Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful,
so that your words can be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Ephesians 4:29

Indonesia’s Independence Day falls on every August 17th and a couple of weeks ago the Indonesian Embassy held some sports competitions as part of its celebration.

Chess. Badminton. Tennis. Volleyball. And many others.

Wilson took part in tennis. Men’s double. And apparently it all went quite well and nice. He met up with other Indonesians, enjoyed the tennis games and … he got a trophy too! YAY!

I’ve got a weighing scale at home sitting right below my bathroom sink. It belonged to my grandparents who passed it down to me when they sold their apartment. They had it since late 1970’s!

And it still works! (it’s a bit strange though that whenever I go to my friends’ houses, their weighing scales usually show that I’m heavier by 2kg! Hm!)

Anyway, it’s been a month since I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight! *WHOOPEE!* No intentional weight-loss programs. No special diets. No fruits-only days. I guess I probably need to thank my last month’s super-tight-project-deadlines and event.

Personally, I think one of the problems we who live in Singapore face is its rather unhealthy eating lifestyle.

Our busy daily life automatically leads to regular visits to the nearest food courts or restaurants. Stuff like carrot cake, Hokkien mee, Char Kway Tiao obviously are not that healthy.

As for me, I try to cook something at least once a day. Home-cooked lunch, or perhaps dinner. Yes, I can cook. A little bit. Hehe.

Oh well anyway, I found some recipes from Yoplait‘s website. Not sure if I’ll have the time try them out myself, but if you do have the time, I think they’ll be quite yummy and healthy.

Happy cooking!

Every now and then I plan to share some WOW’s with you all.

It stands for ‘Words Of Wisdom’.

I think it’d be really great if we take some time to not just read it, but also ponder and exercise it in our daily life.

“Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom”
Psalm 90:12 (New Living Translation)

I was trying to get some things from our store room when I saw our old photo albums in one of the boxes.

The one on the left was taken not long after we arrived in Singapore in 1999. The other is of us at the Registry of Marriage in 2001.

And by now, we’ve been together for more than 7 years. Four years as husband and wife to be specific.

I do think you both need to be ‘in love’ with each other in order to enjoy each other’s company. But it’s not just about ‘love’ though because love can sort of ‘fade’ over time if the couples fail to ‘continually work on that love’. To keep it fresh and growing, even as time goes by.

Anyway, it’s been a great 7 years!

Before she has her meals and right before she goes to bed each night, she’d always say a little prayer together with me.

She’d clasp her two little hands and start squinting.
I’d then ask her to repeat after me towards the end
of my sentence. Something like this:

“Thank you”

“Ta…tuuu..”

“Jesus”

“sssh… shhh…”

“Amen”

“Maaameennn…”

Life is always about learning. We never stop learning, and we should never stop, regardless of our age.

Anya’s still learning how to self-feed tpp. And although I do try to make it a fun learning process for her, it doesn’t mean there’s no discipline. No flicking of food. No spitting of half-chewed carrots. No legs on the table. Stuff like that.

And while she’s learning how to self-feed, I learn how to get ants off my floor by frequently mopping the food right below her high chair.

Just a little update on my attempt to toilet train Anya.

Well, apparently, it’s not that easy! The kid just won’t do her business in the toilet. There was even a time when she simply refused to sit on it.

And so I’ve decided to just stop for a while until she’s alright with the whole idea again.

These days technology may try to make things happen in an instant. Instant noodles. Instant photo printing. Instant this. Instant that.

But I guess many things in life just really have to take its own natural process. Like, child birth, learning to walk or learning to talk.

The whole process may be slower than what we hope it should be. And it may take its own sweet time. But it’s perfectly alright actually.

And so, take your time little kid. And when you’re ready for the big people’s toilet bowl, Mommy will be there to hold your hand and guide you through it.