What my girl has taught me recently...

Dear all,

Lesson 1 - We recently overf the weekend decided to have dinner over in T3 at the Kopitiam..and as usual it was indeed very crowded. We managed to find a place and have a nice meal meal despite of the crowd. Towards the end my girl Tiff insisted that we must return the tray plus the plates and bowls although I pointed out to her that the cleaner is nearby and is willing ot clear the tables for us. In a split second, thoughts came thru and I have to make a decision to go along with her to clear the table ourselves or just simply walk off and let the clearner do the rest. I was hesistant but finally I help her in clearing the table. We return all back to the tray returning point. As we moved off from there, she told me that we must be gracious. Yes indeed, we all must be gracious though most of us are not. I have learnt from her.

Lesson 2 - sometime ago a weekend, I scolded Tiff for something which I think is quite trivial and beat her on the upper arm. The following monday morning, I felt so bad thinking over the incident while at work. I immediately sms her telling her how sorry I am and told her to forgive me. She immediately did and reply saying that "it is OK dad". She has let me feel how is it like to be forgiven. Indeed, I learnt forgiveness and humility.

Well, all this while we as parents always thinks that we have to teach our children. But have you ever think that the reverse can happen sometimes. Sometimes our children can actually taught us a good number of values which we never have realised it our lives.

I thank God for our children for they are a reflection of God;s holy presence in tis world.

AlbertY

Fathers Michael Cheong & Neol Campos from Verbum Dei Order

Dear All

Remember the newly ordained priest Fr Michael Cheong? He and his fellow Singaporean Fr Neol Campos are from the Verbum Dei missionary order. Our priest, Fr Paul Ngo, mentioned that Fr Michael was featured in last week's Catholic News (Sun 31 Jan 10), as he was inspired by Fr Michael's words that he left all as he has found his Treasure and his Treasure is Jesus Christ our Lord.

For those, who may be like me, uninitiated to what Verbum Dei is, here is the quote from the Catholic News:

"Verbum Dei was founded in 1963 in Majorca, Spain by Fr Jaime Bonet, a diocesan priest. Approved in 1969 as an Institution of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church, Verbum Dei's objective is to form apostles of Christ from among people of every state of life, regardless of gender, race and social condition. Its specific contribution to the Church is guiding and directing retreats and recollections, and initiating people in the life of prayer with the Word of God and by building up Christian communities of disciples so that they, too, can be evangelisers to proclaim the Word of God.

Verbum Deicomprises female and male missionaries, as well as missionary couples with a commitment of total availability to mission at service of the Church. Its missionaries first arrived in Singapore on Sep 12, 1997, to set up the first foundation in Southeast Asia."

For your info, both Frs Michael and Neol were university students when they first met the Verbum Dei members. It was after their retreat did they have a transformation from a Sunday catholic to having a personal encounter and conversation with the Lord. Both queried Jesus if they have to be priests then, and Jesus told them no. But finally, they decided to become priests as they have found their treasure and purpose in life. Both turned down great career prospects and even a girlfriend for nothing can compare to the limitless joy with Christ. As Fr Neol said " This is something that gives me spousal joy."

That article touched me and confirms that Jesus is very real and is still with us...when He chose to love us, all of us humankind, He never changes through all eternity, that's why He died on the cross for us. I don't think I dare to have a chit-chat session with Jesus, I'll go bongkas, thinking like St Faustina did..."am I going crazy?" but so wonderful to have a first hand account and witness through these two priests, that Jesus is real and has not abandoned us and is with us...we just need to be still and listen to His gentle prompting and words in order to see and hear Him in our very busy and chaotic lives.

Last night when I held Bert's hand, I thank the Lord for sending Bert into my life. Bert is like a little piece of Heaven to me...he's generosity, love and care is a reflection of Jesus' love for me, heaven made real for me. Again, I selfishly pray that when we die, I should go first, or else both of us, because I don't think I can live without Bert on earth. Bert's mum's death is so final. We can never see her again on earth. I don't think I can bear that if Bert is gone before me.

