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! 

Dumpling Delight

"Let's go eat dumplings for dinner," Arrow #1 said.

"I know the best place, " he said.

Well now, we have all heard that before. The best this and the best that. But best can be very relative.

That was on my mind as Hubby and I were led to a somewhat dimly lit alley, in between the back of two rows of shoptlots. The tables are simple foldable ones, and the chairs are easily stackable, portable ones.

Hmmm on arrival, there were so many customers, I began to change my mind. Maybe he was right...

Dumplings was the first item ordered. The rest were the supplements. When it arrived, looking like this... Frankly, I had second thoughts. They didn't exactly looked appetising!

 

I gingerly picked one up with my chopsticks, and bit into it.

Wow, were my tastebuds pleasantly surprised! The minced pork was nicely chopped but not too fine, so you can still savour the texture. The flavour was full as the mixture spices blended so well I didn't need to add anything more to it. I like mine "unadulterated" and without sauce or dips so this was right up my street. The flour skin was not too thick, but didn't fall apart too much either. Served in the simple way, it didn't cost an arm or leg either!

I am glad I was persuaded to go and try! And more importantly, as Hubby said, our Arrows would have good taste if we brought them up right. Hahahaha! I like his reasoning!

Eventful Week

She said there was a problem, and upon checking I concurred. We saw a few doctors and the next thing we knew, she was scheduled for surgery. Somehow it felt right too.

So after prayer and much prayer, we went to the hospital at the appointed time. There, whilst the operation took longer than expected, things were nonetheless smooth. 

She was discharged into my care the same day, despite having a small drain in situ. Thankful that I was able to care for her, it made good mother-daughter bonding time....

Parents never expect to see their children in hospital. So thankful for the peace of the Lord that passes all understanding.

Gift for the Gifted

Arrow #3 was performing in the school musical - drama presentation. She had worked hard on this, not only practising long hours, but often helping to teach the other dancers too, especially the new ones. Her acting and singing were so very nice. The producer really cast the roles well. 

On the day of their second performance, Hubby decides to do what he did last year at the church performance. He surprised her with a beautiful bouquet. 

Isn't this lovely? So very nice of our florist friend. She did such a lovely arrangement, and such a special one too.

We smuggled the bouquet into the house and as I was distracting her and talking loudly, Hubby re-arranged our fridge in the wet kitchen and put the bouquet in. Later we put the bouquet in a big bag and took it to the performance.

Blessed. It was the largest bouquet of the evening. Haha!

Something About Music

I love music. Most music that is. I don't like the noisy type unless I can make out the words. 

I especially love live music. It was a joy when during one season we often had Arrow #1 on the piano, Arrow #2 on the guitar, foster son on the synthesizer doing percussion, Arrow #3 and I singing our heads off, and Hubby humming along. This weekly event was always something I really looked forward to. 

Over time, the house got quiet as one by one the older ones left.

Imagine my joy when I came home one day to find Arrow #3 on the piano.

All I can say is "MORE! MORE!" Haha!

Oh, and just in case you think she doesn't play much, she actually plays the bass guitar more, an instrument which is not exactly a solo one. So she doesn't get it out much at home....

Penguin Poser

The girls had gone out for lunch. They asked what I'd like. So I figured a nice cold coffee would be a treat. The coffee came in a specially sealed cup (see pic on the right)

Now, in itself, a cup like that is pretty usual. The thing was, it had a penguin on the cover. And if you knew Arrow #3, she loves penguins.

So I whatsapp-ed her with a picture of the penguin. See top middle picture.

Her reply was as expected - vintage Arrow #3 - "DID YOU KILL HIM????" meaning did I poke a straw right through the penguin to get to my drink.

I then sent her the next pic on the right to show her I didn't. To her relief.

After that, I showed the whatsapp exchange to the girls, chuckling away.

Which is what Arrow #3 expected me to do.

When did we both get so predictable? Haha!

Voila!

First a layer of white. The original walls were purplish. This meant that it took a while to get a good even layer of white.

Then masking tape had to be placed. Accurately.

After that, the chosen colour, in this case, pink, is painted on.

Finally when that is dried, the extra touch is put in.

A moustache on the bathroom door (reminds her of Dad she says). More difficult to apply are some swirls above the door adjoining our room. I have to help her with these. Some Scripture verses and important thoughts near the foot of the bed completes the final touch.

All in all, it is a good few days' project. Interacting, imparting, sharing, struggling, learning, understanding, observing, working alongside each other for a mutual goal. More than one goal achieved in the end.

No Solid Food

It came totally unexpectedly. An sms in the middle of the day. Not even a warning beforehand. Just the result....
What would YOU do?

Blessing

It occurred to me that these days, we are increasingly a people who do not know how to bless.

