Empathy...
I can now empathize with the batter that gets poured onto the waffle iron........... the two slices of bread that get squashed together to make a tasty toast...........the staple in the stapler.........because I felt like I was being fed to a machine today. Actually it was a mammogram - but I really did feel like a tasty toast - for a few seconds anyway.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Eye Language....
Tim's in Italy at the moment (lucky fellow!) and in his email, he asked how the monkeys were doing? Figured he's referring to our kids as we don't have any of the tree-hopping furry kind. As a parent, I'm a receipient of a variety of looks from my troop every day. Actually there's only one monkey, the other two are a dog and a bull. While I'm at it, I might as well share that I'm a snake and Tim's a rabbit. So you see, it's my job to go around and bite everyone.
Today I received quite a few dagger looks. The type where it's almost a battle of the eyes...to see who will blink first. For special emphasis, sometimes it's appropriate to deliberately narrow the eyes to try and magnify the intensity of the stare. Those are no fun, of course. Fortunately, I also received my daily dose of smiling eyes that say 'I love you'. Then there are the doe eyes effect which spells 'pleeeeeeassse' ever so clearly. Quite irresistible - can melt heart type. I also get the 'Gimme a break' look. Today there was also the furrowed eyebrow 'I am mad at you' look. Fume..fume...fume. I could almost see the smoke coming of the ears.
Eyes are great. I think they're like a pair of windows into the soul.
Next time I get mad, I'm going to run to the mirror to see what I look like!
Tim's in Italy at the moment (lucky fellow!) and in his email, he asked how the monkeys were doing? Figured he's referring to our kids as we don't have any of the tree-hopping furry kind. As a parent, I'm a receipient of a variety of looks from my troop every day. Actually there's only one monkey, the other two are a dog and a bull. While I'm at it, I might as well share that I'm a snake and Tim's a rabbit. So you see, it's my job to go around and bite everyone.
Today I received quite a few dagger looks. The type where it's almost a battle of the eyes...to see who will blink first. For special emphasis, sometimes it's appropriate to deliberately narrow the eyes to try and magnify the intensity of the stare. Those are no fun, of course. Fortunately, I also received my daily dose of smiling eyes that say 'I love you'. Then there are the doe eyes effect which spells 'pleeeeeeassse' ever so clearly. Quite irresistible - can melt heart type. I also get the 'Gimme a break' look. Today there was also the furrowed eyebrow 'I am mad at you' look. Fume..fume...fume. I could almost see the smoke coming of the ears.
Eyes are great. I think they're like a pair of windows into the soul.
Next time I get mad, I'm going to run to the mirror to see what I look like!
Monday, September 26, 2005
Feeling guilty.....
I felt compelled to post about those 'exercises'. This is because it's been 8 days since I last exercised.....physically that is. Naughty me. So I need to console myself that hopefully I have 'exercised' in some other ways.
Time just flew by last week.
This is also related to the other posting about how God is outside of time. Yet I am so trapped by time. One of the most frequent prayer requests from my BSF ladies is for better time management. One lady's 'joking' request was that there would be 2 more hours in a day so she could accomplish all she needed to do.
Really need to go for a run.....but no time today......sigh
I felt compelled to post about those 'exercises'. This is because it's been 8 days since I last exercised.....physically that is. Naughty me. So I need to console myself that hopefully I have 'exercised' in some other ways.
Time just flew by last week.
This is also related to the other posting about how God is outside of time. Yet I am so trapped by time. One of the most frequent prayer requests from my BSF ladies is for better time management. One lady's 'joking' request was that there would be 2 more hours in a day so she could accomplish all she needed to do.
Really need to go for a run.....but no time today......sigh
The 10 Daily Exercises - by George Eifermen
1. A Good Eye Exercise
See also the perfection in others. See the everlasting beauty in human kindness.
2. A Good Tongue Exercise
Speak from the heart instead of the mouth.
3. A Good Facial Exercise
A smile oft repeated.
4. Hearing Exercise
When we speak we learn nothing. Listening is the teacher. Then speak.
5. Brain Exercise
Think only constructive thoughts. Good reading is to the mind what exercise
is to the body.
