Tis the Season

Ten reasons why Christmas is my favorite time of the year:

10) It is the cool rainy season
9) I love the Christmas decorations and lights
8) Christmas carols are being played in shopping malls
7) Things are on sale
6) It's the season of giving (To give and receive presents)
5) It's a time to relax and reflect
4) An excuse to get together with people I love
3) It's my husband's holidays soon (which means more family time)
2) An opportunity to share the good news

And the number one reason is that...

Because Christ came, I've been shown the greatest love and have received the wonderful gift of salvation and the immense joy of life for eternity!

Thank you Jesus!

Holiday Lunch

Since last Friday was a public holiday, I thought it would be a nice gesture to invite my in-laws over for lunch. But alas! They had a terrible bed bugs infestation and had to do a thorough extermination that day so they couldn't come. By the time I received the news, I had already finished cooking. The food ended up being made into lunch bentos for the tired couple instead. Such a pity... A relaxed and private family home-cooked meal together might have been so wonderful. Another time then.

Sibling Love

Joash simply loves kissing his little sister

Aaawwww...

They are so sweet together! In case you dun understand the video below, Joash was pretending to give something to Jayna and asking her, 'What's this?'. She replied with a cute chuckle. In fact, this little drama repeated itself about ten times before they both got tired of the 'game'. *laughs*

Btw, doesn't Jayna reminds you of a Japanese school girl
with the knee-high socks, white cardigan and sailor uniform?
*wink*

Dinner Conversation

Joash has been a regular, self-feeding, participative member at the dinner table for a long time now while Jayna has only been placed on the bouncer beside the dining table, quietly observing us and listening to us chat. These days, she shows interest in talking to us. So, I put her on the highchair instead. Here's a video of her attempt at dinner conversation. *smile* Don't worry, Jayna. You'll have your own dinner in another 2 month's time!

Discipline

Psalm 34:11

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord"

Recently, I've been challenged by what we learn from cell group regarding growing children God's way. All these while, I've been teaching Joash to obey instructions using biblical principles such as 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself' but I've not pointed him to their origin which is the Word of God. Thus, I resolved to start teaching Joash the principles straight from the bible. With that in mind, Joshua and I started having family devotions with Joash during the weekend mornings since he turned 2.

Yesterday, Joash refused to say goodbye to his teachers before we headed home. In fact, he ignored me and walked on his own for quite a distance. Concerned by his lack of respect for others, I stopped him and reprimanded him. I reminded him about the story of the Good Samaritan and told him that God wants us to respect and love others and thus he is not listening to God if he were to be rude to his teachers. To my surprise, he held my hand and went back all the way to the school and said goodbye to his teacher. We both praised him profusely for his obedience.

I'm simply glad that Joash is teachable and I pray that as he understands more of the Word of God, he'll learn to love and obey God our Father.

P/S: I'm also happy that Joash thanked me for refilling his cup on his own accord and has begun to say please automatically when he wants us to do things for him. *grin* I'm so proud of Joash!

Princess Jayna

My favourite photo of Jayna at the moment.

She looks so contemplative!
Jayna: "So, this is what people call the hand..."

Pajamas Party?

6am is rise and shine time!
My lovely kids still in their pajamas...

Dinner-time Special

During dinner this evening, both Joash and Jayna tried to do something new. Watch the video to see what that is. *grin*

Laughing Jayna

To watch Joash do the same in the past, click THIS.

Singing for whom?

I was at the clinic this morning to get some medication and the Oprah's show was being screened on the TV. It featured a plain looking girl making it to fame with her singing. She performed 'My Heart Will Go On' and the nurse there exclaimed to me, "She's really good hor?" I merely gave her a weak smile as I couldn't possibly tell her exactly what I was thinking at that moment.

I felt that I could have done a better rendition of the song.

People who have heard me sing would know that I'm not boasting when I say that. I've taken part in talent shows in the past and I've performed before audiences numbered thousands too. But what comes after all that momentary fame and glory? It's simply emptiness.

