Success

The 6 Rules of Success

Success doesn't always come from having the most talent or the best opportunities. Sometimes, it comes from the small choices we make every day.

1. Trust Yourself

When I first started homeschooling my children, I constantly wondered if I was making the right decision. Many people had different opinions, and I often questioned my own ability. But deep inside, I believed God had called me to this path. Little by little, I learned that trusting myself also meant trusting the One who guided me.

Lesson: You don't have to know everything before you begin. Sometimes you simply need to take the first step.

2. Break the Rules

Everyone expected that a good education could only happen inside a traditional classroom. We chose a different path through homeschooling. It wasn't the usual way, but it was the right way for our family. Not every rule has to be broken, but sometimes it's okay to choose a different path if it helps you become who God created you to be.

Lesson: Don't be afraid to do things differently when you have a good reason.

3. Don't Be Afraid to Fail

There were lessons that didn't go as planned. There were days my children weren't interested in studying, and there were days I felt like I had completely failed as a teacher. Instead of giving up, we learned together, adjusted our plans, and tried again the next day.

Lesson: Failure isn't the end. It's often the best teacher you'll ever have.

4. Don't Listen to the Naysayers

People will always have something to say. Some will doubt your dreams, your decisions, or even your abilities. If I had listened to every negative comment, I probably would have stopped homeschooling years ago. Instead, I chose to listen to the people who encouraged me and, more importantly, to God's voice.

Lesson: Not every opinion deserves a place in your heart.

5. Work Your Butt Off

Dreams don't become reality by simply wishing for them. Every day, I prepare lessons, read books, clean the house, cook meals, and still try to be present for my family. Some days are exhausting, but every small effort adds up over time.

Lesson: Success usually looks like ordinary work done consistently.

6. Give Back

Everything we receive is a blessing meant to be shared. Whether it's knowledge, kindness, encouragement, or simply listening to someone who needs a friend, giving back makes our success meaningful. The greatest reward isn't what we keep—it's what we give.

Lesson: Real success isn't measured by how much you have but by how many lives you've touched.

Final Thought

Success isn't about becoming famous or wealthy. It's about becoming the person God created you to be—someone who trusts, perseveres, works hard, and helps others along the way.

Remember, you can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. Take the first step, keep moving forward, and don't forget to lift others as you climb.

Do not forget to share. Someone out there might need this reminder today.

Journey

It has been more than twenty years since we started our homeschooling journey. There have been many moments when I questioned myself and wondered, "Am I doing the right thing for my children?" Like every parent, I want to give them the best foundation possible, and sometimes that uncertainty can be overwhelming.

That is one of the reasons why I posted Bible verses on the walls of our previous home during the time my children are still little. They serve as daily reminders—not only for my children but also for me—that nothing is impossible when we put God at the center of our lives. Whenever doubts begin to fill my mind, His Word reminds me that He is the One leading our family, and that His plans are always greater than mine.

Years ago, I was not as self-assured, assertive, or confident as I am today. Although my Apo (grandmother) faithfully reminded me every day that I was beautiful, pretty, and loved, I still struggled to see my own worth. My childhood was simple and ordinary. I grew up in an environment where life was not always easy. Every day seemed to require hard work just to accomplish even the simplest things.

                         

As the youngest among my siblings, one thing I will always be grateful for is that I never had to beg for love or attention. My family may not have had much materially, but they gave me something priceless—their love. Looking back now, I realize how blessed I was to grow up knowing that I belonged and that I was cared for.

But if I could go back and speak to my younger self, I would tell her that her value was never determined by her abilities, achievements, or the opinions of other people. Her worth had already been established by God long before she ever understood it. I spent so many years trying to prove myself, believing that I had to earn acceptance or become "good enough." I now know that God had already accepted me long before I learned to accept myself.

Perhaps that is why I understand my children differently today. Homeschooling is not only about teaching mathematics, science, language, or history. It is about shaping hearts, building character, strengthening faith, and helping them discover who God created them to be. Academic success is important, but it is not the greatest measure of a successful education. If my children grow up loving God, walking in His ways, treating people with kindness, and living with integrity, then I believe we have accomplished something far more valuable than good grades or impressive achievements.

There are still days when I question whether I am enough. There are moments when I compare myself to other parents or wonder if I could have done things differently. But every time those thoughts come, God gently reminds me that these children were never entrusted to me by accident. He chose me to be their mother, knowing all my strengths and all my weaknesses. His calling always comes with His grace.

