Wow...what can I say?

I see that I've neglected my blog for a while...on purpose of course. But my desire to write has tickling me again.

So my last blog was in March this year; for some reason I thought it was earlier than that. I guess I'm under a bit of an illusion since SO MUCH has happened since then. My life's changed quite drastically, for the better I believe...cuz there's more to learn, more to adapt to, more to pray about.

This year seems like the "wedding year" among my friends. It's such a blessing to see my friends tying the knot. There are two couples I know who just found out they're expecting a baby. Somehow, this year so far feels like such a "fruitful" year. Wow, why do I sound like I'm looking back at the year when it's not even close to December?

I had a wonderful birthday this year, b/c someone v. special to me pulled together a party for me. I know it didn't call for much effort to get the party together, but it's always the thought that counts the most right? Though the bbq idea didn't fly due to the rain, it really didn't dampen my joy. In fact, as a believer, I didn't think it's a coincidence that every day during the week was sunny, except for the day of the party. I thanked God for the shower of blessings on that day. I thanked God for everybody who chose to spend the evening/night with me (and there were many I wanted to invite but let's just say I procrastinated a bit too much); some of whom I met on the night. All the same, I was really glad these ppl are part of my life, at least for now; and dearly hope for the rest of my life.

Could I keep God's wonders to myself and not disclose them? Didn't David say that he'd "praise you in the congregation"? So I shall praise You here and recount Your goodness... I got a coffee b-day cake...my favorite cake, and nobody (including R.) knew about this, except for me and God of course. And nobody would've guessed, b/c almost everybody who knows me knows that I don't drink or like coffee. What happened was R. woke up that day with a picture of a coffee cake, but he dismissed that idea knowing that I don't like coffee. And when he got to the bakery, none of the cakes was appealing to him except for this coffee cake. He would've gotten me something else but making a new cake would require more time than he had; so the coffee cake was what he bought! God knew, He knew! and He gave me my fav. cake on my b-day as a surprise! If He cared about me enough down to the detail of my b-day cake, could I not trust Him? O may God help us trust Him with everything!

God has graciously given me another level of joy to experience, something I would've never ventured into with my whole heart if wasn't for Him and Him only. It's the freedom to love, and the willingness to be vulnerable. In the process I've made my share of mistakes but He's the one who searches the heart and examines the mind. My only source of blessings and goodness, may You help me always love You and hold You dear. And may You open the door of romance on my friends' lives when Your appointed time has come. May You teach us how to love and how to be loved in a way that's pleasing to You!

Sound System

Had my first training of the sound system at the new church this afternoon. Boy, all these knobs on the console...it's overwhelming. Learnt a whole bunch of stuff, which always makes me happy; but I know I won't get it until I start my hands-on training. I think I'm a doer, and I learn by doin'.

So started me thinking about the people who tend the sound system every Sunday. It really is a thankless job. If the music sounds good and all goes well, most credit will go to the worship team, hardly will anyone think of the sound team...well except when problems arise. Interestingly enough though, this happens to be the reason I like this. Kinda strange, but o well, I'm just being me. Anyway, I like this new church...but why do I have this feeling that this church isn't for me? Because everything's too good and too easy? Where's my cross in this church?

Sigh...I heard through the grapevine about some problems that have been brewing in my old church. Honestly, I believe I still have an attachment to that church, because this bad news hurt. I don't like the people, mostly because they are different from me and I have no clue and no desire to learn how to get along with them. Maybe this is my cross. Is this where You have planned to be my home God?

"Whoever doesn't take up my cross isn't worthy of me!" So will I take up the cross!

Room Painting

We painted our friends' master bedroom and nursery this past Sat. None of us knew that they were expecting a child, so it's a nice surprise. Actually, babies I should say, since they already know that there are gonna be two. Fraternal twins! Apparently, fraternal twins are the norm, whereas identical twins are supposedly freaks. Interesting fact.

So the master bedroom's now blue, the nursey's yellow. I never thought that people needed to know how to paint, I always just thought people...well, people simply paint! The host corrected me in this regard, but then, he's an artist...

Well I hope the twins will be one boy, one girl, just as the parents wish. I hope also that the rooms turned out alright and T. wouldn't have to do too much touchup!

Rainbow

Second time I saw rainbows on my way home from work. Second time since we moved to the location in....2004. Wow we've been at the new location 2 years. Time flies.

The rainbows I saw today were not as distinct as the ones I saw the first time. I remember it was across the vast sky, literally from one end to the other, on Marine Drive. I so wished then I had a camera with me. It was so beautiful, so huge, so real, so almost touchable, yet still unreachable. The rainbow of promise.

