Something About The Blog and The Author

 Hello there! Thank you for stopping by and peeking in my little blog. I'm 38 years old and a mother to a 3 yrs old son. My husband is an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker in Japan in order to help support our basic needs, save for the future and at least live a descent life. Me as a mom still needs to work in support of my husband. That means I’m a busy mom who juggles work and home. I’m so blessed and lucky that I have my mom to help me whenever I am at work. She takes care of my niece and son and our home. I want to be a stay at home mom or a entrepreneur mom who stays at home. But we are still on a tight budget. Hopefully we'll hit our target at least a few years from now before my son will start schooling.

How I Started This Blog:

Lately I was on a soul searching on how I will improve myself as a person, as a wife and as a mother. I want my husband to be proud of me. So I was thinking while he was away working overseas, I am working on myself too. I want to be the best wife and mom for my family. I want my priority to them. And that reason is to glorify and honor God by fulfilling my role and duties as a woman.

Until one day, I found myself taking down notes, setting priorities, making goals and meal planning. I was browsing the internet for a menu planning format and there i found Jami Balmet's blog which is young wife's guide. Looks like God knows what I’m looking for. It is a Christian family blog which tackles family life, marriage, womanhood and home maker. I got inspired. I decided to quit paying online games and spending too much time on social media but instead feed myself with inspiration and fruitful insights. I then decided to put up my own blog as my journal sharing my journeys with you. 

I'm not a writer, I’m not a degree holder, I’m a technical vocational graduate which is a scholarship program by the government for less privilege ladies( just got lucky I was able to avail and qualify with this program or else I don't know if I can be able to study)so please excuse my grammatical and composition errors.

In this blog I am going to share my experiences and a little knowledge about benefits of an employed woman, my goals, hopes, inspirations, do it yourself projects, and blogs that inspired me. I hope I can also share the motivations and inspirations I got. 

Woman: We are the hope of this needy world. The Lord has blessed us to be the care taker of our family and help our children grow with love and God fearing person.

6 Things to Consider Before Marrying

It is important that we have principles in choosing the person we are going to marry. It should not be base on material things, physical appearance or money. I have prayed for my spouse.

Matthew 7:7 (KJV) Ask and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you:

Yes, I have few frogs before I met my prince. I was in mess, I am desperate, I am tired, I am alone. This situation almost made me “short circuit”. I have a lot of "what ifs", What if i marry a rich foreign guy who can save me from miseries, someone who can uplift my financial stability, someone who can give what i need. Sounds like more of a receiver’s wish right? A selfish desire. But what if it happened the other way around? I have married a guy who i think will give me heaven and earth will happen to be the opposite? That will be another pain and misery. I am scared. Why settled for anything less when there is someone destined for me? I prayed. Pray. And Pray. I told the Lord everything. My worries, my Fears and my pains and leave everything to Him.

Book that helps: Now What by Gary Mayes – When you’re on the cliff and you don’t know what to do cultivate your calm center and wait on the Lord.

And one day, HE came :) I knew It was Him, He was the Gift that i am praying for. I thank God for He never leaves me, He never let me fall and He listens.

Just a thought of sharing with you these 6 things to ponder before marrying this might help you consider things before jumping into the sacrament of marriage.

6 TIPS FOR CHRISTIANS PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE

By: Pastor Jackson Crum

1. Don't look for your spouse to be your savior 

Your spouse cannot give you what only Jesus can provide for you. And, if you enter marriage thinking otherwise, you're off to a rocky start. "A spouse cannot heal your deepest hurts, fulfill your deepest longings or read your mind," Crum notes.

2. Marriage is not about what you receive from being married, but what you bring to the marriage.

Marriage is not a 50/50 effort—it is a 100/100 endeavor. "If God loved us only 50%, we'd be in constant trouble," Crum says.  "As followers of Christ, the Gospel compels us to give without expectation of receiving. If we have an expectation of receiving, then we keep score, which leads to giving ourselves grace and making more of what we do and being highly critical of our spouse for not providing what we think we need," he explains.

