Just go ahead and do it. Go ahead and put it together. We need to take heed of the call of News and Disaster Agencies including Red Cross to make our own’s family’s Emergency Kit. Some may call it “Lifeline Kit” or “Disaster Bag”.
You can turn this “preparation” into a HomesCool learning session. Our students need to know the reasons behind this “Emergency Kit”. We should be a bit more considerate and wary in discussing “disasters” to little children so we do not create unnecessary stress and fear.
The following can be part of our discussion:
Typhoons
Floods
Earthquakes
Fires
Bomb Explosion
Stampedes
We should explain these situations (the science behind these, the causes, the effects, etc) to our children and clearly communicate the family’s guidelines on what to do. Of course, we hope and pray that we will never find ourselves in these situations and that we would have no need of using our prepared “emergency bags” but then it is much better to be prepared than finding ourselves in situations where we wish we should have prepared. Remember Ben Franklin’s famous line, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
I checked a few suggested lists online. Please click on the highlighted link to go the actual online site.
This is what you will see from the Philippine Red Cross:
The following are screenshots of the list put together by the Philippine Red Cross:
These are the items that we put together. For the toiletries, we made use of the many mini toiletries giveaways from hotels (toothbrushes/toothpaste, shampoo and soaps) We still have to include a few clothes, writing tools/paper, snacks and identification labels with contact details. Family season will play a big part on the contents of ones emergency kits. Infants and toddlers will need their milk, diapers and baby food. Experts suggest including some toys and forms of entertainment like cards or carry-on games for the kids. If you have helpers living with you, you need to also prepare enough to include their needs.
Can you see somethings that are not supposed to be in this bag?These bags must be placed in areas of easy accessibility like the garage or near the main door. Regularly check the bags to protect the perishables from expiring.
Again, remember Ben Franklin’s advise! Let’s do it!
Proverbs 6:6-7 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
My most fabulous finds during a recent trip to Bohol are:
1. Time
Yes, I found time. Or should I say, we found time. A few of my BFF tennis team mates and I took time out to head to Bohol for some bonding and R & R. Being full time mothers, it was not easy to take trips like this but I am glad to say that this is already our second trip:) A “Best in Uniform” prize in one tennis tournament 2 years ago gave us the chance to travel to Boracay for the first time together. When you have a blast, you would want to do it again and again, right?
For some reason, I did not travel with friends when I was younger or when I was still single. I then noticed how my married sisters in law in my husband’s side of the family would from time to time travel with their friends. And so thanks to Gilbert who generously gave the go signal and funded the trips, I eventually tried! And tried again, and again!
It’s important to find the TIME to rest and slow down. It can be trip with your spouse (without the kids) or yes, a short trip with siblings or friends! It can be just a short break of a good book in a coffee shop. I always try to think of it this way. If teachers are given two weeks vacation leave and seminars for enrichment and continuous learning, HomesCooling teachers should get some form of break too, right?
At the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol. And yes, we found the time to coordinate our outfits!Seated: Candy, who homeschooled for a year and to my left, standing: Joyce, MonetAn ATV Adventure around the Chocolate Hills; We had to drive around in the rain! The rain actually upped the ante!An all girl getaway ain’t complete without the jumpshot! And look at me, don’t you think I look like a butterfly!
The key to make such a getaway happen was to make TIME. And that includes making the time to plan it, book the tickets and accommodations. We also had to make the decisions earlier on as we wanted to cut the cost and avail of the promo rates of airline tickets.
Thank you, Candy, Joyce and Monet for helping make this happen. Thank you to hubbies Jello, Jun, Bing and Gilbert as well!
First time for me to see “calachuchi” with pointed petals!!!Lovely salad with Asian dressing! So refreshing ! The chocolate cake which I failed to take a photo of was just too yummy!
3. Kids @ Play
Wouldn’t you say that the moment captured by the following shots is truly fabulous? Simple joys of children at play, indeed! Playing with the wind, with a wheel in this setting is pure bliss!
4. The Salad with flowers at the Bohol Bee Farm! (for more info on the places mentioned in the next numbers, please click on the highlighted venues/accommodations)
It’s an amazing experiencing eating everything harvested in the garden of a restaurant!
According to diver BFF Candy, we saw the following: Nemo and Dory…. Oops I meant , we saw the following: Clown fish, Blue Tang fish, Moorish Idol, Remora, Parrot Fish, Buttefly fish, Blue Damsel fish, Striped Damsel fish! We also saw the head of the sea turtle!
We saw so many different fish. A few were in massive schools of fish!!! Psalm 107:24 “These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”
It was a good time to explore as we swam. You see when mothers travel with kids, we are not “free” to explore fully since we have to keep an eye on the safety of the children and when you have four children like me, then your “eyes” are full! So this was a treat for all of us as we “snorkeled” with more freedom.
I saw all of these and many more! All photos courtesy of www.liveaquaria.com.
7. A special advanced birthday gift
My BFF tennis mates saw it fit to “surprise” me with an advanced birthday cake slice and jointly gave me this pretty souvenir of our Bohol beach trip:)A fabulous find from my favorite friends from Tarsier Botanika Gift Shop
The garden offered a lot of photo gimmicks with the butterfly theme.
We were only able to explore the butterfly garden in Habitat Bohol. The short experience in the garden was very entertaining and informative! We were quite amused with the photo-savy tour guides who had hilarious punchlines as we did the tour.
We all enjoyed our stay in Bellevue. The Deluxe rooms were very comfortable and spacious. Food was yummy! The guest services including housekeeping were very helpful and accommodating. The hotel staff from the concierge, to the lifeguards and security guards were very eager to help and attend to their guests needs:)
We were able to stay in BBC as guests for the day through the kindness and hospitality of a dear family friend. BBC has a very long and awesome beach front! Their staff was also warm and friendly!
Finally, some chilled white wine:)Hurrah for stay-at=home-moms seriously chilling and relaxing!
Finally, a hammock by the beach! And yes, BBC had so many!!! Hopefully, I will lose some weight so I don’t end up touching the sand!
I decided to do this post to suggest Bohol as a possible getaway for a a few moms in a HomesCooling co-op or support group. It may also be R & R for the HomesCooling parents who may need a break or just a destination for the entire family (with so many educational field trip options) during your HomesCool break.
Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
