posted by Jennie on Feb 24
Today I was finally able to finish my son’s progress report. This is how School of Tomorrow’s Progress Report of Preschool with Ace and Christi (front) looks like. We have finished 35 letter sounds. In this program, the child is not expected to learn how to read just yet but half way through, our son was already able to read with ease. You can read more about his progress in our homeschool blog – ChristianHomeschooler.info.
posted by Jennie on Feb 23
It will be our family’s 3rd year of supporting Earth Hour on March 27, 2010 at 8:30 PM (Manila Time). Hopefully more families, communities, even countries will participate this time. You can find MarriageandBeyond.com’s posts from the previous years here: Earth Hour 2008 and Earth Hour 2009. And here is the Earth Hour 2009 Report that I’m praying that we will collectively be able to surpass.
Here is the message from The Earth Hour Team:
Since Earth Hour began in 2007 the real catalyst for the event, and for lasting change, have been the people whose actions have helped spread the word. This is what allowed a Sydney based event to grow to a global phenomenon in three short years. Over a billion people took part last year, and 2010 is looking to be even bigger.
It is with this knowledge of you, the people who make Earth Hour more than just an idea, but a reality, that we have launched this blog. You will still be able to find the news feed here but here you’ll find posts written by Earth Hour staff and supporters (and even possibly the occasional panda) from all over the globe.
We’ll be covering what’s happening around the world, our personal Earth Hour experiences and interesting stories and also sharing inspirational content we find. The most important thing is that, like all our social media interactions, we’re just as keen to listen and highlight what you’re doing, both on the night and long term – after all, every hour is earth hour.
So please, comment, send us links, join us on the social networks I’ve listed below and let’s make this year’s Earth Hour event the best yet!
Here is the official video of Earth Hour 2010
posted by Jennie on Feb 22
I love Charles Swindoll’s insights and here’s one for this day that I just thought we’d to share with fellow parents…
Intimate Communication
by Charles R. Swindoll
Some frightening facts have been released by the Planned Parenthood Federation. Their growing concern? Increasing sexual activity among preteen girls.
“Agency counselors throughout the country are overwhelmed by these kids,” states Dr. Gerry Oliva, medical director for the federation in San Francisco. Consequently, the agency is developing a special program just for girls nine to twelve who are “sexually active and need advice.” The simple fact is this: Telling a girl the facts of life when she’s ten or eleven may be too late!
You who are parents need to think it over . . . to come to terms with this business of communicating openly, tactfully, and intelligently with your children in the areas of intimacy. lt’s a parental task that must be handled with great care and wisdom—but it must be handled. Obviously, it is not to be directed only toward the girls, but to boys as well. Nor should it be communicated only by mothers, but by both parents. God’s beautiful plan regarding conception and birth needs to be shared from a balanced perspective.
posted by Jennie on Feb 22
When you’re a mom, every moment with your child is worth capturing. Sure there may be the not so good times, but even then, you will also want those captured – at least that’s what I do. Because the time will come that you and your family would go back to everything laughing over and cherishing all those precious times together. Taking pictures came naturally for me- from the time that the hubby and I were in the delivery room, doing breathing exercises while I was on labor, up to now that our son is about to turn 5 years old.
Last Saturday, Bisolvon launched Alagang SuperMOMents Online Photo Contest. This is one fine avenue for moms to showcase their priceless photographs of bonding moments with their kids for the whole world to see. To join the contest, all you have to do is buy Bisolvon syrup and log on to www.alagangsupermom.com.ph. Register to join the contest. Upload your photo sharing a special moment with your child or family. Invite your friends to vote for your entry. Uploading period is from February 20, 2010 to April 20, 2010. The top 50 finalists will be posted for online voting from April 26, 2010, to May 16, 2010.
posted by Jennie on Feb 21
So, I did not choose to brave the Bungee Fun attraction at Eastwood. I am too much of a coward like that. But what I was able to do was cover comprehensively, each and every blogger participant’s bungee experience. Seeing all these shots just makes me want to consider trying it out. But from how my stomach churned just watching them last Friday, I am pretty sure I will still be all good at taking pictures next time. Unlike the hubby, I am not very adventurous.
Here are some pictures the hubby and I took from the Bungee Fun date in Eastwood. First, the guidelines:
Who would have thought an attraction such as this will fit in what might as well be a packed place, Eastwood City already is. It is located right smack across Pho Hoa, near Jack’s Loft and Dulcinea, which I think is very strategic. People will just have to stop and watch such bungee fun. This is exactly what happened when one girl went flipping and flopping in the air, with her crazy somersaults and fun air dancing.
posted by Jennie on Feb 19
“Where is God?” is the default question man asks in times of adversity, whether rhetorical or honest manner. While it is almost a given that people suffer the consequences of their actions, there are also people who had no hand in their circumstances at all. Inasmuch as we would have the problems in our lives analyzed in percentages, as Dr. John Townsend explained in Chapter 3 – Pie Chart (e.g. let’s say you get laid off from your job. The problem may be 10 percent your doing, 30 percent others’ fault and 60 percent due to the world), we can actually go beyond the “Where is God?” question and come to understanding, then take action from there.
