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I had a good time hanging out with the kakis in the evening... would have been great if Gpp could make it but I think he's rather tied down with work.

It was a good break... it's been some time since I last had such good laughs... haha.

Ray and Jacq came by my apartment while we waited for Char to head down to Matty's place together to bai nian. Then we moved on to Novena area wanting to eat at the Hong Kong Cafe which we didn't get to two years ago I think... well, I think we really don't have affinity with the shop - it was closed. So we ended up eating chicken rice instead with some other dishes (the food, not the plates)... and before that, a lou hei.

Then we moved on to East Coast's "Playground" and parked at Old Town White Coffee... where we continued to chill and chat till it was time to call it a day.

Thanks Ray for ferrying us around all the while! (:

Gonna visit my secondary school chinese teacher (coincidentally Char's lecturer in NIE) with my secondary four classmates later on to bai nian! Haha... life then... it really did seem much simpler than what my charges are going through right now.

I wish I can provide some structures, some bonding, some good identity for the collective whole.. but well.

That's the way it is I guess...

I remember the story of the old man picking up starfishes stuck in the sand one by one, throwing them into the sea, giving them the new lease of life... and I'm reminded of the fact that it's impossible for the old man to pick up all the starfishes en mass and throw them all into the sea at once.

Whatever that's been given me... God I pray that You would empower me to do so for Your glory. Whomever that I've been given the privilege to mentor officially this year... God I pray that You would give me the strength, knowledge, wisdom, patience, tenderness, willingness and courage to challenge and the motivation to see them flourish in their individual and collective journeys this year.

Good night. (:

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I shall post an entry before I call it a day.

I don't really know how to explain the stage where I'm in at this point of time. I sure do hope that it's not melancholy or anything of the sort... it's just that, I'm like at a point that I'm identifying so many blessings that He's given and yet not finding the strength to give back.

I question if it is work; yes, I still do spend time with the boys... but much of the time has been spent of late churning out documents upon documents instead in front of my computer. And even if it's time spent with them... it still doesn't justify how I've been neglecting others.

Today Char and I met up with Faith, our wedding coordinator, and Jacq, our florist and decor designer for the wedding venue. Faith has been a really wonderful coordinator, looking into details and making sure that we're on schedules along the way. We're really excited to see what Jacq would make of the decorations and floral arrangements that day... and just when we were going to go into budget discussion, we were given a hint that it would be taken care of... and I don't really have to guess much as to who's contributing.

Then we went off to Mark & Sue's place for a little birthday gathering for Mark... had a sumptuous home cooked meal and stayed on to play two of the board games that he has. As we're walking to catch a cab back, they offered to settle certain aspects of our preparations, knowing how daunting it can be as everything adds up.

And the various individuals who've offered their help in one way or another...

And the greatest earthly blessing that He's given... there's this constant nag to know that I've not been giving Char all that she deserves of late - it's been pretty hard to spend time together the way we did during the holidays, with both of us equally taxed in our respective workplaces... the consolation and joy that I hear from her is that she's gotten a rather good class and had a rather good start with them... but I know that the lack of quality time spent together is causing her strain.

Well... I'm learning to trust in the things that's He's redepositing into my heart... and I know just what I need to do... as I was writing the second paragraph to this entry, it was spoken.

That I need to be filled in order to give not out of my own strength.

And I'm given the choice... as always.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship... and it's all about You.. it's all about You, Jesus...

And I was wondering why 5 would message me all of a sudden asking for the chords and lyrics to that song when he could get them himself.

All things piece together... don't they?

(:

I have this feeling that 90% who reads this entry won't understand what it's saying. Hahahaha...

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I forwarded the previous post as a mail message to some of my colleagues at work to keep them informed... and I ended off with an afterthought... that I'm thankful to have people (colleagues) to update in school.

