Thankful Tuesdays: Friends that go beyond

Before we moved over to Germany, the hubby did a recce trip to find out more about the place... and along the way, he made friends with one of his current colleagues. This colleague, T, went out of his way to help him feel at home, even bringing him out for a meal during his visit.

When we were in the process of preparing to move over, we had lots of problems trying to find a suitable place to stay, since we couldn't view apartments and couldn't really speak the language. T's wife (then pregnant), actually went house hunting for us, and helped us to rent our current place. They also helped us to book a taxi from the airport, and even loaned us cutlery and plates, some furniture, and got us settled into our place. 

Recently, we had to battle all the mold problems in our home, as well as our rather unreasonable landlord. T roped in his friend, who was a former painter, and helped us to get the walls treated for mold. Since the walls needed to be painted, he offered to help us get it settled while we were away, so that the boys would not need to be exposed to the paint fumes. So while we were enjoying the sunshine in Venice, he was hard at work helping us to paint our place in the evenings. 

All this coming from a person the hubby didn't even know before his recce trip! We are really thankful and blessed to have such friends. It's been quite an eventful year staying in a foreign land, but such friends really make such a difference!

Have any friends made a difference in your life? What are you thankful for this week?

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{Thankful Today} What lies ahead... & resolutions

Hello! How has 2013 been for you? We've have been quite busy the past few days, with the internet dying on us, plus all the usual post-trip catching up of housework. So I've not had the time to really sit down and think through my new year resolutions yet. 

Whatever the case, 2013 will be a year of change. We will be headed back to Singapore in 3 months time (time zooms by so quickly!), and there will be all sorts of adjustments with that move home. I am hoping this year will be a year of blooming and growing, and I've decided I'll be working on monthly goals instead of making big resolutions this year. After all, I've been in the habit of charting lofty goals, only to abandon them by the time I'm done sorting out Junior J's birthday celebration (which falls at the end of Jan), plus all the preparation for Chinese New Year!

So to start off, I'm working on taking care of myself, by getting more rest (which means trying to sleep early, so I may not be blogging so often). Sleep really helps in terms of my patience and tolerance level in the day, and also how present I am with the boys! Also, we'll be working on clearing clutter in the home (my January sounds a little like "The Happiness Project", and I think I'll be working on some of those areas covered in the book through this year).

And finally, baby J just had a checkup with the PD, who would be sending him for a bunch of tests, since he is still not putting on weight. We suspect it may be due to food allergies/sensitivities, so I'll be going dairy-free along with him to see if it helps him, plus I'm intending to start food logs for both of us (he is currently on a gluten-, dairy- and soy-free diet due to his eczema). I'm very thankful that while he is not gaining weight, he is still a happy, cheery little fellow and is developmentally still on track.

Guess that's going to keep us quite busy for January. How about you? What are your resolutions for 2013?

{Thankful Today} 2012 was...

... the year of exploration. Of flying half-way across the world to stay in a foreign land that spoke a foreign language.

It was a year of learning how to live amidst the changing seasons. Of savouring the colours of fall and the scents of spring, and managing the chills of winter. 

It was a year of exploring Europe. Where we got to see beauty and grandeur, soak up history and culture, and try all sorts of food.

More importantly, it was a year of travelling together as a family. Of learning how to live together and grow together, no matter where we were.

It was a year of growth. Of seeing this boy hurtle to becoming a four year old, full of chatter and ideas, still obstinate, still learning how to manage his emotions. 

It was a year of loving another little one, and savouring those baby moments, which are so fleeting and precious.

And again, it was a year of learning. Of reading lots of books, and learning about the world around us. Of creating with lots of cardboard. Of being humbled and learning how to cope without help, and learning to say "I'm sorry". It was a year of making new friends (both over here, and back in SG through the mum blogger's group), a year of learning how to cook. It was a year of tiredness, and yet, a year of joy.

I am very thankful for all that 2012 has brought, just as we were thankful for all that God gave us in 2011. And most of all, we are thankful for God's providence through this year, and how He has kept us, and loved us through it all. 

What are you thankful for in 2012?

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 19-28 Dec: Catching up

The year is drawing to a close, and this is just to play catch up for the remaining photos I've snapped but yet to blog about for Thankful Today: 

:: 19 Dec, Round: I am so thankful we got to make our rounds for the Christmas markets in town, which Germany is so famous for. I don't like the commercial aspect of the season, but I do love how Christmas does give us an opportunity to share about the reason for the season, plus savour good times with family and friends. And of course, Junior J is especially thrilled that almost every market he visits has a carousel!

