Gurindam Jiwa

Can you hear this song? I simply love this song. Love it so much that it became the kids' lullaby. I am glad I found it on the IwebMusic.com.

 

It all started when Amirul was a baby. To put him to sleep, I would hum this song and he would fall asleep in a minute. After my confinement, I returned to work and my mom and youngest sister were the one who cared for Amirul. My mom could easily put Amirul to sleep but I cannot recall her humming this song to him. My sister, like me, would hum this song to him. One day, I received a call from my sister. "Kak Lin, your son ni kelakar lah... I was humming that song Gurindam Jiwa to put him to sleep. Lepas dia tidur, I hummed another song... I punya terperanjat when he suddenly opened his eyes and was staring at me. Then I quickly hummed the Gurindam Jiwa again...he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Can you change another song? So boring lah!!!" To which I replied…"No!" heheheh..

The same for Azirul and Ashraf. Frankly, I don't know what so enchanting about that song that whenever I hummed it to Azirul and Ashraf when they were babies, Amirul too would fall asleep. Hmm... or… it's my voice, perhaps? heheh

Actually, I not only hummed this song to my kids. It comes naturally with other babies too. To pacify them, I would hum that song. And yes, it comes naturally and impromptu... without me having to think what song or nursery rhymes to sing or hum. It happened that I was at my youngest sis house. As she was busy preparing food, she had asked me to put her son, Thaqif to sleep. Her daughter, Shanaz, was playing with her toy while drinking her milk in the same room. Well... as you would have guessed, I automatically hummed Gurindam Jiwa. My sister came to the room and said," Dah, you jangan nak mula with my kids eh... nanti dorang pulak naik syok ngan lagu tu". I ignored her and continue humming. After 5 minutes of humming the song, Thaqif was still not sleeping. I turned around to look at Shanaz... hahahha..... she was already in Dreamland. I continued humming the song to Thaqif and after a while, he too fell asleep. I told my sister that the song work wonders in making the kids felt so relaxed... like smelling Aromatherapy... hahah...Try it if you like....

And yes, I will still hum this song to my baby. Till the time comes, you people enjoy the song yeah…

On another note, my dearest hubby will be away for 7 days. He is leaving for New Delhi today. I will miss him. Will miss him so much!! huarrghhhh!!!!

If you are STRESS.... Drink TEA!!!

Regular cups of tea can help speed recovery from stress, researchers from University College London (UCL) said on Wednesday.

Men who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than a control group who drank a fake tea substitute, the researchers said in a study published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

The tea drinkers also reported a greater feeling of relaxation after performing tasks designed to raise stress levels.

Andrew Steptoe, of UCL's department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and one of the report's authors, said the findings could have important health implications.

"Slow recovery following acute stress has been associated with a greater risk of chronic illness such as coronary heart disease.

"Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal."

In the study, 75 tea-drinking men were split into two groups, all giving up their normal tea, coffee and caffeinated drinks.

Half were given a fruit-flavored caffeinated tea mixture made up of the usual constituents of a cup of black tea.

The others were given a caffeinated substitute, identical in taste but without the active tea ingredients.

Neither the participants or the researchers knew who was drinking real or false tea.

At the end of six weeks the participants were given a series of tests designed to raise their stress levels, including being given five minutes to prepare and deliver a presentation.

The researchers found that stress levels, blood pressure and heart rate rose similar amounts in both groups.

But 50 minutes after the tasks cortisol levels had fallen an average of 47 percent among the tea drinkers, compared to 27 percent in the fake tea group.

Steptoe said it was not known which ingredients in tea were responsible for the effects found in the study.

Source :- http://health.yahoo.com/news

Pohon Semalu....

Something to share….

 

SEMALU PUN TAHU MALU....

Pada suatu hari, Rasulullah s.a.w berjalan-jalan bersama puteri baginda, Saidatina Fatimah r.a. tetibanya mereka berdua di bawah sebatang pohon tamar, Fatimah terpijak pohon semalu, kakinya berdarah lalu mengadu kesakitan.

Fatimah mengatakan kepada bapanya apalah gunanya pohon semalu itu berada di situ dengan nada yang sedikit marah. Rasulullah dengan tenang berkata kepada puteri kesayangannya itu bahawasanya pohon semalu itu amat berkait rapat dengan wanita. Fatimah terkejut. Rasulullah menyambung kata-katanya lagi. Para wanita hendaklah mengambil pengajaran daripada pohon semalu ini dari 4 aspek.

