From The Mouth of Babes Part 8

I love Saturdays.  I look forward to spending the whole day at home watching movies, playing board games, watching our family videos and looking at old photographs.

Last Saturday, we spent the night laughing our hearts out as I read aloud the  "quotable quotes" from our kids.  You can find them here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7


Here are some new ones:

March 13, 2011
Aethan: Dad is so  funny! Even when he sleeps , he is still doing a lot of things!
(You can actually talk to my hubby even when he is sleeping.  Do you think that would be the best time to ask for shopping money?)

2012
Michael:  Someday, I will be a homeschool Dad too.  I will stay at home and teach my kids while my wife works. ( I think we need to give my son a lesson on God's design for marriage). :-)

March 19, 2012
Mom:  What do you like most about Dad
Aethan: Mommy, I know!  Dad leaves his work to go to our birthdays! When I grow up, I would take a leave from the office to attend Mom and Dad's birthday! (Birthdays are considered a holiday in our family)

June 14, 2012
Aethan: Mom, when Dad sleeps, it's like he will be swimming (then Aethan acts it out --- blowing with his lips -- pfft! pfft! pfft!)
(I wanted to upload the video of my hubby sleeping but he might kill me) ;-)


August 15, 2012
After Habagat which left lots of communities flooded, we were praying for a way to help our brothers in our adopted community in Balubad, Marikina.   God orchestrated everything so it would be possible to deliver 5 boxes of Davao Bananas and boxes of pandesals --- all given to our Dgroup for free! My kids could just exclaim in awe: "Mommy, it's just like the way God provided  for George Muller!"

Oct. 17, 2012
Riel:what if we have 3 more sisters and 3 more brothers?
Aethan: What if we have 3 more brothers first before 3 more sisters?
Riel: What if we have 10 brothers and sisters, it will be difficult for mom!
Aethan: Why kuya?
Riel: Because we will be like the ancient Roman schools with 10 students!

Aug 2013
Riel: (talking to her grandma) Lola, what's the english of manananggal? (It's a mythical creature in the Philippines capable of cutting its body in half)
Lola: (serious) Cut Woman
(Lola reads too much DC comics - hehe)

2013
Michael:  Mom, can you homeschool us until college?
... Precious words to me ... who wouldn't want to hear that from their kids?

May 22, 2014
Me: have you ever heard God's voice in your heart (explain why)?
Michael: Mom, during my quiet time, when I was done praying, God said in my heart, spend more time with me (teary eyed) and so I prayed more.

June 2014
Aethan loves to eat while we are homeschooling.  One time, as I was cooking Champorado for snacks, Aethan recorded this phrase and repeatedly played it for around 30 minutes until I finished cooking
"Mom, I'm hungry."
(Aethan ate all his champorado in less than 5 minutes)

July 8, 2014
I have this weird looking blouse that I call "Jane-y" because it looks like Jane's (Of Tarzan). I wore it this evening and when Michael saw me, he said, "Mom, what happened to your blouse?!!! Why is it torn?"
** Michael is the one who is always concerned about what I wear. He would tell me if my blouse is too low or too fit...

April 2014
Whenever Michael and Aethan would do something bad, I would send them to their room so they can pray and ask forgiveness from the Lord.  Most of the time, Michael would go down after a few minutes carrying a "special message" in his heart. I have collected a lot of songs  which he made after his "quiet time" with the Lord. Here's the chorus  of one song:

"God showed me the way to Heaven.

God showed me the way to the light of the day

God showed me the way to life.

God gave me an escape out of my sin."

... Precious, precious words from the mouth of babes.


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P.S.

I also spend my Saturdays scrapping my heart out.

I have been wanting to scrap one set of photos taken in 2007 and Leaving A Legacy Designs' just released a perfect kit to scrap it with - PUDDLE JUMPERS.  Kit contains 24 pattern papers, 69 elements, 3 alphas and a bonus paper pack! There is also a word art pack and journal card pack.  Each part is 30% off and the bundle will be 50% off the first week.

Here's The Scoop and Painted Love is also on sale today (Saturday, EST). Grab it HERE.

