I'm back!
12 years ago
The long awaited Sunday, 20th of September, is finally here!
At 5am, little Erica woke up (without any alarm!) and calling out cheerfully to me… I rushed into the bathroom, quickly get my bath and changed, then do what all mothers does… check through all the luggage and get all the necessary packed.
And for once, Erica managed all her cleaning and dressing up all by herself and walked into my room. At this point, little Samuel lightly opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of his sister, well dressed!! POP! He sat up on the bed making his usual call-out to me, “Mommy.. mommy… mommy.” I rushed into the room with his clothes, without a fuss, he let me changed him and finally put on his shoes. And he too, cheerfully chirping like little bird…
630am sharp, boarded into the pre-arranged taxi, we left for the airport!
Upon arriving at the airport, I was reminded so much about my past travelling, my nomad-like life where I was at somewhere (outside of Malaysia) every other weeks… kinda misses the feeling of being able to fly around and achieve much with my career!!
The reality set in very quickly when we finally sat down at a corner waiting to be boarded into the plane… little Samuel is fussing over his milk… again! Sigh!!
When we arrived at TGG airport, the troop of 9 adults, 3 kids and 3 babies marched our way out into arrival hall searching for our hotel pick up 'sign'... when we finally walked and got onto the bus, we were the last few the entire bus passengers were waiting for… :(
Within a few minutes, the bus driver pull out of the driveway and drove on the tar road… very quickly, little Samuel fast asleep on my chest. I looked out the window, the Scenery passed by like flashlight… so quickly that I don’t have enough time to absorb… white pearly sand, long beaches and crystal clear blue sky… all these reminded me of God goodness… He has already granted us our prayer… beautiful weather from the start! How mighty is He… our Lord God, Creator of Heaven and Earth.
今天，我与一个朋友定下了一个两年后的假期约会！！只有伴侣，没有小孩。。。
结婚后，我和丈夫一起去韩国渡蜜月，过了不久，Patrick被派到美国公干，那时我也跟着到美国去工作了好几个月。 在那时，每天都是两人的世界。到了週末就到处走走，看看， 体验人生，体验生活，生活非常写意。。。在期间，也带了Patrick的一家人走遍美国西海岸，加州，拉斯维加斯，迪士尼了园他。。。很快的大半年的时间就过去了，到了回乡的时候了。
之后的假期都是一大家人一起去。 二零零二年，在小思恩呱呱落地的那一刻，两人一起去渡假的机会就很‘奇妙’的从此消失了。。。
所以，这个约定非常有意义！
Having the opportunity to witness the process of your kids growing is an experience that is so precious and irreplaceable (at least it is for me :)!)...
I still remember vividly how Erica cried when I first sent her to kindergarten back in 2006... how she refused to go to class everyday... how her kindergarten headmistress has to carry her out of the car and take her into the class... she was a timid little girl!
I still remember vividly how Erica cried when I first sent her to kindergarten back in 2006... how she refused to go to class everyday... how her kindergarten headmistress has to carry her out of the car and take her into the class... she was a timid little girl!
Recently, her dancing school organized an afternoon of performance for all the students to showcase their talent and ability... and my little Erica is one of the performer for a modern dance "Mambo No. 5"... I was so thrilled and waited patiently for the day to approach.
When the song "Mambo No. 5" started playing... I saw this bunch of little one running towards the center stage taking their position and very quickly I spotted my little Erica. I cannot explained to you how touch I was seeing her performing her routine, with diligent she tried to keep to her steps and yet not forgetting to flash a sunny smiles to the audience.
My heart bursting with pride... my little timid girl has finally grew out of her shell...
One evening, my little 15-month old decided to take up the task of his dad to water the plants in the garden... with his unstable walk, he toddled his way to turn on the water pipe, pick up the water host and started watering the plants... :)
However, after awhile of watering, he started to be attracted with the water coming out of the host and in the process of exploring... he drenched himself... with the wind blowing, he toddled his way to me, flashing his cheeky smile and said, "Mama, cold cold... "
After letting him enjoying the fun for 10mins, I decided I better rush him into the bathroom and get him bathed and changed before he catched a cold... little gardener obviously were a little upset!
