Bible verses

Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord ; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:27‭-‬31 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/isa.40.27-31.NIV

Sleepless nights

Haven't been sleeping really well since I came back from the trip... haiz.. thought I had overcome that..  but jet lag / insomnia seems to come back to visit an old friend.

There are struggles / battles/ challenges that I need to overcome. Praying for strength and God's wisdom. Praying that I will not stumble, nor will I look left and right but only at my Lord, for accomplishing His will is most impt. Lord I pray that I will continue to have faith, I know that you are my Maker and certainly You will never give me a task too huge for me to overcome. But Lord, I pray that You be with me, as I overcome my addictions, as I try to be a better person, I pray that You give me strength to do what is right. In jesus name I pray, amen.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1‭-‬2 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.51.1-2.NIV

Norway/ Denmark

Enjoying my cup of coffee while waiting for my next appt.. its relaxing and I'm thankful for it. To be able to enjoy the peace, the coffee and just simply listening to the music.

I've been back since Saturday. The weather was so cold in Norway and Denmark that I was literally buying winter clothes every other day while I was there. There were only 2 things worth buying there - strawberries and winter clothes.

* Bergen; Norway. Pretty mama and me with my new trench coat 

The rest of the things either cost more or could b purchased here at the same price. Such was the result of globalization. We saw many hand knitted sweaters/ souvenirs in Norway but they were so expensive that the practical me wont be able to differentiate it over a "made-in-china" equivalent. Sad truth of globalization.

*风景是美的

*不记得这是。。。

*while waiting to enter the restaurant. We had to take a boat to a private island for this lunch, which was my best meal for the whole trip. Hahahaha.. 

*postcard!

Having been on so many trips, the conclusion is that most places (europe) looks the same. It's the people that matters and I'm glad that everywhere we go, we are always a big group. I didn't need to worry abt sharing a table with strangers or engaging in meaningless small talk.. my mama is the social one who knows more people on the trip than me. There was once when she was talking to some other adviser and that person commented that she has seen my mama before on previous trips, but she has never seen me before..lol.. ya, mama is the qualifier while I'm the AP. Hahahahaha..  but I'm not complaining. .

*this was a surprise.. sakura!

*more sakura

* with my pretty 小师妹

*all photos were courtesy of my friendly colleagues who were so good at taking IG-worthy photos that I decided just to be thick skinned and ask them take for me throughout the trip..hahahaha

And so the 1 week trip ended faster than I thought. Didn't experience any jet lag on either legs for which I'm most thankful for. The flights were so comfortable, mainly bcoz mama paid for the biz class upgrades.. first trip where I was sleeping most of the time on the plane..

I'm looking forward to the Vancouver trip in June with William..  its scary to think of the many trips I'm having this yr but let's just enjoy the moment and let whatever happens, happens

Meltdown

This post was meant to talk abt the Europe trip that just happened but drama happened at home..  haiz...

Vera had a meltdown just before sleep time this evening. She came out of her room saying she was thirsty and cant find her water bottle. I asked her if she had left it in the car, but William said that she brought it up. I told her to search for it if she wanted a drink. She used her eyes to do a search and was done in 1 min. She cant find. I was busy. So was William. And most Importantly, I felt that enough was enough. She wasnt trying hard enough to find her things coz we were rescuing her all the time. I told her either she can go thirsty or ask her water bottle walk up to her and say hi. And thus began the 2 hrs episode.

I was determined to finish my work and go to the room. I was drowsy. Both of us were sick. And we had a long day. William brought me for 2 doc appts, 1 work appt and we brought the kids for Jewel preview. We must have been crazy to put so much on our plate. I know the easiest way is to simply give her a cup and quench her thirst so that she can go zzz but enough was enough.

