Starting today until the next 3 weeks, I'm gonna be very busy. I have 3 ongoing freelance projects - one at oDesk, one at Freelancer.com and one is a direct hire project. So, I don't know how much blogging and blog hopping I can do but I have made some scheduled blog posts including this one.
I mentioned getting work from oDesk and Freelancer.com. If you haven't heard about these two places on the web, both are online job marketplaces which provide platforms for employers and freelancers around the world to collaborate. This means that employers post jobs to hire freelancers for short or long-term projects and freelancers or service providers can bid or apply for work. Both presents good opportunities for stay at home moms like me or anyone for that matter to find some work without having to leave home.
How does one get started with oDesk or Freelancer.com?
1. Sign up as a freelancer contractor.
2. Create your profile. Take tests (if you want to) to give employers some measure of what you can do.
3. Get hired by submitting bids or applying for jobs. You can also get invited by employers for their job or project when they search at contractor profiles on the site and become interested with your service.
Which is better oDesk or Freelancer.com? I have a profile set up in each one and have had been hired in both job marketplaces. To give you an idea of the features of both sites, here's a list below.
For oDesk
Fees: It is free to join and apply for jobs. You only pay (about 10% is automatically deducted) when you are hired and get paid. For example, the employer pays $6 for the job, you get $5.40.
When withdrawing payments from oDesk to Paypal, for example, they deduct $1 fee. For Philippine contractors, they have a new system where your withdrawal will be deposited directly to your Philippine Bank account for just a $1.99 fee.
Profile: Creating a profile is like creating your online resume. There are also various free tests that contractors can take to grade their skills like Office skills and writing skills and scores are reflected on your profile if you want.
Getting Hired and Working: You apply for jobs posted and if the employer chooses you, you can begin to work. Jobs can be on hourly rate or fixed rate. For hourly rated jobs, you need to use the oDesk application which records the time and takes a screen shot of your computer when you are doing the job. Hourly jobs are guaranteed to be paid. Fixed rate jobs doesn't require one to use the oDesk application but this type of job oDesk doesn't guarantee payments.
Referral income: If ever you invite friends and they sign up through your referral link, you get paid $50 when your friend earns $1000 with oDesk. If they post jobs, you also earn $50 for every $1000 they spend on oDesk.
For Freelancer.com
Fees: It is free to join and place bids for projects. You only pay when you are hired for a project. The fee is $5 or 10% of total project price whichever is higher. The minimum project cost is $30. For example, the employer hires you for a project costing $30, you pays $5 (deducted from your account). If the project costs $100, you pay $10.
When withdrawing payments from Freelancer.com to Paypal, for example, they deduct $1 fee. The minimum withdrawal amount is $30.
Profile: Just like in oDesk, you create a profile that is visible to others. So, employers can also invite you to bid for their projects. There are also various tests that contractors can take to show off your skills in your profile but these are not free.
Getting Hired and Working: You place bids for projects posted and if the employer chooses you, you can begin to work. Unlike in oDesk, there is no application software that Freelancer uses to track time for projects done. It's up to the employer and contractor to decide and agree how to get things done.
Referral income: If ever you invite friends and they sign up through your referral link, you get paid 90% of the project fees taken from the projects they finish. So, for a $30 project your referral finishes, you get $4.50 or 90% of the $5 project fee. For a $100 project, you get $9.
There are plenty of freelancing jobs to choose from. You can find jobs or projects for your particular skills or service - from data entry jobs, writing, designing logo, graphics or websites, email handling, transcription, voice over jobs, computer programming, software development to whatever you are expert with.
So, why not create a profile now and start getting hired. I hope you do join using my referral links. Sign up to oDesk. Sign up to Freelancer.com.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Is Your Business Accepting Credit Card Payments?
Last post, I shared about the need of businesses for Reporting software and Document Generation software. This post will tackle another need in many businesses today, that of having the capability of accepting credit card payment from customers.
I remember when I was still single and working in the Philippines (about 15 years ago already), the company I joined was just starting its business. But even then, they were already accepting credit card payments. Having this form of payment method really helped in closing sales for the company because most of the clients are more comfortable paying their membership fees this way (aside from issuing checks).
The problem with credit card processing, is that it attracts an additional fee with varying rates depending on the service provider. The merchant then have to decide whether he would shoulder that additional cost or pass it on to the client. Of course, it would be best if one can choose the service provider that offers the lowest rates.
In the UK, there is a company offering this type of payment solutions for business called Card Processing.co.uk. They claim to offer the lowest credit or debit card processing rates in the U.K. which they offer even to new, small and medium scale enterprises. What's also nice about their service is that they guarantee that they will not increase the card processing rates they offered a business for the entire duration of the contact (unless there are regulatory changes forced upon the entire merchant banking industry).
They also offer additional benefits to merchants such as great help desk support, legal helpline, preferential rates from partner businesses like parcel delivery, tax and vat investigation insurance, business banking, website and graphics design and more.
So, if you own a business like bars, restaurants, hair salons, auto shops, gas stations, or online shops, you may consider checking out this alternative merchant payment solutions offered by Card Processing.co.uk.
I remember when I was still single and working in the Philippines (about 15 years ago already), the company I joined was just starting its business. But even then, they were already accepting credit card payments. Having this form of payment method really helped in closing sales for the company because most of the clients are more comfortable paying their membership fees this way (aside from issuing checks).
