Ash Wednesday 02.06.08...

Today is ash wednesday.. it is also the eve of the Lunar New Year the fast and abstinence is held yesterday.

I took half day leave yesterday (02.05.08) in the afternoon and bought some groceries on my way back. I have 4 slices of bread with peanut butter and tuna with water go with to stick to the tradition of this day. Again slept in the whole part of the afternoon and went to church for the imposition of the ash in the evening. During the sermon, Fr Tim reminded us that the tradition of imposition of ash on our foreheads has 2 significance namely, one, is to remind us to repent from sin and second, is remind us that we are dust, and dust we shall return one day. After mass, we sort of compare among ourselves who has the most black ash cross mark on our foreheads....we laugh among ourselves...after mass we went down to the MacDonalds at Tampines Neighbourhood to have dinner..I did not have much except a cup of ice coffee and some french fries (BTW, they are now serving prosperity burger at the Macs)

Today (02.06.08) being the actual day, marks the start of the 40 days to Good Friday. It is a period of reflection, repentance and penance and fasting. In the gospel yesterday, we are reminded that, if we have to fast, do not tell the whole world about it otherwise you will be losing all that you have been gaining and storing up in heaven. Same with giving alms...do not let the left hand know what your right hand is doing.

We were on half day today, so went back at about 12 pm after attending NYP Staff "Lo Hei" with my wonderful colleagues..towards the evening, things are pretty much quieter than usual. About 4pm, we wwent down for a swim, as today is unusually warm, so we just sit by the pool snacking away with Yes! 93.3 playing on my constant companion in the background. We have simple a family dinner at home - just the 4 of us. (Myself, T, T & F). Here is the menu:

Dish 1 - Hand crafted by me and cooked by me

Dish 2 - Designed, Hand crafted and cooked in this high temperature batch reactor by my the other half.

Dish 3 - Synthesised and transformed by my the other half also. She has now completely reprofile from what used to be a successful career woman to a successful homemaker. Congratulations! .....on the completion of your reprofiling career.

After dinner, we went down to walk about checking it our on our surroundings and end up by the pool....just look at the pool at the background....nobody..so we chatted under the moonlight shadow. Here is me and my the other half. [Note my Sunway Lagoon slippers]

Walking back from pool at 10 pm still can see a lot of homes having reunion and also in the function room, a family is still having fun...what a nice feeling to see families coming together and being happy, happy together. This gives me an insight of what heaven is like...

To complete the evening, Fel and myself watch this:

That's is how we spent our eve CNY....2008..more coming your way!

Albert Y

Reflections on Last Sun (3 Feb 08) sermon & today's Gosple (5 Feb 08)

Dear All

With regards to Albert's blog today (see below), I remembered Fr Joseph's sermon on the Beautitudes on 3 Feb 08. He said that for human sufferings like death or natural disaster that are out of our control, we just have to accept them. For other sufferings like Albert just shared, these are actually man-made. Whatever sufferings we have, we should try to relate them to the kingdom of God like in the beautitudes. See how we can glorify them and offer them to the Lord. An eg Father gave was, if a man divorces his wife and the wife remains faithful by not marrying another even though her husband has married another. This woman is acting out her faith by being truthful to the teachings of the church. Her suffering will be glorified by God. That is living out the beautitude.

Today's reading on Mark 5:21-43 has touched me. There were 2 stories in there about our faith & trust in the Lord. Indeed, it seems all the readings of yesterday & today is about our human sufferings whether from natural causes (like death & illness) or man-made (like jealousy & hatred) and our turning to God for help in our afflictions. It is interesting that prior to the news that the Jewish officer's daughter is dead, a woman was healed by just touching the cloak of Jesus and Jesus said to her that it was actually her FATIH that healed her. I believe this incident of the healing of the woman was addressed specifically to the Jewish officer to have faith in Jesus although his daughter has already died. Jesus next says to the Jewish officer in Mk 6:36 "Fear is useless. What is needed is TRUST". Then Jesus went to visit the little girl and told her to get up, and she woke up.

Time & time again, I realise that God is speaking to me to have faith in Him. As I had shared with you earlier, my faith in God is shaky especially when it comes to my death. I'm afraid there is no heaven. Will I go to heaven if there is one? Who will meet me when I die? These are questions I have. As Albert said, whether I believe or not, it doesn't change the fact that we all will die one day. He says to see creations beauty surrounding us. There must be a creator for them. I asked him what about the big bang theory & that scientists found that everything is made of carbon & molecules. And the question I always had since I was a little girl was, if God made everything, then who made God? Answer was always given that God made Himself. So my next question was, then why can't the universe just made itself and everything else unfolds through evolution? I never had any satisfactory answers to the mysteries of life. Yet I strive to continue with creating an intimate communication with Jesus. When I see my mum-in-law lifeless body, I was stunned when Albert said that what we see is only her shell.

