The Blog Site of Adrian and Jennifer

A sweet friendship refreshes the soul

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:30:00 +0000

How sweet is this proverb!

"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul." Proverbs 27:9 (MSG)

Often we have a bad day or week or month hopefully not year... we have a get together with some friends and simply by being in their company, all that negative emotions get lifted. The miracle healing of friendship! SWEET!

Friends are like life's cushions!
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Monday, February 22, 2010
How to connect with people
by Rick Warren
"A sweet friendship refreshes the soul." Proverbs 27:9 (MSG)

One of the deepest needs we have in life is the need to be understood. We all desperately need to feel that somebody can feel what we're feeling and understand what we're thinking. We all need people who connect with us.

A study by the California Department of Health Mental found that if you're disconnected from other people -

You're two-to-three times more likely to die an early death;
You're four times more likely to suffer from emotional burnout;
You're five times more likely to suffer clinical depression, and;
You're ten times more likely to be hospitalized for an emotional or mental disorder.
We need human connections for physical, emotional, spiritual health. We need people who understand us, who relate to us and who can connect to us.

Learning how to connect with people on a heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul level is one of life's most important skills. Unfortunately, nobody ever teaches us how to do this. You learn science and geography, history and math in school, but nobody teaches you how to connect with people. You may be brilliant in some subject, but if you don't know how to connect with people, you're still not going to go very far in life.

Over the next six days, we'll look at the six principles of how to connect with people. It doesn't matter your age or stage of life. If you're a parent and you want to know how to better connect with your children, you can use these principles. If you're engaged or married and you want to know how to better relate to that other person, you can use these principles. If you're a teacher or an employer or employee, no matter who you are, if you need to get close to anybody in life, you need these principles.

Together, we'll see that human connections are good medicine and a "sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

Just for Laughs - Clockman

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:56:00 +0000

Why did they name it clockman? Men can be yakky afterall!

hahahaha

Getting ready for our winter adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Must find winter outer wear for -30 degrees Celsius in the cold cold north.
So went shopping in the tropical Sg. Guess how the inspiration for South Park came about?

Must keep our toes warm in night too! Found these socks really helpful! Loved them!

Also must test out if our Sg milk pudding tastes better or those in Japan hee

Winter Wonder Holiday! Yeah!

Fabulous 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Touched

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Once in a cab ride, we drove passed the Novena church and the driver commented that the church answers prayers. Surprised that he visits the Catholic church as his taxi had displays of other religious items. So I asked him what brought him to church. His response:
"This church hor, very powerful, I pray for 4D, I get!"

*stunned*

*recovery phrase*

Me: "Uncle, like that also can ah?"
Him: "Although God here know I not christian ah, but my prayers were answered leh!"

The power of praying does the most unexpected, impossible tasks for us. God knows our needs even before we asks, so all we need to do is ask and you'll be given. Its like a unlimited guarantee that all your desires are satisfied!

We've seen how broken marriages are healed and turned around through prayers.

We've seen how families come together in unity through prayers.

We've seen how people were pulled away from tragedies with prayers.

We've seen how difficulties were conquered through prayers when nothing else seems to work.

So when a person say that they are praying for you, its like a special blessing, not just because the prayers were said for you. But also because you're often thought of by this person who is offering a prayer for you. Isn't it touching?

Often than now, I have a friend who shares that we're in their prayers. I feel so blessed! And touched of course.

Thank you all of you who've thought about us, prayed for us, prayed with us.

Thank You!

Singing: Birth of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:53:00 +0000

Christmas has always been special to me, it was how I was brought to our church literately.

A friend invited me to attend his church's midnight Christmas celebrations, it was a elaborated affair that I never had imagined. Dressing up for church as if they were going to a grand ball at MIDNIGHT! Who does that?

Well, christians does that!

Why?

Because its a celebration of the birth of someone very very dear to their hearts.

I was impressed by the music on my first Christmas midnight mass. There were drums, guitars, bass guitars, piano, organ players who played in great sync with such joy. There was a sense of warmth to their worship. That great desire to play beyond their very best to celebrate the birth of Christ. I have not seen worship at such genuine level before. There were hiccups and last min obstacles that they need to overcome but everyone pitched in to put up the greatest show they can.

And the choir.... oh my, they stood for almost the entire 2hours, blasting their lungs out. The melodious music with the festive mood was overly joyful to the soul.

I was an addict to Christmas celebrations in our church.

