Time swooshed pass and we are now in the last month of 2012. December is my favourite month as it spells Birthday (yeah, my birthday), Love, Joy, Christmas, Festive, Rain, Cosy and of course God! I'm inspired and reminded to give thanks and be grateful. Today's such a special date and I decided that I 1 2 1 2 1 2 have the same blessings over & over again and thus this thankful A-Z list! :p

Arise & Build
My church is going through another season of Arise & Build. I'm really thankful for this chance to give unto the lord. Our family had been bountifully blessed since we first participated in Arise & Build for the church seven years ago. Every time we give, our promises are fulfilled, our faith are tested and we are always saved by his grace.

Body
While we have occasional flu bugs hitting us, we have no serious illness for this year. I thank God that during the last detailed body check up, every part of my body is in order and not malfunctioning. Health is wealth and I thank God that all of us in the family has healthy body.

Cell Group
Cell group really connect and build a circle of support. It's not easy to commit and I really salute the leaders for making the time for us.Besides close friends, you don't go around informing friends of certain happenings in your family. During the time when my Dad needed to go for check up for Parkinson, I only told 1-2 friend and hubby happen to update our CGL too. But because Cg is such a close connect group, I received several messages from Cg members giving words of encouragement and praying for us. It is such a time when people started rallied around you and that itself give you strength to go on which I really appreciate. 

Dance and Draw
Ahhh... Thank God for the extra talent or passion that he gift to Shan and Sky. Glad that they find passion in an activity that they wouldn't trade and give up for.

Everyday
Thankful that I can wake up everyday to smell the roses and feel the fresh air. Ok. Life's not so romantic. Thank god for everyday. Period.

Family & Friends
Thank god that I have a close knit of family and friends that fill my days with joy. Thankful to my hubby who besides God, put the family right on top of the list. Thanks to him that we have food on the table cos he's the marketing man in our household. Thanks to him who knows the pork and fish seller (vice versa) so well that they saved him the freshest buy. Thanks to him for still bringing laughter to me. Thanks to him who is so righteous that always pull me from fantasy firmly to the ground. Thanks to him for not retaliating when I'm in grouchy and grumbling mood. Thanks to like-minded buddies that we can chuck the kids at home and have dinner and movie dates. Thanks to friends that we can do a quarterly or half yearly or yearly meet up to have good food. Thanks to buddies that besides work, we can have good laugh over whatapps.  

God
I thank God that I get to be acquainted with him 10 years ago and can now call upon him anytime, anywhere.

Holidays
I love travelling! Almost without fail, we for yearly family / friends travel trip. Thankful that we have good travel buddies. This year, we manged to cover Europe and Korea! Will be putting up posts on the most recent Korea trip soon!

Independent
Slowly and surely, Seth is gaining his independence. He's fully toilet trained some half year ago. I'm utterly shocked (though I hope my facial expression maintained its composure) during our recent travel, a fellow travel mate asked me if I have spare diapers for her 5 yr old son. They looked equally shocked that Seth is not wearing diapers for night time. Depends on mood, he now wears his own clothes after shower and wears his own shoes before going out. He can eats on his own but depends on the food and his mood of course. 

Jap food
ooooh.....I will never never get tired of Jap food. On the other hand, I can't really stand grilled pork and kimchi after a week.

Korean Shows and Skincare
O...but I love soapy, high school romance Korean dramas... I like to indulge my me-time at the wee hours (besides blogging) to ogled at the hunks and beauties and have my own fantasy. And I can boldly share that Korean Skincare is showing effects on me after using it for a week. My face looked brighter and clearer when I wake up after using different combi of Korean Skincare. I don't even feel any difference when I was using SK2.

Library
Clementi Mall Library is the best thing that could happen. That's the only place we frequent in Clementi Mall. I got excited when I smelled crispy new books when it first opened in April. Since we have 5 of us, we can max out 4 cards at any time except during this time of the year when borrowing limit is doubled. Now, I lamented that there's not enough books.

Mummy
It's only when you become a mother yourself, you can really understand and appreciate your mum. I guess I must have hurt or upset her alot when I'm young. I certainly can't measure up to her as she could did so much more as a mum. Perhaps another person I should be thankful for is my maid so that I could just concentrate to spend quality time with the kids instead of the floor when I'm back after work.

