Still

Be Still Philippines. It breaks my heart to see how the biggest storm this year has chosen to hit once again Visayas. Our country is still recovering from the earthquake and here comes  "Yolanda" or "Haiyan" as known internationally. Our nation is experiencing a lot of trials and my heart bleeds watching the news lately. Images of children hungry and terrified makes me cry. What if the storm hit my city? No one is safe. Times are hard these days and I pray that Tacloban city will recover soon. I pray that the incoming storm will be much kinder. Please pray for the Philippines. And spread the word that we need food for the victims. There are thousands of them.

Still

by: Hillsong United

Hide me now

Under Your wings

Cover me

Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father You are king over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

Storm

Storm is coming. Be safe Philippines.

Earthquake in Visayas

     Once again, our country is experiencing trials. The crumbling of the centuries-old churches in Bohol is devastating. I cannot imagine the terror they must have felt while the 7.2 magnitude earthquake was happening. The pain of seeing the houses, hospitals, old churches and other buildings falling apart and knowing that there are people trapped inside. I saw the news last night and a son was being interviewed because his mother was trapped inside their house. He said it was so hard looking at the house and he could not do anything to get his mother out. It was so sad that his mom did not make it in spite of the help of the rescuers.

     In TV Patrol last night, the Loboc Children’s Choir sang “The Prayer” in front of the fallen old Loboc Church in Bohol. I was teary eyed watching them sing because the children embodied a mixture of sadness, hope, and love for nation. Watching them sing last night stirred in me a patriotism that I don’t usually feel.

     If you have lived in this country all your life, you will be immuned to children begging in the streets, people jaywalking, cars parked at the wrong places, the “me” first attitude of most drivers, the attitude of people working in government, the poor services that we receive, the corrupt officials who act like saints, and the everyday experiences we have that can make us say that we truly are a third world country.

     That being said, in my heart, I am still proud to be a Filipino. Because despite of all the negatives, Filipinos by nature have a heart of gold. We are hospitable and when need arises, ordinary people become heroes in their own way. We value families and friendships. We are a happy nation and it is easy for us to overcome tragedies because of our camaraderie. Most Filipinos,  Muslims and Christians, turn to God/Allah for strength and guidance and for me, that is the most important value that we Filipinos possess.

Motherhood

Motherhood is always a blessing. My baby has had cough and cold for the past four days. I took him to the doctor yesterday because his cough seems to be worse. It was a good thing we went yesterday instead of waiting until Saturday to have him checked. It turned out that he might have asthma. I am thankful that a cousin of mine lent us his nebulizer. It was my first time to operate it and at first,  baby cannot stop crying. After two sessions of nebulizing, baby started to get the hang of it and just allowed himself to breathe through the mask. Of course, every now and then, he grabs the mask and wants to eat it.Lol.

 Even though we did not sleep well last night, I find motherhood fulfilling in spite of situations like these. I am still on leave today to monitor his condition. He needs to be on the nebulizer every four hours and I want to be the one to do it to make sure it is done right. I also want to prepare his antibiotic myself to make sure it is the right dosage. I could not trust completely to let the nanny do it without my parents in the house. My parents are out of town so I made a decision to just avail of my vacation leave to be with my baby.

I still have a lot to learn about being a mother. I am grateful to other mothers who share their experiences with me. No matter how many articles I read about parenting, nothing beats experience:)

Born This Way

A friend posted on Facebook stating an opinion about the lyrics of the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, “I am what I am” by Gloria Gaynor, and “Love me for what I am” by The Carpenters.

(To quote): “There’s a song before by The Carpenters that goes, “You’ve got to love me for what I am for simply being me.” And then Gloria Gaynor sang, “I am what I am and what I am needs no excuses.” It ain’t much different form Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.”

They’re self-centered and selfish; expecting others to take you for  who you are, period. Not even a hint of wanting to change for the better.

People with this mindset expect people to bend over for them, to just accept them and how they talk, to embrace them in the midst of their tantrums, to “love me for what I am” because “I am what I am...” and “I was born this way.”

Truth:  Jesus loves you for who you are – a sinner. But He did not accept you and love you and die for you and rise for you for you to stay the same. Jesus came to bring change -  a transformation -  from the inside out, for the better.

The moment you settle for being who you are, then you negate Christ’s finished work on the Cross.

Let Him love you for who you are but allow Him to transform you and make you a better person. Because truth is, yes, you were born that way but you don’t have to stay that way.” (Unquote)

I have been caught singing “Born this Way” and “Love me for what I am” a few times. I do not know the whole lyrics of the song. I just know the chorus. After reading my friend’s post, I have come to realize that he actually has a point. Of course we have to accept and love ourselves first because I personally believe that it will be hard for us to accept and love others when don’t accept and love ourselves.

