Family Altar: Things that are difficult

Needed to take a spin to the daily sharing of "Happy Moments" during Family Time.  So instead...decided to share "Something Difficult" (有咩好難?) during the day.  And we can pray for another to overcome our difficulties.... Nui-nui, with a very serious face said, "我今日Poo-poo 好難."

Winter Olympics

They're captivating... they're entertaining... and I'm sure it takes a ton of athleticism to get to where they are.  But someone tell me how the heck Ice Dancing is a sport?!?

So weird...

Out of nowhere... I suddenly had an urge to watch a movie.  But we don't have Hulu, Netflix, ppstream or funshion.  So I spent a good half hour looking for a movie to watch on youtube. 

After deciding to watch a 劉青雲 movie... it turns out to be a serious crime drama and not a comedy.  And when it got to the part where one of the lead character (a cop) goes home and has a sick boy who bleeds profusely and needs constant care... I immediately stopped watching.

I want to watch movies that take me away from daily pains and aches. I want to watch movies that'll help me laff... and forget the daily humdrums of life.  I want to watch something... that won't evoke pain or tears.  Man.... how weird...

Happy Valentine's Day

Thursday morning (2/13) as I was leaving for work.. Joyce stops me and says,

"Did you buy me flowers?" 

"Yeah... " (actually... I didn't.)

"Don't. I don't want flowers." 

"Oh... ok.  I'll cancel the order."  (Or... I will simply not place an order that doesn't exist).

Win-win situation!

Plateau'ed....

Comes a point in everything we do where we continue to improve... and move upwards.. and eventually... hit the proverbial plateau.  A state of being where we no longer improve as fast... where everything we do is the same as in the near past... and there's no sign of positive progress. 

Working out... we find we're not getting stronger or faster anymore.

Cooking... our spouse and kids don't clean off the plates like they use to.

Bible study... "I saw this last time. What's new?" 

Same thing with our annual Chinese New Year performance at church.  I think all the fellowships have plateaued with creativity and execution.  Everyone is doing the same things now...  a video blending in some on stage performance.  Every year, it's some sort of dance or nostalgic walk down memory lane of 80's-90's music. The only "wow" effect comes with the anticipation of Andrew's next video masterpiece.  But he's a professional... and a fine one at that. 

How do we change the regime? How do we spice things up? Where is our breakthrough? Hmmm.....

2 weeks of fasting...

Two weeks... two whole weeks of not touching, reading, listening to sports.  To me... that's an entire lifetime. 

Ever since that forgetful Sunday... I haven't even gone near any source outlet of sports related news; afraid any images of the 49ers-less Superbowl will reinvoke the emotions of fear, sorrow, agony, pain. 

Last night, I was able to finally listen to a post-Superbowl podcast.  Slowly, I'm coming to terms with reality.  And admittedly... I'm still in eff-you mode.  Gawwwwwd.... I hate this feeling. 

Hide-n-Seek

About a week ago... Nn and I started to play hide-n-seek.  She's 4.

I started by hiding in very obvious places... behind the couch or under the dinner table.  She'll get frustrated and end up asking Mah-mee for help. Then she'll crack up! She's 4.

As she graduated and got more sophisticated... I got a little more creative.  I'll stand behind the door...so even if she comes in and peek in the room, she won't realize I'm there.  Or stuff a pillow under the comforter in bed and trick her... while I lie down NEXT to the bed under pillows.  She'll get frustrated and end up asking Mah-mee for help.  Then she'll crack up! She's 4.

Then it got more serious.  I started hiding in the shower, behind curtains.  The other day... in the garage (not on purpose... I had to run an errand).  She'll get frustrated... and give up.  And go read a book.  She's 4. 

She's so addicted to hide-n-seek... she'll want to play the moment she wakes up.  The danger is... she likes to "SEEK."  The day she starts wanting to "HIDE", then I really get scared.  With her small and flexible body... imagine all the weird and exotic places she can get into, while I get frustrated and freak out!!  And I'm not helping... by showing her all the possibilities. 

Life or Death

Death - it's the unspoken word in most conversations.  It's the terminal disease we're all inflicted with the moment we're born.  It's the inevitable milestone that, as Christians, will lead us to eternal life. 

Ironically, even though death is merely a crossing to something greater, something more heavenly, some more... supernatural... we are taught to always pray for life.  As if death... is evil. 

Found out the sad news that a dear friend's niece was born with severe brain damage - to a point where prolonging her life will be costly, painful, and hopeless.  Here I stand... in the middle of life and death, and I wonder to myself.... do I pray for life? pray for miraculous recovery? Or do I do the unthinkable... and pray that God will remove this bitter cup from the parents and let the baby return to God's arms?

Miracles happen. We heard it Children Sunday School.  We hear at church and evangelical meetings.  And now... when we're faced with this personal trial or dare I say, test... where does my faith lie?

Journaling

One of Joyce's online retail stores sent her a 2014 planner.  Nui-nui started playing with it... and yesterday, after a fantastic day at Happy Hollow, she wanted to write, "Today I went to Happy Hollow with Daddy" on January 20th.

So starting today... I decided that after she shares her "Happy Moment" during Family Time... she'll immediately write it down in her special book.  And thus begins.... TWA Journaling.  And get this... after a few months, I'm going to start journaling in Chinese. 

F***....................

Watch out world... another 365 days of "Eff-You Mode"

Gawd I hate being a sports fan...

Family Altar - Day X

Family Time the other day... Nn shared her happy moment:

"I am very happy today, because Bah-B said he'll come pick me up yesterday and he didn't.  But he came today."

ZING!!

Today's Family Time... Nn shared her happy moment:

"I am very happy today, because Bah-B picked me up three days in a row!"

BURN......