All packed and ready to go...

Ipoh, KL and Malacca... Here I come!

Well... it's soon. Not now. Not today. Not tomorrow... I obviously got a little too excited 'bout going home. But oh yeah... my suitcase is bulging already. I can leave any minute from now, if I want. Tee hee.

Can't wait.

What I have left to do before I leave is to buy Zyrtec (yes, I keep running out of antihistamines) and sunscreen cream from the pharmacy to complete my personalized first-aid kit. Oh and perhaps grab a straw hat.

Anyway... I'll be on a blogging hiatus from the 25th Dec onwards (may perhaps throw in an entry now and then) - so if I don't update till I come back to Penang, Happy New Year folks!

Sniffly sniffly...

Allergic rhinitis from changing the bed sheets... *ahhh-choooo*

Boyfriend made a surprising comment today. He doesn't mind me plumper if I'm healthy.

We're looking out for the return of my rosy cheeks next. Now I am still kinda pale and my hair is still dropping. Bleeding problem still around. (Totally hate it!) But yeah, I am gaining some weight already... @_@

Target = something like the above... :P

Hehe.

Wednesday - 2 days before Christmas

Cleaned the house, did my laundry, ironed clothes, taught piano, spent time with God.

Need to spend more time with God. Seriously...

Reflecting on the past year, it has been a most eventful one.

By God's grace, I've tasted many blessings. A busy year for sure... and I had to adapt to new environments - one after another. Many humbling circumstances and mistakes made. Extremely low moments, as well as the highs...But as God remained constant (and will always be the same - yesterday, today and forevermore), walking with Him and serving Him in new places ...with new friends... were delightful indeed. Life-transforming.

Some of our loved ones and friends gave their lives to the Lord this year as well, God's gracious answer to our prayers. Ministry-wise, there were many transitions and yet, new challenges... I really hope to be more effective next year. Relationships-wise, it has been a year of multiplication, building and growing meaningfully... and bearing fruit. I definitely look forward to more breakthroughs in Year 2010.

God, thank You for an awesome year past.

Overwhelmed by kindness...

In conjunction with the Winter Solstice Festival, Aunty Wong made glutinous rice-balls in ginger water (tong yuen) and came all the way to my place from Sg. Ara (along with Uncle Wong) with a tumbler of them...so that I could have my share.

Ah, such kindness...

I thank God for such a loving family, even whilst I am away from home.

Enjoying my bowl of tong yuen... Eating 'em surely warms the cockles of my heart.

Happy Winter Solstice/Tang Yuen Festival folks!:)

All boxed and wrapped up...

I am seriously not done... my house is in a mess... but I hope to get all wrapped by tonight.

Writing a card to my dad today made me miss him more...

I thank God for a great dad.

He's the sort of dad who works hard to make our dreams come true...even if it means dying to himself.

I remember when we were younger, Zoey and I would ask if we could go for a family vacation during our school holidays... and dad would often make time in the midst of his busy work schedules, just so that we could have the vacation we longed for. We'd drive off somewhere for 3 days and 2 nights, stay in comfy hotels, eat great food, do crazy stuff, visit tourists' attractions and etc. I never knew what a sacrifice it was for my dad to 'wave his magic wand' and make our dreams come true with his single-income - till I started planning my own vacations.

Looking back, those times seemed like dreams indeed. I feel like I've lived 2 completely different lives! I can't imagine now, that I have had such luxuries before. LOL. But oh well, I'm glad and thankful to have tasted it.

You can say that we never found ourselves in any lack of need, as kids. We had food to eat, clothes to wear, we went to good schools, our parents sent us for music lessons, art lessons...and all kinds of other lessons (their way of an all-rounded upbringing and love language, I think), we had family vacations at least twice a year, etc. I think I was pretty spoilt in this sense :P - I cried when dad finally stepped out of his GM job, and decided to work on his own - making ends meet by being an insurance agent, will-writing agent, selling stuff-which-I-can't-remember-what, etc. Monthly expenses had to be cut down drastically and things were never quite the same anymore. We had to be content with a much simpler life - but I am thankful for that actually, coz I learned that we do not need to have so many luxuries to be happy. Happiness is where love abounds. If only my parents' marriage could have been a bit happier... but at any rate, they still loved us very much. While they didn't always speak our love languages, we saw them sincerely and earnestly speaking their own love languages to us, loving us in their own special ways... and that sufficed. I cherish that as a blessing from God.

