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My First Day of Sunday School

Whilst Koko Collin faced many daunting challenges with his first year in kindergarten this year, I also experienced my first year of sorts – in Sunday School!

Although it was not my first time attending our church’s Sunday School, it was definitely my official year as a registered student there.

My first day was like two Sundays ago, just before the Chinese New Year holidays. Still the turnout was pretty scary…by my standards, since I really have this phobia about crowds. It didn’t feel too scary at first…probably because I managed to drag Papa to sit in the entire group session…hee!

Koko Collin seemed OK by himself…we were sort of separated by some drawn lines – the boys sat on one side and the girls on the other. After the praise and worship, there were some games, which were strange since only some of the volunteered students took part. not that I’m complaining….I became somewhat comforted that Papa was still with me…hee!

We were then ushered by our respective teachers to our smaller groups…I was in the group for those aged 3 and below. By now, Papa started to stealthily disappear. I really didn’t notice he had gone till after the class was over!

I seriously think nothing much was planned for that day since the teachers simply gave us some toys to play with, some colouring activities, etc. I didn’t even receive my attendance book that day. Hmmmph.

Anyway, I think my first day in Sunday School was on overall, a success because I didn’t really cry that much compared to Koko Collin’s first day last time. Hee! Although I still felt very scared and shy inside.

So far, I think I like Teacher Hannah best…probably because she spent the most time helping me with the playing blocks. Also maybe because the name is similar to one of my cousin’s name..:-P I also allowed her to carry me to keep some of the toys after the class. :-D

These are some photos of my first day in Sunday School…

Teacher Hannah helping me to handle the pencils...:-D

Koko Collin also doing some colouring in his class...

 

Lessons from Silent Night: Peaceful

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled (Galatians 5:22; CEV)

Silent Night – Third Day

Another thing I like about the Christmas season is learning and listening to a whole lot of Christmas songs. My favourite to date is the one called Angels We Have Heard On High, but I prefer to call it Gloria. Even Caitlynn can sing to that one! Hee!

Anyway, one of those days, Papa was playing some Christmas songs from this band called Third Day, when I heard this lovely live rendition of Silent Night…

Me: Papa?

Papa: Yes, Collin?

Me: What song is this Papa?

Papa: This song is Silent Night.

Me: Sky the Night?

Papa: No…it’s called SI-LENT NIGHT

Me: Orh…Silent Night.

Papa: Yes, Collin…Silent Night.

Me: What is Silent, Papa?

Papa: Silent is *Shhhhhhhhh*

Me: Huh?

Papa: Shhhhhhhh…as in staying quiet…

Me: Orh…staying quiet.

Papa: Yup.

Me: Staying quiet like staying peaceful, right?

Papa: Yes, Collin.

Me: Just like my memory verse number five…

Papa: What’s that, Collin?

Me: God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, PEACEFUL, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. Like that lor.

Papa: That’s right, Collin! :-D

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Our Christmas Tree

Yay! It’s that time of the year again!

The season of giving and receiving, of family and friends, of presents and food, of hope and love…and of course, of trees, decor and lights!

Yes, Christmas is indeed coming soon!

About two weeks ago, Papa and Mama finally took out the all-important boxes filled with the seasonal greens and decorations and lights. Caitlynn is about a year older now since we last put up the tree so she was able to help a bit more than just stare at us last year. Hee! Well, actually, she did more running around the tree compared to last year, but I’m pretty sure she will be an asset in tearing down the tree after Christmas..:-p

Yup, setting up the family Christmas tree is always great fun and activity for the entire family. Although the entire process didn’t take too long (guess we’re getting pro at this), the time spent hanging the bells and balls with one another is great quality time that simply cannot be missed!

And the joy of watching the lights come on is just irresistible!

Here are photos of the us putting up the tree and decor…all in good time for Christmas!

Whew…what fun!

