Parenting That Makes a Difference (Part 1 of 4)

I. What God Wants Us to Know About Our Children

1. Our children are VALUABLE.

Psalm 127:3 - Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.


2. Our children have NEEDS.

Matthew 6:31-32 - "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

*** A GOOD FATHER KNOWS THE NEEDS OF HIS CHILDREN.


3. Our children need to be TAUGHT 'almost' EVERYTHING.

Proverbs 1:8 - "Hear my son your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching."

*** BE PATIENT and INTENTIONAL IN TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN.


4. Our children areUNIQUELY designed by God.

Psalm 139:13-14 - "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are thy works, and my soul knows it very well."

* Don't force them into your MOLD.
* Don't make undue COMPARISONS.



5. Our Children have a "HEART" problem.

Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?"

Proverbs 22:15 - "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child."



6. Our children need to have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with God.

Ezekiel 36:26 - Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."


7. Our children are not ROBOTS.



II. What God Wants Us To Know about Parenting

1. Parents are responsible to TRAIN their children.

Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Ephesians 6:4 - "Fathers do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

* PARENTING IS A "SACRED" TASK ASSIGNED TO US BY GOD.
* PARENTS MAY TRY TO DELEGATE THE TASK, BUT THEY CANNOT ABDICATE THE RESPONSIBILITY.


2. Parents are not to EXASPERATE their children.

Parents exasperate their children by:
- Unrealistic expectations
- Unreasonable rules
- Failure to listen to them
- Impatience, Temper
- Verbal abuse
- Failure to keep commitments
- Hypocrisy
- Favoritism

Colossians 3:21 - "Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart."

Ephesians 6:4 - "Fathers do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."


3. Effective Parenting is not authentic.

Passing on an occupation, material & financial wealth is different from passing on a Godly Heritage.


4. Parenting is a PROCESS.

Galatians 4:19 - "My children, with whom I am made to labor until Christ is formed in you..."

- It is not to be rushed.
- It takes a looong time, so we have to be patient.
- There is no easy way or breaks to parenting.


5. Parenting requires DILIGENCE.

Prov 13:24 - "... He who loves him, disciplines him diligently."

WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL.


6. Parenting takes godly Wisdom.

James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously ..."

- Fathers are responsible for the well-being of their family.
- If the family is not walking with the Lord, the father should
- assume responsibility
- humble himself
- Ask God for wisdom
- Not pass the responsibility to the society.

- Each child is different. "Different strokes for different folks."
- We need to become a STUDENT of our children.
- We need to PLAN.
- We need to be PRAYERFUL.


7. Parenting has LASTING Consequences.

- The bad habits of the parents are usually passed on to the children.
- The good / godly traits of the parents are often passed on to the children.

Exodus 20:5 "Visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children on the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."


III. WHAT GOD WANTS US TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE PARENTS.

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 - "Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged."

- They LOVE God.
- They KNOW God's Word.
- They PRACTICE God's Word.
- They TEACH God's Word.
- They DEPEND on God.

"PROBLEMATIC CHILDREN ARE OFTEN THE PRODUCT OF PROBLEMATIC PARENTS"


IV. THE GOALS OF PARENTING

1. To pass on a Godly heritage to the next generation.

Psalm 78:5-7 - "For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, "that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."

Father --->Children --->Grand Children ---> Children Yet to be Born


2. To develop children to reach their God- given potential - Mentally, Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually, and Socially.

Luke 2:52 - "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

Biblical Model of Growth:
- Mental
- Emotional
- Physical
- Spiritual
- Social


3. To help our children grown in Christ-likeness.

Galatians 4:19 - "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is found in you."

4. To bring honor and glory to God.

What Makes Men Cheat?

got this from yahoo news ...

48% of men rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated.

So much for the myth that for men, cheating is all about physical intimacy: Only 8 percent of men said that physical dissatisfaction was the main factor in their infidelity. "Our culture tells us that all men need to be happy is to have physical intimacy with someone," Neuman says. "But men are emotionally driven beings too. They want their wives to show them that they're appreciated, and they want women to understand how hard they're trying to get things right." The problem is that men are less likely than women to express these feelings, so you won't always know when your guy is in need of a little affirmation. "Most men consider it unmanly to ask for a pat on the back, which is why their emotional needs are often overlooked," Neuman says. "But you can create a marital culture of appreciation and thoughtfulness -- and once you set the tone, he's likely to match it."

66% of cheating men report feeling guilt during the affair.

The implications are a little scary: It isn't just uncaring jerks who cheat. In fact, 68 percent of cheaters never dreamed they'd be unfaithful, and almost all of them wished they hadn't done it, Neuman says. Clearly, guilt isn't enough to stop a man from cheating. "Men are good at compartmentalizing feelings," Neuman explains. "They can hold on to their emotions and deal with them later." So even if your partner swears he would never cheat, don't assume it can't happen. It's important for both of you to take steps toward creating the relationship you want.

