He gives and takes away

These past few weeks have passed like a whirlpool, the most significant being God showing us how His grace and mercy is more than sufficient.
Steve has gone through one of the toughest times in his life and yet, I see him being strong.
Next time I shall call him Strong Steve.

When I asked him why he did not even tear a drop, he said, "How could I?"
When I asked him further, he said, "I have totally trusted Him. He gives and takes away. This total surrender and trust and strength in Him in me simply does not allow me to cry."

One doesn't really know the extent and depth of simply declaring verses and promises of the Bible until one goes through that immense valley.
And at the end of the day when everything is stripped away, you will know how strong you truly are as a believer.

We sang this song during FOP. And this couldn't have come at a timing more apt.
I am able to write this entry now because I know that God is a good and faithful God.
I declare that He is a deliverer and He loves us.
Even in times of loss and pain, we can always choose to bless and praise His name.


Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

???????

Fleeting moments
Tennis action
Love stories
Kungfu movies

Half an hour
20 minutes
Voices rising
Tired bodies

People running
Smelly lifts
Sister crying
Everything's messy

I am just sitting in front of the comp, waiting to use the bathroom.
Dad's inside, I dunno how long it'll be.
I just returned home and am feeling totally nothing.
It's been like that these couple of days.
I feel that I am a nothing trapped in another nothing.

Sometimes I want to write, but dun really know what to say. I don't really want to write melancholic and un-understandable posts like this, but whatever, I guess sometimes it's really OK to be totally honest with my own emotions.

Or worse still, when I dun really understand how I really feel?

I need a good, clean shower right now.

I love Saturdays!!

Hmmm, actually I also really like Friday nights, because I know there's cell group where we always have a very cosy gathering, catching up with good friends, laughing as we play games and eat together, and learning as we hear the Word.

Maybe not everyone knows what I mean... wahhaha.. and may even think it's funny?! Play games? Make it a conscious point to sacrifice personal time to meet together? But really, I truly enjoy it very much and I know I have grown through the many cell groups. I think if everyone plays a part and contribute... akin to different branches on a main vine, the whole gathering gets even much better!!

Wahhaha... but anyway, why am I talking about Friday nights when i want to talk about Saturdays?

I love Saturdays because I know I can spend more time at home, reading, blogging, having a nice lunch (no need to rush to keep within an hour time frame... wahhahaha), oh yeah... read newspapers and drink kopi... and these days, these Saturdays, it's become a fixed lunch date with Morien. Morien always meets me for lunch at the big, round market near my house!

Anyway, I will write again... soon... I have a lunch date now!

ENJOY YOUR SATURDAY!!

My Very Happy E151


My Very Hardworking Colleagues


My cosy Japanese fellowship group


My Papa, Mama, ShuShus and Ah Yi


My last date with Junko... at least for now

As I type this, Junko would have already been in Japan for 2 days. She's left Singapore to take care of her grandmother, putting aside her own dreams and ambitions. Though we have not known each other for long, I still thank God for this friendship where we can be open and share about our fears and inadequacies, and also when we encouraged each other on. :-D Arigato Junko san! またシンガポールに戻ってね。私も日本へ行く！いろいろなもありがとう。：）

Ok, this post is very short. hurhur. I just felt that it's been so long since I posted anything!! So I thought it would be nice to just give a quick update. And yeah, it looks threateningly dark outside now. I think it's gonna pour.

Wonderful News

Praise God. :) Steve received his contract from SIA today and I am so happy for him. This is indeed a wonderful testimony, a walk and journey so exciting, so timely, so planned... These last 5 months have been exciting; they seemed like chapters of an adventure book, episodes of drama unfold. I feel his joy so much, inexplicable, unexplainable, tangible as I hear his voice over the phone just minutes ago. It is indeed in God's timing.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

From Bill Farrel about his new book, Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti?

I found this quite true, and Steve and I just had waffle and some spaghetti last week too.

If you make a diagram of the way a man processes information, it looks like the top of a waffle. He puts the first issue of life in the first box, the second issue in the second box and so on. A man will spend time in one box at a time and one box only.

When a man is at work, he is at work. When he is watching TV, he is watching TV. As a result, he is a problem-solver by nature. He goes into a box, figures out the problem, assigns a soultion and then moves on.

If you make a diagram of the way a woman processes information, it looks like a plate of spaghetti. Each noodle represents an issue in life and every noodle touches each other noodle on the plate. She is, therefore, wired to connect the important issues in life and is naturally good at multi-tasking.

The italicised portion makes me laugh because I think it's so true!!

