Five Minute Friday

Choose excellence and enjoy it!

A job well done

Whether big or small

Is enjoyable

So choose excellence

 By slowing down 

To think enough

To care enough

To plan enough

To work enough

To do a good job

Of that DIY project

Of writing that note

Of cleaning the latest mess

Of listening to kid prattle

Of playing blocks

Of reading that book

Of exercise

Whatever needs your attention

Choose excellence

Turn away from mental or physical distraction

 Blow away the internal need to hurry on

Destroy the tyranny of the urgent

If it needs doing, do it well.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

When paperwork is more work than just paper

What Daddy found in Bangkok on his latest trip.  As this nicely discounted price is still about $50 a plate he didn't get to see if it still tasted good after being flown around the world.

Daddy's away again currently - on the adventure of renewing his and Grace's passports.  He had to fly to KL to go to the embassy there.  He'll be back tonight - arriving late having come back by bus as he can't fly back without his passport even though it is a domestic flight. We are very thankful that family members can now be the guarantor or it would be even more not-paper work! Hopefully he will be able to arrange for the new passports to be couriered to us so he doesn't have to repeat the day's journey to pick them up.  Then we can try again for his India visas...

five minute friday

Small
Left Alone
Sobs and wails
Aching heart
All alone
Oh so small

Small
In his lap
Cuddled in
Cupped around
Just right
Small

Small
Can't keep up
Left behind
Not wanted
Unseen
Small

Small
Picked up
Carried around
Safe in his arms
Sweet conversation
Small

Small
Empty cavern
Needy heart
Cannot give
Shriveled sponge
Small

Small
Filled to the brim
Spilling over
Living water
Pouring on and on
Small

Small
But chosen
Small
But seen
Small
But filled

Discoveries

The last two weeks have been full of discoveries. Some good, some not so good.  

While Daddy was away:

Viber is better than Skype for getting connected on phones through wifi

The children's hospital - Jasmin's cold became bronchitis, and the clinic doctor just sent us to the hospital

 After he got back:

India visas are not awarded to people living in Malaysia on our type of visas.  Oops.  This means Daddy's not traveling to India at the beginning of March - and the tickets are probably lost as we try to rework the trip into July in order for us to figure out a visa once passports are renewed... Ouch.

Renewing passports has been made both easier and harder - 20 days for processing now! But 10 yr validity and easier guarantor qualifications almost make up for it.

Sliding down a leaf-covered hill is almost as fun as sledding.  It is the dry/cool season, and uncharacteristically there has been no rain at all since before Christmas. So the trees are dropping their leaves copiously, making it feel like Fall...

The local park does afford some stick house building materials despite being regularly swept clean, and Mommy has not lost her skills in building with such odd assortments of sticks and materials.

KidLand

Last Thursday we explored a new part of Penang, joining a group of homeschoolers at KidLand.  We explored a bit more than expected as Mommy missed the correct bus stop so we ended up walking a number of new streets.  So thankful for a smart phone whose GPS and maps meant we still arrived on time despite not knowing the area or the destination!

It was a great place, so glad we made the effort!  We were there 11-3:30 and could have stayed longer without getting bored - but not without pushing past some kids' limits...

There are around 20 stations inside where the kids get guided exploration of different subjects ranging from magic and music to various careers to gardening and basic science.

 In the firehouse, the kids got a "lesson" on the work firefighters, then got to act it out - though instead of a firetruck, they all lined up on mini 4wheelers equipped with lights and sirens.  The trip from the firehouse across the main room to the scene of the fire was a loud, rather haphazard one as the kids learned how to steer and brake!

There was also a few just-for-fun things like a mini train ride and a huge indoor jungle gym playplace.  Aiden would have stayed in there all day - he's obsessed with balls and there were two different ball pit/activity centers in there!

This was Jasmin's last day out - since then she has been too sick... yesterday it was finally diagnosed as acute bronchitis/possible pnuemonia. Since Daddy's away this week, her being sick is a bit harder to work around - but we are getting great help from friends.

A Random Tuesday

Slate turquoise and silver watery expanse
Wafting wood smoke on the dying breeze

Glowing red supper fire embers
Black haired heads and colorful shirts walking the edge of 

Rhythmic silver surf and white sand 

pockmarked with footprints.

Deep pink and faintly glowing orange clouds

Stretched out against baby blue sky

A sprinkling of night lights on the darkening hill
Far Malaysian hills ghosting in the haze behind stepping stone rocky islets
Haunting calls to prayer echoing hill to shore and back again
Chocolate and charcoal smeared smiles peekabooing from the swaying hammock
Black arm of our tree outlined dark against the sky, leaves rustling with little girl monkey moves
Sandy feet. And hands. And faces.
Shivery tired bodies newly rinsed in the sea
Sandy feet pedaling bikes home in the dusk
Loaded with beach treasures, sandy toys, and contented sun-kissed kids
A random Tuesday
What a gift!