today is the end of the camp. boohoohoo. i miss the girl already. she's really sweet. and i never realised how talented she was until i heard that she can play music by ear. not fair lah. haha. i think its really cool! anyways, during break today while we were reading, one of them came into the room and asked if i would like to take a look at his comic. being the kaypo i am, of course i said yes la. and boy, he draws soo well! to a certain extent, better than me. all i can say is, we do different styles. for me who wants to draw a wedding dress, i have to browse like ten million books and then have to stare at the book as i draw, but he had studied the car so well that he can draw it from memory. thats something i cannot do. i cant find images in my head. i cant draw from memory. thank God i still have a bit of imagination. really, if you see his stuff, i think you will agree with me. thats why i guess when asked to reflect when working with special kids, people will always say they are special in their own ways. it sounds cliche. but theres truth in it.

i think i learnt alot from today's lesson as well. who knows what is autism and asperger's syndrome. ok. maybe you know whats autism but i never really knew they came under Autism Spectrum Disorder. and that autistic people have problems in social communication - they dont know how to communicate their thoughts and emotions, social interaction, and being flexible in changes. and some, they have sensory issues. yesterday while we were learning about disorder and disablities, i was still wondering whether these kids realised that they are have a condition and then todays lesson kinda addressed that problem that i had.

actually the kids are really cute. just that they need more attention and help than what you call 'usual' children. but normal and usual are definitions we give based on what we know. perhaps to them we are all abnormal because thats how they perceive the world.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,.." Genesis 1:26

(:

i scratched my arm till it looks like i let a crazy cat loose on my arm. except it is not that deep. but it hurts. boohoohoo. now i am scared to shower cos of the pain. i think i am getting really old. my lower back pain comes back once in a while, just that it is less acute and not its not a persistent pain. boohoohoo.

i scared myself awake this morn. i woke up with a jump thinking it was noon when i was supposed to be at ARC at 9. phew. when i saw the clock, it was 715. big scare man! some of the kids from the last camp werent there. but as usual, i was personal bodyguard cum slave cum helper to one of the kids. one of the other volunteer upon seeing me was like - oh, i saw her, and i was reminded of you. haha. do i sound like the mom. the mom's nice too, she remembered me and greeted me with a big smile in the morn.

i went around junction8 a bit. went for a big lunch at cafe cartel, told myself not to go to the library but eventually i went. but i managed to keep out of level4 of ngee ann city for which i am well pleased with myself. i met david from sjc when i left but since he didnt see me i thought we'll leave it that way. i went to grandma's house and grandpa came home early so we went for lunch. its a good day.

spent so much time alone and i decided why i am never going to design as a business. cos it will be too stressful and i wont like it. imagine your client haunting you day and night. i will rather do it at my free time for the people i love on my own. i love to surprise and hate to disappoint. i will become a good teacher i hope.

i told a 'lie' today. i pretended to be 16 at ARC and no one doubted me. hahahahhaa.

alrightey. i should end here. i stink.

(:

if i had to say something about sentosa - it would thank God for Him and for His grace:
in the weather - we had thunderstorm, cloudy, sunny and cool weather all in a day
the people - all the helps, esp jon, charissa, juan
food - aunty laura bought dinner for us

thank you Lord!

i am kinda counting how many free stuff ive watched this year.

ms congeniality 2 - courtesy of AIA
madagascar - courtesy of aunty laura
harry potter and the goblet of fire - courtesy of mum
phua chu kang the musicial - courtesy of boss and the SAS
dim sum dolly - courtesy of vion
david tao love can world tour - courtesy of my uncle

is that all? so thats all for free stuff. not a lot what..

haha.

banana is taboo cos my friend is scared of bananas.

(:

yesterday we went to brekos. does it have an s? anyways, i ordered some snowman stuff but they ran out of my mushmallows so one of the waitress came over to our table and 'politely' requested me to change my order. while i was mulling over it, she recommended - bananananana cho mint. then in a very matter of fact tone i said - banana is taboo at our table.

yea.

a bit lost.
maybe just overwhelmed by how much 'free' time i have and how little energy i have.

maybe its fair to say to myself - take a break.
have a kitkat maybe.


i think i will feel better if i wake up at noon tomorrow!


(:

hi. i am shirley. from the ye. haha. thats how i started sharing my testimony during youth sunday this year. and i am here to share a testimony of how God humbled me today. the last time i wrote was how much grace it takes to receive and today after my last history paper, i was walking with yanhui and xuemei to the bus stop. i casually mentioned to xuemei that i was going on a short mission trip this year to cambodia earlier this semester. she asked me today whether i was done with my fundraising and i was like - eh.. not yet. and then she took out her wallet and offered me a sum of money. she said that she had prepared the money after i told her about the trip but had not been able to give it to me. when i reached out to receive the money, i was very touched, and i remembered my prayer for yesterday that i brought before the issue of money to God. though its not a large sum but its that spirit of giving and receiving that i needed to learn and be humbled before God for He is the God who provides.

yea! thats all! ask and it shall be given. but when you ask, ask in His will and not of your own desire!