There's a bit of child in everyone of us!

森の熊さん
ある日　森の中

クマさんに　出会った

花咲く森の道

クマさんに　出会った

クマさんの　いうことにゃ

お嬢さん　お逃げなさい

すたこら　サッササノサ

すたこら　サッササノサ

とごろが　クマさんが

後から　ついてくる

トコトコ　トコトコと

トコトコ　トコトコと

お嬢さん　お待ちなさい

ちょっと　落し物

白い　貝がらの

小さな　イヤリング

あらクマさん　ありがとう

お礼に　歌いましょう

ラララ　ララララララ

ラララ　ララララララ

This is a song about how a young lady met a bear in a jungle and when i first heard it from a PSP game, it reminded me of childhood joy. It's akin to memories of me riding a horse on a merry-go-round or carousel in an amusement park with my parents taking pictures of me on the outskirt.

The melody is so uplifting and cheerful and I wanted to learn how to sing it, so Nobuko sent me the lyrics! Haha. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhB-YB6w1oQ

There are 3 children songs here and MorinoKumasan is the first song. Enjoy and relive those childhood moments!

And Mana just returned from Japan last Friday and she wrote me a very touching letter on a heart-shaped letter-pad. Again... brings me back to primary school days. Then I collected lots of different letter-pads and some of them even have fragrances! Haha! Oh yeah, and then I would exchange letter-pads with my school friends and my collection would grow! Those were also the days where good friends wrote letters to each other and I remember waiting in eagerness for letters from my friends and replying to them. Nowadays, email has become the norm, isn't it? Anyway, I was very touched by the letter. :) Thank you!

Friends

This morning, I woke up with thanksgiving in my heart. It was just wonderful and there is this very gentle delight in me. I reached the office, went to the toilet and was humming and singing to myself. At my desk, before the onset of IT problems, before the busyness and the harried looks, I read an email from Pamela. (http://www.xanga.com/pamelakoh) Emotions welled up in me and so many things that she wrote about challenged and encouraged me… Suddenly I found myself humming to the tune of Michael W. Smith’s “Friends”. Dear friends, have you heard this song?

Friends (By Michael W. Smith)
Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Cant believe the hopes hes granted
Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always
It wont even seem youve 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 we'll keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Well, I am not exactly thinking about friends who are going to leave but I am talking about having friends… Friends you know you can count on in your life. Yesterday, just yesterday, after work, I met up with 3 such friends separately and it was so good to spend quality time with them.

Here’s a bit of thankfulness I want to express to each of them.. :)

Ziwei has been a great friend and my mentor and leader and this one guy is REAL. No pretenses about him, no airs and despite being busy busy busy all the time, there is this confidence and calm he portrays. Hurhur… Last night’s dinner and coffee was really good. We just talked and talked and shared and shared and listened and listened and encouraged and encouraged. :) Sometimes, as we get caught up, so caught up with work, with commitments, the effort to consciously take time off to fellowship with close friends becomes sacrificial and very, very precious. Yet at the end of it, both parties will leave knowing that there’s been an imprint of the depth of friendship nourished and understanding deepened. That’s really what I felt last night on my way home. And this morning, I went online to ask him for a nice pict of him because I wanna write about him and hurhur… here are 2 pics he sent to me!! Dashing ne!!



















Graduation at SOT


Ziwei and Jelaine


Celebrating his bday at Expo!

And next up is Wanz. She’s incredible. She brings another quality of what a friend is TO LIFE. She’s a great listener, encourager, radiates energy and love and most importantly, she goes the EXTRA EXTRA MILE. I know people do walk an extra mile but to me, Wanli goes a few extra miles… Steve and I, and I believe, her close friends, can testify to that.

We met up last night to go to StarHub because she wants to subscribe to their student plan. She could get a new handset because of that but guess what, she asked me if I would like to get one free or discounted handphone instead. This girl is really a gem.



















At the airport with Wanz

And last of all, I’d like to share about Mr Goh. Haha, through Steve, I got to know Robin more and more and he’s one great, funny, solid, interesting guy. (Did I mention that he owns cafes too?!) He’s full of ideas, creativity and energy and takes his responsibilities seriously. One of my first impressions of him was when Steve visited me in Japan. Then, a typhoon was raging outside and Steve and I were at home atop my mountain.. hurhur and I was watching the telebe (otherwise known as TV) and both he and Robin were talking on the phone. I had NO IDEA that guys could talk for so long… It was revelational! It was a one-hour drama that I was watching and they were talking be4 the show… and still talking after the show… Really, they were like excited little boys, or little girls, yakking excitedly about everything!! Amazing and very amusing to me!