The problem with credit card processing, is that it attracts an additional fee with varying rates depending on the service provider. The merchant then have to decide whether he would shoulder that additional cost or pass it on to the client. Of course, it would be best if one can choose the service provider that offers the lowest rates.
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| Credit card processing. Image by Lotus Head, Stock.xchng |
They also offer additional benefits to merchants such as great help desk support, legal helpline, preferential rates from partner businesses like parcel delivery, tax and vat investigation insurance, business banking, website and graphics design and more.
So, if you own a business like bars, restaurants, hair salons, auto shops, gas stations, or online shops, you may consider checking out this alternative merchant payment solutions offered by Card Processing.co.uk.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Does Your Business Need a Reporting Software or Document Generation Software?
If you own a business or a company website, it is important to know how to collect relevant business data and generate a report that will be helpful in determining what the business needs to improve its operations or profitability. I also don't know technically how to go about this but they say that a reporting software and a document generation software can help. What is a reporting software or a document generation software?
When your data is in a SQL database such as IBM's DB2, My Sql, Oracle, or Microsoft's Sql Server, then a system is necessary that can generate killer SQL Reports. Learn from the linked page how paying attention to six key features can transform your report from blah to wow!
When your data is in XML format, be it a file, XML extracted from a database, a REST datasource, or other, then a system that can generate XML Reports is needed. How can you make people become interested in your data as much as you do? How can they better understand your report? The key is in data representation.
For the output, many times you may need to create Excel Reports from your data. Excel is much better than banded reports. There will be instances when banded reports are appropriate, but there is a very limited sub-set where they are used.
HTML Reports are another helpful output format because the data can be easily accessed in any browser. This is very beneficial for OEM Reporting systems because upgrading your software's reporting component helps attract more customers and keep them.
For more information on this topic, refer to Wikipedia - List of Reporting Software, Wikipedia - Document Generation, and DMOZ - List of Java Reporting Software.
Below is a simple flow diagram showing how data is collected and processed to generate a document or report in an Excel or HTML format.
Reporting Software
A good business reporting software system provides tools that helps design, generate, and distribute reports easily. Reporting software helps a company put its data into good use. But what helps you make the most of your business reporting software?When your data is in a SQL database such as IBM's DB2, My Sql, Oracle, or Microsoft's Sql Server, then a system is necessary that can generate killer SQL Reports. Learn from the linked page how paying attention to six key features can transform your report from blah to wow!
When your data is in XML format, be it a file, XML extracted from a database, a REST datasource, or other, then a system that can generate XML Reports is needed. How can you make people become interested in your data as much as you do? How can they better understand your report? The key is in data representation.
For the output, many times you may need to create Excel Reports from your data. Excel is much better than banded reports. There will be instances when banded reports are appropriate, but there is a very limited sub-set where they are used.
HTML Reports are another helpful output format because the data can be easily accessed in any browser. This is very beneficial for OEM Reporting systems because upgrading your software's reporting component helps attract more customers and keep them.
Document Generation Software
Document Generation Software is the most thorough and efficient means of automating documents. It is sometimes called dynamic document composition, docgen, or document process automation. Advanced Document Generation software can provide its users with a flexible, intelligent format.For more information on this topic, refer to Wikipedia - List of Reporting Software, Wikipedia - Document Generation, and DMOZ - List of Java Reporting Software.
Below is a simple flow diagram showing how data is collected and processed to generate a document or report in an Excel or HTML format.
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| Diagram illustrating the elements of a basic template processing system. Image from Wikipedia. |
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Many Uses of Salt in the Home
Do you have salt in your kitchen? Most probably you do. It s an everyday kitchen item usually partnered with pepper that is used to add flavor to the meals we cook. It is also used as a preservative in some food items like salted eggs and salted fish. Salted foods last longer because the presence of the salt inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
Aside from the use of salt in the kitchen, there are a lot more ways that this item is used in the home. Listed below are just some of the ways we are able to use salt in the home.
Salt also acts as an antiseptic thus it can be used as a remedy for
Aside from these uses, I think salt is also used in cleaning or deodorizing like in removing grease stains in clothing (use one part salt 4 parts alcohol solution) and removing mildew (mix salt with lemon juice). One other use that I have for salt is in cleaning teats to remove milk residue and odor. Just sprinkle some salt inside the teat, scrub lightly to remove residue then wash with mild soap.
Do you have any other use of salt that you care to share? Care to share them in the comments section?
Aside from the use of salt in the kitchen, there are a lot more ways that this item is used in the home. Listed below are just some of the ways we are able to use salt in the home.
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| Salt and Pepper. Image by Esther Seijmonsbergen, Stock.xchng |
- relieving pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis or sore eye) and stye (or kuliti) - just dissolve a pinch of salt in warm water then use it to rinse the eye or use clean cotton balls dipped in the salt solution to wipe the infected eye.
- relieving sore throat - prepare a salt solution as above and use it to gargle while warm. I use this whenever I feel that I'm going to catch a cold or will have a cough. I also asked my kids lately to gargle this salt solution because they are complaining of throat pain after having a flu and it helps. (This is actually the reason why I thought of writing this post).
- cleaning wounds - since the salt solution is antiseptic it can be used to clean wounds. Of course, it would really sting.
