Children bring joy. They grow very fast and before you know it, the toddlers have become pre-teens.

It was such a joy to see my niece and her toddler son when she flew in from Hong Kong for a short visit. The little boy has grown taller and can speak more than he could when I last saw him in March. According to his mum he can even scoot around on his new scooter.
His presence really brought sunshine into our days, especially those of his grandparents.


My niece in Melbourne just got engaged. It didnt seem that long ago when she was a teenager in school. Her parents have just flown off to celebrate her birthday with her.

Time really flies. My own grandchildren are in their pre-teens now. Eleven years have passed since they returned from the UK to live with us. We've had the privilege of seeing them grow out of babyhood into toddlerhood and soon they will be teenagers.

With the coming marriage of our son, we hope to have a grandchild by this time next year. That is really something to look forward to. My sister already has five grandchildren.
We ourselves have left the turbulent years behind us and now enjoy the autumn season in life. The other day in the checkout lane in a supermarket, we met a couple of friends whom we had not seen for more than a decade.

Keeping in touch with friends and family no matter how far flung they are in the world, is of utmost importance. Relationships are what matter most in life. They often define the quality of our lives. Nurturing them the way we nurture the flowering plants in our garden will lead to stronger friendships and closer ties.