So last night, when Ziwei and I finally left around 11 plus, I called Steve to find out their wheareabouts (Steve and Robin and the security guys went to a wedding dinner). Heez, and Robin was sending them home and cruising through ECP when he heard that I was still at City Hall. Thanks brother… he turned back straightaway, picked me up and sent me home. Awwwww… so nice and so sweet and so 4 of us huddled in his branded van and I reached home before the clock struck 12.


Zhaowei and Robin

I dunno what to title my entry

セルーグルップの日は今週から変わった。木曜日になったから　金曜日の夜は暇になる。ね。。私は友達にまだ言わないけど　三月からフェデックスの仕事を辞めます。ね。。この決まりはいいかどうか分からないけど　私もあのしょうがない条件があるので　辞めます。ね。。。けどフェデックスに感謝します。実は最初初めてここで働いたとき　三日目くらいになって　もうすぐこの仕事が　私にとっては仕事の性質は内の性格と間に合わないと思う。職務の選択に際しては自分の適性を考えなくてはいけませんと思いますけど。。。今ね。。私は本当に大分にすごく困る。私はずっと先生の仕事をしたから　二十八歳で転職を大きく変える事は真剣に考えなけれべならない。難しい決まりでしょうね。けど私は本当に転職したい。

そういう大きな決断が私の頭に毎日毎日繰り返して溢れている。特に最近感情はローラーコースターのようにめまぐるしく変化させるものです。希望を持っている時、本当に信仰があり。がっかりした時　元気じゃなくなってくる。祈りたい時
神様に待ち望むときも　誰でも話さない時　私は本当に失敗なものと思う時も時々感想した。

けどいろいろな未来の不確かな状態があるけど　私は生活に諦めたくない。自信が無い時　失敗したとき　神様のみ言葉を信じる。私は物価の無いものは絶対無いです。私の全ては神様のみ言葉を造られた。神様はいい天の父だから　忠実な天のお父様から　私のことを大切し愛します。これは心から深く信じます。

今の気持も感謝の気持ばかりです。ね。。私は本当に今は文句は全然無い。聖書のヨブになりたい。ね。。荒野はもうすぐ終わると思う。相続の地に望んで一歩一歩向こうに見てイエス様と一緒に歩いていきます。

水曜日の日本人交わり奉仕である一つ歌を歌った。きれいな歌詞と思います。歌詞は意味深いと思う。今ね　私も大きい声で歌いたい！歌詞を覚えれてできるだけ全部書きます。：）

BREATHE

あなたは - Anata ha
近くに - Chikakuni
吐息のよう - Toikinoyou
み言葉 - Mikotoba
すべてを - Subete wo
造られた - Tsukurareta

あなたの - Anatano
麗しさ - Uruwashisa
我を捕らえ -Ware wo torae

Breathe 命の -Breathe Inochi no
息吹を - Ibuki wo
吹きかけ - Fukikake
生かし - Ikashi
わが避けどころ - Wa ga sakedokoro
主のみ翼 - Shu no mitsubasa
今求める - Ima motomeru

暗闇 - Kurayami
歌う - Utau
夜明けの歌 - Yoakenouta
哀れみと - Awaremi to
恵みを - Megumi wo
絶えず歌う - Taezu utau

日々あなたを - Hibi anata wo
待ち望む - Machinozomu
主の臨在 - Shu no rinzai
だけを - Dake wo
どんな時も - Donna toki mo
崇めます - Agamemasu
命の水 - Inochi no mizu no

の川溢れ流れる - No kawa afurenagareru

Yup, this is the Japanese version of Breathe, a really beautiful song that sings of the beauty, greatness, strength... the draw of God upon one's life.

And I just want to sing it out loud. :) Tonight, there is overnight prayer meeting in church and I am looking forward to it. Haven't had overnight PM together in a long while and I know it's going to be good. And tomorrow, I will be going to the inaugural airshow with Steve. Yay!!

And my good colleauge has reported sick today. She's very bubbly and cheerful, and she's visibly brightened my life here in the workplace. Koff Koff.. dunno if she'll be reading this while reading at home, but if she does, dearie, know that I'll be missing you loads and do have a good rest, drink plenty of water, eat lotsa veggies and get well soon!

Yup, and here are some pics of the Japanese fellowship we had.. DONUTS from Nobuko and lotsa Japanese snacks from Naomi!!