I kind of agree when Lady Gaga says:

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, born this way

These days where so much emphasis is made on physical beauty, weight, height, skin color, hair style, clothes, shoes, and other temporary and material things, it is easy to feel unattractive. So much promotion is made on liposuction, botox, and other beautifications done by doctors. I like the highlighted lyrics where Lady Gaga says God makes no mistakes and we are perfect the way we are. If she is talking about the physical aspect, then I completely agree with her. However, if she is also talking about our attitude then I agree with my friend’s observation. Lady Gaga says there ain’t no other way because she was born this way. But people do change and can change for the better.

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way

It is not wise for us to think that we cannot change because we are born this way. Yes, we may have inherited some not so nice characteristics, but those can be changed for the better. An introvert person can be an extrovert in the future and vice versa.

I am glad to have read my friend’s post. Sometimes it’s also nice to understand the songs that we sing. It made me “google” the lyrics of the song and tried to decipher what the song meantJ

Quotes

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” 

― Mother Teresa

Have a Happy Weekend Everyone. Hope you'll spend it with your family and help promote world peace:) 

Zamboanga Crisis

     I cannot understand what goes on in the minds of terrorists. Why do they continually use violence to get what they want? When a member of their own family accidentally gets killed, they react as if they have never killed an innocent civilian. They simply do not have any respect to other human beings. Their mindset is selfish and futile.

     Watching the news about what is happening in Zamboanga angers me. It pains me to see innocent civilians young and old running away from their homes to seek refuge. It enrages me to see that they have used citizens of that beautiful city as human shields and did not even spare toddlers. Don’t they want a peaceful life? Why do they blame everything on our government? Yes, our government is not perfect but I believe the current administration is far less corrupt than the previous one. And I believe that they are doing their best to solve the many, many problems of our country. Six years is not enough to fix corruption in the Philippines. A six year term is simply too short for an honest leader but sadly too long for a corrupt one.

     I wish terrorists would have an open mind and realize that using violence to get what they want will only get them nowhere. I wish they would have a lot of conscience and see that they are hurting innocent families. Children losing their parents, parents losing their child, businesses falling apart and all the unnecessary killings only paralyze our country. I wish they would have the heart to love our country and respect one another’s religious beliefs. I am not really aware of the root cause of their hate as I seldom watch the news. But one thing I know, whatever they are fighting for, it does not justify them using innocent victims as their shields. It does not justify them disrupting the lives of the people of Zamboanga City. It does not justify the pain, the hardship, the loss, the terror our fellow Filipinos are experiencing right now because of what the MNLF are doing.

     Please pray for Zamboanga City. Pray for Mindanao. Pray for the Philippines. 

Blessings

The message during worship service yesterday was all about “Blessings”. Our speaker talked about us receiving blessings everyday and we should learn to see that blessings come in so many forms. Most of the things that bother us are actually blessings. When we wake up on a Monday morning and feel lazy getting up for work, that is a blessing because it means we have a job. Most people do not have one. When we complain that we have a lot of dishes to wash, that is a blessing because it means we have food that caused our dishes to be dirty. When we have noisy children in the house and we could not rest, that is a blessing because one day, those noises will fade because all children grow up and will eventually have their own lives to live. When our parents discipline us, that is a blessing because that means they love us. Orphans wish they have parents to love them. Everyday is a blessing. We just have to open our eyes and see that inspite of all the chaos, God is always with us.

I want to share the lyrics of a beautiful song sung by Laura Story. The song speaks about blessings in disguise. Hope you’ll have the time to listen to this beautiful song. Have a great week aheadJ

"Blessings"

Lyrics to a song by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Baby Scare

     I felt really horrible yesterday. I go home every lunch break to nurse my little one and my new routine since mixed feeding is that after feeding, my baby falls asleep and I leave him in the middle of the bed with pillows around him and I would prepare his formula for his afternoon feeding. I want to be the only one preparing his milk to make sure that it is sanitized.  I would be gone only for a few minutes. Yesterday, while I was preparing his milk, I heard him cry and his nanny immediately rushed to our room to comfort him. I thought he just woke up from his sleep and cried because no one was around. I knew something was not right because his cry was louder than usual. I ran to our room and asked his nanny if he fell and she said yes. She found my son lying sideways on the floor. I felt like a terrible mom for leaving him alone.  I should have realized that my son is already 7 months old and pillows will no longer protect him from his movements.

