Summer @Finnegan Lake Day 2

I woke up early to meet my God in the midst of His wonderful creation. My quiet time was the best with the mala-postcard scene in front of me and the serenity of the place. I didn't mind singing worship songs, the place is conducive to praising and worshipping God.

Here are the photos I took while the rest of my family and other campers are still sleeping:







Later after breakfast, we had another canoe ride, then the kids went fishing...they caught 2 small fishes that they let go after. We enjoyed the rest of the day swimming and jumping in the lake. Here are the rest of our pictures:

Finnegan Lake Adventures - Summer is not yet over

We headed East this time with the Tuazon's who invited us to their cottage in Peterborough, ON. We were joined by Henry and Violet to complete the Etobicoke Cell group sans Anabel and Ralph. It was a long drive almost 4 hours travel including the stops we did to have coffee and buy stuff at the Apsley town. It was worth the wait, upon reaching the Finnegan Lake and the mala roller coaster ride at the mouth of the place, our kids got excited when we all saw the lake. It was awesome!

After setting up the tent, we had a quick lunch then we all went down to see the lake and test the waters. It was so cold, but then it didn't take a while for our bodies to adjust to the water temp, as long as you keep on moving and swimming, okay na. Sorry na Lang si Kyle who stayed on the ramp/dock because he was too afraid to jump. Lex and Kuya enjoyed swimming and wading through the deep but very clean and clear lake. We could see our feet and the weeds and the trunks of dead trees underwater. Someone told us that it was 20 feet from the dock and it goes deeper as you go towards the center of the lake, Good thing, we were wearing life vests. My children were very comfortable in the water, Sulit na Yung binayaran ko sa swimming lessons nila hahahaha. Even Kyle enjoyed the next day even requesting his dad for another round before the canoe ride.

I miss the hot summer days at the beach where our family always wanted to frolic! The white sand, the scorching sun and blue seas, but it was also fun here, even though the sun is out the water is still cold, what a contrast! If you have been to Bato Resort in Quezon or the Liliw or Nagcarlan resorts, you know what I am talking about.

I don't remember watching the just recently concluded summer Olympics with Lex but I know he may have watched it for sure especially the diving event because while we were at the dock, he told me he wanted to jump and while he was facing me, he started to put his feet on the edge of the ramp then he jump from that position turning around to face the lake until he makes the final jump, all by himself. I was dumbfounded! There was not a hint of fear on his face, That's my boy! After his famous jump, his dad and ninong Henry follow suit. All their pictures on synchronized jumping makes a good material for a TV ad, hahaha. Here's the video of Lex' jump:


Before dinner, we had a nice quiet time at the bench with the very nice view in front of us. An opportunity to have a reflection and think of God's mighty hand and abundant grace. Nature always give me that wonderful feeling and assurance of His love.

At night time, it was not as many mosquitoes as there was at Liebenzell so we enjoyed the night. We had a bible study before going to sleep, it was a very beautiful day.

Sharing one of my cherished possessions

In the movie The sound of Music, there was a litany of favorite things that the Von Trapp family sang. I have my own version and one of them is making memories, from planning trips, travelling, taking pictures of the places and my kids, collecting souvenir items and postcards to scrapbooking and making the photo books. Even if the events happened a long time ago, organizing the photos and Journalling bring back the happiest of memories.

My latest photo book was from our Hong Kong Disneyland trip back in 2009. This was our last holiday before we flew to Canada as immigrants. As we celebrate our 3rd anniversary in Canada, It's fun to look back. Here's our Disneyland trip from Summer 2009 - took 3 years to finish. This is for Sharyn too (her first trip outside the Philippines). Enjoy!

Link

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

It's been 3 years since we landed as immigrants in Canada and we have been blessed. God is faithful. Happy 3rd Anniversary in Canada. Thank you Lord.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

Top 7 Travel Qs

I liked what Benz asked for Nawies to fill up as Sunday Dream Qs .I am writing my travel dreams turning to realities..God willing :)

Here goes:

7 Places you want to bring your kids to in the Philippines
1. Bohol - Danao
2. Norte - Vigan, Laoag City, Batanes
3. Yung Casas na pinuntahan Nina Clarice
4. Intramuros Luneta at Divisoria
5. Yung pinagshootingan ng movie ni KC at Sam Milby sa CDO ba yun?
6. Palawan - Coron at El Nido
7. Banawe / Sagada

