Highlights of Last Week: Mompreneur Manila Workshop, Sunday Morning Mass at Sacred Heart Parish and Mom's Purest Love Event

Last week was a not so busy week for the family and me, as hubby and I are still "getting into the groove" of working/serving in Manila while waiting for our next mission assignment. It has not been a BORING wait so far, and at least we are able to spend QUALITY time with our families while we're here (or more like, the kids are spending more time with their lolos and lolas, since their Papa and Mama are usually away during office hours). So I have nothing to complain about. In fact, the seeming dip in our workload/activities has been a BLESSING so far, in that we are able to explore other avenues where we can be "IN" the world, but not "OF" the world.

One such place was the recently held Mompreneur Manila Meetup 2, with the theme: Champion Your Creative Spark, facilitated by mompreneurs Anna Escay-Cortez and Kara Escay of My Masterpiece Movement. I went there with a fellow missionary mom, Chelle, and IT WAS SO AMAZING! :) It was like we attended a recollection but with a whole bunch of creativity and arts blended in, without the actual mention of God or anything faith-related. The facilitators actually sounded a lot like us missionary moms, when we do conferences or sharings for the community, but had their own points of view and experiences to draw on. For the first time in a LONG time though, we were on the receiving end, and IT FELT SO GOOD.

The logo and motto of the My Masterpiece Movement

The afternoon was a reminder from God to BELIEVE that HE has a great plan for me and my family, and I am the only person standing in the way of this plan becoming reality! Not something new for me, but it was great to be reminded in such a creative way! I also realized that the master artists at My Masterpiece are, in a way, missonaries like me - though with a different mission i.e. to "Spark an Empowering Culture of Creativity."

All I can say is, I AM INSPIEED! hehehe. Thank you Ms. Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva of Mommy Mundo and Mompreneur Manila, for organizing the workshop! :) Praise GOD for you and the super sisters Anna and Kara too! You're all an inspiration to mompreneur wannabes like me!

Mompreneurs and mompreneur wannabes with My Masterpiece Movement teachers

Sunday morning mass at Sacred Heart Parish in QC was also a blessing to hubby and I, as we were reminded through the priest's homily to STORE UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN, which is related to my "verse to live by" as stated in the upper part of this blog. Through his statement, "Where Your Treasure Is, Your Heart Is Also" we were reminded that even if there are times when we seem bogged down by the cares and problems of this world and how to be FINANCIALLY FREE, we should never forget WHERE OUR TRUE TREASURE LIES. :) That's how to be TRULY RICH after all. Right Bro. Bo? *winks*

The man behind the "Secrets of the Truly Rich", and my idol on how to live the truly rich life, none other than Bo Sanchez

To top it off, last Sunday, I was privileged to be a part of the finale of the Mom's Purest Love event, organized by L.A.T.C.H. Philippines and Eastwood Mall. Although I went as an eager spectator hoping to get new insights and tips on breastfeeding and everything mommy-related, this was also part of my latest venture into the world of mompreneurship, as a lot of the vendors at the event were mompreneurs themselves. I ended up learning a lot, and even got to share about my experiences on babywearing as a missionary mom (thanks Jenny and Buding for the opportunity!).

Jenny (http://fabnaima.blogspot.com) and the babywearing mom models)

My impromptu sharing about babywearing (minus the actual baby and my Maya wrap/sling, left both at home hehe)

I also finally got to meet my Facebook mompreneur friend Karen in person, and get mompreneur tips and share wife-mom-missionary stories with Ate Denice and Chelle.

Facebook friends meet up! :) Me and Karen of Momtrepreneur Shop

I also had fun watching the Fashion Show launching Bianca Araneta-Elizalde's maternity/nursing wear line - Eden.

Stylish and practical wear for moms and moms to be (but good for single ladies too!)

All the mommy models with Eden designer, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde

Buding Aquino-Dee, the creative force behind LATCH Philippines, and one of my mompreneur inspirations :)

All in all, last week was one filled with FAITH, FUN and FRIENDSHIP (I sound like a YFC or KFC member hahaha!). And I only have THE KING to thank for that - thank You, Papa God for all the windows and doors opened for my family and I, for hubby and my in-laws who became the kids' babysitters while I was out exploring new opportunities, for hubby's endless support of my mompreneur wannabe ventures, for my own parents and siblings who pray for me and support me, and for all the moms whom I have recently encountered and have become my inspirations! :) What a TRULY RICH and BLESSED life I have! :)