And presenting to you... Nobuko and Naomi. whahaha. I have lots to write about them! Another time k!


And here's Junko too. Met up with Junko on Wednesday for dinner at Bugis and then we went to Toast Box for coffee and tea. It was good chit-chatting and of course we got to know each other better. She just returned from Hokkaido and told me it was -13deg there. Gosh.. I think I'd just be a SNOW ORANGE if I'd been there.. but the pics that she took.. the scenery - breathtaking. :) She bought me this... They are very very delicious!! Shiroikoibito Chocolates from Hokkaido. These choco cookies are chouninki (超人気）in Japan and make very good gifts. Thank you Junko! :)

今日

まだ一時間半ぐらい残します。今日は手が空いているので　ちょっとブローグを書くと思う。根。。普通な話けど　良い日本語練習ね。

先週の日曜日　スティブと保障奉仕チームは毎週と同じに　サッカーゲームをする。違うのは信子のお友達も参加した。彼らは日本から来ていて今日までの旅行をする。竹さんとあやさんは優しし　明るい人と思う。

その時　私たちね竹さんを応援する！皆とのコミューニケイションがちょっと難しかったけど　竹さんは本当に頑張ってきた。最後に　多分靴と乾いた地面のせいで　竹さんの足が水ぶくれになった。水疱はすごく大きいぃぃぃぃぃぃ！！見ると痛い感じもする！！


信子と私　

別な話１
そして他の話を続き書きます。
先週　妹は私の足の詰めに黒いと茶色を塗った。きれいじゃない！ね。。妹はいつも化粧のことが得意。ふふふ。じゃだから私もあの専門のペディキュアをしないでも構いません。家にもこんなプロのサービスがあるね。さあ　妹のことが好き　私。妹は私と九年間の距離があるけど私たち二人は何でも喋れる。妹の性格はとても寛容し　妹は微笑んでいる時　とてもきれいと思う。　ありがとう　妹！！





















私の靴もキレイぃぃぃぃぃ。。と思わない？ふふふ。

別な話２
私ね　チョコレートが大好き。一般的なミルクチョコレートはそんなに好きじゃないけど　ナッツを入っているチョコレートが好き！苦いチョコレートも！なぁぁぁ。。。この濃い味はおいしい！！チョコレートも私が余り元気じゃないときよく役に立つ。食べると　ねぇぇぇ　もうすぐ元気になる。ふふふ。いろいろなチョコレートに対する資料もこの実を認めるね。なんか　チョコレートの中身はある一つ精神的に刺激させるものを多く含んでいる。じゃ　だから食べるとちょっと回復になるかな。


ときとウェイユンからもらったチョコレート！有難う！

Of Ex-students and V-day!!

On Tues, guess who I saw at Bedok Reservoir? Saliza and Hasinah!!!!!

I was so happy to see them both and gosh... memories upon memories... So we hugged each other and Saliza almost teared. Of course, I was very very touched and even happier to know that she managed to get a B4 for her 2nd retake of the EL paper. I am proud of you dearie!! :)

Haha, and what with camera-phones the norm nowadays, of course we took pics together. One kind jogger helped us snap the shots and I promised the girls I'd put this up on the blog, so here goes!!! The lighting ain't so good thou, but it's all right!!!


Saliza and Hasinah


The Sweaty Trio

And yesterday was Valentine's Day!! So hmmm... yeah, yesterday was a very quiet and hushed V-Day for me. I wasn't feeling very genki.. had quite a terrible noon and felt really down so I went home to fei lou with mama and had dinner with Gokusen. Gokusen is a Jap drama about a Yakuza teacher (Yakuza = Secret Society / Triad) with her bunch of notorious students. Well... it was very enjoyable and I definitely felt much better after that. :-D

Anyway, Steve hit the gym and we decided to meet up after that for some romance. :) I was very touched when he gave me this letter. :) It's funny, cos writing letters, using cutesy envelopes and letter pads are what I would do, not him. Yet, he decided to do it cos he knew I would like them. Arigatou ne. :)



















Very cute right!!!! :D

And in one of the pieces, he bought these stickers and pasted them in... hahaha... so kawaii!! I like!!! Basketball, tennis and No. 6 all represent a part of me and these stickers emit a certain fragrance too. So nice!



