God is gracious

I wrote this for Richie so that one day he will remember these days and see how great God has been—so gracious and merciful to him.

On 3rd February, he received his placement results and got into the course he wanted, Media and Art, at Singapore Polytechnic.

While waiting for school to start, he began working part-time at an F&B outlet three times a week. The pay is quite good for a student, and it has been a meaningful experience for him.

Some time ago, when I picked him up from work, we had a deep conversation. He shared how the staff—both full-time and part-time—treat him kindly, and even the owner personally shared his vision with him. I could see how encouraged he felt.

As we were about to reach home, I told him, “Do you see how great God is?”

He has given you good results, opened the door to the course you desired, and blessed you with a part-time job in such a positive environment.

He replied, “Yeah… I think God has answered my prayers.”

I gently told him, “It’s not only about prayers being answered. Your attitude—towards Mama and Papa, yourself, your brothers, and your friends—matters too. God has been merciful and generous to you because of who you are becoming.”

I hope that one day, when he faces obstacles in life, he will remember this season and hold on to the truth that God is always faithful and gracious.

---

Life Lessons from Raft Building Exercise

After the raft-building session, I returned to my room and took some time to reflect on the valuable life lessons I had just experienced—and how they apply to the real world.

The Objective

The goal of the activity was clear:

• Build a raft using bamboo poles and barrels.

• Ensure it’s strong and stable enough to carry passengers to a designated point.

• Return safely to shore.

• Disassemble the raft back to its original components: just bamboo and barrels.

None of us had any experience in raft building—or even scouting—so we all started from zero. The instructor provided some guidance with clear, step-by-step instructions:

1. Show us a miniature model of the completed raft.

2. Demonstrate how to tie knots securely to hold the bamboo together.

   

3. Emphasize that the string should be wet to prevent it from breaking in water.

4. Ensure each barrel is positioned to float and supported by two bamboo poles.

5. Begin from the outer frame, measure the barrels, and then tie the inner sections.

Was Everyone Listening?

At first, it seemed like everyone was paying attention. But once we started working, some interesting differences emerged.

We were divided into three groups of mixed adults and children:

• Group 1: 4 adults and 2 tweens
  ➝ They finished first, sailed to the designated point, returned, and successfully disassembled their raft.

• Group 2: 4 adults and 3 teens
  ➝ They finished second, completed the journey, and disassembled their raft.

• Group 3: 5 adults
  ➝ They finished last. Halfway through, strong waves hit and their raft broke apart. They couldn’t complete the task.

Observing Human Behavior

From this exercise, I noticed five distinct types of people:

1. Active listeners — Fast learners who quickly apply what they’ve learned. They're also hands-on and action-oriented.

2. Active listeners — Willing to learn but need more time to process and apply the knowledge.

3. Active listeners — Learning isn’t their strength in this context, but they contribute meaningfully in other areas based on their strengths.

4. Non-listeners — Prefer to solve problems their own way, relying on creativity that doesn’t align with the structured approach required.

5. Non-listeners — Unwilling to learn and prefer to instruct others rather than contribute directly.

Who Will Likely Thrive in Life?

People in categories 1, 2, and 3.
Because they are open, adaptable, and know how to contribute—either by learning or by using their strengths wisely.

This activity was a powerful mirror of real life. It wasn’t just about building a raft; it was about observing attitudes, teamwork, and how people respond to challenges.

Wrapping Up our last vacation in 2024

Wrapping up our final vacation of 2024, we reflect on what has become our favorite destination: Japan. This trip was not only an incredible journey but also a source of meaningful life lessons.

1. Unlocking New Challenges

We were initially hesitant to drive in Hokkaido during winter. However, by God’s grace, we embraced the challenge and took steps to prepare ourselves both mentally and physically. From researching suitable cars for snowy conditions to taking a crash course online and seeking advice from friends with experience, we learned how to navigate the icy roads safely. The effort was rewarding, proving that with preparation and determination, challenges can lead to growth and unforgettable experiences.

2. Perfect Timing

Throughout our trip, there were many close calls where we nearly missed transport or schedules. Yet, God’s providence ensured everything worked out perfectly. One memorable instance was when we caught a local bus from Otaru Station to Otaru Aquarium. Arriving just 15–20 minutes before departure, we managed to squeeze into the last queue. Missing that bus would have disrupted our entire plan due to long waiting times. A similar thing happened on our return journey, where the bus arrived just five minutes after we reached the stop—truly a testament to perfect timing.

