I've decided to move <--- :)

I love this blog and its design!!:) But I think that wordpress is more comprehensive. haha my LJ account is reserved for making friends such as Ki. hahaha. That one's even more confusing.

So yeah, you don't have to relink cos I won't delete this blog.

Thanks guys! Up till today, the 260th post, this blog has been full of wonderful shared memories. :)

Love:)

Exams are over!!:) Well almost, except for the 15%prac exam on the 26th:) but hey, I had Ki during prac the whole sem, so of course I wasn't sitting around like a spare tyre doing nothing while she did everything. So of course I'd know what's going on hahaha. naah, that's why we're all 3 of our science units together!!!! HOW EXCITING:)

She makes my uni days so happy:) So do Josh and Jenny:) Lean on me// hahaha, I had that song playing in my head during Dev, all your fault Ki!! I bet that's why I forgot to write "gastrulation" and "neurulation", describing everything else instead. haha:)

Anyway! I just came back from cell group:) I really do enjoy my cell group. We don't just have fun, we really do share and pray for each other..I do hope more people will come and join us!!:) hahaha.

We played this game I remembered from Shuying's cell last time..where you draw a circle, and then pass the paper around. Everyone looks at you and adds a feature (ie. eyes, ears)..when I got my pic back, I couldn't stop laughing cos it was so horrid!! (Compared to the reallllyy nice pic they drew for me in Shuying's cell..so the expectation was there haha)

I looked like a pig with some really bad nose hair. How dare you..haha. Okay fine, Oliver looked like Buddha, Owee looked like a China imperial guard (also because I drew an aerial version of her cap, instead of 3d), Jane looked like she was wearing excretion on her neck, Cheryl with really small eyes (I the drawer, protest at that misguided truth)..and you name it haha.

Uber funny!:) I wanted to scold everyone and defend my face. hahaha, but looking at Justin's portrait..hey mine aint that bad hahahaha..:) love them STILL. :) and Joseph, our new member (praise God) wrote: Charlene, you are as beautiful (aww so sweet), as you look in this pic (what the!!? -turns and stares) haha. okay, but he said he meant it the other way, so graciously forgiven!! :)

Now on to the serious part..haha. I was just telling Owee, that I currently feel like I just woke up from a really bad dream. haha. But the good part was that God was with me through it all. I don't think I ever had such a horrid week during the exams. I came down with flu on monday night, after my first paper. Yeah, then things went downhill from there with 3 papers in a row from wed-fri. But my God carried me through, and He told me this, "C'mon girl, you can't do this alone, but we can do this together. Get up and try again, I'll do it with you." I just felt so encouraged, because I know His grace can carry me through. :)

Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me along. The OCF-ers who pray everyday at 930am, I know He answers your prayers:) My parents and sister, for being so understanding during this time. Still loving me through whatever nonsense I give you all. I don't take it forgranted, really. :)

And to my friends, for their encouragement. Like my cell, spamming each other with e-mails. Truth be told, I immensely disklike one-liner e-mails accompanied with the audacity to 'replyall' even when it scarcely concerns the other 32590239 of us..but all your emails really encourage me, just to know what's going on in your lives:) hehehe.

Going to the city tomorrow with my bimbotic Nikki. Gosh, it's been almost a year and a half now:) And hopefully, meet Shukkie:) hehehe.

Okay, here's a good song Jack sent.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at His word;
just to rest upon His promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust His cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
and I know that thou art with me,
wilt be with me to the end.

