Chums

Finally this thing lets me upload. Happy now Paria Doc 2? :) Willow and Tink looking quite comfy and chummy on my bed. Sweet! Although Tink is rapidly shortening my lifespan by waking me up at least 2hrs before the time I'm meant to wake up every single morning. >.<

Just some things

Myriad thoughts
The likes of.
what do i want to achieve before i die
aren't the reasons for having kids totally selfish
i'm going to get scolded for underquoting again
i don't do anything much well
In the midst of.
the US national guard death toll in Iraq hitting 2000
hurricane wilma
murder around the corner
2 yr old little vanessa dying of leukemia

Rather than sitting around doing nothing on my butt, the best action to take would be getting down on my knees to pray.
And then, I snuggle up to Tink and Willow. All warm and fuzzy. God's wonderful little creations. Takes my mind of things for awhile.

Monday blues

'Tis a gloomy day. The people at work are not feeling too good because of certain misunderstandings; I had a depressing conversation with Jase last night (phDs are NOT good for the soul.); and the weather outside certainly matches the atmosphere inside. On the up side of things- I'm hoping that the weather would make it quiet in the clinic later.

Polly absolutely hates me. Took her to Dale's home (kind new fosterer..;) last evening, and for the next half hr or so, he managed to stroke her beak and back surprisingly effortlessly. But whenever I tried to do likewise, she'd lunge visciously to attack!! It was an amazing phenomenon. Apparently she does the same to the girls in the clinic...but even if she really were a sexist avian, it still totally puzzles me how she differentiates us females from the males. Pheromones? Appearances? It can't be voice because I was trying my best to remain silent whilst approaching her. Hm...God's creations... marvellous and strange indeed.

And Discus fish!! Never knew they were so pretty. :)

Polly put the kettle on...

Here we go! The poor thing started to have a SBL (sick bird look...) just after 3 days of being cooped up in that small lil cage.

Wasn't able to publish this post yesterday for some strange reason. But I was mentioning that I'd taken a walk through the CBD again whilst mum was having her piano lessons. Came across Ang Siang Hill (barely a few square metres across I reckon), a bunch of tourists at Tian Fu Gong (where the hokkien huay kuan was founded and subsequently my primary school Tao Nan!), Telok Ayer Green, arty-farty shophouses running equally arty-farty businesses. The CBD really hides a heap of treasures in its nooks and corners.

TGIF. :)

Bubs

I live in a bubble. Honestly speaking I am ashamed to be confined to the spaces of my comfort zone, with the knowledge of many other more pressing and consequential issues the world is facing. But I cannot (or rather I feel like I cannot) escape the reality of my situation and the responsibility I carry in this sphere of mine.
I reckon Singaporeans are the most dissatisfied bunch of people around. We complain endlessly about the rigidity of our education system, the dictatorial nature of our supposedly democratic government, the materialism of our people, the lack of grace in society, yadda yadda yadda. Many a times, I've sat down at tables and overheard people at the next table criticising Singapore to death. How easily we've taken everything for granted. I certainly do not agree that our country is perfect, but how else can we live in comfort, peace, safety and cleanliness as we do so now? Shouldn't we start learning how to thank God for the leadership we have, rather than waiting for the day the Opposition wins the polls?
But anyway.
The nth stray, Bai Bai, with a large burn wound on her back. Shana's TLC (with daily Bactigrass changes) has been wonderful... after just 3wks, her wound is less than half its original size! Totally amazing!

..I'm trying to upload a picture of a Macaw in my clinic but it's not working. Walked in the other day and found her there, waiting to be rehomed. Her name's Polly and she talks, dances, and laughs at me. Hm. She can even say "whateva". :)

Jazz by the beach!

At Siloso. I've been wanting to catch a live jazz band for the longest time ever, and since Dale was playing in the big band tonight, I was glad to have a few cell group mates tag along to Sentosa. It was a blast!! Lovely night, lovely ambience. The Jitterbugs team was there, and Vania and I were lucky enough to arrive in time for a basic swing dance lesson given to willing audience members. I absolutely love the Lindy Hop, and this just brought back memories of the very first time I'd seen the Lindy Hop danced to jazz by the Yarra River along Southbank in Melbourne, totally entrancing me. I'd told myself to learn the Lindy Hop then, but of course, never got down to it. (I'm still resolute about learning it someday.)

Anyways, back to my original point. At the end of our instructional dance, Vania and I were asked to continue dancing for a bit by a couple of guys from Jitterbugs. The guy whom I danced with was a good dancer, and, so, so cute. ^.^

All in all, I totally enjoyed myself tonight. :) (and not just because of the cute guy!) Music and dance... food for the soul. :)))

Coffee's not good at midnight.

Why do I drink coffee at 12am at Coffeebean when I'd spent the hour before that reminding myself not to do just that considering I have to work tomorrow? ... *brain grumbles whilst eyelids get heavier*

Finally plucked up the courage to call the aunty who'd wanted to adopt the little grey kitten. She didn't seem at all disappointed, but rather went on and on about how it's good to let Willow have the company. And thus, I have her, this nameless little furball. Or rather half a furball coz her butt's still bald. Naming suggestions so far: Pillow (cheesy rhyming), Maybelline (she's got huge eyes) , Wind (in the Willows), Cammie (short for Camomile). Etc. Naming's a headache.

