For the past two weeks, EstherTC and I attended a Basic Counseling Skills Course at BCM in hopes to polish our counseling skills so that we might help those we so-call "counsel". None that I know of is official.
I was pretty on fire for it until about the 3rd class. I began to have second and third thoughts. I wasn't sure if this is for me. Wasn't sure if I cared enough for people. It sounded too hard.
But nevertheless, we slogged through the ungodly hours, coffees, classes and assignments. I figured I might as well finish what I started. After which I will slowly consider if I'd want to take the entire diploma, which logically sounds about right. But an entire diploma sounds..... too tough right about now.
My faithful nescafe ice latte - without which I would not be awake those early mornings.
The days in BCM did bring forth a sense of enlightenment, as I observed the life and people there - and noted that it is not as scary as I thought it would be. People are still people wherever you find them. I don't know where the fear came from. Perhaps it was a preconceive notion planted from somewhere. However, I will not attempt to speak falsely on God's anointed ones. I sorta enjoy myself but I will never dare go at it alone.
David's bday
Ok. David decided to cook for us to celebrate his birthday (on Esther's birthday) which we looked forward to. It has been 3 yrs since we had a taste of his food. Did I mention he's a good chef? But it was a cozy little dinner with a few people - upon David's invite - where we ate till our stomach was going to explode.
Here's david still cooking, trying to turn on the oven, and finally got mommy's help:
Madam Kwan with Esther
After class one day, EstherTC and I decided to head to megamall to find me a pair of silver earrings to test out a theory she had about my ears. Figured its worth checking out. We had lunch at the much-talked-about Madam Kwan's. Woh, a plate of nasi lemak was so expensive. But at least now I can say "been there, done that!"
Juliana's farewell
Juliana - our Missionettes sponsor of young was about to marry and migrate. Or rather migrate and marry. The other girls of my bath could not make it to the farewell so I dutifully went. Of course I would go! It was far too long since we had a chat. And that nite we caught up on so many years. Some of the kids (her current Missionette's sutdents) were there as well. I could see in her eyes the emotions of having seen me grow up as I now see some of the kids grow up. Simply heart warming.
Life is all about the people in it, ain't it? What other reason can there be? Whether it be rekindling past ones, retaining present ones, building new bonds. People are what make life worth living. I know the classic answer should be "God". But even Jesus lived and died for people. And as we live this life, we live with that example - that what mattered to Him most, was people.
As I was preparing the sermon slides for pastor (as I'm accustomed to do), I came across something interesting. I'm not an avid fan of astronomy but I still find it fascinating enough. Enough to wonder at God's marvelous creation - the sun, and the stars that fills the universe. Google 'eye of God' and you will find the below image:
Eye of God - NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula
God is watching us!
It's CNY again and I will resist the temptation to go through the whole culture thing or the countdown. But every CNY is different from the last. And yes, we all do love Chinese New Years - for the family and friends, for the food, for the new dresses and deco, for the money.
I would write all about the 15days of new year. But that will take far too long and i'm far too lazy. It was fun hanging out with family whom we meet only like once a year, friends that get together to share some laughter and get fat. This year we opened our home to feed family and friends with our traditional "soh mee". There I was helping to cook and serve like a proper hostess. Now this is the awesome "soh mee".
Couple days later it was opened to the youth as we've started to do. Some days were boring, some days I don't even have time to sit. But that's CNY. =)
There's so many nice pics we took this year that captured the spirit of the week. But I can't put them all here. So below's the link:
Did you see Google this Valentine's? (their time, of course, not Malaysian time).
It is so heart warming. I like this idea of Valentines, where an old couple is seen still very much in love (as they once did when they first started). To imagine that love could last so long and still be so beautiful. Isn't that what we all really want? Not all the romance of today, but the warm love that has battered all kinds of storm?
I just realised I was tagged by Yew Fong at this post.
1. Each blogger must post these rules.
2.Each Blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged and read your blog.
8 random facts about me:
(random means the first thing that comes to mind right?)
- I generally don't like crowds. Lately I've been saying that a lot. Large large crowds tend to freak me.
- I love to travel to visit places and still would like to have the opportunity to do so.
- I've been telling myself I need to organize all 3 hard disk space of mine and do some "cleaning" in my computers but have yet to find the time. It's going to take MAJOR time.
- I need to start being more discipline. I've been telling myself that since forever. But my life's getting ahead of me and i REALLY need to get to it.
- There are two thing that are constantly and forever at the top of my head. One of which is Aspirers/youth.
- I have sensitive skin. Don't have allergies but in it's own ways still sensitive.
- I need 8 hours of sleep to be fully functional. Any less can be catastrophic in due time.
- By now, I have already lost my attention span to think of another random fact.
Jason Gan was telling us about his band's dramatic experience recently while Nic Chin encouraged us to hear. It was one of those cop robber high speed car chase kinda thing that you see on TV. But this is real life. Read the full story here. Seriously read it. Joel Vijay narrated the written version just as animatedly.
The entire table was so captivated by his animated story telling skills. Not sure if we were stunned or amazed.
Speaking of which, the band spoken about is the fourletterstory in which 3 of its members are my ex-CF members. Proud to know a band? wohoo! They do gigs and recordings. Sounds like life in the limelight alright. Sample music on the blog itself. Feel free to browse.
Wahseh I'm promoting for you guys, you should give some fee wei.
It's been so very long since we met up with everyone. Part of me wonder if it'll be the same or will everyone just be obliging and polite. I was right in both aspects.
I think they tried to call everyone but finally with about 14 of us squeezing on 1 table, we had our chinese new year dinner in honour of Delia, whom had jus returned from the Land Down Under for a visit. Don't ask me how we did it. It was crowded but cozy. So here we are...
Joining us, was the brand new couple, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Loo.
It was like a superstar moment as everyone lingered outside the restaurant and taking pictures, not wanting to leave. Perhaps we were thinking the same thing: who knows when the next time will be?
For more pictures, check out MY ALBUM and SHANTI'S ALBUM
Wohh this title sounds like I wanna talk bout sex! Yea that's the word that gets attention, right?
We had a workshop for the youth to talk all about sex. In the world that we live in, we cant escape or shelf that word any longer. Even more as Christians, subjects about it should not be treated with contempt. After all, they're getting a whole lot of it outside. And that is only skewing our minds with the wrong ideas, images, beliefs, and values about what God made beautiful in the very first place. There are so many rising issues these days, in a world where noone knows what is right and wrong anymore. In a world where children are not excluded from the terrors and evils of men.
In respond to that, Aspirers decided to do something. We got amateurs to read up and talk to the youth. They were broken up in groups according to gender and age. We covered topics from biology parts to consequences of sex; contentedness to variations of sexual acts; masturbation to homosexuality; undergarments to testosterone; and so much more. And even after that we felt that there were so much more we could cover. Maybe next time we could call in professionals.
But I guess at the end of the day, it is our prayer that they'd learn something and hold it close to them. At the end of the day, they'd keep themselves pure and holy for the Lord their God. We may not know much but we're ready to learn up to be able to guide, admit we don't know and walk on this journey together with them. Life is a journey. And at least they know this is not something we keep under wraps and wont want to talk about. Cos like everything else, it's just another topic - a very real one.
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