Mission Accomplished!

Hunny tasked me to clear out our storeroom and our cupboards so as to make space for baby stuff so time ago. I just couldn't get down to it cos' it was a lot of work and I really didn't know where to start. But I don't know what came over me today, I went on a discarding frenzy out of nowhere and look at the stuff that I threw out...

I didn't even know that I had that many empty boxes at home. I'm very happy with myself, managed to clear up a lot of cupboard space our cold wear, wedding gown and suits etc.

Another major achievement this evening...I finally completed my very first altered art!

My very own personalised pocket book!

I bought a cheap note book from Daiso, removed the covers and decoupaged them before binding them back.

Not bad for a first try huh?

My next project...clipboard!

Brunch at Cafe Cartel...

Today was really nice, Hunny and I got to sleep in cos' I didn't have to serve today. I really missed Sundays like this...wake up late, don't have to rush, spend time with Hunny.

We went down to The Cafe Cartel at Bukit Panjang Plaza cos' we wanted to pick up our curtains from the dry-cleaners. It was really a step of faith for me cos' I've had many bad experiences with the food at The Cafe Cartel in the past...mainly the ribs. I cannot count the number of burnt ribs I got from them. Anyway, the food wasn't too bad today... decided to go for something safer...

I had the Sliced Teriyaki Beef...not too bad, could be a little less sweet.


Hunny had the Hawaiian Chicken Leg...

Overall, a good experience cos the service staff were very nice...my only complaint about the place is this....

...dirty chairs....

...very dirty chairs...

...really very dirty chairs...!

An established F&B outlet like this should really pay attention to the cleanliness of the place. God knows what those stains are???

Oh, by the way, Hunny got herself a beautiful Henna on her right hand yesterday at the carnival...according to her, it's a swan...but I told her it looked like a snail ha ha...don't believe me? Take a look and decide...


I still think it's a SNAIL! Hah!

Under One Roof - Part Two

Yet another good sermon shared over the pulpit today. Pastor Danny shared about Building Great Relationships with scripture references from Ephesians 5:22 to 6:4. I believe most of us are familar with the passage that talks about husbands and wives, parents and children. But knowing it is one thing, practicing it is another. God reminded me today about the relationships I hold dear to me and how to build and sustain them. I will not mention much about wives submiting to their husbands except that I was reminded that He (or she) who the Son sets free is free indeed. As such, I must never treat my spouse as someone who I can lord over. When she sumits to me, she is submitting:
a) as an equal (God created her to compliment me.
b) to my headship (as head of the household cos' I'll ultimately be reponsible for my family before God).
c) with limits (nothing outside the law and the will of God)

Two points in the sermon really spoke to me today because it is something really applicable and real.

1) Love your wives as Christ loves the church - Eph 5:25-33
How do we do that? Pastor Danny suggested 3 ways from the word of God.

a) Be a servant Leader - Hosea 3:1
I should lead by serving her needs. This is something I'm really guilty of. Time and time again I've failed to serve my wife. Time and time again I've failed to meet her needs. One thing in particular...quality time. I have no excuses, sometimes all I wanted was to sitin front of the TV and waste away, while Hunny was somewhere craving for some attention. I have to learn to be a better listener and friend.

b) Be Faithful - Hosea 3:2
I don't sleep around, I don't commit adultery, is that enough? Nope...cos' everytime I picked up a girly magazine, I was already adultery in my heart. Pastor said that a Jealous wife is a gift from God and I agree with him. Cos' my wife's sign of jealousy, is her way of protecting our relationship. I thank God that Hunny is easily threatened when another female enters into her domain. It's her way of guarding our relationship and I'm thankful for that. So I will have less female friends, but so what? I'd choose Hunny anytime.

c) Meet her needs - Hosea 3:3
Kinda related to a) so I will not elaborate further.

The other point that hit me hard was about honoring our parents. It's not enough just to do it on special occasions like Fathers'/Mothers' Day, birthdays etc. It's more than obeying them. Now that I'm older, it's really about being there with them and for them. It's tough when you are married and starting a family on your own, you really want time with your own little family unit to bond and to grow. But I guess we really have to make it a point to spend time with them regularly. Just spending time with my parents today for example, I can tell that they really longed for our company. Not just me but my wife's as well, Ma and Pa really enjoy being around us and talking to us. Well...they will probably not have to miss us for long cos' soon we'll be bugging them to look after our daughter ha ha! But seriously speaking, I do feel bad that I don't visit them enough. I can give a thousand and one reasons for not going over to their home...work, no car, expensive cab fare, need to rest etc. But at the end of the day, I just need to put in a little more effort. And since I'm on this...it's time to visit both my grandmas soon. Oh...and my nanny too.

