T Night B Christmas

It's Christmas again, and time to get our creative juices flowing. I love Christmas.... it has a somewhat a warm feeling. The other thing I love about Christmas is us, putting together our God given talents and working together to make something happen, all for the glory of God.













Here's what the Christmas Production does / is:


1) tells you who are the shy ones amongst us






















2) brings out the craziness inside us






















3) brings out our talents we never knew we had






















4) really tiring, at times






















5) sees people working together






















6) makes people do things they'd normally not do

I love Christmas.

PS : Come for our Christmas Production, please.... (for further details, please click on the red flyer at the very top)

I love my camera!

I'm doing this at work but I really don't care at the moment. 3 nights of slogging till 3am can't be good for the soul. Sighs.











......interesting juice label..... boiled thank you sweets from australia......












.....bug on the car.... firely in my room.....












.....the rock.....

Thank God for technology!!

The Word and Work

I disappeared for a bit because I was having writer's block and I didn't really have anything important or inspiring to write about. I have now.

The infamous recent young adult camp. The camp with the controversial labels and stigmas - it did not excite me that I was going for this camp (I packed the night before and it did not dawn upon me that I'm actually going away for the weekend - almost made plans to go out with friends) but I really wanted to hear from God. I was feeling uninspired and away from God and I really needed a kick from someone to buck up.

Labels aside, I learned a lot from camp. Here are a few things I've picked up (and apart from these, there are tonnes more!):-

1) Do not lose your life in making a career / do not settle for money rich, time poor

Here is where I am making a decision to go home by a certain time and not stay back to work when I don't need to. Our working culture has this funny way of making people feel guilty for not staying back late. That's nonsense and we have to fight that mentality because God did not intend for us to spend 16 hours a day in the office - it takes the whole purpose of work away.

2) We tend to disclose things God asks us to hide but hide things God tells us to disclose

This was like a whack in the head. How many times have we heard about people talking about how Christians give tithes, pray and fast. However, God says in Matthew 6:2-4, 6-8 and 16-18 says these are the things we are to do in private, ie people are not supposed to talk about these things. God says to tell other people about His great love, and yet, few people associate Christians with the sacrificial love of God.

3) There is an answer for everything pertaining to work in the Bible. We just need to grasp the principles and wrestle out the issues with God.

For example:-
a) decision making - Proverbs 12:15;
b) business planning - Proverbs 21:5;
c) hiring and firing - Proverbs 22:9;
d) partnerships - Amos 3:3;
e) bribery - Deuteronomy 16:18-20, Proverbs 17:23, Proverbs 18:6, Psalm 15:5.

4) We need to awaken our hearts desire for prayer

I need this one the most. I find it so difficult to shut out external distractions and just be with God. Here's what I need to do:-

a) Make efforts to be alone;
b) Shut out all noise and distractions;
c) Seek God and let Him find me (David Townsend said "If you stay still long enough, God will find you").

5) Learn to tolerate moral ambuity, ie do not be a moral police, be a witness

I really like this one. Our job is not to judge how others are living a life of sin (remember the plank in our own eye). However, God has called us to love people around us and be a witness for Him.

The camp was about making an impact for God at the workplace. It was amazing how it made me realize that God put me where I am for a reason. It's not just to make the money. It's not for the glamour (although a lot of people think it is, lawyers and non-lawyers alike). It's to make an impact for Him.

I thank God for a fresh start because I know I need to purpose in my heart to make this impact for Him. I still find it a struggle to tell my colleagues I can't go to lunch because I want to read the Bible. Or that I can't go for dinner with them on Friday because I have cell group. I am angry at myself because I struggle at all.

But, as God has been speaking to our church, we are to know He loves us. I am to know that He loves me, unconditionally, no matter what. It's such a simple statement, and any Christian would know that. But do we really know? If I did know, I would not go on a guilt trip every time I miss spending time with Him and because I feel guilty, I continue not to spend time with Him because I feel unworthy. But if I did truly know how much God loves me, I would forget about feeling guilty and let the past be past, and move forward enjoying quiet time (literally) with God. Because then, I would know that God does not hold grudges and loves us all the same anyway.