- as a mouthwash especially if you have gum problems, canker sore (or singaw). I remember that whenever I have my teeth cleaned at the dental clinic, the hygienist use a spray of salt solution as a final washing of my teeth. Tastes really salty!
Aside from these uses, I think salt is also used in cleaning or deodorizing like in removing grease stains in clothing (use one part salt 4 parts alcohol solution) and removing mildew (mix salt with lemon juice). One other use that I have for salt is in cleaning teats to remove milk residue and odor. Just sprinkle some salt inside the teat, scrub lightly to remove residue then wash with mild soap.
Do you have any other use of salt that you care to share? Care to share them in the comments section?
Monday, February 21, 2011
God, Ever Bless My Daddy (A Poem)
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| Happy 74th Birthday, Daddy! |
A Poem for Daddy
My daddy is the most loving and gentle father this little girl knew.
I could still remember his tender touch every morning I awake;
And how he sings to me his lullaby to sleep.
Seldom does he raise his voice in anger.
When he speaks words of correction and discipline,
They truly express his love and compassion towards me.
He's always there to care for me when I'm sick;
I could still see myself asleep on his lap
When there I cried as my tooth ached so badly.
Not only was he there during times of my pain;
But also when I had some honors to gain.
It is my joy to see him smile telling me how proud he is that day.
When I've finally grown to a fine young lady,
He's the man who always tirelessly waits on me;
Just like the father waiting for his prodigal son to return home.
Now that I have a family and children of my own,
I appreciate even more how much my daddy had sacrificed.
So God I pray today, ever bless my daddy - your most precious gift to me.
I LOVE YOU DADDY! BLESSED BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Friday, February 18, 2011
My Kids Got Talent
Two weeks ago, our children's school had its 5th foundation day. My husband and I did not want to miss it because our children had practiced dancing for their presentation for quite a while. I was really impressed and proud that my kids actually got talent in dancing. It's good that they have gotten it from their father who is good at dancing. I'm not a good dancer - in fact, I don't dance.
Let me share with you some of the photos my husband took. I'll try to say what they danced though I'm not that familiar with some of them. I just know those which were popular during my growing up years.
My 10-year old son, Emmuel, danced to the tune of Beat It and Billy Jean by Michael Jackson. I know these songs and who wouldn't know about them or Michael Jackson.
Janel, our 4-year old daughter, is thought to be the graceful dancer among my children. She danced to the tune of the song that Babe, babe, babe, oh... I don't know who sang that song.
Kristel, our 7-year old daughter, danced to the tune of Hot and Cold. This young lady sure practiced this song almost everyday, looking it up in YouTube.
This is a real surprise to me. Yuan, our 8-year old son, never talked much about their dance or practiced it at home. But I did not know that he can dance and he danced really well. His class danced to the tune of Macarena.
All the presentations of the students from Nursery to Grade 6 were really wonderful. I didn't watch the high school presentations but I heard that they were also really good. The children really did their best and I salute the teachers also for doing a good job and for their patience in teaching all the children.
Let me share with you some of the photos my husband took. I'll try to say what they danced though I'm not that familiar with some of them. I just know those which were popular during my growing up years.
My 10-year old son, Emmuel, danced to the tune of Beat It and Billy Jean by Michael Jackson. I know these songs and who wouldn't know about them or Michael Jackson.
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| Emmuel danced Michael Jackson hits like Beat It and Billy Jean. |
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| Janel danced the song that Babe, Babe, Babe, oh. |
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| Kristel danced the song Hot and Cold |
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| Yuan danced to the tune of Macarena. |
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Prayer - A Key Ingredient in Marriage
Marriage is really fun at the beginning, usually called the honeymoon stage which lasts about 1-2 years. But as the years go by, something happens as the complexities of marriage life begin - becoming busy taking care of the children, keeping up with work or one's career, and so on. Slowly and subtly, changes within the relationship happens. You don’t seem to talk as much anymore as a couple. Has this happened to your marriage life? (I'll keep the answer to myself)
The foundation for intimacy in marriage is setting the right priorities of the relationship. Isn't this what we have started doing when we were still in the courtship stage? Do you remember “making” time to be together and working out your plans and schedules to be there for each other?
The same should be true during marriage. Many broken or cold marriages have been restored when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of the absolute necessities in any marriage is Praying together. "Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage" (Doug Weiss). As Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house - your marriage. Remember the cord in the wedding ceremony? It must be made of three strands which stands for the man, woman and God. With God, the marriage bond becomes stronger and longer lasting. And with prayer included in the daily routine of the husband and wife, surely they can't help spending time talking with each other and with the Lord.
Do you spend time praying together as husband and wife? If not, then maybe, your reading this post will serve as a reminder that you should if you want the Lord to be part in building your house (this is a reminder for me, too).
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Douglas Weiss, PhD, is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The author of Intimacy, The Seven Love Agreements, and Sex, Men, and God, he is a regular guest on national television (both secular and Christian) as well as radio.
Visit the author's website.
Based on principles from his best-selling book Intimacy, Dr. Doug Weiss offers thirty daily teachings for married Christian couples that will help them discover what true intimacy looks like, learn how to overcome the five main roadblocks to intimacy, and help them fall in love all over again.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Siloam (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161638140X
ISBN-13: 978-1616381400
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
The foundation for intimacy in marriage is setting the right priorities of the relationship. Isn't this what we have started doing when we were still in the courtship stage? Do you remember “making” time to be together and working out your plans and schedules to be there for each other?
