I'm a full-time mummy

Today is 23rd April 2013... 7 years has gone since my dad passed away.

7 years ago, I get to hear with my own ears from dad, that Jesus is good. I get to hear this from a devout Buddhist, a good man who takes care of his family, a good father who makes sure that his wife and children (a son and a daughter) have everything they need in their lives.

I've been trying to tell dad about Jesus weeks before he passed away. One time, when he was ordered to stay in the hospital for a night, I told dad (after mum and my elder brother walked away) to pray to God if there is 'anything' disturbing him at night.

Being a Chinese, we folks tend to believe in ghosts and stuff, but since I became a Christian, I am not afraid of such evil spirits and I still remember telling dad clearly "Dad, if at night when you're sleeping and there is 'things' disturbing you, pray to your God. If your God can't help you, please try to call on Jesus name. Just try this as a last resort, OK?"

The next morning, when dad is back home, I heard my brother asking him whether there is any 'thing' disturbing him at night, to which my dad just brushed him off by saying no. After my brother left (he stayed at another place with his family), I went and asked my dad the same question.

Me: Pa, did anything disturb you at night yesterday?

Dad: Yes, you know my legs not straight because of the gout, so at night I was sleeping, felt something trying to pull my legs straight.

Me: Maybe the nurse doing that?

Dad: No. Couldn't be cos' the thing keep pulling even though I said "please stop pulling, my legs hurt".

Me: Then did you pray to your God?

Dad: I did.

Me: Did it help?

Dad: No. The thing still pulling my legs.

Me: Then did you call on Jesus name?

Dad: Yes. I said in my head 'Jesus, please help me. My legs hurt'.

(Praise God I'm hearing this, but trying to keep my excitement down)

Me: Then what happened?

Dad: Then that thing stopped pulling. I continued my sleep in peace.

Me: Wah! See, isn't it good?

Dad: Actually Jesus is good.
(Amen to that!)

You know, because of what my dad said "Actually Jesus is good" that I believed.

I believed my dad has put his faith in Him.
I believed when my dad passed away, he is up in heaven with Him.
I believed my dad is in a better place now, and no longer suffering.

I'm glad I'm able to kiss your forehead and tell you 'I love you' every time I wiped your head, face and body when you were bedridden.
I'm glad I'm able to tell you some of the bible stories (children version for easier understanding).
I'm glad I'm able to accompany you at night (even though it means I'm sleeping on the floor next to dad's bed)
I'm glad I'm around when you left us.
I'm glad God heard my prayers that everything be done according to His will, that you leave in peace and no longer need to endure any sufferings.

Dad, even though it has been 7 years now, I still reminisce the time we spent together. I wished I could do more things with and for you while you are still alive. I will always cherished and treasure our moments together. Take care of mum, and I hope to see you guys one day in heaven. Thank you dad for everything. Amen...

** John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God

I came across this bible verse and it reminded me back the time I was deciding whether I should quit my IT job of 9 years in order to be a stay-at-home mother for my child (then about 2 months old). We were having trouble looking for a babysitter for him (one that can take care of him while I work from 9am to 6pm) and were pondering what other options we could have in order for our baby to be cared for properly.

Can't rely much on my MIL as she has (and still does) sleeping problems... she goes to bed at 7-8am and woke up at 12-2pm. By which time I'm already out at work and definitely can't leave my boy at home for her to care for.

And so we prayed to God, and decided to let Him decide. His will, His bill. At that time, we are relying on my hubby's IT business and of course I'm comfortable earning my own salary. To cut things short, decision was made, I quit and became a SAHM since then.

We were lucky to be staying with MIL (her house but hubby paid all the bills and groceries) and we have a car, a second-hand 11 years old car which hubby bought for very cheap price and it's all paid up, so not much commitment on our sides other than we must be frugal and think lots of times before deciding to spend any of our money. No overseas holidays until kiddos are old enough to appreciate and remember, even for family outing, we do it like once or twice a year locally and get the affordable holiday package and simply just budget and save.

Matthew 6:25 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

Matthew 6:32 (NIV) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

To be honest, today, hubby's business is really picking up and we are looking for resource to help him in his company and kiddos wise, 2 now, with 3rd one on the way in September this year.

And a few weeks back, I checked back my personal bank accounts, the savings there is almost the same as what I had when I quit my job. Meaning, God provides enough for us to sustain through the years. God is good!

My 4 years old boy is VERY into CCTV lately. It started out innocently during a recent visit to my SIL's condominium and on our way back, Benjamin noticed the CCTV camera right at the corner in the lift and started asking me what is that. And that started everything....

I explained to him it was a camera to monitor any naughty children who threw tantrums in the lift (to scare my boy who on and off likes to throw tantrums), or bad people who wanted to vandalise the lift or cause crimes in the lift like stealing people's wallet or kidnapping etc etc. He seems satisfied with my answers and remained quiet until that night... and asked me again the same question. And I repeated my answer.

The next few days, we went to Tesco for grocery shopping and he noticed another type of CCTV hanging from the top and asked me what is that. And again, I tell him the same thing. Few minutes later, he asked me why is the CCTV STILL there. Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I remained cool and answered again it will remain there forever.

Another time when we were out eating at a food shop, he asked me why aren't there any cameras in the food shop? I looked at hubby and told him to answer giving him my take-over-this-I'm up-to-here-tired-with-the-same-questions-over-and-over-and-over-again look... Before hubby could reply, Ben pointed at a corner of the shop and said 'There! There's a camera there!'

Great!

And then he asked why is the camera there. I continued eating my food, letting hubby answered our boy and Ben continued asking why the CCTV never moved. Hubby told him it cannot move, else it will not be able to capture the criminal's face.

And then on Sunday during church service before hubby brought our kiddos to their Sunday classes (normally I will bring Alyson while hubby will drop Ben off at his class before heading back to main hall for sermon but that Sunday I was sick and told hubby to take over) and Ben asked me 'Why is there no camera in church?'

Oh boy....

I told him because there is no criminal in church and that everybody behaves properly in church?

And then he asked hubby the same question and hubby told him because God is watching.

Ooo... nice reply!

CCTV.... so many questions from a same device... and yet different varieties of reply which can come from it... hmmm...