Tristan's seven!

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I Love my Mother's Day

The prelude - Angel woke up from her nap after school & came into my room with a stalk of red carnation! Despite having just woken up & hence looking a little grouchy, she made sure she handed the flower to me - telling me it's for me! 

Dinner on Saturday - We had a fun time dining out with my sister, brother-in-law & my baobei (precious) niece & nephew. We treated each other to Monster Curry & hugged each other & wished each other 'Happy Mother's Day'. 

Sunday - I had such a rewarding time because I was totally freed up to join Fred in the sanctuary, worshipped God & sat through the sermon! God's gift to me is not just my children but my new helper,  Myrna! It's such a blessing to have a competent & reliable helper, with a positive, willing attitude. She's a winner with us! 

Then, after service was over, I went to Grace Star Junior room & was greeted by a very bubbly Angel who gave me another stalk of flowers & a beautifully made prayer card! She looked so adorable with her crocs on & backpack, all waiting to be collected by me & papa! Ha...funny & indeed an angel!

In the evening, we went down to the lobby to wait for my Godson, who was purposely dropping by with his parents & brother. All because his mother, my Bestie, wants to bless me with the most beautiful, meaningful, thoughtful gift ONLY my Bestie can think of giving! She had gone all the way to the nursery to handpick a pot of 'forever' orchids during midweek. She had called then just to ask what my favorite color was & I had no clue what she was going to get me! When I saw it, I was totally surprised! And the pot was beautifully crafted with '10 reasons Why I love Godma'. This gift was complete with a hand-painted card & words written by my Godson (with his mum's help). My heart was so so warmed by this open show of affection! 

After Bestie left me with care instructions on watering & putting the pot in the sunlight (& after all the hugs & kisses), we were back in the lift going home, me still awed by the magic of love that fell upon me. Out of a sudden, I heard a very gentle voice, the sweetest; with those big almond eyes looking into mine, Angel said to me: "Mama, I help you water ok?" She smiled at my surprised look & comment to papa (Dear! Did you hear that!) 

How did Angel know the pot of flowers mean the world to me, just as much as she means to me? And that I would not want to see the flowers die under my charge. And that I definitely appreciate some help with the watering? How did my 2.5 year old chatterbox know what's in my heart? I think I know why. Because I always hold her so close she can hear my heartbeat & she observes me everyday & knows my fears, worries, likes & dislikes. Because she is my daughter.

So I had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. God has blessed me with an emergingly thoughtful daughter, still in the making since she's really only 2 plus & full of herself when she is not being sweet, haha! God has also granted me another precious Mother's Day gift this year - my son, who started calling me 'mama' intently on Mother's Day. Even Evan who just turned 10 months knew today was special. 

Footnote: Evan's first recognizable words were Gong Gong, directed at his faithful grandpa! He knows who's deserving but doesn't get into the limelight as much. Today, he started with Popo & Mama! 

Mother Day's Sermon 2013 & my thoughts on God in May

Start of May -- The story of Ruth heard over & over again through the years of my Christian walk took a special meaning this year. Because of the uncertainty we will face in our road ahead as a family.

The invited speaker said loud and clear into my spirit: It is during difficult times that the purest form of love thrives. Despite a bleak future, Ruth chose comittment & loyalty to stay on with Naomi who complained bitterly.

It is during difficult times that family & friends unite closely and watch how God brings His promises to pass.

Before we give up on a difficult situation, remember that we could be on a journey to our kinsmen redeemer, like Ruth. The Lord is faithful to those who listen to Him who chooses to consecrate themselves & is willing to submit to Him in obedience. Amen!

The story of Ruth encourages me to keep my eyes on God. She is one of those Bible heroines who will never be forgotten. 

         xxxxx      xxxxx

End of May -- When the storm rages in my mind, I know it's time to turn every fearful & anxious thought into a positive thought that God is more than able! God is more than willing as much as He is able. He holds me in His palm. I am precious to Him. He will move Heaven & Earth to meet me in my times of need. He never let me down. As I go through my time of deep searching, I am humbled at His faithfulness, I am touched by His forgiveness. I am acutely aware of my imperfection, my sins that I once thought nothing of, but now in realization that He has never forsaken me, even when He had every reason to. It is this Amazing Grace that brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. I long to remember: no matter where I am in my life, success and failure, abundance and in lack, I want to always lean on You. 

