Stay wise


I have always wanted Kai to be independent. Before we came back, I have already told him many times that once he gets to secondary school, he must learn to take the public transport on his own. Well, he did it the other day and today will be his second time doing it. But…

The son was lost today and the mama was like the ant on the hot pan. It was 3.15pm and he was still not home. Oh Lord, please protect my son. He has been away for a good couple of years so doesn't really know his way. Called up the school and they said that all sec 1s have been dismissed....aiyo, where is my son? Called him on his handphone, no reply. Finally, he came home at 3.30pm.


son: I took the bus from the wrong side of the road.
me : Where were you?
son: I think Funan, Bras Basah area
me : (Eyes big big) Why you didn't call me?
son : Left my phone at home, on silent mode
me : How did you manage to come home?
son : Cross the road and take 33
me : Very good!
me : Scared? Did you cry?
son : No, through out the journey, I could recognise all the places
me : Well done


I am thankful for the opportunity to raise up my two kids on my own. Every opportunity I have, I bring them out, using the public transport. I kept reminding the kids to observe their surroundings and stay alert. It pays off. Sometimes, as parents, we tend to do everything and give the best for our kids. We tend to always keep them on the safe mode without realising that it may not be the best for them. Exposing them to challenges in life at a younger age will make them a David at a later age.


Straight As is one thing, being street wise is another. It's survival!

Good job, my son!

What art thou?


Kai came home late that day as he was being introduced to the various activities in school. I opened the door when he came back and I was surprised…

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He is happy, I am happy

Just Pictures…

Food…
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Seafood stew

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My not-so-new toy. First home-made waffle

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Japanese beef curry rice. Home-made. Easy, should give it a try. Just buy curry cube and short-grain rice, add any meat and vegetable you like.

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Pandan chiffon cake for breakfast. The kids favourite. "We only eat mama's chiffon cake."

Finally…
quiche
my signature dish…

Fun…
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Christmas with families

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Skate-boarding and skate-scootering at the park with cousins.

Many roads lead to a destination


Yesterday Kai came home on his own by public bus…the very first time. Nervous, finger biting, not him but the mama. Gave him a handphone, at least I could know where he was and he could call home if he was lost.

At 1.25pm, he texted to say he was on the bus. ETA should be about 2.00pm. Waited and waited, he arrived home one hour later. He told me that the direct bus didn’t come after waiting for some time, so he took another bus, brought him to a bus stop where he could change a bus which brought him home. It took half an hour longer to reach home but he

Well done, my boy. The brain must always be flexible to face different situations in life. Must always be able to think of the best way to solve a problem. It wasn’t a big problem but at least it showed that he was wise enough to know how to react to a situation. It showed that he was thinking. That’s being street smart and it is one of the most crucial trait for survival.

A good first day

Ann had a good day in school. Spoke to the class teacher, giving her a background of Ann, a traveller and not able to fully appreciate the Singapore education culture yet. She was a nice lady, seems to have experience handling LOA kids. The best thing, her class size … 33 kids only!

Kai thoroughly enjoyed secondary school. He was most happy to find out that one of his Sunday School friends whom he has known since P1, is in the same class.

However, school starts really early…7.30am. In US of A, it was 8am. In SH, 8.30am. However, the kids like the earlier hours as they could have more free time in the afternoon.

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Super like

Alls well that ends well


Today is the first day of 2013. Marks a new beginning of a settled life and the end of the nomadic life for the family. Five years wasn’t a very long time away compared to some who have been away for a decade or more. However, these five years were not spent on living in just one place. It was flying from the west to the east and to the equator. It was a challenging journey. Many have envied my kind of life, able to see the world and having new experiences. Looking back, it was indeed full of excitement and adventure however it was not all smooth sailing. I think it is hard for others to understand unless and until they have been there and done that.

There is only one person to thank…GOD! If not for Him, it would have been impossible to scale the mountain from the deepest valley especially the last few months of 2012. It is difficult to describe His reality unless one has experienced Him. Just like eating durians. How do you convince someone that durians are nice and therefore should be eaten? No amount of words even from a Wordsmith, can convince a person that the king of fruits is fabulous unless he is willing to give it a bite.

Many times, it is as simple as a still small voice whispering in the still dark night. I remember that night when all were asleep and I was just sitting in darkness, praying for a miracle to take place for Kai to be accepted by a good school. There was a gentle wave of comfort sweeping across me.

You won’t believe this. When people tell me that it is very difficult for things to change, things change. Not just one school called, all three schools which we appealed to, called up. It was truly overwhelming.

“and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Eph 3: 19, 20

Truly, what cannot break us only make us stronger.

Tomorrow marks a new chapter in Kai’s life, my miracle #1. He begins a new journey in his life, the start of secondary school life, the beginning of a teenage life. Oh God, give me wisdom to guide him. And for Ann, her very first official school day in a Singapore school. I will do all I can to keep her unique self. I will not allow her to be pushed to the pressure cooker. She will flourish and she must flourish in her own way, growing not in mere knowledge but also in loads of wisdom.

As for me, I will move on to the next half of my life, hopefully, a life of significance. I must not allow the mundane to suck away the zeal in my life. Life is too short to not do anything. In 2012, I have seen a couple of friends who have passed on just like that. Yes, literally, here today, gone tomorrow. Another friend of ours, known him for ten years, discovered he has throat cancer stage four. He has just started a promising business and is fully on track. Another friend, rich man. You name it, he has it. He lacks nothing. Holiday to him is to fly by business class, stay in no less than five stars hotel. He suffers from retina tear and is almost blind…Do I still want to allow society to squeeze me and shove me around like a puppet? No, there can only be one life and this life must be lived to the fullest.

“in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?” Ps 56:11

Thank you for being with me for these while. Here’s wishing you a very Happy and Blessed year ahead. Don’t make New Year resolutions. Just go out and do it. The time is now!

Wasn’t the best Christmas…


We were all looking forward to Home for Christmas but honestly, it wasn’t the best. It has been one roller coaster ride. It has been very demanding and draining mentally, emotionally and physically. It was trusting and believing even when the world came crashing down on you. Challenges in life have to be handled but when it came to injustice, discrimination, it was an uphill task to fight. Even as a mum, trying her darnest to ease the pain, it proved too much for me that I broke down many times, even crying myself to sleep.

But today, we saw that the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t from an on-coming train but it was sunlight from a meadow.

Faith that is not tested is not valued.  Faith that is not valued is not treasured.