This Rugged JoyFull Home

Lesson 1 of 3 -  Homeschooling Is Not Easy Lesson 2 of 3 -  Comparing is a Joy-Killer Lesson 3 of 3 -   Micromanaging Equals Controlling To be able to homeschool in the Philippines since 2005 up to present and counting is one thing.  But  to be able to stay on that mode of thriving and not just surviving? That is another thing, truly amazing grace.   I feel that we're a little richer now in that the wisdom we've accumulated in learning from our own mistakes are priceless. Not that we've had everything figured out already, but those were humbling years, and even as of this writing, that hasn't changed a bit.  And while I can comfortably say that I am not an expert in homeschooling, as we're still in the process of hacking it on a daily basis, our n ine- year journey has taught us invaluable lessons in life that are worth far more than rubies and diamonds and gold. I promise you, for sure, we've learned more than just three li...

Lesson 1 of 3 - Homeschooling Is Not Easy Lesson 2 of 3 -  Comparing is a Joy-Killer Lesson 3 of 3 -  Micromanaging Equals Controlling      If we want to eliminate JOY in our daily lives, try COMPARING. Come. on. Who isn't guilty of this? And don't we have enough fertile breeding grounds to sow seeds of discontentment and insecurity with the presence of social networking sites on the internet? "Keeping up with the Joneses" ( or "keeping up with the Juans or the Lopezes  or the De Chavezes " since we're Pinoys) and "the hay is always greener on the other side of the fence" are common idiomatic expressions which best describe a situation when a person is in a state of discontentment or insecurity. These words may sound subtle or harmless, but no matter how we sugar-coat them, the effects are debilitating, making one less productive or sulk in depression or loneliness, or just lose sight of his or her purpose in life. As a homeschooling family, or...

Lesson 1 of 3 - Homeschooling Is Not Easy Lesson 2 of 3 -  Comparing is a Joy-killer Lesson 3 of 3 -  Micromanaging Equals Controlling The kids have grown, I mean, not into full adulthood yet, but they have grown into older kids, bigger - taller. A seventh grade daughter and a second grade son which I fondly call The Daughter - The Son. One is an independent learner, the other one, the younger one, needing moderate supervision.  "And we are thriving and not just  surviving in this jungle we often call home?" Thus, I would often convince encourage myself with these words. Nine wonderful years full of God's daily graces and now we're running on our tenth year! Indeed, God's grace has gotten us this far. And our learnings, the life-lessons we acquired as we journeyed the less-travelled path of homeschooling in the Philippines...priceless. We wouldn't have it any other way. A Little Disclaimer Hear me on this one. My heart sincerely prays that as I ope...

Part 1 of 3 - "Our Herats Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You" Part 2 of 3 - "Our Hearts Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You" *My Response To Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are"  What I have today, NOW, is a gift. To be able to rise up this morning, my bones, 206 in all, holding me up, strong.  To be able to read God's word, a 20-20 vision, and be silent and pray, while I sat on my bed, with the bonus of  soft-fluffy pillows supporting my spine. No more pain. T his is my gift. A gift of another day, breathing, alive, and well, birds chirping. "Thank You, Lord." The sun rose and made its way through my window. God is in full control. I am back to my routine of rising up everyday, of being, of doing.  Last week, it looked as though I was in a bad shape. I got so sick, the body, the shell, fell terribly ill, and I was confined to bed. But even that was a gift. The gift of being a...

Part 1 of 3 - "Our Herats Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You" Part 3 of 3 - "Our Hearts Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You"                                          "...As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.   And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding  for twelve years, but no one could heal her.   She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak,  and immediately her bleeding stopped.  “Who touched me?”  Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said,  “Master,  the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said,  “Someone touched Me;  I know that power has gone out from Me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been ...

Part 2 of 3 - "Our Hearts Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You" Part 3 of 3 - "Our Hearts Are Restless, Until They Find Rest In You" My heart is still sore for the sudden death of a dear pastor-friend whom I've known for years. Age 43,  his heart failed him, led to many complications, and he's gone...a father left behind a mourning wife - his faithful ministry partner and number one supporter through the years; three lovely children, school-age children fulfilling their own dreams. And he was sent home early to heaven to be with the Lord that same day when his wife rushed him to the ICU. In a matter of hours...shortly after noontime, and he entered the evening of his life. Abrupt. Now six feet under, his lifeless body will decompose as nature takes its course to tell of what was written in the Bible "... for dust you are  and to dust you will return.” (Gen. 3:19 NIV) I prayed for his wife who is equally dear to me. I saw how she held on during ...

Port of Batangas. Calapan City bound. So, I'm travelling with my siblings via Fastcat roll - n - roll - roll - off boat first thing in the morning. The Pastor and The Nurse No. 3. For there are two more nurses in the family. The Nurse No. 1- who happens to be The Physician as well, will meet us in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, and The Nurse No. 2- on a far away country of the Middle East would be absent today. The Manager, whose work is currently based in the Manila, we also expect to be out of sight. The Pastor, The Physician slash The Nurse No.1, The Nurse No.3, and I-The Homeschool Mom, would meet with our eldest brother, The Town Councilor in Puerto Galera. So, five out of seven siblings, the Arago children would meet a la homecoming to our beloved hometown of Muelle Bay? The pier we all grew up in. The sleepy pier which only stretches about 50 meters long, a walkway of about seven meters wide. Until the year 1978 when our parents decided to send us to school in the city ...