3. Embrace the Weather, Enjoy the Ride

Hokkaido’s weather is famously unpredictable, alternating between bright sunny skies and heavy snowfalls. These variations impacted car and road conditions, presenting unique challenges. Instead of complaining or worrying, we chose to embrace the weather and enjoy the ride, finding beauty and adventure in every moment.

4. God’s Providence and Guardian Angels

One unforgettable incident occurred during our stay at Rusutsu. Our second son experienced chest pain in the middle of the night, just hours before our flight to Osaka. Panic set in as we called emergency responders, unsure how to handle the situation. By God’s grace, he recovered quickly, and we made it to our flight on time. This event was a profound reminder of God’s protection and the presence of guardian angels in our lives.

This Japan trip wasn’t just a vacation—it was a journey filled with challenges, gratitude, and lessons that we will carry with us into the future.

A year of gratitude 2021

This year is a special year for us as a family. It's been a roller coaster year but we are grateful because by God's grace, love and providence we managed to pull through and ended the year with victory.

Our marriage relationship was tested and purified in the deeper level that we can't imagine and we grow deeper in love and trust to each other.

Our family faith was also tested and challenged when our oldest son having PSLE and our youngest son had covid at the same time.

We were grateful for our friends who are with us, doing crazy things together, laughter and joy, and even when we were in the darkest moments. It's a home far from home but we still feel that many people care for us.

It's been a fruitful journey and we are truly grateful for that.

Here's some preview of this year that we always remember in our heart.

Choosing Secondary School via DSA

Yesterday papa and Richie had a session to choose secondary school that's suitable for Richie.

It's not an easy task because sometimes we don't know exactly what we want. A week before, mama and papa have sorted some secondary schools that have football and coding as CCA and ALP (Applied Learning Program ) and we had 10 secondary schools list mostly located in the west.

When papa asked and explained each school the pros and const, it gave Richie some enlightenment what to expect when he's accepted in the secondary school. Indeed, it's a fruitful session to know more what Richie wants.

Turned out, he wants to have soccer as first priority than the coding. However, after some brainstorming and discussion, he has made conclusion for applying DSA

1. SST

2. Montfort

3. Zhenghua secondary school

We just offered this to God and let God give us the wisdom so that we can choose wisely and accept the outcome.

Two Favourite Saints

Last Friday during CEP programme, the kids were watching Saint Francis of Asisi and Richie was very inspired with his life story.
And luckily, I just finished reading his story too few days ago so my memory was still strong and I re-told him again the whole story.

In the end, he asked me what is your favourite saint ? I told him, Saint Therese of Avilla and Lisieux and he told me that his favourite saints are Saint Ignatius of Loyola and St Francis of Asisi.

Praise God, mama and papa hope these saints will inspire your life and your heart so that you grow with the heart of mercy and obedience to God

A Story of Pet Fishes

Almost 3 weeks ago, Tromson and Ted had field trip to fish farms, both went to different fish farm and end of the field trip, each of them carried a fish tank with full of small fishes. They were excited but not for me. I was reluctant to bring those fishes home because they surely die by the next few days since I was not a pet nanny type.

But seeing how excited and happy they were without knowing that the fishes may die the next day, I brought two fish tanks full of fishes home. Total was 18 small fishes.

I didn't have a heart to see the fish die or flush them into toilet bowl, so I played along buying the cheapest fish food in the pet shops to make the kids happy.
In my mind, I told myself, I already done my best to take care the fishes with a little knowledge that I had, at least if they die, they will die naturally, peacefully and with dignity and I didn't feel guilty.

As expected, the next days, the fish died one after another and fortunately the kids were not too emotional when they saw the dead fishes. Every day I was like having another "baby", feeding and cleaning the tanks and the sh*t.

Until 10 days later, Richie exclaimed mama, I saw baby fishes in one of fish tank, I was like, are you sure ? may be it's poop. For me, it's like a miracle if the fish can breed new life in those condition. But he said, yes it's baby fishes and when I went to have a look, it's really baby fishes and they were a lot. But most or all of them were like dying baby fishes, so I cleaned up the fish tanks and thrown away all dead fishes.

And as days went by, one by one died and left with three survivors who survived until yesterday.
Tromson came to me and told me that one fish has died, ok so I told myself, one tank gone,I only need to take care one fish tank but he continued, but I saw baby fishes. I was like WHATTT ?? AGAIN ??

Quickly I came to have a look and yes, one adult fish died and many baby fishes were surround it, it's like dying so I told them I will clean up the tank and left with two fishes in other tank, then Richie told me, mama you need to save the baby fishes who were still alive, I didn't notice at first but when Richie asked me to wait patiently that few of them were moving, they really was.

