Asher's first month party

Asher turned 20 days old today and we had his first month party at the function room.

We celebrated his arrival early because Grandpa and Grandma were going to be away.

The occasion was a ray of sunlight during my medical leave.

Me and Asher:


The 3 proud chey-cheys pushing Asher around in his pram:


And a very delighted yi-yi making her way to the party on crutches.

Toe in splint till 12 Dec

Went for my medical review yesterday and was given 22 days of hospitalisation leave till 12 Dec.
I couldn't believe my ears - I had hoped to recover faster.
But I guess God has His plans for me...

Below is a photo of my right foot after the cast was removed.
Note how the 4th toe is slanting towards the little toe. The foot was swollen and there was a patch of blue-black too.



Today, I had to get a buddy splint done for my toe. And supposed to learn how to strengthen the muscles on my right leg and walk again. See the photo below and see how the 4th toe is now learning to grow straight with the help of the 3rd toe.

I've got two kinds of splints - the plastic one and the soft bandage one (corban).

I'm reminded of Eccl 4:10 when I see the toe and its buddy -
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

And I am grateful to God for friends who have visited or called or messaged during this period of medical leave and offered encouragement...

Get out of that pit!

When I was in Perth in April this year, I managed to hear bits of Beth Moore sharing about getting out of the pit on one of the channels. I was intrigued but didn't manage to catch most of it. So when I saw the book, I decided to buy it. And spent some days of my medical leave reading it ...

Metaphorically, a pit is "a shadowy home of the heart, mind, and soul ... like mud ... (which) we drag ... along wherever our physical circumstances move us."

One is in a pit when:
1. One feels stuck - trapped, one can't get oneself out (Isa 42:22)
2. One can't stand up - one feels ineffective and powerless against attack (Ps 69:2)
3. One has lost vision - one has lost the vision of being part of being something bigger

Psalm 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

To get out:
1. CRY OUT
- "God, help me!"
2. CONFESS
- agree with what God says about Himself and about us - tell Him how much you need Him and what's on your mind and in your heart, the mess you are in, who's holding you back, who's on your case and on your nerves...
-confess sins and sins of pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, coldness
(God initiates conversation through conviction, we answer back through confession)
3. CONSENT
- agree to what God already wants, that is, out of the pit

Goal: Freedom from the pit for the rest of your life

Psalm 103: 1-5
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

How does one wait?
- by watching out in anticipation because God is at work
- by exercising unwavering and daily confidence that God is coming to our rescue
- by drawing close to God
Isa 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.

Prov 19:2b - And he sins who hastens with his feet

It all started when I was rushing for time on 8 November around noon.

I was running in the house and ran into the metal leg of my sofa in the living room.

I thought it was just a normal stubbed toe but the pain did not subside and I went to the A&E dept of CGH.

After an x-ray, it was confirmed that the joint of the 4th toe on the right foot was fractured and I was given 2 weeks of medical leave till 22 Nov.

So the right foot is in a cast and I've got to use crutches.

Lesson learnt - don't rush... :(

Arrival of Asher - my nephew

Asher arrived on 5 Nov around 3.10am. He's 50cm long and 3490g heavy.

We went with Phoebe to visit him around 10am that morning. See the doting chey chey...

(and yi-yi had such a tough time putting Phoebe to bed while daddy and mommy were at the hospital since they left about midnight ...)

Hehe! See the 3 generations of womenfolk resting on the hospital bed while waiting for Asher to be wheeled in.... :P

Asher resting at home ... what else do you expect him to do?

Two days' old: Phoebe's on the left and Asher's on the right. Don't they look alike?