My Plans vs God's Plans

Isn't it always a struggle when it comes down to that point in life where you are left asking yourself "Is this God's plans for me or am I trying to force my own life's tracks out?" Having blown out candles on a birthday cake at least 28 times, (considering the fact that when I was 1 year old, my parents would have blown the candles for me.) I had to ask myself and God this question.

The times when I wanted to come overseas to Australia to study, was that part of God's plans for me? When I wanted to stay on in Australia to further my studies, was that part of God's plans for me? When I wanted to get attached, get engaged, get married, planned to have Janice, get a job and rise up in leadership. Were all these part of God's divine plans for me?

After making all those decisions, it seems obvious that God does have a wonderful plan for me; for that matter, for each and everyone of us. But in His loving nature, God did not force His plans upon my life, but gently speaks and encourages me to walk in His ways.

No doubt, there have been wrong choices I have made in life, many in fact. But still in God's grace, He has provided some sparing allowances for those human errors and carnal desires. Little bit at a time, God is using both the right and wrong choices to lead me towards His ultimate plan for my life. I can't wait to find out what that plan is, but I know for sure that God has set alight a flame and desire within me to burn for Him as much as I can. He has also laid a strong burden within to reach the youths to mould and train them into the leaders of the next generation. Whether they are the youths of this Aussie nation or even the youths back in Homeland Singapore, I am not sure. But where I am now, I must make full use of the opportunities that God has given.

As God speaks more along the way, may God grant me the courage, confidence and perseverance to follow His plans no matter where I am. May God's plans be my plans as well, may my heartbeat, beat God's heartbeat.

Happy Birthday Darling!

How could I even forget to mention this? My dear husband turned a year older than me a few days ago! We celebrated that day by looking after Janice after her allergic reaction saga, and on the actual day, he ran the whole Life group himself by chairing, worship leading, playing the guitar and teaching. So it was a rush in rush out. And all I could manage was a quick hug and kiss for him. That's one of the things why he is one of my greatest inspirer and encourager. He pushes on no matter what and have never placed himself above us, above his people and ministry too. God has done so much in His life over the years and through Him I have learnt to much too. I am glad I can call this man my husband, lover, and best buddy ever. Happy Birthday.

By the way, I wasn't that bad, thank goodness I managed a little surprise for him before all the saga, 2 days before his birthday. I baked (after so many months!) chocolate soeffle and it was yum! I forgot the pics tho. :)

THE time that doesn't wait

I have say this too, Vic ... Time flies. It really does! So much have zoomed by, right before my eyes. And then, I am sinking deeper below waters. Janice is growing up so fast and I have lost tracks of her many "first times". She is so fast that I am having trouble pulling out my camera to even snap a shot. A mother once advised to get a good camera phone, because that's the only thing you can pull out fast enough, such wisdom. I want to blog about many things, but have not even done it, and now i pull open the blog page during lunch, and I can't seem to pen anything down.

Where should I start from? God has been amazingly good. He spoke through the UL getaway we had last weekend. And then there was the Yoghurt Allergy scare from Janice. Then as mentioned by my dear husband, there was the baby dedication yesterday.

Ok, finished my lunch, looks like I have to procrastinate posting again. lol

Janice's Baby Dedication 2009

Yesterday marked a very important day for Janice, as we; her parents decided to make that commitment to dedicate Janice to our Lord Jesus Christ. In doing that we have committed ourselves to raise her up in accordance to the Word of God with our best abilities and with the empowerment of God.

After the dedication, it caused me to think a little deeper as to how we as parents can help the development and naturing of our child in a Christ like manner. We are trying to serve God to our best abilities and still trying to make sure that we have time for Janice to teach her, nurture her, feed her, clothe her and mould her into who God has destined for her to be.

The big question for me is "WHERE IS THE BALANCE?" Frankly, i believe that the main question of my life. How to balance ministry, family and work. To me, work is of the least importance, but sadly it seems that it takes up most of my time within the week. It's then family and ministry. So it seems obvious that my life is totally out of balance.

The balancing act of life would be the most important lesson any parent can teach a child. But like we all know, our sheep, disciples or child would learn first from our life examples rather than what we sit them down to teach. So when my child sees me leaving the house every morning to fulfill the business of the world, she would surely grow up to think that working would naturally take up most of our time and be the highest priority in any one's life. But if she see me going about my Heavenly father's business, she would then realise that our priority in life would be to do the will of our God.

My prayer would be that God would shower upon us parents loads and loads of wisdom to be able to raise Janice that way He wants us to. And to love and care for her and still direct her to build her security upon Christ Himself.

