The Little Haven of Jovial Pris

Can cousins of cousin date each other?

2008-10-01T19:46:00.001-07:00

Life is not a bed of roses, that it has its ups and downs and more unexpected twists. Relationships in life can be really complicated!

So can cousins of cousin who are not blood related date each other? A tough question to answer right? Life can be a muse, a mess or confusion. Something that I have no answer to as well. So it is really getting more complicated than one has thought, it sounded like a drama or even a novel.

What a mess I am getting myself into! All thanks to my really brilliant cousin and his so-called good idea. I was back home for a while, helping out at another cousin's company, been arrowed to sing during this brilliant cousin's wedding and helping out in the planning and also I was like involved in helping the couple out including the best man and bridemaid. And most of the time the scrapegoat where the best man has an excuse to use not to send the bridemaid back ...

So there goes the complication! I know the best man since young, cousin of my cousin (the one got married) and so got drag into this really complicated relationship. Should this relationship continue or should it end?

I am not sure how everything begins or how I got myself into this. Like what my cousin said, "the little ugly duckling and crybaby has turned into a very independent and confident swan." Yeap, alot of things happened in my life that I was forced to grow-up and I learnt to care for those around me more and learnt to look outward instead of inward (self).

Being organised, independent and confident since I know that I have to depend alot on myself when I am away from home. Nevertheless, God has been my pillar of strength and my refuge in time of needs. I think what I have encounter cannot be written as a novel or even drama who would thought it would happened in a short 6 months of my life before I entered into another phrase of my life in another country pursuing my dream and proving myself.

Will talk more about it another time, need to go for lunch now and get back to more work!

Busy, busy and busy...

2008-09-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Life has been really very busy and tons and tons of reading and a lot of thinking and planning for my research area. More responsibility as the supervisors are now more like facilitators and they will just provide guidance.

It gets more confused after each discussions about my plan and research proposal and more readings were given as we need a concrete plan and the steps involve are critical. Well, I hardly have time for much stuff except reading God's word and more work involved.

Attended My Cousin's Wedding...

2008-08-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

My cousin's wedding day, we marked the end of the bachelorhood for one of my most brilliant cousins who had always claimed that he was going to stay single all his life till a remarkable lady changed his mind. We were blackmailing him for more ang po money if not we were all gang up to hide his wedding bouquet and wedding bands. It was fun to tease this brilliant guy and he was nice to play along with us.

It was a simple and nice wedding reception in church after the solemn pledge of love and signing of the marriage certificate. And here my cousin and his new bride would start off another chapter of their lives together as one, "to love, to cherish, for health, for sickness, till death do us part." My aunt was heard telling the relatives and friends that she had finally completed her own role as a mother and from now on, my cousin as the head of the his own family together with his wife and Christ leading.

At the wedding, I met some of my old churchmates from my mum's church and also my other cousins' girlfriends and boyfriends. It was nice to see all of them during the dinner and also to know that more wedding are coming up the next couple of years. As usual, some aunties would be asking. "Why didn't you bring your boyfriend? Faster get yourself a boyfriend, you are already 21."

Am I anxious to get attached and be in a relationship? I know for sure right now is not the right time and I am not anxious as I believe that God has prepared someone for me somewhere out there and when I have prepared myself to be a better person, naturally this person would be there for me.

Somewhere Out There
written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

A New Chapter of My Life...

2008-08-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

Being back home for slightly more than six months, I was somehow reluctant to uproot myself to go chase after my dreams and my ambition. Yet, a part of me knows that unless I stretch myself to my limit and prove to myself that I can achieve what I have set out to do, my heart will always have the longing to complete it. I believe it must be hard for my mum to welcome back her youngest child and then at the winks of the eyelids, half a year had passed us by that she was to send me off away to a foreign land but this time round, she was glad that I am just about 8 hours from home and of course, a couple of the church members' children are in the same university that I am going.

Being back in church, being involve in organising and helping to set up the membership database and the young working adults, life was very fulfilling and also making new friends. There is quite a bit of changes in church, alot of new faces and some familiar faces are not around anymore. Needless to say, the first couple of weeks, I had this jerky feeling. As time passed by, the passion and love for the Lord see me through my service in church. Remember my church pastor and a uncle insisted that I must be there on the day I was flying off since they were going to pray and send me off.

This time round, there was no emotional standoff at the airport, my mum just reminded me to take good care of myself and told me that they should be visiting either in spring or summer if time permit. And here I started my new journey of learning, Xuan had promised to house me for 2-3 weeks in her apartment till I find my own apartment.

It was a new beginning and a new environment that I had to get used to in a short time and settled down for classes, seminars and tons of reading to prepare me for the area of research that I was planning to work.

