Friendships Treasured and Reclaimed

Over this past year, I am glad to reclaim friendships that have been crowded out by busyness or have given way for more "noble causes". I thank God for blessing me with precious kinship and friendship - of which I am very proud of. And I am glad my kids have their fair share of this precious gift. 

With sis and friends who go a long long way back (at Jaan) 

University Kakis and our rustic seafood party

Secondary school friends at Iggy's

Cousins and friends at Legoland. 

Sarah and Sammy (I love to see them like that)

Best friends

I like Painting Faces

These faces took up a large part of my morning. But it was fun until they started rubbing it off ...sigh. 

Homegrown

These homegrown sunflowers will mark the start of updates on the go. 

On the home front, kids have been moving along well in their studies, and getting on extremely well in their playtime (haha). 

Cousins and Auntie Chiao Chyi are here which also means lots and lots of play and catching up on lost time. 

My absolute favourite - homegrown lady's fingers. 

I like this blogging on the go:)) 

We did it!

We did it together! Yay! 

Daniel was recovering from a flu that plagued him for a month, and I was feeling the onset of it. Samuel had already developed a cough and Sarah was feeling the blues of flu [you can tell from the picture:)] But we went ahead and ran the race. Haha...it felt really good:)

An memorable way to mark our 11th anniversary.

I am still loving it

I am still loving it - to wake up in the morning and take my morning jogs and have Sarah join me.

I am still loving it - to have my breakfast with my children and asking if they all had a good night’s rest.

I am still loving it - to do our reading and math together.

I am still loving it - to study our human body and pry into the genes in our family tree.

I am still loving it - to have our lunch whilst watching Magic School Bus and Cat in the Hat.

I am still loving it - to head off to a quiet afternoon of books.

I am still loving it - to do our spontaneous cooking sessions. 

I am still loving it - to pop in and out of legoland as we wish.

I am still loving it - to have the kids play along their street with their friends and neighbours.

I am still loving it - to have our dinner and talk about everyone’s day.

I am still loving it - to have our bedtime reading many books and our ESV bible.

I am still loving it and wondering if it would all have to give way to a new chapter....

God’s Rainbow: A Reminder of His Faithfulness

As we headed for our 3 monthly blood test and check, we were greeted by a full and beautiful rainbow [a full complete semi circle] that left everyone in the car awestruck. My exclamations prompted Sarah to ask: “You never saw this before?” And to that I could only reply, “No”. I have never in my life witness the full glory of a rainbow but now I have, with my beloved family. 

The rainbow is a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness and love in my life. 

You would think that by now, I would have gotten used to my 3 monthly checkup. On the contrary, each checkup seems weightier each time. Weightier because I want to be there for Sarah and Samuel as they grow fast and furious, I want to be there when they cackle with delight, when they throw their tantrum and fold their arms, when they hurt with sadness, when they just want a cuddle or snuggle in our beds...I want to be there for Daniel as he fights his battles. And I haven’t even started on the rest of the family whom I love dearly. I can’t deny it, the stakes get higher each time. Everything that everyone takes for granted in their life, I can’t. 

But you know what, I have come to realize that it is all for good. 

As Daniel’s text came in - ca 125 6.3. Tears of gratitude welled up. The opportunity to do the things I love and am made to do is extended yet again. 

What a God! What a rainbow!

5 years and counting

It has been 5 years - Sammy is 5 and I am is 5 + 32. There is so much to be thankful for. 

I am thankful that I have the best husband, the best daughter and the best son:) And probably the same thoughts with many millions of mothers out there. Haha.

On a boating trip on my birthday [I like our family boating shirts]

To our dearest Sammy, 

We love you so very much. You are very precious to us and we want you to know that. Daddy and Mommy laugh at how you have turned out to be a very sentimental guy - one who says "Mommy I love you” all too often [even between brushing his teeth] and one who never fails to remind mommy every night to give you the goodnight kiss that she promised you. Almost everyone who loves you holds a special place in your heart from Grandpa, Grandma, Agong, Ahma, Shu Shu Darrell, Shu Shu David, Duayi, Auntie Chiao Chyi, Uncle Dr Chua and Mrs Chua and your special Aunties [Rubi and Wilnie] We know you love us very much and we love you too. 

You are very blessed because you seem to have many angels watching over your every step, keeping you safe. One of your earthly angel is your jie jie Sarah. As oblivious as you are about your surroundings [though your awareness is improving after much training], you almost always come out unscathed. We thank God for all the angels in your life and for God whose grace and mercy has kept you well thus far.

We look forward to many more years of your little impish antics and your humor and your love for everyone in your life.

Sammy’s Birthday Cake

A post on Sammy’s birthday cake is much easier than a post on Sammy;) So for now, this is Sammy’s 5th birthday cake - Minions from Macs [bought from Silom Bangkok with zero queue hahah] stuffed into an Awfully Chocolate Cake.

The minions look like they are singing a birthday song and 
sinking in quick sand, don’t you think? 

A Beautiful Wedding - Ben and Gail

Us and our ‘dapper’ kids

Kids with parents of the bride

As much as the kids enjoyed the opportunity to walk down the aisle, the party really began after..

Chocolate Mascara

Just for laughs - Sammy’s eye lashes are so long it interferes with his yummy chocolate fondue stick.