1 July 2010 Thu - Uncanny Ability

Luke has this uncanny ability to relate the songs that we sing to the exact sound track on one of the many music CDs he has in his possession. Not only that, he can point to the exact song in a mp3 folder that can have up to 600 songs.

Today we saw that happen again. We picked the song 'Blessed be your name' for family cell worship. During the worship, he went to his bedroom and came out with a WORSHIP KIDS 3 worship CD, and pointed us to the exact song track! Wow

14 Jun 10 Mon - New shoes & insole

After going around in circles from Poly Clinic to NUH Ortho, to NUH Podiatry and then to TTS Podiatry, we finally found the right place to help Luke with his left foot. His left foot is not flat, and it is lifted at the heel. Surgery to stretch the tendon does not help cause a bone has formed under the foot. Doctor Lucy at TTS Podiatry recommends new shoes for Luke, and must meet these 4 criterion

1) Extra wide (eg skateboarding shoes)

2) Firm shoe base that cannot be twisted

3) Has a good rock (press the front down and the back lifts up)

4) Has an insole that can be removed

Found such a pair at New Balance, although Luke was not interested in the shoes.

Got him to wear his new shoes in the morning to work, and then in the afternoon fetched him from workplace to see Dr Lucy. She patiently work with him to fit in a new sole in the left shoe that can compensate for his lifted heel. Luke was very good and coorperated with Dr Lucy.

It is finally done. New sole added to the left shoe. Will see Dr Lucy in 1.5 months' time.

Thank God Luke is now on track to better walking!

9-11 June 10 - Trip to Genting

Luke was on compulsory holiday from 7-11 June. Since Luke likes train ride, we decided to take the night train to KL on 9th night, and then bus/cable car to Genting. Stayed one night at First World Hotel Genting on 10th, and then returned back to Singapore on 11th.

Luke remembered the train ride very well. It stopped many times in the journey, sometimes in between stations. For public speaking on 15 June, he told me to write for him 'the train slowed down. It stopped. It was dark'. I asked him if he was scared and he said yes. We all slept on the train upper sleeping decks, cause the lower decks were all taken. However, in the morning, we found Luke had shifted down to the lower deck just below him. He knows what he wants for sure!

As Daddy intended to collect the Chinese Study Bible from Kepong, we took another train from KL to Kepong, and then back to KL to take the bus to Genting. The bus stopped midway, and we switch ed to cable car to take us all the way up to peak of Genting. Luke was cooperative and did not complained. We had to wait a long time for check-in at First world, and he patiently waited at the lobby. We finally checked in at 4pm. We had dinner, walked around the indoor theme park, and ate ice-cream at Mcdonalds with the view of the roller coaster ride. Luke was happy and excited whenever the coaster ride goes past with screaming folks. But he refused to go on the ride.

At every meal, he will ask for curry. So he had curry rice for dinner on 10th, and curry noodles for lunch on 11th. I think he should be satisfied.

It was a short and enjoyable holiday. Thank God for safe and easy journey. Thank God that Luke did not bring all his barang barang - he only brought his bag of makers and a writing board.

1 May 10 - Special Olympics Flag day

May 1st was Special Olympics Flag day. This is the 2nd year that Luke participated in selling flags for Special O. We couldn't sell flags in the morning, cause I need to be at Sentosa for the CN baptism. Got home at 3pm, and quickly told Luke to change. Lo and behold, without any prompting from me, he changed into his Special O attire (red shirt and pants). Wow, I am impressed with my son.

We went over to Serangoon MRT and with some help from me, he stood in position for people to donate into his tin. He tightly grasp his tin at his arm pit and people need to get near to put in the money. Finally, I managed to persuade him to hold the tin by his hand.

I am thankful to all the people who encouraged Luke and his Special O friends with their donations.

28 Apr 10 Wed - Small beginnings

Some weeks ago, it did cross my mind that I can teach Luke to blow the shofar. But when I asked him, he will shake his head.

Today, I left the shofar in the living room, while I worked in the kitchen. Then he came to me with the shofar in his hand and tried to blow. He tried hard but no sound came out. But it is a wonderful small beginnings.

Checked his bank a/c, and found that MINDS-EDC has banked in his allowance. It is his FIRST salary. He received $42.36. Well it is not much, but at least he is earning towards his own keep. Thank God for another wonderful small beginnings.

26 Apr 10 Mon - Down with cough

Luke's cough got worse on Sat 23 Apr. Got slight fever. Dr Kwan put him on antibiotics. On Sunday the cough was still very bad. He does not know how to spit out the phlegm. Brought him to see the usual chinese physician and gotten some medicine. He gets well faster taking the medicine from this physician. Since he started the antibiotics he has to complete the course. Chinese physician gave him 2 days MC for Mon & Tue.

