Thursday, September 29, 2005
4 years ago..., on this day
28 Sep will always be special to me. It is my son's birthday afterall. 4 years + 1 night ago, my wife experienced her first labour pain. Actually, it was in the morning. But being the first time, she didn't know it was the begining of the pain.
Whichever, we watched the Kindred Heart before we went down to Gleneagle Hospital. Talk about addiction to tv. haha.
When we reached there, it was 9 pm. We headed for the delivery ward at level 5. The nurse used a machine to monitor my wife's contraction. She was in labour!! The contraction was regular and dilation had started!! It was unbelieveable. After 9 long months, we were going to see our son face to face. We had seen him on the ultra scan screen, but now, we were going to see him in reality. It was exciting.
The journey wasn't easy. My wife had to endure morning sickness, tiredness, carrying the weight, and the heat too. Then some nights, leg cramp etc. She is a brave woman, like all mother.
Anyway, we were moved to a bigger room, with a bed in the center, and those surgical light on top. There was a reclining sofa which dad-to-be can use it to sleep. I am sure, many were like me, found it hard to rest completely. Went to the hawker center next to the hospital, the famous but demolished hawker center opposite garden. Bought some bread and a pack of milo for wife. But she could only drink as by then, the contraction was stronger. The mid wives were nice people. Gave a L shape pillow which was supposed to helpt ease the backache. To make the matter worst, our gynea was out of town, so a replacement would help in the delivery! :S But thank God, it turned out the replacement was just as good.
Continue in next blog
tse horng blogged at 12:59 AM
Monday, September 26, 2005
When it come to love, Don't wait
That was what my Pastor said yesteray. Happen to catch that phrase when my son was willing to stay at Jolly Creek on his own. My Pastor was stressing that when we want to tell someone we love them or to act upon love, we should not wait. Cos we dunno if there is the next moment.
James reminded us that we are but flower, wither or shadow (Job 14:2).
Last Monday, during my ex-student's wedding, I had a big shock. Met 2 of my students. They are brothers to each other and I asked for their third brother. It was there that I learnt he passed away in an accident. I was very very disturbed the whole night. I felt the pain in my heart. At least, I was nice to him in those day.
Oh.. before you jump into conclusion, this is not an excuse for pre-marital sex. It is about love and not lust.
It is about people around you, like parents, friends etc. Have a great time loving others.
tse horng blogged at 12:11 PM
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Happening
This week is quite happening.
We ahve a VP, first time in our school's history. Must say I feel sorry for my colleague who was covering the VP duty. I am sure he wil feel better after a while.
Then there was a external team to validate our People Developer application. I was on standby and later took over. It was quite fun preparing for it. It was like preparing for oral exams. Ha ha.
Had a chance to conduct a short study skill workshop for BB and GB of my church today. Thank God itt was not bad just that I showed a video which I din understood, or rather not careful. There was one item on the video that is not suitable for students. *knock my head*. After that send my son to music class and then lunch at Chinatown. It was fun to have one-to-one outing with him. I always enjoy those sessions.
Busy marking prelim papers. Must say that the other nite after I marked 4A papers, I could not sleep. Just too many who are not ready to pass their Chemistry. I am very very very worried.
tse horng blogged at 12:12 AM
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Interesting display
Took this from a top view of study benches in school. 1 week later, they started to build fence and the look changes. Good thing I took it. :-)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Ex-student wedding dinner
Rushed down to my ex-student's wedding dinner today. Mei Yan is one of those students who are very close to me. I taught Chemistry for 2 years and she was in my CCA, OutDoor Activity Club (ODAC). We had good time joking and talk nonsense, my usual style, peppered with some preaching. I remember those time when we talked about love, marriage and my view on them while at Sisters' Island. Well, she is married today! She is ever so cheerful, jovial and extrovert.
Glad to shook her hand and wish her God blessings today. We shook hand for quite a while. Should have hugged her. Somehow, my fatherly emotion was drawn out. Haha. Pray that God will bless her, with a joy filled marriage.
Met many ex-students. Wow... they all have grown. Esp the girls. Rather ladies. I hardly could recognise them. The boys are now gentlemen. One of them an officer in army. One in business. Other studying etc. So have turned into so good lookin, it hard to believe they were little boy and girl. A few coupled, from the same school. Teenage romance lasted into love. That was a sweet thing to happen.
Mei Yan mother saw me and another ex-colleague and shook our hands. She thanked us, saying, "If not ofr us, Mei Yan wil have today.". And I could see her eyes were red. That's the reward of being a teacher. To know I have impacted someone life. :-) I thank God for that chance.
