Need To Soak

It's not enough to splash a little prayer on in the morning or to run through a sprinkler of God's mercy now and then. It's not enough to dabble our spirits in an hour of worship on Sunday or to dash into a drizzle of teaching every month or so. Our souls need to soak in God's presence. It's no luxury, this time we spend in the healing waters of God's grace. It's neither excess nor indulgence to immerse ourselves in communion with our Creator. It's a spiritual necessity if we want to become the people God has created us to be.

- Penelope J. Stokes, Beside A Quiet Stream
(Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.), 1999

Ah! We really need a daily soaking in God's presence to prevent dryness, or worse still, burn out.

Holiday Time

We're just arrived home from our Merdeka weekend in KL.

The plan was to leave as early as possible on Saturday morning. When we woke up at 9am I was pretty certain we would be able to make it in time for lunch in KL.

Unfortunately I forgot to factor in 30 mins to set the home computer on download, another 15 mins trying to extricate a stuck CD, 30 mins for breakfast, 15 mins to pump petrol and check tyre pressure and finally, another 30 mins to set the office computer on download. By the time we left it was already 12 noon.

What a waste of holiday time! I could have enjoyed another hour of sleep or gone to the First AG Food and Fun Fair.

Getting Worse

Just when you think things can't get any worse - they do.

BUT we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) so we shall trust in Him.

The only thing keeping us afloat is knowing that Jesus is in the boat and that He will get us over to the other side. So we say to the tempest, "Peace, be still."

Rainy Days

It's been raining non-stop since yesterday evening, at least 18 hours. The weather is nice and cool but it is no fun having to fiddle with the umbrella and still getting wet in the process.

Thank God it's not high tide or Penang would be flooded.

Too Much Talk

Most of us like to talk, mostly too much and mostly about ourselves. We even carry it over to prayer life as well.

We talk at God more than we talk to God. First we tell him our problems, then we tell him what to do and then we say, "Bye God, I'll leave you to get to work." As if we are God and God is not.

There is also a danger when there is too much talk. We often end up saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Sometimes to the wrong person or at the wrong place. That's how we get ourselves in trouble.


We really ought to learn to shut up or think before we speak.

Happy Weekend

Yup, 'cos we're going down to see our precious 'bee!

God's Many Kindnesses

So many are God's kindnesses to us, that, as drops of water, they run together; and it is not until we are borne up by the multitude of them, as by streams in deep channels, that we recognize them as coming from him. We have walked amid his mercies as in a forest where we are tangled among ten thousand growths and touched on every hand by leaves and buds which we notice not. We cannot recall all the things he has done for us.
There are so many.

-Henry Ward Beecher

I remember a scene in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves where the huntman decided to abandon Snow White in the forest instead of killing her. It was a nightmare come true with all the trees and roots and overhanging branches tried to grab and capture her.

That is how we usually perceive evil but the quote from Henry Ward Beecher gives us a totally different perspective. As believers, we are tangled and touched on every hand, not by wickedness or evil but by God's mercies, love, kindness and goodness.

He is the One who said, "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love" (Hosea 11:4).

White Hair

We started talking about white hair after I saw a few stray ones on hubby.

For me, it's an inherited trait. Both my paternal aunts started to grey from a young age. My sister is more fortunate. She took after my mom who was blessed with nice black hair until she was very advanced in age.

Actually having white hair is not a problem if they all turn white at the same time.

Believe it or not, it can happen due to sudden or exteme shock,
in which case it'll only be a temporary phenomenon.

If the whole head of hair turns white you can still flaunt it. I remember my paternal grandmother looking good with a lovely head of soft cotton white hair.

The problem is a mixture of black and white hair. Neither here nor there.

Anyway, we began discussing various possible causes of white hair. Scientifically, white hair is caused by diminishing pigment in the hair follicles. But what causes the pigment to stop production?

I said it could be the result of stress. After all, if sudden or extreme shock can cause hair to turn white, can you imagine what daily doses of little shocks can do to the hair? That seemed a plausible explanation to me.

Or maybe lack of some vitamins or minerals in our diet.

Hubby, as usual, came up with a brilliant explanation. He said that we have white hair because we think too much. And how did he support his hypothesis?

Just take a look at...

Einstein!

For The NMGs

It was the ending of Tan Sri Lin See-Yan's article "Najib's New Way Forward" in yesterday's Sunday Star that caught my eye.

