Erica Paralejas, Philippines

Simple Happiness I do believe that money cannot buy happiness, but money can buy ice cream to produce happiness.? Kids doesn't need expensive food, clothing or toys just to make them feel valuable or cared for, what they need is to teach them how to be thankful in the little things that they have, and learn that the value of happiness is not measured by material things in life but by being content and being thankful on whatever you have, either big or small. Masaya na sila sa pagkain ng ice cream.?(They are already happy in eating ice cream) No feeling of deprivation. No feeling of self pity. Just pure happiness.? #3kidsjourney #myjourneythoughts #moneycannotbuyhappiness #purehappiness #simplelivinghappyliving Like/follow our page: Journey Unbound

Buhay Nanay Pagmulat pa lang sa umaga, abala na ang aking pag iisip sa mga gagawin sa buong araw. Ninanamnam ang konting sandaling katahimikan ngunit alam kong ito'y hindi magtatagal, dahil sa ilang saglit muling iingay ang paligid sa pag-uusap, pagtawa at pag iyak ng mga bata, ito na ang nagsilbing musika sa aking pandinig sa bawat araw. Mga gawaing tila walang katapusan...paghahanda para sa pagpasok sa eskwela ng mga bata, pagtuturo sa kanilang aralin, paglalaba, pamamalengke, pagluluto, paghuhugas ng mga plato, pagpapadede, pagpapatulog...isama pa dyan ang pagdidisiplina, pagtuturo ng tama...hay, teka ako'y hihinga muna. Ako'y napapagod din sa ganitong takbo ng buhay, minsan nais kong ako'y mapag isa, mag relax, at namnamin ang mga bagay na parang matagal ko ng hindi nagagawa; gumala sa mall, mag ukay-ukay, kumain sa paboritong fast food chain ng wala munang iniisip na mga bata, walang hinahabol na oras at walang mag tetext na asawa para tanungin, "saan ka na?". Sa kabila ng kaabalahan, kapaguran at hindi magawang mga nais, ako'y hindi nagsisisi, bagkus ako'y nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon na ako'y naging ina at pinagkatiwalaan Niya ng 3 anak. Ito'y konting panahon lang at lilipas din yung lagi silang nakadikit sa iyo, laging tumatawag ng "mama", kung saan sa iyo umiikot ang mundo nila. Pagkalipas ng ilang taon lalaki din sila at magkakaroon ng sariling pag iisip, kaya habang sila'y bata pa, itotodo ko na ang aking pagka-ina at gagawin ang lahat ng makakaya para sa kanila. ------------------------ Mother Life The moment I wake up in the morning, my mind already gets busy on the things that I will be doing for the whole day, enjoying the short quietness, but I know it will not take long, because after a short while, my surrounding will be noisy again with talks, laughter and cries of our kids, these became music to my ears daily. The work that seems never ending...preparing the kids going to school, teaching them their lessons, washing clothes, going to the market, cooking, washing plates, breastfeeding, putting the baby to sleep, add to it the disciplining and teaching good values to them...sigh, wait let me breath first. I also get tired in this kind of life, sometimes I just want to be alone, to be relax, and to savor the things that I haven't done for a long time; going to the mall, buy clothes in second hand stores, eat in my favorite fast food chain and not thinking of the kids, no time to chase and no texting from my husband asking, "where are you now"? In spite of busyness, tiredness and was not able to do what I like, I don't regret it, but I am thankful to God that I became a mother and He had entrusted us 3 kids. This is just for a season, it will not last long where they always wanted to be beside you, where they always call you "mama", where their world is you. After a few years they will grow up, they will have their own choices, that is why I will make the most of it as their mother and will try to do my best for them. #myjourneythoughts #buhaynanay #3kidsjourney #journeyunbound

Kids loves toys, who would resist it? Our kids love it too, but they don't have a lot, they just have enough, I think.? We don't buy them expensive ones, kasi walang budget para dyan, hehehe, those that are pricey are mostly given or gifts. So sometimes we set aside a budget for them like Php100 each and let them choose what toy they want to buy in a budget friendly stores like we have here; Novo or Unitop or kakain sa McDo or Jollibee makakuha ng Happy Meal or Kiddie Meal na may toys. Though we like to give them and let them enjoy quality toys, we want them to experience and learn first the importance of contentment and learning how to use money wisely. We are blessed that they don't demand and ask money to buy toys whenever we are in the mall and they are already happy when they got a toy that's Php50 or Php100 worth. Siguro dahil madalas naming sinasabi na, "huwag muna yan, next time, wala tayong budget para bumili", hahaha, so most of the time when they see toys, they will say, "Mama or Daddy, when we have enough money can we buy this one?" And we will encourage them to do 2 things when they want to buy it; pray to God for His provision so that they can buy that toy and wait, until we have enough budget to buy it. #3kidsjourney #simpleandhappyliving #happykiddiemeals #thejourneyoffive

My husband and I are already married for 8 years and since we have kids we rarely have time to be just together and enjoy each other's company just like we often do when it was just the two of us. We had attended a course a few years ago, called Marriage Course, and one topic that was tackled there was about marriage time, it is a time you set aside to spend time with your spouse at least once a week. You have to be intentional in doing it and be consistent, it means you have to plan; when is the right day and time, how much is your budget, where are you going to go; movie house, coffeeshop, watch the sunset in the beach or in the bay this depends on your location, or stay in the house and spend time together when kids are asleep, tipid pa, or do things you both enjoy and etc. What we do sometimes is when our kids are already sleeping, we will buy some snacks or cook eggs and noodles, or just make a cup of coffee and spend time together. In doing this, it had helped us to talk and be open to address issues that's affecting our marriage and our relationship with our kids and also we're able to know each other more. It doesn't need to be expensive, just be creative. The goal of this is to nourish your relationship as husband and wife, it helps to continue to fuel that four pillars of relationship; love, respect and understanding you have for each other and build a better and stronger marriage. To those who have heard about it and tried, I believe you knew the benefits it had brought to your marriage, to those who want to try it, go for it! It will surely help you. God bless.❣? #thejourneyoffive