Hold on high

My mother and I - and my little man holding his head up high. :)

Sethia was 3 months and 3 days in this photo.

Week 13

Week 13. Laughing out loud. :'D

Swatting Pitik

Fists floating in his field of vision is a thing of the past; now the fists land in his mouth. Sethia used to love saying hello and chit-chatting with Pingu, a fishing-Penguin mobile; now he prefers a more vigorous play, swatting and grabbing Pitik (chicken in Javanese). :p In addition to cries of hunger and over-tiredness, or wanting a companion, now he cries because of boredom for a change in the activity. Sethia used to watch passively; now he initiates conversations and no frozen hearts can help but melt when he greets with smiles and squeals of delight as bright as spring's sun. :')

One of the most difficult yet spontaneous things a child does is grow, isn't it? :')

This reminds me of a Psalm: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." (Psa. 92:12-15)

A child of God is assured of his growth, even if it is the most difficult thing. God Himself is his Surety, thus he can be assured.

P.S. This video shows Sethia playing boxing with Pitik - and his grandmother getting more excited than him. :p

Message from Aalborg: to love my husband's mother-in-law

With my mother's presence at home, the house is spick and span clean, meals are never late, and Sethia gets excessive dose of affectionate attention. :p

But when a grandparent lives under one roof with his/her child's new family unit, it is absolutely normal that at times there is tension. For me, among few others, it is questions like "are you really sure of what you are doing?" or "is this right?" that make me anxious and lose my serenity in my attempts to care for Sethia.

Husband has been away to Aalborg, Denmark, for a while now. While he's away, I am grateful I'm not home alone with Sethia. But I am more grateful that I have a husband whose last instructive message before and during his trip was, "love your mother."

My parents have got themselves a son-in-law two years ago; they still do. :)

Week 11

Week 11. Chuckling. ;)

The role which minister's wife has in Christ's Church

Here is a beautiful description about the minister's wife penned by Charles Spurgeon:

"It is a great assistance to the cause of God to keep the minister himself in good order for his work. It is his wife’s duty to see that he is not uncomfortable at home; for, if everything there is happy, and free from care, he can give all his thoughts to his preparation for the pulpit; and the godly woman, who thus helps her husband to preach better, is herself a preacher though she never speaks in public, and she becomes to the highest degree useful to that portion of the Church of Christ which is committed to her husband’s charge."

Charles Spurgeon also gave these good insights on the challenges and blessings of being a minister's wife:

"Churches do not give a married minister two salaries, one for the husband and the other for the wife; but, in many cases, they look for the services of the wife, whether they pay for them or not. The Pastor’s wife is expected to know everything about the church, and in another sense she is to know nothing of it; and she is equally blamed by some people whether she knows everything or nothing. Her duties consist in being always at home to attend to her husband and her family, and being always out, visiting other people, and doing all sorts of things for the whole church! Well, of course, that is impossible; she cannot be at everybody’s beck and call, and she cannot expect to please everybody. Her husband cannot do that, and I think he is very foolish if he tries to do it; and I am certain that, as the husband cannot please everybody, neither can the wife. There will be sure to be somebody or other who will be displeased, especially if that somebody had herself half hoped to be the minister’s wife! Difficulties arise continually in the best-regulated churches; and the position of the minister’s wife is always a very trying one. Still, I think that: if I was a Christian young woman, I would marry a Christian minister if I could, because there is an opportunity of doing so much good in helping him in his service for Christ."

I thank the LORD for the wives of my church leaders.

Emak

Who are having an animated conversation here? :)

Sethia is meeting his grandma - and I feel as if God is sending His one million army to help! Grandma is home. :)

Week 10

Week 10.
Sleeping for 6-7hours straight at night
7/8pm Feeding
8/9pm Sleep
3/4am Feeding (one-time feeding at early morning)
7/8am Up

- Begin to open hands
- Extrovert, initiate chatting & smiling at strangers

Welcome, Size 62!