The Normal Week Begins

Finally, 3 weeks into Jan, my thoughts and priorities are slowly being sorted out. My struggles and weaknesses and natural tendencies which constantly distract me from my main purposes in life are perpetually filtered to the surface as I seek for His direction in my life. I am thankful for that....because knowing what my struggles are, would bring me closer to realizing the purposes that God wants to fulfill in my life. This week, I am glad that even in the midst of understanding God's purpose in my life, much things of 2010 have fallen into place. 

Mon - Rest day with Family. We managed to run some errands, buy a new bird for the garden and go off the our hairdresser to have Sarah's and my hair trimmed for the festive season. 

Tues, Thurs - Yes, School of Tots has resumed.  I foresee that it will be an exciting year. We are embarking on a simple curriculum and I like it because it includes things which I want to introduce Sarah and Samuel too. In particular, memorizing scripture, discovery and exploration of the world through simple science and more art and craft. We had good time of concentration with the tots as they blew at paint through straws, played their flashlights, messed around with splotches of finger paint and tried their hand at Oobleck, a non-newtonian fluid, popularized by Dr Suess [made up of 2 parts cornflour and 1 part water]. Oobleck was totally fascinating to me because to make it was easy peasy but to explore it, was intriguing. I think Sarah and Samuel would have gone on for a long time playing oobleck if they had a choice. Beautiful object lessons to direct our attention to the creation of God in light and matter. Read http://chiaochyi.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/school-of-tots-resumes/ for more on our school:) 

Wed Morning - Started my special learning time with Sarah and Samuel. For this month, we are looking at Apples as a catapult from "How to Make Apple Pie and See the World." To kick start our Apple series, they painted their own apple trees. The trees were later wrapped with plastic wrap and attached with some lovely apple pegs picked up from Daiso, the amazing $2 shop. Samuel particularly enjoys counting the apples on the tree. To help them recognize the letter 'a', we had a simple time of stamping 'a's all over a clean piece of paper. 

Wed Afternoon - It was an impromptu birthday lunch for dear Hannah. 3 little tots and 2 mommies and a helper made an interestingly peaceful and enjoyable lunch date at Earl Swensen's. To my little niece who is quite a master at enunciation, blessed 26th month birthday:)

can't you just hear Samuel calling, "Hannahhhh"

Wed Evening - Daddy Daniel finally set up some second hand shelves which I bought from Prints, the branch which closed down at City Link sometime early last year. And thus, Sarah and Samuel's little Curiosity & Catapult Corner was set up, much to mommy's delight. 

Thurs - Kids go off to Agong and Ama's house while Mommy does her things. Meet up with Rach for belated 21st, bought groceries, exercise and did my reading.

Fri - Seletar Fun for the kids. Apart from the distance, I love this place - so nice and quiet and there is so much to do there for the tots. 

Sat - Our weekly Sat family breakfast has now found a comfortable spot at YMCA, just a few floors below Sarah's Ballet Studio. Eating a simple breakfast spread, listening to the piped in Christian music and eating with other tourist is a nice way to spend the morning. We were joined by the children's grand godpa that morning. 

Ballet Lessons Again

Mommy has just stepped into the Museum [which was 3 min walk away from YMCA] when a call came. It was Miss Teo, Sarah's ballet teacher. "Hello, is this Sarah's mommy?" I think you better come right now cos Sarah is screaming her head off." I think Mommy kinda turned into Superwoman and sprinted right across the street, flew over the steps, skidded right into the lobby and went up the lift. When I entered Studio 9, little Sarah was quietly sitting by the big mirrors. The minute she saw me, she walked right to me and stuck herself to my left thigh. Some little girls came and stretched out their tiny hands to welcome Sarah back to the fold. [They are so sweet:)] So for the rest of the lessons, Sarah and Mommy danced along together...galloped and hopped. It was fun for mommy too. And the little girls were so nice to welcome the new huge adult into their class. Sarah did finally pry herself away from Mommy when she heard Miss Teo offer candies to obedient ballerinas. After that, she was happily back in the fold, strutting her stuff.

