CNY.2006.

The CNY holidays are almost over. And what a day to summarize the flurry of activities for the past 2 days.

It was a different CNY this year, as i got up early, not to greet my parents but to go to church. This must be the first time the first day of CNY is on a sunday - a church day! My heart was warmed to see all who made it to church, and what a way to start of the CNY, to celebrate in His kingly presence. Took a few pictures with my posse, and realised pink is such a festive colour!

Before i got to visit my gramma, i met up with LK to pass him some stuff and i treated him to a sundae for causing him so much inconvenience. Glad i got to know a brother better, instead of referring to him as just another person in church.

And then, it was off to gramma's. Usually, everyone would be there in the morning, and it would be very "re-nao" but this year, because some of us had church, we visited later, and when i got there, only one other family was there, but it was the family with my favouritest youngest cousin-Jan, and she's such a delight!

Went home and rested, and got out again to go to my uncle's place, where the whole ging-gang would be there. I'm amazed at how we would gather, year after year, and even though i only see some of my relatives as little as once a year, you see everyone catching up and making merry with one another. At times, i do wonder if it's just part of socialising and making time pass while you're at it, but i desire that there will be solid relationships between all of us in my family, across generations and oceans. And i must say that a baby does wonders in building bridges between people. But i must confess that as much as i would like to build bridges, i did try, by talkin to ppl i've not seen in a long time, i eventually stuck to hanging out with my cuzzies. We went on our annnual photo-taking spree, and we started playing Headbanz and moved on to charades. It was madness and very jolly, as we came up with weirder thigns to act out. By the time the day ended, i was so exhausted. but day 2 was only beginning.

The next day, after lunch at home, i popped over to JY's place togther with YW to play. And play we did. We were amused at little megan and shannon, baby-talking and asking so many questions that goes on and on. We tried to play Take2, and initially, it was a challenge with the girls in the same room, and JY had to keep them from scrambling up our tiles. In the end, we managed to complete 2 games, and JY was the reigning queen. We got an invitation from Jan to go over to her place for mee-siam.

After rescheduling, we went over to her place, and was greeted with lots of mee-siam and
other goodies. Put four girls and a camera together, and you've got entertainment. We played pretend-slumber-parties and pretend-we're-a-rock-band and laughing our heads off, JY was afghan-girl for awhile too. heh.

The day was still young, as YW and I continued on to KZ's place. And what a crowd there was. I knew he invited alot of people over, but it looked more like a housewarming party than your typical CNY vistiation. But he was such a good host, he had an abundance of food/drinks and decks of cards to keep us entertained. A group of us gatherd to play Indian poker, and tickled ourselves funny and moved on to play Pig, this high-tension-eye-hand-coordination game that's like Heart Attack, but higher on the fun quotient. There's something about seeing others let their hair down, that's the fastest ice-breaker especially when you're in a group with people you hardly hang out with. We played murderer next and that really murdered our seriousness and logic, heh, and replaced it with as much nonsense to keep us entertained.

To end the day, Bonny, YW, KZ and i headed to Coffee Bean at Bishan to chill and talked till it was closing time.

I had a really fun CNY this year. fruitful's more like it. I went to church on the first day, i formed new friendships with people and I thank God for everything, from the fun, food and the fellowship =)

will upload pictures soon!

and what a way to begin my India trip. =)

Happy CNY'06

The three of us, Mom, bro and I had our little reunion dinner of sorts at home, come to think of it, i haven't had a proper dinner at home in a long time, so it was good to be home today.

I don't feel the hype of CNY, have i grown up, and grown out of the excitment? I remember the times during chu-xi, where the family would eat together, and there were a few years we would dress up in chinese-wear (silk robes and all) for the fun of it. And Daddy would give the kids ang-pows to put under the pillow. And the next day, we would have to wake up early, and greet out parents with two oranges and get more ang-pows! Then we'll settle down, eat nian-gao, and the rest of the goodies, and we'll all gather around to call my grandparents in Hong Kong. I would be so frightened to speak to my grandparents as my cantonese was bad and i was embarrased to speak, so before it was my turn, i would rehearse the few phrases i knew with my mom.."San neen fai lok..Gong hei fatt choy..", and the phone would be passed to me. And i'll get by my saying those few lines and making appropriate nosies at the various things my grandparents said After that, it's pooling into the car to go to my other grandma's place to start off the visitations. Those times are memories now.

I do miss times like those, it was a tradition we did year after year. The oranges, the sweets in the sweetbox, the little touches of red in the house, the pussy-willow tree, the new pajamas, the new clothes, the little handbad i would carry to put my ang-pows in...

Things do change. Then, there were four of us, but now there are three. Then, i would look foward to buying new clothes with my mom, and my dad would give us a budget, but now, it doesn't seem that necessary, as after i started working and earning my own keep, i get to buy clothes more often on my own.

