Zephrine's 7th Birthday Debut

July 30, 2023

Zephrine's 7th Birthday Debut

A young girl's seventh birthday is a remarkable year! This is the age to celebrate her most important milestones, which include finishing pre-school and beginning a new journey in primary school; she is also old enough to understand the consequences of her actions as well as the difference between right and wrong; and she is developing wonderful relationships with friends from school, church, and neighborhood.

Now I'd like to tell you ten facts about her!

1. Zeph enjoys arts and crafts! She enjoys sketching and painting. We have kept all of her drawings since she was two years old. She enjoys colors, but when it comes to fashion, she prefers simple, minimal, and sophisticated. She also has some knowledge of digital arts using Adobe.

2. Zeph has traveled much! She got her passport at the age of six months. She has visited numerous cities and provinces in Luzon, Visayas (Cebu and Bacolod), and Mindanao (Oroquieta, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, and Iligan). She has also visited four Asian countries: Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.

3. We celebrated her first birthday with only our immediate families at Fontano Resort in Clark, Pampanga. That was her first major celebration before to making her debut.

4. We did a family photoshoot for her second birthday. In addition, we dined at a restaurant near Nepo Mall. Lola Lydia and Nanay were present. At this stage in her life, Zephrine frequently came to work with me. She is truly the "wind beneath my wings." It was the busy period of my career, as I was simultaneously establishing a company and magnifying multiple church callings. Zeph is my inspiration and fortitude. When I felt like giving up, all I had to do was gaze at her and everything felt right. We purchased a lot for our dream home and traveled abroad during this year. Zephrine learnt that if we have the courage and faith to pursue them, dreams can come true.

5. We celebrated her third birthday with the Santiago family in Bulacan. This was the year that she fell in love with Disney films, particularly Frozen. She loved Elsa's character. She was fond of singing "Let It Go" often. This year, I gave her three gifts that represented three of the most significant life lessons: (1) Book, (2) Investments in the stock market, and (3) Elsa doll. What are the meanings of these objects? Books represent an enthusiasm for learning. Acquiring knowledge, abilities, and talents are critical elements of our progression and happiness. Stocks represent the significance of investment and financial discipline. What matters is how much you can save, not how much you earn. You must have the ability to resist spending money on unnecessary items. Money is a tool for achieving worthwhile goals and living a prosperous existence. I desire for her to learn the eternal significance of money. Toys represent leisure time spent for recreation and wellness. Leisure is essential to our growth and development. We must set aside time to savor and appreciate the beauty of life with our loved ones.

6. For her fourth birthday, the pandemic occurred. We celebrated the occasion at home and bought her a lovely cake with an edible doll who looked like her on top. This was a special year because we learned that she will soon be a big sister! Her birthday wish was for a baby brother. She was so excited and this was our greatest blessing during the pandemic. Zephrine learned that you can choose to be optimistic even when circumstances are difficult. Even if you are confined to your home due to lockdowns and quarantines, you can still be productive. We had many fond memories of learning new things for school, working out, meditating, and other indoor family activities.

7. On her fifth birthday, she enrolled in Kindergarten. It was a virtual setup. It was exciting to see her with colleagues, and they participated in enjoyable activities. This year was significant for our family because we finally moved to our dream house. Zeph has her own room. She actively takes part in keeping our home clean, refrained from writing on the walls in particular. She also relished being the older sibling. She is an extremely protective "ate". She enjoys spending time with Zayn. She enjoys caring for him.

8. At age 6, she was enrolled in first grade. It was a challenging beginning for Zeph. She struggled to go to the school's CR because she was a timid girl. As a result, she became ill. She suffered from UTI. I attended and remained at her school for two weeks. She desired to quit face to face schooling. She was so anxious before each quarterly exam, particularly in Mother Tongue. Along the way, she made new friends. We patiently drove her to school, and when she refused to get out of the car, we waited until she was ready. As parents, we learned how to support our daughter in moments of struggle and none of all our efforts were squandered. At the end of the school year, she enjoyed school. She excelled in every class she took. Zephrine learned the virtues of perseverance and resilience. She learned that when things become difficult, one must persevere and not give up.

9. Zeph honors Heavenly Father. She encourages us to pray individually and as a family. Praying is the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning. She loves attending church and learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I appreciate her influence in keeping me close to my faith. She is one of the reasons why we are able to press forward amidst persecutions and unpleasant events. Once, she shared her testimony with me after completing her math assignment. She told me that she heard the spirit encourage her not to give up on her assignments, and she's glad she heeded that advice. She enjoys visiting the temple. My daughter has a natural affinity for Christian living.

10. Zeph is thrifty. She purchases the essentials and will ask me beforehand if something is costly before buying it. She is financially savvy because she prioritizes necessities over wants. Additionally, she regularly goes to the bank to deposit her savings. The main objective is to learn how to manage her finances and set financial goals. She developed the traits of prudence and generosity at this early age.