Solomon asks for wisdom

1 Kings 3:7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguishg between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Progress and Regress

Been surprised by the progress and regress in my family since E3 arrived.  We've been going through some very drastic adjustments.  Stuff we did not expect from our kids, from us, but it's been eye-opening.

Change is like a big pressure cooker... makes carbon into diamonds... but it can also make soup.  I'm hoping for diamonds.

After leaving the hospital, E3 had not pooped for 17.5 days.  We were in and out of the hospital, doctors telling us perhaps he wasn't eating enough, wife not producing enough milk, etc.  Wife stressed, lack of sleep, unsure of what is going on with E3... I'm trying to comfort and encourage her.

E1 for the past month has regressed back to about 2.5 years old, wetting her pants every night.  We have since put diapers on her.  We thought it might be some sort of UTI or infection, but took a urinalysis and it came back negative.  Conclusion: my kids need more attention.  E2 perhaps is still too young and oblivious to the change, she's happy playing by herself.  This is a time she's been thriving, both in terms of eating, praying, talking and playing. I've been taking them out, went to the mall, going to parks, enjoyed a couple dates with my girls.

For me, I've gained all my weight back from the past year.  I'm reverting to some bad habits (eating - overeating?, oversleeping, no exercise).  I guess our bodies are used to regularity and does not deal well with change.   It shocks the system.  Too much change too fast coupled with fatigue can be a very tough place to be at.  Perhaps I'm going through post-partum depression as well.  I've heard that men go through similar mood swings that women do.

Perhaps that is why God calls us to look to him for strength.  It is not in comfort food, not in entertainment, not in even in sleep that we find rest.  It is in our Creator, our Sustainer, it is on our Rock and our Refuge that we find strength in the midst of change and depression.  May we continue to look upon His glory for help.

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
(Psalm 8:1-2)

Baby Boy Louie

Just update from the hospital. Mom is doing well, baby is doing well. We're awaiting to be discharged today. We shall see.

Girls b-day party

Well, we finally had another party. E1 is five and E2 is three and E3 is Tminus 2 weeks to go. I'm hoping for an April Fools kid, but we shall see.

Just a personal reflection. We are heading into seven years of marriage this year, our girls are growing up so fast. In another ten years they will both be teenagers... God has been graciously teaching us how to parent. I'm more and more convinced, along with everything else in life, trial and error is your best teacher. You will never get better until you try... and fall... and get back up and try again. God indeed is gracious.

What a friend we have in Jesus

Read about the life of Joseph Scrivens... engaged twice, and both times before getting married his fiancee dies. Ends up writing the hymn, what a friend we have in Jesus.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Saviour, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer,
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Deuteronomy 1:29-31

29 Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.
30 The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes,
31 and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

Video: HMart Grand opening

Lots of deals at the local H-mart as it opened. We followed the dancers...