As I reflect on Albert's words & today's gospel, I realise that it's true that everything is made from carbon. But what breathes life in this "shell" we carry around must be from someone higher - God. Jesus tells me to have FATIH and to TRUST in Him as I continue in my intimate communication with Him. Just like what I told Albert last night. Whenever he comes back late from work, I get a little worried that he may be seeing another woman outside. I told him I am worried if he is late & the reason for my fear. In married life, we have to TRUST in our spouse and have FAITH in them that they are living out our marriage covenant to be faithful to each other. Just like God's covenant to us. It's all based on Faith & Trust in each other and continued intimate communication with each other. Our relationship with our spouse is very much like how we should maintain an intimate communication with God.

Sorry for the long-winded sharing.

Love Theresa

As I was passing by....

A couple of things I witness the past few days when I am out...

Firstly, on the last saturday, 2 Feb 2008, when I was waiting patiently at the CPF office Tampines and a couple of minutes into my waiting, there was quarrel broke out between 2 men far from where I was seated. Apparently there was some dispute about queing for something at the office. They started gesturing each other and the lady officer tried to calm them down and after a minute or so, she managed to isolate them and slowly all return back to normal with some shouting still ongoing and trickle down to a stop eventually. I was worried that a fight may broke out...From where I was seated, it was really a trivial matter and the really there was no queue at that morning..so why the quarrel, I dunno...

This morning, I boarded a crowded bus on my way to work and a quarelling married couple stood next to me..so can't be help, heard almost everything. It was something like the wife has given her hubby a lot of chances but then..then the hubby reply..."OK..then do what you like and what you wish" and she reply even more angrier..both were quarelling when I alight at my bus-stop and I can sense that man is containing his anger by keeping his voice down to as normal as possible in the midst of his quarrel.

When I reach office this morning, my close colleague relate to us that his father-in-law is in terminal stage of cander and told us that he (father-in-law) asked for forgiveness from all close family members and is now at home. We all felt very sorry for him....and I also advise him on the administrative aspect should a loved one passes away at home. A doctor who is willing to certify the cause of death should be called to the home and a Certificate of Caused of Death will be issued. With that, the registration of death can be done at any police post and then a copy of the Death Cert will be issued. the undertake cannot proceed without this important document. This procedure is made easy should one passes away at a government restructured hospital where everything is done there and then.

Another close colleague of mine also relate to us he has problems with the maid and have sent her back home and now he is left in a lurch without a maid to take care of his 2 young children. He is still thinking of alternative plans and told him that if he needs any help, let me know and I will see how I can help him.

In summary, thinking back... life present to us a lot of trying moments and some of these times, if we just paused for minute or also, and put things in perspective, life can be a little better...the outcome can be better. We are already so overburden with incidents and events that are so absolutely beyond our control, so can make a decision to make life better in the midst of our challenges in life by promoting peace and harmony within ourselves.

Jan 2008 is now come and gone but it will remain in my heart forever. The events that unfold during this month....still very clear in my mind now but I just have to let go and move on.....

Bye for now......

God Bless and cherish the moment with your loved ones, ALWAYS!

Albert Y

How we intend to spend our CNY

Dear All

I like the pix Bert had chosen of Felicia as Princess Felicia. I spent the afternoon photo-shooting her during her transformation from plain but cute Feli to glamour puss Princess Feli. She received a lot of 'wow' from the other mothers during the cat-walk as she improvised by giving the victory sign (as shown) instead of what the staff showed them to do.

Coming back to what we intend to do for CNY...since we have cancelled our reunion dinner with my bro, Edmund & our parents, we'll just have our own 4-some gathering. Starting from tomorrow (5 Feb- Tue), we'll be attending the Mass and imposition of ashes, which we had not participated in for many years since the kids were born. As my sis doesn't want us to visit her, we'll be skipping the 1st day "pai-nian" with my parents & siblings from my side of the family. So instead, we intend to spend our 1st day of CNY in church for Mass and the blessing of mandarin oranges. Since my mum & dad don't "pan-tang" (they say they are old already, so if have to go, have to go lah!) we'll join them 1st day nite for dinner. Mum wanted us to spend the 2nd day with them, but Bert is not in the mood to meet my other relatives - quite a sham to wish them happy new year when you are still griefing internally. So instead, we'll spend it at Jurong house (as we usually do when Bert's mum is around) with his bro & family. I think it's a beautiful idea to get-together with loved ones that are going through the same griefing period. Just a simple gathering. We need to settle the photo for mum's niche as well.

