Just thought I'd post pictures of some memories lingering in my mind from singapore!

I shall blog about my whole week tomorrow cause now I'm busy writing letters to people in singapore :) Sending the letters off tomorrow.

TODAY is the day that Jerusha Ho Ruimin accomplished her resolution of making SHEPHERD'S PIE! MUAHAHAHAHAHA... Commitment, conviction and motivation contributed to my major success of making my first official, pro dish ever. It's looks may not have been very good, but I actually thought it was really delicious :) What a scrumptious meal indeed. This is to make up for that burnt salmon that, apparently, looked like lambs legs =.- YUP.. so. This is was the process...

FIRST.

chop everything up and mash the potato..

Fry the meat and veg together with all the funny sauces

Top the meat with cheese and the mash potato..

Bake it.

WA LA!

Then of course.

Eat it!

Ok.. it's really not as easy as it looks. Thank God I didn't get cut or scalded in the process.. AND that I didn't produce another block of black bitter charcoal.

LYDIA LIAO, this is for you! haha.

COMPLIMENTS from Jerusha the once-in-a-life-time chef in her super unglam hair and pyjamas :)

L(-0-)L

Sian and Becky arrived today from Aus. They've been my childhood friends since like.. forever. It's comforting to see familliar faces from singapore :) Although I don't know them as well as I should.. I probably have the chance to now! Haha.. Especially with Sian going to my school! O my.. sounds so crazy, but it's happening!!!

AUDREY TAN IS ALSO BACK!!! LOL.

yup.. I took the iniative to take a photo of my burnt salmon. It's not as bad as you think..... still can see the orange bits. LOL.

On wednesday, I played tennis with Charmaine, Daniel, Isaac HO, Valerie, Venetia, Isaac YIP and his two friends Shona and Sam.. I think. I had a singles match against Daniel and then I teamed up with him against Shona and yippy. It was fun as! Haha.. We OWNED them. Ok.. maybe not owned.. but we did scringe a win after 3 SETS.

Spoke to Lydia and Joce on wednesday night.. Feels so refreshing to hear their voices once again. I'm waiting patiently for your letters! and my stinking soccer shoes.

SCHOOL is starting next week. So many people are stressing.. especially those in yr 12. Two words for you guys- JUST CHILLAX :) Altho I know I probably will be stressing just as much or more next year.. God will be my comfort, my guide and my refuge. Just remember, God has told us that there is no need to worry. "Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you."

This new year will bring many surprises and new lessons I can't wait to encounter. I don't want to move too hastely through this year (despite my eagerness to get back to spore).. but to take time to cherish every small blessing, cherish every moment, cherish every new friend, reflect over every obstacle and new experience. Most of all, I want God to be holding my hand and guiding me through this year. He never promised it would be easy, but He did promise that He'd never forsake me. What else do I need but God with me? (:

valerie, venetia, me and charmaine at the beach on saturday..

er... valerie being a try-hard statue?

Isaac driving my mum and I around.. quite a thrilling experience (:

I will catch you when you fall and we shall grow old and drop teeth together.. LOL. It's love that ties us together.. and it'll take much more than distance and absence to break this friendship, if it's even breakable (:

I'm determined to accomplish two things before the end of Feb. Learn how to bake SHEPHERD'S PIE.. I already printed the recipe... now all I have to do is get the ingredients.. haha. Get my learner's liscense.. so that I can practice driving ASAP :)

It was quite funny and coincedental. I printed the recipe for shepherd's pie in the afternoon and then I went to lydia's blog and she wrote there.. 'JERUSHA HO! I'm hungry.' or something along those lines... ER.. WEIRD OR WHAT? 0.o All I can say is...

LOL.

Compare but don't laugh Xp Singapore neoprints are soo much better.. hahaha. At least I learnt one lesson about neoprint-taking.. NEVER EVER PRESS 'WIND'.. LOL. It literally blows people away.. even out of the picture (: I miss singapore!!! :P

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses.

