Hullabaloo!!! <';-)

It's in early May. I received a mail from YMCA, S'pore. As for me, most of the local mails are just my DBS bank statements and sometimes, from GNC. Then my dear ones from overseas hardly drop a line to me and so do I. :P Moreover, YMCA use to send monthly upcoming activities schedule and other info via emails. So, I was quite curious on this letter and by the time I opened it, I was bowled over. It's a BIRTHDAY GREETING CARD!!! I didn't expect at all. I know there are so many people dealing with this org. and they use so called Birthday reminders like computer generated system to do so. Yet, I do thank them that they could give me such a feeling which I just can't express in words for that moment.

In SKCF(Singapore Kachin Christian Fellowship), there is a prayer session after communion on every 1st Sunday of the month. Those whose birthdays fall in that month are invited to stand up and the pastor prays for them. Some Myanmar Services in S'pore conduct as well. So that we can roughly know whose birthdays are in which month. :D Well.. this month, I had to stand up lorr.. After the service, my bros came and wished me "Happy Birthday". And they asked when my birthday would be. I didn't say anything except "Guess!", just smiled back and made them puzzled. very naughty, huhh??

So far, I didn't have any plan for this year. I was just recalling my memory of my last year birthday events. I had already worked part time in CP(Church of Praise) at that time. At least every once a month, we office staff including pastors used to have gathering lunch. I think a day or two just before my birthday, Sis Yang Gek sent an email to all of us mentioning there would be a pizza lunch. I thought it would be a normal gathering. After then, by the time we all were standing around the table and pizzas were ready to be served, Aunty Susan brought a cake. When I looked at it, "Oh dear!" I was astounded. There were the words "Happy Birthday, Naw" on top of it. I was speechless and just staring around all my pastors, aunties and uncles with wide eyes. It touched my heart and meant a lot to me. I won't forget that precious moment throughout my life. I love you all...

Actually, my Birthday fell exactly on Sunday which I was born on. On the following Sunday, I didn't have any special feeling for my birthday and so was helping out in Joyland as usual. When the bible lesson was over and it was the time for refreshment, aunty Jasmine told the kids that they all were gonna celebrate somebody's birthday. Then, she took out a cake from the box and said, "Today is ... Jye Jye Naw's Birthday!" Wow... what's going on to me this year?? How great thou art and what a bliss of having such kinda relationship with my people!

Besides, I did get Birthday wishes from whom I didn't count on. I really thank all of you. One of the birthday presents that I value much was from my ko latt. He's still in Korea at that instant. One night, he sent an email and when I opened the attached file, it was my photo with the words wishing happy birthday to me. Unbelievable.. thanks, ko latt!

This year, as I mentioned before, I didn't have any plan for my birthday. My birthday fell on Monday but just one day earlier, on Sunday, one of my beloved pastors took my breath away. :D After the service, Uncle Kek told me that Pastor Persis was looking for me. I thought she needed me to ask for sth. as usual. But, when I went down to the cafe, she's already there with a birthday cake. Oh my God!! Later, Aunty Jasmine brought the kids down to the cafe and they threw a mini birthday party for me. I love all of you!

When I was in SKCF in that evening, Vivian threated me a piece of birthday cake with cheese. Cheese cake?? Yeah, that's my favourite, u know? I was about to go back home after the service but my bro sms me that there would be still a farewell fellowship programme at East Coast. One of the young adults was about to go to US for good. That's why... Then,again... somebody told the leader re my birthday so they prayed for me lorr..

The very early morning of my birthday for this year was a rush and awkward one. When we left East Coast, it's almost 12am and a bro drove us till "Eunos MRT station". But, we missed the last train and so three of us (with other two bros) ran to the bus stop. Unfortunately, all the last buses that can reach to our houses passed by just before we got to the bus stop. After a short while, Bus No. 2 came and we three just jumped into it. No choice! We hoped we could catch Bus No. 197 when we arrived Cityhall. After Geylang, 197 appeared in front of our bus from another direction and we three yelled with joy. Oops.. our bus No.2 didn't overtake No.197 until 197 turned to Beach Road and North Bridge Road before Lavender MRT. We were so thrilled of whether we could get 197 or not. In addition, our bus was jammed in almost every traffic light. Terrible! As soon as we reached Bugis Junction, we alighted and ran as fast as we could thro' Bugis Junction from Victoria Street side to North Bridge Road side. Once we arrived at the bus stop, 197 was approaching and everything was just in time. At last, we could! Thanks God. I was so exhausted but happy cos it's like a timing game and we did have fun out of it. It's almost 2am when I stepped onto my bed. My goodness!! :P

