My 2007 memories

How time flies, my baby is 6 months old already!

An extract of my Motherhood hardcopy diary.....

When My Eldest girl was 4 years and 3 mths. May 2007



“The real ability of a mother to secure a spiritual legacy is based on the strength of her relationship with her child. As we tenderly care for our children, meeting their needs, teaching them and guiding them, praying for them and modeling our faith we are also anchoring their hearts to our home, our values and our beliefs. These ties are built over a period of many years, through the small ways we spend the minutes of our days and large ways in which we celebrate the momentous events of our lives.”(Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson)


The mother who reaches the HEARTFELT NEEDS of her children by helping them feel loved and secure, by believing in their dreams, by noticing when they stray and gently steering them back in the right direction, and by teaching them what they need to know to live full and meaningful lives accomplishes a great work for the Lord.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 14)


I was ONCE again confused over my role as a mother recently till I reread Sally’s books about the mission of motherhood that I wasn’t alone in my confusion, my uncertainty as well as fear. But what truly consoled me was what she said.” As a woman now pushing fifty, I realize that those foundational years in the life a child – those same years when I sometimes thought I was accomplishing NOTHING – have a LASTING effect on almost every aspect of the rest of that child’s life”

So this deeply affirmed what is in my heart. I may not see the tangible RESULTS NOW that measure my SUCCESS as a mother, I know it WILL PAY OFF EVENTUALLY, in a long run…… my CURRENT role is motherhood and that means that .” I am to follow the Lord’s design for my marriage – cleaving to my husband , supporting him, honoring him, loving him as my own flesh and I am to shepherd the hearts of the children whom he has providentially placed in my care.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 14)

I am indeed blessed to have parents who support my decision to be a homemaker, especially my dad who sacrificed so much just to send me to overseas universities. He NEVER thought that my current role as a homemaker is a waste of all the money and energy that he has spent on me. On the contrary, he gladly supports my role and thrilled to see me excel as a wife and mother serving my family!

I have to keep a clear mindset about what our culture honors and what our Father in heaven honors. Yes, there were so many times that I was swept away by societal norms about today’s mothers…to live your dream and leave your child with a stranger so that I could climb the pay scale, or what u called the cooperate ladder, afford vacations and materialism.

I have to resolve the two conflicted drives of my hearts – my commitment to motherhood Versus my lurking desire to have life my OWN WAY. My divided heart was tearing me apart. I’m thankful that God to spoke to my heart about my confusion, He sent Sally to clarify my current role, and season of life. At least I know being a mother is a FULL TIME JOB, though demanding, exhausting, devalued, it is deeply fulfilling. I can give my primary attention and calls for an intentional commitment, not whatever is left over after a busy day at the office. I must remember clearly that loving my children, protecting them, and building them into a godly heritage is a life’s work worth more than any MONEY, or STATUS I might find in a career.

I decided to follow Sally’s words….
“ I needed to accept days like this – my children’s NEEDINESS, the myriad mindless tasks, and even my own occasional discomfort- as part of my partnering with my husband toward our mutual goal of building a godly heritage for Christ. I needed to nurture my children with my songs, my words, and my physical labor, treating each as sacred in their development toward becoming healthy, mature adults. I needed to face the reality that all of the “important stuff” I was longing to do had far less eternal significance than what I was involved in doing. If I didn’t commit myself wholeheartedly to the demands of motherhood, I would never be able to do my best, because my heart would ALWAYS BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.” (Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson, pg 45)

Wow, this is what I wrote in my diary some time back..... hee hee I think I'm STILL TRYING VERY HARD to be committed. What an arduous task to follow Sally's example. Just DO it, one day at a time!

How to be a Happy person?

I just received this quote from my customer and I'm convicted!

The happiest people dun need to have the
BEST of everything;
they make the MOST of everything they have.

How often I have become so complacent and felt that everything seems so wrong because I DUN have the BEST of everything. I have forgotten to be contented and grateful for WHAT I HAVE. Though some may not be the BEST, but yet I could make the MOST of what I have.......If I seriously think about it, it is adequate even for me to succeed! I guess we have to stop making excuses for ourselves for NOT succeeding or being HAPPY because we dun have the BEST BUT learn to cope with what we have or make the BEST out of it!

There are simply too many awesome things that God has graciously given me. I need to seriously reflect them, especially when the new year is coming real soon. I started a "tradition" of writing a list of grateful things that happened during that particular year. This tradition was "inaugurated" when we relocated to Shanghai four years ago. My first year over in this place with no family and friends support was the toughest, yet God still gave me lots of wonderful things to thank for! There were so may times that I felt I can't make it in that place, somehow we just pulled through till my husband finished his 3 years contract. In fact, I gradually grew to like that place even the traffic jams!

I have learnt that we just have to look for the treasure within the storms and believe that God has given us the BEST of everything we need to navigate suceessfully! Meanwhile just enjoy the rough ride as well!

My eldest daughter and I used to do to these....

YES messy activities! But it was FUN. Sometimes life is equally messy...we just have to learn to enjoy them!







Eversince I tried to start a home internet business, I dun seem to have enough time for alot of things. I seem to be really overwhlemed by it. It is difficult to juggle time and somehow I know I'm not spending meaningful time for my two girls. I really hope I can do the same activities with my youngest girl as well. I know DEEP down in my heart that how time flies and I can never turn back the clock for them. I keep reminding myself to keep my piorities right...TO spend time with them ..yet it is so TOUGH!

My most recent conversation has been like this." Hey sweetie, just wait for a little while, mummy has to reply this email." Somehow this became endless....

JUST 3 SIMPLE words

I received an email from my sister-in-law about strengthening our interpersonal relationships with just 3 powerful words. I can't agree more.....how often we are too busy, too cold, too tired, too prideful, too indifferent, too WHATEVER to use them!

SO WHAT ARE THE 3 POWERFUL YET simple words??

I be there
I love u
I respect you
Maybe you're right
I forgive you
I thank you
Count on me
Let me help
I understand you

These are so effective, warm and encouraging WORDS, yet we are so stingy with them and I know I'm guilty of this. After the sudden death of my God-brother, I realised I have neglected many crucial relationships and took them for granted. I'm trying my best to catch up with them. BUT like any other mums who multitasked, I still juggle with this alot. HOWEVER my coming resolution will be at least to remember to use these 3 words SPARINGLY WITH A SINCERE HEART.

The person who wrote this email should be deeply blessed cos he/she reminds us that when these 3 simple words spoken or conveyed will deeply enrich relationships!

Have u use these words LATELY?

Nurturing linked to brain development

Something that I found that was pretty profound.
Below is the extract from Child Developmental Psychology.

Nurturing linked to brain development

Experiments conducted on rats by Canadian researchers suggest that nurturing enhances neural connections in the brain and improves both memory and the learning of some tasks. The findings are a part of McGill University scientists' investigation into how one's environment affects the brain.

In this specific part of the study, university scientists examined how a mother's nurturing would influence brain development. McGill scientists divided 32 rats into two groups, with one group providing a high level of care to its offspring, including actions like stroking and grooming and another group that was less attentive in its mothering. The offspring that received attentive nurturing were able to perform certain tasks better such as finding a platform in a swimming maze.

Michael Meaney, endocrinologist and lead author of the study, reports that the findings are an indication of how nature and nurture foster brain development. "Activity of the genes is always influenced by the environment," reports Meaney. "And the most important feature of the environment for an infant is its mother."

So no wonder mummys have this tendency to feel guilty all the time!! We have so much to bear, the MASSIVE responsibility to nuture! Sometimes really wonder what have I done as mummy. I wish babies do give me a step by step instruction book to follow!