ED's, mum's demise, my college days and RCSI. Dad made sure that we were able to study and get through the challenges of life without being burdened by the issue of finances.

Then of course...when our finances crashed in year 2004, dad continued to fund me through medical school even though it was extremely difficult and he was terribly exhausted. I am so glad that he found the LORD through this... and yes, by God's grace, he persevered - and I graduated with no debts. (Praise God that He continues to provide for my dad, and Zoey is able to study in UK this year, and my dad doesn't need to live like he used to do when I was in Dublin.)

Dad, thank you for not giving up. It must have been another great sacrifice to release me to full-time church ministry, when we both found out that I would not follow the expected path of a medical student after graduation. Thank you for affirming me in my calling and supporting me all the way. When things get tough, I praise God that I am able to think of home and have peace. While you've always made my dreams come true, I realize that I may not be able to make all your dreams come true... And yet, my hope and prayer is that you will be truly filled with joy... and liberated when you see God's purposes fulfilled in my life - abundantly and exceedingly more than you could ever ask or imagine. Blessed Christmas.

I love you, dad.

Shop til' you drop...

What a day...

Trudged around Queensbay for God-knows-how-many-hours, running errands and shopping for presents. Poor feet - can't feel them now. Poor wallet - it feels too light for words!:D *chuckles*

Not that I ended up with that many purchases! I spent more time being fickle-minded... comparing prices of merchandises from shop to shop, brand to brand... cocking my head to one side, trying to decide whether to pay money or not... and feeling bad that most of the stuff I that I really wanted to buy are ridiculously overpriced, despite the grand sales and 50-70% discounts (can't be helped!) Mostly hunted for presents for my immediate family members... coz I am really on super-tight budget. So sorry people, if I miss anyone out this year. Hehe.

Next year, I'm going to have to start skimping on food expenses, since the petrol prices are going to go up by New Year (heard that gov's no longer subsidizing petrol costs) and so, my budget will have to be restructured. No lunching at school for the coming term. Will bring packed sandwiches and fruit from home or something. Wait for the ravens to bring me bread and meat. Praise God somehow... that my savings from this year will last me another 3 months or so. I believe He will stretch it again when it is time.

Amazing huh? :) It's been 6 months of depending on God's mercy and lovingkindness. He provides me my daily bread somehow... through the most random people (I could have never done without their love-gifts! Thank you so much!). Like I said before, although it is certainly scary when funds slowly run out (and I really dislike asking people for money too :P) God knows my heart struggles and never fails to meet my needs on time. Am thinking of tent-making to earn some keep (especially with the mission trips coming up), but at the moment, the workload from seminary and ministry don't seem to permit a fixed job... but, oh well - may God bring me wisdom and ideas in His time.

If you are thinking of hiring someone to write, compose songs, design t-shirts (or other similar stuff - no graphic designing on PC coz my programs are out-dated), or etc - please do drop me a note! :D I just might be able to do it. Exception: I probably won't have the energy and capacity to deal with kids though.

Otherwise, I am still contented with your prayers.

Neways, I digressed. Guess what I am going to use to contain/wrap the gifts? :) Old shoe-boxes and the glossy pages of old magazines... Plus, I've got loads of unused crepe paper, ribbons and other cool recycle-bles in my drawers. (Yeah, I'm a hoarder!)

4 days to Christmas... and 5 days to me MIA from Penang...

Trying to polish up the leftovers in my fridge before I go off this Saturday.


Now, I am viciously attacking the gigantic Dragon fruits...ALONE *burrrp* ~ thankfully, there are only 2. Gagging at the rest of the fruit. My stomach is already quaking... for the loo... ok, ok, now if you will please excuse me....

*Intermission*

ARGH, my hands are purple... from peeling the purple-fleshed dragon fruit!!! And the stain won't be removed by soap! @_@' ~ didn't realize this till I had some time - on the throne - to examine my palms.

Anyway...

