I'm a full-time mummy

Looking at this picture of Ben carrying his favorite buddy Elmo, reminds me of the inspiring story of "Footprints in the Sand":

The first time I read this article (which was a few years ago), I just went "Woooowwww" that is just so freaking inspiring and awesome!

It's like whenever you think you're in the worst phase of your life, you felt alone and helpless and there is no one to turn to or to help you back up, think again!

God is there with you all along!!!

Imagine, if life is smooth and uneventful all the way from the moment you are born into the world till you die wouldn't that be sad? It's like you're living with no purpose! What use are you if you're just doodling through the day all life long? Your life is much better than that! And life on earth is too short to be wasted on doing NOTHING!

As a SAHM, I do now and then feel left out when I see the latest things happening to my ex-colleagues, friends and/or family members. It's like their life (be it working or personal) is so much more exciting than mine! They get to go to company trips, they get to go holidays here and there, and so on. Then I go on thinking, "I am alone within these 4 walls day in and day out with Ben. Their life are so happening outside compared to mine!"

But then, upon closer look, I noticed that there are some of them who grumbles about the coming week days of work. They dreaded the coming Monday (Monday blues so to speak) and that they don't want the weekends to end. (Heck, I too don't want the weekend to end but it's not like it makes much difference to me since  a SAHM works 24/7, 365!!) And by around 5pm or so, upon closer look again, statuses popping out on their Facebook walls, counting down the hours and minutes before the work day ends. FYI, I used to do that too, when I was serving my 1 month notice of resignation (I quit to become a SAHM but that aside, I feel if you are paid to do your work, you should do it honestly and do it for God!)

So, now, I think again... I shouldn't compare myself with the life of others. They get to go for trips, travellling, dinners, and so on, they get paid but are they happy with it? Are they doing it cos they need the money to survive? To maintain their lifestyle? Are they doing their job wholeheartedly and doing it for God?

Of course, I am not saying all of them are like that, but some of them are.

Read: Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV), Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

I came across this bible phrase years ago and since then, I told myself to do my work as if I'm working for God, not man. I do things that satisfies God and pleasing to Him.

Which is why when I quit my job and became a SAHM, I think it is the right thing to do.  I am in no way bragging that life as a SAHM is all glory and nice (one common perception by others is people think we became SAHM because we are rich and comfortable even with 1 less income to the family!)! I know we might have difficulties adjusting initially to one less income for the family but God is good! He provides ALL THE TIME!

So, back to the "Footprints in the Sand" topic, yeah, from now on, whenever I feel all alone at home with Ben, I'm going to remember this article. God is with me and Ben and He is watching and looking after us! Although I don't have those company perks anymore, no bonus, no annual leave, no medical leave, I know that  I'm doing the right thing and God is with us all the way!

Then sign up for this!

When I first started blogging in June 2009, I stumbled across the Book Sneeze (formerly known as Thomas Nelson) Blog Reviewer Program website which offered blogger opportunity to review books for free! In return for an honest feedback of your review, you only need to post your feedback in your own blog and one commercial website.

I joined up immediately and I didn't even think that my registration will be approved! You see, most of the reviews and giveaways I came across the Internet are only available for US and/or Canada which is why I didn't think that I'll have any chance in being part of the blogger review team. So imagine how excited I am to be part of the awesome reviewing team?!!!

Now, how does it work?

#1: If you’re a blogger and enjoy reviewing books, sign up for a free account

#2: Choose a book from their available books and they’ll send you a copy for free

#3: Post a review of 200 words or more on your blog and a consumer website

#4: Login to Booksneeze, provide a link to your review, then request another book!

Easy peasy, right?!

I love the Book Sneeze review program because:

* I get to choose the books (from the available ones of course!) that I like and interested in!

* I get to keep the book after I review it! (Think of the money I saved from buying those books! Woohooo!!)

* I get to share my honest feedbacks through my blog with my blog readers!

* I can read the book together with Ben! (or get him to read it by himself one day!)

* There is no time limit (mostly...) for the book you are reviewing so you can take it slow and steady, take your own sweet time to read and write up your review!

* I get to be part of the early birds who can review the book before its official world launch! (example: Max Lucado's "Fearless" book) - You see, sometimes for worldwide launches, they have special privileges for bloggers, meaning on top of the book you are currently reviewing, you can opt for additional book without restrictions!

Of course, the down side of this program are:

* You can only review one book at a time. Once you completed your review and posted it on your blog and one commercial website, you can proceed to request for the next book. (However this will be ignored if there is a special launch for the book! Hooray!)

* The wait for the book... it can be from 2-4 weeks on average for each book cos they have to ship it all the way to Malaysia, my country!

* It gets pretty tense especially when the book you signed up to review has to be posted by certain date (for official launch event)!

But other than that, I'm extremely happy to be able to discover this awesome site and blogger reviewer program!

So, have you came across such review program (can be other than books) before?

If you don't mind, please share it by leaving your comment!

I'll be more than interested to find out about it! Thanks!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with free books (and recently a DVD) by Book Sneeze  in order to facilitate my book reviews. All opinions expressed in my book review posts are of my own. Please do your own research when purchasing books, as your opinions may differ from mine. If you love to read like me, you should really consider signing up for this! And of course, I'm sharing the awesome Book Sneeze website as part of my blog meme which is:

And if you'd like to read all of my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

Sometime ago, I had a dream.

It was the most peaceful dream I have ever had in my life.

In that dream, I woke up to a vast of water all around me.

You see, the real me is terribly afraid of being that deep in water.

Anything past my waist gets me jittery. Thoughts of being drowned or losing my grip and then drowning and suffocating in the water terrifies me.

But yet, in the dream, I'm standing in the water, up to my shoulder length. And I know it's a dream.

I felt peaceful. I even told myself "This is nice, I could get used to this".

Everything is quiet. Not even the sound of water splashing or anything. The water is still.

And it was in this dream, I felt the presence of God.

I remembered telling myself, "If this is how life after death feels like, I have no fear of dying at all."

I remembered being so at ease and all the troubles in my mind just get washed away in all that water.

So in that dream, I just stood still and enjoy the peace and quiet and tranquility.

And I really felt God's presence with me.

I mean, how often do you get to dream this type of dream?

I just love love love this song!

"When the oceans rise
And the thunders roar
I Will soar with You
Above the storm
Father You are King
Over the flood
And I will be still
And know You are God"

Read: Numbers 6:26 (NIV), Psalm 46:10 (NIV), Exodus 14:14(NIV), Isaiah 43:2-3 (NIV)

Have a blessed weekend to you all!