Merry Christmas 2008

Sharing with TKO sisters

We came together to review the different stages of a woman's life. We tend to pay more attention to the past and the present. We seem to knowing very little about the second half of our life which could be more beautiful than ever until we reach our ultimate home, the heaven.

We are acting on what we see.

If we see the future, we see the possibilities.

I feel proud of KK in RD

Meeting old friends is always warm and precious - Philip and Winnie.

Meeting new friends is always inspiring and sparkling - Jimmy, Max and Rainbow.

Reviewing the growth of my children is always shock about time flies - Terence and Michelle.

Looking forward to seeing the growth of other children is always sweet in heart and hope with light - RD kids.

Being a mother disciple in Kingdom is my honorable gift from Him.

Being an auntie disciple in Kingdom is my prilevage to love and pay forward.

Bonnie plays Guqin in Suzhou

Click to listen : 潇湘水云 吴景略

Who are the SunFlower Seeds think about themselves

After watching the "High School Musical 2", the SunnFlower Seeds had a debriefing meeting with Auntie bonnie.

According to the content of the movie, auntie bonnie asked the girls:

What is the difference of "What I want" and "What I need"?
The girls well aware of their wants are many such as ............... but when comes to "What I need", they said, air for breathing, home for staying, work for earning, money for living, friendship for loving.

Who are you?
The girls firstly simply said, "I am a human being, I am a Chinese, I am living in Hong Kong....." After I prompted them to think what was mentioned in the movie that - it is not something how people look at you but how you look at yourself, Jadie said, "I need to think." After a around of huzzle, we found out that:

• Pearl is the one loves playing sports.
• Tung Tung is the one spots others strength (than looking at herself).
• Jadie is the one passion in watching TV and wants to produce Character Cartoon TV program in the future.
• Dorcas is the one loves reading and imagine how the story goes on.

Mothers and Aunties' Meeting

Here was our second meeting attended by Bonnie, Connie, Iris, Catherine, Elaine, Iris (Leung) and Ha and we learned:

• we need to build close and communicative relationship with our daughter before they may ask us, "please let me decide what I want to do." (around age 10-12)
• we have patience towards the girl(s) but not our own daughter or son.
• auntie should be ready to accept the refusal when the first appointment with the seed.
• girl may think, "Am I having any problem so recently two aunties are asking for outing with me?"
• I learned how to respect my daughter for her own privacy when she does not want to tell me what did they do and talk with the auntie.
• we are serious about the outing with the girls.
• a consistent meeting schedule helps the girls to build trust and reliability
• for SunFlower, it's an essence to be 1 on 1

We have also commited to some goals for working out in the upcoming 6 months:

• Connie pray for michelle's baptism.
• Connie will learn to build a trust relationship with cherry.
• Elaine wants to know more about Tze Ying and Jadie and create memories time with them.
• Elaine will support Dorcase to explore the world more.
• Iris wants to help Cherry to have an all rounded perceiving mind.
• Bonnie will inspire Dorcas to step forward with courageous.
• Ha wants to change herself for 100% accepting and encouraging Tung Tung in order to help Tung Tung to build her confidence.
• Iris (Leung) and Christine wants to become auntie to the seed next year.

Our next meeting will be on 18 Mar 2009. At that time, Bonnie and Connie will retire from the co-ordinator role and will be succeed by the other mothers to paying forward the project to the younger girls in the Kingdom.

Wine Tasting Experience

Thanks Jonathan and Joyce have given us a fun Wine Tasting Seminar. We tasted 1 white wine from Italy, 3 red wine from Italy, Argentina and Spain respectively and lastly a sweet dessert wine from Italy.

I like the 2006 Malbec from Argentina the most for its firm tannin taste. I have also learn some new vocab about wine which are:

Appearance
Color : White light straw-green straw, gold, gold-copper, copper, amber
Red purple, ruby, garnet, brick red, amber
Thickness : thin, somewhat thick (viscous), thick, very thick

Nose (Smell)
Aromas : fruit, vegetable, herb, spice, floral, toasted, animal....
Intentsity : none, faint, delicate, medium intensity, intense, very intense
Quality : common, good, fine, excellent
Length : very short, short, medium, long, veyr long
Additional Comments :

Taste
Sweetness : very dry, dry, off-dry, sweet, very sweet
Acidity : flat, flabby, lively, vibrant, crisp, tart
Tannin : soft, firm, tannic, bitter, harsh, astringent
Alcohol : light, medium-bodied, full-bodied, hot, alcoholic
Body : thin, light, medium, full, rich
Complexity : very simple, simple, average, complex, very complex
Balance : unbalanced, balanced, very well-balanced
Intensity : weak, faint, delicate, medium intensity, intense, very intense
Quality : common. good, fine, excellent
Length : very short, short, medium, long, very long
Finish : Intentsity none, faint, delivate, medium intensity, intense, very intense
Length very short, short, medium, long, very long
Description

Final Considerations

Overall Quality : poor, fair, good, very good, outstanding

Final Comments:

Name of Taster

Place of Tasting

Type/Region of Wine

Grape Variety

Producer's Name

Date

Time

Vintage

Price

Purchased from

Respect means a lot in marriage

There is nothing more beautiful than being a submissive wife and render her highest respect and honour to her husband. Gump and Jeaneatte has given us a wonderful devotional session. In which we find the greatest insight is "Respect our husband."

SunFlowers Seeds Movie Viewing Meeting

We met at the Exit "B" of Tieu King Lang MTR at 1:45pm. You guess who were there - they are:

Jadies and Hei Hei with Angelina
Tong Tong with Ah Ha
Tze Ying and Dorcas with Iris (Leung)
Pearl with her domestic helper

We watched a moive namely "High School Musical I". I was surpirsed to see the 9 years old girls are interested in watching high school teenagers' lives.

In fact, all the mothers were also enjoying this musical and dancing film. We had fun too - Back to the Young age.

After the movie, we have all the 5 Seeds gathered together for a simple debriefing.

I asked, "Who likes singing and dancing?"

Almost all of them felt excited......

Dancing lovers : Tze Ying, Dorcas, Pearl, Jadies and Tong Tong
Singing lovers : Jadies

In the ending song of the film, lyrics wrote something like this, "Everyone are not the same and we are individual good at something...."

I, then, asked them, "What are you good at?"

Maths : Tze Ying, Dorcas,
Badminton : Tse Ying
Table Tennis : Pearl

Let me tell you that I have discovered one thing...............

When I could not figured out the DVD player, Tong Tong came to me and offered help. She said, "I did once in the school to operating the DVD player with remote, let me help you." I said, "Surely." And she really did it with success. I could recognize Tong Tong could be a person cares the engineering and structural mechanics.

su - shi fun by SunFlower Seeds

The SunFlower Seed Group has successfully held their first kick off event in Apr 2008. Our lovely young members are :

Dorcas (10)
Peral (9)
Tong Tong (8)
Jadie (8)

With their Godly-given creativity, they made attractive and yummy su-shi rice balls. Their younger brothers supported them by finishing all the tasty su-shi.

To memorize this precious moment of gathering, michelle has helped me to take down the pictures and I edit them in to a photo-book.

Book Preview

SunFlowers and Seeds check list

Clara (19) - disciple
Merri (17) - disciple (helping Michelle for Bible Study)

SunFlowers
Michelle (15) - auntie Connie
Elsie (12) - auntie bonnie
Cherrie (12) - aunties bonnie and Connie

SunFower Seeds
Dorcas (9) - auntie bonnie + sunflower michelle
Pearl (8) - auntie Iris
Jadie (8) - auntie Elaine
Tong Tong (8) - auntie bonnie

Would you like to join us? All MK mothers are welcome. Please contact bonnie@coachlite.com

Promotional Message:

Hi mother-sisters,

Do you want to stay young in your spiritual age as asked by Kelcy in the parenting House Church?

Do you want to be an update and playful mother who is able to be friend with young adult girls without being bored?

Do you love other church girls as your own daughters?

Do you believe your godly life modelling teaches and inspires more than your own words?

Do you want to learn from other church girls in order to understand who is and what a duaghter means to you?

Do you want to learn the views and thoughts of young girls?

If your answer is "yes" to at least one question, you are eligible to join the program as the loving auntie for your personal spiritual growth.

Believe me, if you do fnot ind FUN of going out with the church girls, that means you are dull and dumb to your own daughter as well.

2nd Japanese Culture Class for SunFlower Seeds

Upon discussion with Angelina, we would like to propose:

Date : 5 April 2008 (Sat)
Time : 10am-12noon
Place : Bonnie's home
Inviting IC SunFlower Seeds : Zhi Ying (11), Dorcus (9), Pearl (8), Jadie (7), Tong Tong (7).