Her papa ask her to bring her school bag over so that they could search for the bottle together. She refused, crying on the floor saying that the bag was too heavy. (It was the same bag she carried everyday to sch by the way). This took abt 15 mins before papa threw the bag to the kitchen (much further from her now). And ask her to bring over. Repeat heavy bag drama for another 15 mins. By now I had finished my work. I couldn't stand the way she bullied her papa. I threw the bag out of the house and near to the common rubbish chute. I was very angry. She was rude, and giving a lot of excuses. I wanted to skin her alive. (Honestly yes I would, if I could)

The fit of anger made me wanted to throw the bag into the rubbish chute but practicality it means we need to do a lot of repair work after that. . I carried thr bag and came back to the house, leaving her out of the door. I threw the bag into the balcony. Wanted to throw it out of the balcony but no, later kena killer litter. She came back in with papa. Papa did the repair work. Told her to apologise and hug me. She say she hated me and most likely wouldn't give her the bag. She was right. I was chilled with her bringing nothing to sch. Let her face the music tomorrow in sch and let her do the explaining.

Drama of making her apologize and hug me took a while (another 15 mins). But it dawned on me that this drama took a shorter time than previously (read vera meltdown). Okie, the temperature cool a little. Hugged her back. Explained to her that if she doesn't wan her bag, she doesn't need to have it. We can bless others. In between sobs, told her to collect her bag from balcony and proceed to papa station.

Papa went thru her stuff with her. Her bag was heavy bcoz she had too much junk. She always said she packed her bag, but clearly junk is stil there. Cleared the junk. Couldn't find the bottle.. gua gua.. she has calmed down a lot by now. Went to bed. Guess I will go look in the car later.

Thus the end of this drama (Finally). Papa choo is ironing now while I started this entry at the fit of my anger. I'm of coz more calmed down now. It wasnt a proud mama moment and I know I could have dealt with it in a better, calmer way.

Praying for God's wisdom and patience with the girls, it hasn't been easy. Once a while I tell my friends that its easier now, but episodes like this made me step back again. Praying for God's protection and healing among our family. All 5 of us are sick, just in different degree. William, joy and I are down with cough and flu while the twins seem to have some diarrhoea since  coming back from their friends party yday. Praying that God heal all of us soon. It has been really a long while since all 5 of us are down. Praying that God providence in my work too. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

Succumb to emotional eating today.. had mee rebus for breakfast, udon for lunch, potato chips at 9pm and OCK curry puff at 11plus (supper). Omg ! I hadn't had so much carbs in a day since dunno when. Mr choo was surprised he caught me munching the chips on our CCTV (coz I had been quite strict on the no food after 8pm rule). I feel so bloated and full now. I know I will face the consequences Tom morning when I weigh. Feeling so guilty and shitty 😫

I told him I was stressed but honestly I aren't sure what I'm stressed about. Haiz.. maybe becoz the period is coming so the hormones are going crazy. Maybe its the time when the period comes that is making things stressful. (It should arrive the day I fly for Norway.. sianz max). Or maybe its bcoz work has been quiet, so quiet that I have a couple of days where I could just stay at home the entire day. And the fact that I will b away for another 9 days is not helping much. Arghh.. as much as I try to be excited about the trip, I can't. It's hard for me to kick start back the engine after each trip. Mayb by the end of all these travelling, I would be left with no one else to meet for work. Mayb it's time to find another job.

*uncle choo just certified that certainly my period is coming soon since I'm so easily irritable now.😫😫😫

Leaning and praying to the Lord that He will make all things right and that He will never put us in any circumstances that is too much for us to handle. Praying for peace and the ability to enjoy the pockets of free time be it with the family or with Him. Praying for wisdom and patience for my work and when I'm with the kids. I love what I do for a living. I love my kids. But I cant always cope with the uncertainties. Praying for complete surrender onto Him and may the Lord guide me and point me to whichever way His will says. - Amen!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.13.NLT

Staycation

Picked the twins and uncle choo from their sleepover camp in sch.. went home to pack for the staycation and drop gigi at her pet hotel before finally coming over here.. and thus began our 5D4N staycation with the kids..

*bought the clothes at huahin.. they are so soft to wear

*Dinner @ HRC

Had dinner at uncle choo fav restaurant and we had to wait for 45 mins for a table bcoz I had forgotten to make a reservation. Had taken for granted that it would always be empty but the sch hols kinda mean every eatery here is full.. lol.. but u know he wanna eat there when he offered to let the girls have pop corn and llao llao just so that we could wait for our tables.. oh well.. it's the hols so rules can bend la..

