I have been so touched by the connectedness, and the simplicity, and usefulness; the almost perfection his Apple inventions had been in the last few years, that I just have to pause and write this down.
I love his iPod, iPad, and iPhone. Never has a gadget been so useful to a stay at home mum and her children.
Smile! We have eternal life. "Those who believe in Me will never die!" Jesus said in John 11:25-26.
Nathan and I just read a book titled "Pollyanna" in which she changed people's lives by teaching them to play a game called a 'just being glad' game. Basically, in any sad situation, we must find something to be glad about. There's always something to be glad about. (I highly recommend all of you to read this classic book!) Pollyanna's father made it into a game to help Pollyanna be glad about everything even though they were very poor.
Did you know there are more than 800 verses in the Bible that tells us to 'Rejoice; or 'Be glad' or 'Thanks be to God' ?
If God takes the time to tell us to rejoice so much, it must be real important.
My father told me once. When he was in secondary school, he had a wonderful christian teacher. This teacher showed real care for them and even for the naughty boys like him. My father said he used to wonder, "What is he so happy about?" Because this teacher was always smiling and happy compared to other teachers.
After my dad became a christian more than 40 years later, he realized something. That teacher must have been always joyful because he is a christian!
Yes, a christian must always find things to be glad about. She must not pout and look harrassed all day long. She must not moan and complain and lament about things she lost or cannot have.
Nay, a christian must be joyful because in our Savior and Lord there is always something to be glad about.
After all, we are the only people who will never die. Praise Him!
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
Buy a plastic easy to clean cage with round edges on the inside so that it's safer and even easier to clean. I recommend Habitrail OVO Suite.
One hamster per cage, please. Hamsters are solitary animals. Try not to pair them unless you really know what you're doing.
When bringing her home, be careful not to shake the box too much. Quickly assemble and get her new home ready. If possible, put in a little bit of the original bedding from her old cage at the pet store to help her feel secure.
I found a really good bedding. Ground walnut chips! They're not dusty (which I really hate in other types of bedding), and they last longer. Ours last almost two weeks before we need to change it.
Hamsters want a quiet safe corner to sleep. Put some light bedding in her room. I use the shredded paper variety (store-bought).
Never wake a sleeping hamster. Leave them alone if they are not in the mood to play.
To familiarize her with you, just put a piece of sunflower seed on your palm then put your hand gently in her cage. Let her climb into your hand voluntarily. Never grab at them. Never speak too loudly. They are easily startled if you do. I guess it's hard being a really small animal.
Do not buy cheap hamster food that looks colorful but not natural. Buy one that contains lots of oats, some sunflower seeds and corn. Just buy one mixed bag is enough. They don't really need much treats. But buy them some pieces of wood like apple orchard chips or branch. They love to sharpen their teeth on those.
If your tap water is not drinkable, better fill their bottle with boiled water or mineral water.
1. Zero power up time. No need to restart like your laptop. 2. Super thin and light. 3. Super connection (for 3G). 4. Nice apps for toddlers. 5. It comes in pink!
Meet Cortana. Our brand new baby hamster. After more than a year since Remy died, we finally got ourselves a new one.
Why the name Cortana? Well, this being my son's birthday gift, he got to name it. Those of you familiar with the xBox360 Halo franchise should recognize the name. Originally we wanted to name it Kat, the only female spartan in Halo Reach episodes. But then he decided on Cortana, the super computer (AI). Those two are about the only two female names he can respect at the moment. "Wow, that's great!" I said. "Cortana. Corrie for short."
She is a normal winter white. Very healthy and curious. Very agile, too, compared to Remy, our beloved pearl white hamster. Cortana can climb up the food bowl via the back of the wheel in her Ovo suite. Remy could not when he was a baby. I had to fix a couple of ice cream sticks on the stairs last time. One of which has since fallen off. Was thinking about fixing another one back when we spotted Cortana climbing up easily.
Even though busy with his studies, my son still make time to take care of Cortana every night. Hamsters are so easy to care for anyway. My son assembled the cage himself, too. So proud of him.
Babies grow so fast! Emma is 23 months. Almost two years old!
It's like only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.
She is a BLW baby. She started eating solids only at 6 months old. Never cereals or porridge in those early days. But big chunky finger shaped steamed vegetables or fruits. She can suck all the goodness out of fresh fruits and veggies, mushrooms, even steak cut into strips! She had been loving life because of it. I never had to force her to eat her meals!
At one year old, she started to grab the spoon and feed herself, copying us. Then she also tried her hand at chopsticks. She never poke her face with it. She can gauge the distance from the spoon/chopstick to her face. Because she is used to feeding herself.
It was so delightful to see her eat by herself everyday three times a day, seven days a week! Sitting with the whole family, having a peaceful meal together.
Whether it's at home our or outside, she sits by herself and eat by herself without too much interference from us. She even joins the conversations with us.
I wish every baby could have such a wonderful weaning experience! Instead of force feeding with a spoon and swallowing mashed food.
If you are looking for the best way to wean your baby, read the latest book on Baby Led Weaning. I hear the new edition is even better because it comes with recipes! I might buy another one myself.
Just want to praise the Lord for my baby.
Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Who says a baby cannot eat ramen noodles? A BLW baby can!
Here Emma was 8 months old and she loves noodles! What fun shapes noodles are. And delicious. Our family loves to eat japanese food. So naturally Emma loves it, too.
It doesn't matter how much she actually eats. Because her main food until 1 year old was still milk. But I notice at that time more and more were actually going in.
Mealtimes were playtimes for her. It's OK to play with food. That's the only way she learns to handle food, and later on to handle table manners. At one year old, just about 4 months later, she could hold a spoon and even chopsticks already. Now, at 23 months, Emma still loves ramen noodles and could finish half a bowl by herself. I went hungry the last time I shared my ramen with her.
Everybody including the waiters loved to watch her eat. They didn't mind very much that she left some mess on the floor. I usually would pick up the larger mess so it's not too glaring. It's okay for them and it's okay for me. Most definitely it's okay for Emma!
One more thing, after she was about 18 months, she eats quite neatly if she wants to. Very little went to the floor. It's usually at the end when she is already bored that some food actually falls down. So she really eats her food. Truly thank God for BLW.
A gift that keeps on giving!
The coffee we make is always perfecto !
No more runny or stale coffee. No more running to starbucks across the road for a quick fix. It's all right here at home.
Every capsule costs about one dollar. And we are in control of how much sugar and milk we put in. No extra costs.
I love intense coffee, so my favorite is ristretto, arpeggio, indriya, and decaf intenso. They're all rated above 8 for intensity.
But I also love to get two shots if the intensity is 5. Dulsao and cappricio is ideal for two shots.
The machine is really over priced, if you ask me. So I'm glad I got this as a gift. If not, we might never have embarked on this aromatic and totally satisfying journey of nespresso.
