I am, THE "Best Sister in the World"

This is a belated post.....


I am so touched by the birthday greetings made to me by my sister in her blog.


"Best Sister in the World!!!"


Now, how many Sister has received that award. Huh? Huh?


I should be proud....


I am proud.... *ahem* *ahem*


Thanks Sis... You're the best!

Healthy Relationships

A friend read my blog and commented that I actually expressed my feelings about my son on the blog??!! Read the post here. What if my son reads it? In fact, my son, Joel reads my blog regularly. He is one of my fans :-)


I see him regularly sitting at my laptop and reading my blog post.


Actually, I have a very transparent relationship with my children. I don't keep them guessing on how I feel. Especially about them. If I am unhappy about something they did, I will tell them. If I am happy and pleased with them, they will also know. At times, when I feel down, I will ask them to pray for me too.


When I am upset with them and vice versa, after I expressed my feelings and thoughts, the anger is not held on for long. If I need to forgive them, I will. So, that's the reason why I have a very good relationship with my children and not afraid to be transparent with them about my emotions.


When children does not walk on egg-shells around their parents, they will have a sense of security and confidence. The boundaries are clear and expectations achievable. Such an environment is important for them to thrive.

Health Is Important!

Hubby has been diagnosed with an illness. For his privacy, I will not mention what illness it is.


Its a type of illness, if not taken care will lead to his body organs breaking down... So, it will not really kill him now but might leave him blind, leg-less, toe-less and many scary disease which I don't even want to spell out.


Sometimes reality hits hard.


To be honest, I have heard too many scary stories about... This person having cancer, that person in a coma, another had a heart attack and etc. It brings a lot of fear.... Especially our children being young. They depend wholly on us for their needs, physical and emotional. It will surely be devastating for them to loose one or both parents in their young age.


At times like this, we pray and use our wisdom to restore health to our bodies.


Hey, you too eh.... Eat healthy and stay healthy.

Beware of The Toxicity of Soy Products

I was shocked when I first read this article. A lie that has been fed to millions of people, presented itself to be truth.


Mass media?


You be the judge

****************

Hundreds of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies link soy to malnutrition, digestive distress, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, cognitive, immune system breakdown, and even heart disease and cancer. Contrary to popular belief that soy is a health food, evidence reveals that soy consumption has been linked to numerous disorders, including infertility, increased cancer and infantile leukemia, Type1 diabetes, and precocious puberty in children have been fed soy formula. (early maturation, such as breast development and menstruation as early as 6 years of age).


Scientists have known for years that the isoflavones in soy products can depress thyroid function and cause goiters in otherwise healthy children and adults. A combined research team of Cornell University Medical College and Long Island Community Hospital medical experts have found that children who develop Type1 diabetes are twice as likely to have been fed soy formulas as those fed all other foods This confirms concerns based on animal studies raised in the 1980's and 1990s by Health Canada researcher Dr Fraser Scott and led to the American Academy of Pediatrics issuing their warning to pediatricians against any use of soy based formulas.


To read more go to this website.

How To be Angry?

I was really annoyed with Joel for not doing his work properly.


Lecture... lecture...


some more lecture ...


again... lecturing...


I probably spent 30 mins giving him the pep-talk. No shouting but my face must have been quite distorted while trying to keep my emotions under control.


Still upset, I was sitting at the work table. I knew he felt bad... but I have no choice but to tell him what I thought about his crappy work.


Just a few minutes later, this young man whipped out his book and started telling me funny riddles. Laughing at the riddles while telling me...


*Sigh*


How to be angry with this fella?

New Family Members

Let me introduce our new family members to you....

Joel, Ethaniel, Ivan, Christina and Baby

These are the names of our hamsters. They were given to us by my sis-in-law's friend. These dwaft hamsters are absolutely cute. The children have been totally obsessed with them... playing with them... Is it going to be a temporary thing? Will they be getting bored of them soon? I don't know. Only time will tell.


They have been bugging us to have a dog... cat but let's try hamsters, first.


Welcome to our family, little hairy balls.


What a nice legacy... having hamsters named after me..

I am a Working Mum... Part time, anyway.

As most of you might know, I am a stay-home-Mom.


Since I returned to Malaysia, I have been having part-time job offers. Its not that I cannot land myself in a full-time job but I want to have the best of both worlds i.e. being at home with the children, seeing them grow up and also wetting the other feet in corporate life.


It seems like a great arrangement to me....


