Learning to rest

Yes, I am learning to rest. For a SAHM , this is no easy feat.
With 2 kids at home, there's more than enough work to keep me occupied 24/7 , rest is something that would require EFFORT.

But I learnt it the hard way after suffering from the physical and emotional turmoil last week.
The toil on me from lack of rest caused me to lose my joy and it affected my whole family. The kids were having a less patient mummy who played less but quick to snap at them . My hubby also caught the "tired" bug from me and missed his "very talkative wifey" and also missed returning to a home filled with laughter after work.

I needed to discipline myself to rest. God himself modeled for me, then who am I that I need less rest than Him ? We were all designed to have a sabbath rest, any lack of it will catch up with us in time! =)


"And on the seventh day, God rested from all His work" Hebrews 4:4
"And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work...." Genesis 2:3

God's timing could not be better , I attended Ps Benny Ho's seminar as part of my cell group activity last week and was sooooo blessed.. his topic ministered direct to me..." REST ".

Besides a physical rest, Pastor Benny Ho also reminded me that my soul ( emotions) also needed rest., I had to learn to surrender all that has been weighing upon my heart to the lord. Yes, I had to surrender my heart ache to the Lord . `

I must learn to rest my body and soul if I want to continue to be the blessing to my home and all around me. I have determined to make effort to Rest..



For a SAHM, it doesn't come naturally unlike a 9-5 job, but here is a principle that I'll use to prioritise my pockets of free time:

• differentiate the Urgent from the Important tasks --> e.g all my unending housework is Urgent but it's more important that I get my physical rest and take time to find rest for my soul.

REST and SURRENDER !

Woo Hoo! =)

heart to heart talk with my Gal

I was exasperated and tired. Have been trying to recover from a heart ache from someone dear to me so it kindaff affected me physically , mentally and emotionally , excerbated by the non-stop engagement with the G kidz and housework..

So my patience with Gracia was running thin, another one more of her many tantrums of the day I was going to have to "let it out"....

I laid out the food on the table to get her dinner ready before Gabriel wakes up and she let out the trigger sentence " I dun want to eat" and started whining around...

I had enough for the day , no, i dun want to scream coz my energy is depleting, nor do I want to isolate her coz that would also take more time and energy...

I just blurted out to her right from my heart, close to tears, " Gracia, mummy is very very tired. PLease dun do this to me anymore. Do you want me to work and not come home anymore? Or do you want me to stay at home to care for you..if so , please dun make it so difficult for me." I was exasperated...and Gracia seemed stunned.

There was a long pause . What happened later surprised me, she just started to eat her food , no fuss, no tears, no fidgeting. Amazing.

We had an enjoyable dinner together today . She was exceptionally sweet, not only she ate her food with appreciation ( with her hmmm, waaa..) she also scooped fish onto my bowl. She tried to make me smile," mummy ok? " she asked. I replied , " Yes yes" .

I used to have to use disciplinary actions to get my msg across so today's incident was pretty refreshing to me. GUess she's able to emphatise with my emotions much than that I expect her to . understanding Gracia a little more today.

Starting on my journey to have more mother-daughter talks at home.....

just for fun!!!!

Anne Geddes poster baby ,Feb 09 edition

HOw's the view up there mummy?

Gkidz admiring their mummy..
Err, jie jie , can give me some milk pls..
Mrs and Miss Chinatown, dong dong qiang!


I just lurvvvv this picture!

what's up with SAHM Lindee ?

Phew... Salute to all SAHM ( Stay at home mummies)..

it's an exciting and adrenaline pumping career having to keep up with the high energy G-kidz who are ever ready to surprise me everyday with their new demands, needs and IDEAS!!!!

Indeed, as a SAHM, there's only one thing that has been constant for me EVERYday... that is CHANGES!

Just when I could pat my back and sign a big relief when baby Gabriel slept thru the night at only 11 weeks , he starts to pop up last month ( 5 months) at 3 am / 5am /630am and starts crying for his milk . So it was time to feed him solids.... then there was peace again for a week but only for a week and he started popping up at exactly 3 am again......... this time it was TEETHING!

Gracia's appetite and preference for food also changes every day!
Gracia's adjusting to school and her attitute towards school also varies! 1st 3 weeks surprsisingly happy in school w/o me and then just last week she would go into a big tantrum before school, crying and begging me to go with her. Thank God things are getting better at school

SAHM.... not something for the faint hearted with so many multiple roles to play!


Entertainer - Dancer, Singer, Clown , Drama Queen , Story Teller
Chef - your audience doesn't give you much grace for lousy lunch food!
Nutritionist - Assessing if the kids have had all the good food from the various food categories
Doctor - self explainatary....
Chauffeur - Ferry Gracia to and from school
Comfort Provider - to wipe away the tears and give assuring hugs when G-kids are fearful
Discipline Mistress - this is one of the toughest .. very energy sapping and brain draining coz of the various strategies involved!
..... and the list goes on.......=)


But one of the things that I've learnt is ...

BE POSITIVE , LAUGH and SEEK HELP from like minded pple! The Tough times dun last!

Also, I learnt that I have a extraordinary patient, wise and loving husband who has been taking so good care of us all esp ME ! =)

Love ya Daddy Johnson!