I will follow You

将心归主

2012-01-16T00:38:00.008+08:00

将心归主将心归主

求祢成为我的帮助

把祢时时放在我心深处

决不忘记祢的嘱咐

将心归主将心归主

我愿成为祢的奴仆

把我一生时间全都给主

今生今世将心归主

words of wisdom

2012-01-12T20:25:00.007+08:00

If professionals are to support people in recovery, they must live in hope and understand no one is beyond hope. No one is completely lost. No one is chronic. All are of value. No one is a waste of your time. In other words, professionals must be willing to look into the places where human hands cannot reach and abide in faith that there, too, God dwells.

- Patrica Deegan

A Modern-Day Boaz

2012-01-04T15:09:00.001+08:00

http://www.startmarriageright.com/2011/09/a-modern-day-boaz/

The Refiner's Touch

2012-01-03T01:32:00.005+08:00

There was a group of women in a Bible Study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest or her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered "yes," he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eye on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh that's easy - when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of this world's fire, just remember that God has his eyes on you and will watch over you until He sees His image in you.

blessed christmas!

2011-12-25T23:52:00.004+08:00

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake."

- C.S. Lewis

grieving hearts

2011-12-05T01:01:00.007+08:00

malcolm..

my dear abang..

all the pain, all the regrets,

Lord please take them away.

those grieving hearts,

Lord please heal them.

i will miss you abang.

i only wished i hadn't neglected our friendship.

Finding Your Purpose

2011-12-01T01:55:00.018+08:00

God works in unexpected yet amazing ways!

so much have happened in the past month, or the past year actually. bit by bit, the puzzle pieces of my life are coming together as i'm starting to make sense out of my education and to slowly understand where God is leading me to for my future vocation.

especially now when my college education is coming to an end.

really thank God for speaking to me through various people, like my mum, winston, 施牧师娘, church friends and even M! it wasn't a one-off thing, but really an accumulation of events, reflections, listening and sharing with different people.

of course, the toughest hurdle to cross now is FYP. i've always likened FYP to "Finding Your Purpose", with "Your" referring to God.

i had a long talk with my mum yesterday night, about church.. about the different callings the youths have.. about our vocations as Christians.. about my own calling.. about full-time ministry.. and we finally settled on the topic of my FYP. that was our second time discussing about my FYP, the first being the crucial spark that convinced me to change my FYP topic. after the chat with her, once again, i now feel so much clearer and more hopeful about what i'm going to do! she even offered to be one of my helpers for my project and suggested a few names whom i can approach.

more importantly, i feel so much more excited to execute my project! knowing that i have my mum's support, understanding and knowledge in that area; knowing that it really has the potential to bring meaning and hope to people's lives; knowing that it all ties in very nicely with my burden for people and my considerations of being an art therapist, both of which have been confirmed over the past few months; knowing that ultimately, i have to look beyond grades or portfolio or even my future career, with the deep-seated faith that as long as i remember this burden of restoring His kingdom, do His work faithfully and honour Him with all my life, He will provide accordingly.

looking forward to enjoying this FYP process. (:

to God be the glory!

the first thing i'm gonna do after exams..

2011-11-22T12:53:00.008+08:00

(you're never gonna believe this)

... is to iron my clothes.

seeing my mountain of un-ironed clothes and remembering how those cambodian kids have only 4 sets of clothes to wear in a year...

i realised how blessed i really am.

and this realisation has curbed my constant desire to buy more clothes.

Amazing Grace

2011-11-14T19:29:00.007+08:00

my first "produced" song! hehe. (:

can't really sing well but i had tons of fun doing this!

the wonders of iphone + aftereffects.

shall do more of these after exams. (:

Amazing Grace,

How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost,

But now am found,

Was blind but now I see.

全能的創造主

2011-11-13T20:00:00.001+08:00

祢使天空絢麗大地富足，祢命江河湧流群山復甦，
祢使百鳥歡唱百花盛開，祢賜生命綿延命令萬物。
哈利路亞，全能的創造主。
哈利路亞，萬國萬民都向祢跪拜。

崇山峻嶺向祢屈膝敬拜，江河湖海為祢翩翩起舞，
諸天穹蒼傳揚祢的榮耀，日月星宿向祢揚聲歡呼。
哈利路亞，全能的創造主。
哈利路亞，萬國萬民都向祢跪拜。

我心讚美祢，永遠讚美祢，一生要讚美那偉大的創造主。
哈利路亞，全能的創造主。哈利路亞，萬國萬民都向祢跪拜

my feelings are not God

2011-11-10T23:17:00.006+08:00

"My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God's word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes, many times, my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens - and it happens every day in some measure - I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth."

- John Piper

thanks kar for sharing! (:

Lord, help us walk in Your Ways everyday, such that every feeling that stirs in our hearts does not turn us away from You, but be in sync with the Truth we had learnt from the beginning.

no sacrifice too great

2011-11-09T12:51:00.003+08:00

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me,

then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

CT Studd, 1860-1931,

cricketer, pioneer missionary,

founder of WEC International

"in sickness and in health"

2011-11-08T22:18:00.011+08:00

it was yiheng and yomay's wedding yesterday! (:

as usual, church weddings always leave me with much to think about.

there was one particular scene that moved me deeply.

after saying their first Lord's Prayer as a wedded couple, Rev. See stepped aside while yiheng and yomay proceeded to pray together. as the audience, we couldn't hear what they were praying about, but we could see them praying between themselves on the stage. although it was a long wait for us, witnessing such a scene brought tears to my eyes.

sharing a prayer that aligned their marriage to God:

what a beautiful start in this lifelong journey. (:

but what truly struck me is the relationship of joseph and julien. (:

they're my age. they're not married. yet they exemplify the phrase "in sickness and in health" of the wedding vows so well. especially for the past few years when julien's back problem has been getting from bad to worse. ):

as her childhood friend, i'm ashamed to admit that i haven't been there for her all the time. but words can't describe how thankful i am that God has blessed her with joseph, who has stuck with her through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse.

it really hasn't been easy. how many guys would be willing to shoulder such responsibilities with their partners (not even married yet!) at the age of 22? as what tp said, "a lesser man would have left."

i'm so inspired. so touched. so thankful. (:

it's not an easy road (2)

2011-11-06T00:11:00.004+08:00

(Verse 1)

It's not an easy road we are travelling to heaven
for many are the thorns on the way;
It's not an easy road, but the Saviour is with us.
His presence gives us joy every day.

(Verse 2)

It's not an easy road. There are trials and troubles.
And many are the dangers we meet.
But Jesus guards and keeps so that nothing can harm us
and smooths the rugged path for our feet.

(Verse 3)

Though I am often footsore and weary from travel,
Though I am often bowed down with care,
A better day is coming when home in the glory.
We'll rest in perfect peace over there.

(Chorus)

No, no, it's not an easy road.
No, no, it's not an easy road.
But Jesus walks beside me
And brightens the journey
And lightens every heavy load.

it's not an easy road

2011-11-05T23:25:00.011+08:00

"Men have become the tools of their tools."