7 Places you want to bring your kids to outside the Philippines
1. New Cars land in Disneyland California
2. Paris at Nice France, London at iba pang European cities...Europe na Lang kaya? Lol
3. Beijing - Great Wall of China
4. Disneyland in Tokyo Yung me underwater park
5. Disneyworld at iba pang parks sa Florida - Harry Potter ba yun?
6. Australia
7. Grand Canyon, Arizona

7 Places you have been dreaming of going without kids (but with Lito of course)
1. Sanrio Puroland -ako Lang hahaha
2. Amanpulo
3. Bali, Indonesia
4. Greece
5. Italy
6. Yung mga telenovela places sa Korea
7. Hawaii

Top 7 Places you've been to (both in and out of the Philippines)
1. Panglao, Bohol
2. Puerto Princesa City
3. Caramoan
4. Singapore
5. HK Disneyland
6. Texas
4. New York City
5. Washington, DC
6. Niagara Falls
7. Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City

7 Travel Tips you can share
1. Travel light - can you imagine we are 5 in the family but we only bring 2 small luggages for a 3 day/2N trip
2. Bring chargers, USB
3. Plan ahead, use itinerary and hour by hour schedule to maximize the trip but also be flexible
4. Research on the travel destination for places to visit, hours of operation, fees and souvenir shops
5. Buy postcards from the place, mail to your kids, indicate the place you stayed, dates and memorable moments...Benz suggested this before.
6. Bring maps
7. Bring lots of money and credit cards hahaha

7 Memorable Travel Kwentos
1. Our family's first trip was in Bohol. Loved it. Kyle's was diagnosed with Bronco- Pneumonia and the doctor gave us a go signal even if he is sick. The fresh air helped and he was completely healed when we returned to Manila.
2. Puerto Princesa trip - our first getaway trip without the kids, parang honeymoon hehehe. Enjoyed The underground River.
3. HK Disneyland Trip - first time to see the wonder in my kids eyes upon arrival. Sulit na Sulit ang trip na Ito.
4. Caramoan trip - my first all girls weekend getaway leaving a 5-month old baby Lex in the hands of Ces and the nanny...Sobrang guilty ako dito but I knew mothers have to have a timeout. when I came back, I was recharged and the post partum blues gone.
5. Manhattan, New York City Trip - happing happy ang family namin when we saw ourselves in one of the billboards in Times Square sa live camera. Haha ang babaw!
6. Washington DC - Smithsonian Museums, my kids enjoyed this pero ang pinaka memorable para sa kin Ay Nung sinabi nila na this is where Megatron sat - dun sa Abraham Lincoln Memorial.
7. Texas and Upstate New York - my second business trip (Singapore Yung first when I was still single) where I had the chance to train Americans on the ISO Systems and my system AIMS in ADEC. It was a career milestone for me. That was also where I found out that I was pregnant with my 3rd child and that meant giving up on my working visa in the US and wait for our Canadian Immigrant Visa Approval.

10 ways not to be poor

I liked this article so much that upon reading this in the Toronto Sun newspaper today, I tore the page and brought it home for this blog. This is much more of a Filipino trait because we are really poor, but when you think of all the OFWs around the world and the money they send to their families, it's about time that they have moved on or progressed. Basta lahat ng Ito Ay para sa mga kababayan ko, please share to my fellow Filipinos working abroad and their families.

This is from Jerry Agar of the Toronto Sun:

The perpetually poor are not blameless. Anyone can find themselves in unplanned and unforeseen unfortunate circumstances. Most people by their own effort or with the help of others, overcome adversity. Some people, however, are perpetually poor. Why? Because they don't do the things required of them to move up and out. there are 2 parts to this , the first are the Seven Habits of highly UNSUCCESSFUL people:

1. Mismanaging the money they have. Some low-income people find a way to save for the future, but they do so by foregoing $300 Nike shoes or a 30k pesos cellphone.

2. Believing in the quick fix. The lottery is not the ticket to the future and it would be helpful if the government didn't advertise as much. sabihin pa para sa Philippine Charity.

3. Believing life itself is a lottery. Life isn't fair, but the accident of our birth, regardless of circumstances, is no guaranteed predictor of success or failure. Successful people weather the storms, while unsuccessful people see themselves as victims with no options.