3. Your "love tank" needs to be filled through the work of the Gospel in Christ, and not by your spouse. 

If you find that you are fully loved and delighted in Christ, you are going to be able to love without expectations. "You love, not because your spouse deserves it or has earned it, but because you have first been loved by God when you didn't deserve it, when you haven't earned it, when you weren't lovable.  This enables you to love through tough times, hurtful times and times when you are not loved back," Crum says.

4. Don’t go into marriage thinking you have a back door. 

 If you enter marriage thinking you can simply get divorced if things don't work out, when things get tough, you're going to walk away. "Enter marriage knowing the Gospel is able to prevail over anything. I've watched couples work through very difficult situations because the Gospel brings great hope," adds Crum.

5. Find what is biblically normal for your marriage, and stop comparing yourself to other couples.

 "We look at Scripture and God to find our norm, not to other couples," Crum explains. "For example, what does healthy communication look like in your marriage? It's o.k. if your normal communication is loud and passionate, but if it goes into attacking, you've gone outside of your biblical norm," he says. Rule of thumb in finding your biblical norm: Be quick to forgive; be quick to serve; and be quick to extend grace.

6. Affection is a loving gift we give to our spouse. 

Don't withhold affection as punishment or use it as a reward. "Affection is driven by seeking to express our love in the fullest fashion. We forgive, we listen, and we extend affection. If we don't see love as an act of service, we end up seeing affection as the one act we can control," Crum notes. When we use Christ as our model for love, we learn to love unconditionally. Crum suggests replacing the word "love" with "Jesus" when reading 1 Corinthians 13.4-7, to see the fullness of God's love:"Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail."

Maternity Benefits

Pregnant? Employed? SSS member? Qualified?

Qualifications:

The maternity benefit is offered only to female SSS members. A member is qualified to avail of this benefit if:

1. She has paid at least three monthly contributions within the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage.

2. She has given the required notification of her pregnancy to SSS through her employer if employed; or submitted the maternity notification directly to the SSS if separated from employment, a voluntary or self-employed member.

The maternity benefit shall be paid only for the first four (4) deliveries or miscarriages starting May 24, 1997 when the Social Security Act of 1997 (RA 8282) took effect.

Here's how to avail the SSS maternity Benefits.

1.Notification

Notify your employer (As soon as a member becomes pregnant) by submitting the following:

• Proof of pregnancy such as pregnancy test, ultrasound and medical certificate from your OB.
• Fill out the SSS MATERNITY NOTIFICATION FORM 
• 2 valid ID

2.Reimbursement

• Maternity Notification Form duly stamped and received by SSS
• Maternity Reimbursement Form
• UMID or SSS bio metrics ID card or two (2) other valid IDs, both with signature and at least one (1) with photo and date of birth

Additional Requirements

§  Normal delivery - certified true or authenticated copy of duly registered birth certificate. In case the child dies or is a stillborn, duly registered death or fetal death certificate.

§  Cesarean delivery - certified or authenticated copy of duly registered birth certificate and certified true copy of operating room record/surgical memorandum.

§  Miscarriage or abortion - obstetrical history stating the number of pregnancy certified by the attending physician and dilatation and curettage (D&C) report for incomplete abortion, pregnancy test before and after abortion with age of gestation and histopath report for complete abortion.

3.Filling Procedure

Claims may be filed at the nearest SSS office. However, processing will be done at the branch where the employer and employee records are based.

Unemployed, self-employed or voluntary paying members should notify the sss directly.

Take Note:

1. The company advances the payment if you are employed. Make sure that it is correctly computed. Here's how to compute .

2. When you submit the documents, make sure you save a copy with their signature as a proof that they have received the documents. It’s is for record purposes. My experience was after 3 years the company deduct my salary unexpectedly which covered almost 1 payroll. Their reason was they over pay me. But if you have a record, you can always check if they are telling the truth and you have your proof.

Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710) Special Leave Benefit for women

image: from google

I am sharing my experience as a woman employee who had an operation regarding gynecology. I had a myomectomy and chromotubation done at the same time in 2010. I was 32 years old that time when I discovered I have a large mass in my uterus 10 inches to be exact. I was not aware about magna carta. The company I am with didn't inform us about it too. So, I only applied for SSS (social security system sickness benefits). It was only in 2016 that I was fully aware about another benefit called magna carta for women. After 6 years, I applied for it in our company since my operation was still covered the time the law was signed and released.

