I find it hard to believe that we're bulldozed into November. Where has this year gone? Although the tradition of sending greetings cards wishing a Merry Christmas (and a happy new year!) is considered old fashioned in this internet age, but hey, you know what? That feeling of joy and warmth when you found an envelope in your mailbox from someone who loves you and wishes you happiness? Irreplaceable. ;-) If you would like to send personalised Christmas cards for that purpose, I've rounded up … [Read more...]
Of Ghosts, Ghouls and Little Green Things: How the ‘other world’ changed my world…
Dedicated to the Blogfather, a friend and fellow Daddy whom I've the privilege of knowing through the realms of the ‘unseen’ world…in cyberspace. Source I never thought I would write about this. Until I was inspired by the Blogfather’s recent post where he recalled a hair-raising experience as part of the October ‘Season’s Greetings’. My father died when he was 44 and I was 13 (since we are on the topic, notice the ‘auspicious’ numbers – ‘4’ is never a good number for the Chinese and we all … [Read more...]
From Policies to Busy Bodies: When an Adopted Child is NOT a ‘Normal’ Child
Before we embarked on this adoption journey, we thought that the greatest hurdle was to convince ourselves that the child is ours. After all, there is no biological connection. But, you know what? That’s just hogwash – the moment we carried him in our arms, he is ours. In fact, in the short time span of 4 months, we have almost forgotten that he was adopted. Amazing isn’t it? All these worries about whether we can love the child as our own just dissipate into thin air. In every sense of the … [Read more...]
What’s in a name?
Recently, Angie and I had to look through the tons of books on our bookshelf to search for a rather important book that we have not seen (or used) for awhile (6 years to be precise). For the simple reason that we have just welcomed our baby boy and needed to look for a name for him. Initially, we couldn’t find the book. To make matters worse, we were given three days to decide on a name. Eventually we found it…but that was only the easy part. It’s common to read in magazines and tabloids … [Read more...]
Once My Child, Always My Child…In Memory of Nathaniel’s 10th Anniversary
October is the "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month" in the United States. I wonder why here in this part of the world, we don't have ever commemorate or even set aside days like that...too pragmatic perhaps with no room (and time) for sentimentality. Here, pregnancy and infant loss is very much a taboo affair. People will offer some sympathy when it happens ("Oh you poor thing") but then very quickly expect you to 'snap out of it' and return to normal programming the next day. Friday … [Read more...]
“Papa…Please get the Moon for me?”
This post is for those people in those moments who, like me, have had a long, hectic day at work and struggling to muster every last ounce of energy to make whatever moments that's left of the day...count. Ever had those days? It all began, in fact, yesterday, when I heard on the radio that there would be a rare lunar eclipse the next day and I wanted to catch that moment with the family. So you can say that I began the day, with the end in mind. In fact, very much in mind. But it was … [Read more...]
Before my daughter gives up on me…
A friend shared this article 'The Day My Son Gave Up on Me' from HuffingtonPost and it turned up on my Facebook feed. I think it's by no sheer coincidence that God is using social media to convict me. Every evening, after dinner and the cursory piano practices, I would be in a haste to start Dana on her bedtime routine and shoo her to bed. Sometimes I would accede to her request for a bedtime story grudgingly ("short one please, Mommy is tired"), because I have 1001 things that need my … [Read more...]
Thankful Tuesday: A Poem for AJ
Sharing a tender moment... In a twinkle, our once wrinkly baby is 3 months old. Gone are the newborn onesies which you outgrow. In its place a tubby winsome bud who coos and smiles, Affirming that big leapt of faith we took to go the extra mile. For this child, we tarried and prayed And 3 months ago, we heard God said, 'Go ahead'. From the moment you were placed in our arms, you snuggled cosily right into our hearts. For all the tears that God has bottled How precious to … [Read more...]
Life is Beautiful, or is it? Raising Super Hero Kids for the Real World
I don’t know about you but I’ve not been watching the news lately. Just for the sake of keeping myself current, I listen only to the news headlines over radio and would skim across the headlines of our daily Straits Times subscription (I actually have half a mind to stop newspaper subscription too.) Why? The world these days is a sad and messed up place. Every piece of news in the media is about atrocities, tragedies, disasters, epidemics, corrupt governments, pet cruelties, infidelities, … [Read more...]
Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with Books
A good friend texted me this morning to ask for recommendations of children stories on the Mid-Autumn Festival. We celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival (or more affectionately known as 中秋节 or Lantern Festival here) on the 15th day of eighth month in the Lunar Calendar. It's the day where the moon is supposedly the roundest and shines the brightest. Apart from enjoy moon cakes and carrying lanterns, it is also traditionally the day when family reunites. Compiled lovingly by Life's Tiny Miracles … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- …
- 24
- Next Page »