Goodbye to Aunty Cho!

For more than 3 years, Aunty Cho came to our house faithfully, rendering the much needed assistance in housekeeping. She never missed her duties, only once when she appeared at our doorstep to inform us personally that she was not feeling well & that she had to go home instead! And in the midst of her cleaning, ironing and everything else, she always had time for Angel.

Angel grew up watching Aunty Cho mop the floor, peering curiously into the pail. Ha! Not Aunty Cho peering but Angel. She followed Aunty Cho in her walker from room to room, fascinated by the vroom-vroom-vroom coming out of the super-duper vacuum cleaner! She played peekaboo with Aunty Cho when aunty was doing the laundry at the yard. On some days, she looked at the yard and asked me innocently: "Aunty Cho?"

Aunty Cho is always cheerful. She never seems to have a bad day or a bad hair day (oh her lovely tresses!) although we know how tough it is to be cleaning other people's houses and that she increasingly gets her aches and ailments. And that she hardly gives herself a day off, all for the sake of her family back home. 

Dear Cho, although we have to let you go, we wish you all the best! Thank you for the lovely teddy bear you got for Angel & Evan as a parting gift. Thank you for your smiles and teaching us that hard work is not a chore.

Angel's first LW Spring Carnival

It was such a hot hot 'summer' day! So hot we were sweltering in the heat! (I have half the mind to suggest to Angel's pre-school to rename the event 'summer carnival'! )

Anyway, the story goes that Angel attended her first 'spring' carnival, with her family. She happily tried the bouncy castle, had her FIRST ever manicure done & bought Dora stickers with her coupons. She also tasted the cupcakes in celebration of her school's 10th anniversary. Her Didi digged into the cream too, in the spirit of carnival fun! (This picture is not to be shown to Popo who would totally disapprove of Angel's mama's indiscretion of Didi's diet, heh!) 

The event ended for Angel who took a ride on the bus, coincidentally with her classmate, Megan! The gals had fun sharing the Dora stickers & waved goodbye to each other at parting. "See you, next Monday!" The mamas said to each other, on behalf of their girls. 

Something else special was Angel smiling for mama's camera. This was exceptional because ordinarily, Angel would NOT be bothered having her picture taken. Maybe the idea of a manicure & looking pretty on camera is finally rubbing off on her, heh! Mama was thrilled, of course, with a very cooperative and all-grins perspiring gal!

Extreme Sailing

It's really quite something to see sailboats cruising by the bay area. Although I quipped about how this was hardly 'extreme', judging by the speed these boats went, the hubs and I were still happy we took the trouble to go, with a twenty-nine & nine-month old in tow. The outdoor, sea adventure-seeker in the hubs got pretty excited. Enough for him to whip out his phone cam & go snap-happy! (It's tough to even get him to take a picture of me & the kids on an ordinary occasion but he volunteered one shot this time! Ha, how precious when the spontaneous child in him surfaces!)

Although our target kiddo audience was actually Angel, she had fallen asleep on the way there, waking up only on time to say goodbye to the boats grouchily. It was Evan, our son, the good sport, who were roused by the drumbeat & stayed cheerfully awake, sucking his fingers contentedly while people-watching. 

I sure hope the next time when we visit such an occasion, the kids are skippity hopping, hand in hand. And the hubs and I can buy a drink, relax & soak in the atmosphere.

Below is the story in pictures.

Doodle Fun & Colouring for Godma & Grandmas (Mother's Day)

This is Didi Evan's face!

A snail & a giraffe

Mama didn't know I copied the picture until I said 'cake'!



A shark, a shark ray & 3 shells in the sea

I picked my own colours: brown for bear & blue for lamb!