For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Mk 8:36
ficus house.jpg inhabitat.com
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
(808) Living house /Interesting bldg16
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Mk 8:36
ficus house.jpg inhabitat.com
(807) Transylvania / Interesting bldg 15
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Jn 14:2
04 Carson Mansion.jpg redwoods.info
(806) Earth school
When marriage goes wrong
When marriage goes well, it is one of the greatest blessings on earth. Conversely, it can become hell.
When marriage goes well, it is one of the greatest blessings on earth. Conversely, it can become hell.
Why do we marry? Jessica said it was because mum and dad insisted. Peace said it was practical to after a tiring bi-country courtship. For Sheryl, it was her biological clock. All agreed that had we delayed ten years, we might be childless.
Why do we marry whom we chose? Jessica married her first sweet heart in college. Ditto for Peace. Sheryl has had many boy friends. Her would-be boy friend did well to appear at the right time.
Jessica had three grown daughters, all away studying. Her husband made an indecent pile of money. While she tweedles her thumb late at night (he came home late most nights), I suppose it will be futile to tear petals off saying " he loves me, he loves me not, ..." But as long as he is discrete and comes home every night, she might just continue to keep the peace.
It is not productive to keep beating oneself over the mistake of choosing Mr. Wrong. One has to admit failure, and then let it go. Well, learn something and do better next time. Peace left her husband after years of mental suffering.
Sheryl ignored objections from everyone of her immediate and extended family in marrying her husband. It did not take her long to realise her faulty choice. It is unusual for a cool headed and logical person like her to go on and have four sons. If we agree that each of us is here to learn whatever we need to in 'earth school'. Then in Sheryl's case, it is 'marriage school'.
* blue lotus flower from teachenglishinasia.net
(805) Gabriel
He was very gifted. At the age of three, he taught himself to read fluently. His parents did not suspect he was interested, let alone help him to learn to read. So there it was, he was reading very well at age three plus. Then he went on to excel in his academics. His parents sent him to a premier school famous for producing candidates for medical degrees He was doing well in Grade school. Then he went on to ace in his O-levels. By then, my family moved to a distant town. From friends I heard he went into a pre-medical program.
It sounded like all is well. But no, the next thing that happened shocked me. I happened to visit and learned that he ran away. He didn't go far and was found within a very short time. Now this is not something within the range of possibilities one expects!
Let me travel back in time and share one scene with you. I walked out of a building and saw Gabriel's father attempted to hold on to him. The normal quiet and serious child (he was about five) was almost hysterical. He was shouting, struggling, crying with real tears. He basically wanted to be set free. A few adults were standing nearby, thunder struck, with our jaws dropped. I needed to go somewhere and I resumed my interrupted steps. Later I returned and all was well. The child was calm.
Both Gabriel's parents are very gentle people. I put the matter out of my mind and thought it was a once-off thing because the child was unwell and he played up.
The next thing of significance is a segment of overheard conversation. Gabriel was a teenager by then. He seemed moody and a little sulky. But that is not very unusual for a 13 year old boy once in a while. I was quietly reading in one corner. Two boys walked in, stopped at the circulation desk, saw me and went out. Gabriel was looking for his sister, Milly.
" ....why don't you tell them?" the other boy asked.
"Ah! No use. They wouldn't understand!" Gabriel said in a dejected manner.
At that point, the other boy saw me look up and told Gabriel that Milly was not there. Next destination: Music Room.
Now, were I to tell you that I know something is not quite right from the beginning, I would be lying. But somewhere along the line, I was interested. And I found myself filing away every scrap of information that came my way. Was I expecting trouble? No, not exactly. Was I jealous that Gabriel was doing much better than my son? Not really. Much is given, much is expected. The life of the gifted is often much harder than an above average, intelligent person. There is no way to intervene, no way of finding out more, short of being a busy body which I try not to become. Anyway, I often wish I know more than I do, and it would help if I have some solid qualification to justify my interest in matters of this kind. And, sad to say, Gabriel is not the first, and he will not be the last child that requires some sort of extra something that a former gifted person who had walked down the road less traveled can give. Sad, but sometimes life's like that.
You probably think I am nuts to include this article here. Please don't be mad! Very often, learning difficulties come with extraordinary talents. A highly intelligent child can deflect an adult's attention from his short-comings to his gifts. Hence, unless you are looking for it, you would not see the hidden struggles. But, if a person had been through the experience, she will see glimpses of something familiar and something that cause her to look further. One thing for sure, such struggles would leave behind a fair amount of frustration and anger. That I saw very clearly when Gabriel passed the age of ten.
*coral reef florida from solcomhouse.com
(804) Sammy Love
Sammy Love is quite an interesting character from Bailey's Lot by Cookson. He came from a working class back ground. I guess that means he is like from the lower middle class in my country. He befriended Willie, Fiona's younger son. Even though Sammy is poor and his mother has a tendency to run away with different men, Sammy is a lovable character with colorful language.
What tickled me is that he went treasure hunting in the town rubbish dump and found a discarded silver teapot. He fought for the right to claim the teapot and took it home. He probably spent days and nights cleaning it. Then he presented it to Fiona as a gift. Although the spout was crooked and it could not be rightly put to use, Fiona and family saw the gesture as kindness. Sammy is not a person who would sponge off others better to do than him.
That brought me back to the summer I spent with the Corbets. Mr Corbet was a dear old man. He is as honest and straight forward as God made men. There was no need for him to be kind to me, just another foreign student. But he is friendly like the Baileys. His grand daughter took me home for Christmas because I could not afford the air ticket home. And he was more than kind when he extended an invitation for me to spend the coming summer with him and his wife.
Mrs Corbet came from an upright and noble line, they were healthy, honorable and well known in the old country. She chose to marry her husband at age fifteen against her entire clan. Thank goodness he made good and she was a lady of leisure at age forty. Looking back, they were pretty accepting of my differences. Apart from the waitresses in Chinese restaurant, they have not met another Chinese girl before me. It is one thing liking and accepting a foreigner, but to take her into the house as a guest for a few months is quite another. They were kind, thoughtful, and really worked at giving me quite a memorable summer. Remarkable!
What tickled me is that he went treasure hunting in the town rubbish dump and found a discarded silver teapot. He fought for the right to claim the teapot and took it home. He probably spent days and nights cleaning it. Then he presented it to Fiona as a gift. Although the spout was crooked and it could not be rightly put to use, Fiona and family saw the gesture as kindness. Sammy is not a person who would sponge off others better to do than him.
That brought me back to the summer I spent with the Corbets. Mr Corbet was a dear old man. He is as honest and straight forward as God made men. There was no need for him to be kind to me, just another foreign student. But he is friendly like the Baileys. His grand daughter took me home for Christmas because I could not afford the air ticket home. And he was more than kind when he extended an invitation for me to spend the coming summer with him and his wife.
Mrs Corbet came from an upright and noble line, they were healthy, honorable and well known in the old country. She chose to marry her husband at age fifteen against her entire clan. Thank goodness he made good and she was a lady of leisure at age forty. Looking back, they were pretty accepting of my differences. Apart from the waitresses in Chinese restaurant, they have not met another Chinese girl before me. It is one thing liking and accepting a foreigner, but to take her into the house as a guest for a few months is quite another. They were kind, thoughtful, and really worked at giving me quite a memorable summer. Remarkable!
(803) The Bailey's Lot by Catherine Cookson
I have probably read this book more than ten years ago. Reading it again recently stirred new feelings.
Nell, Fiona's helper, seems a very nice woman. She did not do well in her choice of husband. That selfish brute used her like a slave and denied her children for thirteen years. Finally when he got a (probably craftier) female pregnant, he divorced Nell. I have good friends who wanted to have new babies once their pairs(each friend has two kids) are schooling, yet both the rather rich husbands refused. The rest of us, made all sorts of suggestions: the most obvious one being getting the husband dead drunk so that he forgets to take precaution. One tried a few things suggested, none worked. That man is really too smart for words. The other woman is too honorable to be up to such tricks. Both friends of mine still are the proud mom of two kids each, the kids are fully grown. They are pinning their hopes on grandchildren now.
Recently, a corporate woman who is rather well known in the local circles delivered a baby while she is still single. She claimed that she selected a sperm donor. While there are some who said all kinds of things about her, I can't help but admire her guts. Here she is, a professional with impeccable qualifications, yet she is her own person. She does not fear any tittle tattle. She knew that her biological clock is running out of time. Whatever her circumstances are, she dares to have her off spring out in the open. She is definitely freer than my two friends who are bound by their husbands' wishes.
Nell, Fiona's helper, seems a very nice woman. She did not do well in her choice of husband. That selfish brute used her like a slave and denied her children for thirteen years. Finally when he got a (probably craftier) female pregnant, he divorced Nell. I have good friends who wanted to have new babies once their pairs(each friend has two kids) are schooling, yet both the rather rich husbands refused. The rest of us, made all sorts of suggestions: the most obvious one being getting the husband dead drunk so that he forgets to take precaution. One tried a few things suggested, none worked. That man is really too smart for words. The other woman is too honorable to be up to such tricks. Both friends of mine still are the proud mom of two kids each, the kids are fully grown. They are pinning their hopes on grandchildren now.
Recently, a corporate woman who is rather well known in the local circles delivered a baby while she is still single. She claimed that she selected a sperm donor. While there are some who said all kinds of things about her, I can't help but admire her guts. Here she is, a professional with impeccable qualifications, yet she is her own person. She does not fear any tittle tattle. She knew that her biological clock is running out of time. Whatever her circumstances are, she dares to have her off spring out in the open. She is definitely freer than my two friends who are bound by their husbands' wishes.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
(802) Polsinney Harbor by Mary E. Pierce
Pearce grew up in Greater London. However, she spent her WW2 years as a child in Cornwall. This book was inspired by her memories of the Cornish town of Truro, where she worked as a librarian in her mid twenties.
One of my paternal uncles was a fisherman in his youth. So is one of my former pastors. It is an occupation that comes with more than its fair share of risks. What would one do when her father and only brother as well as her fiancee perished at sea in a storm? What complicates things more is that she was pregnant. Counting the odds, she did rather well in the book.
In my country, there is a similar tragic figure. A short time before a young woman was to be married to her fiancee, he was summoned to a Government agency and found dead the next morning. In time, she delivered their child and under went a rather unusual ceremony marrying a deceased person.
Even though in modern times, unwed Chinese girls are no longer killed by drowning, there is still a stigma to children born out of wed lock. Under Islamic rule, they even count the wedding date to the delivery date of the first born. It does seem that the fair race is treated better in England than elsewhere.
One of my paternal uncles was a fisherman in his youth. So is one of my former pastors. It is an occupation that comes with more than its fair share of risks. What would one do when her father and only brother as well as her fiancee perished at sea in a storm? What complicates things more is that she was pregnant. Counting the odds, she did rather well in the book.
In my country, there is a similar tragic figure. A short time before a young woman was to be married to her fiancee, he was summoned to a Government agency and found dead the next morning. In time, she delivered their child and under went a rather unusual ceremony marrying a deceased person.
Even though in modern times, unwed Chinese girls are no longer killed by drowning, there is still a stigma to children born out of wed lock. Under Islamic rule, they even count the wedding date to the delivery date of the first born. It does seem that the fair race is treated better in England than elsewhere.
