When it comes to eating places, things are generally run ‘properly’ here in Singapore. I mean, the government even comes up with ‘gradings’ for the stalls’ cleanliness (the National Environment Agency reviews each of the stalls)

In Indonesia however, well … I must say it’s quite an ‘adventure’ when it comes to food and eating places there.

[But I guess that's where it gets interesting!]

During our recent visit to Indonesia, we all went to Bandung with Wilson’s family. And one of the places we wanted to visit is ‘Kawah Putih’ (ie. The White Crater, a really beautiful lake up on a mountain).

But, it’s December and it’s the monsoon season. So, though we wished it didnt’, it DID rain heavily when we’re driving up.

AND, for some reasons, they were fixing the road (on that busy Saturday morning!) and the traffic was super slow.

We were all hungry by the time we’re even half way up, and since it’s not possible to see anything anyway due to the heavy rain and fog, we decided to just get something to eat while we’re there.

And so we all ate at a ‘Warung’ (there were like, ten of different ones next to each other there)

Now, just in case you’re not familiar with what Warung is, here’s a quick definition from wikipedia:

A warung (old spelling waroeng) is a type of small family owned business — often a casual, usually outdoor restaurant — in Indonesia.

I won’t quite call it a ‘restaurant’ though. It’s basically a really humble and simple eating place, generally found on a street side.

I can’t remember the last time I actually sat and ate in a warung. Usually when we’re in Indonesia, we go and eat out at food courts or restaurants (from simple to fancy ones).

So, to actually sit and eat in one while we’re there recently (a relatively spacious one too!), it was a totally new experience especially for the kids!

The roof was leaking. We sat on a wooden plank. No cement flooring, just … damp soil. And we simply needed to ‘extend’ our arms out and wash our hands ‘in the rain’ outside, haha.

[Btw, they say, it's better to NOT look at how the food is prepared there, hehe ... but hey, the satays were really nice! I just hope they're real 'chicken' though, haha]

Anyway.

It’s something that we can’t find here in Singapore and it’s exactly the kind of simplicity I want the kids to see and experience!

It was good.

And you know what.

We wouldn’t have ended up eating there, if it hadn’t rained.

So, no, we didn’t get to see the beautiful White Crater, but we had a different kind of experience instead.

And I have the rain to thank for it.

[Just in case you're wondering, no ... none of us got a stomach ache during our recent trip to Indonesia *smile*]

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[An old photo I found! Taken in February 2008! Kids LOVE it when Daddy starts to doodle. Anya was close to 4yo, and Vai was just 1.5yo]

Last August, I was very ill for a few days. I was incapable of uttering audible words nor carrying out the usual things around the house. And, I still remember how Wilson was there a lot for us.

He helped out with some of the housework. He cooked and helped in taking care of the kids (bathing, getting them ready for bed, etc).

It all may sound really simple, but I really thank God for the things he did.

His support when I really needed it was really appreciated.

And I’m sure our kids noticed it all and learned from their Daddy too.

All this reminded me of a book by Dr. Kevin Leman called ‘What a Difference a Daddy Makes‘.

And I thought of sharing parts of his discussion on ‘A Father Who is There’ with you today.

(It’s an excellent book btw. If you know of any Daddies, especially if they have daughters, you may want to get them to read this book!)

Happy reading.

…

[Kids and Daddy sank their feet into the pond water and checked out this shaky 'bamboo float' during our stay at San Gria Resort and Spa in Bandung, Indonesia, earlier this month]

Ask our kids some 15 years down the road about what they remember the most about growing up in our home.

What do you think they’ll say?

Do they remember about the time spent with us?

Children treasure their moments spent with us, or in this case, with their Dads. And it’s not a surprise if what they remember the most about their childhood is simple things like, the times when they regularly play silly games with Dad before bedtime, or the time when their Dad took them to school on a rainy day.

Kids need to spend time with us (read: dads too).

Have dinner together. Make daddy-kids playtime a regular thing.

Only routine, quality and regularity can build a healthy sense of belonging.

