Edric and I with our kids, Elijah, Edan, Titus, and Tiana
My name is Joy Tan-Chi Mendoza, happily married to Edric Mendoza, with whom I have shared the joys and adventures of parenting four amazing kids spanning the ages of 1 year to 8 years old.There is the very astute Elijah, our eldest, a voracious reader who often knows more facts than I do, and is still growing in wisdom and understanding of the worlds and things he reads about. I could not have picked a better older brother to the three that follow as he deeply loves the Lord and is a good example to his siblings.
Next is dear Edan, our 5 year old, who loves art and has a keen eye for the elements of art when he has not yet even learned them. He is a deeply spiritual boy who prays tender-hearted and lengthy prayers because he believes with all his heart that Jesus is to be thanked for everything. And so he makes it a point to thank him for the trees, the grass, the sun, the moon, toys, books, and the list goes on…and so do his prayers. But we delight in listening to him.
Following after is Titus, our adventuresome 3 year old, who has the unique ability to get his head and hands stuck in a variety of objects. He is a brave one, courageous and highly curious and we predict may have the guts to one day climb Mt. Everest or be an astronaut. He has already survived 30 minutes in a storage room, having locked himself in.
After three sons, God gave us a beautiful daughter, Tiana. She stole Edric’s heart away the minute she came into this world. Although she is just a year old, she is definitively feminine compared to her brothers. It is a welcome change for me as I have spent nearly a decade trying to cope with all the testosterone around me. Finally, I get to buy ribbons and lace and little dresses.
The most incredible blessings in our lives -- Tiana, Titus, Edan and Elijah
Our home feels complete with our four children, but we still have not closed the door on more babies. As a homeschooling family, it often seems like the more the merrier!
Motherhood and homeschooling are my full-time preoccupations. There was a time when I was working in the corporate world and then for a non-profit organization, but my priorities changed when the number of babies began to increase. My husband and I agreed that our kids need me and we have adjusted our lifestyle accordingly. I am blessed to have a husband who wants to provide while I take care of the home and get to work part-time (but from the home). Between the many roles I have to juggle, I’ve got my hands full. But, most of all I’ve got my heart full, with four kids, a wonderful husband, and my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Hi.
Just wanted to say you have a beautiful family, and that your words inspire me to know happiness by becoming closer to Jesus. 
God bless you.
Thank you Lea! May you indeed grow closer to Him! God bless you, too!
Hi Joy,
I am still praying that I could teach in TMA school someday. As one of the Pioneers who has brought and taught Kindermusik in the Philippines and the first among the Kindermusik Educators who has taught Kindermusik Sign & Sing in our country. I don’t know if Pastor Peter remembers me, but i was the one who informed him that I teach Kindermusik in the Philippines, and even told Arjay (my husband) if only we don’t have school in Greenhills (CTEC preschool, Greenhills Music Studio, Suzuki Music Lesson) he will get me as teacher in your school, during the wake of the mom of Cecille Angping. Your mom indeed said that you all studied in our Music school (GMS)
Thanks and I Wish You and Your Family Well, Dang Arambulo
Hi Dang, the best person to get in touch with regarding CCF’s school would be Jojo Chan. She is the one overseeing the planning for the new school.
That is a different school from TMA. Maybe thats the one you were referring to? Here is her number 09175089825. If you are really interested, you can submit your resume to her and cc petertanchi@yahoo.com. Hope this helps.
Great!
Teacher Jojo was my Associate Educator in Kindermusik by CTEC with Ms. Dang, Greenhills before so I will just talk to her. Thank you so much Joy and I wish you and you family well 
– Dang
Truly teaching is a gift from God, and God using my talent to empower parents to help them and to understand the different stages of development of a child and on how to stimulate the whole learning domains of the brain through music and movements. I want to thank God because of your heart to help families too, your dedication is so contagious!
Hi Joy,
My husband and I were blessed to attend a parenting seminar by CCF where your parents spoke. We sure learned a lot from that seminar. I’m looking into the possibility of homeschooling my girls, one is almost 10 years old and the younger one just turned one year old. We are from Cebu City. Can you give me an advice as to how to go about with this? Thank you very much! God bless you and the ones you love.
Joanna
P.S. you have a wonderful family!
Hi, Joy. I chanced upon one of your husband’s messages on youtube. I am not from CCF but your husband’s message hit me so hard that I said to myself I want a mentor like him. please let me know how to get in touch with him. thanks heaps.
Hi Nexter! Edric emailed you
Hi! I just want you to know that I’m really blessed with your blog. I always had doubts about being a mom myself so the idea always scared me but after reading your blog, I’m sold out. I’m only on my early 20s and I can’t wait to become a mom. I will definitely homeschool my future kids as well.
Btw, I really enjoy reading your blogs about Edan. I love how he wrote “Mommy did not believe me.” on his worksheet and when he confessed to opening the box with your unwrapped Christmas gifts for them. Your blog never fails to make me say “Awwww…” and make me cry. Your stories just melt my heart. Oh and the video of them reciting James 1:19 tugged at my heartstrings. Keep up the good work! GOD bless!
