Alphabet milestone!

Realised only today that my little miss has learnt the entire alphabet... she's able to recognise all 26 capital letters! I think this website helped... www.starfall.com. I am certainly thrilled with her achievement :) So here's a journal of her first academic milestone. Despite of this, got to remind myself to take it easy and not set sky high expectations for her... she deserves to enjoy her childhood!

Spring Carnival @ CMU

Seems like every year there will be a Spring Carnival at CMU. It is a 3-day event, and we went there on the first day of the carnival for some of the fun rides....

Isaiah

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Just completed a study of Isaiah (chapters 40 to 66) with some ladies from the church last Thursday. I've been really blessed to be able to join these ladies in their study just when they were starting on this second portion of the book - prophetic, filled with beautiful poetry and descriptions of His perfect Servant, a reflection of God's heart for His creation.

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6

Our ever gracious and loving God brought me to this group in our first months here... to keep my eyes on Him in times of difficult adjustments, to remember His sovereignty in our lives, to allow Him to shepherd us in our journey here, to read of His comforting words. He sure knows that I'll be totally lost without it and I'm very thankful for that! 

Praying that we'll continue to trust and lean on Him in all things.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

Downtown Pittsburgh

Taken a few weeks back during the short Spring break that we had. We were at the top of Mount Washington that overlooks the downtown. It is voted as one of the top 10 most beautiful places in America.

Happy Birthday, Charis!

2 birthdays in a week...

The father/husband had a quiet birthday earlier in the week, and the daughter just had a fun-filled celebration hours ago.

Birthday #1

We went to Primanti Brothers on Sunday for a pre-birthday dinner. It is supposedly a "must-go" American eating place in Pittsburgh - (greasy) burgers, sandwich. I had the Pitts-Burger Cheese Steak #2 best seller. The burger is served with fries and coleslaw... not by the side but in the sandwich. I think they don't have big plates, that's why they have to squeeze everything together. Elaine thinks that they are just plain lazy... haha.

See how the burger dwarfed my mouth.... By the way, that is just HALF of the burger.


The birthday cake came on the next day (31 March)... homemade, handmade swissroll (that looked a little flat :p)...

A birthday kiss - on the nose... That's was before we ate the cake, so it is ok...


Family photo....

Birthday #2
Charis invited her sunday school friends (and their siblings) to our home for a birthday lunch.... Lots of fun for all of them. And lots of work for Elaine too... preparing the cupcakes, bee hoons, putting together little giveaways for the friends, etc... Charis has been looking forward to this day for weeks.

Since we don't have enough chairs and tables to seat everyone, Elaine let them have a picnic-style lunch. They didn't mind it at all...

The pretty birthday cupcakes baked in mini ice-cream cones... Elaine learnt the recipe from a Strawberry Shortcake cartoon that Charis has been watching. It actually worked!


The children singing birthday song... Notice how happy Charis looked....


Attacking the cupcakes!

To end off her birthday celebration, we are going to the Shrine Circus. Won 3 tickets that were given away by the school... Box seat, good food, free tickets.... just have to pay for the parking.

P.S. Actually her birthday is tomorrow - but we are celebrating according to Singapore's time. Or maybe we will give her 2 celebrations... we will see how it goes.