As we forgive those who trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom,

And the power, and the the glory forever.

Amen.

If you don't know how to pray or what to pray, Jesus said this prayer as an example for us. It never needs to be fancy or full of complicated vocabulary and descriptions.. I think all God wants is for us to pray from the depths of our hearts and sincerity with every word we say. Never fail to pray!!! :)

Went to crossway in the morning.. I had a wonderful time worshipping the Lord. I felt like I didn't have to carry my burdens, but God was right there beside me to carry them for me. I was released of my hurt, simply by thanking the Lord for everything He has blessed me with and for all He has done for me. He deserves praise even when I don't feel like giving Him any.. and I'm sure He loves it when I'm able to worship Him despite all my disappointments and uncertainty.

" The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.."
[Deuteronomy 33:27]

The power of Your love knows no end
Humans can never comprehend
So unsearchable, so untouchable
So beautiful is Your love.

Nothing can hide from Your eyes
You know the deepest hurts
Giving power to the weak
You lift those who fall.

This is a note I wrote in my tiny book just before I landed in Singapore about 6 weeks ago. I wanted to note my feelings down before I arrived in Singapore so that I could compare it with when I left.

"I'm about to land in Singapore now.. I can see the coasts with tiny little lights. Actually I think what I see is Malaysia at the moment.. Singapore's in the distance. I feel home :) A tingle of warmth within me. It's a nice sensation. I think I can actually see the whole Singapore now.. 10 minutes from landing! :) I'm missing the stars in Australia, but at least now I can admire the little 'artificial' stars of singapore; it's bright streetlamps. Lol.. I know there are going to be tears at the end of this.. but o well. Thank God for letting me come back :) Tears will be shed.. but there will be smiles and laughter that will never be forgotten, that I can cherish. I'm so looking forward to the time in Singapore :) 10.55 pm spore time.. hehe." -ME, 16th of December.

My prediction was so right wasn't it? :)

Played soccer in the rain with some peeps from Fungus. It was really fun although we didn't have that many people. It was just the younger youths, JP, UOP, Daryl, Zac and me. As the rain droplets splattered on my skin and as the wind blew, it was so refreshing. I just spread my hands out to enjoy every moment of it.. haha. I love playing soccer in the rain!

Adrienne and I played the smacking game for a really really short while. But it was a very painful short while. Our hands were cold so it hurt more when it was smacked. And both of us smacked real hard. AIYO. haha. It sure hurt. THANKS A LOT JELLY -.- I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SMACKS. hahaha.. *just kidding*.

Then we had a cake to celebrate Franny's birthday.. but the wind was so strong that we couldn't light the candles.. it was quite funny. Pringle had to blow non-existent fire on the candles. So sorry pringle! I'm sure you felt the warmth of the 'fire' from all your lovely friends rite? :)

I can't wait to get long letters from joce and lydia..(and lydia's mysterious 'thing'). LOL. I love you my dear turtle and ducky godsis! You girls really make my days a lot brighter despite the gloomy and rainy weather (figuratively speaking and literally too).. hah.. really. Hearing your voices never ever fail to put this retarded smile on my face and I thank God every single day for you. I would say somemore.. but then I'd have nothing left to write in my letters.. so i shall shush.. for now :P I'M MISSING YOU ALL HEAPS! (TAB THIS IS FOR U TOO)

Here's a word of encouragement for those who need it..
God never gives up hope in people although we may.

Slow Dance


Have you ever watched kids

On a meery-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the Sun into fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.




Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask how are you

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.


Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time so short.

The music won't last.


When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It's like an unopened gift..

Thrown away.


Life is not a race.

Do take it slower.

Hear the music.

Before the song is over.


-Anon

I've decided not to type much about today.. but here are some pictures.. it was pretty good overall.. except for the dreadfully wet weather. Charmaine, val, venetia, isaac, tim, andrew, jeremy, nick, nick's bro and daniel were all there with me at Serranto beach. It wasn't a very extraordinarily nice beach.. but still, I enjoyed myself and had fun talking to val, ven and flm.

