The past month has been a fun time of getting re-acquainted with old friends either via email or face-to-face meet-ups.

It is always amazing to me that we can just pick up our friendship anytime even tho we may not have seen or spoken with each other for years!

I once read that this is due to our emotional banks being very "full". Meaning, as we make friends and acquaintances, we deposit into each other's emotional banks that we withdraw from over the years.

A healthy relationship has both credit and debit accounts, aka give and take. But an unhealthy, needy relationship is one that has one party often debiting from the account with little or no credit back to it. Over time, we would tend to avoid this relationship. Ok - this is my impression of what emotional banking means so don't go around quoting me!

But I think this theory holds water for me.

As I look back (as tho I am that old, huh? ), I realise that the friends that I have kept in contact with are those I made while in ballet school. Nowadays, we meet at most once a year on Christmas Day for about 2 - 3 hours and then disappear on each other. And yet when we meet, we always have a million things to talk about and laugh over. There is an ease in our relationship that time seems to have little impact over.

I started balled when I was 7yrs old with a Australian lady called Mrs Simon. Then I switched to Sylvia McCully School of Dancing (at Thomson Plaza now) after finishing Grade 4 because Mrs Simon only took girls up to Grade 4. It was at Ms McCully's school that I really bloomed and enjoyed ballet even more than I had before.

I spent many days and nights at Ms McCully's studio for my regular class and for rehearsals. (I guess that's when a lot of emotional banking accounts were set up!) It was at Ms McCully's school that I discovered the thrill of performing infront of an audience!

Since I spent most of my waking hours at the studio, it was only natural that the people I met there became some of my closest friends. We became a tightly knit group. When a performance loomed, it wouldn't be unusual to find us camped at the studio the whole day and night. We probably spent more time with each other than our siblings!

So I guess it isn't surprising that we are able to pick up from wherever we left and continue our relationship. We have grown from giggly schoolgirls to mothers. That's a lot of history between us!

I pray and hope that we will continue to be good friends till we are old and gray coz friends like these are hard to find nowadays.

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

www.BuildingUpMoms.com 

In a bout of de-cluttering frenzy (inspired after reading Organizing the Playroom over at Organized Junkie's blog and the video links she provided), I lugged 2 big trash bags of junk and a unused vacuum cleaner to be disposed of at the "Bulky Refuse" collection bin.

As the lift doors opened, a young lady stood at the lift entrance, blocking my exit. Now mind you, I had 2 huge bags of trash and a vacuum cleaner with all its attachments. Never mind that she did not hold the lift doors for me (I had to use my foot to hold it open) but what annoyed me was the fact that she was blocking my exit from the lift!!!

Even as I looked at her squarely in the eyes, she averted her gaze and looked at the floor, and did not budge an inch. Afraid that I may just say something rude or worse! I did not open my mouth.  I just pushed out my bags and the vacuum cleaner around her.

Frustrating! Why do people behave like this? I do not expect anyone to help me but they could at least not block my way, right?!

But ... in the evening, when I lugged another 2 bags down, this time with baby in tow, I had a much more pleasant experience.

A young couple with a young toddler who entered the lift with me, was not only nice enough to hold the lift doors for me but the wife helped me carry one of the bags to the collection bin! Granted the bin was just round the corner but hey! after the mornings "adventure" I was grateful to anyone who showed some manners!

Thank God for nice, considerate persons!

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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I don't know what the temperature has been the past few days but according to the newspaper reports it was 34.3 degree celcius at one point? Oh man. I feel like I am melting away!

I recently wrote about Dealing with rising costs on my website and mentioned using less of the air conditioner as one major way of cutting back costs. But with this energy sapping heat, I am finding it very difficult to follow my own advice!  

It is not a dry heat which I suppose brings its own yuckiness. But here in Singapore, it is hot and humid which causes one to be constantly drenched in sweat! I shower 3 times a day at the very least. Some days, 4 times! And even when the sun is not beating down at us, the high humidity causes one to feel sticky.

And my mil says we shouldn't bathe at night?! Are you kidding? Then I'd have to go to bed with a sweaty, sticky body! No thanks!

