Really feel that our zone leaders' pictures are getting more and more beautiful as the years go pass. Or should I say that we are getting better and better looking? Haha, anyway, I've always felt that DT Zone contains some of the coolest, most happening, most attractive people around. But of course, when the man leading the pack is the most suave, and the lady boss exudes total confidence and beauty. With the D&A inside all of us, nuff' has been said. Check us out...;)
*Phoebe's Bday Celebration*
*Gangsta Bling Night* : This is after the whole event was over and we came up to say hi to Toffee. He sure was a happy boy to see us and we too, to see him! Okay, you can't really see the bling here coz we took the accessories off by then. Will upload more photos on the Bling Night soon hopefully!
Yesterday was buddy Phoebe's 23rd bday. We went to Fullerton Hotel to chill and had fun chatting with each other. Am I glad that she is now as young as me! =) And what better way to store memories than to snap, snap and snap more pictures? Haha! All compliments of Phoebe's camera...
Happy Birthday my dear friend! May ALL your wishes come to pass in 2008! ;) *Encoded Message*
Cheers to years of wonderful friendship ahead.
Vic, as usual, acts nonchalant when we take pictures. But when her picture is taken, she NEEDS to see it. You're already very pretty, no need to check the photos! ;)
Us...
And us again.
And now...its time for the hilarious shots to come in. Now that all the formality's been done away with (haha!), we decided that we wanted to have fun and allow Phoebe's camera to do its due duty, since it has been doing a good job as a newbie in her life too. Here goes! *As we go along, check out Vic's responses and expressions...*
And the story begins...
Initially, Vic couldn't be bothered with us. She found higher interest in her new pair of red suede Guess shoes instead.
Gradually, she paid some attention to us. What could these 2 girls be up to with one camera?!
Then, she started to get irritated with us. Check out that frown.
But she was too attracted by our activity and decided to take a look.
After a while, it got really too much for her. Enough is enough for her....but not for us!
What's up, Vic?!
And that was the end of the story. Haha, everytime I'm with Phoebe I take alot of photos. That probably explains why photos and phoebe both begin with a 'P'. And that's all for the night, home sweet home! On a leaving note, have a year overflowing with joy, love and surprises in the year ahead! May it REALLY be your best year yet, as you embark on a new phase of your life as a 'cher, hip and happening Miss Yee! As I look back on 2007, one of the things that strikes me the most is how giants have left imprints in my life. Everyone will always say how a year holds many ups and downs for them, and in its own way, that was my year in itself.
2 of the main things that I focussed on in 2007 was my ministry and career. Having started the year wanting to give my best to these 2 areas, I am always so grateful that there are always people that God have used to cheer me to the finish line.
Ministry-wise, this was the year that I have been waiting for- or so it seems. Having been helping someone in the same CG for 3 years was really a memorable time. It was really a journey that started off with me wondering when I could lead my own group, and year after year, it did not happen. However, one of the greatest gifts that I will always remember was how our relationship grew from leader-helper to friends, and partners who complemented each other awesomely. It was so strange, and yet so true- the more I grew to learn how to complement Jialing, the more I enjoyed serving and filling in the gaps for her to lead, and the less I did want to lead my own group. Alas, the day came when I became a full-fledged CGL, and had my own CG to lead.
To be truthful, I remember how there were so moments where I felt totally inadequate, where I wanted to give up, to turn my back and run away. I remember crying out to God that I really could not carry on, with all my weaknesses staring me in the face, that I needed Him to take over total control. As I grew in my leadership, as I started relying more on the HS, as I started preaching, coming up with new ways to make CGMs more meaningful and fun, trying to be there for my members as much as I could despite my personal struggles, balancing being a leader but yet a friend, and the things too personal to be revealed on this blog....boy am I humbled by the awesome responsibilities...
