How Food bonds........

Yesterday i was treated along with more than 20 of us volunteers to a dinner by the generosity of one of our volunteers nephew. Mr Lim has bought us lunch many times over, and may God bless him for his generosity.

I should have taken some photos, but i did not, so lets leave it be. However i must say that i am really believing that food does bond people. 2 weekends ago, as a couple from our church leave for Australia, we had a farewell lunch for them. It was nice to laugh and get to know others outside of church. It was really fun!!!Thus, the other day when i saw some disunity i thought about this fellowship thing, of just getting together for fun! How true it is that food bonds people.

i am resolved to make this happen a little more this year.........

Yes!!! Kinda proud of myself, well kinda anyway...

That's a resounding YES because I am very proud of myself today...and why, but for a couple of reasons.. Well, one of the things was being able to go into the kitchen after 6pm because i did do some work today, but yikes, the phone bill is going to be mighty high this month. Good to know that i could just switch off and head for the kitchen... Glad my thoughts were sorted as my hands started with attending to the thawed puff pastry as i cut and rolled the sardines, pack them in a nice little tub, all prepared and only to egg wash and bake them. You do not know what a GOOD FEELING it is to know on thursday, there will be no rush, even if i need to pick any of the patients as i will be a cool cucumber ready and relaxed. Mind you, to me this is an incredible feat to have done something ahead and prepared as i am too much a spontaneous and last minute decision person, and then stress myself up because i want to do this and that!

Was nice also to go clear the fridge and attempt again my yummylicious tomato pasta sauce. Thank you Lord that first born is at least taking fish, and not totally vegan. Nice to know also Princess will be coming to savour the pasta and that i cleared the fridge using salami etc. Lord, i pray for a good time tomorrow with my princess. Sigh........now as i finish my blogging of being proud of myself, i am going to try my hand with that lemon curd. Gosh, did not realise lemon jams can be so rich and unhealthy!!!

And why the blogging and the hype for all this. Well, one of my resolutions, or shall i say aspirations for 2010 is THINKING, PREPARING and BEING PUNCTUAL. Just nice, being able to do some work, and then get in the kitchen to do "my thing", preparing food and being ok that it is going into the freezer. I use to have a "Yuks no no" to place food in the freezer.

And now to continue as much as possible to prepare what i want to wear the next day which will translate to less stress, less rush and that indeed is such a good feeling... Today, i gave my blog address to someone, a fellow blogger...and yikes i feel so strange, guess now someone is really going to read what i put pen to paper on. The fan is blowing, am in the dining and thoughts are going to my lemon curd...

Thank God also for Mrs Wong, Father I just commit this deal to you. Lord, thank you for the way Mrs Wong wants to deal with me...this is your favour indeed. Well, thank you that in the natural, you give me the gift to handling the phone call so well that the unexpected happens and Mrs Wong calls me....WIth you Lord, all things are possible. Truth be told, i shall write to Catherine and Geoffrey to pre empt them that Mrs Wong chose to work with me...Thank you Lord however the deal will turn out.

Thank you Lord for a good day, thank you Lord we had a good chat with TsiTsi and bless and use them in their church. Thank you Lord that Sandra and Dr Jega are willing to accept our farewell lunch invite. Thank you Lord for everything,new friends....your love and your faithfulness...I exalt thee....

A journal to pen Happy Thoughts...

I received this belated Christmas present from ..... who enjoys "biting my head", but has an awesome wonderful heart! The book jogged my memory about just putting pen to paper good and happy moments, and as i wrote to thank this person, i shared this reminder of 1 corinthian 13:4 ie to cut the drama and crap in life, and just live cheerfully. The word of God says "Love records no wrongs, and love never fails"

Firstly, this book brought to mind my first happy thought for the year...As i laid my head on my pillow in my room all cleaned, and as i lay...I was truly HAPPY i could enjoy the wonderful clean and crisp bedsheets as i snuggled in my bed...Real joy. My first entry in this Happy Journal was the happy and elated emotions when i received a reply from my cousin in Australia that i could stay in her house i were to visit!!! Yippee, though she said i could have her study and sofa bed, it was a place i could stay in and not have to worry about hotel costs etc. I googled about train rides from Sydney to Townsville where the wedding would be and I am excited and happy about the prospect of this trip.

My fellow volunteer friend reminded me what makes him happy, to be happy even when his bagel was toasted rightly!!! Now, how is that for gratitude!!! I am happy, just being able to sit here although it is past 8am. Still donning part of my pjs( covered up for decency) as i hear the traffic swish by and the birds not necessarily singing but crowing........Yes, crows are a creation of God too!

I am happy that though i had tears last night with a church situation, i realise and remember this is part of life in the world and i need to learn to cope with it. I am happy i have a good brain and heart to be aware that there are times i have to let go and let things happen. I am happy that i thought of my mom's journal which i never finished and how it could be done for about RM200....

I am happy because i have so many things going on in my life. I am happy that though i awoke early, i connected with God in my prayers.. and had a girlfriend to talk to.

Thank you Lord i am happy, because you love me

God's Lesson using my anklet...

This morning as i awoke at 3am, tried to get back to sleep but intermittently only. Was up then at 5am as needed to send my princess to the sentral station for her flight to Taipei.

When i got back and spent some quiet time, i glanced at my anklet which i had looped to tighten as part of it was dangling more than it should, and causing me to step on it etc. I then began trying to untie it, and tried as i did, it did not untangle itself. Being in the stillness of things, what came to mind was what happens when we entangle ourselves with things we should not and then we end up being entrapped. My mind went to my princess and concern of whom she was befriending. Whilst i said it is ok to know them, she need to be wary not to spend too much time with them. How could i send this message across and God's lesson of entanglement to her....