6. Leg Exercise
Walk toward knowledge, wisdom, health, and brotherhood of all men.
7. Breathing Exercise
Inhale the great works of music, art, literature, and philosophy. Exhale
spitefulness and other negative thoughts.
8. Strength Exercise
Have the strength to endure when things are unendurable, to pass the next
test after failing the recent one.
9. Heart Exercise
Have the heart to "constructively" improve self, our environment,
community, and country.
10. Soul Exercise
We are never alone.
Walk with God.
1. A Good Eye Exercise
See also the perfection in others. See the everlasting beauty in human kindness.
2. A Good Tongue Exercise
Speak from the heart instead of the mouth.
3. A Good Facial Exercise
A smile oft repeated.
4. Hearing Exercise
When we speak we learn nothing. Listening is the teacher. Then speak.
5. Brain Exercise
Think only constructive thoughts. Good reading is to the mind what exercise
is to the body.
6. Leg Exercise
Walk toward knowledge, wisdom, health, and brotherhood of all men.
7. Breathing Exercise
Inhale the great works of music, art, literature, and philosophy. Exhale
spitefulness and other negative thoughts.
8. Strength Exercise
Have the strength to endure when things are unendurable, to pass the next
test after failing the recent one.
9. Heart Exercise
Have the heart to "constructively" improve self, our environment,
community, and country.
10. Soul Exercise
We are never alone.
Walk with God.
The Infinite Attention of God
Picked up what I think is another gem from CS Lewis. It helps me have a high view of God.
He writes:
God is not hurried along in the time stream of this universe any more than an author is hurried along the imaginary time of his own novel. He has infinite attention to spare for each one of us........
If you picture time as a straight line which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn. We come to the parts of the line one by one: we have to leave A behind before we get to B, and cannot reach C until we leave B behind. God, from above or outside or all round, contains the whole line, and sees it all.
Isn't that a great illustration? I think so.
Picked up what I think is another gem from CS Lewis. It helps me have a high view of God.
He writes:
God is not hurried along in the time stream of this universe any more than an author is hurried along the imaginary time of his own novel. He has infinite attention to spare for each one of us........
If you picture time as a straight line which we have to travel, then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn. We come to the parts of the line one by one: we have to leave A behind before we get to B, and cannot reach C until we leave B behind. God, from above or outside or all round, contains the whole line, and sees it all.
Isn't that a great illustration? I think so.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Matt's Initiative... should I praise him or puke?
Let me tell me, yesterday was very tiring. I've been doing kiddie parties for my boys for some time now. But yesterday's party was something else. The baby in the our family, Matt (turning 8 yrs next week), had merrily issued birthday invite notes to his friends in school and then after that, told me about it. We did discuss possible dates but he had pre-empted me.
During dinner at my in-laws one evening:
Me: Hey Matt, your birthday's coming up in a few weeks.
M: I know. My friends are coming for my party.
Me: Yeah, who would you like to invite?
M: (rattles off a string of names I can't really remember...)
Me: OK, sure...we'll have to get some invite cards and put all the stuff down.
M: I know, I already did that.
Me: You did? What do you mean?
M: I already gave them to my friends.
Me: Gave what?
M: The invitation cards.
Me: But I haven't got them yet.
M: It's OK, I made them myself.
Me: Oh no....what did you put on it?
(my mind was racing, of course......when? who? where? why didn't you ask me first??????)
After extracting the details from Matt during dinner, we discover that the venue was at my in-laws' nice big garden BUT they won't be around because they're travelling that weekend. It's a little awkward but they were very gracious about the whole thing, though disappointed they won't be around to enjoy it.
So I had a few days to get 'ready' but still no idea who exactly he invited. I had to keep asking him to get his friends to RSVP. What if 30 kids showed up? What if none showed up? I did receive a few calls from his friends and their mothers.......enquiring very carefully if there was a party etc. They weren't very sure by looking at the invite cards. Matt had taken some A4 white paper, cut it up and hand-written it...........embellishing them with his artwork of balloons, cakes etc. Apparently, one of the curious statements he had written was 'Parents are allowed to stay'.
