The few of us sent Steph off to the airport this afternoon. its funny how i thought i would be the one boarding a plane heading back to Singapore instead. To think this winter break would officially be my first long holiday spent here in boring old Perth. i really do miss my beloved family & friends back home, and of course not to mention my dearest darling Bo!!!And even more so during this cold, miserable winter period when everyone is going back home... back to the sunny warm weather and all the Hokkien Mee, cheng teng, sambal stingray one could possibly eat.

Waaaaaaahh!!
i'm missing home so so so badly right now.

Currently Listening
Chasing Cars
by Snow Patrol

Pictorial explosion ahead...

And so,

the exams are finally o.v.e.r! and its funny how i update this blog so much more regularly during the exam period than i do now that i'm hoolidehing. anyhoots, there's so much that i would like to say right now, so many things are just running through my head. but i just can't seem to find the words to express how i feel. i know i shouldn't be talking about the exams because whats done has been done. To be honest, i still do worry very much about my results and i do keep thinking about whether or not i can even clear all my units this semster.

But.

my faith rests in the Lord, and in Him alone. And I know He'll come through for me. So whatever happens, i will still keep glorifying His name.

"What can we say to describe just a glimpse of Your glory
How can our words portray but a thread of your majesty
But still we praise our Savior
In Spirit and in Truth
For we cannot say enough about You

Hallelujah
Hallelujah"

- Cannot Say Enough by MercyMe.

i got soul, but i'm not a soldier
i got soul, but i'm not a soldier
i got soul, but i'm not a soldier
i got soul,but i'm not a soldier
i got soul, but i'm not a soldier

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeahhhhh...

i desperately need to stop this lyrical madness.
i'm going on a musicial rampage here and i have to study!!!!!!!!
Help!!!!

Currently listening
All these things that i've done
by The Killers

"Here I go,
scream my lungs out and try to get to you
You are my only one

I let go,
but there's just no one that gets me like you do
You are my only,
my only oneeeeeeeee!"

Currently Screaming
Only One
by Yellowcard

i stumbled upon Mark Loy's unofficial FCC photo gallery. and wow, for a guy who constantly goes around with his huge chunky, expensively professional camera, taking random snap shots of people at church when they least expect it, i must say, they do turn out pretty good!! i mean, he is undeniably good with his photography skills. but i was expecting to find alot of unglam candid photos! Instead i found quite a handful of nice ones - esp from the campus camp last winter, which i would personally like to share with you now. okay, most of my fellow church friends would probably have seen this by now, or if u've not... i'm sure they'll bring back tonnes of memories yah.

the hike.

this was a scavenger hunt where we had to walk up and down the large vast mountainous piece of land. and of course by the time we finished, the sun was already setting and we were pooped i tell u!! hmm.. amazingly somehow a few of us could even stop & pose for a photography.

the raft.

this to me was one of the highlights of the camp. not because our we victoriously won the competition, but because we lost in the most hilariously embarrassing manner. by looking at the design of our raft, and coupled with the fact we had a team of engineering students, we thought we wining this raft building & racing compeitition would be a piece of cake. WELL, we thought wrong. here's what happened.

1. everyone already racing back to the finish line. 2. everyone was already back on shore and we were seemingly still miles away. 3. ok... more like we were SINKING!!

my FavouriteST photo...ever.

we were bawling our eyes out after one of the speaker & worship sessions. and it felt so powerful when we prayed altogether. the passion and burning desire to just look to God and let Him take over was so intense, and i could feel it so strongly within these sisters of mine. the power of prayer just breaks down every ounce of walled up emotions. and when we pray together, all those walls just crumble to the ground like dust. and that is what this picture will remind me of all the time.

the worship team.

ok, if i'm not wrong, this is the one and only photo i have of the ministry i serve in. even then most of the team members aren't all in this shot. since then, there were couple of people who left and new additions to the team. i'm really grateful to be serving in this ministry and its really encouraging to know that each of us are gradually growing in the many different areas of worship. ah, there's so much i would like to say, but i shall leave it for another post in time to come.

oh how i loathe thee. i've got 3 more papers to go, and the thought of going through another week of pure torturous studying, is just excruciating. my poor brain feels like a shriveled up prune. i'm tired, i'm feeling terribly homesick suddenly, my head feels like its going to drop off, my big backside feels like its increasing at a rate of 1cm/s...

i can't take it anymore. i can't take it anymore. i can't take it anymore!!!

anyway, here is something just for all you crazy stressed popsicles out there who, like me, are on the verge of... *popping!