The daddy who makes sacrifices in the name of relationship will be rewarded. The man who passes up the position that will bolster his income by twelve thousand dollars a year but send him out on the road for weeks at a time, the man who makes the choice to put relationship above everything else and who chooses to be present in the home, will make a profound difference in the lives of his children, especially his daughters.

A child will learn to see and treasure his/her father’s presence over time.

Father-affirmation isn’t accomplished in one big moment. Relationship isn’t a seamless concrete highway; it’s more like a gravel walkway, built by adding one tiny stone after another, one little deposit of time, one gesture of concern, one offering of sympathy.

Our children need daddies who is there for them.

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So have YOU watched Avatar?

Let me tell you. Before I went to see it, I’ve already heard so much about how GOOD the movie is. How all other movies are ‘nothing’ compared to THIS movie.

We’ve even gotten an Avatar toy from McDonald’s!

But.

The movie poster just didn’t interest me at all. I didn’t quite like the look of these ‘blue people’. The trailer didn’t manage to get me all excited about it. And, I thought the Avatar toy looks weird.

Then one night, a simple conversation between some moms and dads over dinner led to this ‘movie arrangement’ where the moms got to watch Avatar in 3D, TOGETHER, while the dads looked after the kids!

My FIRST ever mommies-only movie date? Why not, I thought!

Turned out, it was such an excellent idea!!

[The dads went together on a different day]

AND, the movie is SOOOO GOOD!

I mean, it’s visually stunning!! The kind of movie I personally don’t mind watching again and again!

If you haven’t seen it, I’d strongly recommend that you go and see it in 3D!

I would definitely LOVE to go and watch it again, together with Wilson, if someone out there is willing to babysit the kids for us, hehe.

…

[I was asked whether the movie is suitable for kids. Well, if you ask me, I'd say Avatar the movie is not quite for little ones. There are violent battle scenes and the overall theme is simply not suitable for young children, errr ... unless they're at least nine or ten years old, I think]

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[Enjoying the fresh cool air in Bandung, Indonesia]

I still find it hard to believe that Vai is starting school in less than 10 days!

I don’t quite look forward to that day though, somehow.

…

I just feel I still want to enjoy having my kids around the house.

Yes they argue over small things. Yes they whine and bicker. Yes they can disturb me when I need to rush and clear some work.

And yes my patience level gets tested many many times too when they’re around.

But hey, they are kids. And that’s what they do naturally.

And you know what.

I think deep down I just know that THAT’s exactly what I’ll miss when my littlest starts school too!

*sigh*

Kids, you both are growing up TOO fast, I’m missing you already.

…

[Anya is now 5 years and 9 months old, while Vai is 3 years and 4 months old]

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Okay. This photo is way overdue. It should’ve been posted some three weeks ago when my interview with the Jakarta Globe was published (was in Jakarta at the time and uploading of photos was not that convenient then)

Anyway, here it is. The printed version.

My heartfelt thanks to the Jakarta Globe’s editorial team for the feature!

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I’m a Mom and I know I love my two children so much.

We work (and willingly do extra work when they’re asleep if necessary) just so that we can provide for them what they need. Food. School. Security. And of course, love and care.

My children receive so many things from us since they’re born (actually, even when they’re still conceived), and yet, if you think about it, they have done ‘nothing’ to earn what they’ve received.

It’s purely because we give to them out of our love for them.

Now.

I totally can’t imagine how I’d feel if my two young children were to desert me, if they chose to never be thankful, or if they thought they’ve been receiving (all the things WE give) because of their own effort.

This is what I came to reflect upon this Christmas, ie. all this while we might have been like those who have received so much throughout our lives, but have forgotten about the Source of everything Himself, and …forgotten to be thankful.

…

We all love our children and we’d willingly work and do things to provide for them, to protect them, to care for them.

One question though, would we sacrifice our own beloved child for someone whom we feel is not even worthy? Perhaps someone who’s lied and run off with all our money, or even someone who’s cold-bloodedly taken many people’s lives, including our own family’s.

I know I would find it highly impossible to do.

But you know what, THAT’s exactly what God has done.

