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Colorado On My Mind: Looking for Patches of Light in the Darkness

July 27, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

Warning: I know my posts here are usually all “happy, happy, bright and shiny” so this one may be a bit of a downer for some of you. However, I just felt that I needed to write this. So please bear with me, okay? (Or, you could opt to skip reading this post altogether! No worries!)

As I write this, I’m trying to recover from a bad cold and cough. (And attempting to catch up with long-overdue assignments!) At the same time, my thoughts and prayers are halfway around the world… specifically in Aurora, Colorado. (Yes, that’s still one of the things on my mind now.) I sometimes think, “What kind of childhood did James Holmes (the shooter) have? What could have led him to do such an evil act? One that left 12 people dead and dozens more injured?!”

I guess we’ll never know what triggers people to commit such ghastly acts of crime. I do know though, that evil is definitely real in this world, and we need to be vigilant in keeping it out of our hearts, minds and homes. People who know James Holmes didn’t think he was “evil” — he just “kept to himself” a lot. Who could have known what he was plotting? No one really knows what goes on in another person’s head and heart, right?

Anyway, having said that, I urge all of us to keep praying for the victims of the shooting and their families. And for James Holmes, too. And his family. (I wonder what his parents are thinking right now. I can’t even imagine it. And yes, though there are speculations that he snapped partly because he was trying to live up to the expectations of his father, can we really place the blame for an individual’s actions on his or her parents? Somehow, I find myself agreeing with the points in this related article here.)

So what happens then when darkness invades your life? When death comes at a time when all you wanted to do was enjoy watching a movie? When violence shatters your world? When a six-year-old girl, a father, a husband, a friend, a boyfriend, a mother are mercilessly gunned down?

You look for the Light. For patches of Light in the darkness.

You turn to Him who knew pain, death, darkness, suffering, violence… and conquered them all.

I want to leave you guys with these words and the videos below from GodTube. May we find strength in the Lord and hope in His love, despite whatever it is we may be facing. Lord Jesus, have mercy on us all!

Tribute to Colorado Shooting Victims- Just Pray by Moriah Peters and Rhett Walker from lawrence.larson on GodTube.

Beautiful Sacrifice – 4 Boyfriends Lay Down Their Lives For Their Girlfriends in the Movie Shooting from sharethemessage on GodTube.

Colorado Church Prays For Movie Gunman That Took The Life of Church Member – So Inspiring! from ourprecioussavior on GodTube.

Truly Rich Tips: The Secret to True Beauty

July 26, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

I know I may sound a bit “preachy” here sometimes, but I can’t help it — one of my reasons for blogging is to continue being a “missionary,” but in a different way, especially since I’ve left fulltime mission work for our Catholic community.

Of course, my current work at Shepherd’s Voice Publications is sort of like doing missionary work, too. (I like to think that we’re “media missionaries!”) So if sometimes you find me sharing tips and recommendations that are a bit “spiritual” or “faith-based,” at least you guys know where I’m coming from! 😉

Anyway, back to the title of this post and our truly rich tip for today: the secret to true beauty. Those of you who know that I was blessed to win a makeover package from Glam-O-Mamas last year probably already know that I barely know anything about using makeup or styling my hair. Heck, I don’t even pluck my eyebrows or shave my legs or blow-dry my hair! LOL! 🙂

Yet, despite all these, God blessed me with a husband, a man whom I know loves me because I’m me — bushy eyebrows, hairy legs, messy hair, un-made up face and all! And I believe I have, in a way, discovered the secret to true beauty. An article I read recently sums it up quite nicely with its title: Beauty Is Built In. Below are my favorite excerpts from the said article (I highlighted my ultra-favorite parts in yellow):

Source.

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Don’t get me wrong. I’m not interested in eradicating beauty supplies from the face of the earth; they may have a place in embellishing women’s beauty. But it’s important to see them as embellishments, not necessities. Quasi-addictive dependence on beauty tools is another symptom of thinking beauty lies in something outside of ourselves – a product, a technique, a style.

But in truth, we don’t have to buy our beauty at the store. It’s not something we must earn by hard work (i.e. the skillful application of makeup, the winning of a man’s attention, etc.). We already possess beauty. We don’t need to try to attain it.

No matter how much a woman paints herself, no matter how stylishly she dresses or how manicured she keeps her nails, no matter how well she does her hair or how much silicone she employs in her figure, she will never reach the fullness of her own physical beauty until she reaches the fullness of her own spiritual beauty. No eye-shadow can match the impact of virtue. No lotion can produce the glow of holiness. The radiance of sanctity can be seen, but it can’t be bought. This fullness of beauty is freely accessible to everyone. Holiness embellishes our inborn beauty like nothing else can. But step one in growing in holiness is to believe what God has told us. In this case, it means believing His Word when He says our beauty is already built in.