Haha yeah... it's not easy for an introvert to make acquaintances and friends for one. But I'm not using it as an excuse. I'm just thankful. Just listing some things that reflect the title of this post:

1. my boss and the concern he's always been giving be it in my work or in my personal life
   
2. colleagues who 'click' and who share the same passion.. call it like-mindedness bah. :)
   
3. students whom I've grown familiar with and who've grown familiar to me... like in more recent times:
   
   
   • one who tapped you to say goodbye when you're in the midst of a conversation with another person
     
   • one who scoured many Starbuck chains and finally got those chocolate scones... haha
     
   • one who gave a hidden wave in the midst of his duty as a regimental leader in front of his 'men' as you walked past
     
   • one who'll hang around and say goodbye (haha...)
     
   • one who'd come by more than once and said he noticed me so engrossed in my work I didn't even notice him around the area
     
   • one who came by my apartment and wanted to say his goodbye before he leaves for the holidays
     
   • yeah... just some recent memorable ones :)
   
   
4. Char my dear dear and fiancee... who shares the same passion for one, who encourages and help me put things in perspectives, especially when it comes to work related stuff.
   

Just came home from the hospital.. thanks Gpp for fetching us home! :)

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The past couple of hours were spent trying to get a few pieces of clothing ironed in between futile attempts at getting msn to work and work itself. Prior to that, I was doing a little bit of unwinding with Char at Vivocity, catching a breather over dinner and a movie... we caught "Meet Dave".

It's a joy to hear her laughter... the lightness of it. I must continue to work to make my deardear laugh amidst all the stress and work that's piling up for the both of us. Haha yeah. Her students are giving her a run of her energies.. when she's already been drained and sick these days. And my current schedules aren't helping much - we're practically stretched in terms of schedules... and sometimes when I'm done with what I have to do, it would have been her bed time already. The nature of my current job as a boarding master is as such - sometimes my work extends into rather late nights.

Which is why I'm thankful for the weekly "no compromise" day when we'll both spend the evening together.. something that we started quite a long time back, when we both still had quite a bit of time together each week. Have been missing a week or two of it over the past weeks due to prior arranged appointments... This was probably the first proper evening when we could spend some time together... still it seemed short.

I'm not sure how we can successfully maneuvre through this season of time... but I do know that Pa's in charge.

Thank you dear for being so patient with me.. for the sacrifices you made... simply because you chose to love me. I will continue to jiayou so that I won't forever remain as your lau pok wllg. Remember to drink more water at work k... and just do as Pa would ba. Praying for you... wdwllp...WAN! HAHAN! :D

It's been sometimes since I blogged an entry... lots happened over the past two weeks or so... guess the best is to let the pictures do the talking with me interspersing a couple of words here and there:

Finally took some pictures of Covenant Evangelical Free Church's Woodlands premises.. where Char and I would be holding our solemnisation and reception next May. Yet to confirm cause I've yet to do up the documentations... which reminds me, I should be doing it real soon! Haha... it's amazing to think of it still - the first time I stepped into compounds on 3rd August, my jaw dropped when I saw that the chairs at the fellowship area are in orange and green... exactly the colours we chose as our wedding theme! Haha... yeah. It'll take some time to get used to the place first though - have grown to have the familiarity with the Bukit Panjang compounds which exude a more homely feeling... but yeah, this new one looks really cool I must admit! (: Haha... ultimately, it's really not about the buildings or how well they look... nothing beats God's presence. Where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is. :)

Keepying and Kaijie are two pals I made through ECCube, my high school's computer club. Some pretty fond memories we shared together... like how we visited the zoo and night safari for our project.. which eventually won us the accolade of being the first local secondary school to win a particular international competition. One went on to a poly and another to another jc... we kept in touch here and there - met with them individually in the past. Ten years passed... and we finally met together once more as a group. Had dinner at poolside, a place where we never went to while we were here as students. Brought them on a little night tour of the school... and as we reached Kah Kee Hall, Kaijie paused and had the expression of being overwhelmed that he's back in school once again.