Really should be getting to sleep girl. You're looking more like a panda each day.

^.^

Jase really is quite amazing. He compliments my weaknesses and balances me all up. And he has a faith which I don't. God has been graciously reminding me time and again of how blessed I am to have Him and him, and of how much they both love me, and of how much I love them both. :)

...

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

~Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

As we sit here in our cozy little bubbles...
People continue to die in the ravaged Kashmir quake zone
More Iraqis get killed in suicide bomb attacks
Bali protesters demand the death of bombers
New Orleans is still in a mess
200, 000 Guatemalan homes have been destroyed by Hurricane Stan

BBC news- survivors in Pakistan clamour for aid.








We can only pray.

Randoms tonight

Taking care of a kitten is not unlike taking care of a baby. *tired*

"The operation's gonna be so expensive? I might as well buy a new dog right or not?" - client with a blocked dog.

Miss JoyLynnJaffarTanxx had her 21st celebration yesterday- finally, after all these years. So wish I could've been there... but I'm here, and I shan't pine over something that I couldn't do. Blessed Birthday Goosey! (if you read this, which you probably won't, so nevermind I'm soliloquy-ing) Are you sure you don't want a belly ring? :P

Spectacles bought on impulse under pressure.
Retro, old-fashioned, or just... off?
Ok, girl, stop being obsessive over this.








Praise God for paving the way to East Timor!!

Life is His to take away.

Postscript from last evening: Egg prata+Roti tissue+Banana/chocolate/ice cream/curry prata+milo=weird and wonderful tastes+upset stomach

How blissful. I'd never intended to adopt another kitten, but Willow, not seeking my opinion, apparently had. *sigh* What am I to do.











Praise the Lord for an awesome time of worship tonight! (Mich you're truly annointed.) God brought these words back home-

Lord I offer my life to You.
What can we give, that You have not given
And what do we have, that is not already Yours
All we possess are these lives that we're living
And that's what we give You Lord

To a friend who has planned to die at 30:

We do not live to work, to earn material posessions, or to seek and find love in human beings. I have found complete contentment not in any of these, but in the resolution that I live for Christ alone, the only one who is able to love me unconditionally. Nothing else on earth can satisfy me in spirit and soul like He can, for He is my maker. My purpose in life is to honour Him in all that I do- and it doesn't matter what I do.
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18
I know it sounds simplistic, idealistic, overly-religious. But this comes from the bottom of my heart, and I'm not just quoting scripture- it's about things I've put to the test and have come to believe in. When I allow the Lord to be seated above all else in my life, everything falls into place. By no means does this imply that my life will be easy; on the contrary, it opens the doors to more trials, hurt and hardship; anything the Lord will let me go through to build me up and make me a better person. "Falling into place" means that I am able to experience the peace and joy which comes only with the knowledge that I am obeying Him. Thus I endeavour... to love the people God places along the path of my life, and to share His love with them.

Thank you dear friends and family, past and present, who have blessed me along the way and have made such a difference by loving me. Oftentimes I thank the Lord for you.

Be With Me

Corpse Bride last night was absolutely splendid. Completely Tim Burton and Johnny Depp in character, dark humour and the rest of it.
Be With Me, tonight, was different. A collage of 3 short stories, primarily inspired by Theresa Chan, a remarkable woman who lost sight and hearing at the age of 14, but who never lost faith in Hoping and Loving. What is it like to have God allow your eyes and ears to be robbed off you? It was like having a wall placed between me and the living. I could not see or hear the beauty around me... but I also could not see or hear the ugly things around me. What is it like to lose a spouse after decades of marriage? How does grandpa feel. What is it like to be tortured by the silence of a lover who has lost their love for you? To be pushed over the edge by desperation and loneliness.
Be With Me, my beloved, that my smile will not fade.

missing

In the midst of work this morning, I missed my grandma terribly. I wanted to take her frail hands in mine, to see her smiling sweetly even through all her pain, to tell her how much I loved her. I never did get a chance to, before the Lord took her away, and my heart bleeds at the recollection of how in the midst of all my busyness I'd missed that final opportunity to see her breathing on this side of God's kingdom on that very day. I can't wait for the day I'll meet her again.

I miss Jason too... very much.

I wish I were

A kid again. It's children's day! But we were all meant to grow up, to finally be rooted in all the world's Matters Of Consequence. As Ruth put it today, "We'll have to be responsible for an increasing number of things...including ourselves."

When I was younger (possibly still considered a kid?) ... The Treehouse.

Ps Jennifer Heng spoke at service today, and thank the Lord for leading me there. I was so tired I hardly could get out of bed to make it to church. What can we give Someone who has everything? Our worship.

She sang, beautifully, a song written by Matt Redman.

We have nothing to give that didn't first come from Your Hands
We have nothing to offer You which you did not provide
Every good perfect gifts comes from Your kind and gracious heart
And all we do is give back to You what always has been Yours

Lord we're breathing the breath
That You gave us to breath
To worship You... to worship you.
And we're singing these songs
With the very same breath
To worship You... to worship you.