Advertising campaigns would have us believe otherwise: “Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline,” when what they really mean is: “She isn’t born with it; that’s why she needs Maybelline.” It’s time we questioned these marketing schemes. God tells us she’s born with it. The hoax is over.

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This is something I hope my own daughter will remember, too: that she is special, she is beautiful, she is loved… just the way she is. 🙂 I also need to remember that although there may be days when I am ugly especially on the inside and, thus, am ugly on the outside, too, I only need to call on God, the True Source of All Beauty, humbly submit to Him and seek His grace and mercy — crucial ingredients for a true beauty makeover! 🙂

Time for an "Educational" Amazing Grace giveaway! Win FREE tickets to "Teachers Recess 2012 — Influence… A Passion for this Generation"

July 25, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

Howdy, y’all! 🙂

Remember when I shared that I was able to contribute to a new website on education, i.e. www.schooltalk.ph? Well, the people over there are also “lovers of the Lord,” and want to share their blessings with you guys! 🙂

You see, School Talk and Kumon will be holding an event for parents (whether you’re homeschooling or not), teachers, school administrators and anyone involved in education titled: TEACHERS RECESS 2012: INFLUENCE… A PASSION FOR THIS GENERATION. This will be on August 11, 2012, 9.00am to 6.00pm at Victory Centre Greenhills, 4/F Virra Mall Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City.

According to their website, Teachers Recess is “a whole day conference that aims to honor and inspire educators as we recognize them as the vital influence in modeling new leaders of tomorrow in our students and children.” (Click here for more information.)

Image from www.schooltalk.ph

And now, for the giveaway! 🙂 The generous people over at School Talk are giving away FOUR (4) FREE TICKETS, exclusively for TrulyRichMom readers! 🙂 Woohoo! 🙂 Winners will be notified via email and given instructions as to how to get their tickets. 🙂

Just enter by following the Rafflecopter instructions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. To increase your chances of winning, you can also join School Talk’s giveaway here. Good luck and God bless! 😉 (Hope to see you there!)

Truly Rich Recommendations {Events}: Yaya Seminars at the Medela House (July 28, 2012)

July 25, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

Medela Moms, the exclusive authorized distributor of Medela breastfeeding products here in the Philippines, will be holding two yaya (nanny) seminars this Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the Medela House. 🙂 Re-posting information from here, in case you’re interested, dear friends! 🙂

1. BASIC FIRST AID/CRIME PREVENTION/SAFETY CONCERNS YAYA SEMINAR (July 28, 2012 from 8-12NN at the Medela House)
Have yaya, other household help, or yourselves trained on basic first aid for your baby/toddler/child! Common crime modus operandis as well as what should be done during a fire/earthquake/flood will also be covered… Regular fee is P1,500 but our pump customers get a discount! 50% discount on any additional participant.

Pls. call to inquire. Look for Cathy 🙂 More details on how to register will be sent via email 🙂

2. YAYA SEMINAR ON NEWBORN CARE AND PROPER BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT (July 28, 2012 from 1-4PM at the Medela House)

Calling all pregnant mommies, there will be a Yaya seminar on Newborn Care and Proper Breastfeeding Support on July 28 from 1-4pm at the Medela House). To register, call and look for Cathy. We will give you more details along with registration instructions via email. Mommies are welcome to attend alongside their yayas as well to see what they learn 🙂 Manuals are provided. MedelaMoms’ Pump Customers receive a discount on the registration fee 🙂 See you = )

We’re going to be on ANC! (And I will look like a raccoon, LOL!)

July 23, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

Later today, a few of my fellow homeschooling moms, our kids and I will be interviewed by a reporter from ABS-CBN’s News Channel (ANC) about, well, what else, homeschooling! Please do say a prayer for us, that we will bring glory to God through what we say and do (and that our kids will cooperate, LOL)! 😀 Please also pray that Tim will feel better, as he was a bit feverish yesterday.

Also, on a rather shallow note, please pray that I will not look like a raccoon so much because I am still awake when I should be sleeping! Ha, ha! (Come to think of it, I hardly slept the night before hubby and I were interviewed on Family Matters either, but, well, I just realized ANC is viewed all over the world! GAAAAHHHHH!) Ha, ha! 😉

Source.

Actually, it doesn’t matter so much to me how I look. (Seriously!) 😉 I just really want to spread the message about homeschooling, and, indirectly, share about God’s amazing grace as well! 🙂 I’m still nervous about it though… ha, ha! Like, I said, please pray for us! Thanks, you guys! 😀

P.S. To everyone who has shown your support and prayers, especially on , THANK YOU! You guys are AWESOME, and I am so blessed because of you all! 🙂 Will keep you posted regarding the link to the news clip! 🙂 Special thanks to Mommy Levy of Living Life to the Fullest, now a homeschooling mom herself, for referring us to ABS-CBN! 🙂