Pertama : pohon semalu akan kuncup apabila disentuh. Ini boleh diibaratkan bahawa wanita perlu mempunyai perasaan malu (pada tempatnya).

Kedua : semalu mempunyai duri yang tajam untuk mempertahankan dirinya. Oleh itu, wanita perlu tahu mempertahankan diri dan maruah sebagai seorang wanita muslim.

Ketiga : semalu juga mempunyai akar tunjang yang sangat kuat dan mencengkam bumi. Ini bermakna wanita solehah hendaklah mempunyai keterikatan yang sangat kuat dengan Allah Rabbul Alamin.

Dan akhir sekali : semalu akan kuncup dengan sendirinya apabila senja menjelang. Oleh itu, para wanita sekalian, kembalilah ke rumahmu apabila waktu semakin senja.

Ambillah pengajaran dari semalu walau pun ia hanya sepohon tumbuhan yang kecil.

 

 

 

Treasure Life.....

Sometimes, we just don't realised how fortunate we are until we see how other people live their life... Something to share with everyong... HAPPY READING!!!


AS I JUMPED OFF THE BUILDING....

I saw the known loving couple in 10F is hitting each other...

Dialog Dua Hantu

Got this from a friend....

Dialog Dua Hantu

Tersebutlah kisah dua orang hantu. Mereka ni baru bertemu lalu mereka pun
berborakla untuk mengisi masa lapang kehidupan mereka sebagai hantu.
Sepanjang perbualan mereka, Hantu B ni tak habis-habis menggigil. Lalu,
Hantu A yang kehairanan ni pun bertanya,

"Apsal kau ni asyik menggigil je?"

"Oh..cara aku mati dulu teruk..aku mati dalam peti ais...sejuk!!" Jawab
Hantu B sambil menggigil lagi.

"Ooo..kesian... aku dulu mati sebab heart attack." Kata Hantu A ramah.

"Kau memang sakit jantung kronik ye? Apsal ko tak gi buat operation? Kalau
tak, sure kau tengah lepak-lepak ngan family kau sekarang." Balas Hantu B.

"Dah,aku dah buat dah !In fact mase aku mati tu, aku in recovery. Panjang
ceritanya..." jawab Hantu A sayu.

"Ceritala sikit..Sambil-sambil lepak nih.."

"Camni..Aku syak isteri aku main kayu tiga ngan aku. So this one day, aku
ingat nak perangkap la isteri aku..Aku pura-pura gi keje tapi actually aku
park keta aku kat simpang hujung umah aku je. Seperti yang aku syak, masuk
sebuah keta kat carpark umah aku. Aku rilex dulu sebab nak carik mase
sesuai tangkap diorang."

"So, ko dapatla tangkap diorang?" tanya Hantu B penuh minat.

"Tak. Aku cume jumpe isteri aku je kat dalam bilik. Yang aku heran, mase
aku masuk umah tu, aku nampak ade kasut laki kat pintu umah aku. Aku tanye
isteri aku tapi die takmo jawab. So aku pun lari-lari sekeliling umah aku
nak carik jantan tuh. Abis sume bilik aku carik tapi takde pun.. Last-last,
sebab aku penat sangat berlari carik jantan tuh, aku pun jatuh pengsan
sebab heart attack. And aku tak sangka aku mati lak..." kata Hantu A
mengakhiri ceritanya dengan kesedihan.

Hantu B terdiam mendengarkan cerita Hantu A. Selepas beberapa ketika, Hantu
B berkata,

"Kenapa kau tak check kat dalam peti sejuk? Kalau kau check kat situ, sure
kita berdua still hidup lagi.

wakakakakakkaka

Please Pray for....

My youngest sis called this morning to inform me that her son is in KKH. He has been having high fever on and off for the past few days and was admitted to hospital yesterday. The doctor is still not sure what causes the fever... as usual eh...

Dear friends, please pray for Mohammad Thaqif. Hope he get well soon.

Who is Rich and Who is Poor?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have!

When the Members of Kecohrable Club meet....

It was chaotic! It was noisy! It was packed! It was fun! It was great! It was a very very kecohrable Sunday!

Thank you ladies for your presence, presents and pots of delicious food...ahahah...

And sorry for any inconveniences... e.g. sitting on the floor.

Mama Dewi, Mrs Beki, Mummy Hestia, Azfiq, Lyndy and that sweet pretty girl... daughter of Mrs Beki...