I am able to work from home, every now and then have meetings outside. So, I am not driven up the wall, having to see my children day in... day out... You know, a great way to keep my sanity. But unfortunately, it means that I have to juggle homeschooling, tuitions, activities, cooking, cleaning, laundry, bible study, church activities, family time, disciplining and working.


Sometimes staring at my schedule causes my heart to palpitate. But.. but ... I so enjoy working. I like the feeling of contributing to the society other than through home-making.


I am already in the midst of preparing my children, myself and hubby and my future employer - so that they know I am trying hard to make it work.


I will tell you a little bit about my job later.


I am very excited.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to meeeeeee ......


Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeee ....


Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeee.....


Happy Birthday to meee ......

Yes, you have guessed it. Its my birthday today.


Was I that obvious?

Why God Made Moms

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts..
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND AUNTS....and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good laugh!!!

Wohhhhh, that is big!

Just a few days ago, whilst our Bangkokian friends were visiting, they reminded us of something which happened 2 years ago. We used to travel together in Thailand.


We had another friend, Pi K who was part of the "travelling gang", she really enjoys the company of my children, especially Ethaniel.


There was once we were swimming together in the pool... Pi K was about to come up from the pool by pulling herself up using the railings. Ethaniel was next to go. When Pi K was half way up, Ethaniel looked up and her buttocks was staring into his face. His immediate response, without a pause, "Wohhhh, that is big!"


I was obviously embarrassed of his very loud remark but Pi K burst into laughter. She was so cool with it that she started telling that as a joke to some of the girls.


Reminding us of that incident made us all laughed again, this morning.

Blessed Good Friday & Happy Resurrection Sunday

Blessed Good Friday and

Happy Resurrection Sunday

to all my family, friends and fellow bloggers

Touching Moment

Sometimes the most precious things in life are the simplest.


Hubby's birthday was two days ago. We went out for a simple western dinner at TGIF. The children and I planned. They were wondering what present to get him... socks? underwear? chocolates?


They ended up paying for the dinner. Both of them shared the cost by using the monies which they have earned doing chores and giving massages to pay for the meal. Daddy was really touched knowing they are so very careful with their money....


Hubby relating it in his own words via email to my sister...


"We had a quiet celebration by having dinner @ TGIF just with Chris, J&E. Guess what? J&E paid for the dinner with their own packet money. I'm so touched. They are usually very careful with their money & are saving up for some toys which they are eyeing on. So, for them to part with their money to spend on me means that I'm more important than the toys. LL, words can't describe how I feel. I'm sure you know what I mean."


Like I said, the simplest things in life gives us the most joy.


P.S. Moments like these makes us forget how annoying the children can be, at times.

Free Promotion

I walked into the bedroom two nights ago and saw Ethaniel giving Daddy a body massage.


He happily chirped,


"I am having a promotion. Free massages for the next 12 days"


Ooohhh.... That's nice. FREE. That is absolutely a big deal for this little boy. He remember debts for days and years... to the cents. Very persistant Ah Long a.k.a. Loan Shark. No one in this family gets away owing him any money.


So, if he gives anything free, better grab it!


But.


Only family members. Outsiders still have to pay. Maybe I can convince him to give a discount.

Happy Birthday

Life has been tough
It has not been an easy road
Especially in the last few years
The winds and waves of life hits


At times without warning
At times painfully hard
At times like a crushing dart
At times it mercilessly cuts


Is it not without pain
We will not know joy?
Is it not without trials
We will not have victories?


Who has promised us a smooth journey?
He has promised to be with us when we are lonely
But how can we be lonely when He is always there
Through the darkest and deepest valley


May you rise above it all
To see His power and faithfulness
Helping you accomplish your call
You shall be the Son, Father, Husband and Warrior


You shall.

A Very Happy Birthday


To Daddy

Love from us all,
Joel, Ethaniel and Me

Astonishing Folly

This article has been taken from here.

Astonishing Folly
Anti-Christian Britain

April 6, 2009

As you may know, in Islamic countries such as Afghanistan, converting from Islam to Christianity is a crime punishable by death. While they don’t go that far, certain Indian states and Nepal erect formidable hurdles for would-be converts to Christianity.

And then there’s the United Kingdom.

In 2007, a 16-year-old girl was placed into foster care after being assaulted by a family member. Her foster mother had taken care of 80 foster kids over 10 years. She rented a farmhouse and was, by all accounts, completely committed to the well-being of the children placed under her care.

She is also a practicing Anglican Christian. This hadn’t been a problem. No one had ever accused her of taking advantage of her relationship to the girls for proselytizing.

