Roses Of Life - Howard Goodman

Dreams

I've dreamed many dreams that never came true,

I've seen them vanish at dawn.

But I've realized enough of my dreams, thank God,

To make me want to dream on.

Prayers

I've prayed many prayers , when no answer came,

Though i waited so patient and long,

But answers came to enough of my prayers,

To make me keep praying on.

Trust
I've trusted many a friend who failed,

And left me to weep alone,

But I've found enough of my friends,

to be true.

To make keep trusting on.

Generosity

I've sown many seeds that fell by the way,

For the birds to feed upon.

But I've held enough sheaves in my hands

To make me keep sowing on.

Life

I've drained the cup pf disappoint and pain,

And gone many days without a song,

But I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of life,

To make me want to live on.

Another day of life

(Life is beautiful, Life is love)

Tomorrow smile at someone
That you've never seen before.
Take time to think of others that
You feel compassion for.

Tomorrow tell somebody
How they brighten up your day.
Let random acts of kindness
Put your feelings on display.

Tomorrow hug your children
Somewhat tighter than before.
Be sure to think of all the things
You can be thankful for.

Pat your dog a little longer.
Hug and kiss your husband/wife.
Thank God for granting you
Another day of life.

Gratitude December

2010 is finally closing its chapter. And seriously this whole year breezed us by.

I am glad for what was attempted this whole year. Was a fun-filled exciting, loads of ups and downs year.

And since the year is coming to an end, this entry marks for all the events, situations or people i am grateful for in my life.

December is going to be my gratitude month. Each entry will mark my gratititude.Thankful and blessed for the year that has been and grateful for the new year which is coming our way. Wonder what wonderful surprises is in store for each and everyone of us out there.

“What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it-would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.” — Ralph Marston

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes,

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,

Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.
Author Unknown

A Creed To Live By

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.

Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.

By living your life one day at a time,you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.

Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.

It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;

and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;

to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,

but also where you're going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Can You Sleep While The Wind Blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.
He constantly advertised for hired hands.
Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic.
They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.
Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters.
He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up!
A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.
Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.
To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins.
The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.
The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away.
The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the middle of storms.

GOD BLESS US ALL!

Priceless Moments Part 1

When your jaws and cheeks ache from too much laughing.
Realizing you can do something you didn't know you could.
An unexpected compliment from an unlikely someone.

When that meeting or event you didn’t want to attend suddenly gets canceled at the last minute.
The good pain of stretching your legs after sitting down for a long time.
Seeing a room lit up by the soft glow of Christmas lights.

Receiving a surprise hug from behind by someone you were looking forward to seeing.
Hitting all green lights while driving when you are in a rush.
Randomly catching a glimpse of your reflection in a window or mirror and liking what you see.

The feeling you get once you have decided to make a change in your life, and have actually made decent progress in doing so.
Walking around your house and admiring your work right after you finish cleaning it up.
When a stranger tells you you're pretty.

Having heart-to-heart talks with your mother.
The moment when you crawl into bed after a long, tiring day.
Cracking up so much while you're trying to tell a funny story that you can't even speak, and everyone else can't help but laugh along with you even though they haven't got a clue what you're laughing about.

Seeing someone smile in their sleep.
Hearing someone sing cheerfully to themselves.
Hearing a song that seems to be written about exactly what's going on in your life right now.

Spending two minutes on hair and makeup that looks like it took you hours.
When you receive more than you expected. Like money, food, love, etc.
Mothers who know just the right thing to say.

When the thing you need to buy just happens to be on sale.
Seeing the whole arch of a huge rainbow.
When a child laughs.

Knowing deep down that you made a difference in someone's life.
A big hug from a good friend.
Thinking about someone and then seeing them randomly.

Accidentally overhearing someone say nice things about you.
That weightless feeling you get after a good cry and knowing you'll be ok.
Checking someone out and almost getting busted, but not getting busted.

Waking up to the smell of a home cooked meal. You were still asleep, but someone special knew you’d be hungry soon.
When a little kid or baby let's out a big adult-sounding burp by accident.
Watching a dog or cat chase it's tail.

Getting something cool (and unexpected) for free.
When you finally yawn after an airplane flight and your ears pop back to normal.
When someone comes back and thanks you because they truly loved something you encouraged them to do.

The contagious effect of other people laughing hysterically.
When you accidentally say something that rhymes.
Friendly neighbors who wave to you when you drive by.

