Just read this in a book I was reading yesterday......I think it's really nice.....
The heart is a small, ugly misshapened organ, prone to spill with jealousy or rage, yet like any muscle, it expands wtih use, and its capacity for love is curious and infinite....
Short and sweet.....it is beautiful......
Just had officers' meeting this afternoon....discussed items for retreat, JXY and YGZ.... many many things on our agenda..... yet the largest issue at hand is not something we can control......we are still at the mercy of the adults............
Can't help but agree with what I read in someone's blog......about what someone said to him.... why should language even be a barrier between what we do for God? Why is there even distinction between different groups in the first place? At the end of the day, aren't we all trying our best to serve Him in whatever way is possible? If we all let our race and languages come between us, aren't we just repeating the story of The Tower of Babel?
I'm just waiting for the adults to realize that...and unless they realise it soon, there'll be downfall.....
*shrugs*
oh well..shan't bother myself with that right now...many more things to do..... calendar is packed to the max.............
4:55 PM
Saturday, June 28, 2008
It's been 7 days into my practicum..........
I must say.....I'm extremely tired. Afternoon session is really no joke.....if I were a permanent teacher, I think I'd probably die in the afternoon session...... they still take CCAs, they end school at almost 7 after dismissal....so by the time we reach home, it's almost 8....after dinner, it's almost 9plus...and by then, you're dog tired...... I'm serious..... I don't even want to do anything except sleep by then...so all I do is just to relax.....sleep at almost 12, and the next morning, I'm up by 6.30 to prepare breakfast for Darling, after which I start on housework....... before I know it, it's 10, and I've to prepare to go to school....... seriously, if I were permanent, I'd be worse off, coz I'd still have to mark books and all.... guess that's the only reason I'm so tired every single day.....
Met Angela for dinner today, and to order her birthday cake. Dinner was really sucky at Manhattan Fish Market.....it was extremely disappointing today. The prawns were flaky, the rest was almost tasteless. We didn't even finish our food. Sighz....... then had coffee at TCC.... thank God that made everything better....was telling Darling that we ought to have had our dinner and coffee at TCC, instead of wasting our time and money at Manhattan Fish Market.
Still trying to get used to the idea of the kids addressing me as "Mrs Ho"..... it felt weird at the start....but...well, it's kinda getting better I guess! =D
Had quite a fair bit of time to interact with the children these couple of days, and it was really fun to get to know them better.
hmm....am so random...must be coz i'm so tired! looking forward to tomorrow's break!!!
1:10 AM
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
well well well.........
on Sunday, it was 6 months into the marriage, and yesterday, it was our 66th monthsary of being together......
is it supposed to be an unlucky number?? =D
anywayz......time sure passes fast.....6 months already....the relationship is pretty much the same, hasn't changed much.....which is why i really have no idea how to answer the question of "How do you find married life?" Not to say that Darling and i have been through everything possible, for no matter what, we are still newlyweds....but, like what most pple always say.... and what the priest recalled Darling's cousin saying during her pre-nuptials, "Love is what puts US together, but it's US that makes us work.......Marriage brings us together for life, but it's US that make it last.." and I totally agree with it....... You can be short of money, or extremely rich.....you can have a peaceful life, or a life filled with overwhelming obstacles.....but at the end of the day, it's the belief in your love for one another, and the willingness to work at keeping the commitment you have made to one another that makes it all perfect.
hmmm.......been back to school for 2 days now, and it's been scaringly uneventful. Much as i enjoy the privacy i have at having my own office area with the other trainee, but I am still a social being, and I guess that I'd somehow wish to share the office with the more experienced teachers so that I can ask them more questions, and not feel like i'm a burden.....
went for their Adventure Club CCA today, and they were learning to blade! Man, the things children get to do these days for CCA........I'm super envious! Ah well........ that's how things have changed.........
The girls are pretty much the same as what I remember SAC-ians to be........I don't know how to describe the way the SAC girls are....it's something that only we would know....haha....but, it's great so far.....i'm just afraid of the time that i've to start planning lessons and having observations......but just for now, i'll just take it day by day................
