A Melancholic Christmas

I am having a melancholic Christmas this year, trying hard to fight the urge to rush, overwhelm the load and do too much. It is a Christmas that I go through with a sense of loss and hope, both at the same time. It is a period of transition from one place to another and I have little to hold on to that I could claim its mine to keep. Life has a funny twist to it at times, for the greater good, one has to let go of the good and settle for a loss. That is how I feel. I am ok but not feeling great about it. So, I call it a melancholic season, since Christmas is here, it is a melancholic Christmas then. Hopefully, all these will pass sooner than I can remember it, that it will be just a phase in life that I will eventually forget the details and the pain. Hopefully, I will overcome and come out stronger than before. So, there is this little hope lingering on.

There are times, I would like to curve up as a ball and roll into a corner and hide till the season is over. I know that is silly and that will mean I am to miss everything about Christmas and the season. 

What can you do when you feeling and your wishes for the season do not match? How would I know that I would not regret it for being too inactive? Even at this low time, I believe this season of Emmanuel will bring a greater meaning to me if I allow God to work out His timing and not to overthink about it. I think the following keep my sanity intact and keep me seemingly active even though doing much less.

1) Wait a bit, wait on the Lord for this is the season of Advert, time to wait. Listen to His prompting and guidance.The wait can be long, 7 days, 2 weeks or even a month long. I did not succumb to the urge to compete to the first to put up the Christmas Tree and decorations in the house. My original plan was to put them all up before 5 November, before I left for my holidays. I know, its a bit too early. And so we waited for the right moments, to settle few more things in the priority list and we only up the decorations on 13 December! Well, originally, it was supposed to be up on Christmas Eve! And it took us over a long weekend to complete it, waiting for my son to climb the ladder for the taller decorations. It was worth the wait, the decorations still look as stunning, bright and colourful. Christabel has chosen blue as the main colour for the tree. 

2) Doing less is actually doing more. Having less expectation and doing as best that can be. 

Think, rationalise, re-think, re-rationalise the whole schedules and think of ways to make things simpler by doing lesser and shorter list of guests. I think I have to urge to do things big and more is less to me, I mean cooking for 25 and 40 is not that much difference until I start to prepare for double portions and it takes double time to complete all the cooking and chores and I would lay down and mourn the back pain and someone will remind me of my stubbornness to overwork again. I would have no time to wrap up presents and it be too late. So it is a vicious cycle that will go round. 

3) Christmas Devotions, Reflections are important part of the season.

Every year, this is often the least done and most left out item even though it is supposed to be a priority. I have to print them and get myself to read them. Sharing them out is a good way to ensure that I read them. 

4) Go with the flow where it is right thing to do. 

Checking out with families and friends help a lot to see what is the right thing to do. I will have to listen carefully what everyone is doing and wishing to do and adjust accordingly, move some of the guest list to another day just to clear things up a bit more so that I could enjoy them.

5) Expect Emmanual to show up this season. Plan and execute expecting God to show up. Think about the guest list carefully. Invite who you can entertain and be a blessing to them. I am really terrible at this. May the Lord grants me the courage and wisdom to do the needful.

And so, I have a simpler Christmas this year, spending more time reflecting on myself, talking and listening to people that I should pay attention to and be there for them. I think the big change has to be the presents list, I shall devote some time to do that. 

Last but not least, to have a good Christmas, one must have good Christmas Carols to listent to. I miss the Christmas Radio Station this year and found this to be very good. It creates a Christmas atmosphere at my home and a Christmas mood in my heart. May God be glorified in all these, feeble as my heart and soul, He is great in His works and deeds!

O Holy Night

This is one of the beautiful Christmas Carol that I enjoyed in 2017, while I was busy gathering and finalising my recipes and menu. Really lovely voice and good singing.

Reflections 2017

I am a Christmas person just like a I am night-owl, I mean that later part of the day, later in the year, the ending. I am not so much a New Year person, although I love to have a new diary, new google calendar, love the idea to be able to fill them up with nothing to almost full. I love the idea of starting all over again, a new chance to launch forward. But as much as I love these new beginnings (try saying it as been-gin-ning), I love closure much better!

I love the idea of Christmas Advert that it is countdown time to Christmas and New Year. I love the idea that Christmas and New Year are together, sending off one and welcoming in another year. I love the spirit and air of Christmas, you could feel it in the air. I love the smell of Christmas, not just sweet cinnamon, sweet mince pies, rum aged cakes but that of Roast Turkey, Roast Lamb, Baked Cheese stuff! Definitely, I love Christmas more than New Year. 

Thankfully, there is an advert for Christmas, a countdown and a timely reminder to slow down and celebrate with a bang with loved ones and families. As I age, the celebrations take on different moods and forms, I start to value relationships a lot more. I start to think about what needs to be intentional. I start to care about people over things although things are absolutely essential to maintain relationships like gifts, food, cakes etc. 

Almost every year, I wore myself out preparing for Christmas, there was a season that I did charity fundraising by baking almost a hundred loaves of prune, Chocolate, Christmas Cakes and thousand over tiny cookies. Thankfully, I stop doing this for many years now. Almost every year, on the Christmas Eve, I found myself overworked, overloaded, exhausted and unable to even enjoy the Christmas Eve Service and then I would comfort myself by saying, next year I will prepare earlier so that I do not rush and have enough rest. But then the following will come and go and I would procrastinate too long over Christmas related decisions.

