reflections of 2010

only 2 more days left of 2010...

i have been re-reading my blog... and amazed at how God has positioned us... and how He has been faithful... He has been good... He has been merciful...

the end 2009 was such an exciting time... it was also the start of a very uncertain journey... we knew by then we would be going to japan for a year... but no dates were given... though there were many uncertainties... i could feel deep within me... a peace that surpassed all understanding... i knew we were gonna be blessed beyond what we could imagine... and many ppl have come alongside to affirm that 2010 will be a year full of the Lord's blessings...

this year... 2010...

truly it was an amazing journey... i dun even know where to start to tell of all that we have been blessed with... it was truly a faith journey... how our faith has grown through the year... seeing Him answer our smallest prayer...

just before leaving for japan... i sensed in me that i would not be returning to teaching after one year... i would be involved in full time ministry... but the catch was this... it will not be in TPMC...

i could not see how it was ever gonna be happening at that time... if not TPMC... then where..? i have absolutely no qualification papers at all for any posts in any church... i dun play any instrument... i have not attended any bible college... seriously... i had nothing... but i left it as that... did not think much about it... just prayed with my eyes open...

then an opening to serve Him in full time capacity came... it literally fell from the sky... over FB chat... some time in august... and that's it... i was tentatively employed...

what i am about to do in 2011 is very exciting... stuff that i have never done before...

2010 has truly been an amazing year... although i hate for the year to come to an end... i do yearn for 2011 to come... i wanna see what God has in store for my family and i...

the past weeks have been seeking and praying... asking the Lord for a word in season... what will 2011 be like for us..?

and the message has been consistent...
'go and be a blessing to others'...

for as much as we have been blessed in 2010... our experiences... our walk... our journey... we are to be a blessing to others in 2011... and God has assured me that He will continue to bless us... that we will not be in lack as we bless others...

thanks for praying with us this year...
blessed new year everyone..! =)

2-week holiday

school is closed till 11 jan 2011... school year does not end till march... so this is just a winter break...

will be making use of this time to cover more of the gals' syllabus from singapore... prepping them for their return... 2 hrs every day... for the next 2 weeks... =P

which also means that i will have to prepare lunch as well as dinner... lunches may be a little tricky as i will be coaching the gals form 9-11am... means that there is not much time for me to prepare for lunch...

in the mean time... we have already started to put aside stuff which we may be sending back home first... we have also started planning our return... lots of things to buy... prepare... and schedule...

now... what shall i prepare for lunch tmrw..?

christmas cookies

finally... they are done..! ready to be given away... =)

christmas for me is...

because it's just so quiet... have been spending a lot of time... just thinking... just reflecting... was just thinking... what is christmas to me..?

parties..? gift-giving..?

yes... a large part of it... i must admit... it is a time for parties... and gift-giving... but when i think deeper... it's really more than that...

it just doesnt feel like christmas to me this year... is because... i am not sharing...

christmas is a time to share joy... to celebrate life... to tell another about the birth of Christ... all of which... i dun seem to be doing now...

christmas is a time for me to be involved in some evangelistic event... be it a musical... a seeker-service... anything... just to announce... to tell of Christ's birth...

maybe that's why i enjoy throwing parties... to share joy... to celebrate...

i even suggested to the gals... if we could go carolling... go knocking on our neighbours' doors... and just sing..!

but they were too shy to do it... thought it'll be fun... at least an opportunity to tell... or sing about the birth of Christ...

maybe there'll be a chance for me to share this year... to tell of the birth of Christ...
let's wait and see... =P

christmas 2010

this must be the quietest... laziest... calmest... christmas by far...

usually... christmas time used to be one of the craziest times of the year... juggling rehearsals... planning of worship sets... christmas shopping... wrapping presents... coordinating parties... on top of all these... getting the gals ready for the next academic year... getting their books... wrapping the books... making sure that they can still fit into their uniforms...

the list goes on...

but this year... nothing... just visiting different malls to see their christmas illuminations... enjoying the cool weather... it's not even cold yet...

it's just 2 days to candlelight service... and it sure doesnt feel like christmas...

phone

3 years... that's how long i have been holding onto the N95... too long...

this is a record for me... never have i held onto a phone for so long... usually before the contract is up... i'd be eyeing for a new one...

one of the first things that i will be buying myself... when i get back home... will be a new phone..! cant wait..! =P

devotions

2 days ago... we completed the last page of the daily devotional that we brought over... was wondering what to do... there was suggestion to start from day one... then i tried searching for one at amazon... but couldnt find anything suitable...

so last night... sitting in their beds... i asked joanna to choose a date... and she chose 8 feb... she said cos it's mommy's birthday... =)

and so... we did the devotional that was dated 8 feb...

tonight will be rachelle's turn to pick a date... think we'll make do with this system till i find something suitable online... =P

our number game

2 days to lunch with host's wife
1 week to christmas
13 days to spending new year with a japanese family
2 weeks to new year
7 weeks to my birthday
2 months to weekend getaway with host family @ yamanashi
10 weeks to hubby's birthday
11 weeks to ski trip @ clubmed sahoro
14 weeks to going home
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
time flies

ski gear

had waited a whole week for today's sale... actually... we chanced upon the announcement of the sale... while out having wagyu beef lunch... which makes it even more amazing... again a testimony of how God has provided for us...

before today's sale... we went about the shops... checking out prices... designs... and being first-timers... learnt from the various shops... and also the internet... on what is the essential gear for skiing...

it all seemed very expensive... costing about $400 just for one ski jacket... and just as much for the ski pants... the ones for children were not much cheaper too...

so we have been praying for ridiculously good bargains at the sale...

we reached early enough to be the first 50 in the queue... and the bargains were really good..!

and after 2 hours of shopping... we bought...

hubby...
ski jacket... ski pants... 2 pairs of socks... goggles... gloves...

gals...
ski jackets... ski pants... 2 pairs of socks each... goggles... gloves... neck warmers... beanies...

myself...
ski jacket... ski pants... 2 pairs of socks... goggles... gloves... neck warmer... beanie...

everything was less than half price... way less..!
let's go skiing..! =)

rachelle's prayer

one of the devotions last week was about christian disciplines... and prayer was highlighted in that particular devotion... and so... the gals started taking turns to pray during devotions...

just 2 nights ago... this is how rachelle prayed...

'... ... pray that i will get good results for my PSLE... and mei mei... will get into the GEP next year...'

wow... 2 more years to PSLE for her... and she has already started praying... i see a top student in the making..! LOL

i'm just glad that my gals are praying... and for us as parents... we are thankful that we have persevered the daily devotions with them... seems to be reaping it's rewards...

keep growing in the Lord my darlings... =)

quiet morning

it's been a while... that i am just on my own in the mornings... hubby has been away from college for the past month... he doesnt need to attend the classes as they are meant only for the japanese students...

so we have been out on most days... which means more eating and spending... that explains the reading on my weighing machine... =(

this morning... he has gone to college to settle some admin stuff... like applying for leave for our trip...so it's just me and my coffee for now... =)

and he had to call me just now... to tell me the dates for his hokkaido trip in feb... with the college... only 3 days... and my birthday is sandwiched between those dates... that's 2 consecutive years that he is missing my birthday... hmph...

but considering how much time we have this year... ok la... anyways the 3 days are weekdays... at least it's not over the weekends... =P

thoughts on parenting

buses here are really small... 20 passengers max... we were on one after church last sunday... then 2 mothers and their 2 sons boarded the bus... moms were japs... believe that the sons' fathers were africans...

the older boy was able to sit and be quiet... but oh... not the younger one... i reckon... about 6-7yo... and boy... wad a handful he was...

he refused to sit... wanted to run up and down the bus... and when mom tried to restrain him by grabbing the clothes of his left shoulder... he wiggled and whined... and then crawl up mom's skirt..!

the whole time... my gals were just stunned at the behaviour...

all mom did was... 'please stop it'... in jap... while still holding onto his shirt... and boy is like all over the floor... with his head up her skirt... and trying to lift it up...

at this time hubby stood up from his seat... grabbed hold of the boy... looked him in the eye... and told him to sit down... and stop causing trouble... *my hero...* =)

but the peace didnt last 2 min... and he was up and tried to escape from his mom again... poor mom... from hubby's face... i could tell that he was so close to slapping the child... haha...

thankfully... we had reached the terminal... and we all got off the bus...

almost immediately... the gals started talking about the incident... and then asked us what we would have done if THEY were behaving like that in public...

i tried to think of an answer as to how i'd tackle such a situation... but hubby came in and said... 'we dont have to handle this... cos we know our gals will never behave like that in public'...

and that is so true... most 'manifestations' we so often see in public... are just because 'teaching' has been lacking at home...

like the case of the boy... if the boy had been taught the meaning of 'no'... or 'stop it' at home... or if mom has been consistent at home... such a scene may not have happened...

i feel really old when i broach this subject on parenting... like i belong to my mom's era... or even my grandma's... =P

parents in my generation seem to find it so difficult to say 'no' to their children... maybe it's because of the little time that they have with their children... and so... wanting each moment to be sweet and memorable...

we are so afraid to see the child cry... or fuss... or scream...

well... if the child has never been taught 'no'... yes... he'll cry... fuss and scream... all at the same time... and loudly too... but it'll all pass... he'll know that crying and fussing and screaming... will not get him what he wants...

sometimes.... in fact most of the times... it is our inconsistencies as parents... that have confused our children... we just wanna give them what they want... so that they'll stop bugging us...

but i personally think that it's a lose-lose situation... the child has lost the opportunity to learn... and the parents... the opportunity to seize that moment... and turn it into a teachable moment...

yes... all these take time... but it sure gets easier with time... and consistency...

and yes... you may sound and look so cruel compared to your peers... but keep at it for a few years... and see for yourself... the fruits of your labour...

learn to say 'no' to your children... even if they are just toddlers... it is a myth that they do not understand 'no'... of course they do... we just gotta be consistent... so that they know that 'no' means no... and not 'maybe... depending on your mood'...

christmas presents

told the gals that their presents this year will have to be inexpensive...

we dont wanna be spending on stuff like a unicyle... a bicycle... a laptop... cos it will mean that we will need to ship them back home in less than 4 months...

so for joanna and myself... we each got a down jacket from hubby... =)

rachelle had a hard time deciding what she wanted for christmas... it was only yesterday that she decided to have a new hairdo for christmas... she wanted to have a fringe... for a change...

and so... we made an appointment with the only hairdresser we know... and arranged for her to have her hair done today...

think rachelle looks good in her new hair-do..! =)

my present to hubby is a bag... rather unique... it's a tausche bag... didnt take a photo of it yet... but we think the bags are just so cool... made in germany... and the shop in japan... is 1 of the 5 in the world... 4 in germany...

this season used to be the 'wrapping season' for me... wrapping numerous presents... and new textbooks for thew new year... but this year... we're just shopping and eating..! =P

和牛 {wa-gyu}

after over 8 months here in japan... we finally went to have some 和牛 beef for lunch today...

i had always thought that 和牛 was beef of a particular breed of cow from japan... but 和牛literally means 'japanese beef'... =P

hubby's classmate brought us to this place... the restaurant is called Mitoyazawa... and is very popular... and it's located in Gotanda... just 2 stations away from where we stay... it serves A5 grade 和牛 beef at very reasonable prices... as reasonable as half the price... compared to hotels and other restaurants...

the restaurant doesnt take any reservations... so you just gotta queue... but good thing is... the turn-over is rather high... so the wait wasnt too bad...

we ordered the lunch set today... a hamburg... with rice and salad... and it's the first time that i was eating a hamburg... with just a pair of chopsticks..!

when the meal came... it looked rather normal...

but when we cut it open... ooooh..! it looked so good..! cant wait to sink my teeth into it..!

unlike most patties... there wasnt a trace of fat in it... it was pure meat..! and it seems to just melt in your mouth..! simply delicious..!

natural insulation..?

as temperatures are dipping... we are putting on more clothes... more layers... but not the gals...

here i am... in a pair of warm track pants... a short-sleeved heat tech... a long-sleeved 100% premium cotton t-shirt... and a thick turtle-neck sweater...

rachelle's in a fleece pants... and a t-shirt from singapore..! looking at her makes me feel cold..! =P

persuading to wear more each morning is a challenge... they'd bargain... choosing to wear less than what they are told to...

like today... rachelle left for school in just her jeans and a t-shirt from singapore... then told her to put on her fleece jacket... which she did... made her promise to wear the jacket when outdoors... she agreed...

when she came home... she was just in her t-shirt and jeans... asked her where her jacket was... she said that it was in school... faint...

highest temp today in the day was just 12deg...

