A Child's Heart

There are days that I can get so upset especially when Jedi and Krisa get an attack of the grouches! The whingeing, crying and fretfulness at the same time from both of them can literally make me feel my anger and temper rising! In such times, as you can guess, my face is not exactly Mrs. Smiley but perhaps Mummy Monster!
Jedi's response to me was quite unexpected. He cried and said:
"Mummy! I love you! Mummy don't be angry! Smile!"
These words really melted my heart and my anger . Although it was really hard to muster a smile in the midst of such a situation, I tried a crinkly, lopsided one and gave him a hug. His little arms went round my neck and hugged me tight.
When the storm had subsided, I explained to him why I had been upset with his behaviour and explained that I still loved him. This is something that Dan and I have told ourselves to make a point of doing when we need to discipline our kids. Its not easy at times but it helps me especially to see things in perspective.
Thank you Lord for this little boy who you have blessed us with. Thank you for his heart and his child like trust in the people close to him. Thank you for his simple gift of love to us.

The Power of Prayer

Last year I had a hard time of keeping the germs away from Jedi and Krisa as they fell sick over and over again for about 6 months! Dan and I were so tired from having to give medication and nebulize them almost everyday! Thanks to my friend, Soann, who recommended me her Pede, their health improved alot but the cycle of illness was still there.
One of the Sundays, I brought Jedi and Krisa to nursery Sunday School to try it out. A teacher there noticed that Krisa was coughing and she began praying for her. Krisa had been having a high fever for about 5 days. When we went home, the fever had gone and never came back.
That was when I realized that all along I had been caught up in the frenzy of giving medication and looking after them during their illness, that I had neglected praying specifically for the Lord's healing over their entire body and to pray that that the sickness has no place in their body. Dan and I began praying specifically for covering over their lungs from that day on.
Jedi and Krisa's health have improved remarkably. Although the sniffies still come, their condition is not as terrible as before and they are no longer eating medication like vitamins and are off that horrid nebulizer as well! I truly attribute this to the power of prayer. Came across this prayer from Stormie Omartian:
Lord, because You have instructed us in Your Word that we are to pray for one another so that we may be healed, I pray for healing and wholeness for my children. I pray that sickness and infirmity will have no place in their life.
I pray for protection against any disease coming into their body.Your Word says "He sent His word and healed them, and delievered them from their destructions."(Psalm107:20)
Wherever there is disease, illness or infirmity in their body, I pray that You, Lord, would touch them with Your healing power and restore them to total health.
Amen

Keeping Little Minds Active

Now that Jedi and Krisa are on a routine, I find that I have more pockets of time available to carry out activities with them especially with Jedi. I have been reading a very good book on how to teach little ones to learn how to read from an early age through fun and engaging activities. Very inspired! So my next project will be to make the materials for my lessons with him. Realise Jedi also really enjoys the time that I spend with him alone when Krisa is sleeping and him being in school also enables me to spend time alone with Krisa. Had a wonderful afternoon with him making a star mobile for his window. Krisa loves it too and would start twinkling her hands when she sees them!

I now see the fulfillment of staying home to devote my time and energy to bringing up my kids. Despite the challenges and frustrations at times, there is truly so much joy.I know that this is a decision that the Lord has placed in my heart and He will grant me the strength to raise them. Not in my own strength but in ....His.

Krisa's attempts at wearing my shorts ended up around her neck!

