Year 15 - O blossoming

We went about our daily routine today as usual. Gave you a kiss and wished you before you left for school. You were asked to stay back for ensemble practice but managed to leave earlier. When we picked you up, we switched on your new CD player with bluetooth function and played "Happy Birthday to you" with the 1989 Taylor's version CD inside. You have been wanting a set of speakers with bluetooth function. 

Also picked up the TS Eras Tour merch given to you by Jess and Aunty BL. 

Today coincidentally is Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, fondly known as TTPD's Launch as well. What a treat for a Swiftie!

We headed straight to Let's Meat after your ballet for dinner. They had a TTPD launch party complete with bracelets making section and a small band rendering all Taylor's songs. Perfect for a Swiftie's birthday don't you think? 

Baked you 9 different Taylor Swift album themed cakes. It was a lot of work baking and making so many different coloured cakes, cream, and flavours. But it was a lot of fun as well. 

Ma is blessed to have watched you blossomed into the young lady that you are now. There were lots of ups and downs especially emotionally and I'm sure there will still be more coming but I know deep down, God has blessed me with the sweetest girl with a heart of gold. You strive to do well in all that you do and have the ability to bless so many people in so many ways. May the Lord provide you with more opportunities to be his servant and may you experience the love and contentment that comes with it as it is something you can't search and find on your own. It has to be from the spirit. May you also be blessed with the knowledge that you are loved much by firstly our Saviour and of course your family although you often think otherwise. We may show our love in different manner as you are all so different, but we love you no less. 

Wishing you nothing but the best blessings on your 15th birthday, baby gurl.. 😘😘😘

Year 9 + 6 - leadership role for B

I still remember the day you got into the car some time towards the end of your Year 3 and announced excitedly that you have been chosen as a prefect along with 3 of your other buddies in class. You told everyone around you and even to our extended family. You were just super super super excited. 

With your outspoken personality (amongst friends and family), sheer determination to get something done, and discipline, you can surely be a good role model to your peers.

I thank God that you are blessed with the potential to be a great leader. May you always be kind and considerate to those under your leadership, and use this potential to bless others around you and even lead them to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Year 12 + 7 months old - J is taller than me

You were about an inch shorter than me during your last birthday in Nov and I remembered saying jokingly at you that you cannot be taller than me before my birthday in June... knowing very well that there's a big possibility that you may actually be taller than me by then. 

A few days ago on Tuesday was your 2nd Form 1 school exam. You came back feeling a little under the weather. You persevered and continued to go to school on Wednesday. You came back feeling lethargic and slept a lot. A fever broke and you were unable to go to school the last 2 days. 

When you came downstairs on Thursday morning, I noticed that you seemed to be taller. Coincidentally, you feel the same way and said that you feel taller. When we measured, you are now like an inch taller than me! You literally grew taller overnight! I suspect the fever must be from the growth spurt now. 

We also measured your feet against Papa's and they are about the same size! You are only still officially 12! My little man is not so little anymore. 

Praising God for watching over your wellbeing all these years. May you continue to grow well not just physically but also spiritually in the Lord all the days of your life. 

Year 12 + 4 months old - J in Sec School

We have struggled choosing the 'perfect' school for you since you entered Year 1 and now we are struggling again with Sec 1. You were placed in your feeder school and had to report for school there. Familiar seniors were super helpful and made you feel so welcomed. It is overall a comfortable environment and most of your good buddies from primary school are also sent there. You managed to get into the first class with ASK (Computer Science) after the assessment and were chosen and went on probation to be a Break Monitor. All these happened while waiting for the appeal to be transferred to BJ, currently the top High Performing School in Penang. 

As we didn't get in on the first application, we had to submit an appeal. Some folks had helped us with the appeal including a friend who knows BJ's PIBG parent, a primary school PIBG member who walked in to PPD personally to submit your name, as well as the primary school's HM who asked the PK HEM who transferred from PPD to help, too. So the chances of getting through the 2nd appeal was pretty high. However, you were already so settled down in your feeder school that the decision to move was really tough. 

We know that SX is where you can be top and get most positions easily. However, we felt that BJ will help give you a boost in terms of the academics as you didn't get to learn much properly the past couple of years in primary school when the school was still under a notoriously bad HM. 

After much prayers, ding dong-ings and all, we reported to school at BJ. You met your old friend from primary school as well as some other friends from tuition and badminton. On the second day, you came back and told me that you now know how the an American boy in the movies felt like to eat alone at the cafeteria. 

You wanted to stay another day to experience their Jamuan Perpaduan but it was also time to decide on one school and move on. I went and bought the remainder of your books and attire on Thursday but my heard was super heavy wondering if we should just move you back to SX as I saw how you got up early and were glowing and couldn't wait to go to school then vs now, you just sat there with a sad face while getting ready. 

I prayed and asked God that morning to show us where God can use you as a blessing machine. I was also reminded that God does not speak directly or give us clear signs sometimes. He allows us to make the decision and He will go with us on the journey together. 

That afternoon, I saw you smiling and talking with a friend when I picked you up from school. We had some 1 to 1 time together as the other two had to stay back in school. Our little chat assured me that you were settling in well and willing to give yourself a little push to get back on track on the academics side. I finally felt at peace. 

No matter which school you go to, no matter how well you do or not, just know that Ma and Pa will always love you and will support you in every way we can in your endeavours. More importantly, may you always be His salt and light wherever you are placed. 

A Taste of Empty Nest

We began the academic year with having all three of you in three different schools this year. On some days, you have dismissals at the same time and I wonder how to split myself. Since puasa began the day after school reopened, we adapted well to a schedule without any extra curricular activities. After the fasting month is over, we are currently readjusting to a full fledge schedule of daily stay backs from this and that. I had to start my chauffeuring services at 12ish all the years. Which meant that going to get things done at the mall often entails a super rush schedule often ending with late pick-ups. 

Today, I was supposed to get J at 1.30pm. I was out shopping for an attire to wear for an event and was timing myself when I received a call from him to inform me that he has to also stay in school till 3.30pm. This meant that today is the first day that all three of you stayed back in school and I only had to resume picking up B at 2.30pm which also meant that I had a bit more time to do what I needed to do without the usual rush. 

I haven't been shopping in ages. Firstly, I already have most basic needs sorted and don't intend to add in more inventory to our long list of belongings but I do enjoy going around looking at pretty and trendy things to kinda keep myself abreast with what's available out there. I don't usually have the luxury to do so since I will usually have to prioritise more important things such as grocery shopping or to get some items that your or the houses' need. To finally have a bit more 'me' time leisurely shopping around today was truly a bittersweet moment. The feeling of not having to rush for once felt.. liberating.. but then it also struck me that I'm seeing less and less of my babies as you get more involved in school activities and soon, college or uni and life. 

There were also talks about getting transportation for you lot but I will really miss the times we have in the car if we do, chatting about the happenings in school and all. I came back today and crashed after going from one end to the other to ferry the three of you but was so happy to have the three of you with me during that few hours on the road. 

Shall treasure each of these moment before the nest is truly empty in a few more years!