The first 2-3 weeks were the worst as rental property market here is tight and lots of people were renting as the interest rate for buying property is very high at 8.5 to 9.5%. For every open house, there were at least 30 people viewing. Thank you, Xuan and Sean who took the effort to accompany me to view the property and also to think of strategies to secure a unit.

Finally, found my home sweet home here.

It's a long time since I came in here...

2008-06-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I am home, it's so nice to be home. And of course, all the yummy food that my mum has prepared for me. Being able to catch up with all my cousins and close friends.

Love the feeling of been home and being close to all my loved ones. It was a shocking experience during the first week home, the whole mall near home was so congested and crowded with people which made me rather spent time at home. I hate crowds and never enjoy shopping in crowded area. So I spent most of my first week lazing around at home and the rest of the few months working on projects for my cousin.

Working life was as hectic as my student life with lots of deadline to meet and nevertheless, I managed to squeeze out time to go around Singapore. Looking at the familiar and not so familiar places as Singapore has changed quite a bit during my two years away from home.

Alot of developments are taking root in this small tropical island and many old buildings had been demolished to make way for new and tall skycrappers. And it gave a different feel to the familiar places.

And another three to four years away, I think I will be lost in this tropical island.

Taking sometime away from the site.

2007-12-21T21:34:00.001-08:00

Will be away for a while as I need sometime to bid some close friends farewell before I head back home.

There are alot that I would like to write but I do not have the time to do so for the time being.

Will be back when I have more time.

Rainbow

2007-11-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

Got this lovely email from a very good friend as I am pondering over some questions.

The most beautiful rainbow

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that

wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You

will have your heart broken probably more than once and

it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so

remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight

with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things

an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast,

and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too

many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never

been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset

is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be

afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never

begin.

I really wonder how many long distance relationship do last and even been physical present to each other, a relationship could still break up and what's more a long relationship. This is a topic that my friends here and a couple of my cell in church are pondering after a friend asked a question, "Is it more painful to initiate breakup with someone or someone ask for a breakup?"

Honestly, I think both are painful. But like what the saying goes, "It is better to break off when both find that they are not compatible then to hold on and the pain will be greater." Nevertheless, it will still be painful but time will heal, won't it?

I think friendship and relationship are two separate issue. And will a couple still be able to maintain a close friendship after they ended a relationship which is what I am wondering. I am trying to sort out a lot of my thoughts as well.

Anyway, looking forward to a couple of visitors in December and getting really excited. And will be meeting up with a secondary school classmate's brother here, really amazing to discover someone I know that is working here.

Will for now, I just need to work and revise.

Missing in Action...

2007-11-21T23:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I have written my last entry about 3 weeks ago and being really busy when I came back from UK. Catching up with work and also doing assignments had drained me out for the past weeks.

Hardly has time to catch up with anyone just met a couple of friends for lunch and also replying lots of emails. Just some update, my interviews got through and I was glad that the interviewers are supporting my application. Being able to get so far by itself is a miracle by God, for without Him, I am nothing. There will be a couple more rounds of selections before I will know the result.

As for now, I will need to work hard for final which is just around the corner and also for a couple of last assignments due this week.

You are my hiding place...

2007-11-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

How wonderful and marvellous God has created the world. The sky, the ocean, the trees and grass in the field. The creatures of the air, land and sea. And it is beyond our understanding and comprehension of how God created homosapiens and how amazing that our bodies are a great machinery.

It is beyond my knowledge to fully comprehend the relationship that God longs for the fellowship with me and giving up the life of his one and only Beloved Son to died on the cross for me (and it is the most cruel death that one would receive), an unworthy and that I could be delivered by his shredded blood so that I am free from my sin and being make whole and worthy through the lamb of God. And it is definitely not by my good work that I am saved but by the faith that I have in Christ, my Lord.

How sweet is this relationship for those who have come to the Lord and take refuge and shelter in him. Learning to rest in his holy presence and learning to lay down all my desires, my dreams and everything that holds me hostage at his feet and find the rest that I long to have. Learning to admit that I am nothing and worthless without Christ, indeed, You have always been my hiding place in time of trouble, doubts that I needed a quiet moment, that I could sneaked away and find complete tranquil solitude in You.

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." - Psalm 32:7

And here's a song that has always been one that I sang in my heart when the world seemed to be stumbling down and that I can have the peace knowing that You are my Hiding Place and You are in control that I need not be afraid.

You are My Hiding Place
Words and Music by Michael Ledner

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say
I am strong
In the strength of the Lord

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You

© 1981 CCCM Music (Administered by Maranatha! Music c/o: The Copyright Company, Nashville, TN) Maranatha! Music (Administered by The Copyright Company, Nashville, TN) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured.

Thank you...

2007-11-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

First of all, I must apologize to many of you who emailed me after reading my exhausted blog entry. Well, I am really fine, just at that particular moment, I was feeling really really tired. I am really thankful for all the encouragement, pps slides that some of you have made and attached to the emails for me as well as letting me know that along the whole journey that I plodded, I have a lot of you supporting me, encouraging me along the way.