Haha... I wonder if the current batches would have such feelings of nostalgia, of good memories ten, twenty years down the road. The Chinese High has been a special place... not the academic competitiveness, not the teachers' lectures... more so the people, the friends, the day to day experiences. I guess that did play a part in me choosing to be back bah. :)

Hahah oh oh... the graduate diploma phase of my professional counselling course has officially ended. (: In all, one high distinction and four distinctions for all assignments and final exam... with a commendation for practicum. Wouldn't have been possible if not for Pa's sustenance and grace... and Char's constant encouragement... and Gpp's prayers. :P This course really helped in allowing me to be equipped with practical skills to help the boys... but with all the mad schedules, I have to defer the masters phase for probably two semesters. Of course, I really won't know how Pa will lead in the months to come... there's a time to plan... and also a time to trust. We'll see how. :)

My dear sister has graduated from her Diploma in Multimedia course at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts!! She looks good in her grad gown man!! :D Haha... It's been a journey for her.. and I'm just glad that she pulled through - talk about strength and resilience. :) And yeah, glad to bump into Ah Hao, my first mentee of sorts whom I have not met for a VERY LONG TIME. Haha... fond memories, that man shall not live on bread alone but by the Word of God... Haha.

If you're reading this bro... I do hope that I'll get to see you more often in the future. ;)

Attended the school's chinese drama production last Saturday after dinner with Dori and dad... Kudos for a job well done! Enjoyed all the six mini-plays. Great to see so many familiar faces in the plays! :)

It's been three weeks since the boarding programme started... I've grown to see my cluster as 'family' though I would think not all of them would think that way. At the back of my mind I know that some of them would most probably leave after the 'try out' period, probably not because the programme's not good, but just because they would find the full length of stay too long. Well... in any case, I'll just have to make use of whatever time there is to get to know them better. This bunch of boys have been amazing and the most disciplined - something that I really didn't expect. Toilets are always kept clean, rooms are all generally well kept.. have yet to do a spot check this week though... shall do it soon. Heh heh heh....

And yeah, some of them have begun their tennis lessons which they'd opted for as part of the boarding programme. I'm supervising one group... they were having so much fun they got carried away with time on the first day. Haha... in any case, there were conflicting feelings then - was really glad to see them having fun and gelling together in that sense... yet on the other hand it wasn't right to drag beyond the lesson time as the coach and the lifeguard who manages the lightings of the court have to call it a day. It was a good opportunity to observe the level of discipline in each of the participants though! Haha...

Alright... guess I'll take a little rest for now. There're quite a number of pressing matters to settle at work later on - preparing for the parent-teacher gathering on Friday, settling next term's timetables and venues, fixing and sprucing a portal that I'd set up...

Till then. :)

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Thank you. To the bunch of fun and zany Yals: Tze, Wernz, Serene and Mark - really appreciate that you people took the time to come support. Your presence said it all! Not forgetting the yummy supper... Hehe. Willie, Chon Wee and Becks - the representatives of the lao shai gang! Hahahah... thank you man. Haven't really been with you guys for quite some time already.. hope to catch up soon! Alex - thank you for coming down after school! Of course have to thank you for coming up with the demo version of the song which was selected for the semi finals! Not forgetting the milo dinosaur which you introduced to me that night. Wah. Extremely sweet beverage... not for the bitter at heart! Hahahah. Jianqun - sole representative from 31! Hahaha... Thank you for coming down to support man... You know me la, I always get the jitters when asked to face a crowd... but thank God that I'm given opportunities to train in this area in the army... to teach batches of trainees how to do CPR.. sort of helped a bit. Coming down this Friday to support you!! Yusi - thank you for coming down and sending all the little encouragements! It was really a wonderful experience for me... more so to see all of you coming down despite your busy schedules! I'll definitely embark on writing more songs! And hehe... thanks to those out there who prayed... who messaged me!

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Alex came to my house today to do some recording for some jingles competition.. Had a pretty fun time (with lots of laughter and falling off the chair). Got her to do a piano version for my life song. Splendid. Was so ministered recording the song... singing the song... and of course listening to the song again and again. Thank you Alex... and of course... thank You. :P