faith

it's a night before my syf.

syf, is the most important event of any performing art for it tells others the standard of which you are at.
my school is aiming for gold.
i just can't describe how nervous i am right now. everyone around me can't do their homework too. jittery bittery goes my heart. we either get a gold or our conductors get sacked. i just feel like everyone tells us we're history makers but there's just this silent heavy doubt hanging in the air. it's suffocating me for one thing. even as i type this i suddenly remember the delirious song 'history maker'.
well in all our 50 years we never got a gold for our symphonic band before.faith perhaps is all we have left. my heart feels like dropping.
then i have to remind myself. courage is facing it even with fear,not the absence of fear.
i will be strong and we will overcome. yes we will. please pray for us!

love
brenda

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Let me put it this way. Let's say my college.


Of course if my college has a big funfair or any other event i would want my close friends to go, support me or whatever. But the thing i myself would really want is to let them see the kind of environment i study in, the place i go to everyday for 5 days a week whenever i'm not meeting them, the school God chose for me to go to, the friends i mix around with.... In a way, i feel that it can bring us closer.

The funfair or any event would just be an excuse for me to ask them over. That's how i think la.

So Bren, even though it would delight us even more to see you while we were there, i'm happy enough to see see and look look around your school, its like i have a better understanding of you.. I dont feel that the trip was a wasted one. I believe the others feel this way too. =)








Lots of love
jo

yello.

i have been wanting to say this for very long, especially when i never really made it clear.

I'M SORRY ABOUT MY SCHOOL'S FUNFAIR FIASCO.
):
i really was kinda stuck in the haunted house and i wished that everyone could come down, and i really am very grateful you made the effort to come!
i'll pay everyone back somehow!

love
brenda

Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen

MUST WATCH! Coming this June.

Storm Signals

Was reading something by Gordon MacDonald in "When Men Think Private Thoughts" & this portion I read was very meaningful & doesn't seem like something exclusive to guys so I'm going to share a little here. Hope it benefits you as it did me!

What Storm Signals Means (Alarm bells within self that signals trouble is brewing - do a check for yourself here)
1) Moods
- Watch out for bursts of anger, prolonged bouts of sadness & continuing feelings of irritation that goes beyond the normal.
- Are you overcome with intense sadness? Are you able to celebrate with someone in his success? Why do you see gloom & bleakness in every possibility?
- It would be good to reflect upon your changing moods & what they really mean. And it would have been the right moment for a courageous fren to step in & question you & your abnormal moods & behaviour.


2) Predominant thoughts
- Thoughts that are almost always out of control. Thoughts that emerge without warning.
- Why are these uninvited thoughts growing in frequency & variety? What is the underlying message?

3) A change in key relationships
- If I find myself jealous of other peoples whose fortunes have advanced beyond my own, if I begin to think of people competitively as better than or not as good as I am, etc etc, I am getting some fairly strong signals that something in my soul has gone sour...

4) Defensiveness
-We're dealing with storm signals when we react to difficult moments with defensiveness, complaining, or whining.
- I'm defensive when I resist any attempts to evaluate my work or my life - performance. I refuse to listen, to consider that anyone might offer a different outlook on what I'm doing or becoming. Thus, I become angry or make excuses or try to deflect the blame to someone else.
- Difficulty in listening to difficult news about self. You want to give one excuse after another. You spend more time trying to explain yourself than you do listening & asking where the point of truth might be. 5) Sleeplessness

- You're probably getting a storm signal when the body cries for sleep but the mind doesn't permit it to happen. It's time to ask why!
- If the quiet messages of the soul are resisted in the daytime hours, it is not unusual that the soul will speak more persistently in the night time.


Taking the time, the effort, the opening of the ear & eye to hear & watch the stomr signals that send their messages to us that something is wrong, that something needs correction, that something needs assistance. In so doing the hurricanes are tamed, & life goes on in greater fullness & maturity. ~ Gordon MacDonald

Luv Cynthia

CS, WOW

Just 2 weeks ago, after lessons from a sch, we went back to the office. Upon reaching the glass doors, i was greeted with the sight of a room filled with people gaming. Counterstrike, WOW, DOTA, Op 7 etc. Its a very common sight, considering that the gaming center is part of the place where i work.

And i asked myself this, "Very fun meh?", rolled my eyes, turned and walked off into the other room. I really really really think that its a waste of time getting into a team with some strangers to fight against some other strangers on DOTA. And CS is such a complicated game, so much blood and the counter terrorist ppl look so much like the terrorist ppl... (Gaming from a girl's point of view) I just cannot picture myself playing those games, or even getting hooked to them. NO WAY.


But last week.. i was simultaneously introduced to Warcraft 3 and Counterstrike. ITS SO FUN!!!!! At first, it was really hard to move around in CS, and i felt really dizzy after trying to move from place to place, and i "died" almost instantly whenever an enemy spotted me. But after a few more practices, i so enjoyed that game! =D There's also no lack of people to play with. ;)


For warcraft 3, i chose to play that myself. What happened was, every night when i came home, i would see my brother playing it. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. And it really intrigued me, what exactly is the attraction. To be able to answer that question, i decided to experience it myself. So i started on the easier levels first b4 i slowly moved on to harder missions.

I can only say this: I'm enjoying the game.


Now now now, i'm not asking you guys to try the games, just that its a really good way to relax =) and its always fun to play with other people.



Jo

my fav weapon in CS: sniper!