     I immediately asked opinions from friends who are in the medical field. All of them said that if there are no danger signs, my baby is fine. Danger signs are vomiting, nosebleed, no energy, always sleeping, and non-stop crying. I should also observe his behaviour for 24 hours. Thank God that my son do not have the danger signs. As soon as I carried him yesterday, he stopped crying and started smiling. While I was at work, I kept in touch with his nanny to monitor his behaviour. I am really grateful that he is ok. I promised myself that this will be the last time he will fall off the bed. I would never leave him alone again on the bed. 

Happy Holidays

     Ho! Ho! Ho! from the Philippines. Exactly on September 1, I officially heard my first Christmas Carol being played on television. This is one of the reasons why it is more fun in the Philippines. Where else can you see Christmas decorations being put up and being sold as early as September? It has been this way in our country for years and it may seem silly celebrating Christmas four months early, I actually like it. Hearing Christmas carols throws me back my childhood years. It helps me look forward to the many holidays of December. Also, most people seem happier during the yuletide season. Maybe because it’s a time for all kinds of reunions.  It is one of those occasions where friends and families take the time to gather together and just enjoy the bond . And I guess because 13^th month pay and bonuses are given during this timeJ Advance Happy Holidays EveryoneJ

Mixed Feeding

My baby is seven months today and he officially had his first formula. After six months of breastfeeding and pumping, my milk stash finally caught up and I have no choice but to supplement with formula. I am happy that I reached my goal of giving him only breastmilk for six months. My original goal was actually only three months because I had to consider going back to work. I was not expecting I could stretch it to six months. For that, I am gratefulJ

I bought the small can of NAN HA2 for my baby. Most mommies I know are using S-26 but I have read somewhere that S-26 contains a lot of sugar. I am hoping that my baby will not have any bad reactions to my chosen formula.

I am not yet ready to give up breastfeeding. I love our breastfeeding sessions because it’s a special kind of bonding between mother and child. I think I have to start eating more clam soup once again to increase my milk supply and hopefully I may not have to supplement with formulaJ

A Day at the Beach

We finally took our 6-month old to the beach for the first time. We left the house around 5:30 in the morning and our baby knew that we were going out because he was squealing with delight. The cross to the other island took only about ten minutes. Our baby was curiously looking around and I bet he was wondering why there’s so much water around him.

We arrived at Paradise Island around 6:15 AM and there were only few customers because it was still early. We wanted to be early to avoid the crowd and of course to be able to enjoy the beach with fewer people and the sun still skin friendly. We fed baby first before taking him to the beach.

The first time our baby’s feet touched the water, he seemed a little frightened and he clung to me like he was afraid of falling. But when we slowly submerged him and his body started to adapt the cold water, he seemed comfortable yet still curious. After a while, he started to kick in the water: a sign that he’s enjoying himself.

After his swim, we washed him with fresh water and put on fresh clothes. It took only seconds before he fell peacefully into dreamland.

I am excited to take him again to the beachJ

Another Long Weekend

Happy Friday bloggers. At last, the last long weekend of August is coming. Our country celebrates National Heroes Day on August 25. Since the said date falls on a Sunday, our President declared 26^th a special non-working holiday. My family is planning to go either to the beach or a mountain resort since my dad will be turning 21 on the 27^th. My husband and I will treat him for his birthday. I know that they will have a good time whether it’s going to be the beach or mountain resort because our almost 7 month old son is coming along. This trip will be my son’s first outdoor activity. I am hoping it would be the beach because he can interact with water. I have noticed that he likes taking a bath. I am really excited to see my son squeal with delight.

Philippine Storm

Philippines once again has been hit by storm that affected the lives of so many of our citizens in the Luzon area. Work and classes have been suspended since Monday. We see on television how the streets seem like rivers running wild. I even saw one lady still on her rooftop and being swept by water. She has not been found until now.

In times like these, we see many Filipinos sacrificing their time, money, and effort to help those in need. Filipinos do step up during times of crisis. In spite of the bad image of Filipinos being lazy, corrupt, undisciplined among other things, I am proud that there are still more Filipinos who are hardworking, honest, decent, persistent and holds true to their values. I am also proud that Filipinos are one of the happiest people in the world. If you watch the Philippine news, even if tragedy has struck, when they see the television camera rolling, they smile and wave and it seems that they are just laughing out the tragedy that struck them. That is amazing for me.

It saddens me though that most of our politicians’ greed destroy the good values that Filipinos “were” known for. I say “were” because it seems that most of the Philippines “glory days” were in the past. Corruption destroys the trust of the people and corruption just begets corruption.

I hope and pray that those affected by the storm will not lose hope and continue to embrace Filipino values. 

Company Uniform

Uniform is one way of indentifying what company, school or organization you belong to. It is one way of showcasing a company’s professionalism. It identifies us from other organizations. Wearing a proper uniform helps in creating a positive impression from customers. It also promotes discipline for the employees because uniforms have standards that one should follow. Standards like pairing the uniform with appropriate shoes, making sure the uniform is clean and tidy. Wearing of uniform also  takes away the pressure of having to choose what to wear everyday.

