Tuesday, November 25, 2025

CALL 776 : NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Hello Son,

 

It's 7.45 am. 

 

Tuesday morning.

 

Dad, Mom and Justine just got 

back from church.

 

We attended the 6:15 am mass 

this morning.

 

Your sister will be going outstation 

tomorrow for 2 weeks. 

 

Something awesome happened.

 

You really do know how to make

your presence felt.

 

It's a divine ZAP all the way. 

 

So, we arrived in church about 

2 minutes late.

 

We sat on the right side of the 

church this morning. 

 

Normally, we sit on the left, 

but Dad parked the car on the 

left side of the church and so 

that's how we ended up sitting 

on the left. 

 

On the last bench of the front 

row of pews. 

 

Can you picture that?

 

Everything was as normal 

as normal could be. 

 

Until the reader went up the 

altar and read the first reading. 

 

Pause.

 

As Mom heard your name loud 

and clear through the speakers

in church.

 

 

O

 

M

 

G ....

 

You don't say ...

 

 


 

 

A reading from the book of Daniel.

 

You must have seen your mother 

smile as she turned to look at Dad 

and Justine, and gave them a knowing look.

 

Seconds later, Mom heard the word

"Nebuchadnezzar."

 

OMG.

 

Seriously???

 

What are the chances???

 

Last night, Dad and Uncle KK were

watching a Nativity movie on TV.

 

Mom went to the bedroom, 

took her shower, and plonked 

herself on the bed.

 

She turned on the TV to find that 

same movie.

 

Instead, your mother came across this :

 

 


 

Ahh. 

 

Mom has turned on this movie 

some weeks back. She had watched 

about half an hour of the movie, 

and had changed the show. 

 

LOL. 

 

It's not like THE CHOSEN. 

 

Don't be offended ya.

 

It was just very -- dry.

 

It doesn't have Jonathan Roumie. 

 

 

 Who Is Jonathan Roumie? Meet The Actor Who Plays Jesus In 'The Chosen' –  Hollywood Life

 

 

So anyway, last night, for some reason,

Mom continued where she left off.

 

You must have whispered to your mother.

 

"Watch the show, Ma."

 

About 5 minutes into the movie, 

Daniel was brought in to interpret

the King's dream.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel interprets the King's dream.

 

A few minutes later, Dad walked 

into the room.

 

He turned to look at the TV.

 

The King was on the screen.

 

Mom said, "Nebuchadnezzar."

 

Dad raised his eyebrow and

exclaimed,

"Wah, you know Nebuchadnezzar?"

 

Mom chuckled.

 

Your mother remembers this name

from her history time in Primary school.

 

We used to pronounce it as :

Ne-bu-chard-na-za.

 

Mom had mentioned casually to Dad.

 

As casual as can be.

 

How in the world did this name

popped up again the next morning

in church???

 

OMG.

 

A billion names that could have

been uttered ... but this name??

 

Nebuchadnezzar???

 

Oh boy.

 

Interesting.

 

It turned out, the whole passage

of the reading this morning,

was about the King's dream and 

Daniel interpreting the dream

for the King.

 

Exactly what Mom saw in the movie

the night before.

 

In other words, your mother saw 

the whole passage of today's reading

in the show she saw last night.

 

Mom did not finish the show. 

 

She only saw up to the point after 

Daniel and his 2 friends were thrown 

into the furnace, and the King said 

he saw a 4th person, 

like an angel

protecting the 3 boys from the fire. 

 

During the homily, Father Alvin

mentioned your name several times.

 

Daniel.

 

Daniel.

 

Daniel.

 

Daniel.

 

Daniel.

 

More than 5 times, as Father was

explaining the reading.

 

Wow! That was such a treat for Mom,

to hear your name being repeated

a few times in church, first thing in 

the morning.  

 

Suddenly, Mom happened to 

look down. She caught sight of 

this word engraved into the 

wooden pew right before her eyes. 

 

Quickly, Mom whispered to Dad.

 

"Did you bring your phone?"

 

Your mother's handphone was 

in the car. Obviously, she wasn't 

expecting any ZAP so early 

in the morning, 

and in church during mass, 

on top of that.

 

Boy, was she taken by surprise. 

 

Dad passed Mom his phone.

 

Mass was still going on.

 

Your mother was no longer listening.

 

Mom clicked. 

 

Mom in black with a Christmas tree and a star.

Can you see the ZAP word?

Can you? Dad took this one. LOL.

Hello Son, Mom whispered in response.

 

OMGosh.

 

Seriously.

 

How did that happen? 

 

We were clearly led to sit on this pew.

 

It's unbelievable.

 

Then, came Communion time. 

 

We stood up and followed the 

communion line.

 

When your mother returned to 

the pew, Justine was sitting in 

her place, followed by Dad. 

 

So Mom was now at your 

sister's seat. 

 

Mom knelt down to say her prayers 

when she suddenly saw this 

character engraved on to the 

wooden pew.  

 

That's number 4 in mandarin.


 Chinese Number 4

 

Do you see it?

  

OMG.