The same is true of the 16-year-old in question. Still, the girl became interested in Christianity on her own; said that she wanted to attend church; and expressed a desire to be baptized. For the girl, baptism was a “washing away of the horrible things she had been through and a symbol of a new start.”

Well, that’s when the fur flew. You see, the girl was born a Muslim, and her baptism is regarded by Muslims as apostasy. If you’re thinking “so what? It’s not Afghanistan,” think again. But this is Britain, where a Christian nurse was recently suspended for offering to pray for her patients.

Thus, when the girl’s case manager learned about her baptism, she “flew into a rage.” Even though the foster mother hadn’t encouraged the girl’s interest in Christianity, she was removed from the list of foster care providers. A child who was in her custody was removed and she “lost the farmhouse she rented to look after vulnerable teenagers, due to the loss of income.”

Even more outrageously, government officials told the girl to stay way from church for six months!

To their credit, neither the foster mother nor the girl passively accepted the rulings. The foster mother has, with the assistance of Britain’s Christian Institute, challenged her removal, and the girl is supporting her efforts.

A spokesman for the Institute called the right to “to change or modify [one’s] religious beliefs” a “core human right in any free society.” He added that he couldn’t imagine an atheist foster parent being removed if “a Christian child in her care stopped believing in God.”

Beyond the double standard, there’s a tragic irony at work here. As journalist Peter Glover wrote in First Things, Britain's “growing crime rate and out-of-control teenage pregnancies” has created “national anxiety” among Brits.

At the same time, as these cases illustrate, government and media elites have instituted a “determined program to abolish the influence of Christianity.” Brits shouldn’t be “astonished that a culture that set out to devalue its values should find itself awash in crime, sex, and social discord.”

And a country where government officials forbid a girl from going to church has clearly forgotten what makes social accord possible in the first place.

What Will You Take?

"What will you take if our house is on fire?", asked Ethaniel.

"I don't know", says Me, obviously having a hard time deciding.

Ethaniel says, " I will take....

....my piggy bank

... my bolster


.... my pillow


.... my blanket

.... the laptop

.... the TV

.... the legos


..... my Hotwheel cars


..... my toys


.... Daddy's laptop


.... food


yada yada yada


yada yada yada


My, isn't that a whole lot of things to take in a fire?


*sigh*

Return Evil With Good

As I have blogged a few days ago, my Grandmother passed away.


I heard the following story from my Mother during the funeral....


For the past few weeks, God has been tugging at her heart to share about Christ to the women at the Home which my Grandmother was staying. So, she arranged for her friend Joanne to go to the Home to sing some songs and share her faith with all the old women.


At that particular morning, Joanne and Mum went there to sing some songs and even shared Christ with Grandma. At that point in time, Grandma have had a stroke for some time and she was unable to speak. She could sit up though. When she heard the message, there was no obvious response. She might or might not have understood.

A few hours after that, she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

This is such a spectacular story of the graciousness of God that till the very last hour, He still gives Grandma the opportunity to hear the message of salvation.


The other thing which also revealed the love of God which has been put into Mum's heart... For the last few days before Grandma passed away, she visited her regularly everyday. She must have been the only one among the relatives who has done that. Of course, not knowing that her time was almost up. She bought her Kueh Teow soup and durian, her favorite food. Grandma was teary while eating durian.

You see, the story of the fierce mother-in-law and mistreated daughter-in-law happened to my Mother. Since the day she was married to Dad, she had a very hard life. Its sad. Some people just had it harder than others.


Has anyone approached her to tell her that what she did was wrong?


Were there consequences?


I don't know.


It all seems unfair at times when we see wicked people live like there are no consequences. The lousy person who gossips all kinds of things about you, the thief who just cleaned up your house, the lazy colleague who never does his job and you have to pick up after their mess, the abusive boss who thinks that he rules the world and the mother-in-law who mistreats you and thinks that its her right to do so.


I believe, without the help of God, she would not have been able to overcome all the bitterness and pain which she faced for many years. The bias treatment, control, manipulation, hardwork, isolation, loneliness, humiliation and lack. But with the help of God, she not only managed to overcome all those emotions but had been the only relative who had shown her love in such practical ways just before her passing...


Return evil with good.


Now, how many of us can do?

In-House Masseur

Since we left Thailand, there are no more THB150 / RM15 per hour massage. Reflexiology is generally about RM50 / THB500 per hour. I seldom see Body Massage, which is more expensive.


Guess what?


We have our own in-house masseur. He is excellent! Only RM3 per 15 mins and RM2 tips.


But.


He does only back massages.



I am honestly impressed with his skills. Very good.