77% of cheating men have a good friend who cheated.

Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility.

Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility. The message he's subconsciously telling himself: "My friend is a good guy who happens to be cheating on his wife. I guess even the best of us do it." You can't simply ban your husband from hanging out with Mr. Wandering Eyes, Neuman says, but you can request that they spend their time together in an environment that offers less temptation, like at a sporting event or a restaurant for lunch rather than at a bar or club. Another strategy: Build your social circle around happily married couples that share your values -- it'll create an environment that supports marriage.

40% of cheating men met the other woman at work.

"Oftentimes the woman he cheats with at the office is someone who praises him, looks up to him, and compliments his efforts," Neuman says. "That's another reason why it's so critical that he feel valued at home." Luckily, there's a clear warning sign that your husband is getting a little too cozy with a colleague: If he praises or mentions the name of a female coworker more than he would a male counterpart, your antennae should go up -- and it's time for the two of you to set boundaries about what is and isn't okay at work, Neuman says. Is it acceptable for him to work late if it's only him and her? Can they travel together to conferences? Have dinners out to discuss a project? Ask him what he'd feel comfortable with you doing with a male colleague.

Only 12% of cheating men said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.

In other words, a man doesn't stray because he thinks he'll get lucky with a better-looking body. "

In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void

In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void," Neuman says. "He feels a connection with the other woman, and physical intimacy comes along for the ride." If you're worried about infidelity, focus on making your relationship more loving and connected, not on getting your body just right or mastering how to please him physically. (But know that physical intimacy does matter -- it's one of the key ways your guy expresses his love and feels close to you, so be sure to keep it a priority.)

Only 6% of cheating men had physical intimacy with a woman after meeting her that same day or night.

Actually, 73 percent of men got to know the other woman for more than a month before they cheated. This means that you may have time to see the warning signs before infidelity occurs -- you might even see it coming before he does. Keep an eye out for these common signals: He spends more time away from home, stops asking for physical intimacy, picks fights more frequently, or avoids your calls. Your gut reaction may be to confront him, but most men will deny even thinking about cheating, especially if nothing physical has occurred yet. Instead, Neuman suggests, take charge of what you can control -- your own behavior -- and take the lead in bringing your relationship to a better place. Don't hesitate to show your appreciation for him, prioritize time together, and initiate affection more. Give him a reason to keep you at the front of his mind, Neuman says. And be open about how you feel about what's going on between the two of you (again, without mentioning any third parties). Try "I think we've started to lose something important in our relationship, and I don't want it to disappear." In the meantime, commit to keeping tabs on your relationship and doing what it takes to keep it working for you.

Lexi as Tinkerbell

today, oct. 17, 2008 is lexi's costume / halloween party in school ... she enjoyed being Tinkerbell ... kaso palpak naman yung dance number nila ... parang hindi na pinag-isipan nung teacher ... buti na lang sobbrrrannnng cute ng little girl ko kaya carry na ... =)

its that time of the month ... sigh!

kesehodang may melamine ... im gonna eat this ... sigh

lanz and lexi

nung isang gabi ... before our evening prayers ... nagkwe-kwentuhan kaming magiina

LEXI: mom, i wanna tell you about the mermaid story

LANZ: no lexi! you're so noisy. we don't wanna hear your story.

ME: lanz, you let your sister tell her story. (lanz pouts , with dagger look on lexi)

LEXI: giggling and rolling on the bed with her cute cute laughter na labas pa ang kanyang gilagid ... but mom, im shy ... giggles some more and buries her smiling face on a pillow.

LANZ: lexi, you can't be a leader if you are like that, shy! Me, im gonna be a leader someday. not like you, loser!

ME: how can you be a leader lanz?

LANZ: Of Course, i follow all the lasallian core values, and im confident!

LEXI: Im confident! You know mom, the octopus made the sea dirty .... and went on with the rest of the story.

LANZ: blah! blah!blah!

