Surely I come quickly.

it's finally warm enough to run in shorts :)

i've never seen a dog more tired than its master before. usually the dogs would be more than happy to be out, racing ahead of their owners, being distracted by this tree and that dog, and the wonderful weather just tops it off! but it was trotting very listlessly BEHIND its master. i just couldn't stop my laughter.

there were beetles! many many of them! red and yellow on the green green grass:) they are absolutely adorable! the red ones remind me of jema and my plans for jo's car. maybe once it becomes jema's car it will show its transformer's powers! hahaha

it crawled up the grass blade, onto another grass blade, then down another grass blade. i wonder what its aim in life is. are we like that, not knowing the big picture? 'a silly dove' - that's what God used.

i was so very tempted to lie down on the spuriously growing green cushion due to my previous heavenly experience, but was deterred by my new discovery of the little creatures

the pigeon perched precariously on the edge of the stone ledge, staring at the stone wall with great suspicion. its contention with the wall was broken by its realisation that it has been spotted being silly. hahas.

walking behind the tall stature, the long striding gait, the whitish hair. it reminds me of jeremy pike.

i think my jogging trips are more like mental gymnastics where my thoughts go really really random. or it may be due to the suppression by alma park and its heritage values. i'm getting really sick of it. ahs. no more alma park tonight! tonight shall be grampians!

to hear the soft muffled cough behind the walls. sitting with her at the window, looking past the glass panels at the wooden board behind, i wondered why it was covered up, i wondered what was behind. i imagined another household, another family. who knows.

wake up to a warm towel over your face. a steaming cup of milo and then a drowsy drive through the customs. then barely awake, we see the housing blocks that have been painted in rainbow colours.

the sun sat high in the sky. the activities in the field reflected its bustling energy. the over-imaginative minds going wild over greenish trees and possessed water. the ride back in the yellow school bus. i remember the mickey mouse sticker at the door.

to see the night remove its dark veil over the sky, to breathe the fresh morning, to hear the dew settling on the grass, the cool breeze patting the sweat on your face. to leave the house together and start a day off in the same vessel. even if it is just a 10 minute journey, it stays there, nestled in my memory.

the early mornings and the late nights in school, when there is no one around. just quietness and peace and a sense of bliss and tranquility. perhaps it is this tag of reminiscence that lingers in my life.

the wet days when the storm rages outside, the raindrops pattering against the window, and you feel safe and warm at home.

the mark of memories, forever imprinted in your mind, unable to be relived ever again. something you can miss terribly but it will never be the same again. i guess this is a sign of growing old, when you sit around talking about "those were the days".

a wonderful day in the woods:) awesome weather, marvellous company :)

we need more iron in our blood.

endure hardship as good soldiers.

through the choices we make, our character is ever forming and refining. through each test of strength, the priorities we have to make, we know ourselves better.

Fret not thyself. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.

'if i don't do it, there is nobody else to do it!'
if there is no one to do it, then should it be done in the first place?

He feeds the sparrow. He feeds the pigeon too. will He not feed you?

What if i cannot finish my essay/documentation/assignments in time?
What if i fail this subject, do poorly and disappoint my parents?
What if i have no time to do the work required?

so what.

What if God is your Creator, Master and your Father?
What if Christ has redeemed you with His blood and claims you as His possession?
What if the Holy Spirit lives in you to prompt you and comfort you with each step of the way?
What if all your work is taken from you this instant - would you find it stored in heaven or would it burn like stubble?
What if your wealth, health, friends, family are all taken away from you - would you cry out like Job "He giveth and He taketh away: blessed be the name of the Lord!"?
What if Christ comes NOW - would He be pleased with the work of your hands and the meditation of your heart?

choose your thinking hat before putting it on.

i woke up very awake because i had more sleep last night than the last two nights. was still very alert till my QT. then was tired all the way till i got home and started cutting asparagus. hmmm i think i'm cut out to do housework all day long? had a little run, which was actually an excuse to not waste the good weather. 'it's a nice friday afternoon and the weather is so nice outside and we're stuck here doing assessment...'