GO FOR WINTER CAMP!! :)

and that's the last of me till the 15th- all the best everyone!!:))

stella: hey dear! hope you're feeling better!:) yeah, kids church -giggles. help me!!! oh man. okay, princess fiona will save the day..so i dont mind being shrek for a day hahaha. :) take care sweetie!:)

jia: JIA!!:) yeah, I see you everyday for like 2 years now!:) pp who see that pic always take a second look cos they think it's some guy hahaha. so you're famous!! yeah of course i miss you lar:) hehehe. a surprise call from me is long overdue..buttttt coming soon! hahahaha. :)

rawr: hey! oh okay..i should be able to go out with you if you come from 17th onwards!! but it'll be exam time for my sister:) hope you get your flight confirmation soon!:)

hy: tell me about it haha..have to switch between apoptosis and homicide, tell me about it haha:) hope you're doing fine dear:))) dont watch too much tv lar..=(

jie: -smacks lips:) all gone, too bad bb.

ki(z): hahaha, i cant call you Kiz, it'll come out as 'kiss'..hahaha. yeah..apoptosis, neurobiology, you name it!! im seriously thinking of not taking dev anymore!! how! :) hahaha i'll be a drama-mama!!:)

shuk: shukie! how's exams!! you're having it earlier than me is it? i start next mon 11th:) end mostly on 15th:) take care okay!! hope all's fine;0) stay strong in the Lord dear, He's always with you:)

lyn: hahaha, sometimes i sneak another timtam!! it's so hard to resist..but i prefer the dark choc timtams, not the original..:) haha i'll bring some over if i do visit you in the future!!:) im sure you have nicer choc biscuits over there though!!:)

mich: it's about popping your sister's toes!! haha am i funny or not? hahaha:) no lar, it's about cell death!?!? Not fun. I like blowing bubbles though! hahaha:)
_____________________

I just received news that Uncle Simon Wong has passed away. I thank God for His will that has been done, and I hope Sher and her family are doing well.

There was one OCF meeting when I was singing in front of Sher, and you know sometimes one loses focus easily when doing the same thing repetitively. As I was singing, I saw Sher's face in deep concentration and her hand half-lifted to God. I think that was a moment in time when she was struggling with God while singing "I believe You're my healer, I believe You are all I need". I started to realise that she was trying her best to mean the words she was mouthing, and to believe with all her heart in the One she calls Lord.

The songs that we sing, it's so easy to just sing and mean the words when nothing really substantially bad is going on in our lives. But Sher has been such an encouragement to everyone around her, to me. An inspiration because of her strength and hope in God, even though in a sense, her world has been turned upside down. I believe it's because she knows Who holds her world.

Spending time with her bbq-ing and chatting, noone would guess that she's going through such a tough time. I admire her for being so open with all of us, for being vulnerable so that we can in turn be her support. Alot of times I look at her and wonder if I would have the same strength.

To think about life and it's transient nature. Its unpredictability. Its weakness. Yet it is a gift from God. None of us have earned the right to live, hence we have to spread this gift to all we meet.

I was just thinking about Uncle Simon when Jane called to ask if I had heard the news. And she shared about how she appreciates the small little things that people do for her nowadays. To see her grow and change is such an encouragement to me. I remember the day at uni when she was just sharing her feelings with me, crying. I was looking at her and I remembered how that felt. To be so hurt, to be so upset, and yet to be so angry at the same time.

But we both now look back and see how God has moulded us through all of these trials. That He never wastes a tear, a heartache. He disciplines the ones He loves. He protects the ones dear to Him. He guards those He has a great plan for.

And I just want to share how He's answered one of my prayers. A year ago, I was sharing with both Deb and Jia about how I don't have a great girlfriend here in Aust to walk life with. Now, I'm so glad that I have Jane, really. She's someone who inspires me so much. With her pure heart, her walk with God, her love for others. Seeing her worship makes me feel like heaven is one step closer. haha, how awesome and rare is that. She pushes me to be a better person, to be a woman after God's heart. I'm so thankful for her. :)

Yeah:) I won't usually share personal thoughts on my blog, so let's not get too touchy haha. But, I really want to encourage those who are reading my blog. That God knows whatever you're going through right now. Jack was telling me about his skin problem and what he said next made me stop to think. He said something like, 'but actually my problem is not that bad, pray for Sher instead because she really inspires me even though she's going through such a tough time'.

