Benjamin turns 1!

Posted by spots (Singapore, Singapore) on 17 February 2008 in People & Portraits and Portfolio.

Ben turned 1 yesterday! We celebrated with a family lunch. I grilled The Biggest Salmon Fillet You Have Ever Seen (from Cold Storage) and we had Steve's summer salad (the recipe of which can be found in earlier entries), couscous, freshly-baked bread with homemade bruschetta and dips from Cold Storage. The Mango Cheesecake was done by Trish from Tempting Treats, who also made Daniel's 2nd birthday party cake. It was really delicious - not heavy like the American cheesecake and not dry/light like the Japanese version. Instead, it was moist, light, creamy and fruity! Yums!

I just want to praise God for bringing Benjamin up to this stage. It has been a trying year, emotionally, physically and spiritually. But recently, I've come to realise how I had failed to put God at the centre of my life and how it affected me. So many times when I faced stress and struggles this past year, I should have said, as the Psalmist said, "God, I need you. Without you, I will fail." Instead, I chose to plod on and things seldom improved. I see clearly now that life cannot be led without depending on God. If that is done, there will only be disappointment and an emptiness which can be avoided for a while, but not forever. At the end of the day, we all need God because He created us that way. And the more He is at the centre of things, the more joyful and peaceful things will be. I really want to praise God for never letting go of me, even when I was so lost and blind. And I really pray that going forward, I will continue to deepen my relationship with God and in so doing, become a better mother, wife and person. Thus far, being a mother has made me closer to God in that I am more and more aware each day that I am a sinner and I need a Saviour. Amen.