Happy New Year 2009!

Hiya folks....a new year all stretch out in front of us. I didn't make any resolutions this year. Guess I kinda fumbled into this year!

The end of last year was spent rather quietly, though we did have a small party at home. Adam, my going to be 6 years old son, was sick the last few days of the year so we just stayed home. I was desperately praying that he get well in time to start school. Mum-in-law celebrated her 70th birthday with much ado with friends and family. Wow....I was just trying to imagine myself when I am 70...what will be the thoughts going through my head? ( hopefully with a full head of hair, haha!)

Adam and Alex ( my 14 year old) are now in the same school so I am doing the very early morning run. Yawn.....Adam started his real school ie year 1, with much longer school hours, taking lunch in school, and wearing his brand new uniform. Thank God he had a few friends starting at the same time so the first day of school was tears free for him. Mummy almost broke down when I bid goodbye after the bell rang. This is my baby of all baby.....and he is starting year 1. A friend who knows me well texted me asking whether I was bawling my eyes out. I told her I have been crying in my heart for days now, praying that all will go well. Thank God it did. He adjusted well, waking every morning, eager to go to school. Happy mummy and child!

So now I have even more free time so I am looking for stuff to occupy me, hopefully some part time job apart from the one that I am already doing now, ie teaching music. Times are tough....so it will be wise to gain some extra income if possible....

Started back all the music classes....I missed the kids so it was really good to see them. Today was special....had two siblings from my ex students who have finished the program come back to me. Looking at the students that have grown so much and so well....and now starting the cycle all over again with their siblings....makes me feel really good!

Chinese New Year is around the corner....more feasting and spending! I am still reeling from Christmas....so I think it will be a quiet CNY! Definitely not going anyway as both sides of the family are here in KL.

Adieus for now folks.....

Christmas Eve 2008

Hi folks, it is the time of the year which holds a special time for our family. We celebrate the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago. The time of the year when the Christmas tree is up, presents to be given and received, christmas greetings and cards from friends all over the world, and the time to be thankful for all the blessings that God has showered on us.

I am taking a break from teaching till January next year. It's nice to have this stretch of holidays, especially the weekends with the family. We are not going away, involved in church services for Christmas and New Year.

Please read our family blog which we updated: http://shiewsletter.blogspot.com - we update this blog once a year so that friends can have a brief peek on what we have been up to as a family.

The kids are pretty excited about tomorrow. Christmas Day is just a very special day - no matter how old you are! Even as I am writing, my two older kids ( 16 and 13) are sitting down chatting by the christmas tree, trying to guess their presents! Adam is going to be one excited boy tomorrow as he will be getting the present he always wanted but mum and dad said no because it's too expensive.

Here's wishing all of you a blessed Christmas and a meaningful year ahead.

Much love.....

December....

Hiya folks.....I survived VBS and had a blast. It was so tiring....but so much laughter, joy, moments that touched my heart....it was WORTH it. Check out the blog http://fbcvbs08.blogspot.com ( look out for the crazy looking lady with gigantic glasses and bright blue dress!) Now the followup work begins. At the last count, a total of 50 plus children accepted Christ ;-) The committee is seriously working on how to continue to keep track of these kids and encourage them to grow deeper in their relationship with God.

Adam had a good time. Made some new friends. Love singing the songs and doing the movements. Love his teachers, especially teacher Elizabeth who is SUPER cool.

I am now having withdrawal syndrome! Next VBS we are going to the land of the Kangaroos.....We hope next year we can have more kids attending. This year we had 385 kids attending, which is GREAT. The whole church was filled with chattering, excited, jumping, running, singing, laughing, smiling kids....how can one not be filled with joy just watching them?

Anyway, I promised that after VBS, I will start preparing for Christmas. So far have started a pathetic attempt to wrap some gifts.......But at least the Christmas tree and deco are up....makes the house looks festive and the heart ready for the special time of the year.

Adieus for now.....off to wrap some more presents!

Sigh......

My five year old son and I were sitting down watching TV today. It was his last day of school yesterday so today we are having a lazy day....

He asked me.....mummy, what's in your tummy?

Ah...I thought....not too late for a science lesson. I went into a detailed explanation of all the organs in that part of the body....the stomach, the intestines, the womb etc....

He listened to me, respectfully and quietly, and then said....

No wonder your tummy looks so BIG!

Hah.....thank you very much. Jeez!

Haha......;-(

My 5 year old asked me today, " Mum, if daddy die...will you marry again?"

I was caught offguard....we were having lunch together at Old Town White Coffee restaurant and I was kind of preoccupied with my lunch.

Took the easy way out. "I don't know", I said.

Wise young one said...."It's not fair you know.....you are already so old, how can another man marry you?"

WELLLL.....thanks a lot my son. You certainly made my day!

Silence

Sorry folks, have been pretty busy lately with many things : new music classes, bible study and vacation bible school ( check out this blog http://fbcvbs08.blogspot.com)

Vacation bible school is happening in two weeks time at our church. This year I am in the planning committee and we have currently about 400 kids registered to come over one week, two sessions a day. I am also in the midst of planning for the family day concert...which involves me dressing up and acting as a Hawaiian queen. Haha....it's going to be lots of fun and I bet pretty tiring too.

In December, if all goes according to plan, I will be helping the youth organized a drama workshop for their annual youth camp. Have in mind to do something like " Whose line is it anyway?" At the moment, no time to dwell into this yet until VBS is over at the end of the month.

Music classes are going great. Opening up a new class this Saturday. A new challenge but am looking forward to this opportunity to bring music awareness of these kids to a higher level, and developing further their love in music.

Adam is also saying goodbye to his old kindy in November. He will be starting Year 1 in a new school, Tenby International School in Setia Alam, joining Alex who is already there, doing his Year 9. Praying that he will settle well in the new school, with longer school hours. Mummy has to get use to waking up earlier too!

So you see....that is why the silence.....hehe...just no time to sit down!

Prayer

My husband and I often pray together with our kids, especially young 5 year old Adam. Before sleeping at night, Adam will always request for us to pray with him. Sometimes he prays and we listen, sometimes we pray and he listens.

Just now, I was walking into my bedroom, I heard someone talking in my bathroom. I recognized it was Adam's voice and he was praying as he pees!

Dear Jesus, please protect me as I know you are very powerful, more powerful than knights and soldiers. Please take care of me......

My heart stopped beating for a second. It is one thing to pray together but it is touching when you hear your 5 year old son praying on his own accord. He reached out to God on his own, and to me, it shows that he has a personal faith of his own....he doesn't believe just because mum and dad say so, he believes from his heart.

He certainly wont be half dead and half alive in heaven ;-)