Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Colossians

Here's a song written last week on Colossians 1 entitled "By Him and For Him"

V1
In Jesus we have redemption
Our sins are forgiven
He is the image of GOD
First born of all creations

Chorus:
For by Him all things were created
Both in heaven and on earth
Visible and invisible
By Him and for Him

V2
Jesus is before all things
And in Him all things hold together
Reconciling us through His death
To present us complete in Him.


*************************************************
Came up with the following on CHRIST

C omplete in Christ
H oly saints sharing in the inheritance
R edeemed and sins forgiven
I ncreasing in the spiritual knowledge of GOD
S trengthened with all power
T o walk worth of the LORD

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Japan Jan 2012




Thank GOD for the opportunity to visit Japan. It's Eliza and my first visit to Japan. Pete has been to Japan on business trip and Renfred on a mission trip. Thanks to bro Louis, we had very good advice and help to plan the itinerary




Baked pineapple and cranberry pineapple tarts for Louis and family for CNY. Hope they like them.




Peter and myself took ANA and our two children, SIA. BTW, all the pictures in this blog are taken on my new iphone 4S. There are more pictures taken by Peter and Eliza on their own cameras. We spent 3 days in Tokyo but I did not take any pictures :( Louis and Chris met us upon arrive at our hotel and brought us to eat the best Tempura Rice that I had ever tasted:) We visited Shinjuku and Harajuku in Tokyo, known for its fashion and shopping




Eliza trying out a bike in Karuizawa. This is the place where the family had skiing lesson and spent the whole day skiing (except the mama, who after falling for a couple of times gave up :( so Peter sent me to the Premium outlets nearby to shop :) The second picture show the mountain where we skied





The senery here is breathtaking. Sunset at Karuizawa



The Premium Shopping Outlets.




Godiva cafe. The next picture shows where we had our dinner on the second night at Kariuzawa; a small cafe selling delicious Chicken Karaage (we had two aliens looking down at us while we were having our dinner)






We stopped for lunch along the highway to Mt Fuji. These pictures were taken at the very nice and clean outlet where we had our Ramen and Chicken Curry Rice. The 2nd picture shows the raw wasabi which we eat with our sushi.





Not 2 but 3 Robots? :)





We arrived into Mt Fuji, south-west of Tokyo, in the evening. After checking into the 5-star hotel (you will understand why I said 5-star when you see the view later), we drove out for dinner. We came to this huge place where they were selling second-hand stuff. They've got branded bags, clothes, vintage cameras, musical instruments, etc... Kool ;)





We have had the the opportunity to experience Onsen - Japanese hot spring at this hotel in Mt Fuji. The best part was, the 2 Onsens; female and male were empty! So Eliza and myself enjoyed the hot spring all to ourselves :). In fact, at the next stop, we also had the whole onsen to ourselves. GOD is Good :) BTW, it is not because of the Onsen that Eliza looked like this (she's just having a fun time), I used this picture because she was wearing the outfit after visiting the Onsen.





Da Da .... look at the 5 Million $ view!! This was taken from our hotel room and only with an iphone. Imagine you go to bed and wake up with this magnificent view! While enjoying this view, I am reminded of the Creator who created this plus the universe and all that is in it. How Great is our GOD who created the heavens and the earth!






Breakfast at the Mt Fuji hotel cafe. After we checked out, we headed off for Hakone. Along the way we stopped by the train station and bank to change more local currency.





We also detoured a bit to see the town. Someone told us to visit this oldest hotel which is now a tourist site. We had to drive into the woods to see it.

This is a traditional Japanese hotel in Hakone. They do not have private bathrooms, only Onsen (public bath) and you have to make your own beds and sleep on Tatami floorings. A tatami is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core with a covering of woven soft rush (igusa) straw. When we first entered the rooms, we could not find the beds until Renfred sound the "secret" compartment where they placed the mattresses and blankets :)





This was the interesting part of our travel - the packing of new and old stuff (those bought during the first few days and used clothes to be put aside.) Thanks to our "commander" Peter, who is a seasoned traveller due to his business trips and also the many travels we had as a family, he was able to instruct us what to do so that we only open up one or two luggage bags for the last lag of our trip and organize the rest of the stuff into the other luggage bags under locked and key. I just love to travel with him as he organizes everything - the air tickets, itinerary, packing, etc. and I just enjoy :)




Kawaguchiko lake. Isn't it beautiful?





