lost and found

Today is my day off. Everyone has to have one, even homemakers... I call it a day off cos I consider this a "free" day for me. It's a day of "do what I like".

So, I went to my usual shopping mall this evening, to do my shopping. I bought a belated birthday gift, some personal stuff, a shirt for hubby, had tea, bought some food and as we were in the last leg of buying, I "lost" Joel.

I had learnt these last few years to go quickly to the Lord whenever I was in a crisis. It was easy to rely on Him now and pray immediately when I was fearful or anxious. I said a quick prayer and continued to look for him. It was thankfully a short few minutes later when I got a phonecall from an unknown telephone no. It was a lady who promptly passed the phone to my son. He was about 150 m away from me in the shopping mall and this lady was kind enough to make that call for him!

He was calm and ran to me when I got within sight. He had inadvertantly strayed away and was headed to where he thought I'd be. I was however, at the other end! I gratefully thanked the older lady and her family (I think!) who had "saved" my son!

This is the 2nd time that Joel has gotten "lost". The first time was in Melbourne, in a craft market by a river! That experience was terribly frightening as it was a good half hour before we "found" him being escorted by a young ozzie lady... (details another time!)

Many probably think that this mum never learns her lesson and keeps on letting this happen. Let me say that it can never be a mum's intention to "lose" their children!

I am so so thankful that my prayer was quickly answered and I was spared the agony of the wait and search..... or worse! I'm also thankful for the "angels" out there!

The lessons learnt here are reminders that we must be diligent and watchful ALWAYS! It also reinforces my conviction and belief in prayer and our LORD's protection! Thanks be to God!

mixed bag of nuts..

I have had a full day today, with non-stop activities, going places, meeting up with people. Feel tired but I am glad for the day.

It is hard to re-start blogging after a long break. At least it seems like a long while to me. I have been revealing my thoughts and feelings fairly well earlier but I have noticed a barrier of late. That too has for my keeping away... I wonder why that happens? Does it also happen when I take breaks from being with people too?

Some stuff about church.. like being involved in different "ministries". I feel truly blest that I have had the opportunity to meet up with different people, from the young to the old, from the noisy to the quiet, from the easy going to the very serious. I sometimes wish though, that I weren't quite so "sibuk" and just do my "own" thing. Like, be involved in one ministry, be more organised as far as home is concerned, going for some "courses" to hone in on whatever skills I might have, loads of other things... Then, I think of what I am so "sibuk" with. What kind of hours am I keeping "doing God's work" so to speak? Then, it hits me! All that I do concerns God, whether or not it is churchie stuff, ministry stuff, baking or whatever...

I met my neighbour of 6 or more months for the first time yesterday. I found out that she has 2 autistic boys aged 10 and 12 and an older teenage daughter. That's how good I am at "neighbour-ing"! (takes me forever to go up to ppl to say "hi!") I heard earlier from the previous occupant/owner that she had an autistic boy but I didn't know that there were 2 of them. I used my humble baking skills as an excuse to ring their doorbell and greet them while the lunar new year was still applicable. Thankfully, she was pretty friendly, apologizing for noise that she seems to think the boys make. Imagine that! She also said that some of her relatives/friends commented that the kids were better off dead than alive!!!! I can only imagine how that must have horrified her and her husband! It surprised me though how easy it was for her to tell me that... I told her that she was some strong lady, caring for the boys and household as well! I hope to be able to get to know them better, seeings that the initial contact has been made. Mayhaps, share with her about Christ someday, if they aren't already believers?

My other neighbour has also been a little friendlier of late, esp. through Joel's efforts to befriend her twins. He's managed to get an invitation to their home one of these days and is pretty excited about that. Only one problem, LANGUAGE! I suppose they could pick up english or Joel could learn conversational Mandarin?? He's even prepared himself for if the kids have homework. He says that he will spend time with their mum!

My ozzie friends left Sat morning and I didn't even manage to give them a meal! So sad eh? Dunno what kind of hosts we are!!! I really wished that we could spend more time with them esp. when they are such an encouragement and like big bro and sis to me!

To pray for :-
1. Simon Foo, Cheng Har, Ivan and Jason's salvation
2. Sam Tan and family's salvation
3. Cheng and family's settling down in Mel
4. Joel Wee's new job
5. Joy - SIG (that it would be a channel of blessing to those who join)
6. Subang leadership - MA and TBT
7. Joel Phua's eyesight (healing for his congenital cataract ridden eyes)
8. Nancy Q who is sick with back problem, that she will be well enough for travel by month end

a quiet lunar new year

It has been a quiet ushering in of the new lunar year for the phuas. I have been blessed with good sleep and being able to wake up at ten or later these two days!

I have not been posting as I had been busy baking stuff as giveaways for the new year. Some of the recipes I discovered are quite yummy so I share that with the family (extended) and friends!

It must be really hard to do baking on a large scale. I only did some and it takes both time and effort. Never been known for intricate work, this cookie baking, I discovered, requires a great deal of discipline and patience... A steady hand is of course a prerequisite! The only thing I can say for my handiwork is .... it's yummy!

happenstance?

I am very sad today about ...... my LIGHTS!!! It had died on me a second time after another electrician came to supposedly fix it!!! Now, I see no alternative except to return them to the shop! WAAAAAAH!

Why so much hoo hah about lights? Well, I have been looking for something nice eversince I moved into no. 47 and when I finally found it, it's defective! So so sad! I have to reinstall my flourescent tubes..... DOUBLE WAAAAAAH!

I think I must be getting to domesticated cos whenever things go wrong at home, I get quite stressed by it! talk about weird! after all, they are just lights and they are used to illuminate the room right? so it shouldn't be a biggie, yet, I actually feel sad...

A friend of mine concludes that things like this only happen to me! (Terrible curse, me thinks!) and other people can go about life with no such inconveniences, but me, she observes, had to end up with defective goods! Then I begin to wonder if indeed there is any truth in what she says. Am I such a "born loser?" (see what a defective light can do to me?)

Moral of the story according to pck, is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Perhaps, I should instead reflect more on the small mercies, gifts, joyful events, happy moments in my life? Maybe I should count my blessings instead of dwelling in my sorrows and dissappointments too often and too long!

So, I shall count mine now. I get a full refund for the lights!