Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

What books or magazines do we read? What TV programmes do we often watch? What kinds of things and people do we expose ourselves (and our children) to everyday?

The kinds of people and society that surround us will somehow have an effect on us. Be it good or bad.

The thing is, we adults most likely have better judgements than little children, who easily and naively absorb everything that they see and hear. Like a sponge.

And frankly this is a rather scary thought for me.

Once Anya starts school next year, she’d be away from me for more than 3 hours each day, from Monday to Friday. And basically that will be the beginning of her formal school’s journey that will take place for many MANY years.

She’ll be exposed to people (and kids) from all walks of life, without me next to her immediately explaining why things happen the way they happen in front of her.

I continually pray for God’s wisdom so that I can ‘prepare’ her as best as I can before she ‘steps’ out into the world next year. Laying down as best a ‘foundation’ as I can.

Thing is, I’m so far from perfect. And I know that although I’m at home with them, raising and educating them myself, I can never prepare my kids ‘well enough’. I can’t ‘protect’ and guard my kids from outside influences 24/7.

And that’s why I’m just so very glad that GOD is always with them.

Watching over them.

…

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

The weather’s been so VERY warm lately.

I just thought I’d share a little bit about how we first got our hands on digital photography.

Our very first digital camera was a Nikon Coolpix 4500. Bought it sometime in 2001, I think. And for many many years after that, it ‘almost always’ went along with us whenever we’re out and about. We love the fact that we can twist and turn part of the camera so that we can take interesting angles as well as ‘self-portraits’ so easily.

Anyway. Last year, being 5 years old, the zoom in and out function stopped working. Completely. And taking photos with it did get rather inconvenient.

Well. To cut the long story short, Wilson then went and got me a a Canon Ixus 850IS last December. It’s compact, light and takes good photos (and videos!). It was great!

And so now, we’ve kind of passed on our Coolpix to our next generation. Our li’l Anya. And she loves it (of course!)

[She got her hands on this ‘real’ camera last year actually. And hey, her shots were surprisingly not bad!]

I do emphasise to her though that the camera is REAL and that she needs to always be careful whenever she’s using it (she still needs to ask me for it whenever she wants to take photos with it).

[Oh btw, I tied a bright yellow lanyard on it – you know, the stuff you wear around your neck when you attend exhibitions or seminars. This way, whenever she’s using the camera, she can put it around her neck, … JUST IN CASE she accidently drops it or something.]

Anyway.

We’re happy that our old camera can still be put into good use.

And Anya’s sure happy that she gets to try out different shots with it too.

Took the kids out to meet Lenny, an old friend of mine who happens to be in Singapore for a few days.

Really enjoyed the chitchats and yummy dim sum!

For those who’re not familiar with ‘baby weeks’, it basically means Vai is now 10 months and 3 weeks old.

Five quick descriptions:

>> Active
>> Smiley
>> Still okay when carried by strangers
>> Babbles a LOT
>> Likes to head towards the: bin, our shoe corner and the toilet bowl!

Nobody’s perfect, as we all know.

But while we know we cannot be perfect in our actions, we should always aim for perfection in our motivation.

We can only gradually be ‘better’ when we ourselves grow while going through our daily struggles.

It is only through gradual change and growth in our mindset, characters, and all other aspects in life that we can be more and more perfect.

…

“You must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48

And that’s how long Wilson and I have been married for. As of today *smile*

I still remember the day when quite a few of our friends (mostly older and married couples) got together before our wedding day and shared with us their words of wisdom.

And here are some of the things that I’d like to share with you today.

>> Movies, songs and poems often depict marriage like a fairytale, filled with only romantic and ‘happily-ever-after’ moments. Couples need to see that although marriage itself is beautiful, it’s also a union between two unique individuals with different characters and minds. Conflicts and problems will occur, but when faced together – with God as the LORD of the household – they can go through all kinds of storms together.

>> However mad and angry you are towards your spouse at the time of great conflict, NEVER mention the word ‘divorce’. Because once the issues between you both are settled, the hurtful words exchanged can never be taken aback.

>> Marriage is like sharing a car ride with your spouse. The final destination is still far ahead and the road towards it is sometimes bumpy. There may even be problems with the car tyres, the petrol tank or the engine. Each and every problem needs to be solved and fixed so that you both can continue on the journey together.

>> Keep an open communication with your spouse at ALL times. Never assume that your spouse knows what you think or feel inside.

I remember how it was such a warm and memorable session. Being soon-to-be-married couples, each and every advice given to us was definitely precious.

And now that we’re in our sixth year, we realise how our journey ahead is still very long, and how the road will sure be bumpy at times.

But one thing we know is for sure.

We’ve witnessed how faithful and merciful GOD is towards us, towards our marriage, towards our relationship as husband and wife.

And so we know when we go through all kinds of bumps along our journey, we’re not alone.

And if we manage to go through each and every hurdle, it’s NEVER because WE ourselves are able. But only because HE made it all possible for us. Holding our hands together along the way.