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.