* hay naku ang mga anakish ko ... ka-loka! =D

why is money so blinding?

it's just so sad ... MONEY HAS CONTROL over people ... changes them, big time!
when they had little or none ... people are so easy to talk to ... they, most of the time treat you right, at times, treat you as if you are in this pedestal, that they have found a mine in you ... in the event that money comes rolling their way ... WORDS SPOKEN ARE BENT ... actual circumstances are reversed, your initial role as their SOURCE or STEPPING-STONE is shelved ... therefore u ended up being USED. it hurts ... i feel like i have been stabbed in my heart ... as in tagusan! as the lady and the mom, i am burdened to keep and maintain the HEART of my home, where love and compassion is .... HEART FIRST BEFORE MIND ... in the event that you do not feel your heart anymore, not feel for others, and act like you are in a "ME, MYSELF, & I" world ... you are better dead than alive...

in tagalog:
"Mas maigi nang mamatay ka na dahil wala kang silbi sa mundo" "Pera lang ang nasa isip mo, wala kang puso."

sing:
walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang ... walang sinuman ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang... tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa't isa ... tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling nya ( don't know if this last line is right)

Money & The Bible
What The Bible says about money

Where do material blessings come from?
Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV
"remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth."

Can money get in the way of more important things? Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Wealth can become the center of our life and take God's place.
"This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord."

Wealth can give us wrong attitudes about material things, Luke 12:15 NIV
"Then [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

You cannot serve both God and Money.
I Timothy 6:9, NIV
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."

Though not impossible, it's difficult for the rich to enter heaven - God's kingdom. Mark 10:23-25, NIV.
"Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at His words. Then Jesus said, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!"

The love of money leads to evil. I Timothy 6:10, NIV.
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Greed often accompanies prosperity and can lead to crime.James 4:1-2,
"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it because there is a whole army of evil desires within you? You want what you don't have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can't afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it."

tithing . . .

the more you give, the greater your heavenly reward. Luke 12:33-34, NIV
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor: Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

God asks us to return tithe [10%] and offerings to Him and in return He promises unlimited blessings.
Malachi 3:8-10, NIV.
"Will a man rob God?" Yet you rob Me. "But you ask, "How do we rob You?" In tithes and offerings." Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Christ endorsed tithing.
Matthew 23:23, NIV.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices, mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

How may all, rich and poor, honor God?
Proverbs 3:9, NIV.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

---

investment . . .

What investment strategy does God recommend? I Timothy 6:17-19, NIV.
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Christs teachings don't advise investements that are safe or investments of limited liability. His teachings always encourage stepping out in faith but always coulpled with wisdom. In fact there is no safe investment.

Contentment is not related to amount of money or possessions. Philippians 4:12-13, TLB.
"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power."

A valuable reminder for property owners.
Leviticus 25:23, TLB
"And remember, the land is Mine, so you may not sell it permanently. You are merely My tenants and sharecroppers!"

If we put God first, He will take care of all our needs. Matthew 6:33, NIV.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

dreams do come true ... (i think)

well ... i guess nagkatotoo yung weird dream ko



i have two new wholesalers na magbabazaar dun sa subdivision na napanaginipan ko

Last Night's Weird Dream

last night i had the weirdest dream...

sky dive ako ... then bunjee jump (soooo not me ... ewan ko ba bakit ko to napanaginipan)

Skydiving

To dream that you are skydiving, represents your high ideals. Sometimes you may need to compromise these ideals and be more realistic of your expectations.

Bunjee Jumping

To dream that you are bunjee jumping, represents your ability to bounce back from adversities and setbacks in your life. The important thing is you took the initial risk.


tapos napunta ako sa isang house sa laspinas na may nagco-consult na businesswoman about organizing a fair or bazaar dun sa malawak nyang lupain. when i looked up, nakita ko may lagoon na puno ng wild animals pero tamed na sila ... naliligo ... predominant animals are the crocodile and the elephant

Crocodile

To see a crocodile in your dream, forewarns of hidden danger. Someone near you is giving you bad advice and is trying to sway you into poor decisions. The crocodile may be an aspect of yourself and your aggressive and "snappy" attitude. Or maybe it reveals that you have displayed some false emotions and shedding "crocodile tears".

To dream that you are chased or bitten by a crocodile, denotes disappointments in love and in business.

Elephant

To see an elephant in your dream, suggests that you either need to be more patient and understanding of others. The elephant is also a symbol of power, strength, and intellect. Alternatively, as a creature with an introverted nature, the elephant may thus be depicting your own personality.

To dream that you are riding an elephant, indicates that you are in control of your unconscious and aspects that you once were afraid of.

tapos i encouraged the businesswoman dun sa bazaar na gusto nyang gawin and then i volunteered na mag-invite ng mga contacts ko dun sa bazaar nya sa december... tapos i looked and smiled at my mom and then a beautiful yellow butterfly kissed me on my left cheek

Mother

To see your mother in your dream, represents the nurturing aspect of your own character. Mothers offer shelter, comfort, life, guidance and protection. Some people may have problems freeing themselves from their mothers and are thus seeking their own individuality and development.

Butterfly

To see a butterfly in your dream, denotes your need to settle down. Butterflies also signifies creativity, romance, joy and spirituality. You may be undergoing a transformation into a new way of thinking.

