Gifted Guides

Even in her young teens, my daughter , Arrow #3, had an eye for colour. When I go shopping I often take her with me, when I can. 

My Hubby is another - he will tell me if an outfit is "young" enough. How cool is that.

Well, recently Arrow #3 informed me that I have many spots in the house that are picture-worthy. This was something I hadn't noticed till she started posting and sharing. 

During the recent lockdowns, one activity with I did was painting our house. This involved using a colour which I initially didn't like (note to self :- Hubby chose you, so don't sweat it when he chooses a colour like this!) 

The end result is amazing, dreamy, but strong green-blue walls I can use for background adjustments during conference calls. Also for good photographs. Like this one.

I am glad for the suggestions and observations from gifted-eyed family...

PS They aren't the only ones! 

Does She Know?

Foster son was home for a week. The week went by so quickly.

Before you knew it, he was due to fly off. He said his "Good bye be a good girl" and then got in the car to head for the airport. 

I came home and saw this. 

Do you think she understood?

Wait

It was one of those weeks. Tiring meetings. Sapping weather. Difficult circumstances. 

Misunderstood. Misinformed. Mistaken more than once.

I had to keep reminding myself to stay focused.

Then on the way home with Arrow #3, we saw this.

Amazed that I managed to catch a shot of it. Delighted that it was flying repeatedly overhead. Humbled by the reminder the Lord had sent.

Isaiah 40:31But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

The Skin

I didn't even realise that my regular skin was no longer there. It's kind of embarrassing really.
Then it took me a while to get the one I wanted back.

Now that it is, I do hope it stays a while before the necessary change takes place.... Change is good, but not when I am not prepared for it!

Together and Yet Apart

It's a holiday. I make a conscious decision to cut back and cut down. No activities except what we agree on. It's good just to be quiet together. It's comfortable to be in one another's company.

But now we are in separate worlds - you on your laptop and I am on mine. The headphones are on. The screen grips our vision. We might be less than three feet (1 metre) from each other physically, but mentally and emotionally, we could be worlds apart.

Hence my conclusion -

Laptops / computers are even more anti social than televisions. At least if you are watching the same programme you can comment and discuss the same subject.

Yes, laptops/computers have become my Anti-Social Instrument #1.

Hair

It seems to be some sort of statement that young men want to make when they leave home for the first time.

They dont want to cut their hair.

Hubby was like that.

And now my Arrow #1 and Arrow #2 are doing likewise.

I wonder why.... Hahahaha!

Comparisons

They were visiting. Just a few hours.

Conversation turned to the children of course.

Wow. Theirs seem to get the right scholarships and jobs all the time. Especially those which are hard to get.

Wow. Even children have to be "special" - twins.

"O tell me about your children," she says. Hmmmm

Ten years ago, I would have felt uncomfortable with such people. I would not have given them much of my time. I would have felt it a waste of my time.

Today, I felt cool, calm and collected.

And I shared. I gave testimonies of how God is so good. How God is so awesome. How God is so caring.

I told of how God leads and cares for us.

And left the rest to the Holy Spirit to do.

Compared to a decade ago, I have changed.

Creativity

Moms have to be lots of things.

Nurse. Driver. Cook. Cleaner. You name it. Amazing how many attributes can be ascribed to women!

Including being creative.

Recently while visiting a friend, I saw her packing little gifts for her daughter to give to the teachers in Teachers' Day. That brought back memories!

Of course as they grew older, the novelty wore off. But initially, it was good to make the effort indeed! In the meantime, it was just fun to watch my friend do her bit. Perhaps she will recemember and bless us too!

Lactose Intolerance

OK I have found a new thing.

Apparently being allergic to milk is very different from being lactose intolerance.

She might be more lactose intolerance - not allergic.

I have to study this more.

People sometimes confuse lactose intolerance with cow milk allergy. Milk allergy is a reaction by the body’s immune system to one or more milk proteins and can be life threatening when just a small amount of milk or milk product is consumed. Milk allergy most commonly appears in the first year of life, while lactose intolerance occurs more often in adulthood.

Dairy Products

She stopped dairy products. It was a trial.

She loves cheese. It is going to be hard.

She is desperate to try. It is a test of wills now.