11:25 PM
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Just attended Darling's cousin's wedding yesterday....mass at Risen Christ, then dinner at the Raffles City Convention Centre... the wedding was super classic and traditional, but it suits the kind of person that Darling's cousin is.... kinda dreamy....and I think it was a really nice wedding....been long since I attended one like that....other than my own of course!!! haha...just kidding..... =)
anywayz..... love the priest's homily, and everything they did for the wedding.....of course certain things could be better, but I guess everything can't be perfect, can it? as long as they are happy with that special day, no one else's comments really matters.....
was quite disappointed with the service at the dinner though...but long story....can't really be bothered to go into detail here........I did let the newlyweds know though....and hopefully, they made my comments heard, so that, well, hopefully they get some compensation of some sort.... =)
anywayz....here are the pics before I carry on......
the screenshot before mass started
darling and me waiting to enter the ballroom.......yes, i'm wearing that dress again! haha..
the ballroom...looks like it came out of a dream..... =) too bad the service didn't live up to the look..
the wedding favours!!! so adorably cute...and soft...and pretty....hehe
with Darling's cousins...
bride and groom cutting the cake......
bride and groom with the champagne...think her evening gown looks great on her...
okay... back to blogging....... my toe is swollen now...got stubbed by my father-in-law's chair during the dinner last night......sucks.....don't really know how to tahan the shoes i'm wearing for my first day back at SACPS as a teacher....but I believe and hope it'll all be okay........
helped Monica and zhi tuan with the canteen selling today...and I tell you, i'm so gonna stay off spaghetti for the next couple of weeks!!!! it's madness.........too bad that there weren't many people at church today coz of the rain and the stop of catechism classes........so we didn't sell all our food.......ah well.....
coz of canteen duty, we missed Senior Curia....feel kinda bad about it, but, oh well....rushed to City Hall for Officers' Meeting, planned what we could for the next half of year, and many other discussions......then watched Zohan with Angela and darling.....super funny show.....and as usual, Adam Sandler didn't fail to impress......... always try not to miss his movies coz it's always a hit...... =)
hmm....have to go shower, and sleep early....first day back into work life tomorrow...sure hope all goes well!!!! happy back-to-school everyone!!
9:50 PM
Thursday, June 19, 2008
sleepy sleepy....tired.........
not been feeling well these last couple of days......throat's clogged up with phelgm....nose is constantly blocked.....head is throbbing....chest hurts, tongue feels like everything is tasteless, stomach feeling weird too.....
sighz...been needing to work out but my body is telling me to stop.... kinda sucks......
wanted to go tanning with Angela yesterday, but sadly, by the time she arrived, the sun had decided to go into hiding.....i did get a little colour though........
hmmhmmhmm......couple more days till the end of living in paradise.....trying to do lots and lots of housework before I start work again........ woke up super early today to prepare breakfast for darling, then hung some clothes out to get some sun, washed the clothes, washed the toilet, boiled water.....cooked some chrysanthemum tea coz I think i'm too heaty.... tomorrow am gonna wash the bedsheets, and get the ironing done..........must do as much as possible before the weekend...coz guess wat? My weekend is packed again.....sighz....
Other than the wedding on Sat, Sun will be packed with Legion stuff...... after attending Senior Curia, we have our officers' meeting......much to discuss this time.....JXY stuff, retreat stuff, and the many other programs dotting the calendar, as well as the other problems/issues we may have to settle....
humph humph humph... i can't help but wonder how my weekends would be like without Legion..... every Sunday has been absolutely packed since we came back...... without Legion...... would we feel released from all these commitments? or would we instead feel a sense of loss at not having so much to do anymore? it's officially 1 more year before our time as Curia officers is up.... is our time up? Or are we supposed to take on another 3 years? I really have no idea....and am asking God for some answers.......
hope Angela manages to take her leave in December.....then we can go enjoy ourselves in HK for days of shopping and eating........=D
8:53 AM
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
is there to be an upcoming mutiny?
i really have no idea.
both parties are a little right in their sense, but ah well......who am i to interfere? whether or not i agree with either of them, i can't take sides because this whole thing does not make sense. the main character is not even them in the first place.....
all i can say is, everyone has their own opinions.....just leave those opinions alone.... after all, it's a free world.
looking at them go at each other's throats, i wonder if our original plan was even right? i guess plans were made for us to change.....
funny how things like that happen only in recent years.
guess it just goes to show that every batch of pple coming in is really so different.
ah well.....
all i can say about the original issue is, i won't beg you to stay, coz it's your personal choice. Neither do I encourage you to leave, coz it's too much to give up. At the end of the day, search your own soul, and ask yourself, which is really the better path for you to follow, and whether this is all worth giving up.....the many years you've joined, the simmering flame, as compared to the burst of passion you now have for your newfound friends. whatever makes you happy my dear, whatever makes you happy.
as for the present issue..............
i'll just keep my mouth shut...