Now, all we need are the pressies! :-D

Lessons from the Shoebox: Happy

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled (Gal 5:22; CEV)

This year’s Christmas is one that Caitlynn and I will always remember…

A couple of weeks ago, Papa and Mama told both of us that some of the church youth were requesting for shoe-boxes of goodies to be given to some poor rural children as Christmas presents. They explained in detail that there are many children out there who are not as blessed in material things like us and these shoe-boxes was one simple way for us to show our love and care to them. Just a simple gesture which would surely bring them joy and make them happy!

So, we got excited and went shopping thereafter in some toy and stationery shop to buy loads of goodies for these children, keeping well in mind that we were not buying anything for ourselves that evening!

After the items had been purchased, we excitedly went home and found two shoe-boxes to fill them up….mission completed!

 

Packing it in! :-D

Goodies galore!

Mission completed!

Lessons I learnt throughout the entire shoe-box project:

1. We were  so HAPPY during the shopping time even with the knowledge that none of it was for us!

2. We were so HAPPY packing the shoe-boxes with the gifts that we didn’t even bother to see what had been packed inside finally!

3. We were so excited and HAPPY giving the boxes away!

4. We know that the rural kids receiving these shoe-boxes will be thrilled and HAPPY too!

5. And finally just the thought of knowing the joy and love these shoe-boxes brings to them makes us HAPPY!

God’s Spirit does indeed makes us HAPPY! :-D

Lessons from the Bathroom: Self-Control

 

Image Credits

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind , good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled  (Galatians 5:22; CEV)

Ahhh….the final memory verse for my Sunday School in 2011 was definitely a challenge, not that it was a long one (I had a longer one to memorise in Eph 3:20) but because I had to learn and understand the meanings of all the characteristics from the Fruit of the Spirit.

Today, I’d like to share what I understand about the last one – being self-controlled. So, how would I explain self-controlled?

One day, when Papa was giving me a shower in the bathroom, I saw a small bottle of what looks like body shampoo on the bathroom sink. Since we usually use the big bottle of shampoo with the cool pump action, I was surprised to see the small little bottle there.

Me: Papa, is that bottle also soap?

Papa: Yes, Collin. That bottle is usually used for travelling. But we have quite a lot of them so we will also use them at home.

Me: Can I use it today to pom pom?

Papa: Sure! (takes bottle and twists cap open)

Me: Yay! I want to put soap on myself.

Papa: OK. Hold out your hand (turns bottle upside down and squeezes it).

Me: Wah! I like it!

Papa: Collin…look! When you squeeze the bottle, you have to do it carefully so that the soap doesn’t flow out so fast and spill all over. It has to be squeezed just right so that the right amount of soap that you need comes out.

Me: Orh….just like in Sunday School when teacher teach us we must have have self-control. Papa must also control properly the soap coming out of the bottle, right?

Papa: Right! (smiles)

 

And that is my limited understanding of self-control. See, at least I DO pay attention in class! Hee!

How have you been practicing self-control today? :-D

Prize Cupboard Mystery

Two Sundays ago, I had the privilege to attend my first ever Junior Sunday School ‘Prize Cupboard Day’ in our church. It was supposedly the final ever sunday school session for the year. No wonder the teachers looked extra happy that morning. :-P

Anyway, I still haven’t figured out why or how the name ‘Prize Cupboard Day’ came about because for the rest of that morning, we were gathered in the school field and made to play some carnival-like games under the hot morning sun! Nope. Definitely no sight of any cupboard. Not even a drawer. Nor wood..

Come to think of it, I still haven’t figured out why we were made to play all those games too. No points were given. No prizes. Not much rules. Hmmmm. It felt like an extended session of our Family Fun Day held earlier this year. Guess the teachers didn’t have enough fun (and sun tan) that time… well, that’s my theory anyway. :-P

Here are some of the pics taken during the field session that morning:

waiting for instructions..

obediently in line..

angry birds getting a taste of their own medicine..;-D

gold diggers...

animals living peacefully, until....

set to kill! :-D

going fishing!

feeding the lion..:-D

group photo kodak moment

After the morning session, we were then led back to our rooms where we were all given goodie bags filled with stickers, folders, toy car, potato chips and other stuff! Wee! Unfortunately, there was still no sign of any cupboard..

