It’s been 9 days since my last post here! And exactly 20 days (!) since I last wrote about what we do every day, mostly in our homeschool. *gasp* So many things have happened and I don’t even know how to begin sharing them with you all!
So I won’t.
Yup… you read that right!
As much as I’d love to tell you about everything that has happened these past few weeks, I’m not going to… well, at least not in detail.
That’s because I realized something lately… I’d rather spend my time “being” than blogging.
“Being” a fulltime work-at-home homeschooling mom that is. Plus a supportive and caring wife of course.
Don’t get me wrong here. I love blogging too. I like sharing things with you, my dear readers (even if most of the time I wonder if I even have loyal readers out there!). As I’ve written before, this blog and everywhere else my writing appears is, in a way, my ‘mission field.’ I blog, I write because I hope to inspire at least one person out there to be rich in what matters most.
However, I also realize that blogging, writing and balancing everything else on my plate is not helping me so much in the “being” part of my life.
When Lent began this year, I encouraged all of us, myself included, to do all we can to keep the love alive — the love for God and for others. Sadly, I don’t think I’ve been doing a good job at it.
Palm Sunday is this Sunday already, and Holy Week is fast approaching. Our Jesus Tree is still empty, and the recycled prayer chains that were supposed to be part of our Lenten countdown still remain in their basket. We’ve been neglecting our daily decade of the Rosary and I’ve been short-tempered again, even if I vowed not to be so after my last Confession 2 weeks ago.
It seems that I’ve ‘failed’ at making Lent more meaningful — for myself and for my family.
Thankfully though, it’s NEVER too late to try to make amends.
I thank God for second chances. I also thank Him for the chance to just “be” with my family these past 20 days. I also look forward to more days of “being” — and promise to be more intentional, more purposeful, more present in the coming days — especially with our kids.
Before I go (and possibly ‘hibernate’ again for a while), let me share with you a few snapshots of what I/we have been up to (see, I told you I like sharing things with you!):
The week of March 17 to 23
Tim started “working” so he could save money to “buy Legos” and “give to the Church.”
We went on a “field trip” to St. Joseph Shrine, in honor of St. Joseph’s Feast Day on March 19 — and were able to attend Mass and see the procession!
I attended Catholic Filipino Academy’s Moving Up/Graduation Day, to document it for their newsletter. So blessed to serve with these people! :)
We joined The Mind Museum’s Media Family Day — this deserves a different post altogether! Needless to say, we really enjoyed this fun ‘family field trip’! :)
The week of March 24 to 30
My first article in Mothers Magazine came out!
I gave a seminar on “The 5 P’s of Powerful Parenting” in Batangas — and the whole family came along too! So it was kind of like a field trip for the kids! It was also my first time to speak again by myself after giving birth to Anne!
It was really nice to see this altar at the PhilHealth office in Batangas!
The enthusiastic audience at the Parenting Seminar :)
Another “field trip” that week was to the Phil Post branch in Ali Mall — Tim was finally able to send his letter to his pen pal in the U.S.!
Of course, there’s always time for playing with blocks and other open-ended toys!
The week of March 31 to April 6
We continued our ‘lessons’ in preparation for our trip to Boracay — a HUGE blessing given to not just our family, but to the families of 234(!!!) other employees of Bo Sanchez’s ministries and organizations.
Of course, we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of our days in Boracay! 🙂 Our homeschoolers also had lots of opportunities to socialize with other people and lots of ‘sensory play’ in the sand and water! Thank you, Kuya/Bro. Bo, for your generosity!
Photo from Bro. Bo Sanchez’s Official Facebook page
Of course, when we got back, the ‘realities’ of my life as a work-at-home mom ‘hit’ me right away — I have a mountain of laundry downstairs waiting for me as I type this! Thank God the clothes are already clean though, thanks to my husband. Now I just need to ‘recruit’ the kids into helping me fold and keep them!
