Pictures from Bali

So.....Blogspot decides that it's going to behave today and I can upload pictures. Enjoy the pictures from Bali.
The beach at Bali. Honestly, I think Redang's beach is prettier and nicer. Lots more nice white sand. And probably a lot cleaner too.
Beach at night
Me after dinner.
My sexy Babe studying my trash magazines intently.
Me relaxing at the pool.
Our favourite haunt in Bali.
Babe looking handsome and relaxed.
The kecek dance. I was telling Babe that I really wanted to watch the show and it so happened that on our last night in Bali, while having dinner, there was this dance. Enjoyed watching something cultural.

Summer Hols So Far

Been trying to blog for a while but can't seem to figure out what's with blogspot. Can't seem to be able to find the icon to upload pics. Well, I know that I'm pretty dumb with technology but this time, really can't figure out. Can't upload pics of Jo Claire and pics from Bali. Anyway, go have a look at facebook to see the pics.

Summer holidays so far has been good. Was with cousin's family when we first came back for vigil services and funeral. Am very thankful that my uncle and aunty gave my cousin a Christian funeral without any objections. Am glad to see youths from GBPC and members coming to the vigil service to encourage the family. I was very encouraged myself.

We were off to Bali last week. It was a trip that we had some reservations. On 17th of July, the Friday before we left for Bali, Jakarta had 2 bomb blasts. Of course we were concern. But I refuse to give in to the terrorists. I refused to be cowered into fear by them. Plus, or rather importantly, my God is greater than any of these terrorists! I strongly believe that God is in control of everything and that He knows when our time is up and He'll take care of us. But having said that, we would not purposefully walk into danger. We had a nice and relaxing time at the resort in Bali. Nothing to complain about. Really peaceful. Babe is getting used to the idea of heading to a beach resort once a year just to chill out and wind down and relax. No work calls and no emails, just the both of us. Had a really good time.

Going Home

We arrived in Singapore at about 10ish last night. Got home and was unpacking when mum called. She was with my cousin. She asked if we could come and she my cousin. Apparently they suspected that it was going to be her last night. We arrived at her home close to midnight. Sat with her and prayed for her. We left so that my uncle and aunty could spend time with their daughter. Came home and true enough, my came knocking on my room door to say that cousin has went home with the Lord.

Glad we made it home to see her. Glad she went home with the Lord and someday, we'll see each other in heaven.

An Update for Miracles Can Happen

Cousin received Christ and was baptised this afternoon! Woohooo!!!! Praise the Lord! After typing the last post, mum texted while I was speaking to Joanne. I was rather surprised at what I read. Called mum to reconfirm what she texted. Well, she told me that she brought Pastor to see my cousin and they talked and she was willing to receive Christ and she wanted to be baptised too. And it was Pastor's first visit too. I'm just so awed by God and what He can do. Prayers answered!

Miracles Can Happen

"Miracles can happen to those who love the Lord! Blessed are they that believe in Him, His kingdom shall be yours!"

I love this song. It's from Sandi Patti's Friendship Company. Actually, I love that album very much. Basically, it has all my favourite Christian kid's music. This week and last, this song became rather real to me. Miracles do happen but sometimes, I'm just too engrossed in my life to realise that God is performing miracles in my life. But this time, He showed me the two miracles that He has performed and am very thankful that God opened my eyes to see them.

With the first miracle, I'm surprised at how God works. I'm not going to question why or how He did it but rather relish in the thought that He works. About four weeks ago, mum texted to say that my cousin has days to live. She has terminal cancer. This Thursday, would be four weeks since the text. She has completed her chemotheraphy and she had her last radiotherapy and she would have been discharged from the hospital today. From days to live, she's surviving through four weeks. I don't know what's God's plan is but my humble prayer is for her family and the rest of my extended family to come to Christ through this ordeal.

The next miracle, I actually didn't expect this. I've been praying for Babe to be more Christianly and to seek God's plan in all that he do. Last week, Babe told me that he realised that he didn't obey and follow God's will over an issue. Not going to write about it. But I am glad that even though when Babe made that decision more than a month ago, it broke my heart and I prayed really hard for God to work in Babe and He did. God worked, even though, it's more than a month late, and the decision was already made, but I strongly believe that God has a plan for Babe to disobey and for Babe to realise his mistake. Whatever the reason is and the consequences that's going to follow, I rejoice in the fact that Babe has developed a stronger faith and he's learning to listen to God more than listening to his wants. It was a lesson to me too to see God working slowly but surely in Babe's live. Going forward, our prayer is for us to obey God's will regardless of what others think of us. As Babe said, we should fear God and obey Him more than anyone or anything else.