*beginning of sweet treats

*the man and his 3 princesses

And I'm glad that we came here .. hahaha.. the band sang him a song for his bday! So cool! Listened a couple of oldies before he agreed that the music was too loud and we headed back.. 

Brought the girls for slappy cakes in the morning.. mr choo left bcoz he has a wedding lunch today and I was on my own with the girls.. I'm glad I survived..  

*playing tic tac toe

We went to vivo for some shopping, have lunch before coming back to the hotel for a swim. Mr choo only came back abt 6pm. I told him that he could chill with his relatives since we were going for a swim. I know that if it's the past, I would go berserk by 3pm. The judgemental me would start screaming and killing him many times in my brain..lol.. but I've changed and for the better, which I'm glad. Joy helped a great part today, in ensuring my sanity. The bath tub helped too..hahahaha.. 放开了，所以开心多了。。。

We had Texas chicken (comfort food!) for dinner and I ko before 930pm..lol.. have been sleeping so early for thr last 2 nights..  

*waiting to enter adventure cove (AC)

Thank God for the beautiful weather today. Coz it was the only day we could go AC. We did lots of rides but becoz the last trip here wasnt too long ago, Joy and grace knew which rides they wanna do and which they would avoid it entirely. My task today was mainly to help them q for some of them so that they could take more. In exchange, joy would do the rides with grace la.. 

*their #1 fav ride - rocket 

*our baby in the family could also take this by herself too..

*she took 7 times of this

*lunchtime!

We decided to stop by late afternoon coz all of us were exhausted and baked like red lobsters, despite the tonnes of sunblock I lathered on the girls.. 

*ice cream to end the day aka in order for them to agree to leaving the place la..

Dinner followed by more llao llao..lol.. went back to the room and all are fast asleep except me.. thus this entry..lol.. thankful for the time to spend with my loved ones..  and may God grant us patience and wisdom to continue to love and cherish one another..

* the big and small trumpet had their orchestral the whole of last night making me hard to zzz 😭😭😭

*more sweets!

We went for more swimming the next few days.. the weather has been crazy hot, but its certainly better than rainy.

*@ Sanrio Fun Fest

*the blazing sun

The girls did all the bouncing castles this morning bcoz the q were short. Respect the teens who were the game coordinators. They were patient with the kids and made sure water was sprayed on them to prevent burns if any.

And we had to dip into the pool one last time, before saying goodbye to the hotel and the end of this holiday. Thankful for the beautiful weather and time spend with the kids, to be able to enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

Bkk/ huahin

Went for a 4D3N trip with uncle choo and the people @ infinity. Yeah! Mini-moon again! Thankful for the opportunity to spend some couple time with him.

Overall the trip was fun, food was soooooo good. I honestly think this is the best trip thus far. Although there were some hiccups here and there; eg some colleagues had problem clearing the immigration that we ended waiting for a long time before the bus could move etc.

Lunch in Bangkok on day 1 before we move to Hua Hin...will definitely come to this place again becoz it's the best thai food that I've had for a long time.

Traffic was so bad that it was nightfall by the time we reach the hotel in Huahin.

While waiting to get our hotel keys..

Trying to take a selfie before the group pic..

And who can resist nutella crepe at the night market? Hahahaah.. only took mouthfuls before I shared the calories with my colleagues..hahahaha

 My room comes with a balcony and jacuzzi! Room is soooo huge..  had to soak bath tub every day..hahaha..

Need to take more pics of the nice room and the pretty lady.. hahahaha

Lazing by the pool doing nothing.. shiok!

Farm animals feeding..  similar to khao yai 

Posey Posey 

Santorini park.. 

On the bus when everyone is sleeping except me becoz I dont sleep well during travels.

Taking a break after crazy shopping.. hahaha.. old alrdy.. no longer can chiong shopping like the past.. desserts here were good! 

The trip ended faster than I expected though I was glad to be going home. Grace was having a high fever on the 3rd day of our trip and I felt bad that we weren't around. Well, I'm thankful for mama and joy who jaga the twins. 

Will be bringing my mama to Norway next mth. It's her turn. Praying that I be able to zzz well and b patient towards her. I love her, but sometimes I love my personal space more.