Happiness...

I was reading a magazine and I read this writing by a German scholar Stefan Klein:

Things per se cannot bring you happiness at all. It is only the 'experience' of possessing something that can trigger an emotion. So possession can trigger happiness, but only as long as that experience having a bigger car is new.

I sure think that the experience of buying a car triggered my emotion - a feeling of anxiety & insecurity and excitement (sometimes). Over the last 3 weeks, Ian & I have been searching for our possessions - car & cellphones. The thought of buying the two things are kinda exciting but yet daunting; the thought of our bank account being drained (plus me not working now just doesn't help at all) and afraid that we buy a 'lemon'...HOW?

For some (especially the rich & famous) perhaps the experience of possessing something will made them happy (for a while at least) till they find something newer and bigger. The chase of happiness for the rich made the Porsche/ Ferrari/ Lamborghini's owner even happier!

Most of us (the not so rich & famous), we need to find our everyday bliss...the smaller, day-to-day occurrence like seeing the 'morning hairdo' of the special someone, the smelly breath you smell when you kiss him 'good morning', the walk you take with him in the evening, the 'thank-you' you hear when he complimented your cooking, etc...

I'm happy...

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

e-blab

one of my daily routine is to check out my friend's blog and get inspiration as to what to write as at times i just can't put to words what I'm thinking or experiencing... and of course, is nice to be connected with friends and know what's happening in their lives.

I was reading Jimmy's blog and some things that he said just echoed "We too!" in my heart...

Leaving a place of familiarity (FGA & Perth) is daunting and it takes a while to 'recover' ... and Ian & myself are 'adjusting' ourself well by the grace of God and the church. From leaders to members somehow feel kinda weird, like Jimmy said is rather a humbling experience and i believe HE is bringing us to a new level of worship - without title and due responsibilities. From being the majority (asians in a 99% asian church @ FGA) to being the minority (asians in a predominantly whites church) is somehow adventurous (???). As we were telling Josh (our Pastor @ San Diego) about our struggles being the minority and he said these " We (the whites) dun really see you (the asians)as the minority, but if I'm the minority, I'll sure feel the majority ..." It makes sense!!! Put the same principles in a Christians & non-Christians setting, at any church event is normal for the pre-believers to feel the 'pressure' as they are the minority...resolution? Yes, make the pre-believers the majority in all church event! what a simple but yet hard solution...*where am i?I think i lost my point*

Started joining the church for 5 weeks now and we are blown away by the passion and the commitment of the core members of the church...The stories began when the church first started (year 2003), Ps Josh & Ps Shaun worked two jobs while running the church in order to keep it going, Josh & kim (newly wed then) will dig into their savings to pay for church bills & expenses and when God called them to get (lease) a building, the church (not many people then) were raising funds & for nights doing painting, striping the floors and 'flipping' the old paper warehouse! Is just amazing & encouraging to see where the church is at now! Also, the stories on how people started coming to church by the simple things the church do - i.e. give out water bottles on the street and clean up he community once every quarter & etc is 'wow'!!! God's grace & favour is indeed upon the church!!!

Hocks (our youth pastor @ FGA) said before that we should position ourself to see God move & be used by God, and we think the Existence Church is the place to be at @ this season of our lives. To grow, to serve & reach the city and to be transformed...

We Exist...

We were invited for dinner with Ps Josh & Kim and Geoff & Devin @ J&K's place...we had such a great time sharing and getting to know these group of people. They are so awesome and they made our existence @ San Diego easier...

We are so blessed to be able to learn from this awesome couple and grow together in our church @ San Diego (The Existence). Josh always mentioned that the church is not perfect but we are learning..and that makes us (the imperfect ones) fit right in.

Exciting to see how God explodes in this church...

Fair or not? Whose call?

If you have been doted by parents since young (i think), pampered by boyfriends when dating and now love (continuously) by your husband...is hard to know what's is like to be unfair!!!

When you get it more most of the time, you don't complain but when you see (or you presumes) someone gets more than you, you shouts "Not fair..."

Who should hold the standard of fairness? i often think they (not supposed to say who) ain't fair, that's according to my standard of justice, which is going to be inconsistent (vary all the times). In fact, God holds the standard of fairness which is absolute!!! If I'm able grasp this truth, I will desist from fighting for people to adhere to what I think is fair.

The weakness of envy, jealousy & bitterness keeps appearing at my doorstep...I 'welcome' them into my house and watch them bring turmoil to myself >>> chase them out (for a while) and the cycle continues.

Something from my pastor speaks to my heart: "Don't let the devil steals from your well of joy and negate the many great things God has done in your life...". I have allowed the devil to steal from me instead of praising God & rejoicing at what i have...

God is a fair judge...even the world treats you unjustly HE will rewards those who earnest seek HIM and trust God to provide...

STOP FIGHTING
START PRAISING!!!

Dinner for two...?

We had stew beef for dinner...looks good? I cooked the beef with carrots & potatoes for more than 2 hours and Ian love it! So, I'm officially graduate from stew beef class. Yay!

what next to learn? Maybe I'll try meat loaf...*grin*


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Ian want to get me a scooter so i can go around (shopping, library, bank, grocery store & etc) while he's at work. We have been looking around for a cute & affordable one...check this out, isn't this cute?