It has been a busy, eye-opening weekend. Ran loads of errands, wrapped presents, attended a Christmas barbeque on Saturday night at Putra Palace (gathering of Ben's friends from Avago, his ex-company --> I felt like a fish in a strange aquarium - thankfully, I made some lady friends and was able to goo-gaa with their babies and toddlers), brought a friend to church, etc.

Dropped by Ben's Cube at work on Sunday evening after church, to play with his guppies... (yes, he has one in his office cube!) Technically, I didn't play play with them... I just watched Ben messing around with his new toy (the pump), cleaning the aquarium, rearranging the interior decoration of his aquarium (the plants) and feeding the fish...while the cute lil' fishies swam round and round their aquarium... Plus, one of the mother guppies just gave birth to 9 cute baby guppies last week - Ben's separated them into another container (just in case the cold-blooded fishes eat their own kids) - we fed the babies fish-food crushed into powder.

...admiring God's wonderful creations... hehe.

We wound up in Teo Chew Meng for dinner on Sunday night (too tired to go for the Penang Times Square Christmas celebration thingy...) - omg! The food there was superb... I MUST go back there again some day to try the other dishes they serve... I had the pork and fish-ball soup noodles last night - the soup was SO GOOD... and the fish-balls were smooth and springy - exactly how they should be like! :) We shared a plate of stir-fried baby cabbage too. The vegies were still a beautiful green, not overcooked or over-oily... They have one branch in Bayan Baru (Sunway Tunas - just a few doors away from Tai Kea restaurant - this was where we ate last night) and one branch in Georgetown.

This was Ben waiting for his food...

Why so serious o?

Okays...gotta run more errands... going to the post-office in a while...

Is it time to make these...?

...for the New Year?

All my life, I have never believed much in making 'em.

I am not saying they are wrong... But, perhaps, I have never bothered keeping them ever :P ~ those made over the New Year. I don't know why. Throughout the year, I often resolve to change... whenever the Holy Spirit convicts me of something to repent of - so that my life is pleasing to God. But at New Year? I usually make faith-lists, commit the year ahead unto Him, and ask Him to help me grow in all areas.

Heh... but if I were to make one for the year ahead - it would be not to bite (and peel) my fingers of their skins (near the finger-nail). Sorry, I know that is gross - but that's a extremely bad habit I've cultivated since I was a kid in the kindy... I'm not sure if it has got something to do with my subconscious or personal insecurities or what. I do even more of that unconsciously when I am nervous, stressed or emotionally upset. Viciously attack my thumbs with my teeth and fingernails. (Sounds so horrible) In fact, I am always doing it nowadays, so my thumbs are very ugly.

This brings back funny memories... Tailo used to suddenly grab my thumbs just to hold them up in the light, examine their 'interesting' contour...exclaim over my 'creativity' and rebuke me (such a tortured ah mui I was...@_@ ~ but I know, I know... he really cared). I'd squeal and try to wriggle my thumbs out of his grasp, but his grip strength was obviously greater than mine.

Used to peel off all my nails too - but since I've managed to bring that under control and I hardly do it anymore... THERE IS HOPE FOR MY THUMBS!

I'd like to start having pretty thumbs for once ~ to match other pretty bits of myself ~ (ehem, I hope that didn't sound too perasan) therefore my, um... New Year resolutions... would be... not to bite and peel my fingers anymore...

God, please help me.

Friends, please help me... if you see me doing that unconsciously, please remind me: NO PEELING.

Thursday

Had dinner and coffee with Yvonne today...

...or should I say... Dr. Yvonne? :)

Hehe. I feel so like a proud parent... *solemn look*

6 years of a beautiful, beautiful relationship God's blessed us with.

Thank You Lord, for letting our paths cross and bringing us this far...since our Mercer Court/Clanbrassil Street and Purple Book days. Thank You for Yvonne...and the lessons You've taught me through our friendship. Make me faithful to be an encouragement to her... a good friend, a loving sister-in-Christ and a vessel of Your love. In Jesus' name... AMEN.

Oh... last but not least... a picture from Ai Hua's house-warming last Sunday... cum Matt's surprise birthday cake :)

Beautiful Wednesday

Before I blog bout today, I want to thank God for 2 things on my mind today...

Firstly...

...we're gonna celebrate our 2nd Christmas together soon! Ben and myself...

