Nice Comfy Sofa

Nice Comfy Sofa
Originally uploaded by kelvin and chia yen

Finally! The Photos of our new place is up on Flikr! Simply click on the picture to view more. I think I have made major discoveries! I never know that the Flickr upload tool is so simple. Haha I feel so silly to have uploaded pictures one at a time and never knew how to organizr them in a nice way. More to discover I guess, since i would really hope to be able to have an organised online album and upload more photos regularly just in case my Laptop crashes :)

Just a nice Saturday afternoon ...

Mid Day Crisis

Consist of hunger, sleepiness, cramps and lack of ideas in progression of what you are doing. I am looking forward to the weekend ahead.

Am I Loving God & His People?

"Have I loved God enough"? This questions constantly rings in my head. Times when I have to make decisions and times when I reflected how I spent my time. And it is really easy to answer that question. In the bible, Jesus mentioned that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. And the second is this, love your neighbour as yourself.

Is it about how much doctrine I know or how much I can identify preachers who in the heat of passion mentions unclear doctrines? Or is it how much I am willing to serve Him, love Him, desire Him and LOVE HIS PEOPLE? In my normal trend of thought, the latter would sound more 'doctrinally' sound to me. We can serve yet not love, but I don't want my life to be just a sounding 'GONG'. I want my life to be in the will of God, fulfilling that of which God has created me to accomplish.

I need to step out of that zone of 'loving' God with words, I need to start LOVING God with my actions as well. How can one be contented acting spiritual? Is that enough? If the love of God is within us, shouldn't we be able to love others more readily? Jesus DIED for the people, He forgave them because they know not what they did and He discipled those who were desiring to learn.

A Christian would too have such reflections upon their lives, let us all who label ourselves Christians live like CHRIST did.

"God teach me to LOVE and not tear down, to Give and not wait to receive and to serve and not to be served." Amen.

Getting the blogging ball rolling on ...

I was getting rather tired and lethargic. It was work, then groceries then cooked and ate dinner, then rushed out for intercessory prayer. But it was a good 2 hr spiritual work-out and there after was motivated enough to come home for some physical work out. Now I am feeling a 100 times better and more energetic! Great!

The (not so) long weekend came and go. Now the next public holiday long weekend will be over easter, which our OC will be held. Still thinking and working out if going back for Kel's cousin's wedding (the weekend after OC) is feasible. We'd really love to be back sharing the joy with the whole family. Pa will be around over the same period so yah, as much as I'm looking forward to the next holidays, more than that is the great company too! Okay back to the weekend, it was pretty much enjoyable and constructive.

Started the Saturday with God and had shepherding. Then had a nice sumptious lunch date with Kel (after much efforts to look for a slot that we both had time to chill out together) and took the after thereafter shopping and using up some vouchers i've had since my bridal shower last year and yes they were almost expiring! We came home in the late afternoon and was out again within 10 minutes in our gears. Had a long walk along the river and jogged back. It feels so good and I think I managed to push myself a little which was good. Definitely looking forward for more, now that we are much closer to the running track, park and riverside. Being outdoors just place me back in perspective. Had a quiet evening preparing to teach CDS and watching ancient shows on VCD.

Spent Sunday in Church and thereafter many great fellowship with people. Monday morning was another good catching with some church friends over breakie at home where we had curry and make shift prata (using puff pastry). It was so good. We (Kel mostly) cleaned up the place and we had a pocket of time to get to the sports shops and get our supplies of gym balls and weights which came up to be a (much much) better bargain than gyms :)

I love long weekends and I wished it was longer. One more day would be just perfect :)

The Before~After shots

We engaged a plumber to do some minor changes to our bathrooms. He did his job, but left us quite a bit of mess. Basically he literally did his job, but destroyed things around. So, God taught us patience and grace, and more than that an opportunity to learn some DIY renovations. Got some tips from a friend, some tips from a DIY book (that came at such a blessing too), read labels and spoke to some attendants at Bunnings, we had our first attempts at cementing, tiling, grouting and all the works that came along with it. Here's some before and after shots :)

::Before::

He changed the sink and ripped out the table top as well

::After::

Tiled up the area around it (along with water proofing, glue, tiles, grout, seal ...)

There was also the other bathroom which we had to cement and fill up a huge hole under the sink, pictures didn't look too impressive so haha, we will leave it out :)

New beginnings

I love the start of each new year because it always brings about new beginnings and a reason once again to review and resolute. I have been caught up with starting up the year that not blogging has become almost habitual.

It has been 2 weeks since we've settled into our new humble abode. Welcomed many guests over for lunches/teas, meetings and shepherdings. From the core team of the sub district to covenant friends, sheep(s) and many others. We simply can't express how grateful we are to be back in the hub of ministry. Being back here has brought about a reminder too, of not settling into an all comfortable mode but more to bless. And I know God has been and still is stretching me to grow in areas of sacrificial giving, and that includes releasing my dear husband more to ministry. The question now is how much more and the cry out to Him is for the enlargement of my heart.

