Archive for the ‘Family’ Category
I confess I haven’t been able to fully get into a writing mode.
I enjoy the oral and interactive mode of communication. A lot of what has been going on the past weeks are captured by the project 365 pictures. In between there’s been good meetings for work, great appointments with friends, scattered encounters with the unplanned for, and just the mundane daily stuff.
This week is going to be intense as the weekend draws near. Then another round the following week. so, two cycles of intensity.
Thus, it’s crucial to have a needed break in between where life is intentionally NOT intense.
The leisurely coffee was nice. 
My notebook fried on me 
And just when I thought all is gone. A neuron in my brain connected me mysteriously to a memory. And we’ll see whether the warranty might resurrect my faithful notebook since 2007 November. Fingers crossed. Prayer hands clasped.
Ewan has been showing growing affection to me. Such a delight. The fact is he’s “Mummy’s Boy”. And this is understandable. Amongst all three kids, May Chin has spent the most time in Ewan’s development since birth. One of the phrases which marks him differently from the other two is, “Mummy says, ‘_______’”. Don’t underestimate those two words. It’s authoritative and directive!
How will the week turn out? Would the much awaited news and next step finally come? Hope so. At the mean time, the rhythm of rest/reflection and work/action continues.
Of course, our fictional story the children and I have been telling in the evening based on fact continues to evolve with it’s twists and turns. The imaginary world is a fascinating place to be. This is where we can try ideas, explore possibilities, test out models, dwell in some danger safely, and engage in a whole range of activity in the safety of the common world of our construction.
And yet, the messy, dirty, ugly, dusty mixed with pretty, witty, funny everyday existence wobbles on whether we like it or not. And the wonders of our both worlds are equally real even though one is more real than the other, but the other is more possible to become real with some faith.
Looks like I’ll be back to packing some books. Finish off one long awaited one. It’s always easier to acquire books than pack them. Starting a few books is peanuts. Finishing them is the hard work. Scanning is fun thought
it’s 10am. So far, so good.
How time flies.
Wow I was really thin then!
Hmm. the hair was thicker too
And of course, for someone who doesn’t like to fit in boxes, I did survive being put in one quite well.
These are the days of digital pictures, but Elysia is now enjoying the old photo albums. It’s an expected moment of telling our history.
Even when I was a kid, Dad used to sit down with us a few times a year to look through his slide collection.
Those were the days where we relived the episodes which capture the many travels we embarked on. These were the snapshots of the memories which shape who we are.
Of course, usually photos capture the happy moments. But you and I know that a lot happens in between those smiles. There would have been moments of loneliness, pain and unhappiness. Scattered through out timeline would be the mundane as well as the magnificent.
And we just thought it’s photo albums right?
Photos merely point to the reality we experienced. And in between the pictures are bits and pieces of the puzzle of our lives which are embedded in our neurons somewhere.
The feelings these pictures generate is amazing, and what triggers between the gaps are intriguing.
And ALL of this is part of who we are, the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly.
Elysia is still looking through the photos of Daddy and Mummy – the younger looking “us”. Somehow, what she’s doing is shaping who she is too. A young beautiful girl who continues the stories of Sivin Kit and Long May Chin, but she, Gareth and Ewan will go beyond us to chart their own masterpieces.
My prayer is that we have done and will do all we can to help them along the path. This is my simple prayer and desire which orients my actions. As parents we don’t want to hinder or hurt them, even though no one can fully guarantee that. We can merely intend to do what is right, the best that we can. The rest is mystery.
I haven’t seriously blogged much since my Dell Notebook has landed up in “Hospital”. But I can still make an attempt again with the Dell Desktop at home.
Plan to skip lunch today, maybe will stick with fruits to ease into the Ramadan with my Muslim friends
Sorting out my books has been fun. Landed up returning to some pleasant reading on Hermeneutics last night. The 30+ pages was worth it. When I finished digesting the two chapters, all my kids were fast asleep while I was wide awake with 101 thoughts floating in my head.
One more day, or maybe a couple more to await for the next step as far as the near future plans are concerned. I hope I can manage the multiple plates I’m spinning in the midst of all this.
BLC Renovation. LCMS Matters. Family Concerns. Handling the Kit Do-Re-Mi. Uncluttering. Making sure my GTD system is rebooted properly. Friends in Conversation stuff. CCM Youth. Behind the scenes goodies. Hanging out with NECF friends. BLC regular ministry. And the list goes on.
I’m more aware of my breathing today. Perhaps today is a good day for a much needed swim in the pool Note to self: NOT sit in the pool, but swim in the pool! ROFL.
I’m increasingly troubled when I get the sense that some religious leaders begin to think of their work as a business expansion exercise. I also find that when leaders think in terms of sucking resources from others for their own gain albeit camouflaged with spiritual lingo distasteful. What happened to the kingdom of God? Why have we landed up more about our own kingdoms or even achievements? Beware! For we never know when it will all crash and burn.
After an interview session yesterday, I realized afresh how much I detest bullies. Bullies in all forms. I also recalled perhaps the seed experiences which has enabled me not to stereotype people, and appreciate the spectrum found in all communities.
I’m also discovering some areas which require attention in the coming years. Or maybe it’s more of accepting the change I’ve been going through. Each of us move through different phases and stages in our journey. We are never static. Some areas in my own pilgrimage have expanded. I was reminded of the hermeneutical spiral last night. It’s fascinating how reading an academic book draws you to simple daily life. A quick honest glance at my own history tells me how that spiral has occurred.
No regrets. Painful lessons sure. But no turning back time to rectify anything. Every raw material remains that raw, And with that one refines how one understands after listening to the past afresh.
What pulls me forward is the future. That paradigm is quite different from being pushed from the past. I need to think about this more today. Appreciate the past, and yet attracted by the future.
Not bad Got some random thoughts blurted out. I feel better already.