The harder i try, the more difficult it became as the chains were just so tiny, it was almost locked in. Then, I remembered my sister's advice that in life, there will be distractions but we were to focus on Jesus, His righteousness and His kingdom. I remembered also the word in this book i am starting to read about praying for your adult children and how we do not only politely pray, but pray fervently.

I looked at the anklet and then in my breath, said Lord please help me to teach my princess, to tell her how she could be entangled, and help me how to disentangle and solve this issue.......Miraculously as i lift gently and gently, the chain was disentangled at a blink of an eye, so effortlessly . I just witnessed a miracle as God showed me when i turn to Him and plead and hand over the reigns, He will do it effortlessly for me.....Thank you Lord for this lesson, thank you Lord for this letting me experience once again your miracle. People who hear about this or read this may not understand, but i know Lord and that you spoke and showed me this miracle of effortless when we turn to you and ask you. How i praise you Lord, how i ask you forgive me for trying to handle things on my own.......

In Jesus name......

Pause on hosting.......

It's 4th of January, and i would like to think that this evening is the last of the celebration of having people over for a meal. The newly weds were my last guests on the few i have hosted...3 dinners and 1 tea meal...that's quite a bit for me.

I am glad though today's food turned out well. I think i have to say my speciality is pasta, not the chicken etc. The tomato paste, chunky tomato with a twist balsamic vinegar and brown sugar was nice. It was a nice touch to place the garlic bread in between the spaghetti...nice novelty design effect.

It was nice of Wyn and Paul to come by before leaving tomorrow. It was nice to have a simple meal in the nice ambience of my D'Patio. i am glad i did not do what i did this afternoon, spaghetti for the girls with my regular anchovies and smoked salmon and pine nuts. I want to put the receipe down, as truly i think the pasta tonight was yummylicious as some people say. Having pesto on my garlic toast was also nice, and then having the balsamic to dip....

Have been good so far as writing expenses down, Just need to ensure it continues and also need to buy the girls a book each to encourage them. It was a good time to fellowship and thank you Lord for Michelle being open to the suggestion i gave her. Lord just continue your wonderful work with my daugther

Getting a little sleepy now, but hair still wet. OK, download some pics

Reflecting 2009 and welcoming 2010...

Time is something once passed, does not come your way yet again. It's past midnight ie 2nd of January 2010...a new decade,a new year. I felt so good yesterday as i set and determine to do the chores i wanted to....Clean my room and give away stuff. It was so nice to smell clean sheets when i got home at almost 2am. It was nice to clean my chest of drawers and my dressing rack, well that is what it is just a white shelf stuck on the wall with a mirror. So nice to clean and clear things, so nice to know i was coming to fresh clean white sheets and my white comforter... Took mom's decor teddy and it now sits accompanying me on the bed.

It was nice to put the cuckoo clocks at the dining room. It was just too much money to pay to repair the clocks.....over RM200 and over RM500!!! Mom bought hers at RM100 many many years ago, and my other cuckoo is almost brand new...Am glad i did not chuck it away as i always do that with things that do not work......am glad they became nice decorative items on the wall all 3 of them. Am glad i also bought the runner which fits so well my cabinet at the entrance of the house......I just love pretty things and i love to make things pretty and the rug or runner was something i just had to bring back home.

Ok, so much for stuff, now for the human side of things. Firstly, had a wonderful though brief time for breakfast with Princess as she was off to Melbourne. It was nice to just to spend time with her, eat with her and pray with her. Though it was simple old roti canai telor at D'Patio...I just love the morning. We talked briefly about things and taking a box of my choc chip cookies to share with her crew..i took few candid photos of my Princess...

Reflecting...? As i was in my sister's church yesterday, i just shed tears in my eyes when i saw and realised my god son and god daughter were up in the front worshiping God, Cheryl was playing and dancing with the tambourines as Kevin sang in the choir. Nice to see my brother in law lifting his hand worshiping God. I thought to myself, what joy it is for a parent to see and know that your children are serving God, and walking in His path and will....What Joy indeed it is. I felt God's presence and my mind went to 2009 and what happened. The title of the service is Thanksgiving to God for 2009. I am glad my friend hosted a dinner at her home, and I am thankful for the sandwich she made with pickles and chips.

I could list so many things to thank God for....I thank God for letting me start and going to Medan for Missions, not once but twice. I thank God for letting me go for my angio gram, otherwise I would not know or take seriously my hypertension which is now under control. I thank God for the opportunity and friendships he has given me. I thank God for His provisions and so timely always. I thank God for my children, for Him to looking after them, for a wonderful relationship we have. I thank God for letting me remember that i must let my spirit rule and not flesh. It is not about ourselves. I thank God for everything. I thank God I am able to sit and type right now to thank Him. Sigh.......there are just so many things to thank Him for. I want to journal more, and yes maybe write all these little testimonies. Mr Ong from Serdang's Ordinary Man's Stories is something I really enjoy reading.

This morning as i spent some time with God, I thought about how to be more structured in my reading and i divided the Psalms. Well, after i down load some photos, i need to retire...It is half twelve now and I just THANK GOD for His faithfullness. I am proud and glad how God used my brother to invoke a spirit of live and peace today. His sending wishes and the effort of calling and speaking prompted to do some things. I messaged people whom i feel needed the touch of God and it was so inspiring and warmth to my heart. Yes, hair is still wet so i cannot beddie bye yet.