The hands that painted these were little ones way back.
In fact they used to wiggle inside me.
Now they have grown and would soon be same sizes as mine.
How time flies...
And yes, one canvass is a reused material. That's a bonus, right?
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Lesson number 1. It's always enough. It's the "want" that's never enough.
Since I took my one year leave of absence from work, our income dwindled. Worse, the business my husband has been into since 2007, has not taken off that well. To put it simply: the income can put food on our table but never sufficient to send our kids to school. To make matters complicated, my blogging earning was slapped tremendously . Good thing my family/siblings always trickle down their blessings to us. However grateful, we know we have to work and really earn on our own because dependency is not an option.
Meticulous menu planning, basic goods buying, no impulse buys, our car never used, very rare eat-outs, all fancy things buying gone - we are still alive!!
Simple living can be done. It's difficult but it can be done. Doubly painful when I hear my kids comment: "why can't we be like this or buy this or get this?" There are however, explanations to everything. The trade of the simplicity: they all eat vegetables now, the older kids were never sick the entire year and they seldom ask for anything fancy. They know they won't be succesful, that's why.
Simple life is difficult in this material-driven world. Others will always have better life compared to ours, but isn't that a fact of life? Now, I always ask myself: is it a need or a want?
Hopefully, I will be better in money management later. That is one lesson I was taught by our situation.
More details to follow.
Since I took my one year leave of absence from work, our income dwindled. Worse, the business my husband has been into since 2007, has not taken off that well. To put it simply: the income can put food on our table but never sufficient to send our kids to school. To make matters complicated, my blogging earning was slapped tremendously . Good thing my family/siblings always trickle down their blessings to us. However grateful, we know we have to work and really earn on our own because dependency is not an option.
Meticulous menu planning, basic goods buying, no impulse buys, our car never used, very rare eat-outs, all fancy things buying gone - we are still alive!!
Simple living can be done. It's difficult but it can be done. Doubly painful when I hear my kids comment: "why can't we be like this or buy this or get this?" There are however, explanations to everything. The trade of the simplicity: they all eat vegetables now, the older kids were never sick the entire year and they seldom ask for anything fancy. They know they won't be succesful, that's why.
Simple life is difficult in this material-driven world. Others will always have better life compared to ours, but isn't that a fact of life? Now, I always ask myself: is it a need or a want?
Hopefully, I will be better in money management later. That is one lesson I was taught by our situation.
More details to follow.
Poised to receive another new year, I have been into a lot of introspection. Deep thoughts scoured my usual passive state. This is quite off-track because I have never been into this reflective mode before. Is this a sign of mid-life crisis? Or is it for the reason that I am leveling-up in life learning? Whatever, it was a never a walk in the park. But hey, nothing worth having is ever easy to attain, right?
Looking back the past year, I just learned the one of the greatest theories in Physics - for real, on my face kind of deal, that is: for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. Translated: decisions I make affect other decisions thereafter - good or bad.
Seriously, it was a year of uncertainties and "standing still". Except for my kids' tremendous growth -physically and in wisdom, the year that passed was unexplainable beyond words or belief. I felt I was always walking on eggshells, on tiptoes...hands up and going to unknown destination blindfolded! It may sound hilarious to some or illogical to many, but I have no idea how our family carried it through. 2008 passed by, with so much that happened that can be summed up as tremendous, humongous life-changing lessons.
Watch out for the details.
Seriously, it was a year of uncertainties and "standing still". Except for my kids' tremendous growth -physically and in wisdom, the year that passed was unexplainable beyond words or belief. I felt I was always walking on eggshells, on tiptoes...hands up and going to unknown destination blindfolded! It may sound hilarious to some or illogical to many, but I have no idea how our family carried it through. 2008 passed by, with so much that happened that can be summed up as tremendous, humongous life-changing lessons.
Watch out for the details.
photo from: scienceportal-one.org
My Mama.
At 67 my Mama stands 4'11" and weighs about a hundred pounds or so. She gave birth to 9 children and raised 8 of us (one died upon birth). Although a widow for 15 years now, she was able to send all of us to the state University to earn our degrees.
