John&Val's Blog

The power of a praying woman

johnnval — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:34:12 +0000

Today I found a book titled ‘The Power of a praying woman’. Upon reading the first few pages, I realised that this is what I needed in my life… definitely the power of prayers. One thing Stormie Omartian (author of book) said that struck more than one chord for me… that we, women, often find it easier to pray for others than to pray for ourselves. The other thing that was a WOW! for me was the statement that women seem to rely a lot on the men to pray for them and give them the appreciation when we should really just turn to Jesus! Yes, the guys just don’t cut it! But Jesus does!

I guess reflecting on what Stormie said and the hollow feelings I had, I suppose the empty feelings I have in me is a sign that I definitely need the powers of prayer in my life. I’ll read on and will come back here to share my thoughts…

For now, my prayer is that I will have the strength to complete reading the book…. I think I need to read/see/hear what God has to say to me through Stormie’s writing.

Longans vs Jelly – which would you eat first?

johnnval — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:24:48 +0000

As a general rule, Matthew does not like fruit..The only concession he has made to date are eating canned fruits. So when Dad noticed how Matthew was eating his jelly, he was curious. He saw how Matthew would scoop out the longans to eat first and then kept the jelly aside.

So dad asked him why. Matthew answered, ‘Longans are like homework. You eat them first then you get to the good parts.’

Guess this must be an indication that the usual homework mantra has sunk into his head… : ) Found it facinating that he could relate the ‘do your homework first then you can play as much as you want’ to eating fruit jellys.

On second thoughts, Matthew has a habit of keeping his favourite food for last.. so that he can savour the enjoyment of this food morsel. Very opposite to the girls. Judith on the other hand would eat her favourite food first!

What’s the balance? Being firm or not?

johnnval — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:09:34 +0000

At a recent get-together where we brought our 2 little girls, Judith interrupted my conversation with a friend. She wanted my help to get her to break into the group of older kids who were playing tag. They were all primary school age, and were physically about twice her size. As I was deep in conversation, I did not notice her until she kept going ‘mummy….’ several times and rattling off her request.

I reacted quickly by telling her off for interrupting my conversation. But my friend asked me, ‘Why are you so fierce with her?’ Later my friend took it upon herself to bring my girl to the group and get them to play with her. Another friend who saw the whole thing also came up to tell me that sometimes it can be hard for smaller kids to break into a larger group. My reply was that I knew Judith could do it, to which my friend said, ‘well, as long as you know her limits…’

The whole incident made me embarressed because clearly the way I reacted was not what my friends thought I should do. Perhaps it also showed me up in a “bad” light as a mother. I was also bothered that it could leave a scar on my relationship with my daughter.

There are many times when I ask myself if I am being too harsh with my Judith. Of all the children, she is the one I worry about because she can be very reactive. I do not want to end up pushing her to the edge and then it would spoil our relationship for later.

Being a mother is not easy… especially in trying to juggle what’s right or not, what should be done or not… I try to be firm… but it seems that everytime I am, I get told that I am being too firm with my children.

But I question if I am not firm NOW, whether it would also serve to impair their formative years and they end up being spoilt kids who don’t know how to behave…

I guess I don’t have an answer… I suppose if it were an easy question, it would not be such a headache in the first place. I only pray that for all my being firm, my children will understand one day my reasons for being so.

11 years of marriage

johnnval — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:41:25 +0000

Today’s our 11th wedding anniversary! We give thanks to God for the many blessings we have received throughout these beautiful years. Through the ups and downs, we have grown closer, and even better best friends than ever!

Still remember the courting days when we first met way back in 1994 in NUS…. the long lunch walks we took from Science Fac through Sheares Hall and over to even Arts Fac to eat.

