Tag Archives: children

Going to two schools daily

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Met best friend for a dinner so that I can hand her the Christmas gifts I have prepared for her 2 kids and then we chatted how the school hunting go recently for her. My friend expresses how exhausting the process is and how many schools have replied that her son is either on waiting list or not accepted. She is not desperate but just tired from the whole thing is being set up…her son is only looking for kindergarten and already facing so much pressure and frustration. All because there are too many applications and schools must create a rather strict filtering system to get the best of whom are applying. I asked her if we are supposed to have enough space at schools for all these kids, right? And she told me something quite stunning that theoretically, the answer is yes, but so many parents now enroll their kids for 2 schools – 1 morning and 1 afternoon, which result in inadequate seats for all the children! I exclaimed WHY? Why are they sending their kids to basically doing the same thing twice? She said the parents want the kids to be better! I guess they really take the saying practice makes perfect quite literally and experimenting the case with their very own children. It’s extremely pathetic that parents bring their children to go to 2 schools, and fill up the rest of the time with countless ‘activities’ and lessons and tutorial. I thank God that I was born so many years ago that I don’t have to go through what the babies are seeing. It’s always a debate how the Asian parents treat their children, they have high hope they go to good school which pretty much would shape their future approaching the good living as income tend to be higher if you graduate from renowned schools. Is that out of selfish initiative that these parents do or that really stem from pure love for the goodness of the children’s sake? I really do not understand. But when I think of our heavenly Father God, I don’t think he would send me to 2 schools but just making sure I am happy, healthy!?

Quote of the Day
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
1 John 5:2
I pray to God that we will listen to His teachings and make things simple.

Postscript Quote 
A watched child never learns.
Robert Brault

The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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I went to friend’s new book launch at Dymock’s last night because he is my favorite friend and mentor at the church, and his book is gonna be funny coz he is Nury!  Nury Vittachi‘s new book The Curious Diary of Mr Jam is out! And all the money (author’s income AND publisher’s income) goes to buy life-saving rice meals for a group of malnourished kids in the Philippines. They’re great kids, but their families are penniless. Nury has chosen to dedicate all the income generated to the group, ICM who organized my mission trip to the Philippines earlier in May. I feel so connected to this book because of the author, the intention and some of the characters in the book are actually people I know! How often do you read a book where the characters are real and you know them in person? I love Nury for his abundant love for kids and he himself has adopted already 3 Chinese kids. Nury and Mary are the most amazing parents and they treat all children as their very own children. My sincerest blessings to the Vitacchi family and pray their love spreads to every corners of the world.

Quote of the Day
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1
I pray to God that we will bring love to the children of the world as they are also our children.

Postscript Quote 
Children see magic because they look for it. 
Christopher Moore

Same birthday – celebrate!

By Posted in after thought, charity, Children, donation, social-economic, Uncategorized Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Colleague told me she has chosen to adopt a child to sponsor via World Vision earlier and she is happy about her decision as this is her very first regular sponsor for needy children. This is like a month ago, and then she updated me further telling me that she has gotten in touch by World Vision being allocated a little girl from Africa, and what stunned her is that this little girl has the same birthday as she does, and she asked me would the organizer do that on purpose. As far as I know World Vision should not be doing that as they have millions children and sponsors to match and birthday should not be their criteria at all. And she said this is really amazing, and supplemented that she actually did not recall she provided her birth date as an information to apply for the sponsorship. Whooaa! I was amazed and told her that this is the work of God. Some people might think this is coincidence, but to me I believe God has always prepared things to go in the way we never expect. I truly believe God has a plan for my colleague that every time when my colleague celebrates her birthday, she would remember to celebrate the birthday of her little girl she sponsors in the other side of the world. This is a matching done by God. My colleague said this is actually the best birthday present she has ever get and tomorrow is her birthday. Cinda – happy birthday! May your warm compassionate heart be the light to the needy ones in the world!

Quote of the Day
What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
Job 22:28
I pray to God that we would all decide to do good things for God and He will shine our ways through supporting us.

