We mange to book a B&B, just 5 mins walk from the school. Look vintage and cozy? It is! We all love the place. See the chimney? It works!

We were at the last day of the trip at You Yang Nature park.

He loves to collect leaves. One of his proud collection - a red maple leaf

Took a roll of black and white and it turned out that I like the B&W more than the colour.
This one is one of my favourite. The constrast and the mood is there. Can a 20 mths old child be focussed and reflective? The pic is tell u they do. Took in our host house, 4 pm.

"Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me,"

This is probably the theme verse of this blog. To hide under God's wing is the joy of my life. Knowing that I am safely secured in His will, I know I will epxerience true peace, joy and love. Life is full of threats, be it moral, physical, psychological or spiritual, if we stay close to Him, we know ultimately we will go through those threats. We are weak but He is strong, as the well known children hymn "Jesus loves me, this I know" goes. We can be assured that His right hand will uphold us who are weak.

How does one hide under His wings and recieve His strength?

By following Him, as the verse suggested. We don't expect our Creator to follow us, rather He expects us to follow Him. So staying close to His will means that we are hiding under His shadow.

Dear Lord, the truth is so simple, staying close to you means obeying your commandments and will, but it is never that easy. Help me to always love and stay within your commandments. Amen

"Fear God and keep His commmandments, For this is man's all."

What is the purpose of life? To fear God and keep His commandements is the suggested by the wise man. Indeed, this purpose is eternal and unchanging. We can aim for success in career but one day retirement will come. Family? One day the children will grow up and then empty nest feeling. Friends? Either you out last them or they out last you.

The most secured purpose is to fear God. Fearing Him will also protect us from wrong doing and guide us into the freedom of doing good.

Lord, keep me in your will as I live according to your will. Amen

Day 5 was school day. Took pic of science class, food tech and metal tech class plus interview Asst Principal and other staff.

Sneak back to meet my family for lunch. The Chinese food is extremely soaked with salt!

Anyway, everyone is getting better. Din eat much during lunch but start to feel hungry for dinner. It is a good sign of my own recovery. The children were eating more. :-)

I am thankful. God's grace is sufficient!

"His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth."

It is a promise, a prophecy that is now a historical event. The Christ is the resurrected Victor. It is as established as the morning. His resurrection is the garantee for our very own in the future. While we face our own mortality, we know that one day we will don His glory!

We can smile at the storm. :-)

"Dear Lord, thank you that resurrection is not about history but about future too. Amen"

We decided that wife and children to stay home. It was a good decision. Thank God cos we prayed adn asked Him to lead us. Ballarat is cold! And wet. I was struggling with my diarrhea and fever and had to endured the cold and wet climate.

I know my son would love the wildlife park there cos he would be able to feed and touch kangeroo. But he can always do that in other parts of Australia when he is older. It was not worth risking him getting sick when he was getting better.

Anyway it was quite interesting to see people dressed in victorian era clothing in the old town. I was sick. I could not even finish a bowl of soup. Sigh. And I missed my family. Was really happy to be back with them.

That night we tried out the fire place. Not bad, I managed to start and maintain the fire. It was fun. Karis tried to blow out the fire thinking it was like birthday care candles. Cute girl... haha.

God is good, He led us.

My grandpa was admitted into hospital yesterday. :-(
He is 85 years old and back from his home village in China. He complained about breathlessness.

Doc said his lungs might fail him anytime, so he has got to stay in hospital. He will have to enter into ICU shd his lungs fail him or they could tubulate him but the inserted tubes will stay with him for life.

My uncles and aunties decided that inserting tupe will not be what my grandpa wants. He loves freedom and active life. So that is out. So doc will just try their best if emergency happens. We are sort of mentally prepared. Sigh.

I still remember how strong was my grandpa. He used to let my brother and i each hung on his arms and then he would flex his biceps to lift us up into the air. We always enjoyed that... Somehow the thot of it brings smile to my face. :-)

God, please have mercy on him.

