This Rugged JoyFull Home

Every family is unique and has their own rhythm to follow. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to raising a family and building strong, independent individuals. For us, our agreement was simple. We chose the traditional path of a single-income household so that one parent— moi —could stay behind to care for the kids. Plus, we didn’t have to hire extra help to run our household affairs because I covered all those things. Talk about a full-time job! But more than just managing a home, this setup was about protecting our freedom to choose what worked for us. I believe every woman and mother deserves the space to do the same; not having to ask permission, completely free from the dictates of any third-party voice. My husband and I were both committed to maintaining complete transparency in every area of our lives—especially when it came to money. I was fully aware that my responsibility was to ensure we stuck to our modest budget from paycheck to paycheck. ...

This is my response to Karen’s statement that has been circulating on social media. Karen claims that women must be empowered, and she firmly believes that women’s empowerment is determined by whether or not they have their own income. She has been advocating for women to have jobs, arguing that a woman should earn her own living rather than relying on her boyfriend or spouse for financial security. I think that her definition of an empowered woman is completely subjective. For me, an empowered woman is someone who has the freedom to make choices about her own life. This includes the decision to work outside the home and leave her children in the care of others, or to stay at home and raise her children. It’s important to recognize that different women have different priorities and circumstances, and what may be empowering for one woman may not be for another. Furthermore, not having a corporate job or an independent income doesn’t mean a woman isn’t empowered. It simply means that she...

After spending almost two decades homeschooling our children, entering this new post-homeschooling season is really such a welcome shift. There’s no need to rush anymore, since I’m really not meeting any deadlines here, and I can finally just savor all the little things happening around me. The idea of "living slow" felt like a cliché when I was younger—back when we had all the energy and passion to carve out the life we aspired to have as a young family of four. Fast forward to the here and now, it feels like there was a switch that suddenly turned ON. The idea of living slow actually makes my heart sing! While my husband and I are still in our early 50s and not quite at retirement age yet, our role as parents has noticeably shifted. Our adult children move forward to continue fulfilling their God-given callings—one is pursuing law school and the other is studying chemical engineering. They still need our financial support, of course, but the daily decision-making and academ...

An artist will always be influenced by their past, their cultural exposure, the travels of their youth, the mentors they were afforded, and the family in which they were raised. These have a great impact on one’s artistic inclination; they help to shape their artistic process, the way they view things, and how they translate the world in their creations. Whether it’s through music, fashion, fine arts, architecture, or any other art form, these influences always find their way to his creation being amplified in a fitting manner.   For instance, Paul McCartney of the Beatles wrote the timeless song “Yesterday” at just 21 years old. It resonated globally because the lyrics were remarkably profound and melancholy for someone so young. “Why she, had to go  I don't know, she wouldn't say I said, something wrong, I don't know For yesterday” People wondered where he got his inspiration for such a sad song considering his age. Sir Paul noted that pain and grief were the key element...