I had a hard time to separate the survivor babies and the dead one because they were so tiny, anyway I managed to save 4 baby fishes. So one adult died, 4 new life emerged.

I was like, God, You must be joking with me, within 3 weeks, I saw fishes breed new life not once but twice.

God is A Genius Artist - Reflection Story

I’ve never been interested in Art Gallery before until an encounter that happened yesterday at National Gallery 3rd level. I was intrigued by one of the posters placed in front of art gallery, I was curious what was inside and decided to give it a go.
There were many artworks and most of them were paintings and each painting was with the description about what the artist’s tools, the description and feeling. Until I saw this painting.

When I went to come closer to see the details, I was so amazed that with only strokes of different colors that sometimes the mixture was not making sense but when I walked further from the painting I saw the whole
Picture and it’s so beautiful. Then suddenly I imagined myself if I sit beside the artist during the process from the beginning until the end and thus the conversation comes like this

👩🏻 what are you making?
👩‍🎨 something beautiful in the end
👩🏻 but these strokes don’t make sense, the composition between colors are so wrong, I don’t think it will result in good picture
👩‍🎨 I haven’t done yet, it’s still a small part, be patient
👩🏻 with my impatient human’s character that everything needs to finish instantly and arrogance that I know better than the artist, I start criticising that it won’t make good painting because it’s so wrong with the colors, composition.
👩‍🎨 with smiley face, be patient and have faith in me
👩🏻 ok, I decide to wait and challenge him to make sure that I’m right

Until the end

👩‍🎨 ok, now it’s finished. You come with me looking at few meters from this artwork
👩🏻 then in awe, I’m speechless beyond comprehension. The result is beyond my expectations, it’s so so beautiful 

Then I relate it with life, Our God is like this genius artist and our lifes are like this art gallery with the same artist. Every piece is different, some may look similar but if we see closer, actually there are some different strokes that create uniqueness.
When our life seems messy, doesn’t make sense, it’s so wrong that we want to give up, God is in the process of making a beautiful piece. He knows what he’s doing much more better than we are.
Until in the end, when he finished, we could only amazed with what He has done in life. Some may have only black colors, some may have different colorful strokes but in the end of the process, every art piece is very beautiful 

One affirmation is HAVING FAITH IN GOD and BE PATIENT 

By the way, this artpiece that intrigues me was self portrait of Affandi, one of international acclaimed painter from Indonesia
He only used hands to create this beautiful canvas

Paul The Apostle of Christ - movie

Last Saturday we watch this new movie, Paul the Apostle of Christ from itunes.
It's a good movie.

The synopsis
Paul, Apostle of Christ is the story of two men. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life every time he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero's darkest, bleakest prison cell. Before Paul's death sentence can be enacted, Luke resolves to write another book, one that details the beginnings of "The Way" and the birth of what will come to be known as the church. But Nero is determined to rid Rome of Christians, and does not flinch from executing them in the grisliest ways possible. Bound in chains, Paul's struggle is internal. He has survived so much--floggings, shipwreck, starvation, stoning, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure--yet as he waits for his appointment with death, he is haunted by the shadows of his past misdeeds. Alone in the dark, he wonders if he has been forgotten... and if he has the strength to finish well. Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to bequeath the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

What we could take back from this movie 
1. Love is the only Way
2. God's way is not our way
3. There's nothing impossible for God, He can change the heart's of man
4. God can make use of any situation to save one man's soul

Remembering Lee Kuan Yew (1923 - 2015)

I feel that I need to incorporate this into Richie's blog so when he grows up and takes over this blog, he can read and remember what makes him to be a proud Singaporean.

Last week was mourning week to Singapore and Singaporean. The departure of our founding father, Lee Kuan Yew has touched many people here including mommy.
When mommy came here and settled down here, mommy often takes for granted the facility in Singapore eventhough I have not so much complain since I feel grateful living here than in Indonesia.

But during the 7 weeks of mourning, all TV channels showing the history of Singapore, the 50 years journey and what Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done for this country from nothing to first world country.
I feel so amazed with the great man full of inspiration and dedication to the country.
Not ever in my life, I meet or read the person like him.

I feel very sad too when I saw in TV how senior citizens have benefited most from LKY cried and knelt down in front of his coffin or photo.

His life gives me inspirations to continue his legacy to all my children. I'll make sure all my children will make the country proud or at least didn't make trouble hehe...