Wahh.. still didn't wanna open my eyes cos of not enough sleep. :D I was thinking of taking MC.. ;P Anyhow, I went to my office. Ohh.. there is a boy whose birthday is the same with mine but 3 years younger than me. Around 10am, my operation manager came with a birthday cake for two of us. So, I had a very brief birthday party again with my colleagues. Till then, I didn't let others know that day was my birthday. Yet, I was blessed with birthday wishes from my lovely people throughout the whole day. At night, my mom came online and we did have a happy chat. Before that, I bought some pieces of cake for my roommates. But I didn't mention that those were my birthday cakes. I just gave them out wontedly. So testy, huhh?? :P Only when one sis asked me to come out from my bed and surprised me with another birthday cake, the rest came to know. :D

Birthday cakes?? yeah, when I was with my family, on every of my birthday, we rarely had birthday cakes, but we sibling used to enjoy my mom's home-made Shan noodles. We prefered hers to any other things. I miss you, mom... I can't be happier if I have those times back.

Umm.. one more thing is... May Ei (my pal who's only 2 days elder than me) gave me a marvelous present. So did my darlings! :)

However, I haven't got even a belated birthday wish from whom I'm longing for till now. Even if I let him/her know my birthday in advance, I'm sure he/she won't pay attention to it. That's why what's the point telling my birthday to others, too?? I can't stand what if I don't get that I insist on. Anyway, I should value back to those who value me rather than..., shouldn't I?

Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers, my near and dear ones!
I'm 23 now!!!
<;-)

A Blessed Mother's Day!!!

Queen Margaret and the Robbers
by Albert F. Blaisdell

One day when roses were in bloom, two noblemen came to angry words in the Temple Gardens, by the side of the river Thames. In the midst of their quarrel one of them plucked a white rose from a bush, and, turning to those who were near him, said,

"He who will stand by me in this quarrel, let him pluck a white rose with me, and wear it in his hat."

Then the other gentleman tore a red rose from another bush, and said,

"Let him who will stand by me pluck a red rose, and wear it as his badge."

Now this quarrel led to a great civil war, which was called "The War of the Roses," for every soldier wore a white or red rose in his helmet to show to which side he belonged.

The leaders of the "Red Rose" sided with King Henry the Sixth and his wife, Queen Margaret, who were fighting for the English throne. Many great battles were fought, and wicked deeds were done in those dreadful times.

In a battle at a place called Hexham, the king's party was beaten, and Queen Margaret and her little son, the Prince of Wales, had to flee for their lives. They had not gone far before they met a band of robbers, who stopped the queen and stole all her rich jewels, and, holding a drawn sword over her head, threatened to take her life and that of her child.

The poor queen, overcome by terror, fell upon her knees and begged them to spare her only son, the little prince. But the robbers, turning from her, began to fight among themselves as to how they should divide the plunder, and, drawing their weapons, they attacked one another. When the queen saw what was happening she sprang to her feet, and, taking the prince by the hand, made haste to escape.

There was a thick wood close by, and the queen plunged into it, but she was sorely afraid and trembled in every limb, for she knew that this wood was the hiding place of robbers and outlaws. Every tree seemed to her excited fancy to be an armed man waiting to kill her and her little son.

On and on she went through the dark wood, this way and that, seeking some place of shelter, but not knowing where she was going. At last she saw by the light of the moon a tall, fierce looking man step out from behind a tree. He came directly toward her, and she knew by his dress that he was an outlaw. But thinking that he might have children of his own, she determined to throw herself and her son upon his mercy.

When he came near she addressed him in a calm voice and with a stately manner.

"Friend," said she, "I am the queen. Kill me if thou wilt, but spare my son, thy prince. Take him, I will trust him to thee. Keep him safe from those that seek his life, and God will have pity on thee for all thy sins."

The words of the queen moved the heart of the outlaw. He told her that he had once fought on her side, and was now hiding from the soldiers of the "White Rose." He then lifted the little prince in his arms, and, bidding the queen follow, led the way to a cave in the rocks. There he gave them food and shelter, and kept them safe for two days, when the queen's friends and attendants, discovering their hiding place, came and took them far away.

If you ever go to Hexham Forest, you may see this robber's cave. It is on the bank of a little stream that flows at the foot of a hill, and to this day the people call it "Queen Margaret's Cave."