Thank God for 28 April :)

Time really flies! It's a public holiday today - 1 May 2006 and I'm working, or rather blogging in the office :p

Came in early today to get some very, very important things done ( but still not done). I should have done it on Friday like I told my two good friends....but procrastinated coz was put off by the lengthy form....phew!! Another day.... just another day perhaps :) haha.....

Ok, let's spill the beans! This year I had one of the worst 28 Aprilsss in my life :p It was a significant day not because I was on leave since it was a friday....but because it was "OUR birthdays!!" Haha....i'm my mum's birthday gift, ya man....so sweet, isn't it?? When I was little, I used to think that my friends' birthdays fall on the same day as their mums too....since we're all classmates....born same year, same class, same whatever!! Haha....talk about utter foolishness :)


I got up early on Friday as usual, be it a working day or not. Wished my mum a blessed birthday and told her, "Didn't get you anything...." Felt so terrible.....seriously had in mind to get her a comfy & much sought-after foot massage - IsqueeZe from Osim but my church friend said, "Lousy". She bought it for her mum a couple of months back I think, tested and used and had negative feedback sigh!! Couldn't get her the massage chair ....coz it's beyond my budget and besides, I know my mum too well.....she would refuse the gift even if it's FREE and paid for....why?? Simply because she wants me to save money :p

Anyway, told her I'll bring her shopping instead and buy her a gift then!! But....again my mum refused and I was getting all agitated already..... She gave all kinds of excuses, no shopping today coz Nicole is still sleeping....oh, did I mention to you guys that my lovely, sweetie pie niece sleeps till noon.....hahaha....used to be every day but lately, she has a disturbed sleep, wakes up really early, say 6.30am, 7am.....and shift from sleeping in her bedroom to the sofas downstairs till......dunno what time :p


My dad volunteered to take care of Nic but Mum still refused to take the day off from babysitting both Nic and Norman!! Sometimes, she worries way too much for her children (all super grown up), her grandchildren and everyone else but herself....and most of the time, she overworks herself unnecessarily.

Mum reminded me thousand times to fetch my youngest sister at Carrefour, Subang Jaya and the few days before Friday!! 3rd sister called to say that baby Ray who's 15 months old was not well.....he had very high fever so my sis took emergency leave! Mum said, "We shall cancel tonight's dinner, I'm not going for dinner! Let's go Jen's place to visit her and bring her lunch". Sometimes I thought my Mum is overly concerned coz my sister is old enough to take care of herself and her baby( her hubby was away in Bangkok). That's my extraordinary MUM.....

This time, there was a cause to worry. Baby Ray suddenly had fits! 1st time in the morning and later in the evening, his high temperature triggered another attack :p So, my parents rushed him to SJMC (Subang Jaya Medical Centre) and thank God, his condition has stabilised within a few hours later and temperature dropped from 39 degrees to normal! Baby Ray was admitted on Friday evening and was discharged on Sunday afternoon.

So, this year, we didn't have our annual birthday celebration! Birthdays are very special to my family. My aunt would never be able to comprehend why my youngest sister had to take leave on Friday and hop on to a bus from Ipoh to KL just to celebrate our birthdays! My aunt thought it was one of the most idiotic things to do but to the Lim's family, it is a tradtion...... it's the strong family bond that we dearly hold on to.

Anyway, it wasn't all together a terrible birthday. I really appreciate all the well wishes and phone calls from my beloved friends from all over the world.....far and near! Thank you so much for remembering.......