Well, all those courting days eneded up with ‘I Do’ and we became the sacrament to each other on 10 Oct 1998. Still remember the sermon Father Johnson Fernandez gave us. He told us that a married couple needed to say 12 words often to each other when the occasions demanded them. Oftentimes when they are needed, they go together as a package…

1. I am sorrry

2. I was wrong

3. Please forgive me.

4. I love you.

So yes, we have had many times when we have had to practice what Father Johnson said. There were also other lessons that we had to “practice’ like making love a decision, being united as one and always communicating with each other. Being a sacrament to each other has made us both even more aware of our Catholic Christian promises to each other today. Here’s praying for continued blessings and guidance for our marrriage to grow.

Man and Wife

Originally uploaded by Val’s creations

Sports day for kids

johnnval — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:37:50 +0000

Today’s sports day for Judy and lower primary games for Matt. We went to see Judy’s games. This also doubled up as the children’s day celebrations. Quite chaos as expected. What peeved me a lot was that when the green team (Judy & Adele’s team) was playing the hoop game, they were the first team across the finishing line. Then the blue team came in. BUT the game umpire went to elect the blue team as no. 1 spot. No one else realized this mistake. So in the end, the girls had to settle for 2nd place. They played 2 games, and for the second game involving a ball, the girls’ team came in third.
As for Matt, we later found out that his team was 2nd runner up : ) so overall quite an ok haul of prizes for the 2 kiddos.

MJ and hair discussion

johnnval — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:53:29 +0000

We were on our way home when the coonversation in the car suddenly turned to Michael Jackson. Jude was opposed to having her hair cut, and I was trying to get her to just go for a trim. So I told her that getting a slight trim might make the hair grow better.

Then she replied,’ Yah like Michael Jackson and become a girl-boy….like his hair so curly curly.’ Karti asked her what she meant, and the little one explained, ‘Michael Jackson has hair so long and so curly – so he is like a girl, then he become a girl.’

K could not resist asking her the next question. She asked Jud, ‘So you think Michael Jackson is handsome or pretty?’ To which, the reply came very firmly, ‘First he handsome then pretty.’

Guess that says it all!

80 wrist corsages!!!

johnnval — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:00:51 +0000

I was asked to help a friend who had to put together some 80 pieces of wrist corsages. She managed to rope in another friend as well, so together the 3 of us managed to complete some 80 corsages.

It was an interesting session because I learnt a lot from observing Christine! Mine were all and ugly… sorry girls who had to wear my creations! Hers were nice and sleak.. if you can describe corsages as ‘sleak’.

Oh man!!! Gender distinction

johnnval — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:39:41 +0000

It was an interesting exchange of exclamations yesterday on our way to the swimming pool. Mum said something and she said ‘Oh maaannn!!’

The girls then chipped in and said, ‘No mama! You must say Oh lady! Because you are not a man!’

So mum asked,’Then what would you use?’

No. 2′s reply? ‘Oh girl!’

Turning the tables on the kids : )

johnnval — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:08:23 +0000

Scenario: Weekday night @ 9.30pm, at GP’s place.
Us: Eh, it is late. We need to go home!
kids: Wait… 5 more minutes (watching Tom & Jerry on TV)
[1 minute later]
Us: So can we go yet?
kids: NOoooooo!!!
[30 sec later]
parents: Are we done yet?
kids: Noooo!!
and on it goes, until the ultimatum is given : )

Times like these, we would both turn to each other and grin. As most parents would attest, it is usually the kids who would use this tactic – esp when you want to browse along the shops or are in the car, and then they will start…with the ‘Are we there yet?’ or ‘Are we done yet?’ … better still ‘Can we go yet?’ variety.

Another kids say…

johnnval — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:13:11 +0000

Conversation in the car, on the way home from Grandparents to home…
Matt: Look a Volkswagen Beetle!
Judy: Where?!
Matt: There! (pointing)
Judy: I can’t see!!
Matt: That’s because you don’t have sharp eyesight
Judy: No! It’s because you did not point it out to me!
…..Yes it was the start of chaos in the car.
kids… what can I say?