Here we are now.
My Mama, in the middle of her 8 grown children. Me (Hailey), third from the right (New Year 2009)
At my sister's wedding, Mama fourth from left. Me (Hailey) second from the right. (Dec 2008)
Have you ever heard someone uttered regrets on his or her deathbed which goes something like: "How I wish I could have spent more time in the office or at work than I did."?
It will be the weirdest thing of all, should I hear such.
Time. It is spent.
Flashes of what if's come to my mind. What if I did not choose to spend my time at home like I do most of the time? What if I chose spunky stilettos and power suits instead of flip-flops and my house dresses? What if I chose to beat the metro traffic, the rat race of the corporate? What if I chose to be in another path except the domesticated one which I have? Would I be richer? Would my kids be kids of richer parents? Maybe.
Dang. That would be awesome, right?
What is lovelier, though, is not what other people will see or observe, right? My life is not that rosy one like that of laundry detergent commercial over TV , but all I know is my time passes with:
ten feet in a bed, at one time
screams because of tickling
noisy dinner table, nightly!
arts in progress scattered on the floor, with daily doses of genre!
question from a five year old which goes: "if God is all-good then why did He create the devil?"
picnics anytime
sticky kisses
googling together for science lessons
karaoke time with kids, off tune via youtube.com
cries because of bruises for running around
long walks and biking then more bruises
tight hugs and unwashed faces in the morning ready to narrate "bad dreams"
more questions like: "Who created God?" "Did God create Himself, how?"
"Mommmy, we are out of shampoo!"
Pardon the biases, but by the way, I am poorer than most of those who are reading this. Downright less objective than most of you all.
Because I chose to spend my time, empty wallets and all, with those who make me this subjective.
It will be the weirdest thing of all, should I hear such.
Time. It is spent.
Flashes of what if's come to my mind. What if I did not choose to spend my time at home like I do most of the time? What if I chose spunky stilettos and power suits instead of flip-flops and my house dresses? What if I chose to beat the metro traffic, the rat race of the corporate? What if I chose to be in another path except the domesticated one which I have? Would I be richer? Would my kids be kids of richer parents? Maybe.
Dang. That would be awesome, right?
What is lovelier, though, is not what other people will see or observe, right? My life is not that rosy one like that of laundry detergent commercial over TV , but all I know is my time passes with:
ten feet in a bed, at one time
screams because of tickling
noisy dinner table, nightly!
arts in progress scattered on the floor, with daily doses of genre!
question from a five year old which goes: "if God is all-good then why did He create the devil?"
picnics anytime
sticky kisses
googling together for science lessons
karaoke time with kids, off tune via youtube.com
cries because of bruises for running around
long walks and biking then more bruises
tight hugs and unwashed faces in the morning ready to narrate "bad dreams"
more questions like: "Who created God?" "Did God create Himself, how?"
"Mommmy, we are out of shampoo!"
Pardon the biases, but by the way, I am poorer than most of those who are reading this. Downright less objective than most of you all.
Because I chose to spend my time, empty wallets and all, with those who make me this subjective.
Happy birthday to my darling girl Frances Maridel.
At eleven, you are now our little lady. God bless your journey to this life.
Your Daddy and I are so blessed to have you: God-fearing, healthy, voracious reader, and respectful to others.
I pray that you live up to your name which means "free" but never forgetting the values of both your Lolas (grandmothers) Delia and Norma (thus MARiDEL) have: strength in characters and passion for a well-lived life.
Is your life as peachy as what others appear to have in blogland?
Mine is not.
And some of you might agree with me. And no matter what I do or don't, life will always have hitches.
Plans do not materialize as they were conceptualized.
People around do not react as we expect them to do.
When we look for some things which are constant, changes happen - and are never the same again.
Moments fade and mood changes thus life is not as rosy as what it is supposed to be.
What gives?
Mine is not.
And some of you might agree with me. And no matter what I do or don't, life will always have hitches.
