Right. It's been another week or so since I last update on what I've been doing. Been quite bored and don't know what to write on my blog. Haha. Not many inspirational experiences to share but somehow, don't mind blurting out my life's events. Hmm. But i wonder if it'll bore you guys out. Oh well.

Firstly, I wanna dedicate this paragraph to my friends who are freshman or who entered uni for the first sem. For NUS, results are out already. I know some did well and some didn't. For those who did well, jia you and keep it up ok? For those who are disappointed or missed your expectations, well, I wanna say that I understand how you feel.

I totally hated my Year 1 Sem 1 results too. I was shocked and was totally telling myself, "This is NOT the result I'm going to graduate with at the end of the 4 years". So I evaluate myself and re-prioritise what's on my plate. Also, changing my study method. That's how I jumped 2 classes after that. With that, I wanna encourage you all to re-think and press on! If I can do it, so can you! And this message also goes out to my NTU frens who haven't collected the results yet and to myself too! Press on, no matter what the results, come 30th dec!

Okay. So christmas is just over. Wanna wish all a Merry and Blessed Christmas! Not too late to say it right?

Talking about that, I always like to ask my non-christian friends intriguing questions that make them think and where I can engage in a conversation or discussion especiially something along the lines of religion/christianity. So recently, I asked my friend, "What does Christmas mean to you?" After he replied and I heard his answer, he suddenly turned to me and asked what does christmas mean to me!

I was totally stunned. I didn't expect that. I didn't expect him to throw the question back at me. No non-christian has ever asked the exact same question to me. I was stumped. I didn't know how to answer. Yeah. I know that it's easy for some to answer but not me. And it's not cos I don't know the answer but I don't know how to say the answer.

In a split second, my mind was filled with answers such as "fulfillment of prophecy", "birth of Jesus Christ", "part of a redemptive plan", "God with us", "God has come", "salvation", "gathering", "reminder"...my mind was in a whirl. I don't know which words to use, I don't know what aspect to point out. All were true. If you look at those thoughts above, none of them are wrong. It's a matter of saying the right aspect of this wonderful event for that particular situation. And I am stumped. I don't know what to say. Plus I wasn't given much time. And right before I leave, I chose these 2 key aspects: "reminder" and "part of a plan". I didn't want to leave him saying a typical answer; a shallow answer. But rather, I wanted to leave with him something to think about; something for him to reflect and a message to tell. It's the "plan" that I want him to realise. Christmas is something greater. Much greater. It's part of a very BIG plan!

That's what Christmas is to me! That's what Christmas is to all of us! =) May it be a good reminder to all Christians! That Christmas is celebrated together with Good Friday and Easter. If any one of these is missing, everything would lose it's meaning. And to my non-christian readers, hope this spark some thought in your minds (:

Yet, through this whole incident of being stumped, I felt utterly ashamed. A verse in 1 Peter 3:15 came to my mind: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

I finally understand this verse and experience the strong warning & command that comes from it. I pray that I'll always be prepared to give that answer; any answer that God wants me to give. With gentelness and respect.

Okay. Besides this learning point, well I wanna say that this week has been another good and enjoyable week meeting up with friends. First, I met up with my clique on Monday and Eugene got super high. Such that he throw the pictionary counter instead of the dice. I was so scared I have to carry him home or send him home! But it was a very good and fun steamboat and hot-plate session! =) I'm really glad to see all of my friends again ever since ths school close!

Had such great fun! Here is a pic of us!

On Tue, I had band prac and watched "Frog and the Princess" with Sarah. It was a good movie. Had a twisted ending. Well, it's nice to be entertained by disney and fairy tales again. Isn't it, ladies? I'm sure we all love fairy tales! And I like this particular quote from the movie, "You just kissed yourself a princess!" Boy! It totally melt my heart! Though it's meant to be taken literally but when taken figuratively, it is so beautiful and heart-warming. Imagine your husband say that to you! Changing the "you" to "I"! How sweet!

On Wed, I spent a whole day with my JC buddy! Was so happy to see him and shopped like crazy that day! Went to doulos first. Hope I didn't bore him out while I shopped at the ship. They opened the lower deck and it brought back so much memories of the youth service I attended there on the ship. Nice to see the pics and explain abt the ministry of the ship to yonghui too! Took some photos there! =) And had a good time shopping and buying gifts! I always like to shop at doulus! To me, buying things there is something I would gladly do and don't mind spending any amount of money there! That is cos it's for the ministry! For God's work! Any amount, I'm willing to give!

So on that day, I spent the next day's pay! Can you believe it? I spent one whole day's pay of $80 at doulus! I was totally shocked and couldn't believe it but oh well. Just give. Haha. I didn't regret! =)

After that, we went to watch Avatar at GV Max! =) Great show! Good storyline! Any show that is close to 3 horus must be really good cos they got time to build up to climax and show the climax real well! So I think that's how it garner alot of good reviews! =) I don't know how to appreciate the digital animation but at least I enjoyed the story alot! =)

And that night ended off with shopping at Giant! And after the movie, I also go shopping somemore before dinner time! Lol. So the whole time was just shopping! It's fun to shop and just talk with yh! Feels so great! And also had a really good catch-up with him! =) Glad we manage to keep in contact with him! His friendship was the 2nd best thing that happened to me in my JC life! The 1st is Morning Worship! =) I totally love and miss morning worship! Hmm..suddenly mentioned this cos he was asking me this question that night! =)

Okay. Christmas eve was spent rather quietly. I didn't do much. Had to work till 4pm plus and it's really scary running the company on my own, when my boss isn't arnd. Scared quote wrong price or ask the workers to do wrongly. Oh well. See how it goes lor. After that, I did some last min shopping and wrapping up presents for xmas day!

Christmas service the next day was good. Served by playing the keyboard. Samuel played bass for the closing song. Glad to see Melissa again and congrats to Elsie and Anastasia on their baptism that day! Nice to see so many of their family members witnessing this baptism. And somehow, when Elsie said her testimony in Cantonese, I was close to tearing. Cantonese is such a gentle dialect. I was so touched. Praise God.

Oh well, as the years goes by, I get fewer and fewer presents though I still give presents to the same few people. To be very honest, it's quite sad that the people to whom I give the presents to, I don't receive any in return. Makes me feel like not giving presents to them the following year but I just can't bring myself to it. Oh well. That's just honest thought because I know that the bottom line is to give without expecting any return. Well, I guess the only "return" I get is when the people thanked me for the gifts I give them. In that, I take my sole comfort. And I think that's enough. I must learn how to take delight in simple gestures and to give generously.

Well, if you ask me what's the best christmas gift I received this christmas (literally and tangibly), it'll be the pair of earrings that my sister made and gave me! Look:

Lovely isn't it? So christmas-y right? She made it herself! Together with the help of my friend! So sweet and nice of her! Love her lots! Makes me feel bad for not giving her anything! Well, I'll try to finish up the cross-stich that is half-done for her before the new sem starts! =) Haha! Thanks Sarah!

Okay. And lastly, today I went to Wanting's cell party near my house! Was nice and fun! Small group. But I was so surprised that one guy looks like Mr Michael Chan and another looks like Dennis! Lol. It was so scary to have 2 ppl in the room who are look-alikes to my friends! Haha. Oh well. Had a good dinner, discussion and chats. nice to catch-up with Yuan Zhe and Wanting! =)

Thanks Wanting for the invite!

On the last LAST note, I'm heading off to taiwan next tue till 5 Jan! So please don't call me and I'm sorry if I didn't reply you happy new year on 1st Jan! And sorry if I don't reply you with my exam results! I'll try to email you guys! Have a happy new year! *in advance*