*the love and grace of God in my life..*

Thursday, January 31, 2008

(Matt 6:25-34)
devotion passage for the past two days, or rather the theme on "worrying".

i thank God for the gentle and yet firm reminder on this issue
though it's normal for us to be anxious about something, but it should never reach a point where we become dyfunctional and lose our focus because of that
what a fine line to draw - but i pray that my mind will not be filled with such issues, but on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable!

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

//posted by ivy @ 08:12//

Monday, January 28, 2008

sat.

GB welcome party in the morning went well - the weather was good and the girls were plenty!
they were so adorable although i can only remember three of them now because i wasn't involved in the games. violet and i were happily watching the outcome of our hard-to-think-of games. haha.

came home, showered and went out again
this time, met baby to take a look at a hotel's ballroom and their wedding packages
a comfortable chat with its senior banquet manager but low chance we'll take the package, although i really like the exclusive-ness of the hotel ballroom!

since it was still early, headed over to bugis
initial plan to check out "my bridal room" was abandoned after we saw the crowd there (there was a couple getting married the next day and thus, they were there for the last min stuff and collection); photos didn't seem fantastic as well
the shop next to it wasn't packed and after some hesitations, we went in
2.5 hrs with the friendly uncle tan, and we signed the package.

no more looking around for bridal shops, and no more checking out forums - a mental note to myself.
one major booking done.
bridal shop: Graceful Image. =)

//posted by ivy @ 16:42//

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

what an interesting day!
i drove to work, settled some stuff and prepared for EEP lesson in the afternoon
wee leng and i then decided that since we are allowed to head straight home after the EEP, we would drive to northview sec instead of cabbing there and back again to take our cars

since i'm really unsure of the way there, i decided to let wee leng take the lead and i'll follow her car behind
jacob was with me in the car and throughout the entire journey, we literally PBL-ed our way through; signalling right and eventually went straight, signalling right but eventually turned left etc.. thankfully the traffic wasn't heavy
in any way, we reached the school on time and parking wasn't much of a problem for me

but the class was a huge headache!
jacob and i took a class each, average of 40 kids and we each had three RP student helpers with us
i wanted to be nice, to treat them nicely and make them enjoy the class (i taught another batch in the same school once, and they were angels!)
so i thought.. this would do fine.
5 mins into the class, one student helper whom i don't really know well (since they came from jacob's IG) came up to me and whispered "good luck man!"

the class is crazily noisy!
to the extent that i screamed at them after 20 mins into the class (my lesson with them is 2 hours!)
i made the trouble-makers stand while the rest sit and i openly scolded the ah-lian twice! argh.. they made my blood boil! horrid horrid horrid!

my own RP student helpers were stunned that i screamed at them; one of them was my student back in G105 lesson when he was in year 1 two years back and he claimed that he never heard/saw me raised my voice before
oh well, these bunch of kids deserve it
at the debrief after the 2 hrs of lesson, jacob and i decided that we'll not treat them as kids nor adults.. we'll treat them like monkeys.
this is how bad it was.. and both of us almost lost our voice

drove kevin and jacob back, but like i said, we were clueless as to how to get to the school so the way back was even more disastrous!
it was really the feeling of being totally clueless as to whether we should turn left, right or head straight.. scary feeling when i'm behind the wheel.
eventually, we ended up in TPE heading to punggol (don't ask me why; they were giving me instructions!)
somewhere in punggol (or was it sengkang), we finally found the u-turn on the expressway and soon, it was SLE - BKE - KJE. those familiar three-letters.. it felt good.

we both came to two common conclusions:
- we're thankful that we're teaching in RP
- we'll never accept MOE's offer to teach in sec schs.

it's thurs tmr.. only thursday.
soon it'll be friday..
then it'll be welcome party on sat for GB.. then it'll be checking out hotels with baby! wheee... =)

//posted by ivy @ 22:17//

Sunday, January 20, 2008

a rare sunday that i was at home since 3pm.
baby came over and we spent some time settling the wedding procedures but some hiccups along the way because of my dad's schedule
current slot for cathedral is free and from the forums, there were quite good reviews for the hotel we're looking at - now is to really talk to both side of parents to get the green light to go ahead with the bookings

was feeling a little sian in the evening but i must bear in mind that wedding is a joyous occasion and because it involves so many people, the tendency to meet with difficulties in planning is normal
i want to enjoy the entire process, and i'm quite determined to do so.
after all, there's no second chance to it. =)

let's talk about something happier!
received celine's sms on fri that says that she didn't need to report to work on sat so she was able to attend cell on fri night and after that, she came over to my place for the night
after washing up and QT, we finally slept at 2+ and had to wake up at 6.30am!
went down to GB together, then a short lunch in south view before we crossed the causeway to JB
not much agenda but i enjoyed the time spent with her - be it just laughing away in the cinema or having our meals or doing our food-tasting of the CNY goodies!
the last time i went with her to JB was to buy mooncakes.. which then was also a round of mooncake-tasting before we purchased
am always thankful for this sister, for being constantly in my life no matter how busy we both are! =)

horrid week ahead
4 days of classes, with wed as my only break but that is needed to rush my grading for mon's and tue's class.