The final point in today's sermon was about being a good parent - Eph 6:4
I sincerely pray that in time to come, I'll be able to:
a) Govern as a wise King.
b) Guard as a brave Warrior.
c) Guide as a faithful Prophet and Priest.

It's not easy to be a good husband, son and father. But I know that with God's help I can do it...so God...help me...please...;oP

Helpless....

I feel helpless...
Hunny has been coughing very badly for the past week and because she's so "big" now, it hurts her back when she coughs. It's so bad that she has problems sitting down. I really hate not knowing what to do and not being able to do anything. I cannot massage for her cos' it hurts when I touch her back, I can't exactly carry her around the house either. I feel really useless at this point of time. I hope the panadol works cos' I really don't know what else to do to ease her pain... Friends, we covet your prayers...

Under One Roof - Part One

Pastor Jeff preached a very real sermon this week on "How to deal with our Anger". Scripture referrence from Eph 4:25-32.
It was a much awaited reminder on how easy it is to get upset with the people we love and in our anger hurt each other. I love Pastor Jeff's preaching not because he is good at using humour to bring across a point, but because he uses very simple and real examples to teach kingdom truths and principles. Allow me to share my thoughts about what has been taught this week.

When things get heated up and you are really really upset, try the 3 T's.
1) Time Out.
2) Talk to yourself.
3) Tell God about it.

1) Time Out
Pastor Jeff encouraged us to call a time out when tempers are high. It is better to walk away from the tense situation and take a breather to clear your head first, instead of trying to explain or apologise cos' the other party may not be in the correct frame of mind to talk. Or worse, your apology may not even be sincere in the first place since we are already so frustrated.
Well...I have major problems with this cos' I don't like walking away from a fight. I've always believed in settling the issue immediately so as to avoid any misunderstanding. And me being a confrontational person does not help either. Those who know me well will remember the seasons in my youth when the relationship between Dad and I was very strained. We argued all the time and I mean ALL the time. Dad was a typical asian father whose way of showing love and concern is to discipline his children. You know the chinese saying - Da Shi Teng, Ma Shi Ai - meaning to hit is to dote, to scold is to love. Going by that understanding, Dad really loved me and doted on me cos' I was hit and scolded everyday...I'm not kidding. Dad was bull headed by nature and me being my father's son was exactly like him. Mum used to comment that it was so ironic that of all the traits I could have inherited from my father, I had to inherit the one I disliked the most...generational "curse" I suppose. Anyway, a typical conversation with dad would go something like that...

Dad: Boy ah! (in a not so friendly manner)
Me: What... (likewise in a loud tone)
Dad: How dare you shout at me? I cannot call you is it? (voice raised)
Me: I didn't shout at you what!?? (voice also raised...exasperated)
Dad: You dare to argue back!!!
By this time, we would have caused the whole neighbourhood to start placing bets on who will win the fight...seriously.

It's times like these that I really appreciate the wisdom of my mum who literally had to drag me into my room (I would still be screaming in the room) and shut me up. If only dad and I had learned the importance of calling for a time out...me teenage days would have been a lot happier for everyone.

I'm still learning this truth in my marriage. Hunny commented that I'm an angry person...and I think she's right. Old habits die hard and I still find myself being very confrontational and charged up when I'm upset...at least with my wife. The good thing is that Hunny is usually the one who calls for the time out. The only problem is that I sometimes refuse to take it and insisted on having the last say. I thank God that she's willing to put up with all these. I guess I never really understood the importance of a time out. Paster Jeff made it very clear today, when calling for a time out:
a) No apology is needed.
b) Don't feel offended about walking away.
c) It is not meant to punish, reject or hurt.
I hated it when Hunny walks away in the midst of an argument (cos' I felt disrespected...but I think it's just an ego thing), but now I think my wife is a very wise woman.

2) Talk to yourself
Erm... I really don't know how to do that...feels funny...
But thanks to technology, I can do something similar....BLOG about it! It really helps cos' you tend to reflect and find out the root cause of the issue. But it's not going to work if we are in constant denial ha ha...