Looking back over these past seven years, I can clearly see God's faithfulness. He has provided wisdom when I lacked it, strength when I felt exhausted, and peace whenever fear tried to take over. He has patiently molded not only my children but also me. In many ways, homeschooling has been God's classroom for my own heart.

Today, I no longer want to measure success by the world's standards. Instead, I pray that our home will always be a place where Christ is honored, where learning points us back to our Creator, and where my children will always know that they are deeply loved—not only by us as parents but, most importantly, by God Himself.

The journey is far from perfect, and neither am I. But one thing I have learned is that when God is at the center of our home, every lesson, every challenge, every failure, and every victory becomes part of His beautiful plan. And for that, I will always be grateful.

Welcome to my New Personal Blog

Hi everyone, I want to introduce to you all my new personal blog. Hope you will subscribe. On this blog, I tackle topic more about homeschooling. You will find a  variety of resources and materials about homeschool. Please visit and leave a message if you can.

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Ate's Essay

(Part of Ate's Literature book is to write an essay about any topic she wants to write and this is what she wrote that moves me)

Excerpt in Ate's essay:

I know now that God knows me. He has helped me and my family through countless of troubles. God help me and love me. I regret when I was young, I thought God didn't want me, and I lost my confidence and faith. Until when he send me to my loving teacher. He used my teacher to tell me that God loves me no matter what. I just need to pray and ask for forgiveness. My teacher taught me a lot of things I needed to know, and I was thankful to my teacher and to God. Although I don't know what my future lies ahead, but I know for sure that in the future I will still love God and put him first in any circumstances. --Ate Danna.

Recently, I have been trying to seek God more during my quiet moments. As Ate Danna and Ethan prepare to leave, my heart feels both grateful and sad. They will be returning to the Philippines to continue their studies there. Studying here in Malaysia is quite expensive, and considering the cultural differences, there are also many adjustments students have to make just to fit in. We will definitely miss them. They have been with us for two years, and during that time, we created so many wonderful memories together.

When Ethan first came, I found myself questioning my worth—not only as an individual but also as a teacher. Although I graduated with a degree in Education, I never practiced teaching professionally. Instead, I pursued librarianship, which, for me, felt much easier than teaching. When Ethan came into our lives, I believed I still had so much to prove before I could truly call myself a teacher.

Even then, I believe God was already reminding me of who I am through Isaiah 43:4: "You are precious in my sight, you are honored, and I love you." Yet despite His promises, my self-worth remained low. Perhaps it was because of the many unexpected and painful experiences I had gone through before they came into our lives.

There were times when I wondered how God could love me beyond measure. I never questioned my faith in Him or His faithfulness to me because, through every hardship and every failure, His grace never ceased to amaze me. Looking back now, I realize that maybe God wasn't trying to prove His faithfulness to me—He already had. The real struggle was my inability to believe what He had been saying about me all along. He gave me signs over and over again to show me that He was right and that my doubts were wrong. This wasn't the first time He had done that. God has shown His faithfulness to me countless times. The problem was that I kept returning to the same unhealthy people, the same circumstances, and the same patterns. As we say in Filipino, "Matigas lang talaga ang ulo ko."

The reason I never pursued teaching, despite finishing my degree, was because I believed that a diploma, credentials, seminars, and CPD units were not enough to become a good teacher. I was afraid of the kind of influence I might have on the children entrusted to me. Teaching is more than delivering lessons—it is helping shape lives. That responsibility always intimidated me.

When I started homeschooling my own children, I slowly gained confidence. But I still wasn't confident enough to teach other children—not until God sent Ethan and later, Ate Danna.

Ate Danna came the following year, just when I was about to give up on Ethan because many of my plans had not worked out. During that season, I prayed earnestly for God to show me the right people and place me in the right circumstances. As always, God remained faithful to His promises. Something happened that changed everything. I knew I could no longer go back to where I had been before.

There was a quiet voice in my heart saying, "You've already been there. Don't go back." I know there are people who may not understand my decisions and who may judge me, and that's okay. Sometimes, we have to walk through difficult seasons to discover what truly matters. Those moments reveal where our priorities lie and where our loyalty really belongs. Is it with God, or with the people around us? Are we living to please God, or are we more concerned about pleasing others?

After everything that has happened, I believe my mind is finally clear. When Ate Danna and Ethan leave, I know deep in my heart that I did my best. Regardless of other people's opinions or judgments, I know I gave these two children the best foundation I could as they prepare to face the world on their own.

As for me, I plan to continue teaching. If God gives me the opportunity, I also want to study the profession more deeply and continue growing as an educator.