It is like 'so fast'! Now I am attending student's wedding. I suspect I am now moving from the stage of attending friends' weddings to attending students' wedding.
Well, if you are reading this and you are my current or ex-student, remember to invite me to yuor wedding. ;-)
tse horng blogged at 11:55 PM
Friday, September 16, 2005
Daily verse: Isaiah 46:11 "Words count"
"Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will do it."
It depend who says it. Isn't it through. When we heard certain 'rumour' we tend to ascertain its credibility by asking who said that. If it is spoken by someone we trust, we will do it.
The same applies to instructions given out. If the instruction is from someone we don't respect or someone who lacks authority or power, we usually ignore it. This is true for promises too.
But for God, it is certain, 100% sure, that His promise, command and revelation of mystery are true. It means when He said that no one is good, all has sin, there is no salvation other than His Son, and His return as King is true!!
Check His before we take the next move.
Dear Father, it is sweet assurance that I can lean on Your words and I know that Your promises are true. Amen
tse horng blogged at 5:57 PM
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Karis by the pool @ Mandarin Meritus
Karis loves to swim at the pool...
Like this pic of my son a lot. Look like those studio shot? Finally my scanner is working.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Daily verse: Phil 1:6 "completion"
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
If people find us less than perfect, it is ok. We are not the completed product. At least, not yet. God is still working on us.
Sometime, rather very often, we are frustrated by that we don't seem to be growing in our walk with Him. We are either sinning again, falling back into our habits, short temper. Our new year resolutions never seem to be reached.
The good news is God is working on us towards the day we are perfect. Of course, the perfection is not God's type of perfection, but the way He wants us to be.
Let's press on fellow pilgrims.
Dear Father, I am glad I am the product moving towards completion. While I am on the way, help me never to give up or slacken. Amen
tse horng blogged at 10:13 AM
Monday, September 12, 2005
e_GOD@1630
Managed to made arrangement with my parents to look after the kids so that wife and myself can attend the
e_GOD@1630 service. It is a new service started for a few month. It emphasis is on the use of senses in worship.
Enjoyed it very much. First of all, no need to worry about my children. Secondly, it has been a while to sing to the Lord and not distracted. When we attend service as a family, I had to be sure my children will behave and not disturbing other people. The Pastor didn't have to rush and the group is small, so his sermon was more personal and some form of exercise was included in it. At one part he invited to carry out a spiritual exercise of identifying what is causing us to be always on the run and ask us to give it up to God and recieve from God the 'stillness' we need. Symbolically, we were asked to clench our fist and then let go. I felt peace and joy, knowing that God heard my prayer. I am glad He led to go for the service. The past weeks had been hectic and rushing here and there. I am thankful for the moment of stillness.
Thank God.
"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Sunday, September 11, 2005
finally, it is done
I feel so much more relax! The Official Opening is done and everyone is pleased with it. Though there were some hiccups, but they were ironed out before the actual final showtime. The night before was really hard work. Went home for dinner and bath, and back in school till 10 plus. I know some member were there the next day at 4 am! See the pic i took. I like the angle. :-)
Anyway, got to see my former Pri 4 Form teacher. Wanted to take a pic with him. But he left before the event was over. Wasted. Glad to meet up with Lucy, my Australian Counterpart. She came over to deliver the congratulatory message.
Most happy was to see a number of former students. They warm my heart whenever I see them. They are afterall, my pride.
Manage to submit the articles for church too!! On the last day.
If God wasn't my strength, I don't think I could complete the Practical Prelim, deputised the chairmanship for official opening, finished marking the Mock exams and return and writing the articles. Thanks be to God!!
Monday, September 05, 2005
Official opening programme
Programmes of official opening:
0800 to 1400 Open House
Actual ceremony is in Hall (1100 to 1300)
Guests to be seated by 1045
Arrival of GOH 1100
School song, Speeches and ceremony till approx 1145.
Course Lunch till 1300. Concert (drama and songs) concurrent with lunch.
GOH leaves at 1300. Ceremony over too.
tse horng blogged at 12:53 AM
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Driven to be ugly?
The news about New Orlean is probably a reminder that no one, not even the Super Power country is spared from natural disaster. It is also a reminder that human, no matter from where, has a ugly side. The behaviour is no difference from the looting in Iraq or in Indonesia. Perhaps, under those circumstances, ourselves may be 'driven' to behaviour this way. 'Driven' but doesn't mean we are not held responsible for our behaviour. God is also the Judge.
I am reminded that what the Bible (Romans 3:12) said, "All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one." And sometime, we behaviour as lady and gentleman because we are in situations that are not tough and challenging. When poverty strikes, or in crisis, I am not sure I will not turn ugly.
