dReAmYLaNd

Awaken my soul to who I am in You

2007-06-17T22:11:00.000+08:00

Great Emerge song... "Awaken my Soul".. I love it.. for the tune, for its lyrics...

Recently I read a book called "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.

I chanced upon this book on one of my recent rare visits to National Library.. vaguely recalled Pastor Kong ever mentioning this name in his sermons about her being one of the Christian heros. And so.. I borrowed the book wanting to know more about her life.

The book has impacted me deeply.. like the song goes "Awaken my soul to who I am in You" .. one's faith in God truly can bring great strength, beyond all understanding and open many doors..

She was just a simple lady who grew up in a loving Christian home.. In her 50s.. the German Occupation started and all their family wanted to do was to protect the Jews (whom they recognised were the apple of God's eye) from the arrest of the Germans. Initially she sent the Jews to her brother, who was the pioneer in the family in this "business" of hiding the Jews. One fine day, her brother told her, "Corrie you got to establish your own sources" because he was getting increasingly watched over by the German police - Gestapo.

She had no clue how to get started...
She has no clue who to work with...
All she had was a desire to save God's people...
And God led her to different ones to facilitate her honorable "work"!

Indeed.. very often, A DESIRE is all that one needs to do great things for God. A God-given desire opens doors beyond what we can expect, brings strength beyond what is humanly-possible... It reminded me that God only needs 3 things to make us great:

1. A strong desire to do something more with your life
2. Hard work on our part
3. Commit this work to God and recognise He is in control

Corrie, together with her family, housed many Jews and managed to help many of them escape to safety. They took on the risk to protect God's people. We are to be law-abiding.. but more importantly, we are to fear God more than men. In the end, she and her family did get arrested and thrown into concentration camps. As I read about the persecutions she went through, I asked myself... would I be as strong as her if I were in her shoes? The Bible and the mention of God was not allowed in the camps.. Yet she secretly kept a Bible with her.. Praised and worship God... ministered to and shared the Gospel with as many as possible in her prison days .. even to a German officer! What audacity!! Which I feel is lacking in most Christians, maybe even myself.

Her story taught me what it means to have audacious faith.
Her story taught me what it means to praise God in all circumstances.
Her story taught me what even under the harshest environments, we can still serve the purposes of God.
Her story thought me a willing heart is all God needs to make our lives a great one.

For those of you who wanna read up on her, you can find a very good biography of her at http://www.answers.com/topic/corrie-ten-boom

Let's all be like her.. Let's run a good race for God in our lifetime..

Let's not merely exist but make it count!

A Fresh Encounter With Dreamyland

2007-06-10T21:53:00.000+08:00

Ahaha... wat a lousy title..

To those of you who are familiar with CHC's rededication BS title .. it's "A Fresh Encounter With God".

Thus, my lousy title.. "A Fresh Encounter With Dreamyland"... (ahaha.. I still think it's a terrible title..)

Yes Yes.. I repent from my "backslidding"... More than AMA, I literally MIA since last August. Even I myself am disgusted at the last book and movie that was indicated on my page. Click?!! My goodness... That's like yonder months ago... I have since read so many books, watched so many movies..

Indeed ... time flies us by day by day, minute by minute, without us realising... Especially with our schedules... A procrastinated thought to update my blog left it miserable, cold and like Kenneth commented, "cob-webbed" for months... Poor thing!

So here I am... "rededicating myself".. to the honorary task of being an on-the-ball blogger. I will try my best to keep it alive...

The word is "try" okie... =p

Baby Talk

2007-05-23T16:52:00.000+08:00

Recently many women around me have been talking about babies.. planning for one... trying for one... it occurred to me that having a baby is not that easy after all... at least not as and when u like it..

Lesson of the day? To those who are of marriable age & still unattached, open your eyes wide, flaunt yourself (with style of course) & go for the man/woman who make your heart pounds faster! To those who are attached & financially stable... what are u waiting for? Get married early & don't drag too long for your baby. To those who are happily married, start tring! You never know when you will succeed at having one.

Recently someone told me of a kid who passed away cos she has some form of blood disorder from birth... bleeds even if u try stroking her... HOW SADDENING .. it occurred to me that actually the all important thing when having a baby is not about his/her gender, name, cuteness.. really it's the baby's HEALTH...

Lesson of the day? I changed the way that I pray for my baby-to-come (eh... i didn't mention when ah) ... my faith prayer now focuses on my baby's health.... Cos a healthy baby will always be a cute baby who will bring joy to his/her parents..

Thick skin... Thin hearts

2006-08-16T12:03:00.000+08:00

Some changes lately.. everyone is in the midst of adjustments... New environment.. new people... new style of working..I believe it's going to be ok.. Just like how the sand "rubs" against the bigger pebbles in the bottle and causes some friction when you try to add the sand in... we should settle down after this period of friction.... we better do.

Thank God for moulding us all these while.... all of us have thick skin and thin hearts. That's what Qingyuan always say.... I think it's very true... Generally.. we are quick to say sorry... "repent" and bounce back fast... As if we're thick-skinned people who forgot just how embarrassing & hurtful it was. Actually the truth is not because we're thick-skinned... the truth is we have a soft heart.

Let this be a revelation to you -- he who is able to submit is GREATER than he who is not able to. Submission is a strength and not a weakness.

I wanna thank God for all my leaders ... I believe each one of them is placed above me for a reason... There's something to learn from each of them. I wanna thank God for my leaders who defend me and "block arrows" for me... If you think you are so great just because you are soft enough to submit to your leaders... your leaders are even greater.. cos they submit to even greater leaders (and yes that often translates to greater discipleship). I wanna thank God for my fellow CGLs ... our buddy talks mean so much to me.... Thank you for your support. All of u make serving such a fun thing...

Thick skin.... thin hearts... that's the way to go if you want to continue to serve God. Until then... you're probably better of just where you are. Cos I'll foresee you falling into depression, low self-esteem and bitterness and hardening your hearts...

Submission is a test of whether you are serving because of a calling or for your own ego. You will hang on to your ministry no matter how severe the discipleship is.. because it is a calling, not a choice. And the call of God is honorable & irrevocable.

The story of a dog

2006-08-15T13:08:00.000+08:00

I have a colleague who shares the room with me in my office. He has an interesting way to communicate to his secretary that "hello... your things-to-do are piling up!!".

He has a soft-toy dog in the office named Bow-Wow (he just told me that's the name of the dog and I personally think it's quite duh cos isn't Bow-Wow the sound that the dog makes instead of its name?). Anyway, it's his dog so let's give him the liberty of naming his dog.

On a good day.. when what needs to be done in the IN-TRAY are be cleared at a good pace .. Bow-Wow sits comfortably on the in-tray ledge like this ..

But... when work piles up... Bow-Wow can no longer sit on the ledge and he has to hang miserably on the table lamp... like this..

Today... Bow-Wow is on the table lamp... She who has ears let her hear....

MORNING GRUMPS

2006-08-11T10:15:00.000+08:00

i dun like people who are grumpy in the morning.
i dun like people who find fault with others first thing in the morning.
i dun like people who sound irritated and pull a long face in the morning.

Some people call these group of morning grumps "not-a-morning person". I think that's just as excuse/name they hide themselves under. If that's you... you need to exercise better control over your emotions. Come on... just because you didn't get a good night's sleep or take 5 hours to warm up in the morning doesn't mean the whole world owes you something.

Breathe and embrace the day ahead!

THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE!

A NEW thing I'm carrying around

2006-08-10T10:19:00.000+08:00

Heh heh... you are right...
Those are my new house keys!
"B" is Bruce's and of cos... "S" is mine. =)
Bruce bought these 2 key chains when he was in Bangkok earlier this year... or was it last year? (can't remember le). For some reason, we have left them aside and tada... just nice... when we were looking for something nice and meaningful for our new house keys.

Nice eh?

