friends & family

friends and family i always cherish
happy to know that my brother's gf will be spending the next month with us
it's great to see how he couldn't be contained by the good news.
as for me, i'm glad to share his happiness but at the expense of giving up my "private hut".

night before snow storm

heard about the upcoming snow storm earlier today
hmm...22-25 cm of snow to come down on vancouver soil
i'm thinking about all the homeless people who are out in the cold
the drivers who are on the road
my family and friends who are yet to reach home

Dear heavenly father,
may your hands protect all who are amidst the cold...
provide warmth to those who have no shelter... and
keep my family and friends from any harm.

a happy "birthday"

received many b-day wishes today.
some came from sms, others from facebook, phone calls, or face-to-face
each meant to me because it is an expression of their love
thank-you for the great friends & family i have!
i understand why the attendant at the gas station asked, "did you win the lottery today - you look really happy?"
i first paused at the question because he's asking someone who doesn't believe in the lottery system.
then i laughed over it because i realized why he made the remark.
this glow is not about money
it is about truly being in a state of happiness!

the splendor of his creation

having spent most of my childhood in mtl...
the sight of pure whiteness has been long foreign
i marvel at how each tree is serene
and blanketed in its new duvet
all is peaceful [aside from the commute]

this arctic weather

felt like living in the ice age this morning...
waited 20 min at the bus stop and learned that buses won't come down
walked up the steep "hill" and was on my way to work... a hassle but made it through

really not used to the the cool crisp air (those who know me know much i detest cold weather)
not used to my puffy jacket
not used to the new "ice rink" side roads...

but no more complaints;
i am thankful for what i have;
i have a heated hut which warms me up
i have a great family which welcomes me
i have dinner which awaits me

to all mothers: you are amazing

commuted by bus today in light of the snowy/icy weather.
on my way home was a 2-yr old (?) girl who kept playing with the seat,
shrieking as loud as she could, jumping up and down the rest of the time.
the mother seemed unbothered - too accustomed to the situation.
there i was feeling very sorry for her.
as i watched, i begin to ponder... how all my misbehaviours must have added to my mom's load
Mom: "thanks for taking all my crap [no pun intended here]!

it's far from mother's day but why wait until the next one?
mothers won't withhold the love they give until our next birthday!

time tells...

the more i realize the more i see the constraints
the more i discover the more i am convinced

Father in Heaven,
thank-you for all you have done for me;
thank-you for all the angels you've sent along;
thank-you for handling it from above
your grace is sufficient for me.

new life

went to visit a dear friend's newborn.
the baby girl weighing in 7 lb 10 oz is sound and healthy
great to see mother and daughter well
may this gift of God bring blessings to the family.

遺憾...

如果人生活在猶疑,不相信自己可以踏出那一步,那不只會活在遺憾!

*parking needs GREAT patience*

parking in richmond was truly a practice of patience.
esp. this afternoon.
after at least 5 min of driving around...
i came to a father & son heading toward their car
the father signaled of his departure
i flashed my left signal light and awaited to rear-end park
to my dismay - the black "golf" ignored my presence and parked...
how rude of the driver!!! really felt like getting out of my car to voice my anger but i chose not
it would have been a waste of time...
i was convinced i would find better parking...
it took awhile but the next vacant spot ended up being the best one...
it was the one in front of the store i wanted.
haha...

Lead us Abba Father

it concerns me to see that...people...
are unemployed because of economy's downturn,
suffer because of injustice,
lead others astray,
are indifferent to pain
do not know who He is!

when we will all learn?
to forgive
to repent
to pray
to trust
to wait!

our Father in Heaven,
we are people who have gone astray
we come before you in repentance
we ask for your forgiveness
we need your healing
we need you in our lives!

a song i'm now in love with...