I am grateful that all of you have offer me a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear and mostly importantly, the love that you have showered upon me unconditionally. Thank you, mummy, kor, mama, nini, niky kor and many others, do not worry, sometimes I just need to vent, that's all. And pastor, thanks for the encouragement, I know everything is in God's hand and plan and He will not give me second best but the best.

I must say that it might be at the beginning of getting the virus infection and also the amount of work seemed overwhelming which made me lost my focus and just could not help feel tired. I know nothing is impossible with God. Rest assurance, I am really fine now after venting out and feeling more relaxed and refreshed now as well as ready for the challenge ahead.

Interviews...

2007-11-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

It is a great relief that it is over...

The outcome is yet to be known which I do not wish to ponder on it further. Anyway, God will take care of it and my future is also in his plan. His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are greater than my thought. Shall give myself a couple of days of break before I head back to another crazy and mad rush week.

I am really thankful for the opportunity, it is not so important what the outcome will be but what matter is the learning experience that I have gained through the process, it is a long journey in fact.

Like what a friend always commented, "Don't worry, be happy. It's not the end of the world." Yep, I agreed, let me be lazy for these couple of days, just enjoying the lovely building structures and go round taking photos of the place.

Think it has been a while since I feel so free and relaxed, I missed those carefree days where I could just laze around, take a book and look for a nice field and lie down and read. So these few days, just let me let down my hair and take a nice deep breathe and enjoy the place around me.

About My Five Year Plan...

2007-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

While taking a breather here and looking through all the notes that I have prepared for the interview, I was thinking about this, "What do I visualize myself in five years time?"

For the time being I really do not know, I have not visualized anything concrete yet but will seriously give it a thought soon. Interestingly, something close to my heart or would I say that have also being in my heart came to mind - a very dear friend and also a big brother whom I can confide in, well, Frankie, you know too many things. And I really wondered would it make a difference if I am in Singapore to call you up, my first dancing partner, my secret confidante and a very nice big brother to meet up for tea and have a good chat. It has been 5 years since I last talked to you.

Well, I still remembered vividly the time we spent in the dancing studios practicing and also the gang of us who are always trying to play tricks on Dom (our dancing instructor) during practices especially during rehearsal for the outreach. And all the secrets that we shared. I do remember telling you about all the crushes and got teased by you all the time. Looking back, it was really fun then, and that wretch and Henry have gotten engaged last year and probably getting married next year. Lawrence should be done with his studies too. I think it will be nice meeting up with you and laugh over all the childish and funny stuff. Well, brother, I know it is tough especially you have to be responsible for your family business after graduation, like you have shared about the expectations of your family on you, I supposed that is also one of the reasons that you slowly drift away from us. And that we would not share your burdens. I still remembered how you stood by me, when "Elf" and I have a fight and Bel, Yvonne and the rest of my group stood by him and it was only Kelly, HL and you who believe me. And eventually, even "Elf" wrote back from Ozzie to apologize, as you were there where the whole big incident happened, we all know everyone meant well for "Elf" but no one dared to tell him, worry that it would hurt him. I still remember Alan and you took me out for lunch and telling me that I did not do wrongly by telling him even though there was a confrontation and somehow the group spilt. And that you told me, it is hard on me as my ministry is always on people. Looking back now, I think I agreed with both of you, I have done right even when it looked wrong to everyone then. Thank you for standing by me. And of course, "Elf" and me were not on talking terms until he came back from Ozzie and we have a good talk before I left. "Elf" is getting married end of this year, will not be there for his wedding though, but was glad that he emailed me.

Manage to meet up with Bel and Yvonne last year, we were laughing over this incident and Bel admitted she was so smitten over "Elf" then. I was glad everything was finely settled though it was a painful process then. Glad that "Elf" is still "Elf" but he was more carefully not to "misled" the girls haahaa.

Really hope to have a good chat with you like we used to do during those dance practices, hardly have time to dance now...think I might not be as flexi as before haahaa. Well, have you thought about visiting the rest in church, all of them are still there. Just like you have been a shoulder for me to cry on and a friend that I know I can rely on during time of troubles, which I am always got into. Like what you have always said, "小妹妹，what are you getting yourself into this time?"

Hope that I can be a friend to you in time of need too. Still remember that song that you let me listened to, "A Shoulder to Cry On". Thank you for always taking care of me as a little sister. I was so glad that when I ran into you, you still called me "妹妹". Frankie, I agreed those in the dance ministry are a very closed-knitted group, I ran into Dom last year when I went to church to fetch my mummy after my own church service and he was like asking me, why not dancing anymore and how can transfer church, met Cannon too, he was telling me, anytime, we welcome you back. I remember
Church was like a 2nd home to me, I think I practically grew up there.