Teaching Assistants : Miko Lam (16) and Michelle Chan (15)
Program :

1. girls learn to make their own Japanese Sushi Lunch Box
2. nail art class conducted by michelle chan (depends on time)

Lunch with Angelina's BT - visiting SunFlower Seeds

今天的講道中，Scott 提醒了我們 : "你準備了嗎？"

人生之中有很多事情都需要準備，它們的先後次序應該是怎樣呢？

今天我參加了Anglina BT 的中午飯局，目的是希望接觸到SunFlower Seeds。他們是Pearl, Jaide 及Tong Tong，年齡平均是七歲至九歲之間。由於他們三個已經是好朋友，一坐下來便開始玩他們的遊戲 - 天下太平。在遊戲當中，我發現他們正如一般同年齡的小朋友一樣，有說有笑、充滿身體語言地投入遊戲當中。Jadie表現得最能夠幫助別人、Tong Tong則未能集中精神、而Pearl正如他的年齡是一個大姐姐的式樣。

Tong Tong 拿了一瓶帶有銀金粉的指甲油出來，為自己填補指甲。我對他這個行為覺得非常好奇便問著說: "你懂得塗指甲油真是了不起，這麼漂亮的指甲油是誰送給你的呢？"

"這是媽媽買給我的。十元有三瓶，我們只買了一瓶，所以要四元。" 我便接著請求Tong Tong可否幫我塗上一層。他非常樂意，更馬上開始細心地幫我塗上那銀光閃艷的指甲油。效果非常不錯。更令我聯想起當我小時候幫媽媽塗甲油的日子。當年，塗指甲油這玩意，不但是我和媽媽最好的親子活動，直至今日我媽媽亦時常誇獎我對他當時的愛意，亦能令他的指甲保持美麗直至今天。這是何等一件美麗的事情啊！

我相信作為母親的我們，只要懂得欣賞兒女的美意，他們都是神眼中的好兒女。

Daily Free Gift from God

While we are studying JOBS as the weekly conference call QT, we discovered that God is giving us daily free gift. Did we recognize? Or are we simply chasing for the artificial gift.....

• fresh air in the early morning for replenishing our body-mind-soul’s basic and essential – go to the natural area and breath in with a grateful and humble heart for 15 min. ~by bonnie
• God’s love to us in every moment – be still in soul to feel the love and respond to the love with committed love to Him. ~by bonnie
• sunshine - rolled up curtain near window and let sunshine coming in my office. Thank God we have sunshine today. I then saw beautiful greenery in HK Park with a small waterfall. I'm charged with energy from my precious sisters and more importantly directly from God and His nature. ~by vivien
• what have you discovered?

I, then look in to Genesis to find out more of the gifts God has prepared for us daily:

1. light
2. day and night
3. land and water
4. plants and trees
5. animals, fishes and birds
6. men
7. resting

Are you enjoying the gifts from God? count your blessing......

Lunch with BTLs Eliza, Idy and Glory

There were unexpected laughters in our lunch gathering.

We met at the Wan Chai Super Sandwich. It was quite crowded but we managed to get a nice 4-people table as Eliza and Idy arrived on time to take the table.

As Idy has just given birth to her second son, we talked about why there are 10 weeks maternity leave for such a long time without review. As I result, I will write a letter to Donald Tsang to remind the government to review some rules and regulations as the social structure has changed a lot over the past 20 years. We want to have a proactive government than a responsive leadership.

Isn't it interesting that 4 women's little talk might turn around an old rules...........

Commercials in memory

Hi there,

It is interesting to see Steve in Commercial. I recall michelle, my daughter has also taken some commercials when she was small around 8 years old:

1. Doll Noodle TV commercial with a group of children
2. McDonald TV commercial as the main child actress with both English and Cantonese dialogue during Chinese New Year
3. Standard Chartered Bank Poster Photo for releasing in Shanghai

Though more commercials are being asked, I stopped to let my daughter do so for two reasons:

1. she has to take one day school leave for the shooting.
2. the commercial firm deomostrated a very strong material attraction attitude in order to guide a girl to act. This may bring my daughter a wrong value and illusion.

Nevertheless, it brought michelle a nice and fun memory that she acted in commercials. What I only regret that I did not well keep the record of her commercials as at those years are using VHS recording tapes.

...................................................................

四十七集：「去住先」精神

主任牧師 Steve的口頭禪，是：「去住先！」。這不單只是一句口號，Steve還身體力行，把這句話的精神應用到生活不同領域上。今集Video Blog，就是一個很好的例子，提醒我們如何在生命中勇於嘗試。(片長：1’50”)

http://www.hongkongcoc.org/cms/modules/main/index.php?sub=1&mod=241&lang=tchi&subject=RegionalNews&ret=1&order=0&page=1&sid=745&m=&order=0

Women in the Bible

In early 2008, I have commited myself for the study of women in the Bible. I would be pleased to share my convictions with you over below link:

women in the Bible

Or if you are interested to know my views about women and submissive women, please check here:

women and submissive women

Love SunFlowers and SunFlower Seeds

Mothers: Connie, Bonnie, Vivian, Iris, Pandora, Elaine and Angelina came together on 28th Feb 2008 at Thai restautant King and I, APM to sharing our experiences in loving each other's daughters.

Connie shared her experience of being the loving auntie of Michelle (15).

• it's an open and sweet friendship with Michelle


• why what my friendly approach on Michelle could not be done for my sons

Bonnie shared her experience of being the loving auntie of Elsie (11/12).

• it's fun to share my teenage experience with Elsie


• I inspire her perception in how to appreciate the relationship with her mother by taking initiative approach

Lucy shared her experience having daughter Elsie (11/12) being friend with auntie bonnie.

• Elsie is serious and happy about the appointment with auntie bonnie


• Elsie had some bold decision on color upon learning how to idenfy one's signature color from auntie bonnie

Elaine share her experience having daughter Dorcas (8/9) being friend Michelle (15) and auntie bonnie.

• Dorcas feels more relax and inspired after each appointment with Michelle and auntie bonnie


• Dorcas found her idea was respected by the group

Then, we confirm the SunFlower Project is an optional 1 on 1 relationship building between girls between 8 - 15 with aunties without any required intention and mandatory to building other sisters' daughter to become a disciple.

We would like to see elder SunFlower girls will take the younger SunFlower seed girls. Their relationship will look like, from Kingdom Kids to big-small sisters to campus peers to MOK wives to MK mothers within the Kingdom.

All MK mothers are welcome to voluntarily participate as the loving auntie. They can start as an observer (attending auntie-girl meeting as a visitor). A bi-annual meeting will be held to sharing convictions, experiences and pitfalls. Hoping that by loving other sisters' daughters, we will be able to reflect our personal motherhood mind set and behavior on our own daughters. Thus, we could be able to be an "objective" mother as the domestic helper to help God to take care his treasure.

2007 groups

• Connie loves Michelle (15)


• Bonnie loves Elsie (11/12)


• Bonnie and Michelle (15) love Dorcas (8/9)


• Iris' daughter, Merrie (17) is helping in Michelle's (15) Bible Study

2008 new groups to add on

• Iris loves Pearl (8)


• Elaine loves Jadie (8)

Observers: (before you will commit to become a loving auntie, observing others' practises are welcome)

• Angelina

Under matching groups

• aunties : Vivien and Pandora


• girls : Janice, Cherrie and Jasmine

more to come in 2008/9

• aunties : MK mothers


• girls : Chi Ying and Lok Tong

action plan :

1. Bonnie to send an group email to MK mothers reminding about the link to read the "Long Road" booklets where teenager-mothers sharing their victories and struggles.


2. Bonnie and Connie will be the coordinator for this optional project by providing collective information and organize gatherings among mothers.


3. The next meeting will be in Mid Sep 2008.

Mother's sharing

Dearest Sisters,

Very appreciated for all hearty love our daughters in time. They are lucky in our Church for the First Generation named of “Sun-Flower” --- Very Nice, Beautiful, Sunshine, Active, etc. ….

I will thankful to Bonnie create this idea to lead and lovely my daughter, Elsie since Mid 2007. They were gathering once a month. Unless, they have on busy time, i.e. Exam, school opening or competition on time. Otherwise, did not stop it.

Every month, Elsie has remind me that she will contact Bonnie lala by call or e-mail confirm the date, place and time. She has very insist, expectation, honestly and joyful the time with Bonnie too.

She tells me after their gathering for something happen, advantage our close-knit time, e.g. …….

(1) One time, Bonnie taught her how to wear underwear and Bonnie share her afraid in her teen period for body changing. I am a mother, I did not think to tell her about it ?????