In our company, I am grateful that we are provided with uniforms. Our human resource always reminds us that we are being judged by our appearance when we deal with customers. They make sure that our uniforms are presentable and that we are wearing shoes with heels. I have no problem with that. I actually agree that we should wear our uniforms presentably.

However, I just have some thoughts on the kind of uniforms we are wearing. First, our company only requires and provides uniforms for women. Our company is an agricultural company so most of our employees are farm based. What I don’t understand is that they are so strict with the ladies but our men can wear whatever they want. In my three year stay with the company, not once did I see a memo describing how the men should wear their office clothes.  Most of them wear round necked T-Shirts and rubber shoes. I just can’t get the point why they are so strict especially on women’s shoes. Should not the uniforms also be appropriate with the company’s environment? For those in the farm areas, I pity that they have to wear heels and the men could wear rubber shoes and t-shirts.

Couldn’t we just wear shirt jacket uniforms? And just wear formal flats for comfort? I’m sure more will want that.

First Solid Food

                My baby started eating solids two days ago. Since we currently have avocados, I gave him one bite sized avocado. I mashed it and diluted it with breastmilk. He loved it. He is being fed three times a day. Tomorrow, I will introduce mashed potato. I have been advised to introduce solids one at a time around 4-7 days interval before introducing another food. This is to know if the baby has allergic reactions to the foods introduced.

                He still has colds and his antibiotics will end tomorrow. He was immunized yesterday and he lost weight because one of the effects of antibiotics is frequent bowel movement. He also could not nurse properly because there are times that he has to breathe through his mouth. I hope he will get better soon so that he will gain more weight.

Under the Weather

I have colds for the past two days. Yesterday, I started to get feverish and started feeling the symptoms of flu coming in. My son caught my virus and he is now on medication. He cannot sleep well because of his clogged nose. Last night, my husband was also feverish. It’s a good thing that tomorrow is a holiday because we can get more sleep. I think our immune system weakened because of lack of sleep and being occasionally hit by a drizzle of rain.

We are supposed to go to the farm tomorrow but I guess, the three of us will have to stay home.

Happy long weekend everyoneJ

August Holidays

I love the month of August because aside from being the birth month of my Dad, It also has a lot of holidays. Ther e is a holiday every week in August and what a great gift to have the opportunity to enjoy more free time with our loved ones.

The following holidays are as follows:

August 9                                              Eidul-Fitar

August 16                                            Kadayawan Festival

August 21                                            Ninoy Aquino Day

August 25 (moved to 26)              National Heroes Day

Our schedule is packed with plans. I’m not sure of the execution though. We are planning to go to the beach with our 6 month old. We are also planning to have an overnight stay at Eden Mountain Resort.  Those are just plans and hoping that they will push through. So many times, our nap cravings just screams so loud that when we are at home, we just want to hang out and be lazy. LolJ

The Bible

The Bible: A Beautiful Story That Could Touch Your Heart

This is another story sent to me by a friend. I have heard this story before from one of the messages delivered in church. This is a simple story but the meaning is great. Hope you enjoy and learn from what this story. Have a great weekend everyone:)

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat Disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?", and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

Matt 7:11: "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKED THAT WAY! ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!

Financial Freedom

“Live below your means but within your needs. If you do not have money for your future and you have all these things around you, what does that say about you?”

This was one of the statements given by  Suze Orman, a famous financial guru during her talk in the Philippines. I was not able to watch the show on TV but my parents did and my mom shared this statement to me.

My dad has taught us this principle ever since I can remember. I think me and my siblings have somehow adapted this way of thinking. Living below our means and knowing our financial priorities. Now that I am married, my dad still continues to give me and my husband financial advises.

My husband and I formed the habit of setting aside our money every month for different uses. We have seven envelopes labelled “Savings, Baby, Light and Power, Credit Card, Nanny, Groceries, Bills, and  Wants”. Every month, we set aside money to these envelopes and would only use the money for its specific purpose. There are times that our allowance for 15 days would only be 500 pesos and we would stick to our budget. We learned this practice from our parents because they did the “envelope” thing when they were just starting out. You would be amazed that in spite our average salaries, we still have savings. Setting our money aside for its specific use really help us strengthen our financial control. As long as our needs are being met and be happy in even in small things, saving will not be that difficult.