I just submitted the following: (good thing I keep the records)

Clinical summary reflecting the gynecological disorder which shall be addressed or was addressed by the said surgery;  

• the hispathological report;

• the operative technique used for the surgery;

• the duration of the surgery including the peri‐operative period (period of

confinement around surgery); as well as,

• the employee’s estimated period of recuperation for the same.

Special leave privileges - “A woman employee having rendered continuous aggregate employment service of at least six (6) months for the last twelve (12) months shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of two (2) months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders.” (Section 18)

Under the Republic Act 9710, otherwise known as “The Magna Carta of Women “, a woman employee shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of two (2) months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders. As guidelines for the implementation of special leave benefits for women in the private sectors, the Department of Labor and Employment issued Department Order No. 112-11, Series of 2011. For female employees in the government service, you may refer to Civil Service Commission Guidelines on the Availment of the Special Leave Benefits for Women under RA 9710, CSC Resolution No. 1000432.

What is special leave benefit for women

Special leave benefits for women refers to a female employee’s leave entitlement of two months with full pay based on her gross monthly compensation following surgery caused by gynecological disorders.

This benefit is in addition to leave privileges under existing law. 

Who are qualified to avail of this benefit; Conditions?

All women employees in the private sector, regardless of age and civil status, are entitled to special leave benefits, provided she has complied with the following conditions:

• She has rendered continuous aggregate employment service of at least 6 months for the last 12 months;
• She has filed an application for special leave;
• She has undergone surgery due to gynecological disorders as certified by competent physician.
• Female employees who have taken a leave of absence following surgery for gynecological disorder on or after 15 September 2009 are entitled to avail of the benefit.

What is gynecological disorders?

Gynecological disorders refer to disorders that would require surgical procedures such as dilatation and curettage and those involving female reproductive organs such as vagina, cervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries, breast, adnexa and pelvic floor. Gynecological surgeries shall also include hysterectomy, ovariectomy, and mastectomy.

How to apply for special leave?

The employee shall file her application for leave with her employer within a reasonable period of time from the expected date of surgery, or within such period as may be provided by company rules and regulations or by collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

When application for special leave is not necessary?

Prior application is not necessary in cases requiring emergency surgical procedure. However, the employee must notify the employer verbally or in writing within reasonable period of time, and after the surgery or recuperating period, she must immediately file her application using the prescribed form.

When special leave benefits shall be granted?

Special leave benefits shall be granted after the employee has undergone surgery. The employer, however, has the option to pay the employee before or during the surgery.

Benefit

The employee is entitled to full pay for two months based on her gross monthly compensation. Gross monthly compensation refers to the monthly basic pay plus mandatory allowances.

Benefit is non-convertible to cash

Special leave benefit is non-cumulative and non-convertible to cash unless otherwise provided by a CBA.

PROCEDURES FOR THE AVAILMENT OF THE SPECIAL LEAVE BENEFITS FOR  

WOMEN (UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 9710, MAGNA CARTA OF WOMEN)

1. The employee shall accomplish CSC Form No. 6 (Leave Application) in two (2) original

copies and submit the same to the Director for Administrative Service through the

Personnel Division for evaluation as to the completeness of the required documents,

and processing as to certification of the available leave credits.

The leave application shall be accompanied by a medical certificate filled out by the

proper medical authorities, e.g. attending surgeon together with the following:

• clinical summary reflecting the gynecological disorder which shall be

addressed or was addressed by the said surgery;

• the hispathological report;

• the operative technique used for the surgery;

• the duration of the surgery including the peri‐operative period (period of

confinement around surgery); as well as,

• the employee’s estimated period of recuperation for the same.

2. Upon evaluation of the application for special leave benefit, the Personnel Division

shall transmit the same to the Department Physician for evaluation/recommendation.

3. The Department Physician shall immediately evaluate and submit her

recommendation to the concerned approving authority through the Personnel

Division. The latter shall transmit the same to the concerned

recommending/approving officials.

