Let's Serve!

It had been a very blessed week for Jazz and us. My parents arrived, Js are away from school and Jazz attended a church camp that ran for 5 days, 3 hours each session. As an apprehensive Mum, I was all worried about her on day 1 when I left her in a place of total unfamiliar faces. She can be extremely shy and unspoken when it comes to a  'land' of strangers.

My worries were uncalled for, when I picked her at the end of first day's session. She was all cheerful and with excitement still in her, she told me she had great fun learning, doing crafts, singing and dancing. She emphasized on 'fun' umpteen times, and I was relieved that she found comfort in a whole new environment. I knew the camp shall continue for her till its last day, and she looked forward for every session.

Together with her, I've been tremendously blessed after each session from what she communicated on  the learnings and songs. The camp had a main theme on 'SERVE.' She learnt about serving God, Family, Friends, Neighbours and Community. Which is a value that's often neglected or unspoken of. It's not too often that a child wants to take on a serving role in play or for real. A good value to teach, not just for the young, but for every living human. Very often, we are wrapped in our own bubble, neglecting the people around us. Taking things and service for granted without much considerations. The higher a status one climbs to, the tougher it is to humble oneself to serve. I hope Js will always keep a servanthood heart in them, wherever they are. Not talking about service for a profit, but serving with a sincere and cheerful heart. I hope they will always avail themselves, whenever possible to help people around them. But, at the same time, stay wise about not being taken granted for.

I'm pleased when Jazz said, "I'm gonna serve Mummy, so that she has more time for other stuff," "I'm gonna tidy my bed everyday." These positives melted my heart. And words aren't just words when partnered with actions. She began tidying her bed on some mornings, with her soft toys neatly tucked to the bed corner. She served not just me, but her brother. She tidied his bed too! I'm comforted by this little beginning. She seemed to have matured not just spiritually, but grown sensible too. At least in thoughts.

 

Church camp week for Jazz

Riding on the road, with cautious drivers always on lookout

 

And while Js were away from school, I spent much more time with them than their school days. We cycled, scooted, swam, played and of course with the input of educational drills. It definitely is easy to serve the people we love!

I'm truly thankful for the reminder about serving, not just within the household, but also out of the house. I'm blessed for every opportunity to serve. 

 

Pretend play - Picnic

While sis is in camp, it's cars world

Learning the creative way

We had a great week of bonding and much more to come as vacation begins...

Grocery shopping tips

I usually end up with a whole lot of wanted or unwanted food in my fridge from the unplanned groceries trip. Either that, or missing out items that forces me out of home for another trip, just for a single item. So here are some tips I accumulated from the months of groceries shopping experience, which has since been my forte. 

1. Plan your menu

Very often, I overbuy or miss out items that I need for my weekly food menu. Simply because I didn't pen the ingredients needed for my menu. Planning gives me targeted buying. And there, I get my grocery list. 

 

Flown meal planner from Singapore

 

2. Check pantry

After planning the menu, check the pantry and fridge for items you already have. So there won't be repeated buys, especially when they're highly perishable. Too much food poses trouble for the chef. Work to cook off the previous buys. Sometimes, with no planning, I tend to get repeated buys, so much so that we are probably well-prepared for disaster activation. In fact, I've already some canned food set aside for earthquake contingency. 

3. Keep receipts

I have the tendency to forget what has been bought after some time. Being slowly consumed by memory failure, it could either be sitting somewhere in the fridge or rotting bad till discovered! Ok, that's me. Having the receipt clipped outside my fridge is a good reminder of my buys, allowing me to wipe out what I've bought, thus being less wasteful. 

 

Clipped receipt

4. Coupons

This may not be too applicable in Singapore, but here, it's a coupon world. I'll try to clip coupons on the items that I plan to buy, and not get myself conned to buying other stuffs, even though greatly slashed. Being needful is important when it comes to coupons. 

5. Nutrition

I now spend more time reading nutrition facts and ingredients. I avoid adding artificially flavoured and coloured food to my cart, as well as MSG and preservatives. Sodium Nitrate's a compound used to preserve most processed food giving it a more appealing colour to consumers. Very commonly found in processed meats, such as hotdog, bacon, ham and canned food. Some researchers evidenced that sodium nitrate (read: Sodium Nitrates) is a cancer causing ingredient. That was concluded decades ago. After which, researchers said sodium nitrate and cancer has no link. A myth?!! Oh well, I think consuming moderately, once in a long while should be fine. I'll remain cautious when it comes to reading labels, less is actually better. There are always other nutritious options to go for. I'll totally avoid the artificial, MSG and preservatives for kids consumption. For myself, if it's my craving to die for, I'll buy! Moderately. 

Extracted this from a sausage I bought

 

6. Bring your own bags

When I say go plastic free, I'm absolutely not practicing what I preach. Simply because I don't bring my recycle bags for bagging the groceries. I get fresh plastics for every trip, giving myself excuses such as convenience and needing the bags to line the trash bin. For the benefit of our future generations, to save the world and save the environment, I'll make a good effort on this. 

7. Don't shop on an empty tummy

Lastly, my favourite one. Have you noticed, groceries shopping after a full meal prompts you to buy less. You tend to stay more focused on your grocery list. Which means there's less impulse buying and you spend nothing or less on the unnecessary. For me, it means less junk snacks and sweets.

Grocery shopping does need some good techniques huh, don't belittle the accomplishments of a grocery shopping mum!

Letters in their names

I've always wanted to create beautiful meanings out of the letters in their names. After some days of challenging thoughts, I can finally mark it down. 

JAZZELLE

J is for Jazz, bounce with music for life

A is for Amicable, ever peaceable

Z is for Zealous, diligently passionate

Z is for Zest, live an exciting life

E is for Endeavour, attain great successes ahead

L is for Loving, withhold a pure heart

L is for Laughter, spread it all around

E is for Enchanting, be that magical influence

JARETH

J is for joy, bring it unto others

A is for Admirable, gain that respect

R is for Reliable, be a firm support

E is for Excellence, pursue it continuously

T is for trustworthy, live in honesty

H is for Humble, always the key to success

J pair!

I'll be contented enough to raise Js as beautifully described. Moral character far exceeds the academics. Aspire them to look great on the outside and inside!