Mark a Difference

This blog (a FCBC Youthnet initiative) is created for the proclaimation and sharing of testimonies. Truly, we hope that the testimonies of God's goodness will flow continually and will serve to edify and encourage this family. =D http://markadifference.blogspot.com/

You can send your testimonies to markadifference@gmail.com :)

Luv Cynthia

My Most Memorable Valentine Day 2009!



This year holds the most memorable valentine's day memory for me because ...... kena BURNT under the hot sun!!!

1) We went to celebrate V-day with BrenBren at her school funfair but we didn't grab a glimpse of her at all...... SOBS!!!! We ended up having a mini picnic under the hot sun [ZM kept insisting that it was a shady afternoon!]. We bought pizza, nachos, sardine puffs & drinks with the coupous we bought.

2) We celebrate V-day with our ETHNOSEMMANUEL cluster mates! It was a chill out night where unprofessional singers belt out many wonderful melodies to entertain the others. heehee. The atmosphere was very relaxed and fun & peppered with soooo many lame jokes! Rennie, WangYing & Phoebe really did a wonderful wonderful job in organizing the whole programme. ZM sang 勇气, EJ & me sang 爱和承诺and 梁山伯与茱丽叶.


















All in all, I thank God for such a lovely and meaningful V-day where we're not just caught up in emo mo mo love but celebrating a day of love & marvelous friendships!!! Happy FRENSHIP Day Gals!!!!

*Special thanks to cherry who made the yummy mummy cup cakes for us!!!

Luv Cynthia

FAMILY!

I've been extremely happy this few days, not to mention the fact that its Chinese New Year too. =)




Like what my family have been doing every year, we went to my dad's godmum's house for reunion dinner. I agree it sounds weird, as we are not related at all, but, they do treat us like family we feel really comfortable whenever we go there. This year was a bit different for me. For the past years that we've been there, i avoided talking to the kids who are around my age, maybe i'm just shy (Ha ha). But i made effort to do it this year, and its not even difficult at all. =)



Like what my family have been doing every year, we headed off to Malaysia! But this year was a bit different for us. We made a stop at my auntie's house first, then from there, we went to Malaysia. The thing is, i get to spend time quality time with my wonderful nephew and niece, Douglas and Faith. We watched Monster Inc. on the car and laughed over the funny characters. Just recalling it made me feel so much younger!! They are really intelligent too, very unlike me when i was their age =)



Like what my family have been doing every year, we reached Johor at around 10pm and waited for the fireworks put up by our neighbours. (Putting up fireworks are illegal, especially when people put up those mega loud and brights one, its actually easier for them to be caught, but....the people do get away with it..) But this year was different. It rained. So there were no fireworks. All the kids, including me, were quite disappointed. Yet, because of the rain, all of us stayed inside and we get to catch up with one another. Like, I know how my cousin is doing in school and how their curriculum is getting heavier. He is doing 11 subjects. Like, i talked to my cousin's husband, who i now know is a very funny person.



Also, there are new additions to the family. Or should, i say they've grown since they were still very tiny last year. And OMGosh they are so cute and adorable and pinch-able and delicious-looking. I totally changed my opinion towards children..especially after my another nephew and niece arrived the following day, which is a 初一. Since both of them were breed and born in the States, they have this cute accent when they talk. I had this conversation with one of them.


Abby: I love princesses! [In Disneyland] We watched the princess parade. I love Santa Claus too! *Giggle*
Me: But Santa Claus is not a princess.......
Abby: *burst into fits of laughter*
Me: And he doesnt wear a dress......
Abby: *Laughter goes on...*


Now, the real reason i'm feeling so happy is not because i feel younger when i play with them, and definitely nothing to do with the hongbaos i'm receiving, its the family warmth i can practically sense covering the entire house. Seeing them enjoying themselves, laughing over lame jokes, kids bickering over toys and stuffing their faces with food just fills me up with happiness and bliss. The feeling is that great. =)

I'm already looking forward to our next gathering.


Jo

Running after you...


It was pretty late when i get home, but still i decided to went ahead with my run. I started having this run routine since it was the holidays and i can feel myself getting fat, so i try to run whenever i can.

Yesterday, i was desperate to hear God. I'm not those who is a regular to hearing him or sensing him, not sensitive at all. I didnt realise i could be very nonchalant at times, and that there are things that really needed my attention, yet i choose to let it pass..Ytd, i was reminded of them and suddenly i felt so, heavy. Heavy with responsibilities.

So it was already very dark, and i chose a different route this time, longer and quieter. I broke out into a run immediately (usually i dont do that if i want to last a few more rounds). On the way, i prayed-muttered to God, asking for help.

Amazingly, i finished that round in that same fast pace, with no thought of wanting to stop and rest.

And suddenly, it just hit me. It could be both a reminder and also an assurance from Him.

As i kept running, i was able to go further during this particular run. He reminded me of the year that just end. He reminded me who was the one who sustained me last year, pulled me through the tough exam periods and school stress when i thought i was a goner.

He assured me it will be the same again this coming year, he will continue to be my strength. Want to encourage everyone not to give up, this year is a tough one. When this year ends, we will be stronger in faith if we keep trusting Him.

Also, i have stopped doing my QT the past month, especially during my days of peace, fun and joy. As i prepare myself for this coming year, i try to set some resolutions too. Starting from how i treat my family members, and slowly moving outwards to the circle of people around me. Try to be more active with the noisy girls (ha ha) around me in church etc..


Jo

P.S: I can no longer enjoy the privileges of being a student.. *a deep sigh* No cheap bus fares, no student meal in Mcd...

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