Turning the page of a calendar and seeing a month full of things you have been looking forward to.

The warm coziness of your own bed after returning home from a long trip.

The best things always comes in small packages.

What A Perfect Monday

Think About It

Just Random Thoughts

Blackberries & I-Phones

As you all know by now, I take the train to work everyday.
As usual, i happen to stand at my li'l corner and everybody else is in their own world.

Casually this 2 guys walk in. They are not Malaysian from the way they speak. And you know if its Arabic. From what i concluded, they might be guys from Myanmar or Bangladeshis or Nepalis, you know people from that region. What shocked me was one was using a Blackberry and the other an I-Phone.

Every Tom, Dick, Harry, Susan, Mary and Jane is having either one of the 2 mentioned.

Its so easy to lure the human mind when a new product is launched. Well, the proof of it happens to be the Blackberry and I-Phone.

The question arises.: Do we buy it just to fit into the crowd or is it a necessity?

This is definitely my all time fav for 2010

A li'l reminder what we are worth. Often we forget ! ! !

My Little Maegan Turns 1

From a little baby to a little princess. How fast they grow.... :)

The havoc causing duo (Master mind is on the right)

My little Roger Rabbit

Encouraging Words

*When you feel like giving up,

remember why you held on for so long in the first place*

*When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on*

*Fall seven times, stand up eight*

*If you're going through hell, keep going*

*I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.

Some come from ahead and some come from behind.

But I've bought a big bat.

I'm all ready you see.

Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me*

*A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure*

*You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser.

You are what you make yourself be*

*Every one of us has in him a continent of undiscovered character.

Blessed is he who acts the Columbus to his own soul*

*If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise*

*Wherever you go, go with all your heart*

*Forget about all the reasons why something may not work.

You only need to find one good reason why it will*

An Everyday Survival Kit

This brings a whole new meaning to these items.:

- Toothpick
- Rubber band
- Band-Aid
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Chewing gum
- Mint
- Candy Kiss
- Tea Bag

Here's why:

Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out

Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's.
Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay.
Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.
Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint to your Creator.
Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of God's blessings.



Have a sun shiny day with loads of smiles

22-September-2000

10 years passed really fast, i have to say. In a blink of an eye, its already 10 years. Alot has happened. Alot of tears, alot of quarrels, alot of good times, alot of being there for each other. Three of us are doing fine. We talk alot about you.
I am sure the three of us have our secret conversations with you without us realizing or mentioning it to each other.

When you lose someone, you don't lose them completely. The memory is there to remind us what a wonderful person you have been and will always be.
It was really hard at first. But life goes on.

There an addition to the family as well. Sometimes i think to myself, when they look at your picture, it seems like they are having this silent conversation with you. They greet you when they first step in the house. They bid you goodbye when they are leaving the house.

I am sure you know what is happening in each of our lives right now. And i do know, you are watching us from above.

God Saw You Getting Tired
God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,and whispered, "come to me."
You didn't deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.

The Broken Chain
Little did we know that very early morning that God was going to call your name,
In life we loved you dearly;in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

Rest In Peace, Daddy. Until we meet again.

A Typical Monday To Friday

My fav quotes from Eat Pray & Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The much talked about movie is out. Eat, Pray & Love. I love Julia Roberts but I would just be contended in reading the book.
I think this is a must read by every girl.

"There’s a crack (or cracks) in everyone…that’s how the light of God gets in."

"When I get lonely these days, I think: So BE lonely, Liz. Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience. But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilled yearnings."

"Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be."

"This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something."

"In desperate love, we always invent the characters of our partners, demanding they be what we need of them, and then feeling devastated when they refuse to perform the role we created in the first place."

"We search for happiness everywhere, but we are like Tolstoy's fabled beggar who spent his life sitting on a pot of gold, under him the whole time. Your treasure--your perfection--is within you already. But to claim it, you must leave the buy commotion of the mind and abandon the desires of the ego and enter into the silence of the heart."

"Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. If I want transformation, but can't even be bothered to articulate what, exactly, I'm aiming for, how will it ever occur? Half the benefit of prayer is in the asking itself, in the offering of a clearly posed and well-considered intention. If you don't have this, all your pleas and desires are boneless, floppy, inert; they swirl at your feet in a cold fog and never lift."

"Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark. If we truly knew all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be... a prudent insurance policy."

"You are, after all, what you think. Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions."

