Goodbye 2010...

This year has its usual ups and downs. They made me laugh as well as shed a tear or two. But like we say, they become our experiences which shape us into the person we are to be. I'd like to think it as the part and parcel of life that would make us stronger. Life can be hard sometimes and look uncompromising but God doesn't give us more than we can handle. Everything works out as it should...and for a reason.

So I am closing this book 2010 with a smile...and hoping that the new pages we write on would be filled with wonderful blessings from above.

Happy New Year 2011 everyone...

December...

Ok, I know it's been almost two months since I last made an entry. It's the holidays so I guess I could use that as an excuse...:)

Well, here are some photos just to sum up what I've been up to. Merry Christmas folks and hope you have a wonderful new year ahead. Cheers!!!

Taken at Wasai, Telupid. Bonjo doing his dive...

With cousins @ Tanjung Lipat

SDA Sports Carnival - Tamparuli vs. KM

At Nexus Karambunai

:)

Letting go...

To 'let go' does not mean to stop caring;
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To 'let go' is not to cut myself off;
it is the realization that I must not control another.

To 'let go' is not to fix;
but to be supportive.

To 'let go' is not to be in the middle
arranging all the outcomes;
but to allow others to effect their destinies.

To 'let go' is not to be protective;
it is to permit another to face reality.

To 'let go' is not to regret the past;
but to grow and live for the future.

To 'let go' is to fear less and love more.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

It's November...

It's November. Just two months before we close this chapter of our lives. A month which I would go crazy *lol* lot's of last minute things to do I bet before school closes. Decisions to make symbolizing 'hey you're old enough to decide!' How I wish things were simpler (well, at this point of time lah!) Haha, anyway Iike the song...and for those of you who know me, songs that I post has meaning to me. So, hayati lah liriknya ye...:)

Take care ah...

Suppose. . .

This poem is for you. . .

Suppose one morning you never wake up,

Do all your friends know you love them?

Are there any wounds needing to be healed?

Friendships that need rekindling or three

Words needing to be said.

Sometimes 'I love you' can heal and bless.

Let every one of your friends know you love them

Even if you think they don't love you back

You would be amazed at what those three

Little words and a smile could do

Just in case tomorrow is too late....

A friend tagged me to that poem. I read it and then read it again. It brought me to a point thinking whether I have left friends or even family members for that matter hurted with my words or action. Someone very close to me, commented, "La, kadang-kadang ko main lantak saja cakap. Ko tidak suka akun kalah walaupun ko tau ko salah." Ooohhh I tell you, it was a slap on the face. Sometimes the ego in us hate to admit that what we have said or have done may have betrayed and wounded a beautiful friendship or a relationship.

Hmm, so to you Eyes - friends and family reading this post -, just in case tomorrow is too late, from the very bottom of my heart I am sharing the poem with you today.

Have a wonderful week ahead...:)

There's Always a Place. . .

It's another Friday night...and I just came back from an 'all-of-a-sudden-call' for practice. While waiting for the group's turn to practice, a few of us were sharing about a friend who was once so active in youth activities but had eventually left her faith after high school. It's been years now and out of the blue we heard word that she was 'inquiring'. As I was listening to the Heritage Singers, this song stuck out this evening. Ya, we've come face to face with crossroads in life and probably it (they) had led us away from the faith we once had, yet I think that God still holds us dear in His heart no matter what we've been through or what we've done. He is there waiting. . .waiting for us to take our place at the table.

Happy Sabbath everyone and may you be blessed by His presence in your life...

He's gotten used to living, on the outside looking in, Lonely was his constant friend. So when the invitation came that clearly bore his name, He hardly could believe the words he read.

There is always a place at the table, there's a feast that's now waiting all your own, Your place is set each time the family gathers, it would never be the same til you're home. (Come home, come home, my child come home...)

She's made so many choices, that had torn her life apart, And hurt the very ones she loved the most, She did not even know where someone could begin, until she got this message from the host.

Cry on my shoulder. . .

