1. I have this diary/organizer where I list all my activities for the day. The more items checked, the more accomplished I feel. But lately, I noticed that items on my list are not directly related to work; Kumon, Taekwondo, bank, grocery, bills. In short, I’ve been busy driving for my kids and running errands. It’s so frustrating! But at the end of the day, I have to keep reminding myself that my family is more important than work and I should be thankful for the privilege of being a hands-on mom/wife.

2. I am a considerate and generous person and some people tend to abuse. I cannot tolerate those people. They wouldn’t hear a thing from me but they’ve cut for sure what could have been more.

3. A good friend just gave me ref magnets from Singapore, Malaysia and Korea. I LOVE ref magnets! I started collecting during my work-related local travels. So when I go to Singapore this July I don’t have to buy anymore… uhm maybe one from Universal Studios lol.

4. Speaking of travel, I can’t wait to pack our bags again and go. I am excited to see Singapore and Malaysia for the first time and hopefully Indonesia as well. But to be honest, after this, I don’t know when’s next. Traveling is expensive. All I can do is put my hands together and pray for more. Btw, I’ve seen a batch mate at St. Petersburg and instantly I fell in love with the place. Aaaarrrgggg…

5. I miss reading. It’s one of the things I REALLY love. No time is not an excuse of course. I’ve proven last year that at least 10 pages before sleep is workable. I’ve read a lot of books last year. I have to buy myself a book one of these days. Or maybe re-read some I have at home. I just have to start reading again. Period.

Ok enough for drama. So what is the award all about and how did we get it?

According to the Regulations of the IAE;

1. The award is presented in recognition of those companies or organizations in different countries throughout the world that further their reputation and position by implementing and promoting quality culture.

2. The award recognizes and encourages the contribution of companies and organizations to quality, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction as well as improving relations with employees, suppliers and all those associated with the company.

3. The jury which designates the companies awarded will be formed by the leaders of those companies having received the award in previous years for their merits and contributions to quality and excellence in those companies which they direct. (We still have no idea who voted for us).

We were supposed to receive the award at Frankfurt tom (April 30). I’ve already asked for plane itinerary from our trusted travel agency and checked the hotel at Frankfurt where we stayed when we were there last year.  Unfortunately, we overlooked the participation fee amounting to 3,900 euros! All in all we would spend more than half a million pesos to personally receive the award. It would have been nice to be part of the awarding ceremony but it wouldn’t be practical. Anyway, present or not we already have the certificate. Indeed a milestone for the company!

God has been using me not mainly on what I am good at but more on what he sees in my heart. All these things that are happening to me today is not what I pictured myself years ago. I underestimated God. Who I am today is not my own doing, I feel Him working in my life. All I did was pray (hard), wait, keep my feet on the ground, share my blessings and keep the faith.

Since I have accepted the fact that I cannot possibly bring the three kids with me every time, I would take them (one at a time) to places I go to. It’s like doing errands while having a date. Like for instance I would do grocery shopping with Zach then we’ll eat out. If he’s lucky I’ll buy him something he likes. Being with them 100% of the time may not be possible but at least I make sure I spend quality time with them.

I love seeing my kids together. Call me crazy but sometimes I secretly laugh when my kids quarrel (though most of the time my blood pressure would soar high). I love giving them what they want. I love hearing them say, “This is my best day ever!” or just receive a big hug or kiss from them. I try my best to stop myself from giving them more than what they should be having because I don’t want to raise spoiled kids. I want them to always be thankful of anything given to them and not treat it as something expected from us parents.

Above all, I want them to have a very good relationship with God. I want them to know that God loves them so much and even when the world turned their back on them, God will always be there.

Every night I pray that they become the best person they can be according to God’s plan.

My kids are luckier than I am. Aside from the fact that I can go home anytime I want and I can bring them to the office, they are exposed to the joys and pains of running a business. They might not understand what’s happening around but I know they can sense the big responsibility that their parents carry. They learn about human resource management because they see how we treat our employees in and out of the office and unknowingly listen when we interview applicants. They meet lots of people. They enjoy the perks of having our own office and coffee shop and think that it is a normal thing. We set high expectation for them without us saying a word. We bring them anywhere we go, official business or not.  I ask Marcus to help me with some repetitive computer tasks just for him to have the feel of having something to be responsible for and yes he gets paid for it, not with money but frappe. lol

I don’t say that one should have a business to raise up future entrepreneurs. You can pay them for the things they do at home (of course you have to explain the objective so that they will not expect to get paid for every chore they do). You can ask them to choose things that they don’t use anymore and sell it. (Balancing it with giving things to less fortunate people). When you travel you can give them money and let them buy things that they can sell back home. You can help them cook/bake something and sell it. And so much more.

