Can i celebrate Christmas?..please??

I overheard a little boy ask his mother a few nights ago, "Mummy, do we celebrate Christmas?" To which his mother replied, "No, only Christians celebrate Christmas." He gave it a short thought, and then looked up and asked, "Mummy, CAN i celebrate Christmas.. please?"

His question made me think. What's Christmas all about?

It's about a God who gave up all of heaven's luxuries
and came to earth to be born a baby
stripped of all His power and majesty
It's about a God who owns the whole universe,
but was born in a lowly humble manger
It's about a God who appeared to the nobodies of that time - shepherds
It's about a God who chose to be born a Saviour
Born to face rejection, betrayal and suffering
Born to be crucified
To bring hope and life eternal.


I wished i could tell the little boy, "Yes, of course you can celebrate Christmas. Christmas is not just for the Christians. Christmas is for everyone, especially for you. Jesus was born for you, and for me, and for everyone.

Blessed Christmas, friends!
Happy Birthday, Jesus! =)

A wonderful day!

This year, I had to force YY to take a day off on his birthday.. =) He's been busy with work, and with the various church ministries, especially at this time of the year. We've got 3 weddings coming up in our CG (!) and he's going to be the driver, worship leader and MC at the different weddings.. haha.. =)


So, yeah, so much for my planned surprises, =) I got him a bouquet of sunflowers (they are gorgeous!), a musical birthday card (since i doubted he ever got this during his 'kiddy' days) and a pair of brightly coloured t-shirts (he's been asking for orange t-shirts ever since the Teenstreet band came in bright orange shirts). I also baked him a Belgian Chocolate cake and hid it in the oven (but his nose led him to it just a few minutes before mid-night.) I ran downstairs and tried to distract him, but it was too late.. he already saw it. So i lit the candles and sang a birthday song for him at 11.55pm (5 minutes early) haha..

Early the next morning, i woke up to cook him the traditional birthday mee-suah. Not exactly traditional cos both of us cook it differently from the way our mums do. But traditional cos grandma says we must eat mee-suah for our birthday for long-life. Since it comes from grandma who's already 98 years old, we'll trust her word for it! =) So my version's got one fried egg, a chicken drumstick, some roast pork slices and some scallops to make the soup really yummy. =)

Then later we took a nice leisurely drive to Bagan Lalang aka Sepang Goldcoast. It was a small beach coastal area near the kampungs, being developed into a resort like place. Beach was nice to stroll for a short while.. But not so much for swimming.

After that, we drove to Bangsar Opus Bistro for some classy birthday lunch. Told him it was voted best restaurant of the year (but only told him later that it was voted by my cousin, who's a foodie guy). The spaghetti there was absolutely superb. After a jog and a swim, then dinner was at Gurney Drive, Midvalley.
























Later that evening we had a wedding rehearsal for Ka Hing & Ju Li. And Jules planned a surprise at the end of the rehearsal and popped out with a lovely birthday cake!



















At home, we ended the day watching YY's favourite dvd, Transformers. Yup, Transformers. =) Dunno what's with men and machines.. but anyway, it's his birthday, so he gets to do whatever he likes best.. =) With a Hoegaarden Beer bottle in hand and a bag of chips, guess yesterday was a very memorable birthday for him. =) But i think what meant most to him, were loved ones and friends sending him birthday wishes and prayers, and affirming him, he's a treasure, deeply loved by God. =)

HAPPY BiRTHDAY, HONEY! =)

Tomorrow's YY's birthday. I'm half-guessing that he'll be so busy today, that he won't have a chance to see this post.. *fingers crossed*

Anyway, am currently busy dashing around to get his surprises ready.. =) That's the advantage of being free at the moment.. =)

It's amazing to think that 7 years ago, it was about this time that i had gotten to know YY, and i recall a couple months later, remarking to my mum that YY's such a great guy, and whoever marries him would be the most blessed girl! =) And that was said in passing, simply because he was a very nice friend, and yeah, there was chemistry, but i wasn't quite ready for a relationship then!

Fast-forward 7 years, i would say, i thank God that i am that most blessed woman to be married to YY. A friend asked me a couple of weeks back to describe YY in a sentence, i said, "a warm guy with a big heart". I forgot to add, "and a contagious laughter!" His warmth, his big heart, contagious laughter, and adorable dimples still melt my heart. =)


Honey, this birthday, i pray that God will bless you most abundantly, in life, in your career, in your ministries, in your walk with Him. May each day be joyous, and full of His favour.

I love you, honey! and i hope you have a very memorable birthday *wink* =)

The space-trot

The theme for this year's VBS(Vacation Bible School) was Cosmic City. It was a superb program sharing about our awesome Creator God - whom we can worship, whom we can count on, whom we can believe in, whom we can trust.


I was glad to be a part of it. It was an awesome privilege to photograph the entire event, and also to do props for the drama over the past week, and also be Aunty Constance's personal secretary for a couple of days. =)

It was great! =)

The teamwork was simply incredible. I was inspired just watching the creative juices and passion oozing out of the entire team - from the space station leaders to the team leaders. It was contagious watching them give of their very best, to serve their Lord and Saviour, and to make a difference in the kids' lives.

