Family Matters: For Time and All Eternity

We all know that creating memories with our children is powerful. But the day to day hustle and bustle can leave us short on time and zapped of energy. It is even harder in this age of social media and constant stimulation from outside sources. However, it only becomes possible if we put it on top of our priority and not with our "leftover time".  My husband, Anatolin and I both agree that our own childhood memories helped define who we are today. Even if we can’t quite remember everything about childhood, there are those moments that stick with us no matter how old we get.  We also want our children to be able to look back on their own childhood and recall all the special moments we had together. We know it will provide them with positive things to look back upon when teen or adult life gets too hard. They’ll be able to cherish these times forever.  Here are 23 ideas we found interesting and fun that can help you begin creating your own memories w...

As parents, it is just right to worry and  calculate the finances required to run a family. But this often leads to realization that the cost of raising a child, education, bills, etc. is substantial. Not to mention the need for planning our retirement.  So, the money we may be getting may not seem sufficient, especially recently that the inflation is so high and we can't help but chase after it. Yet in the process, we have observed that many forget their real reasons and spend much of their time and energy chasing after money, expecting it to bring them happiness, success, and for it to solve all their problems in life but end up burned out and suffer from mental anguish.  Every family has unique circumstances but this is what we received as an answer to our prayers and queries:  In The Book of Mormon , King Benjamin counseled , “ See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has stre...

While staying in Tarlac during our vacation, we visited SM Mall to walk around and window-shop for a few hours. After having lunch at Mr KIMBOB, the kids insisted to drop by Tom's World, where they enjoyed kiddie rides when they were young.  We bought a hundred peso worth of tokens (the limit our family set to use in such arcades) and gave our children the option of using their coins to play any game they wanted. They were drawn to these claw machines. They all played these attractive machines attempting to win a stuffed toy. Observing all of them, Anatolin and I saw the disappointment from their faces after each failed attempt. Our children finally gave up except our youngest who was very persistent to capture a toy. When she was out of coins, she asked for more and insisted many times that if she had one more chance to play, she knew she could win the prize. Her older siblings then gave her a very important lesson. The same lesson we taught them when they were her age...

The photos above were taken 17 years ago when I was 5-month pregnant with our first child, Cerah. I was blessed to have such a caring husband during and after my pregnancies with our four children. Taking over the household chores, offering to rub my lower back when I have been standing for a while, a shoulder & feet massage, the encouragements and reassurances, hugs, morning and afternoon walks, accompanying me to doctor's appointments and all simple acts of love and support greatly reduced my stress and helped me endure all heartburn, constipation, shortness of breath, dizziness and sleepless nights.  All pregnancies are unique, and while some women find it the toughest time, I treasured every pregnancy I had because I had a supportive and patient husband who understood that it’s the hormones that caused my emotional roller coaster. 

In the Old Testament, we read that Elijah experienced God’s supernatural strength to do the extraordinary. But at a latter part, we find Elijah fearful, running scared, exhausted, depressed, and wanting to die.  “Enough Lord, let me die” was his cry. The continuous stresses he faced consumed the last of his energy, his ability to go on and to say: "I  have had enough; I would rather die than go on facing this day in and day out”.  Elijah was a man just like us. Stress is all around us, perhaps not as extreme as for Elijah, but it's just around the corner, always consuming spiritual, emotional and physical energy. It can be forced on us by circumstances or induced by the choices we make.  Colin Buckland describes burnout in “Freedom to Lead”: “The exhausting of the inner resource that enables a carer to go on caring. The using up of the essential ‘inner you’, rendering the individual in a serious condition of dysfunctionality. The spending of self on other...

As we review and better understand the ultimate and eternal purposes for which we are raising our children, we are reminded that everything we do in our family here on earth should prepare us and our children to be like our Heavenly Father and to live in and lead eternal families. We are not simply caring for our children until they can leave home—we are training infinitely precious children of God to someday be worthy to receive all that the Father has. Our ultimate goal within our family is to prepare our sons and daughters to be worthy of the great blessings the Lord has promised them if they are true and faithful.    The most fundamental responsibility we have as righteous parents is to prepare our children for eternal possibilities and bless them. We create conditions and circumstances, opportunities and privileges, that will encourage their spiritual success. Our teachings, behavior, activities—everything we do should bring the blessings of righteousness ...