Ethaniel giving Daddy a back massage

I had a very tired back when I was feeling ill and the oil massage which was given by Ethaniel was so excellent that all the pain went away.


Thank God for children!

My First Bangkokian Visitor

I am excited that my Bangkokian friends is visiting us today, with 2 day's notice.


Indeed Bangkokians are very dynamic travellers!


Will let you know later, what we are going to do to with them... Must show Malaysian hospitality. Right?


Nus & Taka, welcome to Malaysia.

Lawyer "Buruk"

This is a story about the lawyer which we engaged to process the sale of our condo.


Our property agent says that if we used the same lawyer as the Buyer, then the cost will be cheaper. Smarty-pants us, thinking that it might be risky to have the same lawyer, decided to spend more money by engaging another lawyer, in case of any dispute. Unfortunately in this case, if there are any disputes, it will be with our own lawyer.


Mr Ong was introduced to us through my in-laws. So, trusting that he was a friend, therefore, should be reliable and moreover is a Church member. Of course! Why not? Help a Christian in his business, we get some discounts... a win-win situation.


Actually, all those information were irrelevant. I could have picked up the yellow pages and point to any law firm and it would have been a better choice....


Let me explain.


When we started engaging this lawyer, we were still in Bangkok, Thailand. I personally called, sent him various SMS and even emailed to him. He replied my initial SMS and subsequently he was communicating via my FIL, whenever they meet in church once-a-week. Then after that, my FIL will skype hubby to pass on the information. This went on for awhile till we decided it's not a good way to communicate. Everybody knows that when you pass information, especially legal ones, through a middle person... it gets watered down. Many times we didn't understand what was required. So, we decided to SMS to Mr Ong to ask him to speak to us directly rather than through FIL.


Hell broke loose.


Don't ask me what happened.


I don't know.


He refuse to reply my SMS.


He refuse to pick up my call.


When FIL called him on our behalf to check if the mobile number was correct, Mr Ong seemed to be furious and said that he DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK TO US. He will only communicate via FIL.


I was wondering what weather in Malaysia hit him. Tsunami? Menopause?


I received 8% from my Buyer's lawyers but when I checked my bank account, the amount did not tally. I contacted both my agent and Buyer. Somehow, there has been RM2,000 missing!!!!


I panicked.


Guess what? Mr Ong, the professional lawyer who has studied law, knows the law and practices law has done a law-less act. What is the difference between a snatch thief who roams the street and Mr Ong who "snatch" monies without permission from clients, like me? He did an ILLEGAL, UNBELIEVABLE and UNACCEPTABLE thing. He just "took". There was no invoice. No request. No one knew about it. It was confirmed through my FIL. Which he discovered after contacting Mr Ong.


I was really upset.


What is wrong with this fella? How can such a professional profession become so... !!! *speechless*


All kinds of thoughts went through my mind... report him to the police... lawyers are not above the law... he should suffer some kind of consequences for his actions .... such incompetencies should not rule.... we should not allow thugs-wearing-ties-pretending-to-practice-law continue to roam the judiciary system we have too many already ....


There were other countless things which he did that caused us unnecessary expenditure, stress and frustration. Remember, Hubby was also retrenched at that period of time?


Did we really need all this extra stress????!!!!!


No!!!!!!!!!


If he just did his job, would it have helped us?


Yes!!!!!!!


Is this rocket science?



Processing of House Sales should be so standard, right?


Just about 1 month before leaving Bangkok to return to Malaysia, I decided to send Mr Ong a long SMS. It was worded like this...


"Mr Ong, I don't know what I did which caused you grievances. But if I did anything wrong, please forgive me. We are all Christians and that is our foundational faith, to forgive. That is the commands of Christ. If we Christians cannot get along with each other, how does non-Christians see the light of Christ in our life?..."


Did I do something wrong which needed his forgiveness? I personally think no. I am paying him to do a job (in this case, he "paid" himself first before doing the job) and he is doing an extremely lousy job. But what I want to do is to show him that God's ways are different. We do not revenge because God is our Avenger. The bible clearly teaches us to "turn the other cheek", forgive one another, love each other so that the world know that we are children of God, help those who are weaker than us, be gracious, merciful and kind, humility is a character of Christ, etc. We don't get offended and make others suffer just because we have insecurities unknown to other human beings.


And...


Maybe. Just maybe.


He will be convicted by God to change his character and produce some fruits of the Holy Spirit which is love, peace, joy, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, self control, kindness and goodness (Galations 5:22-23)


Did he rise to the occasion?


I don't know.


Till today my FIL is still the messenger.