yoongz

May 9, 2012November 11, 2012

Passed!… Step 2 of Step 5…

So yesterday (8th of May 2012) i passed my Swiss Driver’s Theory Test… i PASSED! 🙂

Very happy about that 😀 (If you want to know the reason why i need to take this test when i already have my driving license, read here.)

i spent the last few weeks preparing for it; reading the theory book which had well over 1000 points in it, then taking mock tests over the last 3 days on a computer program. i took about 7 or 8 of those mock test as well as going through the entire catalogue of mock questions they had on that CD – yes, i was that nervous about the test.

i was rather disappointed in myself on Sunday night when i took the 1st mock test – i didn’t make the passing grade at all, like not even close, which left me thinking if i should schedule the test for the week after. i prayed hard. And i know i have people praying for me (yes i can hear some going – oh my goodness, all that prayer just for a little theory test!!??Hey, why not? After all, i believe God is into the small things too. Read here.). So i worked at it again on Monday. 2nd and 3rd mock test – still not a passing grade but it was getting better. Then it happened… i nailed it, the 4th time! Well, with a few mistakes but still nailed it. Then i did a few more this morning – again nailed those. i was smiling by the time lunch rolled around.

Just before lunch i read my daily reading (which i get in my email inbox) and this is what it said,

Prepare

Think about times when you’ve experienced a sense of success (Psalm 17:14). Reflect on how God played a part in it and give thanks now.

……. reading is from Genesis 24:29-67, speaking about God leading Abraham’s servant to Rebekah who would be Issac’s wife…….

Respond

Think through what success will mean for you in the next 24 hours. Ask God to be with you and grant you success (Psalm 118:25).

Now that is GOD! That is truly God speaking so directly to me.

Off i went to the test very confident, still a little nervous but confident. i had to wait awhile before i could take the test. In true Swiss tradition, the counter for the registration for the theory test was not opened till exactly 2.15pm, even though the lady was already sitting behind the counter at 1.50pm.

So i waited, along with a few others, who also thought that arriving earlier than the test time to register was a good idea. Anyhow, i registered and paid at exactly 2.16pm, and then was directed to wait some more in the downstairs waiting room. So we waited. Till our number was called and we entered the computer room one by one and sat at our assigned computers and took our test.

There were 7 questions i wasn’t sure about but i thought to myself, “It’s ok, 7 mistakes is well within the passing grade.” Maybe i was a little too confident? Should have checked my answers more carefully – i got 14 points deducted. Another point deducted and i would have failed the test! Talk about God being just on time, just right.

BUT a pass is a pass! And i can not deny that God was speaking and working. Praise the Lord!

i was going to leave you with a scan of the test results but i think that’s too corny so here’s a little Ladybug who greeted me as i skipped my way home after the test 😉

Now onto Step 3 of 5.

syc

PS: Here are the steps to take towards a Swiss Driver’s License:

Step 1 – Take the first aid course (10 hours) DONE. (It was quite fun.)

Step 2 – Take the theory test. This took me a while to get to because of my heart condition i had extra paperwork. DONE.

Step 3 – Attend the extra Driver’s Ed classes ( 4 sessions). (Click here for post on Step 3)

Step 4 – Take practical lessons.

Step 5 – Take practical test. (Read about the final step here.)

May 5, 2012September 29, 2012

Joy, or “Just Wait?”

i would like to start this post with an apology.

If you have been my friend and you have been a new mum or a new dad and i have been less than encouraging, i am sorry. i am sorry for all the over-the-top comments i have made about the ‘shoulds’ and ‘should-nots’ of parenthood. i am most definitely no expert, just a mum who is also learning her way around this challenging yet fulfilling place called ‘parenthood’.

What i should have been doing is cheering you on with comments such as, “You are doing great.”, “Don’t worry. Things will turn fine when she/he grows up.”, “You have done such a wonderful job of raising her/him.”, “You are a fantastic mum/dad.”, “Just you wait till she/he smiles that first smile.”.

The link below leads to a post written with great perspective – a perspective every parent should be inspired to have.

Have a read. Joy, or “Just Wait?” | Diving for Pearls.

justwait20120505 — It still takes my breath away to think that he grew from this helpless day old babe to this very active, funny almost 8-year old boy!

