My Mind: Finally Unkinked

Let me relate to you an incident with my garden hose, one which you too, maybe familiar with. 

We just bought a new 20 m garden hose that comes with a good durable plastic contraption that fits right to the wall. It's a real nifty and beautiful piece. Very neat and handy. For all it's worth, my new 20 m garden hose in its full extension just can't seem to water my plants. I checked the opening and the tap and it was all fine. What I failed to realize that at the end was a kink that was formed. And that kink had rendered my beautiful garden hose useless - useless to fulfill its intended purpose of providing water for our plants and for cleaning. So I went and undo the kink and the true enough, the water flowed. Reminded me of an important lesson, it don't matter how good a material your hose is made out of or even how neat a contraption I had for holding the hose, the water just don't flow the minute there is a kink. Every kink needs to be undone for the streams to flow and fulfill its original purpose.

I have been filling my mind with much reading and literature - spiritual, secular. I read from books on Christian motherhood to Education [spiritual and secular], to the Bible, to cookbooks, to trying to understand how politics inevitably affects our everyday life. ..My mind was slowly increasing in its knowledge but somehow, it was kinked - somewhat trapped. My thoughts were not flowing freely and confidently and I just couldn't figure out why.

Just a week ago, I picked up a book. A secular nondescript book that laid on one of the display tables at our trusty National Library. As I read through it, I realized that my interest was piqued. Not just interest, my whole being. Every free time I had, I read it and I read it till I finished it. And I think I will read it again. All the reading I had done two years since were vital but it remained trapped. This one book in my opinion unkinked the kinks of my mind and made all that I read come into play - an active play of discernment, assessment and examination. 

As I write about what I have learnt, it has also interestingly amalgamate various entries that I have not had the time to pen down -  mainly Daniel's FRCR Exams, My Learnings on Education, the Kiddos Education, Our Spiritual Journey...Well, it seems like I can all fuse it together under "The Mind Unkinked: Relearning about Learning.

My Unkinking Book: [pick it up at the library nearest to you:)]

Mommy! There is a Moth!

I was in the bathroom one evening when I heard a terrible racket. Sarah and Sammy were yelling at the top of their voices much to my displeasure. I thought that our teachings about elegance, poise and gentlemanly behavior had fallen on deaf ears. The yelling crescendoed and I realized that one shouting kid was just yelling outside my bathroom door. 

Behind the door, I heard Sarah yell, "Mommy, a mouse, a mouse!" That word made me jump. When I opened the door, I cried, "A mouse?!" Sarah looked at me and enunciated her words in an amusing fashion, "No, mommy, a moth!" I was quite ready to spank them for all that hollering becausemoths, insects and flying creatures were usual sights around our new place. 

I went downstairs with Sarah in tow to find out what the other shouting kid was doing. That was when realize what the racket was all about. The kids were busy. Very busy in their Operation - Get - Rid - of Moth. Hahaha

The perpetrator: The Moth with eaten wings

The Hero with a glimmer of mischief in his eye

The Hero - Hard at Work determined to eliminate the moth perched high on our kitchen cabinet

The Hero - Fixing up his Wipe-o-Moth

A closeup of the Wipe-o-Moth

The Hero fires off

So that's the tale of the moth and two very excited and determined kiddos. Made my night.

Disclaimer: This is entirely not staged. And the characters are real:)

So...This is Paris

Nothing beats knowing Paris than actually being there. For the kids, it was a huge exciting adventure, especially after we started on Madeline lapbooking and reading about the Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa. Well...but I must say, my impressions of Paris are greatly thwarted by reality. Mention the word 'Paris' and everyone gushes about the language, the culture, the romantic images and the wonderful shopping. But no one told me about how the place reeks with 'urine' [from dogs, cats or whatever], no one told me that the streets are filthy, no one told me how many heavy smokers there are in Paris who are happily puffing away [including mothers lighting up on one hand and holding their child's hand with the other] and of course, I think some did mention about the high cost of living in Paris. On the contrary, the snootiness about the French language and its people is one that I did not experience. We met several nice people who showed us our way, who served us so kindly in the restaurants, knowing that we have 2 active toddlers and to top it off, a waiter in an Italian restaurant gave Sarah and Sammy chocolates before they left and kissed them on their heads. It was truly an eye opening experience like all our other trips and it did more education to me than me studying my books.

