doll me up

It has been two years since I last packed my room. During this time, I have accumulated more stuff, so it's time to unclutter my room.

In my wardrobe, I have a shelf of cuddlies. These soft toys have survived one major 'retrenchment' exercise, when I gave away at least three quarters of my furry friends.

Check out these survivors!

my favourite worm

Baby Amanda looks like a worm when she is all wrapped up. She slept through most of the two hours when we were chatting in the living room.

I broke the record today, carrying her for a good half an hour or so.

She is a real star!

you'll never walk alone

Everyone is in red again. For Jaso's birthday this year, we - almost the same group as last - gathered with an additional reason for celebration.

Baby Amanda. She was on her best behaviour today. For the entire two hours we were there, she was sleeping soundly.

If you were not there for today's gathering (you know who you are!), you missed quite a bit:

• Alma promising to supply Amanda with all the shoes and bags she will ever need
• The amazingly delicious chicken wings marinated with special 'Seah Spice'
• Adele recounting the day Amanda arrived
• Daniel explaining how he got an unreasonable and rude taxi driver fired
• Uncle trying to get all of us drunk with the free flow of wine and beer
• Jaso describing in detail how the 'snip' was done

missed the train

He is rarely out of action. Normally he is as reliable and punctual as trains in Germany. But this time, the flu bug got him.

So, we decided to send our love in hope that it'll help our dear friend Thomas the Train Engine recover more quickly.

i am rich

Yes, I am. Rich enough so that I do not need to want.

Money can make me somebody. Money can save me from trouble. Money can comfort me when I am not happy.

But its power goes no further than my lifetime and this world.

So my wealth sits not in my bank account but securely in Him.

I pray that whatever I have, be given and will own, may be held out on an open palm. Joyfully and prayerfully invested in God's workers, my parents and all whom I love.

last christmas

If you know the song, you know what comes next.

No, he did not give it away. In fact, there wasn't a 'he' to start with, because I didn't find anyone to give it to.

I don't always agree with my heart. It is often selfish, short-sighted, and fickle.

My mind, governed by His word, heads up the decision-making board.

So don't waste your time coaxing my heart.

Because I love Him more than you. Anytime. Or at least I'm trying.

age doesn't sneak up on me, friends do

Surprises rarely succeed, especially around my birthday period when my 'surprise radar' is on high alert. But these sneaky rats got me, good.

Luck and preparation was on their side.

1. Two weeks has passed since my birthday, so I was not expecting any celebration at all.
2. I almost didn't turn up because I was exhausted from my Sri Lanka trip.
3. Jintian (JTB) was distracting us with a 'magic stick' while Thomas (TTE) got the cake.

While they were singing along to the birthday song tune from the musical candle, I was still puzzled and - very blondly - wondering whose birthday it was.

So thank you people. You are good!