goodbye!

hello dear pk-chern,

we've become fast and firm friends for a long time. since february 2004! i know i started out really silly, like most typical secondary school kids. i used to tYpE LiKe tHizzsx and in all sorts of colours. i used to make faces. i look back, a little embarrassed, but knowing that i have (hopefully) matured in my writing. i still use faces, and i still type silly hahahahas and other lingo, but it's different now. :) i shall revisit you whenever i think of you, and i'll let my children take a sneak peek into their mother's life as a growing up kid/teen and let them have a good laugh and just see how God has taught and led me this far.

thank you so much for being here!

love,

char

note to readers: i've moved! find me here. :)

Hello 2011!

Before the clock strikes 12 and ends the first day of my 2011, I'll like to just jot down some.

2010 has been a rather trying one for me, spiritually i guess. It might have been a tad bit too smooth-sailing, not as eventful as the previous one, which probably led to my eyes being turned to other things alot of the time (distracted) instead of the cross and also, less time on my knees. It's a year i think i have some regrets, somethings i wish i never did, some people i wish i held on to more, some things i wish i said/or didn't say but still thank God for each experience this year which has taught and humbled me. I used to look at others and think how foolish of them to even do such and such, or just roll my eyes but I now understand what it means to "take heed lest you fall", and now I think I'm slowly learning not to judge others. We are all indeed sinners saved by grace, and not our own merit. This year I think i've come nearest to knowing my real state the most, and my need for God. I think I've been sheltered for so long, and so it has always been easier...this christian life. But now i know!

So i thank God. For sustaining me, for not letting me out of His hands, for conviction, for His Word, for the Holy Spirit, for His mercies that are new every morning, and His faithfulness. God is good, always!

There's so much to thank God for! I'm humbled just thinking of all that my Heavenly Father has done. I'm thankful for the experiences of answered prayer, for His ministry of saving souls, for family, friends. For my education. For the church, and its ministries. :) My initial plan was to make a list of a hundred things i want to thank God for in the year 2010, but looks like that's got to wait!

For this year, I pray that God will keep my heart, my mind, to keep my feet firm and steadfast. To give me more love for others and not for self, to learn how to be an encouragement and blessing to those around me that people will see Christ in me. I want to be more generous, more giving. To listen more, and talk less. To know Christ, like I've never known Him before. :)

I'm apprehensive for the new year ahead, but looking forward to it as well! :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :)

the last day of 2010

Big Youth Event of the Year:

Race to the End of the Year

It's been awhile since i last chionged with the youths, but it was great fun...travelling from place to place with the youths in my group! :) Thank God for a time of bonding, of good christian fun, and also good weather and safety! What a good way to spend the last day of my year. Here are some photos of what we did and the places we went!

Here's a photo of us on the way back to Tat Wan from T2. :) Tired but happy people.. and very late. :P But still, we came in second!

Because we didn't really have a watch-night service this year, my family invited some friends over and there was just so much food (the youths missed out on this), and we had a short time of singing, a short message, and some sharing. :) It's always a blessing to hear the thanksgiving of fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord! Heartwarming! It made me think also, and remember God's goodness in my life the past year. :)

Then we played a game-Guesstures! It's something like charades. :) It's always nice to be able to play games with both the young and the well, not so young! ;) It's cute to see the older ones act, heh!

Say hello to a happy bunch! I thank God for the friends He has blessed me with! ;)

retrack: 2 days before new year!

Meet Up with Ifah

I finally met up with one of my favorite pals in NIE. :) I owed her a birthday present and i had promised myself to get her something, and i just wanted to get her something. But what do you get for a girl who just got a macbook air for her birthday hehheh? :P so we settled for a meal! the initial plan was high tea at Carousel, but then we didn't manage to make reservations so we decided to stick to iffy's craving for chocolate and we went to Max Brenner's for some chocolate indulgence. :)

say hello to the iffy girl! :)

her craving: chocolate souffle.

our verdict: super yummy warm oozy chocolate. :)

my order: tutti fruitti waffle (general slices of caramelized banana, strawberries and blueberries, and a scoop of vanilla icecream to go along!)

verdict: fresh yummy fruits that goes well with the supper yummy (and made-just-right) waffle and oooh the chocolate! :)

happy girls :)

Last Meetup with Jas & CK for 2010

In CK's words, it was world's angsty day! When i met them, someone was being angsty, but i guess we were all forgiven since we each took turns. :P Well, we went to Quality Hotel and had a decent porridge buffet. :)

and as usual... we caught up. :) Afterwhich they came over to my place and we wii-ed for abit (which i lost every game which got me semi-annoyed cos i was feeling so tired. such a spoilt sport i know!)

oh, and then it was new year's eve!

back for abit :)

Hello! I'm back, done with the unpacking and showered. I should just live out of my luggage since I'll have to pack it in a couple of days time when I head to Vietnam with my family. :)

I'm thankful for this short getaway with family and family friends. It's not quite our usual VERY relaxed kind of 'Bintan' getaway, but still, it was a time of rest, of play, of shopping, of fellowshipping (i know my sister's photo on FB may lead you to think otherwise). Time off from all the hurrying. For once, i'm glad to say that it actually felt good to be cut-off from the cyber world, and not being able to reply texts. Makes me realise how quiet it can really get...something i'm still learning to appreciate.

