Living out Faith

We want to shout a loud thanks to all our friends who are so supportive in our adoption journey. We've handed in our papers and the adoption department called to let us know that a couple more supporting documents are needed which we'll hand in as soon as we get a letter from them. At this point of time, we're going into the adoption issue with an open mind. If God deems that He wants to adopt a child, it'll happen. But if He thinks that it's not His will then, we'll trust Him. I have to say that after submitting the forms, I did feel great! There's a couple of friends that we really want to thank. I want to thank Stanley for agreeing readily to being our referee. I've been friends with Stanley for probably 25 years or more. He's my best male friend. Thanks Stan! Thanks for your prayers as well. Would have loved to include my 2 other best friends but...we wouldn't. Couldn't use Monster because, she's family and Eve, I know that she's ...

Enjoy the pics. Not very many though. Lombok is a nice place. But a little too quiet for us though. 2 nights and 3 days were just enough for us. Anymore, we might kill each other!

Had a great time in Lombok. A good time to get away from people, no phones ringing, no emails to check and simply....no one to bother us! Peace....blissful peace. We hardly ever get it these days. Got back to Spore late on Sat night. Went to church yesterday. This trip, I didn't bother to let many people know that we're back. I guess, primarily, too little time to meet everyone that I want to meet. Sharon didn't know I was back and she texted me to wish me Happy Easter and I texted her to tell her that I'm actually in town. Caught up with her for a short time. Went to her place to watch her wedding video. It was really nice to see her glowing in wedded bliss. So happy that she found her man. And for the first time, Sharon was in the driver's seat instead of me. And she did a great job! Met Amy today for lunch. It's always nice to see Amy. We've always this keep in touch and lost touch kinda friendship. Honestly, think it's more of me than Amy. I'm al...

Finally, all the papers have been lodged into the Social and Welfare Department of Hong Kong for the processing of our adoption. We're very excited of what's going to happen next. But I'm not going to be overtly excited about it because we're going to live it in God's hands. If He thinks that we're suited to be parents to a child that need a family, we'll be glad to be the chosen ones. But if He thinks that we are not suited or that its not time yet, that's fine by us too. Ultimately, God is in charged of everything and He has the world in His hands! In His time, in His time, He makes all thing beautiful in His time. Lord, my life to You I bring, May each song I have to sing, Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time. In Your time, in Your time, You make all thing beautiful in Your time. Lord, my life to You I bring, May each song I have to sing, Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time. When I left the building after dropping off the forms, this song rang ...

We had another busy weekend. Babe's 2 aunties and cousin came to HK for a visit. We spent the weekend with them. It's always nice to have family around. But this time, I was a little apprehensive. They are Babe's family and I was afraid that with such a small living area, friction might arise. But no, it was nice because I got to know May, his cousin a little better and his aunties too. I was also worried that Happy might drive them mad but they loved Happy! On Saturday, we spent some time with Babe's family and then we went to Susan's surprise party. This week was also filled with choices. I had to choose between Susan's surprise birthday party and Colleen's party. But hate to say, Susan's party won over because Eric (Susan's partner) impressed me with his efforts in planning for the nice surprise. Colleen, sorry, girl, will meet you soon and buy you a nice lunch or dinner. Susan is a great person. She loves dogs very much....more than me! We had a ...

My monster was my first best friend. She's part of my family. Well, she's my cousin. We obviously met when we were babies. Love her to bits! So why am I blogging about her today? Well, for some strange reason, I dreamt about her 2 nights in a row. I guess it must be my sub conscious telling me that I miss her, I've not been keeping touch with her and haven't seen her enough. When I was a kid, she was my confidante. She was the person I leaned on her when I was growing up. She is probably the one person that really truly understands me and know my childhood and know why am I the way I am. She accepts the fact that I am me because of the child and teen hood that I've been through. She accepts me for me without judgement. She loves me without having me to change. She is one person that if I call her now and tell her that my life is crumbling, she'll know what to say and know what to do. For this, I love her. I guess, having a somewhat similar and yet different chil...

Some of my family and friends in Singapore have asked if the flu situation is really bad in Hong Kong. Apparently the media in Singapore has probably blew it out of proportion. Nothing to be alarmed about. Kindergartens and primary schools are closed for 2 weeks but it's no big deal. The Education Department and Health Department decided to close the schools 2 or 3 days earlier for Easter holidays as the kids were catching the flu bug. There are about 3 kids that have died from flu like symptoms. The school that I work in, I don't think there are kids that are sick. The government is just taking precautions just in class the flu epidemic gets worse. Other than that, not a big deal. Life is going on as per norm. I'm praying that it's just a case of flu and that's it!