4. Inability to manage emotions. Totoong totoo Ito sa Pilipino, masyadong EMO, di tuloy naka move up. Unsuccessful people get stuck in feelings of hopelessness, frustration and anger, letting those emotions rule them.

5. Picking the role model. Pinoy na Pinoy din Ito...grabe- sa artista sa politico, sa mga maraming asawa at mga mandaraya. Kung Sino Yung mga popular pero questionable ang character, yun ang idol nila, di ba tama? They let the unsuccessful people school them on the ways of life, rather than seeking out people who have overcome the same challenges they face.

6. Setting low goals. The problem is that once a low goal is achieved, the person feels that is all he or she can do. Pwede na ang pwede. setting unrealistic goals is also harmful, but goals should always be a bit higher than what has already been accomplished.

7. Believing in wishing and hoping. Pop culture self help programs encourage people to wish hard for success and claim it will simply happen. That is dangerous because it is appealing, something for nothing. It's like praying for success while forgetting God helps those who help themselves.

Everyone has a moral responsibility to provide for themselves as much as possible. The bible says- 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."

Here are the remaining pointers to avoiding poverty: Mga kababayan ko, Kung Hindi na natin kayang Gawin ang mga Ito, para na Lang sa mga anak natin.

8. Stay in school to at least to obtain a high school graduation.

9. Do not have children until you are able to financially care for them. To do otherwise is a form of child abuse. Anyone can fall on hard times, but if properly prepared before having children a person will recover for their own and their children's benefit.

10. Stay off illegal drugs and alcohol. It will not solve your problems, but are causing them.

Poverty is no excuse for crime, but violent crime tends to emanate from impoverished neighborhoods.

Siblings without rivalry

The complete title of this book is Siblings without Rivalry - How to help your children live together so you can live too., I've reading this book by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish and as I'm about to finish, I want to keep and remember the important points I learned. The skills parents need to maintain harmony, peace and love among their children. When a family establishes this kind of relationship among the children, it will have a domino effect on others and eventually in the world we live in. I hope every parent who read the book applies what he learns and contribute to the world peace we need.

Bulliyng - Bullies and victims of bullying are created from home so we should be cognizant of how our children act with their siblings.
For the bully
1. Instead of the parent treating the child as a bully, He can help him see that he is capable of being evil.
2. when the other siblings treat him as a bully, the parents can give the siblings a new view of their brother.
3. When the child sees himself as a bully, the parent can help him see his capacity for kindness.
For the victim
1. Instead of the parent treating the child as a victim (kakampihan), the parent can show her how to stand up for herself.
2. When the other siblings treat her as a victim, the parents can give the siblings a new view of herself.
3. When the child sees herself as a victim, the parent can help her see her potential strength.

When children fight - here are the steps how to intervene helpfully:
1. Start by acknowledging the children's anger towards each other. That alone should help calm them.
2. Listen to each child's side with respect.
3. Describe the problem with respect.
4. Express faith in their ability to work out a mutually agreeable solution.
5. Leave the room.

When the fighting is heading towards hurting:
1. Describe what's happening. Example I see one boy on a chair about to throw a truck.
2. Establish limits. Example This is a dangerous situation.
3. Separate them.

Children should have the freedom to resolve their own differences. Children are also entitled to adult intervention when necessary. If one child is being abused by the other, either physically or verbally, we've Got to step in. If there's a problem that keeps coming up tha hasn't yield to their solution, we've got to step in.

Helping children resolve a difficult conflict:
1. Call a meeting
2. Explain the ground rules for everyone.
3. Write down each child's feelings and concerns.
4. Allow each child time for rebuttal.
5. Invite everyone to suggest as many solutions as possible. Write down all ideas without evaluating. Let the kids go first.
6. Decide upon the solutions you can all live with.
7. Follow up.

More ways to encourage good feelings between siblings:
1. Make sure that each child gets some time alone with you several times a week.
2. When spending time with one child, don't talk about the other.
3. Don't withhold your affection or attention from your favorite child to make it up to a less favored child.
4. Don't lock the children into their position in the family order - oldest, middle, youngest. Allow each child the opportunity to experience some of the privileges and responsibilities of the other.
5. Let each child know what it is about him that his siblings like or admire
6. Schedule family meetings.