- Henry David Thoreau

on tues, i made a decision to surrender my facebook password to wei.

although i do feel uneasy sometimes without facebook and it can be quite sian not knowing what's going on out there, but this emptiness is replaced.. by a different kind of joy and freedom! i have more time to do my work, to reflect, to spend with God and with family.

hopefully by the end of this "fast", with God's help, i am able to sort out my priorities and learn how to control my tools instead of being controlled by them. still learning, still learning..

may the joy of the Lord be my strength as i continue to fight these battles everyday. (:

wanderlust

2011-10-25T02:17:00.009+08:00

have been re-watching nodame cantabile recently.

music + europe. aahhhh. (:

have been reading up on the post-impressionists as well.

art + europe. aahhhh. (:

i'd really really really love to travel europe someday.

to walk down a different kind of street..

to admire a different kind of architecture..

to gaze upon a different kind of sky..

to breathe a different kind of air..

to experience ART & MUSIC as i've never experienced before..

to feast my eyes and ears on them. (:

one day. someday.

恩典之路

2011-10-03T01:07:00.003+08:00

祢是我的主.引我走正義路.
高山或低谷.都是祢在保護.

萬人中唯獨.祢愛我認識我.

永遠不變的應許.這一生都是祝福.

一步又一步.這是恩典之路.
祢愛.祢手.將我緊緊抓住.

一步又一步.這是盼望之路.
祢愛.祢手.牽引我走這人生路

worship

2011-10-01T23:11:00.002+08:00

"the mere thought of God -

anytime, anywhere -

is all the occasion we need for another act of worship."

- wei (:

two people to be thankful for

2011-09-20T20:18:00.008+08:00

1) M.

there was a mad rush on friday! despite me being a few minutes late for fyp presentation, despite a few of my classmates submitting their slides later than the stipulated time, he still allowed us to present. "okay today, everyone will present! (looking at me) next time don't be late ah!" ((: as what wei said, M's indeed protective of us and concerned about our progress. i'm really really thankful. & thank God for smooth traffic and quick arrival of mrt & bus 179!

2) DAD.

i vomited yesterday. the force was so great, my lunch came spurting out of my mouth and nose. i was holding on to a rather small plastic bag, so you can guess.. i made a mess on the floor. but my dad.. despite having stomach flu himself, calmly brought me tissue and 风油, and wiped the floor for me. “不要紧，把里面不干净的吐出来比较好。” i was so touched, so reassured.

music in a 'rest'

2011-08-31T11:37:00.005+08:00

Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the "rests". They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear. If we sadly say to ourselves, "There is no music in a 'rest'," let us not forget "there is the making of music in it."

- John Ruskin

Psalm 121

2011-07-26T13:19:00.003+08:00

I lift up my eyes to the mountains —
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip —
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you —
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm —
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

7/7

2011-07-14T02:05:00.010+08:00

In Japan, July the seventh is known as “Tanabata”, and a legend exists that a young man and woman, separated by the Milky Way, are only allowed to meet on this night. Festivals are held throughout Japan, to celebrate their re-union. In this piece, the composer has tried through music, to express the romantic legend linked to the summer night sky. The alto saxophone and euphonium solos in the middle of the piece, are intended to depict the man and woman in the legend.

smu symphonia played the seventh night of july last friday.

after countless times listening to it in recordings, that was my 1st time hearing it live.

there's a stirring in my heart,

so great that i simply cannot ignore it.

it feels as though something is re-igniting.

this love for music.. this longing to play again.

i wonder when i'd ever get to play this piece.

many friends had the privilege to play it for their SYF or concerts,

but i guess my band life was too short to have crossed paths with it.

neither have i seen the scores.

the least i can do now is to hum it, softly and joyfully. (:

the sax/eupho duet can make me cry.

the voice of the man & of the woman..

sometimes i wonder which is which.

i'd like to believe the alto sax is the woman & the eupho is the man.

but i've a feeling that wasn't the composer's intention.

times like these when i really thank God for band once again.

thankful for that fateful day when andrew & jojo talked to us at the SC.

it marked the start of this life-changing discovery & journey.

thank You for opening my ears to music.

thank You for instilling this love for music in my heart.

thank You, for the music.

may every single note i sing, i play, i imagine, i think of in my head.. be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ears.

more than words

2011-05-05T19:08:00.015+08:00

something really strange happened on my way home just now.

i was just passing by this bus stop poster of an upcoming japanese movie. the poster reveals that one of the actors acted in "letters from iwo jima". when i saw "letters from iwo jima", my heart felt strangely sad as i could feel this dull ache in me.

and the weird thing was, i haven't even watched the movie before. aside from knowing that it's a war movie, i have no idea what the plot is. i've seen its poster before though.

strange how certain words can evoke certain feelings in you.

it's definitely something psychological.

after today's very depressing class,

and thinking about the upcoming killer week,

i don't even know how to describe how down i'm feeling right now.

all i want now is for 15th may to come quick.

- edit | 6th may -

amidst all the frustrations, i'm really touched that my cgl esther called me this morning to pray for me, hot tears flowing down my cheeks as she did.

thankful for her.

also thankful for joanne, who's enduring this nonsense along with me.

also thankful for churchies, whose companionship during all the mugging/chionging the past sem had given me much comfort and joy.. knowing that i'm not alone in this.

also thankful for parents, for being there. always.

the true meaning of rejoice

2011-04-25T13:35:00.002+08:00

dot is really blessed by their testimony.

주님 내가 여기 있사오니 나를 써주소서

Lord I am here, please use me

나의 맘 나믜 몸 주께 드리오니 주 받으옵소서

My heart, my body, I give it to You. Please accept me.

주님 내가 여기 있사오니 나를 보내소서

Lord I am here, please send me

가진 것 모두다 주께 드리오니 주 받으옵소서

Everything I have I give it to You. Please receive me.

할렐루야 할-렐루야 할렐루야 아- 할렐루야.

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

1812 Overture

2011-03-08T01:45:00.005+08:00

SHIOK SHIOK SHIOK!

would love to hear it live with real cannons.

oh, the joy of discovering such mind-blowing music!

AHHHHH!

stress brings me love

2011-03-04T00:53:00.006+08:00

i just went up to my mum and said, “mummy 我要抱抱。”

then she gave me a BIG HUG.

then she started cheering “有耶稣在船中，我可向浪挑战！”

then i started doing some funky bird dance in front of her.

then i'm not so stressed anymore.

love, life, soul

2011-03-01T22:50:00.009+08:00

i'm thinking of what wei said about a man who not only didn't chide his wife for sobbing in public, but allowed her to cry to her heart's content and being there for her.

i was touched greatly.

not about your face and "reputation" in the sight of others, but the deep understanding and sensitivity towards the needs of your loved one. looking not at the appearance, but at the heart of all things; well, i guess that's what true love embodies. (:

this leads to me to think that the difference between a wedding and marriage is like the difference between a ceremony and a life journey.

gareth likened this to our relationship with God, which i think is so true! we may be involved in many ceremonies like baptism and 立约门徒, which are undeniably essential, but what's more important ultimately, is our walk with God. the relationship, the commitment, the faithfulness, the journey for the rest of our lives.

watched "black swan" with karryn a few days back.

what a thought-provoking film!

at the closing scene, the female lead whispered, "i felt it.. it was perfect" and died peacefully. the scene faded out with the audience chanting her name repeatedly. she had reached the prime of her career. to her, she had succeeded.

but that led me to think, is it really worth it?

she had no true friends. she had hurt her mother deeply. the scene of her mum crying so hard when she was about to die was so sad! she had lost her soul, to the dark side.

she would be remembered, for the "perfection" of her career, but not who she was as a person.

is it really worth it?

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16:26

it's a dark world out there.

oh Lord, fill us with Your light.