Nationality
Hey, I'm thankful that I'm born a Singaporean.

Optimism
I'm thankful that I'm not a born worrier. In fact, I think I'm too optimistic at times. At times, Pastor shared about how we should not have a poverty mindset. And no, I'm definitely don't belong to this category! Hubby thinks sometimes I too carefree.

Piano
Heard too much of kids dropping out of ballet and piano when they reached P2/3. Glad that Shan maintained her interest and chooses to continue. Thankfully, there's a piano teacher whom revived Sky's interest. I'm not the tiger mum at this area and just thankful that I can hear beautiful pieces of music coming from my home from time to time. There's many subtle benefits associated with playing music and I just pray that their interest last. 

Quaker Oats
Besides the boring bread, expensive atas croissants and sinful char tau kwey and MacDonald's, Quaker Oats is another good alternative breakfast eat that the kids like. Thank god for that.

Read
The kids love reading. Ok, for Sky, needs some pushing to read but at least he reads. Shan, on the other hand, needs to be pushed to stop reading. That's a happy problem. Sometimes, I see books lying in the toilet! Seth loved to be read to every night. The only rant, not enough Chinese books reading time.

Snow
2012 marked the year that our family first see snow. Not just droplets but literally snow pouring. It's beautiful. It's blissful. No words could describe how I felt watching and soaking in the snow and the kids do snowball fight. I can die in peace now! :)

Trio
Ahhh...My 3 Super Ss - Shan and Sky, Seth. Thank god for them that bring us joy and laughter and made the family complete. No, not all is rosy. Sometimes, there's spices - cat fights, screaming, scoldings and canings. But, it's cute when the siblings came up to me and said they made themselves a pact to do a handshake after a heated argument to show that peace is in the family again.

Universal Studio
Ooo. I think I am still a child. I love going to theme park. Despite having 3 kids and at this age, I'm not a grumpy auntie that only goes market. LOL!  Thankfully, I have no fear of height and I love thrilling rides. Glad that my kids are not the scary-cat type and they too enjoy those rides (except unless they are limited by height/ age rule).

Victories
Because we have a sovereign God. I thank God that we have many victories and testimonies to share. And panting!! for finally reaching letter "V"!

Word
His word brings life to my life. Hearing and reading his words give me wisdom and how and what I should say, act and behave.

Xtra
I think I have nothing xtra to say, abit tired by now.

Youth
Secretly, I'm pleased that while I don't have a sexy body and tofu skin, I still receive compliments from time to time that I don't look like a mother of 3. Gotta thanks Mum for the gene. You should look at my Sis - people still think she's a university going student despite being a decade older than that!

Zoo
Finally! My last letter and for the lack of it. I thank god for our Zoo. It brought so much fun for our family. We laid off Zoo for quite a while after maximising the Zoo membership two years ago. Especially with older kids and having classes on Saturday, it's quite impossible to visit the Zoo on weekends. Now with Jia Jia and Kai Kai on board (newly imported Panda if you don't know), looks like we are going to the Zoo again sometime soon! Pray that I get balloted for the Zoo pass (and before school re-opens)!

After the previous note about her recent ICAS results, I have been reminded to be positive. This time, she shouted her news about obtaining distinction for ICAS Maths through whatsapp.

 
What amazes me was not so much of her results but God's work in our family. Specifically this year, she had placed all her exams and tests unto the lord. A little prayer before the kids went off to school and before they sleep was all it took. But indeed, this year, dosage of prayers are more consistent and had increased. At times, when the little grouchy one screamed his head off cos I woke up and left his side, it would just be a quick "blessed day ahead".

I was also very impacted during one of the meeting where Pst Kong spoke about Spirit of Faith is Speaking and Believing. I started to pen down what will come to pass and when I looked back, I noted that I had wrote "Shan obtaining Distinction for Maths ICAS". I tested God and God Wow me!

So during this exam period, God is at the centre of it all. I was pretty relax and Shan was lagi more relax. She's already marking her calendar, counting down to year end holiday!

