(I am) God's adopted people

During this journey, of course many 'what ifs' flooded our minds. what if they feel that they are not loved because they are adopted? What if they want to look for their birth parents? what if? what if? what if? and what if they ask about their birth? how should i reveal it to the child next time?

As all these questions came naturally to mind, i prayed and asked God how should i explain to Zara next time about adoption. And as i prayed, God revealed the best story to me and i teared.

I am not born a Jew, not God's own people by birth.
I am a Gentile.
I am God's adopted people.

Because of His love,
He paid a price (through Jesus Christ) to bring me back to Him.
He made it possible to have a relationship with Him.
He poured out His love over me and took me as His own.
For the first time, i could call Him "Abba Father"
He brought me into His house and gave me a family i did not have.
He promised me a future and placed eternity in my heart.
He prepared for me an inheritance i was not entitled to.
A brand new life.

Adoption has been like a taboo word in most culture and tradition. So is it wrong to want to adopt a child not for some noble reasons but simply because you really wanted a child? Personally, i think that if a couple feels that they have got love to give, why not? How blessed is the child who is given that opportunity to be loved!

We will pour out our love on Zara and teach her the way of the Lord, to the best we know how. Even if, we eventually have our own child, we will love them just the same. Like how God love us unconditionally and without partiality, we aim to do that to the best we know how.

How it started?

In 2014 March, Ivan and i went on a mission trip together to Philippines, Iloilo. This is the first time we signed up and served on missions together and the first time we are on medical missions. Very different from usual mission trips, this trip we had to do medical post at a few different locations, setting up BP stations, consultations and issuing of medication.

At one of the location where the slums are, we saw a very cute little girl and we both fall in love with her. I got to visit her house which was a very small wooden house the size of our usual HDB study room, just enough for a queen size bed, no walking space and the family got to squeeze together and sleep inside.

During that trip, we got to give out toys and stationery to the kids in those slum area and so we give her a cute teddy bear. :)

That was the first time the seed was sown in our hearts, but at that point, there were many things happening at home and we were not sure if we could commit and emotionally able to give full love and support to the child what she will need.

June 2016, i went Iloilo again for medical mission. This time, Ivan was not there with me. When i visited the same slum and saw this girl, she has grown up to be a beautiful little girl. She remembers me and will always come and find me.

After sending this photo to Ivan, he asked if the girl would like to come to Singapore. I would love to, but i think it's going to be a big decision for Ivan as the man in the house, so i told him to think and pray about it before we decide.

During this trip, i got to visit many more houses in the slum where the children are all living in cramped up places, lack of education due to the lack of financial ability to send them to school and some are left to fend for themselves etc. Human trafficking rate was also high. There, the desire to provide a family and a home for these children grew.

We started finding out how can we go about adopting a child from these places. After much research and speaking to different authorities, Singaporeans are not allowed to adopted from Philippines. It's some inter country regulations stuff. Just like we cannot adopt from Korea and Japan and some other countries as well.

After praying and talking through, i personally also spoke to my spiritual mentor who encouraged me to go for it and got me to link up with a couple who also have adopted. Speaking to another family who also have adopted, we were referred to attend an adoption workshop to find out more and to see if we are really prepared for it.

And so, as we research and go for the workshop etc the desire in us grew. It is NOT because our family is incomplete without a child and therefore we choose to adopt. I think Ivan and i are doing fine with children of our good friends running around and for us to dote on all the time. As a family, we are also happy the way we are and of course every family have their own problems or things we need to work out, but those are definitely NOT the reason why we decide to adopt.

Baby Zara was adopted and is now our daughter forever. As much as the joy baby Zara will bring to us, we pray that we will be godly parents to her and provide for her the future she would not have had. Bringing her up in the way and the fear of the Lord.

Give up or Surrender?

Many have asked, have you tried the many many possible methods like the Chinese traditional ways, IVF, medical procedures etc?

My answer is, yes we have tried in our own ways and yes there are medical limitations.

Why didn't we go for IVF?

Firstly, yes IVF have helped many people, but I think IVF is not a solution to everything and everyone? As much as it has helped many, there were even more who didn't work out that are not spoken of. In fact, many people whom i know only got pregnant after giving up trying IVF.

Some asked, why would we chose to adopt and not wait for our own miracle child?

Is it because we no longer have faith that God can bless us with a child of our own?

Did we adopt because we have given up trying?

We have faith that God will bless us with our miracle child and we still believe. We are still praying and trusting God. The decision to adopt has nothing to do with our faith and trust in God. We will and have not given up.

So why did we choose to adopt?

We will share in the next post :)

Gift from God

Some may ask: 'Is there a faith crisis?'
I would laugh at that question.

