Sugarcane

Had lunch with the parents yesterday at some hawker centre. Dad finished his food first and asked me if I wanted sugarcane. It’s been awhile since we drank that.

“Sure”, I replied. Off he went. aiyah. Forgot to ask him to put lemon in it. The folks prefer sugarcane plain, I like it with lemon. Oh well. I’ll make do with the plain one.

Dad came back with a glass of sugarcane drink. I saw a vague yellow shape inside the glass. Oh? Lemon? Could it be? Tasted the lemon inside. Shiok. And I thought, wow, after so long, my dad still remembers my preference without me telling him. He got me what I like, even when I didn’t specify it.

and right there and then I just thought, this is our heavenly Father. God knows us best. He knows what we like. and if our earthly fathers know how to give us good things, what more our heavenly Father?

My dad’s mostly like a typical Asian dad. Earns the money, seldom shows loves or gives compliments. Doesn’t hug his children, at least, not since we were older. But I just thank God that there are these times where I can see God’s love for me in his actions.

I think we all yearn for our father’s love and approval. I don’t think a dad can ever love his children too much. We grow, we are nourished by the Father’s love. We feed on it. and that’s what I wanna do more of. Feed myself, and grow.

parents (2)

Me: mum, ur jacket doesn’t have a hoodie?

Mum: Huh? have what!!

Me: Don’t have!

Mum: huh?? *panics* Eh? Really don’t have leh! How come? I thought got hoodie!!

Dad: Hmmm…. Eh…. I think we wore the wrong jacket.

Mum: Oh! We did!

*they immediately swap jackets*

Me: =.=” you 2 very cute leh.

—–

[While shopping]

Mum: I wanna buy a bag.

Me: What kind? Big? Small? Medium?

Mum: Hm.. Not sure leh. I’ll know it when I see it

*N shops later and we still haven’t found her a suitable bag*

Me: Eh, buying bag like finding husband lidat ah.

Mum: Ha! I found mine already!

Me: I haven’t.

Mum: I thought u have?

Me: Huh?? Since when?

I love my parents

Today at lunch mum made a joke. Mum and dad both had coffee, but I didn’t get any drinks for myself. I was hogging mum’s coffee for a bit, then I apologised to her after I realised I was hogging it.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’ll just drink daddy’s one.”

*proceeds to drink from his cup*

“Wah, so sweet, got your saliva ;)” she says to dad.

(FYI both coffees were black. Kosong.)

Heh.

It really warms my heart to catch the cute/loving moments that my parents share. It’s cute and yet u don’t feel like you’re intruding on something private or intimate. It’s just them being themselves with each other, with comfortable and easy banter.

A mother’s love

Aunt was describing how she slipped and fell at home cos the maid was mopping the floor and didn’t put anything to indicate that the floor was wet:

Ya, I slipped all the way through sia! Use my arm to break my fall, it was hurting for days! then my ankle till now still hurts sometimes, and it’s such an excruciating pain! The other day was squatting down to do something, then it acted up suddenly and I just couldn’t even support myself…

But, I’m glad I’m the one who fell and not anyone else in the house. Not my hubby, and esp not my 2 sons.

Family day

1. lunch with my “other family”. Food, so-so only. Company, awesome as always 🙂

2. Nua at starbucks while waiting for the ‘rents. Coffee? Had the peppermint mocha which I didn’t like. Time spent alone settling emails and stuff? Too short. And apparently Kl and I missed each other though we were at the same place! Oh well!

3. Botanic gardens with the ‘rents. There was some “concert in the park” thing going on. Enjoying the ambiance, sitting on our picnic mat and just people-watching. I wasn’t supremely impressed by the music, but I loved looking at ppl’s dogs, kids running around, and there was this man using his dog (think Lassie) as a pillow!!!! For the filler in between 2 performances, the emcee got random pple in the crowd to sing a christmas carol. Some ang moh guy volunteered and wow, he was Good! Something tells me he’s a believer — he sang “Hark the Harold Angels Sing” and “Away in a Manger”.

