Christmas at the Park - Make A Wish

Christmas may have came and gone. All the buzyness, lots of feasting and shopping have filled our schedule to the max. But one thing for sure the light of the Almighty One shinning through will only grow stronger and brighter and always lighted up. I hope that everyone has somehow felt and experience this Light and His love and peace during this holiday season.

I have the priviledge to be part of an exciting event organised for children. The Children's Church this year had Christmas at a park near church I am attending. We invited the residents near church (by giving out flyers) and also to orphanage and the hardcore poor homes.

God is good! Weather that morning was sunny and windy. There were 91 children registered on that day and unregistered ones were more than 10 (mostly too young to join in, so they stayed close with their parents). We expected a number of 100 children. Good thing being Malaysian, we always prepare more. From the registration list, there were 42.8% not from our church.

When I took on the role to organise this event, I knew I had a problem of manpower because I am still very, very new in the Children's Ministry. So only key roles were assigned but things like helpers in each team I seriously have big problem. I sent some emails and sms out. However, that morning though there were not many helpers (only 22 adults) but each one just helped each other to get the place ready. We carried stuff, arranged tables, moved chairs, some pumped balloons, climbed chairs hanging Christmas deco and balloons. Some (thankfully) swept and mopped the basketball court. So in just 1 1/2 hours the place was set to welcome the children.

The programme of 2 hours went very smooth.

Registration - Each child was given a name tag and assigned to a group

Make A Wish - Then they can write on the 'wish card' their wish(es) and hang onto the Christmas tree.

Welcome - Passing parcel game where some 'lucky' ones got prize. 

Games (thank you Mi Lin, very well organised and easy enough yet very fun to play) - 5 stations named after countries. Altogether 10 groups of 8-10 children, 2 groups to a station to compete. In Malaysia children play football, Philippines children dance tinikling , Myanmar children learn 3 greetings in Myanmarese, Indonesia children play semut, orang, gajah and China children to build great wall.

Presentations - 'Sow Seed (sa zhong zi)' by children from Chinese Session and 'We were the Reason' by children from English Session.

Lunch - Fried yee mee with chicken and egg slice. All food pack of 150 were given out. No wastage. They were then treated with ice-cream. Even adults also lined-up for the free ice-cream.

Gifts - Children always happy to receive gift and we prepared more than enough.

All good things must come to an end and so is Christmas at the Park - Make A Wish. But the wishes of children can only be fulfilled by the Almighty One. So till the next major event (which will be in June 2012) I shall keep my head held high and heart close to my Lord.

Haapy New Year everyone!

Birthday comes early this year

Not denying my age as I am celebrating the end of thirties this year. Life has been good and very good. Having a new car to drive I thought was great and yesterday Alyssa got her trophy for coming first in class in her exams.

But I've received something so unexpected....tickets to Alam Tam Concert! (I have been a fan of Hong Kong superstar Alan Tam since school days.)

My loving hubby surprised me with the tickets. OMG can't believe this is real. Never will I thought that I will go to a concert like this. Anyway it's tonight and I am just so excited.

It gets better...I'm sailing in a cruise on my birthday! And with the most important people to me. I am so looking forward to all these excitement.

Ok back to reality...mop the floor first.

20 minutes Frustration and 5 minutes Patience!

My last blog post was more than 5 months ago!

This morning after gym I got home but couldn't find my house key in the car. Usually Alyssa locks the gate (don't have auto-gate) and 'throw' the keys to the front passenger seat. So I was looking high and low, front and back. Did she even lock the gate??? Question came to my mind.

Called hubby...confirm no extra keys at home and the gate was lock when he went to work this morning. Then immediately he called me if I need him to come back cause he was not too far away from house. Of course yes lah. Lo behold I found the keys BUT it's stuck inside the hand brake hole. Called hubby again say no need to come back.

Twenty minutes later called him again..."I can't get the keys out!" By this time he was already on the highway and probably reaching office soon. So told myself BE PATIENT. Slowly and diligently...plus some skill and lots of prayer...finally got hold of the keys. Guess what that only took me 5 minutes.

Now I know where are all the tools in this new car (less than 10 days we got it) and what I have in there.

Corrective Contact Lense

Have you heard of corrective contact lenses that can correct short sighted without having go under surgery? It's called Ortho-K (Orthokeratology) .

Orthokeratology is the design and fitting of special gas permeable contacts that gently reshape the clear front surface of the eye (cornea), so you can see clearly even after you remove the lenses. Unlike LASIK, however, the corneal reshaping effect of orthokeratology is temporary — generally enough to eliminate your need for glasses or contacts for a day or so. Then you have to wear the ortho-k lenses again to maintain the proper corneal shape. The reshaping only takes place when you wear the contact lense to sleep overnight that is at least 6 hours or more. Suitable for treatment of up to -5.00D short sighted and -1.50D of astigmatism and for anyone even children.

I have just put Alyssa into this treatment. She's turning 11 in July. It was recommended by my neighbour whom daughter has a similar situation as Alyssa. The process involved of many visits to the optometrist (you can visit her profile here). First visit is to measure all the necessities and taking a map of the cornea. Second visit is to put the contact lease for an hour trial. If no complication then can proceed to 6 hours trial the next day.

Alyssa on 6 hours trial now. Just put on for her and later will go to the optometrist. If everything goes well then she can start wearing it everynight. Initially one will still need to wear glasses even after wearing the contact lenses overnight BUT at a much lower power. This will a month or so depends on the degree of short sighted.