Yummy YAMI

2006-08-08T15:14:00.000+08:00

Popped by Suntec office to pass Kless something just now.

You know what is the best about swinging over to Suntec?
There's a YAMI YOGURT store!!!!

I love YAMI YOGURT since I was a kid. Best yogurt around.... Peach + Granola.... or just Peach if you wanna save money & calories! There are so few stores around nowadays... I only know of one in Suntec and another @ Raffles Place. So I make it a point to exchange $2.30 for a small cup of peach flavoured yogurt everytime I pass by these 2 places.

Yummy YAMI. =)

our amazing brain

2006-08-07T10:33:00.000+08:00

Bruce emailed me something. I was simply amazed that I could read it aloud at one go. Haha... Maybe that's because I am a SMARTIE, as the passage claims. Haha..

Do have a go at it too!

O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Did you qualify as a SMARTIE too? =)

My divine task of the week

2006-08-04T19:18:00.000+08:00

I have been working on a divine task this week.

Once again, Bro Nic & Sis Lillian are going overseas. This time.. their destination is New Zealand. Months ago, an adviser -- Cindy Png -- won a pair of free air tickets to NZ and decided to bless Boss with them. Bro Nic feels he's reaping this because earlier in the year.. he sowed into his parents-in-laws' tickets to London. Seed, time and harvest... shall never cease.

This trip has a divine mission. Don't know if it was meant to be a joke or what... but we're all standing in faith that the "mission" will be accomplished in this trip. For those of you who don't know what I'm taking about... it's ok, you don't have to know.

Kelvin Teo had the honour of planning this trip's itinery because he's been there for his honeymoon. In the week before they flew, suddenly the "ball" of choosing the accomodation for them fell into my hands. Glup!

For the past few days, I scouted around the internet for something good. Someone who's been to NZ recommended something and Bro Nic was actually agreeable to it. But I just did not feel very good about it... I believed there must be something better for them. I decided to invoke the spiritual (haha)... I prayed to God to show me a good place for them. God is good. I found a few power ones. Bro Nic went "WOW" when I showed him the pictures.

What you think? Can make it anot?

So, off they went to NZ. Will be putting up in 2 hotels I found for them. At times like that, I always have to pray that the hotel will turn out as power as what the pictures are. God... I did what I could within my scope... the rest... you help them out la huh?

Bye Bye...my Green Green Grass of Home

2006-08-02T10:51:00.000+08:00

This post is dedicated to the grassfield in front of my Sengkang flat. So... it's going to be in green, grEEn and more GREEN.

There is a patch of grassfield in front of my block. For those of you who have been to my house... you would know how pleasantly relaxing it was to lay on my L-shape sofa and look over the field through my full-length window panel. At times... I would just lay there.. look at the field...stare at the blue blue sky with its fluffy clouds... and appreciate the serenity of Sengkang. The GREEN ... together with my chamomile tea ...soothes me big time .. and now... it's gone!!

A HDB magazine years ago revealed plans of building a school over that patch of green. But nothing much went on there. In my 5 1/2 years.. that patch was very much unutilised... its only functions were being a homeland for an entire empire of grasshoppers and toads... soccer field for some people to play some light soccer...kite-flying site for some super-on families.... sometimes during Qi-Yue (7th month) they erect worship stuff over there and DONG DONG DONG for one whole week.... occassionally it is also vandalised by some folks who insist on burning incense paper on the poor grass.

Since last week, the bulldozers and cranes came onto my patch of green. Day by day... from my window...I oversee how they slowly striped it off.. The greens are slowly replaced by sand & gravel. Everyday the workers start working at 8am sharp. (What a wonderful alarm clock they serve as). They've erected the workers quarters and put up the big MOE signature "Moulding the future of our nation" all around the perimeter of my field.

Looks like it's going to go on for at least the next few months..... Up will come a school and gone will be my grass. One the things that destresses me will soon be replaced by school bells, early morning "Mari Kita"... screams and chatter coming from the school.

Bye bye my grassfield....Thanks for a good 5 years of companionship.

1st Casual CG -- E198 Shi Zhi Lu Kou

2006-07-29T16:15:00.000+08:00

We had our 1st casual CG yesterday!

Initially, we planned for a Bowling Tele-Match but on Tues.. my dear Anna told me all the lanes were booked!! *faintz* Thank God for Bruce....he was super supportive when he heard about the sudden "zhuang kuang"... immediately helped me to think of a contingency plan -- Shi Zhi Lu Kou.

Thank God for great helpers in the CG that put the idea together in 2 days -- namely Terence & Anna. Really appreciate you guys for being so flexible and ready to serve.

We had a huge turnout. I spoke to at least 40 people that day in a big big function room. It has been quite some time since I played this game as a CG. This time round it's with so many more people. We had a total of 6 teams.... running all over using NE line. We had fun!

Here are some pics:

Terence briefing everyone how the game is played.

Quick! Gobble the fries (1st dish) & off we go!

Our proud winning team!! Team Leader: Anna

Organisers: Terence (right) & Liyan

Finally.... what would a CG outing be without a proper CG photo?

Confession

2006-07-27T22:17:00.000+08:00

What do you do when you can't decide which one to buy?
-- You buy BOTH! =)

Yes yes... I have a confession to make..

I went shopping for a bag today cos my previous one got "torn apart" (literally) by the bunches of keys in my handbag. Found 2 suitable ones...both reasonably priced... both quite nice... both same colour (that's the spastic part). Both had their plus & minus points... so i ended up buying both! Sigh... does this qualify to be indulgence?

But I only went bag-shopping cos my bag was spoilt... I know of many others who would buy cos it's nice... even though they already have dozens more at home. I shop by needs-based. Unlike most gers... But that's just me... another more boy-than-ger-side of me... Not being critical of others who belong to other categories. Woah.. Better stop writing here before some gers get provoked. Haha....

Go watch LAKE HOUSE

2006-07-26T23:05:00.000+08:00

To: Everyone who hasn't caught the show yet

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

One of the very successful sweet, tear-provoking, heart-warming, lovey-dovey shows of late. I went to the Sneak Previews with Bruce tonight half-heartedly not expecting alot... But the movie surprised me.

Although the concept of the movie is not very original (for all who have watched the korean movie ard 1-2 years back, you'll know what i mean), the twist in the show is. Don't tell u too much... later spoil your fun! Go watch ya?

Presenting E198!

2006-07-20T23:01:00.000+08:00

E198 say "Hello" to all ....

It's been a few weeks since I led my mega CG. Actually, the size of this group is nothing compared to the initial CGs our pioneering CGLs were leading back then... I'm glad to be able to have a glimpse of what they went through...

There are some benefits when the CG is BIG:
1) Games become so much fun... people just make it so loud & ra-ra (Anna would second this)
2) Logistics becomes so interesting. Eg. Resisting the ushers every Sunday when we try to book close to 30 seats.
3) It feels like one BIG family indeed!

I thank God for sending good members to me... You know guys... it's really not a chore to take you guys. You make it all worthwhile & fun!

our foodtasting session

2006-07-19T23:31:00.000+08:00

Today, a team of 6 -- Bruce, me, his mom, his dad, my mum & my Da-Gu -- went for our Wedding Dinner Foodtasting Session @ Amama Hotel. If you don't know by now... that's where our wedding dinner is going to be.

The picture on the right is our Menu. Cool eh? --------->>

It bears our names!! The LCD board at the Hotel Lobby flashed "FOODTASTING OF BRUCE LEE & SHAUN LOW". All of a sudden... I feel so important. What treatment? Haha! But they should... considering the kind of $$$ they're charging every newly wed couple!

Anyway... the food was not bad. Even our food-fussy Bro Bruce nodded his head in approval. Hope that's a peace of good news to all you who are invited.

God is a good God. The weddings at Amara Hotel come with 4 theme choices. I liked particularly one... and you know what? Tonight someone was having their wedding dinner and it was exactly the theme I wanted. So I had the opportunity of viewing the ballroom with the theme I wanted. =) Nice nice!