Thank you! It is encouraging to hear you say those things. Being a mom is really one of the most rewarding things a woman can be! I am glad you are looking forward to it:)
Hi Joy…Im from Butuan City and im so privileged to have attended the parenting seminar on video where your parents as well as you and your siblings were able to have shared your heart and ideas on the matter. Im a single parent and i am praying to raise the kind of family that is god-designed. Ive looked for your site and thank god i found this. hope to read more of your thoughts and testimonies. Thank you again and god bless you and your family
Thanks, Eden! God bless you!
Hi Joy…Im from Butuan City and im so privileged to have attended the parenting seminar on video where your parents as well as you and your siblings were able to have shared your heart and ideas on the matter. Im a single parent and i am praying to raise the kind of family that is god-designed. Ive looked for your site and thank god i found this. hope to read more of your thoughts and testimonies. Thank you again and god bless you and your family
sorry ms joy..pls delete my earlier (same) comment as well as this. thanks.
Hi Ms. Joy, I praise God for you and your whole family for all the wonderful encouragement you are sharing through this blog. I am really blessed. Eventhough I am still single, i am encouraged somehow to do my part of teaching to my nephews and niece.
Btw, you have amazing cutee little kids. I hope I could meet them in person, hehe. I am from CCF Malolos and sometimes, get to attend to CCF St. Francis. hope I could bump in to your kids in the near future. haha.
God bless you and your whole family.
Thank you Lorna! God bless you!
Hi, Ms. Joy! I am so blessed with your testimony. Thank you for sharing. By the way, my husband and I are thinking of the possibility to homeschool our son through TMAhomeschooling program. Is it possible even we’re here in Saudi Arabia?
Thanks and God bless you more.
Danny and Lannie
Definitely! Please contact tma at info@tmahomeschool.org, ani@tmahomeschool.org, espie@tmahomeschool.org. You can also call 633-5267 and look for espie (0917-800-8261) or ani (0917-800-8253).
Hi Lannie!Where do you stay in Saudi Arabia?We are currently homeschooling our kids here in Al khobar.
Regards,
Tin
Hi Joy,
Haven’t read fully your blog though I am struck by this TMA homeschooling thingy. I sent a query email. Hope you can enlighten me as I want to try this up with my daughter. I just gave birth 4 months ago. I grew up being taught in a traditional schooling. I want to know if there is any difference between this and homeschooling. We are currently living and working in Saudi Arabia, will this be a hindrance?
You can homeschool anywhere! While you are a new mom, this is the best time to research about homeschooling. There are so many good sites online that will tell you about the benefits and the how-tos. With my babies, I started reading to them early. My eldest was read to at just a few months old and he has turned out to be a wonderful reader. The main difference between institutionalized education and home education is that you customize the learning experiences for your child. Because of the one is to one ratio between parent-teacher and child, your child has the advantage of immediate feedback, dialoguing with you, daily progress monitoring, and most importantly, a character and heart-based education.
thank you for your blog. i usually come and have a read on days when i wonder if we’re doing the right thing homeschooling our kids. we’re filipino chinese, based in sydney for now, and while we have a homeschool group, it’s nice to read a pinay’s thoughts on family, marriage, parenting and life. God bless you richly as you continue to encourage other moms on this journey.
God bless you, too, Anna!
Dear Joy,
I am Audrey from PlayMoolah, a small company founded at Stanford and based in Singapore. Our mission is to create fun games that allow children to learn about money together with their parents. We have just gone live (yay!) with our first product and we would very much like YOUR help in testing it!
Let me take a step back and tell you how PlayMoolah was born. My partner Min and I were students at Stanford in 2008, and arrived in the middle of a Financial Crisis. We noticed that many people made financial decisions in a way that reflected poor understanding of money itself, and passed on this information to their children, who were almost doomed to make the same mistakes. We therefore became determined to create a fun, engaging game for kids that would educate them on how, rather than being the “root of all evil”, money was a useful tool if used wisely. As we discovered early, children love learning things for themselves, and play is a natural and essential part of learning.
This is a very exciting point in our company’s history and for myself. This PlayMoolah journey has uncovered the truth about what money is for me and I hope we can aid the children we love in living and practicing the good values of money early on.
I’m really inspired by your blog and it has been lovely reading alongside you and your child’s journey, sharing the joy and laughter you have with your little ones. Will love to introduce you to try out our tool, where you get to bond and learn with your little ones, what more inculcate in them the value of money!
You can try PlayMoolah here: http://play.playmoolah.com/parents/sign_up
Learn more about us at: http://playmoolah.com/parents.php
Kindly let me know if you are interested, and if so, whether we could chat.
Thank you for your help!
Beautiful day ahead!
Audrey
Hi Audrey, I signed up for a trial but I forgot that we will be out of town tomorrow. So I will try and get my oldest son, Elijah, to test out the program with whatever time we have left when we get back tomorrow.:) Looks very interesting! I think it is a great idea. Kids really need to learn about stewardship.:)
Hello po, I’m Danielle po, but they call me D.J. for short. I’m from TMA and Mom gave me permission to ask how you made your blog and if its safe. I want to make one too. Please help me…. Mama says to ask If I can have advice instead, because i sound like I’m drowning…. Please give me advice…
Hi Danielle! I did not set up my WordPress blog. Someone else did it for me:) but if you go to WordPress.com, you can find all kinds of assistance to help you set up a blog. If you something that is easier to use, you can try blogspot.com. WordPress can be technical.
Thank you po!