I got this from a friend. . .Just to keep music in your ears, get your feet tappin' and body swayin'...Enjoy!!

Roses...

I don't know if any of you had come across this things or even thought of the meanings behind the roses that you have received... But it's good to ponder upon these things....

1 Rose
Exceptional love all concentrated on you.

2 Roses
Two of us deeply in love.

3 Roses
I love you.

6 Roses
I want to be yours.

9 Roses
Love each other eternally.

11 Roses
You are the one I love most in my life.

12 Roses
Satisfactory union and mutual affinity.

13 Roses
Secret admirer.

24 Roses
Remember fondly every moment(24 hours cannot forget you).

33 Roses
Saying "I love you" with PROFOUND LOVE.

36 Roses
Feeling romantic attachment because you come to me.

44 Roses
Constant unchangeable pledge.

50 Roses
This is "Regretless Love".

56 Roses
My love.

66 Roses
Successful love affair.

99 Roses
Love with understanding makes love eternal.

100 Roses
Harmonious union in a century, remain a devoted couple 'till ripe-old age.

101 Roses
No other love but you.

108 Roses
Please marry me!

111 Roses
Eternal love.

123 Roses
Free love.

144 Roses
Loving you day and night eternally.

365 Roses
Thinking of you everyday, love you everyday.

999 Roses
Everlasting and eternal love.

1001 Roses
Faithful love, 'till forever

So Eyes....how many roses do you want???

Potrait of a Friend

I read this poem in a friend's FB and thought that I'd share it with you.

Potrait of a Friend

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts, or fears.
But I can listen to you, and together we will search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain, nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you, and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship, from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow, room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are. I can only love you and be your friend.

Pssttt...thanks for being that friend.

Smile eventhough your heart is aching....

Last week was hectic even if there was that Merdeka break. The stack of exam papers forced that frantic rush of madness, insanity (!) to take over the wheel. I had to get it done before the hols. It was not only me agonizing the every red stroke on the paper but the other colleagues were experiencing it too. The visit from the formally clad education officers did not make the situation any better.

I was tracing my steps back to the comfort zone of my desk when I bumped into a colleague. The conversation took place.

"Lola bonus ka hari ini?"
"Ha?? Belum lah."

Took a few steps but then. . .

"Ko habis mark paper sudah"
"Belum. Tension sudah ni, mesti key-in hari Khamis ni."
"Oh, ku pikir Lola sudah siap. Nampak senyuman mesti sudah siap mark paper"
"Hmm..."
"Saya suka nampak...buat orang tension senang sikit"

A few close friends often commented on the value of that one simple smile. Reaching my comfort zone made me think what that colleague said. Although it was stressful getting those papers done, I could still smile. Like MJ's song "Smile though your heart is aching..." Today I have a reason to smile - we are on hols!!! But more, because I have somewhat came face to face with my past, looked at it and gave that smile I should have given long time ago.

Psstt...my smile for you today is here captured with my niece Lana (taken by hubby!). . .

Praise His Name...

Enjoy the song. Happy Sabbath and hope you have a wonderful one...

At work today....

Bad or what?

Someone just pulled the door open and we felt the gust of anger blown in. I only stood there helplessly and watched my close friend torrented with insult by a senior colleague. I decided to keep my mouth zipped because I had no idea what the heck was going on. Minutes later, it was all over the workplace. . .however with an added totally out of what I witnessed version to it. By then, I had the story as to why that had happened. I left the so-called war zone with a colleague who again supplied another host of juicy details to it - probably her version. Geez, some people just could not keep their mouths shut. It made me want to bite them...or maybe hold up my hand like that! Ha!

J, you handled it very well, in style lagi tu.

Anyway, it is the weekend people....I gotta keep my spirits up. Ta-ta....

Can you reach my friend. . .