Thank You, God... that this year - we've grown in so many ways - individually and as a couple. As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we remember how Jesus laid down His life for us, in love ~ and as response, may we love, revere and worship You from our hearts, even more. Jesus, be the center of our lives and relationship; strengthen our love toward one another; unite us in a bond of mutual generosity, friendship, love and understanding... Last but not least, grant us faithfulness, that we may continue to serve You hand-in-hand - with joy, passion and zeal for Your Kingdom. Amen.

Secondly, my Living World Religions results are out (yeah, the course for which my assignments initially got lost on their way to Dr. Jeffrey Oh). I did well, by God's grace. What a blessing! :) Praise God! To everyone who lovingly prayed, provided (so I could take the course), supported and encouraged me through this course - I couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you, lovelies!!:)

Went out with dear friends - Ai Hua and Matthew the whole day. It was really fun. I was refreshed indeed.

We lunched on duck rice together at Pulau Tikus, lepaked in Gurney Plaza (more specifically, we shopped for ministry stuff and window-shopped at Padini Concept Store - the Christmas sales, so tempting... but our Matt kept reminding us, "James 1..." Sigh. Haha), watched 'The Princess and the Frog', went for coffee, went grocery-shopping... then wound up at Vanessa's house for dinner. Matthew cooked us some really simple but nice fare... We also had Wei Wenn (STM student from Jelutong Methodist Church) join us later for makan.

A really blessed time. Matt's cooking was splendiferous! Our extremely hot topic of discussion today at the dining table was - 'Love Languages'. Our sister-in-Christ, Vanessa, is going to move out of her place soon...so today's dinner was rather like the last gathering we'd have in that place (as well as sort of a Christmas/New Year celebration together. We ate, fellowshipped, worshipped God and prayed for one another. Also, we shared what God has done in our lives throughout the past year, especially through seminary.

For me, it was a humbling year on the whole. I never knew I was so weak ~ till God revealed it to me through my circumstances, my relationships with people and through the difficulties I faced with my studies. Wow! But when I was weak, God showed Himself strong and faithful. Merciful, gracious and loving. And His kindness... unbelievable but true... always leads me to repentance. I desire that I would continue to let Him fill that void within my heart...so that I may show more kindness to others in the year ahead. Seminary has given me many beautiful new friendships, new ways to serve God and taught me many valuable things for ministry.

Some pictures...

Matt ~ our chef of the day...Ai Hua, the chef's beautiful girlfriend... who cheerfully washed the dishes......and played guitar for our praise-and-worship session... :)Vanessa, the mighty captain of the prayer-warrior team...

Methodist women... unite!:P
From left: me, Vanessa, Ai Hua, Wei Wenn

Oh, I trimmed my hair yesterday...

This is how it looks if I blow dry my hair after a wash... Haha. As if I have so much time...

I just need more hair to grow on my head...then it will be perfect already.

Woopsss.... I know this is UNRELATED and RANDOM - but I'd better end here, and go to sleep soon. Pastor J saw that I am still online on FB (now it's 2.40am) and messaged me on FB to ask me why I am not asleep yet. Haha. @_@' ~ So cool right?

I wonder then... what is Pastor J doing awake at this time of the night...on Facebook!:P

A lovely Tuesday...

Today, I was out most of the time.

Met up with Nellie for lunch today. It was a great time - we as usual yakked overtime. Two-and-a-half hours later, we were still comfortably refilling our tea-cups in Sakae Sushi, patting our full bellies, throwing back our heads and laughing at one another. Hehe. I am so glad to have her back.

Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't have survived my very first few weeks in work back at Trinity last year - without her around to teman me on my Grand Penang City Rounds (as opposed to grand ward rounds back in the hospital) and visit homebound church aunties. She was still on hols, I hardly knew how to drive at that time (was still riding Joella's bicycle from house to house), the roads and addresses in Penang were foreign to me... and I had already fainted once on the road - in the hot sun. Therefore, I was so glad for the car-rides... and of course we were thankful for one another's company. Started visiting people as timid strangers...I remember Nellie and myself seated on Mdm P's sofa staring at one another - wondering what else to say to relieve the awkward silence. Then we grew bolder.