Postscript Quote 
Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven
Henry Ward Beecher, reverand and social activist

Legitimate rape

By Posted in after thought, politics Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
I was on the treadmill running last night when I was watching the news on TV hearing Todd Akin, the Republican Senate candidate, being interviewed about his opposition to abortion whether women being raped could be given the choice to abortion. His remarks stunned me as he said “Well you know, people always want to try to make that as one of those things, well how do you, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question. First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.” I was wondering what does he mean by ‘legitimate rape’ and does he know what he is talking about? His face expressed all the confidence he has about the scientific fact he was quoting. And I realized it was actually a recording of his interview 2 days ago. Today he came out and apologized for what he said as his Republican Party was facing a lot of funds cut and attack. Abortion has always been a hot topic for debate when it comes to election and I actually ask myself what is Bible’s stance on this subject? I don’t think Bible or God would be ‘pro-abortion’ at all as all lives created by God should be respected, rejoiced and that is also why when God resurrects, it brings us huge hope. But I also do believe God wants us to make intelligent judgement and make prudent decision.
Quote of the Day
Murder is forbidden.
Genesis 9:5
I pray to God that we all could be more careful about the words we used and thoughts we expressed so that we would not hurt other people.

Postscript Quote 
Abortion and racism are both symptoms of a fundamental human error. The error is thinking that when someone stands in the way of our wants, we can justify getting that person out of our lives. Abortion and racism stem from the same poisonous root, selfishness.
Alveda King

What to give your child for their birthday

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Many parents are helping their kids who graduated this summer to find the best job they could and there is this HK mom who got a loan of HK$250,000 to send her only son for facial augmentation and slimming to pave way for the ideal job. She was being interviewed and her comments was that how the applicant looks like ranks highly in their hiring criteria – if you look good, everything becomes easier! I do agree that external appearance takes up a portion of the total score of a candidate but that is not all. I engage in the process of hiring for many years at different workplace and each and every time what attracts or impresses me from an applicant is his/her attitude, not so much if they are pretty or handsome, if they are, then it’s a plus but it’s not ruling at all. I find it disheartening that parents in Hong Kong, quite similar to Korea, now celebrate their children’s birthday by giving them a chance to ‘enhance’ their face or body. The values are simply distorted and we should love our body whom God has created and sent us – if we are not proud of ourselves, than who would and why should they appreciate us?

Quote of the Day
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I pray to God that we don’t just look at the external carnal things, but focus more on the inner being.

Postscript Quote 
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Confucius

Papinee

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Last night our studio friend held an opening cocktail for his brand’s Papinee popup store at the local mall Elements. He designs toys to dedicate his effort to create something for the children. He started out small just designing a few characters mainly deers and owls using exceptional hand-made fabrics and stitching. But at time evolves, his designs got really well loved and his coverage expands. His ultimate goal and mission is just to bring children hope and encouragement – he hopes kids could explore life and learn and love. Because of the brand’s genuine character I see the value of staying child-like in us, in how to be a kid when you are actually an adult. Our Bible has clearly pointed this out, about how important it is to be child-like. And I know this is why a lot of my friends have their eyes on children and they choose to teach them voluntarily or choose that to be their life-time career as they want to be surrounded with the purest hearts and hope to help them grow up without losing their genuine soul.
Quote of the Day
People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the littlechildren come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18: 15-17
I pray to God that I will remember to keep the child-like nature in us and not losing it in our secular life.

Postscript Quote 
Woman understands children better than man does, but man is more childlike than woman.
Friedrich Nietzsche 

Summer job

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Summer time  obviously has begun, and I was listening to a radio station which focuses on entrepreneurial subjects and it was talking about how important it is for parents to insist on sending their children for summer job and not spoiling them to just have some easy time out. It does not matter if it’s working for your friend’s small trading company, uncle’s cafe or just being receptionist for cousin’s graphic house. The spirit is the young ones even only working on reorganizing the database to answering phone calls, they would get to feel how the real world operates and what people are like out there. It’s not so much about getting practical knowledge from a law firm or architect company, it’s the essence of making them work for real at a place they have never been and with people they don’t really know. This will prep them mentally to physically sticking with discipline. Discipline is a Greek translated word meaning “saving the mind or to be saved”. Discipline is one of the most difficult thing to sustain throughout of lives, and learning to lean on God requires discipline too. A disciplined life is not easy but at the end, one will benefit and the positive outcome is not something one can gain suddenly. It’s much easier to maintain a right attitude than to regain it once it’s lost.
Quote of the Day
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1
I pray to God that I will upkeep my disciplined mind to stick to His guidance and will.