I'd like to see this as a God-incident instead of a coincidence. Actually... this is just one of the many tell-tale signs that Father God is watching over and blessing our wedding. We have been experiencing alot of favour .... The other day Bruce and me were counting our blessings... from finding our house to creative reno ideas to good bargains when we were buying our furniture.

God told me before months ago that He's as proud & excited as a natural father when couples are getting married. Because we are the pride of His glory. Thank you Father... for seeing us through it all!

Mum @ work

2006-07-18T00:02:00.000+08:00

Do you remember the 2 bedlamps we had to get for our wedding?
Tada! !

Cute right??
It runs on battery .... small and cute! At least it's not that obiang!

My mom went shopping in Chinatown over the weekend... According to her, there'a shop that sells all the "cheena" wedding stuff! Mom started "working" le. She's bought most of the stuff we need for wedding day.. even got her day & night suits ready.

Hmm... wonder if she's feeling more of excitement or sadness? A bit of both ba.... I would too if I'm a mummy.

our 1st scrubbing session

2006-07-16T23:11:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, Bruce, my mother-in-law-to-be (what a mouthful) & me went to our new house to clean up. DUSTY is the word! Cleaning has never been my forte.... Just watch me hold the broom and you'll know... but hey! that doesn't mean I dunno how to sweep ok? I just happen to be the Magic Wipe gang. Hmmph!

It's a good feeling to know that the house we entered -- dusty and full of rpaper cardboards, unwanted remnants from the previous owner-- is now much much cleaner. It's beginning to feel like home... although the wallpaper & furnishings are not up.

Wonder how the house will look like next week when the wallpaper is up. It was quite a tedious process to choose, match and factor in the cost in the midst of our wallpaper selection... Nonetheless it was fun.. I'm looking forward to Tues when most of it will be done. Hope that my visualisation skills don't play me out.

Well well... being proposed to was fun... choosing gowns/wedding venues was fun... choosing a house was fun... renovating a house is even more fun!! I believe at the end of the day... every part of the wedding procedure is fun because you are partnering through all these "projects" with your dearest one.

What would the most beautiful gown, wedding, house be without him? Nothing.

3 months to go!!

2006-07-15T11:59:00.000+08:00

It's the 15th again! 3 more months and tada...
Let's welcome Mr & Mrs Lee!

home sweet home

2006-07-11T23:22:00.000+08:00

my new Khatib home is undergoing high-gear in renovation.

It has been a rather hectic 2 weeks... after work & weekends it's go around and see furnishings time... discussions over the phone... choosing wall paper...choosing bed, lights, tables, sofa, tv, fridge, ...... Overcoming frustrations & thinking of solutions when what you planned is not feasible...

Last Sat we brought Ken & Qin along with us for furniture shopping. We really hope they weren't bored ..following us around... Actually I don't think they weren't. They seemed like they were enjoying themselves & projecting into the future... Kenneth had this "Hmm... in deep thoughts" look all the time.... And I kept hearing Qin say "Next time... next time..." Hope you had fun! We bought our dining table & carpet that day! Thank you Kenneth for "geng"-ing the carpet to Bruce's car. This is what you call a friend in need a friend indeed. He's supposedly trained to carry heavy, log stuff ... so that was chicken-feet for him.. haha... when you need help next time, you know who to find.

There are reno works going on every other day.. Thank God for Bruce's flexibility with time when it comes to work...Poor dear has been making daily trips home to oversee the works. We try to visit the house everyday to see how things are... it's highly satisfying to see our new homey getting into form day by day. Wanted to post pictures of it's progress on my blog actually... then again... i would rather you have a pleasant surprise when you drop by our home sweet home in the future!

Looking forward to the day that it's fully done up! Hmm... i can already see Bruce and myself sitting in the sofa.. looking around the house... and going "Hmm... this is the house we've build". =) I guess that's the fun part when you buy and do up your own house together... every part of the house has a part of the 2 of you in it... it's in the furniture, the tiles, the walls.... even the sink & tap!

Love is everywhere! Maybe that's why people coined the phrase love-nest.

a brand NEW start for E198

2006-07-06T23:57:00.000+08:00

Had my 1st mega-E198 CG today ....
Due to some reshuffling in the zone, my CG has doubled in size overnight.
New place... new faces...
A brand new start for E198.

For my existing and new members.... I believe it's going to be exciting.. cos ALL of you have to GROW to another level... another level of maturity & service cos all that you've been faithfully doing needs to be done DOUBLY GOOD now. But I believe that as God jostles you out from your comfort zone with this reshuffling... many of you are going to see yourself expand in capacity.... if you are willing. =)

For myself.... I sense that it's going to be another phase in my ministry. For some reason, God has entrusted this big group of people to me... Of late...I've been taking on more responsiblities in other areas ... somehow.. what happened in the natural happened in the spiritual too... 12 people landed in my CG under my care. Hmm... I believe it's yet one of those things I'll slowly begin to see God's intentions unfold in due time.. But I'm grateful for it.. In fact, I welcome the change. Change is good... it is a check on whether your heart is soft & ready for remoulding or hard, set in your ways & resistant to changes. Personally, I have been feeling good about the inclusions to E198. I sense it is of God. In fact I really am pretty excited! Can you feel it? =)

There's a sense of something fresh & strong birthing forth from this new group. During ministry time, 4 of us received the same Word -- BEHOLD, GOD IS GOING TO DO NEW THINGS AMONGST US!

Watch out devil... the e198 army is arising!

all things work together for good

2006-07-03T22:09:00.000+08:00

Have you ever planned for something but along the way... it was not able to be executed? It's a sickening feeling... cos you have to make other plans .... but God is faithful.. when one road closes He opens another... and after a while... you realise that "Hey, actually... all things work together for the GOOD!"

Today was one of my company's BIG meeting. Initially we wanted to invite 2 guests. In the end, one couldn't make it so we had to postpone some of the intended agenda to our following meeting. We were a bit xian at first ...but guess wat happened... the 1st speaker was scheduled to speak for 1 hr and spoke for 2 hrs! Thank God there wasn't a 2nd speaker... else his time would have been eaten into and the 1st speaker would not have been able to share all she wanted to share. After the event.... i couldn't help but think... Hmm.. God must have already foreseen she will talk beyond her allocated time... that's why he allowed the 2nd speaker to not be free on that day. Haha... just a thought la!

So keep your heads high even when things seemingly go wrong... God is still in control!

Announcement: Quiz about Bruce

2006-07-02T21:17:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

Bruce has created a quiz to test all of you. The link is below my quiz (on the left panel). Go take it ok? Thanks.

The day Mr Squirrel fell

2006-07-01T15:35:00.000+08:00

The most unexpected thing happened yesterday.

I was on a taxi. The driver was happily driving and I was doing my make-up. Suddenly I heard the loudest "THUD!" ever. Both of us were shocked. For a moment, I thought ... man! Did we knock into someone? Nothing leh... Windscreen still intact... Both of us looked shocked and then ... Mr Squirrel rolled down the windscreen from the top of the taxi.

Oh no... He was swinging from one tree to the next ... missed and fell flat on the taxi, bounced off the windscreen to the top then rolled down again.

Poor squirrel. I thought he fell to his death. The driver examined him while he drove on and commented "Still alive.... Only concussed." Oh Gosh! The poor squirrel was knocked out by the collision and he fainted. The driver was nice enough to pull over at the side of the road to and put the squirrel on the grass patch so that he can rest on the grass while he regains consciousness instead of hanging on the windscreen for the whole stretch of CTE.

Uncle was so clever. He picked a long tree branch with leaves to "brush" the squirrel off his wiper. The poor, terrified squirrel thought this was yet another ordeal. He clenched tightly on the wiper and used the last bit of his energy to put on a struggle with the Uncle who was just trying to help him.

