Do you Live Your Dreams?

I'm currently working 8 hours a day and then some overtime here and there. My job pays well, it is actually my dream job to be part of this kind of stable company. Sooner or later though your heart still seems to say I'm in the wrong place. And mine seems to belong at home. But how to provide for the family's needs is the question most of us ask.

So here are some reasons why I want to work at Home:

1. You can actually earn more than when you work in a company. As I've learned through the VA seminar I attended last Saturday, working online at home isn't actually a job with limits. You can accept as much clients as you can accommodate, and more clients mean more cash coming in. Rates for a Virtual Assistant are actually competitive, and that is only if you specialize in that one job. With each skill that you learn, you add more to your value and therefore you can dictate your asking price as long as you know your worth. I'd like to prove this for myself and if it works, then I'll be more than happy to share with you (and Jomar H. of course) my testimony.

2. I can escape the horrors of commute.
The long travel hours (I spend around 3 hours to commute), the inconvenient rain, and count in the snatching incident from a few days ago. Shudder.

3. I can be there for my son.
I really feel guilty at times when I leave for work because it's the time he actually goes to sleep. Somehow I want to assure him that when he wakes up Ill be there to prepare him breakfast and small things like that. My mom was like that to me growing up and as they always say you are doomed to follow how your parents themselves raised you.

4. I want to follow my passion.
I've always been realistic and just assumed I had to work like everyone else to provide your needs. That's felt alright for a time, until I had a nagging feeling that this is not what I should be doing with my life. I want to express myself, I want to work on my own terms, I want to be myself. I WANT TO LIVE MY DREAMS.

5. I want to open more doors of opportunities
I wish I had more guts to go out on a limb before. I know by taking this first step, which is to establish an online presence and a name then I could venture out and maybe even own an online business, or create an ebook, or be able to lead seminars for other people to gain financial freedom as well.

6. I want God to use me powerfully.
That has been my prayer to God this year, to be used fearlessly and without hesitation. I have been through so much hardship and trials the last two years and yet He has shown that He always stays true to His promises. And how can I serve God if I will also be so "busy" like Martha? I've said "No" to too many activities and this time I am saying "Yes, Where would you like to take me, Lord?"

I know this is not something I am 100% sure of being successful, but I know and I have peace in my heart that God will supply all my needs...I will not lack in any good thing because He knows I love Him more than the blessings He give.

Do you live your dreams? Or just keep on dreaming?

Has God Forgotten Me?

I recently aquired a new devotional called Inspiring Words for Women by Darlene Sala. I highly recommend this book for us girls by the way, especially when you don't want the usual Daily Bread. Anyway when I flipped to the topic for today, under When Tough Times Come: Inspiration for Days When you Feel Like Quitting.  And sure enough, that day has never felt like today. The Christian walk is not all about walking in sunshine and flowery paths; it is actually a rocky, difficult climb uphill. You know you should be looking up to God. But with the problems we have now, it feels easier to look down below and quit.

I have a friend who recently lost his laptop (stolen is more like it). The same thing would almost have happened to me a few days ago, and I honestly don't know how I would be able to face it. I know how it feels to lose something so important to you, that everything you worked hard for and everything you accumulated is gone in just a snap. Or when in marriage, you feel like you have given it all and yet your partner just doesn't seem to appreciate anything you do or doesn't want to work it out. Walking out seems to be the easier solution.

So what do we do? Darlene says, "You can be sure that the One who died for you will never forget you or forsake you." Isaiah 49:14-15 says "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you." Though the situation seems hopeless, God will never abandon us; in fact He has written our names in His hand!

There is a song that goes, You're holding me now in your hands, I believe you'll never let me go..."

No, we don't give up, but we hold on to the One Higher than us.

Good Deal at Japan Home Centre

I've always gone crazy for sales and good deals, but there was one shop that always seem to be on sale - Japan Home Centre. There was one in Robinsons Imus, and I was glad to know there was recently a new branch that opened near us in Las Pinas, so made a beeline for it right away

I got some stuff for my Mom that I know she'll really appreciate: Catena red apple hand bath soap, Lucky Body Wash in Ocean Fresh, White Rain Sensations Shampoo, Sun Fresh Fabric Conditionder, Ariel Doble Powder Detergent, and Sweet Talk Mint Mouthwash. I would even consider doing part of my grocery here because the product sizes are so big and the prices don't go beyond P88! Awesome!
The total price tag for all items below: P440. Not bad, huh?

So if you're a sucker for deals like me, you can drop by stores and they'd have anything from a medicine cabinet to a dog leash to perfumes.

VA training with Jomar Hilario

I found out about Jomar Hilario by browsing through other blogger websites. I eventually learned through his website that he had a passion for training Filipinos to be a VA. Why? SImply because he believes the Filipinos are worth it and valuable enough to be  a darn good VA.