So here, I like to delicate this song to you on behalf of all of us from Dance Ministry "penguin steps"(that was the last item that we all danced together) , we manage to have a gathering last year and looking through the couples of albums of photographs that Uncle George have taken for us. I think the group will never to complete when 1 or 2 members are missing.

Thanks, Frankie, for always been a "Kor" to me.

A shoulder To Cry On
Sang by Tommy Page

Life is full of lots of up and downs,
And the distance feels further when you're headed for the ground,
And there is nothing more painful than to let you're feelings take
you down,
It's so hard to know the way you feel inside,
When there's many thoughts and feelings that you hide,
But you might feel better if you let me walk with you
by your side,

And when you need a shoulder to cry on,
When you need a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
You won't be alone, cause I'll be there,
I'll be your shoulder to cry on,
I'll be there,
I'll be a friend to rely on,
When the whole world is gone,
you won't be alone, cause I'll be there.

All of the times when everything is wrong
And you're feeling like
There's no use going on
You can't give it up
I hope you work it out and carry on
Side by side,
With you till the end
I'll always be the one to firmly hold your hand
no matter what is said or done
our love will always continue on

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on
everyone needs a friend to rely on
When the whole world is gone
you won't be alone cause I'll be there
I'll be your shoulder to cry on
I'll be there
I'll be the one you rely on
when the whole world's gone
you won't be alone
cause I'll be there!

And when the whole world is gone
You'll always have my shoulder to cry on....

N.B.: Kor, remember that all of us needs friends to rely on and always to help each other in our walk with the Lord and many a time, the path we chose, we might find that we are alone but take hard, the Lord is with us always. Sorry that I maybe not be able to do much, but I will always be a friend to you.

Virus Infection

2007-11-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Well, in the midst of the busiest period, the most unwelcomed guest invited himself to visit me. Despite the fact of having lots of vitamins and nutritious food, I was not spared getting a virus infection that I lost my voice completely for a day.

And even seeing the doctor was of not much help at all, was told to rest well and drink lots of lots of fluid. So I did took the doctor advise to give myself a break and took time to laze around and came up with quite a bit of decorations for church as well as to brightening up my study area. Will probably take some pictures of it to show some friends who requested to see them.

Thank God that the infection did not completely knocked me out if not, I would be so upset that I could not even review all my work again before all the papers.

Bon Voyage, My dear friend

2007-11-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my examinations, Jun left for home. Could not make it to send him off and here my dear brother and cherished friend, "Bon Voyage."

How time really flies and before each of us realize, it is time for farewell. And there is a saying goes, "Time does not wait for man." Always cherish what you have and be thankful for everything.

I really cherish the friendship and bonding that I have with my friends here and it will always be dear to my heart, no matter where I am. I will not say,"Good bye" because I am sure that some days, somewhere, we will cross into each other's path again. Looking forward to the day for reunion.

That made me remember that I have to keep my promise to visit another very dear friend and sister in Beijing. Will probably need to do some arrangement for that but I do doubt that I could make it next year and after hearing about the crowd in Beijing, I am abit worry though. Alice, I contact you through email and we can discuss about it then.

Feeling really exhausted...

2007-10-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

Feeling really exhausted these couples of days, preparing for midterms and also working on the assignments as I will be taking a week off to go for interview. A lot of preparation and articles to read through too before the interview.

Hardly do anything today as I decided to laze around and give myself a day of rest to recuperate and also to work on some drawing for Halloween Party for a church children party. Drawing and baking are therapeutically to me and they help me to relax.

Went for yummy dim sum in the morning and went window shopping to look at Halloween Decorations, trying to gather more ideas for my drawing. Hope to complete it and will be busy next whole week till Halloween sitting for my exams.

I was trying to look for a quote about "Resting" by a famous person, think too much things are on my mind that I simply could not recall it. Think it goes something like this, "Rest so that you can walk a long journey", I could not quite recall it now.

Well, another of my favourite quote would be this, there are many version to this famous chinese quote by Lao Tzu and this is the more accurate or profound one I suppose.

"the journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet" - Lao Tzu

A Little Treat for a Friend...

2007-10-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well, in a couple of days, Jun will be going back home and I decided to bake this cake for him this morning since I have no class and also taking a breather from my books. Got him to come over my place at about 9am, when he came, I was busy whisking the batter for the cake.

We chatted while I make the cake. And finally, the cake was ready for my dear friend, hope you like the cake. We had it for morning tea served with hot coffee and tea.

We have a good chat about what we see ourselves in five years time. It is a good time for me after midterm to visualize myself in five years time and in all my plan, I pray that God will be my focus point. I always remember these verses, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9.

Sermon ...

