To be Happy

                                                      Photograph of Me carrying Isaac

I named him Isaac because God gave a new life to me and the name "Isaac" means laughter, happy. Just like God had given Isaac to Abraham and his wife at old age, God had given me another new life at my older age too.  As I had not learned much about my faith, now that he is attending catechism class, sometimes I am learning from him also -- I had always been learning from my children.  

Received a message from the catechist and I thought it was so good to share over here:

A homily from our pope that's worth a read: 

 *You can have flaws, be anxious, and even be angry, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can stop it from going bust. 

Many appreciate you, admire you and love you. 

Remember that to be happy is not to have a sky without a storm, a road without accidents, work without fatigue, relationships without disappointments. 

To be happy is to find strength in forgiveness, hope in battles, security in the stage of fear, love in discord. It is not only to enjoy the smile, but also to reflect on the sadness. It is not only to celebrate the successes, but to learn lessons from the failures. It is not only to feel happy with the applause, but to be happy in anonymity. Being happy is not a fatality of destiny, but an achievement for those who can travel within themselves. 

To be happy is to stop feeling like a victim and become your destiny's author. It is to cross deserts, yet to be able to find an oasis in the depths of our soul. It is to thank God for every morning, for the miracle of life. Being happy is not being afraid of your own feelings. It's to be able to talk about you. It is having the courage to hear a "no". It is confidence in the face of criticism, even when unjustified. It is to kiss your children, pamper your parents, to live poetic moments with friends, even when they hurt us. 

To be happy is to let live the creature that lives in each of us, free, joyful and simple. It is to have maturity to be able to say: "I made mistakes". It is to have the courage to say "I am sorry". It is to have the sensitivity to say, "I need you". It is to have the ability to say "I love you". 

May your life become a garden of opportunities for happiness... That in spring may it be a lover of joy. In winter a lover of wisdom. And when you make a mistake, start all over again. For only then will you be in love with life. 

You will find that to be happy is not to have a perfect life. But use the tears to irrigate tolerance. Use your losses to train patience. Use your mistakes to sculptor serenity. Use pain to plaster pleasure. Use obstacles to open windows of intelligence. 

Never give up.... Never give up on people who love you. Never give up on happiness, for life is an incredible show.* 

(Pope Francis).

I was just writing about me -- mentioning about "...the purpose of life is to be happy...", and I received this message... what a coincidence...

Buy Me Tea

Very Blessed

 

                                   Photograph showing the dining table laid with food for lunch

I feel so blessed.  Let me count my blessings:  

1.   I have a mother.  

2.  Everyday my mother prepared delicious food and the family gets to eat them. Look at the dining table laid with food.  Aren't they beautiful?  I get to eat my meal with my mother!  On the dining table there were 4 dishes prepared by mum and 2 plates of SongHe white rice.  

3.  I have 3 perfect children. 

4.  The family has a roof over the head.  

5.  Our family members are all healthy.  

Though I had lost our beloved pet and lost my husband and my father, I still feel blissful.  If I had not been converted, I would have no hope and I would be very sad now.  The old me always felt that everyday is the same, nothing new... 

Give thanks with a grateful heart

 

Psalm 106:1 - Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Philippians 4:6-7 -- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Buy Me Tea

White Rice

                                SongHe Thai Hom Mali Rice 5KG, $15.89 from PandaMart

This is my first time buying this brand of white rice -- SongHe, Noble Pine Crane as shown above.  I ordered it from PandaMart delivery.  Normally I buy white rice from Redmart or NTUC.  But that day I had to buy coconut cream and it was raining.  So I ordered grocery from PandaMart.  If ordered above $50 then is free delivery so I purchased a few items from PandaMart above $50.  