And it's true, we often think that our problems are the biggest, but when we start to look beyond ourselves and towards a Big God, our worries seem to fade away in a distance. So, appreciate the little things in life and the gift of your everyday, because you don't know what tomorrow will bring:)

Because I'm bored of apoptosis, I got this from Jie who got it from Lien!

Name 7 things in your bag/wallet/pocket:

1. Neocard of Jia and me (big big)
2. Cards of money and of many companies- you name it:)
3. Lipbalm (Spf 30, of course!)
4. Keys with Clinque lipbalm and chain! (yay Ki, we like!)
5. hmm. ooh, my Gastby powdered Oil Film, never leave without
6. My Sigg bottie:) hee.
7. Expired concession card (because I can drive) haha.

Name 6 things you do when you’re really stressed:

1. Do these quizzes lor
2. Read!
3. Watch Oprah/Dr. Phil
4. Play guitar
5. Sing!
6. Go over to my sister's room!:)

Name 5 favorite fruits:

1. Mango
2. Seedless grapes
3. Pescimum (how to spell)
4. hmm. Strawberries
5. Nice soft peaches

Name 3 things you are wearing right now

1. Mum's old purple jacket
2. My pink fluffy piggy bedroom slippers (with their respective secret names)
3. Draggy grey pj pants

What are you thinking about right now?
Why my parents are making noise outside!

Where is your phone?
Next to my laptop

Where do you sleep?
On my bed

Where did you get the shirt you’re wearing?
3 prudence, from high school

What was the last thing you ate?
A secretly stolen timtam, although I'd much rather say, the nice beef rendang mum cooked

What is the closest item near you that is blue?
hmm, my cup! (hardly any blue round' here! most are given items)

When did you last feel a tree with your bare hands?
hey?? hmm. I guess when I accidentally walk against the tree outside my house??

AND I tag you! Yes, you who are bored or exam stressed and hence reading my blog:)

Jane: haha I learnt the art of encouragement on my blog, from you:) Ooh I didn't know you gave the princess bk to Sher! another great girl to bless hey..;) Stop wanting to go out..I shall strap you at home to study..hahaha. but eh, was chaddy shopping good? hahaha:)

This is taken from Charm's blog:) I find her life inspiring. Although we're miles apart, I believe she blogs from her heart and what's important to her, and that alone inspires me in the things of God. It's so easy to lose focus, to fall away. I see God's faithfulness in her life, even though we really hardly talk:)

"and i guess.
she didn't do anything wrong?
she just wanted to be
that ideal self.
and.
through it, she lost herself.
but in the end,
she gave up that mask
that absorbed her identity.
and found back
the things in her life
things that she had set aside
to accomplish a dream.
that seemed too hard to attain
that took so much out of her.
and the accomplishment of the dream
gave only temporal satisfaction.

in the end, she became herself
she became real (:

what would happen
if we saw the beauty of the soul
instead of external appearances?
i think if that happened.
of cos there would still be a range
but i guess the end
of the "super ugly"
would be very much reduced.
cos out there,
there is always someone who loves you
and whom you love (:
and people who can love
can't be that bad right??

what would happen.
if we did not see the beauty of the soul
but the beauty of Christ instead?
then, there would be value equality haha"

I think the girl's night at OCF really opened my eyes. In a way that you start to see others differently. I start to realise that every single person is hurting, that everyone has their own insecuritites and that the pain the random stranger beside you is facing, is so real. Sometimes I take forgranted alot of the blessings in my life. As people share their lives openly, I try to put myself in their shoes and wonder, what would I do if I were them? Would I still be the joyful and confident young lady, or will I be less secure, less bubbly, less loving towards others.

Because when you see your life through the perfect rose-tinted glasses, it's so easy to be a happy airhead.

But I suppose everyone has their own journey to travel. To discover, to press on.

I just want to say, treasure the people in your life who love you for who you are, because those are the real treasures in your life. Not your looks, your money or grades, but those real people.

This is your now.

....

How very aptly, Charm just reminded me of my life verse. (which I kinda forgot, but she actually remembered!)

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way."