2007-10-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Really took some time to reflect on the sermon based on Luke 12: 16-34 and the preacher commented that it is easy for the Camel to pass through the hole of the needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

And it talked about using our material gains to help other in need, living a life reflecting the life of Christ. It is not easy to do that especially when we do not know the person and having so many spam cases around. And it is difficult to love those unlovable, how can we live a life that fully reflect Christ and also loving the unlovable.

And after much thinking, as for me, it is living a simple life and learning to put other before myself and instead of looking inward, it is looking outward and helping those around us that need a helping hand. Just as God has blessed us with all the talents, we in turn use these talents to bless other.

As for living a rich life in the kingdom of God, I really another sermon that talked about building our wealth in God instead of on wealth. Something that I always tell myself that I will help to feed those who beg, so instead of giving them money that we are not sure of what they will use it for, I would give them food instead, buying a pack meal from the fastfood chain or even those little restaurant nearby and it might just mean that I need to rebudget for the month but at least some of those on the road do not go hungry.

Learning to live outside our comfortable zone and making sure that the needy gets some helps should, does not harm me but make me more humane since everything that I have comes from God and that is just a little that I can do to help the needy.

Learning to love God from the inside out and living the daily life of faith and reflecting on God...

Appreciating our surrounding...

2007-10-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Took the whole of Saturday off from books, armed with my camera, I went around to shoot some photos of Vancouver and also my campus. They will be my sweet memory when I graduate and leave this place.

And as I was looking at the array of colours of the tree, I thought of how can we human comprehend and understand God's way of creating every simple living on earth. Our body is one such example, it is a very complicated machine that no human knowledge or wisdom can come up with.

I am a nature lover, being around nature and walking through the nature trail and the serenity and tranquility walking through the trail while listening to the birds chirping away and once a while spot a squirrel or even a racoon. It is a nice way to relax and enjoying God's creation and too bad, we do not get much of these back home.

Being around the city, so probably will be heading to the nature trail this weekend and shoot more photos.

Forums for friends...

2007-10-15T16:27:00.001-07:00

Being asked by a couple of my church friends to help dry run a forum setup to facilitate for the need to communicate with each other and helping to keep track of each other's spiritual walk as many of us are all over the places. And it is also easy to have a prayer list online that we can keep track of all prayer request and answered prayers.

So I took sometime to look at the forum, help to do some modification as well as set up more subforum for access. Now, waiting for everyone to look through it and comment before anymore modification being done. Well, I am excited that we can chat online or even encourage each other and spur each other on!

It is nice to know that we can keep track of each other through the forum and also a good way of helping each other grow spiritually.

Dare to be different in the fallen world...

2007-10-11T01:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was reading and replying some emails and came across a mail from my friend telling me that there is an increase of teenage pregnancies and abortions over the years back home. And it is also the same over here. Just looking through the links to some of the internet forum, I was shocked to find out that teenagers as young as 13 years old are engaging in sexual activities and many of them do not even know what the consequence will be like. And going through the emails, one of my church uncle has sent a little note of what the government are planning to do to help parents to make sure that the children grow up in a balanced environment and those helps were be offered to low-educated parents and single parents.

Chat with a online friend, he was saying that blame it on the media, television programme, internet, etc. However, I think alot also due the peer pressure and that we have to dare to be different and hold fast to the values that we believe in. And I think coming from a caring and loving family, my foundation, belief and values are anchored in Christ. And the bible teaches a lot of values.

I would say that, "How we value ourselves and not give in to pressure, knowing that what we are and our self-esteem is not what other can give us." Learning to protect oneself and not hurt other has also been my rule for friendship. If you need someone to respect you the most important thing is to have self-respect.

Loving a person is protecting the person and not causing harm to the person and it is not selfish, which meant it is not for self-interest and it does not centred around "I, Me and Myself". So for all the girls, I think if someone really love you, they will not force you into anything that will cause harm to your body, your self-esteem, so before you agreed to it, think about this.

And today, while doing my devotions, the passage talk about getting practical with love. And the paragraph in the devotion material standout, "The heart is the control center of all actions. How you act reflects what your heart trusts. Dallas Willard says, “You can live opposite of what you profess, but you cannot live opposite of what you believe.”"

As I was praying, this song kept coming to my mind. So here's the song dedicated to all who dare to be different and I pray that the Lord and the people who has crossed into our path will find us faithful.

Find Us Faithful
Sang by Steve Green
Words and Music by Jon Mohr
Listen to the song here.

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives

Chorus:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find

Repeat Chorus Twice

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Copyright 1988 Birdwing Music/Jonathan Mark Music (admin. By The Sparrow Corp.) All Rights Reserved. International Copyright secured.

Exams fever ...

2007-10-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

When you walk around campus now, everyone are busy clamming their notes and every corner, the study tables are fully occcupied. Even on weekends, many of my friends are returning to campus to study. The midterm exams fever is on.

