My Greatest Miracle this 2014

At the start of this year I was challenge with a question,  "What kind miracle would you ask God to happen this year?"  This was the first challenge I've heard during our Sunday service and I did ponder what would it be.  I couldn't think of anything I can ask for but I did expected that God would do something spectacular not only for me but for my whole family.  We had a series of studies in the Bible about the miracle working God.  As we study the word of God, my search of discovering and asking the miracle I wanted to receive was changed.  God talked to me and showed me how blessed I am.  I started to carefully examine every little thing in me and the things happening around me.  From there I learned that I no longer needed to ask for a miracle.  It is because I am already having miracles everyday that I failed to see and thank Him for. My eyes were opened to see and realize how God is continuously doing miracles not just out of the blues but  He does miracles everyday of my life.

Homeschool Room

Setting up a study room is very important when you decided to homeschool.  In my experience, my children needed to identify a place where we will do our classes.  It doesn't need to look like a real school but I chose to do my very best to make it look like one.  I use decors which I tell you not expensive.  I do not need to spend big budget for this.  What matters is to keep the room organized. For the past two years that we started homeschooling I couldn't remember how many times I have re-organized our classroom.  One of the main reasons why I do this; is to break boredom looking at our room.  New look of our room adds up excitement conducting our classes.  Classroom themes are also helpful whenever introducing new lessons for them.  It really takes time but I am enjoying doing these things for my children.  And I also have to admit I am still not doing everything perfectly as I am limited of time and energy having a lot of things to accomplish aside from this.    

I will show you the latest look of our homeschool room.  This is also to document our homeschooling so my children can have a look at it after few years.

Getting Ready for our New Baby

We're glad to be back home from the hospital.  It was around 6pm (October 30) when I started to feel contractions.  I have been working so hard the past few weeks getting things ready before delivering our baby.  To tell you I still have a lot of work undone till these contractions happen.  At first I really am not sure if these contractions will pursue.  Upon monitoring every contractions were of 25-minute interval.  I consulted my doctor and advised us to go to the hospital.  At the back of my mind I am not yet ready to give birth thinking of some works that I should have finished.  Pakner4lyf had a lot of schedules the next day that caused him to cancel all of his appointments because he needed to bring me in the hospital.  It took us a long time before we went to the hospital.  Husband needed to go to the supermarket first and from there he had unexpected incidences that caused him longer delays.  Me, while waiting continued to  monitor every contractions I am having.  

Husband finally came, they immediately pull out the groceries he bought for our bakeshop then loaded my things I needed to bring in the hospital and off we go.  We are favored not to encounter heavy traffic on the road.  When we came I was about 2 - 3 cm and I am having contractions at a 10- minute interval.

Clay Modelling and Play Pretend

Does your child loves to play with clay?  Do they love to play pretend too?  My children do love making things out of clay and they do love to play pretend.

Today I have granted their request of letting them play with clay.  We have bought a book guide teaching how to make some figures out of clay and they are excited to try it.

Can't Stand the Heat...Stay out of the Kitchen

Husband took a photo of this poster in one of baking supplies we have visited this month.  I agree with the message but before good things happens from a bakeshop, we bakers needed to stand the heat in the process.  Lots of sweat, labor and hard work before having the sweetest result.  Below are the recent cakes I made and had some troubles making them in the process I didn't even know why.

Bible Verses That Means Much To Me

I have a lot of verses to remind myself in whatever circumstances I am in so I can keep on going. The above photos were my favorite verses typically because I get so depressed and feel rejected most of the time.  To battle with the negative feelings I have, I will keep my heart and mind on what God says to me in his words.

Having Bible verses to ponder on specially when life hurts is a great cure.  The words from this book sure is our definite guide what to do in every situations.  I am reminded of the B-I-B-L-E acrostics saying Basic - Instruction - Before - Leaving - Earth.  As a Christian, our creator have already given our life's manual so that we may be able to use and live our lives to the fullest.  The only thing we needed to do is to open up and read the instructions written therein and do what it says.

Do you have Bible verses means so much to you?  Feel free to share and comment below.

Mt. Maculot, Cuenca, Batangas

I was reminded of my childhood days after watching a video clip on Facebook.  You can click here to watch it.  It was so nice reminiscing moments I had; specially those times that my brother and I would spend our vacations in the province.  I was born in Cuenca, Batangas; where my grandparents' house is situated at the mountains of Mt. Maculot.  I am glad and proud to have experienced how life is at the farm and I want also my children to have a taste of what it is to live a very simple life in the province; that most young generations no longer experienced nowadays.  Games and toys now are very different as technology advances but  I do believe that my children can both have the priveledge of enjoying the latest technology and nature.

Villa Escudero Day Tour

We are glad to have our children homeschooled this gives us the freedom to have trips more often and freely schedule trips even during week days. Homeschooling gave us an opportunity to have extra money to spend for this kind of activities plus the fact that it is cheaper to have trips during weekdays and no need to be with the huge crowd.

A day full of celebrations...

I want to express how grateful I am for another year God hasgiven  me.  Today I am celebrating my 31st birthday and I want to take this opportunity to also announce that we are expecting the fourth member of our family this November. Indeed life is a blessing from the Lord!

Land and Water Formations Plus Volcano Experiment

Our study about "Land and Water Formations" is one of the most enjoyable lessons we had to date.  If you are looking for some activities about the lesson, this post might help you.  Home made clay recipe is also included in this post.

My Jewelry Crafts

Whenever I am making crafts I would always use available stuffs in our house rather buying new accessories to finish my project as much as possible.  I have used old fablics, buttons, beads and stones from old and broken jewels, marbles, wooden clothes peg, and handmade paper beads.  See more photos below this post.