My grandpa was admitted into hospital yesterday. :-(
He is 85 years old and back from his home village in China. He complained about breathlessness.

Doc said his lungs might fail him anytime, so he has got to stay in hospital. He will have to enter into ICU shd his lungs fail him or they could tubulate him but the inserted tubes will stay with him for life.

My uncles and aunties decided that inserting tupe will not be what my grandpa wants. He loves freedom and active life. So that is out. So doc will just try their best if emergency happens. We are sort of mentally prepared. Sigh.

I still remember how strong was my grandpa. He used to let my brother and i each hung on his arms and then he would flex his biceps to lift us up into the air. We always enjoyed that... Somehow the thot of it brings smile to my face. :-)

God, please have mercy on him.

Dashed against the cold wind to go to school. Short 5 mins walk but didn't like it, esp to leave me warm bed and cosy 'home'.

Met the Principal, Steve, for the first time. He is a humble, polite and fatherly person. I like him. :-) Pleasantly surprise to find Singapore flag hanging there beside Australian flag.

Assembly was with all the formality. After that I went back to get my family for the tour. My son loved the Open Range Zoo. It was like safari, we sat in a bus to tour around the animals which were roaming freely. My son was smiling widely and naming all the animals he saw. He was giving commentary so loudly that I had to ask him to talk softer. He saw his favourite, giraffe and zebra. The giraffe was so near, just 1 meter away! He just smile.. he was very very happy! :-)

They are better. Want to eat! And ate well!

It was my turn to be sick. After the hosted dinner, I woke up middle of the sleep feeling very bloated. Thank God my wife learnt abit of Chinese acu-massage. So it helped to relieve. But still felt sick and bloated.

But as long as my children and wife are better, I am not worried. :-)

The night before, wife started to experience stomach ache and then morning, I woke up to cook noodle and prepare for our Great Ocean Road tour. One of the tours I am really looking forward to.

Then the bad news, my dotta threw out. More than one time. I decide to call the tour group 15 min before the time designated to picking us up to cancel the trp. :( Later the afternoon my son also threw up. Sigh.. the rest of the night and the next day was spent with a bowl nearby to catch in case they vomit and changing of clothing. Could not sleep well as we were worry about they might vomit. My dotta was already under weight, with this, she was losing more wt. When I change diaper for her, both end was almost meeting. I held back my tear.

On day 3, we checked into our B&B. We like the place! Neat and clean! Went to Bilo (NTUC) to buy stuff to cook. Guess what i found. Salted eggs! Hahaha.

Everything turns on the better. My children and wife are better. :-) Thank God!

We touched down at 1 plus am and it was raining. Having to move 2 luggages alone is no kidding, esp with one that height is over half my height. I was of cos lagging behind the rest when we reached the school. In fact, I was almost forgotten if not for Geeta who asked Suraj to come out and help me.

The Principal there, Steve, gave a short welcome and then of we go. Met my host, Astra.

We were so tired that we woke up at 11 am! Had a brunch, simple toast, and then she brought us to local supermart to buy whatever stuff we need since she was going for a party with her husband. In fact, she was going to leave the whole house, with her 3 cats, with us. I am suppose to feed her cats too. Thankfully, she was taking the 2 dogs along.

Day 1 was good, simple and relaxing. My children wereh thrilled by the dogs and cats. They have a puppy, so they touched the puppy, the cats etc. Anyway, the whole house was flying with cat fur!

Hanern was very excited about plane ride but Karis was clueless about the whole thing. We didn't get out bassinet seat. Thankfully, the stewardes managed to locate a seat for wife. Otherwise, our arms would have been broken.

I am back! I am not sure if I am happy and ready to be back. I do miss Singapore, the warm (or at the least the lack of 8 oC), and people of course significant people here. But I also miss the fun there. I didn't have enough fun or time for fun over there.