Gradually over a few years, I just kept wanting to go back for the Christmas mass. It was always so delightful!

THEN I myself started to join in the choir to create the "noise" hee.... Time and time again, we all looked forward to performing a great show for the birth of baby Jesus. We sang our hearts out, belt our voices hoarse.

Today I finally knew why we enjoyed doing that so much....

Today our Saviour is Born
Today our Saviour is Bo-rn
This is the day
This is the day
Christ our Saviour is Born!

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Friday, December 25, 2009
We Praise God for the Gift of Jesus
by Rick Warren
From the Gospel of Luke we see the birth announcement of Jesus -

Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.

The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Luke 2:9-14 (MSG)

Christmas - what does it mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:21:00 +0000

Its Christmas time!

What does it mean?

Shopping for Christmas gifts?

Receiving Christmas gifts?

Year end wrap up of projects, events, work?

Mega gatherings to catch up with those that were too busy during the actual year?

This year its alot less festive for me. Perhaps its because I've done most of the Christmas shopping way early in the year. So no need to cheong for last min presents or force to buy something for the sake of buying.

And perhaps also because there were some pretty notty boys in my life this year, making me not feeling so loving towards them. Yah, lots of emotional baggage you can say.

Perhaps also because we attended 3 funerals in just 2 months. One grandaunt who survived the boat journey from China just to be with her husband. Raised 4 kids with very limited resources, lived to see her own grandchild get married before she left the mortal world. There were more amazing stories about her which were shared during the course of her wake. Makes you feel so blessed to be born in today's modern world. With all our modern luxuries.

Ad's godpa also left us, but not for good. As we celebrate his departure from this mortal earth, we know that he's up in heaven with Jesus. Nonetheless, the sense of loss is felt, when we learn so much more about him in his youthful days, the things that he did. Just makes you wish you've heard it from him personally. Or had that chance to give him just one more hug. He's got such lovable personality. You wish that you can clone that and inject it into every unpleasant elderly you meet. hee....

Then came the departure of a dear friend's mother. A 80+ elderly who has combat cancer for the past few years, never with a word of complaint nor grumble. She just bore the pain, the discomforts, the frustrations. We were glad we made it to see her one last time the day before she left. Though she was frail and weak, she was definitely without pain. On the day of her funeral, my heart went out to her DIL, who cried so bitterly about her loss, that my tears flowed in synchrony as well. She had the most beautiful funeral mass I've ever attended. The music which made up a large part of the mass was soft, light and comforting. Memories of all those who have departed came flowing back. We pray for all our departed brothers and sisters to be safe in Jesus's side up in heaven.

Some lessons that I've learnt this year:

Your earthly family may not = your spiritual family. So feel blessed anyway.

Forgive every wrong that comes your way, even if that person never apologize, or will never come to know what damage he's done towards you. Because you need healing from the event. He can go settle his behavior with God in due time.

We should envelope ourselves with positive, like-minded people. Never mind even if that is your childhood friend, if he/she is influencing you in a negative way, its time to stay away. Just pray for that person to turn around, but you dun have to join him/her at it.

There are those who love you no matter what you do. Treasure them, for they may not stay around the next time you commit the same error.

Some actions, no matter what good intentions you have. If taken the wrong way, it is still not achieved its desired effects. So take some actions with cautions and consider the consequences carefully.

Sometimes when a person is angry with you or something you did, it may not necessarily mean that you've done something wrong. It could mean that this person has anger, and you happened to be there. So dun let that get you down.

Hugs are great wondrous actions! Give more hugs!

Have crystal clear goals in your mind. Dun allow yourself to be distracted .... (note to self in bold)

Celebrate every success that you have. Send joy to every cell in your body! You deserve it!

Dashes of snow

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Light dashes of snow always remind me of the 1st time we experienced snow together on the eve of Christmas.

That magical feeling of snow, lightly touching your face is so memorable.

And guess what? Its snowing on my dashboard today!

Parents WATCH OUT: Scary but true

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Spent a lovely evening with an aunt who has been residing in HK and as we chatted, she share some really scary but true stories about the REALITY of child-napping around asia. So I thought I'll share what I can recall to help bring about some awareness.

She says that there's news of children missing daily in the newspapers. Its a real threat. Not one that's hearsay. Just because its safe in Sg, doesn't mean that we stop to educate our children what is "NO talking to strangers".

