How do you value them?

We were brought up in a culture where we felt valued based on school performance.  To make it worse the 8-4-4 system does not help much.  It was about what number you were at the end of the term that determined how holidays were going to be for you. Worse still, this brought with it rivalry among brothers and sisters’ because those who performed better walked around the house feeling a little proud than the others, and what were the others left to feel?

Did the society help? NO! They would always ask, what number were you? Actually the entire village decides if you were to amount to anything or not depending on your school performance. Oh and need I say, they would take this further to decide if you picked up your mothers genes or your fathers. Depending on who was sharp and who was foolish.

Well, I have a different thinking. I believe that God created each one of us for a purpose. Well, you don’t get to hear that much and the school systems sometimes do not help us. I am not sure that God created any one of us to be a liability – we are all special to Him with a clear and specific mandate.

When I was in high school, (boarding) there were a few times that I did not make it to go for mid-term because those who did not perform well in school, were denied the chance to be with their families! – How bad could that get? Oh and the excuse was that we needed to stay on school and read.

Okay- so literally a bunch of fools were left in school to help themselves. I can assure you, we did nothing close to that. We rebelled- we enjoyed life, we slept for long hours, we ate the good food because the kitchen was cooking for a few fools and therefore the food tasted better and we loved it.

But I remember once of those times, one teacher during a Christina Union meeting (yes we prayed) told us, God can turn what people call failure into something. She was Mrs Mwangi- never to forget, because her words literally lifted me up from some pit of despair, and for once, I knew my life would count.

Well, today I am Gender and Human rights advisor employed by the UN and working for the government. Not that it is the epitome of greatness and I am not saying that to brag, but I needed to let us know that we all can be something at the end of the day. And that something should be defined by God.  I love my job, I like to assist women, men, boys and girls. I am amazed at how my brain has opened up to gender and human rights issues, I wish that was taught in school , maybe I would have performed better and not gone through he agony of being separated from my family.

So parents- lets be careful of how we value of our children. The society and school system do not help, let’s not make it worse. And if you read this blog, kindly never ask any of my children what number they were in school, please do not measure them on school performance. Because they are more than that, they have awesome unique qualities and character that is destined to  change this world, God will help them discover them and we are trying as much as we can to partner with God in that. We are also hoping that we can get into a system that will nature their gifts rather than kill them.

Amidst busy times

Yes, I have not blogged for a while. Its been crazy at  work, but things are a bit better now. All the same, God has been so awesome.. He always is. He has a way of making life fun and making every moment enjoyable especially for a working  Mum. I  like to go to Zen Gardens, it is a little expensive but when we have saved a few coins, My hubby knows that I like to relax there. So He took us there sometime back.

She loves life-Yah? She does and likes the good things in life.  

The Boy having fun 

The girls having a one on one talk 

Trying to relax, because she would rather be up jumping  

More fun  

and more... 

Mum -Son Moment  

All together  

Refreshed mum and kids

Oh...Dad takes the photo's its a weakness that runs in their family. So I have a few of him.

..and even when I try to take him a photo with my camera, I find him taking photos too

She is 4

We celebrated Kendi 4th Birthday on 23rd November 2011.  It was in deed a special day. They had not closed school yet and the teachers requested that I take her cake to school and that her peers would more than love to celebrate the day with her. I was accompanied my Sister Sylvia as Dad was caught up in a meeting.  

 

Dad woke up early to wrap the gifts.

Made Special breakfast for the kids

Kendi Teacher unwrapping the cake 

Putting on the party caps  

There goes the cake. It was car cake. That is what she asked for 

Kendi went round and round the circle and all the kids counted the months and after every year she would say the one different thing she would do, they would then clap for her.  

The Sister (Tana)joined us. It was lovely to have the sister there.

Teacher Yvone placing the candles  

The class was so calm, it was amazing. 

She blew the candles  

We did the cake cutting with the Sister as well 

She fed all 

and she was a happy girl

and she was four  

with her gift in the evening.

The sis with a smaller gift too 

and the bro as well 

She loves books. So a dictionary would be a good one 

I know she loved it  

Happy Birthday Kendi! We love you very much! You are such a blessing in our lives. May you continue to grow in the ways of the Lord. You are a mighty warrior!

Coco Fudge Cake

My friend Kate Kogi recently asked me to ensure that I look out for her new friend who was joining our court, Rachel Koski and ensure that I make her feel at Golf course II. She described her as a pleasant, outgoing and all things nice. Good, we hooked up finally and trust you me, she was all that and more. Her lovely family came over for dinner and brought with them a coco fudge cake. It was yummy to say the least. My kids loved it. So I promised to make them some time and requested Rachel to mail the recipe. They also have a new friend - Nani and they play so well together. 