And of course, the content is hurhur.. secret... so it's been blurred... These sports are some of the games I enjoy playing and really, thanks for the effort dearie!! :)

Festive Mood

やっとチャイニーズニューイヤーの休日は昨日まで終わった。。今日から皆の仕事を始めて　なァァァァ　今朝起きた時　ある一つ考えがあっただけ。。いやァァァァ！！！　どうして素晴らしい時間はそんなに早く経つか？　もし一つ願いがあれば　もちろん過去に立ち戻って　まだ水曜日の夕食時を戻りたい。

ふふふ　写真を見るとちょっと私の願いを適うかな？

水曜日の夕食は　あのチャイニーズニューイヤーの前夜で家族の皆が集まって一緒に食事を食べる習慣です。どんなに忙しいけど　遠いけど　皆はできる限りに帰って　喜んで話しながら　食事する。

もう一日を経って。。昨日は　書く途中突然に忙しくなってきたから　書けなかった。今続きます。

先週の水曜日の夕食の写真。残念ながら　今年お父さんと一年下のい妹はいなかった。代わりにマレーシアの母方のおじさんが来て　一緒にその時間を楽しんで過ごした。





















This is a picture of my youngest sis. :) She's very sweet and such a dearie at times.

Yup, anyway, I have decided to switch to English this morn. There's nothing very much that I want to write... I'll just upload some pictures. However, tonight, Nobuko and Mana will be joining me and some security guys at East Coast Park and I think it'll be great fun and fellowship. Pray for good weather ne!

Ok... some eclipses of the past few days.


Steve and his security buddies at a "Lau Yu Sheng" session


Star Dish of the Season


Funny Faces


Some of us went to June and Hong's house for a gathering and Nobuko and Mana were with us. Their house is breezy and has a nice panoramic view of the central area of Singapore. Ey, and their house is tastefully and simplistically designed with shades of different pastel hues. Very nice!! :)

Well, on a side note, house-shopping and hunting can be exciting and great fun... whahahhahaa. :)

I DEEPLY REGRET

Not requesting for a half-day today.... SIGH!!!!!!!!! All the more so when I receive calls and mesges from friends who tell me that they are out doing last minute shopping... soaking in the CNY atmosphere... or when I speak to them, n in the background, I hear the very very LIVELY CROWD.
SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I just bribed a colleague. I asked him if he's a good friend. Hahahhahaha.... I asked him if he would like to work for 2 more hours for me and I can pay him due wages... I would give up my 2 hours worth of wages... n so I pleaded and pleaded with him... SIGH... I told him i would even pay more for his services..... and the result?

HE IS NOT MY GOOD COLLEAGUE. wahahhaha.

Hahhahaa... and just now for lunch, we searched high and low for a kopitiam... finally found one with seats and a short queue at Ubi Ave 1. My lunch was nice... Indian Rice with Fish... but my colleagues ... They were charged super exorbitant rates... Rice and a chicken drumstick = $4.00 and well... they said they'd never visit the place again... wahahahahaha.

And well... ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE... I decided to ask my boss.... SHE SAID.... shhhshhh... hahah.. GO GO GO... :)

So I shall end my post.
WHAHAHAHAHHA

Monday morning
Alarm clock ringing
Eyes still blurry
Bed still inviting

Sky looks gloomy
Rain starts pelting
Bus comes arriving
I begin boarding

People crowding
Tempers flaring
Lots of pushing
Temperatures rising

Traffic lights aplenty
Each one stopping
Driver starts pleading
People MOVE IN!

Just like sardines
People start inching
Bus moves slowly
Some start complaining

I observed silently
Surreal Surroundings
Reservoir Passing
Strange Monday morning

Now in office
Eyes feel heavy
I start writing
I need refueling

I finished munching
Ham Sardine Sandwich
Now am drinking
One black coffee

New Year’s coming
New Year’s beckoning
New week’s beginning
This Monday morning

Babes in the office

神戸について

今夜寝れないから　ちょっと皆のブローグを読んできた。安保先生のブローグで見せてくれた神戸のヴィデオを見ながらいっぱい思い出した。いろいろな気持ちが溢れんばかり　涙も出て止めれなかった。この町は本当にきれいです。本当に見慣れた画面を見た時　一年の事を覚えだしました。。特に安保先生の事。安保先生　いろいろな手伝ってくれたことを感謝します。日本の生活はどうしてそんなに大好きな理由の一つは安保先生と知り合った理由です。ありがとう安保先生。



この着いた歌は　私も大好きです。コブクロの永遠にともにです。神戸のことを大好きです。
楽しんで見てください。

Running Ramblings, Coffee Crazy

I don’t feel very well this morning. It’s been a queasy, uncomfortable feeling since yesterday… bloatedness?! Tiredness?! Anyway, I think it’s just that there are many uncertainties… exciting and yet fearful, looking forward and yet slightly apprehensive, expecting yet unsure… hurhur, so oxymoronic. Er… perhaps I am a mournful optimist? Faith-filled pessimist? Hahhaha… I just feel queer these days.

