So far away* - Carole King

My daughter wanted to eat tau-fu-fa but we were not planning to go to the place that served it. So i told her it was far away and it was not convenient for us to go there.

For emphasis - and a little bit of dad joke - i said that it was tau-fu-FAR!!!!

Not to be outdone, she responded immediately that we don't have to go eat tau-fu-fa. We can go eat tau-fu-NEAR!!!!!

*Found on her brilliant album, Tapestry. Love this song!

If you wanna be happy* - Jimmy Soul

If you asked me, I would be happy if I went for a picnic at Regent's Park in London, caughtthe fun rides at Disneyland, enjoyed the sunset at Santorini and watch the northern lights at Norway.

But to my daughter, a picnic at the nearby park or a ride on a swing in an unkempt playground is enough for her. Some of the swings were broken, there was rubbish strewn all over the playground, but the as the sun set, i could hear her giggle and laugh as she sat on the swing.

A reminder that we don't really need much to be happy and contented.

*This song was featured on the brilliant soundtrack of My Best Friend's Wedding.

Heroes* - David Bowie

Someone at work wished me 'Selamat Hari Raya' yesterday. Maybe he thought i was Malay?

But then again, we are all Malaysians. We all celebrate these holidays, don't we?

Selamat Hari Raya to all Malaysians. Maaf zahir & batin.

 I like this ad the best this year. It reminds me that we are all heroes in our own ways.



*To be honest, i first heard the cover version of this song by The Wallflowers from the soundtrack of Godzilla! This original version is just as good!

Bridge over troubled waters* - Simon and Garfunkel

A touching tribute. So sad. One's home is supposed to be the safest place one can find in this cruel world.



It was also touching to see the firefighters clearly moved and saddened by the tragedy. These brave people ran in and went up when everyone was trying to go down and out. Respect!

*The original version, such a beautiful song. It won 5 Grammy Awards in 1971 including Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song.

Daddy* - Beyonce

"Daddy!!!"

It was around 2 in the morning. I was woken up by my daughter earlier as her diaper leaked and her clothes and bed got wet.

Had to wash her, change her, changed the bed sheet and mattress protector and put her back to sleep. After that, I couldn't sleep anymore and for the next hour,i just sat there looking at her,sleeping peacefully - and that filled my heart with so much love and joy.

Being a father is not easy! I had to eat 2 Happy Meals the last week just to get these fellas for my girls!!!!

Happy Father's Day! I wouldn't give it up for anything!!!

*Her tribute to her daddy - i hope my daughters would find the lyrics of this song to reflect how they feel for me.

Empty* - The Cranberries

Thought of day from my Hymn Lovers Favorites calendar:-

One can only fill a bottle if it is empty. God can only fill me when i empty myself.

*Taken from their No Need To Argue album.

Don't need much to be happy* - Mary Chapin Carpenter

It was her first time on the beach. She absolutely loved it!!!!

It wasn't a very nice beach. The sand was coarse and brown. But did it matter to her? No. She was the most contented person in the world, with her little shovel and small pail which she got me to fill up with sea water for her a couple of times.

As my student said, it's so nice to see how children are easily contented by the little things in life.

We have so much we can learn from the children. They are truly a blessing from God.

*From her Ashes and Roses album, released in 2012.

For good* - Kristin Chenoweh and Idina Menzel

An important and timely reminder from the camp talks -

Romans 8:28-29 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters'.

In ALL THINGS. God works for the GOOD of those who love him (me!). God has also predestined me to be CONFORMED to the image of his son.

In ALL THINGS - this includes the pain and suffering that i have to go through.

The pain and suffering is not something bad. It's not bad luck (trials are appointments, not accidents - reminder from another talk). It's not that life is unfair and i just have to suck it up. God is using that to work out something. For me. For good.

*The brilliant duet from the musical, Wicked.