The same should be true during marriage. Many broken or cold marriages have been restored when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of the absolute necessities in any marriage is Praying together. "Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage" (Doug Weiss). As Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house - your marriage. Remember the cord in the wedding ceremony? It must be made of three strands which stands for the man, woman and God. With God, the marriage bond becomes stronger and longer lasting. And with prayer included in the daily routine of the husband and wife, surely they can't help spending time talking with each other and with the Lord.
Do you spend time praying together as husband and wife? If not, then maybe, your reading this post will serve as a reminder that you should if you want the Lord to be part in building your house (this is a reminder for me, too).
Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven..”The thoughts I shared in this blog post is based on the first chapter of the new book by Doug Weiss called 30-Day Marriage Makeover. I have not received a review copy of this book, just a free peek in the first chapter available below.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
Siloam (February 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva | Publicity Coordinator, Book Group | Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Douglas Weiss, PhD, is the executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The author of Intimacy, The Seven Love Agreements, and Sex, Men, and God, he is a regular guest on national television (both secular and Christian) as well as radio.
Visit the author's website.
SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Based on principles from his best-selling book Intimacy, Dr. Doug Weiss offers thirty daily teachings for married Christian couples that will help them discover what true intimacy looks like, learn how to overcome the five main roadblocks to intimacy, and help them fall in love all over again.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Siloam (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161638140X
ISBN-13: 978-1616381400
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask
for, it will be done for you by my "ather in heaven. "or where
two or three come together in my name, there am ! with them.
—Matthew 18:19–20
Throughout my years of counseling, I have discovered that many marriages lack structures to encourage intimacy. We grow up believing that one day we will get married and live happily ever after. We enter marriage ill equipped for intimacy and are disappointed when our husband or wife doesn’t possess the secret code to intimacy either.
At first marriage is fun as you begin to learn about your spouse, go to work or school, get your first apartment, pick out furniture, go to church, and are physically intimate together without guilt. The sheer complexities of your new life together, along with the many new decisions you must make, can keep you talking and sharing regularly. Slowly and subtly it happens. No one really knows when or where it happens, but something changes within the relationship. You don’t seem to talk as much.
Decisions are not met with the same excitement as when you were first married; instead, they are delegated, then discussed. Purchases become fewer, and sex and life take on a routine. You don’t feel as close but seem just to be living together. What happened? Where did the passion for one another go? Americans believe that people are either passionate or they are not. But this kind of thinking is incorrect. Passion is a dividend of consistent investments made into a relationship. Let’s reflect back a minute to when you were dating. You were selling your spouse on the idea that being married to you was a great idea. Remember the passion you had for your future spouse? Of course you remember the passion, but what you may have forgotten is the foundation of that passion, the priority of the relationship. Do you remember how you “made” time to be together? You planned your days and weeks around each other’s work schedule, including your days off. Those of you who were attending school in another city away from your future spouse, as I was, had the phone bills to prove your passion and priority. In my case, those phone bills took a giant bite out of the little income I made just so I could tell her about my day. If you were a Christian at the time, do you remember how spiritual you were? You prayed together as often as you could and perhaps even read the Bible together. You desired to know God’s will, and you wanted God to help you stay pure and still express your love to one another. Do you remember the gratitude you had for the smallest things your spouse did for you? ,is was especially true for me when Lisa cooked for me. I was so grateful! I 5lled her life with a constant stream of praise. Do you remember when you thought she was so smart and attractive and had so much potential? You believed in her and regularly encouraged her.
Understand that passion is a result of setting priorities. Too many people attempt to get back the passion instead of getting back their priorities. Once you get the priorities back, the passion follows and grows
naturally. What priorities? I will discuss priorities shortly, but before I do, I want to share an analogy I often use in counseling sessions. Many couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to 5xing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. When you go to the doctor or emergency room. The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast. The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen. The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your
marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of
the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.” I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.
These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies. They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments. When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.
I love her and really like her as well. This passion is the fruit of disciplinethat is born out of a heart of love.
THE THREE DAILIES
1. Prayer
Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.” Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage.
Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance
of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees—it says when two agree. Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,
but as a couple as well. Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well. Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular
position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential. As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a check by which of the following statements you agree with.
* We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.
* We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy. The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day. Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular activities, church, and fellowshiping with family and friends.
Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.
Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.
Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.
In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire. Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her. Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can
nourish.
I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage.
for, it will be done for you by my "ather in heaven. "or where
two or three come together in my name, there am ! with them.
—Matthew 18:19–20
Throughout my years of counseling, I have discovered that many marriages lack structures to encourage intimacy. We grow up believing that one day we will get married and live happily ever after. We enter marriage ill equipped for intimacy and are disappointed when our husband or wife doesn’t possess the secret code to intimacy either.
At first marriage is fun as you begin to learn about your spouse, go to work or school, get your first apartment, pick out furniture, go to church, and are physically intimate together without guilt. The sheer complexities of your new life together, along with the many new decisions you must make, can keep you talking and sharing regularly. Slowly and subtly it happens. No one really knows when or where it happens, but something changes within the relationship. You don’t seem to talk as much.
