Family Matters: For Time and All Eternity

29 May 2021 Anatolin and I attended the Missionary Fireside tonight with our eldest daughter, Cerah Hennah. While Sister Peterson and President Peterson were sharing their message, it's as if God was talking to me directly. It was a revelatory moment.  As parents, we get frustrated especially during this pandemic when our children have irregular or abnormal activities. My husband and I grew up in the church. Recently, we would often ask each other how we could help our children have the same enthusiasm we had when we were in our youth, being anxiously engaged in missionary work, seminary and institute, personal prayer and scripture study, family council, family home evening, family history work and all. We have been a little more consistent doing those things as a family but we are sometimes unsure if our children just do things for the sake of doing them and just participate casually. But I was reminded today. Through the workings of the Spirit, the words o...

On May 9th,Kamaile and Addilyn woke up super early to set up this Mother's Day Spa. It's so sweet of them and all the other kids to remember the mothers and give them a special treat they deserve. We just realized the Hernandos love surprises as much as we do. Neuroscience tells us that surprises are an essential element to live a full, engaged, and happy life.  Undoubtedly, all the riches in the world do not come close to the happiness of having children and being a mother ❣️

This month 6 years ago, we won the ACE National Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Award in Cebu City.  We introduced online teaching and learning in 2008 (13 years ago) to small community who are up for a change and when internet in the Philippines was notoriously slow, unstable and expensive. Online learning has shown significant growth over the last decade, as the internet and education combine to provide people with the opportunity to gain new skills, much more since the COVID-19 outbreak. Online learning has become more centric in people’s lives. The pandemic has forced schools, universities, and companies to remote working and this booms the usage of online teaching and learning.  Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. -William Pollard

In our gospel study this morning, we were reminded that marriage between a man and a woman is essential to Heavenly Father's plan for two reasons: Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation. Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children. We know that these truths about marriage and other doctrines and principles we learn in our daily scripture study and understanding how to recognize true manifestations of the Holy Spirit can protect us from Satan's deceptions and imitations.

Every moment together counts, so we make the most of our family time and turn bonding into a lifetime of funny, sweet stories and lasting memories.

Child abuse is wrongly or improperly treating a child in a way that causes injury or serious offense. It can take in many forms: -Physical abuse or neglect -Emotional abuse -Sexual abuse Family members can help stop abuse and protect and get help for those who have been injured. Children who have been abused need kind, caring attention from family members and others.  TO KEEP THE ABUSE SECRET OFTEN ALLOWS IT TO CONTINUE. Join our discussion at https://youtu.be/PMNveyJZkrE

It is so comforting to know that the  universal  bond  created  by  listening to  songs  and singing together can provide support as our children begin to explore the art of music and associate feelings of comfort, love, and  bonding  with music in general.

And because Cerah has recently received her earnings from her own YT channel, she bought herself a gift! Her glasses plus a gift to her mom, a GL-290 keyboard! 🥰

I am grateful beyond words.I can't thank my family enough for putting so much effort into making my day absolutely unforgettable. That feeling of belonging and love when you get surprises. They will be in my heart forever. It's definitely worth getting a year older.

This time last year, despite our tight schedule, we prioritized enrolling in BYU Pathway Connect because we knew it would help us elevate our practical, professional and university skills, and we were right! We completed the course after a year. It has helped us become better disciple leaders. It has increased our ability to serve our family and everyone around us. We have developed good habits and skills that have eternal consequences. Our desire to be more self-reliant has deepened. We were reminded that support, understanding, and spiritual guidance cannot come from the emotionally starved and spiritually weak. In his talk, " Two Principles for Any Economy " President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said: "Education is not so much the filling of a bucket as the lighting of a fire. For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea—it’s a commandment." In the April 2009 Ensign article "Learning and Latter-day Saints, " Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught: ...

So just recently, we made dad's morning routine. This is his other routine early morning before going to the market or sometimes in the afternoon after doing other more urgent tasks. Our dad is a farm boy. He grew up in the farm. One of his dreams is to be an agriculturist. We think our dad is really the best at everything he does! We love you dad! 

Our dad loves cooking! In fact, he cooks better than our mom. He says this is his small way of showing his love to his wife and to his children. We are so lucky to have such a handsome chef in the family!

