Another Week - more thoughts

1 Feb - We are one month into the new year and I have to say, I am still sorting things out in my life. In reality, this week was actually a very busy but happy one for many reasons. Firstly, is the consideration of my physical well being. The reality of my health is that with age and my condition, I would need to be active in my exercise [in particular, resistance exercises] and very careful in my food. I am thankful that Daniel took the lead and prodded me along this path. So the first step, was to reduce the carbo and fat in my diet. That means, loading and filling myself with vegetables. That wasn't too difficult, but it is clearly a demolishing of the adage teachings I was brought up with - "finish everything on your plate". Hahaha...I can't believe how much of this teaching I really held on to. I.e - Leaving food on the plate is wasting food and wasting food is ungratefulness, consider the people in Africa. Sounds familiar? I think I literally ate everything on my plate...all the time, thinking that this is the right thing to do. Don't get me wrong, all food is good as Christ as said in the Bible. But instead of letting the food laid on the plate dictate us, we can make simple decisions to choose our food and discipline our bodies such that food, or anything else does not control us. Secondly, was to slowly incorporate a consistent exercise regime, and one that includes weights training. Resistance training is particular important for me in order to build my muscles and ensure that my bones stay healthy and that they do not deteriorate as fast. Darrell and Dr Chua turned my fitness instructors for a day as they showed me the ropes around the gym. It was fun until 2 days later when the aches started to set in. Hahah...

Of course, did I mention that we also undertook a major cleanout in our house - disposing the unwanted and organizing the rest of the house. The event that kicked off our renovation was not the approaching CNY but the purchase of a king size bed to accommodate our Goldilocks. Well, you see, every night, Sarah would wake up in the middle of the night, eyes closed and arms outstretched and ask to come onto our bed. So, 3 of us would be squashed up in bed and at strange angles, often waking up to aches and pains in the morning. So we had to clear our old bed, move our furniture to fit the new bed into the room and lay our new sheets and start our new night regime. Now, Samuel and Sarah rolls around on our bed till exhaustion. And exhaustion, I mean Daniel and my exhaustion:)

So for all the activity of the week, I am glad the days went on as they should:)

Mon - Little Sarah turns 2 years and 9 months. We remembered to celebrate Sarah's birthday this month, after missing it during the festive months of Nov and Dec. Little Sarah is indeed becoming a big girl. She decides when she wants to be a big girl and when she wants to be a small girl. She becomes a big girl when she wants to sit on a chair and not in her high chair. She becomes a big girl when she wants to play with her scissors. She becomes a big girl when she wants to take care of her little brother. She becomes a little girl when she wants mommy to carry her. She becomes a little girl when she is not well. She becomes a little girl when she becomes upset. As Sarah grows, mommy has had her fair share of struggles, frustrations, joys and delights with Sarah. Mommy is still learning everyday...how to love and care and train the growing Sarah in a way that pleases God.  Big girl or little girl....we love you very much Sarah. 

Mon - An Apple a Day...I tried my best to continue with the Apples theme this week. This time, was the introduction of colors and categorization. She is still confused about the names of the colors but she can categorize them with much ease. 

Daddy managed to buy a whole range of apples from GIANT

Sarah learning the parts of the apple and cutting it herself.

Our little Samuel, enjoying the fruits of Sarah's labour.

Tues - Evening at the Beach

We like to go off to the beach when Daddy comes home from work. 

=

Sarah not looking at the camera and Samuel with sand in his eyes:)

Tues and Thurs - School of Tots.
Yay! We made it through another week of School of Tots. And it has been a great time of learning. This week, they learn about the Sky.

Sarah, obviously enjoying her time in class.

Sun Evening - Sent Rachel off at the airport as she flies off to UK for her attachment. Dear Rachel, may the Lord grant you enlightenment and wisdom to see and taste the true joy of the Lord. If things work out and I am brave enough, I will be seeing you in April. And yes, with the kiddos too:)

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.