                                  New Moon Jasmine Fragrant Rice 5Kg, $8.95 from Redmart

White rice is said to be beneficial for our body.  It contains carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins that give our body energy.  Rice is an amazing source of a variety of B vitamins. Because rice is so rich in B vitamins, eating it helps to improve the health of your nervous system. Eating rice is a sure way to regulate your digestive system. Consuming high-fiber foods like rice also helps to reduce our chances of getting cancer! There are of course more benefits of eating rice and rice is our staple food.  My family almost eat rice everyday as my children loves rice.  They prefer eating rice to noodles.  You can see photograph of the Chinese New Year Reunion dinner which was rice being served too at this post, The Opportune Time.    

For my own preference, I prefer to eat Japonica Rice and it cost $9.90 at Redmart.  But Clara like to eat Jasmine Rice, so I mostly cook New Moon Jasmine Fragrant Rice as it is cheaper.  So that day I try out SongHe, the more expensive rice with many recognition like Trusted brand 2020 (voted by consumers), Influential Brands/Top Brand in Asia, Brand of Singapore and Department of Foreign Trade (originated in Thailand).  It is 100% whole kernel and after eating I think that the difference from this rice and the other cheap one is that this is much 'softer' when ate in the mouth, something like 'glutinous rice' but is not like glutinous rice as it is not sticky at all.  The cheaper rice tend to be 'siap siap' (in Teochew language, like very dry) and not at all 'fluffy' (SongHe rice is like 'fluffy' but not really that kind of real fluffy, and it smell so nice).  

A plate of SongHe white rice for our lunch on 21.2.2022

Buy Me Tea

 

Evangelize a not

 

             Photograph showing the white cross on the cardboard box that Dora had loved.  

To write or not to write.  To hide or not to hide.  Finally I had decided to publicize my blog again after so many months of stopping and 'hiding'.  

I cannot earn much from online.  So I found a job in the childcare industry.  I quit my full-time job after some years working with them.  Now I am back to write again.  Why?  I find that I must 'tell' and 'share' if I had discovered the truth.  I had witnessed IT and I had to share to tell the truth, the truth about Jesus, the presence and existence of God, the blessed trinity.  

I saw on Tik Tok, a man asking or wondering to abort their baby.  He talked until so easy, asking girlfriend to abort the child.  As I had experienced before, I would not advise women to abort their baby anymore!  It's a life lost.  

A life is so precious.  Take my cat for example.  Dora was just gone in an instant on that night of Chinese New Year Eve.  She was our precious cat, giving us joy and companionship all the time of her life.  But just for a moment she was around, but for the next moment she was gone...

Not everybody knows the values of a life.  So I feel that since I had experienced it, I should do something to reveal the truth.  If Jesus shown his love for me and had forgiven my sins, then I should bare all the embarrassment and pluck my courage to reveal the truth.   

The Parable of the Lost Sheep:  … What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.… ~Matthew:18:12-13

Buy Me Tea

Purpose of Life

 

Photograph taken at Church of St Mary of the Angels on 26.12.2021

Is it too late to discover your purpose in life now?  I discovered the meaning of life when encountered Jesus.  During my childhood years, I often had chance to sit in my father or brother's car to travel around.  There were times where we went to far away places like Malaysia, so the journey is extremely long.  The feeling was no good.  I did not feel well sitting in car most of the time.  Sitting in the car, I often looked out of the window and I love to see trees, different sort of trees and plants.  When the car stopped, I would look down, bend my head down on the car seat and I would think of questions.  

I wondered what is the meaning of life -- why parents give birth to children and then children grow up to become adults, married and then the life cycle continue.  I thought why there must be sufferings where the parents died and the children are so sad.  The life cycle of birth, death and sufferings continue like that.  Children crying over the death of parents.  In some cases parents crying over the lost of their premature death of their children.  

I finally came to the realization in the year 2008 where my questions seemed to be answered.  Our lives on earth is to know God as God serve as our parent on earth.  By knowing Him, our burden can be lighten when we shared them with Him.  By turning to Him, we are not walking alone.  Finally, there is someone we can commune to when we needed help.  By our Faith, there is a HOPE.  Hope that on the last day when breathe our last, we will finally able to meet our departed loved ones.  Though we cannot see them after they died, but we know that they still exist.  And it will be everlasting life with God.  