I am too tired and still busy unpacking and packing to tell more about the trip. Hopefully tomorrow I can write more.

Summary:
Day 1 - Good and sunny
Day 2 - Sick and sunny
Day 3- Sick and sunny/raining
Day 4 - less sick and sunny
Day 5 - Sick and miserably cold and wet
Day 6 - better and indoor
Day 7 - Good and sunny
Day 8 - Good and sunny
Day 9 - Good and sunny and wet in Singapore

Ok.. more details sooon...

BUT! Thank God for the sunshine and the rain! Thank God in times of good health and sickness.

Thank God, we touched down on Australia safely on 12 midnight. It was raining but ot that cold as what people had warned. Thank God for that.

The children enjoyed the flight! Thankfully. They were thrilled by the seat movie and and slept. Phew!

carrying loads o luggage was no joke esp everyone was busy with their own and no one helped. Wife had to take care of two kids, making sure they are not cold and carrying the Karis as the ground was wet.
After some formality in school, Astra, my host drove us to her house.

An interesting person, I shall share more when time allows.

KIds are slept at 2115 (Melbourne time). Was we are preparing for tml breakfast, meat pie and noodle and then set off for Great Ocean Road at 9 am tml. HOst has left the house fully for us. Prayed with Hanern for sunny days ahead.

Thanks God.. He is good and merciful to us. Hanern has slight nose block due to hie sensitive nose. Pray for him, please.

Phew... i almost made one of the biggest mistake. Rather, I made it and someone spotted it.

Thank God, He rescued me in the nick of time. I had been telling students to be at airport by 3.20 pm, 2 hours before departure. Today, I passed my colleague air tix to her. She then discovered departure is 3.20 (1520). You can imagine the degree of disaster if this has not been spotted. Got to buy her something to thank her.

Quickly call everyone to correct. Thank God, if not my head will roll.

Had a chance to meet up my youth from The Net Gen after almost a year of break during the camp. Glad to see them well and kicking. The Chinese saying "Grown girl 18 change" is really true. Some just look more lady than girl now. :-) Really miss them.

I did enjoy the teaching. I hope it is for them. Was much encouraged by some who gave me the eye contact and asked questions or honest comment. One of them told me she is glad to see me. Warm my heart.

It was quite difficult to prepare the lesson. I wasn't really clear what the aim was and got the material less then a week. In fact, up till I was about to teach, I wasn't even sure what I want to leave out and what to keep. I wasn't confident. But lack of confidence is good, it forced me to trust Him. I stepped into the teaching simply by faith, trusting that He will lead me as I sense from my interaction with the youth and as I teach. But what was clear was that I got to pray that God will speak to them and transform their hearts. That they will be follower of Christ. Spiritual change must come from the Holy Spirit.

One sign that He was leading was my last minute inclusion of 'dark night' in the part of Discipline of Solitude. Dark night refers to period of time where God seems to be silent, even during worship etc. Putting it into my notes and I almost forgot to mention it but somehow, during the lesson, God reminded me. Later one guy asked how long it will last. I suppose it was relevant to him. Another girl asked my more on a personal level. (Just to let you know, if you are reading, I am praying for you). I know God has used the lesson to work in some hearts. Glory be to God. Amen!

Servanthood is to do the best and yet depending on Him to use it for His purpose.

Thank God, I have a chance to serve.

Thank God he led me to see another doc, who gave the right diagnosis and treatment. I can swallow without pain. Just that appetite and strenght is not fully back. Anyway, I am controlling myself not to over exert.

I have been asked by my youth ministry (The Tackel Box) to help teach in the annual camp next week, monday and tuesday. So I am burning mid-night oil. And to write a book review for Church's newsletter. No buisness no business, now suddenly got 2. But good timing. God's timing is always good. If it is term time, won't be able to help. Thank God for the chance to serve. Miss it.

Pray along with me.. thanks.