Jesus is

2011-02-28T22:17:00.003+08:00

the Lion and the Lamb.

the Lion who is King; the one who rules, with might and power.

the Lamb, the perfect sacrifice for the atonement for our sins.

the mrt announcement

2011-02-18T12:01:00.009+08:00

"Your attention please, the train that is approaching Platform A is not for passenger service. Please wait for the next train. Thank You."

this announcement is way too familiar. you've heard it before. i've heard it many times, especially at yishun, the station of terminating trains. recently, i've noticed that such an announcement generates a few different responses from commuters.

there are the "lost" people who are lost in their own world, either in thoughts or in the music issuing from their earphones. they are ignorant to the crisp clear announcements and end up embarrassing themselves by entering the empty train and getting chased out by the train officers.

there are the "half-hearted" people who still listen to their music, yet the announcement doesn't go through their brain system unprocessed. they may not pay as much attention to it as to their music, but they eventually get the gist of what they have to do, or in this case, what not to do.

there are the "obedient" people who are aware, alert and listen to the announcement, who knowingly abide by the command and refrain from boarding the train.

this reminds me of our choice and ability to discern God's voice in our lives. it's sad but true how often we get pulled away by the influences of the world and turned a deaf ear to God, to the extent that it becomes so natural, yet regretful. may it be His calling, His command or simply His fatherly pleas for us to come back to Him, sometimes He whispers and sometimes He shouts. but can we even hear Him when He shouts?

the "lost", the "half-hearted", the "obedient".

which one am i?

which one do i want to become?

爱

2011-02-13T20:47:00.008+08:00

你不懂，最开心的事，不是跟你去游山玩水；

最开心的事，是跟你一起分享神的话！

你不懂，最仰慕你的事不是你的学历，你的知识；

最仰慕你的事，是你在神里面有智慧，有亮光！

你不懂，最爱你的事不是因为你外表如何英俊；

最爱你的事，是你在神面前反省着自己而痛哭流涕！

你不懂，最期望的事不是你事业有何伟大的前景；

最期望的事，是能跟你一起同工服侍神！

你不懂，最佩服你的事不是你得到上司多高的评价；

最佩服你的事，是你能解答困惑中的人的问题！

你不懂，最温暖的事不是两个人的拥抱；

最温暖的事，是我在低谷时你能为我祷告！

你不懂，最想要的不是无名指上上万元的钻石戒指；

最想要的，是那带着廉价的戒指却无价的手永远牵拉着我的手！

你不懂，最想听的不是你嗓音发出的优美歌声；

最想听的，是从你嘴中说出的从耶和华神那里得着的智慧言语！

你不懂，最让我心动的，不是你所给人的感觉；

最让我心动的，是你在神面前那颗敬畏的心！

你不懂，最想说的不是“我爱你”

最想说的是，“神真爱我，让我得着你！”

我爱神，你爱神，我们会更相爱！不会因为我们爱神而使我们给予对方的爱会减少，因为爱神使我们知道如何相爱！

my sister's keeper

2011-01-16T22:58:00.025+08:00

everyone should watch my sister's keeper.

before watching, i was telling sel sure cry one.

sure enough, just 10 minutes into the show and i was sobbing away.

and tears continued to flow for the entire show.

scenes that particularly struck me

when kate (the sister with leukemia) unexpectedly found the love of her life, taylor, who was also a dying cancer patient, they started dating and this was how kate described their relationship to her sister anna:

kate: he has scars on his hands from graft-versus-host. i could feel them when we were holding hands.

anna: was that weird?

kate: it was kind of like we matched.

the next scene was when taylor visited kate at her ward. their friendly banter was interrupted by kate puking really badly and feeling conscious about it, while taylor patted her on the back and gave her more than just towels, but love and support. their relationship was uncommon, but so beautiful.

kate: (in a mess after puking) sorry.

taylor: what are you talking about? tomorrow it could be me. here. (offering towel)

one thing i really like about this film is how they made use of not only dialogue, but bringing focus on facial expressions to convey so much meaning, with the subtle yet apt choice of music to heighten the emotion and to pull the heartstrings.

this film made me more aware of how real death is. sometimes there's no point fighting death, because when your time on earth is up, you have to learn to let go. just like how kate's mum went through a painful lesson, only to realise that her desperately trying to keep kate alive was not only causing kate even more pain, but her entire family as well. instead of clinging on to that thin thread of hope, why not allow kate to live her dying moments to the fullest?

i really love kate's smile in the movie, despite her looking really sick and chui nearing her death. it wasn't exactly a gorgeous and glamorous sight, but her sincere smile warms my heart.

i also realised that cancer patients are no different from us. they, like us, need to love and to be loved, perhaps even more than we do. it's what keeps them going. and it's a really beautiful thing when they've found love. they also need to be accepted and be assured that they are beautiful no matter how they look, because it's the heart that matters. and that's what love should be all about. not because of how they look or how little trouble they bring to our lives, but because of who they truly are or simply because they are our sister.

just like how God loves us.

unconditional love.

day 02

2011-01-12T20:55:00.004+08:00

the meaning behind my ~~tumblr~~ blog name

a dotted rhythm can be pretty hard to follow precisely.

well, that's kinda like me i guess.

i can be rather mercurial at times, although recently i've learnt to tone down a little and control myself a little better.

lame reason i know.....

music painting

2011-01-05T11:24:00.010+08:00

this is one of the most beautiful, most breathtaking works i've ever seen! the concept.. the handwritting.. the illustrations.. the music.. i love everything about it! so simple and yet they all tie in so well with one another.

after racking my brains to find a category in my mind to place this under, i thought this can be an animated illustration on music and nature. i can just keep replaying it. amazing things people can do with art and music AND a social message huh?

day 01

2010-12-20T22:30:00.013+08:00

a recent picture of me and 15 interesting facts about myself

1) i always thought my worst pet peeve is people smoking, until i realised what is the worse than my worst pet peeve - people smoking in the lift!

2) yisiong's house is really cool and comfy. i don't mind going to chuan drive for batch gathering any day man!

3) my current favourite colour is pink. (:

4) speaking of pink, i'm suddenly reminded of elissa! just dropped her an sms.

5) i miss the quirky NELine signboard at dhoby ghaut. the purple went wrong a few months back and turned into my favourite shade of pink. i remember being very excited about it and pointing it out to sel while passing by the sign! but it's now back to purple.

6) speaking of mrt signboards, i think the red line and orange line go very well together! (in terms of colour i mean)

7) i used to love skygazing a lot. i still do, but i haven't been doing that often lately, until recently when gareth, fellow nature-lover, told me to check out the evening clouds. once again, i was reminded of the beauty of the sky!

8) don't think anyone knows this, but i actually have a phobia for certain types of dots, especially tiny, tightly-packed ones. an example would be the little air bubbles in a thermometer. they make me slightly nauseous.

9) sometimes, the more i fear something, the more i feel intrigued by it. (e.g. little air bubbles in thermometer)

10) i have a soft spot for old people. sometimes a wave of poignance or even affection would hit me in the midst of observing the elderly. sometimes my heart will ache when i see aged cleaners or janitors. i guess somehow i was just reminded of my own grandparents.

11) an earnest wish of mine is to get married someday, to be a good wife and a good mother. this wish came even more strongly this year, bearing an influence upon my lifestyle and behaviour.

12) i recently discovered that my number 1 favourite ice-cream is mr bean's soya ice cream! 1st runner-up would be swensen's sticky chewy chocolate malt!