(801) Choosing school
Notwithstanding all that we observed, the mother thought she could help Kenny cope. There the good intentions ended. Shortly after she enrolled her son in the most famous school with a heavy home work load, she was promoted to take over when her boss resigned. At that level, she had to fly often to attend regional meetings. What to do, she simply relied on the string of tutors when she had to be away from home.
The last time I met Kenny, it was on a trip to a nearby hill station. He turned into an original thinker with a wry sense of humour. I guess when a person is beaten for whatever reason at school, there are only so many courses of action:
a. he can cry
b. he can switch off
c. he can laugh, later
d. he can become angry
That (c) probably is a pretty good way to respond to what one has no control over.
I just hope that Kenny's mum does not expect reform over night. I also hope that Kenny would appreciate the help that comes, about five years late. But better late than never. The latest is they have migrated to a commonwealth country. Hope that Kenny would benefit from the more enlighten state of the educators there towards high school students who don't seem to catch the train. It is sad that parents of those children who are less likely to be able to cope with multiple languages tend to send them to such schools that teach three languages simultaneously.
The above was published on Oct 30, 2010
Recently I met Kenny after his few years' stay abroad. He has evolved into a tall lanky, quietly confident young man. It looks like he has benefited from western educational system.
* pdanielsleather 400 from saltaquarium.about.com
(800) One kind word warms three winters
One Christmas break I tagged along with my Indian friend to an upper class woman's family home. It was a three story town house not that far away from the White House.
We had a few days of fun, sight seeing and giggling over lunches. Then the blow fell. The room I was staying in was needed for relatives over the Christmas celebration. The three of us college girls had a pow-wow. We called motels and calculated that the cheapest accommodation would blow all my savings before I could move to Maryland for my internship. Next, I started calling everyone I knew in the tri-state area. It turned out that my deep fears were unfounded. The mum of my biology classmate said I could take the couch in her kitchen alcove for the eleven nights. Everything worked out well after that.
Years later, I visited this family again. While I was recounting the crisis that brought me to her house, this dear lady told me that as they are a DC family, it was very often they accommodate cousins and friends who came to visit the Capitol and other sights. To her generous heart it was only an extra mouth to feed, which was not a bad thing as there was plenty of food over the festive season. May God bless precious folks like her who are kind to foreign students.
(799) Dream comes true (icing on the cake)
When I gave up my lecturing post to relocate to where my husband's new job was, just about everyone near and dear had negative comments to make. What they predicted came true. I could not find any equivalent career path. Exactly as they put it, I had committed a career suicide.
In the intervening years, I took up challenges that God brought to my doorstep.I listened to my neighbours and encouraged them whenever they needed building up. I volunteered at the Stroke Centre.When I heard that someone in the same residential area needed an extra pair of hands to help a special child in therapy, I became that needed pair of hands. When my daughter brought friends home, I fed them and helped with their homework.Without meaning to, I became an instrument of help. It was satisfying doing all those things but they did not bring much rewards financially.
Then I had to move back to the city. Life is of course very different in the city compared to a small town. Here we find that folks actually went on yearly vacations and blew a hundred and twenty thousands in one trip. I found myself telling God how I wish I could afford to take my child far away for once.
Shortly after, I was invited to visit Switzerland by a friend's friend. Now, there was no way I could save up airfare for two people within a few months. Even though I thought it was impossible, I still mentioned about the invitation to my mother. Apparently, my mum remembered years ago my dad brought back a calender with the view of the Matterhorn. I (probably aged five) told my siblings that one day I would travel to see the snow mountain. Based on that, my mum offered to pay for my air ticket. My friend, the would be travel companion, secured a few low fare tickets. And so I was able to take my youngest to the beautiful country. To think, the King of Kings (my God) actually cared enough to grant a wish. It was just a wish for something extra. After God put a spread of a feast in front of me, He gave me a nice piece of cake topped with the best ice-cream.
* sea-animals 4260 from hickerphoto.com
(798) Post natal blues
After my first child was born, I had post natal blues for close to nine months. That coincided with the period I was looking after him 24 hours a day for 7 days a week.
At one point I was so depressed that I felt like a total failure. I was hardly sleeping because of my vain attempt to breast feed him. Looking back it was hardly possible because I was so stressed up. Being a total wreck due to exhaustion, I was hardly eating. Nothing seemed to taste or even smell the same at that point of time. Within weeks, I could put on close fitting clothes I wore prior to my pregnancy.
I remember telling my girl friend that I could not understand why I felt like going to sleep and not wake up. I have a good husband, I love my baby and I have a bright future to look forward to. Yet why was it that life was such a drudgery?
Thank God for good friends who sat down and listened to all my 'woes'. At the end she told me to get a full time nanny and go back to work part-time. I did not look back since that day when I implemented her advice. Sure, I started to wean him when I went back to work. I don't think his health suffer any from settling into my nanny's family with children to play with and two women to cook delicious food for him to eat.
(797) Caravans
This is a book among other giants like Centennial and Hawaii. Since the book is no longer with me, I better not run the risk of misspelling the author's name.
I read Caravans in my early twenties. It passed my hands recently and I read almost one third of it before the book and I parted company. Memories of how it ended came flashing back to me when I reached the part that the officials narrowed down the possibilities(what happened to her) to three. An American girl married an Afghan and for eighteen months she disappeared. Her American family was frantic; not knowing whether she died, was imprisoned by her husband or his family.
My reactions to the book and what the author was trying to bring across changed in the intervening years between the two readings. Many years ago, I thought well, the poor girl had the right to choose her own destiny. If she perishes, at least she dies looking for her star. Now, as the mother of idealistic daughters, I almost cried feeling the helplessness of her parents.
At this point, you are probably wondering if I have rebellious daughters. Well, not exactly! But my son Michael loves all the wide open spaces like the girl portrayed in Caravans. He fell in love with all the remote spots, huge mountains and deep jungles. The off beaten tracks beacon him. For him, there will be no home loans to repay. He will probably be driving others' cars for many more years. He will be foot loose and fancy free until he meets the one girl or woman who chooses to globe trot with him surviving on a small back pack.
Therefore it is with mix feelings that I decided not to finish the book. I will live with the first impressions I have from the earlier reading. For most of us, we are tame with our civilization that brought comfort. Perhaps there is one or two rare ones in a million individuals, they may not value the daily conveniences enough to live near the hearth. Their lives will be in the wilderness and the far off unnamed places. They may take pictures for a living. Or they may be researchers commuting between a university campus and their research objects: people or geographical features or animals. And it looks like I have helped to create one of this race of rare individuals by developing my son's horizons to include the inhospitable terrains as possible places to inhabit.
I read Caravans in my early twenties. It passed my hands recently and I read almost one third of it before the book and I parted company. Memories of how it ended came flashing back to me when I reached the part that the officials narrowed down the possibilities(what happened to her) to three. An American girl married an Afghan and for eighteen months she disappeared. Her American family was frantic; not knowing whether she died, was imprisoned by her husband or his family.
My reactions to the book and what the author was trying to bring across changed in the intervening years between the two readings. Many years ago, I thought well, the poor girl had the right to choose her own destiny. If she perishes, at least she dies looking for her star. Now, as the mother of idealistic daughters, I almost cried feeling the helplessness of her parents.
At this point, you are probably wondering if I have rebellious daughters. Well, not exactly! But my son Michael loves all the wide open spaces like the girl portrayed in Caravans. He fell in love with all the remote spots, huge mountains and deep jungles. The off beaten tracks beacon him. For him, there will be no home loans to repay. He will probably be driving others' cars for many more years. He will be foot loose and fancy free until he meets the one girl or woman who chooses to globe trot with him surviving on a small back pack.
Therefore it is with mix feelings that I decided not to finish the book. I will live with the first impressions I have from the earlier reading. For most of us, we are tame with our civilization that brought comfort. Perhaps there is one or two rare ones in a million individuals, they may not value the daily conveniences enough to live near the hearth. Their lives will be in the wilderness and the far off unnamed places. They may take pictures for a living. Or they may be researchers commuting between a university campus and their research objects: people or geographical features or animals. And it looks like I have helped to create one of this race of rare individuals by developing my son's horizons to include the inhospitable terrains as possible places to inhabit.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
(796) Fat of the Land
Mrs Ellison was a very hard-working homemaker. Her motto in life is: cleanliness is next to Godliness. I saw her ceaselessly cleaning her house. There was a much loved pet in this household. Her name was Sheba. She was nineteen years old when I met her. Applying the one cat year is equivalent to seven human years, she was a ripe old cat. It was very interesting watching the dynamics of the three members of the family. The only time Sheba paid any attention to Mr Ellison was when he came back with his catch. She would linger around, looking at him gutting the fish; rubbing against his legs. After she ate her fresh fillet of salmon, she would retire to the den. She would jump onto Mr Ellison's favourite chair near the fire place. She would act as if she was the queen of the realm until the master of the house shoo her away. Then she would jumped up to the corner bookshelf and deliberately sat with her back facing the man who took her seat.
As soon as Mrs Ellison came into the den, she would jump straight into her lap. In front of her mistress, she was an extremely well behaved cat. No wonder Mrs Ellison would not believe any complaints made by her husband against her darling. In a household of great economy, Sheba was surrounded by luxury. She was given the best medical care that money could buy. Every day she would be given freshly caught fish. At night she shared her mistress' bed. She was really one fortunate creature.
- ... and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land. -
Cat-eating-prey.jpg from commons.wikimedia.org
(795) The power of words
Quite a number of women around my age group have eye problems. Some attribute it to the hours of computer usage at work. Others claim it is a hormonal thing, dry eyes due to impending menopause.
One lady shared it was because she had said many times her eyes were not beautiful. She was petite and had elfin features. The only weak point of her appearance is her small eyes. She feels that because she did not appreciate her healthy eyes then, now she lives with her short comings. She begins to confess positively of her eyes, health and beauty wise.
If she is right, our tongues hold absolute power over our body and health. I try to be increasingly careful of what I say about myself. I want to make the best of what I have. More than that I want to claim and access what should be mine, which was God given.
* flower 06 from atpaulsrb.org
(794) The length of the fringe
I am going to state an observation and try to come up with possible explanations.
Have you noticed two broad categories of female hair styles: severe styles with not a single strand of hair anywhere near the eyes and hair that may cover up to half the face? We tend to associate the severe style to librarians, food workers who need to wrap or cover their germ-filled hair, and serious types. Of course half the teenagers have lots of hair covering whatever part of their face that they fancy.
I have a friend who decided to keep long hair after age forty five. She has her hair styled in such a way that strands of it have a tendency to poke her eyes. When that happens, she may rub it repeatedly in an unconscious manner until that eye becomes red. Then she would dig out a hair accessory from her hand bag(pocket book) to capture the errant hair in a pony tail. I have seen it often when I spend time talking to her. Then a friend asked her why she does not clip it or tie it always to prevent the eye rubbing routine. She admitted she looked a lot nicer when her hair hides her rather prominent forehead. For the sake of beauty, she puts up with the irritation.
That brought to mind a senior specialist doctor I know in Silver City who cuts her bang very short like more than one inch above her eye-brows. She does look unusual rather than fashionable. But because she holds such an important post that nobody dare comment on the ground breaking hairstyle. Two of my daughters cope with this problem in two different ways: one cut the hair on top of the forehead so short until they stand up, the other uses hair clip the minute her fringe touches her eye-brows.
Until my friend mentioned above talked about it, I haven't given it much thought. She claimed that she had read somewhere that those who are extra sensitive to having flying hair irritating the eyes are the ones who display learning differences. For that, I don't want to disagree. But I do see the possibility that girls may model after their mothers or aunts unconsciously. What do you think?
