Hidden underneath the seat...

I was at the shopping mall earlier, to get some books (well, that was the main objective) as I have some book vouchers left from a friend who gave it to me as gift.

I walked around the shopping mall, got my books, and some other stuffs along the way (well, that's what they say about women shopping) and made my way to the car park.
After paying for the ticket at the Autopay machine, I walked towards my car, got into the car and took out my sunglasses case to put it on.

To my horror and shock, I saw that the case was empty!
My heart almost stopped and I panicked, but I kept telling myself that I should calm down while I frantically search my driver and passenger seat and also my own handbag as they are the three possible places where the sunglasses could be.
I could not find it, and it added to my anxiety.
To make matters worse, I had to leave the car park in 15 minutes, leaving me with no time to go back to trace my trail in the shopping mall earlier.

I don't recall myself dropping the sunglasses nor did I clip it on my shirt as I sometimes do.
I was really upset and almost on the verge of tears, as I love those sunglasses.
I went back into the shopping mall, after parking by the street after exiting the car park and went into the bookshops and shops I walked into and alas, no avail.
I knew I had to leave; if I dropped it, it would definitely be picked up by someone else and I just did not want to imagine my beloved sunglasses in the hands of another.

I left with a heavy and broken heart, while praying to the Lord and saints for their help for the best possible ending.
While driving home, I kept trying to recall and yet I had no memory of taking the sunglasses out of the car.
I prayed and prayed, feeling more and more distressed by the moment and asked for God's help.

It was God's blessing, for sure, for when I reached home, I made one final attempt to look under the seat and peeked into the side of the passenger seat where things often drop and there, lay my precious sunglasses!

I was so happy and thankful that I must have thanked the Lord and the saints for more than a hundred times!

It is truly God's blessing to me to relocate my sunglasses.

It may sound like my sunglasses is of an expensive or luxury designer brand the way I got so upset over it but no, it is not, not really.
It is the meaning of my belonging, as you know how much I treasure my sunglasses.

The sunglasses was a gift from my Daddy, and it is more than ten years old.
I loved it, and I only have this pair of sunglasses. I rarely buy those RM10 or RM5 sunglasses with fake designer labels as I am particular about the UV coverage and my Daddy also only trust in professional optical shops or specifically, optometrists.

I got mine from an optometrist, and it is a branded sunglasses too, but not too expensive.
At that time, I was already really proud to own a small designer brand :)

I don't want to change for any other brand at the moment as it is still serving me well, though an aunt used to say that it is not that nice and showed off to me that she got her fake DKNY for only RM15.
I don't care, mine is good and it's staying for a long, long time.

It's a good thing that I didn't lose it before my trip tomorrow; I'd hate to be without my good ol' sunglasses when I am traveling (or any of my belongings).

I am thankful for its return, although it was not really lost but still, I am thankful and thanks to its hiding place....right under the passenger seat :)

Easter Vigil Mass

A sea of lights; that would be the words I would use to describe the opening scene of the Easter Vigil mass at The Holy Family Church in Kajang.

As with all Easter vigil masses, the mass is made up of four sections:
1. The Service of Light
2. The Liturgy of Word
3. Christian Initiation and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows
4. Eucharistic Liturgy

Easter Vigil begins with darkness; and the Service of Light is symbolic of Jesus Christ as the light in our lives.
He is the Beginning and the End; the Alpha and the Omega.

The Easter candle is lit by the parish priest, followed by the song of praise, "Christ Our Light" by the priest and responded by "Thanks be to God" by the congregation.

It is a common scene taking place at all the Roman Catholic churches around the world where the church will be in total darkness and only the flames from the candles lit the hall.
It is not my first time taking part in this important mass as well; but perhaps it was the new environment in the parish church this year and also the massive crowd (the church is huge!), the lighting of candles around the whole church lit up the grounds so brightly and the reflection of the flames on the dark tinted glass windows was really beautiful.

I regretted leaving my camera behind at home (something which I rarely do); as I could have taken a shot of the beautiful view to share here.

The mass is also the earliest vigil I have attended; commencing at 7.30p.m, but I was glad it started early as the mass, with the four parts taking place during the celebration lasted for almost four hours.
I am not complaining; it is the norm with Easter Vigil mass and I have attended it every single year.

In my memory; besides this being one of the midnight masses in a year (there are only two; Christmas and Easter), the mass is also the longest in the church calendar.

I have always felt touched and enthusiastic during this mass, which is also one of the most anticipated mass of the year besides Christmas.

The church does go to extra lengths to make this a spectacular transformation from one of grief to an immediate one of victorious celebration.
I loved how the ministers, along with the altar servers and the priests lifted the purple cloth covering the statues in the church and instantly decorated the altar with flowers.
(The start of Easter Triduum on Holy Thursday required that all ornaments and decorations to be taken off the church as there is no celebration due to Jesus Christ's death on the cross. Therefore, the altar and the church were bare)

It was indeed a lovely and joyful celebration after the 40 days of fasting and penance during Lent, and also the grief and sorrow surrounding the death of Jesus Christ.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He brought us (sinners) new life by defeating death.
He is the Light of the World, and He reigns!

Easter is the most important celebration in the church calendar, and to me, this is marks the start of Christianity.
Christians worldwide celebrate the risen Christ with their families and loved ones; with joy and all the galore of the happiness of festive seasons.

I love Easter!
Rejoice, for our Lord is Risen!~

Have a blessed Easter, everyone!~