Realisation can hit you so hard and sudden that it forces all the tears that were withheld, out of their hiding place. It tugs, it pulls, it hurts and it outlives its welcome.

Tried talking to lydia, joce, bra and tab just then. Er.. haha. I spoke to lydia most of the time. But then.. When I spoke to tab and bra.. I was just suddenly overwhelmed with this air of 'sian-ness'. Didn't want it to come, but it did. I wish it didn't exist. It struck me that no matter how much time I spend talking to them on the phone.. it would never be the same as being right there with them. I shan't say anymore.

Somethings are better said than to be left silent.

Today was quite fun. I had a great and dreadful time in the city. First of all, I was meant to play soccer with the guys from FUNGUS and some of Isaac's friends.. however.. at 1 am last night, I realised I had left my indoor soccer shoes at LYDIA'S HOUSE.. of all places.. haha. Looks like I left more than just my tracks.. but the shoes I left my tracks with.. (ok.. that's just me TRYING my best to be lame.. so laugh.)

As I was saying.. dreadful yet memorable day in the city.. lemme see.. to sum up:

-I took the worst neoprints EVER.

-I got gibbed with TEA that was 6 BUCKS.

-I developed a bad impression of KUM DEN which I heard so much good stuff about.

-I found out I left my shoes in Singapore.

-I had to walk around city looking for franny's prezzies.. in the end not buying anything.

-I found out how much I MISSED CURRY CHICKEN!!!

Actually, it wasn't that bad. I got to spend quality time with Isaac, Darren and Sarah.. haha. Realised that Isaac's directional skills aren't that great afterall too.. LOL.

On wednesday, I went out with the girls. It was pretty fun. We watched Pursuit of Happyness.. i think.. it was pretty touching. Wasn't enough to make us cry tho.. just touching in it's own special way. I shall blog again tomorrow.. Right now I shall skim thru the last few days.

O yea.. I spoke to LYDIA LIAO just now! haha.. It was a good talk . Sorry for causing you to be 'constipated' duckie Xp.. realy don't mean to. I shall keep up my commitment (:

I NEED TO SLEEP NOW.. so i shall continue tomorrow.. NITEZ/MORNING ALL!

The other night, Isaac, Gabby, Nic, Qynnie and I went to watch Melbourne vs. Queensland for soccer. It was quite a boring match.. not much excitment. What's more.. melbourne ended up losing 2 -1. thanks to a last minute goal by some dude from queensland. O well.. it was quite fun.



Then I played bball with charmaine, daniel, isaac yip and my bro the next day. ISAAC YIP IS PRO AT BASKETBALL! SO IS FLM!!! I know two pro bballers.. yay! haha.. I'd like to see gabby and isaac yip go head on, mano e mano.

It feels SO SO SO SO SO SO strange not to hear familliar voices from singapore for more than 24 hours. Today I couldn't stand it, just had to call lydia and joce to hear their voices.. lol. I know if I called tab.. she'll just say.. 'lame ar..' hahaha.. Neways. I love you guys SO MUCH!!!

Don't worry Joce.. dun need to have that constipated 'as if' feeling! ALWAYS REMEMBER the wise old saying by Philosopher Ho..

"Somethings don't need to be spoken or written in order to get the message across." :)

So wise right? So true too..

I was feeling kinda er.. empty in the evening. But thank God for sarah and yippy who reminded me to rely on God. So often I forget that He's right beside me. He knows when I need Him the most, so why not just confide and commit all my fears, frustrations and pains to my closest friend? God will always be there to hear and respond to my prayers and my cries.

Always take it to the Lord in prayer and rely on God for strength instead of others.

For He is a faithful God.

Still, I thank God for giving me friends to encourage me and to make my walk along God's path more fun :)

It never ever gets easier.

My heart is kind of shattered and broken right now.
Like my dear godsis.. I'm just 'down down down'.

