now.

Do you share the same experience when he comes home?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay