Dream House

Dream House

In some homes, "please" is described as the magic word. In others, it is "sorry". In ours, it is always "thank you".

We will build our house with different sets of rooms:

room of Sweet Talks - Masters' Bedroom
room of Angels - Kids' Room
room of Spiritual Nourishments - Prayer Room
room of Wisdom, Ideas and Deep thinking - Library Room
room of Serenity - Bathroom
room of Tools - Garage
room of Short Conversation - Terrace
room of Entertainment - Lounge
room of Ebony and Ivory - Music Room
room of Hospitality - Guest Room
room of Pleasant Conversation - Dining Room
room of Spices and Herbs - Kitchen
room of Stems and Vines - Garden
room of Body Toning & Meditation - Mini Gym
room of Not-So-Sweet Talks - Boxing Arena

Readers, readers! Don't get too excited. We're building no mansion as you all are imagining now. Rooms mentioned above may just be a little space of another room. Or a little space of a bigger space of another room ...

Anyway dreams are free so we might as well dream BIG!

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"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. " ~Erma Bombeck

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Teaching Kids About God

Teaching Kids About God

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

How do we impart values to our children? Do we just let Bart and Lisa Simpson be the role models? Or wait until they outgrow hooting for Wiggles and Barneys? Kids are sponges for information. Nowadays they learn from sources like the telly or the web. They get subtly influenced at childcare, at school, or even at a neighbour’s playground. How do parents plant seeds of wisdom in children’s heart? How do parents pass on morals with greater impact? How else? But through the Bible. And I can’t answer that question any better.

If JK Rowling can bring us to Hogwarts where power comes from spells and magical wands, what greater truth and power can the Bible’s author manifest in words that we can hold onto throughout our lives? If Tolkien can create mental pictures of evil defeated by good, what book can let us experience victory more than the Bible? By teaching kids the Bible, we as parents seize a window of opportunity in shaping the lives of our children. It contains adventure, humour, romance, and heaps more. An absolute source of history, wisdom and prophecy. Most importantly, the Bible is the very word of God. What better start toward a personal relationship with our Lord could we give our child than reading God’s word with him?

I want my son to know more about Jesus’ disciples than the Autobots and Decepticons, or Percy, Harvey, Billy and those other friends of Thomas the Tank Engine or Snow White’s 7 dwarves. Amazing it is when your tot can distinguish one from the other but I would applaud parents who take time enriching young kids’ lives introducing characters like Abraham, Moses, Noah and the likes.

Isn’t my son too young for this? Maybe yes, maybe no. But every time he clasps his hands together and bow down as we say grace before meal or we go under the bed covers at night, it paints a smile on my face knowing that my husband and I have made the initial step to create spiritual thirst in him. A thirst to know the same Father I seek in times of joy, sorrow and hope. On an honest note, I cannot say I am all-knowing about this matter however the seed that we are planting in him would hopefully begin to guide him in his own journey of faith.

Teaching kids about God at an early age should neither put pressure in kids nor parents. Rather it should bring peace and hope in them that both lives will be empowered by God.

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Parents have eyes in the backs of their heads. --Melissa, age 12

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Guiding Words

Guiding Words

For my son David from King David' son ...

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. ^1:7

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. ^2:12-15

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ^3:3

Listen, my son, accept what I say and the years of your life will be many. ^4:10

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked but she knows it not. ^5:3-6

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs dissension among brothers. ^6:16-19

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. ^7:1-2

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech. ^8:13

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. ^9:7-9

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. ^10:1

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free. ^11:21

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ^12:18

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. ^13:11

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. ^14:30

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. ^15:3

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. ^16:3

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. ^17:14

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ^18:24

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. ^19:21

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. ^20:1

The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. ^21:25

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. ^22:24

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death. ^23:13-14

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. ^24:17-18

If you argue your case with a neighbour, do not betray another man’s confidence, or he who hears it may shame you and you will never lose your bad reputation. ^25:9-10

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. ^26:4

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. ^27:1

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. ^28:27

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. ^29:11

The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures. ^30:17

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. ^31:30

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Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.

- Robert Fulghum

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Forever Grateful

Forever Grateful

Do you have something or someone in your life now you will always be grateful for?