Years ago, when in Taiwan, after weeks of training, we had some field ration left. Chocolates, biscuits etc. We use to give it to the kids next to our camp. They are from the village and they are not rich. But they are cute. Big round eyes, smile at us, wave to us. So, we like to share with them our chocolates. Human ugly side showed up even at young age. The bigger and stronger one would push and rob the goods from the weaker one.
In NS, we too sometime contribute to the chaos. One such common practices is when we are to fall in, we sometime just grab whatever mug, even it is not ours, so that we can fall in on time. And it usually end up with someone without mug, sppon and fork. And recruits would 'steal' shirt and pants as they were desperate.
No wonder, Christ has to come to die and shows us the way of God. We are a generation that is not that beautiful as we wish.
Dear Lord, forigve us for bluffing ourselves into thinking we are fine. We are not. Help us to stay right. Amen
tse horng blogged at 5:17 AM
Busy saturday
I miss my non-working saturday today. We had the first full dress rehearsal and the organising chairman was so upset he barked at many people. At times, too harsh and uninformed.
Anyway, happily left school at 2 pm to attend a wake for my mother's god-mom. She passed away suddenly at the age of 95! She had good health and had not been admitted into hospital. So when she died suddenly, the police came and interviewed the family. She had been a wonderful role-model of a peace-loving person who valued everyone. She would not criticise of hurt people. If I may use the word, 'saintly'.
Rushed down to queensway shopping center to get the engraving plate for the Aboriginol's art given by Werribee Sec. done. Went to visit my ex-student who is now a boss. His shop is on the ground floor and sells Kappa product. Kelvin was my in my first form class. I honestly didn't expect him to be a boss, cos he wasn't one who like to talk and at times, seem shy. But I suppose life experiences and demands will change a person. I am glad to see him more confident and fashionly aware. We had a good short chat.
tse horng blogged at 5:05 AM
Saturday, September 03, 2005
some echos on Teachers' Date
God started anniversary celebration. His creation says so. There are 4 seasons, even for us at the little red dot near equator, though subtle, but we can notice the wet cool days and dry hot days. The coming and going remind us of 'it is the time of the year again'. His Law says so too. He ordained festival such as Passover so that His people remembers He passed them over when He punished their captors. Our Lord Jesus spiritualised bread and wine when He told His 12 disciples and disciples to get together to do it often so as to remember it.
I suppose, He ordained such order, so that we not just remember it, but we re-live it. Anniversary celebration is meant to re-live those days. It is meant to evoke the emotions, the memories, the heart strings. The Israelites were told to drink and eat in certain way. It was like living through it again. And this year Teachers' Day was very much like that. I re-lived 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001.. my years in the school. Faces I have known for the first 4 years were back. I felt at home. God is indeed wise and personal. He knew we need it, and sometime, we need it badly, to re-live the 'good old days'.
It is a Celebration too. For His people, it is to celebrate His graciousness to His people. The Holy Communion to remember His cruel death on the Cross. The Passover, His deliverance. Teachers' Day celebrates the relationship, the ties that God has blessed us. Teaching is afterall, it is not sodium is Na or a mole contains 6 x 10(23) or the definition of acid. It is not even you got 6 As or 2 Fs. It is, I think, about whether the relationship is worth remembering in the 2 hearts and worth celebrating. It is about our hearts touched and perhaps etched. It is about I had a good laugh on this and that with Fiona, I teased Pei Luan, I listened to Karen in old campus, I tried to convince Shaun Chinese instrumental is worth listening (which I failed), I did class decoration with Sunny and Tessa (sec 1B), called Bin Qin Ah Bin, gave Feli a cactus, went to hospital with a student, leaned my head on Malcolm, it is.. about being with the person.
Anniversary also celebrates the present. Because, the present will be in next year anniversary too. God has a way to enlarge our memory. I am thankful for how Tian Wei came along and tell me he is working hard, Martin who asks till he understand, Jane is ever hearworking, Mei Sheng, Pei shan and gang waving, Bobby's massage, Hafiz and Hafiz different style of studying, my nonsense time with Asri and Sharikin in the Blue Studio and the list goes on.
This year Teachers' Day comes so useful. I am so stressed by the coming Os and the official opening and many other duties. But this Anniversary, God reminded me, to be thankful and to remember what is the essence of my calling as a teacher - to be with my students as they journey and grow, and my present, which will be additional reasons to celebrate Anniversary.
Dear Lord, thank you for ordaining Anniversary. You knew we need it badly to go on. And I feel much better. Thanks. Amen.
tse horng blogged at 2:29 AM