There have been recent bouts of beautiful sunny weather and it felt really good to soak in all the sun rays. One of the things that I enjoy the most is that after a long, hard run, my body feels alive and hot… sometimes when I am running, I feel as if I have such excessive energy and can simply run on and on… it’s so addictive and there’s such a sense of euphoria. The best part of running is that as I run, after a while, my whole body goes into auto-gear… I don’t even think and yet I do think about things… I look at the faces of the people I pass by… And if I run at the reservoir, of course I will meet other runners… Very very interesting… some struggling to take that next step, others with grit and determination written all over their faces, some simply just walking and chatting, quite a few with music in their ears… I suppose there are many like me too, that as they run, a thousand and one thoughts run through their mind, and yet, they are seemingly oblivious to what’s really happening around them.

And another most wonderful part of running is at the end of it. I like it especially more so when the sun rays beam right through my skin. I can feel the sweat dripping.. the adrenalin, the heat, my clockwork slowing down. Especially on a bright, beautiful Saturday morning at the reservoir, I will run down to this man-made platform.. and it’s quiet and serene. I’d look at the still reservoir waters and ne… I remember Psalms 23.. He leads me beside the still waters.  With my shades on, I congratulate myself for having conquered that other kilometer.. I thank God for being alive, I thank Him for all the wonderful things that He has blessed me with. I am still sweating profusely as I go through my cool-down routine… stretching, loosening the muscles and more, more stretching. Sometimes when there is no one around, I lie down on the platform, look up at the sky and just rest. Sometimes too, I look into the waters and I can see fishes and turtles.

Hahah… weird yeah… I just feel queer lar. There are also some days when I fear that one day, I may not be able to run anymore… weak knees, too busy, etc, etc, etc. On good days, I can really run but there are also many days when I feel so weary as I trudge my heavy feet through… Most times, the weariness is not so much due to physical constraints but they happen in the realm of my thought life. Hmmm… the mind is such a powerful tool… I feel that running is just like prayer.. we can get tired and don’t feel like even communing sometimes… but as we stick it through, as we breakthrough, surely just like running, at the end of it, we feel happier and more at ease. (Have you ever met someone who’s exercised and worked out hard and not feel happy and proud of himself for having crucify his flesh, beat that slothful nature? I have not. They may complain about being tired but they will feel happy for having done something good.)

Hahha… so much about the running ramblings.

I’m going to make some coffee now… hurhurhur. :)

夢、新年

今日はスティブのパイロットの最後の面接です。時刻は八時四十五分。さっき私は彼のために祈ってくれた。ね。。本当に神様の計画かなと思った。信仰があって心配しなくて頑張ってくださいね　スティブさん！

最近彼からもらった“Good Luck” という日本ドラマが面白かった。ね。。この作品は　一人のパイロットの成長を描く、青春ドラマである。主演は木村拓哉です。ね。。木村拓哉がすごく人気がある。とても才能のある男優と思う。スティブのお勧めで私も毎晩このドラマを見て続く。ふふふ。疲れるけど止めれないね。ふふふ。

多分ちょうど今スティブは面接中と思います。私も昨日と今日ずっとずっと彼のことを祈っていて考えています。自分の面接の感じみたい。ね。。スティブは本当にこのパイロットの仕事が欲しい。毎日毎日この事を話して考えて想像しています。頑張ってね　しょうちゃん。












彼が操縦したいA380

もちろん私も自分の事、将来を考えている。今の仕事は本当に臨時でいつまでですか？がっかりしないよ。私ね本当に毎日希望を持って辛いけど主の真実さを信じる。私は祈ったけどまだ門が開かないです。いろいろな会社に履歴書を送ったけどまだ何でも聞かなかった。毎日ずっと待っているけど私は時々本当に寂しい。難しいね。一番難しいのは待っている時です。まだ見れないことを期待すると本当に信仰が無ければならない。

他の話をする。

もうすぐチャイニーズニューイヤーが来ます。今年は二月七日です。チャイニーズニューイヤーは太陰暦に基づいており毎年違います。去年私はに日本にいったからチャイニーズニューイヤーの気分をあまり感じできなかった。日本には一月一日はお正月ですがチャイニーズニューイヤーは中国人だけの新年です。じゃ　だから今年は興奮が溢れてきる！

