Into the Next Chapter of Their Lives

This year ends on a bitter sweet note. My two grandchildren who have been living with us ever since they returned from the United Kingdom when one was just over a year old and the other a 2 month old baby are leaving us to continue their secondary school education in Singapore. They had to sit for a competitive examination before they could be placed in Singapore schools. Praise the Lord they secured places albeit in different schools.

From a sheltered life, where they were sent and fetched everywhere, they will now have to catch buses to their respective schools in unfamiliar areas and at the end of the school day, return to their apartment to cook their own lunch, unless they eat at the school canteen. Quite a quantum leap, I must say. However I expect they will rise to the occasion as they are big enough to look after themselves, although in their grandma's eyes, they will still be my little ones.

They returned home ( my home ) on Christmas night to unwrap their Christmas gifts which had been waiting for them.

Chloe loves books and she will keep this for the flight to Singapore.

Two days later, we all went out for my grandson's favorite dish, Peking Duck.

This is a dish where the roasted duck skin is eaten, rolled in a pancake with sweet sauce, spring onions and cucumber. A dish of fried kropok or prawn crackers is the starter. The drum sticks are carved out, one for Chloe and the other for her grandpa. The rest of the meat goes to make soup ( with tomatoes, soya bean cake and salted mustard greens ) and to fry with noodles. It's a very substantial dinner.

Stephen savored every bite. It will be a long time before he has another Peking Duck dinner, i.e. if he returns to visit us during the school holidays. This is the home where he grew up and both his grandpa and I hope that our grandchildren will come back often to see us.

Meanwhile, there's always Facebook and the telephone.

We wish them the best in the next chapter of their lives and pray for God's blessings and protection in every step of their journey through life. They have always done us proud and I'm confident that they will both continue to do so.