(2) They were to taste some delicious cakes in different coffee cafés and take some photos for memory.

(3) Bonnie and Michelle are taught her which colour to match her, so she choice a pair of glasses in Orange colour. What, I did not think she cans choice?? This idea suggest by them. Well, it beautiful looks.

(4) Auntie Bonnie likes to buy some good taste special, better, interesting, kid present, gift to her son and her friends. Buy some gift to Elsie.

(5) Elsie can talk to free with Bonnie. Bonnie is her best friend. They were not the generation gap inside, she felt interesting, update and novel, happy, enjoy and relaxed.

(6) Elsie focus and follow up Michelle style manners, appearance looks, fellowship and friendship with her.

Sharing in there now.

Sorry that I cannot join your Lunch gathering on 28 Feb (Thursday), but I will really to hope co-operate together. Please contact me if any help in program.

Blessing by God to lead. Enjoy it.

Hope you can understand my hard English writing.

Love,
Lucy
26.2.2008

Message for the SunFlower Mothers

I am very happy now.

Recalling the most difficult time for me as a mother when Benjamin was not working in Hong Kong and my own business workload was tremendous heavy with lots of traveling during 2000 to 2002. At that time, Terence and Michelle was 11 and 8 years old respectively.

My personal life motto is, “Let me enrich my life by creating memories”. I am happy that recently (2008) Terence told me that he has nice memories for his childhood and now he wants to create memories by shooting memorable moments on to photo with his soon departing classmates.

As a mother, I and my children mostly remember a couple of people in my children’s lives:

1. Phillip (P&G) spent time with Terence and Michelle by taking them to his office. Michelle remembers very well and we talked about this when we met with Phillip, Winner and his 3 years old son in 2008 CNY Sunday.

2. Jonathan practiced running with Terence when Terence prepared for his Year 7 school 5km running competition at Wan Chai. When we talked about this in year end of 2007, Jonathan said thanks Turner’s suggestion at that time. In fact it was a challenge to him. Yet, Terence remembers well about their running together.

3. Lai played funny posture with Terence.

4. Mike played the animal game with the children and parents in the family devo at my home at Bremar Hill.

5. Last but not least, Yumika came to my home before 7am to prepare lunch box for Michelle when I was away for business trip and Wati was on holiday home.

In last Home Sunday in Feb 2008 by watch Steve’s DVD on “weakness” and “hardened heart”, Doris has a very good conviction that, “The one who is willing to show her weakness and accept other’s help, in turn is giving blessing to the one who offers help.”

I am glad that I was in weakness than closing up myself in 2000 to 2002. Now I could have my children grown up healthily.

Once my husband complimented me as his good wife. His theory was that husband is the partner in guard of his wife (giving advice before she is out of track and she has to listen). A good mother has to be patient enough to bring her children to understanding and discerning. Partly of a successful wife is to being a successful mother.

Once again, I am very happy now. I had difficult time and been got help from brothers and sisters around me. As my children have grown up, I have more time to contribute now. I want to love children of other brothers and sisters as they have done on me. This is the way of “fan the flame” in the bible.

Are we willing to take up the spiritual torch and pass on the spirit as what Olympic is doing before the opening. Everything begins with a grateful heart, including our motives in doing anything and lives on day by day. If we do not feel like that, we should ask ourselves WHY.

Moreover, young adults do not like being taught because they are ideal dreamers. They like to see something real – which is modeling. Their rebellious comes from seeing the injustice and unrighteous of the adult or the world. Shall we focus on their mistakes and misbehavior or ours first? Furthermore, why don’t we give them a chance of involvement? Learning by experimenting is a good way of learning. When they take care the younger ones, they begin to understand how their parents are taking care of them.

Fun in Art Museum - Feb 2008

While I was struggling where the girls (Michelle 15, Elsie 12 and Dorcas 9) prefer to go; the Art Museum or the Space Stadium, they voted straight for the Art Museum. Isn't it a surprise?

I recognize most children prefer the Space Stadium because it is fun there. However, when our lovely daughters growing bigger, they want something different. It reminds me that being a mother should look at our daughters newly in everyday. Our used way of thinking and piloted perspection per experience may hinder their choices of exposure. Let's have an open mind, mothers?!

New Year Goal - Elsie/Jan 2008

I and Elsie changed to meet each other on Sat than Fri after she has promoted to secondary school. I found she is adapting well for her new stage in Form 1. She found that her mother is giving her more choices in selecting and deciding her extra-school activities, agreed to stop KUMON and more. Well, it's a good feedback from lovely daughter for us as a mother to learn.

As I learned that Elsie has never worked on any yearly goal planning, I suggested to work with her for one. I think a year plan is very useful for anyone to think about what they really want to do and be focus.

Elsie is a fast learner and she knows what she want. What I have done is to help her think more specific and bring an vague idea in to a concrete thought with action plan.

We talked about how to create a balanced life, over there Elsie made small goals on @:

• my character
• my health
• my family
• my school
• my friends
• my hobby
• my money
• my spiritual
• my church

well done, Elsie!!!!!!

Picture Books for the Elders

Since the kick off of this blog, one year has been passed.

I voiced to my BTs on 30th Dec 's QT that, "Why there is no book for the elders?" I mean some easy reading publications with big fonts and illustrations that can inspire the elders for a joyful elder life. Or, could help them to release their life burdens before they will pass away. Somehow to live a happy and personal freedom life as what GGs are doing in our church.

In the same evening, I browsed the internet to search for any existing organizations or groups are having the same vision mission. I am so delighted that I found the ageless-sages which is hosting by my friend, Natalie Tuckle Miller, the president of the IAC, are working on this theme. They suggested that we read picture books to children, why don't we read picture books to elders as well.

I pray for God will lead us to put more faith and action in this aspect.

Women Servant

I was not in Hong Kong on 23rd Dec 2007 for the church's 20th anniversary banquet but in Singapore for a family reunion and attending my sister's house warming party. This Christmas is a special year for me because I was awarded "Women Servant" in our church as my service in the Women under the Cross Ministry.

After I returned to Hong Kong, I received the medal marked "Abraham - Sacrifice" from Doris. I began to think do I deserve for the award? Yes and No.

As I was told that the award is a recognition of my service to the Golden Girls in the church. It may mean I had organized 2 retreats for the GGs, serving in the GG House Church and what else.......?

To me, it may mean my love to the elders. I love them. I see their strong perseverance in the tough days, their sacrifice for their children and they deserve a warm and joyfully elder life before they will pass away.

I lost my father who died for illness 17 years ago when he was only 60 years old. I could not see him off as I was living in Canada. I, then flew back Hong Kong with my two toddlers children for 3 months to accompany my mother to go through her the toughnest time. I recognized that there are always not much time leave behind when you aware you need to love your parents. Since then, I found I love my mother much more. I hold her hands when outing, buy her gifts when special occasions and bring her everywhere I go.......

She now is even living in the same community with me so that we can meet almost every other day. We are good friends and even neighbour admires our good relationship. My daughter also praises me that I am a good daughter in taking good care of the mother.

In year 2003 I had made a power point slide about "The Parents" where I wrote, "If you want to be loved by your children when you get old, you better love your parent first." I love my children but not to the extent to cut my love to my mother. I found some of the family are over-whelming their love to their children that they almost forget their elder parents as a fact they claim - babies are lovely and elders are ugly. It is true that both new born babies and some over 70s elders are using pampers, require spoon feeding and bathing. However, the treats are totally in different attitude and atmosphere. Why?

If we feel like that we may corrupt our dignity as a human being. I like a poster in the MTR say, "we come to the world with lots of loving welcome, please let us pass away with diginty as well." Please love your parents before it is too late.