Look at the Kitchen... Shaikha n my maid busy preparing cocktail...

Mummies n kiddos enjoying their food.

too many camerawomen on that day, we dunno which one to look at...lol

ok... here are the models.... Mak Mak dara...
Front :-Eimah, Mama Dewi, Linda, Azfiq, Marya n Princess and Shaikha
Back :- Mel, Mrs Beki, Ju and son, Me and Mummy Hestia

Pretty Princess and MommyContest aka Marya

Linda (pink scarf), Eimah (Brown scarf) and Mas (yellow blouse)

The kiddos....actually there were more kids....

Ok! So ladies, when is the next gathering?? Next week cannot eh... my dearest hubby coming home... hehehe... you know, i know horrrr.....

Picturing Perfect Penang....

Pictures taken at the condo.....on our last day

In front of the man-made waterfall....

with my darling, Azirul

By the pond....

On the Bridge over Troubled Water.....

Home sweet home...

With dearest hubby.... miss him soooo much!!!!

Here I am...

I came back with my kids and maid on 1st July. I had to leave my dearest hubby earlier as my maid work permit in Malaysia expires on 5th July and the boys must start schooling as soon as possible.

I received an sms from my sister day before I departed from Penang. She told me that my house in Tampines is very dirty. I wasn’t expecting my tenant to keep it spick and span so I didn’t really bother to ask her how dirty it was until when I saw my house condition, I almost lose my mind.

My house was in a very YUCKY condition. The Indonesian Muslim couple that rented my house can live in a house that is in such a pathetic state!!!? The toilet was so dirty – I wonder how they ever had their ablutions, brush their teeth or doing their shitting business without even looking at the dirty taps, toilet bowl, toilet seat and the floor. Terrible! Someone had even vomited on the toilet door and they never even bother to wipe it. Unbelievable! My kitchen sink was so dirty, slimy with blackish stain and they don’t even bother to clean it while washing their dishes?? I definitely did not expect them to keep it spick and span but it would be reasonable enough to clean the obvious dirt or stain!!!

I’ve heard so much from friends and relatives about some foreigners that had rented their houses and never bother to take good care of the house. I can understand if they are single guys (but some guys can even do housework, for goodness sake) but I am talking about these Indonesian married couple and not singles from Philippines, India or China. The wife is a housewife and they just had their 2nd baby in February. Even though this is not their house but isn’t it a natural thing to do - keep the house clean. I don’t understand how they could come home to such a dirty house. The dirt and stains on my cabinets and toilets showed that they have never done any cleaning ever since they lived there. Such appalling mentality they have!!!

The house that I rented in Penang was very well-maintained. It does not matter if that was my house or not, rented or owned, it must be cleaned.

Luckily my maid and my sister’s maid did a very good job; cleaning and scrubbing the entire house. Even my niece refused to use the toilet. A 4 yr old child knows how dirty the toilet was!!! It took us 3 days to clean the house. And now, my house is a home again.

We are more or less settled down. My personal effects arrived on 4th July and everything has been cleared and arranged. Amirul and Azirul started school on 10th July 2006 at Tampines North Primary. They are settling well too. I have been shuttling them to school and it’s really taxing. I am trying to get used to all this but I guess I won’t be able to cope much longer. For the past few days, on the way home after sending Amirul to school, I had giddy spell and was shivering. I was praying so hard that I would not faint on the street. The moment I got home, I went straight to bed to rest. Starting next week, my maid will be the one fetching my boys. And me, I better call CGH to fix an appointment to see my Specialist again.

To all blogging friends that had voted for Ashraf for the Most Curious Kid Contest on Singaporemum.com, I would like to express my greatest gratitude for your votes and support. Thank you very very much!!!

I'M BACK!!!!

Hellooooo... I am back...

But right now I really have no time to update yet. Will do it as soon as I can.

I have read my tagboard and would like to thank those lovelies for their well-wishes and messages.

Ashraf won??? Really?? I have to check the website now!!!

2 More Days...

The Paradoxical Commandments

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think Big anyway.

7. People favor underdosg but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

*****************************

Dear friends and bloggers,

I will stop going online starting tomorrow. And on Friday, the movers are coming to pack my stuff. The kids, maid and I will be flying back home on Saturday morning. Hubby will be here for another 3 weeks... uhuk uhuk... I will miss him so so much!!!