Anyway, despite all the confusion and mystery of the Day itself, I still had a lot of fun…more so because of the goodie bag! Hee!

Do you have any idea what a ‘Prize Cupboard Day’ is?!

 

My Faithful Friend

He is my ever-faithful companion.

He is always there to keep me safe.

He is SO huggable.

He keeps me warm when I feel cold.

He is my refuge (especially when Koko bullies me!)

He is such a good listener.

He always brings a smile to my face!

He helps me sleep better at night.

He gives me courage when I am scared.

He loves me. This I know.

The Bible tells me so.

Thank You, Jesus.

Oh, yeah….thank You for providing me with a lovable doggie plush toy too! :-D

 

School’s Cool

I enjoy going to church every Sunday. Seriously.

Not only do I get to attend the regular church service in a cool glass-room that is supposedly sound-proof, now that I am three this year, I also get to go to my church’s Junior Sunday School (JrSS) after that.

Apparently, there isn’t any glass room for JrSS big enough to hold all of us, but I think even if there is, the noise levels created in JrSS is simply too loud to be contained….hee!

So, what have I learnt thus far in JrSS? Let me count the ways…

1. Lotsa cool songs like Superhero!

2. Get to do plenty of coloring and paper cutting!

3. Memory verses

4. Stickers are fun!

5. Attendance and time is important…

6. KIDS rules!

7. Boys are always noisier than girls.

8. I am still pretty shy in large groups – still need Mama to be with me during group worship

9. Not really good at interacting or making friends with other kids yet

10. Pretty cool to lug my JrSS bag…hehe.

In full concentration...

Hmmm...can copy ah...?

My Baptism Solo

10 April 2011 has now been officially etched as another milestone in my life. Together with Koko Collin, we took a bold step of faith and got ourselves baptised. Sure, we may still be too young to comprehend much, so our ‘infant’ baptism is somewhat of a sign or pledge by Papa and Mama to dedicate us to God and their commitment to bring us up in the ways of our Lord. It was extra joy for us when Ah Kong and Ah Ma decided to make a trip down to KL to lend their support to this special occasion too. :-)

It was also the first baptism performed by Rev Yew Nieng Song since he was posted to our church this year so there certainly was some added drama. Hee! Firstly, he introduced us to the set of white-coloured choir-robe like frocks and pull-overs. I suppose they signify purity I think, but I’m just glad to put it on so my lovely shirt wouldn’t get wet..hee!

Koko Collin has also apparently grown too big to put his arms through the toddler-sized frocks so he had to put on a slightly bigger adult/teen sized one. The robe didn’t seem to slow him down one bit as he was in his usual cheeky jumpy self. Sigh.

 

See how calm and behaved Koko Collin looks here..

Of course, the real drama of the morning occurred right at the altar when Rev Yew picked me up to perform the baptism. Not used to ‘strangers’ carrying me for the first time, I started my baptism solo….My first showcase to the church was my amazing kicking abilities…

 

football kicking practice comes in handy….

Then, my wailing and crying echoed and rocked the entire sanctuary! I guess it was just my way of announcing to the world that I have arrived….hee. Many ‘supporting’ church uncles an aunties kept talking about my magnificent ‘voice’ that morning too….sigh.

 

Ok pastor…you can give me a kiss after enduring all my cryings..:-p

Koko Collin’s baptism proceeded with less drama as he calmly allowed Rev Yew to perform the ceremony. I was so amazed! Was that my brother? Wow. It was even more astounding if you had seen how Koko Collin was so engrossed with flipping the hymnals, sliding back and forth near the altar, jumping here and there, etc. just right before the baptism!

Of course, after that Koko Collin showed how much of a hygiene freak he can be by wiping his hands on the towel a couple of times…

 

have to make sure the hands are dry…:-p

…and then he proceeded to waltz his way into the centre of the altar that resulted in Rev Yew commenting in jest..”Now, you can only come inside when you become a pastor, ok?” Sigh. Boys will be boys, I guess.

Anyway, here’s a video recap of our baptism which took place in KLWMC on 10 Apr 2011. Note of thanks to Koko Namaan who handled the camera:

 

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