Mother's Relief: Honestly, knowing that I am not paying an arm and foot for each lesson has helped me much in accepting her participation or in this incident, her non- participation. But it's great, cos, this gives me a good excuse for staying around each lesson and watching my little daughter enjoy her ballet class. Only a crowbar can pry me away now...hahah

Sarah goes for Ballet Classes

Our precocious Sarah has been bugging mommy since 2009 to bring her to ballet classes after she saw pictures of ballerinas, and watched little girls in a ballet class. Our Sarah is physically very dexterous and adventurous. She started playing with slides when she was 1 year old, climbed structures when she was a year and a half and could do interesting flips with her body. Well, before mommy decided to look around for a class, she had to do an assignment. Mommy was commissioned by Daddy to research on the origins and history of Ballet. That little research yielded some interesting finds - from ballet being a sort of pantomime, to it being an art performed by the aristocrats in the past,  to ballerinas dancing with full wigs and costumes of their era to modern ballet formalized into a discipline. Mommy hopes that Sarah gets to learn how to channel her ever-bursting energy into controlled forms of discipline, but mostly, for her to enjoy playing and learning in a formalized setting with other girls.

Sarah and mommy thoroughly enjoyed the 1st lesson. There was show and tell at the beginning of the lesson, there was a simple routine of leg raises and hand movement and there was lots of imaginative play along with classical music pipping in the background, What mommy enjoyed was the jolly, kind hearted teacher who loves the little girls ; who speaks kindly to them and allows for the occasional sheep to wander in her pastures and daydreams.

Mother's Confession: It is really so special and exciting to see your little baby grow up and be able to listen and follow instructions. I now totally understand the anxious mothers who loiter around the kindergarten classroom windows on the 1st day of school, peering and giggling at every action their child does, much to the irritation of the teacher. Haha...not to mention, taking pictures like a paparazzi.

Laughing at Mommy

Dear Little Samuel has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh at Daddy and Mommy when they are caught in silly poses. Mommy's clumsy attempt at the monkey bar elicited some mighty funny responses from Samuel.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

A post from 2009 that deserves a mention. Godpa Melvin and godma Viola came back from UK for the December Hols, graciously lugging a box of art supplies and a huge paper doll house from ELC that mommy got carried away with buying for Sarah and Samuel *oops*.

Well, the kiddos and their cousin Hannah had a great time playing with "snow" - the Christmas present that godpa and godma bought. Playing with snow along a HDB corridor is really quite amusing and truly an experience of a lifetime:) Sarah says she wants to make a snowman the next time round. Haha...It looks like we only have snow to last for another Christmas.

Thank you for the great present Godpa and Godma:)

A New Year and a New Life

CA 125 - 6.0
Bone Density Test - Normal

All the tests showed forth good results. We brought the kids on our 3 monthly check to see Prof Tay today at his lovely clinic, armed with a basket of gifts in hand. As Prof Tay looks at Samuel, he is amazed to see how big he has grown. Dan reminded us that Prof Tay was the 1st person to set eyes on Samuel when Samuel was removed from my womb. Those words brought back a wave of memories and much thankfulness. Prof Tay has been a great source of comfort from start till this day. And it is so comforting and heartwarming to see someone, apart from your family who genuinely rejoices at your well being and state of health and who delights to see your children. We are blessed from with-in and with-out.

This new year holds much lessons learnt from 2009...to live the life of a butterfly. [another post for another time].

My Final Narrative on Love

Waves of memories lapped gently onto the shores of Sarah's mind as she stared at the lovely beachtown for the very last time. It was here where her first cries broke the stillness of the night; it was here where her tiny palms and delicate knees first met the sand; it was here where her tiny feet ambled and walked and ran and galloped and strode. All of her world has been till now - beautiful blue skies and endless ocean. Gripping tightly to her pink suitcase, Sarah tries desperately to capture the ole and familiar scene in her mind, albeit through a veil of watery mist. She hates to leave but she has to leave. The tides since 10 years ago has changed dramatically and it warns of an impending calamity. Some have already left silently without bidding goodbye. 

