Homeschooling 101: Life is a picnic in the park

Dec.7,2016

9:02am

Last Monday, Dec.5 saw us at the Aspire Park for a closing Picnic with the Doha Home Educators parents and kids.

I’d say, we were all in all approximately a group of 60-70 heads.

It was such a lovely day with a cool weather..the sun was not biting at all.

The green grass was so lovely and the sky so blue.

Picture perfect.

Marina had a chance to bond with some new found friends and strolled to a nearby bridge and had photos with them. She has been reminding me to ask one mom for copies. She told me also about a newcomer to the group who is Irish. She was so amused by the young lady’s accent.

My little one surprised me by her self confidence level. She went to the playground herself in search for her sister.

I had to remind her though not to do that without telling me…since I was busy chatting and did not realize she strolled away…anyway, it was a nice feeling for me to see her walking back from the playground after I realized  around 2 minutes that she was not around.

She also claimed her certificate of attendance under the big tent when her name was called without need for encouragement. Her big sister was beaming with pride and happiness too seeing her do this.

They are so looking forward to the spring Co-op next year.

Hope it does not run conflict with our March 2017 plans.

Hopefully, no more flu bouts that cost us 2 sessions.

Ending this blog with some photos and some thoughts on how to teach our kids to have  a good sense of self and yet truly humble in the face of adversity or rejection.

“Life on earth has this mark; it cannot be without burden. This is normal. Faith brings no illusion of a life without consequences and demands. Being open to the imperfections of human nature — being subject to time; being limited by space; being affected by human emotions and relations; becoming vulnerable to pain and sickness.

Let us make (our kids) them experience our presence and concern. Let us share with them the gift of our time and attention, and the gift of our active listening and understanding.”

Thus, although life is not always a nice walk in the park, we can still make the best of the situation by having a smile in the heart knowing we are loved and accepted as we are no matter what.

HomeSchooling 101: Going Vananas! Let's build our Home School!

December 1,2016

7:04am

My sleep was rested, but, many times, I woke up having extended thoughts of this and that and a dream of mom and dad.

Mom and dad were busy tinkering about their unfinished home. It was roughly finished but had a very good vision of things to come with the right amount of time, effort and resources.

Have been wondering the message since 5am this morning.

Dad’s first year death anniversary is fast approaching and I just verbalized to a good friend that I have been so sad and morose about it all.

It is only these past few days that I have been zealous to wipe off the dusty cobwebs from my mind and the gloomy rainy weather here in Qatar has not been helping much.

Anyway,  Marcelina and I are still trying to battle the nasty cough we have as a residue of the awful bout we had with fever. Marina started it on the 14^th of November and battled it for almost a week while Marcelina and I had a long extended fight with it. It was most relentless and virulent.

I am on my 2^nd bottle of cough syrup (made in France) which taste so heavenly like Vanilla Ice Cream while Marcelina is content with a bottle made in Jordan and tastes like green tea.

Anyway, today, the question I want to pursue is this:

Have you fully grasped your life’s purpose?

Contemplating on the past 6 weeks with Doha Home Educators and the wonderful photos of my kids and other home schooled kids, makes me really happy and grateful for the journey I have had with  the inspiration and then the decision to home school the girls.

It is not easy to stay on course especially when challenges come that almost always blows out your steam or steals the wind from your sail.

The almost decade of  pursuing education inside our home was not easy to say the least…but oh so worth it when  I see my 5 year old  so diligent to finish her seat work and   bask in their dad’s reaction to her work. He  thought it was Marina’s work…

So, yes, this morning, the sun is thank God shining so brightly, and  the course is still set at acquiring education within our home, with our own efforts and timetable whether  people around approves of   it or not.

Home Schooling 101 : Goin Vananas!

November 1,2016

10:34pm

Hi blogging sphere!!!

I am back!

Indeed, I am back with a new perspective and a purpose. Not that I didn’t have one before…but, I just got a bit derailed with certain events, that did put a damper on my days.

The dark nights are over. The storm clouds are passing. The rays of hope are shinning once again.

My blog format will change in tone and theme a bit.

I am waiting for my technical support hubby to work on a new button on my current blog site and in the meantime, will  put my 365 Days with the Lord to drafts while I refocus on Homeschooling with the girls.

I will continue doing my  daily reflections privately first.