I've been back to reading again. It started with CNY hols in Singapore that I sat in the sun to read and started reading and getting into the book that I didn't realised that I was getting sunburnt! I was reading Kite Runner and after reading it, I just had to get Khaled Hosseini's other book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Both books touched me deeply and I started to ponder and wonder about human nature. To me, these two books in a way was similar to William Golding's Lord of the Flies. It goes to show true human nature in times of adversity. With Kite Runner, the main character betrayed his best friend in times of adversity but when he wanted to repay, it was hard. He had to pay back for his sins. I wonder, how many would gladly give up their best friend in times of shit? But it was sad that his best friend in protecting him, had to endure several punishments later from his tormenter and even his son was not spared. It really broke my heart reading how humans can stoop th...

I stole this from Gwyneth's Blog and thought....hmmmm....very apt. Things sometimes happen and we move along. psalm 119:71 earthly friends may prove untrue doubts and fears assail One still loves and cares for you One who will not fail... Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails heaven and earth may pass away but Jesus never fails. earthly friends may prove untrue...but One still loves and cares for me...and Jesus never fails. Thanks Gwyneth for the timely reminder!

I started thinking about the life that I left behind in Singapore when an ex-student and her mum wrote me an email. Then last week, I started to think more about it when ex-colleague told me that she had enough and she's really going to leave MOE. I started to think more about what I left behind. When Joy and her mum wrote to me, I felt very touched. Duane's mum still keeps in contact with me. Some of my older ex-students still send me emails and get in touch with me through Facebook too. I miss them quite a bit. I guess, I do miss Joy and the last batch of kids that I taught before I left WDP. Every year, I tell myself, that this is the best kids that I've taught. But honestly, the last batch of kids were truly the best kids that I've taught. Even when I went to WDP over CNY hols, some of them still remembered me and they came running towards me. I really felt touched and I really miss them heaps! I miss some of my ex-colleagues too. But reality, I miss my students mor...

I've been home alone these couple of days with Happy. I'm getting used to these periods of home alone and being a single mum to Happy at times. Babe is getting busy and he's been on work trips more frequently. He's going to be travelling a lot more in the next couple of months. Well, to a certain extent, I'm glad as I've got time to myself and I get to see and spend time with some friends. But at the same time, as I'll be starting classes this week, every Wednesday and Friday, I guess, I'll be spending a lot lesser time with Babe. To be honest, I enjoy the time when Babe is away on work trips as it gives me a chance to miss him and allows me to realise how nice it is to have him around. It is these trips that makes me glad and excited to see him again when he heads home. I guess the saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder, is pretty much true for me. Babe is going to be home tomorrow and in about 2 weeks, he'll be travelling again. It was sweet o...

As the title of the post suggests, I think, I'm finally getting settled into HK. That dawned upon me yesterday when I was at the school Sports' Day. I had to do discipline duty with a colleague that I've never worked together before and we had a great time chatting. The kids chatted with me and I actually had fun! After sports' day, I had lunch with my colleagues and it was a nice time talking and getting to know the rest of them. After lunch, had a rest and then went to Paula's place foe dinner. It was a nice cosy get together. On the way back from dinner, I met a kid from school and his mother. We had a good time chatting. While walking home, I was thinking and I realised that, yes, I've finally settled in. I no longer feel at lost with my colleagues, especially with those that I don't work with. Parents actually bother to chat with me. And I do have some friends here as well. Life is pretty much settled to a certain extent. This morning at church, I truly...

I'd rather be in the sunny island of Redang Than to be in the cold and cloudy island of Ma Wan. I'd rather be lying on the beach Than to be sitting at my desk. I'd rather be swimming with the fish and corals Than to be marking and preparing work. I'd rather be at a nice beach resort drinking coconut juice Than to be drinking water at work. I'd rather be on a vacation Than to be at work! Yes, I know....not a very good poem. But I'd really rather be at a beach now! Think the cold, damp, cloudy and sad weather may be affecting me finally! But I'll be there soon...Counting down!