In just 15 days, my little guy turns 8! Time has flown! Many of the “Just Waits” have come and gone, sadly, but i have so many more “Just Waits” to come. And i look forward to them, gladly.

As i read this article, i can’t help but think about all the orphans listed on Reece’s Rainbow who are still waiting, just waiting; just waiting for their forever families to come and get them, just waiting for a mummy or a daddy to pick them up and swing them around, just waiting for siblings who would play with them, just waiting to be in a loving home. And it is a hope we can bring to fruit – we just need to keep praying, keep advocating, keep sharing. Consider adopting one of these precious ones if you can.

Please go to Reece’s Rainbow to find out more. And remember my little Heath and my lovely Heather– they are just waiting; just waiting for joy.

reecesrainbow_heather20120301 — 10-year-old Heather, is a healthy sweetie who needs a family asap.

reecesrainbow_heath20120301 — 11-year-old Heath, is a cutie who needs his family asap.

syc

May 2, 2012May 2, 2012

Water, Water, Precious Water…

On Sunday, my lovely Sunday School Pre-school class children came into class, each holding a lovely tulip in their hands. They gave the tulips to me! i was surprised and very very happy about it. It’s so nice to receive gifts, especially unexpected ones and when they are your favourite flowers,… well… i was simply over-the-moon!

Since it was a surprise, i had no vase to put the flowers in, they were sort of dying by the time we got home with them. i pulled out my trusty plastic vase and filled it with water. As i was doing that, Tobias said, “Mummy, you need to put some sugar in there.” Apparently, that’s what they were taught in school. (i love how the school here doesn’t just focus on academics but also teach the kids to appreciate nature and the world around them.)

So i did put a little sugar in there and by the evening,… well here are the before and after pictures for you to compare.

Isn’t it amazing what a little water can do for a desperately thirsty flower? They went from limp and almost passing out to standing tall and proud.

Now beginning at the end of February, i have been regularly posting about Reece’s Rainbow and the special needs orphans it advocates for. i have become a prayer warrior for two of those kids (Heath & Heather). i also advocate for other kids listed on the RR website on my Facebook, almost daily and sometimes even multiple times a day.

i get the feeling that some of my friends might think that i have gone off my rocker – so to speak. But i have not. Some may think: “What’s the point of praying and advocating? Will it really change anything?”

Yes it will! Like the water and sugar to the tulips, so are my prayers and advocacy efforts for these orphans. i truly believe that God Himself, Jesus Himself, the Holy Spirit Himself, will carry my sugared water to these orphans and feed them.

Many of these orphans (not all, Thank God), live a sort of half-life. They are alive, they are given enough to keep them alive but being in understaffed and underfunded institutes means that they are being left to sit in their chairs all day with nothing to do, no one to interact with… many rock or hit their heads to self-stimulate… that just isn’t a life at all! We are made to be community creatures; without community, without some sort of interaction, one slowly wastes away. And that is exactly what is happening to these orphans.

i also pray and advocate because i believe with all my heart, that having a family who loves them and cares for them, who wants them and wants to interact with them, a family who will play with them, talk with them and do all the fantastic family stuff with them – that – THAT will allow these precious ones to blossom and bloom… a loving family will be the water with sugar which will enable them to stand up tall and proud, no longer wilted or stunned or unwanted.

So open your hearts to these orphans: love them, pray for them, advocate for them, adopt them…

reecesrainbow_langley9ha_20120502 — Look at that cute face! He needs his mummy today. Are you his mummy?

MEET LANGLEY

Birthdate: October 2007
Gender: Male
Eyes: Blue
Hair: light brown
Nature: Quiet
Diagnosis: Down syndrome
From one of our adoptive families who met him in December 2011: ” I saw him today. After days of scanning faces, I walked into Bella’s groupa and SAW HIM!! He is a doll. He is so cute! He looks healthy and is walking. I had a banana for Bella (which they wouldn’t let me give it to her) and he took it. He bit right through the peeling. If they would have let me, I would have given it to him. Oh sweet boy…you need a mama!!!”
Friendly, emotional, affectionate boy. Active, social, friendly. Easy going. Eats well independently. Plays well with toys and likes to help others.

REMEMBER MY LITTLE HEATH

PRAY FOR MY LOVELY HEATHER

If you do help any one of these little ones in any way, please do leave a comment below so that i can send you a personal Thank You.

syc