Knowing is hard work. But I thank God that He sees beyond my shortcomings and continues to love me the way He has loved me since forever. And I'm convinced that He will continue to love me and help me know and find my identity in Him.

RM12 for 2 bunches of dough

Nothing to Share

My mind draws to a blank right now. Here's me trying to be creative in the photo taking department.

Pampered

July's a month of weddings, so I decided to go for a manicure and pedicure... for the first time ever....





















Like all things temporal, the perfect lil' fingers and toes did not last a week, of course.


On my own and without having to pay any more, I did quite an alright job, methinks!

Etched in My Memory

It has been more than 4 years since I came back from England. Sometimes, when I think about it, I can't believe it has been so long and I've not really let go of life abroad.

Recently, I met some of my university friends and they really brought back memories. Some of them are still there, and secretly, I wish I had their life. Perhaps the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side" rings true, but having a life in England (or perhaps, more specifically, in Nottingham) was always something I think about constantly, when I get tired of being in this country, when I see things that aren't right or when I get so frustrated with where I am right now.

I also had to clean out the junk in my room recently, and found stuff I really should throw away. A lot of it came from Nottingham, and although I threw them away (well, nothing lasts forever), I did not want the memory of those things fade away. So I whipped up my good ol' digital camera (or rather, my lovable new tiny camera) and started shooting away.

I bought these at a tiny pharmacist at the end of Beeston Road... I can't remember what it was called but it was next to Argos and Wilkinsons... I think. Who can resist make up at 99p?

Postscript : I remember the pharmacist... it's called Burrows & Close.

Superdrug... my favourite drugstore.

Collections 2000 was the affordable brand for poor ol' students like I was...










I've not seen Kolor here before.. (it is definitely time for this bottle of stuff to be chucked away)










Boots had it's "No. 7" range which was ala Channel (well, to me at least). John (my housemate) gave this to me.










I bought this at les Champ-Elysees in Paris.

There are tonnes of other stuff which I may never chuck away due to sentimental reasons. These are only some of which I have to discard. They are all now junk but they symbolizes part of my life abroad.. a part which I'll always find ways to remember.

Somewhere Remote

I had the pleasure of spending one weekend at a friend's home town and we had so much fun! It was certainly a much needed break from city life - things were cheap, the food was good, the air was clean and the people were kind. It was great waking up and not having to rush around for appointments or thinking out my to do list in my head.

What was most fascinating was the house we stayed in. It was like the home of an inventor and DIY guy. Almost everything was homemade and handmade whilst the rest of the stuff look like a hundred years old but still in working condition.

Pictures!!












This is a jukebox! Found near some mamak and it still plays for 50 cents a song.


At the house...













Legs of a sewing machine are given a new lease of life as legs for a table.














The light reminds me of Gaudi's street lights in Barcelona.
















Why would someone make such a big vase with such a tiny opening?















Old school grinder.... for coffee beans and peppercorns too!
















So, this is where it was all made...


And what trip would be complete without some shopping (well, it's not THAT remote)?













The best thing about shopping - not having to pay to own my first pair of Crocs slippers... hehe.... (Thanks Sweetie!)


Thank God for remote places!

Break please

It's 11.15pm and I'm working on some documents which need to be sent out tomorrow morning. It appears that sleep isn't going to happen anytime soon.

I so need a break. But for now, I guess it's back to work. [Lord, please give me wisdom and strength to do what I need to do...]

Sighs.

Promise to self : next post must NOT be about work.

24

I've always wondered why people say that 24 hours are not enough in a day. I mean, God created a day to be 24 hours, so just accept it already.

But the last few weeks changed my perspective. I suddenly realized that 24 hours is REALLY not enough in a day. I've never been so bogged down with work until it is so overwhelming before. I wish I didn't have to sleep so much and I wish I had another pair of hands and another brain working simultaneously.

Strange as it may seem, I actually like doing what I'm doing (although my employers should never know this). I think I'm mad too, but oh well, we can't explain everything.... I'm learning tonnes and I'm loving that fact. Makes me feel clever hehehe...

