Another birthday... double digits grand entry ... Benjamin turns 10

A new era, this first born of mine enters double digits. Benjamin turned 10 a couple of weeks ago. His pre birthday week started with a weekend visit from his uncle. A fun weekend , shooting with Elijah's new NERF gun. My brother, Benjamin and Elijah equally had no more target left in the house. They even made use of David's magic sand as a wall to shoot down. 

Since, the day of his birthday, their school had a " studiemiddag " (free afternoon as the teachers had a course to attend), he spend the afternoon at a friends as I had to work. 

In the evening , we ordered KFC take away and had a lovely finger lickin' time.

During the weekend , we celebrated his school friends party at the movies. A Dutch kids movie "Spookjagers" and pizza for dinner. This year he requested a Minecraft cake and I barely managed to make one that resembled something like it. Those million tiny squares are not easy at all! Nevertheless, Benjamin was happy (perhaps he didn't want to break his poor mother's heart). True to his personality, a sensitive and caring boy. May you grow into a strong man , filled with compassion, love , and kindness .

Birthday time for Elijah

Elijah turned 7 this year on the 13th of February. But by the time we got a chance to celebrate it with the kids it was March 4th. It was the end of the carnival week and we were recovering from an ice skating injury . Well , not all of us but Benjamin. An ice skating accident , with 3 stitches to his shin, he was happy to just put his feet up and read . And read and read and read. The pictures are too gory to put up. I will spare you the awkward moment.

On Elijah's birthday we went to the restaurant and had a family dinner. The next day Elijah was in bed for two days with a stomach bug. A great start to his 7th year. He bounced back quite well. Which was good for me .

For his birthday party we went to the Ontdek fabriek . A discovery centre, a place to do woodwork, make something from waste electronic parts, shape thermocol into animal shapes using a hot wire and many more. It was a good experience for the kids to do something with their hands.

We came home and cut cake and had poffertjes (Dutch mini puffed pancakes) , sausages, fries, cucumbers and snack tomatoes for dinner.

This year Elijah requested a super hero cake. Same theme every year , only this year it wasn't a specific hero but a mesh of a few of them on a cake.

All in all the day went well and we ended the day with the 5 of us watch Star wars: The empire strikes back.

Christmas and New Year 2016

Since we started our holiday break just one day before Christmas Eve, everything was busy and rushed. Even though I was late for getting the turkey, we managed with duck. Since I already bought duck for Christmas Eve, which we celebrated just the 5 of us, we weren't  complaining about more duck for Christmas dinner. We usually have dinner together with another family. But she was sick with the flu and we decided to take all the food to their place. Just as we were getting things in crates and getting all my good dishes, something crashed! Yes , a crate full of Brussel sprouts Jamie Oliver style, two cake trays(thankfully with out any cake in it yet), some non alcoholic beverages for the under 18 , came crashing down, exactly in between the kitchen and the dining area. It was a sight to see. Brussel sprouts , mixed in Crodini drink, and glass , everywhere. The boys tried to keep their smile tucked away, since now they didn't have to eat the sprouts.  And yet look concerned and truly upset. Yeah right!

Well, a smashing start to the Christmas dinner. But ,we had so much fun with dinner and chatting, the evening couldn't have gone better. 

Christmas Eve dinner

Christmas Eve family dinner 

Bobby took the first week off. We had loads of fun just being at home and doing normal things. Staying in pyjamas till 12 pm was one of them. We enjoyed skating(we, as in the kids), went out wth friends, kids had sleep overs and also a movie too . 

End of the year we celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary, and we attempted to go for the movie "Sing" with our friends. It was too full and we didn't get tickets. So we came back home rented a movie from iTunes , The secret life of pets and had pizza and fries. 

After the weekend we made sure to get tickets before hand it self , and could finally see "sing". It was such a fun movie! I enjoyed every bit of it. 

The second week of the holiday, I tried to find my "list of things to do during the holiday"and stared at it for a while. Attempted a couple of things and left it . Which was good too!

A great year ending and a peaceful uneventful beginning to the new year.

Looking forward to what 2017 has in store for us.

