The place to be

Thank you Lord for this new place, I still am in love with it.
The Lord knew it way before me that this last three months of my studies would be the peak of my workload. Never ending assignments and presentations. I couldn't have imagine how life would have been if I had remain in my old place. I would have been overwhelmed. Heh.
It's a strange thing here that even with my little sleep I do not feel lethargic. Maybe it's the air-con;) I could focus more with my work. I've come to conclusion that the environment you live in affects a large part of you. If given a choice I would love to stay in a condo all my life, unless i've a house with swimming pool haha.. going down for a swim after cooking is heavenly:)
The aunty invited me to her house for dinner just now. She prepared 8 dishes just for the 9 of us. She served us so well it feels as though I was in a restaurant. We had scallop, beef, chicken, tofu, broccoli, noodles...followed by jelly, layer cake & haagen dazs ice cream:)
It feels like home coming together with her church friends and relatives. It's a nice feeling to hear prayer said before a meal with everyone seated. It's nice walking home with the cold breeze. I met a Sec 2 girl and found out she actually went for Zone concert thru a friend friend=) Aunty even invited the two other girls there and me to phuket one day and she'll pay for the stay in Marriot =D
She then mentioned about her going to thailand recently to reach out to the four groups of people : orphans, prostitutes, AIDS children and disabled. One of the project they did was to buy over a land for the prostitute to stay. They were actually bought out of it to stay there and earn a living. And she would teach them to cook. Was asking her if I could join her one day to which she replied, "Have you stayed in a slum before?'...hmmm...:)
She's been following me to church too and each time I go out with her she feeds me well. Heh. Last week she saw the announcement for the mid-autumn service and asked if i'm interested. My hope for her is that she'll taste and experience the love of God in a deeper way.
Thank you Lord once again. I wouldn't be where I am today meeting the right people at the right place if it hasn't been for you.

interest influence inspired

Lately, I started to explore at cooking my own meal. The initial reason that made me to take this up was simply because I have no access to a nearby hawker stall. Restaurants are like everywhere. And since I get the privilege to cook now, and it's always something I had wanted to do...why not I thought:)
It turned out to be better than I thought. Lots to learn, or rather something new I could start with.
I learned that when I steam my drumstick chicken, I have to make a few slits in order for it to cook well. It happened twice when I was about to eat the inside that I realised blood was spilling out haha...of course I end up asking and sharing with my colleagues and mum and both told me the same thing. It's simple but yet we take it for granted the little things our mum do when she was in kitchen. There's always something to learn even from the simplest. And self cook food somehow just taste better:)
There was a time I happened to bum into joan's aunty at the cold storage and she told me the place to buy cheaper stuff. I was there today and an aunty told me the orange was really cheap. And I was just thinking of buying them:) I asked her then, how can you know if a orange is sweet. I seem to end up buying the sour ones and I really dislike it. And she gave me a lecture of it. haha. Sweet orange = moist skin, smooth skin, heavy and the color. Well she really did a good job in choosing for me. It's been so long since I tasted a sweet orange.
I dared myself to cut my fringe yesterday. Was kind of inspired by my colleague and just wanted to look fresh with a new hair cut. I sat in the salon in disbelief when a large part of me was chopped off. I wasn't use to the look. My lao shi hasn't gotten use to the change either. Heh. My kids love it. When I look at them now, I see a mirror image of myself in them:) One colleague say I look like 17. Younger than the new believer I spoke to during the Zone concert who thought I was 18 haha.. After a day, I've gotten use to it and loving it. A fresher look:)
Newness keeps us alive and gives us life. I find that when we seek to learn a new thing, build an interest in it, He never fails to give you the grace for it. People, materials are all available within our means. When a water is stagnant it breeds mosquito, but where there is a river flowing, we see plants flourishing. I guess when we continually feed on new things, we'll see our life flourish. You'll look younger too;)

Chance upon

My mum just told me that we managed to get a good buyer for our current house. Earlier this year, my dad told me that he'll be buying a house and it was exactly what my mum has always wanted ever since I was young. A place where she can do her gardening and also near enough for her to walk to church.

