Ashrie Turns 4!

We have planned to surprise Ashrie on the morning of her birthday. Just like the Christmas morn sort of thing where she would wake up with presents to open and enjoy. I wrapped her most requested presents, printed a simple birthday banner, and suspended pink and white balloons from the ceiling.

Her requested presents include a replacement of her Doctor's kit, a piano, a hamster and a ball. We granted all her wishes except for the hamster. The pet might come later on when she can really take care of the animal. Among her presents, the Doctor's kit is her favorite to date.

Her birthday party is scheduled on May 1. There will be more of that in my future post. But for now, let me greet my little darling a very Happy 4th Birthday! We love you to bits!

Stitches

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Writing this post is rather traumatic than therapeutic but life is not just smileys all the time. We regret that this thing happened to our daughter but we believe in a Sovereign God and that everything happens for a reason. I am just praying and pleading God that this is the last accident that we have to face in our entire lives.

I took a leave from work yesterday so that we can attend Ashrie’s birthday celebration which was hosted by her school. It will be for all April celebrators and I do not want to miss it. After that we have planned to visit Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World to make full advantage of my day-off since the school event was scheduled to be finished by lunch. But unexpected things happen.

The night before after we had our dinner and we were already washing the dishes and tidying up the house, Ashrie fell from her tricycle and cut her lower chin with the empty tissue roll she was holding. We rushed her to the nearest hospital where she needed to have her wound stitched. She was calm, in fact very active as if nothing happens while we were in the taxi and in the hospital until she saw the needle which was about four hour later. It was the most excruciating, agonizing ten minutes of our lives. It broke our hearts to see and hear her go through that ordeal. I commend my wife for being strong (she was with Ashrie inside the emergency room) although she admitted she’s about to burst into tears at the second stitch.

Ashrie fell soundly asleep in the taxi on our way home. It was already past 1 am. She woke up around 10 am.

When we reached home, there was a feeling of shock, relief, regret, thankfulness, peace, sadness. It was a mix of deep emotions I could not describe. My wife and I talked about our thoughts until the wee hours of the morning. When words weren’t enough, we cried. For our daughter to be hurt, to be in pain is the “one” thing that we never want to happen. But it did.

We just thank God that our daughter is safe now, that her face is not scathed and that everything is alright. Thank God for His Grace that sees us through.

We want her to be a strong kid, and indeed she is. We want to empower her even more as a young girl and have more confidence in herself. Her bravery and courage to even smile while at the hospital gave us so much strength when we needed it. She’s one of a kind and we are so proud of our precious Ashrie.

Ashrie is now on a one-week medical leave and her stitches are due Friday for removal. May the Lord be with her and bless her.

My Suntec City Art Competition



12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children

Do you really love your kids? The following is a (reverse psychology) propaganda popularized by leaflets distributed by the Houston Police Department during the time of grave teenage delinquency in Texas. The message was negative enough to ensure parents got the point. I hope parents of today do too.



1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute. It will also encourage him to pick up "cuter phrases" that will blow off the top of your head later.

3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21, and then let him "decide for himself."

4. Avoid the use of the word "wrong." It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.

5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around--books, shoes, clothes. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.

6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but don't worry about his mind feasting on garbage.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.

8. Give the child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his. Why should he have things as tough as you did?

9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.

11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize to yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him!"

12. Prepare yourself for a life of grief. You'll surely have it.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have theirstory.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927

Desiderata (Latin: "desired things") is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann. Largely unknown in the author's lifetime, the text became widely known after its use in a devotional, subsequently being found at Adlai Stevenson's deathbed in 1965, and after spoken-word recordings in 1971 and 1972. ~ Wikipedia

Finding Dory

Be cautious when reading posts especially those dated April 1. More often than not, the very intriguing news will turn out to be a prank.

So when a friend shared this on Facebook, it got me both suspicious of its authenticity and all excited at the same time. After further research, it turned out to be legit (unless Disney-Pixar and even Reuters are playing a big joke on us).

We love Finding Nemo. The well-loved animated film has captured the hearts of both the young ones and the “young once” with its fresh story plot, colorful characters and back in 2003, never-before-seen animation. No wonder it has been a classic and is one, if not the most highly-acclaimed, award-winning Disney offerings. One character that’s a big hit on audiences was Dory, the absent-minded, always forgetful blue tang fish voiced by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who gave us the most laughs. And this sequel is her story.

Finding Dory’s plot will take place about a year after they found Nemo. It will answer the question why she is alone on that eventful day she met Marlin. It will include characters such as Nemo, his dad Marlin and the rest of the Tank Gang and will center on Dory (obviously) reuniting with her loved-ones.

Indeed a family-focused animated film to look forward to. But we still need to wait for 2 more years, as it is set for a November 25, 2015 release in the US. It was officially announced on the Ellen DeGeneres show on April 2, 2013.