Basically for me, this semester, I am doing my final couple of papers and I will be graduating soon. I need to give my best for this semester in order to maintain the good GPA. I am doing my best and pray that God will do the rest.

The additional stress came from the application for graduate school, I am nervous over the interviews. Chat with Deborah online earlier and she told me just read up all the notes that my potential supervisor is sending me and look up for more articles online and read them. Deborah went through the interview 3 years ago in UK too and she would understand my anxiety. We pray together and ask the Lord to go before me to prepare the way.

And this song just came to my mind as I was doing my revision earlier. All I would do is to be as prepared as I could and the rest is in God's hand. Even though I might have butterflies in my stomach, I have to be calm and composed during the day of the interviews. Will miss 1 week of school then.

God Will Make a Way
Listen to the music 1, music 2 or music 3.

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His word will still remain
He will do something new today.

And for all who are having exams, let's not forget about our daily devotion time and cast all your care onto Him. All the best for the exams.

What will you do?

2007-10-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks Maria for this article, very interesting that it got me thinking. That we are in control of our mood, emotions and we do not need to let an event affect our own being. Just have to learn to take control and do not allow it to ruin our days.

Beware of Garbage Trucks
By David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you
let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive colleague
ruin your day? Unless you're a robot, you are bound to blow your top
off. However, the mark of a sucessful person is how quickly he or she
can get back his or her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago, I learned this lesson. I learn it in the back of a
New York City taxi cab. Here's what happen.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were
driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out
of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his
brakes, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,
whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was
really friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you do that? This guy almost
ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now called, 'The Law of
the Garbage Truck'.

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage,
full of fustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their
garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. If they happen to dump
it on you, don't take it personally.

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and moved on. You'll be happier if
you did that rather than fight them.

So this was it: 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'.

I started thinking, how often do I let garbage trucks run right over me?
And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at
work, at home, on the street? It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to
do it anymore.' I see garbage trucks everywhere and everyday. I see the
load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my
taxi driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish
them well, and I move on.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good
parents know they have to welcome their kids home from school with hugs
and kisses. Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present
and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take
over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting
today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet. You'll be happier.

So...love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that every thing happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, TAKE IT!
If it changes your life, LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy...
They just promised it would be WORTH IT

Have some fun...

2007-10-09T18:49:00.001-07:00

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Let me know which card represent you, if you do try.

Which side of the brains do you use?

2007-10-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

A friend sent it to me through email. And I thought it was cool.

And your faithfully here, can see her spinning in both directions but that does not mean that I am smart, I am just a plain simple girl haahaa.

Anyway, have fun! Click on the image of the picture to see the lady spins.

Scroll Down.

If you see this lady turning clockwise you are using your right brain.
If you see it the other way, you are using the left brain.
Most people see it only one way.

Some see it both ways. If you try to see it the other way and if you are able to, you are exceptionally perceptive (i.e. you have an IQ of over 160, which makes you a genius)

Viewer discretion: Don't strain your eyes trying to upgrade your IQ.

Let me know what you see okay!

An interesting topic that got into a debate during Thanksgiving dinner

2007-10-09T01:06:00.000-07:00

It is Thanksgiving over at Canada and we all gathered at Jun's place for the very last time for Thanksgiving. And it was interesting how we got into a debate on whether "Guys and Girls can be really close friends or even best friends."

It was a fun debate and I could only say that the girls and guys are being created differently and we think differently. I supposed that's how the phrase that " Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" came about. The two species reacted differently to same situations and we have different views and perspectives as well. So it was interesting to listen and argue about the above topic. Well, at least, now we have a better view and that we would be more equipped to handle a opposite sex.

It was a good topic to discuss and it is nice for the guys to be so opened about it and sharing their inner thoughts. Points taken from you guys and from the girls as well. Probably another time for a good gathering will be after midterm, and we can have another topic to discuss about.

Advice from a friend...

2007-10-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

When I was telling my friends about the blog I started and also found an interesting site known as Facebook and one of them sent me an email...

And I thought that I would like to share this email with all of you, it is rather scary after reading the content and a few thought crossed my mind...

That's why I don't like putting everything down in the public sites like Facebook.......
Pris - beware!

Have a good day everyone.

Ying

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line. She logged on under her screenname ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:

ByAngel213: Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!

GoTo123: LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?

ByAngel213: Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.

GoTo123: Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?

ByAngel213: Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.

GoTo123: Did you have a softball game after school today?

ByAngel213: Yes and we won!!

GoTo123: That's great! Who did you play?

ByAngel213: We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross!
They look like bees. LOL

GoTo123: What is your team called?

ByAngel213: We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.

GoTo123: Did you pitch?

ByAngel213: No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before
my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye!

GoTo123: Catch you later. Bye

Meanwhile......GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.

