Pinay Mom Adventures

Halina't kumanta at sumayaw!

2020-06-01T08:00:00.000+08:00

Sa Yahweh by Gary Valenciano [Live from ARISE 3.0 2014]

Naalala ko bigla ang kantang Sa Yahweh ni Gary Valenciano. Itinugtog ko ito
at pinakinggan namin ng mga bata. Natuwa naman sila. Sino nga ba ang hindi
mapapasayaw sa galaw ni "Mr. Pure Energy"?

Ngayong Hunyo, adhika kong linangin namin ang aming kakayahang magsalita
ng Filipino. Ngunit gusto kong ibahin ang pamamaraan ng aming pag-aral nito.

Ayoko nang ituro ang Filipino bilang isang asignatura lamang. Hindi
binibigyang hustisya ang karangyaan ng Kulturang Filipino.

Nais kong gumamit ng mas organikong pamamaraan. Tiyak na kinakailangan
pa naming dagdagan ang aming pakikinig, pagsasalita, pagbabasa
at pagsusulat ng Filipino. Pero susubukan naming gawin itong lahat
sa isang mas masaya at mas makabuluhang pamamaraan.

Kayo, anong kantang OPM ang nagpapangiti sa inyo? Ipamahagi niyo ito
sa inyong mga anak! Halina't kumanta at sumayaw!

Christmas Activities for Moms 2018

2018-11-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

Here's a little something for the Moms (and Dads!).

Christmas Coloring Pages

Whimsical Coloring Pages

Inspirational Coloring Pages

Grateful and Blessed and Cup of Tea
by Dawn Nicole

Joy Coloring Page by Thirty Handmade Days

Quick and Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas via Stonegable

Lest we forget, Aunt Leila's wise advice on the true spirit of Advent
and Christmas.

Are you feeling the holiday rush? Taking Time for You by Julie Bogart
has awesome suggestions on loosening up! Yes you can, even if all you
have is 30 seconds, better yet if more. Did I mention that I needed this!!!

Last but not least, this awesome reminder on how to make Advent
and Christmas right.

Christmas Activities for Children 2018

2018-11-09T08:00:00.000+08:00

If your kids love I Spy, they'll get a kick out of this Find and
Colour Christmas by Picklebums

There's loads of Christmas Colouring Fun here and here.

Create a Baby Jesus Ornament.

Or maybe DIY a Nativity Set like this or this.

Try out this Wise Men Adventure activity and bid good bye to
that mischievous little elf.

Christmas Plans 2018

2018-11-03T08:00:00.000+08:00

I'm really looking forward to Christmas 2018. Christmas 2017 was a season
of transition for the family. We did a big move during the holidays. We also
had a baaaadddddd case of the tummy bug. Things just went by in a blur.
This year, I hope to slow down and enjoy Advent and Christmas Time with
my not-so-littles.

Im hosting a Christmas Read Aloud session or two for our Homeschool Coop.
Im posting some of my resources here.

A glimpse of Christmas in our home...

TRADITIONS

Sacraments
Mass and Confession

Our Crib and Christmas Tree

Countdown to Christmas
In previous years I borrowed Christmas books from the local library.
It was a great joy for the children and I to spend a few minutes each day
reading new and old Christmas stories. This year, we no longer have access
to that library. Nevertheless, I managed to buy us some Christmas books.
And so, the Christmas Read Aloud Tradition continues...

SCRIPTURE + POETRY

Luke 2:1-14
Each year, we pull out this passage on The Birth of Jesus Christ.
It is the one passage we've consistently read these past few years.
May these words and their essence remain etched in our hearts.

A few other poems worth reading during Advent and Christmas Time:

In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak mid-winter...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
The Shepherds had an angel...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
by GK Chesterton

The Animals' Carol
by Charles Causley

A Visit from St. Nicholas (and the poems inspired by it)
by Clement Clarke Moore

BITS AND PIECES

Random thoughts for Moms by the lovely Elizabeth Foss.
A great reminder to have some Margin and Rest for Advent from
Kortney Garrison

RESOURCES

Good books are hard to come by where we're at. These are free
Christmas eBooks available online.

Ambleside Online's Christmas Poems and Stories
The Baldwin Project's Christmas Stories
The Project Gutenberg Christmas Bookshelf

Unit Study: Japan

2018-06-12T08:19:00.001+08:00

Im planning to do a Unit Study: Japan. Here are a few things I'd like to cover...
Let's see how things go...

Top of Mind:
I. General facts about Japan:
- flag, continent, capital, population, currency, geography, seasons, clothing, government leader, etc
II. Historical facts
III. Important people, events and places
- Artist: Yayoi Kusama
III. Stories and Folk Tales
IV. Japanese Words and Phrases
V. Create something Japanese
- Sudoku
- Origami
- Color a Kimono
- Sushi Making Day
- Draw Japanese Cartoons (Kodomomuke)
VI. Immersion Trip
- Write about My favourite day, thing, place, memory, _______

Some useful links:

Kids Web Japan
Japan Printables
Geography Study
Smashbooks

Love

2017-05-17T12:31:00.001+08:00

Love love love. Where to begin?

Love can be warm and cozy. Hugs and kisses for a happy moment.

A long hug on a disappointing day. Coffee and conversations while

on a long drive. Lounging and laughter on a relaxed weekend.

Love can be cold and harsh. Going to work when you prefer to stay

at home. Doing mundane chores when you’d much rather relax.

Waking up at odd hours to comfort a crying baby. Raising a child.

Staying strong for the sick and dying. Foregoing luxury now in favour

of the future. Saying no when things aren’t right. Agreeing to disagree

when you can’t compromise. Asking for forgiveness when you are

in the wrong. Letting go when you’re itching to hold back.

