Spring has sprung but some hearts are broken.

Spring stimulates positive feelings after the quietness of winter. It marks the beginning of flowers' bloom, chirping birds, clear sky and radiant-pleasant weather. It is also considered a season of new beginnings as many trees shed old leaves and grow new ones.

Spring is a beautiful season. It brings new hope, new laughers. Or so I thought.

"Kasama na niya si Lord, Ate"- This was the exact message I received from Joanna, Hydee's sister on March 31st.

Even the whirring sound and the rushing warm air coming from the blower at the salon cannot hide the pain that's crushing my heart as I recall our moments as classmates, as her first discipler, mentor as an ALT, her "caption and grammar" editor, her confidant and go-to-person when Joana, her “favorite person” wasn’t her favorite person on days they had misunderstandings.

October 8, 2014. 10 years, 5 months and 21 days ago; 3827 days to be exact. Our paths crossed at Shinwa Foreign Language Academy and that’s where our special bond started.

We talked about her life, love life, her love for her son, her dreams, frustrations and most especially, we talked about God. I saw her desire to seek, serve and obey Him even if it's hard and challenging. I remember the times when we used to call every night because she wanted to learn how to pray out loud to prepare herself to disciple someone. She was scared but she had a strong desire. I was also overjoyed when she asked for my help to write her testimony to give praise to God and tell everyone that she was declared cancer-free then. Until she's not.

I have countless cherished memories of her.

It’s raining. As if the weather is trying to help us express what we feel. I am weeping, with the rest of the people who love her deeply because losing her means not being able to hear her "bungisngis" laugh again, not seeing her carefree and spontaneous spirit and her dainty-ultra feminine-pink-looks while saying "I am God's princess".

Despite knowing full well that for us, believers, death is escaping the pain in this world and slipping away into the next room with Jesus, I still find myself feeling what Jesus felt in John 11:35; the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept".

But life goes on. Just like in Spring, the trees shed their leaves but they grow new ones, flowers die but new blooms always emerge.

Hydee may have gone ahead of us but how she captured our hearts and touched our lives, I know that the happiness of those times will forever be vivid in our memories.

Heartfelt impact. How she fought cancer with hope even on days her faith was shaking left an incredible and indelible impact on people around her.

Youthful attitude. She taught us that we can approach life with energy, enthusiasm and playful spirit despite our actual age. Check her Vlogs and see for yourself.

Determined Spirit. She refused to give up even "when life gave her tangerines". She persevered until the very end.

Endearing smile. She had sparkling dimples that won the hearts of people who saw and heard her laugh ang giggle in good times and in bad.

Eager to learn and help. She gave her best to help the Church by designing, ushering, hosting events and games etc. Talking about helping? She held my phone the entire time during our wedding to accommodate our online visitors on Zoom.

Thank you HYDEE, my dear friend, the strongest warrior princess I've ever met. Spring has sprung, my heart is broken but we'll see each other again.

Enjoy running healed, healthy and cancer-free in the presence of our Lord Almighty. If you see our unborn baby Sam there, please hug her for me. 💞

"Life is indeed fleeting" her demise got me to agree. So, to all of us, my co-sojourners, may Psalm 39:4-5 become our prayer:

 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure."

Everyone is but a breath like Spring that will soon end. The quantity of time is short but we can make it count as we live fully that will leave a legacy that transcends until eternity. Let's live for God and focus on what matters most. Shall we?

Here are tons of our pictures together where you can see how crazy and bubbly she can be.