Love Theresa

Our Fav Haunt - T3

Dear All

As most of you know, 1 of our favourite haunt is T3, however, it seems T3 has also become the favourite haunt of LOTs of other people! It's no longer a quiet sleepy leisurely place to eat and browse at. The Popeye stall is mostly crowded---no seats! The Kopitiam is also very crowded...but we managed to get a place there. The food at the Kopitiam is so much better than the Kopitiam at Whitesands...the hokkien mee stallholder at T3 is less "song-bong" (proud). You should try the ban mian....it's superb...even Felicia who hates ban mian finds it yummy that she practically drool over it even after eating her grilled eel jap food. She even took over the balance of my bowl...it was that huge! It's even more tasty than the hokkien mee Tiffany and Bert were eating..and for those who know me well knows that I love fried food like char kuay teow, hokkien mee and carrot cake, but have to watch my diet now.

The bus ride back on SBS 53 was terrible. Must remember to get on the bus BEFORE the airport staff finish their shift at 10pm. Firstly, we waited soooo long for the bus. Secondly, those foreign workers really have no manners, they don't queue, and worse, this sickening philippina (sounds like a phillipina but could be indonesian) jumped queue just between Felicia and me and pushed herself up the bus...not only that, she had the nerve to get her friend who was behind me to jump queue ahead of me! No way man!! I waited so long for the bus and it was getting packed already. I pushed my big bum into her friend's path and used my arm to hold the door bar as I waited for the woman to go up the bus. Then my girls were about to sit at the 4 seaters along the aisle, this same phillipina who jumped queue in front of me quickly sat down beside my 2 girls and tried to chope the seat next to me for her friend. Bert was gentleman and moved to the side. I quickly ignored her hand and sat on the seat next to her...so she was between Felicia and me. Dare to stare at me somemore....who's in the wrong in the first place! These kind of people with such rude behaviour really ruin your enjoyment of a night out with your loved ones. I try not to let her annoying loud chatter ruin my ride further. The bus was stopping at all the stops for quite some time as more airport staff from the different sectors boarded the already packed bus. I really don't understand what's wrong with SBS. During peak hours, the bus comes late and there's not another bus in sight! Anyway this woman still chatted with her friend who also won't move to the back..she just stood in front of her sitting friend to talk, oblivious to the people around them....and I am truly amazed that the woman next to me can talk without a pause continuously for the entire half hour journey, and boy, was her voice LOUD. Luckily I don't understand tagalog otherwise I would be tortured to hear her endless complaints!

Never again would we leave the airport at 10pm...it's either earlier or else much later!

Love Theresa

Sermon - Wedding at Cana by Fr Michael Chong

Dear All

Last week, a newly ordained priest, right from the mint (so to speak) gave the sermon at Holy Trinity. He was from Holy Trinity when Fr Edward was the assistant priest here with parish priest Fr Paul Tay. That was more than 10 years ago. Fr Michael is from the Missionary Order and after spending 10 years in the Phillipines will return to serve them.

He gave his 2nd Mass as a priest at our 11:15am Mass last Sunday (17 Jan 10). The gospel was on the wedding at Cana. He gave a very insightful sermon. When Mary asked Jesus to do something about the wine, do you realise that when Jesus changed the water into wine, it's like turning our marriage relationship with our spouse from TASTELESS water into the BEST-TASTING wine in the world!! Jesus renews and gives zest to our spousal relationship. Isn't this the ME STORY???

Another insight I have had...Jesus was working miracles during the wedding at Cana....like Jesus is VERY PRESENT at our wedding at the altar and in our current married life. Jesus was at all the sacraments of the church -- the baptism, confirmation (presentation of the Lord), wedding, priesthood (go and give the good news to the ends of the earth), death (Jesus dying at the cross), anointing of the sick (many episodes where he heals the sick and brings those who are dead back to life). Not sure if all these are the sacraments but the point is, Jesus is present at every stage of our human and church life.