First of all, we believe that Zara is a gift from God :) going through many different seasons of life in the past 5 years, i think Zara is the best gift thus far.

Though she did not came about as many have expected and could only accept, I believe we have prayed and God has answered our prayer in His very own way.

I believe she is in the plan of God and brought to us through different angels.

Some may know that the waiting process was also not easy through the constant changing and uncertainty about the outcome of the baby. Somehow, we just know that God has reserved her for us.

Romans 8:28

All things works together for the good for those we love Him and are called according to His purpose

Falling in love with her at first sight and every single day after.

The official beginning!

This is my 2nd time meeting this little angel. Since our first meeting, we have fallen in love with her and have been thinking and missing her the few days of waiting.

After feeding her and changing her into some clean clothes, we were off on our journey home to a special beginning for both me and ivan, and for this little angel. From this day, we will name her ZARA YEO JING EN.

We pray that she will grow up in the way of the Lord, loving God, loving His people, loving His house and loving His presence. Grow up strong and healthy, serving and shining for His glory.

On the way home, she was peacefully sleeping in her car seat :)

And then when we got home, she eat, diaper change and sleep so peacefully.

And Ivan just couldn't get his eyes off her.

Honestly, the reality hasn't quite set in yet. The reality that i am now a mother. The reality that there is this tiny being that i need to take care of and take responsibility of. But i'm sure it will soon!

However, not having the advantage of the 9 months to prepare and to research and etc. 

I am very thankful for friends!

For Peihua who came in the afternoon to give advise, to accompany me 

and also to teach me how to bath her. 

For Jo, who came with a cute balloon for Zara, gave advise and prayed for Ivan, baby Zara and me.

For Weifang, Yang zheng and Isabelle who came after work and school to visit and have dinner with us.

For Kimmy and Kimmy's Mummy who came by just to shower her with their love.

<3 <3 <3

Filorga Age Peel Review

Too busy to go for your facial treatment monthly? You can do some home treatment on your own every week!

So these are what is in this little black box:
- 5 pieces of pre-peel wipes
- 1 tube of age-peel treatment
These are enough for a total of 5 treatments.

Effects of this treatment is hydrating, firming and most importantly it helps with scars and skin resurfacing!

Recommendation of use:
- for age 30-35, recommended use is once every 2 weeks. However, if your skin is extremely dry and you feel the need to increase use, be sure that it does not cause your skin to become too oily or is too rich for your skin.
- for age 36-45, recommended to use once weekly. For deep wrinkles or scars, recommend to increase use to 3-4 times every 2 weeks
- for age 46 onwards, recommended to use twice weekly. :)

After trying out this treatment at home, it is easy to use. VERY easy to use. Wash your face, dry it. Then use the pre-peel wipes to clean your clean your face thoroughly. Apply a good amount of peel cream over your face. The whole set is meant for 5 use, so put a generous amount over your face. Leave it on for no longer than 20 minutes. DO NOT leave it overnight. Wash it off thoroughly and put your own skincare toner, serum and night cream and have a good night!

Precautions:
DO NOT apply peel cream and go into the sun, not during that 20 minutes when the peel is on your face.
DO NOT use more than recommended times.

Why mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws always have problem?

Exactly whose problem is this? For centuries and all throughout history, this seems to be a problem that cannot seems to be solved. So... I am not going to be giving you a solution either.

However, being a daughter-in-law and a future mother, i tried to understand what will cause me to be upset with someone who i think is trying to spend her rest of her life with my son. So let's try to analysis this together!

First of all, any girl who finds a man whom she love wishes that he will develop into the man she always what him to be. She may even wish that the man will be somewhat close to how their father is like. At the same time the man wishes the woman will grow into the likeness of their mother, In that process, it is inevitable for the couple to grow into the soul-mate of one another.

Then what causes the mother-in-law to be upset? Every mother loves their son just the way they are, the way they brought them up to be. When the son develops in the relationship, he slowly changes from the mummy's boy into the man the woman of his life yearns for. Hence, it causes the mother to think that the girl is trying to change her son, in her (protective) perspective, she believes that it is against the will of her son.

Believe it or not, i think that one of the way to make things better is for the son to bridge the gap. If the son remains loving to the mother and shares with her what is going on and let the mother grow together with his changes, it will be easier for the mother to see and develop together with the son, to love this woman whom he loves. At the same time, build the relationship between them, spending time together.

Only when the man loves and honors his mother, will the woman of his life learn to love and honour his mother. Many times, the man avoids talking to the mother about this woman and gets all defensive. So, whose problem is this exactly?




If the man could be a good bridge, mothers and daughters-in-law can be the best of friends! To the mothers, instead of losing her son, she can gain and daughter. And to the woman, she will gain a family and it will be a heaven on earth rather than a living hell. :P