And to top it off, we have been warned that the haze, courtesy of our neighbour, Indonesia, may be returning in the next 2 weeks! Argh!

I am just glad I am not pregnant! I remember feeling terrible hot during the last trimester of each pregnancy. My constant question to anyone who would pay me any attention was, "Is it hot? Or is it hot?"  

For the last 3 months of each pregnancy, I turned on the air conditioner all afternoon and night. I just couldn't function any other way. So my sympathies to you pregnant ladies out there!

A friend once suggested homeschooling at the pool! Now that would be a great idea except that the glaring sun is not good for our eyes! Maybe we could wear cool sunglasses and homeschool by the pool?

I am just glad that we will be away for a church camp next week. Then we can really sit by the pool - hopefully a shady spot and be cool! Oh - and we wouldn't have to worry about homeschooling too!

Now isn't that great?

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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We saw 3 doctors over the past one week!

1. Visit to the Opthalmologist

Our 2 ds went to the eye doctor last week to find out that their myopia has increased. Sigh.  Yes, I know that myopia is common and almost expected in Singapore. BUT, the degree of myopia for our boys is totally ridiculous and I am definitely worried that it may cause many problems for them later on.

So after resisting using the atropine drops for the longest time, we succumbed. The dr adviced us to try it out 2x/week for 6 months and then go back to assess if it is woking on them.

We had resisted for a while due to the side effects - dry eyes, light sensitivity, among other things which I can't remember off hand now. But the increase in their myopia is progressing at a rather frightening rate. And this is the only known way to slow down (not cure) the rate of progression.

So we go back in 6 months to see if it works!

2. Visit to the Dentist

Then early this week, I brought dd to see an orthodontist for her teeth. Last week, I'd brought her to our regular dentist who took one look at her crowded teeth and proclaimed that she needed expanders* to stretch out her jaw to accommodate her teeth. My heart sank when I heard the news.

The orthodontist was very helpful and explained that the old school method of extracting the milk teeth to make way for the permanent teeth was merely pushing the problem backwards towards the molars. But the expanders provide a chance for the jaw to expand slowly to allow the teeth to move forward and hopefully prevent the need for braces and extraction. Or if extraction is needed, less teeth are extracted.

This crowded teeth, narrow jaw situation seems to be common?! And I thought ds #1 who sucked his thumb till he was 6 was the one who would need braces to straighten his teeth! Or perhaps I shouldn't speak so soon, eh?

So we go back in July (the only available slot!) to get an X-ray and mould done. It will take 1.5hrs! Subsequently, we need to bring her back every month for check-ups! And she'll probably need to wear it for 6 - 9 months day and night and then nightly for a few more years!

Expanders have a 50% success rate according to the orthodontist. This means that dd has a 50-50 chance that she would not need braces or extraction in the future.

I don't even dare to think about the cost of all these treatments!

Eyes and teeth - we need prayers that their myopia does not increase and that dd's jaws will expand to accommodate her teeth! And of course for His providence.

* This article explains the use of the expander pretty well but the actual expander we are going to use looks nothing like the photos given.

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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So this Sunday is Mother's Day.

Do you think you'll be getting presents and cards telling you how much you are loved and appreciated? I hope so! But hey! If you don't, it's ok.

HE who made and called you to be a mother sees and knows what you have done and HE appreciates you!

Mothering is often a thankless job. (Think : how many times have you thanked your mom? I know I haven't done it much! ) But we still keep on doing what we need to do, right?

Personally, I don't like the big fuss over Mother's Day, just like the way I dislike the fuss made over Valentine's Day. The only people that benefit from all the fuss are the retailers and the restuarants! Eating out on those days are awful. The crowds are everywhere!

But enough about me. I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about someone who has been blessing our family with her love.

In the past months, our whole family has been "adopted" by Aunty Helen, the mom of one of my good friends. Aunty Helen has taken to mothering us by cooking delicious meals for us! This has been a real blessing to me, especially! Why? Coz I really dislike cooking! So, to have someone provide yummy home-cooked meals is a god-send!

