Finally the heatiness from the inbalance of too much "yang" food from the holiday is starting to balance out as the large ulcer on my lip is getting smaller. Strange it took almost the same amount of time to recover from the holiday. Glad I had a chance to catch up with a friend yesterday after a year of not seeing her. The time apart seems to make our friendship more precious. Most things have a season and the question is whether it is time to build more friendships. Her take on it is to remain open and take things as they come. I guess I could be more proactive instead of waiting for things to happen.
Barney's seems to test every boundary we set. Every "no" seems to egg him to see if we mean what we say. The "sweet" reward only worked once after which he throws all toys on the floor and refuses to pick them up. The "mummy's going to get mad" worked twice then he counters it with right "kong kong" will deal with the naughtiness. My friend tells me I cannot use the get mad idea any more. I just hope the throwing things on the floor will only be for a season.
So the impetus to be better at playing the piano, conducting the choir, disciplining my baby, teaching kids, having another child seems to remain unchanged. When I check with Jesus, he smiles and says "do them with love".
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Listening beyond words
Tim was away to see to his project on micro enterprises. Barney asked for daddy everyday until he could answer his grandma. "Daddy work. Take airplane." During this time, he clung more tightly and slept closer to me, with one leg over my leg. I sms his daddy every chance i got and got a response almost immediately each time.
Tim had arranged for us to meet grandpa on sat for dinner. So after Barney's afternoon nap, we packed up and went over. Waiting outside, pressing the buzzer, there was no one at home, so i called grandpa. He was over at shangri-la, he said come over and get the key, open the house and just leave the key and go when you are done. I thought since we made the trip to have dinner with grandpa, we might as well stay for dinner. So I valet parked (as the car park was full), and trooped us down to the cafe for an a la carte meal. Baby enjoyed the food and ate a lot so dinner went well. The chef made beautiful cakes; so i know where to get Barney his 2 yr old birthday cake. Do i eat at hotels often? The last time was last christmas when tim's exboss was in town. We got to meet the extended family after dinner.
My mother stayed at my place while Tim was away. She took baby to church while I rushed to choir. She was beginning her depression cycle, due to dad cutting her allowance. So on Monday, we dropped baby in school and we went for breakfast at kopi-tiam and then to the hair shop for a wash and blow and massage( a new service the shop added to lure customers to come again). The hair dresser told me you need a touch up for your colour, and your natural curls are coming up, and tonic is good for hair fall. I stuck to my wash and blow though i did get some shampoo and hair revitaliser.
Barney's cousins came to play with him on monday evening. He pulled his boat while Mischa filled the boat up with cars. Then they did colouring. Mischa drew some pretty flowers but Barney coloured over them. Barney showed how he could bounce the ball, throw and kick it and Mischa did vice versa. Then Matty came and rushed Barney over to sit in the big chair and read a book with him.
We went to Jumbo seafood for dinner because it was my older brother's birthday. Barney ate a lot which pleased everyone, except Mischa who could not stomach much of the oily deep fried dishes as she was starting a cold and cough. I signed thinking my older brother had agreed to take care of the maid while we were on holiday, and he likes chilli crab.
Tim arrived home this morning. Barney knew the sound of his shuffling keys outside the door and yelled "Daddy daddy!" Then he refused to let Tim out of his sight, insisting daddy carry him even to the shower if he was going there. So we brought him out for some won ton mee breakfast and drove down to AA to get an international licence.
The maid strangely only fed baby soup for lunch and said he ate a lot for dinner yesterday so i insisted that she add some rice in the soup and cut a pear and wash grapes for the boy. Daddy and baby are now having their afternoon nap.
I read my email and notice that the choir administrator had ignored my request to conduct one original piece "The river of life" and has offered 2nd choice to the next best conductor. I remember the time when i listened to every small voice suggestion to do good and I remember at the end of my efforts when I had done all, a river of refreshing water gushed from the bottom of my gutts and flowed out my eyes, nose mouth and head. So i close my eyes and the small voice tells me to give more to all.
Tim had arranged for us to meet grandpa on sat for dinner. So after Barney's afternoon nap, we packed up and went over. Waiting outside, pressing the buzzer, there was no one at home, so i called grandpa. He was over at shangri-la, he said come over and get the key, open the house and just leave the key and go when you are done. I thought since we made the trip to have dinner with grandpa, we might as well stay for dinner. So I valet parked (as the car park was full), and trooped us down to the cafe for an a la carte meal. Baby enjoyed the food and ate a lot so dinner went well. The chef made beautiful cakes; so i know where to get Barney his 2 yr old birthday cake. Do i eat at hotels often? The last time was last christmas when tim's exboss was in town. We got to meet the extended family after dinner.