Finally, the man overpowered the animal. Uncle said the squirrel suffered internal injuries. There was blood by the side of its mouth. Poor thing..... We left him laying on the grass and drove off. I hope Mr Squirrel is still alive today. Just in case you're wondering.... that is NOT Mr Squirrel's picture... It's just a picture I found on the website. =)

Expectations

2006-06-30T10:14:00.000+08:00

According to dictionary.com, to expect = To consider reasonable or due, To consider obligatory

I almost blew my top yesterday when I realised a certain task assigned to someone wasn't properly carried out. It wasn't something difficult... The message has been conveyed more than once. XYZ claimed he knew what to do. And then ... I almost fainted when things turned out otherwise. After kindly highlighting to XYZ what he should have done... he wanted to rectify matters. And BANG! Another error. Sigh!! Man, what is wrong with him.....? I was in a state of shock because this was something I definately did not expect out of this guy given his background & status. I guess... titles do have an impact on forming our preconceptions about people.

There is also an informal meaning to expect apparently. To presume or suppose.

Is that the reason why our expectations of others causes frustration for them and us?

XYZ was rather pissed off by me. To him, it was not a life and death issue but something in the grey. But to me, it was something that was considered reasonable & due. I expected him to know what to do. I placed a box bigger than him on him.

I realised .... one's standards are not another's. Just because you come from the same background does not necessary mean that person is on the same page as the rest of us. I ought to have given him some more grace, even though I knew things could have done in a better way.

There's a saying that goes "No expectations, no dissapointments". To a certain extent, this statement is true. When we put our preconceived ideas on others and expect that to fill that "box", we need to factor in the possibility that they won't or can't.

Then again, all of us will never grow then. Forever we'll be stuck in our little box, thinking that we have arrived when very often, the actual fact is --- we haven't.

Leaving Imprints in God's Life

2006-06-30T01:08:00.000+08:00

I was on my way to CG yesterday asking God what to share in CG. Then I happened to see a picture of a footprint on the front cover of Straits Times. It impressed something upon me. Very often we talk about God leaving imprints of His goodness in our lives. Actually, the truth is we can also leave imprints of our faithfulness & obedience in God's life.

Noah was one such guy. He obeyed and gave in spite of ridicule. And God remembered him after the flood.

David was one such guy. Till today, God calls him a man after His own heart.

Abraham was such a guy. He obeyed with sheer faith in the character of God. Because of him, an entire race & nation is blessed today.

We too can become such a man or woman of God that touch God so much through our obedience & fervency.....

Dearie @ Reservist (Day 4)

2006-06-29T23:56:00.000+08:00

Hmmm.... I'm beginning to really really miss Bruce. Thank God for a packed week of activities that distracted me.

Mon -- I came home after work and slept early.
Tues -- Meeting after work. Reached home around midnight.
Wed -- Bruce gave me an assignment to do while he's not around. I'm supposed to check out the lights @ Balestier and see if I can find nice lights for our house. Man, it is a whole stretch of light shops. I walked for more than an hour, combed through more than 10 light shops... By the time I reached home, it was 11pm.
Thurs -- CG after work. Came home at 11+ again. =)

What about Friday?? No worries lo! Dearie will be out by late afternoon. Yippppppeeeee!!!! He called me today once he was out of the jungle. So nice to hear my familiar ringtone again. =))

Dearie @ Reservist (Day 3)

2006-06-28T11:16:00.000+08:00

My dear is going into the jungle today and tomorrow. Sigh..... But he was sweet enough to call me before he went in and we lose contact for 2 days... Sigh ... this kinda guy where to find? He said he got bitten by mosquitos and can't sleep well... So poor thing!! Let me find those mosquitos and I'll KILL all of them! Dearie take care!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I carried Joey yesterday.... she is so cute!! Sigh... seeing all these cute babies makes me wanna become a mummy too! Hmmm....

My initial plan was to have 2 years of "er ren shi jie" first... but recently ... seeing all these cute babies makes me wanna have mine too! There's Princess Joey who's ever so cute, there's Baby Joshua, there's our zone's lastest "addition" Baby Jayden, there's the clever and smart Denise, there's a pretty looking Mummy-to-be Eileen in my office ... and the forever charming looking Javier (Pastor CK & Sis Eve's boy) =) Sigh... but I guess it's still not worth sacrificing the "er ren shi jie" totally.... Maybe bring forward the B-plan to 1 year?? Haha.. Then again.. it doesn't happen just because you want it so I gotta factor in a "grace period".

I think my boy will be so cute. He'll look as dashing as his daddy... I'll let my boy wear jersey... basketball, soccer, baseball... haha..should be very adorable! He will play & watch soccer with daddy... and daddy will style his hair for him.. I think my girl will also be very cute.. She'll look even prettier than mummy...

Hmm...
Looking forward to the day when I can proclaim "Presenting the Lee Family!!!"
Looking forward to taking our 1st Lee Family photo!
Looking forward to going on our 1st Lee family tour!
Looking forward .... Looking forward..... Looking forward!!
=)

Dearie @ Reservist (Day 2)

2006-06-27T23:51:00.000+08:00

Just reached home not too long ago. Sigh... it's called travelling by public transport after a late meeting... ALL BY MYSELF. At times like that I really do miss my dear alot!! But of course, he is much more than a chauffeur to me.

Actually, come to think of it ...it's a real waste that the Toyata Corolla is now just sitting outside Tuas Camp. IF ONLY I can drive!! Then the car would be mine these few days. Muahahaha! Imagine... drive to work, drive home, drive to meeting, drive home, drive dear to camp, fetch dear when he books out.... Wah... That'll be nice!

Ok, that's it! By the time he goes for Reservist next year... I must get my driving licence. So that I can "look after" his car for him. Wonder if I'll be yet another kuku female driver. Sorry girls.. I happen to be one of those girls who are reasonable and honest enough to admit the fact that girls are generally more kuku when it comes to driving. Face it girls.... it's true! Maybe I'll end up praying all the way while I'm driving. Haha. What if my legs are too short to step on the accelerator? What if I cannot park properly? What if the driver behind can't see me cos I'm so short? Oh gosh.... Glup!

But like Huiqin said just now... I must do something first before all these talk -- Go & book my basic theory. =)

Dearie @ Reservist (Day 1)

2006-06-26T23:15:00.000+08:00

It's the once a year reservist recall again. Sgt K S LEE went to report at his camp early this morning. He will be stuck there till Friday... and I will be stuck here without him. Sigh....

But today wasn't too bad. I guess work really helps. My office's devotion took up the whole morning and the rest of the afternoon was just work and more work. But this time isn't as bad as the previous round. He was on HIGH KEY. Meaning siong jungle stays and siong missions. He couldn't call ... He couldn't be contacted. I remember I was in SOT then... feeling very sad cos I couldn't call. Only could sms and wait for him to call/sms. In the middle of class he MMSed me his picture from the jungle with a short message "Miss you". I almost broke out in tears if not for the fact that I was in class.

It feels kinda empty without him around calling me every other hour. If you don't know by now... We're on the phone alot. My dear belongs to the category of wonderful guys who makes it a point to call whenever he can even though it's been a while since we're together. He has a special ringtone and my closer collegues know when he calls... they'll go "It's Bruce!" It feels weird without having him talk to me before I sleep....

Sigh, Friday come quick!

It's finally up!

2006-06-25T22:19:00.000+08:00

Finally... my sickening 56kbps Singnet-Dialup at home is working perfectly!! Please gimme 5 mins to defend myself before you conclude that I am a obsolute nut.

I was using Starhub Cable when I was in NUS... endless stuff to download... catching online lectures etc. Upon graduating, I discovered there's no need for cable at home cos there's broadband in office, church, even Macs. So I cancelled my Cable and have ever since been stuck with my 56kbps. When I finally decided to use it.. even searching for the dial-up installation software on Singnet was rather tough. Who talks about 56kbps nowadays?!! I'm pretty sure some of the Primary school kiddos dun even have a clue to what it is. Sigh....