*tiny glimpse to our new place. This is the dining area more photos will be up on my facebook when I get down to uploading them all :)

All in all, it has been a learning curve for me (us). Especially also in the area of finances, making decisions, responsibilities in fulfiling loan, building fund, savings etc.

God has also been really speaking into our lives as we seeked Him for future plans. Ministry planning, family planning and specific steps to undertake. One thing that has struck clear to us is to remember to make decisions not merely based upon a 'micro-family' context but to grow in my kingdom perspectives. Its easy to have career plans, family plans, financial plans revolving around just the 2 of us, for our family and kids in future but there is more than just that. I got to be ready to embrace what is of benefit to His kingdom, church and people.

I sensed that this year's a pivotal where God is shaping us in our convictions. Already He has reminded once again of the way our lives are weaved tightly with those surrounding us ~ leaders working alongside with us and people under our care. The kind of consequences our decisions have upon them and likewise the impact and influence we can have. It's just making me crave to hear more from Him and how badly I want my steps to be endorsed by the Holy Spirit.

The pre 2008 post

3 days more to the new year and I am trying really hard not to tumble into 2008, but stride in with God's confidence. The truth is that it has been a busy few weeks, and time seems to be zooming past! 2008 plans seem to be in haphazard chunks floating around my mind. Ministry calendar almost there, work calendar in trying to find its way. I think my mental and spiritual preparation towards the new year have got heaps more to go.

I have got many overdued items on my agenda, overdued blog post that has been accumulating inside my mind (I think more or less constipated already heh! :), emails to reply, photos to upload, reflections of 2007, pray and prepare for the new year .... okay i shall take each step at a time.

First of all a 3 days late Christmas greetings from us! (this paragraph is written on a collective term on behalf and alongside with my lovely hub) Merry Christmas to everyone. Especially those back in Singapore, our dear family and friends. We miss you all a lot. We watched Sophie's baptism clip wished we were there. Yet on this special celebration we thanked HIM for His provision always in our lives, family and friends whom we love so much and we're glad that we had each other too. Our first Christmas together as a f.a.m.i.l.y :) spent it with some friends (our spiritual family) which was great fun.

Ok, give it a pause ... Entry to be continued

I got Tagged!

Ok i am on a sick leave, supposed to be taking heaps of rest but had to get onto my computer to do some stuffs. Since i got tagged by Ailing, shall continue with this friendly chain ... here goes ;)

5 Things :

A. Found in my Room
1. Bed - My fave red quilt cover on ( i only have 2) with 4 pillows, cushion, frog stuff toys etc etc, you wonder how Kel and I manage to find space :)
2. Chest of Drawers - White from Ikea, with heaps of stuffs on it, Rubbarb table runner, earrings, clock, perfumes etc
3. Side Table - With our photos, heaps of books, read/half read/unread, body lotion
4. Wardrobe - With clothes in it ??
5. Basket - Wireless modem, plugs, chargers, cordless phone

Ok having these descriptions is taking way too long and i feel like i am coming up with a garage sale list!

B. I have always wanted to
1. Have kids young
2. Be a sportswoman
3. Be an artist/designer
4. Take nice photographs
5. Go Church Planting

C. Found in my Bag
1. Wallet
2. Purse filled with discount vouchers, tissue paper and a lip balm
3. Vitamins
4. Purple notebook
5. Bible

D. Found in my Wallet
1. Eftpos Cards, Credit cards
2. Fly buys
3. Driver license
4. Medibank Card
5. Receipts and discount dockets from entertainment book

E. I am currently into
1. Learning how to run effective meetings and departments, 2008 planning (Department, structures ... )
2. Paining 3. Anything related to house renovation
4. Interesting blogs (Kel calls me a blog stalker!)
5. Babies (not mine tho, haha unfortunately :) -- Looking after Elise once in a while, talking to Estella etc etc)

5 Candidates to Tag :

1. Sunita
2. Jocelyn
3. Vicky
4. Lucia
5. Estella

Breaking the silence :)

I finally picked up my brushes and dug out my acrylics sometime last week again. I have been wanting to paint for my parents as a combined Birthday cum Christmas present for them. Sometimes it's really hard to get something for them considering that they have almost everything. I themed this painting "Love transcends", an old volks wagon van, better termed as "Mian Bao Che" (vehicle shaped like a loaf of bread), old but well loved model. I never fail to wow at them each time i spot them on the streets. With 2 little love birds sitting on the old cable. This painting was inspired because i know my dad just loves vintage looking paintings. Just a little something that hopefully they will like! :) i really enjoyed myself tho.