I am so thankful for one particular giant in my life, who has been around listening to me, encouraging me, and just knowing that she is there to walk alongside with me. Yes, we had our emo moments (at Vivo 'sky garden' and on a special day at Orchard Partyworld =p), our emo-till-resigned-to-laughter moments (at a room in TR Road), our eat-to-store-up-fuel-for-fasting moments (at Cathay Sushi place), and all the other times where you allowed me space and time into your life, despite having to balance your couple time in the equation too. You are truly a blessing to me, without you, 2007 would be so different. I am very thankful to have found you in my life this year. So here, I just wanna say...THANKS FOR BEING ONE BIGGIE GIANT, DIANA! =)
Of course, it would never happen without my leaders, Darren and Angela. I always believe that though we do not have much time together fellowshipping, yet I am very thankful because I know I will always be under your constant prayers for me. There is never another zone I would want to belong to, because you have shown me what it means to truly love and care, and to believe in people. Beyond the words, beyond the actions, I'm very blessed to be under your covering. Thanks for the sacrifices unseen, my DYNAMIC DUO leaders!
Lastly, thanks to THE people who always bring much joy and laughter to my life! Thanks for supporting my visions, for trying your best to fathom me (I know it is absolutely difficult for the many 'I' people around), for trying to be more 'C' in your ways, for the bday video (that really meant alot to me, coz that's my love language! =p), for the times where you all provided funfunfun fellowship. Thanks for being understanding and loving and accepting me for who I am, though I really feel like pulling my hair out sometimes when...just kidding! Thanks for making 2007 so different for me, THY INDIVIDUAL GIANTS IN E348!
Career-wise, it was a year of much turbulence. Thinking about it, I never really shared the feelings I had of the struggles I had in this area, because it was difficult to sometimes paint the picture and for people to totally understand. I am very thankful for Wiardi, Rachel and Ken for being around for me, for asking me if I am okay, for buying me chocs to cheer me up, for understanding me totally. I guess it got really tough in the 2nd half of the year, and as much as I was someone who could wake up and forget it all, it was challenging to wake up every morning and have to face the dreaded feeling that I had to drag my feet to work and face people who put us down constantly. It is amazing how we are so different: 3 different companies, 3 different nationalities' between 4 of us, but we click so well together. I enjoyed being your Princess Meinu (and I still am okay!). Thanks for the great companionship, you 3 were GIANTS in my life!
Other than these 2 areas, I'm also thankful for some unexpected surprises along the way...
I'm thankful for a 'resurrected' friendship. I've learnt my lesson, people really do count big big time. I know you girls have always been there for me, and I've always wanted to patch things up and come back together again, which was why I wrote that email in the middle of this year to you girls. I'm very happy that there is this opportunity for us to rebuild things from foundation again. We all have our weaknesses, and I definitely still have mine too at least, but once destiny partners, always destiny partners! Shall not mention names here for confidentiality's sake, but you know who you are! Cheers to a greater friendship ahead!
Another thing which means the most to me is my family at home. It was not easy having to deal with the loss of the person I love most most most in my life (almost a year and a half back), she will always have a special place in my heart forever. However, I'm very glad to see a new dash of sweetsweet love between my parents this year- despite their quarrels, Daddy has always been one forgiving and understanding man. He never fails to give to Mummy, Jie and me, and Daddy, you are my BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! Thanks for pouring your life out to this family, and I'm always so proud to tell my friends of my Mr Nice and sweet and gentle and...all-the-positives Daddy! I'm thankful too for a Mummy with whom I can share my heart with, and her constant naggings with regards to...certain issues =p. Lastly, I never thought we could talk like that, but we are becoming more and more like sisters! The little things like being able to look at each other in the eye when we talk, going beyond the 'why-you-take-my-things' talk...all these make me excited for a greater year ahead with my familY! Truly, love makes the world go round...and speaking of that...
2008 will be a great year of LOVE coz Jie and Ben, Diana and Lawrence; are getting married! It makes me excited coz I believe these will not be the only 2 couples, but more of my good friends are gonna get married (you know who you are my dear girl!) and others are gonna find their white horses! Haha, yes, you, you and you!
And since the entry is already so long, I shall stop here and continue another day. Can't wait to start planning for a great 2008 ahead! =)
And we know that ALL things work together for the good of those who LOVE God, for those who are called according to His PROMISES.
Upon that rest all the hope and joy, knowing that we are not fighting as if we are beating the air, but we are heading somewhere, heading towards breaking through another wall, becoming stronger in the process. And that alone is what will give us the INNER STRENGTH that we need to fight life's battles.