Have you noticed two broad categories of female hair styles: severe styles with not a single strand of hair anywhere near the eyes and hair that may cover up to half the face? We tend to associate the severe style to librarians, food workers who need to wrap or cover their germ-filled hair, and serious types. Of course half the teenagers have lots of hair covering whatever part of their face that they fancy.
I have a friend who decided to keep long hair after age forty five. She has her hair styled in such a way that strands of it have a tendency to poke her eyes. When that happens, she may rub it repeatedly in an unconscious manner until that eye becomes red. Then she would dig out a hair accessory from her hand bag(pocket book) to capture the errant hair in a pony tail. I have seen it often when I spend time talking to her. Then a friend asked her why she does not clip it or tie it always to prevent the eye rubbing routine. She admitted she looked a lot nicer when her hair hides her rather prominent forehead. For the sake of beauty, she puts up with the irritation.
That brought to mind a senior specialist doctor I know in Silver City who cuts her bang very short like more than one inch above her eye-brows. She does look unusual rather than fashionable. But because she holds such an important post that nobody dare comment on the ground breaking hairstyle. Two of my daughters cope with this problem in two different ways: one cut the hair on top of the forehead so short until they stand up, the other uses hair clip the minute her fringe touches her eye-brows.
Until my friend mentioned above talked about it, I haven't given it much thought. She claimed that she had read somewhere that those who are extra sensitive to having flying hair irritating the eyes are the ones who display learning differences. For that, I don't want to disagree. But I do see the possibility that girls may model after their mothers or aunts unconsciously. What do you think?
(793) Chinese Proverb/ Cat Tales 16
There is a proverb that I heard from my grandma. It translates as :
To adopt a swine brings poverty,To adopt a dog brings wealth, Adopting a cat brings mourning cloth.
Living in a city, I can't imagine finding piglets on the street. Just a few months ago a friend who found a pedegree puppy at her doorstep was looking for a home for it. And just a few days back there were three cutest kittens wandering near my gate. One was completely black, the second a ginger colour and the last a mash of black and white. Some kind souls must have found homes for them, as I haven't seen them for two days already.
My daughter has a friend who keeps spiders as pets. A former headmistress' son and daughter-in-law keep a lizard from South America. Pets are becoming items from an exotic species catalogue. I won't debate about personal preference as that varies greatly. But I must state that on a cold winter's day, there is something special about coming home to a crackling warm fire place with a homey cat washing her face.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your life stock -- the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Cat Dog Hybrid.jpg from cvcl.mit.edu
(792) Waiting for Public Exam results
** this blog was published on 06Feb2011.
My youngest daughter is waiting for her pre-university results. A guy friend went to work in a casino, a girl from another class works in a language centre. The latter commented that the former earns twice her pay. I suppose the casino had to offer higher pay to attract young people to leave home, even for temporary jobs. On the other hand, education had never been a a source of high income.
The other day Elizabeth went for two job interviews. The first place, an advertising outfit with a research slant, kept her form on file. Jobs have been slow lately. There was no vacancy. The second, the above mentioned language centre, interviewed her and promised to give her a reply after the Chinese New Year holidays. In fact, she had at least two job offers in retail. But if she takes those up, there would go her youth meeting and Sunday worship.
We saw a banner advertising job vacancies in a nearby factory. She would probably hit that possibility come the next working day. That day we drove past the area I had my very first job offer when I graduated from high school. I answered a job ad in a Chinese newspaper thirty odd years ago. An accounts position in a spare parts shop offered me five hundred dollars a month for a five and a half work week. I did not take the job due to some transport constraint. My friend, whom I recommended, worked there for three years. I was just relating that episode to Elizabeth about how nice the boss was in buying me lunch when I visited my friend during working hours to say Hello to him. It is important to note that if Elizabeth were to be offered the teaching job, it would pay eight hundred dollars for a five day week. Note that thirty over years have passed. Consumer index probably had tripled in the intervening years.
For my readers who have been following my blogs, remember the piece entitled "injustice" written about Hong Kong ? Some of that is true in my country, too. It is no wonder that thousands have immigrated to Australia, New Zealand and other Common wealth countries. I don't see a rosy picture politically nor financially for my children in the country that I love. But I suppose I trust my God. He who called me to return has good plans for all my children in my birth place.
(791) Better late than never
Elizabeth acts as a small group study leader for young girls age 11 to 15. She has a very frustrating time catering to one particular person with marked symptoms of Asperger. While she wanted to be effective in communicating her message across to her main group, she has a hard time swallowing the fact that she has to ignore the idiosyncrasies of that girl.
That day I saw how the socially lacking young girl running all around the church trying to catch those cute toddlers who actually did not want to be carried. She not only could not take no for an answer. She would be over enthusiastic to the extent of hugging them too tightly until they cried out in protest. I saw that trait as an insensitive side of her strong liking for children. No wonder she was ignored and remain friendless in her church.
I related how Elizabeth's eldest brother was like that in the age group of 5 - 7. He was very fortunate he had excellent teachers right up to age 9. His home room teacher (when he was age 7) allowed him to wander all around the class as he could already read and count, she did not mind him not completing his class work as he could out score the rest of his classmates in assessments. She was mild and understanding. However, she was able to keep the class quiet and managed to teach the rest whatever she wanted to. So Kenneth was like a quiet and harmless wanderer who dreamed away his Grade 1 without giving his teachers much problems.
Well, that state of affairs could not continue. His Grade 2 home room teacher promoted him to a special seat next to her in front of the black board. He was quiet and obedient. He was quick and diligent when she showered him with much personal attention. You see, we moved from the capital city to a small town in December before Grade 2 started. This exceptional teacher taught that class (Grade 2, Silver City) the previous year, she found that she had very good students in that small class. She could afford to lavish personal attention on my son as she did an excellent job the previous year and every single one of her children is doing well.
The same teacher followed the class up to Grade Three. She told me that by mid year, my son had caught up enough that he could sit a few seats away from her seat. Kenneth was tall and big for his age. She said that he may be big size biologically and the same age chronologically as the rest of his class mates, but his mental age was two years behind the rest even though his IQ was way above most of his classmates. She knew all these because she had taught the same age group for 25 years. Moreover, her youngest son was like Kenneth at that age. Of course, by the time she started teaching Kenneth, her youngest son was grown and just graduated from college.
Compared to Kenneth, this young girl that Elizabeth has taken under her wing was not so fortunate. She was sent to a Chinese medium school that was notorious for huge class size(50 students to a class versus 36 in Kenneth's class) and the teachers in a Chinese school are under tremendous pressure to groom their charges to perform well in every single test. So I would not be inaccurate to say that Kenneth had a more relax time in his school finding out how boys' social systems work. (he went to a boy's primary school) While this young girl was pushed to her upper limits in cramming facts into her over loaded brain. She probably had no time to play, to make friends and to relax in her type of cram school for 6 years.
Therefore at age 13, she was sent to my daughter's youth group to learn how to fit in among her peers. I feel sorry for her parents, they have to deal with an older son who is a special child. No matter how hard they try, it is difficult to give this supposedly normal daughter the amount of attention she craves. The world is not fair, it is a fallen world. We are not perfect, not as the master created us to be as in the garden of Eden. But I suppose this young girl came to a caring and loving group, she may yet be given a conducive environment to learn whatever is lacking in her at age 13, which she should have picked up from age 5 to 9.
That day I saw how the socially lacking young girl running all around the church trying to catch those cute toddlers who actually did not want to be carried. She not only could not take no for an answer. She would be over enthusiastic to the extent of hugging them too tightly until they cried out in protest. I saw that trait as an insensitive side of her strong liking for children. No wonder she was ignored and remain friendless in her church.
I related how Elizabeth's eldest brother was like that in the age group of 5 - 7. He was very fortunate he had excellent teachers right up to age 9. His home room teacher (when he was age 7) allowed him to wander all around the class as he could already read and count, she did not mind him not completing his class work as he could out score the rest of his classmates in assessments. She was mild and understanding. However, she was able to keep the class quiet and managed to teach the rest whatever she wanted to. So Kenneth was like a quiet and harmless wanderer who dreamed away his Grade 1 without giving his teachers much problems.
Well, that state of affairs could not continue. His Grade 2 home room teacher promoted him to a special seat next to her in front of the black board. He was quiet and obedient. He was quick and diligent when she showered him with much personal attention. You see, we moved from the capital city to a small town in December before Grade 2 started. This exceptional teacher taught that class (Grade 2, Silver City) the previous year, she found that she had very good students in that small class. She could afford to lavish personal attention on my son as she did an excellent job the previous year and every single one of her children is doing well.
The same teacher followed the class up to Grade Three. She told me that by mid year, my son had caught up enough that he could sit a few seats away from her seat. Kenneth was tall and big for his age. She said that he may be big size biologically and the same age chronologically as the rest of his class mates, but his mental age was two years behind the rest even though his IQ was way above most of his classmates. She knew all these because she had taught the same age group for 25 years. Moreover, her youngest son was like Kenneth at that age. Of course, by the time she started teaching Kenneth, her youngest son was grown and just graduated from college.
Compared to Kenneth, this young girl that Elizabeth has taken under her wing was not so fortunate. She was sent to a Chinese medium school that was notorious for huge class size(50 students to a class versus 36 in Kenneth's class) and the teachers in a Chinese school are under tremendous pressure to groom their charges to perform well in every single test. So I would not be inaccurate to say that Kenneth had a more relax time in his school finding out how boys' social systems work. (he went to a boy's primary school) While this young girl was pushed to her upper limits in cramming facts into her over loaded brain. She probably had no time to play, to make friends and to relax in her type of cram school for 6 years.
Therefore at age 13, she was sent to my daughter's youth group to learn how to fit in among her peers. I feel sorry for her parents, they have to deal with an older son who is a special child. No matter how hard they try, it is difficult to give this supposedly normal daughter the amount of attention she craves. The world is not fair, it is a fallen world. We are not perfect, not as the master created us to be as in the garden of Eden. But I suppose this young girl came to a caring and loving group, she may yet be given a conducive environment to learn whatever is lacking in her at age 13, which she should have picked up from age 5 to 9.
(790) Nowhere / Interesting bldg 5
Look at this house! It is not grand. But one thing for sure, whoever who stays here shall not lack solitude. It is near enough to the sea for hearing the tides. Yet it is far enough that sea water would not flood the house.
Who would build this house? A nature lover? Someone who values his or her privacy? Who would live in this house? A person who is running away from the past? Someone who is hiding from the crowd?
For some reason, I like this tiny house. Out of pages of photos, this caught my eyes. It conveys peace to me.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. Jn 14:27
country-house-533.jpg papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com
(789) God of little things
Shortly after I accepted Jesus as my savior, I remember praying for my left eye to have double eye-lid. That was after the Sales Secretary surgically altered both her eye lids. There was an interesting discussion over the beauty, surgical as well the ethical issues of cosmetic surgery in my office. Although I maintained that it was a personal choice whether or not to choose surgery, I decided it was not for me.
Then the next morning as I was applying eye shadow before going to work, I talked to God. While I realized how rare it was to have what some people call dragon-phoenix eyes, my meager make up skills were not up to making the best of my natural assets of having a single eye lid on the left but a double eye lid on the right. If God was willing, I asked him to make my left eye lid like my right one.