We had to return the car somewhere in Yokohama Chinatown so we booked a hotel near this place. Motomachi shopping area (something like our Orchard Road) is next to it. These two pictures were taken along Motomachi shopping are. The things here are very nice but also very expensive.



Found these food seasoning in one of the Muji stores. One of the shop owners in Karuizawa said he loves to eat Singapore's Chicken Rice and Muji stores exactly sellls the seasoning and Tandoori seasoning too. I was asked to try their mandarin oranges as they are supposed to be very sweet during this period of the year so I bought a few. Fruits are very expensive in Japan. How blessed we are to enjoy reasonably priced fruits and all sorts too in Singapore :)





Eliza, out of her own initiative, wanted to draw something for uncle Louis and aunty Chris for their kind hospitality and the many ways they have been a blessing to us during this trip. So she worked on her art piece for a few days before our arrival into Disney Sea World, which was our last stop before we headed for home. We were able to post her artwork through the hotel there. Here you see Eliza diligently focusing on her work and Peter relaxing (actually tired from all the walking and shopping) with some Japanese KFC





Japan Disney Sea World! Surprisingly, the meals here are quite reasonable, compared to other Disney theme parks in the world. For example, a burger lunch set with burger, fries and a drink costs Y370 which is quite reasonable comparing the food prices in any normal food joint in Japan. But I would not say the same for their popcorns and accessories that come with them





Picture 1 shows Peter patiently queuing for one of the shows at Disney Sea Word. Unfortunately it was in Japanese :( so we could only use our sanctified imagination while other audience laughed and had a fun time





Our Princess Eliza at the Mermaid kingdom and riding on an Abrabian camel.





Queuing up for Journey to the Centre of the earth. One hour wait but only about 10mins of ride



Eliza and Renfred trying out the different outfits and accessories at the shops. I had fun taking pictures for them :)



It was a memorable trip as a family, learning to accept and accommodate each other, enoying GOD's creation; being reminded of Who is the GOD I serve, being thankful for such blessings from Him. Of course, not forgetting the breadwinner of the family who worked hard to provide such trips for the family. With the children now grown up, we do not not when we will be able to travel as a family so we are thankful we had this trip :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

THANKSGIVING for 2011

I have not been very diligent in updating my blog lately ;( but I will not end the year 2011 without this last blog of thanksgiving for 2011 :)


As far as I can remember (because there are so many that I have forgotten ;)) -

* Thank GOD for salvation in CHRIST JESUS. Without Him and His precious gift of eternal life, I don't think there will be this blog to testify of His goodness :)


* Thank GOD for good health and strength for my whole family - am always very thankful that He has spared us from major illnesses - small ones are just part and parcel of life on earth.

* Thank GOD for seeing Renfred through his 2 years of army life. He completed his term early December 2011. We are thankful he has quite an enjoyable time and "survived" the 2 years :)


* Thank GOD for seeing Eliza through her "A" levels - GOD know how many times it pained my heart and have cried looking at how my dear daughter underwent the stressed she had to bear. By His abundant grace, she completed her art projects and exams :)


* Thank GOD for blessing Peter with a job after 3 months of break from work. He left his previous job without one but had a good time of catching up with his reading of the Epistle of Romans, playing golf quite frequently, waking up late in the mornings and having me to serve him at home with 5 meals a day ;)


* Thank GOD for His faithfulness to us, His provision for our family needs and more, His blessings of friends and loved ones, for opportunities to serve Him in small areas, for opportunities to study his Word, and the list goes on.... We can never, never thank Him enough :)

Like to end this thanksgiving blog with Colossians 3:12-17, which I have asked the LORD to give and I think it is very apt for everyone who is in CHRIST JESUS :


"Therefore, as GOD's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.


Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you.


And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.


Let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.


And be thankful.


Let the word of CHRIST dwell in you richly as you teach, admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to GOD.


And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the Father through Him."