1. God

I don’t think I can really start a thanksgiving post without making mention of the one this season is really about. Everyone knows that Christmas is a season to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But really, we should be celebrating His death and resurrection! Jesus was born, and He can only die if He was born, and the reason He was born was to give us life. To give me, and the world, a second chance at freedom, liberty, peace, joy, happiness. Thank you Jesus, thank you for giving me life. Thank you for giving me your peace, love, joy, and allowing me to enter into that dance, the dance of freedom and liberty. Thank you for grace, for forgiveness, for mercy. You know I need and ask for it everyday. Thank you Jesus, thank you so much for your grace. Its ironic that my name is grace and I’m thanking you for your grace. You overwhelm me, your love for me, it changes me every single day and I’m so thankful, so so grateful. Without you, I would be in pieces. Without you, I would be living my life so bogged down by unnecessary things, held down by the things of the world. But because you are here with me, living in me, you gave me life. True life, that I could never live without you. Thank you Jesus, I love you (: I’m so glad you’re in my life!

2. My Parents

Hello Mummy and Daddy, I know you guys are reading this. You are both amazing parents, and although I know that some days I can be a handful, and some days I get annoyed at the both of you, I love you both so much. You have put so much in me, and I know you have such dreams for me. Thank you Mom and Dad, for believing in me, keeping me on the right track, being so incredibly understanding and trusting me. I’m sorry I keep spending your money (heh), and yet every time I don’t have enough, you never fail to send me more. Thank you (: Really, I’m not saying this because I want your money or anything like that, but thank you for 21 amazing years. You are both the best parents in the world and I’m so glad that you both are mine. You’re my parents (: Thank you Mom and Dad! I love you both so much!!

3. GJYY

Thanks girls, for always being there. Each one of you fit into something that I need at any point in time. Yin, the voice of reason; Jacinth, the voice of faith; Hui, the encourager. I love that we don’t have to talk every single day, but when we do, there isn’t a dull moment. Our friendships are the ones that will last. I love you girls so much, and I probably haven’t been the greatest friend, but you girls are so incredibly understanding. I love it that you know me as well if not better than I know myself and if I ever need a wake up call, you guys are the one that I run to. Because you’re not afraid to tell me straight to my face. And for that, I thank you (: Thank you for being my pillar of support and strength, and for sticking it out with me for the past 10 years. We’ve been friends for most of our life now girls!! Weird huh. Love you three so much, here’s to 70 more years of sleepovers and roadtrips! :D

4. Carmen

Hello my cousin. Thank you for 5 amazing years in Melbourne. It hit me the other day that I’m not gonna have you with me next year. You’ve been an amazing housemate, so understanding (most of the time, haha) and I think these 5 years we’ve grown the most together. I’m sad that our season of staying together has ended, but I can’t wait for the next seasons of our lives to start! You’ve grown so much this year, and I’m really so proud of you. Of how much you’ve grown, and how you’ve changed. Going from a girl that refused to eat vegetables or wear a skirt, to a woman that cooks, cleans, wears dresses (owns more shoes & dresses than I do!!), and even owns Chanel, T&Co etc. I’m so so proud of you! You’re an amazing amazing person, with such a heart for people that you don’t know how to say no. You love with all your heart, and you have an incredible tolerance for nonsense. Don’t ever let Singapore cause you to put your guards up again and become jaded. I’m never gonna forget the past 5 years, lying on your bed talking to you, lying on you while you’re trying to sleep, laughing until our belly ached, shouting at each other, shouting at you to share your blanket, falling asleep on your bed when you told me not to, breaking your bed (again), spraying air freshener after Patrick uses the toilet. Because of you, Melbourne became an experience and an adventure. Because you were with me, I was willing to try new things, make new friends, and I bet you didn’t know this, but you caused me to seek God more. I love you, you’re like the sister I never had. Except you’re my cousin, and I really really love you so much. I’m gonna miss you next year, I don’t have anyone to jump on, to talk to when I’m angry, or to talk to when I’m lonely. I miss you already, I love you so much!

Okay, this is all the people I can do for now. Maybe tomorrow I’ll do another one, but for now, this is all.

Goodnight everyone!

God bless (:

So many things have been happening, but most important of all, I really miss home. I was looking at pictures of my mom & dad on fb, and I miss them so much! This year is such a different year to the others, I just know that by the end of the year, we are all gonna be in different places than before. But for now, this year is already different. Just the whole.. ‘feel’ to it. The atmosphere.

Lately, God’s been showering his favour on me, and I’m not complaining! I’ve really been craving chocolate chip cookies.. or the subway white chocolate macademia one. That’s the best! Its super yummy when its warm and soft. I like warm soft chewy cookies! Omgosh, chewy ice cream. I hope we go for roadtrips during the holidays! I really want to get away for a while.

