Taking Each Day as a Gift from God

29th May 2009,

5.40pm Friday afternoon.  Blogging from my new place in Singapore, my second home. Sitting on the floor with the notebook on my lap and in front of me is the full blast fan blowing towards my face. Am drenched with sweat, it's really really scorning hot here. Wonder why Singapore can be that burning hot than Penang, both are island. Sigh, getting headache and feel like throwing up. Tried to take afternoon nap also can't seem to doze off, guess my brain still processing what to do next, and my body still trying to adjust to the new environment. I prayed for rains... Let His rains come down and wash over the earth, grant us cooling weather.

Today is simple, cook some desert - "White Fungus Barley Pak Koh", good to cool down the body.  Still warm, need to wait for it to cool down before put it in the fridge. Am waiting for Gavin to come back from work. Initially thought of wanting to cook for dinner, but the weather too hot, and I don't have the mood and inspiration to cook, next time la. Took a bus to NUH just now, Bus No.198. According to the streetdirectory website, the estimated journey should be less than 30mins but it took me 35mins to reach NUH. Really not used to the life in Sg, need to walk and take public transport.. and wait for buses. Found a new route to and fro NUH. There're free shuttle to NUH from Dover MRT, and it is quite frequent, every 10mins. So I have another alternative, can walk 10mins to Lakeside MRT, then 11mins to Dover MRT, and another 10mins to NUH, also almost around the same duration as bus. So I should probably estimate 40-45mins travel time to work. 

My feet bleed from walking, maybe cos wearing bad shoes. Am afraid, and still afraid of the changes... The fear is still there, fear of the unknown, fear whether able to cope with the stressful life, fear that my thyroid will get worsen with the stress? Fear whether mum will be alright at home alone, fear whether this relationship will able to work out. All the unnecessary fear.. Perfect love drives out fear... I shouldn't have dwell in the negative, but to fix my eyes on the cross. He who started a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. Just trust Him, and walk each step and each day as a gift from God. To enjoy the little little things in life, the simple pleasures of life. 

Let my heart be steadfast Lord, be steadfast in You, unshakable.. and to always be still, knowing Daddy will lead me through whatever storms of life, whatever it comes...  And it's a journey, and going to be an exciting journey. Let's start anew, afresh... with Him beside me and learn to fall in love with Him once again, deeper in love.. not to be distracted but to keep my relationship with God alive.. just like a little child holding Daddy's hands.. walking the road.

Random Thoughts and Updates

20th May 2009,

3.57pm Wednesday. Am sitting on my couch, with the laptop on my lap while mum is sitting beside me, watching Hokkein show. Reached Penang safely this morning. Didn't oversleep. Has learned from my first experience overslept in the bus until I don't realise it has passed Penang. In the end, the driver just dumped me at some unknown roadside and I need to find my own way to the Jetty, with my half opened eyes and baggages.. imagine that. One of the unforgettable experience. So am a little smarter now, make a habit to set my alarm each time I travel by bus, to & fro Penang, don't want to end up in alien places. See.. Shirley such a piglet, can sleep so soundly in the bus. That shows how tired I am..

Yes, am so tired. Singapore life is never any bed of roses. The biggest challenge for me is to take public transport. Unlike Penang, I can just start my car engine and drive to anywhere & everywhere I like, whereas in Singapore if you want to go from one place to another, first you need to open up your SMART map, or StreetDirectory and check thoroughly which are the nearest MRT or buses, unless you have GPRS.. just like what Victor has. Car considers as one of the luxury in Sg and for those who has none, we depends a lot on Bus 11 (our two legs) and a pair of GOOD shoe - walk and walk and walk, and for me - sweat and sweat and sweat. According to Gavin, you don't need to go any gym to loose weight, the everyday walking will somehow burn the daily calories or fats in you. Huh! So I got to measure my weight before and say 3 months after Sg stay to see how true is that? Celina seems to worry much about me, knowing me as comfy gal & hommy and just so settled in Penang, life in Singapore definitely will be great challenges for me. Don't know how long it takes for me to cope with the life. It's still too early to gauge whether Singapore is the ideal pace to settle down, raise a family etc. Still prefer Penang... But at least 2 years, minimal 2 years to test the ground and see where God lead from here.

So you may asked, then Why? Why you move then? Guess God work in His own ways. Sometimes He just want us to experience some pinch of life to get us learn ONE lesson. And I know I've been complacent, too comfortable and ignorant about things in Penang. Being a mediocre, Singapore will offer a change of my perspective on things in life?? I don't know, whether it is the RIGHT move, but I know that God is into this.. and I am not walking alone, and it is not solely because of Gavin,.. yes he is a big part of the move, but there are other areas which all combined together moved me into such decision, and it is definitely not a haste one. So now that I've decided, am gonna just close my eyes, hold His hands and walk.. whichever turning He leads I will follow, knowing I will not go wrong if I follow the great Shepherd.

This transition somehow opened my eyes to the people I hold dear in my life. Celina mentioned the other day that I am so blessed in Penang because of so many close friends I have, whether church or non-church friends. She said if I am in troubles, I can just picked up the phone, any frens will definitely avail themself to come to assist. Celina is the opposite way, don't have much friends in common here in JB and she's all left alone. Even with the traumatic robbery experience, she was all alone to cope. And that trained her to be strong, and independant and God is her only source of dependant. I am encouraged by her expereinces and I need to learn to be thankful and NOT complain, grumble or murmurs of my 'small' difficulties. Celina has been strong, and I thank God for such a wonderful sister, that always speaking out the truth in love, speaking words of wisdom into my life. I am ashamed, being the elder sister.. I should 'jaga' her more than she 'jaga' me.

I thank God for mum.. yep, eventhough sometimes I can't stand her naggings and there were little arguements here and there, but I am so touched by her love for me. How she prepared me breakfasts and all the meals readily served on the table, how can I take her love for granted? Simple and loving mum.. love to watch TV and play Suduko, and just stay at home, doing the simple things.. she is just so lovable. When I sicked or down, she offered her arms to hug me. I will miss the moment, to quietly kiss her and hug her before sleep.

I thank God for Becky, she is just so available, eventhough she can always say NO to me, but she always want to be there for me whenever I need her, a friend and sister I can count on, and I wish her happiness.. that she will find.. or someday someone WILL FIND HER, someone she loves and someone who loves her so much.

I thank God for Gavin.. the love of my life. He makes me THINK, he makes my mind to open up to more new things in life. He leads us to pray together everynight before we sleep. He inspired me on the 'Meaning and Purpose in Life". I will always love him, and all of him.. Let our jagged imperfection to fit in well, to complement, and to bring out the best in each other.

I thank God for my CG, they are special bunch of people who accept me the way I am. I thank God for my Pharmacy staff, who able to tolerate my style, my boss- who has been so supportive throughout my years working in Gleneagles, who has now been my FB friend =).

I am so blessed by the many things evolved in my life, and am going to treasure the moments as I journey through the different seasons and phases. THANK YOU, everyone of you!