Perfect... Imperfection... Seeking A Balance...

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Issac Early Birthday Present

Today is a Saturday. As usual, Annabelle will have her violin practise in the morning from 9.30am to 10.15am. Then, we would go to Citta Mall and having our Mc. Donald’s lunch there before attending Teacher Jane Yap’s art class from 1.00pm to 2.30pm. We would be reach home as usual around 3.00pm.

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Well, today there was a surprise for us and Issac! Once we reached home, we noticed that there were 2 brand new bicycles in the living room.

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There is one smaller bicycle with a knotted ribbon on top and a small birthday card stickled on it. The bigger one is Alvin’s, as he thought that he would accompany Issac to ride.

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This is Issac’s early birthday present! Alvin was thinking of get him a bicycle after knowing that he already learned to ride a bicycle at the school camp back in July. And, this is Issac’s birthday wishes as well!

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Our family would be travelling again during Issac actual birthday to Vietnam, thus Alvin thought that it is good that give him an early surprise birthday present first.

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Issac is so happy and eagerly wanted to try out this evening! Annabelle on the other hand, is also happy on her beloved brother’s birthday gift as well.

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Daddy and mummy love Issac and Annabelle so much! Hope you enjoy your bicycle ride from now on! Red heart 

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Friday, October 27, 2017

Doctrine and Covenants is the Words of God

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Today I have completed my scripture study of Doctrine and Covenants with the help of the Church program Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students.

It was all started by a little struggles, doubts and questions I have early this year. And I was thinking a lot about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, as I first watched the video in the Primary Sharing time. How can I pray and get the answers from the Lord to guide me in facing my doubts and answers?

That is how I have a thought that I should study the Doctrine and Covenants. I had an urge that I should study with the Seminary guide so that I can understand better.

And, that was how it goes and my personal scripture study journey of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I still remember the first day when I opened the Section 1. It was just like the Lord was talking to me directly, warn and forewarn me face to face. And, there were so much experiences that I have during this journey, and that I would record down my thoughts and feelings in my journal. It was so sacred to me…

I feel happy and joy, that I have eventually completed all the homework required in each lesson.  I was and I am indeed amaze of the young men and young women in the Church who participate in this Seminary program. Solid 32 weeks of scripture study almost everyday, studied and answered every single question everyday.

And almost every time, I feel closer to the Spirit and the Lord when I pondered and looked back to my life, how His hand touched my life and my family during I was answering all those questions in the book.

If you asked me have I finally find the answers for my doubts or my questions early this year? I can tell you that I have not yet…

But through this 32 weeks journey, I have learned that the Lord talks to us, He gives us revelations and that is how our Church started – from a young Joseph Smith who had questions. And, the Lord still talks to us today through His living prophet, President Thomas S Monson;

I have learned that His grace and mercy that He loves everyone of us, and how He shaped each one of us to become the person He wants us to be, just like He shaped young Joseph Smith to become the Prophet that restored the gospel through His warnings, counsels, admonitions as what I have studied in the Doctrine and Covenants;

I have learned that the Doctrine and Covenants is the words of God. It is the compilation of the revelations from the Lord to Joseph Smith whenever Joseph seeks the Lord’s answers.

I have learned that the Lord loves me, and these little struggles and fears that I have are part of the plan He have installed for me.

I have not yet find the answers to all my doubts and questions, but I know that because I have learned all these things for myself, that the Lord gives me the strength and faith that I need to move forward, trusting in the Lord, in spite of things I do not understand and comprehend now.

As what President Dieter F Uchtdorf said:

“Fear not; ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not! Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. …”

“… Searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that ‘faith is not … a perfect knowledge’, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth.”

The Reflection in the Water

President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Church Educational System Fireside 1 Nov 2009

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Farm in the City @ Seri Kembangan

I have heard lots of positive feedback from friends and colleagues on Farm in the City which is near to our home, and finally today we manage to bring our kids to visit this awesome place. I bought the entrance tickets with offer price during we were at Citta Mall for the art class the other day.

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It is a public holiday, thus we woke up a little bit late and we went for our breakfast. It was almost 11.00am when we reached there. There are already crowds inside. Parking is no more available and we have to park at the shops at the other side of the main road.

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Farm in the City is an unique concept that combines the elements of wildlife and nature set in a designed environment of a conservation park. When we enter the place, it gives us a complete feeling in the village surrounds with trees and bushes with bird chipping and rooster running around.

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All animals are allowed to roam free in special enclosures which mimic as closely as possible to their natural habitat. Here is more like a petting zoo and kids can get chance to feed, cuddle and touching the animals.

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The first that greeted and welcomed us was the lovely ostrich. The ostrich was so clever, as it is know that we want to take photograph with it.

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The best moment for all the children are feeding the tortoise. The tortoise is really huge in size. Each visitor is given some ‘kangkung’ to feed the toirtoise. They love to touch the toirtoise’s shell too.