Just yesterday, I was wondering glumly what to cook for dinner when the phone rang and it was Aunty Helen! She wanted to bring over food! Oh my! Talk about an answered prayer!

THANK YOU AUNTY HELEN
and
HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY !!!

Thank you for being such a blessing to us!

And for the rest of you mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day to you too!

A funny : For the past few years, our older children would ask dh what he is getting me for Mother's Day and he would reply, "Nothing!". To which they would ask, "Why?" And he would answer, "Coz she's not my mother!" Lol!

I know I have written about this before but the lack of manners is something that irks me to no end.

People shoving you aside to get to the front of the queue, service people ignoring the child in the queue, shoppers leaving their trolley in the middle of the aisle, who then glare at you when you move it aside to pass.......the list goes on.

But the one thing that irritates me to no end is when I make time and effort to provide information to those who ask and recieve not even an acknowledgement that my information was received! How can someone who drafts a long message to me not have the courtesy to write 2 words, "Thank You" back to me?!

Do they think I am very free? Or perhaps they think they are doing me a favour by providing me mental stimulation when I write a response?

Why is a simple and short "thank you" email or sms so hard to come by these days? Are people really that busy? Or are they plain self-absorbed?

And so, as I was fuming over a series of non acknowledgement/response to emails I have written the past week, emails that I took time to write, to people I don't even know, a small voice pipes up, "Think of Jesus!" And a light bulb goes on!

Yes, think of Jesus! He died on the cross for the sins of all man.

Sure there are those who say "thank you Lord" everyday and remain in awe and amazement at the great act of sacrifice He did for them. But there are lots more who don't care about it, those who outrightly laugh at the act and then there are Christains who look upon the cross with embarrassment and say - well......there are many ways to get to heaven, Jesus is but one of the many ways!

How it must hurt Him tremendously!

Ah! As I was myself on a road of self-absorption, I thank the Holy Spirit for reminding me that whatever hurt I may have experienced from the lack of gratitude from those I have taken time to help, it is nothing compared to what Jesus endured and is still enduring as Man turns away from the one and only way into the Kingdom!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

I also want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who faithfully read my blog. Yes, thank you for reading and for commenting! Thank you for letting me know that sometimes, I have helped you somehow. It is much appreciated.

Now just remember, the next time you ask someone (not just me!) for help and advice, say THANK YOU when you have received it! Whether or not the advice was correct!

And yes, do remember to daily thank God for the gift of eternal life that He so graciously gave to us!

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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Yes, that's what large families are reduced to whenever they go out. Everybody stares and stares and stares.

And should you, heaven forbid, shout at one of your children or have one of them throw a temper tantrum, you can just hear the voices going, "See? Too many children, can't handle!"

It doesn't seem fair, does it?

Well, you should read what Julie wrote on her blog, Seeking The Old Paths. She writes about an unwritten rule large families abide by, no matter where they are. It's kinda sad that we have to abide by it if we do not want to hear unwanted and positively rude comments!

Go read her You should have thought about that before.... post. 

The next time you see a large family, cut us some slack, ok? We have our off-days too.

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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Now this brought a smile to my otherwise dreary week of dealing with a sick baby that has kept me up 3 nights in a row already.

I don't know who the original autjhor is but I read this off Tawra's blog.

The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember.... Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Samson had long hair and was a womanizer Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt Peter denied Christ The Disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once Zaccheus was too small Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer..AND Lazarus was dead! And Don't forget Jesus Helped them all!!!!

Now don't we serve an awesome God? Not only did Jesus helped them all, He used them all! Now remember - it's never about us, it's always about Him!

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :

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Just read I'm an Organizing Junkie's blog titled, "If it bothers you, change it!". She has a quotation taken from Success Magazine's website which I just love!

“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.”  As written by Maya Angelou for Succes

May this inspire us to go do something instead of just opening our mouths to complain!

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Articles for the Christain SAHM can be found at :

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People who homeschool and have large families all over the developed world often get asked the same questions over & over till we are sick of it.

And I am sure twins all over also get asked a same set of questions over and over til they are sick of it! I have much sympathy for gold medalists Nicole and Tabitha Tay when they won coz they had to answer the usual inane question of "So how do we tell you apart" like a million times! Like does it matter????? Hey! They just made history by being the only sibling pair to win gold for the same event and all people seem to be interested in is how to tell them apart?!

