Top Ten List Of 2015

I have to be honest, I'm glad 2015 is over.  I did it.  We did it.  We made it through & I'm still here - for this I am grateful.  I don't know what will happen in 2016.   But I do know that I will make everyday matter - I will laugh louder & love harder.  Here is my top 10 list for 2015:

10) Watching old episodes of Star Wars & then watching The Force Awakens with the girls - they truly were excited about the movie
9) M1's first sleepover & realizing she really is a big girl now
8) M3's first dance recital
7) M2 & M1's first (and possibly only) duet together - Dream
6) Supporting Pepe & Selina on their Pan-Am torch relay & celebrating afterwards with the only way we know how - A Big Feast
5) My new found peace with faith, spirituality & God
4) My newest niece & nephew - twins D & A
3) All the amazing people (friends & family, new & old) in my life who have kept me focused, calm, sane, & made me feel so loved & blessed
2) My beautiful daughters
1) The Big Oh

YC

My Holidays

I played with Olivia a nd Kayla and Jessica and Suniya and Valerie and Ella.  I made a truck on a track when it was my group's turn to do the pictures.

I slept with my dad because I was sick.  And I like to stay with my mom at home.  When I stay at home I don't get kids at school sick.  Today I went to see Dr Chan.

Today is the holidays.  When it is Christmas I will celebrate with my cousins.  On the 27th I am going on vacation with my family.  There will be 24 of us going.  I am going to swim at vacation.

In January I am going to see the ear doctor at the hospital.  I can bring my favorite mommy shirt.   My mom is going with me.  I will be in the room by myself.  My mom will be sitting in the waiting room.   I like Christmas when it is with my whole family.

You should always be friends at school.  My teachers names are Ms S and Ms G.   My school's name is W******r Public School.   I can't wait until Christmas because it is about being with your family.  I am in bed with my mom doing a blog.  My mom is going to put this on our blog.  Last year I was in Ms B and Ms M's class.  I was a JK last year.  This year I am a SK.   My last year's friends were Lucas and Tristen and Dylan and Jessica and Olivia.  Last year I had 5 friends.  

M3

I Miss Old TVB Dramas

Recently I have started watching an old Chinese TVB drama series from the late 80's - ' And Yet We Lived' (當代男兒).  I must have watched it when it was first released in the late 80's but have no memory of it.  I must say I am quite enjoying it.   The actors are excellent, the story is captivating, the character development is fully there.  With these elements, it is easy to cheer or cry with the characters.  Even the supporting characters are engaging & well developed.  Such a far cry from what TVB churns out these days.

As an example, today's episode showed the development of the main characters from platonic friendship to perhaps something more.  The male lead (萬梓良) is a police officer, already has a very nice girlfriend but highly respects the female lead (陳敏兒)who is a crown prosecuter.  They worked on a number of high profile cases together - and in one of them he even saved her life from a deranged accused out for revenge.  During the time he spent with her he realizes a softer side to her tough prosecuter persona.  The catalyst is when her own younger brother gets convicted of a minor crime and is sentenced to 3 months in prison.  During this time we see her vulnerability and that she has a lot of regrets when it comes to her family, having chosen to pursue her education & career over staying & caring for a much younger brother after their parents died.   All this was played out in a mere 50 minutes, there were no big confrontational scenes, just strictly with quality acting & relevant dialogue.  They really don't make these type of TV dramas anymore!

Another aside: Even the actor, a newcomer to acting & TVB at the time, who played the younger brother (張衛健) had a pivotal scene in this episode with his sister which he delivered amazingly well.  It was during this scene he revealed how he felt all those years when his sister was away studying & establishing her career. He was young, left to the care of housekeepers, and he felt abandoned by his sister.  This short scene before he was sentenced to prison for 3 months was very telling of how he ended up the way he was - it was because of the superb writing, directing, & acting that even though the scene was short, it made me feel everyone's actions were justified.

Too many dramas these days leaves the viewer to say, 'What' & 'Why'.  Even if you have excellent actors, if the story & dialogue & the direction of the actors are sub-par, viewers are not going to 'get into' the show.  It's no wonder that there is so much TVB-bashing these days - they just don't make shows like they used to!

YC

Thoughts On Religion

Let's see....what have I been doing over the last month? Well, aside from my boring grocery shopping, menu planning, & cooking, the 3Ms are keeping us busy with their dance schedule.   Competition season is approaching & M1 & M2 have started extra choreography for their solos, duets, & trios.  And I started going to church.

M2 was invited to Sunday school by a friend this past May. I went with M2 & M3 a few times in May & June & then the program took a summer hiatus.  The program resumed in September & we've been going since then. 

