Birthday Celebration @ Sekinchan

This year so co-incidentally my birthday is fall on the 2nd day of Hari Raya Puasa, that means it is a pubic holiday. I feel so blessed and joy because there are many good people surrounded me today.

We went for a short Sekinchan trip with our church friends. We were gathered at the Caltex Petrol Station along the LDP Expressway and we headed to Sekinchan.

It was almost 1 and half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Once we reached there, we drove to the fruit stall, or fruit farm 華仔芒果園 which is near to Brother Kok Cin’s house. We love mango from Sekinchan, they are so sweet, fleshy. We bought some back home.

After which, we visited Brother Kok Cin’s house. I think we must be surprise his mother with large group of us coming to her house! But she is really nice and chat with us, together with Brother Kok Cin’s sister as well.

On our way out from the village towards the other side of Sekinchan, we dropped by the Paddy Processing Gallery. It is a public holiday, thus there are so many tourists here, until we have to park our cars far and walked a distance to enter the Gallery.

Pay RM5, receive 1 small packet of rice as a token of appreciation, walk up the Paddy Museum to have better understanding of paddy plantation process. The entire gallery is mini, but the effort is good in getting general public to know further on all the hard work behind your daily staple.

Anyway, we did not go in as there are so many people on the ground! We just straight away went to the mini shop at the ground floor, as we can buy rice going back home. The rice here is cheaper and nice to eat too.

We took lots of photos in the Paddy Processing Gallery. Before we drove our car out, no one will leave Sekinchan without taking a photo with the wide paddy fields that cover more than thousands acres.

The field is green from middle of March till May (and middle of Sep till Nov), goes yellowish in mid of May till June (and mid of Nov till Dec).

Transplanting is in early of March and early of Sep. Jan-Feb (July to August) is resting time, hence not exactly suggested to go at this period.

While we were there, the field is mixed with yellowish with green and some of the field already harvested. It is kind of mixture of colours. The children even the adults are excited about taking photos!

We went for the seafood lunch after the photo session. There are many seafood restaurant around Sekinchan, due to too many tourists during the holiday season, we just walked-in to any restaurant which still have tables and seats.

We ordered few of the dishes, including steamed mantis prawns, fish head curry, stir-fried vegetables, deep fried squid, and a few more. Average in taste, but all of us were so hungry and finished the food on the table.

Alvin cleared one of the table, and we have a small birthday cake celebration for me! I am so happy for today!

After the meals, we went to the beach. Pantai Redang is another must-visit place in Sekinchan, not because of the soft white sand or clear blue sea (in fact, the seaside doesn’t reach any of that, it is dirty), but to track down scenes taken by the TVB drama we guest?

There were a lot people on the beach too, we felt like kids again playing with soap bubbles, enjoying light reflections from the film surfaces before they rupture.

We saw a kid who was really good in blowing slim, long soap bubbles. And, stalls were selling cold drinks or snacks at the beach.

Not far from the beach, there is a very iconic attraction in Sekinchan – a red painted temple with a very old rain tree aside with a lot of daggling red clothes hanging from the branches of the tree.

The local called it Wishing Tree. Get lucky red cloth from the temple, write down your wishes and name, throw it up to the wishing tree. Again, lots of photos have been taken.

It was almost 4.30pm that we decided to go back home. All of us were so tired and due to the whether is so hot. On our way back, we spotted a small beach at Klang area.

Pantai Remis, it is a beach near Kapar. We stopped the car, and walked down to have see the evening sun set if we can, unfortunately the clouds were too think and we can't see a clear sun set view.

Anyhow, I am really happy even though I am tired after the day trip whole day!

Holy Ghost

Learning & Living the Gospel #3 ~ Mark these verses about the Holy Ghost in your scriptures: John 14:16-17, 2 Nephi 32:5, and Moroni 10:5. Discuss ways the Holy Ghost helps you.

Our activity day night started with a Holy Ghost Obstacle Course.

I am planning to have a fun and hopefully spiritual night where both children learn about Holy Ghost.

We did a blindfold obstacle course where Annabelle guided Issac through a course set up towards his own beloved Potato doll.

I hid it underneath the dining table. It was a fun thing to see how was Annabelle directing Issac to the hided object.

I served as distracter to distract him with making a lot of noise during Annabelle given him instructions towards to his Potato.

It took quite sometime for Issac to get his Potato. And, our dog Princess joined the Obstacle Game too, with sniffed around Issac’s Potato!

Following the obstacle course, something to think about for our discussion:

How is the obstacle course experience like the listening to the Holy Ghost?

What evil influences, or “loud voices” can confuse or try to lead us down the wrong paths?

How can we recognize the Holy Ghost?

How does the Holy Ghost speak to us?

I actually asked both Issac and Annabelle to look for the scriptures of John 14:16-17, 2 Nephi 32:5, and Moroni 10:5, and wrote down in the worksheets which prepared for them.

This is because both of them using the Gospel Library App instead because they do not have the scriptures of their own.

