Amy, 2000.
The year of my Consecration, where I finally stopped wrestling against the Lord. Just like Jacob at Penuel, I had finally laid down my active resistance against God and opted instead not to let God go unless He blessed my life.

Hannah, 2001
The year of entry into full-time Ministry. This year was marked by a completion of that act of total surrender, now following the Lord into full-time service, unreservedly, burning all bridges with the past and laying aside of all other human options. This was a step by Faith, forgoing all human devices and letting go of control, while surrendering it to the Lord instead – no matter what happens!

Hannah marked the first months of ministry and also the difficulties and challenges faced during that time. The “honeymoon” period was short and I was soon exposed to a full spectrum of what the ministry was about.

Daniel, 2004
Daniel came about a year after I was ordained as a pastor at MBC. A difficult year had gone by, learning what it takes to be really immersed fully in the ministry and to face the many leadership challenges that come with the pastorate. Daniel also marked the time where I was learning how to better appreciate and enjoy the family and children that God had given to us.

Caleb, 2006
This is the year that I enter ministry as the Senior Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church. A year of much greater responsibilities, carrying a bigger ministry load and also year of many new ministry challenges.

It’s been 1 month so far, but already I have faced more challenges than ever before and all of them coming at a time when both Janice and I have our hands full just coping especially with both Daniel and Caleb who require quite a bit of attention. God can and must multiply the grace for all this to happen!

Learning to Feed
He is able to feed pretty well now though like most babies, they tend to fall asleep almost as soon as you try to breastfeed them and they need to be stroked or touched regularly in order to keep them awake. But he’s managed to learn how to latch on and feed. It makes a big difference of course that mom has had lots of experience already.

I still remember the first time when Amy was born and boy was that discouraging. Both baby and mom were trying to figure things out and it didn’t help that we had a Lactation Consultant that seemed to be somewhat discouraging and was of the mind that if things don’t work out – one can always bottle feed the baby. Thank God for experienced nurses at Washington Hospital at Fremont who were mothers themselves and very patiently showed Janice how it was to be done.

Clue: a consultant who’s never been a mother can at best tell you how it is done based on book knowledge, but never be able to draw from the wells of maternal experience. Grandmothers have much to offer here and need not need to feel that they have to give up that ground to the ‘experts’.

Peek-a-Boo
His eyes are still not quite opened though once in a while he will try to open his left eye to peek but most of the time his eyes are shut. None of us have seen his eyes open (yet)! Maybe he’s going to be just like dad!

I was surprised when I saw him this morning as his face was covered with scratches and some cuts. His hands are quite active and he had been scratching his face and doing damage because of his long fingernails. So it’s mittens time to prevent any further problems.

Waahh…
Seems like he’s got a squeeky voice when it comes to crying. I haven’t had a chance to really hear him do that yet so I’m still looking forward to hearing that.

I wished there was free wireless over here. The hospital offers paid wireless, but at $10/hr or $30/day, it is really too much. So I’m sitting here, charging the laptop battery and typing all this. Will post this later once I’m able to get online.

Weight: 3.24kg
Length: 49.5cm
Head Circumference: 33cm

For those visiting, please go to Room 648 (6th Level).

This makes Caleb the 2nd heaviest of the babies (after Daniel), but the longest. We’re still having trouble trying to figure out who he looks like. He was definitely in a hurry. We thought Hannah’s rushing out 9 days ahead of time was bad, Caleb is about 15 days early. He was scheduled to arrive on 10 May and we were anticipating that he would come a few days early but not 2 entire weeks early!

At least Hannah had a good excuse (29 Sept 2001, just 18 days after Sept 11), but this boy is in a big hurry to go places. Anyway, no worries – he’s of a good weight and size and is doing fine and I shudder to think of how big and heavy he’ll be if he arrived 2 weeks later as scheduled…..

Here’s the whole family together:

Other Observations about Caleb
Seems to have a smaller head compared to Amy and Daniel. All these kids seem to have the same kind of small mouth and lovely lips. He seems to be a quiet baby. Amy was probably the loudest at the hospital while Hannah didn’t exercise her lungs and powerful wailing until she was a few months old.

Daniel when he was born seemed very alert, with eyes open and scanning the environment. Caleb seems to be more of a sleeper and I have yet to see him open his eyes at all. He did startle inside the ward’s nursery and so we know he can hear just fine.

But who am I to complain? Mom tells me that I didn’t open one of my eyes until the 3rd day.

Janice, I love you! I’m not always very good with words, but God could not give me a better wife than you with your patience and wisdom.

Caleb is probably the best pre-Mother’s Day gift that we can have. Where would men be without our wives?

Parents
Dad: Jesse (1965)
Mom: Janice

Kids (Psalms 127:4-5)
Amy Sng (2000)
Hannah Sng (2001)
Daniel Sng (2004)
Caleb Sng (2006)

Our church home is Maranatha Baptist Church, Singapore.

God has been good to our family and we don’t testify of that often enough. Since Amy’s arrival in 1 Jan 2000, it has been one trial after another, but also one victory after another and through those difficult moments, the Lord showed more of His grace and His character to us with each step of faith.

The past 6 years, I have tried to live according to this promise that God is faithful to those who put Him in first Place and Priority in their marriages, families and lives:

Psalms 37:23, 24
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Shot of Caleb and us after he had a nice little bath and was cleaned up. The little guy spent most of the day snoozing though he’s learning very quickly how to feed.

It’s amazing how 1 Peter 2:2 tells us that as new born babes that we are to feed on the milk of the word that we may grow thereby, that the appetite for a baby comes naturally. A newborn may need to learn how to suckle and feed properly, but you cannot fake the appetite for the milk. A real baby (in Christ) will have appetite for the Word.

Here’s Daniel’s original blog. I plan to migrate the contents over just as soon as I have time:

Click Here to View Daniel’s Blog

Daniel’s Photo Album

Hannah was born on 29, Sept 2001. Just days after Sept 11. She was born about 9 days early, in a big hurry to catch an opportunity to see Bro. David Cloud before he left Singapore during his visit in 2001.

Click Here to View Hannah’s Photo Album

Hannah Trying to Study Theology

Click Here to View Amy’s Home Page (1 week before birth)

Click Here to View Amy’s Birth Home Page