Weeks later, I forgot all about this until an observant old friend asked if I had undergone the surgery. After denying, I had to go to the rest room to see if what she claimed was true. It was. The left eye lid alternatively turned single or double on different days. A few months after that, it stayed and remained double eye lid to this day.
I am honoured that the Almighty God heard my little request and chose to answer it. It sounded so very vain for me to even ask. That is why I seldom tell anyone this testimony. It does make putting cosmetic on easy. I have no regrets asking for the change. Am really thankful that He cares for me in this small matter.
* flower-07 from ace-clipart.com
* flower-07 from ace-clipart.com
(788) Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters
It is not often that we find a writer with a PhD in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute of University of Chicago.
Here I have to confess my long lasting fascination with all things from Egypt since I was thirteen. When I first set eyes on a death mask in a oversize folio in my school library, I was smitten. Since then, I would borrow all kinds of books linked to Egyptology and read them from front to back. Now I realize that my interest has nothing to do with history. What fascinated me was the beauty of those art objects. It did not matter they serve no useful purpose. It did not matter that I have to be content with color photographs and descriptions. I am happy just to admire their unearthly forms that could easily transport me to my imaginary ancient world.
If I had stayed on in the United States, I could have snared myself a few more degrees. But then I would have missed out on getting married and bringing up children. I could easily imagine that I take the path that Peters took: from the academia to the world of thriller writing. That did not happen, instead, I became a blogger. I have great respect for Peters and I feel a certain "connectedness" with her.
I love her heroine, Vicky Bliss. I read Dan Brown's few books on medieval based adventures and enjoyed them thoroughly. But personally I like Vicky's style more. She seemed human, fallable, believable and endearing.
Here I have to confess my long lasting fascination with all things from Egypt since I was thirteen. When I first set eyes on a death mask in a oversize folio in my school library, I was smitten. Since then, I would borrow all kinds of books linked to Egyptology and read them from front to back. Now I realize that my interest has nothing to do with history. What fascinated me was the beauty of those art objects. It did not matter they serve no useful purpose. It did not matter that I have to be content with color photographs and descriptions. I am happy just to admire their unearthly forms that could easily transport me to my imaginary ancient world.
If I had stayed on in the United States, I could have snared myself a few more degrees. But then I would have missed out on getting married and bringing up children. I could easily imagine that I take the path that Peters took: from the academia to the world of thriller writing. That did not happen, instead, I became a blogger. I have great respect for Peters and I feel a certain "connectedness" with her.
I love her heroine, Vicky Bliss. I read Dan Brown's few books on medieval based adventures and enjoyed them thoroughly. But personally I like Vicky's style more. She seemed human, fallable, believable and endearing.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
(787) Flower bath
During the last bible study, one person mentioned about his relative being charmed. Here I am not referring to using one's personality to charm another, but rather using black or white magic to charm. It was interesting to note that a perfectly sane woman would run away from home, sit and cry in the streets of another town. She would talk to her family members as long as they do not take her home. My classmate did what he could to counsel and give practical help. The family concerned preferred to use magic to counter magic.
One of my extended family member was hit too. In her case, she handed over hundreds of thousands of dollars to we don't know who. I offered to take her to be prayed over by our church prayer team. She refused. Instead, her brother took her for a flower bath in a temple. While I can't deny that she woke up from her trance of handing money to the crooks willingly, she is far from well. She still lies to borrow money from anyone she could.
I guess this flower bath is not like those one pays for in a hotel spa. Come to think of it, my nephew had taken one when he was a toddler. When my sister was expecting a second child, my nephew became "sticky" and difficult to please. He hounded my sister and demanded constant attention. At night he would wake up many times and cried. He almost drove my sister up the wall. My sister's mother-in-law went to the morning market to buy seven types of flower petals. The person caring for my nephew placed those flower petals into his bath water. It was kind of difficult to believe, he behaved perfectly for the rest of his mom's pregnancy after one flower bath.
One of my extended family member was hit too. In her case, she handed over hundreds of thousands of dollars to we don't know who. I offered to take her to be prayed over by our church prayer team. She refused. Instead, her brother took her for a flower bath in a temple. While I can't deny that she woke up from her trance of handing money to the crooks willingly, she is far from well. She still lies to borrow money from anyone she could.
I guess this flower bath is not like those one pays for in a hotel spa. Come to think of it, my nephew had taken one when he was a toddler. When my sister was expecting a second child, my nephew became "sticky" and difficult to please. He hounded my sister and demanded constant attention. At night he would wake up many times and cried. He almost drove my sister up the wall. My sister's mother-in-law went to the morning market to buy seven types of flower petals. The person caring for my nephew placed those flower petals into his bath water. It was kind of difficult to believe, he behaved perfectly for the rest of his mom's pregnancy after one flower bath.
(786) All night long
Mr. Brown's job involved entertaining customers from many countries. His occupational hazard did nothing to help in his cholesterol and uric acid levels. The final blow came when he needed angioplasty. Mrs Brown, being the ideal help mate, was like a boat without any sail around that period of time.
When Mrs Brown asked me to pray for her husband, I took that seriously and fasted. As soon as my family quieted down for the night, I started to pray in tongues. To keep myself from nodding off, I walked. It took hours. By 3:30 am, I had overwhelming peace in my heart. The next day, after the operation, I was able to reassure her with a few words from God.
* csls from worldanimalfoundation.homestead.com
(785) Cat babysits / Cat tales 6
There are animals who are naturally drawn to children. Happy is the family that owns a pet that is baby friendly.
Remember Prince, he is the cat that understands every word said to him and was trained to obey since he was young. One day the house was filled with visitors. A baby was sleeping in his carrier. Mum and the hostess wanted to go upstairs to look at some new furnishing. Joy's mum told Prince to look after the baby before she walked upstairs.
One hour later, the baby's mum came down to check if her darling has woken up. She found Prince standing guard over the corner where the baby was placed. Prince was keeping three children away from the baby. He took his duty so seriously that he did not go to the kitchen to claim his meal.
Once the mum appeared on the scene, Prince was happy to give way and retired to the kitchen to take his late meal.
- God who watches over us does not slumber. -
(784) Avoid pain at all cost
Just the other day I was observing a toddler play. She is about fourteen months old. I noticed the way she was taking the hymn books and placing them in different angles on the sofa. Compared to her older sister who is meticulously neat and precise like the surgeon father, this younger one has imagination and could be trained to be creative.
I am usually very quiet in the group. There is no reason why I should tell any of my personal observations to the mom. After all, who am I but an old and rather boring person with not much qualification in this young lady's eyes. If I am right about anything, she was really surprise and openly wondered how I could know so many things. Well, I may not make as much money as her husband, nor have I been through as much schooling; but I have spent twenty over years using my eyes, ears and brain in learning about children and their various learning styles.
On the way back, I had to tell my good friend who is also in education. It was an interesting discovery that an educator could appreciate! I asked her why some parents are so short sighted in not wanting to know more about their children? Her reply surprised me. She said most people would rather not know than to deal with any possible pain. That is highly probable! But that is like living under such limitations like: there are sharks in the oceans, therefore we do not swim in the sea and nor do we travel in boats.
I am usually very quiet in the group. There is no reason why I should tell any of my personal observations to the mom. After all, who am I but an old and rather boring person with not much qualification in this young lady's eyes. If I am right about anything, she was really surprise and openly wondered how I could know so many things. Well, I may not make as much money as her husband, nor have I been through as much schooling; but I have spent twenty over years using my eyes, ears and brain in learning about children and their various learning styles.
On the way back, I had to tell my good friend who is also in education. It was an interesting discovery that an educator could appreciate! I asked her why some parents are so short sighted in not wanting to know more about their children? Her reply surprised me. She said most people would rather not know than to deal with any possible pain. That is highly probable! But that is like living under such limitations like: there are sharks in the oceans, therefore we do not swim in the sea and nor do we travel in boats.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
(783) Proof by Dick Francis
I have read a condensation of this novel from the Reader's Digest condensed stories many years ago. I love books, but due to my nomadic live style, I keep very few books with me. This book is safely kept among my niece's collection.
For whatever reason, I have always loved reading about horses ever since I put down the book "Black Beauty" many years ago. According to my maternal uncle who kept the clan's ancestral books, my great-grandfather was born in Hubei. It is pretty far north in a very poor area, agriculturally speaking. My great-grandfather brought his family in a few stages down south, my grandfather was born in the Canton area in the 1900s. Looking at that kind of information, it is highly unlikely that I came from a horse riding race. From my father's side, his ancestors had lived in the mountainous region in the tri -state border area of Kwantung, Fuchian and Toew Chew. It was also a poor and little developed area due to the remote location and mountainous terrain. But, it is likely that five, six generations back, both sides of my fore bears descended from the warrior class further north. I secretly thought that my horse loving heart came from way back in the period of history of many wars in northern China.
Back to the story, I really enjoyed reading it as it introduced me to the world of wine and horses ( training stables). I found it exciting to read about a man who could tell exactly by taste which wine is from which region. It sounded like a perfume expert who could distinguish between 500 to 600 perfume or fragrances. I also learned a little bit about horse training from this book. It enabled me to ask intelligent questions when I had the privilege to meet a horse trainer in a care group pot bless dinner a few years ago.
From this book, I went through the grief a man who lost his beloved wife and unborn child. While I realized that theoretically a man could love as deeply as a woman, in everyday life it is seldom like that. It gladdens my heart that somewhere in this wide big world, one particular woman was being missed and her husband did not get over losing her in six months. You may laugh, it is fiction, after all! But in my imaginary world, if one man could write a convincing story, he has to either have experienced it first hand or witnessed it happening. On top of all that I have mentioned, it is a very well paced investigative adventure of pursuing crime: stealing and substituting alcohol, murder and cover-up. The wine merchant found that he was not such a coward as others and he himself thought. Being a hero (winning a military medal ) did not mean not being afraid at the time before the battle. His grandfather and father were war heroes. If you are a closet romantic, this book would be a book that you would really enjoy.
For whatever reason, I have always loved reading about horses ever since I put down the book "Black Beauty" many years ago. According to my maternal uncle who kept the clan's ancestral books, my great-grandfather was born in Hubei. It is pretty far north in a very poor area, agriculturally speaking. My great-grandfather brought his family in a few stages down south, my grandfather was born in the Canton area in the 1900s. Looking at that kind of information, it is highly unlikely that I came from a horse riding race. From my father's side, his ancestors had lived in the mountainous region in the tri -state border area of Kwantung, Fuchian and Toew Chew. It was also a poor and little developed area due to the remote location and mountainous terrain. But, it is likely that five, six generations back, both sides of my fore bears descended from the warrior class further north. I secretly thought that my horse loving heart came from way back in the period of history of many wars in northern China.
Back to the story, I really enjoyed reading it as it introduced me to the world of wine and horses ( training stables). I found it exciting to read about a man who could tell exactly by taste which wine is from which region. It sounded like a perfume expert who could distinguish between 500 to 600 perfume or fragrances. I also learned a little bit about horse training from this book. It enabled me to ask intelligent questions when I had the privilege to meet a horse trainer in a care group pot bless dinner a few years ago.
From this book, I went through the grief a man who lost his beloved wife and unborn child. While I realized that theoretically a man could love as deeply as a woman, in everyday life it is seldom like that. It gladdens my heart that somewhere in this wide big world, one particular woman was being missed and her husband did not get over losing her in six months. You may laugh, it is fiction, after all! But in my imaginary world, if one man could write a convincing story, he has to either have experienced it first hand or witnessed it happening. On top of all that I have mentioned, it is a very well paced investigative adventure of pursuing crime: stealing and substituting alcohol, murder and cover-up. The wine merchant found that he was not such a coward as others and he himself thought. Being a hero (winning a military medal ) did not mean not being afraid at the time before the battle. His grandfather and father were war heroes. If you are a closet romantic, this book would be a book that you would really enjoy.