One client called me up recently and asked me whether it's all worth it, whether it's worth getting shouted at by clients and people who are not even clients, getting bombarded with tonnes of stuff to do, staying late when there is an ongoing project, getting grilled by employers. He asked me if I had to start all over, whether I will still be practicing law. Without thinking twice, I said yes.

I read about the Singaporean girl who passed away from overworking. Although I will never know what really happened, how hard she really worked, I have decided that however tough work becomes, I will never let it affect my health. Plus, I'm known never to sacrifice much sleep, one of my favourite activities.

I am beginning to see why God placed me where I am. I thank Him for the wisdom He has given me and the people around me who help me along the way. Most of all, I thank Him that there are only 24 hours in a day, a reminder to us that we can only do so much in a day and what we cannot do (although we try our best to), there is always tomorrow. Not a excuse to procrastinate, but an avenue to use the wisdom God gave us.

Finding True Love

Have you ever wondered when you will know when you have found the one you will share your heart and soul with, the one whom you will marry? I did and I think I may have found him (although I'm not sure - one can never be too sure).

So this is my conclusion : you know you have found the love of your life (second to Jesus) when he says he's sorry (whether or not he was wrong) and that's all it takes to make all your hurt go away and after that you feel like you love him more than ever.

More than that, you realize that you still love him even when you are still hurting and angry with him. That's when you realize that you love him so much that you are not willing to let him go and although it still hurts, you are willing to work at it.

Well, that's what I think anyway.

Rebellious

Contrary to popular impression, I'm quite the rebellious kid. Really. I'll prove it.

Clue #1 : I was obviously not born short sighted. I remember my mom telling me that I should not sit too close to the television. Otherwise, I'll have to wear glasses and that's not something nice. My dad told me not to read in dim lights, because otherwise, I would have to wear glasses and would not be pretty anymore. I thought to myself - what's so terrible about glasses that everyone's saying I should avoid. I observed the older kids on my school bus who were wearing glasses. I thought they were not that bad after all - the kids looked rather smart and intellectual actually.

So I decided (stupidly) that I wanted to wear glasses because I wanted to look smart and intellectual too. Everything my parents told me not to do to avoid wearing glasses, I did. I almost kissed the television. The rest of the story, as they say, is history.

Clue #2 : When I lost my 2 front teeth (not during Christmas, I may add), my mother told me not to push the growing teeth to the front with my tongue. Otherwise, they will protrude and will be out of line with the rest of my teeth. Despite being vain even at a young age, I did not want to take my mother's advise without investigating into the truth of what she said. I observed people with slightly protruding front teeth and somehow thought it wasn't too bad. Some of them actually looked quite alright. I wasn't sure if what my mother said was true, so I decided to put it to the test. The result is of course, crooked teeth.

Whilst I'm rather pleased that I'm not the sort of child that would take everything at face value, I laugh at my foolishness which resulted in 2 things that are constant reminders of my rebellion. Actually, part of me carries a tinge of regret. But I guess these are the lessons I learn on life's journey; 1) that whilst it's good to question things, it's also sometimes wise to listen to those people wiser than we are; 2) whatever we do, we are to use our heads!

But having said all that, I'm still a rebellious kid deep inside.






I also realize that whilst I have to live this life on earth with these scars of rebellion, it really doesn't matter that much because later, when Jesus comes back for me, I'll lose all of them, every single imperfection due to my rebellious self and the occasional foolishness. Thank God that He will not leave us to wallow in our imperfections!

On a different subject, I'm going away with the people in the island. I'm not sure what to expect though - whilst going away sounds like fun, the discreet-ness of things is killing me. We are not to know where we will go until we reach the "appointed place". Apparently, we are to be prepared to get "slightly wet and dirty". Spooky, if you ask me.

If all goes well, I'll live to write my next post.

Platonic and Abandoned

I just had dinner with an old (guy) friend of 4 years. It's amazing how much we have grown in our own way and yet remain very good friends. I'm constantly comparing in my head how it was before I got to know him a bit better, how we used to not talk to each other at all for one year (although we were colleagues) and how far we have come.