Doggy Tales

Hi! My name is simply, 'Doggie'. Most of you have never met me but I am an important part of the Lim family. My closest pal is Jedidiah as I was in his cot ever since he came home from the hospital in 2005. I was really plump and full of baby fat like Jedidiah in the beginning but together we lost weight as we grew from babies to little tots. But I'd like to believe that its through the constant squeezing, hugging and even biting from my little master that has made me now floppy and soft. It's also because I have been into countless cycles of the washing machine that I am the way I am.
I have been not just a friend to Jedidiah but also his inseparable sleep-mate as well as comforter everytime he feels sad or afraid. I even went with him to school and on the school bus for his first week of school last year when he first started. Later, his teacher felt I had done my job really well and told Jedidiah's mummy that I could go home and wait for him there. I even travelled with Jedidiah to Perth to see his grandparents and have been to almost every place that Jedidiah has been in his two and a half years of life.
So I have been a faithful doggie to my little master. I have been with him through his tears and laughter, sleepiness and hungry moments. I know I am the most well-loved little doggie in the world as although I have countless little black stitches as a result of my master's affectionate bites, I know that these are a testimony of his love for me!
But can you keep a secret? I have a secret double who takes my place everytime I need to go for my wash and sun dry. Don't worry. My little master can't tell

Reunion with good ole pals!

with Marie, Aggie and Elaine

Its been 7 years since we have left Uni and the four of us used to be the Four Musketeers or unabashedly we called ourselves 'The 4 Beauties!' We would have great times hanging out before lectures and chatting endlessly even during lectures through little notes! We would also hang out after classes by going down to Macs at Serene Centre as our campus was near there during most of our four years till it shifted during our last semester. Those days were so carefree when all we had to worry about was getting in our assignments BEFORE 5pm and I recall being very stoned together with my one of my pals as we would 'torn' the whole night to finish up the assignment!! The other 2 gals were very hardworking and would have álmost finished' while we knew we were gonna suffer that night!! Oh!! Those were the days!
Looking back, we have been pals for 10 years now and our friendship has grown stronger and been stable all these years. I guess its also because we meet up regularly when we can and everytime we do there is sure to be NOISE!! Loud laughter and guffaws and alot of posing and other mad stunts! Yeah age is no barrier to the way we are!
Well we met up last Saturday at our old hangout at Macs at Serene Centre and had a wonderful time! I brought Jedi along with me and left Krisa with my aunt (Thank you so much Ah Kor!! *hugz*) so it was a good time spending time with him alone without me having to carry Mei Mei. ( I promise to bring you too Mei Mei when you are older okies? ) We took a walk back to our campus and reminisced about the good old days. Dan joined us later and we had a good day out with Jedi. Was a wonderful day!
These are friends that I dearly treasure for they have been with me through the darkest days of my life and also in my happiest. May we continue to grow old together in laughter and in the tears of the journey of life! You gals are the best!

I luuuurve you Kor Kor, Crocoodile Soup and First Words...

Krisa has been very expressive since she turned one in Jan. She is always smiling and bestowing hugs to the three of us. Her favourite kind of hug is to sit on you when you lie stomach-down on the floor and give you a bear hug with her little arms! Jedi would indulge her by lying on the floor and let her sit on him.
We have also recently begun giving Jedi crocodile soup to try to minimise the frequency of his cough. It seems to have helped alot as I was reluctant to try as I have been a little sceptical of such things. Funny thing is that he LOVES it but would only take it from a little bottle and suck it all up with a straw! What a way to drink soup!
Krisa has also begun talking although not very clearly. Her first words are: "What's that?", "Honey Stars", Bao Bao (Full), "Bye", "Hello" and "Mama". Our little girl is growing!

Ang pows, Gong Xi Fa Cais and Smiles

We had a busy Lunar New Year compared to last year. Celebrated reunion dinner at Dan's side a day earlier and that was great as I was finally able to join my grandma and cousins on my side for reunion dinner as the dates no longer clashed. So had a fine time yusheng-ing and lo hay-ing!
As usual the first day was at Dan's company as he has to attend his yearly company CNY function. So was challenging to handle the two kids there on my own while waiting for them but PTL they behaved well!

This year was a little different as we went to visit my mum's relatives whom I have not seen since we were married and they were thrilled to see Jedi and Krisa. It felt good to get in touch again and reconnect as a family once more.

Family pic with my grandma and relatives on my side....and Jedi busy digging gold!

With Dan's family