Entries Tagged 'Personal' ↓

I find a lot of strength in the scriptures. I means a lot to be able to look into the holy scriptures and see eternal truths being given and eternal truths triumphing over evil. It’s these scriptures that give me the strength to know that no matter what bad things may try to bother me, I know I will be ok and I know that with our Heavenly Father’s help, I will be able to endure to the end.

In times of trials and uncertainties, it is a good idea to turn to scriptures for guidance and help. I really urge you to look for the answers when you have questions. It is something I have long encouraged my students to do. You may find answers to your questions in many different places depending on your questions, but for eternal questions, I have found the scriptures to the best place for me.

You’ll find the answers that give you strength if you just look for them.

For Christmas, I got the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo from my husband. He wanted me to improve my English by reading good books that will increase my vocabulary and understanding. It worked. The story was very engrossing and kept my interest from start to finish, but that’s not the best thing that it did..

The book did something more than to make me think. I really did notice that it helped my grammar and vocabulary and increased my understanding. I really suggest reading good books for my students as well. I think there is no better way to improve your writing than by reading good books.

I am really glad that my husband and I left Thailand last year. We had been following the news and found that there were several plans to institute anti-foreigner laws in Thailand. It was going to make teaching more difficult or just down right impossible.

The biggie is the new rule that my friends are fretting over right now. Teachers are required to take a class on Thai culture and then pass a test before they can get a teacher’s license. They have to pay for it out of their own pockets. The class and test wouldn’t be so bad, but they require you to show proper respect to a Buddha in order to pass the class.

What does showing proper respect mean? It means bowing down to it. As a Christian, I find it impossible for me to bow down to other idols.

Learning to live and work abroad was one of the best experiences me and my husband have ever had. It was a great opportunity to learn about different ways to do things. We also had the opportunity to be exposed to new ideas.

New ideas are the lifeblood of any growth. Early on, we tended to forget or just take for granted the ideas we found and now many of these ideas are lost or forgotten. It didn’t take us long to realize that we needed to keep track of these new ideas. Our solution has been to come up with an idea notebook.

We use the idea notebook just to record ideas we come across. We can later go back and check them and remember even more details. It sure makes the experience of living abroad even better.

It is kind of sad the passing of a great leader, especially when it is a leader who has done a lot to help people around the world. I may not be Mormon, but I think the passing of the Gordon Hinckley is a sad day for people around the world who can see the good things made in this world thanks to the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I see a lot of good they have done in helping people both spiritually, emotionally and financially.

I remember there work back in my hometown in the Philippines where they would help people who didn’t have food enough to eat and how they would open their church to activities. Not to mention the humble way the missionaries would go door to door sharing their version of the Gospel. I appreciate much of what they have done and I hope the Mormon Church continues its work under new leadership.

I think our family just might visit the local Mormon Church this Sunday to learn even more about their work and express my condolences in person to followers of their late leader.

Being a family on the go, we never have had a photo album for very long. They are very bulky and easily fill up boxes or even suitcases when we make a move. Most of our photos are kept in shoeboxes or worse. I have decided lately that enough is enough and I have embarked on a family scrapbooking project with the kids.

Basically, a few times a week, my husband, my kids and I will all sit down on the floor of our living room to make scrapbooks. The scrapbooks are very personal and have the goal of telling a story. So far it is working very well and the kids are even getting into the act. I thought they might be a bit young but they love helping out with their scrapbooks.

Has anyone tried family scrapbook nights?

Teaching can be such a joy for me and my husband. I enjoy teaching all levels of students, but sometimes the classes can really tire me out. It seems like some days I have plenty of energy and other day I get tired easily. I found three things I can to keep from getting too tired when I am teaching and I decided to share them here so others can reject tiredness.

1) Drink plenty of fluids. When you are moving around in the classroom and doing a lot of speaking, you get dehydrated easily so drinking water before a lesson is a good way to head it off before it happens.

2) Get plenty of sleep and if you don’t, think about a cat nap. A nap in the afternoon if you can manage getting out of the school for an hour or two could do wonders.

3) Eat good foods. If you put junk in your body, your body will be like junk that’s why I suggest you eat good food always.