3) Tell God about it
This is the very thing I always end up not doing. Maybe it's because I'm ashamed of getting angry and doing soemthing stupid in my anger, so I dare not talk to God aboout it. But like Pastor Jeff said, it is even more important now that we articulate our true feelings and the condition of our hearts to God. He knows it already...He just wants us to acknowledge them.

So how do we Communicate in our anger?

1) Learn to speak Truthfully. (Eph 4:25)
It's more inportant to speak the truth in love instead of being fearful of conflict. Pastor suggested that we can try exercising the following 4 points:
a) State Observations
b) Express your feelings
c) Make known your need
d) Put forth your request

Pastor gave a very humourous illustration on using the above methods...imagine an argument between a husband and wife...

Husband: You are such a stupid woman!
Wife: If you are so smart, why did you marry me???
I don't I need to elaborate how this will turn out right?

What if the wife replied using the 4 steps?
Husband: You are such a stupid woman!
Wife: When you called me a stupid woman...(State observations)
...I was upset and hurt...(Express your feelings)
...it was a very disrespectful statement...(Make known your request)
...would you consider not doing that again? (Put forth your request)

Sounds too good to be true right? Maybe...but to reach this level we will probably have gone through the 3 T's so this might not be impossible afterall....

2) Learn to speak Graciously (Eph 4:29)
To do so is to say all things in the name of Jesus. Is is possible to curse or speak ill of another in the name of God??? I don't even want to try. Some scriptures to digest - Col 4:6, Col 3:16-17.

I thank God for his message today. I'm looking forward for more in the coming weeks. For more information about our family series this month, check out here.

Ok lah...I know this post quite serious...so here's a little Pastor Jeff humour to end it off....

A Loving Wife's Prayer
Dear Lord, give me the patience so that I may love my husband and understanding so that I may meet his needs. For if I ask for strength...I might just beat him to death!

Hunny...you don't pray that do you?

Do your part for charity!!!

Hunny participated in a charity crop conducted by MWL last week and her master pieces are up for bids!!! Check out her one of a kind handmade clipboards here. Start bidding and do your part for charity now!!! All proceeds goes to CARE Singapore.

If you are wondering which one she made....
Clipboards
1) Indian Summer
2) Wafuu - bidding has started for this one!!!
3) sk8r - my favourite!!!
4) Retrospin - very pink!!!

Cards
Not up yet...but look out for them.

They have other nice stuff which others made too. Some very pretty jewellery boxes and photo frames.

Go get them now!

Shopping Spree...

Yesterday Hunny and I went to Bukit Panjang Plaza for the dinner cos' I needed to make a trip down to Popular bookshop to get this...
I needed a simple file to hold some documents when I go for meetings.
By the time we got home, we were loaded with these...


Ok...before anyone lectures for spending so much let me clarify that we only paid for the camera and the Canon photo printer. The rest of the goodies were free... plus Harvey Norman was having some pretty good deals... so might as well.

We needed a new camera...or rather a good camera so that we can take good pictures for our scrapping. We also realised that it will be cheaper in the long run to use a dedicated photo printer (each print will cost only 30 cents), so we decided to take advantage of the Great Singapore Sale and make the big purchases.
I know Hunny is having a lot of fun with this:
The Canon Selphy

..and this!
The Canon IXUS 850

The freebies were pretty cool too. The printer came along with 3 sets of photo paper and cartridges..

And Canon must be feeling very generous, just check out the stuff that came with the camera...
2 x 2GB memory cards...

A multi-card reader...
And a camera kit that includes a camera bag, table tripod and cleaning kit. Plus we also got a free screen protector and strap to hang the camera around our necks...not a bad deal I must say...

There goes my July bonus...

Achey Day

I'm on MC today cos' I'm having diarrhoea...I actually have a lot of work to at the office but I just can't get out of the house this morning...needed to poo after every 3 steps. Aurrgh!!! Plus my left arm aches cos' I took a flu jab on Wed. I feel horrible.

Anyway, maybe I'll spend some time scrapping with Hunny today. I feel the mood for it. Buut the best thing about being on sick leave is this...I get to spend time snuggling up with Hunny! Here's a random picture of what we do when we are out together...

You'll be amazed with us, we can fall asleep anywhere ha ha!