the joys of spring.
the naughty dog whose purpose in life is to chase birds.
the dog which is obedient enough to stay while the owner goes after the blur straying one but it just can't stop barking at passerbys.
the boy biking his dog (he's on the bicycle and the dog's getting a real workout).
the woman walking her twin dogs.
kids that just bubble with joy when they see you for unknown reasons.
if you jog often enough you'll start recognising people.
i just realised the grass makes a really really comfy bed. now i know why people love to laze on the grass in the sun. and why u can't do that in singapore. 1) it is too wet 2) the grass blades are thicker 3) the heat makes the insects very active 4) the ants in singapore don't say 'no worries mate!'. they are a serious bunch.

had a cup of coffee after dinner. work work work. work hard when u are supposed to work. play hard when u are supposed to play. and enjoy both work and play, which is the gift of God.

just something random: take a look at hanjie's blog!

to throw yourself down on the rock.if you are low, you can't fall any lower. to cling on and wrestle till you get the blessing. through weakness and unglamness you get exalted.

the table is set, and the feast almost ready,
the mansions stand waiting, prepared by the groom.
the angels await, and the heavens anticipate,
the wedding of weddings will begin very soon.
the glorious day is not far away,
when the Son shall soon arrive.
then the trumpet shall sound,
and the shout shall resound:
The Bridegroom has arrived!

let us watch, let us pray,
for it may be today,
that the Bridegroom shall arrive.

when it rears its ugly head, suddenly you see it in plain sight. when you discover that the monster inside of you is more fearful than that outside. the fountain of bitter waters. a corrupt tree. the poisonous fruits.

yet aren't you relieved you recognised it? how many times have you communed with it and satisfy its every desire? how often have you entertained it and fed it and strengthened it?

casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 10:5

indeed he has taught me not to compare.
indeed i can do nothing by myself, and have nothing by myself.
i'll be satisfied in the knowledge of my own wretchedness and comforted in the knowledge of the extent of his love.
indeed he remembers that we are but dust. but we forget so. we always want to achieve something, to be someone.
he can make me to finish all my assignments even in the next hour if he so wills. you can be in heaven with him today if he so wills. but he wants to let us taste the fullness of his grace, to give to us our king's portion daily, to learn the sweetness of trusting in him.
just to live day by day, moment by moment, faithfully serving with whatsoever he has given me.

the cool 18 degrees breeze combs the surface of the water. the ducks roams the pond leisurely, checking their feathers, picking at the base of the reeds. then they came along, mother and daughter, throwing huge amounts of bread pieces into the water. the crows and other fowls flocked to the scene of waste and gluttony. the ducks abandoned their reeds and stuffed themselves with a strange foreign diet.

the chilly 18 degrees wind blows. the ducks peek forlornly around the reeds, looking for food. then they came along, mother and daughter, scattering bread pieces lavishly into the water. the other birds joined the feast, and the ducks feed gleefully at the abundant supply of food.

6 more weeks to home. or 2 more weeks to deadlines after deadlines.

i still don't really know how to use picasa and blogspot together. if i put my pics into an album in picasa, i still can't link them to my blog directly? cos another album is set up just for my blog. so that means i'll have to double up if i put e pics on my blog and in their albums which is wasting my space! does anyone know how to use this??

here are some pics from tulip festival trip:

more pics + singapore day photos on my picasa album

May every moment of my life bring glory to Thy Name.
Oh, i surrender every want and love of worldly gain.
Oh cast me not aside as one who pants for worldly things,
but draw me close unto your side where thy great blessings springs.

don't forget in the race he gave strength for the run.
don't forget Jesus' care, don't forget answered prayer.
remember your Lord God Jehovah.
remember how much you were changed by His word.
don't turn him away,
he bids you to stay.
though gone be your song,
though weak or though strong,
stay where you belong,
at his side.

i know the plans i have for you,
for peace and not for sorrow.
i give to you a future and a hope.
i bind your broken heart,
i release you from captivity.
your ashes, i turn to beauty,
your mourning, the oil of joy.
your shame a crown of blessing,
and for your broken spirit,
i give to you a garment,
a garment of praise.
and you shall be a tree of righteousness,
a planting of our God.
a garment of praise i give to you,
for your broken fainting spirit,
the crown of blessing for your shame,
the oil of joy for your mourning,
your ashes i turn to beauty,
i release you from captivity.
i give you a garment of praise.