Begin Each Day with FULL glass...

Since "that day", I've not been in the mood of blogging but somehow I need to keep my blog alive, whether anyone is reading it or not. It's been an emotional time for me, so, inactive is my blog and active is my diary but happy are those who find my diary if I die one day and burnt with me the "memories" of mine if no one finds it.

Ok..back to unemotional stuff. Since I've mentioned it in my previous post about Full Glass. Let me give some little, short explanation about it. Might be from Dr. Low, might be from myself, I am not sure because, that's me. I tend to get the main point and create the rest of it myself. My brain works harder when listening to people talk because I need to get the main point and process the meaning of it based on my own understanding. Does not mean that I am not listening to you. Yes, I am listening but I need to simplify it according to my own understanding and standard.

The above is known as "mengarut". Now, back and back again to the main stuff.

Begin each day with full glass means before you start your day...basically in school or whatever your work, do something that you like or that will motivate you e.g. pray, quiet time, drink a cup of coffee, exercise, hot bath etc. Do not wake up, take your bath, brush your teeth and drag yourself to school and arrived school with a *sigh* and grumpy/sour face.

I used to drag myself to school and when I entered my school, it's like entering hell. The worst of life shall begin now...no smile...thumb print my attendance with the stupid computerized "Thank you" and with some colleagues getting the stupid "Please try again". Walked out the staff room as fast as I could because I hated my school especially the office area and the staff room. Walked as fast as I could to get to my special education room and behold, "peace" for the rest of the day in school.

Then, I started changing because God reminded me of His purpose for me.

This is not "hell", this is where I sent you for the purpose of mission. This is your mission field. Mission field is a challenging place with many challenging people to face each day. Nobody said it's going to be easy but I will be with you. Fear not! I am in control of everything.

Everything changed.

School became more challenging, but He gave me the wisdom to see things differently. This is His school or rather this is still His choice of school for me. Not easy but not impossible as well.

People became more challenging, but He reminded me that He loves this people as much as He oves me. Just ignore them of what they say and do, as long as you know what you do is right in His sight and don't forget to pray for them. The more you hated them, the more you need to pray for them.

My prayer changed as well. I used to pray that God will change the heart of other people, but now, change my heart that I will have a heart. So that, I will learn to be patience, humble, to have humility and see the good in people rather than the worse in people. I learned to pray more positively and I learned to pray for students, teachers and most of all, the management of the school. It is not them, but rather the work of the evil, trying to confuse human's mind.

Every morning, I thank God that I have a place to work and serve Him and I am thankful that He is making use of me rather than me being a useless person to God, how sad.

I put a smile on my face, not by force but because He gave me joy in my heart, knowing that He is with me as I serve Him in this school. Apart from everything that is not so nice in school, I still have some beautiful and lovely colleagues, my cute, stubburn and testing my patience's students and most of all, the gift of Holy Spirit.

I look forward to teach Bible Knowledge every Friday. Ok, about this Bible Knowlegde thing. It shall be another story in my next post. I'm loving it each day. I can see how the Holy Spirit works here. It's wonderful for me, for the students (I hope). If not, saya yang syok sendiri.

So, by changing myself, I am starting to start my day with my glass FULL...and so that my students shall be FULL at the end of the day too. This is call...PASS IT ON!!

Thanks Angela for helping me keep my blog alive...I was very much thinking of burying my blog. Ok, maybe not forever but until I have the mood again...which I do not know how long. Months...years...decades...???

Teaching...For the TOUGH yet GENTLE!!!

This is just a reminder to me and all Christian teachers out there from the talk given by our dear speaker, Dr Low Guat Tin on 27th June 2009.

Her words touch the hearts of teachers who care to learn and be changed, for the sake of the education world, that in the end of the day, we would be able to give God all the glory due to Him.

PASSION

Have a PASSION for teaching...it will bring students and yourselves real far in life.

Get ready each day with a FULL GLASS... it will energize you and benefit the students because you are all ready with a good mood, a good attitude and all geared up to start the day.