Weekend - Home with the Dogs

Love this pic! Happy looks so adorable! She was chilling and suntanning in the balcony and when she saw me with the camera, she started running towards me. Caught her just at the right time!

Happy with her friend, Min Min. Don't worry, we didn't get another dog. We're dog sitting while her parents while were on a holiday.
The buddies hanging out at Happy's favourite spot.
Happy and Min Min playing catch and stopped in time to kiss!

We spent our weekend with the dogs. Both of them had a good time having fun and hanging out with each other. Initially, I was worried leaving both of them at home. Worried that Happy might turn into a bully and bully Min Min. But they were fine. Playing with each other all the time.

Was at church this evening. Each Sunday, I'm glad that I'm at church and I always leave feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Always remembering that God will remember His promises and that He's always in control regardless of the situations that we're in.

Counting down to touching the soils of Singapore soon. Just 2 more sleeps. Can't wait! Been out shopping way too much. Been on the lookout for clothes for JC. Yes, I admit that I've to stop shopping for JC. Think she might have enough clothes to last till she's 3 or 4 years old!

Struggles

Every day I'm faced with struggles from the time I wake up to the time I hit the sack. In the morning, I struggle with getting out of bed in time. As Babe calls me 'Five Minute Min'. I'm very good with five more minutes. Then the struggle with what clothes to wear, breakfast to eat and the list goes on. Well, some might call this decisions but I call some of my decisions, struggles.

I struggle lots to go to the gym, eat good and wholesome food, no snacks and guess the biggest struggle is to do my quiet time, oh, it's not that, is to live a Christianly life. Guess that's my biggest struggle. There are situations that I'm faced with and this thought always come to my mind, what would Jesus do. And it's a struggle. I want to do right by God's standard and at the same time, I want to have my say and revenge but that's not what God says.

Last week's sermon came very apt to my thoughts this week. Pastor Brett said that as a Christian there's a fine balance between love and righteousness. When one turns very righteous, love dips, and well, becomes judgmental and self-righteous (my words, not Pastor Brett's). But when love takes over, righteousness dips and discipline takes a backseat. It's hard to do the right thing all the time. Yes, I agree. When I look back at my life, my parents have done a relatively good job in having a balance between love and righteousness. They tried their best to raise us with love and discipline.

Substiutional sacrifice is an example of struggle that I go through at times. Actually quite often. There are times that I would love to hang out late with my friends and live Babe at home. But when I think about it, I'm sacrificing my time with Babe with my friends and how much can I sacrifice Babe? It's not fair for him. And it's the same with my family. It's especially hard each time I head back to Spore. Most of the time that I head back, I'm back for less than 2 weeks. In that 2 weeks, I would have to squeeze time for my family, WK's family and my friends. Naturally friends take a backseat, they are sacrificed for family. And over the 3 years, I've learnt to prioritize friends. This sounds harsh but the reality is that I used to struggle over who I can meet and how do I divide my time. But as time went by, I've come to realize that if friends really want to take time to meet me, they would make time for me and not me trying to make time for them. So it ends up a handful that I really catch up each time. Well, this summer, thank God, I'll have more time in Spore and maybe I'll catch up with more friends. But reality, I would really like to spend more time with Jo Claire!

Enough of my mindless blabberings.....Well, tomorrow, one struggle less, I can sleep in!!! Woohoo!!! Summer hols are officially here for me!

Summer Plans

All thanks to H1N1, my summer hols will start earlier than normal. Last day of work will be 7th July. Woohoo!!!! But I can't leave the country till the evening of 13th. Doesn't really bother me anyway. Anyway, we've finally booked our tickets and gotten our holiday plans worked out.

We're flying out on the 14th of July to Singapore. Would have flown out on the 13th but because we're dog sitting so we can only fly out on the 14th. We'll be in Spore close to a week and then on the 20th, we'll be off to Bali. All thanks to Krisflyer! Will be back in Spore on the 24th again and will be there till 14th of Aug. We were going to go to Phuket but Bali won at the end. H1N1 and political situation made us choose Bali over Phuket. But then again, we'll never know. Hopefully we won't be stricken down with H1N1.


Really looking forward to spending time with family and especially JC. At the same time, I'm a little apprehensive of spending so much time in Spore. It's been a long time since we've spent so much time in Spore at a go. Normally we spend about 2 weeks there but this time it's going to be 3 weeks. Just hope that I don't drive my parents crazy by spending so much time at their place. They might start charging me rent soon!