I am turning 40 in a few weeks and I am neither young nor old. As I reassess my life, revisit my goals, and plan ahead, I want to make my midlife worth living.  Truly, starting life at forty means that life becomes better with the skills and experiences necessary for an enjoyable life. I need not settle on "midlife crisis" which is considered by many as normal part of the life span. I want to focus on the truth that many people also achieve new highs at work or in other domains during these years. I will make this year my best decade yet. This is the best time for me to explore new experiences, opportunities and privileges. To those who continuously love,  support and care for me, thank you so much! 

Finding time for regular scripture study is a real challenge for most parents like us, but with heaven's help, inspirations and creative preparations, we can excite the entire family and make gospel study a habit.  In our early morning family devotional at the beach today, we had a spiritual experience appreciating the beauty of the earth and the creations. We also had a deeper understanding of what it means to “have dominion … over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. We had the opportunity to discuss how our family can fulfill our responsibility to care for the earth and each one bore their testimony of God's love through His creations. We are grateful for the ocean breeze, soft sand, rolling waves, the sun that gives us warmth and light and for our wonderful bodies that we can work, play, have fun and rest.   Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have shown great love for us by providing for all of our ...

President Russel M. Nelson taught that Adam and Eve were joined together in marriage for time and for all eternity by the power of the everlasting priesthood.  I am grateful for the daily companionship study with Anatolin, whom I knelt at the altar in the house of the Lord 16 years ago. Learning and studying together, facing challenges together and overcoming them as one, growing in love and understanding, and through temple ordinances, bound together as one whole, eternally. Truly, seeking a marriage and family that will last throughout eternity is one of the greatest pursuits of mortality.

Everyday, we wake up before sunrise. As we study Genesis 1st this morning and witness the sunrise, we can say with gratitude, wonderment, and awe that indeed, “all things which God had made were very good”!  Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, “Whatever the details of the creation process, we know that it was not accidental but that it was directed by God the Father and implemented by Jesus Christ”.  We are grateful to experience feelings of reverent awe as we give thoughtful consideration to what the gift of the Creation means to us.

In 2021, we experienced much joy and challenges, moments of faith and moments of uncertainty, successes and failures, opportunities to exercise our faith, repent, make covenants and have spiritual experiences. We are grateful for the strength beyond our own and not giving up in our efforts to obey God and continue to progress in our covenant path.  We welcomed 2022 here at Morning Breaks Office, Bauang LU. I woke up at 6 in the morning and found Anatolin reading the scripture. We prepared our breakfast together and had our companionship study.  This year, we are both excited to study the Old Testament, one of the world's oldest collections of writings, yet it is another witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Our goal is to find personal meaning in the Old Testament and come closer to Jesus Christ by finding Him in our readings and study. We know this is possible with His spiritual guidance, pondering more patiently, and seeking greater faith.  ...

We are looking forward to starting and completing our chosen course this fall semester. Child Development course is a theoretical, academically oriented course focusing on the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the child from conception through adolescence. As parents ourselves and assisting and giving support to other children, we are excited to learn and  explore the influences of family, peers, and social institutions on the child's development.  We know that connecting the dots between what we learn and what we do takes creativity and even stepping outside our comfort zone.Our most favorite part is searching for daily opportunities at home and at work to apply what we learn.

Our family was very sick for days  and we had to be quarantined. From this experience, we realized isolation and loneliness can exacerbate anxiety and depression, and even impact our physical health. We learned that it's important to stay connected as best we can and reach out for support when we needed it. We needed reassurance, advice, or a sympathetic ear during this difficult time. Even if we were stuck at home, after the illness, we did our best to stick to the regular things we did to maintain a sense of normalcy and relieve at least some of the anxiety. With the right outlook and intentions, we can all ensure that kindness and charity spread throughout our communities even faster than the virus. We are so grateful for the Hernandos who have been so helpful to our family. They would check on us daily and give us food, essential oils, medication and assistance. The calls from our family members, their prayers and support have also helped us recover faster.  In...