As she looked out again into the expansive horizon for the final time, she noticed that something was amiss. The shore! It was never this huge before. And the fishes! Trouts which have always enjoyed a game of hide and seek with her father's fishing rods were flapping openly and gleaming dangerously along the shore. Glancing at the women, men, children and babies stretched lazily across the beach, Sarah realized that it may all be too late. She threw her suitcase onto the sand, raced frantically across the beach and hollered at the top of her voice, 'Run everyone, run!' Gasping for breath and fighting back her tears, she cried, 'Tsunami!'

The beach goers sat up at the sound of the desperate cry that shrilled through the cool and calm air. But when they caught sight of the girl they knew from young, their startled faces broke into chuckles of relief and coughs of sneer. Almost too quickly, everyone returned to their sandcastles, their beach chairs and their picnic baskets. In her young and unadulterated mind, Sarah could not comprehend their response. Haven't they studied for themselves what a Tsumani was in junior class? Have they forgotten the real dangers of coastal living? Didn't they know that their beach parties were only made possible because real danger was only kept abay by an act of God? Unknown to young Sarah, the fun and the revelry that the people have enjoyed everyday for the past 10 years have numbed them from all forms of conscious reality .

But even so, Sarah wouldn't stop her run - she couldn't. These were the people she knew and loved since young. It didn't matter if they thought she was a ranting lunatic. Her love for them compels her to act apart from herself. Her unceasing pleads of warning were greeted by expressions of bafflement and anger as well as hollers of 'Go home' and ' Stop disturbing the peace here'. One even jokingly threatened to sue her for causing potential loss to the tourism industry which the island prided itself with, much to the amusement of the other beach goers.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, Sarah caught sight of her best friend Hannah basking in the sun. Without thinking, Sarah ran towards her best friend and grabbed her by her hands and started dragging Hannah away from the shore and up the hill. 'What in the world is....,' yelled Hannah as she struggled to get up on her two feet, 'Let go now!' Hannah tried to flay her arms wildly to loosen Sarah's grip. But as if with renewed strength, Sarah gritted her teeth, tightened her grip and continued doggedly to pull Hannah up the hill. This was the very hill which they had in their childhood race up in their flippers and slid down on their cardboard inspired sledges. But today, the way up the hill was the most treacherous and painful the two had ever experienced.

Finally, Sarah caught sight of the light coming through the trees and she collapsed in sheer exhaustion. Both of them laid on top of the hill disheveled, wounded and bruised. Through tears of anger and confusion, Hannah glared at Sarah, her best friend of 16 years and tried to make sense of her apparently barbaric, rude, hurtful and absolutely unloving actions. It was then... that her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an angry thunderous roar. And when she saw the unforgiving waters greedily devour the beach, the revelers and her home, Hannah finally understood - Sarah's love had saved her life.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.    John 15:12-13

This is my final loving note to all whom I have known and grown up with in my religious past - young and old, youth and elderly. I close this chapter of my religious life not because of personal reasons but with clear biblical reasons. And of which, I stand unashamed. I only plead as a final call, for you to consider and examine all things, to test them and see if they be of God - not just for my sake [as one who has been saved from the brink of death], but more importantly, please do so for your own sakes because you desire to live your life in the reality that you would come face to face with God one day. It will be a day of reckoning and a day of no excuses. I only pray that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" Ephesians 1:17-18. With this, I can with a clear conscience before God close this chapter and bid farewell to you with all love and honesty. I love you, only because of God's love.

Samuel and the Prayer Meeting

Samuel is one funny fellow. Most of the time, I would be consciously talking to Sarah and expecting her to consciously response to me. But more than one occasion, it is Samuel to responses.

We hold prayer meetings at our place and it is Sarah's duty to distribute songbooks to all who comes to pray. As she went carried out her task, I told her to greet everyone with a "Welcome". Almost instantly, little Samuel who is at the corner trying to play with the switches on the fan, shouts, "Welcome". That is the first instance. The second instance came when we were sharing our prayer request. As Uncle Kwai Sang told us to pray for Lydia because she has a sorethroat and is coughing..suddenly, we heard Samuel coughing. Thinking that he choked on something [which he is very prone to], we turned immediately to him. But what greeted us was a cheeky smile and him trying to cough. All I can say, is that Samuel is a funny boy, who can be naughty and sweet all at the same time.