The first half of 2014 is behind, and we are full-swing into summer. July is a fun and exciting month in the United States as its Independence is celebrated throughout the country on the 4th. The first of July is also a big day for our neighbors to the north, as they celebrate Canada Day. In honor of these patriotic holidays, the designers at Scraps N Pieces have an awesome monthly collab.

Introducing This is My Country...

This month's CU Grab bag has gone metal, and is 25% off.

This month's Bits N Pieces' colors are so soft and pretty, and the participating designers rocked the color palette with such creative themes. Remember, each piece is $1 each during the first week. Grab some and be sure to participate in the monthly BnP challenge for forum points.

Have a couple hours free time? Who does really? But in case you do, be sure to jot down the July speed scrap dates. Join in to complete a layout and earn a participation prize.

Leaving A Legacy Designs' Kiss the Cook will be 30% off the first week, bundle 50% off. All American BBQ is July's feature kit and will be $2 all month long. 

Our Homeschool Journey - We Just Turned 6!

Six years ago, we spent our very first homeschool day in Mcdonald's. We studied over hashbrowns and big breakfasts. It was liberating... It was different...It was fun! That same day, whatever apprehensions I had in homeschooling my boys were replaced by complete peace in my heart knowing we made the right choice. Homeschooling took much of my personal time but I prefer that over losing all the wonderful memories that we have built all through these years. There were highs and lows, ups and downs but I wouldn't have taken any other road.  Every single day was a testament of God's power, love, and grace at work in our family.   It's all worth it.

Our first "official" day to homeschool at McDonald's
layout created using Joyful Expressions' Coastal EscapeWA by kathy winters design

As we start another school year, the Lord reminded me through the story of Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2-3) of what our priority should be.  We need to disciple our kids until they fully devote their whole being to Jesus Christ. We cannot make that choice for them but my husband and I can definitely influence them into making that decision in the future.  "God can do for me what I cannot do myself and will accomplish what is otherwise impossible to accomplish." (Grace for the Homeschool Mom)

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Lord, take over our homeschool this year.  Bring our focus back to You. How I pray, Lord, that Michael and Aethan will love, follow and be deeply committed to you all the days of their lives.  Remind us always to homeschool with the end in mind. In Jesus Name. Amen

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"One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)

Knowledge is useless unless it is acquired by a heart that fears God. (Clay and Sally Clarkson)  

When the time comes for our kids to leave our home, it will not be empty. It will be 'full of memories, full of anticipation, full of love that can somehow go with them to college and yet stay back home with us. A love that has a name, 'Jesus'. - Beth Moore

Father's Day Super Saturday Sale!

Looking for Father's day kits? Head to the store and grab these kits -- for $2 each today.

Happy Scrapping!

Super Saturday Sale!

We never run out of homeschool photos to scrap so I am always on the lookout for back to school scrapping kits.  Isn't it perfect that Chalk Talk and Hall Pass are on sale today? :-)

Grab them now at bit.ly/1eHtuuo

For Better Back or Worse Back Part 2

     

     My lumbosacral back pain was not due to age after all. :-) (read the story HERE ) From Mid-January to March this year, my back pain increased in intensity - from a mild irritation to extreme pain.   For three months,  I was not able to bend and sit properly.  I cannot even tie my shoe lace and even sleeping became a struggle for me.   I prayed not to have cough for even coughing causes much pain.  Not being able to find time for a check-up, I learned to live with the pain until the time when I learned that my aunt had an operation due to gall bladder stones and the symptom of course, is back pain.

     I can live with age-related back pain but the thought of having an operation scared me.  The Lord then reminded me that years ago, a friend recommended a natural procedure for gall bladder cleansing.   I tried it and followed it to the dot and miracles of miracles, it worked.   On the 7th day, I had diarrhea and found green stones in my stool. My kids called them kryptonite and they were so many!

    Immediately after the cleansing, my back pain disappeared.  I can now bend, sit and tie my shoe lace! Praise God!  What I feel now is just the "minor irritation" similar to the one I initially felt so I think I would need another round of cleansing soon.