This is 11 things I learn from him :

1. Live Simply to the fullest
2. Hard work hard work hard work
3. Do your best in whatever job or task we do
4. Modern hardship to prevent complacency
5. Walk a talk in family
6. Spend quality time with children
7. Set it right for the children from young
8. Love your partner till the death do us apart
9. Love of family is the source of life
10. Chase your dream as high as possible, the sky is the limit
11. Learning for a lifetime

Here's the link about Mr. Lee Kuan Yew : Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

We had no chance to go to parliament house or cc to pay tribute but we had a privilege to send him off when his cortage passed our house twice to UCC and Mandai.
Richie was overwhelmed and looked forward to it

 

New Year Reflection

This article was forwarded from someone but it's meaningful 'cos it reminds us to be grateful with what we have and always move on with whatever happens in our life

JOURNEY

 

Life is like a journey on a train

with its stations, with changes of routes and with accidents !

 

We board this train when we are born and our parents are the ones who get our ticket

 

We believe they will always travel on this train with us

 

However at some stations our parents will get off the train, leaving us alone on this journey

 

As time goes by, other passengers will board the train, many of whom will be significant - our siblings, friends, children and even the love of our life

 

Many will go so unnoticed that we won't even know when they vacated their seats and got off the train !

 

This train will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, good byes and farewells

 

A good journey is helping, loving, having a good relationship with all co-passengers and making sure that we give our best to make their journey comfortable

 

The mystery of this fabulous journey is :

We do not know at which station we ourselves are going to get off

So we must live in the best way - adjust, forget, forgive and offer the best of what we have

It's important to do this because when the times comes for us to leave our seat.. we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life

 

Thank you for being one of the important passengers on my train...

Don't know when my station will come, don't want to miss saying : Thank you

Thank you for being part of this journey

Mother's Day 2014 : Reflection Women who fears the Lord

This year Mother's Day is very special for mommy.
After papa came back from retreat Pria Sejati Katolik, he had full of positive energy and radiance
Papa wants to commit to become "Imam, Nabi, Raja" for family.
Papa wants to be fully responsible for leading our little family to fear God, becoming God's messenger to our family and leading our family behaviour day by day
It's tough tasks, but he's willingly to do it by God's strength.

It's really a special gift and blessing for mommy that money can't buy

That's why as a life partner who's promise in front of Altar, mommy also wants to help papa to accomplish the mission to raise Godly Children and let our family fears and serves God

Since Tromson still depends fully on mommy's breastfeeding, mommy can't go for retreat Wanita Bijak yet until he's weaning.

That's why starting today, mommy commits to spend a time for daily prayer again after it's abandoned after Tromson was born.

And today, mommy gets the beautiful message of
Proverb 31 : 10 - 31  Women who fears the Lord
It's a beautiful poem and messages for mommy

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

This "virtuous or an excellent woman" is a woman of high morals who is upright in all her ways.

This is just saying that her worth cannot be measured in earthly things, such as rare stones (rubies). She does exist, but is very hard to find.

¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

This woman is totally faithful to her husband. He can have confidence in her, because she will not let him down. His wife will always be faithful to him in every situation. She will not even give the appearance of evil.

He does not maintain jealous guard over her or keep his valuables locked up so that she cannot access them as was a common ancient practice in a house of distrust. She demonstrates impeccable loyalty to her husband, and her thrift and industry will add to his wealth.

¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She is on his side. She is beside him helping in everything. She loves to please him. She respects him and builds him up when he is down. She does not tear him down, but instills confidence in him.

¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is industrious and helps him produce for the family. She is not lazy. She works willingly, because she wants to help.

Excellent women gathered the material for making cloths as we’ll see in verse 19.

¹⁴ She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

We see, here, that she goes forth wherever the food for her house is and brings it home. Excellent women would go far to secure the best food for their families.

¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She is not a sleepy-head. She gets up early and sees that her family and her maidens are fed. Her first concern is the welfare of her family.

In order to have the food prepared for the family each day, she had to rise before dawn to begin the work, which she would do gladly.

¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

I believe this is an indication that she is a business woman. She takes on responsibility in buying the land. She works outside the house when she plants the vineyard.

She was resourceful and entrepreneurial in her investing and reinvesting.

She doesn't say to the husband that making the money for the family is his job. She helps him in this, too, when she can.

¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

We see, here, that hard work makes her very strong.

Such women were not soft, but by virtue of rigorous work, strong

¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

That which she produced for the family of clothing, food and wealth was good and profitable.