any how... i thank God for insulating them... =)

couple time

hubby had gone to college... just one... or two days... in the past 3 weeks maybe..? =P

and we've been going out everyday... even the manager (aka security guard) teased that we go 'dating' almost everyday... and very often... we'd bump into this korean lady who stays in the same building as us... and she'd tease us too...

i'm totally enjoying this time... aimless walks in shibuya... daikanyama... shinjuku... long coffee breaks... shopping... early christmas presents... =P

today... after seeing the gals off to school... we actually went back to sleep... till almost 11am..! such a luxury... really treasuring every moment of this...

though i shouldnt fear... or be anxious about what next year would be like... i worry lor... we're both starting our new jobs / positions next year... on the same day...

really wonder how much family... or even couple time we would be having...

but i really shouldnt think that way... 4 more months of this...
and even greater blessings when we get back home..! =)

stumped

last night's devotion was about how all of us are different... but yet all beautifully made by God... then joanna asked a very random question...

'brothers and sisters cannot marry each other right?'...

of course my immediate reply was 'no'...

then she went on... 'God only made Adam and Eve right..? then how..?'

i knew what she was getting at... if brothers and sisters are not allowed to marry each other... then how did it all start with just Adam and Eve..? how did the whole get so populated..?

stumped... i told her that i'll ask pastor PEW... LOL... =P

more cooking

just confirmed this morning that we'd be hosting 4 japanese from hubby's college on wednesday... and it's decided that it'll be a singaporean fare...

so we went through our stock of pre-mixes and came up with the menu... and it's gonna be groceries shopping tmrw...

and as we were walking around town... hubby asked if i had any plans for christmas... then he suggested if we could host a small party... for one or two of his classmates... both are alone this christmas... and hubby was thinking that it's not very nice to be spending christmas all alone... *awwww*

how could i say no..? i'd love to do that..! and so... we started thinking of the menu for a christmas party... turkey... honey-baked ham... christmas cake... wad else..?

then come january... we're hosting another couple at our place... this couple has made plans to visit singapore in the coming year...

yay..! sure would be able to finish our stock before we go back..! =)

parties

and i was just lamenting last month... how i miss throwing parties... and we just did 2 parties... back to back... just friday and saturday... phew..! =P

this is even more tough than throwing a party back at home..! cos it is not usual to cater... maybe it's just too expensive... so almost everything had to be home-cooked...

the funny thing about last night's party was... hubby and i are still confused... how we became the organisers for the party... all i did was to help design and do a poster in powerpoint... in fact... all the details of the party... what to bring... what to wear... where the party would be held... all these were told to me... all i did was to design a poster... period.

but last night... everyone came to thank us for the party... even the brain behind the party had to leave half-way for another function... leaving hubby to do the opening and closing of the party... funny... but it was ok... thank God that we are already so used to such stuff back at home... so it was really no sweat at all... =)

more parties to come... hosting one or two at our place... preparing singaporean food... thank God our parents came and replenished our supplies..!

i still love parties..! =P

feeding the 50 japanese

since the time the gals left for school today... i started to be busy...

started with preparation of the ingredients... thawing... soaking... chopping... slicing... measuring... washing... from 8 in the morning... to about 11.30am... that's when the first batch of claypot rice was cooked...

while the rice was being cooked... there was more to be done... like a veg side dish... done in japanese style... i've never prepared so much veg in my life..!

all in all... there were 6 batches of rice to be cooked... the last batch was done at about 5.30pm... just on time... the guests arrived at about 5.45pm...

just as the party was about to start... rachelle suggested for the foreign kiddos... to do an opening welcome... actually... they were lines from the recent school's play... but the guests were impressed nonetheless... =P

during the entire party... it was indeed a relief to see them enjoying themselves... as japanese cannot take spicy food rather well... the claypot rice was rather popular with them... =P

me too were mingling with the guests... no need much for an interpretor... just needed them to speak slowly... and most of them were able to communicate a little in english... so with gestures... it was quite ok... in fact i enjoyed going around and talking to them... hubby commented that he had been noticing me from a distance... and was proud that i could carry myself even among his japanese friends...

it was interesting to see how there was an opening speech... a introductory segment for the foreign students to introduce their families... and also a closing 'ceremony'... quite fun...

the kiddos were really a great help... serving ice cream... drinks... and even the cleaning up after the party... they were amazing...

all in all... it was a huge success...
actually... it's really all thanks to the wives... =P