1. One duo-income family with 2 young kids hired a helper from China, they are addressed as 啊姨 (an affectionate auntie term). Their parents went to work one day, only to return home with no kids, no 啊姨. They reported the police and CCTV around train stations, bus interchanges showed how their 啊姨 took their kids further and further away from home. Finally into the chinese border and lost in the crowd. GONE forever!

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2. Another duo-income family had a 3yr old boy and 6yr old girl. For many months after their domestic helper from Indonesia came into the family. Nothing unusual occurred. In fact, their helper was diligently bringing the kids down to the nearby playground daily. Without fail. Every single day. It became such a routine that no one really took noticed that the boy is not really talking much. The girl is not such a chirpy young child. One morning, the girl pleaded with her mummy not to go to work. Mommy thought that she was just throwing her tantrums. So mummy went to work as usual, left her daughter crying for attention.

One evening soon after that day, while the helper was busy with something. Mummy decided to shower her daughter for a change. 1st time in about 10months.....

Daughter told mummy that her private parts hurt. Mummy examined her, she was swollen, red with infection at her groin area. What comes to mind? 6yr old young child?

Their helper has been bringing the 2 young kids down to the shed NEXT to the playground daily to a guy. A guy who paid this maid $200/month to bring the kids to him. These poor children is traumatized for the rest of their lives.

What good does it do to the young children even if both the helper & the bad guy got caught?

The little boy has chosen to not speak.

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3. Real life encounter:
One of my niece who took part in a school overseas trip in China for an exchange program with another school. She and 2 other girlfriends were taking a break and went out of the school gates for a chat. One big, clean, tourist looking bus drove by the gate with 3 men inside the bus. The men told the girls to get up the bus. They said that they knew which hotel they stayed, they can wait for the rest of their friends on the bus.

Thankfully, the girls were sharp enough to notice that it was a different bus from what they're taking. So they did not get up that dubious bus.

Who knows what will happen to them? Young blossoming girls! They actually knew where they stayed! Doesn't that mean that these guys were just waiting for an opportunity?

Be careful on your overseas trips people. You never know WHO is watching at you, just for one short moment when you are not looking, your kids may just vanish. Forever. So teach them well, grill into them to be ALERT.

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4. Another real life encounter in SINGAPORE
A young and very pretty cousin just got her driving lessons and drove her daddy's car to Takashimaya for a shopping spree.
She got into her car and thankfully her mommy taught her well. LOCK immediately before you do anything else in the car. She hasn't even start her car yet.

A man came knocking on her window. Whacking it with some urgency.

Initially, she thought that he was trying to offer her some cleaning services. She was going to lower her window to give him so money when she noticed that there was something not quite right with that urgency on knocking on her door. He was also trying to open her door!

She also noticed that he's got a white hanky behind his back held by one of his hands. She knew that there's something not right with this guy!

She started her car engine quickly and drove towards the exit. Somehow that same guy got ahead of her and was waiting for her at the exit. He told her that he will remember her with fingers pointing towards her!

Ain't it scary?

They went to report to the police, to Takashimaya management and guess what? There was NO traces of that guy in their cameras at the carpark nor lift landings. So no one can figure out how this guy can appear in such a popular spot along Orchard road in Singapore.

Jesus challenged people

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

How apt, as we are faced with some challenging situations where there are folks that we love, but we dunno how to love them.

a paradigm shift!

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Monday, November 30, 2009
Jesus challenged people
by Rick Warren
We should consider the good of our neighbor and build up his character. Romans 15:2
This Christmas season, I want to encourage you to become a people-builder. It is a gift you can give someone that will last forever.

The Bible encourages us to do this in Romans 15:2, where it says, "We should consider the good of our neighbor and build up his character."

The key to building up people is kindness -- giving them what they need and not what they deserve. When you consider the way Jesus built up people, He did three things: challenged, encouraged, and spoke honestly.

Today, we’ll look at how Jesus challenged people to be all God made them to be. God doesn’t want you to waste your life!

Challenge your family and friends to live beyond themselves and to discover their strengths and abilities. God has given each of us some special abilities, and he wants us to use them to help each other. We’re to pass on to others God's many kinds of blessings.

We all need somebody who will help us discover our gifts and who will challenge us to develop, strengthen, and use them. You can play a critical role in this way by helping the ones you love to discover their strengths and abilities, and then challenging them to use them.