Decisions are not met with the same excitement as when you were first married; instead, they are delegated, then discussed. Purchases become fewer, and sex and life take on a routine. You don’t feel as close but seem just to be living together. What happened? Where did the passion for one another go? Americans believe that people are either passionate or they are not. But this kind of thinking is incorrect. Passion is a dividend of consistent investments made into a relationship. Let’s reflect back a minute to when you were dating. You were selling your spouse on the idea that being married to you was a great idea. Remember the passion you had for your future spouse? Of course you remember the passion, but what you may have forgotten is the foundation of that passion, the priority of the relationship. Do you remember how you “made” time to be together? You planned your days and weeks around each other’s work schedule, including your days off. Those of you who were attending school in another city away from your future spouse, as I was, had the phone bills to prove your passion and priority. In my case, those phone bills took a giant bite out of the little income I made just so I could tell her about my day. If you were a Christian at the time, do you remember how spiritual you were? You prayed together as often as you could and perhaps even read the Bible together. You desired to know God’s will, and you wanted God to help you stay pure and still express your love to one another. Do you remember the gratitude you had for the smallest things your spouse did for you? ,is was especially true for me when Lisa cooked for me. I was so grateful! I 5lled her life with a constant stream of praise. Do you remember when you thought she was so smart and attractive and had so much potential? You believed in her and regularly encouraged her.
Understand that passion is a result of setting priorities. Too many people attempt to get back the passion instead of getting back their priorities. Once you get the priorities back, the passion follows and grows
naturally. What priorities? I will discuss priorities shortly, but before I do, I want to share an analogy I often use in counseling sessions. Many couples come in for help with sprains or fractures in their relationships. I liken the repair of a marital relationship to 5xing a broken bone. When your bone is broken, you can continue to function in a limited way, but you look and act unusual. When you go to the doctor or emergency room. The first thing the doctor does is order an X-ray of the bone. Sure enough, he looks at the structure. Regardless of how it happened, the X-ray shows a damaged structure (your bone is broken). The doctor and nurse apply a structural treatment to your structural problem in the form of a cast. The cast is a structural treatment that allows the bone to heal. The cast itself is just plastic or plaster, and it has no healing properties. But when it is applied to a broken bone to hold the bone in place, surprise! Healing can and does happen. The same thing happens when you place the priorities back into your
marriage. No matter how sprained or broken a marriage is, healing can and does take place. I have seen genuine miracles of restoration in marriages when priorities were put back into the relationship. One of
the structures I apply is what I call “the three dailies.” I want to add a personal note of testimony. As I have stated before, I would never ask you to do something that Lisa and I have not done or are not doing presently in our relationship. Lisa and I have done two of the three dailies every day for years, with only a few exceptions. When I developed the third exercise, we actively applied it to our marriage routine also.
These three exercises help Lisa and I maintain our relationship priorities. They are part of our bedtime routine. Neither of us expects to go to sleep without our relational ritual of the three dailies. They are a major highlight of my day. I get to hear about my wife’s day, hear her heart, and she gets to hear about my day and heart as well. ,is relational structure has richly developed our skill for intimacy to such a level that it can weather the day-to-day challenges of children, writing, and media demands, together with all of our other commitments. When your marriage priorities are restored, your passion will be restored. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my passion for Lisa.
I love her and really like her as well. This passion is the fruit of disciplinethat is born out of a heart of love.
THE THREE DAILIES
1. Prayer
Prayer is an absolute necessity in your marriage. I am constantly amazed when couples tell me that the last time they really prayed together, not including praying over food or a good night prayer with children, was years ago. Sometimes they say, “We both pray, just not together.” Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” The Lord must be part of building your house. Prayer is an active way to include the Lord as part of the building plan of your marriage.
Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” As we’ve previously noted, this verse discusses the importance
of two or more agreeing in God’s name. It doesn’t say when one agrees—it says when two agree. Since Christ’s resurrection, He intercedes with and for His bride, which is the church. The Lord sees prayer as being extremely important. God’s pleasure is for us to commune with Him not just as individuals,
but as a couple as well. Prayer is one of the priorities that must be set in place by a couple desiring more intimacy. Remember, intimacy is three dimensional, involving spirit, soul, and body. As we grow together spiritually, our intimacy in the other two areas will grow as well. Prayer is just talking aloud to God with your spouse, similar to talking with a friend. Prayer doesn’t have to take long hours in any particular
position. It is the principle of connecting with God that is essential. As a couple, within your governing style in your marriage, process the decision of daily prayer. As a result of your decision as a couple, place a check by which of the following statements you agree with.
* We have agreed to pray daily together to improve and maintain our intimacy for the next thirty days.
* We have agreed not to pray together daily for the next thirty days, knowing that it will negatively affect our intimacy. The structure of prayer taking place within your marriage is one essential part of the three daily exercises. This structure will also be a part of your thirty-day log at the end of each day. Hopefully you have agreed to daily prayer. I know better than most that each couple has many variables. Some of these differences include sleep preferences, work schedules, children’s school and extracurricular activities, church, and fellowshiping with family and friends.
Look at your schedules. When can you pray together? In the morning? At lunch? In the evening? Take the time to discuss this with your spouse, and see if you can agree on a time to pray together. In the space below, write your first and second options to pray together.
Option one is ________ a.m./p.m.
Option two is ________ a.m./p.m.
