Perseverance Paid Off

After 10 months of swimming training (2 hours a day, twice a week) AS was finally able to join his first ever novice swimming competition held last June 11, 2017 at Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong City.

He missed his supposedly first novice competition last May 27 due to on and off fever of unknown cause.  Although he was a little disappointed, he graciously accepted the fact that he was not well enough to compete that time.

We woke up early because we had to be at Don Bosco by 6:30am.  What we felt was a mixture of excitement and nervousness.  Before we left, I sat down with AS and gently gave him the following reminders:

•  Just do your best.  Whether you win or lose, as long as you do your best, that is enough.  Just enjoy and have fun.
•  I reminded him of Philippians 4:13  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."; that he needs to acknowledge and depend on God and not on his own ability.  

And then we prayed.

It was a special time for me to be able to teach and encourage AS in one of his momentous event yet in his young life.

Stretching

Marikina Poseidon Swimming Club Novice and Class C participants

Wacky.  The calm before the storm. =P

As first-timers, we didn't know what to expect.  It was only there when we found out what events AS will be participating in.

Overall there was a total of 24 (I think..) events, with different categories: According to gender and age level.  There were A LOT of participants, and since the pool only has 6 lanes, it took us the whole day from start to end.  You could just imagine the organization it took for the Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas to execute this.

Don Bosco Technical College's 25m pool

This event was hosted by TYR

Praying before the competition

When I first saw the program of events, it looked like gibberish to me.  Thank goodness, a co-parent explained to me what it meant.

I found out that a "heat" in swimming is like a group of swimmers swimming the same event.  Example in event 2 (Boys 10 yrs and under, there were about 120 boys divided into "heats" or batches since there are only 6 lanes.)  they have to swim at different times. 

AS's events were:
Event 2  50m   Freestyle       Heat 14   Lane 1
Event 6  25m   Butterfly       Heat 11   Lane 2
Event 14  25m Backstroke   Heat 12   Lane 5
Event 18 25m  Breatstroke   Heat 12   Lane 1
Event 22 25m  Freestyle       Heat 12   Lane 2

While waiting for their events, they pass time by playing ice ice water / langit lupa, and of course...gadgets. =D

with his swim buddy

Waiting in line

 So in this heat, he placed first in 25m butterfly, but this doesn't mean he gets the gold.  After all the heats are done, their scores/ time will be tabulated for the overall ranking.  Also, the competition is both for novice and class C swimmers.  Once a swimmer surpasses the maximum time for novice, he/she gets elevated and classified as a Class C swimmer.

 At the end of the day, we finally got the results:

Event 2  50m   Freestyle       Heat 14   Lane 1         - Class C  2nd place 44.66sec
Event 6  25m   Butterfly       Heat 11   Lane 2          - Class C 5th place 24.38 sec
Event 14  25m Backstroke   Heat 12   Lane 5          - Novice 5th place 29.66 sec
Event 18 25m  Breatstroke   Heat 12   Lane 1          - Novice 6th place 29.66 sec
Event 22 25m  Freestyle       Heat 12   Lane 2          - I didn't get the result for this...

Praise the Lord!

It was truly a special and rewarding experience for As' hardwork and perseverance.  I saw him mature in areas of obedience (to his coach), discipline and perseverance.

With his coach, Mar Casas who is a dead ringer for Aljur Abrenica =P

Special thanks to Coach Mar for his patience and dedication in honing the skills of the kids. 

. 

Congrats Team Poseidon
photo credit: Lani Maningas
(we left early and missed this photo op)

It was a great, exhilarating and memorable first-time experience for us.  We are still on cloud nine. =D

 "I will give thanks to you Lord with all my heart." Psalm 9:1

Scholastic Book Buffet

I learned about the Scholastic warehouse sale from a fellow homeschooling mom since last April 5, 2017, and I've been wanting to visit the place with my kids.  But somehow I wasn't able to set a definite time on my schedule and so it was put off until almost near the last few days of the sale duration period.

Finally we were able to spontaneously go today.  The good thing was, there were very few people and non-existent line at the cashier.

It was our first time to visit Scholastic Warehouse Sale.  It is located at the Grolier Scholastic Warehouse in C. Raymundo St. Pasig.  Of course, being a warehouse, expect sweat on your backs
and dust on your hands.   Bring hand sanitizer and wipes.

The salesperson said that the available items/ books are limited in amount and choices
since most have been sold already.  Also, majority of the books included in the Book buffet are children's books and novels in paperback.  Even the Geronimo Stilton books, one of my son's favorite, are not part of the book buffet promo. Aw shucks.. :(

There is another section though where selected book titles which are not included in the book buffet, are being offered at discounted rates.  There we found Geronimo at 25% off.

Nevertheless we still enjoyed ourselves browsing through shelves of books.


We availed the Book Buffet box-all-you-can promo for only P799!