In Alyssa's case where her short sightedness is -6.00, her treatment might takes a longer period before she can be off the glasses. And not only that the cost of the whole treatment is also higher. Will not disclose the exact amount here but can tell you that this cost thousands. No worries cost is much lesser than LASIK. The cost is inclusive of the optometrist professional fee, contact lenses and glasses needed.

Why I don't let her undergo the treatment a year ago when I heard of it? First the cost and I was not confident that she can handle them - the contact lense. My prayer is there will no complications or infections ever happen to Alyssa.

Approaching Father's Day

Father's Day is coming. All sorts of advertisement placed in the local newspapers to promote their products especially for fathers. Some called it Parent's Day (include Mother's Day), 2 in 1...that's how to save money and ideas on promo.

For me, being the sad and grieving me, should I look forward to Father's Day. My dad has passed away a few months ago. Infact on Valentine's Day, just 4 months ago. Now both my dad and my father-in-law are not around anymore. Is there a reason to celebrate Father's Day, as I asked myself.

I have not came to this page (writing a blog post) not that I'm lazy but because I am so afraid to face myself. My father-in-law passed away just one and a half month before my dad. He was in a coma after a fall. Dealing with his loss was difficult but we made it through. Knowing he is in a better place with the Lord rather than suffering on the sick bed.

My dad's death came as a shock to me. He was supposed to go for a body check-up. He was having cough and difficulty to sleep at night. After a few visits to the clinic and and an X-ray, nobody can tell what is really wrong with him. That day to the clinic (another doctor) was an early farewell bid to all. He had water in his lungs and died of heart failure when doing treatment in the hospital.

I stay 200 over KM away from my parents and did not have a chance to say goodbye to my dad.  After his death, I was in such a denial stage and I refused to talk about his passing. An revelation came to me that I should not keep to myself anymore. God has spoken. I must speak out. In that moment I told the Lord I'm going to speak on Father's Day in church.

There is no reason I shouldn't celebrate Father's Day cause there is a far greater Father whom I trust. As the Lord's Prayer begins with 'Our Father who art in heaven...' We have a Father that see us all the time.

Life is hard, but God is good—all the time. 

Once called home

Visits to Muar were always not complete without 'see monkey'. A very popular tourist attraction at Tanjung Ketapang (known to me as Tanjung), next to Muar River, lives many monkeys. They are left living in wild but many tourists like me and maybe some faithful locals too choose to feed them (which is not encouraged  ).

However the recent trip I was saddened by what was going on there. The forrest...the trees....were half gone. They may be a nuisance to residents nearby which is maybe a kilometre or two away. Quite close to some government squatters and a rest house that is not in operation. But whylah clear their home!

Can't understand what is the rational behind this move. Maybe want to beautify the park. I do see a lot of outdoor gym equipments installed. A walkway bridge is built from road to the river. Wondering what's next and how much more money will be spent there. In years to come all facilities will probably not properly maintained or taken care. Start well ends ??? Sense my frustration right!

 

Picture taken few years ago before bridge was built



Bridge was built more than 2 years ago

Sometimes a change is good for the betterment of lifestyle and human being. But as human being we shall appreciate the mother nature and other living things like monkeys.

Coming to the end of 2010

Coming to the end of Year 2010...As I reflect on the past one year, I recall of many happenings, some trips and still counting my blessings. But for the past one month, I would like to highlight some here.

Hannah - Music Drama Class recital

Goldilocks Teaching the Three Brown Bears to Recycle

Christmas shopping

One Utama 

The Gardens and Mid Valley Megamall

Bangsar Shopping Centre

Cosy and nice to walk around. Met Santa and got a gift from Santa, a teddy bear. Experience snow fall too. Children were playing 'snow', surrounded by real Christmas trees and a fountain.

Christmas Gathering       The cell group had Christmas gathering at my place. There is always lots of laughter and cries too. Well with 7 toddlers running and playing, there bound to be some jumping, falling, running into, snatching and fighting for 'the seat'. That night went well, though with some mishaps, nothing major. I remember Isaac fell off a stool and said "No pain, no pain". Haha that was funny. I had fun seeing them playing together. They are such joy to have. Thanks too to my two girls helped out in entertaining the children. As for food thank you mama Cheah for the yummy and ever popular lobak. PN did well in her curry chicken attempt.

from L to R ...children playing, giving out Christmas gifts, children playing and Ann with her baby Caylee (and kissing balloon)

Christmas Celebration at IOI Boulevard   Many programmes took place that night but I didn't snap much. It was raining and strong wind when we reached there that evening. But as the night got darker rain also got less heavier and eventually stopped. Something I did during the event which I have not done for many, many years ie Donate Blood. As for my girls, they took part in the colouring competition.

colouring competiton

Children Church Christmas Celebration   We sang some carols, aunty Florence told the true meaning of Christmas, aunty Mi Lin led the children with some games. Then we served yummy food. A group of orphanage joined us.



Trip to Malacca  We don't go to Malacca often. I would say maybe 2 years once. But in this month of December we went there twice. First was part of our balik kampung holiday to Muar/Malacca when Alyssa was hospitalised. Then few days ago was due to my father in law admitted into the ICU ward for brain hemorrhage. Both times also in Pantai Hospital. We contributed a lot to the parking business in the hospital.

from L to R ... the girls at aunty Rosemary's house, Lao Qian Icy Cold Coffee, the long queue outside chicken ball rice shop and Hannah really bored waiting for chicken ball rice

 

I am just praying all things will end on a happy note. New hope, new beginning for the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!