Boys Will Be Boys!

Boys will be boys!  We all know it.  Whatever you try to do, they are uncompromising creatures and will do whatever they desire.  But if you search their hearts somehow you'll find their gentle being.  Like this doodle of my son in the wake of his grandfather's passing.  I was really surprised he thought of this.  It somehow reminded me of Jacob's dream after he tricked Esau and fled away, his dream with the clouds, stars, and stairway to heaven.  This one, the stick figure, represents his grandfather on his way to meet our Creator.  I'm more than happy that my child at his young age, six years and seven months as of the date imprinted in this doodle, would think of this without my constant prodding.  I know children about their age are highly inquisitive but more than academically and intellectually, I long to see him mature and grow emotionally and spiritually to live a life according to God's will and be prepared for a challenging times of his life.

He still bombards me with a lot of question about death such as who are going to heaven and hell, how do people die, and will you die if you drink and smoke?  He amuses me most of the time and sets my hair on fire, sometimes I sneak out and ask Dr. Google how should a parent answer inquiries like these.  Or, I just explain to the best of my knowledge and according to the beliefs and values I uphold.  After all we, mothers, are blessed with good, nurturing instincts.

Linking up with:

at Jared's Little Corner

Nice To Know You Wednesday 1

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1. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go?

-It's always been a dream to visit the Holy Land and actually walk where Jesus did.  I will certainly have goosebumps while walking.

2. Where did you grow up?

-I grew up in the small, "developing" (meaning farmlands being turned into villages & subdivisions) city of Malolos which lies in the province of Bulacan.  This is probably where I will live most of my life since the man that I married was just a couple of barangays away from where I was born.  Not much of a wanderer eh?

3. What is the last thing you watched on the tellie?

-Not much of a tellie person because I am really a boring person.  If ever I will be watching it it's most likely because of my kids and it's tuned in Disney Junior/Cartoon Network. Maybe if I'm still single I would love to watch Amazing Race & Survivor, it's so time-consuming! But if I am to reveal the last time I crazily watched it, it was (shy) the Meteor Garden days!:D

4. What kind of car do you drive?

-We do have a "borrowed" (but it's with us since the day we had our firstborn) car from in-laws and it's a Honda Accord.  It's an old model but still working great and comfy enough for us except for the gas cost.  I learned to drive it when I was pregnant with my second child. It was kind of liberating! But the procrastinator that I am, the student permit that I had secured got expired and never renewed until now.

5. Where would you retire?

-If given a choice, I would love to retire in a place where mountains and sea meet.  I've been to Palawan and I thought it as a perfect place for me to retire (I don't know about my husband though) since most of its inhabitants are still Tagalog-speaking.  If only I had the money I would have bought a parcel of land there along with my bestfriend (or maybe time will come she'll sell a part of it to me if I can afford it by then ; ).

This is my first link-up post.  To read more NTKYW entries, please go to: nice to know you wednesday + leap years at mum-writes.com.

Embracing 2012

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2011 has flown by, so quickly! Didn't I just turn 33 last year? Oh yes, I'm not that shy exposing my age, the fine lines though I try to slow them down a bit, and the meager accomplishments at this time though not career-financially-wise, but yes, I'm a professional...mother and homemaker.

How I love flipping the calendar (which by the way I had my first hung at the back of our dining room door). It presents somehow a clean, crisp start of the year and day. For me that would mean setting small, manageable, feasible goals like keeping an organized paper pile, keeping up to my laundry (which means throwing one load per day in the washer), having a smooth running organization of seemingly unmanageable array of toys, and managing my moods which means keeping that loud voice at a minimum. Pretty simple right? But still, takes a lot of hard work and guts, of course.

As I embrace 2012, I hope to move a bit slowly. Savoring each moment of my children who show signs of early independence. I want to grab them and hold them still, let me embed that hug in my heart and memory, which surely in a few quick years will be a distant one. I hope to spend time with the family as a whole, try not to neglect the father who is the true head of the house, to whom I vowed to submit and serve. I hope to find more ways to be of service to my family, to the Church God has led me to, and to others whom He has brought in front of me to share the good news, inspire and encourage. Let me make everything count.

May this year bring us to a higher level of divine intervention, to a purpose-driven life, and to an overflowing abundance of grace!

God bless 2012. :) 

One, Two, Three...Count Your Blessings

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him." Psalm 2:12 

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Last Friday, it was the first parent-teacher conference at my son's school. His teacher revealed who he is, what he does at school.  And he did pretty well. We were told that he was at the 5th place, as well as voted vice president, of his class. Highly sociable, loquacious but sensible.  In as much as these things matter, I am more of comforted knowing that my child is growing fine in probably many aspects that he can later carry into adulthood.

Through the years, I wrestled to be the best mom that I can be. I practically gave up everything, as for my personal growth and selfish ambitions, and felt the stirrings of longing to be more of a mother than a career woman.  I learned to accept what God has set me to do and what He is graciously giving me and my family.  Nevertheless, as much as I struggled to be a fairly good mother, I battled several unwanted and unproductive emotions and some of them were envy and self-pity.  I often looked at my friends who soar high on their career; other moms who managed to do many things; why their children were relatively better than mine; why they can still dress themselves well while I did not.  That kind of feeling, sometimes these thoughts were unbearable--like a foolish girl drooling over her playmates' lollipop.

With God's amazing grace, I have come a long long way...years actually to somehow manage that feeling.  I get back to sincerely meditating His words and try to remain focused on what I have gained, and not on what I have lost.  I have learned to appreciate everything God has given me--my family, our simple yet happy life; learned to live in joy and thanksgiving; and learned to count my blessings everyday. And these blessings are like sprinkles on a cupcake--here and there.

Whenever I come across that feeling again, I pray and remember His words like in  Psalms 16: 11: "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." I should be grateful enough for this and keep that positive focus in life.