I am not sure what my kids are thinking now and what they will become in the future. All I know is that they want to become rich! (My boys said so! haha!)

I had management subjects in Industrial Engineering that taught me about risk management, financial management, work simplification, reducing cost, managing people, etc. but they still do not guarantee success.

I realized that coming up with a business is another way of serving God and others. Through that business, you can hire more people and help them cope with daily financial struggles. Again, blessings are meant to overflow to others.

My prayer these days is for the company to grow bigger and for the coffee shop to be profitable that we can hire more people and give them competitive compensation. A way to make them realize God’s generosity. Of course I told God that a convenient life for me and my family hopefully comes with it as well.

Running business is earning money while providing for others for God’s greater glory. This, I know, is an assurance that the abundance will continue.

1. Japan – More than seeing Disneyland and Hello Kitty Theme parks, visiting temples, eating Japanese food everyday, riding the bullet train, etc…. I want to see its beauty during the Cherry blossom season.

2. Celebrate New Year’s Eve In Times Square New York

3. Greece – I want to see Santorini’s dramatic views, stunning sunsets and whitewashed houses. I also want to explore Greece’s archaeological sites and ancient ruins especially Parthenon, Delphi Theater and ancient temples.

4. Washington D.C. – Thanks to Dan Brown’s bestseller The Lost Symbol, I got curious about Freemasonry and I want to see all the Masonic symbols and coded messages mentioned in the book, not to mention what DC can offer as a tourist destination. Actually, it was Dan Brown who introduced me to Louvre Museum as well.

5. Amsterdam – I asked a well-travelled Priest on what’s the best place in Europe he’s been so far, he said Amsterdam confidently. I searched about it and here’s a piece of what I got, “Beer cafes, brown cafes, coffeeshops, grand cafes, tasting houses… whatever you fancy, Amsterdam’s got the cafe to suit.” Just that and I’m convinced.

Spain and Brazil are trailing closely behind. Not to mention London and Scotland that I want to see again. This is one of those times that I really wish I am a billionaire… so freakin’ bad!

We have another opportunity to go back to Frankfurt, Germany this April. So important for the company (I cannot divulge right now) that Gary and I are really considering it. It’s so hard to decide because we have to consider the budget and the 3 kids that we cannot bring along. My heart is torn.

Sometime last year I wrote this blog, Be Still because I feel that I am not maximizing my time, energy, skills and knowledge.  And because God loves answering my prayers, I am now juggling quite a number of things. On top of my motherly/wife duties, Financial and Admin work for Search Opt Media, who would have thought that I’ll be managing a coffee shop that started literally from scratch. I am also expected to deliver an iphone App in a few months time because the course that I started attending last Nov 2011 is about to end. (Again, finish a working iphone app, *shivers*) It’s not an impossible dream though, it just requires a lot of time practicing codes we discussed and coming up with my own, and time is a luxury for me.

We also transferred our head office, so we no longer enjoy the convenience of working at home. We have to do it because it’s part of ‘growing’ as a company and we really need a place where we could receive our clients. And now I miss staying at home and doing nothing because even during weekends I have to be at the coffee shop.

I am not complaining though. I may be tired and all, I am still thankful for all these opportunities. Besides, I feel that God is helping me manage everything and that if everything is settled already, meaning I have enough people I could delegate work to, these will all be a piece of cake.

Lesson learned, when God asked you to relax and do nothing, enjoy that opportunity because the next thing you know, you don’t even have time to comb your hair. LOL

Marcus celebrates his entry to teenage life today and I feel so blessed to have a handsome, healthy, smart, sweet and loving son. I am proud of him because I know he can handle himself well. I envy his confidence and assertiveness. Quoting his school principal, “Some are born leaders and some followers… with Marcus, he can effortlessly lead and influence the class.” Gary and I have noticed that leadership skill as well, but for educators to point that out (despite his naughtiness) is really something else. That is also why we bring our kids to different countries (even how expensive that can be) because I’ve read in a management book that great leaders are well traveled. Not to mention he’s really into World History that he got an A+ in his report card.

On the contrary, I am also scared because he’s becoming more and more independent, meaning, he doesn’t need much of my time and attention like how my smaller kids do. He wants time for himself. He wants to do things on his own. He kisses and embraces me very fast when in front of his friends and classmates. (Teens! *eyes rolling*)

I am jealous because he is starting to like girls. He even once used “I love (girl’s name)” as password. Ouch! LOL

Being a mother for 13 years, I’ve experienced the joys and pains of parenthood. It was definitely a learning and re-learning process. But he may be a teenager now, almost as tall as I am, outsmarts me in some things, may have watched more movies than I did… he will still and always be my first born baby.