To see a beautiful colorful butterfly in your dream, denotes the positive impression you will make at a future social gathering.

Yellow

The color yellow has both positive and negative connotations. If the dream is a pleasant one, then the color yellow is symbolic of intellect, energy, agility, happiness, harmony, and wisdom. On the other hand, if the dream is an unpleasant one, then the color represents cowardice and sickness. You may have a fear or an inability to make a decision or take action. As a result, you are experiencing many setbacks.

One Way

My Lanz & Lexi are Gifted??

If Only Both of Us Would Follow

Question: "What are the roles of the husband and wife in a family?"

Answer: Although male and female are equal in relationship to Christ, the Scriptures give specific roles to each in marriage. The husband is to assume headship/leadership in the home (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23). This headship should not be dictatorial, condescending, or patronizing of the wife, but should be in accordance with the example of Christ leading the Church. “You husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). Christ loved the Church (His people) with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, respect, and selflessness; in this same way husbands are to love their wives.

Wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands. “You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24). Being submissive is not only the responsibility of women who have Christian husbands. We should never submit to our husbands if it requires disobeying God; the relationship we have with Him is the most important (Deuteronomy 6:5). But preaching, nagging, whining, and refusing to serve will only turn an unbelieving husband away from God more. Instead, showing her husband the love of Christ through godly behavior, serving him and loving him, will give him an excellent example of how Christ served and loved the church. If a Christian woman has an unbeliever for a husband, she must not leave him if he wants to stay with her. And if a Christian husband has an unbeliever for a wife, he must not leave her if she wants to stay with him. But if the unbelieving spouse wants to leave, it is okay to let them go (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

Although women should submit to their husbands, the Bible also tells men several times how they are supposed to treat their wives. The husband is not to take on the role of the dictator, but show respect for his wife and her opinions as well. “In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it...” (Ephesians 5:28-29). “So I say again, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). “You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly” (Colossians 3:18-19). “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard” (1 Peter 3:7). From these verses, we see that love and respect characterize the roles of both husbands and wives. If these are present, authority, headship, love and submission will be no problem for either partner.

In regard to the division of responsibilities in the home, the Bible instructs husbands to provide for their families. This means he works and makes enough money to sufficiently provide all the necessities of life for his wife and children. To fail to do so has definite spiritual consequences. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel” (1Timothy 5:8). An infidel is one who is an unbeliever. So a man who makes no effort to provide for his family cannot rightly call himself a Christian. This does not mean that the wife cannot assist in supporting the family—Proverbs 31 demonstrates that a godly wife may surely do so—but providing for the family is not primarily her responsibility—it is her husband’s. While a husband should help with the children and with household chores (thereby fulfilling his duty to love his wife), Proverbs 31 also makes it clear that the home is to be the woman’s primary area of influence and responsibility. Notice that her real estate ventures do not preclude her preparing food and making clothing for her household (vv. 13-24). Even if she must stay up late and rise up early, her family is well cared for. This is not an easy lifestyle for many women—especially in affluent Western nations—and too many women are stressed out and stretched to the breaking point by trying to wear too many hats. When this occurs, both husband and wife should prayerfully reorder their priorities and follow the Bible’s instructions on their roles.

Conflicts regarding the division of labor in a marriage are bound to occur, but if both partners are submitted to Christ, these conflicts will be minimal. If a couple finds arguments over this issue are frequent and rancorous, or they seem to characterize the marriage, the problem is a spiritual one, and the partners should recommit themselves to prayer and submission to Christ first, then to one another in an attitude of love and respect.

Lanz Said

One happy night, after the four us finished saying our prayers, I began feeling my "double chin" and my cheeky face. I groaned and said "Dad, ang taba taba ko na talaga." Upon hearing this, my Lanz sat in front of me, seriously looked me in the eyes and said:

"Mom, you're the MOST beautiful girl in the whole wide world. No one comes close."

*hugs me*

aaaawwwww! sobrang kilig ko! =)

The Highways of My Life

AINJ! Thank you Thank you

This is what my friend angel gave me for my birthday. Panalo!

Maila, According To The Stars:

She is protective. She soothes and consoles, understands and nurtures. Whatever lies within her domain is kindly and generously protected, with a fierce tenacity...children, home, friends, allies and possessions. A mothering force; a sensitive soul whose protective nature extends to her own carefully guarded feelings. She needs to feel strong, because she is responsible for so much and so many. Any assault on her personal strength, character or integrity is considered a serious threat, and she may hide, or turn and fight with bitter words.

She has a very deep intuition into the feelings and motives of others. She detects hostility that is not readily apparent to others, or that is intentionally hidden. She knows very well what lies beneath the surface.