So Small- Carrie Underwood
Yeah, Yeah
What you got if you ain't got love
the kind that you just want to give away
its okay to open up
go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
you want to shut the world out and just be left alone
but don't run out on your faith
'cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
is just a grain of sand
and what you've been up there searching for forever is in your hands
when you figure out love is all that matters after all
it sure makes everything else seem so small
it's so easy to get lost inside
a problem that seems so big at the time
it's like a river thats so wide
it swallows you whole
while you siting 'round thinking 'bout what you can't change
and worrying about all the wrong things
time's flying by
moving so fast
you better make it count 'cause you cant get it back
Beautiful song. I guess we all have our fair share of quarrels with family members and friends. Or perhaps you've been wrongly accused, put down for your faith, not appreciated. But this Christmas season, let's lay aside our differences. Truly, when you figure out that love is all that matters, everything else pales in magnitute...
I feel that MANAGING EXPECTATIONS is a very important part of anyone's life. Truth be told, we all have certain expectations of the people around us, and we expect them to act/perform in a way that we envision them to be. And when they turn out different from the norm, from what we want, we come to a place of disappointment. I know I tend to go into my perfectionist mode sometimes, and that makes me put myself in a position where I set myself up to be disappointed by people. Well, does that mean that I should really lower the bar and not expect the best?
Anyway, Daddy has been in a really contemplative mode these days. With regards to the previous post, today Daddy bought Mummy a Crabtree and Evelyn Lavender Hand and Body Therapy gift set for absolutely no particular reason. FYI, my dad is one practical man who does not believe in having more than one pair of shoes for each purpose, and the only time he would go get himself replacement shoes or clothes is when those he has has undergone wear-and-tear so bad that they cannot serve their function. He is not Mr Romantic who would surprise my mum with flowers or gifts during her birthday or any occasion for that matter, preferring to opt for a simple family dinner. And no, no kisses or hugs...at least not publicly.
And so, out of the blue from the previous chocs episode, he had no qualms about spending $100++ on the below items JUST TO SURPRISE MUMMY. I just had to ask why, and Daddy said "I feel very lucky that at my age, I still have a good and secure job when many others may be retrenched...". For that moment, I was caught coz happy-go-lucky Daddy (for those who know him you will agree) has morphed into contemplative emo Daddy.
But that made me realise: if even people of his generation can learn how to present surprise gifts just for the sole purpose of making someone smile, what's more for people of my generation?
These are the sweet surprises:
*And with super duper sweet and loving parents, I really need to manage my expectations. Not everyone is able to...okay I'm speaking in parables. Nuff' said.*
It's 0222am now and I'm still writing this post coz I feel so blessed to have the sweetest Daddy and Mummy in the world!
Story goes like this: Reached home around 1215am after 1st Power Encounter @ Breakaway Camp 2007. Admittedly rather tired from the super duper cold in the auditorium of KCPSS where the camp was held, which made singing "In your presence, in your power, Holy Spirit I surrender..." on high power something that I had to garner every ounce of energy to hold the atmosphere. Okay I'm not trying to sound kua zhang, but it was quite funny that my voice had a natural vibrato coz my whole body was vibrating with the cold.
Oh yes, back to story. So when I got home, Daddy was patiently waiting up for me, and he was very proud to present his goDIVA daughter with a sudden high supply of chocs that could last me for a few wars on end. Mind you, it was slightly less than $100 of chocs of different shapes and sizes from Candy Empire and Cocoa Trees! And what was the impulse generated from? The daily call for chocolates by yours truly.
Super touched, coz it's not so much the dollar value, but just one word and off they went to surprise me above and beyond. I never imagined that my parents at that age could be so sensitive and sweet. And I know this is not the only time, Daddy and Mummy have always had super sensitive ears and eyes to Jiejie and my 'needs'. I mustmustmust be that girl who knows my parents hearts' too and give them the ultimate present that no money can buy. ;)
And maybe that's why one quality that makes me feel very loved and attracted to in the people around me are those with a sensitive spirit. *Hint hint...so be more sensitive and sweet and surprise me lah! Hahaha!* =)
The power of love...expressed:
