Till the waterbag bursts....

This blog may remain stagnant for the next 3 weeks or so....in the meantime, I covet your prayers as I may enter into labour anytime now- That the Lord would grant a safe deliver for baby and me and that God would bless us with a healthy baby who would come to know Him at an early age and serve Him with whatever the Lord has blessed her with.

Thoughts during these past weeks

Nowdays, with each familiar face I meet - 2 very common questions. You still around ah? Are you ready? I guess with a tummy as big as mine, many can't help but ask these questions.

Firstly, I want to thank God for answered prayers. For the longest time, my placenta has been real low. I was even diagnosed with placenta previa. Basically, this means that if my condition prevails till the end of pregnancy, I would have to go for a Caesarean as the placenta would be blocking the cervix and baby cannot be delivered the natural way. I thank God for the faithfulness of his people who have prayed faithfully for me - especially the folks in the Chinese Ministry. My 37 week scan revealed that the placenta has completely shifted out of the way and I am on my way towards a natural delivery. That is clearly an answered prayer.

Secondly, the Lord has blessed and given me a good pregnancy. I think that my 1st trimester - with my bleeding and all as part of the Lord's greater plan and blessing. It gave me an enforced rest and much much time of reflection which I believed I otherwise would not have done. I would have just allowed my work to roll on and on through each year without taking stock. It really was a precious time of reflection and questioning if I am in the centre of God's will.

Past the 1st trimester, I felt my strength returning to me. The 1st test was Youth Camp 2006. That week at camp did wonders and I felt physically stronger each day. Starting school in Jan was thus a smooth transition. And during these last days before my water bag burst, I think my energy level is more erractic than ever. I wake up at 5 am and am wide awake. It's quite funny. By 11 am, I fall into a deep sleep.

During these couple of months, I have had time to read up on biblical principles on training a child in the way of Lord. Deuteronomy 6:4-10

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. "

Clear biblical principles are put forth in the Bible. And there are many more. It's really exciting. Parenthood is important to God and we need not be left to grapple on many of the issues on our own. That we would know the word of God and obey.

Time with my Husband

Before the baby is due, I spent some good time with my husband, and of course with baby in my tummy. An early morning walk in at Upper Pierce Reservoir, breakfast at Yishun, reading and resting at the club. Really appreciate these times. The next time, it would be hubby, me and baby.

Shaz and Me at Thomson Medical Clinic

This is one truly rare shot. Shaz, my pal and colleague at work is 7 weeks pregnant and me 37 weeks. Both our babies are due this year...so fun. Three cheers for motherhood! But think we won't be bumping into each other in the clinic anymore.

Pregosaurus

As Logan [my colleague] calls me, prego, pregosarus....whatever the variation. Here are some shots for memory sake.

That's Daniel trying to communicate with baby.

Here's one shot on Valentine's Day.

Here's another with me little sis-in-law.

Lastly, one with all grown up Naz.

Eunice's 1st Pay Treat:Young Ladies Bible Study

Sweet little Eunice bought the Thursday Bible Study those ridiculously popular donuts with her 1st pay. So lovely of her to remember us. Think she waited 4 hours to buy them. Thanks Eunice:) I am really thankful for the Thursday Bible Study. Every week, working towards Thursday is an intensive time of prayer and preparation. It is indeed a privilege and a blessing to be able to hear how the Lord has been working in everyone's lives as well as to learn and grow together in wisdom and discernment among the younger and older ladies. [Will blog more about what we have learnt...] May the Lord continue to convict all of us to live our lives with Him in the centre.

Some ole time visitors

Now that I am officially on leave and awaiting the arrival of our little one, some ole friends popped by - Naz and Shah. Spent a couple of hours catching up with them as they are enjoying their term break. So grown up already. Can get married too. haha. Hmmm...don't they make a lovely couple:)

New Furniture

House went through a mini revamp - in anticipation for our little one.

Wheeling our cot into a cosy corner of our room.