FOCUS on the MAJOR things in life...let the minor be minor...it will not burn you out and keep the students out from the "smokes".
*(Alright, this is applicable to all school management as well...MAJOR the MAJOR...STOP trying to burnout teachers because we are lacking motivated teachers around nowadays due to higher authorities majoring the minors)

DO what you need to do...it will save your brain of too much thinking on
"To do or not to do?".

Keep yourselves HEALTHY and stay PHYSICALLY FIT... it will save your money of visiting the doctors too often, helps you break the record of no sick leave every year and keep the money to help the poorer students.

STAY CONNECTED TO GOD...He will guide your ways and your students' way.

Alone...Lone...One...

Here I am, alone..in an empty class with my books and a computer, when everyone else are at the swimming pool. I miss my swimming session with my "kids". I miss them very much. I miss getting tan too.

Here I am, trying to finish my school work but had been procrastinating since just now. I only managed to write 3 days of teaching plan and open to the pages of the book that I am supposed to type out.

Here I am, Facebooking and blogging instead. It's more fun than anything this school offer.

Here I am, thinking of going for a swim later in the evening. I miss swimming, getting fit and getting tan.

Here I am, logging out of blogging.

Here I am, wishing me and you, goodbye.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

If you are still living on this earth, you'll definitely received a call from me wishing you a very happy birthday but then, God had a better plan for you.

I'm still missing you very much, dad.

Since it doesn't make much different, as you will not read my blog if you are still alive...I'll take this opportunity to wish you "Happy Birthday, Daddy!"

Memories of you will always be with me till my last breath.

I do not have many pictures of you because you never like to take photos...so...I regretted not forcing you to take photos.

This shall be my last wish for you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

In Memory of My Beloved Dad...

My dad is the opposite of my mom. He is a man with few words, thus, some people will think that he is very proud. Until that some people really get to know him, he can really talk and he can crack jokes, not stupid jokes but real jokes.

My dad was born in Tapah, Perak and then grew up in Ipoh. He was working in KL until he was transfered to Kuala Terengganu. He remained there when he married my mom. My dad was brought up as a Roman Catholic but in 1998, he rededicated his life to Jesus and became a Protestant till today.

Dad had been a very patient man in one way or another though he had his hot-bloodedness. He will patiently send me and my brother to school everyday without fail. That was like since I was in primary one till I was in upper six, plus tuition classes when I was in form 4 and 5. He will send me to school early in the morning eventhough his work only starts at 8am. Then, during lunch time, he will pick me up from school and sent me home which is about 14km from my school. Since my school ended at 2pm, so, it was actually past his lunch time but he was never late in picking me up. I do not know how he did but he did it.

My dad retired in 1996 and he continued to be our driver. Driving me and my mom. My dad were never those authoritative kind of father you know, where he will have the last say in everything. No, my dad always asked us to make our own decision and he will sometimes gives his advice if needed. Normally, we make our decision and bear our own consequences. That's how both of us became quite independent.

My dad was the one who was always with me, giving me all the moral support needed, in silence. He sent me to tuition and will go round the town until it was time to pick me up. He was the one who followed my timetable when I was having my PMR, SPM and STPM. If there was like a short hour in between papers, he will come and pick me up and bring me somewhere to eat, and sent me back for my next paper. Sometimes, he will buy some food for me and drive up to the seaside and had my food there.

Dad never force my brother and I into what are we to become. He let us choose whatever we want to be. He is always giving his blessing to whatever we are doing. When my brother wanted to go to India after his uni, my dad did not complained or disapproved but he, in fact, supported my brother there. When my brother wanted to work in the home for the underprivileged children, my dad never disapproved him either. There goes for me too. When I wanted to go to Sarawak, he was just giving his blessing.

My dad is always very calm in every situations, even until his last breath. Before he passed away, though he was not feeling very comfortable but he was still sitting there in silence, in relax and calm mode...without a single word from him...until his final breath.