4. Upon approval by the concerned official of the application, the same shall be released

to the Personnel Division.

5. A copy of the approved application shall be released by the Personnel Division to the

concerned employee while the other copy together with the above‐cited documents

shall be retained at the Personnel Division for file.

6. The application for special leave benefits may be applied in advance, that is, at least

five (5) days prior to the scheduled date of the gynecological surgery that will be

undergone by the employee. The rest of the requirements shall be attached to the

medical certificate upon the employees return to work.

This advance notice would give the proper authorities ample time and means to

prevent disruption of the operations of work unit during the absence of the employee

and to address the exigency of the services of the office.

7. In instances when a qualified female employee undergoes an emergency surgical

procedures, the said leave application shall be filed immediately upon the employee’s

return from such leave together with the required documents.

8. Upon the employee’s return to work, she shall also present a medical certificate signed

by her attending surgeon that she is physically fit to assume the duties of her position.

The question is: Is it different from SSS sickness benefits?

-Yes. I have availed them both. SSS and Magna Carta.

Tip:

When you submit your requirements, make sure u keep a copy and have them signed who ever received the documents for record purposes.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

I hope this will help other women as well...

if you want to add something more kindly share it on the comment box. 

Letting Go of What You Want for What is Best

As a married woman, I want my focused to be on my family (because I love them) ...My husband and my son, as a wife, a mother and a homemaker. A Christ centered family as my aspiration. So, to fulfill it, I have to give up a single life and set priorities. This includes minimizing time with friends, parties, and activities outside home. but not to the point of giving up my job since I am not yet ready for now, but hopefully soon so I can be a full-time homemaker...

My happiness is to see my family happy, healthy, comfortable and have a relationship with God.

There's a lot of things to be done in order to fulfill this goal. I know I’m not good in planning but I need to do something. I need to be intentional and inspired in 

this journey of true womanhood and a homemaker.

Virtue of a noble woman:

Proverbs 31:26-28 she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed and her husband also and he praises her.

KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES AND MAKE TIME FOR IT

Now, as I am in the evaluation on how I will fulfill lovingly my duties as a homemaker, I have to take down my goals as a reminder on how I should plan my day...

Here they are:

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his step

• Spending quality time with:
• Jesus
• Family
• Husband (alone)
• Son (alone)
• Creating our home a haven (A clean and clutter free home, a place where members of the family enjoys, feeling safe and secure that make them feel" There's no place like home")
• A healthy meal (If the body is well, the soul dances)
• managing Family Finances (Being a wife, we are our husband's helper, so every little cent count. We should make a way to secure it.)

I should need to get done something in a day until this will become my routine.

I CHALLENGE YOU:

• Have you set down recently to evaluate your priorities?
• Did you take down notes of what you want and need to do?

You can share it down in the comment box and let’s inspire each other :)

5 Benefits of Menu Planning

Menu Planning at first glance could be so complicated and time consuming. You must think about food to prepare for a week or so. Me as a working mom, I am usually tired from work whenever I arrived home. But then my obligations never stop. My 2-year-old son would like to cuddle as I arrived. We should play in a bit. Then my husband is working overseas and waiting for me to chat him over Skype. At night, I still have to attend my baby's needs like milk and diaper changing. And in the morning I am overwhelmed and a bit exhausted rushing again going to work. Sometimes I wasn't able to cook for the family and for my packed meal. Buying meals at work could be so expensive and most of the time I don’t like the food being served. So anyways, these are some reasons why I thought about menu planning…I did it for a week plan…And the result is amazing…Imagine, I am spending 150 pesos for food alone if I didn't bring my own food. 100 pesos savings a day is 400 pesos in 4 days (I work 4 days a week 12 hrs. a day). And not just that, my family will have something to eat when I left home. Usually I cooked dish enough to eat for lunch and dinner since its only me and my mom plus the 2 toddlers.

Benefits of Menu Planning:

1.     Saves Time

 Brain storming once a week will save you from emergency running back to groceries store for forgotten ingredients.

2.     Saves Money:  

When you already have the list of ingredients, you know what exactly needs to buy and fewer impulse buys.