1. To Kelvin and Mak, thanks for taking the time and effort to organise the dinner. I can't imagine that I actually had one extra candle on my cake, how could you possibly do that Mak Choo Seng!! haha, not yet, not so soon! Throughout these 11 years of friendship and 9 or 10 years of birthday celebrations ( right/wrong), my heart rejoices just to know that I always have two wonderful big brothers to look up to! God bless you both :)

2. To Chee Hooi who's busy juggling her work and wedding preparations, thank you for being a sweet friend. You have indeed grown from an ambitious lady (1st impression at work!!haha) to a beautiful, sweet and simple person. If it wasn't for you and Sean, I would imagine myself still being stranded in Bali and sending out SOS like in Gilligan's Island....haha

3. To Wiona, thanks for the lovely gift. Now, I'll always be on time for everything I hope :) I'm not busier than President Bush, don't worry. Thanks for being so patient with me....wait for another 1.5 months ok, then I'll dine with you :)

4. To Shuba, Pung and Winston....gosh, you guys told me a lie!! Terrible! Terrible..... But I know you guys meant well, so you guys are forgiven! And thank you for being so cheeky. I'll miss u Pung, please remember to tell your boss you need a much bigger room coz u have lotsa multi-racial bros and sisters when you have overseas engagement.... u must be accompanied! haha..

5. Cg members i.e Kathy, Aaron, Elaine, David, Bryant, Bell, Shuba, Pung, Winston.......thanks for dining with me on Sat night. Though I chose such a terrible venue, had our hair all sizzled up, face turned so red and everyone cooking his/her food in sweat and sauna-like place.......needless to say, I really enjoyed the company. It's not the place that matters, it's the heart. Thanks for everything! Shuba, I remember I had an option of TGI Friday's or Chillies, is that still valid huh? Second round maybe?? haha....

6. CKL thanks for allowing me to throw tantrums at you as and when I like. You're so unfortunate to text me when I'm so stressed up! Still wondering how on earth did we become friends? Total opposites, yet good friends!

7. Ing Fui, Kher Hui, Choy Lin, Foong Yee, Mona, Edoni, Julie, Ola, Kah Moon and so many more..... I can't remember!! Tq so much...... I appreciate your friendships! If I owe anyone a reply/e-mail, it's because my hp is out of credit. Reload later ya!

8. Last one, this is to SCOLD my good old frens for forgetting my birthday! If you're reading this Dr. Lina Ling and Sheau Hui, the mummy......wait till I see u both...... where is my birthday present huh?? Don't work so hard la, Lina.......doctor gotta sleep and rest as well. Mummy Sheau Hui....can e-mail me your baby's picture or not?

Indeed, I had a happy and sad birthday! Sad because things didn't turn out as we planned, but happy because I have such a loving and sacrificial family ( although we don't show love as openly & outwardly haha) and wonderful friends who love me just as I am.....

Thank God for **28 April ** ~ thank God for restoring baby Ray's health! ~ Keep him safe and sound and healthy all the days of his life! Amen.

I count my blessings when I think of my Mum!

Today's Thursday 20 April 2006 and in another 8 days, it's my mum's birthday!! Been wondering what to get for my Mum this year. She's gonna turn 60 years old.....wow! Praise God for this wonderful creation of God who loves me and my sisters dearly. I pray that God will always keep her strong and healthy.....

Unknown to many but her beloved children of 5 girls, Mum is the most sacrificial and loving person on earth. She believes in giving her children the very best of everything that she has; be it a good and sound education, an annual family holiday or her endless love for the family!!

Mum's a petite lady whose look doesn't quite reveal her age. Her favourite question to ask the little ones during gatherings/reunions has to be; "Who do you think look younger, your mum (either one of her sisters) or me?" Haha...

Mum has a sweet, loving, and gentle spirit beneath her stern look. Sometimes, her strong words could cut and pierce through like a two-edged sword and leave you feeling so miserable but deep down, I know Mum has no intention of saying hurting words. Life's experiences and many facets of things around her have given my Mum a broad sometimes sceptical perspective of life. Mum has said the sinner's prayer years ago but today, Mum ain't attending church anymore.