The mechanics are:
A box will be provided upon entry.  Box size is 11.5"x 10.75"x 6".  Not bad! =)
You are to fill the box to the rim with your choices.
Books beyond the rim will be excluded.
No folding or altering the shape of books.
No return no exchange policy for the buffet promo.

The other section not included in Book Buffet but are discounted

It took us quite a long time filling up the box because most of the titles were unfamiliar.  My son being a visual learner, still prefers books with at least some pictures in it.  I gave both of them the
free hand to choose books they like.
I got AS, some short novels too, hopefully he'll be able to enjoy them soon.  There are also some activity books for little SC but I found very limited choices for preschoolers.

Our filled-up box

Unboxing =P

Total bill for 32 items was P6,635.00 but we only paid P799.00 ! How awesome is that? =)

Grolier Scholastic Warehouse is located at:

70 C. Raymundo St. Pasig City

God of Wow

I found out too late that my class (grades 1-2) was supposed to pick a song to perform for the culminating activity of our church's vacation bible school (vbs) program, Follow the Clues.  All their favorite songs were already taken by the other levels.  Nevertheless I was expecting a little disappointment from them, but I was surprised when they excitedly chose (though not unanimously) the song "God of Wow".  Why this song? The actions to the song was difficult to learn.  It was already Friday, the last day of the 5-day vbs program.

As they started practicing (a few hours before their performance!! O_o), I felt goosebumps all over me as I was listening to the song.

The week before vbs,  DS and SC started getting sick.  Our househelper was set to go on vacation leave for the following week.  Workload was piling up one after the other.  I was beginning to feel anxious as I prepare for my lessons too.  And it didn't stop there.  The actual vbs week was most challenging for me,  because of schedule overload at home and office with key people out on leave. We were harriedly rushing from one place to another.

It was so tempting to grumble, to be discouraged, to feel embittered, to just want to throw in the towel.  It was so tempting to believe in the lies.

I immediately noticed these negative thoughts and feelings.  I turned to John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, I have come so that they might have life a have it to the full." 

It put me in proper perspective.  It was not God's idea to make me feel burdened, frustrated and even embittered towards another.  I chose to listen to His voice.

VBS week:  I had the privilege of being with my sons and nieces as I was bringing them to swim class in the morning, eating lunch together at home (or Mcdo drive-thru =P) before bringing them to vbs in the afternoon.  Afterwards, they would stay over in our house to play.  Our family of four temporarily became six.  I suddenly felt what it was like to have daughters. LOL.  I realized God's hand in this, allowing them to bond with each other and for me to minister to the children.  It was fun seeing them sing and dance the vbs songs, play and laugh together.

During class, I was privileged as well to be "mother" to eleven kids. Yes, I cannot escape the kids. When I lie down and when I wake, they are there... Haha.   It seemed like a daunting task.   Remember my initial anxiety?  What if I say the wrong things?  What if they ask hard questions? What if they get bored?  Etc, etc.  It was only when I began to humble myself and acknowledge that I cannot do it apart from God... that I experienced His peace.  All the preparation in the world wouldn't matter unless I surrender and let God take control of the things that worries me.  He is Sovereign after all.

In the five days that I was with the children, I was learning so much from them.  I saw how God uniquely made them and that He had special plans for each one.  There was the mischievous kid, the chatter-box, the competitive, the active, the smart, the slow-learner, the timid and shy (reminded me so much of myself when I was young 😁).  All of them so different yet equally loved by God.  In those five days, I fell in love with them too.

As I was telling something to the class, one of my students blurted out to me : "Can you be quiet because I'm trying to concentrate?"

I was taken aback for a moment,  but God supplied me with wisdom to respond swiftly.  I gently corrected her right then and there, addressing the whole class as well.  I asked her to speak politely when talking especially to elders like parents and teachers.  She accepted the correction gracefully.

At the end of the program, that same kid surprised me when she came up to me, hugged and kissed me and told me "I love you".  ❤☺

Two more kids, gave me a copy of their photobooth picture so that I could remember them daw.  How sweet..☺

I was also privileged to have a face painting stint during the culminating program.  Kids with apprehensive looks lined up.  I was also apprehensive at first because it was my first time to do this. It should be done with some degree of speed to accommodate a number of kids in a short amount of time. But seeing their faces turned into grins when I showed the mirror was priceless.

Heartwarming. Amazing. Humbling.

Serving in vbs was tiring and challenging: mentally, physically, emotionally, but remains to be one of the most rewarding feeling ever.  I could never have felt this amazing experience had I chose to do things my own way.   It was amazing how God supplied all our needs, how He supernaturally moved and orchestrated everything.  Praise the Lord!  

In the end, all I can say is... WOW!!!