Best of all, as a photographer, i had the privilege to photograph kids in their most honest worship moments. It was most humbling and inspiring. =) More so, when i saw kids who on the first day folding their arms refusing to sing, and the next day, singing their lungs out, hands lifted up, and kneeling in prayer even. *Phew* i tell you, it's an amazing feeling.

An abrupt farewell

Neslo's gone. I don't know where she's disappeared to. It's been more than a week now..

After our cg two fridays ago, she's been nowhere to be found. YY and i did take a walk around our back lane, looking for her, but to no avail. She's gone.

She came into our lives so unassumingly, and now, somehow, she left a little hole in our hearts.. I know YY misses her, cos everytime i hang the clothes, he peers over the wall, to look for any sign of her in our backlane. And i know i miss her.. everytime, i wash the dishes, part of me wishes she'll be there sitting on my washing machine, purring and meowing for her little biscuit treats.

Well, wherever she is, i hope someone kind treats her well, and may she have a long and happy nine lives. =)

She won our heart with her eyes

I am not a cat person. I have always been a dog person. I don't know why, but i think it has something to do with their eyes. YY agrees with me totally.. =)

But it wasn't the same with Neslo. There was something different about her. She caught my attention one day when i was washing some dishes in the kitchen, and i looked out, there was this black, brown and white kitten sitting on my washing machine and peering in as the clothes were being washed. She had a look of amusement and awe as the machine was going through the rinsing and spinning stage. =) It was simply hilarious just looking at her.

What's with the name, you ask? Well, some time last year there was a very cute black kitten who loved sitting and playing by himself in our backyard. Since he was all-black, i decided to call him Kopi-O. So, with this little one, i decided to name her Neslo. She might be related to Kopi-O, you see. =)

Then a few days later, whilst i was hanging my clothes late at night, she came and started playing with me and later with YY. She had big doll eyes, and loved to be stroked and cuddled. But i think it must be her big round eyes that won our hearts.






Photo: Neslo on the washing machine greeting me when i open the kitchen door.




These days, as soon as she hears the sound of my housekeys, she'll wait at the washing machine or in front of my kitchen door and start purring and "meow"ing. I think she's still a little kitten, from her "manja"ness. So far, i like having her around.. especially when she displays her trophies of appreciation. I've gotten two cockroaches in front of my kitchen door so far, which is fantastic. =)






Photo: One of Neslo's trophies of appreciation








Photo: Neslo's treat - milk!

Making "chai kueh"

I told my neighbour aunty that i wanted to learn to make "chai kueh" a few days back. "Chai Kueh" is a - a type of vegetable dumpling dish by the Teochew clan, made from turnip, carrots, mushroom, dried prawns and wrapped lovingly in glutinous flour wrap thingy.. =o Whenever she makes some, she'll graciously give some to us. And her "chai kueh" is superb! =)

So i had my first lesson at her house yesterday, and it was fun. =) As i watched her and got my hands dirty learning each step, the end result was quite satisfying. We made almost 50 dumplings. Mine didn't look as nice and intricate as hers.. but it was nonetheless a fun experience.

In His Hands

I just came across this poem that i had scribbled in my diary sometime this year.. not sure where i got it from, but it is certainly a tremendous encouragement to me at this very moment now, as i leave my prayer request at the throne room of heaven..

In His Hands
By: Betty Purser Patten

We know not what tomorrow brings
Although we plan ahead
For only God alone can know
The pathway we must tread

We cannot know the future
Not one minute nor one hour
Each circumstance that we must face
Lay only in His power



It's vital that we live by faith
From minute unto minute
And trusting that each step we take
He's walking with us in it

We cannot see the future
Nor the trials we must face
But in all things, God has promised us
Sufficiency of His grace

This alone should give us hope
Whatever be our plans
In knowing that our future lies
In His sweet and loving hands.






Photos: Taken in Oxford, UK.

Failing thirty times over

Have you ever failed an exam for more than thirty times? How would you feel if you had to retake an exam more than thirty times? How would you feel to fail each and every time? Would you feel like a failure? It would be hard to pick yourself up and to try all over again, huh? Would your faith in God waver? Would your trust in God be shaken?

I have prayed a particular prayer earnestly for a long time.. and as i look back, I have come to realise that it has been more than thirty months now that i have prayed this prayer.. Only thirty months you say? Yeah, only thirty months.. but to me, it has been a very torturous thirty months to endure.. As the months goes by, the prayer has grown in intensity. Each month i fail the "test", i have to pick myself up and try all over again. I have wondered and i have asked the Lord, "Why the silence.. and why the long torturing wait?" There have been moments of doubt, and great disappointment. There has been days when i have screamed and questioned Him. Silence was all i got in return, but as i discover more about my Lord, i am confounded by the fact that even if He doesn't answer my prayer, He is still God. A good God nonetheless. A great God, who is a loving Creator, a mighty Saviour, a gentle Healer and a gracious Provider.

I do not know for how long more will i have to wait... and for how many times more i will fail.. But i pray that someday on hindsight, i can look to my Creator and Saviour and thank Him for being with me through it all, and for His greater plan that a mortal like me couldn't understand. And i pray for now, that He will give me the faith to keep believing and the strength to keep holding on the promises He has given in His word.