Candle or lamp is to be understood literally. She planted the vineyard during the day and wove late at night. She rose early before dawn to prepare the food, thus keeping a before sunrise to after dark schedule to care for her household, which was the foremost priority of her life.

She protects what is her own. She appreciates her husband and her family and works to keep them.

¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

We see here, again, that she looks for useful work to do. She is not lazy, as we said before.

These tools are used to turn wool into thread for making clothing.

²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not selfish, but shares with the less fortunate. She is generous in helping the poor and needy. She has a big, giving heart.

²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She has seen to it that her whole family has warm, comfortable garments, even for snowy weather.

Snow indicates the cold that occurs in the high altitudes of Palestine. Her labors anticipated her family’s need for warm clothing in such cold places and seasons

²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

She looks nice for her family. She takes care of herself, as we read earlier, and dresses nice so her husband will be proud to tell people that she is his wife.

The efforts she makes to honor others are rewarded to her. These silk and purple garments are expensive evidences of the blessings returned to her by God’s grace

²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She builds her husband up, and he has respect in the town. She never does things to make him ashamed.

This woman made a significant contribution to her husband’s position in the community and to his success. His domestic comfort promoted his advancement in public honor. A man’s good reputation begins with his home and thus the virtue of his wife.

²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Here, again, we see her making money away from the home to help her husband. "Fine linen", of course, means righteousness spiritually.

With all her other responsibilities faithfully discharged, she took time to make items of clothing for the purposes of trade. 

²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

These words describe the character of the woman who fears the Lord. Her inward clothing displays divine wisdom, giving her confidence to face the future with its unexpected challenges.

This woman is upright in all of her ways, and the Lord will reward her. She will be among those who will hear Him say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant". She is well covered in the spiritual things of righteousness.

²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Her teaching of wisdom and the law is tempered with mercy.

Her speech conveys her wisdom and kindness. Her words build up and don't tear down. She is not a gossip or a slanderer. When she speaks, it is to help. Her wisdom instructs her children.

²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

We said before, she is industrious; and her first thought is for the well being of the members of her own house.

She was a skilled manager of the home. The “bread of Idleness” literally means “eyes looking everywhere” as in the lazy man in 6:6 & 9; of who the same root word is used.

²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Her husband and her children (who know her best) see her unselfishness, love, and care that she has for all of them. They are proud of her. She is a good mother and wife, and they let her know it.

She is greatly respected because she has earned the praise of her family. There can be no higher joy for a mother than for her children to grow up to praise her as the source of the wisdom that made them godly

²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

This is saying that many women are faithful to their husbands, but fall short in some of these other areas; but she has done the best of all toward her family and God.

This was her husbands superlative praise (v.28) which was well deserved, in which he used the same word for “excellent” found in v.10.

³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Here, we see that doing favors’ can be good. To have a wife who is attractive to look at is nice, but the very best you can do is to have a wife who fears God and keeps His commandments; and she will have all of these other things as an extra.

True holiness and virtue command permanent respect and affection, far more than charm and beauty of face and form.

She is to be praised, because she has chosen the best: salvation through the Lord. Proverbs end where it began with a reference to the fear of the Lord.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Her works speak for themselves. She has earned her praise. We see in this, the Lord is pleased with her, because she has done His will in her life.

While she receives material reward (v.22), the praise and success she labored to bring to her family and community will be her praise. The result of all her efforts is her best eulogy.

A Survival week without papa ( 1 - 6 December 2013)

On Sunday evening, papa flew off to Korea for business trip and there you go, three of us are confined at home.
It was the first time Richie co-sleep again with mommy and Tromson in the master bedroom.
First night was not so smooth, Richie kept waking up while his lil brother asked for milk.
Second night was better, all of us can sleep well
Hopefully we can survive till Friday and of course having fun together haha...

What a wonderful 3 years journey of motherhood

Mommy writes this to express how wonderful 3 years journey of motherhood.
It's not kinda easy, it fulls of surprises every day.
It likes building your own home from the scratch and finally you can see the result eventhough it's still half way.
Motherhood journey fulls with ups and downs, frustrations, happiness, depression, laughter
But when I look back and see the big picture, I'm just grateful to experience this lifetime journey

I remember when Richie was born 3 years ago, he's so helpless, and very cranky on the first day we brought him home from hospital. We didn't know what to do, kinda frustration..
After that, I had less sleeping time, and needed to breastfeed him exclusively since he didn't want to use bottle
Fortunately, he's so easy with solid food.