I will also miss all my Kelab K friends. You know who you are... You gals are wonderful people. I am so happy to have gotten to know you. Shaikha - thanks for your advise and friendship. I will miss you...

Till I go online again... take care and keep those messages coming in ok...

Love, hugs and kisses....

Lyndy

3 More days to GO!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

*******************************************

Pix taken on Saturday....

AMIRUL & AZIRUL....

will miss their friends and teachers....

4 More Days to Go Home!

4 more days and we are getting very busy and excited. There are so many things to do.

My last internet access will be on Thursday morning. I know you are going to miss me. Don't be sad. I will go online as soon as I have settled down. Please keep those messages coming.

The boys last day of school is on Friday. But as the packers will be coming on that day, I will be going to the boys' school on Thursday to meet their teachers and to collect their school work.

My tenant in Singapore will be moving out on Friday and my sister is helping me out with the handover.

The boys will be going to Tampines North Primary School (thanks to MOE for their help). I have sent email to the Principal asking them for used text-books for my kids and to advise me on other matters pertaining to the boys’ admission to the school. It’s not that I do not want to buy new textbooks but it is already July and we are on Term 3 now. So buying new books especially for Pri 1 would be a waste. I do not mind getting new books for Pri 3 (if the school does not have any used textbooks in their keeping) as Azirul will be able to use them in 2 years time.

Well, Bro Yaslam was kind enough to help and advise me matters on school, tuition and religious class for the boys. He is also checking if he has extra used textbooks for Pri 3 for my son to use. Thanks a lot, Bro. Really appreciate your help.

In the meantime, I would just have to wait for the school to reply me.

Saturday and Sunday were our last weekend in Penang.

On Saturday, St. Christopher’s International Primary School had an International Food and Fun Fair. We went to the school at 5.00pm, despite the heavy rain. Amirul and his classmates performed an Indian Dance. After which, the boys played games and did some sand crafts.

Later in the evening, we went to Ferringhi for dinner at the Kampung Restaurant. We went to Eden Seafood Restaurant to have dessert and to watch the Culture Show but by the time we got there, we only managed to watch the last 2 performances. But the boys were more excited to have the dessert than watching the show.

On Sunday, dropped by my Ustazah's house to pass her the cheesecake that I’ve made for her before going for our usual brunch. She had also passed me a book on Tajwid. So nice of her.

After brunch we went to KOMTAR to buy some jerseys for my brother-in-law. Most of the jerseys that he wanted were sold out. Original Jerseys or not, all are gone.

After dinner, hubby and I went out to buy durians. This will be our last durian treat.

(will post the photos that we took on Saturday when I have the time)...

7 More days to Go!

More items need to be packed but we are running out of boxes. I’ve called the mover but they do not have enough boxes in their stock at the moment. Again, they insisted that we let them do the packing. Arrghhh.. I have to keep telling them that we will let them do the packing on the big items and the small ones, we will do it. We know how to do it and we will do it according to our preference.


From our experience, the movers would simply throw everything in the boxes and don’t bother to arrange it properly. I mean, they do not have the time to do it nicely for you. We have a whole shelf of encyclopedias and they go by their indexes and we do not want to mess them up! And just because we are so adamant about doing our on packing, they simply refused to help us get more boxes. Have to wait till the packing day itself! I cannot simply wait for 7 more days! Damn!


Ok… relax Lyndy, relax… don’t get so uptight. Hehe… I am so stress right now.

The Views We are Going to Miss

From our Dining Room and Main Entrance.





From Our bedroom and living room balcony.

Taking A Break From BOXINGs

Got this email from a friend... let me share it with you....

Johnny wanted to have sex with a girl in his office..... but she had a boyfriend...
One day Johnny got so frustrated that he went up to her and said
" I'll give you a $1000 dollars if you let me screw you".... but the girl said "NO".
Johnny said "I'll be fast, I'll throw the money on the floor, you bend down,
I'll be finished by the time you pick it up."
She thought for a moment and said that she would have to consult her boyfriend.

So she called her boyfriend and told him the story.
Her boyfriend says "Ask him for $2000 dollars, pick up the money very fast,he won't even be able to get his pants down.
So she agrees and accepts the proposal. Half an hour goes by and theboyfriend is waiting for his girlfriend to call.

Finally after 45mins,the boyfriend calls and asks what happened.
She said "The bastard used coins!!"

NINE! NINE more days to go!