金花中山開心美食退修團 (2-4/11/2007)

我們一行十四人, 包括8朵金花、4朵銀花和2 位朋友, 浩浩蕩蕩地從太子地鐵站出發, 開始了我們3 天的旅程。 較年長的金花不單不需要別人的照顧, 反而細心地照顧別人, Aunti 潘(金花之一)買了熱騰騰的飯團和豆漿作我們3 小時車程裏午飯前的充飢, 余太(金花之一)也給我們分享了她從鄉間帶回來地道特色小吃。 3 個小時的車程中咀巴是停不了： 停不了地吃著各款零食、停不了地傾談, 目的地轉眼間便到達。我們的住處是環境幽美, 空氣清新, 設備現化代的住宅小區 - 凱筃新城, 這個五星級的家是我們的好姊妹Bonnie (銀花之一) 和Connie 免費借出。

安頓好行李和房間後, 我們的開心美食之旅便正式開始, 吃的雖不是名貴鮑參翅肚, 而是既美味又廉宜的家庭小菜和地方特色菜。 所享受的不單是新鮮的素材和烹調出色的佳餚美食, 更享受的是那毫無區綀的談天說笑, 仿如家族聚餐, 開懷地吃、 開懷地笑。

口腹之樂被滿足外, 購物之樂也豐豐富富地被滿足了。 所逛的雖不是名店、 所買的不是名牌衣飾、 所乘的也不是名貴房車， 我們逛步行街購物, 到街市買菜, 各適其式, 各覓所好, 疲倦了便以在香港已不再存在的人力三輪車代步。購物的地點不只限於商店和市場, 甚至在飲早茶的酒樓, 看見了別緻的茶杯, 也被這班金花團搶購一空, 錢花得開心又滿足。

在陌生的環境總不能安睡, 特別是較年長的金花, 但每天她們也是精神奕奕, 歡歡喜喜地投入當天的安排和行程, 在她們臉上找不到一點倦容。肉體疲倦了, 需要休息, 藉著按摩、 足浴, 恢復疲勞； 屬靈疲倦了, 需要被神的話語激勵和教導, 藉著查經班、祈禱會, 我們還有自己的主日崇拜, 使屬靈上再次被充電更新。

今次退修的主題是「堅持」, 堅持相信聖經的真理、 堅持把聖經的教導活在生命中、 堅持善用神給各人不同的恩賜, 彼此服侍, 成長和合一。這班金花姊妹學習時謙卑認真, 遊戲時全情投入, 絕不欺場； 她們彼此間相愛相顧和喜樂的心, 也使兩位參加的朋友被感染和感動；我從她們身上學到凡事感謝神, 願意順服神的旨意和帶領。

三天的旅程在歡笑和溫馨中渡過了, 每人都帶著由自己繪畫, Bonnie 校長親筆 提字和簽署的畢業證書, 和一顆新的心回家去。

後記：在旅程完結一星期後, 其中一位參加的朋友-伊文(Elaine 的媽媽), 受浸成為基督徒, 八金花又添一新成員, 變成九金花。

Amen!

Polly (黄医師太太) 筆

金銀花每人只花了RMB215，及車費HK$160得到教會的賛助。

Ladies' inner fun - Elsie/Nov 2007

Age 12 is a dilema age for girls for their bodies begin to grow to become a young lady. Today, I brought Elsie to have a Warcol tour. We browsed the shop checking how many different type of Bras are ready in to market to fits our body needs from young to old, what is the color trend and what is our favorite choice......

It sounds she was a bit embarassed at the very beginning. Later, she began to ask questions and enjoyed exchanging views with me. I told her about my embarassed stories at that age because I was told nothing from my mother.

Are You Living Your Life Purpose?

Are You Living Your Life Purpose? Evaluate the current level of fulfillment in your life and work by taking this survey. CLICK HERE ...

The Bible teaches that God created you with five purposes in mind:

1. Worship - you were planned for God's pleasure.



2. Fellowship - you were formed to be part of God's family.



3. Discipleship - you were created to become like Christ.



4. Ministry - you were shaped for God's service.



5. Mission - you were made to tell other's about Christ.

To Clarify Your Life Purpose, Write down please...

• 3 of Your Life Motivations


• 1 of Your most important Life Principle


• 1 of Your most desired Life Targets

Life Scripting by Bonnie, your moderator

written by bonnie in 2003

I asked myself 'WHO AM I ?' If I can be anything in the world, how will I describe myself, putting consideration that I am a human being, I have BODY, MIND, and SOUL.

My body needs to be fed and well taken care in order me to function my life and do what I want to do. If I am a CAR, what will I take care of myself? I will clean it everyday. I will make sure the engine is working and buy a premium maintenance program for ensuring a regular checking that the car is safe driving. I have to fill it with lead -free fuel so that it can run problem-free for me. I may like to polish it once a month to let my car shines beautifully among other cars. I would like to invite friends to ride on my car. I want to drive it to the place I like.

'AM I A GOOD DRIVER?' If I have a car, surely I want to drive it by myself as I wish and drive to places that I enjoy or just simply I WANT. However, if I am not good at driving, it will be a big problem or even a burden for me to drive my car. I cannot imagine how I will be if it comes across an accident. It may be a matter of life and death. However, if I park my car in the car park, what is the purpose of having a car?

WOO! I can hire a driver, a good driver who is excellent in driving skill; knowing where the nice places to go and well understand my needs. Where I can find this driver? Can I afford to hire such an excellent driver?

I come to ask myself ?Why I have my car. Who gave me this car? That person should be the best one to tell me everything. I remember God made human being. I looked up the Bible.

The Bible teaches that God created you with five purposes in mind:
Worship - you were planned for God's pleasure.
Fellowship - you were formed to be part of God's family.
Discipleship - you were created to become like Christ.
Ministry - you were shaped for God's service.
Mission - you were made to tell other's about Christ.

God gave me the body: the car, and then he should be the best driver that I have been ever looking for! I started to go back to HIM and asked for his consensus to be my driver. He told me that, 'I am always at your service, Bonnie!' WOOH! What a wonderful and simple answer.

I settled down myself at the front passenger seat. My worries in how to drive the car and where I should go disappeared because my driver knows the best and he is helping me. I have time to enjoy the scenario the car passes through ?that is the JOY I never had before!

I started to think what I should do for the driver. He must be thirsty. He might want a rest. He might want to listen to some music?. He told me that, what he will be grateful is that 'Please look around and see anybody needs a ride, too!'

Hey! He is right! We still have 3 free seats open at the back, WHY NOT? He inspired me for a break through to think beyond myself. Soon, I saw a young mother with a toddler standing beside the road and seems looking for some help. We stopped the car. 'What can I do for you? or do you need a ride to a place?' The little boy simply said, 'YES, I want!' However, the mother stopped him and asked me, 'We do not have enough money but we need to look for a place for a rest and we are hungry.' I told her that we are going to the best place in the town and there has everything for free. The young mother puzzled and ask me, ' What is he name of the place? Why are you so sure there offers free meals and accommodations? Is there a place I can stay? Why should I believe you?....'

WOOPS! I forgot to ask my excellent driver where he is driving me to. It doesn't matter! Because he is the best in driving and have knowledge of the best place. Why I still have to puzzle about him. I immediate told the young mother, 'That is the best place everybody longing to go. I have hired the best driver who came from there. For sure he can take us to this wonderful place without fail. ' I TOLD MYSELF THAT I REALLY BELIEVE AND PUT MY WHOLE DESTINY ON HIM.' That is a strange belief that I never had before.

'That sounds attractive to me and my son. Can you take us there?' requested by the young mother. Immediately they jumped into the back seat and they started off the journey with us. We had a nice chat and I started to understand her that she is a single mother and nobody ever wanted to have time to listen to her story. She thanked me with tears. I also told her about my life.

The driver started to remind me again that we still have one free seat. The mother said, 'My son is small and I can hold him on my lap. We can spare 2 seats for others.' The young mother started to join me to look for if any other people want to have a free ride as well? I am happy that my car is full of people and we enjoyed so much tearful sharing, laughter and caring each other through out the journey.

I started to see a road sign [ETERNITY ROAD] and my driver slowed down the car and told me, 'Here is the place!' Then, I started to worry what should I do next. More and more cars are arriving the spot and I heard, 'We had a safe and joyful journey to here. Our driver is excellent. Now, we do not need to ride on our own car anymore because here is the station prepared a Train for us. We can gather with more people to have a party on the train. The Train Driver is the Father of all the excellent drivers.'

Surrender and Reconcile

Today, 15 Aug is the anniversary of Japanese Surrender in the World War II. In Japan, there are nationwide anniversary activities, most of the slogans they used are "Let's bring peace to the world!" Widows of the dead Japanese soldiers said, "There is nothing good could war bring to anybody!"

When I watched JapaneseTV news seeing a secondary student reciding a poem in asking for peace of the world, her tearful eyes inspired me to think of : "What is the one step before we could see the peace of the world?" My answer is : "Peace among people, peace in family, peace between the relationship of the smallest cell of two persons and peace in individual's mind and heart."

Through out my past years of discipleship, I recognise that reconcilation with our Father God is the beginning of any awareness, faith and strength in knowing what is PEACE. With the peacefulness in our mind and heart, supported by God's unconditional love and endless resources, we could live in life with peace and love. From there, the relationship we establish among people and with our nature would be in chain of the same substance and be sustainable.

I, therefore, do not believe any peace of the world could be realized unless we have peace in individual's mind through the reconcilation with God. Then, how do we nurture our children in this aspect. Are we modelling the core value or are we still in full or as part of the hatred relationship? I would like to repent to grow as the very first tiny step to bring peace to the world. Amen!