So for the past few months ...I have been plugging the telephone line... clicking the dial-up button and hearing the all-familiar "di di bu du du .... Eeeee.... Eeeee..... Zzzzzz .... Eeee....eeee" before I finally logon. Phew, what an ordeal!

But there was one problem. I could only surf selected websites like DBS, Singnet, surprisingly Prudential and government websites. Hardly could survive without sites like Yahoo, Google... cannot update my bloggy when I'm home.... =(( Really tempted to get my broadband back but the thought of moving in 3 months time makes it seem not worthwhile.

Finally, I found something on Singnet that might help me. BINGO! I AM FREE TO SURF ALL I WANT NOW, BLOG ALL I WANT. Of course I am limited by the ultra "lightning speed" of 56kbps. But slow is better than none.

Contentment is one's greatest gain.

New inclusion: My Quiz

2006-06-23T21:28:00.000+08:00

Hey hey.... Was really bored so I did the most bo liao thing.... I added a quiz about me on my Blog. The link is on the left side. Seemingly, such a quiz is meant to test how much people know you. Actually, I think it is more of a way to let people know more about me. Haha. Of course that's when they get the questions wrong.

So...Try it out if you wanna know more about me!

Our Photos are Out!

2006-06-22T22:33:00.000+08:00

Went to choose my wedding photos today....

Thank God there were decent ones afterall. Bruce and me were kinda worried cos we are not very photogenic. Really! I know alot of people say "Sure anot?" But trust me ... it's true.

Out of a stack of 150s... We narrowed down to 80-90 decent ones. From the start, we have decided not to take more photos than what our package entails. That's a trap most wedding couples fall into and regret much later when they realised the album they paid so much for is now sitting somewhere in the cupboard & collecting dust. So, we really zoomed down to what we felt was the best 32 photos.... ignoring the intense pressure from the bridal person. We really held our fort man!

And yes, the lady wasn't too happy. In fact ... I think she was really pretty pissed... So guys, pray for us ok? Cos our album design is still in her hands and... she's the same person doing my makeup on my actual day! Glup!!

In times like that, I choose to trust in Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose". My Abba Father shall see to our beautiful wedding!

Oh what a week!

2006-06-21T23:19:00.000+08:00

It's been a siong week... Quite alot of things happened... Rather drama...Most of it can't be shared... so it's just me and the people in the "circle of trust" shouldering it. And yes... that's the reason for my delayed blog posts... Many have been asking me. Haha, it's quite nice to know there're people tuning into my blog everyday. Everyday saw "new" burdens to carry. I learned several things from all these drama though...

(1) We really communicate spirit to spirit

When things aren't going well and people around you are super sad and down, It's on their faces... it's in their sighs... It's in the heavy footsteps...Gosh! It really does affect the atmosphere man! People around sense it, feel its heaviness and wonder what's wrong? If you're not careful, you could get robed into it and dwindle in sadness too. I decided to guard my mind and focus, so that I can be the best support I know how in this period of time.

(2) No matter how desperate you are, trust the still small voice in you

When you need something and it's not coming... trust in God to provide and not jump on the most convenient solution. What seems good to man may not be God's best for you. I really believe when there's a commission, there will be a provision. And the Holy Spirit is really our wonderful Guide! He makes us feel uneasy when things/people are just not write. TRUST IN THAT PROMPTING. Sometimes, when we go ahead with what looks best for that moment and ignore the uneasiness we have in our spirit... there may be consequences & ugly outcomes we need to face up to... and alot of rectification work later on. Sigh..... alot of trouble could have been saved if only we trusted God more sometimes.. But God is a good God, I trust that as we do the right things right, He'll turn things around for us and make things right.

Sigh... like I said. Alot of things cannot be shared. So this really is parable talk. Let him who have ears hear.

XVIII

2006-06-19T22:19:00.000+08:00

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..11..12..13.14..15..16..17..18!

Today marks 18 months between Bruce and me!
Compared to Ken & Qin's 100 months this may seem like a far cry...
Then again... every couple that celebrate 100 mths celebrated 18 mths at some pt... First 18, then 100... Never depise the days of small beginnings... Haha!

We didn't go anywhere special today...
No romantic candlelight dinner...
No stroll by the beach ...
No counting stars...
No flowers...
No gifts...

But Bruce did something that made my day -- He picked me up after work! It's been a long time since he did that ... Not that he "backslided" or something... but because he's not free in the night for so long.. Not possible to pick me up. I was so happy when he said he was coming to pick me. I felt like the most fortunate woman in the whole wide world. "My dear's coming to pick me!" Thinking of that kept me smiling all the way from my office to International Plaza where I was to meet him.

I always thought ... one of the best thing a girl can ask for is a guy to pick her to work and back home. This... to me is called xin fu. This idea has been with me for 6 years now... I was rushing somewhere one day, waiting for a cab in a rather long queue. Along came a lady who found a nearby chair ... sat down... pullled out a magazine and started reading it ...she totally didn't look like she's bothered at all by the crowd... Image of laid-back classiness & beauty. Shortly after, a car pulled up towards her and stopped. It's her boyfriend/hubby and off she went. For years I thought the coolest thing is for a girl to be successful, own and drive her own car. Now I think it's to find someone who dotes on you so much to pick you up even if it may not be the most convenient thing for him to do. I was 19 then. Never regretted renewing my mind.

Thought one of your goals this year is to become a driver? Yes. Because I also think the next most xin fu thing to do is to drive my kids around next time... shopping... fetch them to school.. go pick Daddy if he's busy somewhere .... drive to supermarket to do my marketing ...

Sigh... I'm in dreamyland again......

MEET THE PARENTS

2006-06-18T22:34:00.000+08:00

Date: 18 June 2006
Time: 2:00pm
Venue: Lao Beijing @ Novena Square
Agenda: 1st Official Meetup between the LEEs & LOWs
Attendees: Bruce Lee & Pa & Ma. Shaun Low & Mom & San-Gu

2:00pm
Quick introduction. Smile. "Hello!"

2:10pm
Bruce & me decided to bury our faces in the menu and decide on what to eat rather than get involved with the initial tense atmosphere. The smile smile and dunno what to do... you look at me I look at you akwardness.

Up till 3pm
Eat eat eat ... with a little light casual chating. On a side note, their food really not bad.

3pm
Oh no... eat finish le.... into main agenda for the day -- our wedding day requirements.

Bruce and me had no clue what they were talking about exactly.. Only heard bits and pieces of it: oranges, angbaos, roast pig, how many tables, canned pigs-leg ...giving out cakes & invitation cards 2 weeks before wedding.. ...

Long feng candles?!!! NO NO.

But according to our tradition (dunno whether got geng ju anot) ...
Bruce is supposed to get my Mom a pen.
Mom is supposed to get him a pair of pants and a ring (on behalf of Dad).
We are supposed to get a new teacup set for tea ceremony & (check this out) 2 red lights to put in our room throughout the 1st night.... (which we're going to be at AMARA leh...but they say someone still needs to go to our new house & switch it on). What a waste of electricity?!

Thank God they realised we're not into these stuff & they themselves also dun really know much.. The list ended as that. Phew! Thank God no one suggested putting rooster & hen under the bed or having kids to jump around my bed!!! I will RESIST those suggestions man....

Going HOME ...

2006-06-18T07:50:00.000+08:00

It is 7.43am ... woke up without an alarm this morning. Amazing! I think it's because I "shui bao le". Yesterday was one Saturday that Bruce and me didn't catch a late movie ... Decided to rest early. It's our first free Sat for a long while cos it's been 2 weeks since he stopped working on Sat, but he had to attend a wedding last Sat. He has had so much more free time ever since... free on Wed night, Thurs night & Sat for one whole day! But good la... he has been sleeping earlier... recuperating his bridegrrom-to-be beauty sleep (or shd I call it "handsome sleep"). Sounds weird.