"As smoking is to the lungs, so is resentment to the soul; even one puff is bad for you."

"eventually, everything goes away." (It goes hand in hand with my favourite saying, Nothing in life stays the same. Everything will change. No situation will remain the same forever.

"God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies..."

"You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control."

Excerpt taken from Blessed With Bliss By Irwan Abdul Rahman

I never fail to read this guy's articles whenever it comes out and I really the way this guy writes.
Well he writes for The Malay Mail. In my opinion, all his articles are well written. The next time, you get a hold of The Malay Mail, check him out. Seriously, he has got this very cute boyish smile ;) Ok, i might be bias here as well, maybe I am reading his articles because of his smile ;)

It’s like life itself. When times are hard and life is tough, most of us think of God and ask Him either for help or the strength to endure. We feel small, humbled by His powers over us and how weak we are.

But when we’re blessed with good fortune and life is good, we tend to get caught up in the bliss and happiness. We forget to be grateful, fail to appreciate His blessings and conveniently ignore the needs of those less fortunate.

Ever wondered why orphans really look forward to Ramadan? It’s the only time most people remember them.

So the true test in life is when things are good and you’ve got everything you need. When you’re blessed with great wealth, the test is, what do you do with that wealth? Do you splurge on needless things, horde your belongings or do you give back to society and share your good fortune with your fellow man?

When you’re blessed with good health, what do you do with your healthy body? Do you maintain that good health by living healthily, or do you abuse that body with unhealthy or dangerous substances and bad food, thinking that coronary heart problems, diabetes, cancer and all the other lifestyle-related disease “will never happen to you”?

When you’re blessed with love, whether it’s your partner, family or friends, do you return the love by maintaining the relationship, reminding them often how much you love them, or do you take them for granted, figuring that “they know” – or worse still – do stupid things that risk losing their love and destroying their relationship?

Most people who cheat on their spouses (and families) still love them and can’t imagine life without them. They only remember when they’re caught, when it’s too late.

We only remember to drive slowly and carefully when we’re either caught by the cops or after we get into an accident.

We only remember to watch what we say when we’ve said too much.

We only remember to live healthily when our doctors tell us our hearts can no longer take the abuse.

We only remember to appreciate our wealth and happiness when we lose it.

The article ends by when in bliss, count your blessings.

For those who find this entry interesting, you can read his whole article here.: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/48848-uncommon-sense-blessed-bliss

For those who are interested in reading his stuff, you can always drop by his blog.: http://nose4news.wordpress.com/

Absurd!!!

I don't know if it's plain stupidity.
I have been noticing it during the recent Raya hols that we just had.
I saw it in 1-Utama.
I saw it in Midvalley.
And it has left me dumbfounded.
I mean seriously, you people are joking right.
I freaked out when I saw it again this morning in the train.

Who in their right mind would dye their kids hair golden blondish. I mean these kids are not even 3 years old. These kids are ASIANS, for heaven's sake.

I mean come on.
What direction are we heading to?
What next, dye your kid's skin colour to caucasion or something......

There's only one word that comes to my mind, IT'S REALLY ABSURD!!!
The only thing I can conclude here is that it's either I am not fashion savvy/vogue anymore or some parents are really born without brains.

I have this gazillion question mark in my head and I am still wondering..........

Gregory Kumar Kandasamy

You would have turned 69 years old today. Not 70 but only 69.
Its been 10 years but the wound is deep as there are many words unspoken.

Many situations which you have missed and we wished you were there.
Most of all, the latest 2 addition which you would have adored with all your heart.

Eventhough its been 10 years, we remember you everyday. Not a day that goes by, where we dont mention anything about you.

At times I wonder why such a good person like you was taken away so fast in such a short span of time on earth cause you were only 59 years old then. But than again, seeing how you suffered, its only fair for a strong person like you. Answers didnt come to the three of us then but now after growing up in this 10 year period, we do understand.

If I had only one chance, I would apologize for not completing something you really wanted.

At the end of the day, life goes on.

The three of us were blessed for having someone like you in our lives. Words cannot describe you and no one can measure up to you as you are immeassurable even till today.

Happy Birthday with lots of love, hugs and kisses from the 3 of us.

Miss Me But Let Me Go - Unknown

When I come to the end of the road
and the sun has set on me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
why cry for a soul set free.
Miss me a little--but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me--but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
and each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
go to the friends we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
miss me--but let me go.

We have let go but we miss you everyday