Q. What did Black Eyed Peas tell the char kway tao uncle?

A. Mai Hum, mai hum, mai hum, mai hum.

Currently Listening
Dakota
by Stereophonics

Birthday Shoutouts

Happy Birthday to youuu...
Happy Birthday to youuu...
Happy Birthday to Steph & Mitchell
Happy Birthday to youuuueeee!!
- love you guys. *hugs.

Kate Rusby

This is music for the heavy hearted. Kate Rusby's voice is simply angelic, beautiful yet plaintive. So if you are in a melancholic mood, or u like sad sad sounding songs like me, this will definitely be a piece of ear candy to u.

click here for a listen to the samples from the album.

“There remains something irredeemably youthful about The Girl Who Couldn't Fly. It’s not just the butterfly flutter of Yorkshire's Kate Rusby's voice.
Sometimes the songs are bare--guitar and vocals-- but they're never spartan, pink as nature intended, a curiously roseate melancholia where even an ill-fated adieu mollifies as fluently as a lullaby....”
-Kevin Maidment

zit me zilly.

okay, i'm breaking out terribly. I've never had so many pimples on my forehead before. its so bad that its not funny. i really have no clue why is it this bad now. stress? i don't think so. trust me i get easily stressed all the time but i don't end up having huge zits like these. its zapping every ounce of self esteem i have left. boohoo. was listening to 'Breakout' by Swing out Sister this morning. and this is the song that best describes me now.

When explanations make no sense
When every answer's wrong
You're fighting with lost confidence
All expectations come

The time has come to make or break
Move on don't hesitate
Breakout

(this chorus goes out to anyone who meets me.)
Don't stop to ask
Now you've found a break to make it last
You've got to find a way
(don't) Say what you want to say
Breakout.

you may think this is a tab bit cheesey & overly dramatic. but hey! try being sad, pimple-ly, fat, stressed and looking like a toad altogether.

i'm one uncool banana.

oh btw, my brother shaun is heading into the army today!! i think my mummy will cry buckets when she sends him off later. she's one emo emu. she always cries at the airport whenever i leave for Australia.

i just committed the biggest booboo of the century!

it happened while i was in the shower just a few hours ago. i squeezed a big blob of shampoo into my palms and as i was ready to rub it onto my hair, guess what?



I rubbed it all over my face!

for a split second i thought it was facial wash.

!!!!!!

A Breather.

i'll do anything to take a break from studying right now. anyway, i got cherie to tag me so i could do this survey. haha.. thats how desperate i am. okay, i'll focus after this.

Instructions
Name 20 people you can think of at the top of your head. Don't read the questions before you write, and tag 5 people to do the survey.

1. Cherie
2. Steph
3. Gillian
4. Su Ann
5. Sharene
6. Stacey
7. Raveen
8. Liz
9. Youru
10. Shaun
11. Stefan
12. Cheeky (Shawn)
13. Eugene
14. Mitchell
15. Yang
16. Wei Kang
17. Andrew
18. Vernon
19. Suwen
20. Kapil

Questions

1. How did you meet #14?
Stace first introduced him to me during the 1st day of orientation at the octagon lecture theater. And well, despite how unfriendly he looked at first, we happily attend the same church now. :)

2. What would you do if you had never met #1?
I don't know actually, its hard to imagine. i've known her ever since she first came to BMC (our home church back in singapore).

3. What would you do if #20 and #9 dated?
Hahaha.. i would probably freak out. hmm.. although my friends and i do tease her about it at times. i doubt that will ever happen. Ever.

4. Would #6 and #17 make a good couple?
Hmm.. no? He'll probably kill her with his farts. haha.

5. Describe #3.

I love her to bits! she is such a dear friend to me, and i really thank God for watching over the wonderful friendship of ours all these years. i've known her since sec 2, and we've seen each other through a whole lot. she has a really fun loving personality, she's smart, she's gorgeous, and oh she cracks me up all the time.

6. Do you think #8 is attractive?
yes! she sure is. beautiful in every waay. she's pretty, she cooks well, she sings beautifully, her thoughtfulness and love for the people around her... everything about her is so endearing.