After he passed his first year, it came another challenge, he's in exploring stage and teething period.
Those days were very tough, sometimes he ate a lot sometimes he went on strike
He touched here and there, didn't speak yet, he kinda frustrated when we didn't understand what he wanted and so did we
Futhermore, he was in building his immune stage, therefore almost every 2 or 3 months, he caught cold, running nose, cough...

When he reached 2 years old, things are getting easier.
By then he has already spoken, he knew how to ask and understand when we told him do and don't
He was getting weight faster since most of his teeth were up, so he ate a lot and had big appetite.
He was stronger and seldom got sick
He was a good boy whom we could talk to if he did something wrong
He was willingly to pee in the toilet in day and after that followed by night time. Mommy didn't force or really trained him every hour or so.

When he reach 2 and half years old ++, mommy enrolled him to chinese enrichment class.
He needed to overcome his separation anxiety, eventhough mommy realised it's too early for him to overcome separation anxiety. But after all, he passed.
He's enjoying his chinese class and could read some chinese characters well, sing chinese songs and spoke some vocabs in chinese.

And know 2 months shy from 3 years old, he wants to be independent.
He wants to do all things by himself and sometimes asks where is baby ? hahaha
Oh no, is he really ready for having another sibling ?

Mommy's so proud of him.
Mommy's efforts to nurture and groom him to be an outgoing boy with self confidence, logic and smart as well as generous are not wasted.
Mommy could see the result now eventhough it's still long way to go.
At least he listens to what mommy says and mommy becomes his confidante too.

Well, I never regret to become stay at home mom, eventhough I lost some incomes, I gain something that irreversible.
Richie's ready to go to school next year, and mommy's also ready to go back to work force.
Hopefully next year is great year for us to start our new journey

Second kid ??
Not yet, mommy's planning to go back to work first at least 2 years before going motherhood journey again.

For me, having a kid is not just ordering from catalogue, waiting for 9 months then subcontract it to other people.
Mommy prefers to nurture and groom him/her by myself so he/she has good character as for head start for his/her journey in this world

Well, mommy just wants to say thank you to God, Daddy and Richie for giving me this opportunity to become stay at home mommy and wife

Terrific Two

This is just mommy's reflection after taking care Richie for 2.5 years
Mommy is now able to enjoy what is called the most rewarding occupation in this world

I remembered the first 3 months after Richie was born, it was the toughest time when mommy and daddy needed to adapt with new life and yet Richie hasn't able to respond with us
After that stage passed, we were in golden time with him. He's not fussy eater, he's able to socialize and smile and laugh all the time make our life so colorful.

Then, life started to turn upside down again after his first birthday. Because of his teething, mommy had difficult time feeding him. Sometimes it got to my nerve and lost my patience.
Besides, his exploring stage added our frustration to control him.

But still, mommy needed to discipline him, gave him a limit what should and shouldn't do.
Make positive habits like drinking milk after sleep and before night sleep, brushing teeth in the morning and night, playing by himself while mommy does the house chores etc.
It needed perseverance to make it become routine for him.

The bright side is, it's easy for mommy to discipline him since only two of us most of the time were at home.
He couldn't turn to other people if mommy scolded him and when his grandparents came, he will 80% behave like when only two of us were at home.
Of course sometimes he becomes spoilt when there are his grandparents but as long as it's not too much, mommy just closed one eye

Now, this is the day that mommy's waiting for
When he turned 2 years old, he's not so terrible like what others said terrible two begin
He becomes a helpful fellow with his curiosity to learn and learn
When mommy and daddy still sleep and he already woke up, he won't disturb us and play by himself while waiting for us to wake up
When mommy does the house chores, he knows what to do and entertains himself
He knows when to drink milk, brushes his teeth voluntarily
He eats very well and eats everything everywhere

Well, there are more positive things about him and mommy's very proud of him
Mommy and daddy love him more and more everyday with his strengths and weaknesses

Well done my boy !

Good bye year 2011

As we said good bye to year 2011, mommy also would like to say thank you Lord for Your blessings to our family.
Thank you for taking care of our family, our health, our daily activities and even opportunity to see the world.
Year 2011 was travelling fiesta which we could see other cultures and people's life to make us feel more grateful and contented for what we already had.

When we traveled to Europe during winter, we could see that how precious the sun is for them. And we have it here abundantly.
When we traveled to Middle east, we could see how precious the rain is for them, and we have it here almost every day.
These are just small examples of what we learn to be contented for what we have now.

