Of retreat and a reflection on PATIENCE

Updates about the retreat first! The family retreat we had was eventful and fun! Eventful because the room we had was..quite..quite..urm...bad. Sorry I could not find another word to describe it. Well, what can you expect when you only paid $138 for a 3D2N stay? Anyway, we were very thankful that Han slept well in her playpen! Very proud of her! Though she was busily trying to make familiar sense of her new surroundings just before she slept, she still deserved praise for being so adaptable! We definately feel more confident as parents to bring her out on trips and camps. We enjoyed the trip as we did different things like bringing Han to the Underwater World (much prefer the Perth and Sydney one!) . She enjoyed looking at the fishes at least! So that's good!

Onto mummyhood issues-I have set some goals for the next few weeks:
1. To wean her off BF for the main 3 meals of the day. Have to start early as I prepare to go back to work in 6mths time!
2. To get her to drink formula (from her straw cup!) for the 3 meals as supplement aside from the semi-solids. Of course, ideally I should express BM for this purpose, but I think my milk supply is dwindling since Han started solids and I really don't have the energy to express while taking care of her in the daytime!
Of course I still will jealously guard the 2 nursing sessions I have with her in the morning and night. Maybe nursing mothers should all be granted longer (paid??) leave so that all our children can be BF till 1 year old at least haha! I hope as BF takes a larger place in our society, this will be realised! I sometimes muse about switching jobs to be a lactation consultant! Maybe when I have 3 kids and ample experience!

Next 2 weeks, Evan will be working full days and that leaves me and Han alone at home! I pray that the Lord grant me strength and Han will not be fussing! I wonder if her 3rd tooth is coming out because she has been fussing lately while feeding! Well, yes yes, practise patience! That's the number 1 thing that God has been teaching me ever since I became a parent. That made me understand to a deeper extend why in 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible says that love is first and foremost PATIENT. Love is Patient. To love means to be patient. If I feel loved, means I know someone has been patient with me. When I give love, I give patience.

Now that must also means that God knows we are an impatient lot I suppose? Does impatience stem from self-centredness? I ponder..
I need God to help me to be patient for I know by my own flesh, my love for Han will never be what God wants it to be:)

Some versions of 1 Corinthians 13:4

NIV and NASB: "Love is patient" The Message: "Love never gives up" Amplified Bible: "Love endures long and is patient..." NKJV: "Love suffers long"

And I pray: Lord, allow me to know and be assured of the extent of your patience towards me that I may practise and give patience to those around me.

"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:6

"Cover Baby"

My picture On Magazine Cover

For comic relief haha. Evan has been asking Hannah and me to go audition for Mother&Baby cover shoot. I told him that Han can make it but not me! Haven't been able to go for a facial in xmths! (I need to go for 1!!) Anyway, I think Han is indeed a cover baby!:)

I'm back again!

Have been pondering if I should restart my writing on this blog. It's been 7mths+ since the birth of Hannah and I have been writing in my journal instead. Time constraints of a new mummy:) well, things indeed have settled into a good routine by now! So I thought: why not? start writing again! And also, I have always hope my blog will be a blessing to all who read it, so I should blog again!
Been a stay at home mum (SAHM) for 7 months now. Decided not too long ago that I'll extend my no-pay leave to end of this year and go back to teaching again in Jan2010. I really want to thank God for His providence and grace, in even allowing me to successfully extend my NPL to end of the year. Thank God for a wonderful P! And for providing our family with all that we need. We want to believe that at the end of the year, we will have not just enough, but MORE than enough, for our God is a God of "more than enough"!
Enjoying every minute of being a SAHM now and it's time to start "training" Hannah to have a working mummy soon! I hope to be a SAHM in the near future when our finances allow! For now, I am just extremely thankful to God for allowing me to stay home with Hannah for the 1st year of her life:)
Very excited about our 1st family retreat to Sentosa Costa Sands tommorow! It's a much needed getaway for us:) Bringing Hannah along and looking forward to bring her out to Underwater World and to the beach:) We want to rest in the Lord too and be refreshed in Him:)
So will blog again when I'm back from the retreat! Pray we will have a great time!!
P.S i'll probably not post too many pics on this blog since most of my photos will be on Facebook:)