Sarah and The Prodigal Son

One of the nights last week, I decided to read The Prodigal Son to Sarah as her bedtime story. The story went on fine till we came to the picture of the boy, sitting dejectedly in the pig sty. As Sarah ask, "Where is  boy's Daddy?" I noticed that her voice was quivering. I took my glance off the page and realized that she had a rather pained expression on her face. I quickly turned to the next page where the father welcomed the son with open arms, eager to show her the happy ending. Her puzzled look tells me that she was slowly absorbing the plot of the story. Sarah said, "Again". At her prompting, I read the story again. By the time, we reached to the ending, Sarah was rubbing her eyes and crying. She tried to summarize the story like this, "The son want to go away? The son want to play so much? The son go back to father?" Whenever she completed her summary, she would bury her head into her pillow and let out soft cries. As, I looked at her response, I was completely taken aback, but also immediately, my heart started to ache. Dear little Sarah could not comprehend why any child would want to leave her father. Never in her simple and unadulterated mind, could a child not exist with his mother or father. It was too much for her heart to bear.

Dear Sarah gave me a glimpse into this story in a way that I never saw before. How often we read this story and gloss over the departure of the son as if it was the most natural thing to do. A sign of independence, a coming of age, a teenage thing or maybe even a sign of rebellion and ungratefulness. And we go on to read about the son's exploits and encounters with the world and its vices. But to Sarah, this departure was not even a thought to be imagined or entertained in the very first place. To leave one's  father is to her the most unnatural and unloving thing to do. It is a heartbreaking act. And perhaps, it is. It not only pains the father, but it should also pain the child. Much we can learn from a pure heart. Truly, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. This reminds me much about God's love as He waits patiently for His children, whose natural disposition is really to stay by Him and receive all that His love and grace offers.

Educating Sarah and Samuel: To Know God's World

As we observe Sarah's and Samuel's immense propensity to learn, I suddenly find myself returning to the planning room and thinking and reading about different ways to teach them about God's world. It's reminiscent of my lesson planning days as a teacher, only this time, the goals and motivation are so different. There are so many ways to introduce them to the world out there and in doing so, for them to appreciate the God who created all of it. Sarah's favorite mode of learning and I suspect is Samuel's too is experiential...and that comes best in the form of "holidays". They learn as they chase after armies of soldier crabs in Port Dickson, they learn as they "gawk" at swallows flying across their heads during breakfast and in the pool at Janda Baik, they learn as they shy away from the bleating goats in Janda Baik...they learn as they observe their green caterpillar becomes fatter and fatter and suddenly disappear, right in our corridor garden. Hahaha....While Sarah wants to go on a holiday every other day, it would be too disrupting a schedule to do so:)

So part of this year's learning for Sarah and Samuel, I will begin a unit study cum lapbook program for them, and I personalize it by calling it "Big Book Bonanza". Basically, it is introducing them to God's World through Good Books. Many of books I have chosen are award-winning children's books recommended by the following resources:

1.   Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
2.   The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise, Susan Baeur
3.   http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/eyguide/eyreadalouds/

As a start, I have selected Good Books based on the letters of the Alphabet. Through this selected book, topics and subjects that occur in this book would be picked up to catapult their learning and understanding about the world. For our letter A, which we will commence next week - we will be reading and exploring the book, "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World". This is an engaging book where the girl goes all over the globe in search of authentic ingredients to make the American Apple Pie. It brings readers to France, to Sri Lanka, to Vermont etc. I am already looking forward to introducing the globe, atlas and some facts about the countries to Sarah. of course, we will also consider Apples - the life cycle, patterns, colors etc. There's so much to catapult to that I hope I don't get carried away. If my strength does not fail me, we will attempt to make an apple pie together. I stumbled upon this great resource http://almostlibrarianat.blogspot.com/ which gives a review of related books and it has helped greatly in expanding each field that I have selected to focus.

In the meantime this week, I am busy setting up our little catapult corner where I can display related books, objects, alphabets etc...and preparing activities for their Big Book Bonanza. I can't wait....

Educating Sarah and Samuel: To Know God's Word and to Know God's World

[This post is an accumulation of reading and reflection since last October, and the contents are a result of jottings in my notebook and typing on my Big Mac.]