Is it possible then to have platonic friendships of the opposite sex? Yes it is. However, it takes a lot of level headed-ness to reach that stage. I think we have to get over that "Do you think he likes me more than a friend" stage before we can become really good friends. I must say my favourite part of the friendship is after that stage, when I can finally put my guard down without having to worry about sending the wrong signals.

And of course, Sweetie should know about this good friend and meet him at least once. Looking at it sensibly, this friendship is something good that's happening in my life and there should not be a reason to hide it from him. In fact, I should be sharing with him about this (which I have, more than once).

On a different subject, I was having dinner with Sweetie one night whilst concentrating on my food, this person came to our table and asked us whether we would like to buy boiled sweets. Now, boiled sweets are the least of my favourite things, so without breaking concentration on my food, I instantly said no. After that, I looked up to see the unhappy face of this old woman, disappointingly walking away. I felt bad instantly; I wished I hadn't been so quick to say no eventhough I hated boiled sweets.

Sweetie and I had a discussion on why she would be selling boiled sweets on the street in the evening. What happened to her family? Did she have children? What about friends? A home?

We came to these possible conclusions:-

1) She was abandoned by her children because she proved to be too difficult to bear (at least to them she was). Being left either in a nursing home or her own, rundown home, with no money even for essentials, she decides to make boiled sweets and sell them because she can.

2) Her son has passed away due to either disease or accident, leaving her with nothing else but her clothes on her back. She no longer have anyone supporting her, therefore she decides to do this to make a living. (She did, after all, have a sad face). For how long is she going to do this, only time can tell. However, for now, she will do this, because this is the only thing that would keep her alive.

There are a hundred other explanations, but after having talked about them, I still could not get over my regret for not purchasing her boiled sweets. It lingered in my mind as we continued with dinner. I hoped she would come my way again, so that I could at least offer her some money.

But she did not come my way again. So we said a prayer for her, trusting that God, who knows exactly what happened to her, will take care of her, as He would take care of the birds of the air and the lilies in the ponds.

Oh yes, one last thing. I have a label!!!

"Always use your powers for good".

I Finally Did It

I finally decided to start an earring blog displaying and selling my creations. I've decided to label it Flutters, after the fluttering wings of a butterfly. Please visit and leave me your comments.

I'm really excited about this and it keeps me happy. Finally, I dared to venture into something other than something I'm comfortable with. There is a price to pay though... dark circles and eye bags under me eyes due to lack of sleep (Sobs!).

See, lawyers can be creative too. If you still have the perception of a lawyer as someone who speaks flawlessly, wears black rimmed serious glasses, always puts up her hair, always wears a crease-less suit and court shoes, looks for every opportunity to argue with you from the colour of the walls to what you should and should not eat... well, it's time to change that archaic perception. (Although, speaking flawlessly is something I wish I possess).

Hope you... yes, you reading this now... will visit Flutters and make me happy!

Likeables

Recently, I had a long conversation with a friend of 10 years and she told me off hand that she has noticed the negative, complaining postings lately. That gave me a rude awakening - she was right. I got to thinking and realized that there is a lot of negativity going on around me, most of which comes from the "island". The negativity caused the following (told ya I love making lists):-

1. me noticing the stuff that bothers me more than usual (hence the complaints);
2. me seeing good things as somehow bad;
3. me not making an effort to see the good in things and people;
4. hindrances from hearing from God although I really want to;
5. me getting depressed (sobs);
6. me sighing more than usual (sighs...).

This can't be good.

I made a promise to myself that my next posting (ie this one) shall be something good. I decided to make a list of things I like (and here goes another list):-







(1) My Mac










(2) Playing music (as best as I know how)










(3) Making cards (I have not bought a card since ages ago)










(4) Sleeping (I think Ashley agrees)









(5) Rocky!! (I hate it when I reach for the last stick so I always buy 2 boxes so that I can look forward to the next one... until I reach for the last stick of the next box...)










(6) Listening to music (to read what CD says, click on picture!)









(7) (Window) shopping











(8) My car (to drive myself shopping.. haha)










(9) Lilac anything










(10) And of course, making earrings (this one was custom made and has been sold)





Phew. Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

Oh yeah, to date, I've sold 5 pairs of earrings. Not bad for doing something for fun huh? Watch this space for more developments.