「家庭關係」的自我反省與心意更新

以弗所書6:1-9說妻子要「順服」丈夫，順服是一種「甘心情願至死」的表現。另一方面，丈夫要「愛」自己的妻子，愛是意味著「無条件的犧牲」。兩者都帶有甚至獻上生命的終極意義，這樣的愛正是耶穌為世人的罪被釘十架的延續。

真正的「順服」是來自「敬畏神」。無論從舊約十誡的第一誡、傳道書的最終啟示及以弗所書5:21所說的 : 「你們要彼此順服，因為你們是敬畏基督的。」所以真正的夫妻的愛就相等於「彼此順服在基督的愛當中」。

兒女對父母的態度則是「聽從」。「聽從」這個字有上、下之間的關係，帶有「事事都順從」(路加福音2:51)的意思。同時以弗所書6:4說 : 「作父親的，你們不要激怒兒女，要用主的教導來養育裁培他們。」

「主的教導」非常清楚的，是指「聖經 - 上帝的話」。整本聖經教導給我們就是: (一) 要愛上帝， (二)要愛別人。愛上帝要從「敬畏衪」開始，而愛別人要從「捨己」開始。那麼作為父母的我們首先要清楚明白，甚至持有 「主的教導」的榜樣，才可以有分量地行使這教導的責任，令我們的兒女可以「聽從」並造就他們。

日本有一位宣教師名叫宮崎亮的醫生，他一生堅持地去愛及事奉非洲的奈及利亞人，甚至在選擇妻子時說 : 「要跟我結婚的人，就必湏跟我到非洲去。」後期兒女長大至入學年齡，宮崎醫生的父母及家人要求他們為了兒女的教育問題，一定要返回日本。宮崎醫生回答說 : 「父母的行為如果端正，孩子的教育已經完成一半，其他一半已經不重要了！」

可等大的信心啊！

Junk Food, Junk Email, Junk Life

After I returned from the 720 retreat, I found my Outlook is full of Junk Mail. My habit is to put all the junk mail in to the deleted file and than sorting them by subject to make sure I did not delete any of my real email.

By sorting the junk email by subject, I have recognized there are a pattern of them. I categoried them in to below:

• sexual junk mail
• medicine junk mail
• dieting and weight lose junk mail
• software junk mail
• academic degree buying junk mail

I found Satan is the best junk sales person who exposes his evil willing and act to the extent that is too obvious. If you are not attracted or confused by him, you should have the ability to distinguish those very obvious evil and sinful temptations. The remaining is your choice that could not be deny any more as an excuses. Well, how do you choose to live?

分享 Bonnie - Iris BT Retreat

720中山2代靈修團 7月20-22日 (共18人)
BT團員(7人):Bonnie, Doris, Maria, Mui Ying, Iris, Vivian, Lucy
客藉VIP團員(5人) : Rosanna, Zhu, Stella, Sachiko(I), Angel(Jeff&Edwina's mom)
美少女兵團(6人) : Clara, Merry, Michelle, Ginny, Miko, Elsie
船費 : HK$250來回用餐及交通費 : AA (3天每人約共HK$200) 其他費用 : 自費
Actual average total fee: HK$250 + 170 = $420 (min $296 Max $440)

主題 : 「安寧安靜，心意更新 」

• Doris 帶查經班 - 以賽亞書30:15 「你們得救在乎歸回安息、你們得力在乎平靜安穩。」
• Iris 帶經文遊戲 - 「經文盡在不言中」宴席、撒種和建房子在石與沙的比喻。...............................................................much more and please click to read here.

Fry Minced Beef with Basil Leaf

Ingredients:
1. minced beef HK$20
2. Potato 2 pcs (cut in to very tiny cubs 1cm x 1cm)
3. Basil Leaf (as much as you want)
4. Petit hot green chili 2 pcs (optional)
5. Shallot 4 pcs (cut in to very tiny pcs)
6. Union 1 pcs (cut in to very tiny pcs)
7. Garlic 3 pcs (cut in to very tiny pcs)
8. Salt, Soya Sauce and little sugar

Cooking:
1. Stir fry potato cubs until slightly soft and put aside.
2. Stir fry union, garlic with little oil until good smell
3. Add in minced beef and shallot until well mixed
4. Add in potato and mix well
5. Add salt, Soya sauce and sugar for seasoning and mix well
6. Lastly add Basil Leaves and stir fry for about 1-2 min
7. Stop the fire and squeeze some lime juice and ready to serve on plate

SunFlower - Elsie/July - Ceramic Class

We met at the Tien Hau MTR and walked to the JL Ceramic located on the Electric Road. Mable was there to welcome us. She was particular happy to see Michelle has grown a lot.

Mable started to show Michelle, Elsie and Docus how to make a pencil stand with ceramic. Then, it was our turn for a creative production.

Through out the production process, I could observe some character reflection of Elsie and Docus. I do not mention Michelle because she is familiar with JL Ceramic and Mable as we did learned for 2 years here.

Elsie could structure what she wants in her mind but seldom feedback back what she was doing and asked question to the teacher. Finally she did a product with full content and unique theme. Awesome@

Docus could master very quickly on the ceramic technique but felt a bit missing of what she wants to make. She is formal with less allowance on herself for funny ideas. Finally Docus finished her artwork with a giant crab with a moveable top shell.

Michelle made a castle with a prince and princess while I made "a shouting mouth".

We will come back for the coloring few weeks later. Please stay tuned.

Reap in JOY

Happiness when being Fruitful (not by the power of us but by the grace of God expressing through nature which requires our faith in they will reap in God's order and our willingness to join in the effort)

We love first so our children learn to love.

After a long week of rainy days, today is a blessed sunny day. We had plan to go for a war game but due to the time strain, we decided to have a diversity activities fusion at KC's club house.

Since tomorrow is the father's day, let me make a count on the fathers first: KC, Shing, Ivan and Benjamin.

How about the mothers: Margaret, CarLai, Bonnie and Belinda.

Then our children: Joshua, Gabiel, Laier, Peter, David, Shawn, Terence, Michelle, Leo, Yvonne.

Altogether how many of us? 5 families and 18 members................we still miss Ivan's wife, Candy and their younger son. Yes, we also miss Belinda's husband (3).

WHY are we together? We decided to provide an environment to let us and our children to learn how to love each other. (Be humble to love but not using any of our past knowledge. Love requires renewal wisdom.)

WHAT are we going to do? We do not need to decide exactly what we are going to do but let the flow leads us (God has his plan). What we have to remember clearly is our motive of doing so --- TO LOVE. In every gathering and interaction, are we loving each other? (not to do any loving action but to presence with love)

HOW do we make this happen? We (to) open each of ourselves, sharing our life honestly. KC shared his schooling pictures with us. If we are open, we are simple. (love has no fear and we are not fear to share everything.)

I was happy to see these scenes:

• Terence and Peter were enjoying conversations with KC, Shing and Benjamin (an adult talk).
• Laier played hard with David.
• Joshua was paired with Shawn.
• Michelle talked with Uncle Ivan (like a mature young lady).
• Terence and Peter were drowning in their jam (music).
• CarLai has passed her heartbeat test by staying in the band room for over 30 mins.
• Belinda player badminton with Leo and Yvonne.
• CarLai taught Michelle to succeed a big strike in bowling.
• Magaret, CarLai and Bonnie could not stop their talking.
• Benjamin played Tennis with KC in such a hot morning.
• Shing has quiet fellowship with Ivan though he worked overnight - no sleepy sign at all.
• We finished 4 big pizza.

A Matter of Priority

What are we focusly doing right now? Where do we spend most of our thoughts and energy? --------It's a matter of Priority.

In "Seven Habbits", they put priority under two categories - Importance and Urgency and segmentize in to 4 Zones:

1. Important and Urgent
2. Important and not Urgent
3. Urgent and not Important
4. Not Urgent and not Important

The 2nd Zone is said to be the best among the 4 as it is important but still have enough time to carry out or even crafting to its best. Thus, urgent is just an external push (should) for its happening but not an inside out (needs) or (wants).

Well, if weighting life priority according to its Importance, what are they? I know different stage of life has different important issues of concern, so as different person has his/her different views. Does God has a truth answer for this crucial question?

Life as a whole is important to live to love and to be loved. Core elements for love are people, time, relationship, interaction, conversation, experience, memories, trust and etc......... If we want to lead our children to understanding the truth of love, what will we prepare for them?

A school? A home?.................these are the places or environment.

A knowledge? A role? ...........these are the input and output stuffs.

