New year's message on death

This is a sequel to my "Death" post.

Today's Sunday service's sermon talked about the topic related to death, I would say its pretty heavy stuff and ironically today is the first day of the new year-1/1/2012. What a start to a new year! ;) Many would think that talking about death is inappropriate during festive season. For Chinese, as you know that we are deliberately avoiding anything to do with the figure "4", as in mandarin, the word pronounced the same as "death", so its a BIG NO NO talking about death during Chinese new year, it's considered inauspicious.

However, it has almost become a strange norm that the first few days of every new year, I will receive some kind of message which is related to "death". During end of 2007, it was the first time I realized that my life is not of mine. Of course I know that no one can live forever, however sometimes we live under the delusion that we are bigger than the life itself. 

Anyway, back to the story. A youtube video was shared during the sermon. It was about this 18 year old boy named Ben Breedlove. On 18th of December, Ben posted a video on youtube about his 3 times close encounters with death. In his word, he "cheated" death. He had a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyoparthy, which is basically the thicken of the heart muscle wall which can lead to heart attacks. On 25th of December the Christmas day, his heart stopped. 

Before he died, he left his story behind and described his personal encounters with the edge in two youtube videos. Quoted from ABC news:

"The world has come to know our Ben," it said. "He was a genius at using the Internet to reach and influence his peers. Through his brilliance with manoeuvring the capabilities of YouTube, Ben has left a message for his generation. In the weeks prior to his death, he had faced some scary situations with his health, but had been given an amazing gift that he was determined to share; first with us, his family, and then, not surprisingly (and generously) with his YouTube audience. 

....His message is profound, relating his experiences or visions that made him aware of something amazing beyond this world. This is a message that some will find comfort in and others will simply not accept. It is the tangible, material world versus the unknown."

Now, if you still havent heard or watch the video, do check it out, and decide for yourself whether would you agree with the quoted comment.

As i've been repeatedly saying, death is inevitable. But still, I dont think anyone can stand in front of death and said that they are not afraid to die. For some reason, Ben make it sounds as if its ok to die. I think the point is if you have done enough in your life and when you look into the mirror on that day and felt exactly how Ben felt:

".... I couldn't stop smiling. I then looked at myself in the mirror, I was proud of MYSELF, of my entire life, everything I have done. It was THE BEST feeling." 

then I guess death is ok.

However imagine, if your life has been nothing but lost opportunities, such as the other day when you saw someone is in need but you didnt lend your helping hand; or you know you should have reachout to more people but you didnt; or you have this special gift of knowing how to play music or sing beautifully, but you never really use it beyond your own personal enjoyment etc. I guess when the day came and you look into the mirror, there will be nothing but "how i wish..." list of regret and gnashing of teeth as what bible described. 

I read another commentary about Ben Breedlove, whereby the writer ends the whole story with the question "does it verify God?"

Well, that's a question we should really ponder about, aren't we? 

Happy new year folks. 

Post Christmas Blues

Its approaching the end of 2011.

Many had started to write posts such as: 10 most memorable moments in 2011 or 10 greatest achievements in 2011. I don't understand why are people so obsess with the number "10". If I end up writing such a post, I will never limit myself with 10.

Anyway, its two days after Christmas. I'm sitting in the office while my husband went for a shopping spree at KLCC. Thats why i'm blue. Nah, truth be told, am feeling one kind because there were so much of anticipation and hypes building up all the way to the Christmas, and in a blink of an eye, it ended. Don't get me wrong, my Christmas was fabulous. But the fact that it turned into past tense so fast before I can drench myself in the Christmas spirit makes me cant help but sigh.    

In fact, the shopping malls started to play all the "ji ke long dong qiang dong qiang" songs even before the Christmas decoration tears down. Wow, that's fast. I felt i was sorta left behind, while others had started to march towards the new year. 

Often, many feel a sense of loneliness or emptiness after Christmas season. Its like a void deep inside which can never be filled by any Christmas gifts. Some are recovering from the burnt wallet, some are wondering so-what's-next? Some felt a emotion sharp turn which nearly send them into depression. But, my blue was a different kind of blue. 

There were so much to feel, so much to do, so many friends to meet, so much of love to share during the Christmas, but Christmas day is just ONE day in the cycle of 365 days. In fact i somehow managed to stretch the celebration to 4 days by having church Christmas night event on 23/12, Christmas mass and family Christmas dinner on 25/12 and two Christmas gatherings at my home on 26/12. Gosh it was super hectic and I cant recalled the last time I've baked and cooked so much. However, it still felt NOT enough. How I wished the celebration can be extended to the whole year round, and i don't mind listening to Micheal Buble's I'll be home for Christmas for another 365 days. s 

23/12 Church Christmas celebration, all the girls performing mimes for "We are the Reason"

Of course i can still have the gatherings with my friends and families during normal days and not only during Christmas season. But Christmas has this wonderful (and strange) effects on people. I find that people's heart are more open because its the Christmas season. Maybe its the Christmas song, or maybe its white and snowy decoration, or maybe its the peaceful and jolly ambiance. Whatever reason it is, it brought smiles onto people's face easily, it makes you want to skip while walking, it makes your heart felt light and fluffy.

I just wanted this good feeling to go on and on.

2011 Christmas was a special Christmas for me, as I'm celebrating my first Christmas with my 'new' family. Peter and I took up the challenge of cooking the Christmas dinner for the whole family. We had pork ribs, paella, minestrone soup and the cheesecake (which was failed to set, bleh). The food was all gone before I can even take the picture of it. It was a simple dinner with just great conversation and laughters, and I enjoyed the Christmas night with my extended family tremendously. I mean I'm close with Peter's family, but that night, i felt like we were closer than ever. It was finally dawn on me that they are my family now. I guess somewhere along the line after being away from home for 8 years, I've found an anchor and a home here in this city which no longer foreign to me. 

If I sum up one thing which the Christmas this year had taught me, that would be "Cherish the moments of  love". The great moments in our lives are precious, but fleeting. So enjoy and make full use of it when it still last.   

Its Christmas season

2 more days before Christmas come. Hooray!

I know Christmas has been commercialised pretty much to the extent of maximum nowadays, and heck Jesus is not even born exactly on 25th of December. BUT, i still cant contain the bursting joy in me, knowing that end of the year is coming and this is the time for friends and family to come together and celebrate the fruits of labour which they have harvested throughout the year.

Anyway, in the spirit of Christmas, i shall share with you what Peter and I have done with our Oven for the past few weeks.

In Clockwise, 1. our first roast chicken (stuffed with lemon), its super juicy and easy

2. My raisin and nutty chocolate bar, its easy to make but its too sweet!

3. My first chocolate butter cookies, again its too sweet, will use dark chocolate next time.

Oh, the gals and I had a good time at Plan B the other day, it has a very hip bar-semi restaurant look and its perfect for hang outs!

We ordered a salted beef sandwich (which has a very good texture and taste!), carbonara (very very CHEESY and CREAMY), Morocon lamb pie (the meat comes in chunks but the lamb taste is a little tad too strong to our liking) and the grilled cheese burger (perfect!!)

Cakes, cakes and cakes!!! Happy birthday to our gal Elena!

Ps: See Kohyee with her forever busy with iphone pose

That's all for now, Merry Christmas to all!

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." ~Harlan Miller