Besides our Boracay trip, the highlight of last week was yesterday’s tea party and photo shoot with my fellow Make It Blissful contributors. It was a milestone for me because it was the first time EVER for me to go somewhere without a baby “attached” to me! I had fun chatting with the other #blissmakers there, and the crepes at were delish!!! (Special thanks, by the way, to my sister-in-law for my hair and makeup! Teehee!)
Photo c/o Martine of MakeItBlissful.com and MartineDeLuna.com (Standing, L to R: Denise of Bebengisms.com, Martine, Maricel of ASweetCottage.com, Ginger of MommyGinger.com, Mariel of TheLearningBasket.com. Seated, L to R: Moi, Marilen of Marilen.ph, Van of ShedMom.com, Toni of WifelySteps.com, Louise of MommyPracticality.com and Rhiza of ChasingDreams.net
Photo c/o Louise of MommyPracticality.com (Clockwise from L to R: Denise of Bebengisms.com, Mariel of TheLearningBasket.com, Van of ShedMom.com, Martine of MakeItBlissful.com, Me, Louise)
I split this SUPER yummy “The Spoiled Mummy” crepe with Ginger — and almost regret that I did, because I would have loved to have had it all to myself! Ha, ha! :)
Now that I’ve given you a peek at what my life’s been like lately, it’s time to say “goodbye” — but not forever, of course! With Holy Week coming up very soon, I want to try to make the most of what’s left of the Lenten season — to give more time to God and my family, especially the kids. Even if I’m home with them almost all the time, I know I am not ‘all there’ every time we’re together. Work is also taking up a lot of time, but hopefully things will ease up by May.
And so, dear friends, allow me to bid you farewell for now. I’ll still be around elsewhere — specifically here, here, here and here, so feel free to ‘drop by’ in case you miss my writing. 😉 Of course, you can still connect with me on , and if you want to! I shall miss you all and will be lifting you all up in prayer. Please pray for me too as I want to focus on “being”!
So what have YOU been up to lately? I’d really, really love to know. If you’re a regular reader here, THANK YOU for staying around — and please, do leave a comment. If you’re new to my blog, WELCOME and don’t worry — I’ll be back! 😉
*Linking up to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers and Conversion Diary (even if this wasn’t written in the 7 Quick Takes format!).
Wow! Full sched indeed, Mama Tina! It was fun reading about it, pero hiningal ako, ha ha ha.
Mommy Blessieeeeee! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment! Hanggang ngayon parang hinihingal pa rin ako actually! Haha! I forgot to include our ‘field trip’ to Star City, when we attended the birthday party of one of Tim’s classmates in Kindermusik! Haha! Thanks for commenting. 🙂 I always wonder who actually reads my posts! 😉 Hugs!
A busy and blessed schedule indeed.
Can I say I am one of the lurkers of your blog? 🙂
Hi Serene! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment! 🙂 You can “lurk” as much as you want. Hehe! God bless always!
I read your posts! And you inspire me! I wish I can find time to share and inspire other people through blogging too. But i have no gift in writing! It would take me days to finish a single post. Hehe
Awwww, thanks Joan! To God be all the glory! 🙂 Go write na, and start your own blog! You have an inspiring story to tell the world! 🙂
Hi dearest Tins, I always make time to read your entries po. Love you lots! Mwahs!
Awww, thanks po Ate! I love you lots too! Miss you guys!
You are a busy momma… And quite a remarkable feat you’re doing!
your #blissmaker girlfriends are beautiful ~ just like you… proud to be pinay 😉
Good luck and praying for you too!
~S
Hi Sarah! Oh it all seems so “blissful” when it’s on the blog but believe me, there are many many “bad” moments and days! Thanks for dropping by! You are in my prayers! God bless!
Classmate!!!!!! You’re such a busy beeeeeeeeeeee! Such a full and exciting week?!!!
You’re in my prayers! I’ll see you soon! 🙂
Classmattteeeeee!!! I mishu!! See you soon! 😉