This year is a bit more special as I have entered the second part as a centurion. It is a year of intentional activities. Here are my reflections:-

1. Travel with family 

I got to travel a bit more with family this year, I managed the following trips :-

August - Hainan Island with Michael, Wallace and Malcolm. The two boys went for Summer Camp at the courtesy of China government's invitation to overseas Chinese younger generations. We went back to the ancestral house on the exact date of our 23rd wedding anniversary on 6 August 2017. Bel's star war trooper luggage had a series of exciting adventure of its own.

August - the following weekend after China, we went to Singapore to bring Michael's mum to visit her sister in law, who is Michael's aunt. We met up over Saturday breakfast with most of her family members and took the 4 kids for a try at the iFly Singapore.

In September, I took Wallace to Johor Bahru to register for his Year one at Reading University for Real Estate. I stayed over a short weekend.

End of the year, we are going to Taipei for our new experience of this city.

2. Travel to learn 

In August, I attended the Beijing GIS Conference and it was really eye-opening to see how the China market is doing in GIS. They are into Big Data although not everyone knows how to get Big Data or analyse them properly but nonetheless, its Big Data everywhere.


3. Travel purely for fun

In November, 6-24th, I went away for 18 days. It was a travel with 2 friends at South Island withe Melbourne and Auckland as bonus trips to visit my friends and relatives. This was really a travel purely for fun and relaxation!


4. Staying Healthy

I continue on with my new lifestyle after last year surgery in May, I did one round of major detox diet and that helped to stop the weight piling back on. I was most happy that before my New Zealand Trip and before my birthday, I was told by my doctor that I am doing well and should aim to maintain the weight that way.

5. Celebrations Moments

I was conferred the Kinabalu's Order by the Head of State of Sabah. That came as a big surprise for October. I had no clue this would happen. I receive with gratitude in my heart, what the good Lord grants me with good health to receive and what men are giving me in social status.

6. My mental gardening

This has been shelved for over a year. With two older kids away from home, I ended up busy to manage after them. I was given a mental picture to let go and let God and that God does not have any grandchildren. I have to surrender to Him.

Deep down, I know I have to get back on to this track.

7. My growing up family

Kids are really growing up so fast. At the twinkling of the eyes, they are out of the house. At another blink, the other son has completed his O level exams. Then Bel graduated from Primary School with flying colours.

8. My ABC journey with God

In February, I travelled to Miri with Michael and many others to learn about what is Intentional Discipleship Making. It was a spiritual growth moment. I have been assigned a mentor. Being authentic is hard work; being broken is heart-ache and being courageous means brave enough to let go of certain pride and even people.

9. WOEful people

WOEful team is really scattered this year, most of us are busy and away from KK. Finally, the group has been asked to split up and tried other groups. I do not find this an easy process although I responded obediently swiftly for the greater good of everyone. In the end, myself ended this year without attaching to a group. Seeing them grow, meeting younger Christians will be a good journey for them.

10. Brigade and me

This has been a most painful year for Brigade in terms of heart-aches, no matter what I think its good, there is always someone who think its bad. I cannot reconcile the differences. I cannot reply the accusations. I was asked to learn to be vulnerable through all these. I have no idea what it means and what it will do to the ministry. I know it will hurt it even more but I do not know how to stop it from hurting. May the Lord have mercy on me and my work. May He prosper the work of GB to bless more girls.

Milk Kefir

I am teaching Milk Kefir (MK)Class😍😍😍

What u get?
1. 20g MK Grains
2. EcoYapp Milk,
3. Glass bottle
4. Simple Guide to MK Beginner
5. Tools (coffee filter, strainer, wooden spoon & etc)

What you will learn...
1. Make your own milk kefir drink
2. Using Non-dairy Milk to make Milk Kefir
3. Fun way to serve Milk Kefir
4. Make your own Kefir Cheese
5. Exposure to different types of Kefir grains & Kombucha

Venue: Yu Cafe, Luyang Kk,Sabah. (Next to Luyang Police station)
Date: 2nd December,2017 ( Saturday)
Fee: RM120.00 (Pay once & Culture endlessly)

MK is fermented milk that is jam pack with nutrients and probiotic that is essential for a healthy Gut. Your Gut make up 80% of your entire immune system. So, it means if you have healthy gut, generally you have a healthy body and a stronger immune system.

A University of Florida microbiology class shows that 1 tablespoon of Milk Kefir culture with goats milk contains 150BILLION OF CFU (colony forming units of bacteria & yeast) Yes,CFU not CFO😱. . This results in higher counts of probitotic which helps in....

1. Boost immune systems
2. Improve Bone Health
3. Lower the risk of osteoporosis
3. Effective natural treatment for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and reduce Bowel inflammation.
4. Support Detoxification
5. Improve Lactose Intolerance
6. Positive Effect against Asthma and Allergies
7. Kill Candida

Milk Kefir is so easy to make & economical probiotic product for your health. You can keep growing milk kefir and have endless supplies of milk kefir.

Seats are LIMITED!! (due to space). Come and i will show you how easy you can improve your Gut's health by drinking Milk Kefir.

You may refer to the link below for more info and nutritional facts on Milk Kefir.
https://draxe.com/kefir-benefits/