(782) Cave Dwelling / Interesting bldg 4
Can you picture yourself staying in this dwelling? I could and did have months of fun imagining that as a child. My grandma told me a story of her ancestor's cave room in the northern hemisphere. It was entirely fascinating.
When the men of Israel saw that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 1 Sa 13:6
CaveCottage 450x388.jpa metro.co.uk
(781) Old Faithful / Cat tales 5
When I was in elementary school, I had a good friend called Maimunah. I used to go to her house to play with her cat. It was such a long time ago that I don't remember the cat's name. But when I close my eyes, I can still see the bright colour stripes of that kitten. We will call it Harimau (tiger) here.
Maimunah's father was transferred to a distant town far away. In those days with only trunk roads, it took a good eight hours to travel 200 miles. It was very hard for Maimunah to give up her beloved pet. She cried. She pleaded. She fell sick. She refused to eat ... At the end the cat was given to her aunt, a kind woman who was fond of Harimau. Since the aunt was a Government servant, she was away all day. It was actually the maid that looked after Harimau.
Shortly after Maimunah moved up north, Harimau disappeared. After the cat settled down, the household was not so vigilant about keeping her in door. While the maid went out to throw rubbish, Harimau must have light footed out and hid among the many potted plants. Pets were not that important to folks then, everyone had a hard time making a living. Cats were only valued highly if they could catch mice.
Nobody told Maimunah that her cat ran off. Meanwhile, I was writing short notes to her monthly. Allowance was twenty cents a day for me, I had to go hungry to save up ten cents to buy a stamp to mail her a letter. For paper I could tear one off an old exercise book. For envelope I learned to make my own using thick brown paper from recycled parcel wrapper. One day when I walked back from school I saw a very thin cat that looked like Harimau near her old house. A few days later I described the pathetic cat to her in my letter.
Maimunah pestered her mum and dad until the father agreed to call her aunt to enquire about the cat the next time he return to his hometown for a business meeting. So the story of how the cat seized the first opportunity to escape came out. The poor cat must have wandered for weeks looking for her former mistress' residence. It seemed that she escaped in early February and was only seen "haunting" Maimunah's old residence in late March. She had no shelter and hardly any food except for left overs that the neighbours gave her. Harimau persisted in looking and waiting for Maimunah for three months before the latter's dad finally brought a cage to take her to her mistress by train.
What made the cat so attached to a little girl? The aunt actually lived in a bigger and more comfortable house. The food given to Harimau was far better and definitely cost more than the old fare. But God had made the small cat with a big heart that loved Maimunah unconditionally.
- Your love, O God, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. -
catRAY2212_468x604.jpg from dailymail.co.uk
(780) A scene from Hollywood
The other day my husband went to pump ngv (natual gas) in a local petrol station. He fixed up the contraption and went to the rest room. I quickly locked all the doors and looked around. There was a rather beat up van with a huge family. Dad had on a jubah (a long dark gown covering arms, legs) and a head covering like the middle eastern man. Both women were covered from head to toes with different pieces of dull color materials. There were five children ranged from age 1 to about 6. One of the younger woman had an infant in her arms.
When they finished pumping the gas, they trooped into the van and wanted to back out. However, there was a MPV (Multi purpose vehicle) blocking it. The van driver waited a while, thinking the other driver would pull away momentarily. What the van folks could not see was that the driver was talking on his hand phone behind his vehicle. I was a lone spectator with a grand stand view watching the proceeding.
The van driver was getting a little upset, he started sounding the horn. After about five beeps, the MPV driver was still oblivious to the van driver's impatience. Just as the poor man leaned on his horn, another MPV with the same make and color drove in. It looked like the incoming driver sized up the situation and told the first driver to move his vehicle on the phone. I saw the first driver turned and noticed the irate driver and van. He put up his left hand, proceeded to end his phone call; pocketed his flashy phone and moved to back his vehicle out of the way.
By then, my husband had returned from the rest room. He pulled out the pump connection and we also need ed to move as there was another car waiting for our bay. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the van departed. The two identical MPV with number plates from two different states of my country were parked closely together. It looked very much like a Hollywood thriller. All that was missing was a few FBI agents with guns. As the windows of both the vehicles was reflective, I could not see if anyone was in either vehicle. I saw the first MPV driver because he came out to make or answer a hand phone call. I know there is at least one person driving the second MPV. I did not watch the drama unfold as my husband needed to rush to another appointment. As to why they chose to meet in a quite out of the way petrol station, I have wondered to this day.
One possibility could be that they met to transfer something or someone. I just came home from my sister's house. My niece is about to own a car and start a new job. I thought of this incident and related it to her. She guessed rightly that it would not be safe to be in the vicinity of such exchanges. Should it be some illegal transaction, anything that could possibly go wrong may lead to gun shots. The best policy for a normal citizen is to leave as soon as possible without making any waves.
Now, just five years ago, I would not have advised my niece this way. Things have changed tremendously these past five to six years. It is still safe to travel around alone, but one has to be alert and smart about it.
When they finished pumping the gas, they trooped into the van and wanted to back out. However, there was a MPV (Multi purpose vehicle) blocking it. The van driver waited a while, thinking the other driver would pull away momentarily. What the van folks could not see was that the driver was talking on his hand phone behind his vehicle. I was a lone spectator with a grand stand view watching the proceeding.
The van driver was getting a little upset, he started sounding the horn. After about five beeps, the MPV driver was still oblivious to the van driver's impatience. Just as the poor man leaned on his horn, another MPV with the same make and color drove in. It looked like the incoming driver sized up the situation and told the first driver to move his vehicle on the phone. I saw the first driver turned and noticed the irate driver and van. He put up his left hand, proceeded to end his phone call; pocketed his flashy phone and moved to back his vehicle out of the way.
By then, my husband had returned from the rest room. He pulled out the pump connection and we also need ed to move as there was another car waiting for our bay. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the van departed. The two identical MPV with number plates from two different states of my country were parked closely together. It looked very much like a Hollywood thriller. All that was missing was a few FBI agents with guns. As the windows of both the vehicles was reflective, I could not see if anyone was in either vehicle. I saw the first MPV driver because he came out to make or answer a hand phone call. I know there is at least one person driving the second MPV. I did not watch the drama unfold as my husband needed to rush to another appointment. As to why they chose to meet in a quite out of the way petrol station, I have wondered to this day.
One possibility could be that they met to transfer something or someone. I just came home from my sister's house. My niece is about to own a car and start a new job. I thought of this incident and related it to her. She guessed rightly that it would not be safe to be in the vicinity of such exchanges. Should it be some illegal transaction, anything that could possibly go wrong may lead to gun shots. The best policy for a normal citizen is to leave as soon as possible without making any waves.
Now, just five years ago, I would not have advised my niece this way. Things have changed tremendously these past five to six years. It is still safe to travel around alone, but one has to be alert and smart about it.
Monday, February 13, 2012
(779) Home sweet home/ Interes. bldg 20
A mansion is just a grand house. A home is a house where a family dwells in love. Nothing can take away memories of happy times spent together.
For those who eagerly await heaven, earth is not their permanent home. They are just passing through.
Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ...
smallest house 02.jpg izismile.com
(778)Training Cats/ Cat tales 14
When Prince's mistress was young, she used to be home alone with her cat most of the time. Through trial and error, she learned to train her few cats to obey her like dogs. Prince was her star pupil. When he was younger, he could jump through hoops held by her mistress three feet from the ground. One tip about training cats, we must start the training as young as possible. When cats are older, they hardly care to obey to please the humans.
Another criteria that helps is that a cat that enjoys applause and attention is more likely to be highly suitable for such training. Last but not least, we need intelligence from the cat and patience from the trainer. In order to encourage Prince to obey, many types of cat food are on hand as rewards. Once Prince begins to prefer a special type of snack, it is reserved as a reward that Prince is required to do something to earn it. As long as she obeys, a little snack is offered. Success comes with practice and ultimately the cat strives to do things that the humans are enthusiastic about and make much fuss over.
Now Prince is older and a little heavier than in his younger years. The days of jumping through hoops are over!
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; ...
cat1.jpg from jabberflash.com
(777) coffee
Let me bring you across time and boundaries to a few thoughts about coffee:-
1. My cousin Yvette only consumes Fair Trade coffee, after she read about the exploitation of dirt-poor coffee share-croppers in certain third world countries. I must confess that I am an ex-coffee addict. Since I kicked the habit twenty four years ago, I have honestly bought coffee only twice, both times for my fellowship group in the capacity as a treasurer.
2. If you think I don't touch coffee, then you are wrong. I allow myself one cup a week, usually I take it in my mother's house. She would leave half a pack of three-in-one for me. On the rare occasion that a friend willing to buy me an expensive mug in Starbucks, I make sure it would be consumed before 2 pm. Otherwise it would be an all nighter that very night - just like my many nights of completing my programing projects, that was the period I was drinking seven cups a day just to survive and function.
3. It was interesting watching my son having some withdrawal symptoms yesterday. I allow my children free choice as far as coffee is concerned. Kenneth chose to drink outside of our house, but he is not a daily drinker. Day before he was treated to a French buffet in a hotel, he drank two cups of very thick coffee. All night long he was up, not by choice. He was up for thirty six hours. Then the up lift given by caffeine was gone and he felt neither awake nor asleep. He was in the alternate state of zombie like existence until he finally could sleep for nine hours the second night.
4. My neighbour during my childhood would brew a mean pot of black coffee and serve it whole day long to all and sundry. I would be given a cup with a few crackers should mum take me to visit. My neighbor herself drank coffee whole day long and she lives a long and productive life. She is ninety two this year, a little frail but other wise reasonably healthy for her age group.
5. I recall reading an article about an expensive type of coffee in an inflight magazine. People who live near the hills collect some animal dung, wash out the undesired part. Then they clean the coffee beans that are undigested, dry it in the sun. The dried beans become the most expensive coffee on earth sold to real coffee lovers who are willing to pay an arm and a leg for it.
I love coffee, yet I strive to maintain a control over how much and how often I take it.
(776) A Prim and Proper building
There is something neat and refreshing about this square building. I wonder why the windows are so closed together. Is the upstairs all one big room?
... his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam 3:22
Gibbs House Front.JPG from wmich.edu
(775) Excessive protective love
I have been debating about whether I should write this real story. While I hope it is a unique case and not common, the undue emphasis of excelling in public examinations in my country does not contribute positively to mental health.
When my family lived in a small town, the fellowship group used to rotate its meeting place among the members' homes. Our member Jane brought a young lady to my house. With no prior information given, I thought she was in her early twenties. Much later, we found that she was already thirty two years old. Apparently she did badly in her high school public examination. Since she did not anticipate it, it came as a blow. For weeks she hid in her room and refused food.
Obviously the family did not seek professional help. Otherwise, things would not have deteriorated to the extent that this young girl stopped studying but never was gainfully employed. Since the parents were well to do, every year they took her overseas on tour. From what she said, she had been to many popular tourist destinations all over the world and to other countries that none of our members have been to.