Photo: YY & I lit a candle in the grand Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford University, lifting up our prayer request to the Lord..


Psalm 36:5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

The Prodigal

Now that i am on break, it is nice to get to do the stuff i've always wanted to do. Whilst clearing up my study, i came across an old bag of 500 piece- jigsaw puzzle of The Prodigal, an art masterpiece drawn by Ron DiCianni. I immediately started working on it, and couldn't stop till i finished it 5 hours later.. =)

Here are some photos captured whilst working on the Prodigal. =)

The Choking Weeds

As i was clearing my garden this morning, the image of the weed choking my little Heliconia plant. From the bottom of the stem, it twisted and curled all the way upwards, stealing light and nutrients and restricting growth. It probably had been there for sometime, but i had done nothing about it, and obviously, neither had Mr Heliconia.

It sounds quite like us, huh? In our journey on this side of heaven, we often let seemingly small "evils" creep in our lives, and before we know it, our faith is under fire, and our whole life foundations are shaken, and we struggle even to live.

Over the weekend, we were told about the fall of a popular youth Pastor in the Planetshakers Chruch, Mike Guglielmucci. Apparently, he had lied about his cancer illness as a cover-up for his addiction to pornography. This news devastated so many of the church members, including Hillsongs Australia who had allowed him to be part of their latest album. But more than that, it had deeply wounded his parents, high profile pastors, Danny Guglielmucci and his wife, as well as his own family. "Little" sins from his youth had caught up with him. "Small" sins crept in subtly, and choked his life and his faith.

We may not be able to understand why he did such a thing, and we may be absolutely disappointed at his failures. But then again, which one of us has not failed at some point or other? And which one of us is not flawed?

The gospel of grace, which is the heart and core of the message of Christ, is that despite all our weaknesses and failures, God still loves us. And because He loves us so much, He gave Christ for us, so we can have hope again. Forgiven by God Himself, and loved by the Creator, we can live with renewed faith and strength.

As i heard the testimonies from his dad, and from his chruch members, i am thankful that they are a forgiving people, embracing Mike in this time of difficulty. And i am glad that in a way, Mike came out to tell the truth, and God, in His grace will restore him to be a better man.

Poor kids, rich personalities

Last Saturday, our cg had the privilege of taking 10 kids out to the zoo. They were some of the urban poor kids that our cg members, John & June had been giving tuition to every weekend. We wanted to give them a treat, but an educational treat. I think just by being with them, was a tremendous blessing in itself.



One precious lesson I learnt just observing the kids today - that each child was specially made by God - with their bundle of talents and gifts. Vasanth with his eye for angles and great photo shots, Pravin with his big heart and leadership, Kheva with her eye for detail, Letchumy with her strong smile.. =) I pray God's hand will always be on their lives that they will grow up to know Him, and to have a great future ahead.

Squirmy - Lesson from a caterpillar

Yesterday, when i drove back from office, i didn't realise that my car was covered with caterpillars. Yeah, caterpillars! I had thought that some family of birds must have loved my car, and did all their poo-poo big time! =)

It was only driving back that i realised that they were alive(!) and they were crawling(!) and they were actually caterpillars(!).

One particular little one caught my attention though. He was on my side view mirror. Holding on for dear life as i was driving on the Federal Hwy at slightly(!) more than 80kmph. He was a cute chubby little one, yellow and green in colour, squirming. Hmm.. that sounds like a great name, Squirmy.

The 10kms felt like forever. I actually prayed for Squirmy, that he would not fly off and die a horrendous car splat. And i prayed too that for Squirmy to hold on till i reached home. But before you think of how noble and kind-natured a person i am, let me clarify my motives. It was all so i can capture this fellow on camera. =P

Anyways, so much for God hearing my prayers, Squirmy stuck on my side view mirror till i reached home(!). And i learnt some precious lessons from him / it.

For one, life has it's share of tough days and challenges. Sometimes (as in the case of Squirmy) it comes in the form of a girl driver speeding down Fed Hwy. But hold on at all costs. It will come to pass.

Secondly, find your crevasse of refuge. Squirmy was quite a smart little one. He inched bit by bit from the top of my mirror and plonked himself into a little hole. It stayed there for the rest of the journey.

Thirdly, get out of the hurricane’s path of destruction. As Squirmy hid itself in the crevasse, he was getting out from the strong wind’s path. The rest of his less-smart friends got themselves killed – flying off my car and getting burnt by the heat of the car engine on the bonnet.

And finally it’s all about favour. Squirmy had found favour with me. He lived because I used my Touch&Go card to get him out of the crevasse and onto a plant. I wish him many wonderful butterfly days ahead. =)

Sometimes we are like Squirmy facing life’s challenges all of a sudden. From the huge sudden gushes of wind, on uncharted territories, with speeding girl drivers and water spouts. But let’s keep holding on. It will soon come to pass. Let’s find our refuge in God and His word. And let’s pray for divine strength and favour to see us through.

God bless. =)

*Photo courtesy of google photos.