Dedicated to My Family in SG…
Coming Home by Billy Gilman

When you change the way you look at things
The things you look at change
I can see the world so differently
Seeing things your way
There's a path that's right in front of me
That's been calling me for days
And I know that when you walk with me
It will be for always

You give me everything I have
Everything I need
You are the reason why I believe
All my love
I wanna give to you all my life
I wanna see you in my dreams
You opened up my eyes to a world I have never seen
I'm coming home

When I see the way the early dawn drives the night away
To reveal a world that's holding on to see a brighter day
I can only hope for everyone to feel the way I do
Live their life to love someone the way I love you

You give me everything I have
Everything I need
You are the reason why I believe
All my love
I wanna give to you all my life
I wanna see you in my dreams
You opened up my eyes to a world I have never seen
For always I will remain faithful to the faith you have in me
Can't believe how much I have grown with you
I'm finally coming home

Through you I see the light that will take me home
All the days of my life

For always I will remain faithful to the faith you have in me
Can't believe how much I have grown with you
I'm finally coming home

I'm coming home

More Packing Today... 10 Days to go

More boxes today! More packing and more mess.

 

10 More days!

Saturday, Sunday and Today....

11 More days to go!

On Saturday, our gathering went well. The guests loved the food that we served them. Home-made beehoon, fried Mee Siam, samosa, epok epok sardines, local and western desserts of Putri Salad and Cheese Cake. We had a barbeque and just as our first group of guests left it started to rain heavily. Luckily the food was all covered and we had just finished our barbeque. We grabbed the food and ran to the apartment. I was rather disappointed as there was a lot of food left and was wondering if our special guest, my doctor, was coming as it was raining heavily that evening. Patricia, our friend who is a housing agent in Penang came just as Giden (hubby colleague who live next to our block), hubby and I were about to start our dinner. Just as the four of us were about to start eating, my doctor came with her twin daughters. I was so glad to see them! We had dinner together and they all left at 9.30pm.

On Sunday, after our usual brunch, we went to Gurney Plaza for our groceries shopping. Went home to do more packing and cleaning. Hubby had a dinner appointment with his colleagues from Germany and asked me to accompany him. I was reluctant at first but since this might be the last time I’ll be seeing them I decided to join him.

We went to Equatorial Hotel to pick them up and headed to EDEN Seafood Restaurant at Ferringhi. We had a scrumptious dinner and was kindly paid for by hubbycompany.com. heheh.

Today.......

I saw the message left by Sis Marya and called her early this morning. Unfortunately, she was already in Perak. She was in Penang for few hours yesterday and had stayed the night in Perak. They will be going to Kota Bahru, Terengganu and other states. So we missed the opportunity to meet in Penang but we will meet up when I get back to Singapore. Have a safe journey, sis!

Countdown to Box..ing Day

The movers came yesterday to pass some boxes for us to do some self-packing. They insisted that we let them do the job since we are paying for the full package (packing, unpacking and delivery). But we prefer to do our own packing especially our clothings, documents and books. Anyway, their job is to pack big items like, beds, cabinets, fans, dividers, computer, tv, kitchen utensils (cause i dont like to do this) and the freezer.

Now, looking at the boxes... my heart goes ping, pong, phiang... Luckily my maid is helping me...if not I'll be dead and packed in the box. hahah..

This Saturday, we will be having a small gathering at my place. Inviting only those close to us, about 10 of them.

Well... count down to 1st July 2006!!!!

Never Take Your Sister For Granted

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older . No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.

And remember that "Sisters" also means your girlfriends, your daughters, and other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do." "What a funny piece of advice!" the young woman thought. Quote: "Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple- world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grown up. Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!" But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year.

As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life . After almost 72 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned.

Time passes Life happens Distance separates Children grow up Love waxes and wanes Hearts break Careers end Jobs come and go Parents die Colleagues forget favors People let us down BUT Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A Sister is never further away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your Sisters will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My Mother, 'sisters', daughters, daughters in law, cousins, and girlfriends bless my life! The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Me, Liza (my SIL), Linda (my youngest sis) and Lyna (my 2nd sis)

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

Stroke is a silent killer. How many of us can actually identify the signs of a stroke? Perhaps 1 out of 20. I hope that by sharing this article I received from a friend could create some awareness. Share this article with your families and friends, we could save lives.

Read on…..