事務室で私たちもちょっと新年の飾りをする。先日作ったの折り紙は魚です。“毎年魚が残る”という意味のことわざは中国語である。魚の発音は中国語でyuと言って　余と書く。中国語で余は繁栄、幸福、成功とかを表す。同じように日本語の言葉も余です。余の意味はより多いでしょうね。


作った折り紙（魚家族パパとママと子供たち）


同僚です！ウェィユンは魚をキースするわ！

先週の土曜日　私とリン予定の無いようにChinatown へ行った。ふふふ。楽しかったね。飾り物が並んで屋台でも。すごく込んでいたけど新年の雰囲気が濃かった。ね。。新年のおやつもいっぱい売っている！ふふふ。ね試食でもできる！！


リンです。可愛いね！


仲良し。。幸せなぁぁぁ。。：）

新年を楽しみに待ちます！

はじめの切っ掛け

イエス様と知り合った切っ掛けは　友達の御かげです。その時私は大学校の二年生でした。２００１年１２月３１日の朝　日曜日なんですが　私が一人大学校の寮でいました。その時周りの人が新年のお祝いため皆が帰ったけど私だけ帰りたくなかった。なぜかというと　その時お父さんとお母さんの結婚が　なんか問題があって　毎日喧嘩し続けていた。その上に　私自分の問題もいっぱいありました。人に自信が段々無くなった私は　半年前　彼氏と別れました。騙されたのでとても悲し過ぎました。特に男の人のことを信じれなかってきた。信じるなら危ないじゃない？　心の痛みが誰でも理解できないと思った。いろいろな迷った状態に　人生は意味は無かって厳しくて不公平と思った。質問とか不満とかうらやんだ気持もあっても答えは無かった。

けど神様は本当に真実です。その日ある一人の友達は私に教会に誘ってきました。友達はCHCのメンバーで　名前はヴィターです。誘った時私がOKと返事しました。友達からイエス様のことを聞いた事がありましたけど　ずっと自分自身を信じて自分の力だけ頼った私はイエスのことを興味があったけど認めたくなかった。でもその日　希望の無いうちに　ちょっとイエスの事をして見てもかまいませんかと思って教会へ行きました。

その日のメスィジは心配しなくてもいいのメスィジでした。問題が続け終われない人生は実ですがイエス様と知り合った人は心配しなくてもいいのメスィジを牧師に教えられました。イエス様は私の友達ですから。神様は慰めさせあげる天の父ですから。私の弱さを見ても愛するですから。

ね。。。また一つ不思議なことが起こりました。その時もちろん神様の奇跡を知らなかった　経験が無かった。私が賛美中　眼が閉まったまま時　頭の左側を人に触れた事を感じました。びっくりして私はすぐ眼を開いた。けど隣の人が無我夢中のように　手も高く上げって　神様を賛美しました。隣の人は私の頭を振ることが不可能と思った。今私はその経験を分かってきた。聖霊様は私の頭を振りました。感覚はお父さんが娘の事を大切し愛しどんな嵐があって守る事ができるような安心感です。私は深くに感動しました。

きっかけ話が簡単けど私にっとて大事な事です。そしてその時から。。今まで。。永遠まで。。私は本当にもっともっとイエス様と知り合いたい。イエス様は私にとって大切です。人生はイエス様と一緒に歩んでいると一人より楽しい　一人より易しい。。

神様に感謝しています。
　

晴れる

先ほど　私的な日記で書いたけど　突然に日本語で書きたいので　ブローグに変わった。ね。。少しつづ日本語の勉強をまた感じされた。過ごした二ヶ月ぐらい新しい仕事を探すため　色々な不安な　がっかりした気持の中に　なんか。。私にとって非常に大事な趣旨でも段々段々去ってきたそう。これが駄目なんて　希望の無い内に　自分の力もなくなった。けどけど最近問題とか困難を乗り越えているつもりがある。もう十分と思う。神様が私のことが大切し。。もちろん神様の考えは私より高いから。。私のそう思いより何倍何倍でも高いから。。本当に自分のことを任せて　神様の約束を信じる。本当にそう考えると人生の観点も変わっていくじゃない？

聖書によるとある二つ節がある。
イザヤ５５：８－９
私の計画はお前たちの考えつく考えつく計画とは違い、私の思いはお前たちの思いと同じではない。
天が地より高いように、私の道はお前たちの道より高く、私の思いはお前たちの思いより高い。