So, yesterday I decide to make the cake. I have been so busy I cannot remember the last time I made treat for the family. They were so exited. It was easy to make. I mixed everything in the bowl and whipped it up and there was the cake.  I am not a good person with following instructions, details are not so part of my life,so I kind of like mix them gather them recipe. God help me with patience. 

Cocoa Fudge Cake

12/3 cups flour

11/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa

11/2 tsp baking soda

1tsp salt

11/2cups butter milk, ( or mik or maziwa lala)

½ cups Kimbo ( Blueband)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350degrees, grease and flour 9 by 13 cake pan

Mix all ingredients in a large bow.

Pour into pan, bake for 35-40min. 

The best part for me is MIX ALL INGREDIENTS IN A LARGE BOWL

and the final product of course. 

Hope you are having a great weekend. 

What is it with food?

These are some of the things that my kids will say and reapeat over and over again when we are having dinner or Lunch


a) Mum my hand is paining
b) Dad, please look, someone scratched me
c) Mum, my mouth is painful
d) Mum i want some water-juice-tea
e) Mum, i want go to the toilet
f) Mum, i want to sleep
g) Dad, Kendi is playing with my legs
h) Dad, please give me serviette
i) Mum, i am tired
j) Mum i want to pee
k) Dad am coughing 
l) Dad..mum...and the list goes on and on if not reapeated like three to four times?
m) In the midst of all these-Mnara could be yelling or throwing some tantrums


That tells you why I can hardly pick calls during meal times...instead of saying Hallo, I might find myself answering STOP!


Can someone tell me, why kids don't like to settle down and eat their food in peace-simple equation?

We are grateful

I am so grateful for niece Samara. This lovely girl went through an open heart surgery in India  a few weeks ago. Having her back, whole and recovering is nothing but absolute favour from God. He truly is an amazing God. Samara has taught us faith, she is a living example of Gods’ infinite wisdom that continues  to confound the wise.

We love you Samara, and you truly are protected by God.  To read more about her amazing story, please check out here.

My Sis Diana, remember Miss Preggy ? She delivered an awesome beautiiful girl, she is Johari. We truly Thank God for this awesome soldier – being raised by wonderful parents. 

Welcome to the army Johari, you are loved by God and we love you. Isn't she adorable? I get to be an aunt and my kids have a cousin too.  

Parenting

My hubby and I benefited greatly from Dr. Mukolwe teachings in raising the next generation. This is a must must for any parents who desire to raise a Godly generation. We encouraged a few of our friends to take classes the same and non of them ever regretted.

I want to encourage us to check out his blog-Raising the NextGeneration. I am sure he will be sharing more on how to raise Godly children and our role as parents as far as partnering with God is concerned.

When I leant about this blog, it crossed my mind,  just how much God has been gracious in providing resources, our daily needs and more so bringing to our lives people or rather connecting us with teachings and books that have helped us to be who we are today as parents. When I think about it, I am amazed at Gods’ grace through each of our season in life, how he equips us and helps us in amazing ways.

I want to encourage us to take parenting seriously; God is very serious about it. My understanding is that when a child is born, he or she is another potential soldier in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ. But never forget that we have an enemy who wants to recruit them too to accomplish his evil schemes. Lets not take it for granted, lets desire truly to raise a Godly generation.  And as Dr. Mukolwe says, “don’t have children and yet not wish to be a parent, don’t provide for them and have no time to raise them”

10 kgs for my Mum.

I recently by chance bumped into one of my oldies. A photo of me after I had added 40kgs or so with two kids. For those who are first time on this blog, I have shared about my weight loss process. The grace and the journey. Please read that here.

All the same, this photo reminded me of a conversation that took place between my mum and her friend. I had gone to visit my mum and her friend was shocked to say the least to see how I had added loads of weight. After she had made her comments on my extreme weight gain, I told her, “don’t worry, I will work at it, once I am done with giving birth”.

My Mum, went on to affirm my words. She responded to her friend by saying “I know her very well, once she sets her mind on something, she does not rest until it is done, I am so sure she knows what she is saying-she will definitely loose it all”.

Well, to be honest, those words from my Mum pierced through my soul and built a confidence that I did not have. Whether it was by design or by default, they did good to me. I knew I had a huge task ahead, but if my Mum had so much confidence in me, then I could do it, my faith was now 10 times better.