Precious times those were, and there are moments when i wish for some things to remain the same. But at least i have them memories to keep. =)

San Neen Fai Lok to all of you!

TMOAG

my take on The Memoirs of a Geisha.

glamourized sin.

No matter how u culturize, beautify and even esteem it, sin is still sin. That's the art of the devil, making sin look good, and even sought after, and then searing the consciences of those who get lured by it. Thus, breaking out fellowship with God by putting sin between them.

I walked away from the theatre with a hollow feeling. The seats were a little too cramped, and it was too cold for my liking. But more than that, i was bothered by the values that was protrayed in the show. The time has come, where things which were once recognized as morally wrong are turning into things that are culturally, traditionally acceptable. By simply calling it - art. It's all counterfeit, piracy, an imitation, however u want to call it.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God
2 Cor 4:4

I do struggle between good and evil many times. The sin-infested road is so much easy to take, pleasing and carefee, on the contrary, the righteous-paved road has it's bends and sharp turns, painful and hard going. But it doesn't go on being painful, the concept of eternity may elude us now, but it has been promised;

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor 4:16-18

towards eternity with Him =)

a day at work

work is making me so so sleepy.

i can now straighten my back, with my head up, hands on the keyboard, and eyes closed, for a good 1 minute! and nobody knows, or so me thinkeths.

one and a half hour more to go.

c'mon eyes, stay open!

Jitters

I was going to start a rant about how dreadful work is, but i guess it's nothing new to anyone.

When i come back from India, i hope i have the courage to hand in the R letter.

As the India trip draws nearer, there's a bag of emotions going on. I only found out yesterday that the other person from my church, who's supposed to join the team, is unable to now. That leaves me the only one from my church in the team. It's quite unsettling news. I haven't travelled alone, or rather, with people i hardly know, and much less to somewhere like India!

It's like pre-first-day-of-school jitters. not knowing what to expect.

Even as the feelings jumbled me up, i alerted my CG to pray for me, and KY reminded me, that it's not by chance that i'm going on this trip, and God is far more concerned than me that this trip be perfect for me, after all, He's a perfect father, and the gifts he gives to us are good and...perfect! I thank God for the CG which i know will be supporting me in prayer and the encouragement i need, even as RL and KT shared their experiences, my spirits are lifted and i know it's really not by chance.

I'm going to look ahead, past my own insecurities, habits and comfort zone, at Your Face.

Little Ones

Little hands that will do great things for Him =)

=)

I like this picture. Taken by zoeying's little hands, which explains the slight blurryness. Actually, this is the clearest picture taken by the kids. heh. All smiles =)

Foundations

crystal jade does not have good customer service.

they double debited my mastercard, and i had to make many phonecalls and 2 trips down to the restaurant, and yet, they still didn't offer to go the extra mile and expected me to call up their office to settle the issue. hello, you made the mistake, and it's causing me inconvenience?

i'm not going to patronise them again, said i to the manager plainly. tsk tsk.

Anyway. bad publicity made. moving on.

The worship leaders really bombed the members today, worship "rocked" today. but above all that vibrancy, i desire that i may be a true worshipper, who will worship in spirit and in truth.

I miss those times where i was hungry for the Word, never satisfied with the daily reading passages whichever devotional book had to offer, and wanting more. Rekindle that desire Lord, i want to read your Word and be moved and enlightened, your Rhema word Lord.

Where do i lay my foundation?
Rock vs Sand.

May this year be a year where i build my house on the Rock, even if it means it's going to be a painful process of drilling holes and giving up my hours and my blueprint for His.

houses on sand are easy to built. under sunny conditions. and they can also easily pass of as houses on rocks.

That i may be careful and not be lured to build my house on sand out of convenience.

diary

woke up late for the Crea8ive worship seminar.
thank God they started half-hour late.
given name tags on funky orange lanyards.
shook a hand with someone who knew david yeo.
keynote session was good.
God's presence felt.
wrote our dreams on paper and left them at the altar. big dreams.
bought a da-pao but did not manage to eat it.
attended the vocal class.
P. David Evans entertained and taught.
leanrt practical techniques to singing and leading songs on stage.
had lunch.
learnt more practical techniques to singing and leading songs on stage.
went to baby Charis' full month celebration.
crowded.
ate.
slept for 1 hour while we waited for more people to come.
more people came. kids.
had fun with the P.Tiak's kids watching Nutty Professor.
i learnt more about Justice League.
went home.
bathed.
amused at the shaky shots the kids took with my camera.
blog.

I is for I LOVE JESUS

Yoohoo Berrie!

You've got a neighbour. Come on over anytime.

mucholoves.