Into the ARTS!

Looks like dh has to work very hard to support both our kids' passion...looks like they are heading towards the....ARTS!


Ann's drawing. She is getting better with it, just like her brother

I asked her why is it that she always colour brown for all her people. Her reason, "they are not white, yellow or orange, they are all tanned". Well, she is right!

I am humbled

This morning when I checked my email, I found this from a friend....

Hi Shirley, I must pen a few words.You have never failed to amaze me with what you are learning in Shanghai. I am truly happy for you. Surely all is in God's hands and he has his timing. I get inspired by you in your blog.The inspirational words etc....my husband was again recently retrenched in May 2009 and thus my search for a Full time work. Well to cut the whole story short...you have been a source of encouragement through your blog and how i remembered why you started out your home business.Truly God has a plan for all of us...just a test of our faith. In short i just want to say...thanks for your sharing on your blog...keep it going.....God Bless!

Maybe, that's the whole purpose of God sending me away...so that I can start this blogging ministry. Many have written to me, dropping their comments about how they have been blessed, thank me for the various tips on cooking and baking....I am so humbled by all these, I am no great writer, I am no famous best-selling author, I am just a plain stay-at-home-mum who, on her bad days, can go really mad. But to receive all the emails and comments for what I have shared, I am honoured that you count me worthy to be your "aunt agony".

We will continue with this journey, to learn together, to grow together.

HE IS SO GOOD!

Yes, God is good and He is so good.

Someone told me that it took her one year to settle in here and I can fully agree. I find it tougher to settle in here than in the States. And God knows, here was what He gave me one morning...

"Last fall my wife, Carolyn and I were driving up a winding mountain road near our home in Idaho when we came across a large flock of sheep moving down the road towards us. A lone shepherd with his dogs was in the vanguard, leading his flock out of summer pasture into lowlands and winter quarters...We watched them until they were out of sight, then I wondered: Do sheep fear change, movement, new places?

Like most older folks, I like the old familiar places. But all is shifting and changing these days; I am being led out, away from familiar surroundings to a vast unknown. What new limits will overtake me in the coming days? What nameless fears will awaken? We may well be dismayed at what life has for us this year and next, but our Shepherd knows the way we're taking. And He goes before. He will not lead us down paths too dangerous or too arduous where He cannot help us. He knows our limits. He knows the way to green pasture and good water; all we have to do is FOLLOW" - David Roper (ODB)

"The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:1-6

Outlet shopping...from the west to the east!

We found out that there was outlet shopping here and like all true blue Singaporeans, we decided to check it out!


Outlet shopping, here we come!


The lay-out is very much like those in the States



Familiar brands and many, many more

Ok, ok, I heard you. No, it is not as good as those in the States, prices are way too expensive if you compare with prices in the States BUT cheaper than buying from local retailers. What is worth buying...GEOX shoes...only RMB500 to RMB600.

Har kow (shrimp dumplings) of various shapes

Made shrimp dumplings at my dim sum class yesterday but in various shapes. I must say...(ahem) pretty proud of my achievements.



The normal shape, the gold fishes and the flower...before steaming

after steaming...


After class yesterday, the teachers were testing our new recipes and I got the chance to try it. It's the famous Beijing ramen. Oooo, gosh, it's delicious. Can't wait to go for the noodles class next!

Parents and teachers conference

Had our first parents-teachers-conference. I am always thankful to God for sending these two gifts to us. I do admit that they are very challenging at times and I do feel myself aging by the seconds. The stress of looking after them, coaching them can be unsurmountable. I do need botox perhaps. Imagine, they are now both only in elementary stage. Then, there will be the pre-teens stage, the rebellious teenage stage, then the young adult stage....Lord, grant me, the gift of long-suffering.

I know the later years will be easier, if we train them well now in the fear of the Lord. So, Lord, grant me plenty, over-whelming wisdom.

The conference went very well. In fact, both their teachers spoke highly of them. Kai's FT (form teacher) did suggest to us that we may have a gifted child on hand. (Gifted may not necessarily be in the area of the academic field. It can be in other areas.)

Kai FT(form teacher) told us that he was hiding his book under his desk and reading during class .FT really thinks that Kai is a special need child - someone way above average, very smart, very intelligent and gets bored with class work. FT asked if Kai has been assessed for gifted programme and we told him what Kai said " I will purposely fail the test if I am ever going to sit for the test".

FT then went on to say that "only a gifted child will tell you that, I will fail to spike you!" (LOL) FT saw a great similarity between Kai and a gifted boy in his class two years ago and that boy was truly gifted. We really don't know how to help Kai...Every teacher has this "problem" with Kai.

Then came Ann...report from FT, she is very independent, able to do her work well, fully understand everything that was taught, Chinese teacher said that her writing skills (bi hua)are strong. Her reading teacher said that her level should be 'C' but she has moved on to 'F'. I think she is going to follow her brother's footsteps.

Yes, we are proud parents of them but that also mean, we have alot of work to do. We must help them to reach their full potential and become man and woman of God. It will be devastating if they are stifled and instead of soaring like an eagle, they end up bumping around like a turkey. Therein, lies a huge task in front of us. Maybe, that's why God started sending us out of our comfort zone, to help us help the kids to soar like eagles!

"The character of your children tomorrow depends on what you put into their hearts today."

Our first...

Went cycling around the village near our house and guess what we saw....


A cotton flower

We have never seen this before and it was a great discovery. The kids were excited and we brought it home and threw the "seeds" in our back garden. Let see if we can have the same flower during our stay here.