GOD of Wow
by Sovereign Grace Music

VERSE 1 
You have no birthday, You have always been 
You alone have no beginning and no middle and no end 
You’re always with me, You are everywhere 
In New Jersey or in Egypt, even outer space – You’re there 
Everything You are and do is unbelievable but true 

CHORUS 
You’re the God of Wow! Amazing! How could this be? 
You’re the God of Whoa! You’re more than I could ever, ever dream 
The more I learn about You exclamation points abound 
To the God of Wow! 

VERSE 2 
You’re never needy, how could You be? 
You made everything on Earth and in the sky and in the sea 
You’re never lonely, the Trinity! 
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet You’re reaching out to me 
Inviting me to come to You–Inconceivable, but true! 

BRIDGE 
I can’t find the words that could be big enough, loud enough 
There could be no song that I could sing enough or shout enough 
When I want to praise Your name but don’t know how 
I just say Wow! Amazing! How could this be? 
And I say Whoa! You’re more than 
I could ever, ever dream 

TAG 
Designer of the dinosaurs, Mapper of the ocean floor 
Of all the wows below, above, the best of all is Your great love 
You’re the God of Wow! 

It's more fun at Fun Farm!

Because of the 2015 APEC summit here in Manila, there is a long school holiday from November 17-20. Days before, I was already thinking of places to go and activities to do for the family.

My son had been to Fun farm before as part of their school field trip.  So I decided to send a text message to Fun Farm if they can accommodate our group of 8, since I will bring the kids' cousins with us.  They replied that my preferred dates, Nov 18 or 19 were already fully-booked!  I guess other parents were prudently planning way ahead of me.  So it was November 17 for us.

Since November 17 was the arrival of most APEC leaders, we were caught in heavy traffic at C5 upto Market Market going to SLEX.  We left The Shoe Capital of the Phils at 6:00am and arrived at Fun Farm Sta Elena, Laguna by 9am.  Not bad.

Let the FUN begin!

 Entrance fee is at P300 per head .  I don't have children below 2 years old anymore.  Boohoo.

We were greeted by the friendly manager Ms. Wilma.  I learned that the place is owned by Rustans Group.  I am glad that they are limiting the numbers of visitors maybe to preserve the tranquility of the farm and for the welfare of animals, which is why you need to make reservations first.

 Kids head off to the first thing they saw: the teepee play area where they played and explored.   It was situated near the entrance on a big well-trimmed lawn.  Here they run freely like kids should.

 Sprawled in the same big lawn, you will find a vintage truck, tractor, golf cart, playground, the sand house and other obstacle / team-building activities.

 Don't you just love to have something like this in your backyard?

 Next we went to the mini fishing pond, where the kids actually get to try fishing using a bamboo stick with worms as bait.  The friendly staff helped hook the worms.  

 Only my niece and our helper caught fish (tiny fish) which were safely returned back to the pond.

After fishing, we went to the horse back riding and carabao cart riding area.  My excited AS went first.

Then "Chocnut" the carabao came by.  My SC who is so fascinated with animals was a little hesitant seeing all these up-close and in real life.  He was still a baby when we first brought him to Avilon zoo.  He nervously agreed to ride Chocnut.  

Our carabao cart ride

Everyone took turns riding horses.  The white one is called Daniella while the dark brown is Glamour.  I learned that Glamour used to be a polo club horse but was injured.  Maybe that explains her aggressiveness.  

Little SC was again hesitant to ride a horse.  He initially didn't want to.  But along came this little pony (I forgot his name) who charmed his way to convincing SC to ride him.

This was SC's stiff smile in the beginning.  After riding around, he felt more relaxed and happily posed for this picture.

Next we head on to the zipline area.  See video below:

After several repeats on the zipline, the kids finally decided to move on to the animal feeding area.

Here they were greeted by hungry but adorable guinea pigs and rabbits.  There were also generous amount of carrot sticks available for the kids to feed the animals.

 The cute guinea pigs fighting over one piece of carrot stick.

 There are wash areas where the kids can wash hands after feeding and petting the animals.

.  More animals.

Finally it was lunch time.  We head back to the Pavillion where we left our snacks and lunch we brought on the way to Fun farm.  You must bring your own food but there are water and other drinks for sale.  It was so convenient that we can leave our bags (clothes and food) inside the Pavillion while exploring the farm.  

Cool signage idea in the restrooms: hens and roosters!

Washroom has cold water, soap and alcohol.

 Inside the pavilion where you can eat lunch picnic-style.  It was surprisingly cool and airy even at mid-day.

Fun Farm is aptly called because, well, it really is FUN!  I am glad we were able to bond and make memories with the kids, enjoy the beauty of God's creation, experience farm activities and really PLAY without electronics.

Praise the Lord for this experience.

To Fun Farm:  Take SLEX , exit at Cabuyao.  Then turn right after toll gate.
About 500 meters you will see Sta. Elena Village gate.  Enter and ask guard for directions going to Fun Farm.

For reservations, call or text : 09209131349