a really cute song (and don't we all wish there was such a day!)

June met July and left... August rush over! :P

It's been a while since I've last written a proper post and inspired by my brother's diligence in blog keeping, I have decided to make a one-entry return. It's one thing to keep a blog, it's another to keep a blog when you write practically all the time for a living.

Anyways, here goes.

June had been an interesting month - weddings, homecomings and something else I can't quite remember right now. The Lees from Down under dropped by for a brief pit-stop at Tanahair Melayu for 10 days... felt a bit too short a trip, but better than nothing! It was fun having them around and already miss the extended family at home; the laughter, grandmother stories, words of wisdom and their laidbackness... especially Ms Janey Waney whom I already miss geram-ing (your arm pinchability texture is different lah Jane, unique!) So I guess I'll just have to settle for more pinches on Shorty's arm!

One of the most emo-fying weddings ever was Guan & Rach's - tears flowed before the bridegroom took his bride, after they said their vows and even during the wedding dinner! You could just feel the love, yo... this was one very very loved pair. And how they love each other so! Check out bro's blog for the amazing video, watch out especially for the 'jeng jeng jeng jeng jeng jeng' drum beats thumping part at the end :) Good job guys, working till 4am the night before all zombiefied. Labour of love indeed :)

Being a bridesmaid is, I confess, stressful due to my easily stressed nature (and the fact that I am quite mong cha cha and inexperienced) - from hunting for the dress + shoes that God amazingly provided for at the VERY last min, organising the bridal shower, making sure she can walk in her gown (not too great at helping her by the way! but it was definitely a NEW experience!) and preparing the bridesmaid speech and toast... but it was well-worth it! I made new friends, rekindled old ones too from organising the bridal shower... and discovered fantastic chiu pai or specialty dishes (so we know who to look out for when we're craving a certain dish!), learnt how to write a bridal shower speech (or how to goreng one!), felt important sitting in the very beautiful bridal car with the bride + father of the bride, sharing the kanchiongness of the rush to get her to church on time, learnt how to do a yam seng toast... and when all the dust had settled down.... take time to realise that my cousin is married! :) It is indeed an honour to be able to be there for her when she can't wear her own shoes or pull the pins from her hair. The joy of seeing her made up into a radiant bride, every giggle with Guan, the behind the scenes of practising walking in her too-long-gown and watching her stroll down the red carpet at night in her dazzling blue dress AND observe heads turning as she walked past! That's my cousin! :D

In June, we said farewell to the Ginders and I will miss Sarah especially... and this month TRU will "lose" Keegan too! Ah. Sadness but I've been really blessed by them in my class. The sprightly talkative Americans! Nick Chan will also be flying off to Miri for further studies, will miss his craziness and semangatness! Well, without endings, there would be no sweet memories.

July 1 marked the arrival of Leigh and Tu's baby boy! I haven't heard from Tu since, but am really happy for them. Do remember them in prayer as they're really young parents!
EDIT: Welcome into the world, Gabriel Duong!!! :D


And we welcomed home drama queen Kat Lee back to our shores on July 4 with a surprise at her house. Surprises are fun! And following up that weekend, was Shanice's Sweet 16 party. It was the bomb - I have never seen so much pink in one house in my life! And oh, the food.... dieded! So much good food. Pizza. Spaghetti. Salad. Apple Crumble. Yummmmmm.....

The power of prayer as A. Collene went under the knife on Monday. Do remember her, her family and A. Lily & family through times of trial and testing.

So here I am, signing off to go home soon. July is here. Just spent the day with Mom few days back, which was really fun, makes me wish I was bumming again! Well, having a salary meant I could buy her stuff and buy my own stuff, which was a pretty cool feeling too :)

Sat-Sun I'm off to Kuching for work and it's less than two weeks till Kiwi lass Dia is back and less than three weeks till my American fattyness Chuen is back! :) :) :) :) Till then, will have to work my butt off to earn my LEAVE! Worship leading in August as well, deadlines galore for work and TRU work!

Okay, time for dinner. Off I embark on my half an hour journey home.

To remember:

"God puts sharks in our life to test us, keep us on our toes, alert and fruitful" - Ritchie Tay in sermon last Sunday. He preached some hard-hitting stuff and I was reduced to tears when he pointed out how lackadaisical we have become and how we lose that sense of urgency in our selfishness, in our apathy. I was blown away by how God has been looking out for me in the sharks of life all this while - in the difficulties and uncertainties and lost in my own world, in my struggles of being salt and light instead of conforming.

"The ways and plans are known by the inner circle of the saints; the congregation only know of His acts" - Ritchie. And along the similar route, a friend shared of how he believes that he can be an agent of blessing to those around him just by walking close to God. Those were really encouraging thoughts. How I long to be in that inner circle and have such close communion with the Father that I feel as He does and love as He does and mirror Him. As I grow older, I realise the implications, more and more, of what it means to deny myself, to carry my cross and to follow Him - all three go hand in hand.

Three sets of verses to close:

Psalms 1-41

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

Ecclesiastes 7:10, 14

 10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?"
       For it is not wise to ask such questions.

14 When times are good, be happy;
       but when times are bad, consider:
       God has made the one
       as well as the other.
       Therefore, a man cannot discover
       anything about his future.

WOOHOO!

colbie sings, one fine wire

o hai thar!

o hai thar! kthnxbai.

learn lolcat