GOOD BYE 2008

A challenging year indeed...as I am still in office clearing hurdles... I pray for better new year 2009 and most importantly to have a blessed new year in God's grace. Btw, the first English message received from on lady friend which touches me;

"2008 going, 2009 dawning but God is always the same yesterday, today and
forever. Therefore fix our eyes on Him (Hebrew 12: 1-3)"

So Goodbye 2008, Happy Celebrating New Beginning of 2009. Let's grow wiser & patience in facing challenges and most of all, be happy and do make people around us to be happy.

Christmas Is A True Gift

Hohoho...Many SMS sent/received for the last 24 hours all due to all our great joy for Christmas is here again (the phone cos are going to be smiling all the way to the bank). For the next 13 days of Christmas, we are going to celebrate with gratitude for God's love for us.

May the spirit of Christmas prepares us well in facing the much trumpetted financial woes ahead of us and may we all sail smoothly and our country will always be in peace and save through the worst of financial crisis better than 97. Also make us a better person to share and appreciate what we have and continue passing on the goodness of what we have received to our neighbours beside our loved ones.

Merry Christmas..Happy Birthday Jesus...

Christmas Caroling With Legion Of Mary

This year, we have started the Christmas carol on 17th Dec bringing good news and joy to the world. We have only covered 9 houses of which two of the houses are actually children's homes. The photo below was taken during the singing at Salvation Army (sorry it is blurr as I was also singing at the moment of taking..hehehe).

This annual event is part of our reaching out to community for Mater Misericordae (Mother of Mercy) Praesidium of Legion of Mary. To be specific the houses that we go are those suffered emotionally, physical or spiritual. This is to give assurance and support especially during this time of peace and joy.

Beside singing out at the top of our voice, we have also brought gifts for the children and Santa was flown in to do the honour..hehehe..

Next photo is displaying my president, Raymond presenting a farewell gift to Zoey, our outgoing Treasurer (whom will be leaving for WM to undergo intensive training as the new police inspector...ahem...yes, Madam...)

It is always wonderful to be with my praesidium brothers and sisters when we walked the journey of Christ in companionship, doing our part for our creator and serving him. However, I must confess, it is also a great challenge as the devils are always there to confuse and distract our focus in carrying out the works of the Lord. My bros & sis always remind that the more you want to be with the Lord, the devils will put in even greater effort to distract you. So, always be aware and pray a lot to give stronger faith to ward off such temptations. In fact, it is true especially when we are doing good things.

We have another round on this Sunday at 12th mile Kuching/Serian road Orphanage home where 110 kids are waiting for a group of 30 of us to bring them wonder news...

Hohoho...Santa is here soon...

The Mood Is Building Up...

Yesterday, I brought my family, my mother in law and two nieces to Boulevard and observed that the crowd is there. Many seem to already into the higher gear of preparing for their year end buyings, getting new clothing, gifts etc. This weekend, I believe it will be the peak...knowing that Christmas is just another 6 days to go, Chinese Winter Festival will be on this Monday and foremost our yearend cum Christmas gathering will be on this Saturday...don't you agree that the mood is reading on the way up...

Then at the kopitiam, the number is bigger than usual (in my heart, I am asking myself whether how true will recession be coming in ?). These crowd are likely those who had just finished shopping where stop for a refueling before heading home.

I didn't buy anything except colour papers and pens which is for our X'mas gathering tomorrow. Nevertheless, I was tempted to buy a new slack but decided not to...why? Guess ?

My RM (aka Rachel Moses) have been persuading me to buy their Christmas gifts. I have not prepared personally but was not interested to buy those displayed there as the quality is quite run down (that is why they have a 20% discount). Rachel has been asking for gameboy whilst Moses is all for Ben10 series.

Time is running out very soon and I need to work something fast for them before the celebration is over. I must admit admit that Christmas Gift giving is a treasure of my heart as my parents though do not give us expensive gifts but the event of giving gift during Christmas really remained sweet memories.

What we (my brothers/sister) have prepared during our time was we will put up stokings (of course we put up the big one...the football stoking) at the window knobs of our living room and pray together in front of our lighted Christmas tree to God for blessing and Santa to grant our wish. Then we will go to bed very early at around 9pm. Waking up very early the next morning, we will find present/gift in the stoking. At that time, we really believe that Santa had came physically to place the gifts for us and in fact it is, through the form of our parents.

Yes, without the grace of God, we will not be able to accept and practice the goodness of gift giving. A gift does not need to be expensive but meaningful even a sms will suffice, if we send with sincere care and concern (A hug is a good gift to reassure another and oneself of the care and support for one another...)

This is a time of sharing, bonding and reflection for the graces, blessings that we have experienced and reaching to everyone we care and love. May we enjoy this season with stronger faith, love, peace and harmony together with family, friends and neighbours. Pass on the light of Christmas till it warmth all around us...

Rudolph..Here We Go Again ! Ho ! Ho ! Ho !

In two weeks time, we shall be celebrating Chirst's birthday and in Kuching here, Heroes, Ivy & myself decided to organise a season ending get-together on coming 20th at Kenny Rogers, The Spring Shopping Mall at 12.30pm.

It is the 2nd time such a gathering being held on family basis after the first one at my home last year. Well, we have combined the reunion gathering for Kuching friends on this gathering too,..killing 2 birds with one throw.

Foods will be on AA basis. On activities, a gift exchange for kids will be organised. Every parents will have to prepare gifts worth not less than RM15.00 for the exchange between kids. A season ending cake cutting (A fee of RM8.00 per family will be collected for the buying of the cake) shall also take place plus family wish writing, singing...etc etc.

I have sent out notices and so far 5 families have confirmed. We hope more will confirm before the closing date at 6.oopm on 12/12/2008 so that we make appropriate arrangement.

Cheers !

What Do You Like To Hear ?

Frankly, the songs that I do not prefer to hear at this moment is the GongXiFaCai but just can help it when you are in Kenyalang Commercial Centre in Kuching though it is still very much about 60 days to go. You bet...they are already playing the songs as to push the sales of the CNY VCD/DVD and could not care for Christmas songs etc although I saw the decoration offered are still very much Christmas settings. Hmm...confuse ?

However, the real fact is we will be into the last month of the year in the next few days, so time is running real fast. I have been promoting/asking few takers to organise our usual year end get together event but it seems they are non-commital or keep low profile leh. I hope very very soon, they will inform me that on certain date in December, please get ready your potluck for our get together....on yes ! (my ears are big but now are longer due to the waiting period I guess..)

Aha...how about the much waiting 21st Reunion SHS Alumni 88-90 ? It was a hit in the last round when we drum all the way...but this time round, things have been very quiet, no one seems to bother to ask although I have already few requests from the teachers when we last met, remember Mdm Wong, Mdm Hii, Mr. Lopez to name a few whom had yet to attend any of our past reunion events...

Heroes/Mr. Tee, apa dah jadi ? Pat, why so quiet ? Ivy, just busy with new boyfriend ? Joe, are the Hongkies coming again ? Ted, where are you, hello ? Am I singing solo here ? I thought it should have been a choir singing ?

I have a suggestion....as the immediate past chairman, we let Pat to check on his successor, boleh..tak ? or let Mr. Tee, who is THE contact King of our time...I was told by someone previously...(just can't recall who that was or probably in one of the emails)

Last but not least, the song that I like to hear now, is...from my boss....this year bonus shall be the same if not better ? If nothing, I will still give you.....do you like it also ? hehehe

Moses' 5th Birthday Cake

I think very soon, we could just put in our real photo on the cake and eat it !