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

It only takes a minute to read this-

----- A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE:

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions to the American Stroke Association's Annual Meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

A cardiologies says if everyone who gets this information share it with 10 people, you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

Photo Blogging... Our outdoor activities

Our outdoor activities on Saturday

On the way to Balik Pulau...looking for durian..

Telok Bahang Waterfall...

On Sunday, after our Brunch at Alaf Sejahtera Restaurant, Jalan Nelayan 3, Telok Bahang...we headed to Ferringhi Beach. Can you spot a mermaid and a cute hunk?

What Your Sleeping Style Says About Your Marriage

The Spoon

So close, so safe, this is the most common sleep position for the first three to five years of marriage. "Usually, the man is the embracer," says psychiatrist Samuel Dunkell, M.D., author of Good-bye Insomnia, Hello Sleep, who has been analyzing the body language of sleep for more than 25 years. "When a woman assumes the posterior position, it may indicate she is the more giving partner or that he needs special nurturing." Semifetal, genitals against buttocks, the Spoon provides both of you with maximum physical closeness, though it's not necessarily erotic."Many couples simply find the Spoon a comforting, safe cocoon," explains Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore.
During early marriage, couples tend to maintain the spoon position for much of the night, mirroring each other. "When one person turns, the other follows suit, so that the spoon position is resumed on the opposite side," says Dr. Dunkell. But just because you've been married a while doesn't mean you have to give up this closeness. "When my husband hits the snooze alarm in the morning, it's our cue to spoon until the day can't be postponed any longer," says one woman who just celebrated her seventh wedding anniversary.


The Honeymoon Hug

Face-to-face, the Hug is the Rolls Royce of intimacy. Less common than the Spoon (and uncomfortable to maintain throughout the night), the Hug tends to occur at love's blazing beginning, when you're so deeply enamored you wish you could fuse, or just after lovemaking. Some couples return to it over the years during periods of special joy. And a few refuse to give it up, though, as Elizabeth Flynn Campbell, a New York psychotherapist who specializes in relationship issues, says, "They could be overly enmeshed, too dependent on each other to sleep apart."
What if your husband likes the Hug and you find it stifling? Like other marital issues, sleep positions are negotiable, says Campbell. Try the Hug until he falls asleep, then sneak off to a more comfortable position.


Like Shingles (on a Roof)

One partner (typically the man) lies face up in what Samuel Dunkell, M.D., author of Good-bye Insomnia, Hello Sleep, who has been analyzing the body language of sleep for more than 25 years, calls the "royal" position (bespeaking a strong ego and a sense of entitlement). Although the woman also lies on her back, her head is on his shoulder, suggesting, says Dr. Dunkell, she is the more dependent and compliant partner: "By looking at the world from the same perspective as his, she achieves a strengthening sense of comradeship and protection."
Couples favor this position, which speaks of a strong commitment, early in marriage. "There's a high level of trust here," says Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore. "You're like a turtle on its back, exposing yourself, open to all kinds of touching." If you're not comfortable sleeping faceup, but want the coziness of such proximity, try the Reverse Shingle: Lie facedown, with your body overlapping your husband's. Not only might you sleep better, but you'll be delivering a sweet message: "Psychologically, this represents an attempt to focus total attention on your partner, even in sleep," says Dr. Dunkell.


The Sweetheart's Cradle



This is a more fused version of Shingles, because you're actually being held rather than just supported by an available shoulder. Consequently, this position makes you feel like the recipient of a generous and loving gift, especially if you're going through a time of crisis or special need. "You're literally being brought in under the wing," says Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore. "It's a very nurturing position."
"When I was going through treatments for breast cancer, my husband held me in his arms as we drifted off to sleep," a 35-year-old woman remembers. "Even though we shifted into other positions during the night, we would return to cradling in the early morning hours. I'll always remember how protected and safe I felt." But there's no reason you must wait for a crisis to try this position. Nor must your husband always do the cradling. Wrapping him in your arms while you talk in bed at night is an intimate way to reconnect after a stressful day. It's also a great position to fall asleep in while watching TV -- no matter who has the clicker.


Loosely Tethered


When love is new, partners will often sacrifice the pleasure of their preferred sleep positions to the rewarding intimacy of couple sleep. Five or so years into marriage, many couples feel secure enough to allow a bit more space -- and comfort -- into their bed. Often, they'll sleep tethered, like Spoons but with distance between them. The emotional current is sustained by a touching hand, knee or foot. "This can be a way of balancing the need for space and the need for closeness," says Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore. "It also diminishes the pressure for sex. It's an affectionate, not sexual, position." Of course, you can get closer whenever you like.