HE sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth … to die for the sins of the very people who hate Him.

God came FOR us, although we’re sinners, weak and are enemies of Him.

…

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…. when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…”
Romans 5:6,7,8,10
…

No words could ever describe how great God’s love for us. And there’s absolutely no reason why God should even love us that much.

YET, Christ chose to come … so that we have peace with God … so that we have relationship with God again.

And THIS is what Christmas is all about.

…

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:14

…

I hope this Christmas :

- we get to remember WHY there’s a day when the world celebrates ‘Christmas’ to begin with

- we remember and are thankful to the Giver of all blessings, and the Saviour and Lord

- we learn to be a blessing for others and start living our life more fruitfully and faithfully

…

[This post is based on what I personally reflected upon listening to Ev. Maria Mazo's sermon delivered on Christmas morning]

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… one Christmas that brings you the true joy, hope and love from ABOVE.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

From all four of us.

…

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given:
and the government shall be upon His shoulder:
and His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

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We haven’t quite ‘decorated’ our home much this Christmas month. And so I thought of making something simple with the kids.

We made our very own Christmas Wreath.

What we used:

- Drawing Paper (that’s not too flimsy)
- Paper plate
- Watercolour
- Glue, scissors, crayons, scotch tapes

What we did:

- With their hands firmly placed on the paper, I drew outlines of them

- The kids then coloured their own handprint-outlines with watercolour
(a simpler alternative: use green / red coloured paper instead)

- Once the watercolour is dry, I then cut out the ’handprints’ (Anya tried cutting one, then she told me how the many curves made her fingers ‘ached’. Oh well.)

(Before I cut out the handprints, I drew outlines of a cross, a heart, a Christmas tree and the alphabets J-E-S-U-S. This way, when I got busy cutting the handprints, the kids could continue their colouring)

- Once I’ve cut the handprints, Anya pasted them on the sides of the paper plate (PS: cut out a big hole in the middle of it first).

Now.

I wanted the wreath to have a deeper meaning than just mere decorations, so we pasted the cross at the top, the heart shape at the bottom, and the handprints on the sides (Anya decided to paste all red coloured ones on one side, the green ones on the other).

This way, the wreath says to everyone who walks by our door, how Christmas is about Jesus’ love for everyone and how Jesus loves everyone so much that HE gave His life and died on the cross.

Hm.

We like.

…

And btw, this is just an additional thing that Anya pasted on her bedroom door.

A nice little reminder that Christmas is not about Christmas trees, but about Jesus, the Christ in Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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One of the things we wouldn’t miss each December holiday is Tanglin Mall’s snow sessions.

We’ve made plans, and looked forward to it.

But alas, it’s the MONSOON SEASON here in Singapore.

And it rained!

So we thought, neh … let’s grab our raincoats, kids!

The three of us went when it drizzled.

And what do you know.

There’s so little crowd (compared to when we went last year and the year before)

And there’s NO crowd at all at the shower area (we used to always need to hurry due to the long queue waiting to wash up after their snow play)

In the end, it worked out even better for us.

Thanks to the rain.

*And we plan to go there again next week!*

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Sometime ago I shared a little quote which I pasted on our fridge.

It says, ‘This is how kids spell love: T.I.M.E.’

This month, where all shopping centres claim to offer their BEST ever discounts, and where gifts and presents are given or exchanged even MORE so than any other months, I came across this quote which I’d like to share with you.

It says, ‘Our Children Need Our PRESENCE more than our PRESENTS‘.

No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the act of giving or receiving presents itself.

It’s a BIG WORRY though when we (consciously or unconsciously) REPLACE our time and presence with our family and children with the giving of presents and all other material comforts and convenience.

Because kids LOVE presents. But they NEED our presence MORE (though they may not show it that much to us!)

…

Just a little something I feel we all need to remember, especially this Christmas season.

…

[To me, Christmas is also the best time to remember and share how we've already received the greatest and most important PRESENT too, that is Christ whose love for us is so great that HE's come for us. God's presence in our life is the truest reason for us all to be thankful and joyful this Christmas]

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