She is sometimes called touchy and sensitive but there is much behind this sensitivity. She is an imaginative, creative, flowing and maternal person. She enjoys all things related with caring for others - cooking, tending to young ones, decorating, teaching, healing. She can be downcast and crabby or a silly lunatic, but most importantly, she can always be counted on to love unconditionally and to care for her loved ones with all her heart.

Maila, According To Me:

My security blanket. My crying shoulder. My shock absorber. My sounding board.

We can talk for hours and never run out of things to say. We can talk about the mundane or the life-changing. We can talk and just laugh, or vice versa. And all this is possible over the phone, by text, online or face to face.

In college, she would come to class just with a teeny-weeny shoulder bag. Sometimes she even came to class armed with just a pen and paper. We had Sociology (under Mr. Trillana) together and she would often exchange witty banters with him while I was reduced to a giddy, nervous wreck. She wasn't bookish but she got good grades because she was naturally smart. That or she had extremely great convincing powers.

She pursued the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour while I media institutions and media effects. Due to course workload and different class schedules, I wasn't able to hang out with her as often as I did with the rest of the girls. But still we remained fierce friends.

I remember this one time we went with her to one of her infamous meet-ups (aka eyeball). It was in a bar in Malate. I can't remember now what the guy looked like. All I knew back then was that he was too old for her. And probably waaay too experienced. Little did I know that she was slowly on her way to becoming a sex guru. Haha.

She worked as a spunky, hot medical representative who left a trail of lusty young and not-so-young boys' tongues wagging. She has this certain magnetism and certainly knows how to work it. But to keep the record straight, she never strayed. She might have been tempted, yes, but she never did. Talk about major exercise of self-control. Wink wink.

Her wedding was one of the rare events I attended following the years after our college graduation. It was simple, solemn, with a few humorous breaks in between, courtesy of the priest. I knew then that she would be a great wife and a great mom. I mean, she was barely ruffled when she got the news she was pregnant, so, naturally, married life for her would be a breeze.

I remember paying her a visit after she gave birth to Lanz, another one of those rare moments when I actually showed up for something. They were still in Las Pinas then. I knew she was touched when I did because she knew what a lazy ass I was. Too bad I missed Lanz's baptism, his first birthday party etc. Working in the night shift certainly had its disadvantages.

And then our friendship underwent its occasional yo-yo phase again: in touch, out of touch. This went on for a while until we found out we both lived in Manila and that we were practically neighbours. Even then, she was not really a big fan of texting. She never bothered letting you know that she had a new mobile number because she believed that was why you're friends in the first place, to know even without being told.

I'm a big fan of her cooking. I love everything she prepares whenever I visit. She is a whiz in the kitchen! She's my personal version of Ina Garten, "Barefoot Contessa", but a much, much prettier and a much, much sexier version!

When not busy whipping up something delicious, she's in her other mode: her enterprising mode. She has the thickest wallet among us because of her business savvy and her great interpersonal skills. This woman can sell ice cream to an eskimo.

When she's on mommy mode, she's even better. She has produced such charming little kids who I am just so in love with. I usually go to their house to play with them, not for Maila or for anything else. Kidding! She is a wonderful mommy to Lanz and Lexi and you can just tell how much they adore her. I don't tell her this but I secretly wish I can do a good job at mothering as she has. Stern but loving, firm but gentle.

She is temperamental at times. She can give a whole new meaning to the phrase "blowing your top". But yes, all with good reason. She honestly is the truest, sweetest, most genuine, most thoughtful, most giving person I know and she really is happy when the people she loves are happy, too. She will go out of her way to make you feel special and loved.

Happy, happy birthday, Pot! I love you!

Depression as the ULTIMATE Joy Stealer

What the Bible says ...

About Depression

Depression can be relieved by patiently meditating on God's Word and expecting Him to act. "Yet I am standing here depressed and gloomy, but I

will meditate upon Your kindness to this lovely land where the Jordan River flows and where Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar stand." Psalm 42:6, TLB. Prayer is a key to handling depression. "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord." I Samuel 1:10, NIV. It is useful to count your blessings. "Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for His loving kindness, and for all of His wonderful deeds! For He satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good." Psalm 107:8-9, TLB. Praise can chase away depression. "I will praise the Lord no matter what happens, I will constantly speak of His glories and grace. I will boast of all His kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together, and exalt His name." Psalm 34:1-3, TLB. Christian music can help dispel depression. "Let all the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise Him. Play joyous melodies of praise upon the lyre and on the harp. Compose new songs of praise to Him, accompanied skilfully on the harp; sing joyfully." Psalm 33:1-3, TLB. Feeling depressed and discouraged doesn't last forever. "Weeping may go on all night, but in the morning there is joy." Psalm 30:5, TLB. Keeping God's law can help bring peace to one who is depressed. "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalms 119:165, NIV.5