In your thirty-day log, it’s important to track your progress regarding this exercise to maintain the consistency that ignites the passion and intimacy you both desire. Those who travel often ask how to maintain the thirty-day program while out of town. In this day of modern technology, it is a non issue for the creative person. You can use your calling card or mobile phone to pray with your spouse over the phone. This really demonstrates a commitment to maintaining your spiritual intimacy. Even if you’re in Hong Kong, you can e-mail a prayer to your wife and chat with her. Remember that the structure first brings healing, then passion. As you walk together spiritually, your intimacy over the next thirty days can
nourish.
I love walking in the garden of my life with Lisa and coming with her into the presence of our loving Father. I really believe this has been instrumental in developing the strength and intimacy of our marriage.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Grateful to the Lord
Pinay Mommy Online is celebrating her first blogversary and she's asking those who are joining her giveaway to share about what they are thankful for last 2010. Since I'm joining her giveaway, I would like to take this opportunity to express how grateful I am to the Lord for His blessings in 2010 (not that I haven't thanked Him yet but I haven't really penned them in this blog).
The first item on my thank you list is for my mom's recovery. She had a really unexpected heart attack last November and had to undergo angioplasty (a surgery wherein a tube was placed in her heart to unblock an artery). Aside from being grateful to the Lord (also to family and friends who helped) for the provision for the cost of the surgery (more than half million pesos), I really am grateful that my mom is feeling better now. After the surgery, she's breathless after just 3 steps up or down the stairs. But now, I think she's getting much farther than that. I really can't wait to see her when we go home to the Philippines in two months.
The second item is the health of my family. All of us are doing okay with our health though we were not spared from some cold and coughing especially during the changing in the seasons but still all of us are doing fine. I also had my first executive check-up which included electrocardiogram, mammogram, blood testing, lung x-ray, and abdominal ultrasound. Thank God all systems check are clear.
The third item is the progress of my children in school. Though they are not included in the top 10 of their class but still they are among the cream section. And what's important is that they are learning a lot. I'm especially happy with how my 2 daughters are doing in school. It is their first time in school this year and they are coping well.
Lastly, I've already shared in a post my Income from Home in 2010. Last year was really the first time that I worked online and earned something. It was good timing and blessing from the Lord since last year there were quite a lot of expenses in our family mainly my sister's recital and my mom's surgery and medications.
God is really good! He is our provider, our healer, our comforter, our friend. He knows our every need and His timing is always perfect. If we only "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things (that we need) will be added unto us." To God be all the glory and honor and thanks!
Thanks to all the sponsors of Pinay Mommy Online's Thanksgiving Giveaway!!
Pinay Mommy Online Proud Mommy of Three My Tots Exactly! My Tummy Calls Azumi - Kawaii Princess’ Story Worth's World Make Money Online E! FashionTalk.com One Proud Momma DashingSmiles myWeb-BlogdotCom Kizuna Marikenya's Travel and Resource Blog The Miscellaneous Me Family and Home Living Meet and Greet Joys in Life All About Her Viva Pinay Stylish Voyager Written by Mys Cinco Online Fat Girl No More i am woman hear me rawr Lifestyle & Homemaking Kero's Celebration The Peregrinator I Love Hate Blogging Web Design Philippines Make Money Blog Lovingly Mama Princess Wannabe Contest Buff Earn Dollars Pinoy! Samut-Sari Pensive Thoughts Happy Home Working jared's little corner of the world... Nutrition and Health Care The Domain Angel Eat, Drink, Blog Our Kids Plus Us
If you want to join in this fabulous giveaways, please visit Pinay Mommy Online's Thanksgiving Giveaway post.
The first item on my thank you list is for my mom's recovery. She had a really unexpected heart attack last November and had to undergo angioplasty (a surgery wherein a tube was placed in her heart to unblock an artery). Aside from being grateful to the Lord (also to family and friends who helped) for the provision for the cost of the surgery (more than half million pesos), I really am grateful that my mom is feeling better now. After the surgery, she's breathless after just 3 steps up or down the stairs. But now, I think she's getting much farther than that. I really can't wait to see her when we go home to the Philippines in two months.
The second item is the health of my family. All of us are doing okay with our health though we were not spared from some cold and coughing especially during the changing in the seasons but still all of us are doing fine. I also had my first executive check-up which included electrocardiogram, mammogram, blood testing, lung x-ray, and abdominal ultrasound. Thank God all systems check are clear.
The third item is the progress of my children in school. Though they are not included in the top 10 of their class but still they are among the cream section. And what's important is that they are learning a lot. I'm especially happy with how my 2 daughters are doing in school. It is their first time in school this year and they are coping well.
Lastly, I've already shared in a post my Income from Home in 2010. Last year was really the first time that I worked online and earned something. It was good timing and blessing from the Lord since last year there were quite a lot of expenses in our family mainly my sister's recital and my mom's surgery and medications.
God is really good! He is our provider, our healer, our comforter, our friend. He knows our every need and His timing is always perfect. If we only "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things (that we need) will be added unto us." To God be all the glory and honor and thanks!
Thanks to all the sponsors of Pinay Mommy Online's Thanksgiving Giveaway!!
