Happy Birthday Son!!!

Thank you for all the gifts!
And most importantly, thank you all for eating cakes and celebrating Enoch's 3rd birthday with us!!!

Omohide Poro Poro (歲月的童話；Only Yesterday)

This is a song from the ending of Omohide Poro Poro, an animation produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Isao Takahata.

(Spoiler Alert: If you are planning to watching the film for the first time, you may want to listen with your eyes closed.)

Japanese Version


English Version (Original)

"The Rose"
Written by: Amanda McBroom
Sung by: Bette Midler

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless, aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you, its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely,
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong,
Just remember, in the winter,
Far beneath the bitter snow,
Lies the seed that with the sun's love,
In the spring, becomes the rose.

Hymn to A Good Wife

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
(Proverb 31, The Message)

I was very sick for the past week. And seeing my wife, who is pregnant, taking good care of the family, I suddenly have Proverb 31 in my mind. I thank God for opening my eyes and refreshing my mind once more. And I thank my wife for being herself. "Your characters truly impressed me!"

孝順仔

Enoch：「爸爸，你仲有冇病呀？」

為著兒子這個問候，心裡有一點開心。正準備回答：「我好返啦！多謝你問候！」，看穿兒子心思的媽媽很快答上嘴：「爸爸已經病好，媽媽今晚唔會同你瞓啦！」

眼見自己的心思被媽媽看穿，Enoch立即繼續對我說：「你未病好，媽媽唔可以同你瞓，因為驚你傳比佢。」

聽著這樣的對答，我不禁大笑起來。

Life is Good