And as for me and my household, we will continue to love, serve, and praise God regardless of what other people may say. I no longer worry if people misunderstand me or think I am merely using the name of the Lord. God alone knows my heart, and He is the One who will judge me—not people. My desire is simply to glorify Him.

After all, every blessing I have today came from Him. I am proud to say that God is the One who has provided it all. To Him alone be all the glory.

John 17:4  "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

Gratitude

Lately, I have started to appreciate the life God has given me and the work He has entrusted to me. I have begun to realize my true purpose in this world.

Sometimes, in our desire to fit into the world, we work so hard to become the person we think everyone expects us to be—even when that may not be who God is calling us to become. We spend so much time trying to make other people happy, believing that if everyone approves of us, we will finally be happy too.

We become so consumed with what others might think or say about us that we forget to ask the most important question: "Lord, what do You want me to do? Who do You want me to become?"

The truth is, we can never please everyone. That is simply the reality of life. Sooner or later, someone will misunderstand us, disappoint us, or even hurt us. The real question is not whether we will be hurt, but who is worth making sacrifices for.

Ethan

The noisiest... but also one of the most lovable.

Was it worth it?

Without a doubt—yes.

A year or two ago, I tried to return to the life I had before—a workaholic mother of three. I applied for many jobs, hoping to continue the career I had left behind. Unfortunately, I wasn't accepted into most of them. For a while, I felt as though I had lost the person I used to be because I had stopped working almost ten years earlier.

Ten years ago, I made the decision to homeschool my children while they were still young. The first few years were not easy. I was adjusting to a new country, a new culture, and a completely different way of life. I was far from my comfort zone, and there were many moments when I questioned my decisions.

Eventually, I found a job. I attended interviews, was hired, and worked for about a year. But then I resigned.

It wasn't because I disliked the job or because the salary wasn't enough. Deep inside, I simply felt that something was missing. My heart wasn't at peace. I realized that what I truly wanted was to be present for my children during the years they needed me most.

Please don't misunderstand me. I have nothing but admiration for mothers who work outside the home. In fact, they deserve so much respect. Balancing a career while raising children is no easy task. I've experienced that life myself, and I know how exhausting it can be.

Whether a mother works full-time at home or outside the home, there is no competition. Every mother wants what is best for her children, and every family's situation is different. We should celebrate one another instead of comparing ourselves.

During our art project

(Basket making)

Lovi's basket

Ate and her work

of art

Doing some Arts

and crafts

Looking back, I can honestly say that choosing to become a full-time homeschooling mom was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Sometimes we need to make sacrifices today that our future selves will thank us for tomorrow.

No amount of money can replace the joy of witnessing your children grow day by day. Time passes so quickly. One moment they are learning to read, and before you know it, they are becoming independent young people with dreams of their own.

Every day, I have the privilege of guiding them, learning with them, laughing with them, and watching them become the people God created them to be. These ordinary days, which may seem repetitive to others, have become some of the most meaningful moments of my life.

Over the years, God also entrusted other children to our homeschool journey.

Ate and Ethan

My two additional

blessing from God

I will always be grateful to their parents for trusting me with their children. To be honest, there were many times when I felt afraid. I wondered if I was capable enough or if I would be able to fulfill the responsibility God had placed in my hands.

But every single day, these children reminded me why I said yes.

Their curiosity, laughter, creativity, and simple faith reminded me that life doesn't have to be as complicated as adults often make it. Sometimes, the greatest lessons come from seeing the world through the eyes of a child.

There will always be people who question our choices or tell us what we cannot do. Years ago, I probably would have spent my time defending myself or trying to prove them wrong.

Today, I have learned something different.

The best response isn't always to argue. Sometimes, the best response is to remain silent, keep doing what God has called you to do, pray, and allow Him to fight your battles.

Not every criticism deserves a response, and not every opinion deserves a place in your heart.

God knows our motives. He sees every sacrifice that no one else notices. He understands every tear, every prayer, and every act of obedience done in secret.

If He has called us to something, He will also give us the grace and strength to accomplish it.

Looking back now, I no longer see the years I spent at home as years I "gave up" my career. Instead, I see them as years I invested in the lives of my children—and that investment has brought a reward no paycheck could ever replace.

I may never become the richest person in the world, but every time I see my children growing in wisdom, kindness, faith, and confidence, I know I have already received one of God's greatest blessings.

At the end of the day, success is not about how much money we earn or how impressive our job title is. Success is knowing that we faithfully lived the purpose God prepared for us, loved the people He entrusted to us, and left a legacy that will last far beyond this lifetime.