Anyway, I know that Christmas has gone past but this MOMYS family did a video clip based on the tune of the 12 days of Christmas on the usual boring questions we large families face day in & day out. Cute!

http://youtube.com/user/quiverof7

Then there is this one by a mom called "Mom's Overture" about the things we say to our children in the course of a day. It's really good! Guarantee to make you smile!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W95Y8hNQiH8

Have fun!

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :
www.BuildingUpMoms.com

Yes, I decided I should update the look of my Blog to something cleaner and brighter.

So this is the New Look!  

If I am daring enough, I would do the same for my website but ah! I am afraid I will lose all the articles in there if I should hit a wrong button. Yes, I am quite computer illiterate   So I doubt I'll do anything to the website - yet!

For those of you who read my ramblings on a regular basis and bother to leave me comments, 

THANK YOU!

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :
www.BuildingUpMoms.com

But he said to me,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

This week has been yet another trying week. Well, it is always more stressful when one is ill. Then to make matters more exciting, dh also fell ill.   Really bad. In fact he is still nursing a bad sore throat even with antibiotics for the past 4 days! And he still had to go to work and run rehearsals and briefings. So there was no one to help me in the home front. Both of us just plodded on, riding on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.

And then to push things up yet another notch, I woke up with a stiff and srpained back - the way you wake up with a stiff neck, I suppose?! I had nursed the baby lying down and obviously crashed out. By the time I woke up to move her back to her cot, I had this excruciating pain. I must have lain in an awkward position and my muscles kinda froze in it! OUCH!

So I did my pity party thing and started to whine to God, "Why Lord? Why me? Why must I do this never- ending job of raising these children? I am very tired you know? I am sick you know? Why don't you just heal me, why don't you just give me perfect children? And why must I get a sprained back? I'm in PAIN! I can't do this, you know?" Grumble, whine, complain......

I was not a pleasant person to be with.   Even my oldest child commented, "Mom, I know you are in a bad mood!" and of course everyone avoided me like the plague - well, at least I got smart kids! Lol!

In the midst of all that grumbling and mumbling, I heard God's voice speaking to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness." Ah!!!! Light bulb moment!

When I am weak, then He can be strong. If I were strong, why should I need God? No, I am not saying that God caused all these to happen to me so that He can show His powers, ok? Our God is not a perverse God!

But isn't it true that when things are going well, we tend to ignore God and "Praise The Lord" just rolls off our tongues without any real thought? But only in a "crisis" mode, that we earnestly seek God?

Remember the Israelites in the book of Judges, who did what was right in their own eyes and only when faced with extreme oppression that they would cry out to the Lord? Before that, it was every man for himself. No one bothered about God.

But I digress.

When I am weak, I turn to God, seek His face, walk closer to Him and discover the simple joy of resting in Him even in the midst of chaos and stress. Isn't it lovely that we have a God to look to anytime, anywhere?

Indeed,

"(His) grace is sufficient for me...when I am weak then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at :
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Cough, Cough, Cough!

Waaaah!!!!!!

Sigh! There I go again! waking the baby up with my non-stop loud coughing. This has been going on for the past week. Terrible feeling. I don't know about you but I absolutely detest catching a cough. It always seems to take forever to go away and there's no medication that helps. All the medication offered to me just makes me drowsy. Sure it helps to knock me out at night but then leaves me foggy-minded the next morning. No, thank you!

So I dutifully pop my Vit C and garlic. I tried Flumucil which always works great of getting rid of the phelgm in my children. But it did nothing for me!

Will be trying some herbal alternative next if it doesn't get better. Was told that slippery elm and mullein works great for coughs and phelgm. Now to check if they are safe for breastfeeding.

It's a terrible feeling to be sick! But life goes on, eh?

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be viewed at
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Something light for the weekend............

Monday, 12th November 2007 was the TV Premiere of Heroes in Singapore. Simply put it, the storyline has ordinary people discovering that they have extraordinary powers.

What has this got to do with anything right?