Tan Sri Lin was addressing the Newly Minted Graduates (what a nice term) or NMGs of Universiti Sains Malaysia which celebrated its 40th convocation last Wednesday and he concluded his article with a saying by Confucius.

As I end, I am reminded of the wisdom of the great Master Kung-Fu-Tzi (Confucius): “There are nine things which a new graduate should be mindful – to see clearly as he uses his eyes; to hear distinctly when he uses his ears; to be gracious in expression; to be respectful in demeanour; to be sincere in speech; to be serious in the execution of his duties; to seek advice when in doubt; to consider the consequences when he is angry; and to think of what is right and just when he is faced with advantage or gain.”

To these, I should add a 10th – to be ethical and act with utmost integrity when dealing with the enterprise and society in which he serves.

In my entire public life – as in private – I have insisted on these 10 things for myself. And now, as the NMGs and many others take up the challenges of Najib’s New Way, I wish them for you.

Former banker, Dr Lin is a Harvard educated economist and a British chartered scientist who now spends time promoting the public interest.

There would be great Malaysians in the making if any of the NMGs were to embrace the wisdom offered by Tan Sri Lin.

Law of Kindness

Pastor Ann is in town. In her message today she mentioned the law of kindness which is on the tongue of the Proverbs 31 woman and I was reminded that that was the prayer/declaration she prayed over me the last time she came to TOP.

Steve Sjogren in his book "Conspiracy of Kindness" shows how unassuming acts of kindness are more persuasive than words in convincing people of the love of God. It's true, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

So in the words of the song "Try A Little Kindness" by Glen Campbell,

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and stay you're going the wrong way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

If there is any conspiracy that will surely be blessed by God, it'll be a conspiracy of kindness.

Personality Type

Melinda,

As an INFJ, you are hardworking, committed to your ideals and pride yourself on your integrity. Very perceptive about people and a good listener, you are skilled at generating creative solutions to people's problems. A thoughtful and careful decision maker, you prefer to have plenty of time to let your ideas "percolate" before taking action. And you tend to be a perfectionist, and quite driven to accomplish your goals.

I never cease to be amazed at the spot-on accuracy of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Amongst all the personality tests, and I've almost done all of them, I still prefer MBTI for its accuracy and simplicity.

Crocs

I was given a RM30 voucher for Crocs. It was such a blessing because time and again I have thought of purchasing a pair but have been put off by the price tag.

Paying more than RM100 for rubber shoes seemed a bit ridiculous to me. Would Phua Chu Kang pay that much for his yellow rubber boots?

Anyway, I was persuaded by the discount voucher to buy this pretty pair on Saturday and I have no regrets 'cos they are so comfortable. In fact I abandoned my shoes for the new Crocs at the point of purchase and I've been wearing them on three out of the past four days.

The colours are a bit 'jeng' but I decided, for once, to be adventurous instead of sticking to the safe and boring black or brown, which are the other two colours available.

Hmmm, I just realised that this kind of out-of-the-ordinary behaviour has been surfacing a lot lately. Could it be a part of mid-life crisis?

Why So Big?

Why is my picture so big?

How do I make it smaller, more discreet?

Update at 6.20pm: Done. Realised I've uploaded the picture to the wrong place.

No Right to Ask

We have no right to ask God
to give us a special revelation of His will
where either the light of our own common sense
or the teaching of Scripture has already
made the matter sufficiently plain.
--A. B. Simpson

Some people already know, yet they still want to ask. They are not really interested in knowing. They are just testing the limits, to see how far they can go without going over to the dark side.

Indulgence

Yesterday I totally lost control.

I tell you, God has a sense of humour.
The timing is so appropriate 'cos
this week we are studying self-control
in our Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study.

I splurged on an expensive DKNY handbag. It's the most expensive handbag I've ever owned so for ROI reasons it'll have to last me at least five years.

It's so nice and I rationalised that I have to indulge now before I get too old and have no choice but to settle for "auntie" handbags.

Hubby commented on the price and that it exudes "form more than function." Nevertheless his conclusion was that it's "sui." So it's a good choice.

Thanks, darling, for the birthday present and for the indulging me.

At the Rotary Club Installation Dinner

We were invited to the 78th Installation Dinner of the Penang Rotary Club on 15 August 2009.

I like this picture of us. It is one of the rare times when hubby dons a suit and my hair behaved!

Long Lost Favourite Food

Last week I found a long lost favourite food at the economy rice stall.

Crunchy big headed taugeh

I remember my mom cooking this and sometimes in a soup as well.