She succumbs and grabs a piece of cheese. In it goes, her mouth channeling it to where it is need most.

Tomorrow the allergy will show.

But tomorrow is another day

Sign of the Times

When my sons laugh, they just chuckle. Sometimes if it is really funny, they laugh out loud, with broad "Hahaha"'s.

My daughter, when she laughs, she announces that she is laughing by saying, "LOL". No, she doesnt spell it out. She just goes, "lol" as in "poll".

For the uninitiated, that is short for "Laughing Out Loud" in chat and sms talk.

LOL....!

Our Anniversary

It was a casual remark - telling an old friend that it was our wedding anniversary.

"Where are you going for dinner?" asked the friend.

"Oh," I replied, a little embarrassed because we hadn't discussed dinner plans due to our busy schedules of late, "probably eat at home." Grin in a silly way. "We haven't got a maid," I add. As if that was a good reason to eat at home! (Actually rather illogical, I know)

Friend shakes head and mutters something like, "Amazing". I continue in flustered tones because I don't want it to seem that we aren't a loving couple, that our anniversary isn't important, etc, "We just came back from England. That's good enough!"

End of conversation.

Or so I thought.

Later, I met this friend again.

A surprise was sprung. Suddenly before me was an envelope. It contained a dinner voucher for a lovely Italian Restaurant downtown. It had to be just obtained. Specially obtained.

"Have a good dinner, enjoy yourselves. You deserve it".

Wow.

So we went.
Upon arrival, the Captain came over to our table and asked for our voucher. How did he know? He mentioned our friend's name. As I suspected, the voucher was obtained a few hours earlier upon learning of our special day. It made the evening more special as we gave thanks for good friends.

This is what I ordered - roast lamb with apple sauce. It was absolutely delicious.
This is what my husband of twenty-seven years had - roast beef with a lovely sauce and side dishes.Good food with good company, thanks to good friends. A memorable evening indeed.

P.S. It was our anniversary, but because we very rarely have dinner together as a family in this nice restaurant, we brought the children along! It was also an opportunity for them to experience the generosity of friends, and as my eldest said, "Giving of vouchers is an excellent idea" Hence they learn from example and observation.

Across Cultures

This is my friend G and her husband O whom we met after a lapse of more than twenty years. We did our midwifery training together. By the end of the course, they were expecting their first of three children. They remain happily married, worshipping at a local vibrant church in east London.
My family tree has inter-marriages of all combinations. Different faiths too. It makes to more flexible to the idea of cross-cultural unions, despite my marrying one of the same race. Hubby and I are from different dialects and backgrounds, which could in a sense, be totally different too! But cross-cultural combinations like G and O above mean there are more differences to consider.

As Christian parents, it is our duty to train the children to be able to handle cross culture because Jesus Himself commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. Nations here means ethnic groups. We should have emphasis on cross cultural training in order to fulfill this often-called Great Commission.

The challenge is whether we would go as far as cross cultural marriages.

Would You Do It?

She is only fourteen.

She wants to earn some credits and merits.

One way is to go on a hike. Overnight. Long distance.

She has to carry the 3-person tent with her.

Would you let her?
My friend did. And so her daughter did. They took a wrong turn and added 3km to their walk, but they made it to the end. She had bruises on her shoulders, she hurt where the bag rubbed her back and her calves screamed with each step the next day.

And she has to do 800m training tomorrow.

My initial reaction was, "WHAAAT?!" This is insane. Such torture!

Then I realised this girl wanted to do it herself. She excels in playing the viola, her studies and now she asked to do this challenge!

That makes me breathless.... and tired!

Inquisitor

Non-stop. Well, at least until the last bit.

It was a constant trickle.

Laughter.

Singing.

Questions of "Why?"

Finding out more and never satisfied.

Asking intelligent questions too.

He was only three and a half.

Stark contrast from the older on in the row in front. That one didn't even understand we were in Malaysia. He looked out the window and wondered aloud. Someone should tell him yes, Sabah is in Malaysia too.

Different parenting styles showed. The former was patient, answering everything. Treated like and adult but without equal status. The latter was almost mumbling in replies.

Yes, I was on an aeroplane recently...