Christmas 2010

Perhaps the most extraordinary Christmas to date!


Although home is hardly Christmassy this year, we had a beautiful white Christmas morning the natural way!





I had nothing laid down for dinner, so we settled for pizza. Miracle of all I could clean up half of it!!! HALF! If you knew how very little I've been consuming for the past weeks.


The search is over. The best Christmas cake crowned and if the rival bakeries aren't tearing it down, we're returning to this log cake for good. Yay!!





The only traditional part would have to be me making a call home on every Christmas. Besides, it's time that dad knows...



You see...



We're having a baby! Our first baby!



'Everything's great!' said gynae on the Christmas morning appointment, which also means we've passed the 1st Trimester. We - Bear, baby and I.



The past weeks have been unbelievable. Everything happened so quickly, overwhelming us all at once with none of our mental, physical or spiritual aspect ready! But God held the whole thing together with an enormous grace, more than we have asked. He is SO GOOD to us, praise Him!



Now I can't wait to eat like a normal human being again, you know how much I love to eat! Been sick like a dog for weeks due to morning sickness, am really looking forward to run my former powerhouse soon.



So, the baby beans spilled! I don't know why but it takes mammoth courage to do so. I can't even bring myself to tell most of my friends. Like many 1st time moms, I feel like attempting a walk rope without a harness, with all eyes watching but no one's ready to catch!



But I want this place to record God's wondrous works in our lives, this one especially. It'll be a joy to have kind souls join us in the baby watch. We need all the blessings in the world now!



Thank you... and note to friends connected on Facebook, it's in the vault alright? ;)



Last but not least, my heartfelt thanks especially to bp for praying and guiding along the way, things would have been so much harder without you... I'm truly blessed. :)

Handmade by Helena

I've received Christmas goodies from talented Helena again this year!


Handmade Christmas card ~ hand-painted-crafted-sealed with love.






And... come spot the heart!





Noticed it has a star tailed at the bottom? Sadly, I didn't do up the Christmas tree this year else it'll be dancing on one of the branches. This heart ornament even emits a beautiful scent!

Surely surely, Helena didn't forget to make me a bookmark with my favorite birdie! She writes, crafts, paints, sews, gardens.. her list of gifts goes on. Some people just have it all, right? Not fair!


Thank you Helena, for the thoughts sent across despite having those mounts of challenges. Sometimes 'thank yous' just ain't enough. I'm praying that the new year will be kinder, and the deepest joy finds you and yours. You know I'm here, all the time.

Merry Christmas!!

This must be my longest wait to Christmas. Ironically, the tree isn't pitched, the exterior illumination chucked away. I haven't left the house for long unless neccessary, so I barely capture the festive mood outside. It's the most quiet December we've had since together.



Still, does it matter?



The cross is long pitched in my heart, shedding the light of hope that nothing supercedes- so precious, I often wonder if my heart is prepared and made fitting for Jesus to come reside. Christmas has never been more Christmassy, until I had the Jesus in my deepest chambers.



Happy Birthday, and thank you for this day we celebrate You Lord!





Merry Christmas, everyone.

Julie & Julia

I looooove this sweet film.



It's lighthearted, inspiring, and gives an honest aspect on how ladies in the past and present tried finding their place, and found their niche in the kitchen.



Kitchen! Bliss at that proximity!



I'm no cooking goddess, but really I resonate that joy in Julie and Julia. I miss the happiness of cooking, homemade dishes that Bear digs... especially so when I've stopped messing up my kitchen cold turkey for as long as 6 weeks already.




The spirit wanted to prance on my apron and start whisking something, all I'm thinking of is doing that 'most beautiful roasted chicken in the world' after watching the film! I'm thinking Julia Child, yes I saw the name in the cookbooks corner before. But before I make the leap, anyone tried her poultry? Crashed and burnt?



You see, I'm no Julie. :P

Count your blessings instead of sheep

It's 10 days to Christmas. ;)


December would mean that home is playing songs in a festive fashion. All of my CDs are so old that I've registered each song by heart, still I've never grown tired of them. It's like listening them for the first time every December. :)


Hear this number that especially touches me this year, from Diana Krall's Christmas Songs.
A simple oldie delivered with a modern spin, but the message remains everlasting strong and true.

First snow

I knew Iwould be in it if I don't calm the hunger pangs at that odd hour. So I peeled myself off bed and reached for that half finished Ritz snack. But really. I'm so sick of it already.


Crouching before the heater as I nibbled, I felt so... miserable, wondering if finishing the pack would help me fight the stairs later to get back to bed. Could I just drop and sleep where I was? Sniff...


Everything felt... wrong. Engulfed by an icy silence, I felt like everything else was slowly eating me up. Wait a minute. Wasn't it pitter-pattering hours earlier? Instincts ordered the curtains be drawn.


There it was. First snow, midnight of 8th Dec. Ice pixies riding on flakes and wheeeed their way down, forming fluffy mounts that glittered. Everything breathtakingly beautiful, clustered in shimmering white.


Snow. It always feels like how I've seen it for the first time. I know, I know. I'm a broken record since I've blogged about the first winter.



Hi pretty. So we meet again. :)



Jesus carried me back to bed anyway. Felt better than I thought I would be. 雪見 ( yukimi : snow-watching ) with Ritz crackers - not bad. :D

Phillipians 4

To : me


Excerpts from Phillipians 4.



Verse 4 ~9

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Verse 13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Amen. And don't ever forget, oh my soul.