13) once in a while, memories of 3-2-51 would drift into my mind. memories of doing my usual stuff, like drinking soya bean from can2 vending machine and blowdrying my hair. it's quite funny cos after 2 years, i still do all these stuff.

14) contrary to popular belief, i'm actually quite a chatty girl. other than when i'm busy/tired/sad/angry/unwell/reflective, i actually like to talk alot. (:

15) i know the origin of shark's fin is cruel, environmentally-unfriendly and all, but i love shark's fin soup. i really can't help it and i always feel guilty about it. sorry protectors of the ocean!

happy holidays!

2010-12-19T00:55:00.020+08:00

it's christmas once more & holidays are here to stay!

for a month only, but better than nothing!

time to make plans for one of my last few school breaks.

anneri's holiday plans

_rest

_farewell for jac ): noooo jac don't goooo

_write cards/make stuff for christmas

_carolling on christmas eve (:

_MERRY CHRISTMAS!

_silent retreat cum church camp at tanjong puteri (:

_hainan meetings (:

_adm isg trainings & games?

_help out for a couple of camps at campHA

_plan next sem's timetable & register for mods

_exercise more regularly & play more sports!

_pick up tennis if possible

_kusu island with churchies! (:

_watch more good films (shall start with MEMENTO)

_draw more, sketch more.. rediscover my love for drawing (:

_finish reading psychology textbook

_kbox with roomie! (FINALLY)

_cycling with viscomm girls!

_belated housewarming? (:

_meetups with dear friends, esp those who're back from aussie! heh chiam you're always part of my holiday plans you know!

saw this interesting "30 days" thing on roomie's tumblr.

dot shall try to do this here!

more privacy. (:

Day 01 - A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02 - The meaning behind your Tumblr name
Day 03 - A picture of you and your friends
Day 04 - A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06 - Favorite super hero and why
Day 07 - A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08 - Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09 - Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10 - Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12 - How you found out about Tumblr and why you made one
Day 13 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14 - A picture of you and your family
Day 15 - Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16 - Another picture of yourself
Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18 - Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19 - Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20 - Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22 - What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23 - Something you crave for a lot
Day 24 - A letter to your parents
Day 25 - What I would find in your bag
Day 26 - What you think about your friends
Day 27 - Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29 - In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30 - Who are you

hiroshima, mon amour

2010-12-15T23:10:00.009+08:00

I remember.
I see the ink.
I see the daylight.
I see my life. Your death.
My life that goes on, your death that goes on.
I see that the shadows take longer to reach the corners of the room, and the corner of the cellar.

i thought the expression used is really tragic but beautiful.

you may watch it here.

人們需要主

2010-12-15T20:46:00.002+08:00

今天，在前往学校的路途中，

这首歌浮现在我脑海里。。

the kid

2010-12-14T00:50:00.006+08:00

my favourite scene from "the kid",

written, produced, directed, music composed by and starring charlie chaplin (as the tramp) and jack coogan (as the kid).

such a beautifully-sentimental film, which tickles me & pulls on my heartstrings at the same time. the acting by the kid never fails to amaze me.. he's one fine actor for a child! & he's so cute. (:

"a picture with a smile - and perhaps, a tear."

watch it here. (:

dot is now a fan of charlie chaplin.

i love surprises! (:

2010-12-06T01:44:00.016+08:00

had 2 birthday surprises yesterday.

twice the excitement, twice the fun!

and i'm officially exhausted and a little sick.

but seeing jac's tears and sk's smiles,

i feel that it's all worth it man. (:

sk's surprise! photo courtesy of elena's iphone.

waiting for jl & sel to upload jac's surprise photos!

-update-

jac my dearest toiley roomie's surprise!

成功！

dot loves illustration!

2010-11-30T00:12:00.009+08:00

and so ends a semester of illustration

i'll miss steve & his DOM DOM DOM.

what a great journey it has been. (:

random

2010-11-26T00:15:00.011+08:00

DOT
HELLO AND GOODNIGHT
THERE WAS TIME FOR WORK AND NOW WE MUST SLEEP BEFORE WE GO BERSERK
NO TIME FOR PHILO, ONLY PILLOW
I HOPE YOU ARE WELL, BECAUSE HAPPINESS I DON'T SELL
HELLO AND GOODNIGHT

- KOH TIANG PENG, 2010

this random poem in uppercase rocks! thanks tp! (: (:

on a side note,

HARRY POTTER WAS GOOD!

glad i decided to take a break and watched it yesterday.

i love how more detail and human emotions were captured in this movie, instead of rushing through the plot.

i love how hermione and harry are such close platonic friends, being there for each other in pure friendship and love.

i love how cheesy but cute ron can get expressing his feelings for hermione, and how he goes all out to protect her.

lastly, i love the unwavering loyalty of the little creatures, hedwig and dobby, both of which sacrificed themselves for the hero they loved. RIP, little ones! ):

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS!

sunday was my 1st night in hall..

2010-11-22T23:59:00.011+08:00

.. and i cried myself to sleep.

i've never missed home so badly before.

especially now when i'm so much closer to my parents.

although it can get terribly lonely right here,

but i know You're always here with me.

i guess the purpose of this little suffering will be revealed in Your time.

perhaps it's to mould me to be more independent.

perhaps it's to teach me to treasure my family better.

God allowed 4 things to happen today which lifted my spirits.

1) a fun & productive prof prac discussion with my new friend, jin wen.

2) wei's act of love by giving me sachets of curcumin for my gastric.

3) yuhui's act of love by giving us jiayou messages & subway cookies.

4) parents' smses of concern.

dot is thankful. (:

love hopes all things

2010-11-19T12:14:00.012+08:00

http://titian.deviantart.com

"When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth."

- Genesis 8:11 (NIV)

You know the feeling.

You have stood where Noah stood.

You've known your share of floods.

And you've needed what Noah needed; you've needed some hope.

Hope is an olive leaf - evidence of dry land after a flood.

Don't we love the olive leaves of life?

What's more, don't we love the doves that bring them?

From the grove of grace and the tree of life, God brings leaves to us.

Grace and Life.

Forgiveness of sin.

The defeat of death.

This is the hope He gives.

This is the hope we need.

What do you do with olive leaves?

You pass them around.

You don't stick them in your pocket.

You give them to the ones you love.

Love does that.

Love extends an olive leaf to the loved one and says,

"I have hope in you."

Love is just as quick to say, "I have hope for you."

Paul said,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God"

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Don't know what to say?

Your Bible is a basket of leaves.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

- Romans 15:4 (NIV)

Won't you share one?