The Leg Hug


Some couples aren't comfortable establishing physical contact directly and need to go about it as if it were almost by chance -- your toes or feet "accidentally" touch, or your leg is casually thrown over his. Although such casual contact could imply that you or your husband are ambivalent about expressing affection or intentionally withholding it -- maybe after a fight -- it may also speak of healthy camaraderie. To Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore, hooked legs suggest familiarity, comfort and a daring quality as well, almost like a secret code. After all, you have to have a pretty strong foundation to assume such physical proprietorship even when you're fighting.


The Pursuit

Sleep positions can reflect passing tensions and discord in a marriage. For example, after a disagreement, your husband may suddenly turn his back and retreat to the far side of the bed in what Samuel Dunkell, M.D., author of Good-bye Insomnia, Hello Sleep, who has been analyzing the body language of sleep for more than 25 years, calls a freeze maneuver. If you then pursue and push up against him in your sleep, that's called Illegal Spooning.
Sometimes, though, the message intended by the person pulling away isn't clear. As Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore, explains: "The partner who distances may actually want to be pursued. His or her distancing becomes an invitation: Will you take the initiative to come closer? Or maybe the partner feels tired of always being the one who initiates the hugs and is thinking, If I snuggle up next to you and you accept it, it's not the same as you coming after me. In this situation, rather than Illegal Spooning, it's a test, a dance of the spoons."Resist the temptation to treat your sleep styles like a pass-fail exam. Learn how to read your mate's body language as well as your own, but don't jump to conclusions. Sleep positions are a conversation starter, not an instant horoscope.


Zen Style

As time passes in a marriage, the tendency to restore privacy to sleep increases. "As the couple's closeness becomes fully established and less exploratory, a renewed sense of each partner's individuality is likely to arise," says Samuel Dunkell, M.D., author of Good-bye Insomnia, Hello Sleep, who has been analyzing the body language of sleep for more than 25 years. For some couples, that means buying increasingly larger beds to accommodate one or both partners' need for space. Other couples find a compromise in the above position: Touching buttocks allows for large-surface contact and private connection, but without clinging. "Like two circles, separate but overlapping, this position is a perfect definition of interdependence," says Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore. It's good for when the kids have got the best of you with their constant clinging and you need a sense of your own space.


The Cliff-Hanger

When your husband suddenly retreats to the far side of the bed without waiting to see if you give chase, it's tempting to diagnose rejection in that stony back. Should you? Experts stress there is no "good" or "right" sleep position in marriage. "Although any deviation from the usual could indicate a problem, most of marriage is about partners working with each other's vulnerabilities," says Elizabeth Flynn Campbell, a New York psychotherapist who specializes in relationship issues. In other words, rather than worry or steam, try to see what's behind the sudden withdrawal. Anger? Grief? Anxiety? If you know he's going through a trying time, give the man the space -- you'd want the same if you were sad, or stressed, and simply needed to regroup. In time, he'll roll back toward you.
And consider this: Maybe he's finally comfortable enough to admit he'd rather get a good night's sleep away from you than cuddle up together, listening to you snore or grind your teeth. If the distance leaves you lonely, maybe you can suggest that you at least start the night together. If you still sense distance, it may be time to have a heart-to-heart to find out what's really going on.


The Crab


Are you or your husband sleeping in a really peculiar position, maybe sliding halfway off the bed (as if to escape from each other) or ending up head-to-toe (as if you're traveling in different directions)? Pay attention: You or he may be acting out an unacknowledged need to pull away from each other, from the marriage. If you suspect that's the case, a marriage counselor may help you sort out what's going on beneath the surface of your relationship.
But unless there are other signs of discontent, don't assume that a weird new position is a nuclear strike. "Unless there appears to be a power struggle being waged during the night and the day, don't overinterpret," says Shirley P. Glass, Ph.D., a psychologist and marital therapist in Baltimore. "When you sit in a chair or on the sofa, you don't always sit in the same way. Sometimes when we're hurting we want closeness and sometimes we want space." And sometimes we're just very creative in bed.

So.... what's yours?

Baking Mood

Yesterday I was in a good mood. I baked this......tadaaaaa...

Chocolate Cheese Cake...

Hubby liked it. Kids liked it too... I really like it when hubby and kids liked it. heheh