Beautiful Sisterly Love

Thank you Dearies. 
I realized... we have a little blue in each one of us...
ZH, yours is Dark Blue. :D

Thank you for the laughter, the memories, the fellowship! 

My Sanctuary @ Pasir Ris Beach

One of the first things I wanted
Is retrace this familiar path
515 I started
One end to the other
My feet - on fire

I've spent many dusks here
My sanctuary, my quietness
As I sit at the breakwater
The running and the tiredness
The adrenaline and the calmness

As the sun sets slowly
Orange rims, gentle breeze
As the day draws to an end
My energy returns
And I stand again.



夕阳无限好，只是近黄昏

Plane Rides

[Written Last Night In the Sky]

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah”

Psalms 24:1-6 NKJV

********

Tonight, I take the night flight back to Singapore. As I look at the vast land and the lights, the Lord’s creation of beauty in the night, I’m reminded of how BIG our God is. That He alone is the creator of the heavens and earth, His majesty and beauty – how can we ever comprehend and behold?

I like plane rides. To be specific, I do not enjoy the long distance rides in cramped small spaces, but I like the solitude, the fact that I am cut off from everyone else, that no one can call me, that I am in my own space. It is a luxury seldom afforded in our busy world. So I will take time to think about the weeks passed as well as what would unfold ahead.

I try to buy and read a book each time I travel, usually from the bookstores at the airports. That’s how I first started reading Murakami Haruki, how I first read about North Korea (and eventually deciding to do a trip there), how I fell in love with Chinese dynasties, their kings and the concubines – the stories of politicking, winning the fancy of the King, etc. One time, I recall someone asked me why I like the Chinese Gong Ting stories so much. It’s because it’s so reflective of everyday life; we are all creatures made to desire, to love, to win, and in the midst, the backbiting, the scheming. But most of all, I like how good always triumphs evil in the end. I like to see how “the weak” becomes “strong”, the “last” becoming “first”, the “kind” trumps the “schemer”. Story writers are so amazing. Their uncanny ability to bring the plot to life, to draw us into another world – such gift.

Tonight, I fly with some mixed feelings.
Of course I am anxious about work-related matters and the next steps for me.

But I stand upon the promise of Psalm 90:12-17 (MSG), that God alone establishes and affirms the work that we do, and that the loveliness of God will rest on us. I like a post that was mentioned by TCJ in 2013; it resonates with me.

I look back at the past 8 months. It’s been a thrilling ride. If I had not decided to be bold, let go and step out, I wouldn’t have experienced a new life, richer and more meaningful friendships, taken driving and now navigating left-hand drive in a foreign land (it is still exciting to me), made myself cook, experienced “when faith and fear collide”, tried to assimilate into a new culture, took on an Arabic conversational course, brought Kenji over to a foreign land etc. Perhaps, I had to dig into the core of what I consider really most important to me to make decisions, and that, I will continue to do. 

The Lord is indeed far bigger than I can ever think of or imagine. 

Snippets of life in Abu Dhabi - 简单就是幸福

This trip back here feels like it's been the longest though it's been only slightly more than a month. Many times, different ones would ask me how I spend my days here. I feel - 简单就是幸福 (simplicity is happiness). 

I am glad that we have a nice apartment to live in. It's a one-bedder unit but it has everything we need, including simple furnishings. And given that I enjoy swimming and running, with the gym and Zayed Sports City just here,  I am pretty much settled into this place happily. We are able to do all we need - cook, host (a few) guests, sleep well, watch Liverpool... and being small, cleaning is also much easier.









The weather here is starting to get cooler. In July, it was HOT and several days, morning walks were drenched in sweat, and night humidity would cause Kenji to sneeze. Haha. He really would sneeze. But now, it's really enjoyable and many times, with a slight breeze. As usual, I enjoy my walks with Kenji very very much. He is NAUGHTY! Loves to pick tennis balls, growl at other dogs... but I just love his curiosity and zest for walks. While it is the same area we walk, he is still so sure he would discover something new every walk. During the walks with him, I reflect, pray, thank God that He has given us this new chapter. While much goes through my mind, I wonder what Kenji always thinks about.



And I like how he contemplatively looks out of the window daily.... What does he think of the world and us human earthlings?



It's also been good just to get back into tennis action. It's really been a while! I might look like I'm drenched in sweat... but it was really because it was just too humid. :) I look forward to tennis with Kenneth when I go back to SG. 
Also love the dusk and how the whole tennis arena looks simply beautiful. 



So, my daily life consists of cooking too. I never really enjoyed cooking and till now, I would say I'd rather wash up than cook. However, here, I have to, cos I really crave the Asian taste. And hence, I try. Today, I added a new dish to my culinary repertoire. Everyday, it's really the same dish(es). :0 But that's me. If I like one thing, I stick to it.... for a loooooong time. So it's been salmon and salmon and more salmon. But today, I did pomfret! And Steve says it's nice! Ha ha ha ha. He has to put up with salmon daily and I really appreciate that. :)))




Life wouldn't be complete too without meaningful friendships. :) Thankful for the Singaporean friends here and I'm glad that I've started to get to know a few more people better.  It's just warmer when you know you can share life, and drinks, with friends. :)) The SG national day celebration just a few days back was a very good reminder of SG being home, and made me think of my family and loved ones. Of course, any time I miss home, I can just skype or even book an air ticket back. This feeling is really very different from 10 years ago, when I remember I was so homesick in Japan. The wonders of technology bridges distance.

And Steve and me would explore new places, take walks, go about the usual grocery supermarket shopping, love Keni :) It seems same same, but I'm just glad that through the years, simple things bind us together more, and that we could still communicate and understand each other. Today, I read something which is so beautidul - this author wrote about how it takes time to seek to listen and sometimes, just asking the person how his / her day has been, and taking a genuine interest, can be one of life's best gifts. This is priceless to me. 





Tonight, as the day draws to a close, I give God thanks for all that He's doing in my life, and how He's daily helping me in my weaknesses and struggles.
In Him, I become stronger. :)

2 Cor 12:9-11 (NKJV)
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.