Love can be fire and passion. Embracing change despite the fears.

Moving forward because it’s for the best. Baking a beautiful cake

for a special occasion. Cooking a favourite dish to celebrate a

success. Sex with the one you’re married to for life. Raising a child.

Encouraging someone to pursue their dreams.

We do ourselves a disservice when we expect a song, a book or

a movie to portray an accurate depiction of love. How can something

so immense and glorious be expressed in such short a time? Expect

to see a mere moment of love. Nothing more. Real life and real love

is an intricate tapestry of emotions and experiences. It is different things

at different times. Love is something nurtured and cultivated for
a lifetime. If you must, look to those who live a life of love. Learn from
their stories of failure and success. Avoid the pitfalls and trappings.

Do what needs doing constantly and consistently. Pray, act and believe

that you too will reap the fruits of your labour of love.

Remember remember remember. LOVE is ancient and eternal. Love

springs forth from the Almighty who is Father, Son and Spirit. God

who is Creator, Redeemer and Paraclete. The One for whom our hearts

will always be restless until it rests in Thee. You cannot give what you

do not have. And so, you and I must, could and should —

love and be loved by LOVE.

Love in a chorus? Love in a page? Love in a scene?

That’s not all there is. That’s not all it can be.

It’s more more more.

Raising Readers

2017-05-15T06:00:00.000+08:00

If I had my way, you would often find the children and I gathered
around a circle. Or sitting cozily on the sofa. Or idly lounging around.
We'd be spending hours on end reading good books. We'd be reading
away without a care in the world.

If. I. Had. My. Way.... But I don't....

I live in a world where life is just happy busy. There are toys to be
played. There are gadgets fighting for our attention. There are chores
to be done. We're simply not reading as much as I'd want for us to.

So here I am again, trying to put more consistency in our reading time.
Reading in our different ages and stages. Trying to find our rhythm.

A Cup of Tea

2017-03-21T08:00:00.000+08:00

A Cup of Tea

When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its fragrance,
There is solace in its taste;
And the laden moments vanish
Somehow into space.
The world becomes a lovely thing!
There’s beauty as you’ll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea.

- - - - -

"Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate
the innermost values of diverse cultures.

In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO recognizes the unique
ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind."

- UNESCO

Easy DIY Play Dough

2016-11-02T20:30:00.000+08:00

After going through tubs and tubs of store bought play dough, we've
finally made our own homemade play dough. The kids are ecstatic
because we now have a fresh supply of play dough as soon as our
stock runs out.

The kids just love love love making this play dough. There very few
ingredients so they just dump everything in the bowl and mix away.
Minimal to no supervision required. And because the ingredients are
your everyday pantry items, you need not worry about spending extra
to make the play dough. Just mix up all the ingredients and you're done.

There are different ways of making play dough. This version is quick
and easy to make. No cooking required! It's a small batch which means
it wont be around for very long. If you have littles, I'm sure you know
what I mean when I say that the stuff can get nasty as the kids play
with it. If you want a bigger batch, just double the recipe. Voila! The
homemade play dough is now double the fun.

Easy DIY Play Dough

* 1 cup flour

* 1/2 cup salt

* 1/2 cup water
* 1 tbsp cooking oil
* 2 tsp cream of tartar

- Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until well blended.

Store in an airtight container.

Go Grow Glow Foods

2016-06-15T09:15:00.002+08:00

M's recent homework was on healthy lunch choices.
He had cut outs of what a healthy school lunch should look like.
It was a chance for us to talk about which foods were a good idea
for morning tea and lunch.

I thought it was a good idea to continue the discussion and talk
about Go, Grow and Glow Foods. What they are and why they're
important in keeping us healthy:
Go foods provide us with energy.
Grow foods help us grow bigger and stronger.
Glow foods give our skin glow and boost our immune system.

"Treats" are meant to be out of the ordinary (def.) and are not
a major food group.

Obesity is all too common in our society today. Good health isn't
something we suddenly have. It's about consistently making good
health choices and practicing self care. This is isn't a one time talk.
It's an ongoing conversation that our family will be having for many
years to come.

Resources:
Go Grow Glow Guide (NAQ Nutrition)
Harvard Healthy Eating Plate
Food Plate Template + Food
HealthyBalanced Plate Activity

Shakespeare for Children {2016}

2016-04-25T22:00:00.001+08:00

Shakespeare!?!

If you find the thought intimidating, well you and me both. I know
of a few moms who read Shakespeare to their children because
Shakespeare is something dear to them. They are intimate with
the works and are merely passing the torch to the next generation.

I, on the other hand, have a very limited knowledge of Shakespeare.
I know of Romeo and Juliet but not much more beyond that.

Now here I am today, a mom of a 6yo, a 3.5yo and a 1.5yo, excited
to be introducing The Bard's works to my little ones.

Here are some books we'll be taking along for the journey:

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles & Mary Lamb presents
Shakespeare's works as simple stories for the children to enjoy.
The book was first published in 1807, and is said to have started
the sub genre which we now know to be Children's Shakespeare.

Once the kids are nicely settled and eating their afternoon snack,
I pull out Tales from Shakespeare and read a few pages at a time.
I usually start with a recap of what's happened then continue on
past where we ended. Nothing fancy. Just mom and the kids
reading a book and enjoying the afternoon. I'll be honest, I'll be
lucky to get in 10minutes of read aloud time. Patience. Patience.
Patience. It all builds up. When the kids get squirmy, I put down
the book and we're done for the day.

Tales from Shakespeare is available online for free. You may
find the out of copyright version here.