Keeping our children in church was not always easy, but it was worth the effort! We have been doing it for years before this pandemic. From their very first Sunday for their naming and blessing to the ordaining of our youngest son as a deacon.  We went to church with all the bags packed, clothes buttoned up, shoes slipped on and all. As I observe, having one baby in church can be difficult for some. Fathers and mothers taking turns in taking out a crying or yelling child.  Having a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, and a first grader in church felt like a marathon and was exhausting. Stopping a baby from crawling out of the aisle, while another child needs reminder to sit still. It was noisy, messy, distracting, and so on. Whew!  Well, yes. I even can't imagine now how we managed to do them for about 16 years!Thanks to my diligent husband. For years before Sundays, he would usually see to it that everything was prepared. He gets the clothes mend...

Families are essential in Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We are part of a heavenly family and an earthly one. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught:  “God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children” Temple and family history work unites families. Husbands and wives, parents and children can be sealed through sacred temple ordinances. The goal of this process is that “the whole chain of God’s family shall be welded together into one chain, and they shall all become the family of God and His Christ” (Joseph F. Smith, Millennial Star, Oct. 4, 1906, 629). Personal and family history work have been been a source of joy and peace in our family. We have personally felt the spiritual blessings of taking the names of our ancestors to the temple and performing proxy baptisms and sealings regular...

Call me old-fashioned, but I love hand-written letters! There is something special about sitting down and writing or reading a note meant for you. In our ever-growing tech savvy world, I think letter writing still holds an important component in our family communication. Emails, messengers, text messages have become a way of life but I still prefer written letters. Taking the time to send a thoughtful note shows you cherish a relationship and want to invest in it. My most favorite part is pausing long enough to say things that matter. To some young people, mail can seem outdated or boring; but for mature generations, it’s a tradition rich in sentiment.Our ancestors recognized the importance of writing letters, and so should we. With a simple notepad and few strokes of the pen, you have the power to encourage a loved one, inspire a friend or rekindle a romance.  Try doing it too! Research says it can actually make you happier. Steve Toepfer from Kent State University stu...

The Philippine Identification System ID, also known as the Philippine Identification Card, is the official national identity card for Filipino citizens worldwide and foreign permanent residents in the Philippines. Wikipedia    Purpose: Provide valid proof of identification for all citizens and resident aliens. Expiration: No expiration; 1 year and annually renewable for resident aliens Issued by: Philippines Eligibility: All ages; Philippine citizenship or permanent residency for non-citizens First issued: Pilot implementation: 2019 (selected regions); Full implementation: 2020 (5-year implementation)

We believe in stopping work and eating lunch. So for our lunch today, we tried something new! This 'Ensaladang Pako' or Fiddlehead Fern Salad has a crunchy bite to it with mini tomatoes. The sweet-vinegar dressing gives it a holistic flavor. Definitely not your ordinary salad! Have you ever thought that ferns can be eaten? No? Well, here in Adams, Ilocos Norte, this is a common salad dish served in local restaurants. So the next time you plan to visit here, look for Ensaladang Pako.  Fun Fact: The Municipality of Adams is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,189 people. Adams is composed of only one barangay: Adams Proper, the largest barangay by land area in the country.

In our advocacy and work at Parola Santuwaryo in helping and  protecting families, we sometimes come against the evil plans of the perpetrators and every manipulation of the enemy over our lives. We learn that the only way to fight the darkness around us is to light a fire within us because the greatest battle is against the darkness within. As mortals, it is common for us to constantly consider and pray for physical protection. Recently, however, we have come to more fervently pray for spiritual safety - we pray for continual strength for our family to live true to our covenants. In reality, whether we live a long or a short life on this earth is perhaps relatively of little consequence in the eternities. What really matters is our character, reflected in how we live. The only way for us to fulfill our eternal purpose is to make covenants with the Lord and keep them. As we understand the deeper meaning of the atonement, we can also comprehend clearly that Jesus Christ ...

This evening, we came home edified and strengthened by the girls at Parola Santuwaryo. We gave a Sunday lesson and showed to them this video. They shared the miracles in their life and one of them said the greatest miracle that ever happened to her was when she was rescued from her abuser. She has been quiet for years because she was scared. Her prayers were answered.  So many of us stretch our faces with smiles enough to mask the pain we hide. Inside, we feel empty, broken, doubtful,and even guilty for the way we feel. Through our Savior Jesus Christ, we can find lasting peace even amidst the shadows and storms of life.  As children of God, we can discover the power within us to find wholeness and help others heal, and experience for ourselves how good trumps evil. No matter what our disappointment or failure or loss may be, allowing ourselves to be healed and guided by the Master Healer will lift us out of darkness into His light.