In the morning, mom and dad usually have companionship prayer and scripture study but today, mom woke up earlier than dad to finish some projects. We came up vlogging his morning routine because we are impressed everyday that when everyone wakes up, dad surprises us with a nice breakfast he buys himself from the market. We have the best dad ever!  Video Edited by Ammon Jarom 

ISANG PIRASO NG LANGIT (LYRICS) Composed & Arranged by Mon del Rosario  Performed by Lani Misalucha Tahanang itinayo ni Nanay at Tatay PAG-IBIG ang bubong Ang dingding ay PAGMAMAHAL Bintana at pinto Pinatibay ng TIWALA RESPETO ang haligi ng aming abang dampa Ang aming tahanan Isang piraso ng langit Kahit na sa ginto’y di ko ipapalit Walang saysay ang tagumpay Kung malungkot ang tahanan Pamilyang masaya Langit lamang ang kapantay Dalangin ko sa Maykapal Pamilya’y makapiling Magpakailanman

Today, I commend my reading buddy, Anatolin,  who also finished reading President Dallin H. Oaks' book, LIFE'S LESSONS LEARNED, Personal Reflections. President Oaks gets personal sharing his experiences that helped shape his life, from being raised by a widowed mother, losing his wife to cancer, to making the transition to full-time Church service as a General Authority. Anatolin shared learning more deeply the purpose of adversity, the importance of respecting those with whom we disagree personally or politically, the merits and limitations of law, the blessings of tithing, the seeming conflict between science and religion, the Lord's use of imperfect people to further His work, and the power of the Atonement to recover those who have fallen behind. President Oaks'  powerful testimony of the Savior and His mission were woven throughout the book.

Today in our family home evening, we had a glimpse of the majesty and glory of our Heavenly Father’s handiwork. We spent the evening outdoors observing the night sky and stargazing. Fortunately, everyone saw a shooting star. For  some people, it is the sign of a good beginning; while, others take it a symbol of ending. Whether it is true or not, one thing is absolute: THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD. Heavenly Father, through His Son, is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. To Moses, He declared: “I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name. … “And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:3, 33). Astronomers, with the aid of powerful instruments, are helping us glimpse the extent of God’s dominions. The more we learn, the more incredible our view of God’s creations becomes.

It’s been difficult not to be stressed by everything that is happening due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have less income, less projects with clients, less liberty, less association with friends and relatives, not to mention the disrupted routines. Yet there are many things to be thankful for. Enhanced quarantine would mean enhanced family time. Surely, we have more of the most valuable currency — time. We are grateful for this privilege of slowing down. We get to have every meal with all family members and enjoy nice conversations without rushing. We have more time organizing our homes than ever. And to me, more time writing. To enliven the quarantine experience, we can  find many things to do with our family to keep us busy and productive.  How about you? How are you keeping yourself and your family busy while under community quarantine?

“I urge all the people of this church to give serious attention to their family histories, to encourage their parents and grandparents to write their journals, and let no family go into eternity without having left their memoirs for their children, their grandchildren, and their posterity. This is a duty and a responsibility. ... Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity.”   - Spencer W. Kimball In the days of Adam, genealogy was kept. In the days of Nephi, how glad the people were when they received the records of their fathers, and hundreds of years after Lehi came to the promised land, men could rise up and say, "I am a descendant of Nephi, or Jacob, or Zoram," because they kept these records. In the early stage of our marriage, Anatolin and I did our best to capture memories o...

Millions of people’s lives have been put on hold because of this COVID-19 pandemic the world is currently battling. It is challenging to stay positive and level-headed especially when we have children to protect. The   effects it’s having on our mental well-being is undeniable. However, my husband, Anatolin and I do our best to stay calm and keep going. In this time of uncertainty and fear, we teach our children that we are stronger together.  Though this virus outbreak is an unprecedented phenomenon for us all, our family had a strong impression that   what’s in front of us may be serving us in valuable ways we don’t even understand right now.  While it is true that the situation is constantly evolving and we are presented with a new set of challenges every day, it also is impacting our communities in so many positive ways. While stargazing the other night, Anatolin shared how grateful he was of our choice to be together 24/7 since the beginning ...