In the evening of 2nd day, most likely we'll spend in church again for 1st Fri of Lent Mass and stations of the cross. We've been missing all these preparations for Lent in the past due to the CNY festivities, but I think it's timely we should spend time with the Lord and get some spiritual food during this time, as we all need it to sustain us through this difficult period in our life.

Here's wishing you all lovely couples & friends, Happy Lunar New Year of the Rat! (Poor Tiffany is sad that ah-ma has to pass away in her year of the Rat. I had already put up the CNY Rat deco on my front door prior to all these, so she's feeling kind of blue).

Love Theresa

Wah! Wat a busy, busy weekend....

Wah, so busy over the weekend...not becoz of CNY since we are not celebrating tis year...
to start with... went back to Jurong on Friday evening after visiting my Industrial attachment students and to continue to clear my things and as well as my mum's things (as earlier T n myself have dialogue) and come to a conclusion to leave some of the memories behind is best to have it rented it for the time being. I don't have to go over to Jurong so often if there is somebody looking after the house and this will lessen the impact of recalling the memories there. So there I got myself busy clearing lots of things....imagine 14 years worth of junk (my junk actually) to clear. Guess what? The curtains in the rooms... it was there hanging for 14 years.. I have taken them down now and they go direct into the rubbish chute. The house is like a place frozen in time for 14 years. [When my mum is alive there, I don't clear things there as I tried to prevent dust from flying around in the house as my mum's condition is very sensitive to the surroundings] My mother's things....so so painful to clear...but have to bite the bullet and do it once and for all. So I clear, clear and clear all the things but still a lot more to clear..

Saturday came and I down to CPF Tampines to close mum's CPF account (wah everywhere also ang, ang with CNY decor (Red, red, everywhere)...procedure is easy, cheesy..just produce death cert and own I/C but the cash will be in 2 months time. Told bro will hand over the money to him once received. Afternoon, attend children's birthday party at Curly n Spike, UE square...1st time there but Tiff was rather bored so we ate tea time at Delifrance...it was yum yum. It was a rather big portion so we share.. It was a rather slow moving, sleepy afternoon as we ate and watch the rain from where we seated inside at the Delifrance. Quite relaxing actually. Fel was having lots of fun at the birthday venue upstairs (Curly n Spike)..she was a princess for a day..Here is Princess Felicia..


Went back dead tired and slept from 5pm till 8 pm alomost forgotten about dinner till 9pm and start to look for food..call MacDelivery but told it has to be 1 hr arrival..WAT? Drive out to grab some food and "Ta Pau" back.

Sunday came, went to church as usual and you know wat? Fr Joseph (from the St Mary's of the Angels) gave the sermon...I told myself....the last time you came to our church was the day my mother was about to passed away..so wat now this time? I experience a sudden fright in me but it came and gone, Fast.. Anyway, it was just a thought that flashes across my mind and the sermon was beautiful. It was raining whole day so we went back to sleep for the most part of the day (my fav pastime besides running)...and later went to in-law's place for dinner.. we have crabs since for the very long time I can recall..yum, yum and we discuss piano shifting. Father-in-law also reminded us not to sell Jurong house (same advise as my mum when she was still very much alive)....so will take their advice and keep the house.

(P.S. ...if Felicia is a Princess...so that means I must be a King then? Rite?...he!he!)

Bye for now and Cheers!

God Bless!

Albert Y

Most Embarassing Moments (experienced by Felicia)

This happened last Fri (1 Feb 08) at school. Felicia's 2 most embarrassing moments were:

1) Missing out the intonation of St Josephine Bakhita when leading the closing prayer after recess over the PA system. The whole school assembly laughed at her. Her form teacher helped her by letting the assembly know that it is her 1st time leading the prayer.

2) Returning the class attendance to the staff room and meeting a group of aunties. She wished them "Good morning Aunty" when it should be plural.

Tiffany told her point (2) was no big deal, as she usually just wish them "Hi!" which is worse than what she had done.

So much for embarrassing and stressful moments from a child's perspective :)

Love Theresa

Weekly Readings (4 Feb 08) from Trinity Church Bulletin

Mon, 4 Feb

2Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 Ps 3 Mk 5:1-20

Tue
2Sm 18:9-10 to 19:3 Ps 86 Mk 5:21-43

Wed
JI 2:12-18 Ps 51 2Cor 5:20-6:2 Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Thu
Dt 30:15-20 Ps 1 Lk 9:22-25

Fri
Is 58:1-9a Ps 51 Mt 9:14-15

Sat
Is 58:9b-14 Ps 86 Lk 5:27-32

Love Theresa