Monday, April 29, 2013

Natural sugarcane juice – truly a sweet alternative to unhealthy drinks

One of the most frustrating things that parents have to deal with when it comes to nutrition is that even though we can be vigilant in providing high-quality, nutritious food at home, when our kids are away, the outside world has very few wholesome choices to choose from.

Be it malls, fast-food joints, and school canteens (this is the most frustrating one, because we leave our kids in this place 5 days a week with a whole lotta trust), we really can’t avoid junk food, fatty food, a huge lack of green stuff, and sugary drinks.

So what are you gonna do, homeschool your kids and keep them in the house 24/7 under lock and key?  (No offense to homeschoolers.  I think home schooling is great.)

Well, when it comes to unhealthy, artificially-flavored sugary drinks, a friend and neighbor of mine proposes a solution that I think schools, school canteen owners, and small entrepreneurs should take note of: Natural sugarcane juice – truly a sweet alternative to unhealthy drinks.

He (my neighbor) invited us to try some of the stuff out (we sometimes call it tubo juice, tubo being the Filipino word for sugar cane), and my kiddos and I love the stuff immensely!  I must’ve imbibed a gallon worth—without fear of health consequences, which I will explain later.

Check out the video below, which I took when my kids tried out the tubo juice. (There are different varieties of the machines.  This is one of the bigger ones, but there’s a tabletop version too.)


Now, if you want one of these bad boys so that you can set up some health-promoting drinks in your establishment for a change (school canteen owners, please consider this), then contact me by email at lessonsofadad@gmail.com.

I shall now use the rest of the blog entry to discuss to you some of the great health benefits of sugarcane juice (info from the flyer).  Even though unhealthy table sugar comes from the same thing, you’ll be very surprised that this (far less processed) product has wellness written all over it!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Get the HUGE early bird discount for a great children’s summer activity

If you’re a parent of young children (4-11 years old), and you live in Cagayan de Oro City, allow me to ask you a question.

Do you want your kids to have great fun over the summer, and while doing so, he or she would learn more about God and biblical principles?  I don’t think any church going family would say no to that, right?  Well, here in the Philippines, most families are church-going families, but the vast majority of the churches Pinoys go to usually do not have much in terms of programs that disciple and nurture children (which is a shame, really).

Well, if you’re a follower of my blog, you’d know that I’m a proud Lifeshaper volunteer of my church’s NxtGen Ministry (the name of my church’s children’s ministry), and every summer, we have the biggest NxtGen event of the year.  Consider this blog entry an invitation, and I suggest you register now to get the HUGE early bird discount on this great children’s summer activity!

What I’m talking about is our yearly summer DVBS, and this year’s theme is called Studio GO!  For one week, May 6 to 11, 2013, children from ages 4-12 (although, honestly, I notice most 12 year olds prefer JZone as compared to NxtGen) will enjoy three hours of games, stories, skits, snacks, and crafts…all the while learning about Jesus and life-changing Biblical principles.  Here’s a video that was aired at church last Sunday, to show you what we mean.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Update on how you can continue to help sweet little Cherubim

Cherubim is on the left
If you follow my blog, you may have read an article I did a few months ago about the plight of a sweet little girl, Cherubim.  If you haven’t read it, allow me to use the next paragraph to put you up to speed.

Cherubim has a kidney disease that would require an operation to save her right kidney (see their story here).  Her parents, being quite resourceful, opted to sell Save A Kidney mugs to Cagayan de Oro residents to help fund the operation.  Even if both parents are working, the cost of the operation to save Cherubim’s life is quite insurmountable, and their goal was to sell 1,000 mugs as soon as possible.


That was as of January 19, 2013, when I made a blog article on the subject.

It’s now April, and this update also serves as a second plea to help this family during this darkest of times.  No more buying mugs this time, I’d like to help them out by bringing to you the link to their paypal button, so that donations can be made there.

The family is now in Manila filling out some requirements for the operation and trying to get help there.  I was told that they were not even close to garnering the 1000 mugs needed to help them out, and recent visits to the doctor have shown that Cherubim’s case is quite complicated and the operation must be done the soonest possible time.

They have to raise P200,000 to give their baby girl the treatment she needs.  Like I said, just about nothing is more painful for a parent that to see his or her child suffer…and I cannot leave them alone in their plight.  I have met the mom and the twins when she delivered our mugs.  The girls were adorable (I wish I took their picture).

So, here I am, asking you guys once again to help them out.  Click this link so you can go to their paypal account.  Also, please pass this along to your friends.  P200,000 may be an insurmountable amount, but together, we can make a difference.  

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”  (1 John 3:17-18)

Once again, their paypal account: (click here)

(This blog site, Lessons Of A Dad is mostly about parentingmarriage, and other topics aimed to develop the reader’s mind, body, and soul.  I’d consider it an honor if you’d follow or subscribe to this site.  You can also go to my Facebook page here, and I’m also on Twitter at @lessonsofadad)


Monday, April 1, 2013

Goodbye Lessons Of A Dad…and thanks for the memories.

After a lot of soul-searching this Holy Week, I had to make a very hard decision.

You see.  Time is really my enemy, and I'm getting worn out juggling too many responsibilities.  I've come to the conclusion that I have to de-clutter.  I have to unload one of my activities…or else I'd go crazy.

And I've decided that the burden I have to unload (and I say this with a very heavy heart) is Lessons Of A Dad.

I love blessing people with my work, but I'd be a hypocrite if I wasn't after the monetary benefits as well…and my blog hasn't earned me a penny.  Therefore, I need to move on to more, um, lucrative endeavors.

So, I'm gonna have to say goodbye.  And this is really goodbye.

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