Homeschool

I got this photo from a friend and I find it quite amusing especially the first photo. I really think that our neighbors must find it quite weird for our children not to go to school and just be in the house especially since everyone leaves for school before 8 am. For other people, they might think homeschool to be just all fun ( or maybe it is, since my kids are enjoying it) and no work. But in reality, our homeschool looks more like the last photo since my kids are so much into books especially at this time.

On Contests and Games

There was a time ( during our 1 year break) that I was joining in a lot of online contests. That was also a time when I won a lot of prizes too. The biggest prize that I won was a free package 8 day trip to North Thailand. We also won free air tickets for 2 to Jakarta, Indonesia and free hotel accommodation in Bangkok which we were not able to claim because of our busy schedules. But anyways, I guess the saying is really true that 'the more you join contests, the more chances you have of winning.' You see, if one doesn't join any contests then of course, he or she won't win any prize, right?

Anyways, I could still remember the very first thing that I won during my elementary years. You see, my parents were members of a 'club' that organizes annual bingo games every summer. So, we were kinda 'forced' to participate but as for me at that time, I wasn't expecting to win anything because the hall was just so full of participants. But guess what, I one one of the minor prizes - a photo album. :) Bingo games were quite popular during my younger years and I never thought that this game could survive during the hi tech era. Well, I was surprised to find out that it still exists now and there are even online versions of it. It's so easy if you want to try it out, because you can just go online and play bingo (sign up now).

Oh, writing about online contests now, makes me miss those days when I had so much of time to search and join contests. It's really an exciting experience to wait and see whether we've won or not. Maybe next time. As of now, I'm quite busy with the kids' homeschool.. since we have a lot of catching up to do.

Our Compassion Sunday Profile

I just finished writing our Compassion Sunday profile and you can find in HERE. I was only allowed to write our story in 800 characters (take note: characters, not words). I felt that it was too short because I still wanted to write so many things about it. And since I can’t write everything there in our profile, I might just as well, write it here. ;)

As mentioned in our profile, we started having the burden to sponsor someone in Africa after watching the news and including the people affected by the famine ( last year) regularly in our family prayers. We then felt led to give a portion of my blogging income to those directly affected by it. We searched for Christian workers and organizations working with them, and that’s when we found out about Compassion. We prayed and gave a one time gift, but then we felt that we have to do something more. That’s when we felt led to sponsor a child. It wasn’t an easy decision for us to make since it would mean that we have to consistently shell out a portion of our income on a monthly basis. That’s a huge chunk from my blogging income on the ‘good months’. And just like any other ‘businesses, there are also ‘low months’. But as what Hubby always tells me, God has blessed us and we must bless other people too and surely God will provide. And indeed, God has provided for us and we’re able to consistently give our monthly support to our sponsored child (reaching one year this July).

God just did not use as a blessing to a child in poverty in Kenya, but God has also blessed us much more than we can imagine. God has blessed us with a relationship with Haron, who is such a sweet and precious child. God has blessed us by making our children concerned about Haron and all the other children in poverty. Through our sponsorship with Haron and knowing more about his life in the village, we’ve realized that indeed there are so many things in life that we can choose to live without and still be comfortable. Indeed, God has blessed us in every way, that we might be a blessing to others.

That’s our Compassion story, we don’t have much but God has enabled us and blessed us… I hope you too can share your blessings to the other children in need.

Homeschool Room Revamp

We haven’t been regularly homeschooling for the past weeks because we attended a conference, traveled and went on a retreat. So, our homeschool room has been quite a mess since the kids use it to play and do their own craft works. But the other night, I had quite a surprise when Hubby cleaned and revamped the room. Now, everything is nicely arranged but I also notice that our books are increasing and we might need metal storage cabinets in the future.

Anyways, I’m happy with the look of our new homeschool room and we will be using it quite more often now as we have a lot of catching up to do for my daughter’s 1st grade curriculum.

Time to Let the Keyboards Out

My kids are not doing any music classes but I feel, it’s also important for them to be exposes to music. So, I’m letting our keyboards out again and maybe I can teach my daughter a thing or two. A few years ago, I tried to teach her a few piano exercises but she wasn’t interested at all. I’m trying it out again and this time, I’ll see which of my kids are more interested with music. If, they’re not interested at all, then maybe I’ll have to play and practice it myself. It’s been awhile since I last played the Avid Keyboards and maybe it’s not too late brush up a few of my ‘skills’ that I left dry for decades.

