Parents Meet the Parents

After the crazy adventure of "Meet the Parents", Gepher and I were prepared for anything with "Parents Meet the Parents" weekend.  This meeting didn't include any crazy van rides or cars that wouldn't start, instead it was filled with love and support as we begin to embark on this new journey together .

Philippine tradition is for the groom and his parents to come together to meet the bride's parents before the wedding.  In this meeting the parents typically discuss the plans for the wedding, pick a date, and the upcoming marriage.  It is important for both of us to accept and embrace one another's backgrounds and traditions as we form a blended family of two very different cultures.  This meeting was one of those traditions we didn't want to forget.

Gepher and Mom have a relationship that most fiances do not have with their to be mother-in-law.  He thinks of her as his second mom (and this was the case before the two of us were an "us").  This added a new dynamic to the meeting and one that made Mom a little nervous.  She didn't want to let either of us down; however, I knew she had nothing to worry about.

His parents came to our home for dinner on Friday night.  The girls had fixed a traditional Filipino meal that was delicious and enjoyed by all.  I wanted to do something special for the meal, so I baked a Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake.  I thought it was the perfect ending with a little taste of American cuisine as well.  Saturday night Gepher's family took us to a delicious Filipino restaurant.  Both dinners had a common theme, good food, good conversation, and a feeling of complete support filled with unconditional love.

Gepher and I obviously grew up in different homes with different traditions.  He grew up in a home where he is the oldest of 9 siblings.  I, on the other hand, grew up in a home as the oldest of two.  But despite these and other differences, we grew up with one thing in common.  We both grew up in a home where God was at the center, where family is important, and where parents love and support their children.  These are qualities we both are very thankful for, that make us who we are, and that we hope to make cornerstones in the family we will be building together.  We each are blessed to be welcomed into the other's family with open arms.  We could not ask for anything more.