Dr. John Townsend’s “Where is God?” is a life changing book – another to my list of favorites. It was thoroughly interesting how Dr. Townsend was able to biblically address our innermost longing to know where God is when we are in the midst of life’s most difficult challenges. The book challenges us to get into our heart of hearts during adversities – which is hands down the most vulnerable moments in our lives. Essentially telling us how we can actually get into a place where we can find the reasons for our struggle and why we ask the “Where is God?” question and brings us back to the fact that God is for us, regardless of our circumstance: how much we hurt and all the array of emotions that can rather get the best of us when we are engaged in adversities.
posted by Jennie on Feb 19
Right now our son pretty much wants to do a handful of different careers when he grows up, at least that’s what he tells us. He loved the movie Up and would often insist that he be called Russell from and he wants to be a wilderness explorer. Then a couple of weeks back he came to me and said that he wants to be called Flint Lockwood and said he likes to be a scientist when he grows up.
posted by Jennie on Feb 18
My boys and I had a sumptuous dinner in Megamall last night together with fellow bloggers, as Yashinoya held their first ever Yoshinoya Bloggers Event. The first time I visited Yashinoya was sometime in 2002 with fellow BSF ladies. I was then regularly attending Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) in CCF which is located right smack across Megamall.
Upon entering Yoshinoya last night, the first thing I noticed was its makeover – it is even more inviting now. It has been sometime since I last visited the Megamall branch. My boys and I would visit the Sta. Lucia branch of Yoshinoya instead, it is so much closer to where we live.
with fellow bloggers: my son Jed, Iris and Ria
my boys, Jeff & Jed ready for feasting
And to give you a peak of what we had for dinner at Yoshinoya… Here are a few of the shots I took:
posted by Jennie on Feb 16
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears . . . believes . . . hopes . . . endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7)
posted by Jennie on Feb 16
Although we were pretty set on homeschooling our son around this time last year, we never thought we would enjoy it this much. Our 4 year old has been reading for at least a couple of months now. He started learning the letter sounds when he was 2 but now he is reading smoothly already.
posted by Jennie on Feb 16
Who would have known that after so many months (probably a year) of not being able to play basketball, he still has it? Well, I am just so proud and I just have to say it out loud that the hubby is the top scorer of last Saturday’s game of MaristAlumniBasketball.com. Go check the page and his name is right there. 
posted by Jennie on Feb 14
To love and to be loved is the bedrock of our existence. But love must also flex and adapt. Rigid love is not true love. It is veiled manipulation, a conditional time bomb that explodes when frustrated. Genuine love willingly waits! It isn’t pushy or demanding. While it has its limits, its boundaries are far-reaching. It neither clutches nor clings. Real love is not short-sighted, selfish, or insensitive. It detects needs and does what is best for the other person without being told.
This is so true. God has indeed designed us for love relationships. Life is just an empty shell without them. This is why I cannot be more thankful for the marriage that the Lord has put me in. Ours is not a perfect marriage but with God’s grace, has allowed for our unique personalities to come together beautifully for His glory.
posted by Jennie on Feb 14
Being spontaneous is something that we cannot afford as much anymore. This is why we are grateful that I gave birth to our son 3 years after we got married. It was relatively a long wait. But God knew that we needed that much time to adjust to each other to be able to give our son the kind of family that He has in mind for us to have. God’s timing is ever perfect.
posted by Jennie on Feb 5
Last Wednesday, February 3, the hubby and I were invited, together with fellow bloggers to have a taste of Old Vine Grille and Kuse cuisines (Continental and Filipino) in Venize Piazza at McKinley Hill. It was a sumptuous Pre Valentine Dinner, to say the least. The ambiance was divine and laid back. It was fun how the restaurants’ managing partner, Larry Cortez sat with us for random chit chats – from the history of the Tessie Tomas Salad to our (the bloggers’) passion for photography. I was delighted to know that they are the same company behind Uncle Cheffy Restaurant in Eastwood Libis.
Uncle Cheffy is where we dined in on our 8th wedding anniversary last December. It made an impact on me because their staff were extra courteous and honest. We forgot some of our stuff in the restaurant and one of them actually went out of his way to come looking for us. We hopped to another restaurant and there he was with all our things – intact. I was meaning to make a blog post of our anniversary dinner but because of the crazy holiday schedule, I never got down to doing just that.
Here are a few of the shots that I took from our divine dinner treat courtesy of Old Vine Grille and Kuse.
Old Vine Grille entrance
inside Old Vine Grille
private room (should accommodate at least 30 people)
Tessie Tomas Salad – P295 (small)/ P595 (regular)
Paco Salad sa Laguna (with Kesong Puti) – P 165
posted by Jennie on Feb 4
Roses say “you’re special.” Chocolates say “you’re sweet.” But only Red Ribbon’s Roses & Kisses Cake says it all this Valentine’s day!
