Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

 
The year 2018 has been filled with many, TOO many, news of friends and relatives’ passing.

Sudden, unexpected leaving of someone we know, or loved ones of someone we know.

Like, today … we are all saddened by the sudden death of our dear aunt.

She was 71yo and lived in the Nederlands with her husband, my husband’s dad’s brother.

She’s always been healthy and hardly ever needed to take any pills or medicines.

Now.

Just LAST THURSDAY, she was taken to the hospital, because she suddenly was very weak, and she mumbled (couldn’t talk properly). She was given some sleeping pills by the doctors there, just so that she could rest.

She’s apparently down with a very rare health condition called aHUSThe hospital then came up with a diagnosis. She’s apparently down with a very rare health condition called aHUS.

Never heard of it before that day.

When googled, this is the definition of what aHUS is:
Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is an extremely rare, life-threatening, progressive disease that frequently has a genetic component. In most cases it is caused by chronic, uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a branch of the body’s immune system that destroys and removes foreign particles.

In short, our aunt’s kidneys failed and she had infection due to this condition.

She got a little better for a short while (she couldn’t talk, but could nod when talked to), but soon after, her condition got worse.

She passed away today, her FIFTH day at the hospital.

We’re all so heart-broken and sad.

It all happened so fast.

Start treasuring what we haveAnd it reminded me, once again, how fragile everyone’s life is.

How very SHORT.

What control do we have over our life?

Death can come ANYTIME, to ANYONE.

People come. People go.

So really, why not we leave all hate behind?

What control do we have over our life?And, start treasuring what we have, and appreciating everyone, everything that we’ve been blessed with …

Because one day, we’ll all return to our Creator, the Source of life.

And be asked about the kind of life we’ve lived, while we’re still on earth.

How would we answer?

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To everyone who’s lost loved ones, … may God give you all the comfort and strength you need.

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Here are some photos … in remembrance of our dear aunt, Tante Mercy.

You’re greatly missed.

So here’s the story.

It was the eldest’s 14th birthday and the other 2 siblings decided, on their own, … to bake a cake for her.

(Mommy is still drowned in her piles of deadlines, Daddy is not in town)

So what happened was:
Vai and Brie used a simple recipe of ‘Vanilla cake without the use of any mixer’, and they both prepared everything from zero!

Brie decorated the cake and prepared the candles when Vai went for his tennis session.

While all this happened, big sister napped (been sleeping close to midnight and exams were finally over)

They gave her the cake when she woke up ❤️🎂

And oh, Brie just learned how to play the ‘Happy Birthday’ song and she said she wanted to play the piano as we sang ‘Happy Birthday!’ together! Sweet, I thought.

So there we are.

No fancy dinner. No big presents. No birthday party.

There’s family. And there’s LOVE, though.

…

I watch these kiddos learn to show love to each other, it was a huge blessing to me Don’t get me wrong. THIS doesn’t happen often. Because just like all other siblings, these three bicker and get on each other’s nerves, too.

But.

As I watch these kiddos learn to show love to each other, it was a huge blessing to me.

And I pray and hope that they continue to learn to show care and love to others in this increasingly self-focused world.

Their learning journey is still very long …

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Btw, just in case you’re wondering.

Was the cake edible?

YES!

Considering how it was the 2 kids’ first cake they’ve ever baked, it was good.

I remember the first cake I ever baked was bad. Like a sandal. Seriously.

And it went into the bin. Haha.

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Click to read the story of my first ever attempt to bake a cake back in 2010 =)

The Story behind Anya’s 6th Birthday Cakes

I may be vlogging a little more frequently this year =)

Here’s my first one this year, and it’s on counting our blessings versus counting the ‘bad stuff’ that happens around us.
 

 
Spotted a rusty public payphone.

For the first time, Brie saw the kind of phones I used to use to call other people when OUTSIDE the home.

Harder for her to imagine I guess, when she lives in an era where mobile phones are everywhere.

Anyway.

Would’ve let Brie make her first ‘payphone call’, if it’s not broken …

 
I love how through photography, I can capture and freeze moments for years to come, including newborns’ fleeting tininess …

But then I too realise, how over the years I don’t think I have any photos of me taking photos of babies.

Not until recently, thanks to Mom S 😍

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Anyway.

Let’s take (more) photos of our little ones, if you haven’t already.

Capture moments spent WITH them.

Because, they won’t stay small forever, but we’ll at least have photos to remember the memories … ❤️

Levi
 
‘Does Levi play any musical instruments?’

…

No.

He says he’s not into playing musical instruments.

And knowing him and his interests, we choose not to ‘force’ him.

One day we hope he at least knows the basic chords and plays the guitar, though.

It’s a wonderful skill to have and he can always pick up the basics from Daddy.

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In our family, we believe our children do not HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY MUSIC.

BUT, having said that, they each MUST PURSUE and explore/develop something (or more) that he/she is passionate about, though.

It is part of being responsible for our God-given talents and opportunities.

And, as for our middle-born, he is clearly more into sports.

Tennis is one of them 🎾❤️

And we support his pursuit. ☺️

 
Family ❤️

Those who’re sitting down are in their 70s and one is in her 90s, btw!

Well, as they say, Asians don’t age very fast.

And I think I kind of agree with whoever first came up with that idea =)

 
So this was how it went.

This girl chose to throw her tantrums after school (over not getting what she wanted).

Then, she was so full of energy during her one-on-one tennis session (which was about an hour after the big meltdowns).

After an hour of practice, she kept saying, ‘Lanjuttt …’ (read: keep going) to the coach …

I had to end the session after 1 hour and 15 mins.

Interesting little girl.

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Brie: 6 years, 9 months