Conversations with Janice

Daddy: Who’s daddy’s favorite?

Janice: Momma and Janice!

*Awwwww

Janice: (Pointing to my bag) Momma’s bag!

Me: yah, it’s my bag

Janice: Open! Please ….

Me: Why? No need to open la …

Janice: Open! Please …. I want momma’s phone (flashed a very sweet and angelic smile)

*power of I-phone

Janice: I want milk ….

Me: Sorry darling, I didn’t bring it out

Janice: (pouts) its milk milk time ….

Me: (checks the watch, it’s 9pm, it’s really her milk time) Uh oh ….

2 years less 2 months

Writing about you darling is one of the things that is keeping this blog alive at the moment. Our recent weeks have been completely filled with visits from friends, getting ready for our new place, church ministry and basically living like a nomad shuttling between 2 residences. But I am really looking forward to move to our own place pretty soon and provide you with a little more stability. I must say you have been extremely good these days, very happy to be home, happy to be staying over at “popo’s” place, happy to be out. There will be instances when you spent the entire day out and would request that you want to go back to popo’s place. Very cute J Well at least I know that perhaps you won’t be the “cheong cheong” sort la and would know when to come home, to know that home will always be your refuge, a place where you can unload your burdens and know that you will always be accepted. We love you so much baby.

Your recent developments:

You take great ownership in your possessions and would make sure we guard all our items. Dad’s bag needs to be held by dad, mom’s drink only drank by mom, in a particular cup etc. I think it’s a passing phase, sometimes its funny but sometimes I pull my hair J one interesting to note is that you observe the tiniest details, yah, down to that extra rim around the cup

You express yourself quite well. Though you don’t speak a thousand words, but you somehow manage the one or two couple with some sentences, pointing and nodding

You still love to say “I don’t want”

You love the time before bedtime as long as you get both mom and dad (You also make sure that there’re no other “intruders”)

You eat very well after a nap, all by yourself. So well that even food court aunties gather around to ask how old you are. Very strange, because it looked a little like “feeding time” minus the photo-taking.

Janice, you’ve become one very affection little girl that many look forward to spend time with you. The way you beam to your “cow fool: (uncle) and your eagerness to be with your little friends and cousins is endearing. My prayer to God is for His wisdom to guide you through your strengths and weaknesses, so that you can have the full freedom to be who you are and the person God has called you to be.

It’s always refreshing to see you daily, in this age where there’s no pretence. Your child-likeness that allows you to trust those whom you know love you dearly. You wide eyed wonder in your expression that tells me things in life intrigues you daily.

I love you my little pumpkin. Happy 22 months!

Love Momma

21 Months

My dearest Chuppachupps,

I am terribly late at this post since you turned 21 months a week ago. 3 more months you will turn 2! Another milestone for you and another reason for us to celebrate God’s gift to us – You!

You celebrated the day you turned 21 months with your very very good friend, Alicia. It was so much fun for us to watch both of you shopping and communicating in your own ways. You definitely had heaps more fun playing with her this time round as compared to 8 months ago and it just shows how much you have grown!

This month, you’ve started stringing words into clearer sentences. Mostly to express what you want or not want. Like “I want noodles, I want mama and daddy” and “I don’t want” It’s been funny hearing you count too, because instead of 1,2, 3 … or sometimes accidentally skipping some numbers in the past, you’ve started counting like this: pointing up to the starts you started “twooo, fourrr, shix, eight, TEN”

You shocked both daddy and me one day when you actually remembered a shop when you’ve beePublish Postn in it once. You remembered that the shop is 2 levels (though you can’t see the stairs at the doorway) because the moment you entered in, you said “upstairs” and “chey chey” because you remembered going to the shop with Alicia and you two had great fun shopping and trying on bags in the shop.

You are also very assertive in expressing your desires, something that both daddy and me are trying to discipline ourselves to be consistent in teaching you good attitudes and control. Sometimes we get lazy and give in to you.

You’ve been a real fun companion especially when we go out together over the weekends. Your cheekiness and funny personality cracks us up all the time. You’ve been a lot more independent by eating your meals yourself when you’re out (we still have to supervise you since you’d often end up playing with your food) but you generally very good.

You fell quite sick this month, worst case of fever you ever had but we pray that all these will only make you stronger. Your ability to stay cheerful and happy through the time you were having fever really made us

Thank God for making you such a tough little one. We were definitely less stressed because of your cheerful deposition.

You’ve also grown to like prayer. Each time we pray, you will put down everything (or make us hold whatever items that were originally in your hands) so that you have clasp them together and bow your head. We pray that you will be a prayer warrior, and to find rest, purpose and satisfaction in His presence through prayer.

I love you little pumpkin,

Mummy

Aftershock - A movie review

We were offered free tickets to the sneak preview of “Aftershock” (thus I had to write a review) because it was mentioned as a film that portrayed strong family values. The impact of the film went beyond expectations. 2^nd day after the show, the scenes are still replayed and emotions still lingers.

The movie, a tear-jerker about a family torn apart by the 1976 Tangshan earthquake and reunited years later in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. A story of choices, regrets and trauma, the story gripped the audience with the reality of natural disasters and touched the hearts with anguish, love and sacrifices.

Yuan Ni lost her husband and lover when he dashed into the building to save their twins. In the chaotic scene, the twins were found under the same debris and Yuan Ni was left with a choice to save only one. Her words to save the younger brother crushed both her heart and her daughter, Deng’s for the next 32 years.

Unknown to Yuan Ni, Deng survived the ordeal and was later adopted. Though separated, both mother and daughter were plagued not by the horrors of the disaster but by lost, regrets and unforgiveness. 32 years down, 2008 Sichuan earthquake reunited Deng and her brother, both due to their own experience put down everything to volunteer as rescuers. It took this major disaster that eventually reunited the family again.

“Aftershock” is a powerful movie that captured scenes that can strike deep in the viewers’ hearts. Family and love were reflected not through the usual sacrifices for one another but amplified itself through the crevices of hearts that were shattered - A mother’s love that would carry the burdens of her children, dead or alive; the fragility of lives at the mercy of disasters; the loyalty between husbands and wives despite the harshest conditions; the power of letting go and forgiveness. Not many words were used but the director painted each scene that speaks a thousand words.

Though the disaster scenes may not be the most realistic, the tightness of the storyline did not leave much space to dwell on that. The movie was not exaggerated into a soapy drama, but there were countless scenes that tears and sniffles were not spared. It was a heartfelt movie, powerful and emotional. The stories of love, family and relationships, you will grieve with them, and be encouraged and uplifted with them too.