All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.… ~ Matthew 11:27-29

Buy Me Tea

The Opportune Time

 

Photograph showing an early reunion dinner with my mother on 29.1.2022

My mother said she would cook for our reunion dinner on Saturday.  You can see the six dishes on the dining table.  

                                             Photograph of Dora eating chicken at the table

Dora waited at the dining table.  I saw her waiting and so decided to give her a piece of chicken.  She smelled fish, but it was spicy so I did not give her fish.  

On the fateful day, it happened just after our dinner when everyone was free, really free -- even Clara finished washing the dishes.  After the incident, we talked about it, and came to know that Ricsson saw Dora at first at the window.  But we were so used to her walking in and out and nothing happened.  She was so skillful.  So apparently he left her alone.  But moments later, when I was walking to Isaac's room, and at that time, Ricsson was looking for Dora too.  Ricsson saw Dora.  He did not know that was a reflection of Dora or the real Dora outside the window.  Dora looked at Ricsson and she 'fell'.  Ricsson conveyed the message next.   After the incident, we talked and thought and it was like all planned carefully.  Dora 'fell' as though planned, waiting for Ricsson to see her and then waiting for Ricsson to convey the message to me.  I heard the news with disbelief.  It was so unreal.  How can it be?  But still we have to face the music.  

We were suppose to eat Yu Sheng after the dinner, but in the end we need to tend to Dora's departure.  We went downstairs and I saw her lying on the ground.  I quickly carried her in my arms.  She was not dead yet.  I called out, "Dora, you must pull through." and the children helped to search for emergency hotlines to call vet or pet ambulance.  Dora was so weak and warm in my arms.  But later I saw her eyes not the same anymore.  She was gone...

Still we sent her to the vet, Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group.  It was still open during Chinese New Year Eve, a day where many shops closed early.  Carrying Dora in my arms, we took Gojek to 2 Jalan Gelenggang.  Over there, a vet quickly tend to us.  However, he declared Dora's death.  He told us that her legs were broken too.  Her jaw also dislocated.  

The vet brought us to a small room where we could spend the last moments with Dora.  It was a sad moment for everybody yet we were grateful that Dora had chosen to end at this perfect timing where everybody was around.  There were even time allowed for us to grief.  Not only was she obedient, she was so considerate until the end of time.

Buy Me Tea

The Fateful Day

 

A photograph of the beautiful yellow flowers on the tree at our neighbourhood on 31.1.2022

It was a beautiful sunny day.  On this day, people, mostly the Chinese, will celebrate their Chinese Reunion dinner.  My children decided to go swimming on this day.  So we booked the swimming slots and then took a bus to the swimming pool.  

After swimming, we wanted to go Marsiling Mall to eat Fried Kway Tiao, but most of the stalls were closed.  Only some Indian and Malay stalls were opened.  So we decided to go NTUC to buy some food for Hot Pot later at home.  

As soon as we were done shopping, we walked home.  On the way, we saw beautiful flowers as shown above.  The whole tree was blossomed with beautiful yellow flowers.  We stayed there to took photographs and then proceed to go home.  

         Photograph of our dining table on 31.1.2022 (You can see Dora at the top left hand corner)

                           Photograph showing Dora sitting and looking at the dining table

Back at home, we prepared everything for the dinner.  Everyone helped except Ricsson who was sleeping. Isaac shred the carrots, radish and cucumber for the Yu Sheng (Fish Salad).  Clara and me prepared the rest of the dinner.  Dora was so curious.  That was the first time she saw Hot Pot on the table.  She was popping up her head to look at the dining table.  Clara asked me to look at her.  She was so cute.  Then just before dinner was going to be served, Dora was sitting at the dining table.  She also wanted to join us!

During the dinner, Dora waited at the table.  We hesitated to give her Salmon because the soup was not clear.  It was tomato hot pot.  In the end we did not give her anything for that day.  A day before, when we had reunion dinner with my mother, Dora ate chicken for the dinner.  But we soon regretted not giving her Salmon...