On another note, I just found out tonight that a friend of mine goes to the Y too! But he goes in the morning, so I've never run into him. I thought about goin' in the morning too...but that'd take away from devotional time, which seems to be getting shorter lately. Still wanna start my day with that...so Y would have to stay in the evening/night.

I got invited to a regular homegroup at my new church tonight. Or every Wed. night. After some thinking and praying, I decided to commit myself to the bible study I'd been goin' to on Wed. I really wish that there were no time conflict and I would be able to go to both. But at least, this decision left me at peace. But again, I would love to get mingled into the new church soon...but all in God's good time and will, I guess.

B.D. Concert

So we went to a Christian concert last night in Abbotsford. First ever Christian concert for me. I enjoyed it, and I believe God did too. It's actually not too much different from the worship in a Christian conference. Or at least in the Christian conferences I go to. Hm...there's a difference between worship on my own and corporate worship. But then, it's all about the heart, isn't it?

Got a chance to check out my friend's new place in Abbotsford before we went to the concert. It's a fairly spacious basement, or ground floor. Still needs some more pieces of furniture to increase the home feel. But it feels very peaceful in there. And there's a pretty unobstructed view in front of the house. It was kinda dark so all I could see was the big sky. But I'm sure the view of the mountains must be breath-taking on a clear day. O mountains, I love mountains!

This past week, I've been basking in thankfulness. Not that things are perfect in my life; in fact, it's quite the opposite, and the road's still tough at work, apart from other things. As much as I wanted to do what Jacob did to his father-in-law, I had firmly decided last week to go with what I believed to be God's will. It's true that God's will costs, but then to be in His will is priceless...I have His confidence to say the least. This thankfulness must be one of the many "by-products" of obedience.

So I was sitting at one end of the tables at Estea where we decided to go for bubble tea after the concert, in extreme thankfulness. There was a total of 10 of us, one still yet to accept Christ. But aside from that, these are the Christian friends God's given me. And amongst them are one of my dear dear prayer partners, and some of the people in the bible study I've started goin' to. This is evidence of God's richness; cuz I never expected God to give me these many serious Chrisitans I could feel a connection to; yes I prayed for this, but I only expected God to give me one or two. Took a while to come, yes, the answer to my prayer I mean, and I don't know how long God would keep us together. But for as long as we are together, I do pray that we'd all grow in Christ together.

I'm typing away now, wondering what it is that brought us together. And honestly, what could it be but the Holy Spirit? I'm thinking about my two prayer partners, B and L. Here are the 3 of us, from 3 different backgrounds, 3 different living styles, 3 different walks of life, each born almost a decade apart, we pray in 3 different languages (well sometimes 4...) yet we all understand each other. And what about these new Christian friends I have? I don't know half of their testimonies, I don't know half of their backgrounds, but I feel a connection with them. And this is a gift from God.

Maple Ridge

Went to friend's friend's friend's party in Maple Ridge tonight. Met this Iranian woman who turned out to be living within walking distance from me. Small world indeed!

So there's this Japanese girl and this white guy...and this Iranian woman somehow noticed that this white guy was checking out this Jap girl and she took the liberty to get them together. And the rest of us followed the cue and sorta left the two alone. Haha it was so silly. Apparently, in the Iranian culture, the people believe that their god would bless them when they successfully matchmake people. Well personally, I think matchmaking is a tricky business...better wash our hands clean of it and leave it to God.

The hostess was half-Korean half something else. She so reminded me of this Korean girl I used to know....it's almost creepy. The way they talk, the slight accent they carry, even the way they carry themselves...

So this party was definitely refreshing, esp. since I haven't exactly been to any parties for a while. Except if you count the CNY dinner. But all the same, I enjoyed myself. Though I seem to get tired pretty early now, wonder if my age is catching on haha :P

Mellowing Out

I've noticed that I've been getting more mellow lately...esp. since my parents' coming back. It's probably gotta to with the season too, or the lack of festive activities. This quieting down gets me bored sometimes, though it's giving me more time with God, if only I'd use it well.

A friend asked me last week if I'd be very wild without God. Haha I found that very interesting, cuz not too many people have seen that side of me. I'm pretty toned down with most people, cuz most people I know now are pretty toned down. Though I must say I enjoy the company of playful people a lot. Playfulness...hm...

So I found out yesterday that...well there are these two brothers I know. Both of them were given the same opportunity, one chose to take it and the other decided not to after trying it out for a while. The one who refused the opportunity got involved with trafficking and was caught in the follower car as his comrades and himself were closing in on the US border. Apparently the police had had their eyes on the gang for a while. Now his lawyer's strategy is to take advantage of the fact that this guy's fingerprints don't show on any of the guns, that he just "happened" to be there.

Sometimes we stand at the crossroads and we're given good and bad. One decision will take you down a totally different road.