:: 20-21 Dec, 7 o'clock, Dinner: Mealtimes recently became a battle with the little one, and I'm glad we've found out one reason for his restlessness. This little kiddo has decided that he wants to feed himself! So now we give him chunks of food to self-feed, and sometimes a bowl and spoon, and most of the food more or less goes in. I'm thankful that he's actually very willing to stuff strips of chicken into his mouth and chomp on them with his 8 little teeth!

:: 22 Dec, Room: I'm also very glad that the boys have lots of room to play in our place over here. And am also thankful for all that room in their heart to forgive and love their parents.

Recently, they decided that the fridge made a great hideout,
especially since it came with 3 compartments and doors to lift!

:: 24 Dec, Star: We spent time choosing decorations for the tree, and this one was picked out by Junior J for his brother, who is fascinated by stars (and "star" happens to be one of baby J's first words as well). It is also a lovely reminder of that star that shone to herald Christ coming down as a baby!

:: 28 Dec, Where I walked: We really have been blessed to be able to travel so much this year, and it was wonderful exploring Prague together at the end of the year. We had a lovely time watching the sun set from Charles Bridge, as well as looking at all those swans on the banks of the river.

And so, 2012 is almost done. What are you thankful for about this year?

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 23 & 27 Dec: Celebration, and someone

We are really really thankful for someone special. And that person is the hubby. So we had a little celebration for him the past Sunday, where we went all the way down to Dusseldorf for Japanese food (the hubs loves Asian food). Our favourite sushi place was closed, so we ended up eating Korean food, which turned out to be a happy accident. The food was good, and the owner gave the kids yummy melon popsicles, which we ate inside the car (it was way too cold to eat them outside!).

The hubby's birthday is so close to Christmas, that I sometimes find it challenging to prepare something special for him amidst the craziness leading to Christmas. However, this round, the boys and I managed to pick out a little something on one of our mornings out, and we made him an extra-special card. The outside looks like an ordinary scrappy card...

Flowers and flourish from Zva Creative. Papers and stickers from Echo Park's "This and That" collection.

But the inside contains hand-made items from the boys. Firstly, a birthday card, made by Junior J, which slots into a pocket in the card:

If you're wondering about the ducks, its one of the boys' fav activities with Papa. 

As well as a picture of a "birthday cake" which Junior J drew, which slots into another pocket. We didn't manage to bake a real cake this round since we left for our road trip the day after!

So thankful for simple family celebrations. What about you? What are you thankful for, as 2012 closes?

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 25-26 Dec: A Christmas journey

We spent Christmas eve and Christmas day on the road, travelling to Eastern Europe. It was quite an impromptu trip, as the hubby found out last Friday that his next working day was actually the 2nd of Jan. He came back, asked me "guess when is my next working day?", and suggested we go for a quick family trip. So there was a flurry of packing and planning and we set off on Monday (after making our rounds to give presents to some friends!).

Christmas day was quite the adventure, as there was fog when we crossed over to Czech Republic, and the mercury dipped to almost zero. It had snowed, so everywhere was blanketed in white (before that, we were lamenting that it was not going to be a white Christmas since it was forecasted to be a warmish week in Germany!). I think the fog messed with the GPS, and we got lost for a long while (that warrants a separate post next time). We are just thankful that we did find our way to our apartment, and for journey mercies through the fog and snow. And that we changed our tyres to snow tyres before the trip (even though the forecast had no snow in sight).

And I am grateful for a simple Christmas spent with family. No sumptuous dinner (hubby and I had our favourite curry letup maggie mee, and Junior J ate a sandwich), as the shops were all closed, followed by a simple movie (The Crippled Lamb). So thankful for being able to spend Christmas together, remembering the greatest gift of all!

How was your Christmas? I hope it was a blessed one!

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 18 Dec: Gift

Baby J trying to add his own Duplo blocks to decorate the tree. 

Our tree is finally up, and the gifts are finally wrapped. I am so thankful for gifts in all forms, the sudden news that the hubby is off work this week, the hugs and kisses from both boys, the gift of time with family. We will be on the road this week, so here's wishing everyone a blessed Christmas in advance (in case I don't get internet!)! Let's continue to remember the greatest gift of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season...

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 17 Dec: Bright

The lights are up all over Munster, and its feeling really Christmassy now. The Christmas markets are bustling and bright, and the air is full of the smell of gluhwein (mulled wine). I can't believe its less than a week to Christmas, and we've still got so much to do!

Whatever the case, I'm thankful for smiles that to me, are brighter than any Christmas lights. :) (This little boy really loves candles and anything bright!)

PS: We're also giving thanks for our move to Germany over here! Do pop by to say hi!