Since she usually brought a big bag to our meetings, I was fearful of what she brought in the bag. Each time I hosted the meeting in my house, I made sure my children were upstairs in their locked rooms. You may think I was paranoid, but she had chased her brother with a cleaver knife before. Her parents let her whims control over whether she takes her medications. Without her medicine for four days, she could not even carry on a normal conversation.
In this case, it was the excessively protective love that prevented her from the medical breakthroughs that could heal that ravaged brain. Her parents listened to horror stories told about insane asylum and never admitted her even once. Whenever she got out of control, they placed her in hospital. Once she became coherent, they took her home. They loved her so much and they feared what others would do to her that they refused to commit her to long term psychiatric care even though the chances of cure was high for the initial stage.
(774) Irate husband
Many years ago I befriended an American born Chinese lady who married and came to live in my beloved town, Silver City.
She wanted to take her children to visit a fishing island. I was game to accompany her as my children have never been there. In the end, it was decided we took both her kids and two of my younger ones as her car could only comfortably seat the four children at the back. But half an hour before we pushed off, her husband suddenly decided to join us and use his spacious four wheel off terrain vehicle.
We went on a day trip and had a good time. After we returned, her husband gave my friend and I a stiff talking to. As far as he was concerned, we were incompetents because we did not even look at the ferry schedule at the jetty. And he was upset because there was no hotel of note in the fishing island. He said that if he had not taken off from his busy activities, we would be stranded in an island where we could not find fit accommodation for his precious children. Perhaps we two crazy women would bring back children bitten by fleas and we have to delouse the kids.
He was upset and got ticked off when my friend, an independent woman, was unrepentant. Therefore he walked off in a huff to drive to his office. I was sorry that I totally turned off my take charge mode when there is a man to depend on. If he had not accompanied us, I would have taken on the role of tour guide and I was definitely aware that there was no night crossing from that tiny island. The way I look at it, there is not much point arguing with an irate husband. Just let him think whatever he likes, I feel bad that I did not live up to his exacting standards. After all, it would have been an adventure if we had missed the last ferry, it would have been a survival course for the four children. It often does not hurt for the children to be subjected to some hardship and testing to build character.
She wanted to take her children to visit a fishing island. I was game to accompany her as my children have never been there. In the end, it was decided we took both her kids and two of my younger ones as her car could only comfortably seat the four children at the back. But half an hour before we pushed off, her husband suddenly decided to join us and use his spacious four wheel off terrain vehicle.
We went on a day trip and had a good time. After we returned, her husband gave my friend and I a stiff talking to. As far as he was concerned, we were incompetents because we did not even look at the ferry schedule at the jetty. And he was upset because there was no hotel of note in the fishing island. He said that if he had not taken off from his busy activities, we would be stranded in an island where we could not find fit accommodation for his precious children. Perhaps we two crazy women would bring back children bitten by fleas and we have to delouse the kids.
He was upset and got ticked off when my friend, an independent woman, was unrepentant. Therefore he walked off in a huff to drive to his office. I was sorry that I totally turned off my take charge mode when there is a man to depend on. If he had not accompanied us, I would have taken on the role of tour guide and I was definitely aware that there was no night crossing from that tiny island. The way I look at it, there is not much point arguing with an irate husband. Just let him think whatever he likes, I feel bad that I did not live up to his exacting standards. After all, it would have been an adventure if we had missed the last ferry, it would have been a survival course for the four children. It often does not hurt for the children to be subjected to some hardship and testing to build character.
(773) Lilies of the fields 2
When Elizabeth applied for a pre-university scholarship a few years ago, we prayed for warm clothes. The equivalent of two suitcases came. I washed them batch by batch and stored them with moth balls.
She went for two interviews but in the end she did not win the coveted scholarship which would enable her to study in a Scandinavian country. I kept all the clothes just in case she has a chance to go abroad. For universities, she was accepted in my alma mater in USA with generous aid. She was rejected by Hong Kong University but she was accepted by the most prestigious public university in my country. While we have the once-off funding to send her for the first year, we are not quite sure we could swing a US education without having her incur in debts. So after much prayers, we decided that a bird in hand that is affordable is worth more than one far away. Accordingly she enrolled in the nearby university.
What am I going to do with the four drawerful of winter and autumn clothes? When I saw Elizabeth's friend wearing a knitted sweater in her freezing(it was a new building with powerful air-conditioners) church, I went straight to the point and asked if she would like to be the happy owner of similar sweaters of different hues. She was delighted with my suggestion. Last night I actually emptied almost two drawers and packed a boxful of such items for her.
Elizabeth suggested that maybe God sent the clothes for her friend through us. Well, that could be so. But being a practical person, I was careful to keep every piece that Elizabeth had worn in Hong Kong and Chiangmai when we visited those places in December of previous years.
* Name of this blog came from Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not,they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
She went for two interviews but in the end she did not win the coveted scholarship which would enable her to study in a Scandinavian country. I kept all the clothes just in case she has a chance to go abroad. For universities, she was accepted in my alma mater in USA with generous aid. She was rejected by Hong Kong University but she was accepted by the most prestigious public university in my country. While we have the once-off funding to send her for the first year, we are not quite sure we could swing a US education without having her incur in debts. So after much prayers, we decided that a bird in hand that is affordable is worth more than one far away. Accordingly she enrolled in the nearby university.
What am I going to do with the four drawerful of winter and autumn clothes? When I saw Elizabeth's friend wearing a knitted sweater in her freezing(it was a new building with powerful air-conditioners) church, I went straight to the point and asked if she would like to be the happy owner of similar sweaters of different hues. She was delighted with my suggestion. Last night I actually emptied almost two drawers and packed a boxful of such items for her.
Elizabeth suggested that maybe God sent the clothes for her friend through us. Well, that could be so. But being a practical person, I was careful to keep every piece that Elizabeth had worn in Hong Kong and Chiangmai when we visited those places in December of previous years.
* Name of this blog came from Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not,they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
(772) Which cake is the best?
Elizabeth and I attended a public celebration. Two containers of scones were being served among many delicious items on a long table. As far as I could see, both scones were of the same shapes and size as well as texture. But Elizabeth hates raisins, she saw one pile as containing more raisins than the other.
She asked around and found that the two containers were baked by two women, from the same recipe. There she fell into deep trouble, she was asked which set of scones taste better. Being quick witted, she said her mother who loves raisins preferred the pile with more raisins, but she preferred the one with less raisins. It happened that the one who asked that question baked the latter pile. So she did not offend either party and made the day for her friend.
This incident brought me back to the days when I attended church pot bless events as a foreign student. There was one social where there were six cheese cakes. I have never had a chance to sample any cheese cakes of note before I landed in the land of delectable desserts. I was greedy enough to eat a tiny piece of each one of the six cheese cakes. All six ladies surrounded me and asked me which cake tastes the best. I had to exercise diplomacy to survive a situation like that! In the end, I told them I like each of them for different reasons: Mrs Green's had a delightful base, Mrs McDougal's tasted exotic (she admitted that she experimented with adding more than one type of cheese), Miss Holmes is most healthy (she added strawberries, apricots and kiwi pieces), Mrs. Corbett's has the smoothest texture, Auntie Florence's is the sweetest as she added another creamy layer for decoration and Mrs Schimel's is the most exciting as she shredded pieces of chocolate on top of her cheese layer.
But one sharp-eyed woman observed I took a second helping from Mrs Corbett's cake. And so she challenged me and called my bluff. My creative brain whirled and I pleaded for being home sick. I claimed that since leaving home I have not had a chance to eat coconut flakes. Mrs Corbett added tiny flakes of dry coconuts on top of her superb cake. More than taste and culinary enjoyment, those pieces of coconuts reminded me of home. In the end, the more motherly ones each gave me a hug, saying things like "Oh poor little one who could not go home in the summer!"
She asked around and found that the two containers were baked by two women, from the same recipe. There she fell into deep trouble, she was asked which set of scones taste better. Being quick witted, she said her mother who loves raisins preferred the pile with more raisins, but she preferred the one with less raisins. It happened that the one who asked that question baked the latter pile. So she did not offend either party and made the day for her friend.
This incident brought me back to the days when I attended church pot bless events as a foreign student. There was one social where there were six cheese cakes. I have never had a chance to sample any cheese cakes of note before I landed in the land of delectable desserts. I was greedy enough to eat a tiny piece of each one of the six cheese cakes. All six ladies surrounded me and asked me which cake tastes the best. I had to exercise diplomacy to survive a situation like that! In the end, I told them I like each of them for different reasons: Mrs Green's had a delightful base, Mrs McDougal's tasted exotic (she admitted that she experimented with adding more than one type of cheese), Miss Holmes is most healthy (she added strawberries, apricots and kiwi pieces), Mrs. Corbett's has the smoothest texture, Auntie Florence's is the sweetest as she added another creamy layer for decoration and Mrs Schimel's is the most exciting as she shredded pieces of chocolate on top of her cheese layer.
But one sharp-eyed woman observed I took a second helping from Mrs Corbett's cake. And so she challenged me and called my bluff. My creative brain whirled and I pleaded for being home sick. I claimed that since leaving home I have not had a chance to eat coconut flakes. Mrs Corbett added tiny flakes of dry coconuts on top of her superb cake. More than taste and culinary enjoyment, those pieces of coconuts reminded me of home. In the end, the more motherly ones each gave me a hug, saying things like "Oh poor little one who could not go home in the summer!"
(771) Bodyguards for preacher
Before the President of United States step into any building, the FBI would have secured it and made sure there is no bomb. Not too long ago one of the Hong Kong mega star came for his father-in-law's funeral in my country, apparently more than a hundred burly security personnel were deployed to protect the male star from reporters. In the end no photograph was taken except a telephoto shot that was rather blur.
What I am recording now is what I heard from friends down south. Strictly speaking nothing more than hearsay, not admissible in any court of law. In a tiny island nation there are two mega churches. Both senior preachers seemed to detest each other. Even casual visitors have heard of mutual attacks on the pulpit on one or the other. For even an internal week night prayer meeting, two of the pastor's bodyguards came in black jackets and sun shades to scan the parishioners for agitators. Co-incidentally, this pastor's church accounts were being scrutinized with a fine tooth comb by the government. I suppose, that was because the size of the church budget was big enough to cause the small government to feel threatened. Also that a supposedly non-profit organization was involved into a range of profit-making activities.
I can't help but wonder, what is the man of cloth afraid of? Kidnapping? Cold blooded murder? Someone throwing a rotten egg at him? Or having people jealous of him throwing red paint at him???!!
What I am recording now is what I heard from friends down south. Strictly speaking nothing more than hearsay, not admissible in any court of law. In a tiny island nation there are two mega churches. Both senior preachers seemed to detest each other. Even casual visitors have heard of mutual attacks on the pulpit on one or the other. For even an internal week night prayer meeting, two of the pastor's bodyguards came in black jackets and sun shades to scan the parishioners for agitators. Co-incidentally, this pastor's church accounts were being scrutinized with a fine tooth comb by the government. I suppose, that was because the size of the church budget was big enough to cause the small government to feel threatened. Also that a supposedly non-profit organization was involved into a range of profit-making activities.
I can't help but wonder, what is the man of cloth afraid of? Kidnapping? Cold blooded murder? Someone throwing a rotten egg at him? Or having people jealous of him throwing red paint at him???!!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
(770) Quaint hermitage / Intere. bldg 1
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Lk 10:2
eng-schl-cottage.JPG antique-fine-art.com
(769) Anne of Ingleside by L.M.Montgomery
I guess it was seldom that I have the chance to read one Anne book after another. For this round, I read Rilla of Ingleside, Anne of Green Gable, Rainbow Valley, and then Anne of Ingleside.