Legacy of Love-in-action

It was a long long night. As i finally laid my head to rest, my mind was filled with the flurry of the entire day and night's activities. We had celebrated our cg's 3 July babies - Caitlyn, Jan and John; wearing Powerpuff girls and Ben10 party hats, blowing up balloons, putting up the very-used HAPPY BIRTHDAY signage, YY blowing up the huge Tigger/Pooh toy-thingy just for little Caitlyn, entertaining Andrew as we studied the book of Amos, eating the WAW chicken wings, watching Sarah fry the Korean "Sanjuk" snacks, sitting down and being entertained by Uncle Michael's new oldies... =)

Listening to the new oldies, Sarah, Malcolm & I reminisced our past. We recalled coming together each Friday - sitting and running around in their house, playing games and then joining them for the supper. As a young girl, I had often admired this family's love for God and for the cg members and the family that tagged along. Their spontaneity and their enthusiasm was a tremendous encouragement. But more than that, for their friendship and their "stickability" - this was one family who stood by us, encouraging and pryaing with us, carrying us through the thick and thin, laughing, crying and helped us in our toughest moments. This is truly a role model couple whom i greatly look up to and wish to emulate.

As i watched Uncle Michael strum the guitar, and watched how Aunty Angelina was admiring him quietly across the table, and Malcolm & Matthew singing along with them, it was a cherished moment. I realised that that was an incredible legacy left ingrained in their hearts and mine.

Uncle Michael and Aunty Angelina were the cell group leaders in which my parents were a part of. They have literally seen me grow up before their eyes. They warmly opened up their homes every Friday for cellgroup. And we, the kids, had the privilege of watching love in action - through the bible studies led, through the melodious praise songs sung, through the laughter shared, through the prayers prayed (for our school exams, our piano/organ/violin exams, for our scrapped knees and fevers, for our loose teeth and sore throats), through the guava juices and soursop drinks served, through the countless "makans" and carboot carnivals they organized. This was truly love-in-action -- a legacy that they've left - that will be forever ingrained in my heart and mind.

In their recent 25th Wedding Anniversary, i asked them the secret to their wonderful blissful 25 years of marriage. Uncle Michael promptly replied they've held on to the verse "Never let the sun go down on your anger". A simple yet profound truth. It was heart-warming to see them still publicly displaying their affection for one another and for their children. It was encouraging to hear "I love you"s and "I missed you"s regularly being exchanged.

As YY and I now open up our house for cg, i am glad to have the privilege of a wonderful couple who has paved the way and shown me a great example, which i hope to learn from and model after.

Now, i have the privilege and blessing to have Malcolm (their 2nd son) in my cg. As we were riding in the car, i told Malcolm what a great legacy of love that his parents have given to him. He proudly agrees. May our generation learn from them, and be a continual blessing to those God brings into our paths.. =)

Lessons in June

It's simply creepy how time flies. June's already ending in a few hours, and "kia-su" me has to beat the clock to throw a post in, just so i'll have a blog-post for every month.. =P

I thank God i finally managed to get myself a laptop, so that i can get back into blogosphere. I've been feeling so lost without it.. =( Despite that, i still feel like my right hand is still missing, with my camera still unreplaced. Every now and then, to cheer me, YY takes me to browse in the camera shops, just to take a peek, and then for me to go back and dream about it.. haha.. =))

This month, two close friends have lost things that were really precious to them. One lost her laptop - full of her kids' videos (since birth) and another lost her hp just today. It is so painful to lose things so precious.

But then again, on reflection, it is in losing something that we often realise it's true value. Most of the time, things like these are taken for granted, and get treated with little significance.

I recently got hold of a movie - PS I love U. Now, let me warn you - this movie is one tear-jerker (more so than the average Korean soaps), and heart-wrencher --- a total girly movie with many "ridiculous happenings which make absolutely no sense whatsoever to the average normal guy". But i managed to glean some precious lessons, which made it worth my tears, my tissues and my time.

1. Live the life you have now.
Holly epitomises the girl-next-door who dreams of great things, but fails to remember that she has a life now and a wonderful Scottish husband by her side. So in her envy and strife for better things - like a bigger house and a better job, she often gets into arguments and the blame-game over her husband's inability to provide all these luxuries for her and her own inability to get these things by her own efforts.

2. Love like you've never loved before.
Holly and her husband loved each other, but they didn't realise life was going to be that short. Her husband died tragically (how else!) and so suddenly, that she couldn't cope initially - feeling desperately lonely and with a tremendous overwhelming sense of emptiness in her life. Everywhere she turned and walked in her little house reminded her so much of him.

3. Dream dreams, and live them now.
Holly was an art student, and when she first graduated, her dream was to create. But in her pursuit for stability, job and money, she forgot her dreams. And it wasn't until her husband's death, and his letters that reminded her who she was, and the dreams she had, that she started pursuing her passions.

My recommendation: Get hold or rent the DVD. You can borrow from me, if you wish.. =) Watch the movie with your loved ones. Have a full box of tissue with you, just in case. It is worth the two hours. It makes you look at ur spouse/ family just that bit differently, and view life with just that slight bit more positivity. =) Happy July!

