The Greatest Gift of All

The greatest gift of all is you, my Lord, on this Christmas Day
Like the sun will always shine, give life to earth, as it always be
You have given me everything I need — what can I ask for more?
That the Spirit of Love will be with me until the eternal day
Thanks be to God, our Father, for the greatest gift of all.

Christmas Day 2012

Christmas Poinsettia Photo by Mei

Writer’s Notes:
The above verses originated during the week leading to the First Sunday of Advent as I was reflecting on the meaning of Christmas and coming upon the realization that:

The Christmas present is Christ Himself, and that Christ is love!
Món quà Giáng Sinh chính là Chúa Kitô, và Đức Kitô là tình thương!

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Let us adore Him

Adore Photo by Mei

Trong không gian tĩnh lặng
Của giá lạnh đêm đông
Mục đồng yên giấc ngủ

Gia đình ông Giô-sép
Dừng chân xin quá lộ
Nơi máng cỏ hang lừa

Nữa đêm hào quang sáng
Bà Ma-ri chuyển dạ
Sinh hạ bé Giê-su

Thời gian như ngưng lại
Thiên thần báo tin vui
Đấng cứu sinh chào đời!

Mục đồng kia tỉnh giấc
Tìm về hướng Bê-lem
Ngắm Chúa sinh hài đồng.

Christmas Eve 2012

Writer’s Notes:
When I was young, my Dad used to tell me the Nativity story at Christmas. As I grow up, I have a chance to read and listen to the Scripture readings and homilies on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and that I have been mesmerizing ever since... On this occasion, I take up on the opportunity to retell that same story through my very own simple, rustic, yet sincere Vietnamese verses of poem that were written and completed during the past month. It is a gift that I would like to present to God and to share with you all the warmth and happiness of a family on this Christmas Day.

Từ nhỏ Mỹ thường được ba của Mỹ kể cho nghe câu chuyện đêm Giáng Sinh vào mỗi dịp Noël về. Đến khi lớn lên thì Mỹ được đọc, được nghe trong các bài đọc và bài giảng Phúc Âm về gia đình Thánh gia mà Mỹ vẫn còn mesmerizing mãi cho đến tận bây giờ... Nay Mỹ có cơ hội để thuật lại câu chuyện ấy qua lời thơ mộc mạc, giản đơn và chân thành của chính mình được viết và hoàn tất vào khoảng một tháng trước. Đó là món quà mà Mỹ xin dâng lên Chúa và cùng chia sẻ đến với tất cả mọi người cái hạnh phúc bình dị và ấm áp của gia đình nhân dịp lễ Giáng Sinh.

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Twenty Years in Thanksgiving

Twenty years had gone by In a blink of an eye. Though it's cliché, it must be said In giving thanks Unto this land and the ancestors. One continuous stream As the season comes and goes From winter to spring Summer to fall And from fall back to winter. On the wings of time Lessons are being learnt Much have been changed Life's going on Moment by moment.

Showy Fall Leaves Photo by Mei

Touching the earth With deep gratitude In giving thanks Unto the Lord For all His graces and blessings. Family and friends Strangers I have met They are Your gifts Bounded by love With much treasure and appreciation. From here on out For years to come No matter what life brings I learn to live A simple life Through Your love in charity.

Thanksgiving 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Ngoảnh mắt nhìn lại, hai mươi năm đã trôi qua. Theo dòng thời gian là con đường của thành công và thử thách tràn đầy hồng ân Thiên Chúa. Tình yêu thương của Ngài được cảm nhận qua sự hiện diện và đồng hành của người thân, bạn bè hoặc/và những người thiện nguyện gặp trên bước đường đời. Cái hạnh phúc giản đơn của cuộc sống là tiếp nhận lấy những gì mà cuộc sống đem lại trong niềm tin nơi Thiên Chúa. Ngài là điểm tựa để quay về.

Looking back, twenty years had passed. In all life's successes and trials, there always were the blessings of God's graces. The greatest love of God, Jesus Christ, manifested through the presence and accompanying of family, friends and of those good samaritans on the road to life. The simplicity of life is to embrace whatever life brings while entrusting everything to God. He is our refuge.

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Long-lost Friends

Nghe giọng nói thân thương
Của bạn xưa trường cũ
Hôm nay tôi tìm lại
Khoảng khắc tuổi học trò.

English Translation version:
Long-lost friends are calling me
By the name that I long to hear
Thinking of whom...
Reminding me those good old days.

This time, last year.
Written in reminiscing of my old school mates.

8A1

You're my stars, you're my skies
You're my beautiful rays of sunlight.
You bring me smiles, you make my day
You are my friends that forever be...

October 2011
Written to friends in my 8A1 class!

Morning Dewdrops

Morning Dewdrops on Bitter Melon Leaf Photo by Mei

Notes:
The above picture of morning dewdrops on bitter melon leaf is the result of my first attempt in making the best out of using Picasa Web Albums' Creative Kit since it officially became the replacement for Picnik.

The original photo was taken with (4th generation) iPod touch camera. It was then soften, refocused using the focal B&W effect and finally... gotten Polaroid framed!

Risen

Like a flower opens up toward the sky
catching the first breath of morning sunlight

My heart is yearning for the Lord
He, who is risen on this break of dawn.