If thinking from the stand of a computer, a good software seems the most important. What is the software of LOVE? A prgram knows every possible step, interaction, change and consequence of love............A Loving Microsoft.

WORDS : how to write our life story with love

EXCEL : how to weight our life balance with love

POWERPOINT : how to present our life picture with love

FRONTPAGE : how to build our weblife with love

OUTLOOK : how to communicate with love and delete junk mails

PUBLISHER : how to create our self-identity with love

ACCESS : how to store and categorize our data neatly for real time retrieval and management analysis with love

While I am thinking and writing this message, I got an inspiration that I may start to ask my teens:

• "If you are going to choose a software for your life, what would that be?"
• "What are the core value (operational system) that must be included in your software?"
• "What would you expect this life software could help you to achieve in your life project?"
• "What kind of life management reports do you require in order to help you managing your operation neatly and healthy?"
• "Do you want to have a user-freindly program? or you are a skillful and advanced user one which require some unique and sophiscated features? If yes, what are they and why you need them?"
• "In order to fully utilize and maximize your investment for this software, do you need any support?" If yes, "what are they and why?"
• "Does you software enable import and export functions so that it could interface well with other forms?"
• "Does you software compatible with other model so that you have less limitation?"
• "Could you predict how much data volume you expect your server to provide in order to run this software and your data in a normal good speed, but not overloaded?"
• "Do you have a maintenance policy with your hardware?"
• "Do you have a auto-upgrade agreement with your software provider?"
• "Do you have a backup plan for your program and data?"
• "Do you use any password?"
• "How often do you check the bugs and virus?" and "What anti-virus program are you using?"

Choosing a software program just like choose the foundation for one's life; prarble of build a house on sand or on the rock. Matthew 7:24-27

What is your choice?

Let our daughters to know God

I had share-time with Sachiko for lunch and later with Belinda in a group in the evening of yesterday. We recognized that our children are all in teens; they are Michelle, Miko and Yvonne. Jessica has recently not coming for Sunday, we missed her and care about her spiritual life.

Mike is 15, Michelle and Yvonne are 14. I started to think, "What is the most important thing for them at life of this age?" Before that I would ask, "Why I have a sense that it is an important age of their lives?"

There is only 3-4 years ahead untile they turn 18 as an indpendent adult, or 6-7 years to become 21 as a legally responsible adult. How would I like to help them to equip themselves in order to become a responsible adult to walk through their lives in fullfilment of joy and fruitfulness.

How to become a successful person? >> people will think of good education, special skill, awesome inter- and intra-personal relationship and then a good job and good income...

How to become a good person? >> people will think of good character, temperament, kind heart and willingness in giving and no compliant in suffering.

Then, in God's eye, how to become a good child in Him? >> I will think of to know God well, to walk His way, to love, to serve, to deny onself, to co-work with God, to submisive in God's plan, to enjoy God's grace on us.

Will there be any contradictary of being a successful, good person and at the same time a good disciple? I see NO. Instead, lots of bible teachings are in fact a wisdom in building us as a successful and good person in the godly way that also pleasing God.

I would believe that in order my daughter can walk her life in the way with joy and fruitfulness, I should bring her close to God first.

SunFlower - Elsie/Jun 2007

This was the first time we met on the first date of the month. Uny has already re-opened and renamed as APITA. In fact, the internal layout is still almost the same.

Due to Elsie has always had to attend her English tuition after our SunFlower gathering, we could not go beyond TaiKooShing area. Though we have a plan to taste as many cake shops as we can, eventually we could only work within Pokka or UCC. It's OK for me as I enjoy the interaction with Elsie more than the food.

Elsie is really growing. I found that she is now taller than her mother. She is anxiously waiting for the secondary school designation result in Mid of July. I silently pray for her to get in to a right school.

We went to UCC and as usual and ordered 2 tea sets. Elsie has made the prayer instead of me. I found she is familiar and confident in leading prayer. Awesome!!!!!!!

Firstly, I showed her my Suzhou pictures, letting her to know who is the Suxiu master I met and a general outlook for the service apartment I have stayed and the general Suzhou scenaries. I also showed her the zucchine harvested from my tiny organic farm in my mom's home town.

That made Elsie to knowing auntie bonnie more that, she summaried in to two areas - "Nature" and Suzhou Embroidery". It is so true.

We fell in to an interesting conversation to distinguishing the difference between an ordinary auntie and a disciple auntie. Elsie said:

• Appearance : they are the same and cannot be distinguished.


• Behavior : Ordinary aunties spend their time in shopping and much talking (may be she means gossip) but disciples aunties choose to go to Bible Talk and Quiet Time gatherings.

It is amzed to learn of such observation from a girl of eleven years old. I plugged in and asked her, "Do you want to become a disciple?"................."Yes." a very confirmed answer.

I, then asked her , "Do you know how is the transition to become a disciple?" She seems understanding that there requires a bible study process. I asked her to recall her mother's case. She has well awared that May and CJ have both helped her mother in Bible Study. Moreover, she found most important is that she likes her reborn mother and would never wants her mom to go back to the OLD Self.

Our little girls (daughter) are always a smart observer in witnessing our every step of life and its changes. They are indeed discerning.

I grasped the chance to tell Elsie that in order to becoming a disciple, it is very important for one to understand one's relationship with God and his/her salvation from our Goldly Father. And then make a committed decision to follow God in his/her life. It is a matter of life decision.

Today, there was a TV star sitting next to our table. We do not know her name but she was said to be the girlfriend of Leung Wing Chun.

Since we had about 20 minutes left behind, Elsie wanted to browse around the shopping mall. I took her to walk in to BodyShop to understand what are they selling. Elsie told me that she rarely walk in to this kind of shop. And I found out that she is not fond of any fragrance or creamy stuff on to her skin. Yes, she is a sporty girl.

Share Roxana's powerful QT to all precious parents

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Evangelism
Isaiah Chapter 55 What a gloriously uplifting chapter. I think I could use this in evangelism when I'm talking to a person about their need for salvation:

• 1. God calls all to receive his free grace (v.1)
• 2. Only God's salvation truly satisfies (v.2)
• 3. All nations and people can come into this new convenant (v. 3-5)
• 4. God warns everyone to seek him while he can be found (v.6)
• 5. Our response must be one of true repentance (v.7a)
• 6. pardon & forgiveness are freeely possible (v.7b)
• 7. God is above all but He can still be experienced (v.8-9)
• 8. God's word is powerful & will do its saving work (v.10-11)
• 9. Great joy occurs when people are saved (v.12)
• 10. Fruit that glorifies good is everlasting (v.13)

HOW IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY IT IS TO SAVE SOULS!
Posted by roxanatsen at 8:41 AM 1 comments
Labels: Isaiah

Where to talk with our teenager

I am glad to see the increase rate of votes. "take a walk in a park" was voted the top where mothers like to talk with their children for a spiritual and/or character issues. "via email" ranks the seond and "in a quiet coffee shop" ranks the third.

Of course, it does not mean the top vote is the best. You have to take into consideration the preference of your teenager and yourself. I know some teenager-boys are not expressive enough to have personal talk with their mother or father due to embarassment or handicap in verbal expression, and in such case, they prefer express in words.

SunFlower - Elsie/May 2007

I made a big mistake today. After lunch, I was drowning in creating a new blog for my "Organic Psychology". With too much concentration, I fell asleep in mid of my work. Suddenly the telephone rang and Michelle told me that she's on the way home from school and request me to prepare some food for her. I, then, requested Wati to prepare the "butter corn". At the same time, Elsie called me and told me that she was waiting for me at the TaiKooShing. "Oh! No. I missed the time." It's already 4:40pm and I should have met Elsie at 4:30pm.

Since I have already lost 40 mins, we chose a nearby coffe shop for our usual afternoon tea - POKKA. Elsie ordered an ice-cream on french caramel pudding and I ordered a pumpkin with black sesama dumpling.

I was curious to ask Elsie about her " 曹操Project". She will have the group presentation in the class next Tuesday. Since Elsie was the one in charge to produce the power point slides, she will speak less in the presentation. She told me that she understood my comments on her work and she has adapted for some changes. Well Done!

As one of the important parts of our date, we prayer together for our friendship. I asked Elsie that how much she understand what I like up to now. Elsie rolled her eyes and said, "Auntie bonnie likes plants and nature."

"Yes, I am. Your observation is absolutely right." I, then continued to tell Elsie about my Organic farming project in China that the pumpkin and Zucchini are healthily growing while we failed on the tomato (they need a greenroom environment).