When my dad was still working, he told us that he saved all of his bonuses. He only spent his salary for our needs. Aside from his savings from bonuses, he also saved from his salary. He invested his savings in mutual funds, insurance, and bank investments. When he retired, he also ventured into agricultural business. We seldom ate out when we were young. Vacations had to be planned way ahead. We did not go out much and we were not given big allowances. We were taught not to love material things early on.

Saving is a habit and financial freedom starts from savings. Of course it does not end in savings. Achieving financial freedom requires knowledge and wisdom. One can go into business and investing. Prayer MUST always be in the equation. My dad always credited his financial decisions to God. He said that God must have provided him wisdom where to invest his money.

I hope that we can also achieve financial freedom in the future.

What is Important

It’s story time. This was sent to me by a friend. I hope you like it. May you always prioritize what is truly important in life.

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. 

The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”

“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

Author Unknown

Bouncing Baby Girl

     What a great blessing this day is. Today is the birthday of my mother-in-law. Her daughter, my sister-in-law, also gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. She was supposed to give birth next month.  I guess the baby is just so eager to see the world. It’s a double celebration for the familyJ

Baby Wipes

      One of the things a mother must always have on hand is Baby Wipes. It is good for diaper changing and instant cleansing of baby’s hands especially when thumb sucking is prevalent.

      I have tried brands like Farlin, Giggles, Kinder Care, Pigeon, Johnson & Johnson, and Bebeta. The best one so far is Johnson & Johnson because the wipes has a lot of moisture unlike the other brands. The downside is that the price is very steep.

     The one that I am currently using is Bebeta because it has more moisture than the other mentioned brands and the price is a little affordable. I was surprised to see that Pigeon did not have that much moisture considering that it is one of the leading brands in baby stuff.

     If I would not consider the cost, I would choose Johnson & Johnson because aside from the moisture, the wipes are also thick.

Missing Kids

      Sometimes watching the news breaks my heart. There were two missing children last March ages 4 and 3. They were last seen playing at an abandoned car in their subdivision. Their parents started looking for them when they realized they could not be seen anymore. They searched everywhere including the abandoned car. They reached other towns just to search for their kids. Police already got involved.

     Just this week, news broke out that the two missing kids were found dead at the same abandoned car where they were last seen. Media captured the first time the parents saw their child dead. I tried not to cry because I could not imagine losing a child. The car must have been in child lock and could not be opened from the inside because according to the police, the car was not locked when they tried to open it.

     The bodies were discovered because the neighbours were noticing a foul smell coming from the car and they thought it was just a dead rat. All were shocked to see the dead children inside the car. I could not imagine the pain the parents must be feeling right now. If only they went back again to the abandoned car to see if the kids went back there to play.

     Kids that young must never be left alone because 3 and 4 are still babies. Some kids that age are still wearing diapers and are still drinking milk from a bottle. These days, it’s hard to find a nanny that parents can trust. Most parents are working and are forced to leave their children to guardians while working. It is important to scrutinize the people we entrust our kids with.

Busy Bee

      I can’t believe Wednesday is almost done.  We still have not finished our cooperative’s financial statements. We have been working on it since last week so we can already release the member’s capital share. However, we have discovered so many confusing and missing  journal entries since the cooperative started its books. I only handled the books last year and since then, I dreaded the time wherein the cooperative will have to settle its books because I know there are a lot of reconciling to be done. One of the confusing entries are the inter-company transactions because there are a lot of offsetting and the time of recording does not tally.  Our finance department is requiring the final financial statement before payment is done. I am crossing my fingers that once the financial statements are done, there will be no more questions from top management and just release the remaining capital share. This is going to be another very busy week. Hopefully, we can finish it soon. 

Rainy Monday

      I woke up hearing heavy raindrops and immediately wished it was a Saturday. Oh well, it is another rainy Monday. I was tempted to call and declare a vacation leave but then the chairman of our cooperative might still need some data for some required reports. I still have remaining vacation leaves from last year and will expire in November. Hopefully, the reports will be finished this morning so I can file for a leave this afternoon. There are so many things I want to do in the house. Most of them involve cleaning and sorting out clothesJ

Telenovelas

        Filipinos are fond of watching  “telenovelas” or ”tereseryes”. These shows usually start around 3pm and it goes on until 10pm. News would just sneak in at 6-7pm. Imagine if one is addicted to all these shows, he/she cannot do anything else.

            

       Personally, I don’t like watching these shows because the theme is always about injustice, betrayal and revenge. I don’t like to watch them because they are really addicting and I end up having all these negative emotions because I would hate the antagonist.