You see, the other day, there was a baby dedication in the Sunday Celebration.

Both parents are godly, gentle, humble people and it was a pleasure to be able to part organize it for them.

But it was the blessing that struck me. The person who gave the blessing is an orator, yes. Known for his ability to preach well and to be able to unpack the Scriptures in a clear and creative manner.

But even this, I think, surpassed his normal standard. It was superlative-laced, God-glorified and servanthood-encouraged. I found myself holding my breath in case I missed a phrase. I wish it was recorded. At the end of it, I found myself thinking, "Wow! What parent would not want that blessing for his/her child".

And that was when I concluded that we have forgotten how to bless. Myself included.

Lessons from Mr Balloon

First he was used as a visual aid to a lesson about integrity, character and how that is far more important than performances.
Then he was taken into the Toddlers' Room.

And that was when near pandemonium happened.

Lesson learned - listen to an experienced mother who has gone in to see her children in a toddlers room with many other toddlers holding enough goodies for her own children but not for the rest.

That's a definite no-no.

Sure enough, he was asked to leave.

And Mr Balloon ended up stuck here instead - on the window blinds....

I wonder how long before he gets taken away.... and who knows? Perhaps another lesson from the whole experience!

Disciplining Children

Apparently they have decided it is NOT a good thing to keep praising one's children anymore.

It is also NOT a good thing NOT to smack them.

Maybe I am too simple.

But

Don't you think it's about time these researchers just relied on what the Lord's Word says?

Living From a Distance

What do you do when someone you care for falls ill and you are physically apart?

Does the sense of helplessness overwhelm?

Does the desire to step in and take action rise up?

Does the maternal instinct take over?

Does the paternal instinct rear up?

In my books, the hardest thing to bear is having to watch someone you love suffer and be totally unable to alleviate the suffering.

At that time, a decision has to be made. A stance has to be taken. A belief will be lived out.

But first, the question "Is God in control?" needs to be answered.

Then only can the rest take place.

JOCHEBED

I was chatting with some friends last night.

Suddenly I remembered this woman - Jochebed.

And how I prayed to be like her.

May my prayer come true.

And may you discover her too.

The Value of a Person

We have always said that we would not compare one offspring with another.

That's hard to do. But we try. We try to say that each one is as valuable as the other, no matter how alike or how different. That is not to say that we do not encourage improvement or aspiration of better and higher goals. It's just that we try to put one next to the other with pointing fingers.

So when one child does better than another academically or in sports or some other field, we try very hard not to say, "See what so-and-so has done? Learn from him/her" We try to exercise restrain, we try to exhibit total acceptance and love.

But

When one is particularly outstanding, it is even harder still to bite one's tongue

Because you DO want the others to learn....

Any suggestions? Thoughts? Opinions?

Gifted

With a kiddo like this, you could earn lots!

Haha!

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!

Making Decisions

It used to be simple ones - which colour crayon to use to paint the trees, sky and faces.

Then it moved to where would you like to have dinner.

What was the reason for choosing this shirt over that one?

Along the way, choices of friends came in too.

What about the barber or hair dresser? Which should you go to?

Then came the big step of deciding further studies. I thought that was pretty major.

Later came the natural next step - where to stay. Amazing how things got settled about this.

Then came the seemingly sudden revelation - you decided to move out of the present place to go somewhere else. You wanted our blessings on this.

After discussion and prayer, we decided to let you decide.

And you did.

The field of making decisions suddenly got bigger.

There will come a time when such decisions need not go through us.

Wow. Time flies.

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.

Problem Solving

For some time now we had been perplexed. Frequent stuffy nose episodes, terrible debilitating headaches, heavy head days. It was mind-boggling. We couldn't understand what the problem was. We even wondered if there were other problems we hadn't thought about. You know, problems with school perhaps. Or relationships that were not helpful. Maybe it was psychosomatic you know. How about her spectacles? Did they need changing?

And so it went on.

For months.

In the end, it was God's inspiration.

Spelt D-I-A-R-Y.

Yup, she is allergic to dairy products.

She's been off it for a while and she is fine.
Then one day I got another phone call from school - another headache. She was almost in tears from the pain. She could barely focus.

Later when she had recovered, she thought back and found the culprit. It was a new dish that the school canteen was serving. She tried it and discovered cheese in it.

The rest, as they say, is history....

Praise God!

Something

There is something about going for a prayer meeting with your own child because he/she wants to go.

There is something about being able to hold hands in public with a praying child who is of your own.

There is something about agreeing in prayer with someone praying fervently who is your child.

There is something about knowing that your child is storming the spiritual realm over the same matters that you are.

Whilst humbling,

it also feels good.