Well recently I was reading my much loved MOMYS digests and saw a great tagline that had me laughing, no cackling! at the computer.

It said,

I make milk, what is your super power?

Now is that cool or what? I never thought about it that way. I'd always taken my body's ability to make milk for granted. But now I discover I am a superhero!

Are you?

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at
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I am all for breastfeeding and natural childbirthing. Not because it is the "in thing" nor am I a New-Ager harkening back to the "good ole days" .

I just believe that breastfeeding and natural childbirth are part of the grand design of God when he created the heavens and the earth. He made our bodies to conceive, carry, birth and nourish babies!

But obviously in this fallen world, not many people believe what I believe - Christians or not. I had someone ask me (paraphrased) - what's the big deal in having a natural birth? Baby still comes out in the end, right? And of course I have heard what every breastfeeding mother hates to hear "Formula is as good as breastmilk".

Yes, no matter how we birth, by the grace of God, both mother and baby come through it fine and glory still is given to the Lord of Hosts. And unless a child has severe allergies, a formula-fed baby turns out as well as a breastfed one.

In other words why bother?  Take the easy route - have an epidural (afterall, you only throw up what!) and feed the baby formula (then you get to sleep all nite while someone else feeds the baby). Why make life difficult?!

Yes, why make life difficult?

Well, for one, I believe in following God's design for our bodies  He is my Creator and He knows how our bodies function best.

But what if someone else doesn't believe in what I believe? How much do I push my views forward? Should I launch into a "Why you should birth naturally" and "Why you should breastfeed" walking advertisement? Or should I just keep my mouth shut and be nice? Especially if they are non-believers.

A recent example : My sil gave birth recently. She did the whole managed birth deal (even before contractions were felt, she had the epidural put in?!) and then attempted to nurse all of one week. Despite me telling her to hang in there, to just take each day as it comes, making 2 special trips (with all 6 children in tow) down to her place to show her how to nurse lying down, she stopped nursing directly after one week. Instead, she dutifully pumps out the milk every 3hrs or so - even at nite!

Yes, kudos to her for being so dligent but - what a waste of time and effort!!! All that pumping, washing, sterilising of bottles/teats/pump. And yet, the amount she pumped is insufficient for the baby's needs. So she has to supplement the ebm (expressed breastmilk) with formula.

She could have spent all that time and effort nursing baby directly and bonding with the baby at the same time! Yes, it is tiring to nurse a newborn baby especially if it is the mom's 1st time. But isn't that what motherhood is about?

Since I don't really know her that well (I can count the number of times we have spoken since she got married!) I didn't push things too hard.

But now, I am wondering - should I have?

Disclaimer : I am not against taking epidural or any other pain relief during childbirth nor am I against giving a baby formula. BUT I am saddened by people who aren't even open to having a natural childbirth and who don't persevere in breastfeeding their babies.

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Articles for the Christian SAHM can be found at
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.... Dh, not me!

So I am here holding fort for the next 3 days & 2 nites....and envying the quiet dh is getting!  Well, at least for 1 day!

He has organised this Silent Retreat for the students of Covenant Vision School of Ministry (CVSOM). So as one of the facilitators, he has only today to be quiet. Tomorrow he has to be provide spiritual direction to the students on the hows & whys of this retreat - now I am hoping I get this part right. Haha! But anyhow, he won't get to be quiet tomorrow for sure! So he'd better enjoy whatever quiet he is getting today.

Everytime dh has to be away from us for a while - in Singapore or not - I often think about other SAHMs who have to hold the fort whenever their dhs go on regular business trips. Sure it was easier for me when we had less children to handle but any kind of separation often gets me down. Then I would think of some MOMYS friends I have whose dhs are in the military, posted on long assignments away from their families! Wow! Now that is even harder to handle!

Now I know why women were created by God to be multi-taskers!

But that would also be why I think a Silent Retreat would be so hard for me! Lol! First I would have nothing to do except sit still and be with God for 3 days and 2 nites! Next I wouldn't be able to talk! Wow! I would love to just be in the presence of the Lord but oh wow! I think I would need a week to unwind and be still! Talk about being disciplined to just be still & listen to God.