It is an enjoying journey for me to see and share his growing up... day by day...
Erica and I went out for a few hours on Sunday… yes, only mother and daughter :)! During that few hours, we signed up for an hour CityGolf (the only indoor golf in Malaysia) beginner’s golf lesson… and… we were both so excited and obviously have enjoyed ourselves very much... so, we have committed for another 10 lesson at the end of the lesson… !! *burning a big hole in Patrick’s pocket J*
After the day-out experience and looking back at when I was a little girl… often dreaming of what I can do… “How nice if my fingers can dance on the black and white keys, producing ear-soothing melodies”, “I will surely enjoy it, if my feet can jump and leap thru the graceful moves of ballet dancing…”
How can I do something different for my kids? I only need to do one thing: create opportunity to unleash the potential in them!
After the day-out experience and looking back at when I was a little girl… often dreaming of what I can do… “How nice if my fingers can dance on the black and white keys, producing ear-soothing melodies”, “I will surely enjoy it, if my feet can jump and leap thru the graceful moves of ballet dancing…”
How can I do something different for my kids? I only need to do one thing: create opportunity to unleash the potential in them!
One day, when I got home late evening from work and I heard my maid, Jasmin, who is having a conversation with my 14-month old boy. 
Jasmin : Boy, how old are you?
Sammy : One! *in his baby-accent*
Jasmin : How many teeth do you have?
Sammy : E-ight! *big smile on his face and clapping his hand*
Another occasion, when I was sitting in the living room with my little boy, going through the small flash cards (a friend gave him as a present on his first birthday), in his baby-accent again, he started… ‘banana’, ‘horse’, ‘pig’, ‘rabbit’, ‘bird’, ‘star’, ‘leg’, ‘clock’, ‘snake’, ‘ant’ and often coupled with action, like ‘clap his hand together’ when he sees mosquito in the flash card... we really just casually read/speak to him, didn’t we realise that he is absorbing and remembering those words… *I thought he is too young to be able to utter any of those words*
Wow, I was so impressed!
The statement about the first six years of a baby/toddler is crucial development years… it rumbles in my ears… it is an never ending internal struggle…
I have a conversation with my daughter this afternoon during lunch. We go thru this every day before I drop her off to school and I will then go to work. Today, our topic of discussion is “What do you want to be?”
Erica : Mommy, did you say you want me to be a doctor?
Mommy : Girl, if you want to be a doctor… but you did say you want to be a vet, didn’t you? In order to be a doctor, you will need to study hard and that’s why, mommy always ask you to read and to do revision.
Erica : ya, if I do not study hard, I can only be a housemaid… but I wanna be a “home maid”?
Mommy : huh? You like to do what Jasmin (our maid) does every day?
Erica : No, I don’t want to be a maid! But I want to be like Godma…
Mommy : *looking puzzle* What do you mean, girl?
Erica : I want to be like Godma, she stays home to take care of her children. I want to stay home and take care of my children.
At this point, I can’t help but to sms my friends, Poh Koon (Erica’s Godma) and Cheng Yi, telling them the profound aspiration of my first born. Poh Koon later sms reply and say “I would tell otherwise… I think I need to have a one to one with Erica ”.Then the conversation continues…
Erica : Do you know I miss the time that you stayed home and don’t work for one month… when can you do that again?
Mommy : When did I not work for one month? *Scratching my head* and how can mommy not work for a month? *defensive*
Erica : You did! When Sammy boy is born, you were at home with us… *a great smile on her face*
Mommy : ohhhh… that’s two months la, girl!
Erica : Oh, that’s two month ah? But you know, I like that… you send me to school, you pick me up and you are at home with me!! So, I want to be like Godma, she takes care of Abby, Hannah, Sara at home… so nice and so good!
Mommy : *silent into deep thought*
It impresses me that the little brain can see things in a such total different perspective from us adult. I must learn from her, my little girl!