Surprisingly I found book number 6 a little flat. I complain to Elizabeth that the doings of Anne's children seemed a little expected compared to the Meredith children. Elizabeth answered that Anne's children were set but when an author brought in a new family, there is more scope for character development. That is true!
On page 216 we find what Clara Wilson said about the dead Peter Kirk during his funeral service. That was rather interesting! To top it, the widow actually thanked Clara for speaking. Peter Kirk probably deserved every word uttered out of hate, by the look of things. Yet Clara used to love him. He was able to win Amy(Clara's sister) as his wife. When Amy died, he married Olivia who was much younger than him. While it was not decorous to speak ill of the dead, nobody present would forget Peter Kirk's funeral.
On page 270 we find a tired Gilbert and a jealous, suspicious Anne. That evening they had to meet an old flame of Gilbert. Like the race that live in Venus, Anne was waiting for her husband to remember their wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Gilbert was feeling guilty because the gift he ordered had not arrived. When Gilbert received a phone call confirming his diagnosis of a ticklish patient(which waiting kept him from being himself), he was once again the loving and attentive husband. All is well!
After seven pregnancies and births, it must not be easy to stay slim and attractive. If the love of a husband depends solely on that, no marriages would last.
Surprisingly I found book number 6 a little flat. I complain to Elizabeth that the doings of Anne's children seemed a little expected compared to the Meredith children. Elizabeth answered that Anne's children were set but when an author brought in a new family, there is more scope for character development. That is true!
On page 216 we find what Clara Wilson said about the dead Peter Kirk during his funeral service. That was rather interesting! To top it, the widow actually thanked Clara for speaking. Peter Kirk probably deserved every word uttered out of hate, by the look of things. Yet Clara used to love him. He was able to win Amy(Clara's sister) as his wife. When Amy died, he married Olivia who was much younger than him. While it was not decorous to speak ill of the dead, nobody present would forget Peter Kirk's funeral.
On page 270 we find a tired Gilbert and a jealous, suspicious Anne. That evening they had to meet an old flame of Gilbert. Like the race that live in Venus, Anne was waiting for her husband to remember their wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Gilbert was feeling guilty because the gift he ordered had not arrived. When Gilbert received a phone call confirming his diagnosis of a ticklish patient(which waiting kept him from being himself), he was once again the loving and attentive husband. All is well!
After seven pregnancies and births, it must not be easy to stay slim and attractive. If the love of a husband depends solely on that, no marriages would last.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
(768) Dependable / Interesting bldg 43
When I was under his instruction, I had not met with my Lord yet. But he was one of those who exemplifies many much sought after Christian qualities.
It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service. Eph 4:11-13
12417149.jpg carbery-cottage-guest-lodge.net
(767) The ministry of matching excess with needs
I heard about an independent missionary couple moving from a four-story mansion to a condominium. I wonder what this couple of former business people were going to do with their old furniture. When my friend went to visit them, I tagged along to find out.
After my children are grown, I volunteer in a mission organization. The mission head office situates in a residential area within walking distance of a rail line. It is a double-story building with a little land by the side for parking. Downstairs is the office with all the amenities of a home. Upstairs are three big rooms: the most spacious used for meetings, the other two furnished very simply as men and women dormitory.
Since I double as a recycling person, I normally get to hear about things that people want to give away. Very often, there is seldom a match. Folks who lost a mum did give away a houseful of furniture and other things. But at that time I did not hear of anyone needing household things. I heard of a single mother needing a single bed, but for those few months no beds were to be gotten. Six months ago I learned that my dear mission organisation was thinking of changing the more worn out single mattresses. After long deliberation, they decided to spend the money servicing the air-conditioners instead. Instead of buying new mattresses, they probably rotated them: moving the well used ones to the upper bunks and the less used ones to the lower bunks. At that time I remember praying to God that He will lead me to the exact people who could help.
When training is held, the female dormitory could be full as participants who flew in prefer to stay in house than live in hotels. Other than that, it is not often that either dormitory has more than one or two visitors at a time. There was a period of weeks when a family who serve in Papua came to live upstairs on visa runs. They came from a European country and it is prohibitively expensive for a family of seven to fly home. After all they just returned from a furlough less than a year ago. So we have Mr. Missionary all set up in the office downstairs doing his computer work. Mrs. Missionary set up housekeeping upstairs in the female dormitory looking after her five children, they ranged from age 14 to six months. She home schools them. Her children are tri-lingual: they are proficient in English as they are studying for O-levels, they all speak their mother tongue of German among themselves and they speak whatever dialect the indigenous people of Papua speak.
I find myself explaining to my potential benefactress how it must have been difficult for this Mrs Missionary to house keep with insufficient furniture in the women's dorm. They must have live off suit cases as the wardrobe was tiny. There was one desk, but no shelves. I wonder where she placed her children's books and learning supplies. As we talked, I realize that this business woman turned missionary has a four story business building as well. She could probably spare a few office cupboards with doors which could supply counter space if the dormitory is big enough to hold them. She has quite a few six feet double mattresses which are quite new to give away. She actually suggested that she would make a trip to see these dorms and think of which of her possessions that she could spare would make the dorms more serviceable.
Every Christian is entrusted with the Great Commission of spreading the gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth. Those who are called should go. Those who have been blessed with wealth should give generously. Everyone could pray for God's kingdom to be established on earth. I am using my persuasive tongue to talk others into sharing their extras with the ever short of funding outfits. I am also using my language and computer abilities to tell you about it, perhaps you too would like to help in your little corner of the world. The benefits of doing all these are plain: I experience no empty nest syndrome when every single one of my children left home. While my peers complain about menopausal symptoms, I thank God that I experience none. I am simply too busy looking into how I can be of help and be a source blessing with my very limited resources and contacts.
After my children are grown, I volunteer in a mission organization. The mission head office situates in a residential area within walking distance of a rail line. It is a double-story building with a little land by the side for parking. Downstairs is the office with all the amenities of a home. Upstairs are three big rooms: the most spacious used for meetings, the other two furnished very simply as men and women dormitory.
Since I double as a recycling person, I normally get to hear about things that people want to give away. Very often, there is seldom a match. Folks who lost a mum did give away a houseful of furniture and other things. But at that time I did not hear of anyone needing household things. I heard of a single mother needing a single bed, but for those few months no beds were to be gotten. Six months ago I learned that my dear mission organisation was thinking of changing the more worn out single mattresses. After long deliberation, they decided to spend the money servicing the air-conditioners instead. Instead of buying new mattresses, they probably rotated them: moving the well used ones to the upper bunks and the less used ones to the lower bunks. At that time I remember praying to God that He will lead me to the exact people who could help.
When training is held, the female dormitory could be full as participants who flew in prefer to stay in house than live in hotels. Other than that, it is not often that either dormitory has more than one or two visitors at a time. There was a period of weeks when a family who serve in Papua came to live upstairs on visa runs. They came from a European country and it is prohibitively expensive for a family of seven to fly home. After all they just returned from a furlough less than a year ago. So we have Mr. Missionary all set up in the office downstairs doing his computer work. Mrs. Missionary set up housekeeping upstairs in the female dormitory looking after her five children, they ranged from age 14 to six months. She home schools them. Her children are tri-lingual: they are proficient in English as they are studying for O-levels, they all speak their mother tongue of German among themselves and they speak whatever dialect the indigenous people of Papua speak.
I find myself explaining to my potential benefactress how it must have been difficult for this Mrs Missionary to house keep with insufficient furniture in the women's dorm. They must have live off suit cases as the wardrobe was tiny. There was one desk, but no shelves. I wonder where she placed her children's books and learning supplies. As we talked, I realize that this business woman turned missionary has a four story business building as well. She could probably spare a few office cupboards with doors which could supply counter space if the dormitory is big enough to hold them. She has quite a few six feet double mattresses which are quite new to give away. She actually suggested that she would make a trip to see these dorms and think of which of her possessions that she could spare would make the dorms more serviceable.
Every Christian is entrusted with the Great Commission of spreading the gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth. Those who are called should go. Those who have been blessed with wealth should give generously. Everyone could pray for God's kingdom to be established on earth. I am using my persuasive tongue to talk others into sharing their extras with the ever short of funding outfits. I am also using my language and computer abilities to tell you about it, perhaps you too would like to help in your little corner of the world. The benefits of doing all these are plain: I experience no empty nest syndrome when every single one of my children left home. While my peers complain about menopausal symptoms, I thank God that I experience none. I am simply too busy looking into how I can be of help and be a source blessing with my very limited resources and contacts.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
(766) Secret Garden / Interesting bldg 47
There the Lord showed him the whole land -- from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the valley of Jericho, the city of Palms, as far as Zoar. Deut 34:2-3
snape cottage dorset 600x.jpg gardenvisit.com
(765) Rainbow Valley by L.M.Montgomery
There are two incidences in Rainbow Valley that really touched me.
In Chapter 16 Tit for Tat, we find that Faith went to ask the town bully, who was moneyed but would not darken the doorway of any church, to contribute to her father(the parson)'s salary and to return to her church. She was frightened alright but she would not back out of what she had decided to do. At first she was cowed by the bully shouting at her and run. But as she became angry, she marched back to give him a piece of her mind. Interestingly, he found it fun to have a young spunky girl telling him off. He changed his mind and apologized, promising to support Faith's father and to attend the church once a month. To throw in a bonus, he told Faith he would make sure his relative would return to church and cough out her share of the parson's pay too.
Then in Chapter 34 Una visits the Hill, Una took it upon herself to go to ask Miss West to change her mind and marry her father, even though she was dead afraid that Miss West would become a terrible step mother who would turn her father against her and her siblings. She promised Miss West that she and her brother and sister would be good and obedient, if she would only agree to become their step mother. As she could not stand seeing how unhappy her father was, after Miss West refused to marry their father(she thought the children were the reason for the refusal).
Montgomery really did a good job describing a trio of motherless children who are brave, loyal, just, well meaning, selfless and commendable. Sometimes I think the traditional Christian community is not the easiest place for any parson or pastor's children to grow up in. No wonder it is common for a pastor's sons to go wayward for years before returning to the fold. Montgomery painted a very realistic picture of the kind of hypocrisy and double standards that exist in any church group.
In Chapter 16 Tit for Tat, we find that Faith went to ask the town bully, who was moneyed but would not darken the doorway of any church, to contribute to her father(the parson)'s salary and to return to her church. She was frightened alright but she would not back out of what she had decided to do. At first she was cowed by the bully shouting at her and run. But as she became angry, she marched back to give him a piece of her mind. Interestingly, he found it fun to have a young spunky girl telling him off. He changed his mind and apologized, promising to support Faith's father and to attend the church once a month. To throw in a bonus, he told Faith he would make sure his relative would return to church and cough out her share of the parson's pay too.
Then in Chapter 34 Una visits the Hill, Una took it upon herself to go to ask Miss West to change her mind and marry her father, even though she was dead afraid that Miss West would become a terrible step mother who would turn her father against her and her siblings. She promised Miss West that she and her brother and sister would be good and obedient, if she would only agree to become their step mother. As she could not stand seeing how unhappy her father was, after Miss West refused to marry their father(she thought the children were the reason for the refusal).