Don't feel like doing anything.. but I know I have to get over it.
This longing.. missing and pining is so terrible and the worst thing is that it won't go away that easily. It'll mess with my mind and probably, mood too.

I know what to do tho. I have to commit it to the Lord.. in prayer and faith. For his plans are perfect and wonderful.. He will heal my broken heart and bless the special bonds I have with dia, tab and joce..

Though the land seems endlessly dry, though my heart is hurting, I will still praise my God.

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear your whisper through the rain
'I'm with you'..

I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You've never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.

Thanks for making my time in Singapore unforgettable and special. I'll miss you tab, dia and joce. I thank God for this special friendship (and cousinship) He has blessed us with .. despite all the tears, the distance and trials, we end up getting closer. I will cherish the memories and I will remember you guys every single day.. I'm certain that even if a stupid particle cannon tries to vapourise our friendship, it'll never be successful :)

Tomorrow will be a new and fresh day. New commitments I've promised to keep will be kept. I pray that God will give me the strength I need, wipe away those tears and give me joy in my heart..

I'm not in this alone.

I love you Tabitha Anna Tan Shang Jie
I love you Lydia Liao Si Min
I love you Jocelyn (LENA) Liao Si Ling
I love you mouse

"I will catch you when you fall..
we will grow old and drop teeth together.."

LOL :)

Truly, God has blessed us with many, many things.
Things we don't even realise..
things we have taken for granted.

"Whatsoever things are lovely.. think on these things." - Phillippians 4:8

What lydia said was true.. If God didn't bring me to Australia and I was still living in Singapore. We might be taking our time together for granted. Reminded me of what tab wrote in a letter to me 2 years ago.. "at least when u go back to australia, people cherish you more..". I think it's the same both ways. I might not realise how much I love my friends here in singapore if I stayed here. Like now.. I'm missing my friends in australia.. I guess it's really good to be away from both sides some time. To reflect on how sepcial our friends are to us.. and on life.. on the hidden blessings.. and what God wants for us. Whatever the case, I thank God for putting me where I am right now.. this moment, this time.

I'll praise you in this storm
For you are who you are,
No matter where I am.

Less than a week left. I'm constantly haunted by that fact. Today.. my first and last proper cell meeting. Don't know whether to look forward to it or not. This sunday will be my last sunday for this trip back too.. haiz.

I will miss the long trips on the singaporean buses and the MRT..
getting trapped in the rain..
laughing so much that my stomach aches..
getting owned by lydia's particle cannon..
tab's crazy and hyena-like laughter..
lydia's pure lameness.. L(-o-)L..
talking to my dear godsis and 'slapping her face..
screaming and getting frustrated while playing DOTA with tab and dia..
.
.
.


The list is endless.. But this trip has been awesome. It has allowed me to think a lot about what God has done in my life. The times when nothing was going my way.. God reminded me that all I needed to do was simply cry out to Him. He is attracted to weaknesses. I don't have to be strong.. or to act strong. He'll show mercy to the weak and empower them, making strong warriors of faith. He will be faithful. Even now.. I struggle.. I wonder why God has allowed the existence of pain and hurt in decisions we make that have nothing to do with sinning. Do we learn valuable lessons through leaving our loved ones? Hm. I think. That God makes us go thru such pain and hurt so that we'll learn to commit every single thing to Him. Like our friends and the plans we have in mind for our own lives.

Neways, I think I'm getting a little too complicated for now..
I shall rest and REFLECT again :)

Thank God for my diary.. hehe.

I LOVE LYDIA LIAO VERY MUCH.

