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!

Articles of Faith 3

Articles of Faith #3 ~ “We believed that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

Jesus Christ came to earth to live as a mortal man. He suffered and died for us. His suffering is called the Atonement.

Jesus was resurrected and came to life again. Because of what Jesus did for us, we all can live forever with Heavenly Father.

We need to obey Heavenly Father’s commandments and repent when we make a mistake.

Atonement. Jesus suffered for the sins of all men and women. Because of the Atonement, we can repent and be clean of our sins and mistakes.

Saved. In the scriptures, saved means to be resurrected and have the opportunity to return to live with Heavenly Father again.

Obedience. This means that you follow Heavenly Father’s commandments. When you obey Him, you show your love for Him.

Laws. Another word for commandments.

Ordinances. These are sacred actions done by worthy priesthood holders for members of the Church. Baptism, confirmation, and the sacrament are ordinances.

Gospel. The gospel is the “good news” that Heavenly Father has a plan of happiness for you.

Jot–a-Thought Letter

Serving Others #2 ~ Write a letter to a teacher, your parents, or your grandparents telling them what you appreciate and respect about them.

The month of June is another continuation month of ‘Love is in the Home’ !

After the whole last month of carnation for all the mothers, it is time for all the fathers!

The actual Fathers’ Day which is on the 3rd Sunday of this month, so co-incidentally is our Puchong Branch Conference.

And, it is also our branch linger longer lunch as well after the Branch Conference, especially there will be District Leaders visiting our branch.

I was planning for the children to combine this writing activity with another cooking activity for their beloved Daddy at the Father’s Day.

                    

It seems like 3rd Sunday this month is not feasible for us to do it after the linger longer lunch at  Church.

Then, I discussed with Issac and Annabelle that we might have to bring our activity earlier a week. Both children are ok with that.

Here is our first activity for the preparation for our Big Daddy Day !

I often come across the cute little letter sets which sell at the Daisho Store at Subang Empire Shopping Gallery while I am waiting for Annabelle’s violin class. There are several designs to choose from.

                    

Thus, last Saturday Annabelle and I walked into the Daisho, and she managed to find letter set which she like.

I have to choose a cute letter set for Issac because Daddy was with him and we want to keep it as a secret.

I have prepared some “Letter Starter” ideas so that can help the children write their own letter on the letter set that they choose.

Issac and Annabelle just using the colourful pen and wrote their appreciation and thank you letter to Daddy .

Both of them decorated their letters with the cute stickers that we had at our home.

We folded the letters and put inside the envelope and sealed with a sticker too.

We do this activity in Mummy’s office as we do not want to let Daddy see or know anything about it.

Both of Issac and Annabelle are so proud and happy with their letter for Daddy’s Fathers’ Day Surprise!

Truly, I am kind of surprise and touched too as I never thought that my two precious angels are growing so fast! I am eager to see their beloved Daddy’s reactions!

                    

Articles of Faith 2

Articles of Faith #2 ~ “We believed that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”

To transgress means to break a law or a rile. When we do something wrong, we transgress.

When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, Heavenly Father commanded them to not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and ate the fruit. Heavenly Father cast Adam and Eve out of the garden because they transgressed.

All of Heavenly Father’s children are given the agency to choose right or wrong. He has promised us blessings when we choose the right.

Heavenly Father wants us to return to live with Him again. If we make bad choices, we need to repent and do better.

But Heavenly Father does not make us repent for the bad choices that others make. We are responsible for our own actions.

What are some of the good things that happen when you choose to do these things?

What might happen if you choose not to do them?

We are each responsible for our own decisions. We can’t be punished for someone else’s sins.

Taking the Sacrament

Learning & Living the Gospel #1 ~ Explain how taking the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, teach others about things we can do to remain faithful.

As I searched the ideas of what and how can I do with this topic, I have came across a lot of activities and the idea of having the children make bread, but sadly I am not a baker and I do not know how to make a bread.

Then I saw this “The Last Supper” video on our Church website, that gave me an idea that I should let both kids watched to let them understand when and how the sacrament came about.

The first time the sacrament was given was at the Jewish feast of unleavened bread, also call the Passover.

We read the information on “My Baptismal Covenant” in the Faith in God booklet. How are our Baptismal Covenant related to the Sacrament?

When we are baptized, we make a covenant, or two-way promise, with Heavenly Father. We promise Him that we will do certain things, and He promises to bless us.

We promise:

• To take upon the name of Jesus Christ, which means to put His work first in our life and do what He wants instead of what the world wants.
• To always remember Jesus Christ.
• To keep His commandments.

Heavenly Father promises:

• The Holy Ghost will be with us and that our sins will be forgiven.

We renew our baptismal covenants when we take the sacrament.

Then we read the Sacrament Prayers from the Moroni 4:3 and Moroni 5:2. And, learned word by word, understand the meaning of the prayers.

The Sacrament Prayers are among the very few prayers with specific words the Lord has revealed. He obviously wants His people to really think about these sacrament words and understand them.

After which, the children have a little word puzzle which I found it on the Friend magazine about the Sacrament.

We discussed about How We Can Do To Remain Faithful to our Baptismal Covenants. We agreed that going back to the basic that as mentioned in the Faith in God can help us develop faith and resist temptation:

• Pray daily to Heavenly Father
• Read the scriptures regularly
• Keep the commandments and live “My Gospel Standards”
• Honour parents and be kind to our family
• Pay our tithing and attend tithing settlement
• Attend sacrament meetings and renew our covenants

       

We had our dinner later at IOI Mall Puchong, and Issac and Annabelle were jotting and writing the missing words of the sacrament prayers in the Friend Magazine. And learned How Can We Make the Sacrament Special:

• Listen to the sacrament prayers. D&C 20:76-79.
• Think about Jesus. Look at pictures of Him and remember stories from His life
• Think about the good choices we made this week. How did we follow Jesus?
• Read the words of sacrament hymns
• Pray to Heavenly Father. Ask Him to forgive us for any wrong things we’ve done. Ask him for help to do better
• Read Mosiah 18:7-10 to learn about the covenants we make at baptism. what do we promise Heavenly Father? How does He promise us?

It was quite a lesson that all of us know and understand more about the true meaning of Taking the Sacrament.

Articles of Faith 1

Articles of Faith #1 ~ “We believed in God, the Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”

I have prepared lesson on these series of Article of Faith for both Issac and Annabelle as they need to memorize all 13 Article of Faith and explain the meaning of them.

We are spirit children of Heavenly Father, and we lived with Him before we came to earth. His plan allows us to choose to live with Him again.

Heavenly Father has all knowledge and He has all power. He is the Father of our spirit. He hopes we will talk to Him in prayer every day.

Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father’s Only Begotten Son. He came to earth to receive a body and to atone for all the sins of mankind. Because Jesus Christ, we can return to live with Him and Heavenly Father again.

There are many names for Jesus Christ in the scriptures: Creator, Son of God, Savior, Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Firstborn and Messiah.

The Holy Ghost has a spirit body. He helps and comforts us. Through promptings, he helps us make good choices and know the difference between right and wrong.

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He can give us promptings to help you choose the right. We can feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Listen for the Holy Ghost “in your mind and in your heart” (D&C 8:2). After we are baptized and confirmed, the Holy Ghost can be our “constant companion” (D&C 121:46).

Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. Heavenly Father is eternal, which means that He exists forever and is perfect.