When my 1 year old son spills food onto carpet, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son laughs when I trip over his tiny trucks, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son interrupts my much desired sleep at two in the morning, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son happily tears my precious paperwork, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son leaves bite marks on my arms, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son wakes me up in an early Saturday morning with a sloppy kiss, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son plays catch-me-if-you-can during dress-ups, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son kicks me smiling as I lull him to sleep, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son chucks bread sticks in my partner’s underwear drawer, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son makes noise when an important call is to be answered, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son mimics my serious verbal exchanges with him, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son tosses the remote control every time I watch telly, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son knocks over the pile of folded clothes, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son makes a silent but deadly announcement that he just pooped, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son bangs his head on mine, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son hints to play peek-a-boo during my arvo rest time, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son struggles during nappy change and stains my shirt with his poop, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son drools and makes my office clothes a human size bib, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son snubs my homemade purée, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son licks my running shoes, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son throws his toys everywhere, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son cries and looks for his Papa even if I am around, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son keeps clattering as I try to doze off, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son dials my boss’ number in the wee hours of the morning, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son plays with a marker and writes on clothes, bed sheets and lounge covers, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

When my 1 year old son screams Mama amidst a praise and worship group, I still manage to smile and thank heavens for him.

Whatever he does, wherever he goes I will forever be grateful to God for my son David.

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A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's. -- Diana, Princess of Wales

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Multitasking Mum, I am!

Multitasking Mum, I am!

Little skills a Mum learns which are not found in her CV ...

I have learned to cradle my baby with one arm & list grocery items with the other at the same time.

I have learned to change nappy & shake milk bottle at the same time.

I have learned to dance & sing at the same time like a trained duck to amuse the crybaby.

I have learned to cut my fingernails & rock baby’s glider with my foot at the same time.

I have learned to cut my son’s fingernails & hold his milk bottle as he drinks from it at the same time.

I have learned to breastfeed baby & phone the other multitasker (my partner!) to delegate tasks at the same time.

I have learned to wipe baby poop with one hand & juggle a ball with another at the same time.

I have learned to wrap baby presents & read Complete Book of Baby and Child Care at the same time.

I have learned to toss used nappy in the bin & sing lullaby at the same time.

I have learned to rummage through the clothes rack & undress baby at the same time.

I have learned to hold baby stuff with my hand & mouth at the same time.

I have learned to rub baby’s back with baby balsam & get his body temperature at the same time.

I have learned to strap baby onto his pram & make baby faces like Mr. Bean at the same time.

I have learned to listen with much intent to motivational speakers on iPod & pay attention to my son’s adorable snoring at the same time.

I have learned to play volleyball on court & feed baby off court in quick succession.

I have learned to get back to my rusty French for a refresher & study new baby language of “mik and bikkit and yoart” at the same time.

I have learned to block out the noise of my little one banging on the bathroom door & focus on a more important call of nature at the same time.

I have learned to race out like an athlete to the stairs to stop my little runner & speak with a salesman like a professional on the phone at the same time.

I have learned to read bible stories to my forever student & fold clothes at the same time.

I have learned to conjure & hide things quickly at the same time as soon as my two-footed little invader arrives.

I have learned to sit up and feed baby in the middle of the night & do shopping on the internet at the same time.

I have learned to organize nappy bag and do a count of nappies, milk bottles, wipes and bibs & brush my hair in the car at the same time.

I have learned to pacify a cranky babe-in-arms & clean a roomful baby (and hubby) mess at the same time.

I have learned to concentrate on scribbling down an article on motherhood & be a round-the-clock lookout for a restless kiddo at the same time.

I have learned to be a pram-pushing & a cart-pushing mum at the supermarket at the same time

I have learned to take hundreds of photographs & cook at the same time.

I have learned to dislike waking up to sweet kiss from my big man and like waking up to a sloppy kiss from my little man at the same time.

I have learned to be a commander to my husband & a subordinate to my son at the same time.

I have learned to hate & love chaos at the same time.

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"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." -- Henry Ward Beecher

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10 Commandments (Ours not Moses')

10 Commandments (Ours not Moses')

These are our 10 commandments in raising David. We try our very best to practice each but now at his young age, only items 1, 3, 4 & 9 are applicable. As he grows up Jonathan and I should be reinforcing this set of rules. And most of it we will cling onto until we grow old and grey.

1 Thou shall love your child above yourself.

2 Thou shall equip your child with the Word of God

3 Thou shall not spoil your child.

4.Thou shall have quality and quantity time with your child.

5 Thou shall set a good example to your child.

6.Thou shall put premium on your child’s education.

7 Thou shall help your child develop his talents and skills.

8 Thou shall reward your child for his obedience and punish him for his wrongdoings.

9 Thou shall treat any child the way you want others to treat your child.

10 Thou shall teach your child to enjoy life to the fullest.

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It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children

do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to

reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard

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