I was very close to my father because I think we have the same characteristic. I could talk to him for hours in person but not through the phone. My dad hated the phone. So, when I am back home, he's the one that I spent most of the time with compared to my mom. When my mom is busy talking with people, I'll always be standing with my dad because we do not know the person and we will just stand there and listen. When in a shopping place, I will always choose to follow my dad rather than my mom because we have the same interest. Clothings doesn not really interest me unless I need to get one for some occasions. What my dad sees were more interesting to me.

During the funeral service, many people came to me and told me that they will miss my dad because my dad is always a joker. He always makes people laugh and making the learning fun, plus he is always coming up with questions that no one will think of and that will make you think. People were touched by his quiet ways and his enthusiasm.

In his 60's, he was studying part time theology and though difficult , he never gave up. He faithfully attended each of the classes which can be very tiring for him because the class will start in the morning and ended in the night for at least 2 to 3 days. During his last 2 years plus of his life, he really dedicated his time to studying God's word and praying, and fasting too.

I am glad that he came back to Christ and he passed away while he was in the midst of completing the 10 days of world global day of prayer. He passed away on the 8th day and on the final day, was his funeral day. God ended his life so well and so perfect. I thank the Lord for all that He had done and how He had been with my dad all his years.

Thank you, Lord for giving me such a wonderful earthly father.

I love you, daddy!

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy,

This year will be my 1st time celebrating Father's Day without you around. I held my hp at the struck of midnight having the memory of you because it is Father's Day, where normally I would smsed you at that hour and only will call you later in morning.

I never thought God had planned everything so perfectly well that you are gone just weeks before Father's Day and also your birthday. I wanted to get you present like I always do but God actually stopped me by making a little poorer than usual. I did not know that He was taking you away. We planned the whole holiday to celebrate Father's Day and also your birthday with you, and also I wanted to bring you on a holiday which I never had the chance to. I never thought God would take you so early. Faster than I ever imagine.

I had nothing much to write down since you are gone. I'll be just paying tribute to you just like I had decided before I knew about all of God's plan for you.

Happy Father's Day, daddy! I love you and I miss you dearly. May you rest in peace in the presence of God!

With love,
Your daughter...

My "Holiday"... the last with my dad...

It was all too sudden....I have no words to say but....God's timing is always the perfect timing.

This was what I see 1st thing I enter my house....*sob sob*

Many thanks to Rev. Koshy, AJPC members, Padang Midin neighbours, relatives near and far....and all condolences from friends. Your help and support is much appreciated. Many things would not be done without each and everyone of you. Above all, thank you, Lord for bringing my dad home, wonderful people around us and the good weather.

Me & my guitar brought all the way back from Miri.

I was all the while deciding whether to bring back my guitar or not even before my dad passed away but my dad asked me, "What for?". So, I decided not to bring back but God had other plan. When the news got to me, I knew it right away that I need to bring my guitar back. In the short moment before my flight back, I was searching for the right song. God finally gave me this song.. Along the Road of Life. It represent my dad's life on earth and now, with the Lord. Due to last minute tuning, it was a little out of tune but the words were there. That's all that matter. It's not so much for my dad but for the people who came...it's a testimony of my dad.

The crowds at the cemetery.

Though not many but I was touched by those who came and gave us all the support needed.

The last farewell...flowers...dust to dust...

I thought this was the hardest to go through but I went through it without tears because I know where my dad is. I was saying goodbye to the earthly body but his soul is with my heavenly Father... in a far better place than this place called earth.
Rest in peace, daddy!

The deadly place that look so alive...till we meet again, daddy!

My paternal relatives...all the way from Ipoh, KL and Singapore.

Thank you for coming. I'm glad to be able to meet up with all of you. It has been years since I met them and I just got to know and meet one of my cousins. Some of my dad's brothers and sisters could not make it because most of them are quite old and sick themselves. My dad was the first to go back HOME among his siblings and he is the youngest boy in his family.

People come and go, but memories shall remain forever in our hearts.

I miss you dearly, daddy!