Father, I pray for provision and favour. I pray for blessings and grace. I pray for your mercy and joy, your unfailing love and peace. I pray for restoration of what was lost, and of confidence. I pray for faith, a new level of faith and wisdom. I pray for wisdom Lord, your wisdom. I pray for security in you, and not the things of the world. Thank you Lord, for your son. Thank you Lord, for your grace. Thank you Lord, for you unfailing love and your strong arms to catch me when I fall. I love you Lord. Amen.

College is really heaps of fun. This group of people, they’re amazing. Every single one of them is a godsend, truly. They’re fun, serious, weird, quirky, everything all mixed into one. This year is the year of the supernatural too! All the more, this year’s group is absolutely amazing. We’re all so different, but we all click so well. Its only been 3 weeks? And I love each and every one of them. If even one person was missing, we wouldn’t be complete! Everyone’s just bonded so well, and we all get along. These are friendships that are definitely gonna last because God is so sewing us together. The studying part, on the other hand, is full on. There’s so many things to do, and the commitment is crazy! One of the interns asked me today if this was what I expected, and it definitely isn’t! Its way more than I thought it’d be, but in a good way! Its full of crazy laughter and joy, but honestly, the work isn’t all that bad. I’ve got assignments to do, for sure, but its alright. I’m having so much fun!

Uni on the other hand, that’s a pain. Its that I know I have to pass this semester, and that I want to do well, that makes it all the harder. See, I so want to graduate and to finish uni. But what used to be a joy, going to uni and learning all the psych things, has now just become a pain. Its just draining going to uni, and being stuck listening to a lecturer together with 90 other students. I don’t know how else to explain it, but its as if I know I’m not called to do this. So much such that although what I’m learning is relatively interesting, I don’t have the heart for it anymore. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact that I don’t recognise anyone in class, its a completely new batch of students and the people I used to sit and talk with are graduated. Whatever it is, God, you have called me to do this year, and to do this semester. I know you will provide me with the resources and energy to finish it. Thank you Jesus! Your mercies are new every morning (:

Okay, back to my assignments! This year, its an exciting year! Supernatural :D

Chinese New Year has been pretty awesome (: Its sad that I’m leaving so fast, I wish I had more time to spend with my parents though. I feel like this holiday, we hardly got to spend any time together! My dad was busy with work, and if he wasn’t working, then I was! We had fewer family dinners, just the three of us. But then again, the ones we had were pretty awesome (: My parents are the most hardworking, generous, kind, compassionate, and downright amazing people I know. They’ve got such a heart for people, and for God. No mom, I’m not trying to get money off you/tripod you. I just love you guys so much! But really, this summer has been really good. I don’t know how to explain it, but the last couple of years, each time I come back I feel the need to go back to Melb for ‘healing’. Like I’m different in each country (no, I do not have multiple personality disorder), and in Singapore, I make stupid mistakes that I would never make back in Melb. Things that have massive consequences of which I only deal with when I’m in Melb. I don’t know how else to explain it but not this year! This summer had fewer mistakes and a lot more laughter.

Its been a good summer, and its going to be an even better year. God is so good, so so good. He never fails, and answers all prayers. Faith is all you need (:

And yet, I don’t know if I really want to go back just yet. I’ll be on my own for about.. 2.5 weeks before my housemate gets back, and there are so few people in Melb! Not to mention, 2 of my closest friends are leaving for good. Another one is leaving at the end of the year. I guess its a sign that the year I turn 21, is the year of change and growth. Its true though, its easy for the person that’s leaving, but its hard for those left behind. Well, its a year of learning isn’t it? (: I don’t really want to leave, but seeing my parents in Aug is definitely cheering me up (: This year’s gonna be so busy and packed, I don’t know how I’m going to manage. God, give me strength and teach me time management. Amen.

Okay, now its time to start counting down and probably start packing sometime soon.

In other news, this holiday to Malaysia was absolutely filled with God’s grace and favour. Honestly, I’ve never been on a trip where so many things went wrong, but I think its because of all these things that God’s blessings really shone through it all. His grace and love for us, its amazing. A holiday like this, should’ve ended in anger and frustration but yet, we’re all smiling, laughing and having a good time. So don’t say that prayer doesn’t work, because it does (:

We were watching The Prince of Egypt at summer urbs just now and something Ps Prince said on sunday really hit me. In the movie, Moses goes out into the Red Sea, puts his staff in and the sea parts. But in the Bible, all it says is that “But God led the people about, [through] the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 13: 18. And so Ps Prince was talking about faith, and how faith isn’t about seeing, but about believing. If you have to see it to believe it, that isn’t faith anymore. So he spoke about how he went to Israel and a guy riding a horse went out into the sea, and he rode it until the water touched his feet, and rode until the water was up to the horse’s nose, and then again until the water was up to the man’s own nose before God split open the sea. Because that is faith. And the Egyptians didn’t make it why? Because they already saw the open sea, all they did was go through it and they didn’t have faith. I don’t know where he got the horse riding guy from, but even if this story isn’t true, what’s important is how much faith a person has and how as long as you have faith, God will do the rest.