Okay- this is me, 30 years later and my mum’s words still mean so much to me. Well, I encourage you Mums, affirm your children, that is all they could be looking for, they need to know you believe in them, that you have confidence in them and that you care. Though I worked through the process and lost around 40kgs, I give credit to the loss of 10kgs to my Mum, her words pushed me far.

This is a recent one of me with my kids after loosing a number of kilos. I have added this photo because Sylvia has requested that I add a recent photo it so that people see what I am talking about.

Choose to affirm your children this week and always.

Family

This week has been a tough one to say the least. On Monday, things were not good at all in the office or rather let me say that something’s did not go so well. Since I had asked my hubby to keep me in prayer that day, he sent a text in the middle of important meetings and asked how I was doing. I told him things are rocky, I am between a rock and a rock.

When I got out of the two heated meetings, I could have easily shed tears but I decided to put on a brave face.

When I landed on my desk, I found a whole flower basket and a cute note that had the following photo, printed out and a note saying" Hi Love, we love you and despite the tough times , always know that you have with you a team that loves you and supports you" Now this makes me shed tears.

So I thank God for family. I thank God for my hubby and kids and I am grateful to God at how he uses family to encourage us through this life.

Thanks love for those flowers and the note with this print out photo-nothing could have been more timelier.

I am not the same

Something happened sometime back at my work place that pushed me to the wall. I was so angry to say the least and I kind of behaved in not a nice way. And to be honest I did not think I was off the line until later at night when the Holy Spirit gave me a good snapshot of my day and I thought to myself-what a day? I felt I had let God down and I do not think I glorified God in my actions.

Thank God that the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and not condemnation. So I took the matter to God, I told Him that I think I have embarrassed him so much and I have sinned against him too. So today am here, reminding us that we all fail, we all hurt people and we say things that we shouldn't do most of the times out of anger.

One of the things that I have done is to apologize to two of the persons that I thought I hurt and though when I did so they said- “Ooh no, not to worry, I think we messed you up too”. I told them, yes sure but I should have acted better, I said things that I should not have said to you all the same.

So Mums, we must always ask God to help us, work on us, remember that we are not perfect- we need the Holy Spirit everyday to guide us and lead us to know all the mistakes and sins that we commit so that He can continually refine our character. One thing I am sure is this, if the same day were to present itself again, I would behave differently. I have moved a step further, I have grown up!

Lets’ purpose to change for the better and let’s allow God to work on our character. He is the potter!

My boss

Today, we spent most of the morning at school getting updates from teachers on how our kids are progressing. It was quite an interesting time to hear other peoples opinions of your children, it a very objective way of looking at them and we just thank God that our kids are fine, not perfect though and the teachers love them so much.

So I get home and I am having a one on one conversation with Kendi that goes like this.

Mum: Kendi, I had a good talk with Ms. Joy today and she tells me that there are a few things that we need to work on

Kendi: Even me i will talk your boss

The conversation ends here because i am in shock!

Okay guys-this caught me off guard. But to be honest-i thought it was too much coming from my little girl, to to to wise for her age, but it made me wonder, if our kids were to talk to our employers, what story would they hear?Do we maintain same standards that we demand on them.

Have a great weekend.

Once again, I am little bit busy than usual, but will keep trying to blog as much as i can.

The end to breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Mnara.

A very dear friend of mine shared with me sometime back how her trying to stop breastfeeding almost cost her health if not her very life.

It was a very sad story to me and for a moment I thought, it’s amazing how easy it has been for me to stop the whole breastfeeding process. Well, let me qualify that and say that my children have not breastfeed for long , I am not sure why they think breastfeeding is a boring affair, they stop  at some point around 7 months, but it is usually a process.

Once I sense that the baby does not want to breast feed any more, I start reducing the times they are on the breast. This might even take a whole week of reducing supply. And since breastfeeding is a question of demand and supply, the milk production starts to gradually reduce. Anyway, the fact that they are not even interested as much, helps a lot to reduce production. 

I also make deliberate effort to take a lot of coffee, which I have had helps to reduce milk production. This has worked for me with all the three babies and I have never had a problem with stopping the whole breastfeeding process. I think it must be hard and painful to stop abruptly. So my advice to mothers is that, we need to appreciate that this is s a process. Just like the beginning of breastfeeding was a process, so is the ending.

Thanks to my friend for sharing with me, I would never have known that Mums can struggle with this. Therefore I decided to share about it today. Anyone else who has had a different experience  that we can learn from? Please share.