Here's the procedure: (Title is linked to the website)

HOW TO REMOVE GALLSTONES NATURALLY

1. For the first five days, drink at least four glasses of apple juice every day. Freshly squeezed or packaged apple juice are both okay. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner. (But take breakfast and lunch as usual and ok to drink water or other light fluids at night, but not, for example, a hearty soup.)
3. At 6 pm, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.
4. At 8 pm, repeat the same. Epsom salt or magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.
5. At 10 pm, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage. See above about possible instant diarrhea during this final step to remove gallstones naturally.
6. After this, sleep or at least lie down and rest. Do not engage in physical activity.

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools.

"Usually they float", Dr Lai Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many". Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder clean up now and then.

Quoting Mr. Richard Seah, "When you embark on natural remedies, whether to remove gallstones or for other purposes, you need to take responsibility for your own health and I shall not be held liable for any harm or danger that you might experience. At the same time, when you embark on natural cures, it helps also to understand the reasons behind some of the procedures."

Honestly, I am not really sure if If those stones in my stool were indeed gall stones but whatever they are called, this cleansing diet worked for me.  God used it to remove my back pain and for that I am truly grateful!

Check the following links to read more:
http://www.natural-cancer-cures.com/remove-gallstones.html
http://www.natural-cancer-cures.com/cleanse-gall-stone.html 

The Story of Ernie

     Ernie was handed down to Michael by his uncle Johlo when he was around 3 years old. Since then, he wouldn't sleep without it because he felt Ernie would feel abandoned and sad.  Michael would lovingly put it on his head and cover his eyes with it.  He would always ask us to bring it when we go out of town.

     Michael cried when Ernie got all worn-out.  I had to sew it several times and we even bought a new shirt for it (which we got from a pet shop) just to cover the stitches.

     Aethan, on the other hand has a small hotdog pillow which he fondly calls "pompom".  Like his brother, he would hug it at night.  He would hold a part of it between his thumb and forefinger and rub it until he falls asleep.

     In January 2014, a few months after Michael turned 10, He finally asked me to keep Ernie. He was teary eyed when he did this.   He said, it was because he wants to preserve it so that If God will give him a son in the future, he can also enjoy playing with it as much as he did.  After 2 months, Aethan followed his kuya's example.

My boys are not babies anymore :-(

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Layout credits:

The Story of Ernie was created using Leaving a Legacy Designs' GOT CARROTS?

Though created to perfectly match your Easter egg hunt and spring photos, its warm earthy colors would work well using any other theme. The kit has 116 elements, 24 pattern papers, 7 cardstocks, 7 burlap solids and 2 full alphas (my favorite) with numbers and symbols.  Be sure to check out the graffiti and journal cards too! GOT CARROTS? kit and BUNDLE are on sale this week. Grab it HERE.

Super Saturday Sale

Mom and Dad are being highlighted today in the Super Saturday sale! Leaving a Legacy Designs has Mother Knows Best and Man Oh Man! for $2 each today only!

Sample Layouts by Kimberly and other team layouts:


 [caption id="attachment_6885" align="alignnone" width="600"]
Man Oh Man![/caption]

 Be sure to check out the word art which is only $2 as well!


My layouts using Mother Knows Best

with my son

combined with Painted Love by Leaving A Legacy Designs
WA by WA world, Template by Scraps by Missy

He Has Made Me Glad

I feel sad today. It will be my Dad's birthday soon. I truly miss him.  I miss him everyday.  I miss the times when we were little... when Papa would wake us up and run after us.  My brothers and I would then race towards the dining table.  My mom was there preparing breakfast and we would all happily gobble up the food.  No camera captured that scene but I remember it vividly.  It was etched in my heart.  Precious memories.

My Mama and Papa separated when I was around seven years old and they both have different families now whom I dearly love.  I learned to accept how things are but the pain of separation lingers.  It is like my back pain.  It is just there.  I learned to live with it but it is just there.

This is not always what I feel.  But there are just days like these when I think of 'what could have beens'....days I feel "senti".

At times like this, I turn to my Father, the Great and loving One.  He knows my heart, my feelings, my pains.  He knows how to lift me up, ease the ache and make me smile once more.