Every year, the whole P3 cohort in Singapore will be taking the optional Gifted Education Programme (GEP) exam to determine your route of learning thereafter. Considering that she has a set of less than intelligent parent, it was only through God's means and wisdom that Shan passed Round 1. 

As a result, she was slated to go through 2nd round of screening during two half-days of the PSLE Marking days. That, unfortunately disrupted my her study schedule for the 4 days in preparation for the year end exam.  On 2nd day, she came back defeated and protested that the Maths paper was too tough. And that was supposed to be her strongest subject. Nevertheless, was still thankful that she had the chance to experience this.

Can't wait for another week to go before year end exam would be over! 

You can't miss City Harvest Church. News of Pastor Kong and friends being arrested were splashed all over the papers and internet. Even the mothering forum that I frequently visited was plastered with comments on PK and Sun. Many scornful and deceitful remarks were passed on the church and the Pastors.

Our family has been faithfully attending church since we first stepped in CHC somewhat 7 years back. We were originally from another church. By an incidental chance, we walked in to the church. Then, Shannon was only 2+years old and Sky, a mere 6 months. We were welcomed by the friendly usher who brought me to the nursery then DH in the main hall at Expo.

Coming from my ex-church, there was no nursery (children service started from 2yo and above), and I had to run to and flow to a nursing corner which means out of the service to breastfeed Sky. Hence, I can’t help but being charmed by the well equipped nursery. From having hot water flask to a big flat screen showing live broadcast of the service, everything you need is in the nursery. You don’t have to worry if you run out of wipes and diapers. Nurseries were categorised by age group and with breastfeeding rooms. With the dedicated nursery ministry workers, mummy could watch the service and even make notes by your baby's side. Being a stickler for systems, I am IMPRESSED that CHC looks into such details. Now, my three baobeis love and look forward to the weekly children service!

I love every bits of the service. Every aspects of it is impeccable. From praise and worship to the preaching. It kept you real high which is perhaps why many can’t resonate with it. Many do not understand why we have to behave like going to a concert. Psalms 81: 1-2, Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. I’m sure God want us to be as happy as a lark while praising and soaking in his presence!

I’m always in awe of Pastor’s teaching which is always so clear and relevant. Contrary to what the internet buzz about how Pastor only preaches about prosperity messages, Pastor had made many impactful messages such as Cultural Mandate, Sermon of the Mount and Making Marriage Work that impacted me on how I should behave as a employee, wife, mother and daughter to my parents. At times, to deepen our biblical knowledge and roots, Pastor held series of bible lessons during weekdays at Jurong West Church. I depended my holistic well being on CHC.

Now, the issue is money. I cannot and will not judge. On the net, I saw critics about Pastor or CGL asking everybody to buy Sun’s CDs. I have strange feelings about those critics cos of all these 7 years, I have never heard Pastor or my CGLs hard selling any of the albums. I for one never buy any of Sun’s CD. My family and friends asked me how I feel as a member of the church and if this episode makes me change my mind about Pastor Kong and the church. To be frank, I was a little disappointed. This was not the outcome we were praying for the past 2 years! I have strong belief in the church’s integrity. We have given our tithes and offerings dutifully because we gave undo the lord and this was nothing compared to the blessings that God have given to us. I’m contented.

I came out of Saturday service enjoying stronger presence of God and touched  by both God and people’s steadfast loyalty for the church. I knew that GOD is with us.

I have made it, being one year as a homemaker! Do I miss the corporate world? Yes, I miss checking on corporate emails, the adrenaline of rushing for deadline, the joy of being recognised for the effort you put in your job, the comfort of $$$ deposited in your bank monthly, the laughter and gossips while having lunches with colleagues. Thou shall not talk about the negative aspects of it!

During this one year, I watched scrutinised my kids every moment, shared happenings in their lives. I "snatched" Seth back to me. He was quite close to Tess (our helper) and sticky about having her to carry him instead of me! I bonded with them. I became their GPS, direct and steer them to the right direction and almost trying to instill values in various conversations we had. I was enjoying my "tai-tai" life and yet felt a sense of un-fulfillment. I started to reflect and pray for directions.

