DRAWING IS EVOLVING

Dear Naomi,


Your drawings are starting to be more precise.  They are actually cute.  I love your turtle and snail here.  Also, the way you draw girls, they seem to be manga-like.

Keep it up, Naomi my love so sweet.  Keep doodling until you perfect those strokes.  But most of all, have fun!

Loving your artwork forever,

Mommy 

NATHAN DOODLES TOO :)

Dear Nathan,

You drew this last July 27, 2015 and proudly showed Mommy and Daddy your artwork.  Hahaha of course, it's about Minecraft, Stampy, the creepers and all.  And there's a dragon too.  

Keep it up, cool kid.  The drawings are starting to make sense hahaha  Just the same, I love them!

Your fan forever, 

Mommy

Do you see the dragon up there? :)

Stampy with the Creepers :)

8TH WEDDING ANNIV LOVE DOODLE FROM NAOMI

Dear Naomi,

Thank you for this lovely surprise for Mommy and Daddy's 8th wedding anniversary!  You even stayed up late last night to wait for us and to give this.

I hope you stay this sweet and thoughtful until you grow up.  I will never get tired of your love notes.  And you will be Mommy and Daddy's precious gift forever.

Love much,

Mommy 

WE SURVIVED JUNE

Yes, we did it!

I have written in a previous post that June is a period of transition not only for myself but for the whole family.  So how did we survive?  By trusting our instincts, by trusting the capability of kids, by believing in ourselves again, and most importantly by letting go and trusting in God's great providence.

Here's what happened:

• Naomi and Nathan went through their first day high's by themselves.  Yep, no Mommy with them.  I must confess I was so uneasy waiting for them to come home.  I was imagining so many things and was so worried they wouldn't find their school service or might ride the wrong one.  But God's protection is with them and legions of angels did guard my chikiting patrol.  So there, they went home safely and with lots of stories.

• No stay-in helpers.  I have two stay-out helpers who do the laundry and ironing of clothes.  Both go to our house twice a week.  Despite this, we badly needed a stay-in helper to cook food, do the dishes, watch over kids, and clean the house.  Since we did not have any for about 2 weeks, we needed to do things by ourselves.  Good thing the big kids cooperated.  They looked after the little kids.  They helped clean the house and washed the dishes.  Everybody contributed and extended a helping hand to keep everything in order.  So how did I manage cooking for the platoon?  I did not! hahaha I cooked once then decided to utilize food delivery (with the strong support of hubby)!  Isn't that cool (and expensive)?  But hubby kept telling me the cost is nothing compared to the stress of cooking.  So there, we survived.  But shortly after this, we were lucky enough to have been helped by hubby's sister and soon found a stay-in househelp.  But that short stint allowed everybody to do household chores again.  A discipline that will help these kids when they're on their own.  Also, this  allowed me to revisit parts of the house that need attention.  Most importantly, this experience reminded me that I am strong and that yes, I still have that extra energy to do chores to make a lovely home.  Not bad at all.

Nathan's first entry to his assignment notebook :)

• Nathan wrote his assignment all by himself.  How awesome is that!  Writing is a big chore for Nathan.  So this is really a big milestone for him.  I guess this time he does not have a choice but to write.

• Naomi does her assignment and washes herself without yaya's help.  Yep, because in the first place we don't have a yaya.  This has now become a routine for her so Mommy just checks and reviews her when Mommy gets home. 

• Gab's timing of college is a blessing in disguise.  Good thing Gabs will start college not until August 2015.  So back in June when we did not have anyone in the house, there's Kuya Gabs watching over the kids when they get home from school.  And if you're reading this Gabs, I want to thank you so much for taking care of your little siblings and for reviewing them.  Not just a big help for me but most of all for Naomi and Nathan.  You get to review them while there is still energy left for the day.  When they are not cranky yet.

So there. That's it.  And right now, even with our stay-in helpers back, we still do some chores.  It's much more relaxed now.  And we are not afraid.  

I just love my family.  And I thank you so much dear Lord, for helping me and the whole family get through this.  More challenges to come.  But you have shown so many times that you are with us.

P.S.  I am so busy as of this writing because of tons of office deliverables.  But I just have to write this now because my heart is just full of gratitude :)

NAOMI'S IMESSAGES

This year Naomi learned how to use the iMessage functionality of her iPad.  Such a great thing because she keeps sending love messages... and sumbong messages... and demanding messages hahaha  She also sends messages to her Daddy, to Tata, Ate Kichie, Kuya Gabs, and Kuya Isaac.  Sayang walang iMessage si Wowo and Wowa.  

What's so nice about this is that she knows how to express herself at this young age (Naomi turned 7 last month).  While we don't want her to get so addicted with gadgets, we also welcome the thought that with this, she is able to communicate and is comfortable with it.  I think good and open family communication is a habit and a "culture" to be developed.

Here are some of Naomi's love messages.  Enjoy reading!

P.S.  She wants viber to be installed to her iPad.  She just loves the stickers!

FACE YOUR MONSTERS

I subscribe to Bo Sanchez's Soulfood Newsletter.  And the July 6 post struck me real hard.

As I wrote in my previous post, June is a period of transition for the whole family.  We survived June well.  Still the transition continues.  And lately I have been feeling another adjustment with regard to work schedule.  I was not very comfortable about it and I fear so many things.  I was not very graceful in coping with the changes that I end up hurting the love of my life, my hubby (to which I really am very, very, very sorry).  All these changes that is happening right now including the thought of having a new job is making me uneasy.  Fear is over-powering the blessings that are actually being given to us.  The good prospect for hubby and I are lost in my own negative imagination.  And yes, I'm not only hurting myself but my hubby too who only deserves support, love, and understanding at this time.

Oh Lord Jesus, open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the great possibilities these "transitions" will give me and my family.  You have greater and bigger blessings outside of what we already have.  Help me to trust in your goodness.  Don't allow me to leave your side.  Set our thoughts to what is good and right.  And in all these, dear Lord, thank you very much.

Amen.