Here is a peek at all the  food I made for Christmas dinner(minus the Brussel Sprout)

Mushroom bake with spinach and pine nuts with cheese

Tomato soup

Duck

Spinach and mushroom pie

Magic Flan cake

Jamie Oliver panatonne cake

Mary Berry Christmas cake

Elijah: The swimming saga ends

In the Netherlands , swimming is a big deal and kids start diploma swimming usually when they are 4. Of course , before this they do baby swimming and toddler swimming. Most kids do this. The basic diplomas are A, B, C. After that there are more diplomas you can go for , if you want to continue with swimming. These basic diplomas are required if you want to swim on your own without parental supervision (parents in the pool with you), or some sort of arm bands.  Especially when recreational swimming, vacation parks having tropical swimming pools, and birthday swimming parties, having a basic A and B is a must.

With Elijah , we went quite fast with this process and he is one of the best students in his class. Diploma A went by perfectly. And then the drama began for his Diploma B lessons. Something happened to make him afraid, unwilling to enter the pool.  I think he didn't make it through the hole for one of the lessons and this sabotaged his confidence. Now this "hole" is a huge thing for kids. Its a rubber sheet with a hole in the middle placed at the bottom of the pool. And kids need to jump, swim underwater , and go through the hole. With each diploma the distance from the jump to the hole increases. We made it somehow to gain the confidence and get Diploma B.

Diploma C lessons went well. After a lot of asking and prodding he finally said even though he does the swimming perfectly and well, he doesn't like it. How is that possible?

And then finally the saga ends , the Saturday before the Christmas holidays began , we , actually him got his final C diploma. He definitely didn't want to pursue anymore. But he was ecstatic and proud!!!!

Now it will be a few years , until I will return to that hot, sultry swimming pool and sit for lessons.

To Ellen with love

These words to Ellen are a random collection of conversations I have had in my head with God and Ellen over the last 2 weeks. In an attempt to put this to rest and clear my head, to put things in perspective... to connect the head knowledge to the way my heart feels... broken and in fear.... never doubting God though..but unsure and distraught of HIS ways. Knowing its only good that comes from Him but yet afraid of that good not matching my hearts desire....... You get my rambling eh?

And the only way I know best is to pour out my heart to you .... my best friend.... 

Dearest  Ellen ,

It's been a little over two weeks since you left us. And it is still so hard to say that . I kept on saying to myself that I couldn't believe  that you were gone. Thursday was a hard day for all of us. Actually ,everyday has been hard. We said our goodbyes to the person you were here on earth in the morning. We were set to celebrate your life here and give thanks in the afternoon. You would have had your jaws drop if you saw how full the church was. Ellen, so many came to celebrate you . Your girls wore their best dress... I think they wore it one Christmas perhaps... And they were well behaved...

I know it doesn't matter to you now... and won't need to ask HIM why? You are in HIS arms, filling your new Home with your heart filling .. heart warming laughter.... We all still hear it.... And THE ONE gets to hear it up close now. I bet you are busy discovering this place and all it has in store for you. 

Everyday for us... your closest , we are reminded of you in the smallest of ways. We look to each other to get that nod ... its okay.. we will get there. 

I have been listening to a lot of music these days(Hillsongs United :Of dirt and grace)... And every time, I hear God's soft words for me... to keep and treasure ... when I am ready. 

The Prince of peace met me there...  

His ways are Higher.....

We are no longer slaves to fear......

Be still... and know that I am GOD......

You were ready to leave us ... but we weren't.... I promise you.. we weren't selfish to keep to here... in pain. We wanted you completely healed and well again. And we knew God would do it. Because He has done it before .... Spoken to Lazarus and Jairus daughter yet, Ellen? 

I watched you shortly after you left us that Thursday ... to rise .....The Breath of God to fill your chest. I watched closely for your chest to rise... Rise .. I prayed... Rise...

There is still time.... 

Until the following  Wednesday... 6 days after....

I stood there until they closed you in that thing they call a coffin... waiting for God to come and show His glory and power.. For those around who came to see you one last time... those who didn't know You.... Oh! how many would have given their heart to HIM... What a miracle it would be.... 

I waited and waited ... but...

He had other plans.....