(:

today is the last paper. my last last paper was 22nov. 2002. hahaha. donkey years ago. i feel so good. i need to recharge and then charge again. hahahahaha.

i am crazy!!

(:

and yah yah.. i remember.. i met my friend yesterday at dhoby ghaut. to let me know he saw me and i didnt see him, he whacked my head when he was going up the escalator cos i was sitting on the stairs next to it. then today when i was going up the escalator at city hall i saw him going down and i tried to whack him so that he could notice me but my arm was too short. so i had to call out to him and then he gave that -oei, its you again- look. i have never met him outside our meetings before so its kinda exciting to see him in two days straight.

i couldnt spell proletariat today during my exams cos i went blanked in the head so i wrote - workers. haha.

a shoutout:

hello
allywally*
minny*


anyways.. i dont really like people saying thank you to me all the time.. because i dont know how to respond. i will just brush it off and say aiya.. but thats not what i really want to mean.. i want to say that its alright because its within my capacity and theres a power behind me. so you should just keep thanking God when you wanna thank me. but then again.. in my human weakness, sometimes a simple thank you does give the comfort that you acknowledge the act of kindess. but really.. most of the time.. i know that i am not doing it for myself but for the greater being in my life..

today we had mission training.. i shouldnt really be blogging but then i cant help it.. i have almost finished hitler.. i am studying elvis and john lennon. then later i will do mr mao. i am not going for leader's retreat on sat.. so it kinda frees more time for studying. then we got mission training at the chapel in st marg's on sunday so i am not going to church.. then again.. i kinda look forward to going to st margs. the last time i went was teacher's day last year.. which reminds me to give lao shi a call after exams - THANK YOU lunch for her for helping me.

i am quite a proud/arrogant person. i dont like receiving help. i find it tough to ask for help. be it time, or money or things or anything at all. i dont like it. it makes me feel even smaller than i already feel. so today's training is partly about how much grace it takes to give and how much MORE grace it takes to receive. its a tough lesson. so damn tough can. esp when this trip dont cost too much.

this trip is my first.. i really want to affirm whether God has a place for me on his overseas mission field. i believe we all have a place on the mission field, its just where and when. i want to be ready at all times to do His will and i want to know where.

hmm.. today we were planning stuff. and then i realised that right after my last paper - 21/11, its gonna be really busy. like 25 is the stayover camp, then minny's card, the children's cambodia's trip, GB camp (tentative), batam, cambodia, Christmas, weddings, i kept thinking that this hols is gonna be long but ahem.. not so after all.
lets see..
21 - last paper and celebration
22 - prep and stuff
23 - sentosa recce (tentative)
24 - last minute prep for sentosa
25 - sentosa with p6s /children mission team going away (aiya.. means cannot go send them off)
26 - home sweet home and sleep somemore
2-4 - batam?
5-9 - shopping for clothes/camera/pepper lunchy with uncle william! hahaha.
10 - wedding!
15 - commissioning prayer and ye camp
16-23 - cambodia
25 - Christmas service with my starshub
26 - aicheng's wedding - i think can wear the same stuff.. diff group of people!

there goes the year!! in the midst of the dates written - theres wedding cards to draw, wedding to prepare - bangla shirley! haha. Christmas presents to make (esp for a cute guy named thad) and the shoe thing i wanna do!! alalalalaa.

i need to breathe!! hahaha!!


(:

thad

thad
Originally uploaded by shirley_s.

this charming lil fellow is t.j.tham y.y. even his initials are so cute!! hahaha. the big guy is mr r. macdonald. and the hand belongs to mama. little thad needs to be held as he is only 4 months and 2 days old. he can squirm his way out of his carrier thing. and he laughs and laughs when his mummy plays with him. pray that his daddy has more time to spend with him watching him grow up. haha. hmm.. i think he doesnt quite like aunty shirley carrying him cos he doesnt smile much when i do. but when i tell him a story, he will giggle and get high. hm.mm. i am going to tell him the story of moses next time!

(:

Trust His Heart

All things work for our good
though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can't see Him,
Remember He's still on the throne.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
when you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
trust His heart.

He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We walk in present knowledge,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry,
He's weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
when you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
trust His heart.


i am not too sure if thats the exact lyrics. but its another meaningful song.
todays william's birthday. i kept reminding myself but i eventually forgot.
nov is a special month. happy birthday to:

AUNTY CHENG
WILLIAM
LOUIS SIR
DENISE BRYAN
RUIYING
TIMOTHY
ZHIWEI

praying that the good Lord showers upon each one of you much strength, wisdom and joy in your daily walk with Him! blessed birthday!

(:

i had a good time carrying thad today. i realised that josh can get a little possessive and thats like really really cute! haha. william and jo have been very nice to me! hehe.