7. Tell me something about #7.
He is a bigger shopaholic than me.

8. Do you know anything about #12's family?
He has 2 younger siblings - a younger brother and sister. Hmm.. his dad is a pilot, and according to the stories he told me, his mom is the funny and bold character in the family.

9. What is #8's favourite?
Jazz? Hahaha.. but i do know who she hates now. the people at Apple.

10.What would you do if #11 confesses that he/she likes you?
I will give him a huge hug and a wet smackeroo on the cheek. after all, he is my baby brother. :)

11. What language does #15 speak?
English and very little chinese(he was after all an ac boy). Oh he is hainanese but i don't know if he speaks hainanese.

12. Who is #9 going out with?
Hmm... no one at the moment. Unless she's hiding something or someone from me!!!!!!

13. How old is #16 now?
He'll turn 23 in August.

14. When was the last time u talked to #13?
This afternoon at lunch. he da-baoed japanese :)

15. Who's #2's favourite singer?
Clay Aiken? correct me if i'm wrong steph, but he was the first person that came to me.

16. Would you date #4?
er, no. for one, she already has a loving boyfriend. but i love her nonetheless!

17. Would you date #7?
Haha.. hmm.. no. it'll be weird. we go out on shopping trips together though.

18. Is #15 single?
er.. I think so.

19. What's #10's last name?
Lai

20. Would you ever consider being in a relationship with #19?
No. i'm straight. but i truly love the friendship i share with her.

21. What schools did #3 go to?
Tao Nan Pri, Raffles Girls School, Hwa Chong JC, London School of Economics. (smart ass.)

22. Where does #6 live?
3/20 Monash Ave, Nedlands

23. What's your favourite thing about #5?
wahaha, i have so many favorite things about her. ok for one, its her passion for God and her cute and bubbly personality. she rocks at baking as well as sewing. she sews her own evening dresses can! power. u rock my socks babe.

24. What do you think of #13?
Haha, well, he's sincere, he's really thoughtful and cares greatly for his friends around him. He sleeps alot too.

25. What do #4 and #19 have in common?
They r both Sues for short. (Su)

26. What special qualities does #17 hold in your life?

Hmm.. he's amazing drumming skills. and if it weren't for his numerous musical talents, i guess we will not be on the same worship ministry team together. its been such a joy playing for worship with him every other sunday, especially so when it comes to leading cell worship. i guess it is the common love we share for music, and how we available ourselves before god in the area of worship that just is so special to me. Other special qualities? Try MCQ guessing. He has an amazing ability of guessing all the mcqs and yet getting all of them right.

And so...

because i can't think of another 5 who would want to do this, or who has not already been tagged by both Liz and cherie. Instead, here are 5 people i would like to shout a big 'I LOVE U'to.

Steph
cherie
Suann
Gillian
Sharene

God whispered to me today.

Guess what He said?

He reminded me that He'll continually keep pursuing my heart, no matter how many times i've kept silent from Him.

So, where can I possibly go from your Spirit, Lord? How can I lose You? Even if I say that i'm not worthly enough for You, You are there. If i sink low into despair that no one wants to be around me, behold, you are there. Even if i pack up and try to run away from all the past hurts & rejections, still You are with me. If i fence myself up so that no one can hurt me again, even there your hand will guide me. Even when i say 'surely, because of my sins, you will not want to have anything to do with me', even my darkness will not be dark to You.

And He will make all our nights shine like the day, for our darkness is as light to Him.

my blog entries are as sporadic as the no. of times i actually attend lectures. well done stephanie lai, now you are suffering from its dire consequences! its past 5 a.m. and i've just finished another chapter of my managerial accounting unit. those who know me well enough will know that i don't drink coffee, so my only dosage of caffeine comes from tea. and because i had 2 full cups of Lipton Black tea.. i'm still wide awake at this unearthly hour.

i hate hate hate accounting! its unbelievely futile. the figures can be so easily manipulated by anyone who knows how it works.

anyhoots, i would really appreciate it if you guys could keep me in prayer. here's my exam timetable:

14 june - Investment Analysis 3324
17 june - Managerial Accounting 2203
20 june - Corporate Financial Policies 2222
21 june - Financial Acc. Theory & Practice 3321

(thanks cherie for the reminder. heehee.)

Currently Listening
Sad Eyes
by Josh Rouse