A BEAUTIFUL PARABLE

 

 

 

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS...

IT'S LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN !

WE CANNOT DIRECT THE WIND, BUT WE CAN ADJUST OUR SAILS.

 

 

I’m not extinct yet -my birthday before the half century mark

 

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.- Buddha

This was the reason the cake went 'out of shape'

For the years I haved passed, I practically will remember this year's birthday as an emotional day.
What I would normally say '.....just any ordinary day' turned out to be 'different' the moment I woke up.
As usual picking up my tab even before getting out of bed. I saw Tisha's message....awh... how sweet of her. What seem so difficult to do in person  seems so easyly expressed in words she wrote.
I had received my birthday present from her two days prior. I had waited till today to open it.

 My birthday pakage from Tisha sent via postlaju all the way from Kuching

Message from one witty girl that brought tears to her mama's eyes

 The girls enjoying the food . .  missing one sister though :(

Me and Jo ...I wanted to get the name of the restaurant for remembrance. .  regardless


I have found that by being grateful for the things and people I have in my life helps tremendously to ward off most of the negativity that  pervades my life so far.  Everyone live for those they loved and needed . I am no difference.
I am most grateful for everything.  More so for the people who loved me in return.
I do believe I am more blessed in many ways than others . . like I have been told so many times before. I am deeply thankful.

I tried to think why birthdays are treated as special days. Maybe it's because I know life is very short and another birthday would mean that I have lost a year from my life and I don't want to forget that. Sad but something that no one can change nor reverse. 'A year passed is a year gone.'

In the past whole year, I just forget that I have already passed many time in my life but on my birthday, I always remember this part. It's then I started to calculate what I have done so far and what I should do within the remaining time. . . hhmm... there's so much more to do still.

Happy birthday to myself . I still hold the same wish year in year out.
i.e  to have love, health and happiness while living a fulfilling and satisfying life.

This birthday can say "I'm getting old, but I'm not there yet" . . noting both the humor in aging and ability to remain young at heart stays intact...'I am still the old...er me'

CHRISTMAS AT KG TAMBOTUON, KOTA BELUD

Tambotuon village, Kota Belud is located about 86 km of Northeast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It can be reached by road about 2 hours drive.
Initially we had planned to spend christmas eve and day at Kundasang but upon finding no rooms or charlets available, the 'gang' decided to change the dates going to Tambotuon on these days instead.
We had so much fun at last year's christmas holiday in Kota Belud that everyone thought we might go to the same place again.
With that in mind....this place came up when search was made on other retreat centres situated in the Kota Belud district.
They have their FB page therefore it was easier to make the booking. ...which was done way back in October 2011.http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2656888073944&id=1608120552&ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#!/ResthouseKg.Tambatuon?sk=info
 PICTURES SPELLED ......FUNTIME!!!!

Front view of the Rest house

Taken from the left side

Right wing rooms

A walk away...the giant boulder

view of two mountains

Shallow part of the river

As seen from the front poach

The food specally prepared by the Garcia's permenant appointed chefs :)

Flo's Brownies

Leon's 'version'

Leon's Shepherd's Pie

Peach chicken  & macoroni chicken salad

The ever so famous 'adobo'

The activities

Drawing on the white board was top.....like

The cousin's favourite pose

Mama and her gals

Girls power!!!!

Dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky draw...punishment time...exchange presents

Other activities...

...giwang sendiri

The guys doing some 'guy's stuff'

Temptations across the river...

The patience pays off....dua biji durian runtuh

River calls....

going up the hanging bridge

Stopping halfway for a great picture 

Feeding the fishes

diving into where the fishes were.....the deepest part of the river

shallow end for the less 'brave'

The 'brave' noobs

fighting strong current at knee level

Fun remarks noted in the guest's book 

After spending two wonderful night of fun and fellowship here, we proceed to our next stop which was to the cooler highlands of Kundasang.

It was almost ten o'clock by the time we made our move. ...a two hour dirve away.

WANT MORE?

A great way to make the most of life is to sit and actually look at what you have in your life. Even if it is something so small and seemingly meaningless, if you love it, then it matters.

One of the keys to making the most out of your life is playing up what you have. Make the most out of what you can have now.

If you have this mindset, you will be able to appreciate what will come to you in the future. When you make the most of life, people around you will start doing that as well. They will see how happy you are all the time, regardless of the current situation you have. The more people who have this mindset, the better the world will be. Sometimes the best way to make the most of life is by doing something as simple as dancing in the rain or something along those lines.

REFLECTION ON 2011

As this year draws to a close I just keep thinking wow...that went by quick...seems like these years go by faster and faster! Yikes!

We have had so many things happen this year...some good, some bad,

and some that still make me sad when I think about them...but through it all I have  survived. God still loves me evenif he doesn't see me in church for a long time now.
HE is no doubt still with me. I am so grateful for all the prayers he had answered .I found myself wondering a few times but as our faith teaches us... HE will never abandon HIS children if we care enough to turn to HIM. 

**I thank Him for my good health and everyone in the family . Most mportantly during
the times when the 'angel of death' was near...we got through that with the love, care and prayers of special individuals that had made permanent marks in my heart.

**I  once again was blessed to be able to take  overseas vacations this year. Infact I took three in all excluding the bonus holiday in Kuching for Tisha's college admittance.

*I took a trip to Hanoi ,Vietnam with my good friend Jo in April after getting a good bargain on the airfares months ahead.

*Prior to sending Tisha to UCSI in Kuching, Sarawak in August, we took a trip to Universal studio in Singapore.

*I was off again with Andrew and Yona for China ( yes...again ) in the middle of September for a ten days first class holiday .

*I got to spent some memoriable times with the girls on a 'trip of a lifetime- for some", climbing Mt Kinabalu

*I am blessed to be with the 'clan'  and the people I love most in my life on our yearly trip around Sabah.

*I have been blessed in love in ways that others have not been ...sometimes I think I take things like that for granted but let it be know that I am truly grateful.
.

*I am very thankful to still have my parents even if we don't see eye to eye on most subjects nowdays.  My love and respect still holds as they are the people responsible for my being here.

So this year eve's instead of the usual things I always put on my {new years resolution} "to do list" {which I rarely ever get done but still do as it's a yearly must thingy} .
......I pray that in the coming year...I will try my best to be a better role model to others...i.e, a better mother, daughter, sister, and friend...and to also try to be so much more thankful for all the blessings I recieve on a daily basis!

Like someone told me before... I have more than most people do.

Indeed I do have that......and Im dearly thankful.

Have a Blessed and Very Happy New Year Everyone!