From Angie........

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care ofthem. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from theearth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Ferngrew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bambooseed. But I did not quit on the bamboo". He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In thefourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would notquit." He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent thefive years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have beenstruggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others." He said.

"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they bothmake the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come, "God said to me. " You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can helpyou see that God will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness. Bad days give you experiences. Both are essential to life. Keep going... Happiness keeps you Sweet,Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human,Failures keep you humble,Success keeps You Glowing, but Only God keeps You Going!

STAR Walk*

hmm..........I really don't remember how I get myself into this healthy activity??!!!!

Without much attention, I registered myself for the non-competition category together with Missy Puah. And, our beloved Thorny registered herself for competition!!

This is a 10km walk, starting from PISA and went around the FTZ, and the finish line is back to PISA again.

If I remember correctly, this event is part of the Penang yearly activity (Pesta Pulau Pinang) ?? There was a concert a day before the event too.

A week before the Walk, Missy Puah fell sick with horribly cough, and I was so *happy, thinking that I could escape from this Walk because she only told me that I need to wake up at 5am on that day for the event!

Well, with much determination, Missy Puah said she can do it, then I have to prove that I could too!

Luckily my alarm clock is working well that morning *grin*. I woke up at 5.30am!!!! This is even earlier than I get up to go to work!

Then I waited, and waited. Waited for Missy Puah to come pick me up because I did not know where to park the car if i drove myself to the stadium. Missy Puah said she would come at 6am, but I waited and saw no sign of her. Then she messaged me saying that she "lao sai" woh! Aiseh.........

That made me nervous too, what if I need to go to the loo during the Walk??????

Finally, Missy Puah came, together with her hubby (Andrew) and Thorny. I jumped into their car and we were off to the stadium. On our way there, we saw some enthusiastic people already started walking to PISA. BRAVO people, BRAVO!

On the other hand, Cicak and Missy Ooi, being very "supportive", were still nicely sleeping in their beds and having meeting with Master Chow. They said they shall meet us at the breakfast place -- "nor te nor liap" at 8 o'clock. Very well then.............

I brought my own breakfast, a few bananas and Yakult. I intented to share with Missy Puah and Thorny, but they were worried that after eating the bananas they needed to go to the loo.

We reached the stadium around 7am, and there were already packed with all the contestants. But, we need to register before the walk started! Therefore, we followed the crowd and hope that we would be ended up at the registration booth. And guess what???! Those people were going to the toilet! So, we turned back and found out that we were suppose go straight to the starting point and get ourselves registered. ~fainted

Thorny and Andrew were separated from us, where their competition Walk started earlier than us.

At last, it was our turn to start the walk! Just right after a few miles, we saw people start "detour-ing'! Where were they going to? heheheh...............Sunshine market for breakfast!

I finished the banana and Yukult, but I couldn't find a garbage bin along the way. It was after 4km of walk then only I got to throw the garbage away! holding~

It was indeed a nice day with splendid weather, no hot sun, and was pretty windy. There was a number of veteran walkers, walking with great spirit, I give them salute! Cicak and Missy Ooi, shame on you! shame shame~ =p

Andrew messaged Missy Puah and telling her that there was a drink both in front of the STAR office, giving out 100-plus. But, we were not thirsty and did not stop for the drink. Along the way, we saw people throwing away those paper cups at the road side. People, DO NOT LITTER!

We finally reached the mid-point, 5km check point! The multitude of people were seen on the hill slope near the army camp. Missy Puah once again received a message from Andrew telling her that he has already finished his race. Being "kia su", both us putting on our turbo gear at the last few kilometers. ^_^

Two of us finished our non-competition walk with the record of 1 hr 45 min! *clap clap .....I am proud of ourselves!

Missy Puah with her lucky draw coupon at the finish line~

Culture Corner - Nativity Scenes

This week’s symbol of Christmas is the Nativity Scene, sometimes called a creche (pronounced like cresh, it’s a French word). Nativity scenes depict the birth of Jesus in a stable. According to the Bible, Jesus’ mother and father had to go to his father’s home town to register for a census. Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father) was from a small town called Bethlehem. Mary was about ready to give birth when they set out to go to Bethlehem. By the time Joseph and Mary (Jesus’ mother) arrived in Bethlehem all the rooms in the inns were full, and Mary was ready to give birth. The only place available for them to rest was in a stable near one of the inns. As a result, Jesus was born in a stable rather than a comfortable room in an inn.

Nativity scenes normally consist of a building to represent the stable in which Jesus was born. They also have figures of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, along with some cows, a donkey, and some sheep. Sometimes there are also figures representing the shepherds who came to the stable to see Jesus on the night he was born. Occasionally, nativity scenes include three Magi or Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus, though the Bible says these visitors did not arrive on the night of Jesus’ birth, but came to see him and present him some time later after the family moved into a house in Bethlehem.

Nativity scenes can be very small like the one pictured on top, and can be set on a table top to decorate a room at Christmas time. People usually place this type of nativity scene in their living room or family room. Sometimes churches or city halls will display large nativity scenes in front of their buildings.

Culture Corner - Christmas Story, Customs, and Symbols

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

- The Book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-20

He is the Reason for the Season!

It's the season again!!















The Ladies in the Ladies Street helped put up these gorgeous decor~!

It started with only one tree in the middle, then Missy Puah said wanna put up an "encoder" tree. So, the Green Encoder Tree is born...........

The next day, this Thorny came to me with her old material that she bought last year to make her own tree. Therefore, we all come up with this White tree with small little boxing lights!

Marvellous job ladies!















Ladies & Gentlemen, now we present you Lee Sze and Siow Ming.
Lee Sze insisted that the red nose reindeer is the She deer and the tanned macho brown deer is the He deer!

Nevertheless, I rather look at this pair of deer as both of them! gagagaa............... ~so sweet!















hehehehhh.............Don't you dare to say this is not a Snowman! *grin

Our Missy Puah and Missy Lai do bring us a lot of fun with this little doggy/alien/lamb look like Snowman~




















This is our Mommy-to-be Lay Theng!! She is expecting in a few weeks time..........baby boy on the way!

muahahahahaa.....gotcha! ohh, this "Peeking Duck" is our beloved Thorny................

Merry Christmas and May the love of the Lord embrace all of you!

In memory of Dr. Charles E. Smith

Wonderful Teacher

With a special gift for learning

And with a heart that deeply cares,

You add a lot of love

To everything you share,

And even though

You mean a lot,

You'll never know how much,

For you helped

To change the world

Through every life you touched.

You sparked the creativity

In the students whom you taught,

And helped them strive for goals

That could not be bought,

You are such a special teacher

That no words can truly tell

However much you're valued

For the work you do so well.

the Girls' power!

MEN, stay out from our territory!!!! gagaaggaaa..................

BB Sana.........

Isn't she adorable? My sister's family will be back for christmas end of this year! Sana will be here visiting Grandma n "xiao yi"!