11:18 PM
went to Wild Wild Wet today...all coz I had free tickets from my Dad.... sighz.....i so miss Fantasy Island.....those were the days when I went to Sentosa almost every other weekend with my brothers, yes, all 3 of them, with their girlfriends in tow, and my cousins, just so we could all go to Fantasy Island together........
Wild Wild Wet is nowhere near in comparison...in fact, it's almost boring....Darling and myself were bored at ALL the rides.....and we really didn't know what to do after less than an hour? In fact, I think we had more fun at the kiddie area than we did in the adults area....that must be quite scary! haha......if you'd gone to the swimming pool in Lakeside before, you'd definitely feel that that place is fifty times more worth it, only coz its much less crowded, and entrance is like a dollar?
sighz....but anywayz, it was good just to spend some time with darling.......humph....next week Monday, i'll be back to work..... can time just pass a little slower?????
so glad that So You Think You Can Dance is showing once again!!!! I love love love love love the show!!! I think both this show and Hell's Kitchen are the only ones that can get me this excited.... It's pretty much what you have, and how good you really really are as compared to American Idol and all the other nonsense........ brings back so many memories of days long gone..... *sighz in contentment*
12:23 AM
Monday, June 16, 2008
boy oh boy oh boy......i'm exhausted. really.
i don't understand the meaning of Sundays. Isn't it meant to be a day of rest? Isn't it meant to be a day of no work? why are my sundays all packed to the brim?? I think the only times that Darling and me are truly free on Sundays are during our self-declared breaks. Even though we didn't have to attend any Legion-oriented stuff....but today was filled with family events..... I think that's one of the biggest banes of being married....having to attend 2 of every family event......we only just came back at 12 midnight...in time to check Robin's email for forms....haha.....
woke up at 11am....went to darling's niece's 1st year birthday till about 2 plus....
rushed to my family's Father's Day celebration, reached there at 4pm...stayed there till 5 plus.
Came home, took Ethan (my nephew) with me to the playground...... then went for evening Mass. Fr. Bosco did Mass, and I love his sermon today.
He was saying that there are 2 seas in the Holy Land, one is the Sea of Galilee, teeming with fish, and lots of marine life; the other one is the Dead Sea, in which there's so much salt that there can be no life in it. Both are sourced from the River Jordan....so he asked, "Why is it that one river source can create 2 extremely different seas?" And his answer was such, "The main difference is that the Sea of Galilee has an outlet, in which the river flows into the Sea of Galilee, then flows out into the Ocean......however, the Dead Sea has no outlet, and the only way the water escapes is through evaporation. And this is suffice to prove that we need to not only receive, but also to give. Coz, the Dead Sea, in only receiving, ended up without life; however, the Sea of Galilee, because it gives and receives, is thus full of life. And this is the same with God's love. Having received it, it is also important that we now look for others to share God's love with, and from there, the cycle continues......" Absolutely beautiful. The use of nature to share what God wants to tell us.
Anywayz, right after that, my bro called, told me he wanted to bring my Dad to change his handphone....darling and me decided to go with them....ended up, we were at TM until 9 plus.....
Headed to Darling's house for a very late Father's Day dinner...... left at 11.30.......
have to start reading the forms and analysing there now.........
it's crazy....but...oh well, I got to spend some very important time with darling's niece, and my nephew... really love them lots and lots....especially Ethan...but i won't say more..... will put up their photos just to show you how adorable they really are.... =D
Da Xing Kang Le 2008
Baby Ethan, aged 31 months...you should hear his incessant talking and mumbling.... it's so adorably cute......
Baby Megan, aged 12 months, she was quite grumpy today...think coz there was lots of people around......
1:12 AM
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Just completed our Games Day yesterday.......boy am i tired.....but I guess the kids had fun...... just wish they wouldn't give up so easily though.... surprisingly they spent less than $30 in total, which equates to less than $10 a group? Quite amazing considering they consumed like 7 items per group...
sighz....my group lost.....coz they weren't very sure of where to go to look for the puzzles we'd given them.....kinda sad la....but oh well...it's a game.... =)
It's exactly 12 more hours before the deadline is up for the YGZ application form......we've received quite a number of forms already......gonna be interesting to look through them... just kinda disappointed that so few younger ones applied....I mean, we'd assumed that quite a few of them wanted to be YGZ last year, and to ensure that we were picking the right people, as well as to let their ability shine through instead of all of our personal opinions, that's why we came up with the form... sighz.... oh well, at least the older ones will give the younger ones a good fight for the 4 places up for grabs.... =)
It's Father's Day.....seems like it's very played down....seriously, i'd totally left it out of my mind until yesterday.....kinda scary eh... as compared to Mother's Day where ads are everywhere...... much as Dads are important too, I guess more importance is usually given to the Mums coz of the sacrifices they have to go through? hahaha......