Meaning of Depressed

1: lower than previously; "the market is depressed"; "prices are down" 2: flattened downward as if pressed from above or flattened along the dorsal and ventral surfaces 3: low in spirits; "lonely and blue in a strange city"; "depressed by the loss of his job"; "a dispirited and resigned expression on her face"; "downcast after his defeat"; "feeling discouraged and downhearted" 4: having the central portion lower than the margin; "a depressed pustule"4

I AM SOOOO LOVED!

happy birthday to me! i just can't stop smiling ... i feel warm, warm joy in my heart. actually, i literally feel that my heart can burst any moment now. sobrang touched ako with the out-pour of L-O-V-E as in love talaga of the people who sincerely treasure me. had a number of "surprise" well-wishers at home, at my mom's home, via ym, email, friendster, landfone, snailmail (would you believe?), and meron pang singing bee. sobrang happy! sobrang thankful! i feel loved talaga.

and my dear lloyd, he really made me feel like his queen the whole day ... he was so submissive hehehe lahat ng whims and caprices ko nakuha ko ... saya! hehehe

tapos my kids made cards for me ... tuwang tuwa ako ... they painted it and scribbled, "I Love you Mom" ... tapos they also pumped balloons for me ... saya saya ko ... sobrang nag-effort sila im so soo proud of my kids

to top everything, God blessed my through the message that Pastor Joby Soriano gave at the worship service ... its the part two of his "JOY" message. my thinking just kinda detoured because of his message ... wrong thinking can steal my joy ... usual joy stealer for men is the issue of being a good provider, the pressure that goes with it ... for women, IT IS FEELING UNLOVED OR UNAPPRECIATED ... so there, right smack at the cherry, after hearing this lloyd placed his arms around me and then after mga 5 minutes he whispered "I love you", and then he can't keep his hands off me na ... =)

i am so blessed ... i am so loved ... i have so much ... in fact, i have everything ...

Lexi Doesn't Like Her Name

Lexi: (whispering to mama dedet ala sixth sense tone) "I don't like my name"


Mama Dedet: (whispering din) "Why? What do you want your name to be?"


Lexi: Ahm .... hmmmm .... (speaking slowly) "I want my name to be ....

DOUGHNUT!"

Really?

Your Life is 71% Perfect

Your life is pretty darn perfect. You don't have much to complain about. Of course, your life is occasionally less than perfect. But you're usually too happy to notice.

How Perfect is Your Life?

How Happy Am I, Really?

You Are Pretty Happy

You generally have a happy, fulfilling life. But things could be a little better, and deep down, you know it. Maybe you need more supportive friends or a more challenging career. Something is preventing you from being totally happy. You just need to figure out what it is!

How Happy Are You, Really?

hhaaayyyyy! ive figured it out a loooooooooong loooooooooong time ago

Relax lang

Worry-free Life

Life is good and hard.

This is how we should live ... worry-free.

GOD ANSWERED MY KIDS' PRAYERS!

I am soooooooooooooo ashamed! I did not take my kids' prayers seriously. I belittled Lanz's and Lexi's PURE FAITH. I certainly DID NOT think that my kids and GOD are so into each other. Now I am SORRY for having doubted, for being PROUD and ALL-KNOWING.

Everynight, as a family, we form a circle, do indian sit on our big bed, hold hands , and pray. Lanz always prays for a LONDON birthday with his cousin Ivan and Lexi always prays for a trip to AUSTRALIA so she can play with baby Julia and visit tita Lourm. Lloyd and I, after hearing those petitions, would usually give each other the i-wish-we could-do something-about- that look, smile and just proceed with our prayers.

After praying, I would ask lanz and lexi what their plan B is in case we really could not come up with vacation money. It is quite telling them directly that their prayers are really not doable.

But God proved that He hears and He listens ... and He is On top of everything. Just trust Him WHOLLY.

A couple of days ago, God answered my kids prayers. He gave us this great, great "gift" that brought us two-steps away from our London vacation and 99% away from our Australia trip. As in! Its sooo unbelievable! Lloyd and I, we were just so happy. We were practically in tears. We had goosebumps all the time we were talking about it. As i reckon all that has happened, i ended up with a crooked forehead and my lips quite open ( nag-iisip,natutulala, nagwo-wonder, at napapanganga). Wow! As in Wow! Its just AMAZING. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL. HE IS IT!

God answered our kids' prayers. Once again, He made himself felt. I feel, this is what PURE FAITH does. My kids, in all their innocence, trusted and believed in God 100%.

I feel convicted, having faith with our resources and human capability. What little faith I had (now I have more).