I know that this is only February and I need to re-align my life. A tad early, huh? But I rather it early than late. Was at church yesterday and Pastor mentioned that as a Christian, are we living and leading a life that others are able to differentiate us from the rest of the world? That hit me. I haven't. I haven't been the Christian that has been shinning and showing Christ's love. I've been to preoccupied with myself to lead a life that's glorifying to Him. I've dissed friends for things that I'd rather do. I've not been doing my quiet time on a regular basis and basically, I've been just sliding. Maybe that's why I've been feeling lethargic and just not as what I should have been feeling. So, I've got to re-align my life and focus to lead a life that's glorifying to God and not glorifying to me. Time to refocus and reflect. Sometimes I need a break. I really need a break. I just want to lie on the beach, enjoy the sun, sand, grab...

I'm sorry if my last post has hurt some friends. I admit that I have been insensitive while writing my thoughts. Apologies.

So after writing my thoughts on my blog on Wednesday, I had a couple of friends that kinda misunderstood my thoughts. Well, this is pretty usual as my thoughts are sometimes incoherent and well, maybe when I wrote my thoughts, things might have been written wrongly. I had a friend that emailed me to ask if things were fine. A friend asked if I was mad with her and another friend, well, someone that I hadn't seen like maybe 5 years or so, popped me a message through Facebook and we had a good discussion about a Christian's point of view of marriage. He brought me back to the bible and I had to stop, ponder and reflect what are my beliefs and principles in marriage. Days spent of Youth Fellowship and Sunday School started coming back. The theories that I've learnt came rushing through my tiny brain. Ai ya....too much at a go. But I thought, maybe this is might be God talking to me and making me re-evaluate my thoughts. Like once, attending classes for counseling, I asked my l...

Recently, things have been happening to some close friends of mine that set me thinking about my life and my principles in life. A close friend of mine has been working for an organization for a long time and over the last few months, she has been feeling really down. Really depressed at times and it's affecting her sanity. She told me that the final straw hit her when she started crying and muttering to herself asking herself over and over again, 'Why?'. That's when she realize that in order to save her sanity, she has to resign and be selfish and leave the organization. I have another friend who is working in the same organization and despite the fact that she realizes that she's stressed and getting depressed and seeing a shrink, she is still working for the organization and getting nice bonus but at the same time losing her sanity. I wonder if it's worth it. Yes, she's selfless to the organization but she's losing her marbles slowly. Well, this was t...

Over time I've begin to realize that my biggest enemy is actually myself. Yup, you read that right. It's myself, me and I. No one else. Well, to be honest, I've realized this a long time ago but I was just in denial. Last night, it hit me again, that I am my greatest enemy. Sad, huh? One of my biggest flaw which is also one of my greatest strength, is my strong will. Well, to be negative, it's called stubborn. To be positive, it's called strong will. For those who know me very well, I want my way all the time and thus making me very stubborn. When I set my mind to it, it pisses me off that I don't get what I want. It's even more apparent when I am with my family. Take for instance, having dinner. When I know what or where I want to have dinner and I don't get what I want, I get real pissed, like freaking pissed! Don't ask me why, but I get pissed. And when I want to do something or get something and I don't get what I set out to get and someone o...

It has been freezing from last week and the freezing weather is probably going to continue for another week. Guess, probably till we fly back to Singapore for Chinese New Year. Last Friday, we had a school picnic. The whole school went to some picnic ground in Fan Ling, somewhere near to the border of China. Boy, was it freezing and on top of that, it rained as well. It was really cold and for the first time, I missed Spore's weather. Saturday came and we caught up with Stanley briefly in Tung Chung. Well, he was really cold too. Let's just say that the weather was so cold to the point that on Monday, we had enough of sleeping in cold that we went out to get an electric blanket. Finally, a warm and nice bed. Normally, I love winter. But I've realised that in HK, winter is not the same. When I was living in Gold Coast, Perth and Sydney, winter was cold but there was the sun as well. I could see the bright sunny sun and nice clear blue skies. But in HK, it's just not the ...

This is just the third week of January and already I've received news of the passing of two persons that I knew in Singapore. Wonder if there are more deaths to come this year. Yes, I'm getting a little morbid again. Well, last week, mum told me that an acquaintance that I knew from church passed on. She's actually the mother of Joanne and Joe's good friends, Jon Nair's mother. Joanne and Joe hang out with Jon and Selena quite a bit and of course Joanne and Joe spent time with the family. Apparently she passed on suddenly. It was pretty sudden that Jon and Selena had to fly back from the UK to attend to the mum's funeral. Yesterday, on msn, Babe told me that mum called in the morning to tell him that Uncle David passed on. Babe told me and for the moment I was kinda stunned. Uncle David was dad's cousin and was the son of our favourite granduncle. He was quite close to us. It was just six years ago that I attended the funeral of his older brother. Feel sad f...