Mission Bay Park

Weekends is "Carian-day" and we get to google for places to go. The criteria for the chosen destination - it has to be in vicinity (<>

Mission Bay Park is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, consisting of 4,235 acres, approximately 46% land and 54% water. The park offers a wide range of recreational activities including paths for walking and jogging, and playgrounds for children. It is one of San Diego's most popular locations to fly a kite, picnic or sail a model yacht.

To save money, we pack our lunch from Ranch 99, it cost us only US$4.26 (incl Tax) for two-dish meal plus fried rice (see left) and is super yummy!!! What a bargain huh...

We walked and sat down looking at people flying kites; it was a perfect day for kite flying... i just lie on the grass, watch the kites in the blue sky and enjoy the moments with Ian. It feels like 'foreshore' once again...

Almost sunset...we drove to Mission Bay Beach which faces the Pacific Ocean. Whoa, the experience is totally different...the beach is packed with high schooler (it must be spring break...); girls in their bikini and boys topless (Ian & me are freezing) and the surfers chasing the waves.

We walked along the boardwalk enjoying the breeze and munching away our snack (actually only me *grin*). The beach houses along the boardwalk are so nice...one even has a heated spa facing the ocean (actually, everyone will be looking at you as they walk pass...)

Took a few pics of the sunset...is beautiful. "God performs wonders that cannot be fathomed. Miracles that cannot be counted..." Job 9:10


Another brilliant day @ San Diego...final shot of us >>>

Housewife or housefly?

If you asked me what's my ambition a decade ago, i will tell you instantly that I want to be a full-time mum and housewife. Don't ask me why...*shrug*

Ever since Ian started working, my life as a housewife is rather humdrum...

I will wake up & walk Ian to his car, say my goodbye, return to my bed and sleep till 9:30am or later. After my beauty sleep, I'll have my breakfast while watching Tyra Bank show (she's cool...) and then spend time with God. Afternoon, I will either go to the gym, collect mails and/or ironing. Then around 4pm, I will get ready (make myself pretty) and wait for Ian to return home.

What a life. I should be the envy of many woman yet...*i dun know*

Family Planning 101...

518 days to Beijing 2008 Olympics and that's mean 506 days to me turning 30! Wow, it feels like just yesterday that i celebrated my 21st birthday. Age is catching up and my biological clock is ticking... As the decade progresses, a woman's fertility goes into free fall. That's why fertility experts caution women in their 30s not to wait too long, particularly if they want more than one child...

(Pregnancy rates over the course of one year)

Using the fertility calculator from this awesome website (http://www.babycenter.com), I calculated that if we want a 'piglet' (not at all am i superstitious) I have till next month to conceive...*pressure is up and now we gotta work doubly hard*

We acknowledge that every child is a gift & blessing from God and if we 'bingo' we'll praise the LORD, even if God choose to close my womb we will still praise Him...then maybe Ian will allow me to get a dog *grin*.

Everyday, i'll just spend an hour or so to do my due diligence...how to get pregnant & how to be a healthy mum. For the rest, I'll leave it to God!

Another day...

Today is Ian official start day for his work at LifeCare Center Escondido...I'm left at home to wonder about my 'season' in San Diego.

My mum has been pestering me to be pregnant...of course, i want to but it wasn't as easy as she thinks. And yes, we are trying for BABY! Before i have a baby, what can i do in the meantime? Volunteer work? Work experience? Read up to be a mum? Sleep & shopping?

I believe that in all seasons God calls me to be fruitful but "What is God's plan for me in San Diego?" and "What can I do?". I'm still searching & waiting for an answer...

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It has been a while that I'm on multiple msn catching up with my friends in Perth. The timing is just not right and is difficult to synchronizes our time to chat online(my day is their night and when I'm free she gotta go for class...). But when i got the chance like today, it really makes my day!

"Friends help make this life a little better each day, moments with friends changed the day for me and made me look on the brighter side..."

Now, is 2:15am and I've just finished chatting with all of them and need to get my beauty sleep zZzzz...before i sleep had to try again calling my family on Skype but still no luck *sigh*

42 degree in Perth today, I'm glad I'm not there right now...San Diego is nice & cool (sorry friends didn't say to make you jealous). I remembered the summer nights in Perth is unbearable for me; can't sleep & nothing else to take off...and the skin keep peeling. In the day time, have to run to shopping center to take cover or just watch more movie...

something for you to laugh at >>> is me...

Beary-beary Magical...

I've seen snow on television, read it in story books, hear from people's snow experience but never i thought to be so magical...I was a child again when I saw the snow!

Ian & me did the snowman (2 mini ones & one mid-size one), snow angel, snowball fight (is rather tiring to run on snow & i always get hit...hmmn???) and 'toyota' ad (our australian friends will recognise it; did that couple of time whenever we travel down south...).

We spent 2D1N at Big Bear Lake and everything in Big Bear Lake is perfect...the weather (God sent some snowfall just before we went up the mountain, thus we saved money from not requiring to buy snow chain for the car tyres and is not too cold for me...) the B&B place is beautiful (how i wish i had a place just like that...facing the lake with mountain at the background, fireplace in the room & a whirlpool inside the room with view to the Lake) and food is affordable & yummy.

Before the whole U.S. thingy, ian & me are planning our honeymoon @ Europe...the trip to Big Bear Lake is just a preview of our honeymoon. Maybe our good pals could be with us for their honeymoon (i suppose is 2008...) double date @ Europe? It will be real fun...if only!

Enjoy some of the pictures we took...

"the mountains, the snow, the place & the weather is magnificent but what unseen (the creator) is even greater..."