Hmmm… may be it is time to get one set for Issac and one set for Annabelle.

After both wrote down the scriptures verses, we talked about ways how the Holy Ghost helps us.

It indeed is a help came from above during the time I was preparing the lesson, and the talk of Elder Gary E. Stevenson came along “How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?” which was the last April Conference.

What We Know about the Holy Ghost?

With the guidance from Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s talk, he shared with us 3 important key eternal truths about the Holy Ghost:

• Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.
• Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, unlike God the Father and Jesus Christ, who have physical body.
• Other names given to Holy Ghost are Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Holy Spirit of Promise, and Comforter.
• The gift of the Holy Ghost comes by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority.

How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?

• The Holy Ghost Guide us in our important decisions through receive distinct impressions and promptings, Show us what we should do.
• The Holy Ghost Warn us and Protect us in advance of physical and spiritual dangers.
• The Holy Ghost Comforts us in amid of unexpected events in all our lives causes sadness, pain and disappointment.
• The Holy Ghost Testifies and bears witness of the Father and the Son and of all truth.
• The Holy Ghost Teach us all things, and bring all things to our remembrance.

Then we have a question or scenario to discuss that goes along with each related phrase or scripture.

We talked about each scenario or scripture and gave time to the kids to think about:

In what ways and when the Holy Ghost have guide them? Warn them? And teach them?

I am having them to write it down in the worksheets.

By doing so, they can increase their testimony and share with others.

What can we do to increase the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson said, “For those of you who are preparing to be baptized and confirmed, those who recently have been, or even those who were a long time ago, it is vital to our physical and spiritual safety that we keep the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

“We begin to do so by striving to keep the commandments, having individual and family prayer, reading the scriptures, and seeking loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones.”

“We should keep our thoughts, actions, and language virtuous. We should worship our Heavenly Father in our homes, at church, and, whenever possible, in the holy temple.”

“Stay close to the Spirit, and the Spirit will stay close to you.”

I find out that throughout this lesson, give both children the opportunities to share what they have been gone through and feelings, with this will increase their faith and strengthen their testimonies of various gospel principles.

As I was preparing the lesson of the Holy Ghost, I can feel that I was surrounded by the related topics of the Holy Ghost, from talks, primary lessons, seminary lesson, to the scriptures which keep on pop up in front of my eyes whenever I was doing the search on Church website.

Indeed a blessing!

Articles of Faith 4

Articles of Faith #3 ~ “We believed that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gifts of the Holy Ghost.”

A Principle is a truth that guides us back to Heavenly Father.

An ordinance is a sacred act that someone with the priesthood performs. These four principles and ordinances are the first we mist live before we can grow in the Gospel.

Faith is hope for things that we cannot see but are true. We believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we trust Him to help and guide us.

Repentance is when we change our hearts to be more like Heavenly Father. When we do something wrong, we feel sorry and promise ourselves and Heavenly Father that we will not do that wrong thing again. When we repent we can be forgiven because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Baptism is the first step in becoming a member of Jesus Christ’s Church. We can be baptized when we are 8 years old. At age 8, we are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is given to us by a priesthood holder after we are baptized. The Holy Ghost prompts us to choose the right, comfort us, and helps us understand eternal truths. The Holy Ghost is like a still, small voice that we feel in our minds and hearts.

The Amazing Balinese Culture!

Developing Talents #5 ~ Visit an art museum or attend a concert, play, or other cultural event. Share your experience with your family or activity day group.

Our family went for our Bali last year for our yearly family vacation. It was really an amazing trip and we were able to see, learn and experience a lot from the Balinese culture – from ancient and epic works of art, architecture such as temples and age-old rituals, to traditional recipes cuisine and local flea markets, we really love this tropical paradise!

On top of that, I was far way happier and felt the joyous when I came to know about learning and experience a cultural event or an art museum is one of the requirements of the Faith in God program under Developing Talents!

This was such a great opportunity for both Issac and Annabelle to learn others cultures and would get at least a little bit insight into the day-to-day life of Balinese through their arts, architecture, religion and beliefs.

For the Balinese people, dance is more than just an ancient tradition, but an integral part of religious and artistic expression that beings together the community. There are many different types of Balinese dances, and most involve the Balinese version of the Hindu Ramayana epic.

The Pura Uluwatu Kecak Dance is performed in the amphitheatre, where one hundred men [wearing only a loin-cloth each] form rows of circles around a coconut oil lamp in the centre.

First, they move their bodies rhythmically to the left and to the right, chanting the words cak ke-cak ke-cak ke-cak continuously, in slow rhythm. Gradually the rhythm speeds up and in turn, they each lift their hands, trembling, into the air. You won’t forget this experience in a hurry – it’s quite a spectacle!

Another cultural dance that we went is the Barong and Kris Dance. It was equally dramatic and breath taking performance. Barong and Kris Dance is also a traditional dance drama portraying the eternal battle between good and evil from the characters in Bali.