Elsie also curious to know how much I understand her after the past few months. I told Elsie that my observations are:

• You are growing from a girl to a teenager. I could see you are longing for more room for yourself, such as your own time, your own thinking and your decisions.
• On the usual Sunday morning QT with the mothers, you are in a dilema of age in between of two groups of peers; one is Janice and Cherry group which you used to get along with are younger and less mature than you, and the other group is Michelle and Miko group which you feel a bit far apart in some unknown senses. Thus, sometimes you just stay quiet and do your own reading.

We both enjoyed very much the conversation by being honest to each and share what is there. Elsie told me that she could not talk with her mother like being with me because her mother is more concern on her daily living and studies. Those conversation always falls in to one-way traffic of ordering or demaning. Elsie does not feel to have room for a causal conversation between her mother.

I was bold enough to ask Elsie about her observation on any change of her mother after become a disciple.

Elsie said, "Yes, sure there is a difference. My mother becomes more relax and calm in handling matters and situation. Before she was in a stage of anxiety for everything, in particular about our school studies. Yes, she has changed."

Elsie has showned her appreciation on her mother's change through God.

I also told Elsie that while you are growing and getting more mature, surely your mother will give you more idenpendence. What you have to do is to be patience to take one step a time. In return, Elsie should also be expressive enough to exchange friendship talks with her mother.

"Yes, I will."

Elsie connects with bonnie

Elsie emailed auntie bonnie on 1 May asking her about suggestions on her school project.

It's amazing to see how much initiative Elsie has taken to connecting with, asking for help, learning from and etc. from her buddy auntie. When I received Elsie's email, I felt she almost treats me as her mentor. Moreover, she is not afriad to exposure her work to ready for my comments.

I felt one important element to have created this happending is part of her life is already connected with me. Since last outing with Elsie together with Michelle and Dcous, she bought a Chinese book (三國演義). She told me that she wants to use the Easter Holiday to well prepare for a school project about that particular topic. Then, I saw in few occasions that she was reading the book with great interest. Now she has completed her project, she thinks of me to ask for comments and (I think) also to sharing what she has done for the last month with her endeavor.

She knows I'll be there to support her though I am not her mother or living together with her. Yes, I do, I really do. She likes to hearing my comments may be because she values my opinion (being objective and/or different from what usually her mother said????). Or she has already learnt that God's Kingdom is also part of her family in her growth where she can open herself to asking for help and comments without fear.

Elsie is only 11 years old. I found at her same age as my daughter Michelle, Elsie is more mature. She is girl in a stage of building her own self-identity, self-reliance (positive way) and how to connect herself, her thoughts with the outside networks.

It's indeed a wonderful experience to me that I have not experieced from my own daughter. Thanks again God for giving me this opportunity in which my life is enriched. Amen!

I am excited that I will see Elsie this Friday for our monthly dating. She came forward to me last Sunday to asking for a confirmation. What a wonderful girl!

How to raise our standard? 如何跨前一步?

Today Bonnie, Iris, Connie, Stella and Maria had lunch after the Sunday Serivce. We discussed about "How to raise our standard of being a mother in caring the spiritual lives of our children than solely the physical and emotional lives?" We felt there should not be any absolute answer. Instead, we would like to open up this questions for all our blog readers to comment. You could think from below 2 standpoints:

Case 1 : Both you and your daughter(s) or son(s) are disciples.....
Case 2 : You are a disciple and your children are not yet a disciples......

Guidelines:
1. "Raise the Standard" means "Kodash", we could set apart from ordinary standard.
2. This question applies to mothers having children over 12 years old.
3. "How" means how do you prepare yourself for this objective; how do you interact with your children; what is your motivation; what is your attitude; what do you like to see to happen; what kind of help do you need; what are the indicators of its success; what are the obstacles; what action steps could help you to remove the obstacles and etc....

我有我有一個好媽媽

by Elaine


2007 年4 月24 日 雨天

今年紅色暴雨警告信號第一次生效的日子。丈夫還在回程飛機上，深夜才會到達。

下午1 時

媽媽致電關心外孫們上學的情況。

知道孫女不用上學但陪了我上班而孫仔則仍留在幼兒園後，她不想我要帶著女兒，
忙著上班，還要趕去接幼子放學。她 叫我專心照顧女兒 ， 讓她代我去接兒子 。

5 時許

媽媽拖著三歲半的飛飛，打著傘，冒著風雨步行 15 分鐘到我家，未進門已說：「不好意思，遲了一點接飛飛。」( 其實一點也不遲。)

身上沾著雨水也沾著汗水的她剛坐下便著我去煮飯，並一邊在說：「接飛飛前，我煮了魚和雞，預備給你們作晚餐。我現在先回家，過一會兒拿來給你。」

椅子還未坐暖，她人已離開我家。這才明白原來她正趕緊為我張羅晚飯，所以她有「遲」的感覺。( 遲的不是她，是我—— 遲鈍﹗)

7 時許

電話鈴聲響起，是媽媽的聲音：「我還煲了湯，給你們盛一點好嗎？」我當然說好。「我現在過來。」

不消一會兒， 媽媽又打著傘 ， 挽著兩個袋， 走進我家， 一袋有兩盒餸 ， 另一袋有一個真空湯壺( 內有約一升湯及很多湯料) 。 ( 不是說一點的嗎？竟然是一大壺。) 我立刻幫她拿袋子 。 心中說：「嘩 ， 很重呀﹗」心中想：「她是怎樣又打傘又拿這樣重的湯和餸的呢？」

內心很激動，媽媽已六十有七了 …… 覺得鼻頭有點酸 ，我還 未及開口， 媽媽已在說：「我要走了﹗」我說：「媽媽 ， 你不留下和我們一同吃嗎？」「不了﹗我要回去等你的妹妹下班回家 ， 與她一起吃。」我 只好送她離開 。

我很感動有這樣的一位媽媽 ， 體恤我的疲倦 ， 了解我的忙碌 ， 主動替我安排晚飯的事 。

雖然她和我家步行距離只有十多分鐘 ， 但大部份的路程也要打著傘 ， 若不是出於愛 ， 又怎會不厭其煩、冒著風雨 ， 來來回回於兩家呢﹗怱怱忙忙的她還想著、趕著回家照顧另一個孩子啊﹗( 那孩子也已經年過三十了﹗)

中國人有句話：「養兒一百歲，長憂九十九 。」已為人母的我 今天想起這話 ，別有一番滋味。

我覺得幸福非常，因我仍是一個「有媽的孩子」。
我心中很感動，媽媽仍待我像小孩 ( 在她心中仍是小) ，照顧周到。

謝謝天父給我可以紅著眼、開懷地唱：「我有我有一個好媽媽…… 日日夜夜陪著我。」

Golden Girls in Key Class (HC)

Golden Girls are always passionate in spreading God's good news. Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Poon who does not have many non-christian priave friends, are always bold enough to share faith at the MTR stations with strangers.

In the House Church classess of the first semester of 2007, Golden Girls began to learn how to use "Seeking God" scriptures in the Key Class (Chapter 1) to help people seeking God.

• Jeramiah 29: 11-14
• Matthew 11:28-30
• Acts 17: 22-28
• Acts 8: 26-39

The GGs studied the scriptures, did the role play and shared inspirations and experiences. We had a conclusion class on 19 April led by Roxana and you may like to see what were their sharings:

Auntie Poon: 我了解到幫助別人尋找神的時候，不是一面倒地把自己所知的去告訴那人，而是先要多聽那人分享她的生命，多了解對方的重擔在那裡。從中可以看見那人尋找神的態度，選用適合的經文去分享及回應。因為整個尋找神的過程是一個「愛的關係」的建立。

Mrs. Wu : 最初時我不懂得說、更不懂得問。現在我学會了尋找神的重點是其中的態度。首先我要做好自己，因為「自己就是最好的見証」。我可以分享神如何曾經幫助我克服困難。

Mui Ying : 要跟随神就不要怕辛苦。 Roxana 利用大監的經文使我們明白了尋求神是要「盡心、盡性、盡意和盡力」，要有歉卑、受教和認真的態度。現在有了四段經文在手為武器 (love weapon)，使我更有目標和力量地傳福音。

Mrs. Yu : 我最初實習的時候，眼睛總害怕望著對方。後來Roxana教我用眼睛看著她來帶領尋找神的一課，我受益良多。現在我明白到幫助別人尋找神的時候「不要只單說出字面的意思，更要帶出有神在一起的感受。」

金花們的一番分享，令我和Roxana目瞪口呆，佩服佩服！！！！有神的金花，真是特別精(神)(属)靈、

Current studies involving by the Golden Girls are:

Auntie Poon >> Mrs. Jim (Island South)
Mrs. Yu >> Maggie’s mom (Island West)
Maria >> Rosanna (Island Central)

Weekly Telephone pair up QTs among the Golden Girls are:

Maria with Mrs. Yu on Tuesday
Maria with Auntie Poon on Friday
Auntie Poon with Mrs. Wu to be set up soon
Mrs. Yu with Auntie Tsang to be set up soon

Mui Ying with Doris to be set up soon

Awakening Love Before Its Time (recommended by Elaine)

Who can deny that we live in an overly sensuous culture? The popular media have done a very effective job of awakening sensuality even in children. I've seen G-rated, family movies where pre-teens shared mouth-to-mouth romantic kisses. Such displays are the natural and normal course that romance takes, but are these actions appropriate for that stage in life? Where can a romantic relationship go at the age of 12 or even 16? The awakening of romance at this age is often a futile road that can lead more to lingering pain than to long-term pleasure.

