The Farm Girl At Heart Meets A Real Farm Girl

Just few weeks ago, I was blessed to accompany a friend visiting her family farm in Chantaburi. There, I met my friend's sister who is a real farm girl. This is her house.

I wanted her to remain anonymous to respect her privacy, thus, you cannot see her face in any photos. She's a beautiful lady in her late 50's, very creative and hardworking. Here, she is carrying a durian seedling that is ready to be transplanted on the ground.

She showed me around her fruit farm. Although it was no longer fruit season but there were still some fruits we gleaned from her trees.

This fruit is locally called langsat or longkong (lanzones). The meat is divided into 5 or 6 sections, translucent and juicy. When I was a little girl, I used to climb on this kind of tree in my grandparents' backyard. I would stay up on the tree, enjoying the fruit as much as I could.

I watched her from below and was wondering what else can she do!

She's got rubber trees, too. (Click on here to see how to harvest rubber sap.)

These are processed rubber sheets that are ready to be sold.

This is her little cottage, a little place to entertain her guests in hot summer. I loved her garden and I so enjoyed taking photos of butterflies and birds visiting her flowers.

While I was around her garden taking pictures, my kind host took young coconuts from this tree.

With her knife, she made a hole on the coconut, then grabbed a straw from her pocket...

and offered me this most refreshing drink!

God bless her for her hospitality. She's a real farm girl and I'm a farm girl at heart.

On Cloud 9

Michelle is my first niece, the first grandchild of my parents. She's the first child of my dear late sister, Rachel, also the first child in our family. Michelle is the first grandchild to be married so we're all excited.

This is not their first wedding, though. They've been married for a year now in a civil court. This time they wanted to strengthen the vows they made on that day by having a Christian wedding.

I didn't take the photo above but I just wanted to share this to all. I thought this really speaks of Michelle's feeling being on cloud 9. She said they wanted to do it every year. Oh, when people are in love!

I pray that Michelle and Mark, will receive all the blessings God has for every married couple. Many couples failed to receive them because some failed to ask and some chose not to.

So they are no longer two, but one. 

Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

Matthew 19: 6

Tea Invitation

Let's have some tea in my garden someday. :-) 

"Where did my childhood go?"

Sings Mr. Chipping in the movie Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

My littlest child asked me tonight what did Mr. Chips mean with that question? I had to explain first the meaning of the word 'childhood' and then also told her that some people didn't have memorable childhood. This made me think of my own...

I thank God for my childhood.

It wasn't perfect and I didn't get all I wanted but I know I had a happy one.

There was never a time when I felt "alone".
I know God was always there for me.

 

I didn't think of danger before.
  Only later I realized how vulnerable I was, but He was there to protect me.

I praise God that I passed that stage, and that I can look back with a smile. 

Last night, I had a vision of a child, alone and helpless. I prayed for that anonymous child, that she would be kept safe from any form of harm and danger...that her innocence and childhood be kept as God intended it to be....

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. 
For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18:10 

Daisies in the House

It's lovely and practical to have dried or plastic flowers in the house but still it's different when you have fresh ones; especially daisies.

I love daisies. They're friendly.

~ Meg Ryan, "You've got Mail"

Daisies are like sunshine to the ground.

~ Drew Barrymore

The poet's darling.

~ William Wordsworth, "To the Daisy"

God Is Not Silent.

Read me here:

 He speaks to us through things around us.

Skywatching in Chantaburi

I had a grand day skywatching at Pa Chai Len, Chantaburi, Thailand. I brought 2 cameras with me to make sure nothing escapes my shutters. Nah! No camera is yet invented to equal the power of our naked eyes. I've seen more than these.

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." 

Genesis 1:31

From The Garden

I just came back from a 2-day holiday in my friend's farm. I had delightful moments in the garden, enjoying the beauty of flowers and butterflies...basking in the wonderfulness of His creation. 

It lingered a while..long enough for me to take delight on this moment.

 I paused, closed my eyes, took a deep breath... and thanked God for a time of rest.

The butterfly counts not months but moments, 

and has time enough. 

~Rabindranath Tagore

Read more..

 

My Neighborhood

I live just behind this line of houses you see. I see this sight everyday.
I thank God for placing me in this beautiful neighborhood where people are, though poor,  friendly and hospitable. I see hope whenever they smile at me.

I thank God that I didn't have to live in a house like this. Though I have no house of my own but I can rent a decent one to call my home.

I thank God that I can share a little hope for my neighbors. Whenever they hear of my free English classes and community library, they beam with hope and are sometimes teary eyed. I cannot build them a better house but at least I can help build a better future for their children.

"I tell you the truth,

whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, 

you did it for me."

Matthew 25:40

Yellow Waterlily

I always pass by this corner whenever I go to our community library.

It's an ugly nook where old tires and other junkies are piled.

But one day, this yellow flower just caught my eye.

Who would expect to find such beauty in this corner.

The by-standers chuckled when I stopped and took some shots.

I didn't mind. This beauty is worth more than an embarrassment.

A Jar of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, 

to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

2 Corinthians 4:7

An earthen vessel is fragile and easily broken. So much like my human flesh. And just like the one in the picture, flawed, chipped and can be cracked, too. I am worthless without the "treasure" in me. So if I were to boast of any accomplishments, it is because of God's power working within me.

What Banner Are You Raising The Highest?

In my previous post, I talked about the banner that says "Joy is BMW". The company must have paid a lot for this ad to be flown the highest in this area of the city.

Yesterday, as I passed by this banner, I was reminded of the song I used to sing in Sunday School.

"Joy is the flag flown high in the castle of my heart...when the King is in residence there.
So let it fly in the sky let the whole world know that the King is in residence there."

I need to check again what flag or banner I'm raising the highest in my heart these days.

What Is Joy?

I took this picture of a red Ferrari on Fork Street, Northpoint, HK.

This gorgeous red thing reminded me of that big, expensive banner that hangs somewhere in our side of town. It boldly spells "JOY is BMW". I bet not all BMW owners would say so. We've seen rich and famous people who left this world without finding real joy. So I don't think that banner would sell.

Joy to me is knowing I'm loved and I'm right with God. What is joy to you?

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 

Now remain in my love.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. 

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:9-11