For this trip, i dug out one of those books i read a couple of years back--The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer. I'm only done with the first chapter, but I think there's so much I can reread in that chapter again. It's been a thoughtful and reflective read.

I think, i'm getting back on the track, slowly. It's a daily thing, I know. In someone's words, time to get out of this rut i once thought impossible to get out of (after awhile of spiritual lethargy), but I know by God's grace, I'll be back, renewed.

Pray for me :)

p.s. ahhhh i've only got 2 more days left till a new year!

hello! will be off to malaysia for a couple of days with the family and the wangs. :) yearly year-end family retreat, sorta. time to reflect and look back at my year, and to plan ahead for the year ahead.

tata, for a bit! :)

retrack: the week before christmas

Monday 20.12.10

After watching the advertisement on tv, i wanted to go check it out! So it was a date with Mong (i haven't met this girly for ever so long) and the good old jas! Well, it was pretty cool but kind of easy... the real job would be way harder! Anyhows, I had fun! Looking forward to Har Paw Villa outing (i know, who even goes there right!).

Tuesday 21.12.2010

Rest Day

Wednesday 22.12.10

I was such a kiasu i amazed myself even! :) So i was up half an hour before the course registration for next semester's modules started and thank God i managed to get what i want. :) I hope i made the right choices though! Systematic Functional Grammar and Critical Discourse Analysis, here i come!

Later in the afternoon, I went over to the Kwans' to do some baking with the girls--Sis Dency, Leah and Jie'r. :) It was nice hanging out with these girls and perhaps this would become a yearly tradition...who knows?

the finished products

Oh, now that i think about it, i didn't do the actual baking though! :P i did the sprinkling of those colourful sprinkles!

Thursday 23.12.10

Went over to visit Sis Angelyn and Elizabeth in the afternoon with Jas and CK! I didn't take any photos though. We got Elizabeth some cute crocs that she would only be able to wear a couple of years later. ah wells! I think Eliz has gotten very cute and very smart. it's a joy just simply watching her. and no fair... by the end of the visit, i think Jas was the only one who won her over.

Fondue-y Christmas with the youths later in the evening! Lots of food and lots of fun!

photo credits: pastor CH

thank God for this ministry! can't wait for what God has in store for these youths! :)

Friday 24.12.10

Lunchers with the two buddies Jems and Sandra. :) Catch-up sessions that will leave you waiting for the next one!

Caroling and spreading the joy of Christmas!

photo credit: chern

Saturday 25.12.10

Baptisms are always happy occasions and i really enjoy listening to the testimonies of others. Never fails to encourage and bless the heart! So the baptismal candidates were Bro Boon Kim, Markus, and Dorcas. :)

Then we had a christmas gathering over at Bro Min Liang's house.

Alright, i've to leave early tomorrow morning so i'm going to catch some zeees. which explains the semi-slipshod post! but i just had to jot stuff down or else there will be a major backlog!

Have a great week ahead. :)

blessed christmas...a day late! :)

I had a simple yet lovely christmas! did you? :)

i hope you took time to reflect and think about the true essence of christmas! :)

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. "

Isaiah 9:6

BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

:)

Had mine done since i saw people getting theirs done and i must say that it is quite an accurate depiction of what my life revolves around. :) I'm glad that it's really family and some of the people i love so much (of cos if you don't find ur name inside, it doesn't mean anything okay!).

okay goodnight!

what should i take for english next sem?

Christmas--It is Enough!

It's been a whirlwind of activities, or at least i feel so. But i guess it's in a good way so that's not me complaining! Since the exams ended, i've been busy with cantata practices nearly every night and then yesterday was it!

GBM's First Presentation--Christmas, It is Enough!

GBM's Colorful Choir

The Herbsters who were such great blessings during these couple of weeks they were here! (Baby Morgan's not in the picture)

Here's me and David Ong (Our Music Director) in one of our scenes. I thank God for His faithfulness and zeal especially in the music ministry! Plus it's fun to act alongside him.

Photos credits to Linda Soh (via FB!)

It was our first and i'm thankful and very much humbled that such a great God would allow it that i got to serve in this presentation. I'm very thankful also for the ministry of the Herbsters, their steadfastness and faithfulness has been a real blessing and encouragement through this time, and truly, Christ has been reflected through them. Their examples hit closer to home probably because it almost seems like we've kind of been through some of the same stuff--what with Bro Mark & Mike Herbster being PKs as well. :) And they are 'real'. I don't know how to explain that but i hope that maybe 10 years down the road when i reread this post, i'll look back and remember that these are real examples that i can follow. Anyways, back to the presentation! It was a great opportunity to see once again the church mobilized and how the body of Christ is supposed to work--everyone working together in their areas and serving with one purpose and one goal. Times like this never fail to bring everyone closer together. I'm thankful also that Jasmine & CK (two of my dearest friends) could make it to the presentation too. :) And also, i'm thankful and confident that the seed of the gospel has been sown in every unbeliever's hearts and we'll let God work from here! I'm thankful also for the decision(s) that were made. :) Praise God for His working! It was an exciting time.

It's been nice being back to service. It gives me more time to think, and it provides an avenue for good christian fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord. It somehow makes the christian life easier in a way.

I'm looking forward to this week! Can't believe Christmas is just around the corner. :) Need to get down to reading and rereading the Christmas story from the Bible. It's always a nice time to remember the birth of Christ--God's greatest gift to humankind.