Let's look at a few warnings in the Song of Solomon and examine some reasons why teens need their parents to help them cautiously guard their hearts, not only their physical purity.
"Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the swift gazelles and the deer of the wild, not to awaken love until the time is right." (NLT) Song of Solomon 2:7
"Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe and you're ready." (Message Bible)
"¡K do not stir up love until the appropriate time." (Holman Christian Standard)
After studying these verses and several others from the Song of Solomon, (3:5, 8:4) a common theme stands out ¡V beware of awakening romantic love before it is time.

Romantic awakenings lead to thoughts, accompanied by feelings that lead to actions. It is God's wonderful plan for romantic love. However, if these awakenings happen during a season when they can't be righteously fulfilled, they often lead down a path of hurt and regret, not only a loss of virginity.

Countless teens who have fallen into romance too soon have given away their hearts only to have them broken. Others have been victims of self-deception, confusing infatuation with love. These situations create several questions for parents trying to help their teens avoid the heartbreak and deception that early romantic awakenings can bring. For parents, the questions which seem hardest to navigate in our overly sensuous culture are: When is the right timing for romance? How can I encourage my child to wait for the appropriate season? These are important questions to ponder since most of our children will eventually "fall in love" and marry someday, unless they are called to be single.

Within the Christian community there seems to be a myriad of opinions and stands on this matter. Books like I Kissed Dating Goodbye and I Gave Dating a Chance nestle together on the very same shelves of our local Christian bookstores. As I stated in my last column, my intent is not to prescribe a formula. Instead, I want to ask questions that will help parents reach their teen's heart in dealing with the topics of love, sex, romance and purity. Most people associate purity with virginity only. They believe that as long as teens remain virgins, that they are walking in purity. While this may be true at the physical level, as Christian parents, we must be concerned with our teen's emotional integrity and spiritual wholeness as well. A teen who has been through various breakups or has been the victim of someone's selfish flirtations, sometimes has as many regrets as a teen who has lost her virginity.

It is every mom's privilege to help her daughters and sons walk through romantic feelings with wisdom and grace from God. How that is accomplished is a very personal and unique task that requires a great deal of patience and understanding of each teen's spiritual maturity. As we walk our teens through this process we need to lead them into asking a question that arises from reading the Song of Solomon: What are some of the dangers of awakening passions before the time is right?

Crushes
No matter how passionately a teen wants to serve God, crushes can happen. Attraction is a normal and healthy gift from God; however, dealing with those feelings, while trying to stay emotionally and physically pure can be a challenge. The teen needs a parent to help stay accountable, to help deal with feelings and to be encouraged that with God's help he can stay pure.

Love triangles
I've seen girls try to help their girlfriends get their focus off of a guy only to find themselves having a crush on the very same guy. This doesn't just happen with girls; it also happens with guys. What about friends who find themselves liking the same guy or girl? What about guys or girls who are attracted to more than one girl or guy at the same time? I've seen examples of all these happen and harm good relationships.
In a teen's life, these are not laughing matters. Serious hurts and wrong patterns of relationships can hurt young hearts. Seeds of unforgiveness and jealousy can hound a young person for years.

Ruined Friendships
A guy and girl in the same youth group or Bible study may grow to be very close friends. That is a natural product of sharing the same values, pursuits and goals. However, sometimes that friendship goes in the direction of romance before the couple is in a season of life where they can follow through with a serious commitment. Moving back into the direction of friendship is sometimes tough and even hurtful as one or the other teen begins to back off the intensity.
Another danger of early romantic awakenings is that they can become a stumbling block to a young person's passionate pursuit of God.

Distractions
In the years I have worked with youth, many young adults have told me how they wished they had spent their teen years more effectively seeking God and serving Him without these distractions and the pain of broken hearts. Many young people look back and grieve about the time they wasted and how some of their plans to pursue their life goals went by the wayside. We need to think about how we can help the next generation to awaken to God, before they awaken to untimely romantic passions that sometimes serve only as decoys to God's best plans.
Teenagers who passionately want to pursue God will need a lot of help navigating through our highly sensuous culture that screams romance and even lust through every medium of sight and sound. The greatest support they need is someone who will gently help them steer away from romantic distractions and back to using their time and energy preparing and pursuing their life goals until the time they can pursue a relationship. Without teasing or scolding, parents should be the ones offering this kind of graceful support and guidance. How can we do that?

Strategies for parents
One of the most powerful strategies a parent can employ during the teen years is casting vision for the future. Three practical ways of doing this are:

• Helping teens view this season as a time of preparation
• Helping teens discern God's voice
• Helping teens protect their hearts and the hearts of others

Our culture seems to treat the teen years as the only time in life to have fun and be merry. Few people see this as a unique time for preparing to fulfill God's call and destiny. I've heard many parents say to their teens, "Oh, these years are special. Have as much fun as you can." When the emphasis is on all play and no preparation, teens are cheated from growing in God and learning life skills that will be a blessing in the future. In Parenting News, Windy Echols says, "¡KIt is typical for young women to want to spend time with boys, but not spend time preparing to be the wife of a man." In the same article, she laments her own lack of preparation during her teen years, "Although in my teens I was interested in homemaking skills, I was encouraged to be just a teenager. 'After all,' they would say, 'you're only young once.'"

Parents can cast a vision for the teen years as a time of preparation for pursuing God's will and practicing to hear His voice. The young man or woman who can discern God's call and has prepared to serve people is the kind of spouse for which everyone wishes. In the Bible Jesus says, " My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." John 10:27 (NIV) How wonderful to spend the teen years as a training season for hearing God's voice. With this outlook, every challenge in a teen's life could be turned into an opportunity for learning to recognize God's voice and follow His direction.

Another key aspect of these preparation years is helping teens understand the value of protecting their hearts as well as their friends' hearts. This process begins with knowing that emotions will come, but that we don't have to be driven by our feelings. Of course, in our "if it feels good do it" culture, this can be a continuous battle. Parents can be allies in these situations as they remind their teen to seek God first, for real love and wisdom that only He can give.

Author : Vivian Padilla-Chapman
Along with her husband, Gary, Vivian Padilla-Chapman has been homeschooling her two children, Daniel and Sara since 1991. Daniel just completed his 2nd year at Georgia Tech as a President's Scholar this fall and Sara just graduated high school. Vivian holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of South Florida . First published in The Mother's Heart magazine, a premium online publication for mothers with hearts in their homes. Visit www.The-Mothers-Heart.com for more information

SunFlower - Michelle/Apr 2007 - Art Day

After a Paster/Pizza lunch at the Coffee Shop of the Sheraton Hotel, We ahead for the Hong Kong Museun of Art. Today's special feature was Lin Fengmian (1900-1991). His ink paintings were atonishly charming to Connie, Michelle and bonnie.

Mr. Lin once said, "If you want to paint flowers nicely, you need to learn how to plant flowers first."

At the end, Connie bought 2 Chinese Ink Paints for her sons while bonnie bought a printed version of Lin Fengmian's lady painting.

上山下水Easter

Today was a special day that 5 precious parents with their children went for a hiking trip to Aberdeen. They were:

Iris with Cherry

Lucy with husband Ching, Elsie and Johnson

Vivien with Lok Hin and Janice

Bonnie and Connie

We started from Wan Chai Gap and took us about an hour to reach Aberdeen. It was not a tough walk at all. We took Taxi from the foothill to the pier and ahead for the floating restaurant for Yam Cha. When return, we got a good buy for a sampan ride for just HK$20 for 11 of us. The woman said, "I used to charge Guai Low 鬼佬@HK$50 or HK$200 for half an hour ride."

Today I found out a secret that Bonnie and Michelle love to have Miniture Pinscher as their pet while Janice loves 松鼠狗.

We also talked about our dreams to join the WWOOF for the whole family to work in the organic farm of Japan or New Zealand, and how to contribute to the society after we retired.