Shakespeare's Stories for Young Readers by E. Nesbit is another
classic Children's Shakespeare book. I posted this next so you
can compare it against the Lamb version. Either would be a good
introductory book for children.

You may find the free out of copyright version here.

I so love Teach Your Child Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig. Ludwig
introduces us to some of his favourite passages and explains what's
going on in the text. What's the story about? Why did this character
say such? What key passages should we take to heart? As a
playwright and theatre director, Ludwig's experience translated
into a book that has made the plays come to life.

Our family has been slowly trying to incorporate memory work
into our meal times. We've tried poetry and bible verses. Shakespeare
is getting thrown into the mix as well. Teach Your Child Shakespeare
has great tips on how to go about memorizing Shakespeare. This book
is worth looking into if you want to take this route.

Books you may want to consider, depending on the age and
interest of your child:

I know some moms who're fans of the Shakespeare's retellings by
Bruce Coville. The pictures are beautifully drawn and the stories
are well written. The books remind me of the illustrated classics
that I read when I was a child.

Im sure young children will have fun with The Shakespeare Can Be
Fun! books. The approach of this series is more modern than the
other books mentioned. I'm sure my children will easily relate to
the illustrations in the book. Im tempted to go with this series next.

Mr. William Shakespeare's Plays by Marcia Williams is another
popular modern book that would appeal to children who like
comic books. The text is a bit small so it might appeal to those
who are already confident readers.

There you have it, a few books on Shakespeare for Children.
I hope you enjoy reading the books as much as we do in our home!

More FREE ABC Resources {2016}

2016-04-13T06:30:00.000+08:00

Here are a few more ABC Resources we'll be using this year.

Raising Rocks Stars Writing Practice Sheets by 1+1+1

Alphabet Writing Sheets by Wild About Teaching

Alphabet Writing Sheets by Confessions of a Homeschooler

ABC Find It by 1+1+1

Beginning Sounds Coloring Sheets by Measured Mom

FREE ABC Resources {2016}

2016-03-30T05:00:00.000+08:00

This 2016 is going to be an exciting school year for us.

2015 was about laying a good foundation for Pea. Baby R was still a baby
and tagging along.

Our focus was on learning the alphabet, counting from 1-20, learning
basic colors and shapes. We mostly read books. But we did use some
printables from Kindergaten Mom.

Link for FREE Kindergarten Mom ABC Printables

We spent lots of time playing with play dough, legos and toys. We drew a lot
and learned how to use our scissors.

We went outside and played in the garden for every day play.

We continued to go to the playgroup. And went to playgrounds.

We watched learning videos when it was time for Mom to do the cooking.

It was a happy busy year.

This year, we're eager to try out some new resources.

We're drawing inspiration from activities of The Measured Mom.
And starting out with these FREE ABC Resources from This Reading Mama:

Link for FREE Alphabet Worksheets

Link for FREE ABC Printable Packs

Pea is now 3yo. R is already 1.5yo. How time flies.
And so it is that we press onwards until we're reading, writing
and doing maths.

p.s.
Some of the things we've been doing in the past can be found here.

2016 Calendars

2016-01-28T06:00:00.000+08:00

Calendar by scrappystinkyinkymess

2016 is off to a slooooow start.
We had recently gone on an extended holiday and had just gotten back.
The kids' body clocks are still trying to get back to normal.
I'm just playing catch up.

So yeah, I forgot to buy a desk flip calendar. You read that right, Desk Flip.
Apparently, searching for something Desk Top will just lead you
to computer desktop images. Many thanks to MaryAnne and Kristen
for our 2016 calendar.

If you're still here, thank you :)

p.s. Check out scrappystinkyinkymess if you're into book folding.
Wow! So that's how it's done!

Sensory Bin: Red

2015-03-23T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sensory Bin: Red

Me:
Look P,
- a red helicopter,
- a red A
- a red wrench and a red bolt
- a red cog
- red "Legos"
So P, what color is this?

P enthusiastically replies (with the brightest eyes and the widest smiles):
Pink!

Well, she is in a season of Pink after all!

What's wrong with me?

This is why I never really made sensory bins. M didn't like them.

I'm guessing P is not interested in them either.

Why?

- because all red is probably not much fun

- because she was in the mood for "developing her gross motor skills"

(Baby R and I had to go to the bedroom. Tot P tagged along and had a

grand time making a pillow mountain and jumping around)

- because she'd rather play with something else period. Yes, kids are

like that.

Maybe this is what she sees?

I'll give it a few more tries before I decide if sensory bins are a go or no go.
There are other fun ways for P to learn. We can always use other methods
to achieve the same desired learning outcome. None of them will involve a
written exam.

p.s. My apologies for the off shots. We're still in between cameras. Just
making do with what's here.

How to Start Your Pre-K / Kindergarten Home Program

2015-03-13T20:00:00.000+08:00

This post is here because I wanted to re-plan for P who's now 2 y.o.
I also have a few friends who're considering homeschooling their kids
who're in the Pre-K / Kindergarten years.

M has gone of to Year 1 at a regular school. He's adjusted quite well.
Of course there are still areas for improvement. But nothing out of
the ordinary for a 5y.o.

Let me start by saying you don't really need to do much. Maintain
a child-friendly home and your child will have plenty of opportunity
to learn and explore at his/her own pace.

Pam has a great post on this.

10 Things we focused on:
1) Love, being and doing good, and living our Catholic faith.
2) Learning good health habits.
3) Learning self care.
4) Reading books.
5) Doing practical math.
6) Learning other age-appropriate skills.
7) Watching educational videos.
8) Using assorted materials for learning: colouring books, paper,
print outs, blocks, puzzles, crayons, etc
9) Exploring personal interests.
10) Play play play.