Wat am I doing online so early in the morning? Work actually. But I decided to take a breather since there still time before going to church. Office meeting on Monday... I'm the overall slides compiler. Ah Ling and Jeannie sent me slides late last night... Thought of compiling them before I leave the house. Da jia xin ku le!

Anyway ... I happened to be discussing this week's CG sermon with Sherene yesterday. She said .. "Going to church & CG should be like going home"... I think that's so true. That's why no matter what burdens you have, how tiring a week it was... you make the effort to go to church & CG. In fact, you look forward to it. Because we are going home... to a place we meet our Comforter and our brothers and sisters... it's a place you feel secure, loved, at peace, encouraged. The reason why some see coming to church and CG as a dread and chore (esp when they don't feel like it) is because they don't see their church friends as their spiritual family -- peple that care for & support them.

And so... sadly for these people.... going to church becomes a duty to fulfil someone's (usually the CGL) expectations and not going home... When church & CG is actually such an enjoyable thing! If you are reading this now and that's you... I hope this can become your revelation too. "Being planted in the house of God" means so much more than just to be a faithful attendee .... it's about establishing lasting relationships with other children of God.

Woo.. look at the time.. I gotta go wash up & prepare to "go home"!

a lazy side of me

2006-06-17T22:03:00.000+08:00

Finally got my next 6 months of contacts supply ... after much nagging from Bruce, who has been chasing me to get them since he discovered I have been wearing my last pair for more than a month .. hehe...

I admit. It's a case of being bin-dua & procrastination.
I admit. It's not good for my eyes.
Kids, don't learn ok? Jie jie you lian guo.

There is another paranoid person in my life when it comes to eyes & contacts -- my MOTHER! I have been wearing contacts since Sec 2. She was "normal" and fine all these while until she started working for an eye doctor around 2 years back. Ever since, it's "cannot wear contacts too long" and "do you know you can get this and that".... and "I SAID TAKE OFF YOUR CONTACTS BEFORE YOU SLEEP!!!!!!"

Sigh ... Sometimes knowing and doing are 2 seperate things.

But it feels great to change my contacts after so long. I feel like my eyes can BREATHE again... My poor eyes... xin ku le.. gotta suffer with me and yet stare at laptop-screen the whole day. Ris says she uses daily disposables. I guess that would be the best lah.... Hmm.... maybe my "naggers" can sponsor me for that?

15th of June

2006-06-15T23:28:00.000+08:00

I took a good at the calendar today….Gosh, we’re already midway into June… Half the year has gone by… What goals have I set for myself? Am I on track for them? Sadly…. Some yes, some no…

I remember starting the year with one thing on my mind: I wanna get my driving lessons this year!!! Sigh…. Months of procrastinating cos I have to physically get to the Driving Centre to book for my Basic Theory… and here I am today. No license, not even registered for my Basic Theory.

Cliché as it sounds… I gotta say it again, “How time flies!” How did 6.5 mths fly by just like that? I started working for Bro Nic full-time as his PA… he placed me in a room that’s nice and “secluded” with his Secretary… he switched me to another room that’s very public (people walk pass all the time, All that you do is for all to see… and yes that includes my messy table) … he flew here… he flew there… event after event …and man! It’s June 15!!

The 15th of every month has become a reminder that my wedding day is drawing near.. 15 October – just 4 months away… I’m feeling very excited actually… here and there I’ll imagine myself in my gown and Bruce in his dashing white suit… and the possibility of me tripping over my gown. Glup! At this point I’ll always get reminded that Bible says “As a man thinks, so is he”… and I’ll stop imagining the worst.

Just 4 months away …. Hmmm……. What would life without Mummy around to do my dishes/laundry be like? What would having to take care of a man be like? What would waking up daily next to the man I love so much be like? What would starting a family with him be like? What would it take to be his perfect Mrs Lee? Hmm ….

Seemed almost like yesterday when he proposed. Who would have guessed anyone would propose on his own birthday? What can I do… say NO on his birthday? Haha. Thanks to Sis Lillian, Bro Nic, Kenneth, Kevin and E78 core members that made it happen for him…. The proposal was indeed a memorable one. We were at Lawry’s Ribs in Paragon…. Ate a very long and slow dinner… Actually the food wasn’t fantastic… but it was a classy place to be in. I wanted to go after we were done with the main course, Bruce say “Maybe there’s a desert?” Hmm… I don’t remember seeing that on our set menu… Anyway, he’s the king of the night so I just waited. At the corner of my eye I saw a waitress walking across the restaurant with a bouquet of roses. Hmm… she’s walking closer and closer to me… Could it be for me? …. No, it can’t be…It’s his birthday, why would he give me flowers? But she did stop in front of me eventually. Hmm…I gave Bruce a puzzled look. Then he said “Look out of the window.” (We were sitting at a table by the window). I looked down and saw a few metres long banner with the words “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” A blushing, shy Bruce Lee presented me a Sookee diamond ring & asked if he needed to get on his knees. I recalled telling Joy she’s so silly not to ask Bro Lester to kneel in public when she was proposed to a few mths earlier… so I said to Bruce, “Why not?” Ahaha…. To all girls, this is your one-and-only chance to get them to get on their knees…. Why waste it? Of course…. I gave my shy, demure nod. Hee hee…. Then, Bro Nic & Sis Lillian appeared from nowhere to congratulate us… and the banner-kaki cheered for us when we met them downstairs later. Thanks guys… for braving the stares by standing in the middle of Orchard Paragon holding a banner– all for us. Thanks a lot. Especially Kenneth who rushed down to support and coordinate for Bruce although Qin was sick that night. Kevin for rushing to get the flowers. E78 for your answer to Bruce’s last minute call for a banner. You see… he had been planning for a proposal but haven’t exactly decided when to act. That afternoon, when he was driving around at work, he suddenly felt today it shall be! And the CG got the black cloth, paint etc… and made it happen for their leader!

It was almost a perfect surprise. Why almost? Because the Holy Spirit "played" Bruce out. I was shopping around with Winnie before meeting him for a good half an hour. She had a wedding to attend and as usual, she had to buy a dress to attend a wedding. So there I was, giving her comments and all …. Suddenly I looked into the mirror and felt for the 1st time in the entire day that what I’m wearing is not nice enough for the occasion. It was a very intense, gotta-do-something-about-it feeling. I told Winnie I need to change. For the next 20 mins, we combed through the shops in Heeren and finally found something decent enough. Father God wanted me to look my best when Bruce proposed. =) Also, there were tell-tale signs that made me know that proposal was on his mind… He kept asking how I knew he was the one for me etc… Men!! And I pranced upon Bro Lester’s sms to him a week earlier.. offering Bruce some Sookee benefits. Haha…almost a perfect surprise. But it sure was sweet… Thanks for everything Dear! Thank you God for choosing a proposal day for us, coordinating by leading both of us byUour SPirit and making all things beautiful & possible.

That was December. 6.5 month have passed. We have scouted and decided for our bridal, hotels, matrimony venues… did our budgeting and guest lists… seen almost 10 flats before deciding on 1 in Khatib…taken our bridal shots… Wedding is a major project indeed.

Outlook for next 4 months? Deciding our new home’s design… overseeing it, scouting for appropriate furnishings, revision of guest lists, arranging buffets and other stuff… Above all, rest well so that we’ll look our best on 15 Oct. So thankful for dear friends around that are so excited about our wedding… Haha. Let’s all commit it to God and trust that it’ll be a beautiful wedding eh?

The count-down continues…

the SEAL of God's approval

2006-06-14T21:43:00.000+08:00

Carrying on the lovey-dovey note....

Finding the perfect guy/girl is great..
Having his/her adoration in return is sweet...
Beginning to develop that couple look is wonderful ...
But what makes a match made in heaven is God's seal of approval.