Everything turned out alright. I had an exhausting time controlling a bunch of 8 yr olds wielding a bat desperately trying to bat that pinata. I thought they were going to bat each other or that I would be seeing stars instead. I was dead tired yesterday........more dead than tired, and am still wondering if I should praise him for his initative. The joy of being a parent.
Let me tell me, yesterday was very tiring. I've been doing kiddie parties for my boys for some time now. But yesterday's party was something else. The baby in the our family, Matt (turning 8 yrs next week), had merrily issued birthday invite notes to his friends in school and then after that, told me about it. We did discuss possible dates but he had pre-empted me.
During dinner at my in-laws one evening:
Me: Hey Matt, your birthday's coming up in a few weeks.
M: I know. My friends are coming for my party.
Me: Yeah, who would you like to invite?
M: (rattles off a string of names I can't really remember...)
Me: OK, sure...we'll have to get some invite cards and put all the stuff down.
M: I know, I already did that.
Me: You did? What do you mean?
M: I already gave them to my friends.
Me: Gave what?
M: The invitation cards.
Me: But I haven't got them yet.
M: It's OK, I made them myself.
Me: Oh no....what did you put on it?
(my mind was racing, of course......when? who? where? why didn't you ask me first??????)
After extracting the details from Matt during dinner, we discover that the venue was at my in-laws' nice big garden BUT they won't be around because they're travelling that weekend. It's a little awkward but they were very gracious about the whole thing, though disappointed they won't be around to enjoy it.
So I had a few days to get 'ready' but still no idea who exactly he invited. I had to keep asking him to get his friends to RSVP. What if 30 kids showed up? What if none showed up? I did receive a few calls from his friends and their mothers.......enquiring very carefully if there was a party etc. They weren't very sure by looking at the invite cards. Matt had taken some A4 white paper, cut it up and hand-written it...........embellishing them with his artwork of balloons, cakes etc. Apparently, one of the curious statements he had written was 'Parents are allowed to stay'.
Everything turned out alright. I had an exhausting time controlling a bunch of 8 yr olds wielding a bat desperately trying to bat that pinata. I thought they were going to bat each other or that I would be seeing stars instead. I was dead tired yesterday........more dead than tired, and am still wondering if I should praise him for his initative. The joy of being a parent.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Inner Me vs Outer Me
Been listening to Jamiroquai's latest album - I really like it. There's one song where the lyrics go, "There's a hole in my soul and I'm losing control.....". This may sound kind of 'off' but I somehow connected it to something I had read. It defined character as what we are when nobody sees us. Well, the funny but true thing is that we are real good about spending time and effort on our outer appearances. You know, the clothes we wear, the things we say, the impressions of ourselves we want to leave with people......it can be like a facade.
I think there will always be a gap between what we are inside and what we appear to be to other people. That's just the way we are. If it's a small gap, that's ok. But if somewhere along the way, the gap gets bigger and bigger.....that's probably not ok. Only the Big Boss up there knows the inner me. I find that comforting....and frightening at the same time. Nowhere to hide.
So the thing is. I should spend at least the same amount of time taking care of inner me as I do on outer me. Probably should be more time - after all, that's what counts. It's been said that circumstances never make or break anyone; they merely reveal the person.
Back to the song. What if there is a hole in my soul? What if I'm leaking.......very slowly, but still leaking? Nobody would really know.........except the Big Boss up there. From what I understand, no leaky hole will go unplugged.........not for long anyway.
Been listening to Jamiroquai's latest album - I really like it. There's one song where the lyrics go, "There's a hole in my soul and I'm losing control.....". This may sound kind of 'off' but I somehow connected it to something I had read. It defined character as what we are when nobody sees us. Well, the funny but true thing is that we are real good about spending time and effort on our outer appearances. You know, the clothes we wear, the things we say, the impressions of ourselves we want to leave with people......it can be like a facade.
I think there will always be a gap between what we are inside and what we appear to be to other people. That's just the way we are. If it's a small gap, that's ok. But if somewhere along the way, the gap gets bigger and bigger.....that's probably not ok. Only the Big Boss up there knows the inner me. I find that comforting....and frightening at the same time. Nowhere to hide.