Finally our balcony is cleared of Daniel's toys [all those kayaking and camping stuff] and a little garden sanctuary is set up for times of reading and relaxation.

What A Busy March Hols!

Sunday 11 March

10 - 2 pm Church

2 - 4 pm Lunch & wait for hubby as he plays soccer

4 - 7 pm IT Fair [urghhh....bad squeeze, never again, at least not for a pregnant lady]

7 - 9 pm Dinner at Millenia walk

Monday 12 March
Spent the whole day doing sorting out of file and bills from 2004. Cleared the shelf area for baby corner

Tuesday 13 March

9:30 - 11:30 Breakfast at Crystal Jade with Gong Gong

11:30 - 12:30 Went back to FTPSS to settle some stuff

12:30 - 2:00 Hubby g-masked his new phone. I did banking at Bishan

2:00 - 4: 00 First Recee to Kidzloft to see what stuff to buy for the baby corner

9:30 - 10:30 Dinner at Beach Road and send David and CC off.

Wednesday 14 March
9:00 - 1 pm Arrival of metal cabinets and clean up of our very cluttered balcony [by Super Hubby]

12:30 - 8 pm Lunch and furniture buying at IKEA
8:00 - 10 pm Dinner with Boys Bible Study Group at AMK

10:00 - 12 am More Set up of furniture [by Super Hubby]

Thursday 15 March

11 - 12:30pm 50% Shopping Spree at Kidzloft

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch

1:30 - 4 pm Aircon Man arrives at house and Roller Blinds Man

7 - 9:30 pm Young Ladies Bible Study

10 - 11:30 pm Supper

Friday 16 March

9 - 3:00 pm Cleaning Lady comes while I mark the scripts
3 - 5:00 pm Visit to the Gynae

5 - 7:00 pm Rest and relax at home

8 - 12:00am Celebratory Dinner at Mortons

The waiter assigned to our table. He had to rattle his script and introduce everything before giving us our menu. Interesting fellow.

Cause of celebration: Melvin & Jonathan passed their exams.

Saturday 17 March

10:30 - 11:30am Ikea Delivery and fixing of more book shelves

12:00 - 2 pm Yong Ren's 1st Birthday Celebration at Safra Mount Faber. Hubby rushes off for talk by about Cancer

Check out the mountain load of presents for our birthday boy.
5:00 - 8 pm Rest and Sleep

8:00 - 9 pm Ramen Dinner at Marina Square

10 - 11:30pm Reading and rest at Kent Ridge Park

Iron Man comes to Town!

As Pastor Neville Tan walked into FTPSS, whispers of 'Iron Man' could be heard, especially from the lower secondary pupils. He was like a mini celebrity that day. After a week long of showing 'True Courage' to the pupils, many were anticipating his coming or rather, they couldn't wait to see Singapore's 10 most wanted. Even as I was setting up the booth for the sale of his books, one rather 'influential' upper Secondary school boy came up and was the first to thrust $10 to my face. I was pleasantly surprised. In a polite tone, he said, "Lao Shi, Wo Yao Mai". As he walked away with his autographed book in hand, followed by his entourage, I pray that the book would impact him and lead him to a real change just as Pastor Neville did.

As I entered the office to welcome him, what struck me about Pastor Neville was the humility and propriety with which he carried himself. To date, Neville Tan is 67 years old and he has had a heart attack recently and 3 bypasses. I am glad he could make it to our school that day. The students were quiet and attentive. Speaking to Neville Tan later, we could only attribute this attentiveness to the power of prayer, among the Christian teachers in FTPSS as well as Neville Tan's church members.

It was a really significant day for me - to realize that the role of an educator in outreaching to the lost in a public school is not limited...sometimes we are just to busy to notice and realize the many opportunities out there. There are many hungry hearts and they all need the Lord. As students came to visit the booth, some just wanted to shake Iron Man's hand, while others stood and loitered. Some were contemplating whether it was worth it to part with their money for a copy of the life of an ex convict. As for the many books that went out, let us pray in confidence that the word of God through a changed life would bring many to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.