Tending a garden

Heart-shaped leaves

I am back in Kuching after spending several days in SA for Chinese New Year this year. This year's CNY was similar to past years, not as exciting as CNY used to be when I was younger but family stayed a strong bond for the cause of CNY. The one very different thing this year was how I would hear people saying "this is your last year of getting an ang pao! ;)" Coming back to Kuching, we went to several old church friends' homes and I was impressed by each of their well-tended gardens. They are all so knowledgeable in pruning, watering, giving fertilisers, and growing their plants--fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. Once I walked into their house compound, I could feel the joy and beauty of a garden that has been taken care of, inspiring me to learn to grow a garden too! Here are some photos I took of our little balcony garden, using my Canon dslr which had been sleeping for a while since I have just been using my phone camera.

Mom planted paddy!

Vegetable which we have harvested and eaten

A life well lived

News of deaths always jolt us awake from our everyday routine. Why do we always wait till a thunder sound to jolt us awake when we should be living alert, being watchful for the day Christ returns? Billy Graham, a name that no doubt will evoke a picture of "a good and faithful servant" of God. A role model for us living Christians, to press on towards the goal, keeping our eyes on Christ.
A young adult cell group brother whom I've only met once briefly. He was a doctor, only two years older than I am. I do not know much about him except that he was friendly and made a good impression even though I've only seen him once at a cell group event, and his facebook post about God. We do not understand why God called him home so early, and in such a tragic car accident too, but he did live a good life--for God and loving people.
May we live each day with a worshipful attitude, letting God be the centre of my life, so that our days will be counted worthwhile.

February on Lake Lucerne

It was sunny (this was during winter and in a week of gloomy weather), breathtaking, and unforgettable.

Lake Lucerne is located in central Switzerland, just like how this vignette of our boat ride on the lake is in the centre of our first day of seeing Switzerland, and the only spot of sunshine in that day.

The sun broke out around noon time after we had almost given up hope to see the beautiful mountains in Switzerland during our short trip there in February to visit Rebekka and her family. We rejoiced and welcomed the sunshine, recognising that it was God's favour to his children. It made the journey even more delightful.

Words and pictures do not suffice to describe how beautiful the scenery was. Super grateful for the experience.

As the year draws to a close, this is still the lesson that I need to learn: to always remember and be thankful in life...

Pockets of light and winter trees

I miss the gloomy days of European winter. Perhaps it is the over-abundance of sunlight in Malaysia that has given me a reverse culture shock or the fact that the cheery sunny days here do not match the emotional climate in my head. Whatever it is, I find myself missing scenes like these from our family trip to Paris this past February.

Ice cream and sunset

I found a new Sabah-made ice cream made with local ingredients while browsing food blogs by Sabahans a few days ago so we decided to go try it. Coincidentally, this small Sabah Froz Ice Creamery is located at the beautiful Sutera Harbour Marina Jetty. After dad finished his work for the day and after we did some errands in town, the three of us went there for ice cream and sunset.

It is such a blessing to be able to enjoy leisurely evenings like this at home in KK with my family and to enjoy the splendid sunset view that He has painted the sky with. And of course, being our family, we took some photos too.