My mother stayed at my place while Tim was away. She took baby to church while I rushed to choir. She was beginning her depression cycle, due to dad cutting her allowance. So on Monday, we dropped baby in school and we went for breakfast at kopi-tiam and then to the hair shop for a wash and blow and massage( a new service the shop added to lure customers to come again). The hair dresser told me you need a touch up for your colour, and your natural curls are coming up, and tonic is good for hair fall. I stuck to my wash and blow though i did get some shampoo and hair revitaliser.
Barney's cousins came to play with him on monday evening. He pulled his boat while Mischa filled the boat up with cars. Then they did colouring. Mischa drew some pretty flowers but Barney coloured over them. Barney showed how he could bounce the ball, throw and kick it and Mischa did vice versa. Then Matty came and rushed Barney over to sit in the big chair and read a book with him.
We went to Jumbo seafood for dinner because it was my older brother's birthday. Barney ate a lot which pleased everyone, except Mischa who could not stomach much of the oily deep fried dishes as she was starting a cold and cough. I signed thinking my older brother had agreed to take care of the maid while we were on holiday, and he likes chilli crab.
Tim arrived home this morning. Barney knew the sound of his shuffling keys outside the door and yelled "Daddy daddy!" Then he refused to let Tim out of his sight, insisting daddy carry him even to the shower if he was going there. So we brought him out for some won ton mee breakfast and drove down to AA to get an international licence.
The maid strangely only fed baby soup for lunch and said he ate a lot for dinner yesterday so i insisted that she add some rice in the soup and cut a pear and wash grapes for the boy. Daddy and baby are now having their afternoon nap.
I read my email and notice that the choir administrator had ignored my request to conduct one original piece "The river of life" and has offered 2nd choice to the next best conductor. I remember the time when i listened to every small voice suggestion to do good and I remember at the end of my efforts when I had done all, a river of refreshing water gushed from the bottom of my gutts and flowed out my eyes, nose mouth and head. So i close my eyes and the small voice tells me to give more to all.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
face lift vs heart transfusion result mind transformation
Barney's daddy gave him a hair cut yesterday, the result was horrendous because it looked similar to a parang cut lawn with large holes all over. We agreed to take him to the professional kiddy barber immediately to remedy the situation. Luckily the barber managed to salvage Barney's hair trimmed down to a crew-cut, save the hole on the left of his forehead. Barney went to school today and the teachers didn't recognise him. My baby..i wanted to cry.
So we agreed that he will go to the barber from now on.
The choir is morphing into a new creature. Besides purifying the sound and strenthening it, the new director has read the parable of the sower to the group, hoping that we will take it and somehow God will allow us to be fruitful 30, 50 or 100 fold. So i looked into my email and i see more members being deployed to take on more responsibilities. I make an attempt to make some decisions but i am advised to just follow the directions given by others. Let's combine carolling with the youth as the group is rather small at christmas time due to holiday plans. Then we can try out the buddy system. Overuled by the cell groups are being deployed to do carolling at homes, so if numbers are small, they will combine with other cell groups. Let's not give christmas presents to each other, instead let's do a collection and contribute the sum to cambodian children in need of school fees. Overuled by it has already been decided we give to a charity sponsoring one table for the poor this year. So what you might consider is an outreach to Cambodia next year, members can do this together and bond, meet the children personally and be moved then to give directly. Let's give guru a love offering for teaching us, i think there is no pay in dec cos the schools are closed. The advice is you must go through the proper channels, write an email to state amount and reason. I say it's better I give personally.
Tim's leaving for India tomorrow morning. I feel how Barney feels when he's put in school.
It has started to rain outside. The thunder rumbles. The shower of rain hisses down. Another loud clap and lightning follows. A cool breeze ensues. I want to cry but my heart hurts.
I do my quiet time and God tells me I am part of this community and many would like the lime light to lead but there is also space for people to do the smaller supportive things, and some times it is better to give people your love personally rather then throw money at the problem. Tim also has a night flight instead of morning so we get to spend breakfast together and fetch baby together and do the supermarket shopping together. Baby did not sleep in the afternoon so he was really tired and fell asleep while sending daddy to the airport. This allowed me to go for a stimulating mind challenging talk. God is good:)
So we agreed that he will go to the barber from now on.
The choir is morphing into a new creature. Besides purifying the sound and strenthening it, the new director has read the parable of the sower to the group, hoping that we will take it and somehow God will allow us to be fruitful 30, 50 or 100 fold. So i looked into my email and i see more members being deployed to take on more responsibilities. I make an attempt to make some decisions but i am advised to just follow the directions given by others. Let's combine carolling with the youth as the group is rather small at christmas time due to holiday plans. Then we can try out the buddy system. Overuled by the cell groups are being deployed to do carolling at homes, so if numbers are small, they will combine with other cell groups. Let's not give christmas presents to each other, instead let's do a collection and contribute the sum to cambodian children in need of school fees. Overuled by it has already been decided we give to a charity sponsoring one table for the poor this year. So what you might consider is an outreach to Cambodia next year, members can do this together and bond, meet the children personally and be moved then to give directly. Let's give guru a love offering for teaching us, i think there is no pay in dec cos the schools are closed. The advice is you must go through the proper channels, write an email to state amount and reason. I say it's better I give personally.