I thought about this for awhile, since with my busy work schedule I didn't want to enter into anything halfheartedly. I also lost a yaya and I also help my son Javie with homework and reviews, so I didn't know if I would have the time.

But when I heard there would be a VA seminar this September 15th, I grabbed a seat right away and enrolled. I couldn't wait to experience what I've only been reading about. This is a job that would me flexibility to attend to my son's needs at school and at the same time give me fulfillment in what I do. Lastly, I couldn't wait to live out my dreams.

So right after my shift (I went to work at 11:30 pm) I went to Rosewood Pointe for the whole day seminar. I was really happy I chose to go instead of just download the material. I wanted to get the right motivation and I felt it that day when I saw for myself that Jomar was actually a real person, and I get to meet Jun and Sheb and heard the testimonials from VA Naomi and Ann. And that place was so beautiful, I thought I'd like to live there someday (without the airplanes zooming overhead).

But anyhow, to make the long story short, I was able to learn all the basic skills a VA should and shouldn't have. He told us about the proper equipment to invest in. He provided awesome tools that we could use for the job, and would even personally use for ourselves. He gave us the right way to market ourselves as not just any VA, but the VA they would never want to let go.

I can't wait to start on my assignments so I'll make this short, hehe. Being a successful VA is not what you know. It's what you're willing to work on. I like what Jomar said about Success is all about the OBVIOUS: It's trying and trying and trying again after you fail. I want to see myself as a WAHM (Work at Home Mom) in 3 months time. Attending the seminar was just the right push I needed.

I love what Jim Rohn said: Learn how to work harder on yourself, than to work harder on your job. And that  is the only way you can be valuable. I'll be elaborating on that on my next post. For now, my eyes are so murdered from lack of sleep.

Today I am grateful for...

I am grateful to God for two things today.
First I was able to payoff my BPI loan today! Whew, that's one down, one credit card bill to go. It took some pressure off my shoulders, that's for sure. This makes for a MAJOR celebration, agree? Anyway, my birthday is just in a few, so I'll just celebrate it along with that.

Secondly, yesterday on my way to work, my bag almost got snatched. *Shiver* I was sitting at the jeep when the snatcher across me suddenly went down and attempted to take my bag! It's a ood hing my ninja reflexes were quick enough to pull my bag tighter and nothing was taken from me. I know there's no money but there was my phone and credit card and important IDs. I honestly just took a moment to just breathe a prayer of thanks, as everyone is not so lucky.

3 Things I learned:
1. Not to wear flashy clothes or bring lots of money when your shift at work is at 3am or on the graveyard shift.
2. As much as possible DO NOT sit on the rear of the jeepney. The snatcher is one step away from leaping off the jeep.
3. Don't forget to pray for safety and God's protection

For those whose payday is tomorrow, please take extra caution and take note that the Ber months is also the months snatchers are most active.

Take care!

My unspoken farewell

Today, Tita Wendy and her family will be migrating to Winnipeg, Canada to join Tito Wilson to start a whole new life of possibilities. On their despedida last Sunday, I was too painfully shy to go in front and say what I appreciate most about this family. Anyway, it's still not too late.

Dear Tita Wends, I will never forget how you inspired me to dance. When you were still a young lady, I always look up to you and saw how you served the Lord from youth.
And I will always be grateful for the time when you visited me when I had truly nothing, and gave 1 whole can of milk for my premature baby.

Tito Benjie, no words can say how thankful I am for giving me sound marriage advice and viewing things from a man's perspective. I will  always practice patience and kindness even if sometimes it's sooo difficult. Thank you Tito and Tita for being a great ninong and ninang to me and hubby.

To my cousins Kris and Angel, I will miss you both so much. I wish we had more time to bond, haist! Just keep on being on fire for the Lord.

The reason why we're so at peace though you're leaving, is because we know this is God's will for you. And it's so much better to be at the center of God's perfect will.

I'd like to leave you with Deuteronomy 31:8 -
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Who knows? I might also find my way to Canada someday, but now is not the right time yet.

Welcome to my blog!

I've been wanting to blog for the longest time but shyness always got the best of me. Now, I thought, what the heck, I'll be 30 next year and I haven't even started doing the things I really, really love to do. So now I'm going back to my first love and rediscovering myself and what I can actually do.

This blog will chronicle all the little stories of my life, my journey from a career mom to a work at home mom, from anything to everything. I want to take daring and bold steps toward financial freedom, and I hope we can learn it together. I want to reclaim my life and really start LIVING. Through this blog, I want to empower other young moms as well on how they can still work and still witness their children's milestones on growing up. I'm so excited to finally just own my small space on the web. Hehe. I'll be weaving more stories and helpful information here soon.