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 16 Dec: Small

Save for the first two months, this little boy has been on the small side. Which comes as no surprise since both hubby and I aren't exactly what you'd describe as tall. However, we've been rather worried for the past few months, since he stopped putting on weight. While I'm ok if he's low on the percentile chart, what bothers me was that the boy was eating really well, and yet not putting on weight at all. And to top it off, he's been having tummy upsets for the past two days and a mild, off-and-on fever, this after two weeks of cough and fever. We've decided to consult another doctor regarding this issue, and I'm hoping we'll be able to figure out what's happening.

Weight issues aside, I am very thankful for this little boy, who never fails to brighten up our life. I keep forgetting how cute they can be at this age, before the onset of terrible twos. He's started to take a few steps on his own, and has been busy pushing his trolley. He loves giving kisses, with a loud "muack!", and declares "keeeesss!" after giving you that sign of affection (and he also does it to his own reflection in the mirror). So thankful for this little one!

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 13 - 15 Dec: Write, tree, walk

It's been quite a week. We've more or less recovered, save for nagging itchy coughs, and a really grumpy baby (who had a fever for more than a week, and had us really worried). We're fighting a really bad mold problem in the house, and there was a bereavement in the hubby's family. And we've just hosted a friend for the past few days. Phew! The rest of December is looking to be really busy, with all the Christmas prep, and the house to be cleared for repair works (thanks to the mold)... so I think I might not be popping in as frequently for the rest of the month. 

However, we are still counting our blessings, and here goes:

:: 13 Dec, Write: Living abroad away from friends and family can get a little lonely. While there's Skype and Facebook and digital communication, I am very thankful for friends who take the time to also write. Happy mail days never fail to make me smile.

:: 14 Dec, Tree: The Germans apparently only put up their trees on Christmas Eve, and we've yet to have the time to buy and decorate our own. However, I am reminded of another tree, and am thankful for how death on that tree could actually give us new life.

:: 15 Dec, Walk: We went out for a walk today with our friend to visit the Christmas markets in town, and this was the first time the boys were out since we reached back home 2 weeks ago. Imagine, two weeks of coughing and fevers! Anyway, both were rather glad to be out, but I didn't manage to snap any pictures. So here's one of them on a walk at home. Baby J has been climbing into the cart (thanks to the Ah Kong who kept putting him in and pushing him about!), and usually he manages to get someone to push him about.

I'm hoping that the boys would recover soon, hopefully in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, keep counting those blessings!

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 12 Dec: Growth

12.12.12 wasn't such a great day. Suffice to say that the highlight of the day (amidst lots of whining and crying) was me dropping the baby monitor into the toilet bowl. And trying to purchase some items at a sale with the wrong currency, because I had grabbed the hubby's card and Danish kroner in my rush out. (The lady told me they didn't accept cards, and gave me a puzzled look and very patiently told me "we only accept Euro in Munster". Heh.)

Anyway, during one of those rare moments when the boys were playing quietly together, Junior J came along armed with a couple of nesting boxes, handed me the smallest one and asked "when baby J was in your womb was he this small?". Then before I could answer, he handed his brother the next box and declared "then he grew bigger, and bigger". And he ended off by giving his brother the biggest box, saying "and when you were born, you were this big, Baby J!". I couldn't help but smile. Oh yes, how they have grown. Both of them. Too quickly sometimes, that I cannot seem to catch up. But I am so thankful that we can be there, to be part of their growth.

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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{Thankful Today} 10-11 Dec: Blue, and every day

Its 4 pm over here and the house is finally quiet. The boys are asleep, and I am sitting here, amidst the mess, typing. Typing while eating a late late lunch, writing because I am too tired to go and pick up all the toys scattered everywhere, or fold that huge pile of clean laundry. 

Mess aside, I am thankful for each and every day spent with the boys. I'm glad things are slowly settling back to normal, after a week with the hubby's family, plus that bad virus which still has us coughing away.

So today was spent simply. No romping in the snow, because they were coughing, just some time playing house with a blanket, and free play. They spent a lot of time playing peekaboo with me. 

Baby is still rather sick, with a bad cough, and a nose that does not want to stop leaking.
I'm glad he was able to play with his brother this morning.

I am also thankful for those glimpses of blue sky we've had, so glorious against the rooftops sprinkled with snow. 

And I am thankful for those of you who have been joining us in this journey of thankfulness this month. Its been a blessing to see all of you counting your blessings everyday (and we have more than 100 blessings recorded under the hashtag #thankfultodaymm in Instagram!). Let's keep on being thankful as we approach Christmas! 

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Join us in giving thanks this December! Details and the list of thankful topics are in this post. (If you are writing more than one post in a week, do include the date of your post when you add your linky!)

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