This one day, I happened to flip the Saturday "Recruits" page, something that I would do on Saturday if I had the leisure time to read the papers. This position in the paper attracted me enough to get me sit in front of my PC wanting to send my resume. However, the application is done via online and I had to input seven section about me ranges from personal data  to employment history. As I was filling up the info, I was wondering it was done in the name of fun (to test my marketability) or I'm ready to enter back to workforce.

Within a month, I got the interview and almost immediately after the second interview, I got the offer! It was timed so appropriately as I was given time to sign the appointment letter and only to start work after the September school holiday. It happened in a flash as this was the first and only job I applied. I contemplated if I should really be accepting the offer. First, Sky is going P1 next year. Have I prepared him enough? What about the holiday planned for the year end? Can I take leave since I just started work? Church retreat? Childcare for Seth? Shan going P3 next year, would it be a tougher year for her? I had not check out other jobs yet?!

Both hubby and I felt peace after praying and given many clear indication from God, I took up the offer! Things fell in place naturally. I was given many assurance that the kids transited well and still doing good despite me going to work. Almost every to-do list given to the kids were completed. Ok, I admit I am kiasu. I just can't stand the kids skiving and watching TV. Other than Shan who recently gotten her Star Pupil Badge, Sky especially surprised me. His tasks are completed duly (he used to whine a fair bit). I thought nothing of it when one fine day, I was showering Sky and he asked me if I knew why he does his work so fast and well recently. He then followed on to say it was because he had led God into his heart! Woah, I was amazed! Later on then I found out that his church kindy school counselor on a regular basis invites willing students to give personal bible story and kind of led them to receive Christ.

Looking back, I believe God had put me at home the last one year to lay the ground works. I was also able to handle the kids with the Daddy doing SOT early part of this year. I can imagine my mum (who's a non-believer) feeling uncomfortable with the many sessions of mock up cell and preaching done at our place if she was around to take care of the kids then. On a personal level, I was excited because I could tithe again and our Church's Arise and Build is starting soon. Hmmm, this must be partly why God gives me such clear direction that I could start work now. :p

Timing is so puuuuurfect! All glory to HIM!

Brought the kids to CHC Children Church for the Children's Day programme.

Pastor mentioned that 8 kids would be chosen as the most fervent worshipper and attentive in bible story / lesson. Guess what! Shan was one of them. She got a chance to go into a container to grab as many chances to win prizes. She told me her heart was pumping very loudly when she went up stage. Too bad, not much luck and she did not manage to win any prizes. To me, the badge worth so much more!

Shan told me that she prayed to God and wanted to do her best for God to see. :)

Good
I had earlier posted of my career growth. More good news. God is doing more wonderful things in my life. At this junction, I'm moving because I want to do something I like. I thought I have settled in one but God open another door for me. This time it's even better in terms of err...everything?! I like to think that this is link to the "Arise & Build" that we are doing for our church. As I pledge an amt to build God a house, this is a great testimony that God is also building a house for us. (Think God feels that I need to be paid more in order for us to reach our goal (move house) faster.

Bad
Had earlier posted that Sky was recovering from his fever & cough. Later that week, things took a turn for worst instead. His fever fluctuated again as his lung infection got worst. On his third dose of antibiotics, he seem to get better. But, now he's having diarrhea which could be due to the side effects of antibiotics. Pray that God will heal him completely and the children will be able to enjoy CNY.

CNY is around the corner and I have also been receiving circulated emails on Chinese Horoscope for the year of Pig. From the look of it, Dragon (that's me!!) should be surviving well this year. For a start, I'm going to make another career move in a short span of 6mths! This time, I'm going somewhere where i could relate my profile to. God is indeed great! I have been praying about it and I feel so much at ease & peace with this new move. What's even better, I will have a 2 wks break.

For about 2 weeks, Sky has been down with flu & lots of phelgm. From Saturday till Tuesday, his fever has been wavering at 40 deg. For the first time, Sky need to take an x-ray to check infection in his lungs. Finally he's up & running again! Actually, despite he's sick, he can still be active.. so the doc assured us that he should have no problem. Thank God for his healing.