It really was quite random and ordinary. In a way, I envy those who
have pinterest-worthy pictures. M didn't stay interested in something
long enough so we never had one particular curriculum / activity /
etc. Not enough for me to say that we had a theme. We really just
went along doing our thing - learning and growing as best as we could.

Game changers:
1) Keeping things consistent.
- We blocked off time in the morning just for homeschooling. We made
sure to do 30 minutes of reading plus a learning activity or two.
2) Planning.
- We referred to book lists, maintained a decent monthly "book basket",
always had interesting activities available, ensured that supplies were
adequate, reviewed what worked or not, etc.
- We did basic math in the beginning. We used Early Bird Kindergarten
Math books (Singapore Math) when M turned 4y.o.
3) Choosing a less tech lifestyle.
- We invested in toys so the kids had something to play with. Rotating
the toys was necessary because kids easily tire of a toy. Sharing toys
was always a requirement.
- We kept the t.v. off until it was late afternoon. No hours and hours
of mindless t.v. The kids had no choice but to do something.
4) Playgroup / Outdoor play.
- The children and I would go to playgroup twice a week, weather
permitting. It was a chance for us to go out. The playgroup had toys
and an outdoor playground so they were able to play in a different
environment.
- There are other children in the compound and all the kids just play
in the garden. Free weekends would include a trip to the playground.
5) Valuing happy memories.

Additional Resources for you:
- Mother Hubbards Cupboard
- ABC Jesus Loves Me
- DTLK Letter Crafts
- Twisty Noodle Printouts
- Catholic Letter Crafts
- Tot School

Is that all there is to it? Well yes and no. There's more that we'd like
to do. I'm sure we'll never get to doing it all. But as a whole, it's all
been good.

Click here for Book Lists. (future update)
Click here for Supplies List. (future update)

Click here for Organizing Tools. (future)

Are you a working mom? Check out How to Get Your Child Ready
for Kindergarten / Year 1 for a simplified home school program.

Photo Credit: Dennis S.

How to Get Your Child Ready for Year 1

2015-03-02T06:00:00.000+08:00

How to Get Ready for Year 1?

Recently, I've been asked this question by two different friends with
very different lives. I thought of posting my answers here in case
anyone else is wondering the same.

It serves as a good review for me too. We are starting over. P just
turned two. Tot School is back!

-----------------------

Si is a friend who works full time. Her hubby works with an early
morning shift while she works at night. This schedule allows for
at least one parent to look after the children. They have no helpers
nor family with them.

It is a busy life.

So what can a mom, with such a schedule, do to get a child ready for
Year 1?

Firstly, find out what your school expects of a child entering Year 1.
Some schools will have no expectations of the child. Other schools
have requirements for accepting students: the child already knows their
ABCs, can count 1-20, can write their name, etc.

It would be good to find out a year before your child starts school. The
earlier that you know, the more time that you have to prepare. Focus
on igniting a passion for learning. The skills will follow.

But what if the start of school is just around the corner? Or you're just
too busy managing everything that all you have is a few minutes a day
for "school work"?

My one thing would be: Read with your child.
Enjoy each other's company. Get lost in a good book together. Talk
about what's happening on the page. If time permits, create something.
These are precious years. Love love love. Focus on igniting a passion
for learning. The skills will follow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

My email to Si:

Sorry for the late email. I now reserve library books online so that
we can pick them up by next weekend. It takes around 1.5 weeks
for all books to arrive.

They say it's good to be reading 20 minutes daily with one's child.
That might be too much, you may want to start with 1-2 books
per day. To make it easy for you/your husband --- you can make
it a rule: 20-30 minute learning activity before "fun" tv :)

After a few weeks/months, your child will notice the "high
frequency words" and she can start reading those aloud. Example:
the, is, etc. She might also see phonics patterns on her own.
Example: cat, hat, mat, etc.

We started our daily reading at 2y.o. -- M started reading on his
own by 3y.o. (Other homeschoolers will tell you that it is normal
for kids to start reading at that age.) It could go faster/slower/same
with your child. Whatever the case, if you read to her daily, I'm
sure she will learn how to read. Even if she has started learning
how to read, you will still have to read to her to increase her
vocabulary. The older sibling can help by reading to her too.

Here are some books you might want to start with (all available
at the local library but most have to be ordered in advance as
they are owned by the other branches)
I. Author: Dr. Seuss / Theo LeSieg
(many good books by this author!)
- Hop on Pop
- Dr. Seuss ABC
- The Cat in the Hat
- Ten Apples Up on Top
- The Eye Book
II. Author: Eric Carle
(many good books by this author!)
- Brown Bear Brown Bear
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- From Head to Toe
- Pancakes Pancakes
III. Author: Stan Berenstain
(many good books by this author!)
- Inside Upside Outside Down
- Bears On Wheels
IV. Author: PD Eastman
- Go Dog Go
- The Best Nest
- Are You My Mother

Book Series:
(whatever's available in the library)
- I Can Read
- Step Into Reading
- etc

Youtube Videos:
(each channel has a playlist, just choose: ABCs, numbers,
time, etc)
- https://www.youtube.com/user/KidsTV123
- https://www.youtube.com/user/havefunteaching
- https://www.youtube.com/user/storybots
- alphablocks (search in youtube)
- sesame street (search in youtube)

Others:
I. ABC Puzzle
(you can buy it from the dollar store) for her to play with
II. "Magnetic writing board"
III. "ABC Workbooks" / Notebook / Pencil / Crayon
IV. Books with characters / themes
Example: Dora, Disney Characters, etc
Example: Baking, Nature, etc
V. Letter crafts
- you don't need to do/complete all:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56908/how-to-homeschool-preschool
VI. On the Montessori order of teaching the alphabet
- this style makes it easier to combine letters that can form words:
How to Teach Your Child the Alphabet
VII. Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons book
- I've never tried this book. Some people have said it is good.
Something to consider. But personally, I find it too formal.