Her name: Shannon
Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
Age: 13
State where she lived: North Carolina

Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the eighth grade at the Canton Junior High School . She had told him all this in the conversations they had on- line. He had enough information to find her now.

Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ballpark that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.

By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her. Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.

He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the sudden fear she had felt.

After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.

Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.

Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.

Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room.

" Shannon , come here," her father called. He sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why.

She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.

"Sit down," her father began, "this man has just told us a most interesting story about you."

Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!

"Do you know who I am, Shannon ?" the man asked.

"No," Shannon answered.

"I am a police officer and your online friend,GoTo123." Shannon was stunned.
"That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14. And he lives in Michigan !"

The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true You
see, Shannon , there are people on-line who pretend to be kids; I was one of
them. But while others do it to injure kids and hurt them, I belong to a
group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to
find you to teach you how dangerous it is to talk to people on-line.
You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. You
named the school you went to, the name of your ball team and the
position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made
finding you a breeze."

Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan ?"

He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh . It made you feel safe to think I was
so far away, didn't it?"

She nodded.

"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky.
The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are
taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the
time on-line. The wrong people trick you into giving out information a
little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told
them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done
it. I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again.
Tell others about this so they will be safe too?"

"It's a promise!"

That night Shannon and her Dad and Mom all knelt down together and
thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a
tragic situation.

What are friends for...

2007-10-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

Got this from another friend through email and I thought it is interesting. So here I am sharing it with all of you...

Thanks SM for sharing this with me, thanks for your friendship and all the prayers.

Just discover facebook and I just join it. Will need to take time to explore it just like I sent some time exploring Blogspot. I look forward to have more friends there. So have fun trying to find me there.

Try reading this...

2007-10-08T00:40:00.000-07:00

A friend sent this to me through email and I could not believe it that I can read this passage. How about all of you try this out and let me know if you can read it...

It is amazing how the author of this passage is so brilliant to come up with this.

Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting! This is a cool thing check it out.

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it

FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT

Where does my strength come from...

2007-10-06T02:31:00.000-07:00

I recalled someone ask me during one of the most crucial time in my life where I was battling with one of the major examinations in my life as well as been there fighting along the front-line with my dad who was battling against cancer. The battle against cancer was a long and strenuous one. The time that I spent in the hospital and school was more than the time that I spent at home, I could be there in the hospital reading the bible for my dad and singing him hymn after hymn. I would said that it was also the time that I had a great struggle with God and questioned about his love for me and my family. And if there is a God then why do we hurt so much. Even in those period of my wrestling with Him, His unconditional love, grace and mercy continue to pour onto me without fail.

He assured me through the words on the morning when my dad was called home to be with Him and been a very independent child, my brother and I became the pillar of strength for my mum who was devastated. Her lost was greater than ours, we lost a doting father but she lost her best friend, soul-mate and companion. And it was also by the grace of God and the support of our extended family as well as church friends that my mum came out of her own grief and the strength of God has also became her strength to carry on.

Little would I have expected that three years down the road, I would again be faced with the same battle again and this time, it was one of my closest cousin. And again this battle was a lost to us in human sense. Many of us would not fathom the way and plan of the Lord, we lost one of our brainy family member but the seed was sowed and through my cousin, many of her friends and other extended family members came to the Lord.

And it was so interesting to note that recently, just a friend ask me why are you always so happy and where does this strength comes from? I supposed life is really unpredictable and no one could tell us when we were be called home to be with the Lord therefore, we should take each day seriously and cherish those around us. And to those who asked me this question, my answer is really very simply, "The Lord is my strength".

This is one of the song that got me through the darkest patches of my life and it is also one that reminded me of God's love for me and also the poem of the footprints carry me through all the ordeal. The friends who stood by me, supporting me and crying with me through these times, just to let you know, you are the best gift God has bestow on me. And no forgetting my godmum and godsister who are always there for me even till now, thank Mama and Nini.

I would dedicated this song to all my friends and also to those who are going through difficult time when you happen to chance upon this page...

Power of Your Love
Listen to the song here.

I
G Em Am
Lord I come to you
Bm Em
Let my heart be changed,renewed
C
Flowing from the grace
D Em
That I found in You.
G Em Am
And Lord Ive come to know
Bm Em
The weaknesses I see in me
C D
Will be stripped away
G C-D
By the power of Your love.

Chorus:
C D
Hold me close
C G
Let Your love surround me
C D
Bring me near
G
Draw me to Your side.
C D
And as I wait
C
Ill rise up like the eagle
Em
And I will soar with you
Bm C
Your Spirit leads me on
G
In the power of Your love..

II
(Use 1st stanza chords)
Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
In the power of Your love

***
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side.
And as I wait
Ill rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with you
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love..

And this is one of my favourite song and it also remind me again and again of God's great love for me even during time which I could not fathom and comprehend his way as His way is higher than my ways. All I could say is that "He makes all things beautiful in His time."- Ecclesiastes 3:11

Lastly, below is the lovely poem of Footprints, hope that the words that have touched my heart would also touch your heart too.