Excerpts from "A Love Worth Giving" by Max Lucado

give thanks, with a grateful heart pt2

2010-11-17T01:06:00.028+08:00

the past few days have been pretty eventful.

many things and people to give thanks to the Lord for.

i shall count my blessings once again!

happenings

thank God for the silent retreat at the garden of remembrance on sat, which gave me a chance to find rest and take a breather from the cacophony of life.. restoring my faith and realigning my focus. not forgetting gareth's inspiring poem of praise which really spoke to me! those little but beautiful things of God's creation which we often take for granted.

thank God for hearing my cries and giving me a room in hall2, through yuhui and stephanie! i'm really really really thankful. though it seemed random & out of the blue, but i know it's not by chance. & i thank God this didn't happen right at the start of the sem, such that i was able to get used to hard core travelling. 'cause this gives me more flexibility! woah it's amazing how the pieces are starting to fit in.

people

thank God for wei! for so so so so so soooooo much i don't even know how to start putting them into words. but.. she's really a godsend. (: this sister makes me feel loved and the best thing is, she inspires me to spread the love.. to pass it on!

thank God for minh! for that message which gave me the courage to go for type class last thurs. for understanding my fear and reassuring me. (: i didn't expect it at all, so all the more i was thankful.

thank God for tp! for being a great study-in-adm-on-thursdays pal for the past sem! and for looking out for me with regards to travelling (i live quite far from the usual westies in church). esp that night after ahseh's 21st, when he wanted to travel further to accompany me and to be able to empathise with my travel sentiments. very very thankful for such a caring brother-in-Christ! (:

thank God for jac! who always responds to my shouts of stress and because i know we can always confide in each other! we were supposed to go for some CF event together. but in the end, we backed out and had dinner by ourselves. which turned out to be a great decision because we ended up deep in conversation for 2 hours in canA. ((: i really miss being roomies with her. & I'LL MISS HER LIKE MAD WHEN SHE LEAVES FOR EXCHANGE. )): sel: "i can't imagine what it'll be like without her."

thank God for sel! who gave her best to help me with the cambodia sharing despite her own load of work and stress; who went through the sharing with me despite her migraine on sunday. &&, all the HTHTs we always have! haha i still remember us deep in conversation in the midst of all the hooha around us during the methodist walk briefing (which didn't concern us thankfully). up till now i still find it amazing. (:

last but not least, thank God for papa & mummy! who are always understanding about my stressful school-life and lack of time to help out with household chores. sometimes when my bro or i want to help out with washing dishes, my dad or mum would say, "不要紧，让我们洗，你们去忙你们的。" little actions like these that warm my heart. sometimes my mum will brew/cook tonics for me, or come into my room to give me a massage. then i'll hug her when i'm stressed. (: aww man i think i'll miss them so much when i move into hall this time.

of course, there are more to give thanks for.

but these are a few for now. (:

lastly, i realise something..

meaningful relationships are really important to me.

and it takes two hands to clap.

on priority & humility

2010-11-16T01:34:00.003+08:00

sometimes it's good not to have talents,

because that's when God is glorified,

not yourself.

if tomorrow never comes

2010-11-10T03:25:00.012+08:00

recently i realised i am not the only stressed one.

sounds rather dumb because we all know everyone's stressed.
i know that as well, but i don't pay much attention to everyone else.
so this realisation kinda came upon me quite late.

i guess i've been so caught up with my own load of work,
that i've failed to notice or show concern for my friends who are struggling to keep afloat as well.

and this brought me to reflection.

what do i really want to achieve by convocation 2012?
do i want to be flooded with memories of my sufferings, my achievements, my sense of self-worth.. me myself and i?
how about forming meaningful relationships?
how about leaving an impact, though small, in someone's life?
how about shifting the attention away from myself for awhile and spending time with someone who may be wilting inside?

what if i die tomorrow?
do i want to leave with regrets for working too much, but loving too little? do i want to leave with regrets for not spending enough time with the people i truly care about? do i want to leave with regrets for not spending enough time with God?

i've been trying to ask people out for lunch these days.
some might think i'm too free.
some people hesitate and don't give me a definite answer.

of course i can totally understand and empathise.

but for me, i don't want this phase of my life to pass just like that.

if you know what i mean.

okay it's 3:46am.
and i haven't blogged so much in a long while already.

resolution: try to be less selfish. it won't be easy, but try.

all things come of thee

2010-11-06T02:05:00.005+08:00

Look at the world, everything all around us

Look at the world and marvel every day.

Look at the world, so many joys and wonders,

So many miracles along our way

*Praise to thee, O Lord for all creation.

Give us thankful hearts that we may see.

All the gifts we share, and every blessing.

All things come of thee.

Look at the earth, bringing forth fruit and flower,

Look at the sky, the sunshine and the rain.

Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains,

Valley and flowing rive, field and plain. (*)

Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer

Bringing the harvest before the winter's cold.

Everything grows, everything has a season,

Till it is gathered to the Father's fold. (*)

Every good gift, all that we need and cherish,

Comes from the Lord in token of His love.

We are His hands, stewards of all His bounty

His is the earth and His the heavens above. (*)

beautiful song, beautiful video. (:

at first i didn't really like our alto part cos it's rather boring & can get pretty breathless singing the chorus. but when we sang as a choir, the SATB and the accompaniment came in.. WOAH! the entire song in harmony and all the meaning encapsulated in it brought me to tears. it brought me to reflect upon how in my arduous journey of creativity, i have neglected the fact that God is the epitome of creativity. and as what elena reminded me, the word "creativity" goes back to the word "creation", and ultimately its root word "create", which is essentially the cause that gives rise to what we see all around us.

it's been a long time since i took time to look up and feel His presence from the beauty of the sky.

what has once been part of me was slowly disappearing..

but i really thank God for powerful reminders like these! (:

am gonna continue giving thanks and marvelling at His glory.

things to do

2010-11-03T23:14:00.007+08:00

GRAPHIC DESIGN

festival campaign final deliverables (deadline: 10th dec)

- logo design

- book (min. 12 spreads)

- A2 poster

- 2 different media for festival event promotion

- souvenir

- project development pdf (research, concept, design development)

TYPOGRAPHY

- living type documentation (deadline: 11th nov)

- typologies I: design typeface

- typologies II: typeface application (deadline: 2nd dec)

ILLUSTRATION

- finish up final deliverables on "the journey"

- movie poster on "the wicker man"

- haw par villa merchandise

PROF PRAC

- 17 items in checklist for assignment 2! (deadline: 1st dec)

PSYCHOLOGY

- RP essay (deadline: 3rd dec)

- revise for exam: 17th dec

USS

- readings & revise for exam: 16th dec

WESTERN FILM HISTORY

- revise for exam: 15th dec

OTHERS

- edit & submit photos to joshua for MHW

- cambodia sharing!

lesson learnt: don't overload.

goodbye winter

2010-10-29T02:07:00.009+08:00

despite being in pain now,

the love of being inspired brings a smile to my face.

follow my journey at

http://hello-spring.tumblr.com/

creating new blogs always gives me an excitement of a new beginning.

but NO,

i'm not going to abandon this blog. (:

life cycle

2010-10-28T01:28:00.009+08:00

simply brilliant.

http://ekbs.deviantart.com

olly moss

2010-10-15T01:45:00.003+08:00

his style is wicked.. love it!

check out his site for more inspiring works.

www.ollymoss.com

three things

2010-10-12T01:27:00.012+08:00

capt's ball in sitiawan last year re-ignited my love for sports.

now i wanna pick up tennis & table-tennis.

i'm getting a tumblr soon.

HELLO NEW WORLD OF INSPIRATION.

i don't know what to feel now.

i don't know what's right now.

this day 7 months back..

i just did a test..

2010-10-08T13:56:00.007+08:00

and found out that i'm an

85% ROMANTIC.

hehehehe.

here.

still my soul be still

2010-10-07T01:24:00.005+08:00

Still my soul be still,

and do not fear though winds of change may rage tomorrow.

God is at your side,

no longer dread the fires of unexpected sorrow.

Chorus:

God You are my God, and I will trust in You and not be shaken.

Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in You alone.

Still my soul be still,

do not be moved by lesser lights and fleeting shadows.

Hold onto His ways

with shield of faith against temptations flaming arrows.

Still my soul be still,

do not forsake the Truth you learned in the beginning.

