Mum

For the past week, I have been staying at mum's place to take care of her after her operation. It makes her feel better to have me around. And I feel happy to be there for her.

Every night I peep into her room before I go to sleep -- she lies alone. My heart really feels for her now with the passing of my dad, and also my sister. I know she must be very lonely. My heart's longing is to see that she will spend her remaining days meaningfully and happy.

Yesterday, while at mum's, I found old photos packed away in a box. I found my photos of parents' wedding, my baby pictures, my growing up years. I looked at me in the swaddling clothes (so cute), and others of mum still in her maternity dress carrying me. I got teary as I felt my mother's love, and now, my own love for her.

Incidentally, today is also my housemate's mother's birthday, I read her blog. We both cried as we talked and remembered about our mothers. Father, thank you for giving me my mum.

Please watch over her and bless her all the days of her life. May Proverbs 4:18 and Psalm 90 be true for her...

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

===

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

36 Ways to Reduce Stress

I don't usually like forwarded mails. But this one was a timely reminder for me...

Someone once said, “Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happens tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.”

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Cary a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place!

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favourite Scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you Jesus.”
27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe/

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Trust in Him.

Camera Roll

The video shooting session yesterday was fun and a good learning experience. There's one more shoot to go and then the editing. Keep praying...

Mum's eye cataract operation also went well. I've been staying at her place the past few days. I'm glad to be able to have the time with her.

Aunty has gone KL to attend a wedding. We resume work on the book after she returns on 13 May.

There's a lot to say... but I need to get on with my projects. Please keep praying.

Miracle Magnet is here again... and other updates

It's been over a month since I last blogged. I'm tired but alive and kicking. A lot has happened... and still is. Bear with the ramblings...

Miracle Magnet is here again!
Aunty who is staying with me arrived on Wed, 11 April at 1710 hours to help me with the final editing of my book. I would like to see that she goes home with her published biography... huff... puff... almost there lah. The President of my Society of Singapore Writers is also helping us.

I was supposed to arrange for her to make a trip to KL to attend the wedding of one of the girls she had helped disciple. But as usual, we never know when she's coming or going. Everything happens at Father's pace.

Today, she realised that her visa would expire at the end of the month, so she said, "I will go on the 26th."

I called DB who frequents KL to find out how to go about getting a coach ticket. It "happened" that he was on his way to the KL coach company exactly when I called. Had I called an hour later, he would have already left the coach office, and I would need to make an extra trip to get it. Now it has been arranged that he will come and pick her up and they will travel together to KL!

My own miracle
The past month, I have had all kinds of problems with my eyes, plus a terrible toothache. God provided me a eye specialist who is treating me -- I am only paying for the medication.

Three of my teeth need root canal treatment done. My toothache was so bad that half my face was swollen. Mum said I looked like Phantom of the Opera. I had to see a specialist. The pain in my pocket was a bad as the pain on my teeth... My first treatment cost me $1200. I still don't know how much the rest of the treatment will cost, but I anticipate it will be about another $1500+!

Anyway, Father knew ahead about the money bit... (of course). I was mourning over the unexpected expense when it suddenly crossed my mind that sometime last week, a friend sent me a gift of $300 for an artwork that I did for him. It was totally unexpected. He really did not have to do it.

I looked at my bank account to see how much had been depleted. It was then that I noticed that I was given $900 dividend for the New Singapore Shares -- something that I had not even invested in!

The two gifts added up to $1200 -- EXACTLY how much I had paid for my first dental bill!

The dentist told me that the three teeth were worth fixing because it can still last me a good 10-15 years if I take good care of it.

More about Aunty's stay
Last Saturday I took her to get part one of a thorough medical examination done. We will go again this Saturday to get the results of her tests.

I'm also trying to get her connected with a Bible translator consultant to have her Moken translation of the Psalms checked.

Some people have asked to have her share about her work. So more arrangements and coordination for me to do...

Juggler in the making...
Mum will be having her cataract operation on 23 April. I am happy for the opportunity to look after her and to have more time with her. Recently she poured out her heart and told me about some of her dreams... I pray I can help her see some of them materialise.

Concurrent with all these... I'm working with some video people to make a corporate video for The Navigators. This means arranging for the video shoot, editing... quite exciting as I'm learning from professionals (they are movie makers)... but yikes... also lots of co-ordination work.

I also just worked with a web geek to revamp Navigator's website. So another big task. There's more to be done, but at least it's reasonably presentable.

In May, I'll be in Camerons for a few days. Then 26-27 May, I have a Nav conference that I'm helping to organise.

TOO busy for my own good
As you can see, I'm really TOO busy for my own good. At the start of this year, I was quite determined not to be as busy as I was last year. I've been saying No, but somehow... hmmm... I'm just paying back all the utangs, commitments I made last year. Or I get things put on my plate that I don't feel I have control over.

I am ever conscious of my total dependence and need for divine help. I asked Father to steer me and keep me on track.