Am reminded by this Christmas Message

The Christmas version

1 Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with Christmas bows,
Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but I do not
show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtimes, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work in the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have
To charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the house with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of parties and sing in the choir, but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug a child.
Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love does not envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails,
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost,
Golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas!

This year, we have BOTH the CHUA granparents here with us. We'll have a quiet
Christmas EVE, then attend our church's FIRST ever Christmas Day family
service, then lunch with 'extended family'. From the above, will whip up
simple Christmas dinner but have a few new friends over.

Finishing Well 2009

It is now December and as per normal, I will write a newsletter (sent)
or a blog to cap off the year.

Being a Covenanter, we've been taught to start things with the end
in mind. Thus this year 2009, we started with trepidation yet with the
end in mind....to finish well, joyous and one step closer to GOD!

2009 seemed to whip past too quickly. With Letitia pouncing into her
very first school year (Primary 2) in the public system, we took each
step in our own stride and made many progress and memories.
We salute the teachers that helped in educating and teaching Letitia,
in helping her learn to love the tough subjects and also in miraculously
bringing her to love the Chinese language.

Mathena stood proud and strong in her many achievements. She picked up
numbers and maths like a fish in water and matured tremendously in her
work at home. She's still reading non stop (like sis) but we've decided
to curb her Myopia with treatment before it gets too bad. Each year, we
see her blossom into a fine young lady and just today, her FIRST baby
tooth showed signs of shaking...

Our major trip this year was our 'return' trip to BRISBANE and SYDNEY.
It was an amazing yet eye opening trip where we recaptured our hearts
to the dry and dusty land of sunburnt sand. We fell in love(again) with the
clear blue skies, the clean cool air, the lovely breezes plus the never
ending coastal lines. We linked back up to our families (cousins to the
kids) and of course had a whale of a time catching up with friends of
long. We ate up our Aussie favourites (Pavlovas, meat pies, lots of
steaks, custards etc) and also went back many a memory lane for the
girls.... we know where home is! Just not sure when we can make it home
just yet!

Alex's year at work has lots of lows via the recession and the financial
crash. Being in the bank directly effected many things including the fast
and desperate need to hand in projects, to prove it's relevance and also
to create 'fund-worthy' things. He had to juggle people coming and going,
making it frustrating and challenging when things had to be done yet there's
not that many around to do it..... we wish dearly we could help out but
we only stood by him and gave him lots of cuddles. We love him dearly!

As a summary, we've spent majority of the year aiming to achieve 'heavenly'
things. Things that no human eye could see or measure. Events that touches
not just the outward but definately the inward. We spent many hours just
loving, being and listening. We've been SUPERBLY blessed by friendships,
care and love from all those around us. We NEVER felt alone nor 'isolated'.

As we near the end, my biggest role is to continue to host as many people
possible in my home (visitors), to create 'impact' in the visuals for the
coming children's camp in our church as well as redirect the hearts of
MANY families back to the basics of parenting while DAILY, being thankful
for being where we are.

Thank you to ALL who's been part of our lives in 2009!
God Bless You All!

She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her. ~ Proverbs 31:12