Wait upon the Lord

and hope will rise as stars appear when day is dimming.

家。

2010-10-06T12:34:00.016+08:00

http://lacarpa.tumblr.com/page/2

time spent travelling on each school day = 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 hr

time spent travelling on 4 school days = 3 x 4 = 12 hr

time spent travelling on each non-school day = 1.25 + 1.25 = 2.5 hr

time spent travelling on 3 non-school days = 2.5 x 3 = 7.5 hr

total time spent travelling each week = 12 + 7.5 = 19.5 hr

as much as i often complain how the travelling pains me,

in actual fact, i really love to go home.

the smile on mum's face brimming with love & affection,

and the gentle pat on my head by dad make it all worthwhile.

with all i am

2010-10-04T00:46:00.001+08:00

oh Lord, i'm gonna commit everything into Your hands again.

i'll walk with You, through tears and joy.

for i know You're the One in control.

and i know i'm Your cherished child, loved beyond measure.

FatBird.green

2010-09-30T20:38:00.005+08:00

current adium dock icon!

hehe cute righttttt (:

it sways sideways when someone sends me an online message.

cutest cow ever!

2010-09-21T02:36:00.001+08:00

great is the measure of our Father's love

2010-09-17T01:11:00.024+08:00

fatigue. despair. tears.

pretty much sums up what we've been through this week.

but in the midst of all these,

God sent many people who lifted our spirits in one way or another.

& i'm really really thankful for them. (:

thank God for yuhui & huiling, who were pivotal in reversing our despair by giving us hope, reassuring us that it'll work out.. and simply believing in our concept. thank God for trixie, for believing in us too, and helped take our minds off things by having lunch with us.. and just simply being her. thank God for jiejie, ever so sisterly, who told me to call her whenever i need help. thank God for adeline, who was understanding when wei told her why we didn't go for cell. thank God for edmund, who was quick to show his concern & encouragement after he heard from adeline. thank God for gareth, who reminded me to fix my gaze on His grace & keeping me in prayer. thank God for papa & mummy, for being so supportive & understanding. thank God for wei's dad, the sweetest dad i've ever known.

thank God for wei & minh;

it's been a meaningful journey working with them.

yesterday, wei & i prayed at the carpeted area on the 3rd floor of adm,

inviting God to fill us with His peace and love.

we decided to lay aside all thoughts on type & went to kfc for dinner.

shared many secrets, struggles, ideas for illustration.

great day spent with a very close friend. (:

yulia brodskaya

2010-09-15T01:50:00.003+08:00

colours make me (:

2010-09-13T00:34:00.013+08:00

the original colours are supposed to be way brighter than this ):

VIS320 graphic design III

VIS330 typography III

VIS230 illustration

FIL250 western film history

ADM450 professional practice for creatives

HS816 understanding singapore society

HP101 introduction to psychology

this is too cute!

2010-09-08T01:08:00.008+08:00

仰望恩典

2010-09-06T00:47:00.028+08:00

He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

- Mark 14:33-36

a mixture of sorrow and guilt never fails to creep into my heart whenever i read about Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane. the scripture never fails to remind me that like any other human, like us, He feels pain and grief as well. yet out of love for His sheep (us!) and obedience to God, He did what He came for and died on the cross for us, every sin of ours nailed on that cross along with Him.

such a suffering is really unbearable, for human standards.

the physical, mental and emotional torture He went through.

yet He did it, for us.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

- John 15:13

what am i doing in response to such Great Love?

my chains are gone, i've been set free,

my Lord my Saviour has ransomed me.

how could i still be living in the dens of self-reliance, doubt and sin?

每一天每一夜
每一分钟
我仰望祢的恩典
患难时在我喜乐时
祢双手领我进入祢恩典

主耶稣祢宝血
洗净我一切的罪孽
为我死为我而流泪
赐给我无尽的恩典

我能有什么给祢啊
能报答祢付的代价
每当我定睛祢十架
眼泪不禁潸然地落下
我的心不要忘记啊
祂鞭伤换来新的生命啊
从此不再忧伤不再挣扎
在耶稣怀里我有平安自由希望

understanding singapore society (i)

2010-09-03T01:49:00.013+08:00

"with peers that give you pressure,

who needs enemies?"

- Dr. Lim Chee Han

WIN.

the most beautiful rainbow i've seen

2010-08-28T23:47:00.007+08:00

God's creations always move me, deeply.

how can anyone look at such wonders and still be absolutely certain that God isn't real?

times like these when i really thank God for my sense of sight, that i'm able to see & witness the beauty of His creations. i really cannot imagine what i'd do without my eyes!

14 years

2010-08-19T23:10:00.014+08:00

where i used to call home.

inspired

2010-07-28T20:38:00.006+08:00

i support Team Christ

2010-07-08T00:30:00.015+08:00

deutschland vs espanyol later.

it's been a long time since i watched a full soccer match on tv!

man, i was such a fan then.

i support neither teams.

instead of going, "GO GERMANY!" or "GO SPAIN!",

why not, hmm.. "GO GOD!"? (:

haha best team ever.

–UPDATE–

okay i woke up,

heard the match starting,

... and went back to sleep.

gone were the days when soccer was the reason of my existence.

shall try harder for the finals. (:

the human condition

2010-07-07T11:58:00.003+08:00

how true.

moving house next week.

time to be more fervent in packing my room.

slow down, reflect, get inspired

2010-06-14T16:09:00.010+08:00

i took a trip to the kranji war memorial with jasper & sel a few weeks back. i remember being amazed at how well-maintained the place was, with its blossoming flowers & freshly painted words on the tombs, in addition to its sheer tranquility.

the bane of technology

2010-06-08T13:03:00.015+08:00

NYtimes: "Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price"

it's a long article, but please read!

with all that craze over blackberryblueberryiPadiPhone4,

i guess reading an article like this serves as a timely reminder for us to keep our own lives in check.

to be honest, recently i don't find as much joy in using the net as i might have last time. so i guess it's a good thing. (:

resolutions:

cut down on the internet.

deeper reflections.

read more widely, no matter how slow a reader i am!

stories like these that can make you cry

2010-05-18T20:44:00.011+08:00

This morning as I was about to leave for work, my boyfriend danced into the kitchen singing a made up song consisting of only my name, over and over.

When he saw me, he turned red and said "Oh, you're still here".

Sneaking a peak in the daily routine of someone who really loves me GMH.

When my sister was younger she came home from school one day and demanded I take her to the library so she could get books on sign language.

I asked why? She told me there was a new kid at school who was deaf and she wanted to befriend him.

Today I stood beside her at their wedding watching her sign "I DO". GMH.

My husband has been blind since a few weeks after he was born.

Today, he pulled out our yearbook and flipped to a page and said that whoever he pointed to was the most beautiful person ever.

He pointed directly at me.

Apparently he's been practicing it with his friend for weeks. David, you GMH.

Today I was at the grocery store with my mom.

As we were pushing our cart, I heard a woman sobbing. I turned around. There stood a couple, linked arm in arm, the woman laughing so hard she was crying, and the man with two carrots stuffed up his nose, laughing as well.