He is slightly better today. Still got cough and phlegm. Didn't go for Public speaking. He is happy to be at home, resting and playing his favorite computer game Halo.

Since Luke start work, this is the first time he goes on MC. He is on probation till end of April. I pray that the workshop will confirm him to work after April.

17 Apr 10 Sat - No need specs! Normal!

Today Luke has appointment for eye checkup at Woodland MINDS.

He is long-sighted and has high astigmatism. But he insist on not wearing specs. He will remove it when we are not watching, or pull the specs so low that he is not looking through it. As such, he basically has stopped wearing specs for like 7-8 years.

His 2008 Refraction report showed:
Left SPH +3.75 CYL -4.00 AXIS 175 VA 6/15
Right SPH +3.50 CYL -3.75 AXIS 10 VA 6/15

I brought along his Refraction report, fully expecting the eye checkup to highlight his eye condition and required that he needs to wear specs.

But the results was beyond my expectation. After 3 stations of test and doctor examination, the doctor said he is fine and don't require specs as he is able to function normally without them.

Amazing! Hallelujah!

20 Apr 10 Tue - Luke trimmed nails w/o prompt

Since Luke started work, we practise a slightly different routine on Tuesday morning. We wake him up earlier at around 6.10am, so that he can follow us to Church. We will leave the house at 7.15am. Luke is a very good boy. Not once did he complain or delay in getting ready. I will attend the Tuesday morning prayer meeting until 8.30am, then drive him to work.

This morning, I noticed that he put a nail clipper into his pouch.

After prayer, I droved him to work. In the car, he showed me his fingers. The nails are nicely trimmed. He must have cut his nails while I was praying.
He did it without prompting from me. Praise the Lord!

19 Apr 10 Mon - Looking up!

Every Monday I will go to MINDS-EDC to pick Luke for Public Speaking. He attends Public Speaking class every Monday afternoon. Each week when I pick Luke, one of the training officers will give me some feedback about Luke. It is always about something that Luke must change or improve. Well at least I get to know how Luke is doing. Examples of feedback:
. He is slow in his work
. He insist to do work his way, refusing to follow training officer or peers' instruction
. His finger nails need trimming
. His walk is not stable, so he can't be given the task to carry the bags of headphones
. He insist to carry his CD with him to the canteen

However, today the training officer Ms Sharon Kong gave me a positive feedback about Luke. He now lifts up his head when people talk to him. It is an improvement. Praise the Lord!

6 Apr 10 Tue - Blow the Shofar to usher in the healing!

Joshua 6:20 'When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed...'

The trumpet is a victory call.

I felt that God wants me to blow the Shofar daily to
1) Declare God's healing over Luke
2) Celebrate each step of improvement that I see in Luke

Lord, may you help me to pray for Luke and blow the Shofar each morning.

4 Apr 10 Sun - Blow the Shofar when Luke is healed!

Today is Easter Sunday. We celebrate Jesus resurrection. We know He will come again, and the symbol of His coming is the trumpet (Ram's Horn).
1 Thess 4:16 'For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.'

One of the worship song is about the sounding of the trumpet and we will see the Lord in His glory. I brought in the Shofar and Ben blowed it during the singing of this worship song. After the service, Chun Lan asked me 'It is that I will blow the Shofar when Luke is healed?' Her comment brought to my mind the trip to Lagos Africa for the Reinhard Bonnke Crusade, where one of the participants at the Fire conference Gabriele Webinger from Germany told me to blow the Shofar when Luke is healed. She will 'hear' it in Germany.




Lai Pheng, Gabriel Webinger, Rachel
Nov 2006, Lagos Nigeria

2 Feb 10 Tue - 1st day of work at MINDS-EDC

Luke waiting for the bus and taking the bus transport to work.

Today is Luke's first day of work at Minds-EDC (Employment Development Centre) at Rosyth Road. Working hours are from 9am to 4.30pm. Luke takes the Centre bus transport to and from work. The bus number is 5158. Bus picks him at 8.35am and returns at 4.45pm. He is in Unit 211, and his training officers are Ms Sharon Kong and Mr David Ong. His unit does the packing of SIA headsets.

I thank God that
1) Luke is allotted a place of work at MINDS-EDC. In prior years, the waiting time for a place could be up to 2 years. Due to the opening of more centres, the waiting time is reduced to zero. Hallelujah!
2) His Public Speaking classmate Lucious is in the same unit. At least there is a familiar face at the work unit, and Lucious is a good buddy.
3) His training officer Mr David Ong is a Christian and he worships at Agape Baptist Church. He is jovial and encouraging.