Jingle Bells...

9 more days into December! And then it's Christmas time again... how fast time flies... This year the Youth Ministry isn't going to hold its own Christmas celebration as most of us in the committee are busy being involved in our church's Chrismas Service. Unlike previous years where I was always singing or acting or being the secretary, this year I "luckily" get the role to handle multimedia with one of the senior. With my limited knowledge on this field, I have to communicate a lot with the senior and also trying to find out more from the net (@_@). It's not gonna be easy, but it's always interesting to face a new challenge (^__^). We plan to start the cabling the night of Dec 23 after the night service, hopefully it will be done on Dec 24 evening, but we have to be in church on Christmas Day at 7am in the morning as the service starts at 9:30am. I'm thinking of getting aroom in ahotel nearby as there is no way I'm going home late & leave very early, would be too troublesome.

And I just found these pics last week! It's from last year's Youth Ministry Christmas, it was awesome! The theme was "White Christmas in Japan", we decorated our church with white cloth, paper lanterns & twigs... it was great. But the main attraction was the drama... we made a set of Japanese house on the stage, and we even made trailers that we aired every week in Sunday service to promote the program! If you see the pics, I played the role of an evil stepmother, Lady Maruka. Somehow, I always got this kinda role since I was in Sunday School hahaha Do I look that evil?

I bought the pink yukata for myself, the others were borrowed. The guys were wearing my father's yukata & happi. I had to ask my mom to search his entire closet to find those. The guy playing my husband wore the white/blue yukata while the guy playing the maid wore happi. The make up artist was late to so we girls had to do the make up on our own. They guys were hopeless, they did the make up on the last minute. Too bad I can't find better pics that could show the entire decoration and part of the drama.

It was a great celebration. We got to do something different & our pastor was also satisfied with the drama. The message that we were trying to show in the drama was FORGIVENESS. Oh, I also made a blunder. A few seconds before we enter the stage for the 1st scene, the soundman informed us that the PC that has our music score & naration was crashed, so the musicians had to do it live including the naration. The moment we entered the stage, my mind went blank! I just sat there and looked at the other player and said nothing. My mind was completely blank! hahahaha There was supposed some music playing and at a certain drum rolls I had to start my line. Hearing that the recording was crashed and the musicians were playing a totally different tune, I was clueless. I was saved by my "daughter", she took one good look at me and she knew I was lost, so she started with my line. As soon as I heard her, the scenario was back in my head and there was no more mistake until the drama ended v(^0^)v

GIVE THANKS

October 29 was my dad's 69th birthday. The day before, he got his 8th DAN in Karate and we were very happy for him. In the morning, I left to work as usual, said take care to my parents as they were getting ready to take my mom to the hospital for a check up.

I was having a quick lunch around 2:00PM when I saw a missed call in my mobile. It was from my mom. So I returned the call and she informed me in a very calm manner: "The doctor told us to stop coming. I should just stay at home and to enjoy my time. The cancer already spread everywhere and there's nothing that the doctor can do about it." I just said: " Oh... ok then. How are you feeling now? Ok? I'll se you at home later." I finished my lunch and quickly returned to the office. I didn't cry.

Half an hour later my aunt called and said: "Hey, your mom just called me. Be strong for your parents! I know you can do it." That's when everything came crushing down on me. I ran and cried in the bathroom. I got back to my desk 5 minutes later after washing my face clean, there were a couple of bankers in the office and I didn't want to keep them wondering what's happened to me. 15 minutes later my boss returned to the office after a meeting, he noticed that my eyes were all red and called me into his office. He asked me what's going on, that I should be honest with him. I broke down again when I told him the news. He told me to go home to be with my parents.

While driving home I called K Atin & K El, cried all the way. When I got home my dad wasn't around, only my mom & my aunt. We tried to talk calmly but tears kept falling down uncontrollably. She told me: "I have talked to your brother. I told him to finish his college and learn to stand on his two feet. Your father is strong, I know. You are strong, I know you can handle this well too. But your brother has always been depended on me. I want you to take good care of him when I'm gone. Look after him in my place, teach him to be independent." I was speechless, i just nodded.

Around 6:00PM my uncle & his family came. We held a small service. We sang together while Krissy & I took turns playing the guitar. My uncle preached the Word of God. And we prayed. Not for her recovery, but for us to keep our faith until the end. We made a promise that we could cry as much as we wanted only that day. But the next day we have to stand strong again and be thankful that God has given us this far to be together as family. We still don't know when her time is up, it could take days, weeks, months, even years. But with each passing time, we want to give thanks to God because HE is our source of strength & joy.

Ever since that day, everyday when I get home I always have to take a look at her. Most of the time she would be in pain. I could only give her soothing words and sometimes sat by her bedside. We didn't cry as much but instead we tried to be happy and cherish each moment spent together. Amazingly, it felt great. When you really realize that you don't have much time left, and start to consider each second as a treasure... You will be able to do what you have never had courage to, to say what you've always meant to say, and to live life to the fullest as if there's no tomorrow.

In the end... GIVE THANKS! That you're still breathing when you read this post... (^___^)