Announcing the new blogger in our family...Little Woman of Greater Faith

Chrisa has always wanted to be part of the blogging world. She has the most to say and many times wise words. Her faith is an inspiration to us. However, she will have to feel her way here as her typing can't match her vocal speed yet and also getting to know all the features available in the techno world. Be patient as you see her grow her blog. Another milestone in writing for the little woman who aspire to be an author one day :)

Life is indeed like a "box of colour pencils" to me like I just mentioned. In those pages of my life, there's still much to be coloured. In some pages I can't wait for them to be filled up beautifully. There has been a stirring in my heart to do so many things in this lifetime. I wonder if I will get to do them all.

Through the years of mothering I've been reading a lot to the kids and they have been pestering for some good personal stories to be retold in printing. So in our chats we have talked about some "books" to be published one day. One day.

Last night Ash asked me, "If you were to write just one book - just one, which one will it be?" Pretty tough choice. All supposed to be good books :) for a good reason. The answer is quite obvious in my heart. The spontaneuos one that stood out in my mind and heart when I was asked - it will be on my motherhood journey. My passion. My mission. My legacy. The training that I enrolled in by choice.

Today I would be interviewed briefly on a dance piece, "EVA" - I (and my 3 princesses) performed with some mums and their children last year. I've so much to say on being a mum - a vocation so often overlooked by our post-modern culture. Sometimes despised. A stay home mum loses her significance the moment she leaves the secular workforce. From a "somebody", she is reduced to "just a mum at home". An ex-colleague confidently stated, "If you were given a choice again, you would choose to come back to work, right? With a broad smile, I confidently without a shadow of doubt exclaimed, "I would still choose to be a stay home mum." That response caught her by surprise.

So now back to my thoughts on the interview, I've to concise my lengthy thoughts to a few lines. That's quite a feat for me as, if I were to write just one book in my lifetime, this would be IT. God's special training for me and I love it!

To all my beautiful girlfriends who share this same passion, let's say Amen! You are in the most influencial place in the world.

I stood right in the centre of the empty lot smelling the fresh paint and watching the children laboring along with the faithful leaders and volunteers. The floor was clad with newspapers all over while diligent hands worked on the walls with tireless strokes.

The physical emptiness resonated with the fullness of his gracious kindness and everlasting love. I hear his heartbeat as I continued to stand in this place he has consecrated and named - The Atrium - I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. (2 Chronicles 7:16)

Gateway City Church is humbled and honoured as we dedicated the new rented lot to The King of Kings on 30 January 2011 in conjunction with her 3rd Anniversary. The Atrium is a life centre - a spiritual circulation of freshness and hope.

I stand in awe of him who calls forth radical faith and courage in times of uncertainty.

The last few days were filled with people. Young and old, and very old. Yes the oldest being 96 years' old.

The usual Chinese New Year rounds led us to meet family and friends whom a majority we don't see on the normal days. The most meaningful moment for me this new year up till now - my conversation with this 96 years' old grand aunty. She has lived almost a century and so ready to leave earth. She had been widowed since young and left with an only daughter whose life was robbed away by an air crash when she was still young. It has been a long lonely journey. I am amazed by her strength and alertness. Life is like...hmm, I am still processing her words of sharing.

Forrest Gump in the movie's famous line - "life is like a box of chocolates..."

What is life?
Life seems temporary. Yet it is full of different sort of baggages.
Where does it take us? Why we believe what we believe?

My wise mum always tell me to respect old people for we all will grow old one day too. I always take heed of that. I love hearing their stories. These stories teach. They inspire. Many made me think and reflect. This encounter will cause me to think further. She was also young once and full of dreams, but life took an unforseen turn and...she is still grappling with all these disturbing issues which I pray she will make peace with God and all.

Life is like...
I would like mine to be "like a box of colour pencils" - and the artist, Creator of all, who will colour it as he loves - even if it is black and white...may those who look at it will see the beauty of it and trace to the Artist.

Oh, it's here again...where did all the years go?

I would count down the days to Chinese New Year when I was a little girl. A long school break, new clothes, new shoes, everything was new...great excitement filled the air. Time for family renunion. Endless visitations but the same old questions and remarks. "Oh, you've grown so much." Then came the young adulthood..."Any boyfriend?" "Why not?" "Don't wait too long!"

In a flash of time, I am now an adult, a parent but still someone's child...oh, what I mean to say is there's too many responsibilities which overtaken me that I almost forgot the lunar new year is here again. In a way, this is one of the "have to" celebrate occassion by default. But that's not what I want to feel nor pass on. It is a time of newness - new beginnings. It's a welcoming of new spring in China where this culture orginated. Freshness and hope mark the occassion.

Even as I welcome tomorrow a new year in the Chinese calendar, and think of the good things, I can only trace God's doing through his Son, Christ to breathe a fresh hope and abundance in our lives, for he said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

edlina's nest wishes you and family the fullness of God this season...GONG XI GONG XI!

When I wonder why...

• other mums are paid for what they do while I slog my days out at home without a cent
• other mums are sipping tea during break time while I gulped down my drink so I can continue another story after the umpteenth book...break? what is "break"?
• other mums are doing the norms of life while I seem to fall into this "weird" category as one of my weird friend call ourselves
• I could had been so and so in my profession but I am just a mum - a homeschool mum who have endless things in my mind, constantly shifting gear to meet the needs of little humans (from toddler to elementary to tween to teen) in my care, having a series of unaccounted actions of responsibilities which saps every ounce of my energy in every aspect...and at the end of the day left me totally spent!

But today, like some good days it makes me smile and I wonder why would any woman trade her place at home imparting into lives and impacting the land through these little humans who are so incredibly potential-packed...just awaiting for the pivotal moment to cause a positive explosion. The interruption and inconvenience of the day of my faulty car turned into a mind storming, joy bubbling cherished moment instead of fretting and whining while waiting for the mechanic to come to our rescue on the highway.

I wonder why not...since these little humans are living, learning and loving...read Ash's and Nat's posts.

The long months of silence in this blog speaks volume of the lack of time on my end...yikes! I hate that excuse. But that's a fact. Yes, we are all given equal share of 24 hours a day and it is amazing how every second ticks off so quickly and before we all know it, we step into a new year.

Here I am looking back at 2010 with no regrets despite many trials and difficulties. God's sovereignty reigns. Now facing 2011 with much excitement and anticipation I know I cannot do anything apart from being rooted in God. The discovery journey into the heart of God continues...I seek to "see the king in his beauty" (Isaiah 33:17).