           

      I usually watch when I know that the story will end in about a week because then, my addiction will not last that long. I wish Philippine networks will create lighter stories wherein watchers will have more positive emotions after watching the show rather than hatredJ

Little Sailor Boy

Most of my baby’s clothes are hand-me-downs from my twin nephews. This is one of their clothes. However, my baby boy looks like a baby girl in this picture because the sailor jumpsuit is still a little too big and it seems like he is wearing a dress. Well, I guess I have to wait a few more months so that he would look like a sailor in this outfitJ

Monsters University

We often associate cartoons with kids. Nowadays, movie makers have started creating cartoon movies that also allow adults to enjoy it. Movies like Ice Age, Monsters Inc, Madagascar, Toy Story, Brave are examples that there are things that kids and adults can enjoy together.

                Speaking of cartoons, my family watched Monsters University yesterday at home. My five month old even reacted to some of the scenes in the movie. We just let him watch with us and when he seems bored, we just carry him or play with him while watching.

                Monsters University tells the story of how Sully and Mike became the best of friends. They started out as enemies when they were in college but being both kicked out in the scare program brought them together. Together, they beat out all odds and won the game. However, the story did not end there. There were still revealing issues after the game that tested their friendship. Both of them realized that they both brought out the best in each other.

                Cartoons are not just for kids. If we look at the story, no matter how simple it is, we can learn something and can apply it in our lives as well. 

Facebook Ethics

Think Before You Speak. Think Before you Act.

I remember having a shirt that had these words on it. These days with all the social media going on, more and more people are forgetting to think before doing or saying something. Almost everyone I know have a Facebook account. There is something addictive about scrolling down the newsfeed and randomly checking what is happening with other people’s lives. I personally love to see happy family  pictures because it is a reminder that inspite of all the negativity around us, family will always be our “go to” when nothing else is left. I also love to read positive and funny shout outs. There are times when these simple shout outs make my day.

However, sometimes the posts on Facebook seem a bit much. Giving too much information can actually harm and not all our friends on Facebook are really our friends. Most of them are just acquaintances and they do not really give a damn what is happening in our lives.

Here are just a few things that I think we should not do on Facebook or whatever social media we are in:

1.Posting EVERYTHING you are doing every single day. Too much information is not cool.

2. Showing off every single thing that you buy. You don’t need to tell the world that you’re rich. The real rich people don’t actually do that.

3. Shouting out your love problems and making hints about what you are actually going through. Do not wash your dirty laundry in public.

4. Making inappropriate comments about another person. Even if you don’t actually mention the name, the fact that you are making a bad comment, people will be curious and ask about the identity of that person.

5. Sharing your family problems on Facebook is just not right. In the end, your family will still be your family. They deserve your respect by keeping private things within your circle.

6. Posting PDA pictures and saying too much I Love You just to make someone else jealous and showing everyone that you’re happy. A happy relationship is not measured on how much you need to show others that you guys are in love. It is more important to be affectionate when no one else is around to witness it. That makes it more intimate and special.

7. Telling everyone that you’re having a vacation and posting the exact dates of your departure and arrival. Remember thieves also have accounts on Facebook.

8. Shouting out negative comments about your workplace. You’ll never know when your superiors might be lurking on Facebook to fish information.  

9. Posting too many “Selfie” pictures. I would understand if you’re a model or in showbiz because they get paid to do that and the shots are pretty good. Don’t be too in love with your own face.

10. Posting unattractive photos of your friends and tagging them on purpose. Be a friend and know your limits.

These are just some of the things that in my opinion should be avoided. While it is good to share a part of our life to others, let us remember that too much information can actually do us more harm than good. Let us spread positive energy not just in our personal encounters but in social media as well. We can reach more people via internet and we can use our technology now to spread love in so many ways. 

Videos for Babies

    My son is almost five months old and he is starting to be curious on a lot of things. I started showing him videos for toddlers and he is already reacting. One of his favourites is the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star video. There is an owl in the video that flies with the star. He makes a sound every time he sees the owl.

    I am thankful to YouTube because we do not have to buy DVDs for babies and toddlers. Those educational DVDs like Baby Einstein are a little expensive so I was so happy to see some of them on YouTube.

The Voice

I love watching singing shows like American Idol, X-Factor, The Next, The Sing Off and The Voice. So far, the one that I like the most is the blind auditions of The Voice. The four coaches’ chairs are facing the audience so they cannot see the one singing on stage. They would base their judgement purely on the person’s voice. We really cannot deny that looks have a big influence on the judging. People are looking for the whole package. Talents plus looks plus personality equals a possible Star.

I especially love when the voice does not match the looks and I would see the surprise in the coaches’ faces. Also, I noticed that the contestants really know how to sing unlike X Factor and American Idol where there are contestants who just join for fun.

I am glad that The Voice has also branched out in the Philippines. My husband and I look forward watching it every weekend. We try to guess who will be the first winner of The Voice Philippines.  