Pinay Mommy Online Proud Mommy of Three My Tots Exactly! My Tummy Calls Azumi - Kawaii Princess’ Story Worth's World Make Money Online E! FashionTalk.com One Proud Momma DashingSmiles myWeb-BlogdotCom Kizuna Marikenya's Travel and Resource Blog The Miscellaneous Me Family and Home Living Meet and Greet Joys in Life All About Her Viva Pinay Stylish Voyager Written by Mys Cinco Online Fat Girl No More i am woman hear me rawr Lifestyle & Homemaking Kero's Celebration The Peregrinator I Love Hate Blogging Web Design Philippines Make Money Blog Lovingly Mama Princess Wannabe Contest Buff Earn Dollars Pinoy! Samut-Sari Pensive Thoughts Happy Home Working jared's little corner of the world... Nutrition and Health Care The Domain Angel Eat, Drink, Blog Our Kids Plus Us
If you want to join in this fabulous giveaways, please visit Pinay Mommy Online's Thanksgiving Giveaway post.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Chris Chronicles 1st Blogversary Giveaway
Chris Chronicles is having her 1st Blogversary Giveaway. Bloggers have started joining since last February 1 and will end by February 15, so there is still enough time to join.
It is open to all bloggers who can simply blog about the contest (includes sharing your reason why you want to win) and join her Google Friend Connect and email subscription. Simple enough right? If you want to join, just click to Chris Chronicles' blogversary giveaway page.
Aside from supporting this blog event of a fellow Christian mommy blogger, the cash prizes mentioned below is another reason why I am joining the contest. If ever I win (I'm praying I do), the prize money will go to my mom's next angiogram. She needs to undergo the procedure to check up the status of her heart arteries. She had a heart attack more than 3 months ago and had to immediately undergo an angioplasty as well. I think, she's due for the procedure in 2 months and the her last angiogram cost about P100,000. So, every little amount of cash would be a big help.
Back to the contest topic, the prizes to be given away include $100 for the 1st prize, $50 for the 2nd prize, $30 for the 3rd prize and a free blog template for the 4th prize. Many thanks goes to Chris' generous giveaway sponsors listed below.
Pinay Mommy Online , Proud Mommy of Three , The Domain Angel , Life's Digital Moments , Eat, Drink, Blog , Caffeinated Muse , Reviewer's Haven , Janet Speaks , The Travel Diva , Sketches, Yam's Files , Mum Writes Again , Travels and Musings , Viva Pinay , Small Kids Big Dreams , Azumi ? Kawaii Princess' Story , Fab ? Momma , Kawaii Princess , Samut-Sari , Joys in Life , Paula's Place , WAHM sa Pinas , Pop Ups of My Mind , Nursing Uniforms , Kero's Celebration , blankpixels - The Geek Side , Certified Foodies , jared's little corner of the world... , Travels and Explorations , Designer's Depot , Work at Home Dad, Noobfoodie , The Smart Shopper , Living Life to the Fullest! , Happy Home Working , Life of a Filipina Blogger , Wahmaholic Designs, The Miscellaneous Me, Family and Home Living
It is open to all bloggers who can simply blog about the contest (includes sharing your reason why you want to win) and join her Google Friend Connect and email subscription. Simple enough right? If you want to join, just click to Chris Chronicles' blogversary giveaway page.
Aside from supporting this blog event of a fellow Christian mommy blogger, the cash prizes mentioned below is another reason why I am joining the contest. If ever I win (I'm praying I do), the prize money will go to my mom's next angiogram. She needs to undergo the procedure to check up the status of her heart arteries. She had a heart attack more than 3 months ago and had to immediately undergo an angioplasty as well. I think, she's due for the procedure in 2 months and the her last angiogram cost about P100,000. So, every little amount of cash would be a big help.
Back to the contest topic, the prizes to be given away include $100 for the 1st prize, $50 for the 2nd prize, $30 for the 3rd prize and a free blog template for the 4th prize. Many thanks goes to Chris' generous giveaway sponsors listed below.
Pinay Mommy Online , Proud Mommy of Three , The Domain Angel , Life's Digital Moments , Eat, Drink, Blog , Caffeinated Muse , Reviewer's Haven , Janet Speaks , The Travel Diva , Sketches, Yam's Files , Mum Writes Again , Travels and Musings , Viva Pinay , Small Kids Big Dreams , Azumi ? Kawaii Princess' Story , Fab ? Momma , Kawaii Princess , Samut-Sari , Joys in Life , Paula's Place , WAHM sa Pinas , Pop Ups of My Mind , Nursing Uniforms , Kero's Celebration , blankpixels - The Geek Side , Certified Foodies , jared's little corner of the world... , Travels and Explorations , Designer's Depot , Work at Home Dad, Noobfoodie , The Smart Shopper , Living Life to the Fullest! , Happy Home Working , Life of a Filipina Blogger , Wahmaholic Designs, The Miscellaneous Me, Family and Home Living
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
How to Lose Weight in 2011 - My Personal Plan (Part 2)
It's been a week since I wrote the part 1 of my post on How to Lose Weight in 2011. In that post, I talked about how to reduce my calorie intake. So far, I think, I'm having some success since I see that I've lost about half a pound already. (Remember, my target is to lose 2 pounds a month).
Today, I wish to write the part 2 of that post. This time I will talk about how to increase my calorie expenditure. That simply means that I have to do more physical activities and stop being sedentary in front of the computer.