They were about eighty years old. Their love GMH.

more touching love stories at LoveGivesMeHope (:

my treasure lies in heaven

2010-05-11T18:51:00.022+08:00

http://plasticastle.deviantart.com/

while cycling to changi village yesterday, we passed by a tree sprouting the most vividly striking red flowers. the sight was so beautiful it took my breath away. i silently wanted to shoot myself for not bringing a camera to capture that.

however, the ground beneath the tree was strewn with fallen and wilted petals. their reds no longer glistened in the sun, but faded into a brownish hue, lying hidden in the shadows. they slowly decomposed, and their nutrients were returned to the soil.

i guess we are like those flowers.

no matter how brilliant we are at the prime of our life,

no matter how many achievements we make,

no matter how much glory and attention we get right now,

all things from this world will eventually come to an end.

because

"All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return."

- Ecclesiastes 3:20

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

- Matthew 16:26

i thank God for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me, for us!

though when the time comes for my body to be returned to the earth,

i know there is hope for life after death for my soul. (:

it's a long, long journey

2010-05-09T23:54:00.034+08:00

ANNERI'S HOLIDAY PLANS

+ exciting things to look forward to (:

_搬家。

_visit grandma

_special sem (GV17: magic of voice in the world of a singer)

_kairos camp

_cambodia mission trip + meetings

_driving lessons + final theory test

_work

_buy a dress (for ian & mel's wedding)

_check out yong siew toh

_visit bubbletea shop aunties with tianli

_learn how to play piano chords from sel

_more practice on the DSLR (photo trips to unusual places)

_shooting with esther, chiam and trixieeeeee!

_exercise more (jog every week + other sports!)

_learn swimming from linwei (:

_cycling at ecp/ubin with group4 people, churchmates

_rollerblading at ecp with jac & keith

_badminton with bandies

_KBOX with marketing group, churchmates (ahh i wanna sing!)

_uniform day with samo soph & mary! (:

_PHO210 aka fixers outings!

_catch up with dearest jc and secondary school friends!

_PAINTBALL WITH CHOIR PEOPLE! (: (:

_"special projects"

... and many many more.

"we can meet up next week and next next week and next next next week and.. hahaha"

- a very excited sel koh

haha yeah.

we made plans to meet at least once every week to complete our holiday plans. & that's excluding choir, yf, service times on fri, sat & sun respectively.

dot: i'm surprised we're not sick of each other!

sel: aiyo why you think that way!

and thank God! aloysius is finally back with us. (:

2010-04-30T02:04:00.011+08:00

i just received news about aloysius being admitted to ICU, and about fanjun's dad passing away. i feel so emotional now. partly because i'm worried for aloy & sad for fanjun. partly because it struck me really hard that there're much more important things in life than good grades or good designs.

there i was yesterday afternoon feeling so stressed up & worried to tears about my project submission, feeling so doubtful about my future as a designer.. little did i realise then that as compared to health, family & friends, those things don't really matter that much anymore.

as what sel said, "it got me thinking like while we pray for exams and grades and things like that, i realised i rather give up all that just for my family and friends to be fine." her words spoke straight to my heart.

i don't even have the heart to continue my project now. sudden thoughts like what if my parents were to leave me just like that, or what if my close friends like sel & jac were to collapse just like that.. how would i feel? the thought of that just makes me wanna cry.

oh, the fragility of life..

but i firmly believe that God is faithful. by His grace and by His mercy, we will all overcome these together. no matter how rocky this path is, no matter how treacherous this storm is, He will lead us through. i pray that with His healing hands, He will wake aloy up, heal him and be with him. i'm sure God will listen to all our earnest prayers. & i also pray that God, our Comforter will bring comfort, peace & joy amidst the pain in fanjun's family.

in Jesus' name i pray, amen.

the shadow proves the sunshine

2010-04-27T08:56:00.012+08:00

i've always had this fascination for shadows in photography.

not only do they have this ability to emphasize emotions,

and to create intriguing forms alongside their parent objects,

i really love how they beautifully accentuate the lighted portions.

because the shadow proves the sunshine.

our dark, sinful nature just proves that there is pure love & goodness somewhere. and that pure love & goodness are in Jesus Christ, the light of the world. whom if we follow, we will not walk in darkness anymore, but walk in the light and in the right.

i will be still and know You are God

2010-04-25T23:36:00.013+08:00

轻轻听，我要轻轻听，我要侧耳听我主声音。

轻轻听，祂在轻轻听，我的牧人认得我声音。

祢是大牧者，生命的主宰，我一生只听随主声音。

祢是大牧者，生命的主宰，我的牧人认得我声音

what bliss it is to listen restfully & quietly to the voice of our Shepherd. (:

during one of our prayer sessions at Southern Cross, gareth told us to quieten down our hearts, observe our surroundings & wait for God to speak to us and place things to pray about in our hearts.

it then hit upon me how important it is for us to take a break from our hectic schedule & just listen from our hearts what God wants to tell us. just like how Mary Magdalene sat by the feet of Jesus & listened intently to His precious words.

i learned. i rested. i listened. & i really thank God for speaking to me. through sermons, through prayers, through people. (:

last but not least, thank God for the influx of msges of encouragement & concern from church friends tonight! so touched & empowered!

give thanks, with a grateful heart

2010-04-23T03:10:00.016+08:00

during tough times like these,

i really want to give thanks to the Lord for the people who've helped me along the way, may it be directly or indirectly.

thank God for jac! (: for being such a supportive roomie, whom i can comfortably laugh with & cry to. for being such an immense help in every way possible, fooling around together, listening to my never-ending list of problems, encouraging me, inspiring me, giving me advice, telling me off when i live unhealthily. (HAHA)

thank God for linwei & ahseh! (: who never fail to drop me msges of encouragement & concern for my physical & emotional well-being all these while!

thank God for sel, yeow & gareth! (: for being such great study buddies for the past 2 weeks. it's been really fun yet productive studying with them. i'm also thankful for having sel & yeow around in ntu, being my providers of joy & comfort amidst all the stress, esp. during marketing!

thank God for cherry! (: who has been an enormous help for experimental photog! might not have pulled through without her help & companionship.

thank God for azman! (: who has always been a fantastic listener & my favourite crapping/serious-talk buddy since year1. talking to him somehow just has this ability to ease some of my stress.

thank God for jiejie/chileen! (: for being so sisterly as always, and for giving me a huge slab of dark chocolate after knowing how stressed i was a few weeks back!

thank God for samo! (: who has always been there for me all these while, esp. those dinner dates in ntu amidst our busy schedules, which never fail to bring a smile to my face.

thank God for the twin! (: for all the heart-to-heart chats & for his thoughtful planning of our birthday lunch!

hello ntu!

2010-04-20T23:21:00.008+08:00

okay i'm back in ntu.

before the day ends,

just wanna say a little something to 2 important people.

(18th apr) HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOMIE BLUE-ORANGES!

(20th apr) HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAMELA LIM TOH SAMALES!

hello nus!

2010-04-20T13:19:00.005+08:00

i'm in nus now,

waiting for gareth & sel to dabao lunch.

one day if i really become a designer,

maybe i'll consider redesigning their science block.

it needs to be redesigned. seriously.

okay bye.

rain please come back

2010-04-13T13:26:00.003+08:00

listen to the rhythm of the falling rain..

pitter patter pitter patter..

