FAQ

Having been bombarded by anxious and excited uncles and aunties asking tons of questions about our coming baby, I thought it would be fun to answer a few of them here for all to enjoy the answers!


Q. When is baby coming?
A. I don't know. I don't know how to predict such things. We have had many 'prophesies' and predictions giving this or that date... all of which have come and gone. The longer my baby is 'cooking' the better looking and more intelligent he or she will be... That's my theory anyway, and I am sticking to it!

Q. (Upon receiving a text message from me) Are you in labour now??
A. No. If I was in labour, I would not be texting you or anyone else. 

Q. (If you see Joel alone) Where is Jasmin? Is she in labour?
A. No. If you see Joel alone, you can be sure I am not in labour because he will definitely be in there too! 

Q. Can you please let me know when baby is born?
A. Unfortunately not. There is no way to individually text every single person who has asked me to and because of that, I have not promised anyone that I will. I am VERY sure you will hear about it very soon after the event because Facebook has taken over our lives... It is not that we don't want you to know. We just know that it will not be our primary focus at the time and we don't want to promise anything that we cannot fulfill. Sorry! We still love you...

Q. Is it a boy or a girl?
A. Yes. Baby is either a boy or a girl. As we ourselves do not know (and yes, we really don't know) we are unable to tell you. However, we take great pleasure in having people confidently tell us that our baby is 'definitely' one or the other, so feel free to do so for our amusement.

Q. Are we ready? Do we have everything we need?
A. Amazingly, I think so! We have been ridiculously blessed by SO MANY people! We cannot even begin to list the people who have so thoughtfully given us the most useful and practical gifts. It has been such a testimony to us of the blessings of community and the faithfulness of our Father God to provide through such wonderful friends.

Q. Will I be practicing confinement?
A. No, not in an Asian sense. In my culture, we do take time to rest after giving birth, and I will most assuredly be listening to my body, seeing what I need to do to be healed, but I will not be following any specific rules. Just eating healthy and resting as much as I can! (And falling in love with my super cute baby)

Q. Will I have help after giving birth?
A. Yes! Thankfully, my Mum has come over and will be staying here for a few weeks after baby comes. With a background in nursing, she will be most helpful and supportive. Plus she is happy just to wash, clean and cook as required, which is the best kind of help...

One Year of Marriage

Today is our one year wedding anniversary! It has been such an incredible year and we are so blessed in so many ways! 
Here are some photos of our first year of marriage...

Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot

It was a most incredible experience, walking down the aisle,
all our friends shouting and my husband-to-be singing, 12 May 2012

Our Wedding

Husband and Wife!

On our Honeymoon, June 2012

Joel's Birthday Surprise! July 2012

And baby makes three! August 2012

Praying for Baby, October 2012

First time fishing! January 2013

School of Biblical Studies started February 2013

Himalayan Tea Latte, our SBS staple, March 2013

One year on, married life just gets better and better! May 2013

At The Cross

At The Cross
Hillsong United


Oh Lord, You've searched me
You know my way
Even when I fail You
I know You love me

Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season
I know You love me
I know You love me


At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your Glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now?


You go before me
You shield my way
Your hand upholds me
I know You love me

Cross-Cultural Living

Photograph by Andrew Chew, Advocate Images

Today is our baby's due date...



I think that living cross-culturally is fun and exciting and not at all difficult... until it comes to major life events.

Last year, I was married in a country that was not my own, into a culture that is not mine. 

This year, I am having a baby, again in a culture that is not mine.

I have been struggling a bit with it emotionally, beyond the standard ‘pregnancy hormones’ excuse.

It has caused me to really spend time processing and talking with God about why it is all bothering me so very much.

I feel like this last week I have finally come to some place of understanding.

It has been difficult for me because the local context thinks in a way that is on a totally different plane to how I think, and therefore behave. The values are different. The practices and history are different. It is literally like speaking another language with no means of translation, and therefore, no way to comprehend where the other side is coming from.

But now, because this is MY baby, and because I want to do my absolute utmost to make the best choices, from my own knowledge and thinking, that will benefit my baby, there is a much stronger emotion attached to circumstances than there normally would be. The cultural differences that before I could laugh off, find amusing or just ignore are now trying to speak into something that is incredibly important to me. Motherhood is a role I take very seriously. There is nothing casual about my understanding of God’s mandate on me to do this.

But I have been torn. Because in spite of the many, varied and often unwanted and unsought for advice, instructions, ‘commands’ and invasions on my understanding of my own personal space and privacy, I really do see that the ‘other side’ is reacting out of excitement. They are showing their joy the only way they know how. Because for them, their behaviour is normal.

And I want my baby to be loved, wanted and accepted by the various communities that we are a part of. I genuinely want people to have the freedom to celebrate this amazing new gift to us as a family, and to them as our friends and extended family, etc.

So where am I to stand? How can I walk the line between being in one culture, but also recognising my own, and allowing myself the space to enjoy this part of my life journey also. 

I recognise that I definitely take people’s words and actions too much to heart. 

My desire is to learn through this experience, how to let God’s peace rule and reign in my heart, regardless of what may happen around me or to me. That is what is missing in my experience. 

And from that peace, I want to learn to respond in love better. That my words may be gracious and understanding, and not snappy and irritable.

Oh God, work in my heart and change me to be more like you!