Footprints in the Sand
Written by Mary Stevenson

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Just for thought

2007-10-06T02:10:00.000-07:00

Haahaa...this blog was started as a couple of online friends were asking me whether I have a blog and if I do have a blog what will I include in there.

The first thought that came to my mind was food and more food or should I say Asian food. Like I have told many people before that if I am not in the course that I am pursuing presently, I could end up pursuing a career in Food. Been brought up in a family that has a great love for food and most importantly good food, I got a flare for cooking and baking without much effort required and good taste buds. And needless to say, during my most stressful time, cooking and baking helps me to de-stress and the food became a blessing to my neighbours and friends.

Well, I have decided that for this blog, however, I would use it for my thought, reflections and about my friends. And maybe I could have a extension link that record all the food that I have cooked and baked.

So for all who are reading the blog, I supposed it is a great relief for all of you.

At the cross-roads

2007-10-06T01:13:00.000-07:00

While looking through the websites for the lyrics for the song, "Friends are friends forever", I chanced upon the lyrics of this song and found it being really meaningful. And I believe in our lives, there are times when we are at the cross-roads making decisions that will not only affect our own lives as well as lives of other.

Pray for Me
By Michael W. Smith
Listen to the music.

Here is where the road divides
Here is where we realize
The sculpting of the father's great design
Thru' time you've been a friend to me
But time is now the enemy
I wish we didn't have to say goodbye
But I know the road he chose for me
Is not the road he chose for you
So as we chase the dreams were after

Chorus:
Pray for me and I'll pray for you
Pray that we will keep the common ground
Won't you pray for me and I'll pray for you
And one day love will bring us back around again

Painted on our tapestry
We see the way it has to be
Weaving thru' the laughter and the tears
But love will be the tie that binds us
To the time we leave behind us
Memories will be our souvenirs
And I know that thru' it all
The hardest part of love is letting go
But there's a greater love that holds us

Chorus

To some of my very close friends, this song is for you. Thank for all the love and care that you have showered on me and for all the prayers that you have offered for me. And also for all the blessing by letting me go so that I could soar to higher height and to be able to serve better when I return.

And to a very dear and special friend, so sorry that I did not know and only found out after you left from Tng. I really gave you my earnest blessing when you decided to join the group of youth to start off a new service. Even now, I still felt that it would have been better if I have knew from the start and have taken the effort to sit down and talk about the issue with you, though the end result would still be the same, we would not have felt so awkward when we met during my short break back home. However, I am really glad that you still dropped by with your girlfriend for the specially arranged gathering for the core people. Taking this opportunity to really thank you for accompanying me to church early and having breakfast with me when I was on duty in church. You will always be a dear and cherish friend to me. Will be praying for you.

Friends are friends forever...

2007-10-05T21:31:00.001-07:00

This song was dedicated to me by a group of very close church friends when I embarked on my journey as an Overseas Student. It was sang to me during the farewell gathering that my core group had for me. I remember this song really well as it was also a song that some of us sang a couple of years back for our beloved Sunday School teacher before she left for her studies in Australia and eventually settled down over there.

And this time round, this song was dedicated to two of my friends as they embarked on their new journey and another new chapter of their lives as they head back home. I strongly believe that the friendship that we had built will weather through the storms and it will be strongly when we meet again in the near future.

Lyrics of Friends are friends forever
Sang by Michael W. Smith
Music by Deborah D. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But well keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus

So with my sincerely blessings to my dear friend Miko and my brother-in-christ, Jun. I will dedicate this song to both of you and also that God's blessing will be upon you and that He will go forth before you to straighten the path for you.

Graduation....and Farewell...

2007-10-05T17:12:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, a couple of us celebrated the graduation of Jun and also bid farewell to Miko who will be heading home this Saturday. It was a joyous occasion but I do have mixed feeling about it. I supposed it is usual since we are all emotional creatures and we would have this feeling when we are parting with our friends soon. Even though it is not a very long time for these friendships to develop but we are very close to each other.

Miko, hope that you will have a safe journey home and all the best in your future endeavours!

As for Jun, I think a couple of us will really miss him when he leaves for home. Lynn and I went over to his place to help him pack and label items for sale today. Well, we will really missed this big brother who has taken care of some of us when we first came over. He was a perfect gentleman who always volunteer to see some of us home if the gang just hang out late and always there to help us if we need to a kind man to carry heavy groceries. Will miss you very much, Jun and all the best! Enjoy your last couples of weeks here before you head back to home.

Will take up the offer to visit you in HK if I have the time to travel there again. And will probably introduce a couple of my friends are outstation there to you too. Another thing to look forward to if I go to HK again, another friend to catch up with then.