Every physical activity we do has an equivalent caloric expenditure. We had a class activity in Nutrition class where we wrote all our activities for a day. The details included what activity and how much time was spent (in minutes or hours) doing it. Then, we referred to a Metabolic Equivalents (MET) table (click the link for sample) where we found the amount of energy burned with the specific type of physical activity. Back then, my caloric expenditure (my physical activities) was almost equal to my caloric intake (what I eat), which was why I was within the range of my ideal weight.
Anyway, I won't go into that detail in my plan to increase my caloric expenditure. I just needed to write some activities I haven't been doing before and start doing them regularly. Here's my list of physical activities I plan to do (I'm already doing some of them since January) aside from the regular house chores (laundry, ironing, house cleaning, etc).
Walking up and down the stairs. Well, I do that before. What's different this time is that I have to walk up to the rooftop carrying a pail of laundry clothes to hang them there. I have to do that 3 times on the average since my regular laundry load is about 3 pails. And I usually do my laundry 3 times a week (that much clothes for a family of 7). Then, I also have to bring down the dry clothes, so that's additional calories burned for me.
Walking with my 2-year old daughter. Actually, she's not walking. She's biking but since she still doesn't know how to pedal, I have to push her bike and walk around. We've been doing that for about 15-30 minutes a day. In the picture below, Ate Kristel is pushing Angel's bike for me while I hang our clothes to dry.
Riding a Bike. All my children like bike riding. Last week, I borrowed the bike of my son and I really enjoyed riding for a couple of minutes. I remember how I really enjoy biking when I was still young. But, I have to buy a new one because I think, I'm quite heavy for that bike.
Playing table tennis. My 2 sons are very much interested in playing this sport so I play some pingpong with them. If we could at least play 3 times a week for 30 minutes that would be good. I know it's not as tiring as playing tennis (I was learning this before but stopped), but it will do. We don't have to go out of the house or spend some cash on renting a tennis court.
Aerobic exercise. I have some videos (including Taebo and Les Mills Body Combat which I enjoy) at home which I could follow as an alternative to the physical activities I have mentioned above. I really have to schedule at least 30 minutes of that 3 times a week.
Having a variety of activities to do will help me not to get bored doing them. Doing the activities with my kids will also be special bonding times with them. They are actually the ones who keeps on telling me to do some of these things. Oh, I really hope I can keep doing these so that I could consistently lose weight and attain my goal by the end of the year.
How about you? What physical activities are you doing to lose weight or maintain your already desirable weight? Having some physical activities are not for people who just want to lose weight but also for those who want to keep fit and healthy, right?
Today, I wish to write the part 2 of that post. This time I will talk about how to increase my calorie expenditure. That simply means that I have to do more physical activities and stop being sedentary in front of the computer.
Every physical activity we do has an equivalent caloric expenditure. We had a class activity in Nutrition class where we wrote all our activities for a day. The details included what activity and how much time was spent (in minutes or hours) doing it. Then, we referred to a Metabolic Equivalents (MET) table (click the link for sample) where we found the amount of energy burned with the specific type of physical activity. Back then, my caloric expenditure (my physical activities) was almost equal to my caloric intake (what I eat), which was why I was within the range of my ideal weight.
Anyway, I won't go into that detail in my plan to increase my caloric expenditure. I just needed to write some activities I haven't been doing before and start doing them regularly. Here's my list of physical activities I plan to do (I'm already doing some of them since January) aside from the regular house chores (laundry, ironing, house cleaning, etc).
Walking up and down the stairs. Well, I do that before. What's different this time is that I have to walk up to the rooftop carrying a pail of laundry clothes to hang them there. I have to do that 3 times on the average since my regular laundry load is about 3 pails. And I usually do my laundry 3 times a week (that much clothes for a family of 7). Then, I also have to bring down the dry clothes, so that's additional calories burned for me.
Walking with my 2-year old daughter. Actually, she's not walking. She's biking but since she still doesn't know how to pedal, I have to push her bike and walk around. We've been doing that for about 15-30 minutes a day. In the picture below, Ate Kristel is pushing Angel's bike for me while I hang our clothes to dry.
 |
| Kristel and Angel, Biking. |
Riding a Bike. All my children like bike riding. Last week, I borrowed the bike of my son and I really enjoyed riding for a couple of minutes. I remember how I really enjoy biking when I was still young. But, I have to buy a new one because I think, I'm quite heavy for that bike.
 |
| Janel enjoys biking. |
Playing table tennis. My 2 sons are very much interested in playing this sport so I play some pingpong with them. If we could at least play 3 times a week for 30 minutes that would be good. I know it's not as tiring as playing tennis (I was learning this before but stopped), but it will do. We don't have to go out of the house or spend some cash on renting a tennis court.
Aerobic exercise. I have some videos (including Taebo and Les Mills Body Combat which I enjoy) at home which I could follow as an alternative to the physical activities I have mentioned above. I really have to schedule at least 30 minutes of that 3 times a week.
Having a variety of activities to do will help me not to get bored doing them. Doing the activities with my kids will also be special bonding times with them. They are actually the ones who keeps on telling me to do some of these things. Oh, I really hope I can keep doing these so that I could consistently lose weight and attain my goal by the end of the year.
How about you? What physical activities are you doing to lose weight or maintain your already desirable weight? Having some physical activities are not for people who just want to lose weight but also for those who want to keep fit and healthy, right?
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