After Birth Weight

 Becoming a mom is not an excuse to slack off on how women should dress. It is also not an excuse to just eat anything we want and not watch our weight. While it is a fact that majority of women gain weight during pregnancy and after birth, I think there is a limit as to when we can stop using giving birth as an excuse to just let go of our eating habits.

I am guilty of this. Four months after giving birth and I was still using my maternity clothes because my pre pregnancy clothes are still super tight. I could not even wear my pants. I was not really affected when people would comment about my weight gain because I thought  I was entitled to it because of childbirth. I had another excuse. Breastfeeding. Nursing makes you hungry and thirsty all the time. At least that’s what I’m experiencing. It is true that a breastfeeding mom should not limit her food intake. However, it is the kind of food that matters.

I realized that I was eating a lot of chocolates and I think it is the main culprit why I am not losing weight. I made a decision that four months is enough of making excuses. I then started putting away my maternity clothes. I am able to use one pair of pants from my pre pregnancy days. It was the pants that was a little big before and now, I can fit into it but still a little tight. I decided to start using it to remind me that I have to watch what I eat. I have started using my pre pregnancy clothes. Well, the ones that still fit anyway. I have a long way to go but I am determined to be able to wear all of them in a few months.

I am not going on a diet.  I will just eat healthier. I will not totally eliminate eating chocolates. I will just lessen it. Being skinny is not my goal. My goal is to just reach my ideal weight and just be healthier for myself and for my son.

Happy Weekend EveryoneJ

Reputation or Character

Reputation is what we are when someone is looking. Character is what we are when no one is looking.  I heard someone say this a long time ago. It was during one of our devotionals and it actually stayed with me.

Our reputation is what others think of us. When we do something seeking for men’s approval, we are only thinking of our reputation. Character chooses to do what is right whether it is popular or not.

Yes, we can choose to work for our reputation. We can put a mask and pretend about so many things. We can make people believe what we want them to believe. Reputation can be built in an instant. Character on the other hand is what we truly are. Our character is built in our lifetime. Reputation can be taken away from us but they cannot take away our character. Reputation is what we have when we first meet people. When we unmask what we truly are then our character is seen. As what they say, reputation is what is written in our obituary but our character is what the angels are saying about us before our great Creator.

What is more important to us? Our reputation or our character? Choose wiselyJ

Baby Weight Loss

 I bring my baby to the pediatrician every month for his regular check up and immunization. During his check up, the doctor measures his head, length and weight. She also checks up my son’s breathing if there are abnormalities. My son just turned four months and when we had our regular check up, we found out that he lost 200 grams of weight.   

We were analyzing the cause of his weight loss. The doctor suggested that the quality of my milk was deteriorating so I had to eat healthier foods. She also suggested giving him solids if he is ready. She mentioned that one of the signs to look for if the baby is ready to eat solids is when he starts opening his mouth when we are eating. Also, if the baby starts rolling and lying tummy down on his own. My baby has not started doing any of the mentioned signs so he is not yet ready.

About  two weeks before his check up, my husband and I were more rested at night because our son sleeps about five to eight hours straight without feeding. We realized that this is the major cause of his weight loss. Though, I would love to sleep the whole night without waking up, it is not healthy for the baby. Breastmilk is faster to digest than formula milk so I have to feed him every 2-3 hours.

 So now, I wake up every three hours to feed my son. It’s a good thing that he still feeds even if he’s asleep. I want to prolong giving him formula as long as I can and I want to start giving him solids when he is almost seven months. I just read so many articles saying that delaying solids will be more beneficial for the baby as allergies and having diabetes can be avoided.

I hope and pray that his weight will improve on our next visit. 

Sunscreen

I heard this song playing on the radio and it brought back fond memories of my younger days. I love the lyrics because it reminds us that life is too short to waste on worrying. I read somewhere that 90% of our worries do not materialize. So, to make the most out of life, just lift everything to the Lord and trust that every problem has a way out. Enjoy!

Baz Luhrmann
Sunscreen lyrics

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience... 
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... 
You're not as fat as you Imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. 
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; 
Sometimes you're ahead, 
Sometimes You're behind.
The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your
Life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't Congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. 
Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be afraid of it, or what other people Think of it, 
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own... 

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there
For you. 
And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can. 
Everybody's free.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; 
They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. 
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; 
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. 
Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen... 

(Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there
For you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.)

TGIF

Thank God it’s Friday. It is indeed my favorite day of the week because it finally gives me weekend. I guess all working gals look forward to weekends for it allows us to unwind from our work.

There are many ways to unwind. One may go to the beach, watch movies, go shopping, pig out, or some just simply stay home and enjoy the company of family. Personally, I enjoy spending time with family especially now that I have my own.