Janice we love you.

Kelvin coming out of the closet to blog

Been wanting to do this for a really long time, but just never really got down to doing it. I thought that since my wife was updating our lives, I'll just leave her to that cause she has done such a great job.
But it will not be the same if I did some bits of the blogging myself too. Like tell my wife how much I love and cherish her, and also to personally record down on cyberspace for Janice to remember that her dad loves and is crazy over her too. At the same time, family and friends back home of everywhere else in the world can catch up too. And being on facebook really helps too.
Putting things down here can really help me to remember the great and wonderful things God has blessed our family with as well. So may the blogging begin........

Astro Girl

Besides getting a real good head massage from Daddy, Janice often gets a new hair style too.

Accounting 101

Here's Janice attending her ever 1st Accounting Tutorial with Aunty Gillian and Angelene at the office. Pretty good, she had a 5 minutes attention span before she found MYOB just a little bit over her head at the moment. As a "2nd Class" student, she could only sit at the back and observe from afar. I think she would rather prefer a more hands on approach, her fingers were surely itching to tackle the keyboard.

Yummylicious

Recently I introduced myself Janice to some great tasting food. Vegetables that I have never really tried cooking; combination that I really never thought of attempting. Just the look of the colors was invigorating. The thought of feeding my little baby with loads of good stuffs motivated me through the tons of washing (Blender, peeler, baby cubes, containers and many more). No one has told me how tasty squash could be. Mmmm the combination of self minced chicken breast, zucchini, squash and baby spinach soup blended with boiled pasta was so good. I am enjoying tasting each vegetable on its own, pumpkin, carrots, you name it; discovering its individual burst of flavor without oil or the mixing up of flavors in stir frys. Kelvin has been catching me sneaking in big mouthfuls of Janice's food while I prepare them, and many a times, I would gladly finish Janice's food whenever she can't finish, in the name of wastage minimizing, but secretly enjoying.

I like!

Turned Seven Months

My little Darling,

You've turned seven months 2 days ago, and this time, we spent it in Sydney. We had great food and cupcakes on your behalf, and promised you that you'll be enjoying great food with mummy and daddy soon. We believe that you could have somehow inherited some food loving genes from us, but whatever it is, I am sure you'll be influenced in time to come :)

At seven months, I've noticed how focused you are when you play. You're intense and will try to figure out how to move items around your way. You love kicking and moving small objects around. You still love the outdoors tremendously and each time you're out and about on your pram, you'll be intensely looking around, somewhat trying to breathe and take in every single detail of your surrounding. Yet each time out eyes meet, you will break into your grins, which totally melt our hearts.

You eat well generally, and has the best appetite for dinner. I tried to break the habit of eating more for dinner and tried to feed you more for lunch and breakfast, but still, you seem most happy at dinner time. I figured that you're a true blue chinese, you just want your rice (now it comes in porridge or rice cereal form) for dinner. Without it, you day's not complete. Your 3rd tooth emerged this month, so you were a litttle fussy just before that, a trend I realise you'd go through each time a new tooth pops.

We've also started seriously training you to sleep through the night because the Ped said you're gaining weight and growing really well and should not be needing anymore night feeds. So this means, no feeding you after the last feed at about 8 and only next feed you after 6am in the morning. We had to migrate you to your room because each time you cry and I don't feed you, I felt like I was having a cold turkey. So daddy has been doing the hard work, going to your room to soothe you if you don't stop crying. It's been tough, tougher on some nights and we pray that you will learn to sleep through the night soon. You can do it, because you've already done it several times. Such days are like little milestones for us, encouraging us to press on, so that you (and us) rest better at night.

I used to feel guilty leaving you at Childcare, but just seeing how you've grown really warms my heart. I love to see you taking the initiative to reach out to other kids and start talking in your own lingo. Besides doing that, you also snatch their toys away, which we will soon need to teach you more on sharing and playing.

You laugh and love your days when both mummy and daddy are together with you. Sometimes you have a sort of separation anxiety with me and I cannot walk away and have my back to you. You've learnt how to whine and fuss when I walk away, which sometimes made it difficult. On one hand, I feel so super fortunate to be loved by you, but on the other hand drives me a little crazy especially when I have things to do.

I (we) love your company. The Sydney trip was a celebration for Mummy and daddy's 2 years' anniversary. Our lives and marriage is richer because we have you. I love you little buddy, so much that I don't really know how to express in words any more. Yet in practical, God is still teaching me how to do it better. Each month's entry to mark your growth sometimes is more like a milestone for me.

Keep growing, you're doing great.

Love,

Mummy