God's amazing plans

2010-04-05T00:19:00.009+08:00

http://chaotic-insanity.deviantart.com/

today,

i realised i can't remember his number anymore.

thank You Lord for bringing me thus far.

a worthwhile journey it has been indeed. (:

God's amazing love

2010-04-03T20:30:00.022+08:00

i went for a prayer service this morning, to gather as a church to pray for issues on the individual, church, national & world level.

towards the end, uncle 子华 led us in a hokkien prayer for members of the church who are hospitalised or down with illness. even though i couldn't understand hokkien very well, but as he listed the names of the people in his prayer (most i presume were names of the elderly from the hokkien service), a rush of thanksgiving swept over me.

it dawned upon me how truly blessed we are to be in God's family, such that we can support and pray for one another at ALL times, even in times of sickness and grief. i'm also thankful to be worshipping in a church of our size, that we're able to pray personally for specific brothers and sisters.

isn't that something wonderful? i can almost imagine myself growing old in the future and developing all kinds of weird sickness. yet i know my brothers and sisters in Christ will definitely remember me in their prayers, providing invaluable support through prayer, even on my deathbed when i'm gasping for the last breath of air.

that's the power of fellowship! (:

that's the power of the love of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by His people! (:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

- Romans 8:38-39

once a saint, always a saint

2010-03-30T15:13:00.005+08:00

Played by our very own combined band of the St. Andrew's Village at "One Family One Flag" on 6th August 2006 at the Esplanade Concert Hall - unforgettable memories.

Our Father, by whose servants,
Our School was built of old,
Whose hand has crowned Thy children,
With blessings manifold;
For Thy unfailing mercies,
Far strewn along our way,
With all who passed before us,
We praise Thy name today.

They reaped not where they laboured,
We reap what they have sown;
Our harvest may be garnered,
By ages yet unknown.
The days of old have dowered us
With gifts beyond all praise,
Our Father make us faithful
To serve the coming days.

Before us and beside us,
Still holden by Thy hand,
A cloud of unseen witness,
Our elder comrades stand;
One family unbroken,
We join in one acclaim;
One heart, one voice uplifting
To glorify Thy name.

let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice

2010-03-24T00:41:00.004+08:00

The musical program for the 2003 marching season was entitled, “With Heart and Voice.” Based on an old Spanish hymn, David Gillingham named the piece after a line in the first verse of the hymn: “Let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice.” The voice, in this case, is the music and the heart is the emotion that the music renders in celebration. The composition was originally commissioned in 2001 as a piece for concert band.

I LOVE THIS PIECE TO PIECES!
to me, it's one of the best wind ensemble pieces ever written.
it's so intense my heart pumps really fast everytime i listen to it, sending me goosebumps all over.
to God be the glory for such splendid work!

school's crazy

2010-03-16T21:55:00.013+08:00

"without God, i think i'll really go mad."

i told that to elissa a few weeks back,

when the brutalities of life were punching me from inside-out, outside-in and all around.

and coincidentally, a few days later,

lujia laoshi shared the same feeling during the MBA class.

times like these when life is softly ripping me apart,

how blessed i am to have God and brothers & sisters by my side,

keeping me sane, peaceful, and emotionally-healthy.

dot, do not lose sight of this blessing!

and i miss linwei alot.

super mario on marimba

2010-03-11T23:46:00.002+08:00

these dudes are undeniably talented!
loved how they didn't forget their dynamics in their playing.
listening to such a cheerful and well-played tune makes me really happy!

病猫

2010-02-24T20:42:00.006+08:00

两年前从海南岛回来后，发烧了好几天。

一年前从海南岛回来后，肚子也泻了好几天。

今年从海南岛回来后，不仅再次发烧泻肚，还伤风流鼻涕。此外，还欠了好多功课的债。

我的身子真的有那么弱吗？

但感谢神，我的病已快痊愈了。神也藉着好友来安抚我恐惧的心灵，让我再次有了力量与信心。

valentine's day is coming!

2010-02-09T01:59:00.010+08:00

Able and Game offers cards and stationery that are quirky and cute rather than cliche and predictable. The cards feature hand drawn designs of weird and wonderful people that are off beat and stand out from the crowd.

HOW GEEKY-SWEET!

the captions really struck a chord in my heart.

some say the first is always the best

2010-02-04T00:10:00.013+08:00

i miss sajcband so much.

words alone can't express exactly how i'm feeling right now. it's been long since i felt such intense yearning & strong desire to relive my band days. ever since i made the decision to become part of the band 4 years back, little did i know then that the band will always be a part of me, throughout my life. no matter how mediocre my playing is, i guess deep within, i am and will always be a true sajcband member.

to me,

sajcband has always been more than just a music-making band.

it's a lifestyle.

and this lifestyle has changed my life forever.

the VIPs of my life

2010-01-27T20:55:00.007+08:00

this girl is an absolute sweetheart!

knowing that i wasn't feeling well to meet her for dinner, she was willing to come all the way to my hall just to pass me food. (:

the loveliest sister is greatly missed!

i still remember the 21st birthday promise we made 2 years back.

now the time has finally come. (:

high on geometry & symmetry

2010-01-27T03:39:00.014+08:00

ladies and gentlemen,

allow me to introduce the works of SAMANTHA TIO.

my newfound inspiration!

okay maybe not exactly "newfound",

as i've seen her works before in SAM last year.

but it's only recently when i really got blown away by her photos.

they're gorgeous!

how on earth did she do that without photoshop!?

time to find out more about multiple exposures.

more works from the series!

yum yum

2010-01-21T22:18:00.004+08:00

the vanishing point

2010-01-20T22:17:00.015+08:00

excellent lighting!

are you drawn into the images as well? (:

i love how they become more than just a photo,

but form geometric patterns that create a gripping sense of rhythm.

more works can be found on abduzeedo.

this semester

2010-01-14T01:58:00.024+08:00

VIS260 graphic design II

VIS250 typography II

ADM215 asian art history II

PHO280 experimental photography**

MB103 principles of marketing

BS103 science or fiction? biology in popular media

taking MB103 with sel & yeow

- excitement is an understatement! (:

i seem more drawn towards photography studio electives than viscomm ones.

i miss my photo imaging class!

the darkroom will always remain the most special place in adm to me.

indescribable love, tucked away in a corner of my heart.

i ~~love~~ like biology. (:

**edited 20jan: I GOT IT I GOT IT! PRAISE THE LORD!

yiheng's an inspiration

2010-01-11T01:40:00.009+08:00

i recently chanced upon a church friend's blog.

and boy, his photographs really blew my mind!

i mean, we always knew he's a photo-enthusiast.

but i had no idea he was that brilliant. (:

reading his blog has nestled this deep desire in me to explore more, travel more & shoot more!

but first, i must save up to get myself a decent DSLR,

so that i don't have to continuously borrow from my dad.

i created an online portfolio few weeks back.

though it's incomplete & there're many missing works i want to post,

but do please visit! (:

(shall post those missing works when i'm less lazy)

bread for the journey

2010-01-06T23:31:00.031+08:00

"A gentle person treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force.

Let's dress ourselves with gentleness. In our tough and often unbending world, our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us."

"love actually is all around"

2010-01-05T01:47:00.020+08:00

source: http://volond.deviantart.com/

ahhh my heart's gonna explode with joy!

i'm so happy for uncle & miss wong! (: (: (:

and for esther & cedric!

i'm truly happy for my friends.

& i guess part of this happiness comes from knowing the journey & process they've been through all these while.

with ian & mel getting engaged recently,

& the holy matrimony of enghong & jianmin weeks back

what a beautiful christmas season it has been. (:

white mouse shall always remain my favourite mouse

2009-12-30T22:02:00.005+08:00

I LOVE YOU DUG! <3

2009-12-29T22:45:00.005+08:00

"I was hiding under your porch because I love you."