I am a stay at home mom (by choice) and I am proud of it. :) I used to work back when I was single, and loved it. But I told myself, once I get married, I wanna stay at home. There are many reasons why:

1. i can personally take care of my kids. it's great to be able to follow (with my own two eyes) their developments and milestones and not just make an assumption that they can do this and that. also, nowadays, it's difficult to leave your kids in the care of other people. they will be influenced according to how that nanny lives her lifestyle. also, if there are other kids around, the kids can get naughty faster. i see a lot of kids they haven't even reached the age of two yet but they are already on the terrible-two age. that's very sad. moms who work at this stage can just close their eyes in that kind of situation coz they have no other choice but to send their kids to other people's care.
2. i can personally take care of my hubby. :)
3. never mind about the finances... as long as we have enough to live day by day... it's alright. We never go hungry anyway, unless we choose not to eat coz we wanna diet. and besides, God is taking care of our daily needs... and our wants from time to time. :P
4. i wanna be the best mother to my kids and the best wife to my hubby. if i work, then my attention will be divided being at work and being with my family. that's what we call "family comes first."
5. less stress. you only serve the husband and kids.
6. it's not only an old thing to stay at home. i know a lot of friends now, once they give birth, they quit their work just to take care of the baby. i admire them for that. it really takes sacrifice to do that. sacrifice their own career, sacrifice their own ambition just for the kids. now that's what i call real "mothers."
7. it has been proved: breastfmilk is best for babies.. and the longer you breasfeed, the better. if i work out of the house, probably the longest time I could breastfeed would be six months... knowing it's hard to maintain breastmilk supply when you only pump at day time and breastfeed at night time. breastfeeding is also a sacrifice. the clothes you wear are limited. cannot just wear anything you like. it must be comfortable to be able to breastfeed anytime, anywhere. this is just one of the cons being a SAHM.
8. when you stay at home, there's some kind of rewarding feeling... especially when you see your kids grow up.
9. the first 3 years is the formative years. a lot of interaction is needed to be able to cultivate young kids so that they can be the best that they can be. i am happy that i am the one who interacts with them daily...

well, SAHM also needs a break. coz too much spending time at home could very well effect the person. that's why i am going back to my family in the Philippines!!! Wooo hooo! I can finally take a rest there, knowing that even if i leave my kids to my family, i know that they are well taken care of. :)

so these are merely my opinion now. i might wanna go back to work once the kids are grown up already. when they do, it's another story. :)

i know it's not easy to be one, but congratulations to all SAHM

He's a tease, a charmer
Very friendly, can make one feel comfortable easily
People are drawn to him
Who's this guy?


I met him eye to eye
He took us to dinner
No chemistry, nothing special
I was intrigued, Who was this guy?


I went back home
Sent him a message
Thanked him for everything
Sure, you're welcome, he said.


Who was this guy, I wanted to know
He used to tease, and yet aloof
I teased him back
He opened up.


We became friends
Shared goals, shared jokes
Until we found out,
We share the same birthdate!

That triggered "it"
Common things discovered
The more we shared, the more we felt
From friendship, love blossomed.

We became one
Now we're four.
Who is this guy?
Shankar, my love, no other.

My 2 year 9 month old son just asked me: "Mommy, what happened to you?" I said why? What happened to me? "Your leg broke?" I looked at my legs. They looked the same. I asked him: Show me where? And he pointed to my ankle bone... and the callous there.

Sigh... my son has finally noticed it. I wonder... if my son has... other people would have noticed as well. Shame. I wonder how to get rid of it.

Ideas, anyone?

“Do not desire crosses, unless you have borne well those laid on you; it is an abuse to long after martyrdom while unable to bear an insult patiently.”

—Fran篩s de Sales

Oh well... what a good reminder since i've been impatient lately with a direct insult. And an obvious attack.

Peter is going to Phuket next month, for 4 days. Then 5 days after that, he'll go to Brunei, Sarawak, then to Kalimantan (for 10 days). All of which will be his trip alone... we're not going with him.

Hmmm... I thought (out loud), maybe I go back to the Philippines, spend time there since I'm missing home so much already. Peter said yes straight away. Shock!!??!!?? Hehehe. That was unexpected.

Anyways, I'm thinking.. to go or not to go? We're actually planning to visit Philippines next year for Christmas. That way, I'll have time to save and time for Samantha to grow some more. She will be 2 years old then. That means she'll enjoy the trip more. And not to mention ME... since Samantha is already big enough, we can go jalan jalan (go around) more. I can spend time with my friends. Every time I go back to the Philippines, my friend Grace would organize a reunion party for us.

Last time I went, Schenker boy was only 5 months so I couldn't join them much. And some had regretted it in fact, esp the singles ones (still didn't understand how it was to be a mom).

Anyways... now... I'm thinking should I... or shouldn't I go?

I just discovered that there's one Filipino living in our neighbourhood. She's been here for 1+ years already, been working two houses away from our house. I remember one time when I was hanging my laundry at the back of our house, I saw her hanging some clothes too. I smiled at her, she smiled back. Today, we saw each other again... and smiled at each other again, and continued with our work: hanging clothes. Then suddenly, she said, "Filipina ka?" which means, "Are you Filpino?" She said she heard somebody speaking Bisaya in our house a few times. So I told her I have Filipino friends that come and stay with us.

Then she asked me whether I like bagoong (Filipino version of shrimp paste) which I said yes straight away... although I don't feel like eating it now. :)

Glad to know there's at least one Pinay (that I know) who lives nearby. :)

i am tired. i wanna go home. see my family. i miss them. i miss my friends. i miss my neighbours. i am tired.

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you. You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/keystoyourheartquiz/">What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

I got an encouragement today from the children's missions coordinator in the church that we conducted the kids' seminar. It's nice to know that we, as a family, can be a good testimony to others.

Here's her email:

> Hi Bro Peter & Sis Janet,
>>> On behalf of the Mission Committee & Children Ministry, a big thank you
> for giving your time in ministering to our Sonshine K.I.D.S children,
> oikoses and teachers too during our Missions Fest. I pray that these
> children will continue to make God as the treasure of their lives and will
> always turn to Him, move with Him, worship Him and seek Him in prayer.
> Whatever they had learned will not be in vain but will be remembered and
> put into practice.
>> Do you know that my teachers/leaders were so encouraged to see a young
> couple like you giving your life for Mission? I believe it had made a
> great impact into their lives. Pray that these teachers/leaders will not
> only be encouraged but the fire of God's Missions heart will spark into
> they hearts and they be filled with excitement to pray, give and go for
> Missions whether locally or abroad.
>> May His anointing, abundance blessings and protection be upon you and
> family as you touch and spread the fire of God's heart for Missions into
> the lives of people.
>> God bless.
>> Anita Lee
> Mission Coordinator
> Children Ministry
> KAOG

God is good. Glory to Him!