During the children's Sunday school there is an English service, which by the attendance is probably geared for the 'youths'.  I have been attending this service for a couple of months.  

A wise person recently told me that she is not religious but she believes in God & believes there is power in prayer.   I didn't understand how that could be.  She explained that churches/pastors/clery preach an interpretation of God's word.  When she says she is 'not religious' she means she doesn't necessarily follow all the teachings of her church.  But she does believe in God & the power He has to influence everything around us.  She said to me that her Bible, her God, teaches her to be kind, & caring, & loving to everyone.  Be grateful & thankful.  Be tolerant & do not judge.  So easy to say, but so difficult to practice everyday.  

This wise lady also told me a true story of the Dalai Lama. He was approached at a religious conference he was a speaker at and asked (and I'm paraphrasing here): "What is the best/truest religion?".   The person was probably expecting an answer along the lines of Buddism as that is what the Dalai Lama practices.  Instead the Dalai Lama answered: ' It is the religion that brings you closest to God'.

I've always believed that religion & faith are very personal. It is journey that no one can really plan for you & sometimes even difficult to explain or talk about.  It is a journey between you & your God.  Sure, there may be family, friends, clergy, that can guide you along the way, inspire you, cheer you on; but in the end it is your own walk along the beach, your own marathon to run, your own mountain to climb.

YC

Menu For Week Oct 5

This was written over a month ago.  I am just posting it today....

Monday

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Fried Rice

Dinner - Chicken Drums & Homemade Chinese BBQ Pork 

Tuesday

Breakfast - Eggo & Yogurt

Lunch - McCain's Pizza

Dinner - Steamed Fish & Chinese Ribs

Wednesday

Breakfast - Croissants

Lunch - Ham & Cheese Sandwich

Dinner - Steamed Pork, Squash, Broccoli & Tofu Blocks

Thursday

Breakfast - Egg, Ham & Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches

Lunch - Instant Noodles

Dinner - Frozen Lasagna, Garlic Bread & Cesear Salad

Friday

Breakfast -

Lunch -

Dinner -

After 4 weeks of this exercise I realize that I'm quite a boring shopper & eater.  Our shopping lists & menus look pretty much the same every week.  So I think it's time to move on to my next project...

YC

Shopping List & Menu For Week Of Sep 28

Shopping List

Grapes

Avocado

Cantaloupe

Apples

Oranges

Bananas

Broccoli

Caesar Salad

Eggs

Cheese

Ham
6 Chicken Drums
Pork Ribs
1 whole Fresh Fish

Monday

Breakfast- Egg, Avocado & Cheese wrap

Lunch - pizza (My Little Pizzeria)

Dinner - Leftover Chinese BBQ

Tuesday

Breakfast - Fresh bread

Lunch - McCain's pizza

Snack - Pasta salad

Dinner - Chinese ribs & broccoli

Wednesday

Breakfast - Ham & egg wraps

Lunch - Chicken noodle soup

Snack - Pasta salad

Dinner - Steam chicken & fish

Thursday

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Fried rice

Dinner - Spaghetti & meatballs 

Friday 

Breakfast - Sausages & biscuits

Lunch - Lasagna

Dinner - Chinese sausage (lap cheung), Steamed pork & eggs

So How Would You Have Responded?

Yesterday M2's friend's mom WHATSAPP'd me a link and said 'We plan to skip school tomorrow'.  The link was for a parent's group that organizes protests & rallies against the new Health Education curriculum (sex-ed).  The group called for parents to keep their children at home from school for one day to protest against the new curriculum. Then she followed up inviting M2 over to her house if we were planning to keep our kids home too.  Another mom who was in this chat group chimed in and said she was thinking about keeping her daughter home too and said she was 'wondering how other parents think of this protest'.

Honestly, I don't have a strong opinion regarding the new Health curriculum - either for or against it.  Perhaps I am naive?  I feel that the curriculum is an outline & I believe the teachers will teach according to the cues given by the students.  At least this is what I've been told by the teachers I have asked to gain clarification on this matter.  I have also had discussions with my two older children about this & I trust that if something discussed in class is strange, confusing, or they just want to talk more about it, I will be the first person they come to.  We frequently talk about all aspects of school - lessons, teachers, friends, etc... Education these days do not stop at the end of a school day.  I believe education is a partnership between both the school, teacher, home & the community.  I really don't see the point, or effectiveness, of keeping your child at home to protest.   Would it not be more beneficial to speak with the teacher to discuss how & what exactly parts of the curriculum is to be covered in class?

So how did I respond to the other parent?  Of course I did what I usually do when I am uncomfortable sharing my views with acquaintances - I just ignore and do not respond at all.