So the thing is. I should spend at least the same amount of time taking care of inner me as I do on outer me. Probably should be more time - after all, that's what counts. It's been said that circumstances never make or break anyone; they merely reveal the person.
Back to the song. What if there is a hole in my soul? What if I'm leaking.......very slowly, but still leaking? Nobody would really know.........except the Big Boss up there. From what I understand, no leaky hole will go unplugged.........not for long anyway.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Goodbye to the last of the gerbils.....
This morning I bade farewell to a beloved extended member of the Tan family. Gerbils are rodents that are incredibly fascinating to watch but not very friendly. Our family's adventures with animals started with the gift of a pair of gerbils about four years ago. We were passive mid-wives in the delivery of 5 pregnancies and probably at least 30 gerbils - watching them from birth, through parenthood, incest and finally death. The kids have learnt so much by being able to witness this circle of life.
Along the way, we've also had the privelege of caring for a host of God's creatures from the animal kingdom. One of my favourite hamsters was a gentle fat little guy we called "Xiao Long Bao". Then there was the guinea pig we got from the SPCA we named "Fei Zai". I never knew guinea pigs could communicate with all those different types of squeaks. There was the ' Food! - I want food now! ' squeak and the ' I'm lonely....come play with me' squeak. Amazing.
The chickens were quite stupid though. After feeding them day in and day out, they still didn't recognise who I was. I didn't know how to clip their wings so they kept escaping (yes, they can fly somewhat) from their designated corner in the garden. For the time we had them, the back area of the house was like a bomb zone. Never knew when one was going to step on chicken poop.
Then Tim went on this aquatic creature phase. It started with some fish he'd caught in the longkang somewhere. There was this tilapia that just kept eating and eating, growing and growing. We finally released it back a bigger longkang because it got so big and fat. Then there was the dozens of koi. Most of those koi are unfortunately, now buried in various parts of the garden. We discovered a 'lesser heron' (that's the proper name) had been stopping by to try and eat them. We kept finding dead koi with sharp stab wounds on their body. One morning, the lesser heron got trapped in the netting. We put it a cage and observed it for a few days. That beak is something else - great for stabbing people.
We also had some happy times with these crayfish we caught at Upper Peirce Reservoir. They hang out at the rocks near the waters edge. Just put a piece of sausage on a satay stick and they come crawling out of the rocks to eat it. Then you have to be super fast and grab them with a net. It's really fascinating watching creatures and their eating habits. I had to buy live prawns & feeder fish to keep the crayfish diet happy, exciting and balanced. It's a bit like watching National Geographic but at home at your own fish tank. We also had too many luohan. They were vicious - and enjoyed eating tiny bits of leftover steak!
Well, most of our extended Tan family members of the animal kingdom have come and gone. Only Baobei remains. She's turning two years this month and still as 'manja' (needing to be pampered) as ever. Think she knows that she's the daughter the the family and loving it!
This morning I bade farewell to a beloved extended member of the Tan family. Gerbils are rodents that are incredibly fascinating to watch but not very friendly. Our family's adventures with animals started with the gift of a pair of gerbils about four years ago. We were passive mid-wives in the delivery of 5 pregnancies and probably at least 30 gerbils - watching them from birth, through parenthood, incest and finally death. The kids have learnt so much by being able to witness this circle of life.
Along the way, we've also had the privelege of caring for a host of God's creatures from the animal kingdom. One of my favourite hamsters was a gentle fat little guy we called "Xiao Long Bao". Then there was the guinea pig we got from the SPCA we named "Fei Zai". I never knew guinea pigs could communicate with all those different types of squeaks. There was the ' Food! - I want food now! ' squeak and the ' I'm lonely....come play with me' squeak. Amazing.
The chickens were quite stupid though. After feeding them day in and day out, they still didn't recognise who I was. I didn't know how to clip their wings so they kept escaping (yes, they can fly somewhat) from their designated corner in the garden. For the time we had them, the back area of the house was like a bomb zone. Never knew when one was going to step on chicken poop.