Nature's Masterpieces

Photo: The Humpback in sand
By: Sharon Amrita
Date: Taiwan 0508


Note: Nature has a way of displaying to us the majesty of God's creation. These geo-rock formations are formed over hundreds of years as the earth slowly erodes from constant slow wind, blowing their way. Who says the rock is stronger than the wind? It is in such beauty that we are reminded of God's true majesty. With each magnificent sculture that gets formed, these ever-changing masterpieces seem to take delight in giving Him glory.


Photo: The Off-road Beauty
By: Sharon Amrita
Date: Taiwan 0508
Note: If i could ever be a flower, i want to be just like these lilac beauties. Bobbing and swaying in the wind, in unison harmonies, giving praise to their Maker. It doesn't matter that they are growing wild by the roadside, it doesn't matter if no one tends to them. It certainly doesn't bother them if one heavy human should trample or a cheeky dog should pee on them. They do just what they were created for - stand tall, and show off their beauty and glorify their God! =)




Photo: A Garbage Beauty
By: Sharon Amrita
Date: Taiwan 0508
Note: I stumbled upon this flower growing somewhat wild and unkempt beside a garbage bin. It was too pretty not to photograph. So, squatting next to the bin, i snapped my photos, much to the surprise of the Taiwanese and tourists alike. How can i miss on a such a beauty? Then it struck me everywhere all over the world, people overlook people who live marginalised, ignored and forgotten beside garbage bins and trash heaps. Each life, however, is beautiful and treasured by their Creator.



These make me think then, Who am i? what was i created for? What can i do that will bring God the greatest delight?

An eventful May

It's been a long eventful month of May.

Me birthday was sweet, (still coming to terms that i am inching nearer to the end of my 20s). Apart from the sweet poem for my birthday and a yummy bowl of hot longevity noodles from my hubby, i got a 30month gym membership from him as a birthday gift.. =) Ha..ha.. he's trying to help me keep looking youthful, i guess. =)

Bro left for NZ for work. I miss him quite a bit.. Particularly so when he's going to be there alone.. Wish NZ was just an hour's flight away or something like that.. But i do know that God has a marvellous plan for his life to have given him this opportunity..

Same day that my bro flew off to NZ, someone broke into my house and stole my precious laptop and new DSLR camera. The most heartbreaking thing was to losing these less-than-1-year things which were bought with very hard-earned savings... Also heartbreaking was losing quite a number of photos, which were very recently taken. Thank God, though, that many others were backed up elsewhere.. Anyway, I thank God we weren't at home, and that no one was hurt and nothing else was stolen.

So this kinda explains the silence from blogging the past few months, and my complete ignorance of the fellow bloggers' life around..

Thank GOd for an opportunity to travel to Taiwan with my colleagues on a company trip. It was a very nice short holiday for us.. and THank God for Phylli who so graciously lent me her D70, and my ex-colleague KK, who lent me his 55-200mmzoom lense. I couldn't imagine travelling without a Nikon DSLR.. =)

The month is coming to an end. So much has happened around the world and even close to home. With all these never-before events unfurling, i can't help but know the end is coming soon, and we each have to be faithful to the calling and faith that we profess. BUt then again, it is for such a time as this that we have been bron, and for such a time as this, that God has called us to be His own - shining, glowing, living for His purpose and His glory!

God bless.

Happy birthday Honey and the gift of yourself

To my dearest wife,

The strength of your love in kindness, gave me a haven where fills my heart with every sense of warmth and precious memories. Your kindness is the touch, the look, the beat of heart, and the act that seeks to cherish and guard the one whom you say "I love you".

Here's a poem from Samuel Zwemer that helps me to put to word who you are to me :)

Her love was like an island
In life's ocean, vast and wide
A peaceful, quite shelter
From the wind and rain and tide

'Twas bound on the north by hope
By patience on the west
By tender counsel on the south
And on the east, by rest

Above it, like a beacon light,
Shone faith and truth and prayer;
And through the changing scenes of life
I found a haven there.

Happy birthday!

love,


YY

A tribute to mum!

Words do not suffice
Nor adequately describe
With tears in my eyes
My heart was beaming with pride
Sitting amidst the crowd
I heard them clear and loud

With each gesture of honest appreciation
With each heartfelt tear
With each thunderous applause
As they celebrated you,
They were already feeling the loss.

Each child knows he has been loved
Each student changed by what he has been taught
Each teacher has been inspired
By someone who gave her very best
Her heart, her mind and her soul

It was an honour
A privilege
I wouldn't miss for the world
To know someone so dear to me
Made such a great difference
And showed them
love on this side of heaven

As you embark on a new chapter in your life
New places to traverse
New paths to walk
I pray God's abiding presence
His abundant love and peace
His strength and His promise
To continually follow you..

Love you, mum!











She had her straight hair permed since she was 9 years old. She's got gorgeous eyes and the sweetest smile. She's got a photographic memory. She's brilliant when it came to studies. She could have been a chemistry professor, or a chemical engineer, but someone told her that teaching was the best career path at that time, she believed them. And so, for the past 31 years, she gave her very best, she gave her life to teaching. In her own words, "if i had a chance to do this all over again, I would. I love teaching. I love children."











