Thursday

Today was a little different from typical Thursday. I didn't have to attend written communications class nor sociology tutorial. Instead, I went for consultation with my writ com. lecturer concerning my final term paper and had e-learning for sociology. Thank God that I didn't fail my APA referencing test and that my final term paper draft is not too full of major corrections to make. I'm really looking forward to the study break in a week's time... even though it's supposed to be a break for studying. :) (cos thereafter  is exam). Now, I'm working on a website assignment using Adobe Dreamweaver. It's interesting and cool to be able to create a website but the CSS thingy is really tedious. Still, I guess the results will be worth it. :D  I'm typing now amidst the sounds of the violin and the piano. Live radio... :D CCA will be starting soon.

Happenings

Aside from studying, these two weeks have been really eventful! My seventeenth birthday has just passed. I'm another year older. So fast. I'm glad that God has brought me through 16 years and has taught me many many things about Him. I hope to continue growing in Him and shining for His Name! This year my birthday has been lovely... I had a surprise cake (from Swee Ming), lunch with Uncle Alvin's family, Sunday School celebration and dinner with my family as well as awesome wishes from friends. :)

In Christ Alone, I place my trust. He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.

I read this verse on my birthday:
" I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

Psalm 91:2

I'm thankful that the LORD reminded me that I have Him to anchor on and do not need to be anxious about anything. In God, I trust.

A week has passed

Mon: APA referencing test
Tue: Intro to community services test
Wed: Intro to Sociology presentation
Thurs: Long day- attended TCP talk, had free ice-cream!
                         - ended school at 10pm after strings cca

Fri: -Sports & Wellness in the morning (badminton) at 8am and Jumpstart
      -Mum went to hospital to do some checks
      -Helping out at Toa Payoh Family Service Centre
      -Violin lesson

Sat: -Meet up for community services project
       -Denim Challenge (Our class was posted to Bukit Batok to collect denim clothing for World Vision. It was door-to-door and quite interesting but tiring. :D)
       -Strings concert which was quite disappointing but I think I bonded more with the strings people through it. :)
Sun: Going to watch Xi Yun's strings concert!

Hectic week

It's the middle of the week now and I feel so exhausted. Haha, can't believe I'm still up at this hour, waiting to print powerpoint slides for a project. Tomorrow will be another long day. At least, 2 tests are over, now, I'm left with 2 projects and 1 final essay plus strings concert. Oh LORD, I need strength.

Tired

Sheer exhaustion. Violin exam today was rather terrible I think because I was nervous. Yes, again. Yet, I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to take the exam. I need to learn to look beyond the notes, into the music. To play music, not notes. Ok, now, I've got to get back to essaying.

Redang Island

At Berjaya Resort

Our family went to Redang Island recently. It's my first time going to West Malaysia and also taking a plane from Seletar airport instead of Changi airport. Redang island is idyllic with clear waters, corals and marine life. We did a lot of snorkeling there; it's my first time snorkeling. Haha, I was a little nervous about snorkeling at first but found out that it wasn't that bad floating and swimming in my life jacket while peering through my snorkel goggles, breathing through my mouth, into the watery depths to see colourful corals and all sorts of fishes (even clownfishes, 'nemos' swimming in and out of sea anemone!). It was fun swimming with them literally. I found out that I don't like stepping on dead coral, especially those big ones on the seabed near the coast. It's sad that those corals were once colourful and vibrant... alive, with fishes swimming and co-existing with them. Tourism does have it's downsides, especially with throngs of people swimming to see coral. We definitely need to take care of the natural environment, otherwise it'll be depleted eventually. But, I'm really in awe at God's creation... being there and having a glimpse at the marine world is fascinating!

At Berjaya resort

The sand there is really fine. It's like caster sugar. :D

We saw someone paragliding there... looked really fun but it's expensive. :)

View in the morning

I think it was high tide at the time so we had to wade through the seawater when we reached shore.:)

Our room at Redang Lagoon

Francis enjoying the tractor ride which is suppose to carry our luggage.

Sunrise view from Redang Lagoon

Love the formation of clouds.

Clear waters

Fishermen! We saw them while riding on the speedboat on the way to another place where we were supposed to stay but couldn't stay at on the first day because it was fully booked. (it's cheaper to stay there) ;)

Term Break is here!

Yay!! Term break is finally here. I just finished my very 1st and only common test paper on IT theory today. It was somewhat challenging and I forgot some things but oh well, it's done... Thank God for bringing me through it and for granting me the wisdom to answer the questions. :)

This morning, I met up with the Navigator ladies for quiet time. It was refreshing and rejuvenating to hear each individual sharing on how they've meditated on a certain verse in the portion of scripture for the day and how they are going to apply it in their lives. I feel that I've learnt a lot just by listening to them because each have different insights on the same verse and I'm able to look at the verses from different perspectives.
 This verse caught my attention today: 

"The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Romans 16:24

It reminded me of God's grace and that His Grace is sufficient for me to live. Thank You God for Your Grace.

Today, Swee Ming (who has been doing bible study with me) gave me  this gift... food! Haha, I think I'm going to get fat with all these snacks. But that's beside the point. I'm touched by her kindness and blessing. Before common test, one of the ladies who was at the quiet time gave me a packet of snacks to munch after the test and make-up sociology lecture which ended at 1 pm. I was  pleasantly surprised and also touched by her sparing a thought for me. I was hungry after the lecture (which was immediately after my common test) and ate the granola bar, mini bak kua and green tea sweet in the pack that the kind sister gave me. :) haha, I didn't have to spend money on buying food. The snacks were delicious... oishii neh!

Our family will be going to Malaysia this monday... I'm excited!

On a side note, I really thank God for bringing me through this first term of "resocialisation" in NP as sociology puts it. :) I've learnt many new subjects, frequent the library more often for research, had a taste of being a leader in a group project, did 3 essays with research, did group projects and hands on learning experience in social organisations, learnt how to be more independent and made new friends as well as adjusted to a new environment plus going through my very 1st test today. It is really all by His Grace. :)