"The Lord has done great things for them.
The Lord has done great things for us;
We are glad...
Those who sow in tears 
shall reap with joyful shouting.
He who goes to and fro weeping, 
carrying his bag of seed, 
shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, 
bringing his sheaves with him."
Psalm 126:3-6 (NASB) 

John Piper said sowing is simply the work that has to be done even when there are things in life that make us cry.  He said "... when you are full of sadness and tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs with tears.  Be realistic.  Say to your tears, 'Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life.  But there is a field to be sown (dishes to be washed, car to be fixed..) I know you will wet my face several times today, but I have work to do and you will just have to go with me. I intend to take the bag of seeds and sow. If you come along, then you will just have to wet the rows". (http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/talking-to-your-tears)

At the end of the day, I would have to make the choice to continue living a joyful life.  My parents would never be reunited, problems would probably remain, conflicts would arise but God is still in His throne.  He has done great things for me and I will be glad. (Psalm 126:3).

I choose to be glad.

My Papa singing a song for us during my wedding
- created using Leaving a Legacy Designs'
FIND YOUR VOICE

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FIND YOUR VOICE
by Leaving A Legacy Designs
Click the photo to grab the kit

For Better "Back" and For Worse "Back"

I started feeling lumbosacral back pain in Mid-January of this year and it has never left me since that time. I find it hard to sit or stand for long periods and I find it painful to bend.   I felt like Paul asking the Lord to remove the thorn in my flesh and I felt myself responding the way he did - the Lord's grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in my weakness.

Last month also, Alvin had his ortho check up and was diagnosed to have rheumatoid arthritis.  I am afraid I have it too because the very symptoms I have are the very symptoms Alvin had when his back pain started four years ago.  Being a homeschooling mom, I took that as an opportunity to teach the kids the pathophysiology of the disease.  lol. But this is not about that.

Just this month,  the Lord impressed in my heart that He allowed me to have this pain because He wants me to feel what my husband feels.  In the many years that Alvin had his back pain, I have never truly empathized with him because he always appeared strong and able. He played basketball even better than when he was younger.  He always carried the heavy stuff at home and helped me whenever he can without complaints.  I felt the Lord telling me that He wants me to feel what my husband feels.  He wants me to remember praying for Alvin most especially in times I am in pain and to be more understanding when he seems tired.

Alvin said maybe the Lord removed some of his pain and transferred them to me because I am his help meet.  The thought of that brought me joy because I feel that I am able to share his burden.

As I was reading Nehemiah 9 this morning, I was reminded to focus on God's goodness and His greatness rather than the physical discomforts I feel.  I would like to focus on the many blessings He showers us, indeed there are many.

"You alone are Lord, You have made the heavens, The heavens of heavens with all their hosts, The earth and all that is on it. The seas and all that is in them.  You give life to all of them.  And the heavenly host bows down before You." (Nehemiah 9:6 NASB)

That is who my God is.  He is a big God and my pain is but a speck.  I thank Him for these discomforts because it made me look forward to the glorified body He will give me in the future.  I thank Him for this pain because through this, I feel more connected with my husband.  I would gladly share his pain - for better "back" or worse "back", ' til death do us part.

He Loves Me

Love is in the air, and it seems that most of what we see are the colors red and pink.  But what about those men in our life, our main squeeze and wonderful sons?  Kimberly of Leaving a Legacy Designs and Tammy of Memories by Digital Design have collaborated to bring you a kit and bundle full of love, perfect for the leading man in your life.  Introducing He Loves Me...with lots of blues, greens, browns, and just a hint of pink, these will be perfect to complete your manly layouts.

Grab the kit, journal cards, and cluster pack (or the bundle for an even better deal) while they're on sale at 50% off through 2/19.  The kit contains 27 pattern papers, 7 cardstock, 7 glitter sheets, a full alpha, and 91 elements.  The bundle includes the kit, 6 journal cards, and 6 clusters.  Previews are linked to Scraps N Pieces store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need some inspiration?  Check out what their amazing creative teams did with He Loves Me.

Have a great day!