It's also Darling's niece's 1st birthday today...gonna be going for her party later.........
1 more week before I've to start teaching..... really feeling scared of what's to come.....feel very very out of touch...... and i've no idea what the kids are like and all....just hope everything is fine....
12:01 PM
Friday, June 13, 2008
Well well....i have NO idea what's come over me this couple of days....maybe the influence of Hell's Kitchen?? haha...i've been cooking and baking every single day, trying to make all my favourite dishes.....it's madness.....but i'm enjoying it.....seriously...cooking IS therapeutic for me... I may seem stressed and all, but truth is, every moment of it is bliss.....plus the quiet time I get with my brain whilst I walk to buy ingredients are times I really treasure coz I manage to think through a lot of stuff as I'm walking.....
Made Mac & Cheese for darling to bring to work, and an extra portion for Angela........made my fruit tarts.... made banana crumble, apple tart, and cooked lunch yesterday for the priests coz they had some east district meeting at my church....and dinner last night too...... =D
It's times like that that make me anxious for my own place....coz then i'll prepare all kinds of wonderful desserts and food, and keep them in the fridge to reheat whenever darling or me feel like eating it! ice-creams, pastas, and so much more!
hmmm...yesterday this aunty who was helping us out at church suddenly asked me: "You've been married for 5 months now...when you planning to have a kid?" And I was like..... seriously man.....it's up to God....although my human plans are that it would be best if the baby comes after I finish at NIE....but God has better plans....it's really really up to him...and I'm not gonna interfere in any part of it.....I have to say though, much as we're afraid of the responsibility that comes with a child, darling and me are looking forward to it!
So anywayz, finally watched Sex and The City with Angela and darling yesterday, and I think it's super super funny......much better than the series coz i'd watched it a couple of times previously.....but...yup, the movie is definitely better....some of their clothes are so fabulous.... and the shoes! man.....it's madness.....either it's real cheap over there in NYC, or these pple are maddeningly rich......ah well...hollywood....... I love how the movie manages to weave in some tiny meaning here and there, yet not let it be too heavy on the audience, so it's still very much light-hearted and hilarious.....
The movie experierience was spoilt by this stupid old man and partner sitting behind us though...... fine, i understand if u need to share your thoughts with your friend...but do you not know how to bloody whisper?? he was like talking away THROUGHOUT the stupid movie! And he's like telling the story, predicting what's gonna happen next and all......I got so pissed I told him to shut up....super irritating can........sheesh......
ah wells......certain pple have been seemingly wanting to leave this ministry that means so much to me.....and all I've to say is, it's seriously up to you.......as I always say, people from this ministry will not stay out of choice...but because God has handpicked you to be the soldiers of Mary, and it's a great honour to be chosen, coz not every one is able to undertake this responsibility......if you're meant to be a Legionary, you'll stay until your time to serve this ministry is up.......if not, you'll just keep coming back.... so at the end of the day, it's not between us and you, but between you and God. And if you're willing to walk away from this ministry that has given you so much, and is continuing to give you more because of intangible reasons, then well, it's your choice.......... =)
hmmm.... 3 more days till the deadline of the application form, and we still haven't receieved anything....is everyone waiting to see who would be the first to hand in?? haha.....the few of us are filled with so much anticipation at receiving the forms that it's funny...... oh well..... make use of your time wisely!!!!
Random old me is gonna go back to doing housework already.....and tomorrow is Da Xing Kang Le......just hope all will enjoy themselves!!
1:03 PM
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Have received feedback from unnamed sources that the application form is very tough....
I must admit that for first-timers, it would be relatively challenging, especially the planning part...
However, it is with much necessity that we place importance upon this section, as what is required from this section is but a mere fraction of the jobs that are to come forth when you are a YGZ. True, you would not need to be doing planning for all 3 groups, but our purpose in asking you to do all 3 groups is because we want to see your creativity, and where your talent lies. Some of you may think you are only suited for Kang Le....but you may surprise yourself in the process of trying to come up with a program for the other 2 groups.
There is no point in rushing out the form..... you are given 7 days, so make use of this time wisely. Draw inspiration from things you read and see, reflect, create, think..... It's not only the most creative programs that we want, but also how well you have thought about other external factors and your campers' benefits.