Postscript Quote 
“The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.”
David Foster Wallace

Who wants more than 2 parents?

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California Senator Mark Leno has just pushed the legalization of the law that a child could have more than 2 parents. I am not sure what to say but I have to admit that there were times when I was really young when I saw my classmates’ mom who were pretty, friendly and liberal I really seriously envy them to death. But it didn’t take too long for me to realize I just have to live with what I have been given and you don’t have a chance to choose family, unlike your friends. And of course I love my family more than I could now then before as I grow older and older. Thus I can’t imagine why people what to have a few moms and dads. It’s mentioned that “surrogate births, same-sex parenthood and assisted reproduction are changing society by creating new possibilities for nontraditional households and relationships.” It’s unnatural and quite different from what God has planned for us I guess? I feel that we have overdone the way we live our lives through law and technology. We thought we are wise and considerate, but have we been just merely smart. Law makers definitely need to be given more wisdom to think things through.
Quote of the Day
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
2 Timothy 3:1-3
I pray to God that we don’t abuse our intelligence and find ways to justify ourselves to find easy way out.

Postscript Quote 
Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.
John Wilmot

Delivering Happiness

By Posted in after thought, books, business Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
I have just picked up a new book called Delivering Happiness and I always read who the book is dedicated to, and it’s interesting to see that it says “This book is dedicated to Ava Zech and all of the other aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders of tomorrow. Happy eleventh birthday, Ava!” It’s a business book about Zappos, one of the most popular eCommerce site in the States. Who could Ava be and it does not sound like the author’s wife or family at all!? And I googled it and found out that Ava is an 11 year old 16th grade school kid who developed an idea for an organic dog tattoo product after noticing her English Labrador, Tank, was losing the black on the tip of his nose. Her dad did some research, and the duo began testing products on their dog. Zech’s advice to fellow entrepreneurs: “Really keep going at what you believe in and it can become possible. Start small and go big.” It’s amazing how this young girl came about into inspiring some other adults and even to the extent of moving a US$1 billion business. Children has always been one of the most admired people in our Bible, why? Because they are pure and simple at hearts. I am not good at dealing with children at all, and I am going to a mission trip working with small kids and that worry me a bit, coz most of the time, I feel that they drive me crazy. But God has something special for each one of us, the more you fear something, the more you would see that happening because He wants you to overcome those – I hope I would be fine with the kids in the coming trip!
Daily Quote
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:3-4
I pray to God that I don’t worry but receive His blessings and grace and spread those to the needy ones.

Postscript Quote 
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.
Stacia Tauscher 

cause to draw

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Over the Easter break long weekend, I suddenly got inspired to draw further, I dug out all my painting tools, colors and paper and started to draw. Deep down I have always like Pattern Design, something I could not pursue during my college years and suddenly there is this thrust of interest back in my heart again (hope it’s not short-lived). I hope I could combine my design together with the daily quote and publish a book 2 as the sequel to the edition 1. I don’t know if I could make it in time in 2012, but something I saw tells me as long as I believe, I could do it. 3hundredand65 is a blog site which features a graphic novel for 2012′s 365 days – with the aim of helping the Teenage Cancer Trust. Each day a writer and artist will feature their work, and in the year end – the total work will be printed! I find this plot amazing and creative – for such a good cause, God has shown to us that there are many gifted and generous souls. Keep a hopeful and thankful heart.
Daily Quote
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
1 Corinthians 12:4

I pray to God that He will keep my curious heart burning with the desire to serve him and use my gifts abundantly.

Postscript Quote 
Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submitted to be painted. Keep fulfilling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!) asking forgiveness for each failure and then leaving it alone.
You are in the right way. Walk – don’t keep on looking at it.
C. S. Lewis