The Doctors' Network

There is this online network that is especially for physicians in which they can share vital information securely and privately with each other. It’s called Doximity and is proven to be helpful to a lot of physicians in the US. It has been reported that around 6% physicians all over US are already connected to this network. This free site is accessible through the web, iPhone or android based phones and tablets. So, if a physician in New York is looking for Thomas Dimatteo MD , he can surely locate him in this network and find out a lot of information in just one click.

I’m sure this site will be very helpful to the doctors worldwide as they connect and refer patients to each other.

On Articles and Readings

If not for my part time online ‘career’ which requires me to read articles on medicine, diet, supplements and even posts on hormones , I would have never known that there is a  hormone is essential in preventing osteoporosis. As for diets and weight supplements, I can only read about them and hope that I can lose weight just by mere reading. LOL!

Anyways, it’s also good to be well read and be informed in every aspect of life, isn’t?

Reflect and Refresh

Our family has taken a few days away from the city for a days. This long holiday has given us the opportunity to spend more time to reflect and be refreshed in every way. Thought we still have a lot of questions 'unanswered' but it's just amazing as to how God shows us what we really need to know and not what we 'want' to hear.

We had a daily schedule in which more time was devoted to reading, prayer and worship both personally and as a family. We took turns in leading worship and prayer. I can't help but be amused when Lyle led with the song, "Here I am to Worship". So cute!

We really thank God for the opportunity to have this family retreat. The place where we went was also a conducive and quiet place for this purpose. It has a small man-made lake and quite a big place for the kids to run around. The resort was also clean and well kept without clevis pins scattered around. We will surely do this family retreat on a regular basis. It's not just a great time to bond with the family but a time to be still and get to reflect on the more important things in life.

Earthquake and Signs of the Times

I just felt the earthquake here ( Hat Yai, Thailand) a few minutes ago. It wasn't very strong but it was very long. I wasn't very sure whether I was just feeling dizzy or the earth was really moving but I called my Hubby to find out. It was only then that he also took notice of it too.

While all these was happening, I can't help but remember my devotions this morning which was on Matthew 24. The disciples were asking Jesus about the signs of the end times. But Jesus warning was very clear on Matthew 24 versus 42-44 that we must 'Keep watch... and we must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him...."

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

News update from CNN : Earthquake of magnitude 8.9 strikes off Sumatra, U.S. Geological Survey says.

Let's pray for the people affected from the earthquake..

She's Not Ready Yet

For the past couple of days, no matter what topic we talk about, we always go back to the 'bombing incident' that took place last Saturday and end up thanking God for His protection and safety. Then my daughter asked me, 'What if we really went to McDonald's? What could have happened to us?'. I was just blurting out my thoughts silently and said, ' If it's time to go.. then it's time to go. Our lives are in God's hands." I didn't notice that she just heard what I just said. Then she replied, " But I'm not yet ready, Amma!" I was surprised with her reply. I was already thinking of giving her a 'sermon' on assurance of salvation, faith, heaven (no more tears, no more pain) and etc. when I asked, " Why?". Then her answer surprised me all the more ... "Because, I have not shared the gospel to the people yet. I want to tell them about God!', was her answer. I was rendered speechless as I tried to hold back the tears from my eyes. I thank God for I know that it's Him who laid this in her heart at very young age. It is my prayer that God will indeed use her life to be a blessing to the others!

Good Bye Flashlight Phone!

I have been using this LG 'flashlight' phone for years (which I've passed to my Hubby after being contented with landline phone!) and it has really served us very well. I'm not a very 'hi-tech' person but when we went to the Philippines we were so surprised that almost everyone has smart phones, even the little ones! Then, we realized that aside from the 'pirated' (imitation) phones, smartphones, phone accessories and ipad accessories tend to be cheaper there too.

And then last week, my android phone from the Philippines arrived! Yehey! It's a blessing from God given to me by 'someone'. Bless this person Lord! Now, I'm completely saying goodbye to my 'flashlight' phone (sorry buddy, but you have a very good owner, don't worry!) and saying Hello to my cute new phone. Thank God for cute blessings! ;)

Hello, Anybody in Google Plus?

When I first heard about Google Plus, I really thought that it's the next Facebook. My friends have been asking me to make an account but I never did until many contests require Google plus accounts. But quite honestly, I seldom visit my account there because nobody's there. I mean only a handful of friends whom I regularly communicate with in FB.

But maybe, Google plus will soon be as widely used as Facebook, maybe its time hasn't come yet. I heard that I lot of other companies have Google plus such as sterkly Google+ . What about you do you have Google Plus?