They are many other lesson learnt during our trips that we take it as life lessons
As we ended the journey of year 2011, we couldn't describe how fortunate we are

Thanks be to God

How do you define SMART kids

Some new mothers said that "My baby is very smart, he/she can hold his head just few days after birth" or "My baby is 2 months old and he/she can roll over"
Some not so new mothers with their 2 year old kids said " My girl is very smart, she can talk in sentences" or My 2 years boy can read mama and papa when I write in the paper"
Some mothers with their 6 years old kids said " My girl is very smart, she can do Primary 1 math even before entering the primary" or " My boy is very smart, he can memorize all countries flags"

Are those mothers wrong to say that their kids smart ??
Well, they are not wrong but they are just partial smart.
Why ?? Let break it down, what SMART kid is

S - Social Smart
Meaning, that your kids are smart enough to handle social life and problem with peers and friends.
How they can get along with friends, how they can solve the problem when they are bullied and how they behave socially.
This is very important, because young kids are very unstable and can be shaped depends on the social circle.
If you as parents neglect this, it will affect them when they grow up.

How do you help them to be social smart ?
When your kids are very young less than 3 years old, you need to interfere their social life. Parents need to explain what should and shouldn't.
When your kids are more than 3 years old, when they have problem with peers, watch them first how they solve the problems, this is also your chance to see whether your kids understand what you taught them before. If they still can't solve the problems, do interfere again. First 5 years of life is very important for parents to interfere kid's social life.

M - Money Smart
Some parents said that they only give money to their kids like once a week or every day but they limit the money.
It's not wrong but parents must teach them also the value of money, what money is all about? How do you do with money? Spend, Save and Invest.

How do you help them to be money smart?
As young as 18 months old, you can teach them about money of course in simple way through play and games.
For eg, insert the coins into coin bank. When they ask for kiddy ride, give them coins but limit them to 3 plays maximum and explain to them that you can play again tomorrow otherwise when you finish all the money you can't play anymore.
When they have more understanding ability, teach them buying and selling and how we get money from

A - Attitude Smart
This is very important aspect that some parents neglect. Attitude is way important than brain.
When they fail in the exam, how they can get back on their feet and move on or when they can't complete the task or in the undesirable situation, how they handle this.
In the real world, when your kid got interviewed, some interviewer will never ask how old are you when you can read  or write for the first time ? They rather ask have you ever handled crisis?

How do you help them to be attitude smart?
As young as 1 year old, when they start walking. When they fall down, don't quickly help them, let them stand again by themselves. When the kids cry, don't quickly ran into them but let them settle down by themselves.
Those are just examples how to build good mental to the young ones.
When they are older, of course you can modify the method.

R - Religion Smart
Religion is very important in your kids life. Even though young kids don't understand much about faith because they are more objective person rather than abstract. Parents still need give them good value and moral to their life.

How do you help them to be Religion Smart?
Explain to them not to lie or steal other's belongings when they are young. Don't need to explain so much about God yet 'cos they won't understand anyway.
Give them value what's right and what's wrong is more important than knowledge about God.
When your kids get older and gain more understanding in the abstract world, you can slowly input knowledge about God

T - Thinking Smart
This is the last aspect that parents push so much to their kids.
Yes, brain is very important and the first 5 years of kid's life is where the brain cells develop very fast.
But as previous said it's just one aspect of the kid's life. No matter how smart your kids if they don't have value in their life, they will grow with emptiness.

How do you help them thinking smart?
Give them chance to solve the problems in reality.
For eg, when the family members want to go different places for holiday, let the kids try to solve the problems with their own analysis.
Enrichment and tuition can help too but don't give them too much from what they can take. Because it also limit their creative thinking.

Last but not least, Remember parents
It doesn't matter whether your kids can talk, read, write early or late. As long as they grow normal, they will pass those stages.
Don't make your kids become your objects of unfulfilled dreams, meaning that when the parents were not top students before, they have tendency to make their kids top class.
Let them grow naturally happy and smart as a whole not only the brain.

Have fun raising S.M.A.R.T kids

If you promise, don't break it

This is the lesson learn for mommy and daddy as parents
If we make promise, make sure we fuilfill it especially to our children

Three days ago, in the afternoon Richie was playing with mommy as usual, and he wanted to play Thomas and train. We had two sets, one was the simple one with blue track and another one was Thomas big loader,it's quite complex
Richie wanted to play the latter, but since it needs time and brain to assemble, mommy told Richie to wait daddy to come in the evening and let daddy assemble for him.

Then, as usual we met daddy in the playground in the evening. As Richie just finished the bath, he quickly ran into his toy's box and pointed the train's box. He asked daddy to assemble the Thomas Big Loader trains.
Mommy was pretty surprised 'cos he still remembered and daddy had no choice. After changing clothes, he helped Richie assemble the trains and Richie was so happy haha...

