Give thanks and thanks giving

I spent a few days in NY city last week for work.  Compared to a year go, the city looked a tad tired, after being struck by several ‘traumas’ over the past decade – 9/11, Irene hurricane and now another super storm Sandy...

Instead of “How are you?”, people greeted each other with “Have you got power?". A lot were affected by the recent hurricane and lost their homes overnight. The irony is, most of the ubber rich who lived in beach houses had to seek refuge at friends' or relatives' because there were no power and water at home! To make matters worse, it’s winter time now! The city was not well prepared for Sandy because noone took the hurricane warning seriously because such notices come every other week, especially this season.

9 out of 10 people that I met were also disappointed that Obama won the election. There was a hilarious story that went around - a woman ran over her husband because he did not vote for Obama (??!).

The city was in need of some spirit-lifting activities- skating at Rockfeller Centre, putting up the big Christmas tree in the city centre and Macy’s thanksgiving balloon parade. People have more things to give thanks this Thanksgiving, especially little things in life that were taken forgranted previously...

I am really grateful to be in this part of the world. Good weather. Good food. Good church. And thank God for power and water, despite our usual complains of the price hike…

Blessings

Every night before she sleeps, we say our prayers together and I would pronounce blessings over her.
Every morning on our way to school, daddy M would also do the same, a prayer and blessings.
The blessings can be of favour, wisdom, courage or whatever that comes to our mind.
This morning, we said our usual goodbyes and gibberish stuff. And just before I left the house she said: “Mama (that’s my new name this season), you will have favour today!”.
I thought I heard wrongly and asked her to repeat. “You have favour, mama!”.
I knew immediately that I have to remember this moment and pen it down.

Thank you Jesus.

October's fruit

October was all about THE WEDDING. All things worked out within expectations. It was a beautiful and blissful one. I loved my flowers creation!
Post wedding, a friend encouraged me to set up my own wedding planning business. I seriously considered about it and was almost convinced that I could do it. Flexi hours, doing what I really love, reasonable income... But the thought of having to work on Sunday (ie, giving up Rock Kidz) turned me off. And I stopped dreaming.
From time to time I still wonder, was I using Rock Kidz as an excuse to front the lack of courage to make a switch?
In any case, I am thankful that my dream of becoming a wedding planner was fulfilled… and more importantly, for a dear friend.

Fancy dress party

 "Children may come in their fanciest, crazy, creative and earth-friendly costumes. They will do a catwalk to show their gorgeous costumes.".

That's the instructions given by the school for the fancy dress party. Thank God for the hand-me-down fairy costume. By adding on a 'funky' hairband, we have Crazy, Fancy and Creative! I'm hoping that the butterfly on the hairband is remotely earth-friendly - ie part of God's creation and belongs to mother earth??

Penangites reunited

 

We’ve known each other for an average of 20 -28 years, yet this was our inaugural trip together.

In recent years, the Penangites got closer and I feel that we cherish each other more than before. Shih attributed this to a sign of aging??!!

It all started from a random question during one of our lunches :"Wanna go Bangkok?". It was supposed to be a girls trip but some of us (ahem me) didn’t really want to leave our other halves behind. After all, daddy M needed to top up some cheap and good jeans, T-shirts from MBK and Chat Tu Chak.

So we left S behind and headed for our fuss-free dirty weekend, well not so ''dirty'' if you consider staying in a service apartment with 4 others, spending time chatting (mostly the girls), shopping as dirty.

I have a strong feeling that there might be more trips in the future!

Hello, mommy!

 

A few weeks ago, I called home and a 3-year old answered the phone: "Hello, mommy?".
I was pleasantly surprised that S knew how to answer the phone - we definitely didn't teach her.

Today, I received a call from home and the same 3-year old was on the line: " Hello, mommy? Can I watch TV, pleeeeze?".

This is the phase that definitely needs to be posted for my future reminiscence. I'm not sure if I'm prepared to see her grow so fast... 

Belly fat

In recent weeks, there have been a few comments from colleagues 'hinting' that I have gained weight in my middle.

-" ... you hip has grown sideways"
-"... you're quite meaty"

To top it all, a dear friend messaged me to ask if I'm preggers because of a picture posted on FB! Well, I must say that the picture was taken from a bad angle but I probably can't deny the fact of a bulging tummy!!

I claim the fertility but reject the fats!