Thinking of long lost favourite foods reminded me of a flower soup that my mom used to cook. The flowers yellowish-green and tiny, about a centimetre in size. I don't think she bought them from the market. She probably picked them from the garden.

Does anyone know anything about this flower soup? I remember it being delicious but that could be just the novelty of it being a flower soup.

Wrong Movie

We had Sisters Nite Out last night. Girly movie was on the agenda and so we decided to watch "The Proposal." This movie was highly recommended by 'bee.

After the trailers, the movie started and an astronaut appeared. Are there astronauts in "The Proposal"? Something wrong here.

After a while the title of the movie appeared - "Land of the Lost"! What is happening?

First thought, did I purchase tickets for the wrong movie? Checked the tickets. No mistake there.

By the way, I have experienced buying tickets for a wrong movie.
Many, many years ago, hubby and I went for a movie.
When the movie started, we were puzzled to find on-screen
something totally different from the movie we wanted to watch.

Initially we thought that it was a trailer because there was no title
to indicate otherwise. Then, we found the language to be too offensive
for our sensibilities. When the subtitles appeared, our suspicion
that we were at the wrong movie was confirmed.

So we beat a hasty exit from the cinema because
it would only be a waste of time and money to sit through
such a C or even D grade movie.

Later we found out that the movie we actually wanted to watch
was only scheduled to start the day after. What a boo boo!

Okay, back to yesterday's tale.

Second possibility, are we in the wrong hall? No need to check. People were saying "they are showing the wrong movie" and some proactive ones were already on their way to inform the person(s) in charge.

The screen went dark and after that "The Proposal" came on.

BTW, we wore masks during the movie. We were the only ones.

We are very kiasi. Don't know who is sitting beside us. FYI the infected person is infectious 24hours before onset of symptoms. So don't play play.

Exposé

The remarks made by friends when they meet you after 34 years reveal a lot about what you were "famous" for in school.

"You are the one who always faint!"

Yup, I was well-known for fainting whenever it gets too hot - on sports day, during Physical Exercise class and even while cooking over a hot stove during Domestic Science class. By the way, it's the real thing, no bluffing.

"Are you still reading Mills & Boon?"

I confess that I had a voracious for romance story books. I would stay up half the night just to complete a book and I even resorted to putting the book behind my text-book, or under the desk, in order to continue reading while the class was on.

Those were the days.

Why Moms Worry

How not to worry when you read on your 24 year old daughter's blog that she does not eat normal nor sleep normal?

Sigh.

Something Good Every day

Every day may not be good,
but there's something good in every day.
If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one.

-Author unknown

Have a good day and a great week!

SGGSEPA Annual Dinner 2009

SGGSEPA? What a mouthful!

SGGSEPA stands for St. Georges' Girls' School Ex-Pupils' Association and we had our Annual Dinner last Saturday, 8 August, at the City Bayview Hotel.

This year we had the biggest turn out - 5 tables - from the girls of Form Five 1973. That's my year and I managed to meet so many old friends. The faces are still the same but we had problems with names. Next time we must wear name tags.

Women in red, friends after 34 years with a lot of catching up to do

On the programme was a singing group comprising recent ex-St. Georgians. I felt that their performance that night was a bit lacklustre, lacking in their usual oomph.

Then we had a fashion show sponsored by De Santia Bridal House. They had qute a challenge fitting the over-40s and over-50s. We also had less choice of clothes due to our "ahem" fuller and well-endowed figures. Anyway it was a thrill to be a model at 53.

Some of the models for the grand finale.

Andrea, Petra's daughter, danced to Lady in Red before we had a game on all things red. By the way, the theme for the night was "Women In Red" 'cos our school colours are red and white.

Andrea, Lady in Red

After that we had a special performance by one of our ex-St. Georgian, Ramlah, who was one of the finalists in the Bintang RTM in days gone by. Boy, can she sing! She sang one Malay song and one English song "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

Ramlah before the change of personality for the upbeat "I Wanna Dance WIth Somebody"

Her child was in hospital and in her rush she forgot to bring the CD for the English song she actually wanted to sing. Despite the song being a last minute replacement she belted it out so flawlessley with so much gusto that I felt like dancing too - but was too chicken to do so.

Since I was sitting beside the centre aisle, she held the mic out to me and I terus belted out two lines of the chorus with penuh semangat, with her kind prompting for the second line of course. Don't know how that sounded to the audience but I felt GOOD!