Well, from here, it's lesson learnt that it's very important as parents
1. not to make any promises especially those that can't be fulfilled
2. if make promises, then make sure it's fulfilled
3. make promises that it benefits for both parties, for eg if you finish your food, we will drink juice or if you sleep now then we can play again later.
4. don't make promise that becomes indulgence or bribes, for eg if you finish your food, I will buy you new toys or if you sleep now, I will buy you ....
5. It's useful to discipline the kids, for eg If you still want to play and don't want to sleep, I will leave the room (provided that your kids don't want to be left alone in the room). Make sure if they don't follow your instruction, you do it even though only 3 minutes.

Trust is very important between both parents and kids and it starts from little things.
The more the kids trust the parents, the more they respect their parents.
And it makes a good habit for them too especially in the long run.
They learn that if you make promise, don't break it

Richie's thomas and train

Thomas Big Loader

The most rewarded Job - Full Time Housewife

In this modern age, decision to become full time housewife is tough because of financial matters in family or perhaps career minded woman that has been built up since young.
I choose to become a full time housewife right from the start, perhaps it's my family background where my mom always stays at home nurturing and watching the kids grow.

So far from the job I've been through there's nothing compare to full time housewife.
It's true we don't get salary, long hours (24/7), we need to do multitasking, and have many roles (as wife, mother, teacher, friend, doctor, handyman, chef, maid)
What job on earth that we could do so many things within a day?
I don't deny it sometimes I get frustrated and very tired but full satisfaction makes it worth it.
When I watch my family lives happily, healthy and loving to each other, it really gives me full satisfaction and confidence that I do a great job.

Being housewife, we could envision and shape our kids as what we want them to be.
One of a housewife told me money couldn't buy the childhood. We can look for money anytime, anywhere but we can't go back to the time we missed. First 5 years of child's life is very precious, it's either we make it or we break it.
It's up to us to give the happy and memorable childhood or not.

Modern parents tend to forget that what kids need are parents to stay with them every moment.
Unfortunately, modern parents prefer to nurture the kids' IQ than EQ, As early as 1 year, they enroll the kids to playgroup school and many enrichment schools.
As a full time mom, I don't think the kids are ready for it. 

When I was pregnant, I hope that my kid will grow cheerful, have a peace of mind and heart, obedient to God and us and has generous heart.
And when he was born, I did my best to make it happen. I learnt by trial and error how to handle my boy.
I read many books that enlighten me about children development stage, psychological development to understand them better.
I believe in my gut feeling and the lucky part is I and my hubby have full control to our child meaning that either my or my hubby's parents don't interefere how we handle our child.

So far, everything is going well. My boy has grown up well, he's very cheerful, obey us and has generous heart.
I never regret my decision to become a full time housewife.

It's about $$$ again

Well, mommy just want to write daddy's analysis after observing how Richie handles money.


1. Smart Investor
Whenever mommy or daddy gives him a coin, he will not anyhow use the coin to play kiddy ride.
He will carefully choose the kiddy ride, and of course his favorite one is Barney and Friends. But when he sees the machine that can give him something in return for eg, sweets, toys, he will insert the coin promptly.
And voila, he almost gets toys every time he plays the ping pong ball machines.
In conclusion, he prefers to invest coin to something that can give him objective return not only pleasure

2. Generous buddy
He likes to give offering during the mass, whenever mommy gives him a coin to put into the offering bag, he's so excited and like yesterday when we attended mass, mommy already gave him a coin and he put it into the bag. Then he asked a coin again to put into the bag, unfortunately the warden was walking past us pretty fast and he wanted to catch the warden by running into the back but...still can't catch the warden
Poor boy !

3. Safe player
Even though he's pretty generous with mass offering, he doesn't like to give coin to people who want to sneak his coin. It happened when another boy's hand is closing to his coin and he suddenly take and hide the coin away haha...but if you ask him nicely, he will give it to you for sure...

4. Not greedy
Another good point is he's not greedy, when he hold 20 cent coin and then machine didn't accept that, mommy gave him another coin and he always returned 20 cent coin that he had.
And this is another event, when mommy's friend gave him a coin to be inserted into kiddy ride machine for her daughter. He didn't take and keep the coin by himself, instead he inserted the coin into machine and felt happy when he saw his little girlfriend playing the kiddy ride before him

Well done son ! Even though you didn't understand much about money but mommy and daddy believe that you will be able to handle your money in the future