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!

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!

Memories of year end 2009 and beginning of 2010

It's coming to end of 3rd week of school. Time flies. Was thinking to blog on school holidays, Christmas gathering, 1 week shopping spree and school reopen. Well since I can't turn back clock, might as well do all these in one post.

Year end school holiday was quite short for me. We had trips back to Ipoh and Muar. Then Christmas and school reopen preparation. Put up Christmas tree and some deco. Clean up the house for Christmas gathering. Get all the uniforms, shoes, bags and stationeries ready. Wrap some books and it was year end already.

Thank God we had some events in between making the school holidays more interesting. Our cell group Christmas gathering! Food, children laughter (and crying), parents mingling, gift exchange......what a day of the year to look forward to. Seeing the children grow and achieving their milestones year after year, that really make me feel 'satisfied' like I've just had bitter sweet thick and creamy durian or a cup of really rich ice blended mocha.

Parents busy with gift exchange

On the final week of the year 2009, hubby took leave from work and we went shopping. After a few days, my two girls were sick of the word 'shopping'. Till now we still joke with them about going shopping. Whenever they ask where are we going (when we about to go out), hubby and I will answer "shopping!". Then with a frown on their face "huh...shopping again!!!"



And then we welcome the year 2010.............


School term started on 4 January. Hannah going to Year 1 (afternoon session) and Alyssa to Year 4 (morning session). What drags me most to this day was waking up at 6 in the morning. Good bye to my sweet mornings as this day will change my sleeping hours for many, many years to come. On the bright side...since waking up so early in the morning, I might as well go for early workout in the gym or for a morning jog around my area.



Well, the thought counts. I failed the 1st and 2nd week. Was very sleepy and tired. Some days were raining too, so I couldn't jog (thank God). This week quite good...went to gym 3 times and managed to run 5 km outside here yesterday.

With the girls in school, tuition or doing homework, I found myself more time to do housework. So I cleared some of the mess which was piled up in the upstairs hall. Earlier, I moved some stuff from living hall, the girls' room all to the upstairs hall adding to the boxes which has been there for years. Sorted some books to keep and some to send to recycling centre.

Next project will be filing (which is long, long overdue) and also to prepare itinerary for our Bali holiday trip. Going with my godsis family.

Time passes, children keep on growing, house always get dusty, car needs to be washed often and life goes on....what remains just memories of the past (if only we can remember everything). Recently, I made a challenge for myself to impact on other people's life through God's way. To see me more fired up for God and also hopefully influence others too.

Christmas Shopping Deco

During Christmas season, many shopping complexes are nicely decorated with christmas trees, snow flakes, lights and etc. As times are more and more sophisticated nowadays, christmas decorations are based on certain theme.

Taking this opportunity, my family did some rounds of visit and photo taking at some of the most happening shopping paradise in PJ. Here there are, a few of the many, many photos I took...

The Curve

Ikano

Frosty white snowfall at the Piazza, The Curve

One Utama

Sunway Pyramid

...and many, many interesting programmes lined up....

There is one more shopping centre that we wished to go but didn't manage to that is Mid Valley Megamall, KL. We shall catch the Chinese New Year decorations instead, hopefully.