Montgomery really did a good job describing a trio of motherless children who are brave, loyal, just, well meaning, selfless and commendable. Sometimes I think the traditional Christian community is not the easiest place for any parson or pastor's children to grow up in. No wonder it is common for a pastor's sons to go wayward for years before returning to the fold. Montgomery painted a very realistic picture of the kind of hypocrisy and double standards that exist in any church group.
(764) Observations from high school reunion
It was a reunion tea in honour of a class mate who visited from Canada. So far, she visited once in two years. She married late in life, she was about ten years behind us. The first few times we met her, we married mothers of many years were basking in her newly-wedded bliss that lasted longer than ours because she missed out of the short biological clock for child-bearing.
This time, however, the honeymoon was over. For the very first time, she expressed her frustration over the mid-life changes that each married man undergoes by different decisions that often drive his wife up the wall. We the old timers who, in spite of whatever nonsense we rationally put up with to stay married, knew that not everyone can be happily married ever after. We look knowingly and smiled at each other while our long been away buddy unloaded all the stored up negative feelings. There is something about confessing to childhood friends whom one used to fight battles over desk space with wooden rulers. All barriers come down and we all know that no one would dream of using such information against an old friend.
Whoever wanted to react to what was said had their two minute slot. Our moderator Bessie chose to pass the invisible mike to Evie. Now I must explain that Evie had never said a thing against her husband and children all these years. Those of us in the know are well aware of how her older children bully her and how her husband pushed her to the wall. This time I could see that Evie not only wish to avoid speaking to a bunch of fighting-prone hens, she could only smile bitterly while declining the chance to say her piece.
A few days later, I met Evie's child's tutor. The tutor had resorted to charging a flat rate for once a week tuition and throw in a free weekly session during other children's slot. Those paying children would have 95% of her attention. Whenever the tutor walks to the kitchen for a drink or to the bathroom for a break, the child getting the free session will have momentary guidance, be it composition, comprehension or summary making.
The interesting part is that Evie's family will be moving to a multi-million dollar house soon. Evie had been driving an expensive car worth three times the value of the tutor's apartment. And the shocking thing is I actually told the tutor that looking at that bitter smile and the declining hands pushing the lime light away, I believe Evie if she said she could not afford to pay for twice a week session for her dark horse of a child in terms of exam results.
For I heard through reliable sources that her husband is supporting two wives with children in both families. I can just imagine how Evie needed to juggle her house keeping money while maintaining appearances. Heaven helps her if she let tutoring suck up her personal savings, for hubby had not been treating her well at all. Neither can she hope to depend on her older children, they do not have her interest at heart. As to the youngest who requires so much personal coaching, he has no drive. The only way she can take care of her old age would be to salt up as much hard cash as she can while she works and runs her house.
(763) Unexplained Statistics
This blog has been on since May 2009. To the minute we have 5513 page views, out of which, we have over a thousand page views each for both December 2011and January 2012. I am very thankful for the faithful support of Readers from USA, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, India and France.
What I haven't figured out is that there was one day in December last year when there was a surge of 300+ page views. Later I was more observant, on January 13, there was a record of 403 page views within a 5 hour period. To this minute, there is altogether 581 articles in Ramblingsofadyslexic. From statistics, less than 30 articles registered being read more than 15 times. All I know is that the sudden surge actually happened twice. How, I have absolutely no clue. Possibly from changing the old format to new, I lost my entire data store of detail analysis.
It was interesting that I have been praying and mooting about a Chinese blog. Three days before the first surge I made up my mind to open an account and announced it in a prayer meeting. With Michael's help I did that and posted my first Chinese blog right before January 13. When I saw the second sharp spike, I actually rubbed my eyes and went to wash my face. So far nothing as such happened after the second and third posting. Perhaps it is co-incidence. May be not! So from this point on, I have two blog sites to look after. This English blog is my free and easy site, I write anything that caught my fancy. As for the Chinese site, each blog has been instructed by higher power. Sometimes it came when I prayed for prolonged period in tongues. Others as soon as I hit publish, that very second I knew exactly what I was to write about next.
I know it will be difficult for anyone to accept this. I assure you I don't lie. I am merely good at telling a yarn. This is not one. But I suppose it is easier to share this here than telling it any where else, I don't really want to be labelled as a zealot. I am just a very ordinary person who work hard at using my talents for God.
What I haven't figured out is that there was one day in December last year when there was a surge of 300+ page views. Later I was more observant, on January 13, there was a record of 403 page views within a 5 hour period. To this minute, there is altogether 581 articles in Ramblingsofadyslexic. From statistics, less than 30 articles registered being read more than 15 times. All I know is that the sudden surge actually happened twice. How, I have absolutely no clue. Possibly from changing the old format to new, I lost my entire data store of detail analysis.
It was interesting that I have been praying and mooting about a Chinese blog. Three days before the first surge I made up my mind to open an account and announced it in a prayer meeting. With Michael's help I did that and posted my first Chinese blog right before January 13. When I saw the second sharp spike, I actually rubbed my eyes and went to wash my face. So far nothing as such happened after the second and third posting. Perhaps it is co-incidence. May be not! So from this point on, I have two blog sites to look after. This English blog is my free and easy site, I write anything that caught my fancy. As for the Chinese site, each blog has been instructed by higher power. Sometimes it came when I prayed for prolonged period in tongues. Others as soon as I hit publish, that very second I knew exactly what I was to write about next.
I know it will be difficult for anyone to accept this. I assure you I don't lie. I am merely good at telling a yarn. This is not one. But I suppose it is easier to share this here than telling it any where else, I don't really want to be labelled as a zealot. I am just a very ordinary person who work hard at using my talents for God.
Monday, February 6, 2012
(762) Greek Temple / Interesting bldg 54
In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be. Amos 9:11
Exterior-cottage-HTOURS from countryliving.com
(761) Blue Castle by L.M.Montgomery
My daughter borrowed a whole pile of LMM books for her vacation. After she reread Blue Castle, she purred like a kitten and told me that it was very satisfying reading it. There were 218 pages, it was so very romantic but there was not even a hint of sex -- totally wholesome and yet there is nothing prudish about the book.
I simply had to reread it too before I can say anything about it. The first thought is how very universal to have relatives whom one would like to give a piece of one's mind to. I just went through Chinese New Year and met up with most kin. It is just easier to keep one's thoughts to oneself and smile. I envy Valancy who thought she has only one year to live, hence she could be true to herself and say what she meant.
Aren't we all afraid of what will happen to us in our old age? Most people work round the clock to accumulate money that they probably won't be able to finish spending if they live a hundred years! Some kept on the good side of folks whom they hope would leave them money or those whom may look after them in the far off days. Some spent many nights losing sleep over the fear of being old, infirm and alone. How nice it would be to really live and then die suddenly, never grow old! It was totally liberating for Valancy to throw all her nameless fears out of the window and really do what she wanted to for what she expected to be a short life.
It is one thing to shamelessly propose to a supposed scoundrel, and quite another to find oneself married to the sole heir of a multi-millionaire! Valancy has plenty of pluck, she has a lot of luck too! I have to agree with Elizabeth, although this is an out and out fiction, it is somehow extremely satisfying reading this story which will not happen in real life.
I simply had to reread it too before I can say anything about it. The first thought is how very universal to have relatives whom one would like to give a piece of one's mind to. I just went through Chinese New Year and met up with most kin. It is just easier to keep one's thoughts to oneself and smile. I envy Valancy who thought she has only one year to live, hence she could be true to herself and say what she meant.
Aren't we all afraid of what will happen to us in our old age? Most people work round the clock to accumulate money that they probably won't be able to finish spending if they live a hundred years! Some kept on the good side of folks whom they hope would leave them money or those whom may look after them in the far off days. Some spent many nights losing sleep over the fear of being old, infirm and alone. How nice it would be to really live and then die suddenly, never grow old! It was totally liberating for Valancy to throw all her nameless fears out of the window and really do what she wanted to for what she expected to be a short life.
It is one thing to shamelessly propose to a supposed scoundrel, and quite another to find oneself married to the sole heir of a multi-millionaire! Valancy has plenty of pluck, she has a lot of luck too! I have to agree with Elizabeth, although this is an out and out fiction, it is somehow extremely satisfying reading this story which will not happen in real life.
(760) Nightmares
I don't know about your childhood. But throughout my growing up years, I was the one in my family who would scream and woke up the entire family. Up to the age of nine, my parents and three children had stayed in one room in a wooden house.
Childhood nightmares receded as I grew up. The last time I remembered being shaken awake was in my Freshman year by my room mate. I had been making funny noises and woke her up but I went on struggling in bed. True enough, all my bed cloth was in disarray.
When I was in my mid-thirties, all of a sudden the night-mares came back. I would wake up screeching. My heart would be thumping in my chest, my throat would be totally dry and I would be too afraid to go back to sleep in case the terror recur. So I would stay up and read until sun rise. Now one cannot do that too often in a week. It is a good thing that my husband sleeps soundly.
I must have been pretty desperate to request for prayer after the sermon in our preaching point. Anyway, it was my own church's lady speaker. I still remember her prayer. It was simple: just to submit and cover my brain and my entire conscious and sub-conscious mind with the precious and cleansing blood of Jesus. She went on to bless me with the sweet and undisturbed sleep of the children of God. And true to form, until today, no more nightmares! Thanks be to God.
(759) Double Death by Gavin Mortimer
I know little about the civil war between the North and the Southern states except a few paragraphs in my history book in Grade Nine. Hanging out with History majors, I have listened to impassioned lectures that the real issue of that war was economics and not about freeing the slaves. I saw many confederate flags hung in dorm rooms. In the eighties, I talked to quite a few southern old timers who still thought of themselves as confederate supporters. This book is about a civilian, Pryce Lewis, who was in the employ of the military of the North to spy on the South.
It is a shame that he risked the best part of his life to work for Uncle Sam and yet in his old age, they refused him a pension. It is unheard of that a war hero would have to jump to his death when he could no longer work for his own keep. During the time he was working as a spy, he was sentenced to death but later the execution was postponed. After many months of being imprisoned, he was released. It took a writer living in Paris to write out this real story that does not bring any glory to US of A.
Thousands took part in a battle. Hundreds of thousands were involved in a war. Reading a history text may be boring. But it has been interesting reading about a dare devil who infiltrated behind enemy lines. It is difficult to believe that high officials such as General McClellan could seem to be cowardly and indecisive in battles. My buddy the history major is correct, when research is done on a personal level, it is actually exciting to pursue. No wonder she spent hundreds of hours researching whatever interested her for her thesis and hardly slept in her senior year.
It is a shame that he risked the best part of his life to work for Uncle Sam and yet in his old age, they refused him a pension. It is unheard of that a war hero would have to jump to his death when he could no longer work for his own keep. During the time he was working as a spy, he was sentenced to death but later the execution was postponed. After many months of being imprisoned, he was released. It took a writer living in Paris to write out this real story that does not bring any glory to US of A.
Thousands took part in a battle. Hundreds of thousands were involved in a war. Reading a history text may be boring. But it has been interesting reading about a dare devil who infiltrated behind enemy lines. It is difficult to believe that high officials such as General McClellan could seem to be cowardly and indecisive in battles. My buddy the history major is correct, when research is done on a personal level, it is actually exciting to pursue. No wonder she spent hundreds of hours researching whatever interested her for her thesis and hardly slept in her senior year.
(758) Fairy Land / Interesting bldg 51
"The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy." Dan 2:45
tiny-portland-cottage.jpg from rowdy kittens.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)