Like always, Daniel's greatest joy and comfort whenever he travels is to have his family tag  along. People think we are crazy and silly to travel to such countries with our kids in tow...but we have decided to embark our adventures as a family together. That decision is not the easiest to upkeep as it does take a toil on us...but we always emerge a family that binds closer through joys and sorrows and that is all that matters to Daddy - not the travel, not the holiday.

Paris was truly a  memorable holiday as we struggled initially with our baggage and two running toddlers, walking for long distances without our trusty Phil and Ted and not to mention how Sammy accidentally threw his crocs into the River Seine. That was hilarious according to Mrs Chua and Gail, our travel companions. We took the next few days to settle down, rent a double pram and bought new shoes for the boy.

The kids were absolutely thrilled to ride up the lift to the top of the Eiffel Tower, play pushboats at Luxembourg gardens as well as enter the Louvre in search of Mona Lisa and of course heading to Paris Disneyland. And not to forget, eating the yummy gelato & french pastries:)

Much things to think about as I reflect on Paris - its a harsh city with a people who have lived hard lives, including refugees. Very much different from the protected Singapore and its complacent citizens.

More to come...

Books and More Books About Paris

Just a couple of days before we left, I borrowed some good books that would ease the kids into Paris. It was good that Sarah and Sammy still remembered what we did for our Madeline lapbook. And I was thrilled to find a latest 2011 guide to Paris with Kids. And yes, I lugged the books in our suitcase to Paris - much to Daddy's horror.

Stumbled onto the Little Einstein Series and I must say, I would highly recommend it. Sarah and Sammy could easily recognize the sights of Paris featured in the episodes and at least it kept them entertained as we had to pay for TV [more about this in the next entry] 

Off to Paris We Go

Fresh from the heels of Sarah's birthday party and attending rallies, we were off to Paris as Daddy went to attend a medical conference. A challenging trip as I would be alone with the kids with no grandparents in tow - perhaps, god-grandparents. haha...

Politics

Unabashedly, this photo just about sums up our political inclinations. With Daddy leading our awakening and the exercising of our minds rather than a unquestionable and unthinking mind towards any ruling organization [government, church etc] we are all learning more and more about politics. And as for mommy, she is particularly impressed with SDP this elections. The children are happy chanting and  rooting for clear blue skies:)

The Happy Kids at the Happy Party

[photo credits: Darrell and CC]

The House is Warmed:)

Over the weekend, we had our housewarming and celebrated Sarah's birthday. I was really thankful and proud of our guests - who all were enthusiastic to take the long drive and made special provisions to join us in our happy party. The weather looked threatening at times and I was half expecting it to pour. But the weather held up beautifully. The traffic (in spite of a typical Singaporean fear of a long weekend) was a breeze entering and leaving our home. 

In my opinion, it really was a beautiful day...perhaps cos I felt that the hearts of everyone who came were joyful and more than willing. And truly, the joyful hearts make for joyous occasions. I thank God for family and friends who have come alongside of us and prayed for us and blessed us as we journey in our lives and in our new homes. 

* I will be busy compiling the photos from Darrell and Chiao Chyi and upload them up soon.

Getting back

The past month has been nothing short of busy. Clearing up our belongings in our old house, organizing a garage sale, meeting interesting people from Mexico, Norway, India etc during my garage sale, moving and more cleaning. In the midst of it, Daniel flew to London for his exams and my helper returned back to her country. I am glad that during that period, God kept our going ins and going outs safe and brought the family back together. There are a couple more eventful things coming up. But we are looking forward to a simple, holy and healthy life in our new home....

Our Sarah is Turning 4!

It's been a year and our princess is really excited to celebrate her birthday again - and this time in our new home. Sarah has been growing up very sweetly - she takes care of her sammy, her cousins Hannah and Belle and she takes care of mommy. There was one day that mommy had a bad headache from mulling over something too hard and the greatest comfort was to lay in bed and hold Sarah's hand. Daughter's are so precious - so are little boys hahaha. We really are thankful for our dear Sarah:)