There is a great difference in my singing between before and after I know Christ. Ever since I started singing for God and God alone 12 years ago, I sound the most beautiful. No more anxiety; no more hiccups; I simply lose myself. What can be more fulfilling than singing for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? I'm liberated from the chains of self-consciousness. Instead of the gaping uncertainty I used to experience, my heart is filled with joy and thanksgiving for my God Almighty. Even though other's opinions of my singing don't matter anymore, I have had many in the congregation who came to tell me that I'd ministered to them. That is better reward than people praising me for my voice alone. It is the greatest privilege for me that others see God Himself in my voice.

Even though now, due to my life-stage, the only ones who hear me sing are my children and God but they are worthy enough audience. After all, God is the One who gave me the voice and I want my children to know God from my singing.

I'm not interested in the Singapore Idol or America Got Talent which lasts only for a season. I'm only interested in eternity.

Psalm 71:22-23
"I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed."

Balloon Bonkers

Blessed Second Birthday!

On the 8th of Nov 2009 Sunday, Joash turned 2 years old! This year's party has many more invited guests as I figured Joash would better appreciate the crowd now than a year before. We had mainly families over so that there'll be many children to play with Joash. It's really nice to be able to celebrate on the actual day. *beam*

Deco with the Thomas the train theme

Joash has always loved balloons. We constantly have a free balloon from either Swensons or Macs at home for him to play with. Whenever the balloon has burst or become deflated, we'll go to West Mall to get a new one.

Once, a helium balloon got stuck at the roof of the shopping mall and Joash kept looking out for it excitedly whenever we went shopping for the three weeks that it stayed there. Even a month after it was gone, Joash was still looking out for it and telling me "No more!" when he couldn't find it. That was when I decided to get him one of his own for his birthday. And here it is! He absolutely loves it!

All is ready before the party begins!

Call me bias but... I only took photos of the kids!!! (Sorry to the adults :P) I simply love to have so many of them under the same roof. There were 13 of them all in all. Here are their mug shots. :)

Look how much he loves the balloon!

Joash loves candles too.
Just watch his delighted expressions!

Celebrating with my brother the day before

During the actual birthday party at our place

Celebrating with my in-laws at their place

This is our only family photo for the day. Joshua and I were simply too busy to take pictures of ourselves. And guess where Jayna was all this while? She was blissfully sleeping in her playpen amidst the chaos the entire time! Amazing... In fact, some asked me where she was and were shocked when I pointed her out. hahaha...

Joash was too enraptured by the toy train on the cake...

I picked this cake design cos I thought Joash would love to play with the toy train after the cake was eaten. I was right! He was already asking for it and playing with it for a long time before the party started and I had to wash it thoroughly before putting it back on during the cake cutting session at 2pm.

Such a pity that Joash still couldn't get the hang of blowing out his own birthday candles but I'm so glad he generally enjoyed himself and was ecstatic about the train theme. (He will ALWAYS call out "Train!" whenever he hears or sees the MRT train pass by and will even say goodbye to it as it gets out of sight. I'm glad we live so near the tracks. :)

May God bless Joash richly and enable him to know Jesus when he comes of age!

Ichigo Hime

Ichigo Hime = Strawberry Princess (in Jap)

Protective Brother

I prayed before that Joash will be a doting and protective brother to Jayna and it looks like that just might come to pass. *all smiles*

This evening, we went to West Mall for dinner. On the way back, Joash requested for Jayna to join him in the pram. He said, "Meimei sit with me..." Amused, I obliged. Out of concern for her safety, I told Joash to hold onto her tightly and asked my husband to walk beside the pram and be ready to catch Jayna in case of any mishap. We went all the way home like this, with Joash being VERY cautious not to move at all for fear that his dear sister might fall out of the pram. When we reached our doorstep, he said, "Carry meimei" to me. It's only when I did so that he finally dared to move. Needless to say, I am utterly impressed by Joash!

Joash: "Don't you dare bully my sister,

or I'll throw this tomato at you!"