Lexi is the Sweetest

My Lexi has grown so fast. And she has turned into this sweet, sweet, darling that one couldn't help but kiss her and give her really tight hugs. Anyways, everyday she unconsciously lights up my day with her sweet one-liners.

Lexi says:

"Mom, thank you for helping me."
whenever we do something like color or answer worksheets

"Mom, im so happy!"
whenever we shop or play or do activities

"Mom, am I your princess?" (with a smiling face)
when i bought her this cute little princess hair accessory

"Mom, I love you!" (with an ipit voice)
she says this all the time

"Mom, Im a good girl"
when she did well in school and then she'd show me her stars and stamps on her hands


And many many more words of gratitude from her.
Isn't she the sweetest three year old girl in the planet??

But the best one-liner that really electrocutes me is

"Mom, be a good parent okay?"

Uhmmm ...

*buti na lang i feel that i have been a good mom to my kids, well at least for my standards, i think yes, i really have been good ... but imagine if hadn't ... sobrang aray tong statement na to ni lexi ... hehehe

Lanz's Lemonade

Me: Lanz, you're turning seven next year, where do you want to celebrate your birthday?

Lanz: (grinning)LONDON! I want to celebrate my birthday in London, with kuya Ivan.

Me: Naku anak its so expensive to go there ... its gonna cost us around 350 thousand pesos.

Lanz: (with a crooked line on his forehead) mom, can i borrow your calculator? (seryosong nagpindot-pindot) I know! I'm going to sell LEMONADE! and its going to take me 1 year and 1 week to get the money that we need! Hahaha ...(and he jumped, and skipped, and danced, and whirled around with much excitement and happiness)

Me: Wow! So that's plan A ... we need to come up with plan B just in case we cant have that kind of money

without any hesitations or whatsoever he blurted ...

Lanz: Im gonna pray to God. (instantly, he joined his hands in prayers, closed his eyes, and quietly said his prayers) There! I prayed to God to give us the money. And mom, i guess dad should go to the bank more often ... you know, and get more money. *wide eyes*big grin*

Brilliant! just brilliant ... kakatuwa anak ko!

What Kind of PJ's Girl Am I

The PJ's You Are Most Like: Comfortable PJ's

You're a bit conservative, traditional, and tend to follow conventions You have an understated, easy sexiness that men love People instantly find comfort in you, and you're a "best friend" to many.

What Kind of PJ's Girl Are You?

What Color Car Should I Drive?

Galing! Sakto! You Should Drive a Silver Car

You're the type of driver who doesn't really pay attention to other cars on the road. You are calm, focused, and clear headed. Driving is simply a task for you. And you aren't one to be too fussy about what you drive. Basing your status on a car is a little beneath you.

What Color Car Should You Drive?

Inside the Room of MY Soul

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You see yourself with pretty objective eyes. How you view yourself is almost exactly how other people view you. Your near future is calm, relaxing, and pretty much what you want. And it's something you've been anticipating for a while now. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Hello Blogger!

Grabe it has been a loooooong time since my last entry. Dami pinagkabusy-han. Summer. Vacation. Pati sa blog ... time off. I miss blogging. Super! Now that im writing this, lalo ko na-feel na namiss ko to!

Anyways, been reading my previous posts, dami ko mali! hehehe, still won't edit ... im an artist, there is art within my mistakes, hahaha.

Can't wait for summer to be over. Basta!

How Powerful Am I

Your Power Level is: 79%

You're a very powerful person, and you know that all of your power comes from within. Keep on doing what you're doing, and you'll reach your goals.

How Powerful Are You?

Lanz Recognition 2008

Once more my little Lanz has again proven himself in the academe. He was given the certificate of academic excellence for still being a "Top Student" in class. He was also given a special award, the "Most Friendly Pupil" award as he was able to garner the most popularity vote in class (bata pa, politikero na anak ko hehehe).

Receiving a certificate in Lasalle Greenhills was really tough. I say this because of the following reasons:

* All of the kids there are equipped with the best pre-school education. I think its safe to assume na all of them came from top-notch schools, as in mga IS pa yung iba. And these kids, surely, always gets the best of everything. Kaya healthy competition wise, very tough ang labanan.

* Despite that Lanz's report card grade in math is 100, he still did not receive the medal for academic excellence in math.

* Kids who were in the honor's list in the 1st and 2nd trimester failed to be in the honor's list in the third trim. As in sa ibang class if dati meron silang top 10, 4 lang ang natira. In Lanz's class, 5 sila dati, 4 lang sila naka-abot sa honor's list. Hirap diba. Wawa din mga kids who failed to make it.

* The ONLY kid who got the academic excellence perfected all of his exams from 1st trim to 3rd trim ... grabe no!