"Flowering Quince" Chaenomeles Flowers Photo by Mei

Happy Easter 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Written on April 3, 2012, during the Holy Week, in giving glory to God at the fifteenth station (Christ’s Resurrection).

The picture of chaenomeles flowers was taken back in March 2012 when those budding flowers found on the "flowering quince" (aka "Japanese quince", japonica) shrub in my Dad’s garden just started to bloom.

The photo was edited in Picasa Web Albums' Creative Kit using mirrored frame by Picnik.

Beginning Anew

Words by: Mei
Sing to the tune of “Morning Hymn”

Spring rain is falling
Sprung up a new life
Awaking my soul
Beginning anew.

Confessing of sins
In reconciling
Profession of faith
In seeking God’s grace.

Come home to give thanks
Thanks unto the Lord
The Lord, O our God
(He welcomes me home)
Welcoming me home.

Lenten Season 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Written on the first day of Spring in reflection of my first confession back on the beginning of the month.

Night and Day

in Love and Prayers

Gazing the stars
Look at the moon
Hugging the sky, I say goodnight.

The sun will rise
Morning will come
Wake up I smile to a beautiful day.

Praying for peace of body and mind
Staying true to oneself
Opening up one's heart to fill with love and to love wholeheartedly!

Lenten Season 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Một ngày mở đầu và khép lại cùng một bài kinh cầu.
Cầu bình an cho thân và tâm
Nguyện sống thật với chính mình và mở rộng trái tim để thương yêu mọi người và mọi loài.

From Within

Bất chợt những niềm vui
Bất chợt những nụ cười
Bạn đang ở trong tôi!

Literal English Translation version:
A moment of joy
A moment of happiness
You are within me!

Writer's Notes
Written in capturing the moment of joy and happiness as I was thinking of friends. It is now posted here to express my continuation of love and caring for them. This is for you, friends!

Spring Rain

Mưa Xuân trên tuyết trắng
Thắm đượm tình quê hương.

Dâng hương xin tưởng nhớ...
Nguồn gốc tổ tiên nhà.

Literal English Translation version:
Spring rain on white snow
Overflowing with love from my motherland.

An offering of burning joss sticks...
An offering in remembrance of our ancestors.

Writer's Notes
Phần đầu được viết vào ngày mùng hai Tết Nhâm Thìn 2012.
Phần hai được bổ sung vào ngày mùng tám Tết.

Joyous New Year

白雪紅梅 baak syut hung mui
龍年飛喜 lung nin fei hei

Literal English Translation version:
White Snow Red Plum
Joyous Dragon Year.

Writer’s Notes
The above Chinese phonetic writing of Spring couplet was not originally planned. It just happened that those Cantonese sounding words came to mind while I was thinking of my two most favorite Cantonese opera performers, Lung Kim Sang 龍劍笙 and Mui Suet See 梅雪詩, as they celebrated their fifty year of collaboration this past December (2011).

Word playing on their stage name's surname, 梅 Mui and 龍 Lung respectively, the couplet is to depict the coming of spring heralded with blooming plum blossoms and the coming year of the dragon filled with joy.

Credits and/or Citations:
The above written verses incorporate the utilization of the online MDBG Chinese-English dictionary for Jyutping Cantonese romanization of Chinese characters.

Tet An Khang

Trong tiết trời lành lạnh của mùa Đông Bắc Mỹ, lòng người được sưởi ấm bởi không khí bình an ấm áp của cái Tết quê nhà. Thật hạnh phúc thay, dù không mai đào nở, nhìn hoa tuyết trắng rơi như nhìn thấy cả một mùa Xuân đang được ân cần chăm sóc và nuôi dưỡng từ lòng đất Mẹ.

An Khang - Good Health Greeting Created by Mei

Mến chúc tất cả một Năm Mới an khang và hạnh phúc.

Notes
Illustrated are Vietnamese verses taken from Winter to Spring couplet written in celebrating Lunar New Year 2012.

Credits and/or Citations:
The above Lunar New Year greeting design was created using Picnik (basic edits, text and stickers) with own scanned canvas.

Winter to Spring

Gió Đông lành lạnh thổi
Tuyết trắng đón Xuân về.

冷冷的風吹
laang laang dik fung ceoi
白雪等春來
baak syut dang ceon loi

Literal English Translation version:
Cold Winter wind
Snow welcoming Spring.

Writer’s Notes
The idea of writing Spring couplet initially started out just for fun; and yet, it somehow became a personal activity of things to do in celebrating Lunar New Year.

That said the writing process is an enjoyable experience. It always brings smiles to my face.

For the year’s theme, the multilingual thoughts came to mind minutes passed four o’clock in the morning of Friday, December 9, 2011. Those lines of verses were later written down, revised and completed in the early afternoon of the same day.

This year's couplet depicts a beautiful winter scene in which my family and I used to welcoming the Vietnamese "Tết" New Year here in the Northeast.

Credits and/or Citations:
The above written verses incorporate the utilization of the online MDBG Chinese-English dictionary for Jyutping Cantonese romanization of Chinese characters.

Togetherness

Sweet Glutinous Rice Dumplings Made by Mei :D

My very own creation of "chè trôi nước", glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste in sweet ginger sauce, in three varieties: tapioca pearls covered, rolled in sesame seeds and dried cranberry spotted, which I have enjoyed making them with Mom on the day approaching Lunar New Year.