Living examples

Saw this mail in my inbox today; thought it’s worth sharing <thanks Siew Bee!>

LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE (85 YEARS!)…GIVES RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

 Meet Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina . They have been married 85 years (86 in May) and hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple and get this? Zelmyra is 101 years old and Herbert is 104 .

The happily married couple teamed up with twitter this Valentine’s Day to answer some relationship questions. Check out their take on finding love, getting through hard times and more . Good read.

1. What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives
together? Were you scared at all?

H & Z: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and
secure. Divorce was NEVER an option – or even a thought.

2. How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?

We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life – our marriage has lasted a lifetime. 

3. Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?

We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other & our family.

4. What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?

Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know.

5. What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?

Respect, support & communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest & true. Love each other with ALL of your heart 

6. What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?

Zelmyra: A hard worker & good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us. I married a good man!

7. What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?

Zelmyra: I cook dinner EVERY day. Herbert left work early & surprised me when he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!

Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her & she could relax –
the look on her face & clean plate made my day!

8. You got married very young? How did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?

“Everyone who plants a seed & harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.

9. What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?

Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1
great-great grandchild.

10. Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?

The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.

11. How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long
periods of time?

Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind. <Edit: LOL… even with my wife, we both sometimes almost lose our minds taking care of our two kids together!>

12. At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?

Remember marriage is not a contest. Never keep a score. God has put the  two of you together on the same team to win <Edit: Couldn’t agree more>

13. Is fighting important?

NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree & fight for what really
matters. Learn to bend – not break! <Edit: Reminder to self!!>

14. What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?

We are both Christians & believe in God. Marriage is a commitment to God. We pray with & for each other every day.

Mercy

Here’s a little promo to kick off this post; get your hands on The Bible Experience. Essentially it’s an audio bible that I’ve been listening to for the past 2 weeks. What makes this audio bible different, to me, is because it doesn’t make me fall asleep listening to it, unlike other audio bibles do (trust me, you want to be awake while driving 1 hour to work and back everyday). This audio bible is read by a huge cast, unlike other audio bibles which is voiced by 1 guy with the same monotonous tone throughout. ‘Nuff said.

So far I’m up to the book of Leviticus. That’s amazing for me, because in reading, this book contains so much details and I have to be honest, I skim through it all the time. But listening to it is something else. I felt the burden of the law as it is being read out. Just hearing it made me think, “It’s impossible to keep it! It’s a huge task just to remember it.”.  

My attention were drawn to Leviticus 26, which made me realize just how generous and long suffering our God is.

Lev 26: 3 – 12 (ASV)

If ye walk in My statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time; and ye sall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and Iwill cause evil beasts to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land… And I will set My tabernacle among you; and My soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be My people.

That’s God’s blessings for obedience. At first hearing, it sounded like any other over-the-top promises that God make, revealing His riches and His everlasting love for His people. But when God announces His discipline for disobedience, I see His mercy and grace.

v18 And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto Me…

v21 And if ye walk contrary unto Me…

vs23 And if by these things ye will not be reformed…

v27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto Me…

In His blessings, He holds nothing back. His provision, His protection and His presence He promises unto His people if they walk with Him and obey His commandments.

In His discipline, He holds back lest we are consumed by His wrath. Chances after chances are offered in the hope that the people will realize their mistake and turn away from it, that they may be restored and walk in His favor again. If God ever decided to unleash all of His wrath in one go, in the words of my friend, “We’d be toast”.

“My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah, neither be weary of His reproof. For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth…” Pro 3:11-12

Thank You Father, for relenting, for putting up with our many faults and shortcomings.

 

And the dream came true for me

I love the UK. There, I said it. After a year of living in a place where I couldn’t understand the language, stepping into another where suddenly everything makes sense really makes you feel you don’t want to leave. Ever. My journey began by arriving at the Birmingham airport. I flew with Ryanair, the UK equivalent of AirAsia. We landed, literally, with a thud. I seriously thought the wheels were going to break through the plane. But apart from that, this budget airline was on time, so no complaints in that department.

14-Nov: I was greeted by friends whom I met back in Kajang (they were students then). It was great to see the trio after all these while.

From left: Maya, Peter and Derek (my hosts for the trip)

First stop was the city of Birmingham, the 2nd largest city in England after London. There, we went to a Malaysian restaurant (where else) and I must say:

a. They serve wicked teh tarik (I had two)

b. Their roasted duck, pork belly and char siew rice was awesome

c. Their char kuey teow was approved by my Penang friend. Maya, btw, is a Japanese girl who lives in Penang and speaks perfect Hokkien. I think she is more Malaysian than Japanese.

The food was so good I forgot to take pictures. Oh well… After stuffing ourselves silly, we head over to Oldham. There we stayed at the Travel Lodge, something like your Tunes hotels, with a bit more extras offered. The room we had came with a double bed and a sofa bed. You can sleep 4 persons in there.

The room; Peter trying to look cool honestly

Outside the hotel

The place itself is nothing glam; to be expected from the price you pay for the rooms. You step into a very immaculate lobby, simply designed as it is, check yourself in and off you go to the room. That was day 1.

15-Nov: Big day for Peter, Derek and myself, as finally we will be going to dream land of every Manchester United fan, OLD TRAFFORD. But first, we head to Manchester China Town.

The Grand Arch of Entrance

First stop was to have dim sum at the Pacific Restaurant. I found out breakfast in UK doesn’t start until 11am, which made me kinda suffer cos’ the moment I awaken from slumber, the first thing my tummy would do is growl. And having breakfast which is really brunch kicked up a really good appetite. It was a very cosy restaurant, and we were the first customers to arrive. Talk about being hungry. By 12pm, the place was packed to the brim. The waitress that served us, we found out, was from Penang who have been living there for 7 years. And as usual, the food was gone before any one of us could snap any pix.

Beneath the smile hides a rumbling stomach

After lunch, we head to the THEATER OF DREAMS. I’ll let the pictures do the talking…

After 10 years of supporting them, I have reached Manchester United Football Stadium

The United Trinity (United legends)

Below: Sua Pa Kau Trinity

A nice surprise

Being away from your family is a miserable thing; in my case, my wife is pregnant and due end of this month, and I won’t get to see her, my little daughter and my new-born son until middle of February. In case you don’t know, I am working in Slovakia while my family is in East Malaysia. I’ve always maintained that one of my biggest regret would be missing the birth of my son and not being there for the first 4 months of his life.

Well, last Friday my boss told me that I will be going to West Malaysia at the end of this month for business trip. Which means there is a chance for me to visit my family soon. In fact, sooner than I thought!

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of your heart!

More updates to come 🙂

Map of Malaysia; I will be in Kuala Lumpur, while my family is in Kuching.

Memories

Champion's League 2007/2008 Final

On 21-05-08, I took a day off to watch Man U play in the finals of Champions League against Chelsea. Due to time difference, the game was played 3am in Malaysia. I nearly missed the game, even though I took my alarm clock downstairs where the TV was to make sure I was up for it. Today, I was watching the review again. When it came to the finals, my hands started sweating cold sweats. Then slowly, I remembered…

The joy when Ronaldo scored the first goal.

The shock when Peter Cech made the unbelievable double save.

The disappointment when Lampard scored the equalizer.

The sinking feeling when Ronaldo missed the penalty kick.

The stir of hope when Terry MISSED the penalty kick.

The madness and esctasy when Van der Sar saved the final ball from Anelka.

Champion's League 2007/08 winners

Manchester United always…. GLORY GLORY!!!!

To my unspeakable joy

Papa loves you and misses you so much!