I laugh to recall our adventures. Challenging and funny. We had dear aunties who were hard of hearing, down with all kinds of health problems, fans of cats, fans of their grandkids, people with short-term memory problems, ladies in nursing homes, etc. Joyful ones and not so joyful ones...

Boy, I was so sorry that Nellie's hols had to come to an end... coz she left me behind - and flew back to Europe for work :P Then she'd show me her pictures from time to time - that made me drool.

~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow, I am going out with two dear friends for lunch and movie... then to Vanessa's house for dinner in the evening.

Really, I have mixed feelings about leaving Penang after Christmas. On one hand, I look forward to the vacation. On the other hand, it means that my hols are coming to an end soon - and the crazy school days are beginning again!

Monday...

Hmmm... Some of the more important things I accomplished today - by God's grace:

1. Cleaned out my apartment. I am thankful that it is no bigger...*phew*
2. Typed out my half-year report to pastor...after procrastinating it so long... (Oh, yeah now I am reminded that I still have something else related to do.)
   
3. Taught piano - my student learned to play her first ever song. Right hand :) Revised some of last week's theory lesson too, through the song.
   
4. Prayed and read Loren Cunningham's 'The Book that transforms nations'. I am loving it.
5. Resumed my EPO regime after having abandoned it for a while... *sheepish look* Yeah, I can hear some people cheering... Will try to be more faithful with the supplement kays.

Of note, today is mum's death anniversary.

8 years ago from today, we kissed mama goodbye for the last time.

Mama,

It's been a while. We've all grown up quite a bit.

Childhood days seem so far away yet it feels like it was just yesterday when you were still around. Home was never the same again after you left. But one thing good - we all love God now. I've gone into Bible College this year. Last year at this time, I didn't know where I was supposed to go. But God finally spoke just a week before the year ended.

Yet another year has passed. I've learnt many new things. But you still inspire me. You were that beautiful woman ~ and you will always be ~ in my heart.

Missing you mama.
Huey

Another weekend over...

A very busy weekend for sure...visits, Ai Hua's housewarming/house-blessing party, etc, etc.

But, we made a little time to do something out-of-ordinary...

Went to Balik Pulau to eat laksa and Hokkien mee...
This was not at the Balik Pulau market, but rather somewhere in Air Putih.
I am bad at directions...
All I know is that we turned here and turned there...
Please ask Ben if you are interested.
Really good laksa, I felt...

Pictures say it all...

Hot weather + spicy food --> and someone was sweating bullets
and savouring every drop of cold drink...

Went on an impromptu short hike too...to Air Terjun Titi Kerawang - at Balik Pulau

Enjoyed the scents of nature...

On the narrow bridge... looking down into the swirling waters below...

Beautiful sight of water cascading over the uneven rocks...And another...

Crossing the pool on narrow stones and planks...
to a steeper patch of rocks, which we would have to climb
if we wanted to reach the higher pools...Ben: Shall we?
Me: Ummm....No thanks...

*Shudders*
Well, as expected, he clambered over the rocks (what's new?) to explore the world up there
while I stayed down where it was safer
- what with unstable ankles and wet shoes,
I knew better than to imitate the mountain goats...

Ah, he came back! *So relieved*
Face is burning... @_@ *sweats* - cannot peel open eyes too...

*Bridge over troubled waters...*

Another angle of the breath-taking waterfall...

Ah, some shade provided by the dusty stalls at the roadside...
(yes, and my hyperextended knees are bad. LOL)

Cute pineapples growing...

Very hot weather...So thirsty...
that we ended up driving to our usual fruit farm for
cool, refreshing glasses of juice.

*Cheers* ~ Fruit-punch and Watermelon juice high five!!

Fruit-punch made of starfruit, watermelon, guava...and um, honeydew?
(I can't remember the last fruit - as usual) ~
I have a good mind to get myself a fruit blender one day...
just to churn out my own smoothies and fruit punches..

He daydreams too...

*Grin* - Gonna need a hair-cut soon...

Need to sit down to regather my thoughts. Today's another busy day. Gotta clean my house, prepare to teach later, teach, pray, do some work and hopefully continue planning my KL trip :P It was kinda tergendala this weekend.

Oh...and I watched Ninja Assassin (is that how it is spelt?) - and I liked it very much!