So last week, mum celebrated her much anticipated retirement from government service. If there were 3 words to describe mum, it would be LOVE, PATIENCE and DEDICATION. Mum loves each student as if they were her own children. With great patience and incredible dedication, she toils to help each student understand, to lend a listening ear to new teachers, and to inspire each one to excel.










As mum embarks on this new and exciting chapter of her life, we look in anticipation all the amazing things that God has in store for her.


P/s: If you were the photographer who took the photos of mum when she was in her teens and youth, please contact me. I personally think your photography is amazing. =)

The T's of March

I can't believe the month of March has just whizzed by. So much has happened, but i hadn't had the time to actually sit down and collect my thoughts in a selah moment. =P

So a brief summary of life as i recollect them.. =)

1. A Tsunami Politically- Well, it was interesting to vote for the first time in my life. For once, I felt like a true Malaysian - serving my country, making a difference. And it was also the first time i got enlisted as a polling and counting agent. Yup, that too, was an experience. Seeing things from a different perspective. I guess the results was amazing - an answered prayer of sort, but there is still much to pray for the new government - that justice and righteousness will truly prevail.

2. A Transformers Birthday Party

I had the privilege of helping to organise a birthday party for Ernest, an ex-CG member's son. His dad, Gary, passed away a few days before his birthday a couple years back. And so, each year, we look forward to making little Ernest's birthday special. We can't bring his dad back, but we can give him the blessing of a special birthday party. =)

It's amazing and truly heart-warming to see how Ernest has grown over the years, to see him smiling and playing so heartily. I pray that the Lord will continue to carry him, and bless him so abundantly, and mould his character and faith. Blessed birthday, Ernest!

3. A Touching reminder of a tremendous sacrifice

Good Friday crept silently in the busyness of life. While we lamented it not being a holiday unlike in neighbouring countries, I wondered if it would have made any difference otherwise? In the midst of work and other aspects of life shouting for attention, God's incredible and life-redeeming sacrifice gets little focus if any. So preparing for the communion bread and wine gave me a little time to pause and reflect. It was much more significant - with each slice of the bread into squares, i was reminded all over again God's grace and mercy bountiful, enough for all to taste.

With each cup of wine filled, i was reminded of Jesus' overflowing love, blood poured out to save, to heal, to forgive and to ransom what was lost.

Wee Lee's powerful video presentation brought floods of tears, touching and reminding us of Jesus - His love, His sacrifice, His death and His redemption. Which other God dare say, "I have done it all for you"? Watch here.

4. A Treat for Pa's Birthday

We celebrated YY's dad's birthday in BP. It was a simple but sweet occasion.

We pray God's blessings of good health and peace, joy and strength only He can bestow, and the wonderful knowledge of Jesus as His personal Lord and Saviour on Pa.

5. A Tummy and Trigger-Happy CG retreat

Cafe@ Subang had it's first CG retreat to Melaka last weekend. It was truly a tummy treat and a trigger happy occasion for me. We ate, played and ate, and ate and slept and ate and.. oh did i say we ate? Haha.. but it was a great bonding time. =) Needless to say, we bond over food and lotsa laughter.. =)

The Esthers and Daniels of today

I think i'm probably one of the least political-savvy people on earth, hence that would most likely make me the last person you'd expect to ever talk politics, much less blog about it. =)

But the recent years of being married to a political savvy husband who has political savvy buddies have probably rubbed off on me slowly but steadily. I recently attended a political "ceramah" by DAP held at my housing estate. I was initially very sceptical about their agenda. I wanted to be convinced about their policies and plans. So when Hannah Yeoh the upcoming DAP candidate spoke, she got my ears. Learning that she was a Christian, who was passionate about making a difference, in a bid to fight for the rights of the marginalised, to be a voice for the people and to speak up for what was right - she certainly got many people's vote, mine included.

I believe that God has raised a new generation who is close to His heart, who desire to make a change for what is right, and who dare to stand up, speak forth and be counted. I pray that they will never bend to temptations and pressures to comply to the norms but to be the Daniels, Josephs and Esthers of this generation, born for such a time as this, called to make a difference.

Pass on the blessing

Bad moods tend to catch me unaware! I got an email this afternoon from a friend who expressed his disappointment that i had forgotten his birthday, or rather, that an entire group of us had kinda forgotten about his special day. I felt really bad initially, but with the airconditioner in office not working, the guilt turned quickly into hurt, and before i knew it, i was furious and disappointed.

Whilst i apologised to my friend, and prayed a prayer of blessing for his birthday and the year ahead, my alter-ego tookover. Thoughts flew through my mind, and i started justifying to myself why it was an immature accusation.

"Why get so worked up over a small issue?"you ask?? I guess being a sensitive person by nature, i took it quite personally - hence this became a blog-worthy post! (So, friend, before you get upset with me for blogging about this, let me clarify, and plead with you to read the blogpost to the end. God, in His grace, turned this into a lesson for me! and hopefully for you too. =) )

Through out my life, those close to me would testify that i am one person who makes an effort to remember all my family and friends' birthdates. Call it weird, but i think i've quite a knack for remembering numbers and dates. I used to make personalised greeting cards and gift-wrapping presents during my free-er days of school and Uni. But now with work and the busyness of life, i still try to make time for an sms, a call or an e-card.