Firstly, the written word, be it through books, internet, online blogs, journals etc have introduced me to the thoughts of many people - mothers, wives, educators, philosophers, and champions in their own fields. What a world of friends I have met in thought, in conviction and in the Lord. Some of them, are truly like clouds of witnesses who have gone the way ahead before and trudge those unchartered grounds to pave the way for people like me - who is only beginning to discover the expansive world out there. I gladly climb onto their shoulders and boast in nothing of myself - for they bring me to heights I would not have known and allow me to see the world that I would not have seen. This is a inheritance and legacy [through books] that I gladly obtain and willing call it my own.

Even in my desperate devouring of books, I find myself only but a few steps ahead of Sarah and Samuel. Because there is so much misconceptions and faulty assumptions and theological err or more aptly theological absence, in my heart and mind to demolish before rebuilding starts again.  But I guess, those few steps ahead is all but necessary to qualify me to teach and train them in the way of the Lord.  So from henceforth 10 Jan 2010 [100110], the demolishing and rebuilding continues in my mind and the building begins in Sarah and Samuel's mind.

When life and time permits, I pray that I would be able to chronicle this whole journey with plain honesty to God and man - categorized  as "Demolishing My Mind", "Rebuilding My Mind", "Rebuilding their Minds". And perhaps, just perhaps, these entries will serve to bring Sarah and Samuel to heights higher than where their mommy started, as they begin their own journey of learning, parenting and teaching their children, and maybe to you too.

I choose to anchor Sarah and Samuel's educational philosophy from a most unlikely passage of scripture about education but an often quoted scripture about the Christian life -


"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God". Romans 12:1-2. NKJV


12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV


Our charge as parents is to present our children as holy dedication unto the Lord - and not just any dedication, but one that He accepts and can use. This reminds me of Hannah as she prepared young Samuel for the work in the temple. While only Christ and His precious blood can present us spiritually acceptable unto God, we as parents can direct and train our children's heart and mind and body and prepare them physically and mentally and socially for God's purpose in their lives .

How then do we prepare our children in heart, mind and body? By training them in God's Word and teaching them about God's World. This distinction picked up from "A Well Trained Mind" is simple and uncomplicated. I like it so much that I will adopt this division in the teaching schedule of Sarah and Samuel.
Firstly, teaching them God's Word will direct them to know their God, and we pray, that they would one day, know of their need of this God and give their lives to Him. Teaching them about God's word will keep them pure as God had originally intended in an unadulterated world. Teaching them about God's word will also help them to discern danger and evils in the world and even in the church.
Secondly, teaching them about God's World will expose, educate and equip them to hold God's banner high as the winds of the world blows relentlessly in their faces. And in holding fast and standing firm and advancing forward, they can bring glory to God in all they whatever do and in wherever they are.

Educational Philosophy: To Know God's Word and to Know God's World

History, Geography, Philosophy, Anthropology, Literature, Science, Maths and Art explored and studied with an open Bible puts all the world into God's perspective and rightly places man in subjection of his Creator God. What a firm footing one would have if one learns in this manner. History, Geography, Philosophy, Anthropology, Literature, Science, Maths and Art studied without the Bible only results in endless pursuit, profession, specialization, expertise, niche and academia [aren't these terms all so familiar in the education system that we grew up with] that really essentially exalts the creature above the creator. To that, man can find no satisfaction and no end because the end is but man, himself.

May the Lord give life, time, persistence, love and preservance as we embark on our own learning journey and training for Sarah and Samuel - to present them as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

Our December Holiday

Once again, Dan is always able to lead us to interesting spots for our holidays. And I am so very thankful to God for that. Due to a larger family, including Rubi my helper and budget constrains, we have kinda limited our hols to exploring Malaysia. So this time, it was off to Saufiville at Janda Baik. Here are some of my fave photos...

The morning light

Our picturesque surroundings

The infinity pool

The fishing pond of tilapias and patin fish

one of the many homegrown beauties

the goat farm

the lovely wife who owns the sprawling estate & who has impeccable taste to match

Friends

and family

little cherubic samuel and the very special daddy

Christmas is a Time...