Barong, is a lion-like creature, is the king of all good spirits and is portraying as a fun-loving creature with a red head, covered in tick white fur, wearing gilded jewellery adorned with pieces of mirrors.

Rangda, is a widowed witch and the queen of all evil spirits and portraying as an old woman, with long and unkempt hair, pendulous breasts and claws, and her face is traditionally portrayed with fanged teeth and a long, protruding tongue. Both are equally revered and worshipped amongst the Balinese Hindus as one cannot exist without the other.

Compared with Kecak Dance, the Barong Dance Drama or story would be a bit more longer, and both kids were feeling sleepy in the end of the show. But the Barong costume are far more catch the eyes from the audiences!

After the show, both Issac and Annabelle were rushing up to the stage and wanted to touch the Barong fur, and took photos with the Barong.

One of the gamelan musicians invited us to the back stage where they kept all the costumes and masks used in the dance. We had a chance to put on them and have a few photos taken together.

The costumes and the masks are so uniquely done. Daddy was wearing the Rangda, Issac was wearing the monkey mask and Mummy was wearing a headpiece which is really tight!

Our family enjoyed the cultural dance including both kids. Bali is really another kind of wonders which open our eyes and mind on how great and strong will are their people upholds their culture and traditions!

Our Bali trip indeed was a memorable one and at the same time, able to fulfil one of the Faith in God requirements for both Issac and Annabelle. The Barong really gives Issac an inspiration and he tried to draw out the Barong, and it really looks real… ^^

Father’s Day ~ Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day!

Serving Others #4 ~ Plan, prepare, and serve a nutritious meal.

Part 1: Planning for the Surprise Dinner…

The children and I had been planning for this for quite sometime. We were discussing about this meal for almost a month. All of us intend to do something different for Daddy on Father’s Day.

We talked about healthy foods and plan a nutritious meal. I thought that it is important of family meals as well in regard to strengthening the family.

We came to conclusion that we would prepare something simple but is still consider nutritious.

We talked about having a soup, and then a main course and a dessert. Very simple and basic for both Issac and Annabelle. After which we looked through the recipes and then the they fill in with their meal plans.

A few days before our date I sat down with the children together and planned the menu finally after discussed for weeks.

The final menu is mushroom soup with garlic bread, spaghetti carbonara as the main coarse, and ice cream as a dessert.

We planned out the shopping list as well. Some of the items we had and some we didn’t. Then, we went off with the shopping list for the ingredients needed. This was a simple and very fun activity.

We have to drop off the ice cream ideas because we were unable to buy the ice cream as we had to keep the secret without Daddy knowing it.

As for the little invitation card Issac filled it up and put inside the envelop and gave it to Daddy for the dinner date!

It was a surprise face when Daddy opened the envelope and saw his priceless reaction!

Part 2: Preparing and Cooking…

The children came back from Church and getting put into works for the meal.

Annabelle was cutting the simple ingredients for the spaghetti such as ham, bacon, sausages, and help to shred the cheese.

Issac was cooking the mushroom soup while Annabelle was busy preparing and cutting.

I just gave them instructions and both of them were able to do the rest.

After Annabelle finished cutting the ingredients needed for Issac to cook for spaghetti, she started to cut the French loaf.

I taught her to prepare the garlic bread spread using the softened butter, garlic that she chopped, and a little bit of salt.

She then spread each bread generously with the butter mixture, sprinkled a little bit of chopped parsley on top of the bread.

Finally I helped her to put into the preheated oven about 10 minutes until the butter mixture melts and bubbles and can see a little bit shades of golden brown.

Issac was cooking the chopped bacon until slightly crisp and set aside. He added some oil for the minced garlic, add in the Dolminio carbonara sauce, and the mushroom, cooked for 1 minute. After which, he added the cooked and drained spaghetti into the sauce and stirred it for awhile before turn off the heat.

Part 3: Serving and Enjoying…

The timing just right and nice when every dish was ready.

We had a lesson table manners in April. And now is the time they practice it out. Both of them setting up the table mats together with the forks and spoons.

They were enjoying doing the final touch on the meals they prepared by putting the chopped parsleys on top the mushroom soup, spaghetti carbonara and the crispy pan-fried bacon on top the spaghetti too!

They served the meals and we had our dinner together.

Before we had our dinner, I asked both kids to present to their beloved Daddy the letters that they wrote for him.

Daddy looked surprise and touched during opened the letter and read them.

Overall Daddy very satisfied with the meal, even the mushroom soup a little bit over cooked.

Issac and me did not notice when he was pan frying the mushroom, turned out to be a little too long and the soup have a little bit of burnt smell.

But Daddy still love the dinner which the children prepared for him. Lastly, Daddy got a watermelon as our dessert.

We had a blast!  The kids loved being in charge and making all of the choices. Alvin and I loved seeing them work together.

I can see both Issac and Annabelle were really proud of themselves by preparing, cooking and serving the dinner to the family!

Good job and Well done! All in all – a GREAT family date night!