I encourage all of you to give it a try....there is no harm in trying. At least you know where you stand as you tackle this form. This year's camp will be one of a kind, and we want to ensure that our YGZ are up to the challenge.
You have 5 more days before the deadline. Make full use of this time. The 4 places are very definitely still open. There will only be 9 YGZ for this year's camp, and the other 5 places have been undertaken by very experienced others. Hence, being an YGZ for this year's camp will ensure that you learn a lot as you watch these 5 people in motion as they plan and carry out the camp.
It is an honour to be part of this very small but special role in this year's camp, yet, with it comes lots of hard work, sleepless nights, sweat and tears. I can guarantee you that if you do get this role, it will be but one baby step that you have taken, and the road ahead to the camp is still extremely long.
Take heart in this challenge we have put forth to all of you and don't give up, for it is but a small challenge.
Good luck.
2:02 PM
Sunday, June 08, 2008
reading a book abt Sea Turtles......really really like it....i think this is one of the first books i've read that's classifed as 'Romance' by the library, yet, the focus is so much more on nature and the turtles than actual romance.......in fact, i do like this book so much better... =)
hmmm.... first time I cycled in the rain yesterday......stupid ubin trip....but had quite some fun la......i think we'd have cycled longer if we had gotten better bikes, and if we didn't have kids + their parents with us........but anywayz, thru the activity, spent quite a lot of time talking to Julian......got to know him better, and well, it's kinda interesting seeing the world through a younger person's eyes... i mean, i think the only younger kids in Legion who would dare to talk to me so openly and freely like as if I'm really their big sister instead of a Curia officer would be the kids from my old Zhi Tuan...so I really do treasure moments like that.... =)
went with Julian, Angela, Cuiling and Darling to watch Kung Fu Panda after that.....think it's super super funny......loved the feel-good msg the movie was trying to bring through...that all u need is faith in yourself.....and that's what's important....... had wanted to watch Sex and the City with Angela, but because the other two wanted to join us, so we'd to change our movie choice....but i don't regret it...hehe....will postpone Sex and the City till Friday....
Hmm....Curia was dismal today......only 11 pple came today...out of which 3 were Guests.....my my....i expected very few pple...but this is the barest of minimum I've ever witnessed! sheesh.... darling and me were doing 2 roles each......and it's kidna sucky.....came up with a last min xun hua about what I took home with me from watching Chronicles of Narnia......haha...sometimes I really amaze myself with the stories I manage to produce last minute during Curia.....guess i ought to be thankful for the insight that Lit gave to me......so i think deeper than most when I watch movies, and thus bring it out when necessary!
Planned with Chan the Da Xing Kang Le for next week.....had quite some fun...think it's gonna be an interesting and tiring activity...just hope our participants have fun.... =)
to all Legionaries....please check the Legion blog.....there WILL be updates posted up at 12 midnight.....important for JXY YGZ info..... so have fun!!!
6:51 PM
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
well well well.....the recruitment activity is finally over....there were quite a number of new faces and all...but I'd hoped for more.....and overall, though everyone seemed to have fun, but I guess I personally wasn't very happy with the outcome. Maybe coz I'd expected more from my organizers, in terms of their knowledge of the programs and all.... but oh well..... wat matters is that everyone enjoyed themselves....... =)
20 more days till I start teaching.... I have extremely mixed feelings about everything...kinda worried coz I'm super super relaxed and attuned to all the Legion stuff that I have been working on for the last couple of weeks, sleeping at the wee hours of the morning and waking up to get myself psyched to do housework...that has become my everyday life...one which I desire and love........ and the fact that I have to get myself rewired to sleeping early and waking early, as well as to start facing children for the next 5 weeks....man...those 25 days somehow seem really really long....but, this is what I chose...and this is what I will manage to overcome....
Just watched Chronicles of Narnia yesterday with Darling....think it's a great show....in fact, I think it's better than the first one..coz it very smartly weaves humour, action and drama into a movie, and there is depth to the show too....I guess credit for that has to go to CS Lewis....but it defnitely is a not bad show.... one I wouldn't mind watching again....
many many things to be done.....planning wise and execution wise........ one event down...many more to come.... I can only hope all things fall in place nicely, and that all our plans for Legion works out somehow...... it's 1 more year before our time as Curia officers are up...the road ahead is still unknown....and I guess it's all in God's hands......
2:06 PM
Life is Beautiful
I love you not only for what you are
but for what you make of me.
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