The focus  is on  our daily homeschooling efforts.

Actually, months ago,  the girls and I gathered on my bed drawing plans for this coming December and new year.

We brainstormed for ideas and the why’s of our Vlog  on youtube and  the projects.

We finalized the reasons   and the name.

Going Vananas!

Our  tagline: When life throws you lemons,  what are you to do? Answer: make a lemonade! When life goes bananas, what do you do? Answer: Make a  choco banana milkshake, banana cake, banana fritters, banana Q, banana split etc. etc.

Cheesy? Corny?

But...the list is endless as the possibilities.

So why Vananas?

V stands for Victory and my first born’s first name Victoria Marina.

The first Ana is me, Angelli Anne.

Then the second Ana is my 2^nd born, Ana Marcelina.

We hope to learn and improve our video editing skills which at present is zero.

We have a handful of videos already awaiting  editing and release.

*** **** ****

Marina is using second hand books for her 7^th grade curriculum. She is trying her best to work out her irritation of seeing answers on blanks. I stress to her mastery over speed and to work on her attitude to determine a better altitude.

The best people did not have it easy. Abraham Lincoln had to   contend with one book and walk miles to borrow another one for his own education, I think? Hope I am not mistaken with my facts.

Marcelina on the other hand will be working on her old books and free curriculum until we get her 2^nd set of grade one books. Hopefully real soon.

We are focusing currently on mental math and learning to speak 2 languages. That will keep us real busy till the new year.

**** *** ***

Last night and today, most people of the western world are busy with parties of costumes and fun. I like that, but this year, we have toned down that part. Instead we had an early tradition building of having our own brand of thanksgiving last October 21,2016.

The girls hand painted  the  HAPPY THANKSGIVING  banner.  I worked on the ribbed carton tree while Marina made the fall colored leaves where our guests would write their thanksgiving notes on. It was real fun!  Even beyond the date, anybody who would come in our home, would be asked to  add a leaf to our tree.

Ruel found it corny…but later on warmed up to the idea.

Gratitude is one of the best attitude one can ever have.

***** ****

Tomorrow I will blog more on  our participation on the Doha Home Educators Fall Coop.  A very wonderful experience for all of us to renew and refresh our own homeschooling efforts.

For One More Day With Mom

September 14,2014

5:28am

It is mom’s 78^th birthday today.

I have been avoiding writing about her lately because, missing her is a bit painful this year. Why? Well, suffice it to say, that these are the times, I would need a mother’s presence and  words most .

 I cannot help celebrating the month of September without   remembering or  honoring  my mother’s memory.

September is also the nativity month of  my powerful , spiritual mother, Our Blessed Lady.

It is not easy.

I am bombarded with thoughts and consideration of the inevitable, our own, my own mortality.

I just realized again, with much regret and remorse,  that we do not know the time or the manner, but,  death, is most certain.

The picture and  gruesome news of how some  people were robbed of their life, has left me, quite shaken to the core.

It is quite an insecure and  uncomforting thought.

That is why, I seek comfort and refuge, that my Lord and my Savior, has conquered death for me, already.

The battle has been won.

I simply have to make my decision, to follow  with faith, hope and love safely tucked in my heart , mind and soul.

A few weeks ago, by chance, a book fell into my lap and it has signaled the theme of my blog today.

Mitch Ablom’s For One More Day.

What if we are given a chance to spend one more day with a lost love one, how would we spend it?

What are the questions we would ask?

What are the places and activities we would do?

Oh how I long to snuggle  in bed with my mom.

Spend quiet times with her.

Listen to the beating of her heart.

Hold her  arms and hands.

Cherish the visible veins in her hands with all the years of child care  for 9 kids.

Whew!

Wonder how painful the swelling of her  uric acid build up in the tips of her fingers that has given her the trade mark shape. Like  tamarind shells.

Last year, around October, I was blessed to see her in a dream. She was all smiles. She was most radiant.

Oh, how, I long to see her that way again.

To see her beam over her grandchildren.

To  update her of  their growth milestones.

I would love for her to listen to  her namesake, Marcelina or Lilli, who, exclaimed, the other day, at McDonalds play area, much to the delight of her Ate, “ Oh, this is just so interesting!” mimicking her favorite pig, Peppa!

