Message from the cave...

M has been having quite a difficult time at work. Everything seems to be going wrong and there's no help. When I see him struggle, sometimes I really wish we were back home in SG. Although life is good here for me, it makes me really helpless and frustrated when I can't help him. So while finding for a word to encourage him, I came back to my favourite book "If you want to walk on water, You've got to get out of the boat" by John Ortberg.

He explains that all of us, at some point, end up in a cave. "The cave is where you end up when your props, supports, and crutches get stripped away. The cave is where you find yourself when you thought you were going to do great things, have a great family, or boldly go where no one had gone before, and it becomes clear that things will not work out as you dreamed. Perhaps you are in a cave because of foolish choices. Perhaps it is a result of circumstances you could not even control. Most likely it is a combination of the two." Sometimes coming to Geneva does feel like this, esp when work for M is going hay wire.

David ended up in this cave (cave of Adullam). On the run from Saul, he spent quite some time stuck there. He also got stuck with all the down and out crowd. 1 Sam 22:2 "All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader." . To make things worse, one day, they returned home to find that their wives and children had been carried off. At this point, things could not have been worse for David, he was in danger because the others in the team were talking of stoning him. However, 1 Sam 30:6 says "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." John Ortberg explains- "But when I come to know in the marrow of my bones that I am just as valued and loved by God when I have fallen flat on my face, then I am gripped by a love stronger than success or failure.".

"Sometimes you are in a cave, and no human action is able to get you out. There is something you can't fix, can't heal, or can't escape, and all you can do is trust God. Finding ultimate refuge in God means you become so immersed in His presence, so convinced of His goodness, so devoted to His lordship that you find even the cave is a perfectly safe place to be because He is there with you."

I pray I may be able to be like David and strengthen myself in the Lord when i'm stuck in the caves.

E turns 3 and the crazy school holidays

Last week was mad with E on holiday from school. 😵 Thankfully, the mummies' group from E's school were keen to organize playdates so we spent our first 3 mornings together. We tried out a place where we could leave the kids for CHF 6 per hour and it was great!! It was like the ludotheque, but better. We could actually have coffee uninterrupted together. A little worried at first leaving the 3 kiddos alone but we returned and found them laughing and being all crazy. Phew!!

One of the days, i invited 3 kids over to celebrate E's bday. I woke up at 6am to prepare the food- bacon and cheese pastry, chocolate cake, nuggets and pizza. I sealed the entrance to the bedrooms and put all the toys out in the living room so the ladies could have tea and keep an eye on the kids at the same time. I was prepared for the house to collapse in the hands of 4 kids. However,  it was fun and everyone liked the cake!! 😀 We had a great time and the i managed to clean up before M returned home from work.

My chocolate cake which i'm super proud of :)

I actually intended to make one of those layered cakes, which i have not done before. It looked easy on Pinterest. I was glad i did not try it for the actual party coz it turned out badly. 😅 The frosting did not go on the cake nicely and i had to use a piping bag to pipe it out. Plus, frosting is so sweet... after a few mouths, i was like 😣... Shall have to hunt for another recipe.

To E...

My dear E,

You are almost 3 now! You are growing too fast! I'm all tears thinking about how your childhood is slipping by... my heart is filled with joy watching you grow, but also in sorrow as I think of how I fail you sometimes.

"You'll travel where my arms won't reach
As the road will rise to lead your feet
On a journey of your own.
May my mistakes not hinder you
But His grace remain and guide you through;
This is my prayer for you."

(A Mother's Prayer, Keith and Kristyn Getty)