There are days I adore kids and days that I wonder why do we make our lives so difficult by choosing to have kids.
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Tuesday, July 8
Today I'm once again overwhelmed with respect for all caregivers for our children.
Dearie called panting over the phone and sounding so weak, saying that he has food poisoning. So I drop all things and board the earliest train back to Zurich. I thought my train ride would feel very panicky as I mentally 'push' the train to go faster so that I can be home with the boys, and relive Dearie from Jon. Dearie, I'm coming soon! You shall rest and recover as soon as I reach home okie?
God also decided to use this crazy 1hr of commuting time to show me yet another lesson...
While I was waiting at the Bern train station (straining my neck all the time, hoping to see the Zurich bound train pull in), a person tapped my arm from the back. I turned around to find a visually impaired lady with 2 young kids in tow (I later learnt from this lady that the boy is 6yr and the girl 3yr) speaking in German. Thankfully she could converse in good English and I found that they needed help to find the Kinderwagen on the train for the kids to play during this 56min commute. So I brought the lady and these 2 kids along. As we walked, we chatted and I praised the kids for being so cooperative and well behaved. The lady said she told them that they had to listen to her if they were to follow her out - and they did.
When we finally boarded the train and after I settled the family of 3 down at the play area in the Kinderwagen, I decided to just sit a few seats down. While I would have liked to sit at a wagon nearer the Zurich exit that would take me home more quickly (and spend my whole commute worrying about Dearie), I felt my heart tug that I should sit near them in case she needed help.
So here I am in my seat on this Zurich-bound train, spending my time thinking about the marvelous effort and heart put in by Dearie to look after Jon full time during our stay in Switzerland. He can't even see the doctor to cure his food poisoning and has to resort to self medication, while he awaits my return before he gets real rest and reprieve. I also couldn't help but have tears welling in my eyes when I sat the family down on the train and took my own place. The wave of guilt that I'm at work and unable to render quick support to Dearie at this difficult time...
Looking at my clock, I'm not even midway in my 56min commuting time. Argh... Teleport me home NOW!
Dearie called panting over the phone and sounding so weak, saying that he has food poisoning. So I drop all things and board the earliest train back to Zurich. I thought my train ride would feel very panicky as I mentally 'push' the train to go faster so that I can be home with the boys, and relive Dearie from Jon. Dearie, I'm coming soon! You shall rest and recover as soon as I reach home okie?
God also decided to use this crazy 1hr of commuting time to show me yet another lesson...
While I was waiting at the Bern train station (straining my neck all the time, hoping to see the Zurich bound train pull in), a person tapped my arm from the back. I turned around to find a visually impaired lady with 2 young kids in tow (I later learnt from this lady that the boy is 6yr and the girl 3yr) speaking in German. Thankfully she could converse in good English and I found that they needed help to find the Kinderwagen on the train for the kids to play during this 56min commute. So I brought the lady and these 2 kids along. As we walked, we chatted and I praised the kids for being so cooperative and well behaved. The lady said she told them that they had to listen to her if they were to follow her out - and they did.
When we finally boarded the train and after I settled the family of 3 down at the play area in the Kinderwagen, I decided to just sit a few seats down. While I would have liked to sit at a wagon nearer the Zurich exit that would take me home more quickly (and spend my whole commute worrying about Dearie), I felt my heart tug that I should sit near them in case she needed help.
So here I am in my seat on this Zurich-bound train, spending my time thinking about the marvelous effort and heart put in by Dearie to look after Jon full time during our stay in Switzerland. He can't even see the doctor to cure his food poisoning and has to resort to self medication, while he awaits my return before he gets real rest and reprieve. I also couldn't help but have tears welling in my eyes when I sat the family down on the train and took my own place. The wave of guilt that I'm at work and unable to render quick support to Dearie at this difficult time...
Looking at my clock, I'm not even midway in my 56min commuting time. Argh... Teleport me home NOW!
Thursday, May 22
We are now halfway in our 6mth stay away from the Little Red Dot.
The experience has been amazing. To be surrounded by God's amazing handiwork in nature, to receive His many blessings, to be moulded as parents handling a toddler at his terrible 2s of exploration and self-expression - no words can fully describe all these emotions and life lessons.
Life on the Red Dot has been stressful. We shuffle around so quickly on a daily basis, trying to juggle demand of work and making every effort to have a proper work life balance so as not to miss out on family moments that cannot come back. But here in Switzerland, we spend so so much more time together as a family. It can be from simple things like doing the groceries, trying to make a meal together (okay, heh, usually Dearie does it becos Junior would clamor for me to play with him), taking a stroll in the neighborhood/by the lake/in some garden, making an evening trip out to somewhere new, having an action-packed weekend day trip etc. Every moment is truly lovely and I would do all these again if we can.
Standing amongst God's handiwork and looking at those mountains (and really, there are more to be seen) is humbling. Our God is indeed an awesome God. He has made the skies and the earth, all creatures on earth with divine intervention. Holding all of these together day after day so that we can witness all His glory.
That said, I also want to thank my Dearie for being there supporting and holding the whole family up. We wouldn't be here if he didn't take no-pay leave from his work. It's not easy for an Asian guy to suddenly be doing all the household tasks, and not to mention that he's alone during the day without help. Having to manage a toddler at a more challenging stage, it's pretty amazing what he has been doing. :) :) :)
Thank you Dearie! Thank you for all the little things you have done for the family. Your sacrifice and love is VERY much appreciated. I'm terribly sorry that I've been more short fused with Junior. I'm trying to find our footing (or my) footing in parenthood. Thank you for being very patient with me. I really don't know how to thank you enough. *muacks!*
Sunday, October 20
Matthew 20:1-16 (parable of the workers in the vineyard)
This parable reminds me of how conceited we can be and how we completely forget the goodness of Christ when we first tasted it. In our everyday lives, especially during work, we complain. I for one, whine a lot. We compare ourselves with our peers and even our previous work circumstances. Times may be tough and things change, not for the better but for the worse. It brings out the worst in me becos I complain; losing sight that it was me who first prayed for open doors. God may give seemingly different rewards, which at times may seem unfair by society's standards, but in all if it, God knows what He's doing! We won't know but God is good! This is a reminder from today's Daily Bread reading.
Quote from Daily Bread: All you need to know to be contented us this - God is good.
This parable reminds me of how conceited we can be and how we completely forget the goodness of Christ when we first tasted it. In our everyday lives, especially during work, we complain. I for one, whine a lot. We compare ourselves with our peers and even our previous work circumstances. Times may be tough and things change, not for the better but for the worse. It brings out the worst in me becos I complain; losing sight that it was me who first prayed for open doors. God may give seemingly different rewards, which at times may seem unfair by society's standards, but in all if it, God knows what He's doing! We won't know but God is good! This is a reminder from today's Daily Bread reading.
Quote from Daily Bread: All you need to know to be contented us this - God is good.
Thursday, October 17
What a nice start to the day knowing that God sent a nice lady to tell me not to take the MRT station's lift becos it is unstable. So often that city dwellers like us just move quickly without taking a moment to just be gracious and extend social grace to strangers around us. What that lady said wasn't a big gesture but it really remind me about what a Christian ought to be. :) Have a good day!
Friday, October 4
Life is precious. And nothing is so real as God's hand and might in the creation of life.
Heard that a dear colleague of mine was told by her gynae that they couldn't detect the heartbeat of her 7wk old fetus.. :( she was told to perform a procedure tomorrow but we are asking her to obtain a second opinion.
If God so decides that they should have a child, I'm sure a miracle can happen! Besides, the gynae could be wrong because there can be times where baby's heartbeat are less readily detected.
My prayers goes out to her and her hubby.. Pls let baby stay! They have been trying hard for it
Heard that a dear colleague of mine was told by her gynae that they couldn't detect the heartbeat of her 7wk old fetus.. :( she was told to perform a procedure tomorrow but we are asking her to obtain a second opinion.
If God so decides that they should have a child, I'm sure a miracle can happen! Besides, the gynae could be wrong because there can be times where baby's heartbeat are less readily detected.
My prayers goes out to her and her hubby.. Pls let baby stay! They have been trying hard for it