I guess why i felt deeply hurt and disappointed was because both YY and I have invested a lot of our life, our time, our money, and often sharing a meal and our home with the young people in our midst, my friend included. We are not filthy rich, but whatever little that we have, we gladly share. Not that we are asking for thank-yous or favours in return, but our deepest hope and desire is that those who have been blessed will be grateful, be inspired, and pass on the blessing to others whenever they have the opportunity.

Perhaps it is a generation gap. For me, i have always been taught me to be grateful and thankful for what i have been given, to find every opportunity to pass on the blessing to others. I note with dismay that this current generation is more self-centred and expect blessings rather than seek opportunities to bless.

Anyway, as i poured my disappointment to God on my drive back home, it dawned on me that I too have been a forgetful, thankless and spoilt brat in my walk with God. Every day and every moment, God pours His abundance of love and blessings into my life, but the single unanswered prayer or a thorny situation encountered, and I throw my tantrum, and accuse God of being unfair, distant and unloving. I guess God allowed me to see and feel the pain of a thankless effort to remind me to be a more thankful and grateful child.

May each one of us learn to appreciate the blessings that God has poured on us, and also to be thankful to the people who invest and share their lives with us. May we pass on the blessings at every opportunity.

Shouting Whispers

No, you read it right.. I purposedly titled this blogpost Shouting Whispers.. because it dawned on me that in a lot of our daily life, nature is screaming back at us, somewhat shouting to remind us of who their Creator is, and what is He like.. To the one who will wait.. and pause.. and reflect.. they whisper, "Come, let's bow and worship Him! Here is the true and living God, He is mighty and majestic, He is faithful forever!"

Day after day
Night after night
In melodic harmony
In tandem beats
As if dancing to a worshipful song
The waves roll across mighty oceans
And bounce across billowy seas
In constant cycles
They crash upon upon the sand on the shore
And rush back to start their song all over again..

Dawn after dawn
Dusk after dusk
In rising, you inspire renewed hope
In setting, you proclaim timely rest
As if bursting forth to shout out praise
Each beam shines across hills and mountains
Over valleys and streams
Proclaiming the grandeur of His majesty
In radiant faithfulness they worship..

With Gingko & Walnuts

I still remember
The time you fed
Me from under the table
When Ah Di was a little toddler
And i was being naughty

I still remember
The time you sat
Beside me on a trishaw
For my first day at school
Thank you for accompanying me

I still remember
The time you sat
Hours at the table
Preparing the best food
For us to enjoy as a family

You asked if I still remember
The time you took me for a walk
By the hillside and the valley

You asked if I still remember
The time I saw the big mansion on hill
And i promised to build you one beside me

You asked if I still remember
The time you took me to the kindergarten
And i introduced you to my teachers, my friends and their family

You tell me your memory's fading
It's no longer as good as it used to be
I begin to wonder
if you will still remember me

You tell me your memory's failing
It's not as clear as previously
I begin to wonder
if you will still remember
You are the special-est of grandmas there can ever be

With gingko and walnuts
A prayer and a plea
I ask with all my heart
That God will be super close and extra real to thee

With gingko and walnuts
A prayer and a plea
I ask that God will show Himself
Faithful and true
A maker and a friend
A saviour and a king

With gingko and walnuts
A prayer and a plea
I ask that God will sustain you
With good health and memory
With joy and with peace.

Of Cuddles and Mr Buttons

Two weekends ago, I had the blessing and privilege to take 2 lovely girls from church for their Chinese New Year shopping. Their daddy hadn't been well, and so i figured they most probably hadn't had time to shop for their new clothes. Yong Yi was supposed to chauffeur us, but decided not to at the last minute, so that we girls "could have a girly-day out".

It was my first time in ages that i had gone shopping with girls apart from my close girl buddies, mum or aunt. The three of us had a fun time walking from one end of Midvalley to the other end of the Gardens, picking out clothes and trying out clothes from the adults racks to the kids racks and back to the adult racks. We also had a great time laughing till we cried over a super-heavy lunch. =) And it *still* brings giggles each time we think about it.. Three girls, one pasta, one pizza. We returned the pizza moments after it arrived, coz we were way too full from the huge spaghetti meatballs.

During the 4 hours we spent together, i gleaned some precious lessons from the two girls.

(i) Simple faith
The two girls have the blessing of very godly parents who have imparted much godly values to them. Even though their dad is unwell, they confidently tell me that "daddy is better already. He is recovering. God is already healing him and will one day completely heal him. "

(ii) Simple joys
The two girls sat buckled in the back seats of my car, and through out our journey back and forth, they chattered about everything under the sun. "Leader Sharon, what's the name of your teddy bears?" they asked me as they got in. I have two teddy bears sitting in my backseats. One was a gift from a colleague when i first joined Cadbury, and another is a gift from YY during one of his trips to Bangkok. "I haven't thought of any names, yet, le. Why don't you help me to name them?" I told them. It was all they needed. They excitedly cracked their heads, throwing interesting, adorable names. Fluffy.. Fiffy.. Rover.. Stories flew of how we named our other soft toy pets.. Our favourite names for dogs, if we ever owned one.. Our first soft toy.. Our favourite soft toys.. Suddenly one of the girls flipped the tag of the purple teddy and said, "Cadbury Cuddlies! But, Leader Sharon, Cuddlies doesn't sound too nice, eh? How about Cuddles?" "Perfect!"I exclaimed, "Cuddles it shall be. What about the other red one?"