And, help them understand how special their gifts are – that we will all miss out on a blessing if they don’t use the gifts God has given them. It’s like a singer who never sings; we miss out on the blessing that would come from hearing the voice. We are meant to be a blessing to others.

Birds @ Hawker Center

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:24:00 +0000

These days, the convenience of finding different menu at one place has extended to our animal kingdom. These birds are happily feeding off the leftovers from a noodle store, a roasted meat + rice store, fruit juice and what seems like mutton soup store as well.

There's at least a dozen of these birds chirping loudly to nudge another bird off their food and chomping down hungrily.

Please folks, eat up all your food or return the trays/bowls/plates filled with leftovers to the stores rather than allowing these aviary feasts.

The clip was cut off abruptly because one of these birds who got rustled out of the feast was looking for another feasting table... and guess whose lunch it was eyeing? MINE! That bird was moving towards ME! While I was still seated on my table, eating my food. They are indeed getting bolder!

The clip was cut off in time from my scream too hee....

Goodbye Godpa SC

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Learnt many lessons tonight as I celebrate the passing of Godpa SC with his family & friends.

Yes, the word is celebrate. Because as much as it is our earthly loss of Godpa SC, it was much more of Jesus's gain. We believe that Godpa SC is in a better place, right in Jesus's house. A place where every christian longed to be. And he got there first before us.

Hearing the eulogies from various members of the family was enlightening, as they shared about how Godpa SC played pivotal roles in their lives. Memories of Godpa SC came flooded to my mind.

I remember how lovingly he always looks at his wife. Even after a 2hr conversation over dinner. Yes, even if he was silent during the entire dinner, he'll be looking at her with such loving gaze.

I remember his cheeky smile before his cheeky comments.

I remember how gentlemanly he was, at 80yrs old, he'll pamper a young lady like myself by opening the doors, or pulling the chair for me. Usually with a cheeky comment that follows.

He's got eyes that sparkle like a child which totally goes along with that active mind that churns out cheekiness.

He's got a fatherly charm that is hard to resist. One which I wished I had more of, but definitely grateful that I have a share of.

I get to see how many lives he's touched by simply rejoicing in God's love. Its amazing.

How not to love a man like him?

How not to miss a man like him?

Kungfu class has started!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:50:00 +0000

Around the neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:28:00 +0000

We were taking a walk around our neighborhood and found some interesting sightings.

We came across this mini-nursery, racks were filled with numerous potted plants. Almost feel like we are back to the wild, got that jungle feel to this tiny area of our neighborhood.

And guess who has been keeping watch to ensure the "safety" of these plants?

yep, doreamon... hahahaha
CUTE

There was this void deck that was filled with delightfully colored pillars. I cant help but to go around them to check them out. Colors + cute pictures = eye-catching!

Turns out that they are painted by a group of youths that has a club near this void deck!

Definitely a great use of talent & energy!

PLUS, it helps to give gentle reminders to the neighborhood too!

Love it!

Then something more disturbing came to sight. We just changed the railings leading to the central. From the trusty & rusty iron railings (that served us for as long as I can remember), they were changed to lighter, cheaper aluminum ones. They do look more modern and sophisticated. But in less than 1 year, I have seen numerous thief of these railings, causing more replacements = increased cost!

The efforts to remove this piece must have been foiled... I hope the person is caught and sentenced! This is certainly public property! And it is important part of the pedestrian pavement that thousands transcends daily. What if there were elderly folks who were leading on these railings for a rest and with the weaken structure, falls into the drain behind it? It'll be disastrous!

Last but not least, these potted plants has been residence of our neighborhood for a few months. Perhaps due to lack of care or improper maintenance. They never really flourished since day 1. With the regular monsoon rain, they have also became a breeding ground for mossies!

I took this picture over the weekend. I told myself that if by the 1st working day, these pots continue to be flooded, I will go speak to the owner of the shops that seems to be the ones "taking care" of these pots. Thankfully, by late morning on Monday, these pots were cleared away! The shop has also seems to ceased operations. At least they were mindful not to leave a mossie breeding ground behind! Goody!

It's been a fun walk around the neighborhood!

Till the next time!

God Is Stronger Than We Think

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Indeed God is truely stronger than we think!

Thank God for that!!

Last week, I was at a new pit bottom low with my emotions. I questioned how can God let me feel so so so low. I felt abandoned. Not neglected, but abandoned.

The pain was intense. And so was the recovery!

God filled up my life over the next few days. I have the most unbelievable weekend.