The Bible says ... "What God has joined together, let not man separate."
God's approval of the relationship is more valuable than any good-feeling you have.. Cos you know that Father God is in favour of the 2 of you.. He will be watching and protecting this relationship & seeing it through.

Recently, a dear friend of mine found someone that makes his heart throb faster, feel warmer... God spoke to him to see this girl in a different light.. At the same time, God spoke to the girl to see him in a different light.. Haha... God is our wonderful matchmaker! And tada... something beatutiful began to brew ..

I believe God brings the right person into our paths ...
But what we do when we meet the right someone plays a big part too...
Some people choose to follow their emotions, do it their way... which often is the wrong way.. and the relationship steers them away from God.. from church.. cause them to lose focus.. The very thing that God has lovingly blessed them with caused their hearts to grow cold toward God. I believe a relationship needs to start on the right note. Do it God's way & He'll bless the relationship more than you can ever imagine.. There's a covering over your relationship when you account to your leaders BEFORE you even start to get to know the girl/guy more. If it's the right one for you... God will lead your leaders around you to speak well of the 2 of you coming together. If your leader feels otherwise... trust your leader. If it's of God... people around will be happy for you and bless the 2 of you. If you are not sure whether to go ahead with the one you admire... why not check with your leaders? If you're not sure if your current one is good for you... why not evaluate if people around happy for you 2? I believe that's the most affirming thing you can have when you are in a relationship -- the blessing of your leaders (a sign of God's approval).

My dear friend consulted the leaders... They are so happy for him. A few of us who knows are also so happy for him. When he shared about God's "match-making" touch ... I was even more happy for him. Things are still sweetly brewing between the 2 new lovebirds.. All the best ya my dear friend?

The 1st time Bruce and me went out was with another 2 people. Excited as we were (of course we only found this out much later), we told Sis Lillian about it first and asked for approval... Guess what her response was? Not only did she say ok... she asked us to accompany her to shop around Paragon. We had time before we met the other 2 for our first movie (The Incredibles)... so there we were shopping around with her ... giving our "2 cents worth of comments".. That was awkwardness at its max! Our subsequent going-out were the same... Individually, we kept Sis Lillian informed that we intend to go out... I remember it got to a point where I smsed her and asked sheepishly "Err.. do I have to sms you everytime I go out with Bruce... becos.. err.. I think... it's going to be quite frequent leh ... heh heh =))". Her reply was "Haha. It's ok you don't have to sms me.. just don't hold hands first." So it was with Bruce, he kept her informed before he took any major steps -- asking me officially to be his girl, proposing, etc... I was so glad to find out later on that he had been so accountable to his leaders through the entire courting phase... Right from the start, our 1st date....He did the right thing right.

Girls, look for guys like that. It only goes to show that they are serious with you and dependable.... We never regretted being accountable to our leaders from the start... I thank my leaders for seeing me through this relationship... from its budding phase to its blossoming phase... and now I'm getting married to this man soon. One thing that we both feel is so precious is knowing that people around us are so happy for us.

Because of all your blessing.. 15 October will be a beautiful wedding!
=)

No reason why ...

2006-06-13T23:54:00.000+08:00

Of so many people u meet, you choose to like someone....
Of so many people he/she meets ... he/she chose to like you...
That, to me is a miracle in itself.

I remember how it was between Bruce & me...
How I began noticing him for who he was beyond his looks..
How my heart would leap whenever he was in sight..
How I caught myself constantly looking out for him..
How I estimated my chances with him to be..
And the inexpressible joy when i discovered one day that he liked me too!
He is my miracle.

Often... "Why him?","Why her?" is a tough question to answer ....
I believe when you are truely like someone.... you can describe a few characteristics that you admire of this someone... but you cannot pin point fully what is it about him/her that attracted you.

I believe that vacuum of words is meant to be filled with the feeling of love -- Indefinable, indescribable, but beautiful, pure & real.

One of my favourite song goes:
L is for the way you Look at me
O is for the Only one I see
V is Very very extraordinary
E is Even more than anyone that you adore

No reason why ... just like him/her lor ...
Even the Bible calls love a mystery!

Prov 30:18-19 (GNT)
"There are four things that are too mysterious for me to understand: an eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship finding its way over the sea, and a man and a woman falling in love.

Happy 100th month anniversary!

2006-06-10T12:52:00.000+08:00

Today is a special day.... 2 very dear friends of mine -- Kenneth & Huiqin -- are celebrating their 100 months together! Congratulations!!!

These 2 marathon-lovers have been through 'O' levels, 'A' levels, army days, Uni days ... Can young people be attached? Can! If you are willing to commit to each other all the way like these 2 la...

I believe 100 months together must have been filled with suan, tian, ku, la! Please enjoy yourself today. Thanks for being great buddies to Bruce & myself. You 2 are truely an example for all! =)

Credits to Adviser Thong

2006-06-10T10:15:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

This is a very important announcement. Please listen up.

The incredibly, wonderfully taken photo of my new Compaq laptop
(posted on 1 June) is taken by none other than our very own, multi-talented adviser cum photographer cum video-man cum anointed CGL
Thong Ching Guan (aka Guan-Ge)!!

Qingyuan: Like that can anot? I dedicated one whole post to u leh!

what a WET WET morning!

2006-06-09T11:15:00.000+08:00

It was raining cats & dogs this morn.
Thanks to my informant Winnie, I was fully equipped to take on the raining morn!

Shaun's outfit for the day:

3/4 pants >> pants won't get wet
strapped-around-ankle shoes >> easier to walk around

All geared up for the rain... but of course, I still needed my umbrella.
Decided to take a step of faith to bring my own umbrella to work today.
You have no idea how things "move around" in my office.
My dear umbrella is still sitting in my office at the moment.
Planning to tag my name on it once it dries up.

It was really pouring just now. Strong winds carrying the rain and all.
Standing in a sheltered place, I got a little drenched.
Can you believe that?

Looking at the rain... I thought: "Man, where did all this rain come from?"
I realised one thing: What goes up, must come down.
Be it whether you are conscious of it or not, there are laws running this earth we live in.
Law of gravity, Law of tide in tide out, Law of sowing and reaping, Law of "over-eating & growing fat", ....

Then it dawned upon me that God is the Master Accountant of the Universe. Sorry but, KPMG, Ernst & Young, ... please step aside.
Everything balances on His Balance Sheet. And He is able to produce THE BALANCE SHEET for you anytime.
He knows exactly where every drop of water is. If it is not on the ground, then it is somewhere in the atmosphere.
Everything is accounted for. Everyone is accounted for.
What an amazing God we serve!

In the midst of orchestrating this downpour, God heard my silent prayer.. "If only the rain would be lighter when I get off the bus so that I won't get so wet walking to my office building."
It did.

God is the God of the Universe as well as the God who designed our cells.
Nothing is too BIG or too small for him to overlook.
=)

Conditioning our Mind

2006-06-08T22:28:00.000+08:00

I came to work in specs today....
Some people asked "Wah, new specs ah?"
Others asked "Why are u in specs?"
Both questions tell u one thing: You rarely catch me in specs.
In fact, some people don't even know I wear specs.
Reason: I think I look silly in specs.
It used to be, no matter how tired my eyes were...
I'll still turn up in contacts. Bruce says it's bad for my eyes...
So last year for my bday, he bought me a pair of a funky chilli-red specs.
Thanks to his "redemptive" gift... Now some even say I look stylo in specs.
(dun play play ah!)

Anyway... I had a real late night yesterday. That's why I'm in specs today.
But the peculiar thing about me & spectacles is: it makes me wanna sleep!
The only reason I go public in specs is because I'm feeling super tired.
At the same time, I always feel so lethargic when I am in specs.
After much analysis... i think the "culprit" is my mind.

To my mind... putting on my specs comes after taking off contacts.
And that is usually followed by going to bed.
So somehow... my mind equates "putting on specs" to "bedtime soon" and conditions me to sleep-mode.