ね。。この二つ節は意味深いです。迷った、悩んだ時一番普通ないい訳は神さまのせいで神さまを責めることです。けどそうしったら前の状況は同じじゃない？もっともっと世界のことを嫌いじゃない？世のことが不公平と考えてきて　心の中にも怨みとかと他の私たちより成功、金持ち、幸福な人をうらやんでくる可能があるらしい。こんな価値観で生きている人はかなり寂しいと思う。私ならそんな人になりたくない。人生の喜び、平和、希望、愛を感じたい。神さまの約束を信じ　信仰を持って生きたい。

ね。。今の日本語レベルがまだまだから　書いた気持は自分の思いと完全じゃないと思う。本当にはっきり言いたい。ある将来の夢を適うため頑張りたい。

今外晴れだ。最近雨ずっとけど　昨日と今日はいい天気かなと思う。太陽、光、暑さが好き。：）明日は晴れるかな。

有難う　ときさん


先週私とワンイーとときと直美とじゅんことイブリンは一緒に食事をした。ね。。この写真は先日のメモリなんですが。。。写真撮影が大好きなときさんは、この写真を撮った。彼も最近高価なカメラを買った。本当に腕のいい写真家が取った写真と思う。見て見て！！

The Mystery of the disappearing Frozz Cherry Mints

My colleague bought this last week and gave it to me, lamenting that it tasted like cough syrup... and well erm... I didn't really take any of the pink mints till i reached out for one yesterday and and and... to both our surprise, amazement, only about two-thirds of it was left...

She ate one, I ate one... And this morning... here's what's left.


It's clearly gone.. only about one-third left.. whahahahahah.

WHO MOVED MY MINT?

In the office

I'm working today, standing in for Toki who's done his very fair stretch of work cos the Japanese team is understaffed. It's pretty nice though.. the office is quiet and only Robert, Johnny and me are around. :)

I saw this poem that Serena Williams wrote and yeah, she's gonna be someone I will follow pretty closely. I do not know that much about her actually. It's just that recently, with Steve, and some others in the office getting crazy about tennis again, I have been following the tennis arena a bit more closely. She wrote this and I thought it was beautiful, and meaningful. :)



















Please click on the picture to view it clearly. And if you want to find out more about her, go to serenawilliams.com.

Hahhahahahahahhahaha.

Save the cheerleaders, Save the world!!

A very simple post

It was a good weekend. Spent time resting, reading, meeting up with various ones, etc. :)

Fri nite, I went to Simei ITE to visit Mr Long! We chatted for quite some time and it was really just nice, and that was not before meeting Wanz... just shopping and fellowshipping and eating and yeah.. u know, with no specific agenda but just to spend some quality time together.

Hmmm... I am writing this because I just felt so happy seeing some of the messages on the tag board this morn from Xiumin, Anwar and Albert. Hahhaa... strange yeah... do miss them a bit. :) Maybe it's also cos everytime i pass by BNSS, I am reminded of the times there and and and, I have to pass it by every single day i go to work!

N when I saw Anwar at the bus stop last Fri, I just felt so proud of him! Hahaha... i believe i will feel this way should i see any of the 5 Diligent students! He looks so grown-up and kakkoi too.

Ok, and Pastor's mesg on Sunday was so good. He's preached about Focus before but yet, it was so apt, so good to hear it again. I feel that knowing what is right won't make a difference in anyone's life. It's also about doing what is right and that is the hard part. :) I am glad that it's a brand new year again and I pray that at times when I am weak, I can say I am strong. God will be my strength and my portion.

And yup, I started another blog... keke. It's called Princess-Olenju. That will be my personal blog online cos sometimes, I dun feel like writing in my book. I also bought a new Precious Moments diary. Got is with Wanz after much consideration because it ain't that cheap compared to the normal Exercise Book. Haha, but it's so kawaii jang. Sometimes, I feel that I am a little girl trapped in a grown up's body. I love to look at those kiddy stuff and I also bouught another schedule notebook to note my daily expenses and appointments. Really like it too. It's the Monokuro Boo Pigs and it was a steal find because really, the selection in Singapore is miserable compared to what you can find in Japan!


Precious Moments vs Exercise Book





My 2008 Schedule :)


And yeah, last pict for this post. After fellowship with my CG yesterday at TM, Wanz and I waited for Sabrina and we went to Long John. You know how Sabrina always places lotsa picts on her website right... so I got inspired by her and took a pict of the 2 lovely princesses. Haha. :)


















Oh, herein lies this pretty pic
The 2 of them so chic and sweet
A good weekend flew by so quick
And here's another brand new week!

Wahahhahaha. :)