Then Tim went on this aquatic creature phase. It started with some fish he'd caught in the longkang somewhere. There was this tilapia that just kept eating and eating, growing and growing. We finally released it back a bigger longkang because it got so big and fat. Then there was the dozens of koi. Most of those koi are unfortunately, now buried in various parts of the garden. We discovered a 'lesser heron' (that's the proper name) had been stopping by to try and eat them. We kept finding dead koi with sharp stab wounds on their body. One morning, the lesser heron got trapped in the netting. We put it a cage and observed it for a few days. That beak is something else - great for stabbing people.
We also had some happy times with these crayfish we caught at Upper Peirce Reservoir. They hang out at the rocks near the waters edge. Just put a piece of sausage on a satay stick and they come crawling out of the rocks to eat it. Then you have to be super fast and grab them with a net. It's really fascinating watching creatures and their eating habits. I had to buy live prawns & feeder fish to keep the crayfish diet happy, exciting and balanced. It's a bit like watching National Geographic but at home at your own fish tank. We also had too many luohan. They were vicious - and enjoyed eating tiny bits of leftover steak!
Well, most of our extended Tan family members of the animal kingdom have come and gone. Only Baobei remains. She's turning two years this month and still as 'manja' (needing to be pampered) as ever. Think she knows that she's the daughter the the family and loving it!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
My dad gave me a collection of CS Lewis books for my birthday. Was skimming through it today and came across this. Found it really thought- provoking and a very interesting angle on how I could evangelise. I have quite a number of very dear pre-believing friends.
One of the great difficulties is to keep before the audience's mind the question of
Truth. They always think you are recommending Christianity not because it is true but because it is good. ........One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.
One of the great difficulties is to keep before the audience's mind the question of
Truth. They always think you are recommending Christianity not because it is true but because it is good. ........One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
I can't seem to tag on OC blog anymore - get an error msg.
But I need to say a bunch of thank yous.
I think it's amazing, and wonderful, that Chris, Asher & I share the same birthday.
Happy Birthday Chris!
Happy Birthday Asher!
Big thank you to Chris for the really yummy cake. It was devoured at the facilitators' meeting today. ALL the guys had second helpings!
Also want to thank those who wished on the tagboard - Chris, Pong, Yiling & Mel. Thank you too Claris, as I was walking towards you guys just now & also Cheryl, for linking this blog. Thanks Patrick & gang for the card.
Patrick put 2 candles on my cake and that really made my day. It's wonderful to be 20 yrs old. (actually that doesn't really compute because Elliott is 13 yrs and that would mean I was 7 yrs old when I delivered him - but let's just overlook that).
Some funny things that happened today. While I was sitting in the car with the windows down waiting for the boys, I was blessed by a bird on the arm. It's not the kind of blessing I was hoping for. Orangey, moist & splattered all over. Fortunately I had tissue on hand to quickly wipe it away. Good thing I didn't smell funny after that. Then at lunch with my in-laws, I had a cake that had an extra candle on it! I'm already in denial about being 20 yrs old (ok lah, 20 yrs twice over). I couldn't wait for the birthday song to be finish so I could protest about the extra candle!!
But I need to say a bunch of thank yous.
I think it's amazing, and wonderful, that Chris, Asher & I share the same birthday.
Happy Birthday Chris!
Happy Birthday Asher!
Big thank you to Chris for the really yummy cake. It was devoured at the facilitators' meeting today. ALL the guys had second helpings!
Also want to thank those who wished on the tagboard - Chris, Pong, Yiling & Mel. Thank you too Claris, as I was walking towards you guys just now & also Cheryl, for linking this blog. Thanks Patrick & gang for the card.
Patrick put 2 candles on my cake and that really made my day. It's wonderful to be 20 yrs old. (actually that doesn't really compute because Elliott is 13 yrs and that would mean I was 7 yrs old when I delivered him - but let's just overlook that).
Some funny things that happened today. While I was sitting in the car with the windows down waiting for the boys, I was blessed by a bird on the arm. It's not the kind of blessing I was hoping for. Orangey, moist & splattered all over. Fortunately I had tissue on hand to quickly wipe it away. Good thing I didn't smell funny after that. Then at lunch with my in-laws, I had a cake that had an extra candle on it! I'm already in denial about being 20 yrs old (ok lah, 20 yrs twice over). I couldn't wait for the birthday song to be finish so I could protest about the extra candle!!
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