Silly Mom

I'm flying off in a couple of hours... While we were packing our stuff, mom looked worried.

Pam: Are you excited to go to Hong Kong? It's TOMORROW!

Mom: (pretending to stay calm) Where got exciting?

Pam slaps mom on the arm. Mom laughs.

Mom: I'm a bit worried leh.

Pam: Why? That you'll get lost? Don't worry lah. I'm here what. We've been to Hong Kong!

Mom: No lah. Not that.

Pam: Then?

Mom: I'm worried you'll get bored of me in these 5 days.

Pam: What?!? Why would I be? You're my mom! Don't be silly!

And so ends our silly but loaded pre-Hong Kong conversation. I'm looking forward to having a great time with mom. Yaye...

I'll see you when I get back! Take care, and don't miss me too much. ha...

Good

Finally... I've been meaning to get to this post since Sunday... and now I'm finally here on Thursday... Hah!

This week's been quite crazy. Have been trying to prepare for the Big Launch before I fly off. What was I thinking when I thought I didn't have to do anymore events after I leave MOE??!?? I need a wake up call. Haha...

Speaking of wake-up calls, I think God's been trying to give me several. It all started on Sunday. I didn't end last week on a good note at all. Well, was in a situation I really didn't appreciate being in and when I got home, I had to check myself and set time to talk to God about it. You know how sometimes when you go through something and you really wanna let it out to someone but there's NO ONE to let it out to? Yeah, that was how I felt on Sunday night. But I think it was good cos I eventually turned to God (which sounds kinda bad, I know, but I take heart that I didn't just go to sleep and not talk to Him.)

I think GOD'S REALLY GOOD.

It's not just something we sing about, or say to each other, or make fun of Don Moen with... (HAHA)... but it's a FACT. God is good! And when you experience the goodness of God (no matter how big or small), it's a great feeling. Like someone's watching your back, dependable. This was going through my mind the whole week.

So, thank you, God, for the good things that have happened. I know life cannot be a bed of roses and most times it just kinda stinks... but YOU are good nevertheless. It's not positive talk, it's encountering who You are.

Thank YOU for Hong Kong! Seattle! Good friends! Coffee! SALES!... even the simple jump in queue numbers so I can collect my passport 20 people faster.

Thank YOU.

New! New! New!

 

Woohoo! Jurong West looks nicer than I expected! And I'm starting to feel the excitement of moving. It's still stressful for the sound guys, video people, the cleaners, chair movers and placement officers, my Regional Administrator, Regional Pastor... and the list just goes on! But, tonight, while I was there, and just doing a miniscule part of helping to see where the instrument goes made me feel that much more excited! I can't wait to see the hall filled with people come Sunday! YAYE!

Here's some reasons why Jurong West is going to be AWESOME:

1) The carpet is NOT the typical VFC green (clap clap clap)

2) NEW! instruments that look very cool (thank you, Jason)

3) We have dark wood lamination instead of the icky pukey khaki that is CCK (sorry, R12)

4) I think it looks nicer than Sembawang... haha.. albeit VERY much smaller.

5) We're in it.... the people make all the difference! haha...

And.. just for the record, because Esther Foong keeps drumming it into my head: We're sharing the building with another church (where she believes her true love is... and we're not talking about Jesus here).

So, there... it's gonna be awesome! 

Ps: No photos cos you'll get to experience it when you come! (shout out to Danielle who's contemplating. HAHA. Now that's it out on the internet, you HAVE to come, like it or not! Hehe...)

Looking Forward

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to several things:

1) HONG KONG! 13 March-17 March.

I'm finally going out of the country! Woohoo! Spending some days with mom is gonna be good. I think she deserves it... and I'm so happy to be a part of making that happen for her! Yaye! Of course, it helps that there's milk tea, french toast, great roasted meats, tim sum, shopping, and general slacking. Haha! 5 glorious days of sheer indulgence... God forgive me. Haha.

2) SEATTLE! 23 March-6 April

Ok. I've never been to the States, so this is a real experience of a life-time. Doesn't help that my boss is proudly American (not that it's not good, don't get me wrong!). But yeah, I'm looking forward to attending the youth conference at Generation Church, and getting re-charged, re-fuelled... and ideas for our own conference at the end of the year! Woo hoo! Ok ok... there's of course the worldly stuff like eat, shop, and whatever.. you get the idea. 

3) BIG LAUNCH! 14 March

I'm excited about how everything will unfold. I know it's gonna be great, and it will be very rewarding for the people who's making it happen. Yaye! Only thing is- I'm away in Hong Kong. But nonethelss, I'm excited about it. I hope everything goes well! It will!

4) TRAINING OTHERS (date unconfirmed)

Yepp... I'm actually looking forward to be able to start training some people soon in the area of creative arts/performing arts. Maybe it's cos I kinda miss teaching... so this might be the closest I get to be in a class, although I'm not waxing lyrical about poetry and prose, but still, it's kinda exhilarating to be able to impart what i know (also not a lot lah, but God will help me) I'm gonna be stressed out about developing materials, preparing training, teaching people who could possibly be older than I am (I know there're some ppl who think this is highly impossible but, YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE OLDER THAN I AM, OKAY!). But, it's exciting anyway. I find it hard to believe I'm saying this... but, I guess I should thank God that I'm not sinking into depression over it. haha...

Yaye... this was not too bad to blog about. I'm thinking happy thoughts. Good job, Pam! :)

There's always something to look forward to...

All In Good Time

Today was really good. Started out boring... like another mundane Monday, but I was glad for a friend's company. Yaye... 

I haven't met up with her for so long it was really nice to catch up over Banana Mango Crumble and Key Lime Pie at Project Shop Cafe. Yums! Complete with Fresh Brew and Cappuccino. Yes... be envious. It's ok. :) But that's not the main event. 

We got to talking and somehow, in the midst of us talking, I realised that I missed having conversations like these with my friends... I missed sharing my heart, my thoughts and my opinions, my struggles and my joy. It's so great to have friends who've come a long, long way with you. You can pick up conversations from anywhere in time. 

We were talking about teaching, promotions, a frivolous, worldly life of buying stuff - shoes, bags, clothes - and me lamenting about how all that seems a distant reach for me. Ha. But, oddly enough, although the pain of not being able to do anything much (except contemplate if the next cup of Starbucks is gonna cost me lunch for the next two days), I felt a strange affirmation from God that ALL IS WELL.  

"But it's not all well, God. Where's all the stuff that I want (and can actually afford)?!?"

But it is. It's all well because it's all in His good time. I think back about how I got to be where I am now and... (i know it'll sound cheesy, but it's true) I thank God. I'm not begging by the streets, I'm fully clothed (thank God!), I can still have coffee and pie with my friends, I can buy the odd new blouse here and there, I am a happier person, I'm right where He wants me to be! And this makes me happy. :) I'm doing what He wants me to do. 

He didn't say the process will be great, but He did promise a blast of a finish... so, I look forward to that. Yes, it's true I still miss my Shangri-La high tea at the Rose Verandah (you NEED to go there some day), I miss my "I'll-buy-it-cos-it's-so-nice-and-i-can-afford-it" shopping sprees, I miss lunches at Crystal Jade as and when I want, I miss flagging down the cab whenever. 

But I think I'll miss God more.

So, here's cheers to the last-minute wonderful Monday I had, cheers to how everything in my life is a result (one way or another) of His good timing (albeit sometimes a little 59th-second) and cheers to many more great times with God.

For everything Lord, help me to always look into Your face and be thankful that it's You I see holding me. I'll learn to take the road less travelled and learn to smell the roses that I'll find along the way.