This Christmas, I made deliberate efforts to start some "traditions" going in the family. As I thought about it, I realize that that there is nothing sacred in these traditions and I must not believe that they are anyway religious, lest they serve to bind and trap me in unnecessary laws that I have established for myself, albeit how good and true.

Perhaps, what I hope that these traditions seek to do is to create 'mental pegs' [a term borrowed from "The Well Trained Mind"] in the minds of Sarah and Samuel; that Christmas is a time of remembrance of all the love and grace that God demonstrates and has foreordained since the beginning of the world, fulfilled in the birth and incarnation of His Only Begotten son. And that through the many family traditions that we have started, Sarah and Samuel would return to the familial warmth of the home each December to begin their journey of thankfulness to God and reflection of the year past and for the year ahead in consecration to their God. Haha...my mind is already teeming with more traditions to add on to those we started this year:)

We headed down to Thomson to get our very own Christmas tree. By the time we headed down there in late Dec, most of the little trees were snapped up. I took a while before decided to pay for one blue spruce that promises to last for a couple of years. Well, we will wait and see if that promise comes true. A Christmas tree, some pots of poinsettia, and a pot of hydrangea, we were all ready to welcome our 2nd Christmas together as a family.

 

The kids woke up from their nap that day to help decorate the Christmas tree with deco from Daiso and many little toys from Changi Airport. It was careful fun as the leaves of the spruce was spiky. Sarah was really proud to have her very own Christmas tree. She also managed to help me with the presents by cutting and sticking scotch-tape onto it.

Although I am not a baker, I decided to do a seasonal bake. I have only attempted Chinese cuisine in the early days of my marriage but I have not picked up cooking since two years ago. But the dreamy thought of my children and husband rushing home because they longed to eat their mommy's favourite home baked cookies, over tea and a good book was enough impetus for me to venture into these new grounds. I wanted to bake yummy Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies, inspired by my favorite Crabtree and Evelyn flavours. Any seasoned baker would also detect that the ingredients used would more than make up for any lack of skills in any amateur baker. 3 pretty good attempts and still trying to get that perfect one. Perhaps 2010 will see more success:)

As part of their advent reading, I think I read the nativity story close to about 50 times this December because Sarah loves to hear me read about the shepherds watching the flocks by night and how the angels interrupted their shepherding work. Sarah can repeat the 1st sentence of what the angel say, "Don't be afraid". Then, she would go on in her own sentences. And just for Christmas, instead of falling asleep to the tune of 'Jesus Loves Me' , she opted for 'Away in a Manger'. That's her favorite tune for December. I remembered asking her one night, "Would you like to sleep in a manger? [or more accurately, a stable]" She replied, "No, it's very smelly." Haha...I am definitely looking forward to reading the nativity story from the Bible with Sarah and Samuel next year

We did some cutting and gluing one morning and I think we will pick up more of these in the new year to come.

Of course, as with any other seasons and Christmas, came family and feasting. It is always a great time to catch up with family again and exchange presents and sit around.

Part of what I hope Sarah and Samuel would learn - is to give to others who are less privileged. We combed our cupboards and found new boxes of toys. Happily, we headed down to the Boy's Brigade collection centers only to find out that they have closed for distribution. Unfazed, we drove to the nearest Salvation Army and Sarah and Samuel gave the toys to the person on duty that day. The look on their faces were prizeless and I just wasn't fast enough to catch in on camera. Sarah had hoped that she would see the children as I explained to her that she would be giving her toys to children who do not have as much as she has. As we left Salvation Army that day, Sarah words were, "Where are the children?"

As a tradition that began last year, we sat around and watched the Muppet's Christmas Carol. The language of Charles Dickens is exacting and beautiful and the music of the muppets is magical. I think the adults enjoyed it more than the tots. Well, it's a season for all:)

This year, the presents were mountainous, thanks to the presence of Christmas trees in my house and my in-laws house. It is so much fun buying gifts and heaping them below the tree. Of course, the kids had greater fun opening them and playing with their new toys.

There were much thoughts that I had regarding the incarnation of Jesus, who is God himself. And I hope to pen them down soon...