I rotate activities because children easily get bored. Let's say today
the ABC puzzle is out. The kids will be excited to use it for 1-2 weeks.
When they tire of it, that is kept and out comes the magnetic board, etc.
This also keeps things nice and neat.

Have fun!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Need a practical list of day to day activities that moms can easily do with
their child?

This is a good read: 33 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten.

How about you, what suggestions do you have for a busy working mom
who wants to get their child ready for Year 1?

Photo Credit: Shardayy

Christmas Traditions 2014

2014-11-30T20:00:00.000+08:00

Christmas is just around the corner. Love love love it!

A few years ago I had one profound realization.

I was totally missing the whole point of Christmas!?!

It wasn't something I was consciously doing.

It was just how things were.

Christmas is a time of caring and sharing.

Christmas is about family and friends.

Christmas is a time of merry making and good cheer.

Christmas is when I take a well deserved break.

Christmas is about Santa and the gifts on the sleigh.

Christmas is about the elf on the shelf.

And the list goes on and on

Don't get me wrong. Christmas is a season of celebration.

And, enjoy it we should!

Decorate your home

Cook up a feast

Dress up for fun

Meet up with family and friends

Donate to others

But let's remember first and foremost,

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ.

The 30th of November marks the 1st week of Advent.

Advent is a period of four weeks leading up to Christmas.

It's four weeks of preparing one's heart for the coming

of the Lord.

I was hoping to have a nice and pretty Jesse Tree this year.

But let's not kid ourselves, I do not have time for extra prep work.

~~And to top it off our trusty printer seems to have conked out. Ugh!~~

I found a strip of craft paper and a broken toy part in the printer.

Hurray! Our printer still works!

Here are some simple Advent and Christmas activities for the family:

1. Scripture Reading

Sometime this year, the playgroup gave us a copy of the Jesus Storybook
Bible. The Jesus Storybook Bible reads more like a book than a bible.
Our goal is to read one chapter a day starting on the 1st of December
and ending on Christmas day.
Jesus Storybook Bible Reading Plan
Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Calendar

2. The Christmas Novena
Sarah and Elizabeth are all excited for this Christmas novena.
I wanted to do something that will require me to pause daily.
At midnight.. In piercing cold are words that truly tug at my heart.
It chokes me up to think of any of my children being born
in such cruel and harsh conditions.
Poor baby Jesus. And heartbreaking for Mother Mary and St. Joseph.
Tug tug tug!
So yeah, maybe this will be a good novena for me to pray this year.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
in which the Son of God was born
of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
* Pray 15x daily from the 30th of Nov until Christmas Day*

3. The O Antiphons
The O Antiphons are a seven day countdown to Christmas.
It celebrates seven Messianic titles of Jesus.
We pray it to remind ourselves and to invite the Lord to "Come"

4. Luke 2:1-20
Misty's home has this Advent tradition of reading Luke 2 daily.
Twice a day, the kids read Luke 2 with the intention of
memorizing the verses. In a few years, the kids will have
known the Birth of Jesus verses by heart. Sounds promising!

5. Christmas books and carols

So yeah, we've been reading Christmas themed books as
early as end October. I envy those moms who have enough
books for a proper Christmas book basket. Almost all our
Christmas books are borrowed from the library. We started
early as there is no way of knowing what will be available
in December.

Just about the same time, we started singing Christ-centered
Christmas Carols for bedtime.
M: Mama what does faithful mean?
Me: Why do you ask?
(All the while wondering why he was asking)
M: Because -- O come all ye faithful
Me: Oh, that means people who believe in God
(Whew, relieved that it did not involve anything "age appropriate")

6. Give up and Give more
Give up and Give more is an annual tradition in The Feast
that we attend. In a nutshell, sacrifice on a few simple
pleasures and donate the money to a worth cause.

At the barest level, give up some of your ME time and
pray more for/with someone who really needs it.

7. Go to Confession and Attend Mass

Attending mass is a basic thing for hubby and I. It's as basic as

eating and sleeping. It isn't something that I originally thought
of putting here. But maybe this is here for someone else???
Confession is something we try to do once a quarter.
I pray that availing of the sacraments is ingrained in the kids.
Something that is part and parcel of their lifelong relationship
with Christ. All with God's grace.

Some moms have wisely said that all you need are 1-3
Christmas traditions. Anything more is extra.

What traditions do you have in your family? What are your plans
for Christmas 2014? Til next time, stay blessed!

Novena of Surrender

2014-07-04T06:00:00.000+08:00

The original text of the Novena of Surrender was taken from:
Jesus, You take over! It is the prayer of Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo (servant
of God) - written as though Jesus Himself is speaking to the reader.

Beautiful words.

I chanced upon the Novena of Surrender by accident. Admittedly,
there have been times when I've had need of prayers like these.
Times when I've been tired, angry or frustrated. In such times
I try to say thank you to God for the challenges. They serve as good
reminders of who really is the Lord of my life. TRY is the word
because it is oh so hard to do at the heat of the moment.

By His grace, life is all calm right now. I am at the moment recharging
the batteries. Our life will be very busy soon. The Novena of Surrender
is a gentle reminder that He takes care of everything.