This was the house she saw way before my dad told her that he'll be buying. Then he refuse and said there's not a need to buy one. Many times my mum have suggested other houses but still he'll not agree to it.
Amazingly, my dad message me one day and told me he's getting the house for mum before she even knew about it *beam* wow...a change of heart I thought;) It has to be god to have kept that house for us. It was in the best location and hardly would someone sell it if it has not been for a good offer.
We bought it for half the price of the bank valuation. Because of economy downturn then, the bank lawyer fees was waive to half. We could easily sell it for double the price now.
For our current house, we manage to sell it 2.5times more than what we bought it for. I was surprised that we even get such a good deal. We were offered higher than the bank valuation of that house. A total opposite of our new house! haha. Because of that, the bank is only able to loan to the buyer the amount it's valued.
In fact my parents didn't even rush to sell it. The renovation would take awhile and my mum would tell me there's lots more time.
What amazes me is this. In this week I signed two letters. One was for my current new place and the other a letter courier to me from the lawyer in Ipoh for my new house. The house will be officially ours in August. Two new place happened at the same time. And both were something that's been in our hearts.
I never did remember ever looking forward coming home from work or school. But now I do. I looked out of the window yesterday and saw mist in the midst of the hill:) what a lovely sight. I can look forward now to go back to my hometown too to witness before me a dream come true for my mum.
Surely He has made all things beautiful in His time.

A Hat for Ivan by Max Lucado

I was handed a stack of story-books last week by my VP to read and to pick from for my speech and drama lesson. To which I realised I brought home the wrong book I intended to plan for my lesson this week. So I had to settle with what I have.
It was a book by Max Lucado title "A Hat for Ivan"
Hmm. Interesting I thought. Never knew Max Lucado have storybooks for children.
I read through the book and was touched:) It was in line with the sermon by Pastor Prince on Father and son relationship.
It was a story of a young boy whose father was a Hat Maker. Ivan's father would create hats that were perfect for each person. At the age of ten each boy and girl in that town would celebrate Hat Day and Ivan was nine then and he would wonder how his hat would be like. As he walks pass the streets, he would meet different people like the Baker, the carpenter, the pianist...etc and they would ask him to try out their hats. It was either too big or it just didn't fit but Ivan would accept each one of them without wanting to hurt their feelings. Ivan always thought his hat would come from his father but now he thought he might have been wrong.
He became so tired taking on all the hats when he heard a voice from a distance
"Looks like you've had quite a day"
Ivan couldn't remember when a voice ever sounded so good. "Father!" he shouted, jumping up." You won't believe what happened today. Everybody gave me a hat and --"
"None of them fit" Ivan's father spoke up.
"That's right," said the boy.
"And they make you tired?" Ivan nodded.
"But you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings?" Ivan shook his head. His father put this arm around his son.
"That's right." Ivan stopped. "How did you know?"
I'm the hat maker, Ivan. I've seen what happens when people wear hats they weren't intended to wear. They feel silly. They fall down. And they get tired."
Ivan's father go down on his knee and wiped a smudge of dirt off his son's cheek.
"Listen, son, just because someone gives you a hat, that doesn't mean you are supposed to wear it. They mean well, but they don't know you. That's my job. I'm the hat-maker, and i'm your father."
"So you'll make a hat just for me?"
"I will. All you have to do is ask."
Oh, please, Father." Ivan smiled. "I would like that very much."
"Well, let's gather u these hats and go home then."
As the hat-maker and his child walked toward home, the father asked, "Tell me, Ivan, what do you really love to do?
The story ended with a picture of the dad cheerfully carrying all the hats that Ivan had collected. This story reminds me of the story of the prodigal son or myself. There are times I get discouraged with what I have or who I am and seek to have the things I see around me. I fail to ask Him for what I wish to see best for and in myself.
How tired and silly it could get when we try out things that were not meant for us. When we seek the opinion of others but the one who knows us best.
Your father gladly carries all the mistakes you have made. He smiles at you. He says to you, "Come home" and I'll make just the right hat for you that will fit you.

finally a place call home:)

I didn't know shifting house can be so tiring!
Physically & mentality draining.
But now that's i've settled with unpacking all my stuff and rearranging them, it almost feels like heaven with the air-con turned on:):)
It's a place I call home. Finally a place I can look forward to when I come back.
Love my room. It's spacious, comfortable, lovely and it overlooks the hill. The uncle who shifted my things said lots of monkeys come out in the morning haha..how exciting! haha
I now get to watch movie on a lcd tv, play the piano, go for a swim and read my book in the comfort of my room.
Thank god for Esther who bought me a packet of japanese teddy bear biscuit. She said I might go hungry when i'm shifting. How true. I was tired and hungry at the same during the journey there and it was really a life saver for my tummy. Yummy too. Even the uncle love it heh
Another good news my cousin told me today was that there's a new airplane called the Firefly that flies direct from Singapore to Ipoh! =D What a convenience to go back home now. No more of sitting in the bus for 8 hours. Plus is cheap. Jesus really loves me:)

loved for who you are

Harmony when she was a baby:)