Indeed.... the mind is a powerful entity!
Recently i attended a Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Training course. Sounds bombastic but it really is a course that teaches u how the brain works. The trainer mentioned our brain associating emotions with places/things/things we have done.
eg. if you always did very well for your exams when you use that particular pen.. just holding that pen before you even start doing your exam paper will make you feel more confident.

POWERFUL STUFF!
Our brain can be conditioned to invoke positive/negative emotions.. which then creates postive/negative ENERGY for what we want/don't want to do.

The Bible is right when it says "As a man thinks, so is he."

the end of a chapter .. the start of another?

2006-06-07T23:59:00.000+08:00

Bruce has officially stopped helping out at SKIN.
Today, his colleagues threw him a farewell party ...
I remember how excited & honoured we both felt when he was first asked to help out.
Somehow... the time he was there seems long, yet it also feels short ...
As his fiancee, I too, like him, have mixed feelings about this new transition of his.

Relieved & happy
For the past 6 months while he's been at the store, his schedule has been very hectic.
Mon - work + sales meeting (till abt 9pm)
Tues - work + leaders meeting (till ard midnight)
Wed - work + part-time (till ard 11pm)
Thurs - work + part-time (till ard 11pm)
Fri - work + CG (till ard 11pm)
Sat - part-time (10+ am till 11pm)
Sun - Service
As of late, this lifestyle is really beginning to take a toll on him...
He's constantly so tired.
Watching him work so hard makes my heart ache...
At the same time, we are mindful that it is such a great honour & opportunity to be part of the team that's making history.
For this we are ever so thankful!

Sentimental
Bruce has made great friends in his course of helping out at the store.
People he never thought he'll cross paths with....
What kept him going and enjoying every bit of his work there are these great people-- Geri, Eugene, Alan, Alvin, Serene, Andrea, Amanda, Ryan, not forgetting our beloved Sis Lillian ....
Bruce once told me his colleagues at SKIN are all leaders in the way they work!
I believe their friendship will go a long way ..
He is going to miss the special moments they shared working & having fun together!

I believe there are different seasons God leads us into to prepare us for our destiny!
Helping out at the store has made Bruce a more confident person...
Helped me become a more willing and patient person ...

The END of a chapter is always the START of another!
We're excited to what God has in store for us in the coming days.....
What? We do not know.
But we know we are in His good hands...

"I'm tired of flying"

2006-06-06T16:30:00.000+08:00

Those were the words of my dear Boss - Bro Nic
Who has been to Bintan, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Nice, Xi-An (China), Hong Kong, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo this year ...
And yes, he'll be on his way to Hawaii tomorrow!
All in 5 months time ...

No wonder he's "tired of flying"!!!
And he'll be going to New Zealand in August, Bangkok in September, Taiwan (can't remember when)....

Sigh .... bu tong ren, bu tong ming ...

Attacks only make us STRONGER!

2006-06-05T11:20:00.000+08:00

Alot of things have been happening lately in my workplace.
Clearly the devil is not happy at our success.
We have been having tremedous favour and breakthrough & God is really taking us places, prospering everyone ....
As such, the old sly one is up to his silly little tricks again
If he thinks all the nonsense he has been sending us is going to discourage us & hold us back...
he is going to be so disappointed!
Cos in the midst of the complaints/warnings..
we only perfect our stuff even more and EMERGE more compliant, more excellent!
The Army of Almighty God RISES and not shrinks in face of pressure
we will pray more, fast more and do whatever it takes to win this war!

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
== Rom 8:31 ==

Songs of Heaven

2006-06-04T22:29:00.000+08:00

I am personally very ministered to by the songs at Emerge this year....
God is really releasing heavenly music to our church through our musicians..
I remember falling in love with the song SANCTUARY the week before when it was first sung...

"And I worship You Lord... my life in You restored
Here is my heart, make it Your sanctuary
For nobody else but Jesus, only You"

It's MORE than just the melody...
It's about touching God as we worship Him through these songs

I remember times when my world was in pieces .....
and God picked me up & restored me
I remember times when I'm down ....
and God was my cheerleader
I remember times when I know all else doesn't matter ......
as long as God is by my side

"Take all of me, I give you my all for all of You"

Yeah .... New laptop!

2006-06-01T16:35:00.000+08:00

My new laptop came today.
Brand New COMPAQ PRESARIO.
Nice?

Thank you Lao Ban!!!

You see.... my own ACER fell from the office table one day.
LCD screen cracked. Not cost-effective to repair.
But I continued working on it. Afterall, it went thru Bible School with me.
1st laptop I bought myself.
Alot of sentimental feelings attached. *Sniff sniff*

Finally one day Bro Nic couldn't take it and asked me to go get one on company's account.
=)
So, tada!
I can SEE again.........
Thank God for generous bosses like him!
And you know what else? Bro Nic happened to be so bored this afternoon that he offered to set the laptop up for me.
Who's the "Boss" now? Thank God for kind bosses like him!

Thank you Evelyn! For getting me a huge discount because of your staff-purchase.

I will work hard on my new laptop. Won't "gu fu" you all ....

tiring but FUN

2006-05-31T23:25:00.000+08:00

makeup.... style hair...... camera..... lights ....
HERE WE GO!
(pose) *click*
(change pose) *click* *click*
(smile) *click* *click* *click * *click*

10am - 7.30pm: that's how long it took to get wedding photo-shoot done
no joke man!
but it was FUN....
we learnt a few things today:
(1) Our front profile cannot make it
yep, so ladies and gentlemen, there's a reason behind it if you're wondering
why is our wedding album full of side-view shots
(2) What do you do when the bride's not tall enough?
make her stand on a phone book!
(3) What do you do when the bride has got mickey-ears?
use scotch-tape to tape her ears & cover it with part of the hair-do
(4) What's the best part of wedding shoot?
you get to gaze into each other's eyes for the longest time. people around stop and look at you. and NO-NO, it's not paiseh at all .... i tot it would be.. but in fact I felt really blessed, fortunate and proud to be strutting around in my gown and fancy hairdo! of course not forgetting my super dashing prince! Haha...

wanna have a preview at how he looked?
I'm so sorry guys..... Some people are just born BETTER lookking!
The truth does hurt sometimes...

Ready?
:
:
:
:
You really ready?
:
:
:

TADA!

what about me?
haha..... come to my wedding on 15 Oct and find out lor!

tiring but fun day....
my dear KO in our photographer's car on the way back to the bridal studio
boy was he tired!
in fact... for all you who are planning to take your photos..
i suggest you arrange for a massage session immediately after your photo shoot.

We really wanna thank God for the great weather. It was raining when we were doing our indoor shots but it turned out that Father God was just clearing up the water vapour for us so that it'll be bright & sunny by the time we need to go outdoors!

shd be able to see & choose photos in 2-3 weeks time
meanwhile... join us in prayer that pictures will turn out fine yah?
=)

a late blog-bloomer's foreword

2006-05-30T22:00:00.000+08:00

My 1st blog ....
My 1st post .....
If you happen to reading it, welcome to dReAmYLaNd -- a place where i unwind and hopefully, recharge .. a place where i let u in on my little dreamy tots ....

A little introduction about me if u haven't already know:

I am a simple girl, who goes after simple things...
The best thing that happened to me was to know God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit
The 2nd best thing was to meet, date and about-to-marry my beloved
Yep... Bruce Lee's the name ..
But... trust me, he has nothing to do with KUNG FU
What would my life be without him?
Mature, manly, know what he's doing... where he's heading, street-smart, fun to be with, sweet with an irresistable touch of boyishness...
I seriously think he's all a woman can ever ask for..

Sorry girls.... HE'S TAKEN.
We're getting married on 15 October this year!

speaking of which.. I better go to bed earlier ...
cos tomorow's our photo-shoot and i gotta be at my best!
so it's a SKII mask for me and off to bed ...
Thanks Ris (my CG member) for blessing me with the mask. You're the best!