We celebrated you the following day at your home church... Daniel and Martyna, as per your request lead worship ... Annelies sang to your parents....we celebrated indeed with funny stories... You would have been embarrassed and blushing pink.... Your Pa and Ma ,  your sisters Jose and Marja heard of the ways you touched our hearts in so many ways..... We saw through them what a fun loving.... prank pulling girl you were.... We saw Rosie and Hannah in the childhood pictures that flashed across the screen.... We remembered New wine, holidays, lazy around moments we shared together. Our weddings.... the birth of our children.. their birthdays...our birthdays .... Christmas and New Year... and most Sundays.... We shared life so much at the table.... You would look to me .. asking if a particular dish was spicy or not. Remember? 

I had plans to put up the typical Dutch "Sarah" inflatable for your 50th...

I know in my head WHY... but the journey to the heart is slow and painful. 

I surrender...... Lord... have your way.... in me.

Ellen,  dearest, I will miss you so much.... 

Worry not about Martin and the girls ... we will look after them.....

Until we meet again.. 

Yours,

Manju

I will sing your praise

Even when it hurts : Hillsongs United (Of Dirt and Grace)

Take this fainted heart

Take these tainted hands

Wash me in your love

Come like grace again

Even when my strength is lost

I'll praise you

Even when I have no song

I'll praise you

Even when it's hard to find the words

Louder then I'll sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

Take this mountain weight

Take these ocean tears

Hold me through the trial

Come like hope again

Even when the fight seems lost

I'll praise you

Even when it hurts like hell

I'll praise you

Even when it makes no sense to sing

Louder then I'll sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

And my heart burns only for you

You are all you are all I want

And my soul waits only for you

And I will sing till the morning has come

Lord my heart burns only for you

You are all you are all I want

And my soul waits only for you
And I will sing till the miracle comes

I will only sing your praise

I will only sing your praise
I will only sing your praise

Even when the morning comes

I'll praise you

Even when the fight is won

I'll praise you

Even when my time on earth is done

Louder then I'll sing your praise

I will only sing your praise

Coincidentally, my other best friend Tracey put up her post (Click here) this morning. Guess we were ready for the next baby step....So I came back to edit and add her post.... for you to read too.... A fitting tribute to how we feel , more stories and who Ellen is. Yes... "Is".

Five Minute Friday : Test

Five minutes of unedited writing . Here is the word. TEST .  Go for it.


How appropriate for today. As my dear friend lies in hospital struck with the " days to live" report, I reel back and forth the "why"  and "I trust you Lord. You are a good God. You are in control " wagon.

On Wednesday we had a prayer evening for her and we were all in one accord , in asking for healing. One was reminded of Daniel's friends in the fire. The fire got hotter. God was among them. And they came out even without the smell of smoke on them.

This is the perfect spot to be in. To trust in Him completely. No worldly hope left. But our HOPE lies in HIM.

And that' not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character, Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured His love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIRV)

Dear brother and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed , you will be perfect and complete , needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 (NLT)

It seems hard to consider it an opportunity for great joy. But whatever the earthy situation seems like, we are asked to ASK. We are asked to sow Words of truth, life, and blessing. 

The rest is up to God, because the battle belongs to the Lord.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)

Glory to you O Lord for ever and ever.

Family visit April 2016

The benefit of my brother working in Bosch, California is that he gets to come to  the German  office at least twice a year. And thankfully its just 5 hours from Eindhoven. Since he was coming  my parents visited us in April at the  same time. We decided to book a holiday home somewhere in between Eindhoven and Mithun's work base. We got a good Landal (Sonnenberg)vacation home booking close to Trier.  

We treasure these full family moments. It always feels like when we were kids again. It would have been complete if his wife Ria could have joined us. 

The area around our holiday home itself was beautiful and we enjoyed a day of just walking around and relaxing at parks when the kids wanted to play.

Another day we visited Trier. It was a beautiful archeological town and we enjoyed every bit of it.We even met Malayalee nuns when we were walking around the Bishops gardens. We spend a few minutes silently smiling at each other, since we already figured out where we were from. It just took a minute longer to break the ice and ask the famous question : Are you Malayalee ? (of course in Malayalam).

We had great eat outs, which I treasure and enjoy.(Anything other than eating my own cooked food). And of course my mum brought a crate full of mutton biriyani, beef curry, and cutlet for the brother. Other than meeting us and for work, his sole reason for coming is to eat his mums food.

The boys had a great time with Appacha , Ammachi and Tutumama. And of course enjoyed the gifts and goodies that came with them.