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I have been pondering on a few matters lately - and this is one of them.

Since I am very goal orientated, I tend to think that what really matters is the end, the destination, of any project I am involved in. The road taken to get there is ignored or brushed off.

This reminded me of what I read in my Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest devotional that the journey taken is as important, if not more important than the destination. He says (and I paraphrase) that in taking that journey that God has called us to, God is moulding us and bringing us closer to Him. How we respond to Him as we take the journey is more important to Him than the end result.

This has made me re-examine my own life and the things I take on. What does God want me to learn on the way? If I am only concerned about the end, then I could just bulldoze my way through, get ruthless and cold, and ignore people's feelings just to get the job done. So even if the job was well-executed, it does not bring glory to God. Not to mention what a bad testimony I could be for Him!

That the journey is as important, if not more important than the destination also works out in another facet of my life. As a homeschooling mom, I can bulldoze my way and insist that the children complete their work (destination). But if they hate the whole learning process (journey) then I would have failed.

How about you? Is your journey more important or your destination?

For more articles on being a SAHM, check out
www.BuildingUpMoms.com

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My Utmost for His Highest, Updated Edition in Today's English
By Oswald Chambers / Discovery House Publishers

This edition of Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest combines the readability of the modern NKJV edition of the Bible, with the timeless wisdom of Chamber's bestselling classic devotional in readable, easily understood, up-to-date English. Featuring daily insights on everything from adversity and assurance, to worry and worship, My Utmost for His Highest will help you to apply biblical truths in today's modern world. Includes complete subject and Scripture indexes, along with 366 timeless, inspirational devotions, and a forward from Charles Stanley.

...I haven't dropped off the face of the earth  I, we, have been ... surprise, surprise...busy!

The only reason I have time to write anything today is because it is our Break Week!

Baby
So, what have we been busy with? Well, adding a new baby to the household adds on a lot more work than you think! How can someone so small generate so much work?! Lol! But it is definitely all worth it when she smiles her toothless smile at us and coo-es earnestly when you speak to her. Her siblings love her to bits! The 2yr old is very sweet, always telling me that she will look after her. We give thanks that there has been no sibling rivalry. It is indeed very sweet to see them watching out for each other.

Homeschooling
Then there is homeschooling. This is our 4^th offical year in homeschooling. We school all-year round, taking a week-long break every 4 weeks. And our school year starts in August and ends in July. If we follow the Singapore school model, it means we have a P4, P2, K2, K1 and N1 this school year! But being more laid back than most moms here, those in pre-school level are doing very little compared to those in those expensive pre-schools :)

My challenge for homeschooling is not in giving work out for them to do. That's the easy part! Lol! My challenge is marking their work (Maths) and returning it to them on that very day so that corrections/explanations can be done before the next day's work is tackled. In order to achieve that goal I set, I have cut down my computer time a lot! I only turn on the laptop after dinner, in between bathing the younger children, reading to the toddler, packing up the house, etc.... Which means I am left with at most 2 hrs in total, to check email, do my research and work on the website. Realistically, it means that I have absolutely no time to work on the website or blog until we take our break.

Housework & Cooking
Well, laundry has definitely increased with the addition of the baby! I have also noticed that the house has become dustier with all the incense burning overtime during the Hungry Month “celebration”! My immediate neighbour, a very friendly and pleasant family, burns incense BIG TIME! And unless I keep our windows shut all the time, the smell and the ash comes into our home :( So I have been mopping twice a week instead of my usual once a week. Thankfully the baby is fully breastfed so there's been no change in the family meals – yet!

Ministry Commitments (*)
We praise God that dh has been getting lots and lots of opportunities to preach and teach. But that means that I have to hold the fort at home singlehandedly day and night. Most ministry engagements are at night and during the weekends so dh's increased workload means I just have to hold everything together from morning to night more often. One good thing that has come out of this is that it has forced me to be more creative and productive with my time.