I was teaching my K1 & K2 kids to dribble a ball when suddenly a girl came and hugged me on my legs. My legs because I was standing and she is shorter than me:)
"Miss Jacqueline I love you", said the little one.
"Love me? Are you sure?"...This were really the thoughts that went through my head when she said that. I would have believed it if it came from someone else. She was someone I lecture the most. Someone I have difficulty getting things done. When asked to do A, she'll tell me she wants to do B.
But when she said that, it just soften my heart. I became less 'harsh' to her:) I began to see her from a different perspective.
That's when I realised, how natural it is for me to have form preconceived ideas that she'll not like me for all the correction I've given her. Honestly, her misbehavior do irritates me but I have to correct her. By me constantly doing that, and thinking that she'll not like me for it, I set a wall between us and it stops me from believing I am still loved despite it and because of that I failed to love. But now that she tells me she loves me, a new love for her just grows on me simply because I know i'm loved.
That's when the Lord showed me this. Each time when we fail, we set a wall ourselves between us and our Father when we do not know how much we are loved even in the midst of our failings. We may know about it, but do we really believe He loves you for who you are.
You'll know when you have believed when your love for Him still grows on you at the very moment when you have miss the mark.

Our speech matters

Melody & Harmony dressed for the occasion:)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Just a thought I had about speech that I've been wanting to write this morning but was too busy packing my stuff. Just now while I was having dinner with my friend she mention to me again about Pastor Benjamin's sermon on speech.
So here was what I was thinking lately...When I look at my clothes, I realised I have people complimenting me for almost every single one of them. Not many for one, but at least one for each and one comment each week.
But what's interesting was, I still remember who they are though many and the location by which it was said for every single one of them even if it was a few years ago.
Try it out:) did you remember the compliments and where you receive them?
We probably would have forgotten the good told to our friends but they'll never forget.
That's when I start to ask myself. How generous have I been with my words. The best way to be remembered I believe is by speaking good into the person lives. The best way to sow in their lives is our words.
Just as we would wear something fitting for the occasion, let us be as careful in choosing our words as we would with our dressing. A lady who is well dressed for the occasion is evident to all and is beautiful to behold. Likewise, words that are spoken at the right time at the right place will impart grace to the hearer.
Nevertheless, i'm also still learning to do likewise;)

A day of babysitting H&M

I had the privilege of babysitting Harmony and Melody to Leeum's party today. Their mum called to tell me this afternoon they couldn't make it as she was unwell and I had to make my way there myself. I offered to take the kids there for her instead. Leeum would love to see nyny(Harmony). Thought it would be fun to experience bringing a toddler & a 3 years old by myself :)

I dared to say yes to this two because I know how independent they really are. Harmony is tuff. I saw her after she fell down from the couch today and steadily she picked herself up and climbed back up again. My colleague saw her eating grass in the last carnival and mum was cool about it. Haha. That's how cool their mum are:) And she's the least to be on mc:)

On our way to Leeum's party

Leeum's birthday present from mum & dad!

Leeum & me...you never see him still heh

The three's...my best mates

Happy Birthday!

A day of babysitting H&M

I had the privilege of babysitting Harmony and Melody to Leeum's party today. Their mum called to tell me this afternoon they couldn't make it as she was unwell and I had to make my way there myself. I offered to take the kids there for her instead. Leeum would love to see nyny(Harmony). Thought it would be fun to experience bringing a toddler & a 3 years old by myself :)

I dared to say yes to this two because I know how independent they really are. Harmony is tuff. I saw her after she fell down from the couch today and steadily she picked herself up and climbed back up again. My colleague saw her eating grass in the last carnival and mum was cool about it. Haha. That's how cool their mum are:) And she's the least to be on mc:)

On our way to Leeum's party

Leeum's birthday present from mum & dad!

Leeum & me...you never see him still heh

The three's...my best mates

Happy Birthday!

My joy:)

Zoe is back with me =) I used to take care of her when she was just a baby in Baby Haven where I use to 'teach'. Yesterday was her first day of school...a real darling:)

Yummie...ham & cheese bread My new frens...

I love rollers

Aren't I adorable:)