++++++++++++++++++++

Novena of Surrender

Day 1
Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care
of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you
in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me
produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult
situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 2
Surrender to me does not mean to fret, to be upset, or
to lose hope, nor does it mean offering to me a worried prayer
asking me to follow you and change your worry into prayer.
It is against this surrender, deeply against it, to worry,
to be nervous and to desire to think about the consequences
of anything. It is like the confusion that children feel when
they ask their mother to see to their needs, and then try
to take care of those needs for themselves so that their
childlike efforts get in their mother’s way. Surrender means
to placidly close the eyes of the soul, to turn away from thoughts
of tribulation and to put yourself in my care, so that only I act.
Saying “You take care of it.”

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 3
How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and
material need turns to me, looks at me and says to me;
“You take care of it,” then close its eyes and rests. In pain
you pray for me to act, but that I act in the way you want.
You do not turn to me, instead, you want me to adapt to your ideas.
You are not sick people who ask the doctor to cure you,
but rather sick people who tell the doctor how to.
So do not act this way, but pray as I taught you in the Our Father:
“Hallowed be thy Name”, that is, be glorified in my need.
“Thy kingdom come”, that is, let all that is in us and in the world
be in accord with your kingdom. “Thy will be done on Earth
as it is in Heaven”, that is, in our need, decide as you see fit
for our temporal and eternal life.If you say to me truly: “Thy will
be done”. Which is the same as saying: “You take care of it”.
I will intervene with all my omnipotence, and I will resolve
the most difficult situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 4
You see evil growing instead of weakening? Do not worry,
Close your eyes and say to me with faith: “Thy will be done,
You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it, and that
I will intervene as does a doctor and I will accomplish miracles
when they are needed. Do you see that the sick person is
getting worse? Do not be upset, but close your eyes and say
“You take care of it.” I say to you that I will take care of it,
and that there is no medicine more powerful than my
loving intervention. By my love, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 5
And when I must lead you on a path different from the one
you see, I will prepare you; I will carry you in my arms; I will
let you find yourself, like children who have fallen asleep
in their mother’s arms, on the other bank of the river.
What troubles you and hurts you immensely are your reason,
your thoughts and worry, and your desire at all costs to deal
with what afflicts you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 6
You are sleepless; you want to judge everything,
direct everything and see to everything and you surrender
to human strength, or worse- to men themselves, trusting in
their intervention,- this is what hinders my words and my views.
Oh how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you
and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries
to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you
from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of
human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me,
surrender to me in everything.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 7
I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me
and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves
of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person
of reason, no thinker, has ever performed miracles, not even
among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders
to God. So don’t think about it any more, because you mind
is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me
and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this
all of you and you will see great continual silent miracles.
I will take care of things, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 8
Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away on the flowing
current of my grace; close your eyes and do not think of the present,
turning your thoughts away from the future just as you would
from temptation. Repose in me, believing in my goodness, and
I promise you by my love that if you say “You take care of it.”
I will take care of it all; I will console you, liberate you and
guide you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

Day 9
Pray always in readiness to surrender, and you will receive
from it great peace and great rewards, even when I confer
on you the grace of immolation, of repentance and of love.
Then what does suffering matter? It seems impossible to you?
Close your eyes and say with all your soul, “Jesus, you take care
of it.” Do not be afraid, I will take care of things and you will
bless my name by humbling yourself. A thousand prayers
cannot equal one single act of surrender, remember this well.
There is no novena more effective than this:“O Jesus, I surrender
myself to you, take care of everything!”

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
(10 times)

++++++++++++++++++++

Original text:
Jesus, You take over!
Imprimatur
+ Vincenzo Pelvi
Auxiliary Bishop of Naples,Italy
July 25, 2006

Joining the fun at:

Image Credit:
Gordon

Bits and Pieces (June 2014)

2014-06-27T22:00:00.000+08:00

Thanking God for
Coffee and Hot Chocolate. Nowadays I need a cuppa to get me
through the cold winter mornings. And afternoons. And then some.

I sometimes miss my old career. But I know that life would be

different if I had a "proper career". Thank you Lord that we've

managed to work things out so that I can be a stay at home mom.

Pondering on

Instrumentum Laboris - The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in

the Context of Evangelization. (Click HERE)

I've challenged myself to read it in its entirety. Go go go!

Praying for
I've mostly been praying for the family. Just realized that there's
more that need my prayers.

Learning about

M and I were able to do a Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus colouring
activity. We had a short and brief "discussion" about the feast. Just
planting seeds which I hope will bear good fruit.

In our home
What to do with over ripe bananas? Bake banana bread!

Train Ride to Oslo

Memories to treasure
"Mom, can I go to Oslo?" - M at 4.5yo
It seems THIS boring inflight movie has a fan.

Reading

Eeeck, a month has passed. I have to return The Well Trained Mind to
the library. I will definitely have to borrow it again.

I've been scanning Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron. Looks like an
interesting read!

Went through a few other books this month. Meh.

Listening to / Watching
Read Aloud Revival Podcasts by Amongst Lovely Things. Click HERE.
- Loving Episode #5 with Jim Weiss. There's a great reminder there on
why we parents should stop trying to make things perfect.

Working on
Oh my, still trying to get past posting once a month.

Trying this out
Yahoo, I have managed to keep folding the laundry under control!
Next on the agenda, improving our evening routine.

Planning for the days ahead
Looking forward to attending an LOJ Marriage Enrichment Retreat.
Blessed to have the opportunity to share my faith experience at a CFC
Christian Life Program.

Image Credits:
Cristina Alexanderson

Bits and Pieces (May 2014)

2014-05-31T21:00:00.000+08:00

Thanking God for:
Nice Weather.
The sunny days that we've been enjoying.
Any respite from the autumn gray is highly appreciated.