Why did I name this blog “Two Smiles for the Price of One”? Maybe I should explain …
As a hobby, I make cards, handmade and designed by myself. I make my own cards for Christmas, wedding invitations, birthdays, etc. It is a passion that I have, I love to design and make them. Once, I even designed and made 400 wedding invitation cards for my sister in law, and it was very well received by many *or at least I want to think so :)* … of course, I haven’t made any for sale.
I am not sure about you, but I can’t help but to notice that greeting cards today are no longer cheap. People spend around RM 10-20 for a greeting card, which we simply sign it off, and send it to the intended recipient. Most of the time, our objective is to bring some type of well wishes to the recipient, or maybe to invite the person for an important function. Whatever the reason maybe, we certainly wish that our card will bring a smile to the recipient. That’s one smile.
So, where’s the 2nd smile?
Many times, I reflect back on the blessings that I have been showered with and I thank God for it, but then there are many others around the world that are not as blessed as us. These are people that need our help, support, and usually, financially. How often do we come across a charity that is asking for monetary support? This is where the 2nd smile comes from, these foundations and charities.
Once, I made Christmas cards to raise funds for a non profitable organization which is very close to our (my husband and I) hearts, and all profits went to helping support pre-school education for under-privilege kids… These “second” smiles warmed my heart!
Do you want to feel that warmth?
Just request a personalized handmade greeting cards/bookmark/gift cards from me, provide the necessary details (i.e. occasion). I’ll personalize the card for you (or I can even sign it off and send it to your recipient)… All profits simply go to that specific charity which the card is designed for… it’s as simple as that.
But then, I know what everyone else is thinking, what happens if this is all a big lie, that the charity gets nothing from my purchase. Well, this certainly is an act of faith, because we’re certainly not going to have a big 5 audit firm come check my books. However, the worst case scenario is that your love one gets a personalized card for RM 20, and he or she smiles… and I pocket the rest of the profit. Or ok, there’s another worst case scenario, say for the very first time, you pay me and no one receives anything, you lose RM 20, write something nasty on my blog, and there goes my entire effort.
However, if I’m doing this for real, you buy TWO SMILES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!
As a hobby, I make cards, handmade and designed by myself. I make my own cards for Christmas, wedding invitations, birthdays, etc. It is a passion that I have, I love to design and make them. Once, I even designed and made 400 wedding invitation cards for my sister in law, and it was very well received by many *or at least I want to think so :)* … of course, I haven’t made any for sale.
I am not sure about you, but I can’t help but to notice that greeting cards today are no longer cheap. People spend around RM 10-20 for a greeting card, which we simply sign it off, and send it to the intended recipient. Most of the time, our objective is to bring some type of well wishes to the recipient, or maybe to invite the person for an important function. Whatever the reason maybe, we certainly wish that our card will bring a smile to the recipient. That’s one smile.
So, where’s the 2nd smile?
Many times, I reflect back on the blessings that I have been showered with and I thank God for it, but then there are many others around the world that are not as blessed as us. These are people that need our help, support, and usually, financially. How often do we come across a charity that is asking for monetary support? This is where the 2nd smile comes from, these foundations and charities.
Once, I made Christmas cards to raise funds for a non profitable organization which is very close to our (my husband and I) hearts, and all profits went to helping support pre-school education for under-privilege kids… These “second” smiles warmed my heart!
Do you want to feel that warmth?
Just request a personalized handmade greeting cards/bookmark/gift cards from me, provide the necessary details (i.e. occasion). I’ll personalize the card for you (or I can even sign it off and send it to your recipient)… All profits simply go to that specific charity which the card is designed for… it’s as simple as that.
But then, I know what everyone else is thinking, what happens if this is all a big lie, that the charity gets nothing from my purchase. Well, this certainly is an act of faith, because we’re certainly not going to have a big 5 audit firm come check my books. However, the worst case scenario is that your love one gets a personalized card for RM 20, and he or she smiles… and I pocket the rest of the profit. Or ok, there’s another worst case scenario, say for the very first time, you pay me and no one receives anything, you lose RM 20, write something nasty on my blog, and there goes my entire effort.
However, if I’m doing this for real, you buy TWO SMILES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!
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