My doubts in God has been answered through and through.

Thank you Lord. For you are my Saviour. My strength grows through you and you alone.

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November 04, 2009
God Is Stronger Than We Think
by Jon Walker
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

This guest devotional is by Jon Walker, author of 'Growing with Purpose.'

We're not as strong as we think we are, but God is stronger than we think.

You become strong through God's strength. His strength enters your life, delivered by the Holy Spirit--Jesus within--and the more dependent you are on God, the stronger in him you become. In our weakness, he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

"I can do everything . . . " doesn't mean, 'Now that I'm a believer, I'm strong enough to do everything and anything for God.' Your own testimony can attest to the fears and failures related to such thinking.

The strength of "I can do everything . . . " comes through God, who gives you the strength you need for each day. Your ability to "do everything" is wholly dependent upon him because your strength is dependent upon him. It's not a strength you work up to by pumping iron with emotional or mental barbells.

Strength comes from submission. The thing you do that may require the greatest strength is to submit yourself completely to God! But God is "working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

Strength is linked to faith. You believe in faith that God is giving you his strength; and so, in faith you can act in confidence, knowing the strength is there: "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength" (2 Timothy 4:17 NIV).

Jon Walker is the editor of The Purpose Driven Life On-line Devotionals. You can find him on Facebook at 'GraceCreates' with Jon Walker. This devotional is copyrighted 2009 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

All Soul's Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:11:00 +0000

2nd of Nov is designated as All Soul's Day.

In the catholic community in Sg, this is a day where all gather in church to pray for those who have passed on. Somewhat like the hungry ghost festival in the chinese community, just that its condensed into 1 day instead of 1 month. And more environmentally friendly too! No need to burn paper in the air.

My first personal experience with death was when grandpa had an heart attack at home. And I was there. Young and ignorant me have no idea that he had an attack. His sudden passing brought great shock and sorrow to all of us at home. It was my the first time I witness a chinese funeral with all its works! Taoist monk chanting a few times a day. Some times requiring all family to sit on the mat. Some times the monk and his group will chant seated on tables. Not around, but ON the tables. The most memorable part of the funeral was the effort to bring my grandpa's soul through hell and into heaven. Got crossing of a bridge, hecking through hell, the taoist monk's real kungfu was displayed in a 2hr ceremony. We had to hang around grown ups to understand what the taoist monk was doing. It was a real eye-opener.

There were parts of the funeral procession that really evoked deep grief from us. Grandpa had an open casket in the most traditional chinese form. Like what you would see in the chinese "jiang shi" (chinese vampire) movies where its solid wood, lid is a one piece heavy wood that requires nails instead of a simple lock. It was so heavy that it required more than 8 men to carry it. When the monk was nailing to seal the coffin, every knock on the giant metal nails wedged a hole in my heart.

PONG PONG PONG
felt like someone is actually hitting my heart too. Grieve was created physically.

When my dad passed away suddenly of heart attack 3 yrs ago. Grieve wasn't physical but internal. It felt like a heavy weight in my heart for a long long time. There were days that I wondered what it'll be like if he was still around. There were times when I wished that he was still around.

Yes, daddy you've been missed dearly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzQ4ZSy7Og

But what can we do about those who are deceased?

We can pray for their soul to be in place of peace on this All Soul's Day.

All Saint's Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:56:00 +0000

All Saints Day is a special day for me.

And for us too.

8 years ago, a very despondent me, tired from what seems to be endless cycles of family disasters, sat on a pew in church.

Seeking hard. Praying hard.

Praying for God's guidance. Praying for a breakthrough. Praying for a miracle.

He must have heard me loud and clear. Because He spoke to me loudly and clearly too!

That night, I made a very important decision to follow His words, cannot go that wrong with God's words right? In church some more leh!

I made the decision to trust in the Lord completely. He say this man is the one for me, I believed in Him wholly and solely. That night, I opened my heart out to a man, who is totally different from me. A man whom I've met for barely 2 weeks. A leap of faith indeed. Today, I'm happily married for 6 years, all thanks to that one evening that changed my life forever.

There must be tonnes of angels around me that night. I felt so much love!

It was a rough journey leading up to this year's All Saint's Day.
I felt rejection. I felt abandonment. I felt alone.

And again, the grace and peace that I've experienced is far beyond my wildest imagination!
I have not laughed so hard for such a long time. My jaws were aching from 4hours of non-stop laughter.