//posted by ivy @ 22:15//

Thursday, January 17, 2008

finally, the first cell session of the year - friday, 7.30pm.
have been feeling weird that we haven't had cell for such a long time..

got to firm up the games for GB welcome party asap because i'm so packed next week that it scares me!
4 facilitation classes.. i don't remember trying that for the past 2 years! perhaps only once when i first came, but i was so free then that i didn't mind.
but in all, i'll still look forward to wed. =)

on stand-by duty tmr; quite hoping that i'll be activated so that next week, i'll have only 3 classes - more balanced that way.
tentatively, uni friends and i are heading to JB on sat afternoon to do our hair but i'm only cutting; doubt i'll do anything else.

//posted by ivy @ 08:10//

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

key collection to our new house - 23 Jan, 11.10am!
so excited! =)

and soon, it'll be getting busy with all the visits to bridal shops and IDs
i'm quite determined to make the wedding planning process an enjoyable one.

off to sleep.
have got class tmr.

//posted by ivy @ 21:59//

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

i'm feeling very thankful for my bunch of close girlfriends at work
they're there for everything; be it meeting for breakfast during the breakout session, or lunch after lessons, or heading for exercise together, or heading home together, or just going out for dinner and even heading abroad

they've been so helpful in the various things like offering contacts for printing wedding invitation cards, sharing their experiences at bridal boutiques and telling me what to look out for etc, plus renovation tips too.
i'm fed with new information almost everytime we talk about it, and i'm not complaining. =)

last night, baby drove me home from his place; so exciting!
for once.. i totally have no idea how the vehicle operated but i got home safe and sound so yep, certainly enjoyed the ride
i'm the first passenger (his dad not counted)! =)

//posted by ivy @ 11:00//

Thursday, January 10, 2008

school term has started this monday and it's still kinda hard to get back to the momentum of waking up early and working when i've been on leave half the december and really having a good rest.
plus the fact that the lesson this week is so, so tough - doesn't seem to make first week of coming back for class any easier for both the students and us.

thankful that this term is merely 4 weeks, and it ends officially on 1 feb.
can't wait!
although during the 10-weeks break, i already have a problem to craft and it's due immediately after CNY, but i guess the break will come in handy in doing some planning.

quiet time scriptures for the past 10 days have been the same as what pastor shared during service last sun and yesterday's prayer meeting
and i'm so amazed!
it's certainly not a coincidence, i know. =)

waiting.. waiting.
i'm still eagerly waiting for the keys to our new house!

//posted by ivy @ 10:35//

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

my devotion last night reminded me of the simple faith that i ought to hold on to, and to keep singing His songs in the ever-changing world that i live in.
what a timely reminder from watch-night service's testimony from marie

parents rented out a room to a couple who were my dad's ex-colleages
they shifted in today and i was really uncomfortable
it's just different having to live with the habits of strangers
- they dripped water all over my kitchen floor while hanging out their clothes but left the floor wet and their dirty footprints around
- they blasted my water tap while showering and washing their clothes and splashed bubbly water all over my mirror and left much stains
- they make the toilet floor wet and leave ugly, dirty footprints all over
and many more!
i think i'm a clean freak but in anyway, i think i know why i've tenants in my house for the first time in 24 years!
i'm so sure God is using this to teach me more about accomodating, and how it's like to be living with someone else in the future
it's not going to be easy!

//posted by ivy @ 22:20//

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

first post of the year 2008! =)

had a wonderful time at watch-night service last night
instead of being with the general crowd ushering in the new year in town, it was even better doing so in church.
i'm thankful for the great time of worship last night - being able to give thanks to God for all that He has put me through in the year, being able to rejoice for the hope i've in Him.. it was just wonderful!

as in the past, we usually come up with some new year resolutions and of course, many have asked me what are mine
unlike other years where i could list several with regards to the different areas in my life, i've only one this year and that is,
"In 2008, I want to magnify God."

//posted by ivy @ 17:14//