Pondering on:
"Look at everything with the eyes of faith, do nothing but in view of God,
and attribute all things to Him." - St. John Baptist De La Salle

Praying for:
Friends with sick family members, missing people, the lost who're trying
to find their way.

Learning about:
Still reading, counting, writing (at least attempting to do so) and playing.

In our home:
Mom asked if I had cooked anything new lately. Hmmm, maybe it's
about time I tried something new!

Memories to treasure:
So yeah, we're late in the game... BUT we're now in a season of Frozen.
Letting go, for the first time in forever, do you want to build a snowman...
You get the picture.

Reading:
The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home
by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise is such a great read! It can be
a bit overwhelming but do remember that it's meant to be a guide.

Listening to / Watching:
I had a blast watching Jason W. Womack talk about how to Think Bigger
Make More of one's life. Many thanks to CreativeLive.com for the rebroadcast.

Working on:
Trying to get back into blogging... Because I want to... Because I have to...

Trying this out:
Trying to start the day "at my best", trying to conquer Mount Foldmore and
trying to get the family out of the house in record speed time.
Trying to squeeze in a little me time.

Planning for the days ahead:
Hmmm, how does one get their groove back?

I decided that it's about time I started reading again. Something to look forward
to this June (many thanks to the Public Library):
Tribes by Seth Godin, $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau, Grace for the Good Girl
by Emily P. Freeman

Clicking Around:
Preschool Revisited by Everyday Snapshots. Click HERE.
- Yes, this pretty much sums up our Early Years Homeschool experience.
You don't need a curriculum. Read, do activities and have fun. And before
you know it, the kids will learn what they need to learn.

Mastery Learning Audio by Andrew Pudewa. Click HERE for the link.
- This is a good listen for those who're a fan of early learning. Pudewa also
talks about how the Suzuki Method is not just for music and how it can be
used in learning other disciplines.

The Ultimate Guide to Memory Work by Everyday Snapshots. Click HERE.
- Loads of info on the Whats, Whys and Hows of Memory Work

10 Things to do with Your Child before Ten by Trivium Pursuit. Click HERE.
- I don't really agree with everything on this list. But it does provide some
food for thought on what topics I can cover with the kids.

Preschool Skills Checklist and The Ultimate List of Preschool Themes
by Homeschool with Love. Click HERE and HERE.
- 2 great guides for moms with Preschoolers.

Image Credits:
Guilio Mola
HDWallpapers
CreativeLive.com

Quiet Time and Schedules

2014-04-10T23:30:00.002+08:00

I talked about GRACE the last time. Little did I know that I was going to need

a huge dose of it.

(1)

The kids got the "Tummy Bug". 3 days of diarrhea plus vomiting but no fever.

That was the tricky part, bringing them to the doctor was useless as there was

no fever to treat. Then we found out that it was something that you just flush

out of your system. Hydrate hydrate hydrate.

Poor kids for being sick! Poor mom and dad for the clean up that had to be done!

Claiming claiming claiming that we have nothing but healthy days ahead of us.

I have recently been trying to cultivate healthy rhythms and routines. One area

that I've been trying to work on is my own Quiet Time. As a full time mom to

two kids below five, I can tell you that it a simple-but-not-easy thing to do.

(2) Diving Office

I know some bloggers who love praying with the Divine Office and decided

to give it a try. Hmmm, not for me at this point in time. Blocking off time for

any one task isn't just doable now. I'm looking for something that will work

well on just a few chunks of time throughout the day.

(3) Daily Examen

The Catholic Church has so many beautiful traditions. It's nice to know that

fellow Christians have discovered that they can practice these traditions too.

Thank you to Katherine for inspiring me to give the Daily Examen a try.

There are many ways of going about this prayer method used by St. Ignatius.
I will try to keep things simple by "praying backward through the day" and
possibly using this guide.

Click HERE if you're feeling adventurous and would like to explore more
about the The Examen.

(4) Do You REALLY Need Quiet Time?

I don't think I have the words for this yet. So here's a good read as to WHY

you and I need Quiet Time.

(5) Thank you Lord for the reminder:

"You're more than your hands do.

You're more than your hands have.

You're more than how other hands measure you.

You are what is written on God's Hands:

Safe. Held. His. Beloved."

- A Holy Experience

Another area that I've been working on is our Family Daily Schedule.

(6) The Daily Schedule of Mother Teresa

This other post by Jennifer really made me pause and think more about

what's been keeping me busy. And how our schedules have been as a
whole.

----------------------------

Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity

4:30 – 5:00: Rise and get cleaned up
5:00 – 6:30: Prayers and Mass
6:30 – 8:00: Breakfast and cleanup
8:00 – 12:30: Work for the poor
12:30 – 2:30: Lunch and rest
2:30 – 3:00: Spiritual reading and meditation
3:00 – 3:15: Tea break
3:15 – 4:30: Adoration Prayer
4:30 – 7:30: Work for the poor
7:30 – 9:00: Dinner and clean up
9:00 – 9:45: Night prayers
9:45: Bedtime

- The primary work of the Order, serving the poor, only takes place between
8:00 – 12:30 and 4:30 – 7:30.
- There’s buffer! Notice that time for meal cleanup and getting dressed is built
in to the schedule.
- They say that their lives are centered on God, and this schedule reflects it.
There is time dedicated to prayer each day.
- They have a set (and early) bedtime, making time for sleep even if they feel
like more work could be done.
- Look at how focused this schedule is! They only attempt to do two things:
pray and work for the poor.

