Crochet Doll

A friend sent me this story which I thought I should share with you all. Unfortunately, I do not have any crochet dolls nor any money from the sale of it .... yet, coz I just read the story. LOL!! Time to learn how to crochet!!!


A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe-box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe-box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totalling $95,000. He asked her about the contents.

"When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll." The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

Darling," he said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "That's the money I made from selling the dolls."



A Prayer

Dear Lord,
I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for strength, I'll beat him to death. And I don't know how to crochet.
Amen!

"Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD." -Rick Warren

Red Roses for a Blue Lady

Many years ago, hubby and I agreed that he will not send me flowers as I have always told him that the florists make a bundle out of a bouquet, and the flowers die eventually. The money would be better spent on a nice meal or a little keepsake (read *bling*).

So a few months ago, when I was feeling really down over the happenings at home, whilst I was out picking little D home from school, this arrived at my doorstep:



It came without the senders name! Had hubby forgotten our agreement? Or do I really have a secret admirer somewhere out there?? When my daughter S saw it, she asked me who it was from. I told her I didnt know as there was no name on it. Her guess was: Uncle Peter, as he always sends flowers. Duh! Why would my bro-in-law be sending me red roses, and 99 of them!!

I knew it had to be hubby. No secret admirers for this "bordering on old" lady! So he broke our pact!! Was I upset? Nah! It is nice to receive a surprise like this once in a while, especially when one is feeling blue, which brings me to the song written by Sid Tepper & Roy Bennett, which I remember Jimmy Osmond singing, and it goes like this


I want some red roses for a blue lady,

Mister florist, take my order, please.

We had a silly quarrel the other day,

I hope these pretty flowers chase her blues away.

Wrap up those red roses for a blue lady,

Send them to the sweetest gal in town.

And if they do the trick, I'll hurry back to pick

Your best white orchids for her wedding gown.

Red Roses For A Blue Lady. Words & Music by Sid Tepper & Roy Bennett

Some humour amidst the gloom.

Just a laugh to start the week off ...

Japanese Banks in Crisis

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.
In the last 7 days, Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches.
Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.

While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.

Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.

Heard that those at Harakiri Bank who were once known to be risk-takers have now lost their guts, and those at Nippon Bank are no longer painting the town red. Those at Toyota Bank have not been spared from the car-nage, and Judo Bank was totally thrown off cos they never saw it coming. Sayonara Bank just said its goodbye, and Miso Bank is also in hot soup. As last reported, Ramen Bank was holding on to its last strand of hope.

What do you say when you meet the president?

When I started my morning exercises, my friends who exercise at the same place told me that I would very likely meet the president. They told me he was one friendly chap who always stopped to talk to those passing him.

But what do you say when you meet the president?? I dont know! In a formal situation, say, at a prize-giving ceremony or a similar kind of occasion, I guess, he would be the one to start the conversation, and the talk would probably revolve around the occasion. But when you are out exercising and he stops to talk... what to say to him??

Thoughts ran thru' my mind. Should I stop and shake his hands and greet him with a "Good Morning Mr President", like we see at the movies? And then pour out all the changes that I would like to see made in the country? Nah! That I should reserve for the Prime Minister, .. if I should ever meet him. Would addressing him as Mr President be too formal? Should I call him "sir" then? or should I address him by name? What if his security officer stops me from getting too near him for fear that I may assualt him (I always carry my mobile with me, and it could possibly look like a weapon). But I dont look that threatening.

So how? Well, I have met him many times already, and do you know what I do? I just break into a "brisker" walk when I am nearing him, and say "Good Morning" together with a head nod and smile to acknowledge him, and go by as quickly as I can, as if I am a serious walker preparing for the next Olympic Games 10km walk event!!

Am I Adopted?

My son asked me that question last week. It was after a rough patch we were both going thru', and he felt he had been getting the short end of the stick. My response to him was: What do you think?

He said: I think I am adopted.

My elder daughter then interjected: As far as I know, you both (referring to him and my younger daughter) are not adopted. BUT, I dont know if I am!

I then turned to my elder daughter and looked her in the face, staring hard at her. At that point she started screaming: "Oh my gosh!! I am looking at myself in the mirror!! So, I guess I am not adopted too!!" Then she cracked up laughing.

Well, son - you are definitely not adopted. You arrived on this day 9 years ago. Your arrival brought us all great joy then, and will be continue to. You were much loved then and will continue to be by all in the family today and alway! Happy Birthday, N!!

A huge load off her shoulders

Yes, a huge load has been lifted off my daughter's shoulders now that the PSLE is over. Many may scoff and say that it is only the PSLE, but in Singapore, every common exam is a major exam for our children, nevermind what level they are at. It is a brigde they have to cross that may affect their futures, hence the stress for them to do well.

We have always told her that as long as she gave her best, we will not fault her no matter what her results, and some how, being the conscientious and hard-working girl that she is, she has worked hard.

We tried not to stress her, but we found that we had to constantly remind her to study, and stay focused on the exams, coz children being children, they can get carried away at times by distractions. I guess, we ourselves were stressed, even though we were not the ones taking the exams!! There were nights when I awoke at 3am after having a dream about her exam papers!! Even I couldnt believe it. When I was sitting for my own exams, even the Uni ones, I never worried or fretted like I did the past few weeks. I guess this was one exam I had absolutely no control over.

Now, with the exams over, I noticed that there is a spring in her step, and her appetite has improved. She seems happier and even has time to play pranks on her siblings. Tho' she never outwardly complained, she must have internalised the stress she was feeling.

Well, I guess we will enjoy ourselves for the next 5 or so weeks before we start worrying and fretting the week before the results are released. That's life, I guess.

"Lord, give success to the work of her hands!"

Boys!

They are really amazing creatures! We had the privilege to play hosts to 7 of my son's friends not so long ago, and this was the first time I have had so many boys in my home.

They are really different from girls. When my oldest had her friends over previously, they could just sit around and eat, or play board games, or twirl each others hair. But boys, they are really wired differently. They are not interested at all in food (except chips and fizzy drinks). We had a BBQ going, but they did not want to eat. I couldnt let them go home without dinner, so I had to force them to eat. Most of them wolfed down a sausage and said they were done - never mind the chicken, lamb chops, squid, etc all crying out to them to be eaten.

They can play soccer anytime, anywhere! When they had to abandon their soccer game halfway because of rain, they were equally happy playing FIFA 08 on the x-box. Anything soccer will do. Even table-soccer! Even if they dont have a ball. I have seen them kick around a tennis ball, a mineral water bottle, someone else's shoe, a pencil case, even a toy pig!! I am not kidding.

And the mess they are capable of making!! Even in areas that were out-of-bounds for them, like my bedroom. Not sure how the crumbs found and mess found their way there. You would have thought that my home was ravaged by a hurricane at the end of the gathering. There were crumbs everywhere, and I mean everywhere! Dont ask me where it came from. Guesss they must be like "Pigpen" from Charlie Brown where dirt follows them where ever they go.

And even after a soccer game, they were so active, even tho I made sure I did not serve anythimg that would trigger off a hyperactive reaction, they were bouncing on the sofa and playing so boisterously. I guesss boys will be boys!