ABC

In order for situation A to happen, I need situations B and C to happen. 

Then I know for it is in accordance to God's will. 

Situation D might have to happen too to prepare me for A.

Oh the dread.........

Nonetheless i have to trust in Him to lead the way. 

My girls

So I realise I did not blog about my daughters' birthdays.

A has turned 10 a month back and E just a few days ago just turned 8.

A is a preteen and I'm in unchattered territory. She is and will always be our first guinea pig. I hope she survives our nonsense and thrives despite our mistakes. It is not easy to discipline a preteen. Some days (ok most days) it is disastrous, other days it's all lovely and sweet. I wish things were as easy as when she was the cutest toddler girl, when she was the apple of our eyes, when she could do no wrong (that's easy when you're the firstborn and only child for a while). I do very much hope to help her grow up well, rooted in Christ, and spread her wings to soar, to do what God has planned for her.

E has transited well into primary school life. From a shy, timid and quiet kid, she has become more confident, nurturing, helpful and talkative. She currently is at a stage where she verbalises her stream of conscious thoughts to me most of the time, unless she's really tired or grumpy. That girl can really talk and talk and talk! E has less self-confidence (similar to me) and tends to think that she can't be as good as her older sis. She, being the more chin-chai sort, has a relaxed attitude towards her studies and school work. But somehow in her anyhowly-do attitude, she has learnt quite well in school. Not the top 10%, but considering the fact that I spend less time coaching her on her homework and tests, she's doing ok. Careless, chin-chai, but ok. One thing that stands out about her is her nurturing side. She is our resident babysitter. She is normally found near D, who is usually all over the place, doing nonsense at any time. She does this without being asked, unlike the other siblings, who I have to nag to keep watching over their toddler bro when I'm busy doing something else. May E grow to know deeply God's great love for her in her heart.

Baby D turns 2!

It has been 2 years. It has not been easy being a mother to 4 kids (it's exhausting!), and it has been quite a humbling experience trying to take care of the little mischievous one. He definitely defines his own rules and it takes lotsa repetitive training (still ongoing, yes) to get him to get our idea of what's good and acceptable behavior haha. He loves food. He loves eating. His breakfast can be a 3 course meal at times. First course--before his siblings go to school, second course--after we say goodbye to his brother (after N boards his schoolbus), and third course--whatever I/his grandparents are eating. 

He has destroyed/unwittingly hidden countless toys, books and whatnots. He has bent my spectacle frame into an almost irreparable mess while I was still asleep. He has thrown toys into the toilet bowl a few times. He has tried to splash with his hands the urine that he has pee-ed in his ikea potty. He has dropped an old iPhone, the Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? book, a Coach wristlet, a Domo purse, toy cars, etc. behind my bed's headrest, which is just a couple of cm away from the wall. The floor beneath my bed has been a graveyard to these items for a while. He has climbed and stood and bounced on the sofa, beds and chairs when unsupervised. He has eaten countless weird scraps of old food, dirt from the floor. He has a compulsive need to swipe down bottles and toothpaste tubes and whatever else is on the toilet sink. He just HAS to do it. I really don't understand why. He likes watching the countless DVD kids cartoon movies, YouTube videos that we plonk him in front of to keep him captivated for a while while we (mainly me) run off to pee, do laundry, or wash something up at the kitchen sink. He has too much screen time with the iPad! He loves cars. Actually anything with wheels, he just loves. 

His silly nonsense does seem funny on hindsight (hurhur). He certainly is one kind. Yet, I do love how he is so playful and cute and adorable at the same time. Yes, he can be so lovable, when his three needs are met. He MUST have sufficient sleep, food, and physical affection. Any of these variables missing would mean us having to endure his terrible whining and stickiness to me and crying tantrums. Still, he can be so cute, especially when he has in recent months started talking in his cute toddler voice. I think a talking toddler's speech is the second best thing to hear. The best thing to hear? A baby's laughter, definitely. 

Baby D, I love your hugs, I love your kisses. Never stop kissing your Mommy, okay? Happy birthday, my little one. You are deeply loved by all of us!

"Because I love God more than money"

That's what N said when he gave the $12 that he found among his barang barang. It was one of those CNY angpao that he didn't realise that he didn't give to me to consolidate and save after CNY. So he happily told me after finding the $12 that he wanted to give it during offering time in church at Sunday school. He said that his Sunbeam teacher taught them that they should love God more than any thing else in this world. Including money. And that lesson was imprinted in him well. I was encouraged. He looked forward to giving his offering while waiting for 2 weeks for Sunday to come (we missed church one Sunday, to his disappointment!) and mentioned it now and then. When last Sunday finally came, he was so glad to be able to give his $12. His 5.5 yo heart can be so tender and sweet sometimes. True, he has become more loud and active as a typical K2 boy... where running around is the preferred speed option and talking, singing loudly is the norm. Normal doesn't mean acceptable, haha! But at least his heart is leaning towards God's direction. For this, I praise God!