After dinner, we cleared the table and I was talking about Dora, counting her age and years with us.  Then we was talking about what time we will have our Yu Sheng.  Clara was in the kitchen washing dishes later.  Ricsson and Isaac were together.  I was busy with some work on the dining table too.  I was not looking at Dora then.  After a while, I decided to walk to Isaac's room.  Ricsson and Isaac were together there.  I could not remember why I walked there.  As soon as I reached Isaac's room, I saw Ricsson standing at the window.  I heard a sound from the window.  The next moment, Ricsson told me about Dora being outside and had fallen...

Buy Me Tea

Proclaim Good News

We Are Sent Into The World 

 I have not update my blog since July 2021. It was 7 months since I last update it. 

Life had been smooth sailing until now, the tragic death of Dora...

Cebest died at the age of 3.  Dora died at the age of 3 too.  Besides this similarities, both seemed to be planned...  Cebest saw the death angel came and Dora's death angel was like being sent.  Her death happened at a 'good' timing...

 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” ~Matthew 26:34 

 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” ~ John 2:19

 Cebest died on 7.6.2006.  I was 'converted' in the year of 2007, the belief of spirits, the spirit returned, and I went back to church, our catholic church.  There, I 'met' Jesus again at the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua in the year 2008.   My sins were forgiven.  I had a new life then.  Isaac was born.

Last year, my father died.  This year, we celebrated his first year anniversary on 25.1.2022.  Then on 31.1.2022, dora died.  Unlike me, I was given a second chance to live.  I was dead but resurrected on 8.3.2008.  I was converted on 31.12.2007.  With all the explanation at night told to Richard and the children as regards to the noise that I heard at night.  

So similarly, I believe that my father would be resurrected after death.  So did Cebest and Dora.  And definitely my unborn baby.  These are not learned in our school.  I had to experience it first hand to believe.  And today I believe that my faith would guide me through the remaining days of my life so that I would eventually meet my dearly departed loved ones again...

  

Buy Me Tea

Fate or destiny

 

                                 Stray cats at Fu Shan Garden on 14 March 2019

Dora was the one in the middle

One afternoon when Isaac came back from school, he saw an incredible sight.  It was the dinosaur playground filled with many cats.  He quickly came home to tell me.  He said he wanted to have a cat.  

As it was my lunch time, I had to rush back to work.  So I quickly went to the playground to have a look.  Wow, there were so many cats, as many as ten!  All the cats were lying around, not moving at all.  Some were adults some were kittens.  We did not know which one to pick.  Then I just heard pick the grey one.  I saw the grey one and I carried it.  I put it in my bicycle's basket and we brought it home.  

The children wanted to name it Dora.  The children were excited to have Dora at home.  I did not know how Dora behaved as I went to work.  When I came home in the evening, I bathed her.  The next day we brought her to the vet to deworm and had vaccination.  The vet told us that she was about two months old.  

From that day onwards, Dora became our family.  As each day passed by, we love her more and more.  She was so adorable and sweet.  

Dora was very skinny.  The vet said she was underweight.  Under our care, she looked better and better each day.  She was so beautiful.  But it was too short a life for her.  She was only 3 years with us, so healthy and pretty.  

If we did not bring her home, what would her life be now?  

Buy Me Tea

Goodbye Dora

 

Rest in peace, Dora... We missed you forever. 

 After Cebest died, this time round, I took good care of her nutrition. I make sure that she ate good food. However, I failed again...

There was time when Dora looked at the altar for so long, not one time but a few times.  She stared at it for so long as though God was teaching her or conversing with her.  I never thought that she would leave so sudden.  I bought so much food and litter for her.  The moment just happened so fast.  It only takes a minute...

Everyone grieved.  Her lost was too sudden that I can't believe it at first.  But it really happened...

'You tried your best'.  Isaac comforted me.  Thanks Isaac.  

Buy Me Tea