Because of these reasons, mangiyak-ngiyak kami ni lloyd at ni mama while watching our Lanz sit among the top students of his batch. Arctually, may goosebumps effect pa nga sa akin eh. Biruin mo, out of almost 150 students, anak ko is among the top twenty?

We are so, so proud of you Lanz. You are priceless.


*My kids teachers have been telling lloyd and I na maganda daw ang lahi namin, hehehe. Beauty and brains daw ang kaya naming gawin. Magparami pa daw kami ... nyaaaayyy!

Lexi's First Day in School

April 8, 2008 marked my little lexi's very first day in school and boy! super excited she was! Knowing that she'll be a schoolgirl, lexi woke up really early and started preparing her stuff and herself for school. And guess what her bags, with an "s", contains ... her celphone in glittery celphone case, colorful hairclips, lots of glitter pens, water in her barbie jug, loakers for recess , and most importantly ... eye make-up! Ready she is!

We got to school a bit early, since lexi was overly excited, she couldn't sit, stand, or stay in one place. Itchy her feet were, she tiptoed her way to the faculty room, no hesitations or whatsoever. I heard the teachers chorused "Lexi!" and my little girl giggled so loud. After a few moments, Lexi and Teacher Sharon began marching their way up to their classroom. My little girl was all smiles ... her actions could not contain her happiness because she wiggled and giggled through her flight up.

Since it is the first day of classes, parents and yayas were allowed to stay and observe while the class transpired. Lexi was very confident. She did not cry like two of her classmates did the entire class period. In fact she was the "leader" type. She answered all the questions of the teachers correctly. She obviously had fun during play time. She enjoyed socializing with the kids and her teachers and the yayas. Undeniably, she is very, very, more than ready for school.

Their first activity was playing with balls. Balls were placed inside a huge net and the kids just have to shoot the balls in a plastic container. Lexi had fun with this. She giggled all through out the activity. She only gets the balls with gurly-gurl colors pink, orange, and yellow. She even yelled at one of her classmates when the little boy grabbed the pink ball (hehehe first day pa lang yan at first activity pa lang yan).

After the balls activity, teacher Sharon started singing the "B" song. And then she brought out her bubble machine. The kids yelled and cheered as they started popping the bubbles. Lexi played coy as she didn't frolicked like the other kids. She just stood on her place and observed the other kids go crazy chasing the bubbles while bumping on other kids. Lexi stayed calm yet she was smiling. She just didnt want to mess around with her bigger, male classmates. I know she enjoyed this activity though, she happily popped the bubbles that came her way.



Their next activity was introducing themselves in front of the class. Lexi was called first. She really made me proud because she was soooooo confident. With one call, she stood up and went in front beside her teacher. She was asked her name and if she were a boy or a girl. Of course my lexi answered these correctly, no sweat! hahaha





When all the kids were done, they were asked to make their name tags. The kids had to put decorations all over their name tags. Lexi slightly did not like this activity because of the glue. She was just half-way done when she volunteered to wash her hands already. The yaya who was helping her told her that she had to finish her work while unconsciously finishing the job for lexi hehehe.




Recess was on. Lexi drank a lot of water, probably got throat-dried with all the activities. She also shared her baon to one of her classmates who didn't have any food to eat. Her eyes wandered as she ate, examining the entire room, the decorations, the toys, her classmates. Her head turning left and right. I felt that she was still in a surreal state, still could not believe that she really is in school, something that she has always longed for (my baby, this is really it for you... school girl you are now =D ).


After recess, they did circle time comprised with singing and dancing. Lexi volunteered to erase the whiteboard together with some of her classmates. After which they were tasked to dress-up their puppets. They were each given a boy or girl piece of paper that they had to glue the clothes and shoes on. They also had to tape a popsicle stick on the back to make it a puppet. Lexi enjoyed the gluing of the clothes and the shoes and the flower decorations now. She did not look at her fingers anymore as she did her work. After her puppet had the popsicle stick on, she proudly waved her masterpiece, even making sounds as though the puppet was talking (she's so cute!).


Heading towards the end of the period, teacher sharon once again played childrens songs where the kids danced and sang again. Lexi particularly enjoyed the Bow Belinda song, she was the only one who withstood the non-stop bowing!


As ending to every class period, the kids hugged their teachers as their way of saying thank you and goodbye. Lexi hesitated for a while because the kid who stood before her hadn't taken his seat yet. Realizing that the little boy doesn't have any plans of leaving the teacher's side, she took her turn but gave a "what are you doing? stare" at her classmate (hehehe).


Hay naku, my lexi miel is baby no more! Its gonna be soon that she wouldn't need me any longer. She's matured so fast! She's shown independence, adaptability, and enthusiasm in her class. She's indeed very, very ready for the world.