Boon to All

We had Tsumugu sleep over on Friday 25 Feb.

My father-in-law was admitted to NUH on 26 Feb morning because his blood test showed elevated level of K(potassium) and very low level of Na(sodium). Visited him in the late afternoon at about 5pm just after my class in JE.

He is well and not feeling any discomfort so I sat and listened to his story (also history) about his medical history and work experience. I left at about 6pm when his dinner is served. I met mom at the gorund floor lift lobby on my way out.

It was good to have spent that short hour to listen to him. In my old age, I would like to get regular time to talk with my children as I do now; preferably and hopefully not on a hospital bed.

Then I rushed to AMK Ave 5 Block 608 to meet my students from AMLFI-10-08-02-P1. Gee Lam, Chiao Yong, Gao Yan, Su Kai and Rashidah are there. Rashidah and her family, husband, Hakim and Hadi, joined us. Rashidah’s husband’s friend, Wensen Chua, also joined us. We had wonderful dinner at Teh Tarik, Halal coffee shop restaurant. Good food! Tom Yam Soup, Cereal prawn and Fired Bean Curd was good! Rashidah paid for dinner. I think we will organise another dinner to return the favour.

On Sunday, Feb 27, Mey vsitied her father while the children and I went to church. Her father’s condition normalised and was discharged the same afternoon. Thank God.

Final Co-Ord for SG’s wedding after servicen and we moved all the chairs to the level 3. We also put up the curtain for the store area while the deco team put up some of the deco.

Lydia went to Amri’s house in Bedok to finish her ID project.

Then I stayed jammed with Lucas and friends till about 4pm…Tired…Got home about 6pm then went to pick up Lydia.

This is the first entry for 2011 and the last entry was in August 2010! I am really bad at this…

LUNAR NEW YEAR
The company had a long break this Lunar New Year; we were closed for holiday from 2 Feb to 8 Feb. Thanks to Albert for letting us use the CAMRY! It was a real blessing.
Day 1…We met Aunt Brenda’s and Uncle Jeffrey’s family this year. Their children are now in University and serving National Service. Uncle Simon’s family were not in and we missed Aunt BeeWan’s family.
Day 2…We met most of Mey’s cousins this year because Ling & Johnny are back with this year’s new addition, Reuben Wong, born 6 Sept 2010 in Shanghai. Ricky’s wife, Linda(I tinks) is expecting their first child. Lots of cousin’s children; babies and toddlers.
Day 3…We went to 姑姑’s place and we met Bao Ling, Eric and their son. She is expecting twins! We missed Yu Ling this year. After that we went to大姐’s place for lunch. Mee Siam was good…
Day 4…We had church service in the morning and parked at Oriental Plaza. I did not realise that they are charging per hour instead of per entry on Sunday now. The parking fee is over $13 when we left at about 3pm. We had dinner with the Estads at 6pm at their home. We had a good time and the food was great; Japanese/Western fusion.

NEW BUSINESS
Boss bought over an Air Freight biz and I was supposed to start work in this biz unit after the Lunar New Year break. After some deliberation over the handing/taking over terms, the official taking over will be on 1 March.
I am apprehensive and excited at the same time about this new opportunity…

DIPLOMA in TESOL
I just completed my practicum on 21 Feb 2011. Thanks to the Burmese nurses, Po, Thuya, Su & May, our ‘mock’ students. Thanks to Ms Jodi, my invigilator. Incidentally, she invigilated my practicum for my certificate in TEFL in Feb 2009 as well.

All glory and thanks to God for this success as I recounted the incidents that led to this…

The lesson was originally planned the conventional way i.e. marker on whiteboard delivery. After the trial run, Brian, my trainer, felt that my lesson was strong in content but weak in delivery. As Lydia aptly said, “Good content with poor presentation is no content at all!”
I took their advices and put my lesson in Power Point(PPT). Without any experience in making a PPT, I started to put the lesson together at 11pm on 13th Feb and struggled till 3am to have it ready for review by Brian on 14th Feb. Brian gave me the green light but I still have not done my lesson plan. I was only able to send my lesson plan to Brian on 18th Feb which he did not have time to look through.
Come 21st Feb, D-Day… fortunately I was there early to help set up the class room. Brian’s computer refused to start up… Zanetta, my classmate, started first and she did not need to use the computer. So I hurried back to my office in Robinson Road and borrowed my company’s notebook computer. Had I took over the new biz earlier, my office would be in Changi!
With the notebook computer, I was able to deliver the lesson. I felt it went well as the ‘students’ enjoyed the lesson.

Received news on Friday that Susan’s dad has passed away. So we planned to attend the funeral service on Saturday night.

On Saturday, dropped Lydia off for Electone class then went to Mei Kam’s place to pick up the soil and pots. I need to re-pot the cactus this weekend before they die on me.

Had lunch with Lydia then accompanied her for Cello class. Rather hot Saturday… Hid in NTUC…

After class, we went to Singapore Casket for the Funeral service. Stayed till about 2230hrs…catching up with those who were there.

Woke up late on Sunday morning so cannot make it to the Singapore Casket…went directly to Mandai Crematorium instead. Everything ended at about 10am. Winna gave us a ride home. Since it was still early, I decided to join Winna to attend worship service in Bt Panjang CEFC.

Andy Lew shared about the makeover of our time; based on scripture in Mark 1: 35 – 38.
35In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
36Simon and his companions searched for Him;
37they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
38He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

He shared about the need to keep our devotion time true as exampled by Jesus who went out early in the morning to seek to the Lord after a busy day of healing and casting demons.

His 2nd point is that we need to keep our calling clear. Jesus went away to pray amd aligned Himself to God. In verse 38, He said, “…so that I may preach there also; FOR THAT IS WHAT I CAME FOR.” Regardless of what is our occupation, there is a greater calling to tell the world about Jesus.

It reminded me that we will never be able to find time to do the things that we need to do; we need to MAKE TIME. How we often misplaced or even displaced our priorities.

Has been struggling what to decide what to do and where to go from now, this year 2010… there seemed to be a drive to pursue this teaching line. The first affirmation came from Adrian’s on Saturday night; the NIKE answer…”JUST DO IT!”

There is much apprehension on my part as my history of changing lanes had led to many trials since 1997… so I am weary of transitions. Will have to see how God lead from here.
Hopefully, God will not have to kick me off my chair like in 2005…

Started reading Ordering your Private World by Gordon MacDonald late last year. For some reasons I am taking longer than usual to finish this 181 pages. One of the reasons is that I only do my reading in the MRT which is only during the weekends. It was interesting how this book “jumped out” at me when I was browsing the bookshelf in Church when the pest control company came to inspect the premise. God must have wanted my inner life to be organised for the 2010!

I read until page 126 yesterday afternoon on my way home. The author recommended some exercises that are important to order our inner lives.
1. Silence and Solitude
2. Listening to God
3.Reflection & Meditation
4.Prayer as Worship & Intercession

Last night, as usual, I went into my children’s room to pray before they sleep. Lydia had a query about our study of the Church in Smyrna in Revelation 2 yesterday morning. She was not clear about the conclusion we drew from the study.

Had the opportunity to clarify that we are to heed the Word of God in order not to be deceived by false teachings. False teachings were prevalent in the old times and as well current times. We have to develop sensitivity through our daily disciplines in order for the Holy Spirit to guide us. God will speak to us in ways that are unique if we develop a discipline to listen; it will not be generalised system to all.