Tim's leaving for India tomorrow morning. I feel how Barney feels when he's put in school.
It has started to rain outside. The thunder rumbles. The shower of rain hisses down. Another loud clap and lightning follows. A cool breeze ensues. I want to cry but my heart hurts.
I do my quiet time and God tells me I am part of this community and many would like the lime light to lead but there is also space for people to do the smaller supportive things, and some times it is better to give people your love personally rather then throw money at the problem. Tim also has a night flight instead of morning so we get to spend breakfast together and fetch baby together and do the supermarket shopping together. Baby did not sleep in the afternoon so he was really tired and fell asleep while sending daddy to the airport. This allowed me to go for a stimulating mind challenging talk. God is good:)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Building up
I attended a masterclass yesterday, being invited by my teacher to pick up new ideas for my teaching. Again i was amazed at the details that a master teacher is aware of, and the ability to translate his knowledge into words and action. In music, the ears have to be so acute to be able to pick out what is going wrong and then the brain needs to know how to achieve the correct sound to expedite the action. The teaching the concept and the technique required is necessary, then the student needs to try it out, the teacher assesses the student's attempt and gets him/her to practise the technique motion so that the student will know how to practise later before moving on to the next problem.
After that i watched a free concert played by 2 Spainish pianists. How the touch of the piano is so different depending on the title of the song. So the pieces to represent Don Quiote were played in a tone a lot more harsh to represent the humour of a life without direction and enlightenment. Whereas a life of identity and culture was played in a calm, confident, subtle, sensitive, clear tone.
My friend Morcher had brought 2 other friends to the concert. I realised that she's such a rare gem, always sharing, always trying to help; this time, hopefully her introductions will lead to more friendships and more helping one another grow. She's even volunteered her services to help the choir with a note-reading workshop, to fix the underlying problem of not being able to read notes. I will be faithful in the little things.
After that i watched a free concert played by 2 Spainish pianists. How the touch of the piano is so different depending on the title of the song. So the pieces to represent Don Quiote were played in a tone a lot more harsh to represent the humour of a life without direction and enlightenment. Whereas a life of identity and culture was played in a calm, confident, subtle, sensitive, clear tone.
My friend Morcher had brought 2 other friends to the concert. I realised that she's such a rare gem, always sharing, always trying to help; this time, hopefully her introductions will lead to more friendships and more helping one another grow. She's even volunteered her services to help the choir with a note-reading workshop, to fix the underlying problem of not being able to read notes. I will be faithful in the little things.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Bigger Picture
I managed to watch "Monsters vs Aliens" yesterday after borrowing the dvd. Susan gets bigger after getting hit by an astroid. She conquers her fears and accomplishes great feats with her new found strength, and realises that living in the shadow of someone else's dream cheats her of her own life.
I was at choir practice today, learning from the guru, how to discipline the choir, how to put thoughts into action. "Most adults are fighting their own fears when learning something new, whereas it comes naturally to a child. Be calm when you learn. Don't be 'kan cheong'." Then the pastor reiterates "Be alert, be aware of yourself, be self controlled, do the right thing, being children of the light we will be ready." The trouble is it's hard waking up, until someone brings it to attention; or get hit by a meteor.:)
Some times seeing the bigger picture requires asking the right questions. For the choir, it is how does melding the choir and the worship team come about? The first answers are watch Godtube or you tube. Being exposed to different presentations of the same song, learning to differentiate, and discern what is good, what will work with this group. What does serving each other mean? Taking on some responsibility to help others grow. How do we get the church together? a combined effort, involve the youth, combine choir...expect great things from God and do great things for God..ok one step at a time.
I was at choir practice today, learning from the guru, how to discipline the choir, how to put thoughts into action. "Most adults are fighting their own fears when learning something new, whereas it comes naturally to a child. Be calm when you learn. Don't be 'kan cheong'." Then the pastor reiterates "Be alert, be aware of yourself, be self controlled, do the right thing, being children of the light we will be ready." The trouble is it's hard waking up, until someone brings it to attention; or get hit by a meteor.:)
Some times seeing the bigger picture requires asking the right questions. For the choir, it is how does melding the choir and the worship team come about? The first answers are watch Godtube or you tube. Being exposed to different presentations of the same song, learning to differentiate, and discern what is good, what will work with this group. What does serving each other mean? Taking on some responsibility to help others grow. How do we get the church together? a combined effort, involve the youth, combine choir...expect great things from God and do great things for God..ok one step at a time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