A Bright Sunny Day

I am so happy to completely see the sun this morning after typhoon Glenda.  Up until today I am still loaded with a lot clean ups because of the said typhoon.  Seeing the rising sun early this morning and having felt its heat suddenly reminded me that it is also a great opportunity to have our beds and pillows exposed under the sun.  I haven't thought I would miss the sun this much.

Door Hanger - Time to Pray

This is a perfect craft when you are teaching children about prayer.  This was our craft activity last Sunday for our Sunday Schoolers.  Their Bible Story was about Daniel in the Lion's Den.  Below are the materials you'll be needing and steps to make this door hanger.

Turning Cups and Saucers Holder into Jewelry Organizer

Cups and Saucer Holder that has been abandoned for years.   

Cake in Blues

It's been a long time again.  I am having a hard time creating post for my blog because of computer and connectivity problems.  I have missed posting my stories here.  To sum up all those important events is to simply post the cakes I have made during those past few days.

 JC celebrates his 6th birthday.  He requested me a Lego themed cake.  I did tried topping his cake with a lego shaped fondant.  I didn't like it's look so I washed his blocks and used his toys instead for his cake decor.   Our church was also preparing for its 9th anniversary so we had a lot of guests (co-church members) during his birthday and they needed to sleep over at our house for 2 days.

This is my first fondant wedding cake.

 This car cake is my gift for Pot-Pot.

My parents celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary last Friday and they treated us for lunch.

These blue themed cakes will add more fun to your celebration.  I am happy I didn't turned out blue making these cakes.  Each time I am requested for a cake design it gives me challenge and excitement with crossed fingers hoping that the cake I am making would turn out good in the end.  

 

How To Make a Basketball Cake

This post is dedicated to all basketball game lovers or if you are looking for a basketball themed party then this cake will match the celebration.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Do you have any fears?  Let me rephrase the question what are your fears?  Fear is a product of our insecurities.  Being just a human puts us in a situation where we cannot control all things in our hands and in the end this causes us to be anxious on the things we face or about to happen.

This made me smile...

If you're a house wife definitely you feel like loosing your sanity most of the time.  Our everyday lives is tied up with never ending chores and responsibilities.  While a lot of husbands and some narrow minded people thinks that being a house wife is so easy, I wanted to prove them they're wrong.  These people say that we don't have to work and all we need to do is just stay in the house.  What makes you say that stay at home moms don't have to work?  You'll never know how tough it is to stay at the house.  Why not try doing my responsibilities at least for a day and then tell me how easy it is be a house wife. 

 

House wives don't complain with the mountains of laundry nor cleaning the house every hour that seems to make no difference after cleaning at all.  We are also forced of thinking ways to earn money that will help sustain our financial needs as we know the what's the real score of our budget.  We are willing to sacrifice our wants just to have provided the needs of our husband and children.  We love what we do and can bear the greater challenge taking care of our children.  It hurts us hearing other people belittle us as "house wives" more hurting when our husbands comes home and hear complains rather than asking "how our day passed" and then offer some help. What we needed is support specially from our husband, family and friends.  We want to feel appreciated and loved.  We at times wanted to feel special, we wanted to hear encouraging words rather than complains of the things we should or shouldn't do.  We needed someone to take care of us too. 

Gift Ideas for Valentines Day

Cake Bouquet

As promised, I am now posting the photos of the gift ideas we had in the bakeshop.  It was very tiring indeed, attending all the customer demands and am glad to have accommodated all their orders and special requests.

Minion Cake for SJ's Birthday

SJ celebrated his second birthday yesterday.  We didn't have a big celebration.  A lot of people asked me "anong handa?" (what's the menu).  We have already drained our pockets because of our bake shop's renovation so I could no longer afford throwing out a huge party for him.  We cooked spaghetti and fries to have a simple celebration and of course design a cake for him.

I decided a Minion design since we always say he looks like and acts like these minions.  SJ doesn't only makes me smile but also laugh.  His actions really does so this cake design fits his personality.  He does love his cake.  

As of now I am too busy creating special packages for the Valentines Day Celebration.  I am a bit tired of multi-tasking but I am forced to do so - we needed more income!!!  Hope to post photos of them here in the next few days. 

If you are looking for a detailed instruction on how to make the minions out of fondant here's the link that I have found.  How to make Minions using Fondant.  Happy baking.

 

Mixbook: Online Photo Book and Calendar Maker

We've visited my parent's house on the first day of the year.  Pakner4lyf with Pastor Eric had a scheduled of Bible study in a neighbor's house.  The children and I stayed at my parent's house and while we are waiting for them the children watched movies and I find myself enjoying some time browsing on our photo albums.  I find a photo and remembered how we used to celebrate new year. What a lovely memory captured in this photo - childhood memories reminisced.

My First Time Experiences

Whew, and what a relief!  Now I can finally make my first post for 2014.   I had a very busy month.  Bakeshop owners like me had the busiest days every holidays.  We have been loaded with work and activities starting second week of December till the first week of January.  We can't spend vacation during Christmas and New Year because the nature of our business is demanding a greater work load during this holiday season.  The good news is we can have our vacation any time we want before or after the holidays.  Last week, pakner4lyf and I had to fill in the absence of our bakeshop staff this added up bigger loads of work for us.  I am glad and thankful that our staff had already returned from vacation and had them completed yesterday (and also hoping for the return of our bakers).  This permits me now to sit in front of the computer and type this post that I could have published few weeks ago.  I still have lots of work to accomplish including our business license renewal.