Just reading through the schedule made me ache for that kind of peaceful
rhythm in my life."

----------------------------
Who would have known that such a simple schedule could produce such great
works of charity? I feel challenged to simplify and find something that will produce
better fruits for our family.

Some good eats...

(7) Chicken Piccata

We've had Giada's Chicken Piccata twice this week. We rarely have the

same dinner twice in a week so that says a lot. Proportions for our piccata

sauce were just estimates and it was served on the side. I highly recommend

serving the sauce on the side if you have little ones. Without the sauce, it's

just fried chicken.

Joining the fun at:

Photo Credit: Martin Pettitt

Grace

2014-03-14T22:15:00.000+08:00

(1) Starting over. Again.

I had gone through a period of blah. Then it was a period of busy. Vacations
are a tricky thing. Loved loved loved the time spent with family and friends.
Then there was the tons of errands to attend to as well. Arrived back home
tired. Then sick. The antibiotics were a great help. Glad to have that behind
me.

(2) Grace for 2014

"Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us..."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1996

I look forward to celebrating the rest of the year with more of His GRACE:
- that I may have a greater appreciation of His blessings
- that I may have more patience and strength for the challenges ahead
- that He may use me to bless others

(3) Inspiration for the journey

The God of all grace, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

- 1 Peter 5:10

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency

in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

- 2 Corinthians 9:8

(4) Of hopes, dreams and aspirations

I've been doing a lot of thinking and reviewing and praying lately.
It's about time I came up with My Life List 2.0.
Or something to that effect.

(5) More inspiration

Can't stop reading Notes on Lent. Yep, I've read it a few times. I feel blessed
with the new insights gained each time I read it. I'm sure there are a few
nuggets there still waiting to be discovered.

"Have you ever met someone like that? Someone truly united, truly remaining
in God? It's an amazing thing to behold. She walks in grace. She blesses
with her smile, with her gestures, with her words. She lives the life for which
she is created because she is the genuine image of God He intended her to be."
- Elizabeth Foss

(6) Lent with Little Ones

We've started praying the Stations of the Cross as a family. I didn't realize
that it would be a bit of a challenge explaining it all to a 4 year old. I just
remind myself, this race is not a sprint but a marathon. We'll get there.

(7) 13th of March 2014

It's Pope Francis' first year. Here's something beautiful to look back on:

Joining the fun at:

Photo Credit to Emily Ley

Read Books

2013-10-14T06:00:00.000+08:00

I'm dedicating the next few days to activities that you can
enjoy together with your littles.

Let's begin with: Read Books.

I can imagine you rolling your eyes now. Reading books
with children sounds simple enough. If this were really so
then we would be raising a generation of readers. Sadly,
the opposite is true.

No need for statistics. All we need to do is look around.
Techie toys are everywhere. Rarely will you find a child
reading a book. And if you find one, you will have
to ask too, is s/he reading because s/he wants to or
because s/he has to? I'm sure many educators will agree
as well.

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
- Emilie Buchwald

I believe that reading books with one's children is a precious
gift. When I read books with Tot M and Baby Pea I am not
just reading with them. In reality, I am spending time that is
FOCUSED on them. Little ones just love and need that.

3 Tips for Reading Books with Your Child:

1. Read books that the children enjoy
Certain books seem to appeal to young children. Goodnight
Moon, Guess How Much I Love You and Dr. Seuss books
are consistent favorites. These books are part of our little
library.

Nowadays, we gravitate towards books that involve cars and cooking. I'm sure our book choices will evolve as Tot M
and Baby Pea develop their interests.

2. Choose books that are age appropriate and level
appropriate
I usually scan through the books we borrow. This ensures
that the books we have at home are appropriate for them.
The kids sometimes go through the books by themselves
when I'm doing chores. In general, I avoid books that have
heavy themes. There's plenty of time for that when they're
older.

Every so often, I borrow books that I know will challenge
Tot M's reading skills. It's a way for us to learn new words
and concepts.

3. Have fun together
Other moms have said it and I have witnessed it myself --
just read with your kids. Enjoy and have fun. Before you
know it, you will have a budding reader right in front of you.

Happy Reading!

============================================

Confession time. Yes, there was a noticeable gap in my posts
for 31 Days. I hope to catch up in the next few days. Let's see
how that goes. Such is life with littles.

Grocery List (FREE Printable)

2013-10-02T20:00:00.000+08:00

Our family fridge + freezer can only hold a week's worth
of food. It's a year old pre-loved unit previously owned
by friends. Back then, I couldn't get why they needed to
upgrade to something bigger. Ahh, the things you learn
when you actually use something. Let's just say we can't
have too much of anything. Extras just take up valuable
shelf space.

If I could only share one home/budget organizing tool
with you, it would definitely be our Grocery List. It's
been a lifesaver to us. No second guessing what needs
to be bought.

The Grocery List I'm sharing has a "classic" design.
It's a no frills black and white item. H can easily use
it as there's no eye candy involved.

The Grocery List is editable. If you can, arrange it
according to the layout of your supermarket. Remove
items that you don't buy. Add items that you can't do

without.

The Grocery List can help you stay on budget. I do
a quick estimate of our total bill before we go shopping.
If I think we've gone over the budget, I put a question
mark or cross out back-ups. We use a calculator or
mentally compute while shopping. If there's a special,
we can add or remove something to accommodate it.
So far so good, we usually stay within budget +/- $10
when we use the Grocery List.

Click here to download your copy of the Grocery List.

I hope this Grocery List will be as useful to you as it
has been for our family. I'd love to hear how it works
out for you.

* Oops, just caught myself there. This really is a
Grocery List LOL :)