I don’t even know how I came on this topic. Okay, sleep time. Goodnight (:

This year is gonna be the first year that I’m not home for christmas, or new year’s. I don’t like it, I absolutely hate the feeling that my family’s gonna be together this christmas, having dinner, playing mahjong, swapping presents, laughing and singing carols. This is gonna be the first year in a long time that the whole family’s gonna be around, minus me. Christmas has always been my favourite season, always always. Because we spend the day together, as a family. Dad, mum and me. I know I’m going on and on and on about not being back for christmas, but I’m really bummed. But its okay, if I don’t get the early flight back, I have a bunch of awesome friends to spend christmas with! We’re gonna have fun (:

I should update about Sydney, except I don’t have pictures. It was amazing, and so much fun. We spent so much on food, really really good food. And all the good food was cancelled out by the amount of walking we did. Walking across Balmain, and then again to Surrey Hills, from Circular Quay all the way across the city to our hotel at Central Station, from the hotel to the bus stop (its about 4 streets), and then back again. We found the most amazing IGA ever! IGA is the independent grocers of australia, and basically every IGA stocks different things depending on the what the shop keeper wants to stock. Hence, the IGA at Haymarket, was essential an asian grocer. Except, rather than being just a regular asian grocer like what we have here in Melbourne, the Haymarket IGA is literally like Giant in Singapore, on a smaller scale. They even had Rambutans and Longans! It was incredible. If I lived in Sydney, that would be my favourite place to shop. Honestly. I felt so at home there, like I had been transported back to Singapore, and I was standing in NTUC with all the aunties. Haha! But yes, Sydney was incredible, and I loved the company too! Shiyou & Diane are my favourite people to go on holidays with <3 Love them to bits! I also managed to spend a whole afternoon and evening with my godpa! He’s so much fun to hang out with, and we share a love for kung fu movies and fruits. Haha! I got sunburnt on my first day in Sydney which quickly went away due to the vast amount of rain we got for the rest of the week. It rained every single day that we were in Sydney, except for our first day, hence no tan. Much to the delight of the girls and to my dismay.

I miss the late night chats we had before sleeping, spa night, laughing at random things, and wandering around the city. Love you girls so much! We should go on another holiday soon, like to bali, thailand, hong kong or something when we’re all back in Singapore.

Okay, time for sleep. I think I have too much on my mind.

Now, what to bring to Sydney. 5 day trip with no check-in buggage! Note to self: Bring the camera. End note. I’m gonna stay over at shiyou’s place tomorrow night! Smart alec. Fail a subject larr, see what happens, you can’t enjoy your holidays. Stupid. Although, I wonder what lesson I’m supposed to learn here.

I’ve been sick the past few days, but thank you Jesus the sorethroat and headache are almost gone, now its just the itchy throat and slightly blocked nose to go! They’ll be gone by tomorrow in Jesus’ name! Together with the nice weather that we’re gonna have in Sydney, AMEN! Maybe math wasn’t really the way to go this year, I knew I shouldn’t take the subject. Why am I so stubborn?

Tomorrow, is going to be a good day. Because today, was a good day. So tomorrow, is going to be a better day.

Today’s actually a rather ordinary day, other than the surprises and amazing dinner! My parents surprised me by sending me chocolates, balloons and a teddy. I love balloons, and I’ve never had balloons given to me for my birthday. So for me to get balloons, its a big thing. When the delivery man buzzed, I was so surprised to see balloons and presents wrapped up prettily! Btw mom, the chocolates are really really good. Super yummy and check out the balloons!

Sorry my hair is such a mess! But I got two boxes of super yummy chocolates and the metallic balloons say ‘Happy Birthday Princess’, ‘I Love You’, and a balloon full of smileys. The others are just random rubber balloons in various colours.

I also got a bag of chocolates from another friend! :D And my AMAZING urban life got me Michael Buble tickets! Okay, just one ticket, and jon says he doesn’t mind selling his ticket if someone else wants to go, so call me if you wanna go! But yes, MICHAEL BUBLE TICKETS! WOOHOOH! I’ve also got a scarf that jia wen crocheted for me! Its pretty and ya’ll better be jealous because I’ve got a scarf handknitted by carmen loh. heh. Last present I got this year are two gift cards: cherry culture and asos! My best friend knows me so well. HAHA!

So yes, AWESOME birthday this year, with yummy food and great company! The After Lantern Festival Lantern Festival was a blast too! Well, it was fun taking photos :D Best birthday so far! Love all you guys that came and made the day special :D <3