Made in Your likeness, made with Your hands
Made to discover who You are and who I am
All I've forgotten help me to find
All that You've promised let it be in my life.
- Chris Tomlin

2007. Finally. All of us constantly look forward to the new year. New experiences, new lessons to learn, new friends to make, new lives to influence, new changes to be made. Hopefully most of us will also look back and reminence on the past.. the failures, the victories, the friends and things God has blessed us with. We should take a moment to just give Him thanks. For he gives and He takes.. and we should always trust that whatever He does if for our good. He knows best :)

Last night we had the watch night service. To me.. I think it was the turning point for saltshakers. My dearest godsis decided to step up in faith and testify for God with courage. She took the step of faith for God's miracle to take place. I pray this fire in her will never burn out. The 'speech' she made impacted the heart of every youth sitting in that room. It wasn't just what she said.. When she spoke, I knew she was empowered by the Holy Spirit. It was different.. special. God really does answer prayers. Before this.. we started to pray more.. to start commiting everything to God's hand.

We had a time of sharing.. and the youths 'dominated'.. LOL. Something I'd never have imagined. But it was, i guess, written in God's plan before it came to be :) Most of us got out of our comfort zone, stepped up in front of the congregation, proclaiming of God's greatness and thanking him for many many various things and people.. the first few brought tears to my eyes. I've never cried becuz I heard someone testify before. But this time.. i couldn't help it. Especially when mouse went up. The tears just flowed. He always manages to touch this soft spot in my heart for some reason. I'm really glad and grateful that God reached down and touched Him. I'm so amazed and thankful for the way God touched the saltshakers. I guess... things can change drastically in one hour.. :) Quite awesome really.

I've many things to thank God for. My family, my old friends, my new friends and especially, the blessings that come in disguise..

My family..

Although sometimes they are hard on me, they never do it without reason or logic. I can see the love behind the tight words and stern faces. God has blessed me with a ultra protective, crazy yet loving brother, a very shao (1st sound) tempered and perfectionist mother, a laid back and corny father.. and a wonderful grandmother who cooks delicious chinese meals for me everyday. I love my family :)

My friends..

If I were to thank them each for how they've blessed my life, I would take forever. I can start to describe how thankful I am to God for preserving my friendships in Singapore. Blessing them more and more each time I come back to Singapore for a visit. It's a miracle that altho I don't talk to them for so many months while I'm in australia.. everytime I come back and spend time with them, I feel as if I never left. Well.. I do feel some effects of being away from them.. but not as much as I expect. They are an example God's grace and goodness to me. I love tab, lydia, my ducky godsis, mouse.. and just the whole saltshakers. I may be as close to the rest of the salt shakers, but I still thank God for them. For teaching me a valuable lesson; always have faith in God's power no matter how bad the circumstances seem. God never abandons nor forsakes.. we should never underestimate what He is capable of.

Believe in His promises, trust in His love.

FUNGUS ROCKS.. hahaha..

At the start of this year, I prayed for God to give me closer friends. Friends that I can share my 'issues' with.. haha. God again, answered my prayers. He gave me shortie and sarah! Whom I share my confusion with.. hahaha. I know they'll always have my back and give me the support I need to go thru life. I think I also got closer to some of the Fungus leaders like MOM, stranger and singaporean.. I thank God so much for all of them. Basically, I think I got more involved in Fungus stuff this year.. even attempted to lead some teams for the rally.. Hospitality and sorta waitressing too.. haha. Sure taught me quite a bit. Although now I'm faced with certain dilemmas about which route to take and where to go.. I know God will speak to me and lead me in the way He wants me to go. I may have to go thru hurt again.. but His plan is best for me. Like charlene said on her blog.. 'God may hurt us, but He'll never harm us.'

I can't wait to take on 2007. Hopefully I will achieve most of the goals and resolutions I set for this year. The thing I want most this year is to just love God more. This means that I'll love others more too.. and I think that's the most difficult to do. Love takes away all fear of judgement and it calls for sacrifices to be made.. I pray for boldness and courage to do things I normally won't, for the glory of the Lord to shine forth.

God give me strength in my weaknesses. I need you.

HERE I COME 2007 :)

I love you tab and dia!!! And shut up about the particle cannon already!
LOL.

Sorry for the questions, I only ask cuz I wanna understand more before I go :)
SORRY for my dumbness, I can't help it since my brain is my butt 0.o