This song says it all. . .S it's dedicated to you:)

I got a call from an old friend, we laughed about how we had changed
But I could tell things weren't going as well as he claimed
He tried to hide his feelings, but they only gave him away
the longer i listened, the more i kept wishing i knew the right words to say

Can you reach my friend, You're the only one who can
Lord I know You love him make him understand
Can you reach my friend, Bring his searching to an end
Help him give his heart to You

We talked for more than an hour, and I smiled when he mentioned Your name
I said that I knew You and told him the difference You've made
He never thought he would need You, but maybe he's changing his mind
As we said goodbye Lord, I told him that I have found something he'd like to find

I sorted through pictures I took some time ago. I couldn't recall the exact dates but perhaps they were taken last year. Sometimes we overlook the simplest things in life because of our so-called schedules, deadlines, appointments, etc. We are so restricted with time that we do not even try to smell the blooming flowers, watch the ants march by, listen to the birds twitter and other movements right under our nose. The "Eeee, Mommy what is this?" serves as a wake-up call to the unconscious attempts of the mind to block out just those simplest things in life. I just wish that I would make time to appreciate the littlest things before the grey hairs and weakbones take over. :)

Psstt, J & N...this is an update you know:)

Singapore Escapade

I know...it's been a while since I last blogged. A friend and I are trying to outdo each other in updating this online journal. So, this is a brief update J...:) The picture(s) shares the Singapore escapade with a few other friends. Our 'hotel' was much better than a five star hotel - towels, food, sometimes transportation, etc...provided! With that kind of pamper you get from your hosts, you wouldn't want to leave! Wouldn't you want that??

The Prayer - Amazing 7yr old Rhema Marvanne

I just love this.....

February 14...

Pssttt....happy hearts day people!!!

Putrajaya Night Marathon

Yessss!!!! Terribly exhausted but we (my running buddy Debbie, Edward and myself) crossed that finishing line! The route was hilly and challenging but determination pushed us. Next one on the list would be Borneo Marathon and probably followed by Standard Chartered KL Marathon. Wanna join?

Schoolboys...

Ed excited entered his first year in kindergarten with more zest than I could imagine. He handed his bag to me before I could even place my own on the table and said "Mommy, I have homework."

"Okay, we'll do it after your nap."

Instead of napping, Ed decided to drag his mattress, flop on it and got his eyes glued on the 615 channel, his favourite channel. It was at the tip of my tongue, "Ed....(a long Ed, which Ed would certainly understand that he needs to do something else)" but I stopped myself and decided to give him 10 minutes of undisturbed moments. Well, in a way it gave myself adequate rest before I battled with homeworks and other chores.

"Ok baby, let's do your reading now."

Silence.

"Ed?"

Then without taking his eyes off the box, nonchalantly he replied, "Ok Mommy, You read my homework ok...."

And with Nell....

Almost everyday Nell would ask me whether I would be home early or not. If I replied 'early' his eyes would lit up and give me one of his sweetest smile and say "Mommy, pick us up at the bus-stop ah."

"Bus-stop?" There was no bus-stop inside SASS campus!!!

"Oh, the one where all the mommies and daddies sit and wait."

Yes, it's back to school. . . .and I'm proud to say that all three kids are in school this year. No doubt there would be that busy-ness of sitting with them with their books scattered all over the table but I think I would look back some years to come and wish they could be the young ones in the family again....hmmm....

Happy New Year

Happy New Year people! The booming sound of the colourful firework, the shouts of glee from the youngsters who decided to jump into the pond, the tantalizing barbecued smell of chicken wings, sausages, fish and lots more welcomed 2010. There were exchange of hugs, handshakes and mumbles of 'Happy New Year' and 'Resolution?'. Then it sank in to me that I haven't given it much thought...so 'to achieve something' marked with a smile was my answer.

1) I'd like to be student again - burn the midnight oil, nose into every related books, etc...

2) Run a marathon or two - sweat it out!!!

3) Spend more quality time with my family - I cut down on 'earning extras' last year and I enjoyed just being with them.

4) Learn something new - a musical instrument - a flute perhaps?

5) Be more patient - hmmm....I need to!

There are lots I would like to accomplish....but for now that would do!

Happy New Year...and may we have one roaring year!