Number 4??? 

 

In fact, if you look carefully,

there is another character on the

right of the number 4.

 


 Big Chinese Character (Radical 37) - Big - Sticker | TeePublic

 

The first thing that came to 

your mother's mind was the 

BIG -- 4th person, 

that appeared during the time 

Daniel and his 2 friends were 

in the furnace. 

It was a bigger silhouette 

of a being ... the angel.

 

"There were 3 thrown into the fire ...

... but now I see 4 ... and the 4th ...

the 4th looks like an angel of God."

said King Nebuchadnezzar.

 

Wow, Daniel.

 

Is Mom's interpretation correct??? 

 

Daniel ... 4th ... Angel ...

 

All good words for Mom.

 

At the time of this call, Mom's 

in-box is showing : 

 



 

1 444

 

I am Number 4.

 

The movie.

 

First 2 words in that show,

 

you will hear the calling of : 

 

Daniel, Daniel ... 

 

at the beach scene.

 

Thank you, Son, for keeping close

to your family and always making

your presence felt.

 

Message happily received.

 

Over to you, Daniel.

 

xoxo 

Mom 

Friday, November 21, 2025

CALL 775 : JUSTINE's BIRTHDAY

Hello Son,

 

Thursday, Nov 20

 

Today is Justine's birthday.

 

She took leave from work.

 

We must not work on our birthday.

 

Dad and Mom brought your sister

to TGIF for lunch.

 

We will be having dinner with the

family in the evening.

 

Your parents had made a reservation

2 days before for a table at 12 pm.

 

It is 11 am when we reach the mall.

 

This morning, for some reason, the 

parking barrier is not working. 

It barrier is up. The mall guard  

motions for us to drive in. 

 

Dad drives in.

 

We park the car at our usual 

basement 4. 

 

It is still early so we go to 

Starbucks for coffee.

 

By 11:40 am, we left Starbucks

to walk over to TGIF. 

 

Justine brings the Starbucks coffee in the nice cup.

Your sister orders buffalo wings ...

seafood ...

platter ...

and beef ribs.


Complimentary for the birthday girl.

TGIF is nicely decorated ...

and the gang of waiters ...

come over to our table to sing ...

the Happy Birthday song.

May all your wishes come true, Justine. 

We are enjoying ...

our lunch very much.

See the FREE birthday cake?

It's a RAINBOW cake.

This place is just PERFECT :

RAINBOW cake and the ZAP words.


FUN. FREEDOM. CELEBRATION.

 

Funny thing is, in the car, 

Mom asked Justine to take 

3 guesses where Dad and Mom 

are taking her for lunch.

 

Your sister said :

 

1. BBQ Town

2. Japanese

3. TGIF

 

We were surprised that she made

the right guess, because she has not

been to TGIF in a very long time, 

and not this new branch at this mall.

 

Mom thought to herself, 

Son must have whispered to her.

 

There are a hundred over restaurants

in this mall. It was unlikely that Justine

said the right place without any help. 

Haha. 

 

So anyway, after a nice lunch,

we went to Village Grocer 

to get some last minute stuffs.

 

We are having burgers and 

hotdogs for dinner. The kids,

Megan, Dylan and Ryan, will

like that.

 

After getting our stuffs, we head

to the car park.

 

We drive out.

 

As we pass the exit, the barrier is

down. Good thing the mall guard

is there. Dad tells the guard, the barrier

was not working when we came in.

 

The guard lifts the barrier up.

 

As we drive out, Mom notice the time

on the dashboard.

 


 

2:01.

 

It has to be.

 

Of course, it has to be 21.

 

The time that photo was taken : 

 

14:01

 

2:01

 

 

Mom says with a laugh, 

"FREE parking. And 21. Wahh!"

 

Grin.

 

You are clearly with your sister on

her birthday. 

 

 

Tucking into burgers and hotdogs.

Kayden and Justine.


Dad and Mom.

Aunt D at far left, Ryan, Dylan, Aunt H and Megan.

Mom made the cheese cake. 

Carnivore style.

Aunty D brought the jelly.

Dad grilled the meat and eggs.

Happy birthday, Justine.


Our family ...

people. Cheers!

Stitch from Ryan.

Dylan got a makeup set.

 

Megan, mini photo keychains.



From Dad and Mom.

When Justine is checking 

the perfume bottle, 

she suddenly exclaims :

Hey, there's a banana here ..." 

 

Your mother's ears prick up.

 

A banana???

 

Where??? 



OMG.

 

You don't say.

 

What are the chances of having 

a banana on a perfume bottle?

 

In fact, Mom had wanted to get 

the Kate Spade set for Justine, 

but Dad chose this Marc Jacobs set 

because the promoter (a guy) 

promised Dad some mini samples, 

including BOSS. 

 

Banana??

 

That's your last food you had before

you left us, Daniel.

 

Banana.

 

ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!

 

You were surely with us the whole day.

 

It really was a ... 

 

PERFECT DAY!!


Thanks Son.

 

Keep the ZAPS coming.

 

Love you.

 

xoxo

Mom