I believe that the angels are out again in full force for me this weekend to bless me with such a wonderful time!

Thank you angels, you are really my angels!

Thank you Lord, I want to live in your embrace forever!

When Economy is down, Baby making goes up?

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:33:00 +0000

This is just a personal observation.

Since late 2008, world economy has been spiraling downwards. So folks cut back on their spendings. Instead of hanging out, they stay home. With more time spent at home, more hanky panky goes on?

Let's see.... how many pregnancies this year...

There's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. All due either late this year or early next year. And these are just my personal social circle. Why not earlier? Why not later? hmm......

What does that tell us?

If Sg govt wants higher birth rates, just keep the economy down! They are inversely related!

Healing Choices: Don’t Give Temptation Power

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:25:00 +0000

I'm often tempted.

Tempted to watch tv (excessively).

Tempted to go online and shop (endlessly).

Tempted to bitch about anything and everything that comes my way.

Its time to stop and learn to focus on what's important and what's positive.

What about you? What tempts you? How are you dealing with YOUR temptations?

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October 29, 2009
Healing Choices: Don’t Give Temptation Power
by Rick Warren
"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace" (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself?

This is the power of suggestion working within your mind. We naturally move toward whatever our attention is focused on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you, which is why the Bible teaches that we should, "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace" (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

That is why repeating, "I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting" is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It's like announcing, "I'm never going to do what my mom did." You are setting yourself up to repeat it.

Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you feel. The more you focus on "I don’t want to do this," the stronger temptation draws you into its web.

Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don't argue with it, just hang up!

Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation. This is one time it is okay to run away. Get up and turn off the television set. Walk away from a group that is gossiping. Leave the theater in the middle of the movie.

To avoid being stung, stay away from the bees!

How we can do our part @ home...

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Our 1000th post!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Wow, its been that long since this blog was started by Ad. Now we're at our 1000th post! Incredible.

This blog has given me a place to narrate some bits of our lives together, a point of venting out some frustrations and most of all, an opportunity to share our joys & tears with some folks whom we do not get to meet up often.

This blog has also became the reference point for our pineapple tart recipe! (soon, it'll be time to dig it out again)

On this big milestone, let us share how our lives had grown outside our home. These amazing greenery has became such a big part of our lives. Each time BabyA (well, not so baby anymore) comes by, he'll remember to smell them on his way to the lift. Its almost like a comforting gesture to complete his tour of Godpa & Godma's house.

We were shocked as we unearthed our vintage money plant. Check out how the roots has coiled itself round and the round the base of the pot....

And guess what? It eventually grew OUT of the pot!

Amazing eh?

Never underestimate the power of non-moving living things. They'll always find a way to amaze you.

After seeing our vintage plant, let me show you the latest member to our "garden", its our lemon balm, courtesy of our dear fren J. I think I stole a stock back home some time last year. And today, it has taken over our mint (killing it eventually). Initially we thought that the mint was a run away plant, while this lemon balm was a "indoor" plant, so can share pot. But it grew and grew and grew.... till the point where I had to place some supporting structure for it to keep growing up wards. Can you spot it?

Last but not least, actually, now that the vintage money plant is gone. This pot would be the oldest surviving member of the garden. Our Rosemary! We bought it in a tiny pot from a farm near Sembawang about 2 years ago (or was it 3? hmm... cant remember). And today, its pretty strong on its own, often providing our herb when we prepare meat! Yummy!

Did you notice that its not really growing INside? ha ha ha...

That's how wrap our plants are. Pretty much like our lives too at times, you can wake up feeling great and you are greeted by a chain of sad news. Or when you are feeling displaced and shitty, you get pleasantly surprised! Very unpredictable.

Life's short, enjoy it!

New Tribe in Sg?

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Dick spotted!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Dick Lee I mean... :P

Donation Drive for PH Victims

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:14:00 +0000

Hello dude,

collecting any clothes, shoes, bags that you would like to donate to the victims of the storm in Philippines.

Drop off on 10th and 11th Oct.

Email me if you have something to drop off.

:D

Happy Children's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:58:00 +0000

I used to take leave on Children's Day. Because the kid in me refuses to be "productive" on such a special day. hahaha

So what are your fun day plans like?

Challenge yourself to do or see something in a child's perspective on Children's Day!

Gimme a call if you need some child-like pampering. I've got awesome lollipops that's yummilicious!

Enjoy it!