I am sure, mom would  be super pleased at how her Marina loves to hear stories of her. How she loves the  crossword puzzle. How she  loves to read and how her granddaughter pursues these  linguistic pleasures as well.

And,  maybe, how she would gently remind me of my figure.  I have not yet been serious about one of her last directives to me, to maintain a pleasing shape.

And, how, I would  bask in her non-critical  encouragement to take care of myself better.

Knowing, without the need to hear the words, that she truly loves me, just for being me.

Mom, thank you.

I so miss you!

VLOG Number 1

Magnificent May 14.2014

12:55am

I am blogging for yesterday.

Since the scorching heat has descended here in the land of sands, our activities has moved more to the early evening so we can make the best of the cooler air. We love, of course, going to the nearby park.

We had our badminton games in the common area of our flats, which I prefer to call, our courtyard ( please excuse my frustration of English estates and castles, hahaha!)…anyway, we started at 6pm.. to avoid the heat.

Yesterday, we started around 5pm, and oh me oh my, it felt like a sauna bath.

Very good for burning fat.

Here is a recap of my food intake:

Breakfast:  Kellog’s cereals    ( 1 bowl) with sugar and milk  

( making a mental note to use honey next time)

Lunch:  yummy and lovingly prepared Vietnamese Spring Rolls.      ( maybe had more than 7 rolls) while Marcelina had around 5. Happy mom!

Snacks:  handful of raisins &  fried peanuts ( cooked by Ruel)

Dinner:  5  rolls  leftover from Lunch and approximately  1 bowl  of Vermicelli soup with minced chicken meat and carrots plus  yellow ginger, onions and garlic with a few slices of Baguio Beans.

As to my water intake, 10 glasses. Very good. I will try to measure our glass as to how much it really can contain tomorrow.

I did a video earlier....VLOG, but, it takes like forever to upload it. I still have yet to find a way on how to do it faster.

My goals for tomorrow, be more accurate in my measurements of my food portions.

Thank you God for another  fulfilling day!

Hello Quinoa!

Magnificent May 7,2014

11:52pm

Tonight, my dear friend Jazeela introduced me to her cooking.

Yummy spicy chicken with lots of Capsicum.  So yummy!

She paired it off with sauted Quinoa.

She has been raving about this to me.

And I am now a passionate believer.

I just love this  discovery.

It is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, calcium, Vitamins and minerals.

It is almost like a cereal grain but it is of the grass family.

The seeds are the one that is edible.

I ate a handful and it was filling enough.

My goodness, I am going to hunt it in Lulu. It cost QR44/ 450 gm. And comes all the way from Peru.

I believe,  its nutritional and dietary benefits is worth every Riyal.

Thanks to Jazeela again, I know my latest weight. I hesitated to print it since, it is quite frustrating after the more than 2 months of no rice.

The  softdrink and super fatty burgers and fries we ate the other night for Mari’s bday  might be the culprit.

Tonight as well, since  we were invited by another neighbor for their daughter’s 6^th bday  party  I onceagain broke the resolve to stay away from the  Coke.

Again, tomorrow is another day.

Happy Birthday Marina!

Marvelous May 4,2014

10:24pm

Last night I saw pictures of you when you were almost 1 year old.

It was Ninang Hazel’s photos that I haven’t seen yet.

I am so amazed at how time flies.

Tomorrow, my dear Victoria Marina, you will have made me a mother for 11 years now.

You are my first born.

My trial and error.

I am writing to you openly, because, you are my first avid blog fan…as I am your first cheerleader.

I thank you for coming to my life, for making it richer and more colorful.

It has not been an easy ride.

There are times I feel lost and confused and frustrated  on how to become the best mother to you.

Do  continue to forgive Mama, when I am not so loving, and more stern to you.

Do remember the many, many times, Mama truly, made you feel LOVED and SPECIAL.

Because you truly are, LOVED and very SPECIAL.

Giving you the gift of a sister, does not make that LOVE any less, nor you LESS SPECIAL.

Mama’s heart is so big and wide, it can accommodate you both comfortably, with more, overflowing for refill.

Thank you for being  just you, my artist in residence, my future Consellor, who can argue and debate with me and put me in check when I am not being consistent with my talk.

Always remember the values of  God, Prayer and Family, and you will always make me happy and proud to be simply called, Mama.