Hmm.....why? I don't know. Until and unless Mum sees a change in the lives of people closest to her, I guess she would still hold her reservation to attend church. It doesn't matter if my brother-in-law holds high position in church, but if we are not able to bring the gospel message to our loved ones i.e Mum, Dad, and my 2nd sister's family, that would be one of life's many regrets to my family! Sighhhh.....I am guilty of not being able to bring Mum to church even after much persuasion.

Sometimes, Mum worries unnecessarily for her children. We assured her that we are more than capable of taking care of ourselves but Mum seems to think otherwise. Till today, she still prepares breakfast for me....in fact, every meal for that matter of fact :) Hehe....there goes my much acquired cooking skills!

More often than not, when she nags, everyone of us would literally shut our ears and just nod our heads or at times, if it's too much, we debate on things and leave her feeling so heart-broken. For whatever heart-aches that we have given her, we really didn't mean it at all. Words do not just bring sweet music to the ears but could also ruin a family. A simply truth that I've come to experience, to know and to handle with care.

Whatever the circumstances may be, it brings so much comfort and joy just knowing that I am not alone on this temporal earth, but that God has given me a loving family; my beloved Mum and dad, my 3 elder sisters and their families and my youngest sister to go through life's journey! I count my blessings everyday! For this, I'm eternally grateful.

Opps....the question still remains, "What should I get for my Mum?" thinking hard...

Thank you Lord!

Ok....one paper down and the rest is history! Haha....just kidding. Thank God that today's Finance 201 mid term paper was all right. In fact, year in year out, the mid term paper is always so alike, perhaps I should use the word, "replica" that best describes the paper.....hmm, is that good or bad I wonder? Not at all challenging....sigh! But, of course the same cannot be said for the finals.... surprise! surprise!

Anyway, thank God that it's Good Friday this 14 April.! Though I may not have holidays like my beloved young readers out there aka "students", then again I'm really grateful for this week's much reduced workload and for the week to come as well..... Happy hols!

Hope to catch up on my much needed sleep and tv...and shopping :) And of course, hope to fully recover from my allergy due to stress & low immune system :p Unbelievable yet I thank God once again that it's not chronic.... nothing too serious, just some inconvenience! So, melakamari, you being my loyal reader......don't need to get so worried, I'm ok. The medical term is "urticarial rash" or also known as "hives" or "urticaria". It's actually quite common, not contagious, one in five has it.... and I'm one of the five unfortunate ones :(

This Easter period, I want to thank God for HIS great LOVE and the HOPE that HE has given us. HE first loved us while we were yet sinners. Many would die for a righteous man but would you consider dying for your enemy? Honestly, I would say, "No" but JESUS did....and HE did it because HE loves us too much! So, Lord, help me to love others with the same unconditional love that YOU have showed & poured forth in my life......

May HIS eternal love enfolds each one reading this! God bless.... Happy Easter :)

I didn't manage to say, "Good bye!"

Sarah has finally boarded her plane yesterday night (3 April 2006) and should have safely arrived in Japan by today.... I still can't imagine that Sarah is miles and miles away now! Of course, there is a tinge of unspoken sadness in me but somehow, I'm so occupied with work that I didn't have time to think that she'll be leaving so soon..... For the next two years or so, there will be no more text msges from Sarah ( Japan utilizes different telecommunications technology, right?) & no more artistic hand-made lovely cards from her anymore...... unless she sends me a package :)

I tried calling her after I reached home at about 10.15pm but she didn't pick up her phone, sigh!! Anyway, thank God that we managed to meet up last Friday for dinner! Otherwise, I would have strangled myself for being such a lousy ex-roomie and friend! I truly enjoyed our double meals last Friday :) Korean Barbeque at Taipan, (maybe 1st floor of whatever building)near McD is highly recommended and the Old Kopitiam is also a good hang out place :) It felt so good to be in the company of an old friend......wasn't quite like a farewell but more like, a toast to more exciting & wonderful journey ahead!

All right......till I blog again! Take care Sarah, please blog more often, don't be as lazy as I am! Miss u lots.....