3.     You can plan a balance and healthy meal

No skip meals and buying from the fast food chain just because you were unable to prepare your food.

4.      Reduces Waste:

I usually buy on impulse before thinking that I am going to use it, like I am craving for something. But after buying it my cravings are gone so the tendency was to set it aside and left forgotten until it was expired. Such a waste, right? So, when your meal is plan, it reduces waste. You should just stick to your list.

5.     Reduces Stress: 

Simple as that... Before I sleep I already prepared the ingredients for cooking so that when I wake up, I’ll just cook in minimal time…

I usually get my menu from different sites like delmonte, all recipe and panlasang pinoy for recipes aside from our traditional home cooking learned from my mom. Have you ever thought of planning your meal? Why not give it a try!!! Here’s my sample for a 1 week menu plan…What’s yours?

My 10 Daily Routine

As I am a working mom, I have a more flexible daily routine. I am glad that my job requires me only 4 days a week. So, those 4 days are different from my 3 days off. And weekly those 4 days’ changes from morning shift to evening shift…That’s the essence of working in a manufacturing company. I got used to it over the years…Actually,15 years!!!

During my days, off from work, I usually wake up a little late catching enough sleep that I missed during work days… Glad my mom was around for help… So basically, food preparation was done at night so that cooking in the morning made easy…Things can be tough when toddlers are awake.

These are my routines during Rest day from work…

1. Open my Bible apps for reading 

Honestly, I haven’t read the bible for quite a longtime, and since I am in the process of self-renewal, and redirecting myself towards a relationship with God, this techie sites helps me in a way to live intentionally… but of course I must read the real bible too.  What I like about this application is that it has devotional tools, a daily verse and a reading…

2. A cup of coffee and a slice of bread

Enough to sustain me energy to keep going and preparing for the kid’s breakfast, and days activities at home.

3.Playtime for the kids 

 As usual kids never run out of energy to play. Since they are 3 years and 2 years old I let them watch their favorite learning videos such as Barney, blue’s clues, etc. while they play. And that is the time I grab the chance to cook for lunch… Our small home allows me to look for them while doing my chores…

4.Cooking for lunch and dinner 

 Hitting 2 birds with 1 stone…Saves time and money and food. Benefits of a small # of household…

5.Nap Time   

I always make it a point that after lunch their going to have their nap time so that they’ll have the renewed energy and help them grow. Usually 1 hr. sleep and a maximum of 2 hrs.…I’ll have the time to do my thing during this time. It can be a nap time for me too, a reading time, or extra cleaning or washing dishes from lunch time.

6.Snack time

This is around 3-4 pm and I don’t want them to get hungry… Breads, cookies, crackers with juice or milk are their usual snack… of course me too because I easily get hungry.

7.Outside Activities 

I let them play outside before the sun sets. So, that they can have fresh air to breathe, play with neighborhood kids as well. There are times we go to the mall for fun house play house or subdivision’s park and playground. After they have released their energies, time to go home and clean…This also includes my regular chat with my husband over Skype and messenger who works overseas.

8.Dinner Time 

This can be a little easier especially when food is enough from lunch. But there are also times that I still need to cook. In this case time is adjusted a little earlier.

9.Getting the Kids to Sleep    

 Another quality time before getting the kids to sleep. Cleaning them, reading books or storytelling, a little tickling and laughing time and then teaching them to pray and give thanks to the Lord… In little minds this is very important for me. As I have taught when I was a little one, I want them to build their trust to God as their protector, provider and friend.

10.The final touch 

This includes washing dishes, sweeping and mopping the floors. With my “a little me time” like listening to the music I want or watching tv or attending to my blog site.

These 10 daily routines change especially during my first day off from work. Working days has a different routine schedules too.  Basically, my first off was assigned for washing the clothes in the morning and shopping grocery items in the afternoon. My mom is on a rescue during this time. She had to take care of the kids while I do the laundry. And in the afternoon, we all go to shop for grocery items. I also had a different schedule for general cleaning. I make it a point to set dates for each part of the house and each type of cleaning to be made. I do not want myself cleaning the whole day and missing my kids. Priorities are being set.