(:

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name



hahhaa. my hiatus never last quite as long as i want them to be. but if i dont blog, where do you get your boliao stuff from. above is a cool song about my awesome God. the phone thing could be quite real though. i really want to get rid of my phone. NO PHONE IS COOL! I SUPPORT DR RAHIL! haha. my history lecturer insists on not having a phone. i dont insist on it. but i think i will enjoy my space more. issac called yesterday again. how do i tell him i dont wanna talk to him. but thank God when he heard that i was having exams, he said he will keep me in prayer and hung up. he called my house so i had no choice but to pick it up. i wish i could borrow aunty jen for a phone call. to tell him to stop calling. haha. my mom is too kind. she wont do that. hahahaa. i dont hate him but i hate talking on the phone and meeting strange people. i changed my mind about my future husband being able to drive. WE CAN TAKE TAXIS ALL OUR LIVES! but that could mean no cruising around in the car at night. its really fun. hahaa. i could learn how to drive though. but my dad said i would be a menace on the road. haha. i agree. i would be too kanchiong to drive. hahahhaa. taxi is cheaper. give a job to those poor taxi drivers on the road la. they slog to make a living. dont tell me about car salesman. hahaa. just by learning how to drive i can take almost 50 rides to school from home.


(:

was hanging out with vion, qi and jun till quite late yesterday. because ms soh said she wanted to have a good dinner, so we were supposed to meet at 8.30PM. then ms soh had to OT, so we only had dinner at 11PM. sobsob. by that time, me and vion were starved beyond recognition. and we had cafe cartel. by what measure was that a good dinner man! haha. was just telling vion that the last 3years was crazy. working and studying at the same time because i was too proud to ask for pocket money from my mother. the last 3years i never had a good break nor a good holiday. but i had the closest relationship with Jesus i ever knew. on top of the joy of knowing Jesus, it was of grief and struggles and betrayals and making new friends which i never coped well with. (knowing that my slave driver will be reading this somehow, i better reassure her) i enjoyed and is still enjoying the ministry i am involved in. the joy of serving is real because my God is real. we dont worship God when we feel like it, but at all times, we worship because its required of us. i have not been keeping in contact with a lot of people for a long time. i see the need to be right with myself. and nobody can help me with that. i still love a lot of people, but i need my space. i am an idealistic /emotional kind of person. i need time to reflect especially after the turbulent years before. haha. give me time to recover from all that i went through but i didnt tell you. was just msn-ing with mr john. i think like him, someone has robbed me of the joy i had before. i am finding them. i am looking forward to times after the exams. exams' such a strange thing to me now. i am looking forward to reen&chang's wedding. aicheng's wedding. kickboxing. cambodia esp. and batam if we are still going. and the pathlight camp! and the p6 sleepover. and i am trying to persuade the history class to go to melaka. and Christmas outreach! hmm.. the only thing unconfirmed is the wisdom tooth extraction. i thought i had my auspicious days picked out. but everyone's auspicious days are same but different from mine. hahaa. john says that i would be suffering the entire trip if i did mine before the trip. so i reckon i will do it after the trip and after new year. so hopefully i will be wiser for another few months! k la. i will be on hiatus until end of the year. comments will be deleted forever. what weird features blogger has - delete comments forever. hahaha. emails will not be entertained. mobile line will be cut off wef 22nov. basic rules apply - i wont entertain calls before 10AM and after 10PM and teevee show times. i will try not to entertain calls during dinner and stuff. its awfully irritating.

(:

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today i made a resolution. i will seek to be Christlike in all my ways. i will be humble, not arrogant to lower myself to serve others, i will be trustworthy, and i will help others in all that i can manage. but. i will never try to ask for help. i will never try to trust anyone. i will not need people to serve me.

just now i painted something.
its called 我的大肠和小肠喝bandung.
hearing the name, you know its some crap piece.
blah blah blah.

i am going to chop chop finish this post and go orh orh le. hahaa. my lips are so dry that i could be sitting in front of the computer then it starts cracking and bleeding. sounds bo liao. but my lips hurt incredibly now. yesterday i sat in the school canteen for a couple of hours doing nothing but talking with some friends. its therapeutic. i was just telling her about issues that i faced at the start of the year.. then she started crying. thats the reason why i dont want to relive it again by replying. for a moment now that i think about it, it sounds exactly like a plot from a weepy drama. i thank God for her. when you are feeling like what i am feeling now, having a friend who would shed a few tears with you is awesome. i have been very angry with myself these days. the feeling of heartache is so real. but then i remembered the uncle william's teaching and i got comforted. i dont need someone to talk to. neither do anyone need to talk to me. i am alright.

on sunday, little vanessa was looking for me. hahaha. i gave her my polly pocket. the one that would lit up when you open. my mom was a little heartbroken, the same feeling when i gave my dress to daphne eons ago. but i kept one for my mom la. hahaha. to me, if it make someone else's day, then i will give it la.

(: