The year that passed… 2012 in retrospective

If anyone noticed, I have not been FB active the past one month, despite so many activities and things to share.  I guess the novelty is rubbing off me or just plain busy.  But I’m around, yea… still snooping and liking, and a little comment now and then.  Just awhile back, for the first time today, at 10pm, I checked my FB and saw like what thousands others do, status updates of well wishes, thoughts and sharing of the year this had been, and the year that will come. 

Personally myself, I have not really thought of 2012 as a whole.  So it’s hard to summarize 365 days into one sentence, or even a paragraph. 

The weeks earlier, we have all been so busy – busy travelling, busy eating, busy playing, busy with each other, and towards the last week - busy with errands.  I’ve even discovered some vouchers ending this year and we hurriedly went on a mission to use them up (Robinsons, Sushi King, Eu Yan Sang).  Two other vouchers giving out free meals were burnt because well… we didn’t have time for that, and I was too drained out with a stuffy nose and weakened immune this evening to drag myself out for that last chance to claim that meal.  Oh well, win some… lose some. 

So.

What does 2012 mean to me?  How have the year treated me and my family? 

I guess pretty good, and no doubt God has been good and ever faithful.  Despite the shockingly unfavourable blood test result for Vic in August (which I didn’t come around to blog about it), I’m thankful for good health for everyone.  We have learnt to be more lenient on her diet although she still abstain from foods containing eggs, sugary stuff and colorings, I have allowed her to taste organic bread containing natural yeast, and also given her pau and tasted a little ice cream now and then.  Basically just letting her eat with faith.  I can’t tell how this impacted her health, although there’s no immediate detrimental signs, I’d rather wait for the next blood test to comment. 

This year, I know of two persons who passed on due to a long standing battle with cancer.  They are both significant in their area of ministry and work and the consolation is that they won, not lost.  For death did not hold them, victory was won on Calvary – RIP Pastor Sally Foo-Yeoh and Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.  In this same year, I hear of at least 3 other persons who discovered cancer in their bodies.   

This made me think – is life really THIS fragile?  Yes, I presume so.  

So after years of procrastination, hubby and I finally met up with our lawyer to draft out our will. 

And I pray, I pray O Lord, keep us all healthy and strong this year, and the years to come.  Protect and bless our parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings, relatives and friends with good health, and may we never take our health for granted.  Eat well, peeps.  We are REALLY what we eat. 

Victoria – My Princess

She has indeed grown, not just in maturity but also in size.  She was experiencing a growth spurt this holiday, walloping adult portions at every meal and getting hungry even before dinner is due.  Her socks are too fitting now, and she’s outgrown almost all her pyjama, exposing her belly during her sleep.  She sure doesn’t look 7.5yo, and would you believe that next year she will be in Standard Two?  I hope she still fits in her uniform.  We got her a new school bag that should not fall frontwards, as per her requirement and reminded her to study hard next year. 

This year alone, she’d entered 3 competitions – a solo singing competition representing her class, a group Robotics competition and finally a basketball competition.  Although she only won the Robotics, we are mighty proud of her exposure.   

She dropped 4 teeth this year, and look quite funny with her holey smile.  Sometimes I forget and have to remind myself during mealtimes that not to nag her for chewing so long, or for cutting her food into smaller pieces.  I also wonder if it’s also because of her lack of teeth that causes her weak pronunciation??  Naaahhh…

William – My Boy boy

He started his kindy this year.  I’d say he did marvelously well for a first timer, learning his alphabet blends and improving on his Mandarin, and having been selected to be the Lion in his class for the School year end concert.  Being the boy, he shows no fear in handling animals which amazes me up till now (coming in close contact with rabbits, horses, goats, cows, turtles, snakes, eagle, chickens). 

During the holidays, he started Chinese tuition and almost everyday, he’d whined and asked not to go.  He cried a little during the first week, claiming that I did not hug him on the first day, and I did not kiss him on the second day, and I did not allow him to stick on a tattoo on the third day (which is just funny because he was finding reasons to cry in class, really).  

In the 3^rd quarter of this year, William spoke with a bad stammer.  It was so bad, you needed to have herculean patience and time to hear him out.  We were worried that he may not outgrow it although his sister did at his age.  The more he got excited, the more he stammered.  But during the holidays, thank God he outgrew it.  Now he just starts every sentence with “Just…”  so you can imagine, he’d “Just I want to ask you…” “Just I thought…” “Just can you…”  which is now getting on my nerves. Hopefully he will outgrow this too, and pretty soon. 

I'm thankful for my two lovely children and the way that they are growing.  I'm thankful for a husband who desires every second to be with us, and works hard for the family and the passion to serve God.   I'm thankful for enough to use, wear and eat.


1st January 2013

What better way to start the year than to visit an old folks home with our cell friends.  We sang songs, chatted with them, did a skit and gave out to each a bag of goodies and a small angpow.  The home is generally clean, with 25 inmates who look healthy and mainly mobile.  They welcomed us happily and some are very chatty too.

Wishing everyone good health and a happy new year!