Grateful...

I just want to write a post about how thankful I am to the Lord for blessing us with the kind of life that we wanted to live.  We may not be blessed with financial abundance now that we have decided to stay in the Philippines for good but we have enough and that's all that matters.  I am in awe how God works wonders in putting things in order for me and for my family.  At the end of each day I am excited for the coming days because I feel like there are still more surprises God has in store for us.

To date, I am no longer a stay-at-home mom but a work-at-home mom and I'm happy.  Everyday my hands are full juggling my online work and my duties as a mom and a wife.  Our house help went on vacation two weeks ago and eventually told me that she's uncertain when she will be coming back because she needs to fix some family matters in the province. There are days when I feel dead tired but I love that feeling.  I feel like I am accomplishing a lot of things each day and at the same time having the luxury to just stay at home and look after my family.  I have already adjusted with my work schedule and thankfully I have flexible working hours.

I have also enrolled for a Master's Degree program and I will be majoring in Guidance and Counseling.  My classes starts next Saturday and I am very much excited but anxious at the same time since I will be out of the house every Saturday of this semester.  My class starts at 8am and ends at 6pm with one hour lunch break.

I want to share my work area...

Yes, those are vapor rub and katinko ointment.  I take them with me so that if ever I need to put some on the kids I won't have to stand up.

From Monday to Friday I am stationed at our dining table so that I could easily stand up and leave work for a few minutes if ever I need to attend to something. I have a small working table in our bedroom and I used to work there but after our house help left and I was the one taking care of everything in the house, I realized that though climbing up and down the stairs is a good exercise, it would just result to minor injuries every now and then especially when I'm rushing, hehe.

That small table was custom-made as a bedside table when I was still single.  It was originally painted white then I took it with me when I got married and painted it green and eventually painted it brown. Since I was the one who repainted it, the paint now is starting to wear off, hehe..

That is my small nook in our bedroom.  I am still in the look out for a perfect working table.

As for the rest of the brood, my husband works from home, too and the kids would still be home schooled. They'll start classes next week.

Life got in the way...

I feel like it has been ages since I last opened this blog and read other's blog posts.  It has been two weeks since we arrived home and everything's great so far.  We have been enjoying the simple pleasures in life.  I find great joy being able to see the sun rise and watching it go down from our bedroom window. 

Let me share some snippets of our home...

these blocks are scattered on the floor everyday...

the console which my mom handed down to us is my favorite focal point in our house...

watching movies at night...

the kids are learning how to play with marbles...

The heat has been draining but we're not complaining.  It's nice to be home!!!  =)

Happy Birthday Little One...

Dearest Sammy,

This was taken on your 2nd birthday and we treated you to the zoo...

On your 3rd birthday, Mama Da (your grandmother) gave you a cake...

Fast forward and I didn't realize you have grown so much bigger.  Here's your last  photo with your long hair.  You wanted to have it cut because you said you're big now and want a hair cut  like that of your older brothers...

Now you are seven...are you really seven now? because for me you will always be three, hehe...

                            Happy happy birthday, my precious Samuel Luis! Daddy and I love you so much!


Ok, now I'm crying (with matching tulo sipon) just by looking at all your photos...

                                              I'll keep the memory of this picture in my heart forever...

Can I keep you forever?

     Saw this vid from Daphne's blog and I couldn't not share it here.  It's really a tearjerker.  As a hands-on mom to my boys, the words uttered by author Katrina Kenison were really what I have in mind every time I look at my boys and realize that in a few year's time, I have to somehow let them go.

    I was particularly moved by the line, "If motherhood teaches us anything, it's that we can't change our children, we can only change ourselves."

                                                       "The Gift of an Ordinary Day" by Katrina Kenison

Happy 10th Birthday, Sean Paolo!

 Dearest Pao,

     How time flies by so fast and I can't believe I'm staring at your pictures trying to convince myself that you are no longer little.   Since day one you have always made me proud and grateful.   I thank you, anak, for being such a good, responsible and loving child and sibling.  And no matter how big and tall you become, you will always be mommy's baby and first love ever.     I love you so much!