Plans do not materialize as they were conceptualized.
People around do not react as we expect them to do.
When we look for some things which are constant, changes happen - and are never the same again.
Moments fade and mood changes thus life is not as rosy as what it is supposed to be.
What gives?
The greatest struggle is to be always relevant.The greatest fear, is be otherwise.
Those are my thoughts right now. Agree? Are you relevant to someone? to whom?
As a parent, a wife, a sibling or a friend - to anyone or someone: relevance matters. Without such, my existence pales.
God, however, loves.
This life and beyond He has a laid-out plan for me. Relevant.
Which makes me relevant, eternally.
(photo from www.tightlinelinks.com)
Arlene, here is the tag. Thanks!
A. Attached or single? Attached (married)
B. Best friend? Yes.
C. Cake or pie? Moist Chocolate Cake with Coffee
D. Day of choice? Sunday. Relaxed family time.
E. Essential item? Cellphone and Wallet
F. Favorite color? Blue and White
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy bears
H. Hometown? Laguna
I. Favorite indulgence? Foot spa with pedicure...ahh soothing.
J. January or July? January, new year and new beginnings.
K. Kids? Three girls
L. Life isn’t complete without? My family and friends.
M. Marriage date? June 14.
N. Number of magazine subscriptions: online included? 1 only
O. Oranges or apples?Apples.
P. Phobias? Closed, cramped spaces.
Q. Quotes? The best thing in life is life itself!
R. Reasons to smile? happy memories with loved ones
S. Season of choice? Summer
T. Tag 5 people. Vannie, Kcee, Liza, Rocks and Nancy
U. Unknown fact about me? I can move my ears!
V. Vegetable? any will do except saluyot.
W. Worst habit? waking up late, but not that late.
X. X-ray or ultrasound? X-ray
Y. Your favorite foods? very plenty
Z. Zodiac sign?Libra
2003 was the year this picture was taken.
Our three kids were aged 5, 4 and 2 then. See how thinner I was?
Full time work, being a wife, homemaking and motherhood rolled in one was quite a feat to hurdle!
This second photo was taken 2007.
With our kids older (ages 9, 8 and 5) and routines a little lighter we have changed!
Especially the weight?
What do you think?
So, how is it to be 35?
Let me count MY ways:
- mother of eleven, nine and six years old girls - who all talk like 35.
- wife for 12 years to a good husband - who goes to Mass as often as he can, if not everyday. yes, ladies he is a rare species.
- daughter to a strong woman.
- has been an educator for almost 13 years.
- sister to seven siblings far richer than I am ( lucky me, right?)
- blessed with God's unfailing grace every single day to live with purpose
- blogger for almost 2 years...
I am blessed.
We all are.
SO what is missing for me? Fat bank account. LOL. I still have years ahead of me to settle that.
But what I am blessed with now, I am more than thankful.
God is good. All the time.
Ain't life grand?
1st image from therosenblog.blogspot.com
Scene 1: Mom and kids watching the news. Apparently, the news on child abuse is so rampant that social welfare steps in to deal with the issue seriously.
Kid 2: Why are the parents being questioned about their kids?
Mom: Well, they have to answer the questions of the authority.
Kid 2: About what, Mom?
Mom: Regarding the fact that they let their kids work at such young age. It is against the law.
Kid 1: Really? Why?
Mom: Because they are supposed to be playing, having fun and not working. Kids have rights, you know.
Kid 2: So why aren't you being asked, too?
Mom: And why should i be asked?
Kid 2: You always tell me to get you a glass of water or order us to ALWAYS fix our bed in the morning. Are those not part of that law?
Silence.
Scene 2: Silence. The most rare moment in the household happens.
Free IQ Test by QuizRocket.com fun tests!
Fun Quizzes | Quizes | MySpace Quizzes
» » "Who Should I Vote For?" « «
Fun Quizzes | Quizes | MySpace Quizzes
» » "Who Should I Vote For?" « «
Tried this one. This shows my results. I wonder how exact this test can be...