Back to the Cana story, another point which I had discussed with Bert was, did you notice that the 6 jars that were filled to the brim was being served to the guests? Just like our marriage, our spousal love and Christlike example must be a light for all to see (Like in Deeper weekend...the lighthouse thingy - a bit of a spoiler for those who have yet to attend Deeper)....and yet another point....the jars of wine was finite...it WILL run dry....so will our marriage sometime hit a dry point. The important thing is, and this is the difference if we have Christ in the centre of our marriage....we must always turn to Christ (pray to Him) to fill up our empty jars again. However, we cannot be passive...we must actively participate by filling up the 6 large jars ourselves with water (whatever we have to offer) and then He can work His miracle of changing what we offer into the best-tasting wine ever. Just like the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, Jesus wants us to actively offer whatever we have to Him before He does His miracle. Just like He wants us to pray and "ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened to you)...it is us who need prayers, not the Lord. But in praying and offering ourselves, we become better people and instruments through which God can use to reach out and to touch others.

I don't know about you, but I just realised how rich the gospel of the Wedding at Cana is. I am glad the wedding couple knew Mother Mary and invited her whole family to the wedding, for indeed they are blessed. This is truly the ME story imbedded in the Bible of the Church.

Love Theresa

House Blessing - 16 Jan 10

Dear All

As you all know by now, we have shifted to our new home on 10 Dec 09. We were super duper bz as the tenant in our new home had to extend his stay by a few days, and since our budget was tight, our reno was considered a small job by the renovators, so they left our job to the very last minute...i.e. dragging the completion to the end of the agreed 5 weeks from the day we got the keys from the tenant on 9 Nov. The poor guy was rushing to move his barang to the next block (yes, he loves this area that much!!) that he literally left holding his pants as he passed the keys over to us!! (It was quite comical actually). Half hour later, we handed the keys to our reno guy. It was THAT tight!

Being near to Christmas, we didn't want to trouble the priests to bless our house. Furthermore, we had the tedious task of unpacking and getting the girls ready for school. Luckily they do not need to change school, just the school bus. I was anxious when school started as I was just getting used to the place. It's so different from Melville...what I missed most was the minimart, followed by the cafeteria. Next was the traffic lights...we don't have one here. However, this place is a gem....we have numerous bus services that practically brings you to 4 MRT stations and the airport too, not to mention a direct bus to school, and a shorter travel time to work for Bert also.

Anyway, back to the house blessing...it was kept to just immediate family members. As it was held on a Sat at 11am (the time when Fr Albert Ng is free) most family members on my side were not free. Only my parents and William, my bro and Bert's bro and sister-in-law came. I guess I've come to the stage that I don't feel disappointed anymore about family members not showing up...I came to accept that people are bz just as my mum has come to accept that after talking to Fr Timothy. Otherwise, we will be "controlled" by other's actions (or inactions). I happily fried what Bert requested....fried bee hoon, but without dark sauce, as anything with caramel is not good for his bro, who has to abstain from certain food. I also made "instant" honey glazed chicken wings and chicken ham sandwiches (as my mum's maid was eagerly waiting to see our new home, and she's muslim, so everything cannot have pork). I was so touched that the maid and my dad were SOOOO looking forward to this day. Mum says this may be the first and last time dad will come to our home as he's immobile. So we spent the WHOLE day here....walking them to the pool and watching my bro and Felicia swimming. Then we ta-pow dinner from Loyang Point from the 2 food centres and mcdonalds there for the family. All in, it was a good day.

Mum and dad were especially happy as they have requested, and Fr Albert had given, them anointment AND as a bonus, Holy Communion too!! Fr was so nice....he started by chatting with us first, and we got to know him better. He is a down to earth priest who is so people oriented as he had experienced a near death incident and survived a bad stroke. I guess that's what made him so "human" and personal in his approach to us. We are so blessed to have him at Holy Trinity, especially when we got this house...we were wondering which priest to call, then God sent Fr Albert!!

Love Theresa

1st LC Gathering at our new home - 9 Jan 10

Dear All

This is kind of belated, but we are happy to have you "warm" up our new home. Although not all couples were able to make it, we had a good sharing session. Our sharing question was:

Select 1 behaviour or characteristic of your spouse that you wish you had and explain why you find it endearing to you. HDMAMMF. Love Theresa & Bert