On days when the baby cooperates and takes her evening nap when I have to bathe the 4 and 2 yr old and wash up the dinner dishes, all's fine. But usually (Murphy's Law!) she doesn't. So she'd be fussing (either wanting to nap but can't settle or wanting to be carried). Then you'd see me rushing to turn her baby mobile on (thank God she likes that – for now at least!) bathe 1 child-rush and rewind the baby mobile-rush back to bathe 2^nd child-rush back again to rewind baby mobile-prepare her bath water- bathe her-then stop to take a breather. I often wonder what my blood pressure readings would be at that particular time of the night.

I know this mad rush can be eased if I do not bathe them at night. But that to me is a non-negotiable.  In our hot and humid climate it is just plain yucky (to me) to send them to bed sticky and grimey. I know in cooler countries, children take a bath once or twice a week! In our family, we shower a minimum of twice a day (even the baby) – when they wake up and before bedtime. We do not sleep in air-conditioned rooms so there is some perspiration and smell emited during the night thus requiring the morning shower. Besides I used to work with someone who never showered before she came to work and we could smell her before we saw her! Eeks! I would like to instil a habit of personal hygiene now rather than later.

Most nights dh doesn't return home till 10:30pm or later. That is why I am very thankful that the older children have been taught to be very independent. I just need to tell them what to do and they can just do it with no hand-holding. Eg. Sometimes I have to nurse the baby at mealtimes, then the assigned meal helper will help the younger siblings, especially the 2yr old with their food (usually to get more food). When I had only 2 and 3 children, I used to have to nurse the baby at the dining table with one hand and dish out/cut up food for the other children with the other hand.

Priorities
All these activities make for a very full and busy schedule daily. And that is why I have not been updating my website nor blogging. In order to be productive and responsible, I have to prioritise. Which will be what I would like to write about next!

(*) Find out more about our Ministry at
www.BroHenson.org

Visit my website at www.BuildingUpMoms.com for more articles
that support the Christian SAHM.

Have you watched Dynamic Korea on Channel News Asia? It comes on every Sunday night at 8:30pm. It is a great show!  Our whole family gathers to watch it (one of the rare times that the younger ones are allowed up so late!).

It is amazing what these people can do. And it is all because they take great pride in their work. Last Sunday's episode featured a man who was responsible for moving & packing car tyres. Now most people will think of it as a mundane, lowly job. But not this guy. He took so much pride in his job that he is considered a "master" at what he does.

He had perfected the art of moving the heavy tyres from one place to another so efficiently that he could even make his car tyres go round a pillar to the worker on the other side with just a flick of his wrist! Amazing!

Yet another week featured a man whose job was to place a fixed amount of salt into a fish's mouth without a weighing scale. Not only could he do that with almost 100% precision (the producers put him to a challenge) he was fast!

Again his job is a seemingly lowly and mundane one. But he obviously did not think so considering the way he had practiced at it and made himself a "master" of his craft!

It just makes me wonder how much each of us can achieve if we took that much pride in our work!

Don't many people look down at the SAHM who has to cook, clean and raise the children instead of pursuing a glamourous working career? And sadly, some SAHMs look down upon themselves as well!  But we should take a leaf out of these guys' books!

Let's take pride in what we do - be it changing the twentieth diaper in the last 2 hrs or crawling under the table to sweep up the crumbs left by the children!  And why?

Because we are working for the King of Kings!

Let us keep on keeping on moms!

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Check out our website for more articles for Christian SAHMs.
www.BuildingUpMoms.com
We also stock Christian books for Men, Women, Children and the Family at 
Building Up Moms Resource Corner

Sigh. It is depressing to go shopping for clothes post partum.  Especially when one is - like me - in between sizes. So which size does one buy???

I went shopping for nursing clothes last week. But in the end I only bought 1 top since everything else I tried was either too fitting or too loose. The young lady was very kind, telling me that I will lose weight.  I know I will lose my post partum weight. But the question is - when???? 3mths? 6mths? 1 yr? 3 yrs?!?!?! Lol!

Meanwhile, you'll probably see me in the same few tops and dresses that I can wear - for now! 

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Check out our website for articles for Christian SAHMs.
www.BuildingUpMoms.com
We also stock Christian books for Men, Women, Children and the Family at 
Building Up Moms Resource Corner