Arlene, never fails to share her tags, so here we go...
:START COPY::
RULES:
1. Add your blog/s to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs. It’s okey if you only post this questions in one blog as long as you answer them.
2. Get back to ME and I’ll add your blogs to the master’s list HERE {Note that you are not ALLOWED to change this links and make sure to leave the exact URL.}
3. Copy from Start to End.
4. Tag as many friends online you know. But you don’t need to be tag in order to join.
Who played along:
1. Music of my Heart 2. Me and Mine 3. Creative in Me 4. For the LOVE of Food 5. Little Peanut 6. Pea in a Pod 7. It’s Where the HEART Is 8. Around the World 9. jOYS IN lIFE 10. dANCING IN mIDLIFE tuNE 11. LIFE IS WHAT wE MAKE iT 12. Hailey's Domain 13. Hailey's Beats and Bits 14. Yours HERE
Questions and Answers:
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says:
“...indicate essential feature of the church and its mission."
2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you touch first? Chair
3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? Travel and Living in Europe.
4. WITHOUT LOOKING, guess what time it is: 6:10 pm.
5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? 6:30 pm.
6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? my kids' laughter, shouts and giggles; later i am sure there will be 1 crying already...
7. When did you last step outside? what were you doing? went to our convenience store to buy snacks, drinks and condensed milk
8. Before you came to this website, what did you look at? My blog.
9. What are you wearing? Shorts and blouse.
10. Did you dream last night? nothing, i was a sleeping dead log.
11. When did you last laugh? When i was in our convenience store because hubby was doing antics.
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? A framed cross stitch .
13. Seen anything weird lately? weird photos online .
14. What do you think of this quiz? Fun!
15. What is the last movie you saw? Maid of Honor starring Patrick Dempsey
16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first? house, sleek new car, tons of food, clothes for my kids, nicer laptop, the nicest Digi-Camera, stocks
17. Tell me something about you that I don’t know: I am thinner than most Mommies my age!
18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? Give each family a parcel of land for houses and backyard livelihood thus no one will have to go hungry or homeless.
19. Do you like to dance? Sometimes.
20. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? a boy? same name i gave my first child
21. Would you ever consider living abroad? Not living but more on trips or vacations!
Liza, Vannie and Ice can share their answers if they want to!
Off we went to a university painting exhibit today. It was just a five minute walk from our home. The girls had fun analyzing different media used in each painting such as acrylic, poster, charcoal, pencil sketches, etc.
It was a visual treat for them, especially for my eldest who loves to draw and sketch everyday of her life!
Here are my two younger kids viewing and analyzing a painting.
Blurred shot of my eldest using just a cellphone camera.
one of their favorite paintings ...
The best part of the day was when the Daddy came home from his trip with this box of sugar overload!!!!
Shawie's words of affirmation are like water to a parched land.
I felt so buttered up when i browsed through her blog and saw her write-up.
No, I am not in such dire need of compliments, but I have to admit we all need intrinsic motivations such as these, every once in a while!
"Here are my five favorite KICK ASS BLOGGERS.Do you know any bloggers that kick ass?
I felt so buttered up when i browsed through her blog and saw her write-up.
No, I am not in such dire need of compliments, but I have to admit we all need intrinsic motivations such as these, every once in a while!
"Here are my five favorite KICK ASS BLOGGERS.Do you know any bloggers that kick ass?
Maybe they've got incredible, original content. Or they're overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it's someone who simply inspires you to be a better person... or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your ass off.
Whatever the reason may be, I'm sure you know at least a couple of bloggers that kick ass. Well... why not tell 'em so?
(I came fifth in her list but this is my second time to receive this Kick Ass Award)
5. Hailey - A great Mom, teacher and a great writer too. She openly shares her wits and wisdom.
And here's one more from Shawie:
"Here are some of the my favorite blogs. I always enjoy hopping in these blogs. In no particular order:"
BareFooted Me
Biyaheng Noypi
My World in My Own Word
Hailey
Pinay Mommy Online
"Here are some of the my favorite blogs. I always enjoy hopping in these blogs. In no particular order:"
BareFooted Me
Biyaheng Noypi
My World in My Own Word
Hailey
Pinay Mommy Online
Here is my nine year (9) old daughter's FIRST ever attempt with Photoshop on her own . I have no idea where (online) she got the pictures. For sure she just Googled them...
