Note to Myself

I started this post on Sunday night, the eve of the start of term 3. Then I got distracted and didn't post it. (Getting distracted seems to be a common thread in my life these days!) But I don't want to let all that good good typing go to waste, so here's it. I'm ending off with a kind of post-recollection, moral of the story thingy that the Lord taught me today.

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The June holidays are over... tomorrow, we start term 3! *screams hysterical fashion like*

Yes, had to get it out of my system and take a deep breadth to collect my thoughts for the task ahead. TERM THREE!!!! *screams hysterically again*

I think I've too enjoyed my June holidays. Perhaps a little too much. And my kids too. Having papa around with us most of the week was really really nice. :)

We had a really great Vacation Bible School and and usual, we got a lot of positive feedback from the children who came.

Haha! This is no. 1 in a Moses' coat that I made this year. I got this material from the curtain section at Spotlight. :) (It's not only Maria who sews clothes from curtains. ;) )

We went to the Rider's Lodge in Johor and enjoyed the two nights there as well.

Coming back, I had agreed to giving interviews to not one but two groups of students for their Project Work. One group was doing a project on the Risks involved in Homeschooling. lol

I told them the title seems rather biased. :) But I answered the questions they had, candidly. Mostly very preliminary kind of questions about homeschooling, general type, fact finding questions.

Homeschooling is still a mysterious thing in the eyes of Singaporeans and it is met with a big dose of curiosity but a dash of skepticism. Of course, how not to treat the unknown with a measure of suspicion?

Well, in explaining to the students about my husband and my decision to homeschool our chidlren, ironically, the more convinced that we are doing right by our children by homeschooling them. :) I am glad that having stepped out of the public schoool system, hubby and I have the greatest autonomy to decide what we feel is best for the development of our children. The WHOLE person development that every parent wants for their child, not just academics. (I mean seriously, which parent wants to raise the equivalent of a robot for a child?)

I'm glad that through homeschooling, we can all grow together as a family instead of being split in as many ways as there are people in the family the way most typical Singaporean families go.

And to be very honest, while academics is important, it is not the most important thing on our list when it comes to raising a human being. Certainly not the PSLE!!!

Having said that, it's now the eve of the third term of the school year. I'm looking ahead to the second half of the year and all my various duties as a wife, mother, teacher etc. etc. etc. And I am half panicking about the prospects of not succeeding in accomplishing all that I want to accomplish.

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I found my answer today, tuesday, the second day of term 3. Here's a little note to myself, a lesson learned from the Lord.

I left the four oldest children at home to do their English exam (paper 2) while I spent about 2 hours this morning to send a missionary couple to the airport, Budget Terminal. Yes, in our Independent Fundamental Baptist circles, it seems I more often than not send our missionaries to the BT and not T3. ;) They needed the use of our church van to transport all their luggage to the airport.

And boy, did they have a lot of luggage! Afterall, they are moving to live in Thailand long term and so they travelled with all their necessities.

It came to pass, they were grossly overweight, luggage-wise. They had bought the excess baggage allowance as allocated by Tiger Airways, that is 30 kgs per passanger and they were not allowed to buy anymore baggage even if they wanted to!

As we were queueing to check in, I spied the sign that read $20 per 1 excess kg and I was pretty sure  that they would be over 15 kg in excess. Singaporean as I am, always thinking of solving the problem with money, I tried to give the missionary wife the $100 in my wallet to try to help offset the cost of the excess baggage. I even told myself I am giving it for the Lord's use, so it should be done.

She told me softly it's ok, we'll see what happens. It's a good time to pray now. And I saw that she was praying as she was watching as the check-in counter lady do the necessary to tell our missionary how they should not be accepting their luggage. She said the supervisor would be coming shortly to talk to them.

So I held on to my $100, as if prepared to produce it again, and watched. The supervisor came and in his most serious voice warned my missionary friends that this is not allowed and not to do this again.... and then, he let their baggage through! What a miracle!

We were all so relieved! The missionary wife told me there were many who were praying about this matter. :) My reaction was this: I am pretty sure, if she had accepted the money I was offering her, God would have allowed them to go through with paying the rest of the excess baggage. Thank God she passed the test! She chose to trust in prayer and wait upon Him for a positive outcome rather than rely on things.

It's like God saying (to me), if you want to use your resources to solve your problems, have it your way. But actually He has a better way, if we would just step back and allow Him. Y'know what I mean?

I was suitably humbled by my lack of faith and prayer and my instinctive action of trusting in my wallet, which was, ironically, insufficient to solve the present situation! :(

And so, unworthy as I am, I do want to meet the second half of this year, remembering to go in God's strength to do what He would have me and my family to do. Because, really, our resources far far pale in comparison to God's infinite wisdom and power.

1 Corinthians 1:25-29  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Amen!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Shiow Lin]

I'm encouraged by the excess luggage episode! Thanks for sharing. Really boosted my faith. Amen!

[Suwei]

Amen, sis Shiow Lin. :)

[homeschooling in Thailand]

Excellent work done in yours site about educations of un-schooling in Thailand, sites are very attractive and looking the photos of childminder, i am very happy to see yours site.

thanks for all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Suwei]

Hello and welcome, Homeschooling in Thailand!

Thanks for dropping by. :)

blessings,
Suwei