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Dinosaur Turtle

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Tortoise Egg Hatching Process

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Bird Aviary

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Ilama and Us!

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We managed to take a photograph with a scarecrow!

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Another Scarecrow Rolling on the floor laughing

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Father and Son

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Longkang Fishing

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Issac managed to catch fish

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The Owls

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The Parrots with Us!

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Overall experience, this place is highly recommended for parents to bring their kids along for a weekend outing. We spent around 2 hours in Farm in the City. It was quite a fun outing under the extremely hot sun!

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Mecaje Academy Fundraising Car Wash

Mecaje Academy is having it’s Fund Raising Car Wash on 16th and 17th October 2017 for its year end concert. Minimum for a car is RM15.00. The time is from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

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I joined in the car wash for the first day 16th, which is yesterday. We go to Mecaje quite early everyday, around 7.45am we already reached school before the school opened.

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We were having our breakfast as usual at Kai Kai Xin Restaurant downstairs of Mecaje Academy. I just handed over my car key to the students and the car wash started.

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I just knew that after my breakfast, and waited for few minutes the car is already cleaned and shined. This is the team of students washed my car.

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Issac too joined the car wash team for the first day. Mr Heng and his team of teachers really prepared ready for the event: Buckets, sponges, rags, tire brushes, towels, car wash soap, water jugs, plastic chairs, etc.

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The car-washing was really good and even the Primary students were helping out, being looked after by the Secondary students. The whole fundraising event was supervised by Mr. Heng and his team  of teachers.

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I am so proud of Issac. The event took place in the car park in front of the school and the church area. What a lot of people did was leave their cars there when they were having breakfast and collected them later after their breakfast.

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In all they washed about 60 cars and raised MoneyMoneyMoney of cash which would go to the year end concert fund. Of coarse, they are having a group photo for this fundraising car wash event!

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I paid RM15.00 and got a free entrance ticket to the Year End Concert too!

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

Weekend Breakaway @ Johor Bahru

Our family spend the weekend at Johor Bahru this week. We drove down yesterday night after school and work. It took almost 4 hours for us to reach here, we checked into Orange Inn Hotel just near Alvin’s branch office in Johor Bahru.

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Alvin needs to attend to some urgent issues at his sites at Johor Bahru on this morning, thus he is thinking that we might just follow him down and spent the weekend together.

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This morning he need to go to the site together with Ragu, thus I would have to have our own program. I just walked across to the nearest mechanic shop to change the car tyres, the tyres have to change as the conditions are in bad shape. It is indeed the Lord’s blessings that we are able to drive through and reached Johor Bahru safely.

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It was almost noon after settled with the tyres, I drove back to the hotel and fetched both Issac and Annabelle for brunch. We just go to the nearest Bukit Indah Aeon Shopping Mall to have our Subway sandwich. We walked around for sometimes, then headed back to hotel to take some rest.

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Alvin came back in the afternoon, and we went out for our dinner at Kampung Teluk Jawa, which is more or less half an hour drive from where we stayed. We went for seafood. There are 3 restaurant at Teluk Jawa. We went for Restaurant YX Seafood Village.

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This was the restaurant where we came about 4 years ago during our trip to Legoland. We ordered Chili Crab, Salt Baked Fish, Stir Fried 4 Heavenly King, Kam Hiong Clam and Deep Fried Man Tou. It was a lot of dish that Alvin ordered. We managed to finish in the end but really full!

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The taste a lot difference from the first time when we were here, a little bit dissapointed with the dishes. And the best part is, we totally forgot to take the photos of the dishes, all were hungry when the food were serve.

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Any how, it was a great dinner together with Ragu. We were enjoying the food and chit chatting till late. It is a short trip but it is an awesome one, even though it is really tired!

Friday, October 13, 2017

Mecaje Academy Swimming Session

Mecaje Academy had the swimming sessions for the Primary and Secondary students for last Friday 6 October and today. The school organised it at 3K (Kompleks Kemudahan Kemasyarakatan) Subang Jaya which is located at SS13 Subang Jaya.

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Alvin and I had been there before married. We used to go there for badminton games together with the late William on those days. Anyway, 3K had been closed down sometimes ago due to poor maintenance by the private entity whom managed the complex.

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The MPSJ took over and revamped the whole complex, and re-opened not long ago last year. This time MPSJ took over and run the complex. All the facilities had been put in place and order, including the swimming pool.

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There are 1 big indoor swimming pool and 1 wading pool for the younger children. Here are some of the photos from the sessions. The students were given briefings before jump into the water by their teachers.

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All the students were asked to do some warming up exercises first to avoid the body cramp. The girls with long hairs need to put on the swimming caps for safety purposes too.

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Here they go into the water and play!

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Well… All sure having fun getting splashed and wet for sure!