I propose we engage her to be the main entertainer for our annual dinner next year.

Then came the grand finale, Broadway-style. A stylish end to an enjoyable evening.

The girls have style!

Today's Date

It's 07.08.09!

On The Day Itself

Woke up bright - it was actually still dark - and early yesterday to line up and purchase Amanah Saham 1Malaysia. Birthday celebrations got off on a good start with saving money for "lau lang pun" (literally "old people fund" in Hokkien).

Then Lillian gave me a Big Breakfast with Caramel Latte at Dome.

While I was having my hair done after lunch, I was told that I had a special delivery from Secret Recipe. Rushed to collect the birthday cake I've ordered for myself and rushed back to see my Secret Recipe birthday cake from persons unknown.

There was a cryptic message on the cake: Happy Birthday Eat and be Merry From Twins...Day Bee & Night Bee. Hmmm, I suppose I have to guess who my mysterious benefactors were from the clues given.

Twins = Look the same
Day & Night = One dark and the other fair
Bee = Names ending with bee like "chubby" or "choo-bee"

Aha! I know two persons who fit the above descriptions. Sent them "thank you" sms-es and the replies confirmed that I was right.

Thank you guys! You've made my day extra special.

The mystery cake

The staff and I really stuffed ourselves silly on the two cakes - the super delicious absolutely scrumptious White Chocolate Macadamia from Secret Recipe and my own special order of butter walnut cake covered with pretty-pink royal icing and decorated with piped flowers and silver balls.

The girls loved this cake

All that was at 4pm and by 7pm we were at E&O for our Chinese and Japanese Buffet.

The gang after the buffet.

Birthday Party At Sesame

I had an early birthday celebration at the private room at Sesame, G Hotel on Saturday, 1 August 2009, for family and a few close friends.

The three of us testing the lighting for photography
before our guests arrived

Actually G Hotel was not a consideration as far as a potential venue for my birthday was concerned. I just called to find out the rates for hubby's upcoming birthday and the F&B Sales Executive, Ving Leong, somehow convinced us to go for a food tasting at the restaurant. We came away impressed with the ambience and the fusion Chinese food that is served creatively and individually.

Let me show you how the evening went. First the table setting.

Nice! I already like it.

Dinner started off with a serving of birthday bun. We were so hungry that we forgot to take photos! Even Pam commented that the bun was delicious and then promptly killed the compliment by saying that maybe it's probably because she was so hungry.

Softshell Crab with Shredded Egg and Butter
received high praise from our guests

Shark's Fin Soup with Lobster and Bean-Sprouts.
A strange combination that worked.

The tealight underneath kept the soup bubbling hot until the last spoonful. In fact it was boiling towards the end and we only managed to finish the soup without scalding our tongues by blowing out the light.

Wasabi Mayo Prawns with Cashew Nuts in Tortilla Basket

Baked Cod Fish with Char-Siew Sauce, Fresh Beans and Deep-Fried Herbs

Braised Shanghainese Noodles with Crab Meat and Crab Roe Cream

Gula Melaka Creme Brulee and Black Sesame Ice Cream

The black sesame ice cream tasted better than it looked and our only complaint was that the ice cream was melting by the time everyone was served.

Black Forest Birthday Cake

A lovely evening with good food and, most of all, great company. I was one happy birthday gal.

Why Is It...

Why is it that . . .

?

Birthday Present From Ken Ray Staff

The staff gave me my present today. It was kinda odd because my birthday is two days away so I actually thought of practising some self-control and planned to delay opening the present till Wednesday.

Then they told me the real reason for the advance present. They could no longer tahan the floppy brown bag I was using as my interim handbag - pending purchase of a new one - so I was persuaded to immediately dump the interim bag and start using my new one.

The present all wrapped up

That's what my new handbag looks like

Thanks everyone! I'm already using it and the many compartments shall be put to good use.

Birthday Present From 'Bee

Here I am wearing the dress/top 'bee bought for me.

Thanks, 'bee! I had 2 compliments wearing that dress. Henceforth I give you carte blanche to buy anything you find that'll look good on me, within budget la.

Cord of Love

Didn't get enough of 'bee time. She's here and gone again. By the time she arrived in KL I was already suggesting suitable dates for her next trip back or my trip down to see her.

All moms are like that. The doctor may cut the umbilical cord at birth but somehow there's an invisible cord that still remains and extends across time and space, an unbreakable cord of love that forever binds mother and child.

Love you and already missing you, 'bee.