Our Saturdays are usually hectic as we go to my in-laws to visit. We enjoy spending time with them however sometimes, my hubby and I wish that we could just spend the whole Saturday at home playing with our little one. We don’t have to wake up early to get ready and go out. Our Monday to Friday is so busy: waking up early, preparing breakfast, pumping, taking a bath and in my case still have to breastfeed before leaving for work and pacifying baby when he starts to cry in the morning.  Having a once a month “lazy” Saturday seems like a piece of heaven. 

Have a great weekend everyone:)

Baby Body Carrier

There are a lot of Baby Carriers in the market. I can only give reviews for two of them because they are the only ones I have tried. The “Ring Sling” Baby Carrier and the “Mei Tai” Baby Carrier.

Ring Sling: By the name itself, this kind of baby carrier consists of a long rectangular cloth that has two rings sewn on one end of the cloth. The rings are placed on one side of the shoulder and the cloth is wrapped around the opposite hip and the end is threaded through the rings to create a buckle effect.  A pocket is then created where the baby is placed. The sling can be adjusted by pulling more fabric through the rings to loosen or tighten it.

Mei Tai: This style of carrier is Asian inspired. There are no rings or buckles involved. The Mei Tai is all cloth with a rectangular panel with long shoulder and waist straps. The straps are padded which gives the wearer comfort. Adjustment is easy because you just tie the straps according to your size. Baby can be worn face front, hip-carry and at the back.

When I tried the ring sling, my baby was fussy and I had a hard time putting him in and adjusting the sling. I felt very uncomfortable using the ring sling. My shoulders also hurt because there was no cushion on my shoulder and most of the weight is on one side of the shoulders only.  I wanted to use the ring sling because it can help me nurse in public discreetly while walking hands free. However, after a few attempts, I just gave up and searched for other baby carriers in the market.

I found the Mei Tai baby carrier and decided to try it out. I found it much easier to use compared with the ring sling. I would just tie the rectangular panel to my waist and put my baby. I then lift the panel over my baby and cross the shoulder straps to my back and tie it. It is also easy to adjust. It is also more comfortable because the shoulder straps are padded and the weight of the baby is evenly distributed to both my shoulders. One negative thing about it is that the straps are too long and I usually need an assistant to hold the straps for me to avoid touching the floor. My baby is so comfortable in the carrier. I can go anywhere and have him near me hands free. It’s hard to nurse in it though because his head is above my breasts unlike the ring sling where in the baby can be carried in the cradle position. With the Mei Tai, the baby can be only carried three ways: face-front carry, hip-carry and back carry. The ring slings have more positions in carrying the baby.

I prefer the Mei Tai baby carrier because it is easier to use especially for first time moms like me who is not used to baby wearing.

Asking for Things

Just wanted to share this.

Asking for Things

author unknown

I asked for health

that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity,

that I might do better things...

I asked for riches

that I might be happy,

I was given poverty

that I might be wise...

I asked for power

that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness

that I might feel the need of God...

I asked for all things

that I might enjoy life,

I was given life

that I might enjoy all things...

I got nothing that I asked for –

but everything that I hoped for

almost despite myself,

my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men,

most richly blessed.

                                                                               

Spicy Tuna Spaghetti

    I discovered another experimented recipe that I love. I am a “tomato” fan. Any food cooked with tomatoes are always welcome in my palate. One of the tomato based recipes that I love is Italian Spaghetti and I usually use canned stewed tomatoes.

     One day, my husband bought lots of red tomatoes from the market because they were sold at a lower price. I decided to make my tomato sauce from scratch. I chopped the garlic, onion and tomatoes into small chunks and sautéed them. I let the tomatoes simmer for about thirty minutes before I put the hot and spicy tuna chunks. I chose spicy tuna to give the recipe a kick. I added salt and pepper to taste.

    When the sauce was done, I immediately put the pasta and cheese. It is best to add the cheese while the sauce is still hot for the cheese to melt. Yummy. My husband loved the recipe. When tomatoes are cheap again, I will definitely make this recipe again.

Bottle Drying Rack

      I started giving my son expressed milk through bottle when I started working. I would pump morning, lunch and evening to store milk for him to use the next day. Washing and sterilizing my breast pump and his bottles have become part of my daily routine. I actually enjoy doing it because I love to make sure that his bottles are squeaky clean to avoid unnecessary illness.

     After washing the bottles and my breast pump, I have to air dry them. I found the “Bottle Drying Rack” very helpful. I just place the bottles on the rack and I would just leave them there to dry. I can do other things while waiting for them to dry up. I just make sure that the surroundings are clean and no one would be sweeping the floor to avoid dust clinging on the bottles.

     I would definitely recommend this product.