Recently, she started mumbling terms like drop shadow, cropping, toggle, etc. I saw her reading her Dad's HTML book. I asked her why she was browsing the book. She told me she was looking for color codes...Well, what can I say? A blogger for a Mom and a web designer/developer for a Dad, what else can be the product?
Well,I have a techie growing up in the house!
Recently, she started mumbling terms like drop shadow, cropping, toggle, etc. I saw her reading her Dad's HTML book. I asked her why she was browsing the book. She told me she was looking for color codes...Well, what can I say? A blogger for a Mom and a web designer/developer for a Dad, what else can be the product?
Well,I have a techie growing up in the house!
Arlene, you're one good tagger! Thanks for this, girl!
~Start Copy~
Here are the Rules:
1. List the things that make you Happy and those that make you Sad.
2. Add your Blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other Blogs.
3. Tag other online friends you know.
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?
1. dates or trips with hubby (very scarce lately)
2. my 2 girls' rosy cheeks, indomitable appetites and optimism!
3. my little one's giggles, wit and humor!
4. paid bills and full ref/pantry.
5. my 7 siblings, incorporated
6. coffee, cold nights and "SALE" signs...
7. bursting paypal income (when will this happen again?)
8. smell of freshly cut but drying grass
9. cooking, baking and empty plates thereafter
10. visiting my Mama anytime I like and chatting endlessly...
11. receiving a car for free, from my sister!
WHAT MAKES ME SAD?
2. my kids' fighting
3. piling, unpaid bills and empty bank account.
4. pain
5. stressful Boss.
6. being criticized unjustly, upfront!
7. greedy people
8. seeing poverty in the community/neighborhood.
9. abused kids because of irresponsible parents
10. Insecure people who do not know how to deal their insecurities (same with arlene)
Participants: T?ni’s Attachments, Cecile2’s-Small and Simple Things, Lara’s Pinay dot US, Lara’s My Blog Entry, Lara’s Byaheng Pinay, Living A’ La Mode, Bits and Pieces, My Life in this Wonderful World, My Online World, Ozzy’s Mom, Me,Myself+2, Kidd Designs, Fun|Fierce|Fabulous , Eds Mommy Life, Just Me.. Eds, My Precious Niche, Music of my Heart,Me and Mine | Creative in Me | For the LOVE of Food | Little Peanut | Pea in a Pod | It’s Where the HEART Is | Around the World | SugarMagnolias | Life is What We Make it | Joys in Life | Dancing in Midlife Tune | Photo Blog | Hailey's Domain /Hailey's Bits and Beats/ Your blog here
Vhiel
Juliana
Shawie
That will be my question for Michael Phelps' Mom.
Or for the rest of the Olympians who will bring home the golds.
Since the Beijing Olympics began, that has been a nagging question in my mind.
Or was it since the day I heard about the sixteen years old who graduated from U.P. with Physics course, summa cum laude.
What do you think?
I know geneticists can very well explicate how genes play for exceptional human beings.
However, as a parent I still wonder how the nurture-nature factor affects achievers like them.
What is your choice: is it the genes (nature) or the milk (nurture)?
I guess, it's discipline, baby...discipline.
Or for the rest of the Olympians who will bring home the golds.
Since the Beijing Olympics began, that has been a nagging question in my mind.
Or was it since the day I heard about the sixteen years old who graduated from U.P. with Physics course, summa cum laude.
What do you think?
I know geneticists can very well explicate how genes play for exceptional human beings.
However, as a parent I still wonder how the nurture-nature factor affects achievers like them.
What is your choice: is it the genes (nature) or the milk (nurture)?
I guess, it's discipline, baby...discipline.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