We continued to grind our heads to think of bear names - cute, adorable, perfect names. "How about red Rover?" i asked. "That's a name for a dog, Leader Sharon, not a teddy bear!" Red Jack..Teddy-Love.. "What's on it's tag?" I asked. Sighs.. this bear didn't have a tag. "What about Buttons?" I asked, since it had little buttons on the vest. "Yeah! Yeah! Perfect!! Mr Buttons, it's a really cute name." And so it was, Cuddles and Mr Buttons have their names. We were overjoyed.

On the way back, Cuddles and Mr Buttons had fashion revamp. Cuddles' purple scarf became a turban and then a pair of shorts. Mr Buttons got undressed, which was really quite obscene. Haha.. I guess that's what you get, when you put two girls together with a pair of teddy bears. It was really fun!

In the short time that we spent together, i realised that children have very good memory. The girls remembered and recalled vividly wat i had said to them a couple of years back. It was both amazing and also sobering to think that everything we say and do, in some way and measure influences and impacts the children. I pray that through my life, my words and deeds, I will always be a good testimony of faith and positively influence the children in church and in my family.

Snippets of December & January

Since returning from my holiday in Australia, it has been a busy month of January. So so so much has happened, but i haven't had the time to blog about it. This post is going to blog the snippets of my January going-ons.. =)


(i) Ah Di's graduation - As per my last blog, it was an AMAZING time. Watching Ah Di's OCF and Uni friends drop by Uni just in time for a photo to celebrate this momentous occasion, having dad, mum, YY and me applaud Ah Di as he walked up the stage and receiving his scrolls, me going trigger happy all around Uni Melb ... it was amazing! It brings tears to my eyes thinking of God's faithfulness and providence. I know i've said/blogged this before.. but being there and knowing that God has literally carried us through the past 7 years! He's amazing, our God!





(ii) Family Holiday in Melbourne & Tasmania- We had a superb family holiday in Tasmania. The weather was lovely - cooling with a tad of sunshine. It was a very scenic holiday driving around Tasmania. It was mum and YY's first time there.. Since Ah Di & I had been there, we short listed the favourites to visit. I have never trekked so much in my life - and mum - she was amazing! She was always ahead of me. The beautiful beaches, picturesque mountains provided the perfect backdrop for a great time of rest, recreation and reflection.

It was also a great catching up with old friends too - ex-OCFers. It was encouraging and heartwarming to see friends who were still passionately serving Christ, through student ministry, cell groups and children ministry.





I brought YY, mum & Ah Di down my Uni days memory lane - walking the routes and paths that i had walked for 2 years during my studies in Monash Clayton. So many sweet memories just kept flooding my mind as i walked and talked and showed them my favourite spots, etc. The lake where we had our mini lantern festival/feed-the-duck sessions, the halls of residence room where i stayed, where Rowena and Bawani - my (3musketeer buddies) stayed, where we cooked together, the Normanby house we went for our chinese takeaways, the Menzies building where we had our classes, the library where I had accountability sessions with my cg leader Jaime, and subsequently with my juniors, my 2/18 house, the highway i had to cross each morning and night, the 1/4 OCF headquarters.. =) So many things had changed, part of me wished they didn't, but then, that's life, huh? Things move on.. New memories are made as we live each day purposefully and joyfully.


We also made a day trip to Great Ocean Road as a family. It was a very very sunny day, i had the opportunity to tan myself quite a bit. But the scenery is simply beautiful!






It was a joy to meet Sue Anne, Ah Di's girlfriend, in person for the first time too.. She's certainly a lovely and godly girl. We thank God for her, and pray that though both of them have to be apart for the time being, their love for God and each other will continue to grow.



PHOTO LINKS: Graduation, Tasmania Holidays, Great Ocean Rd, Docklands.


(iii) Wedding Anniversary - We flew back from Melb on 31st Dec. And recalled that YY and I have been married for 3 years! It's amazing just reflecting on how much we've changed (or not!) over the past 3 years. But i truly thank God for a loving husband and a soul-mate. As we continue to pray for God to bless us with a child, we truly thank God for the many things that He has already blessed us so graciously with.



(iv) Grandma's birthday - Grandma celebrated her 97th birthday on the 19th Jan. It was a big celebration with her many grandchildren and great grandchildren around her. Grandma has already said the sinner's prayer to accept Christ as her Lord and Saviour. But every now and then, she goes back to her old ways of chanting and meditation on her Taoist books. I know it is not easy to let go of her past, but our prayer is that she will make a bold step of faith to be baptised this year. We are certain God has blessed her with such longlife for a reason and purpose - for His glory and kingdom.

PHOTO LINK: Grandma's birthday