Oh! and I saw this cat sleeping by the pathway. Even though I prefer dogs, this cat was so cute!! It was sleeping super soundly that even as I crept up to sneak photos of it, it barely stirred. Aww~

4. Keppel marina. Awesome food at TCC. In fact I still feel stuffed! Coffee was excellent. *thumbs up* Walked around the island, it looks like a really good place to have worship under the stars. *idea* Will go with mum to see the Reflections showflat soon-ish. Haha. Dream house? *grin* While walking ard the island we saw blocks tt had an unrestricted view of the sea. It must be awesome to have that view.

—-
Wanted to have some alone time to think and reflect and work towards my decision making. Instead I got a really enjoyable day (which hasn’t ended yet!) Hmm. What does this mean?

of laughter

So I finally printed my S8R family photo on Tues, and put it in the frame tt I traded with Cyrus eons ago. Was looking at it last night, as well as the few other family photos ard the house, and wondering, why this batch of photos are so different?

It’s not just the nice scenery of the Art-Science museum or the great view from the MBS sky park, nor the great camera processor/colours/etc from my S90. I mean, the lighting itself wasn’t tt great. Evening shot, plus it was drizzling on/off. But there’s just sth abt those 2 photos I printed on tues that stands out.

Then I realised — it’s the laughter. Even looking at the photo frm across the whole living/dining room, u can see it. Everyone’s relaxed, enjoying themselves, comfortable, laughing. I compare it with another photo taken a few years back. Chinese New Year, everyone looking sharp in nicer clothes. But the photo is stiff la. The a bit mian-qiang smile that comes with too many attempted shots.

and that made me think of yesterday’s sermon. Or rather the one I listened to otw to school. Secrets of Divine Strength and Youthfulness (part 3) – Secrets of Sarah. Pastor talked abt laughter. Sarah laughed to herself when she was listening in the tent. Can’t really rmb, but sth about how laughter is impt. and when u see a couple with a lot of laughter in their life.. and if children are able to laugh freely with their parents, that’s a great family 🙂

Just last night the parents and I were gg home after dinner. Took the train. They sat tgt, opposite me. Train started filling up a little, so I couldn’t hear wad they were saying, but i could see them. Was just lost in my own thoughts, when I saw them laughing and poking fun at each other. My heart warmed. “Ah,” I thought. “with all this laughter, they’re definitely gonna live to a ripe old age!”

Another nugget from the sermon. Genesis 18. The Lord appeared to Abraham at home, saying “At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” What is the “time of life”? It’s not just an appointed time, i.e. the right time/right season, it’s more than that. It’s when you’re having the time of your life!

Looking at the chapter now, I realise that the Lord actually said the phrase “according to the time of life” twice. Verse 10, and verse 14. Placing importance/emphasis on the fact. Enjoy yourself. Laugh. Relax. Be happy. XD And you shall have the blessings!

I love my family

Got home late for dinner today. Was eating halfway when my mum brought a tupperware to the table…

Mum: Ur sis bought sth for you today!
Me: Oo, what?
*I see the tupperware with Famous Amos cookies inside*
Me: Wow, famous amos! Awesome! Thanks!!
(Famous amos to me is like durian to my mum)
Sis: Ya, it’s for your birthday
Err.. Actually I just felt like buying some but then cos your birthday coming so I bought more
Me: Oh, okay, thanks thanks!! =DD
Sis: Actually we used Daddy’s credit card
Me: Oh.. Aiyah nvm la, it’s still your hand tt bought it

[…] Some time later, dad walks past and notices the tupperware […]

Dad: What’s this?
Me: It’s your birthday present to me
Dad: Huh? I didn’t buy anything wad..
Me: Haha, sis and mum bought it on your behalf!
Sis: Ya lor, cos we know how much u love Jess XD
Dad: Haha ok… Nvm, I just pay the bills only.
(as in, it’s okay, u all can spend and i’ll just pay the bills)