Reflections of 2013

Another year is coming to an end. I like to reflect and give thanks before I look ahead to the next year.

 

January - school reopened with Joseph in Primary 2 and Joy starting kindy at the ripe 'old' age of 5. No crying, screaming or vomiting this new school year.

 

 

February - good news!!

 

March - Joseph and Daalin went on their first father-and-son camp. They pitched their own tent, cooked their own food and got all dirty. Boy stuff.

                        

 

 

April - we threw a major (to my standards) dinosaur party for Joseph. It completely exhausted me!

 

May - I voted for the first time in my life

 

June - Joy started on the Worship Team at Children's Church. She has no stage fright and thoroughly enjoys this.

 

July - My first ever maternity photoshoot. It was a 'now or never' thing.

 

August - We spent two lovely weeks in Melbourne and I experienced snow for the first time.

 

September - preparing for Isaac's arrival.

 

October - Isaac is born! The girls had a bout of HFMD but recovered pretty fast.

 

November - school holidays begin and just before that, Joy is awarded Student of the Year for her class.

 

December - definitely my favourite time of the year. We had a baby dedication for Isaac and Joy danced on stage for the first time in the Children's Church Christmas Production. This is also our first Christmas as a family of 6 but our last Christmas with a baby in the house.

 

Looking back, 2013 had a lot of 'firsts' for us as a family. This is also my first year as a almost-full-time-homemaker and I'm glad to say that I've enjoyed every moment of it. Well, almost every moment. There were definitely many moments when I wanted to pull my hair out (that or the children's hair!!), tie them to the chairs or drug them to sleep.

 

But thank God for His grace and strength that sustains and enables. My very helpful husband makes an extra effort to take the children cycling, swimming and to the playground/park.

 

In the kitchen, I have very generous in-laws who supply cooked and uncooked food. It's a life-saver! Because while I do enjoy eating (hence the need to exercise!), cooking is not my forte, nor my passion.

 

Looking forward to 2014, I have some goals...

1. toilet-train Isabel.

2. Isaac to sleep through the night.

3. teach the children basic piano skills (did I mention we just bought a new 'toy'?)

4. Joseph to improve on his command of Mandarin.

5. lose 3kg to get back to pre-pregnancy weight and size.

6. bake my own bread.

and above all...to be faithful in my walk and service to the Lord.

My meditation this morning...
 



Psalm 33: 20-22
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Blessed 2014 to you!