珍惜
主唱：張信哲
作詞：黃康淇
作曲：黃康淇

想著你的溫柔，它提醒了我自己
因為你的鼓勵，我從此更努力
因為你的真心，我失敗了不會灰心
我因為你，因為愛，堅強我自己
你用毅力勇氣，耐心等候了多年
你給我的信心，堅定我的方向
我的退縮放棄，你一次又一次承受打擊
你因為我，因為愛堅強你自己
也是，就因為這樣，我們會，更珍惜自己
經過了過去的疼痛，更明白如何繼續
也是，就因為這樣，我們會，更珍惜自己
因為是愛，因為真心，因為未來的日子
每一個清晨夢醒有你，陪我患難的也是你
開心時一同歡笑，受傷時攜手共度
每一個晴天雨天有你，夜裡輕語的也是你
成功時一同享有，失意時我們坦然去面對
只因為有了愛，有了愛

ready for 2009?

first day of this year's last month.
for some reason, i'm really looking forward to the new year =)
i'm thrilled to take on 3 races (10k sun run, 1/2 bmo marathon in may, and another 1/2 marathon in june)...and to attend a musical i've always hoped to go..."les misérables" will be in vancouver from april to may.
am waiting with great anticipation.
looking fwd to re-read the book in french (this time voluntarily and not as part of course requirement)... yes, i know the story but have given back the details of the book to my french prof. aiya.. should have been more attentive in class.

just finished a 3-year race *haha...*

it is 2:30 am...can't fall asleep... not sure of why...
maybe it's because i drank too many cups of tea during meal at restaurant
or perhaps i'm simply too excited - rejoice that i just finished penning my last assignment.
yup! my last assignment as part of the Christian studies program i started way back in July 2005.
haha... glad to be able to finish this journey =)

take a breath and take it easy

just talked to a friend who was ready to blow up.
boss has been driving my friend crazy
unprofessional, micro-managing, disrespectful are few words to kick-off a long list...
as i first listened, i too became frustrated..
on a second thought, why be angry?
challenges build character...

join me in the next half-marathon?

hehe...just signed up for the Vancouver Scotia Bank half marathon
june 28/09 is race day.
runners begin at UBC and end at Stanley Park
training to start in a week.
looking fwd to a new personal best haha

drumroll pls! a vital badminton match is coming up!

couldn't believe what i heard from mom during our car ride home today,
"your dad claims that he can outplay you in any badminton game"
hmmm....pretty bold statement for him to take
after all i think he has yet to LOCATE his racquet. haha...

出其不意?

time will testify of this.
today's sermon title has spoken to me.
yes!
i believe in Him
i believe in His promise
i believe in His power
i believe in His timing
do not doubt just believe!

awards, anybody?

just finished watching tvb's presentation awards
all involved awaited with anticipation
final winners relay their speech on stage
tears run off the faucet
i'm touched and encouraged
for i believe behind each tear was a long journey
one of ups and down, one of continuous battle
success does not come without effort
success only knocks on the door of those who try =)

hot dog + pop

it didn't have to be expensive..
GRAND TOTAL came up to $1.99
no i'm not raving about the hot dog nor its price
i crave the time spent w/ my friend
our walk
our chat
life is beautiful
and all the more when you begin to appreciate its simplicity
thanks Jennifer!

came out of our shells...

day 2 of my presentation training...
more speaking, more taping, more review.
i see changes in my delivery
i witness transformations in all my fellow speakers
our message hasn't been as impacting as Barack Obama
or as powerful as Chuck Swindoll
but we did great
we were each able to come out...
of our own shell!

kudos!

sms

two simple replies... two which i didn't expect coming
i am thankful for the changes and changes to come in this friend's life
add oil, don't give up - the race has yet begun!
i will be cheering you up!!

my name is Mimi //CHAN//

yup this was how we were told to introduce ourselves... first name pause then big emphasis on last name...and all this caught on tape... yup on camera all day - relieved that day one of my presentation training is now over *written with much relief*
2 min to think about what to present
30 second quick rehearsal
then came our 4 min presentations with a 2 min Q&A
repeated this three times throughout the day..
talk about been placed out of my comfort level

the more i think about this
the more i am glad that not all our communication needs to be carried out this way to be systematic...
which is more important? the heart? or the words expressed?
no doubt that the message needs to be delivered...
at what cost though?

appearance is deceiving

haha... went out with a friend last night for drinks

never thought i will be hearing what i heard

the news truly amused me 

i'm glad to be part this friend's life journey

go pal, take your courage out and be bold.

happiness is yours and we'll rejoice along!

feb in a nutshell

lesson i've learned in writing this post....a blogger needs discipline or else realizes how weak memory can be!

feb was a busy month of chinese new year celebration with receipt of red pocket $ of course, of another look at meaning of valentine's day, of new challenges at work, and of more schooling over few weekends.

a warm welcome...

to my 2008 life!

january is skiing away with great speed...but this alpha month has left many good imprints...
i'm looking forward to a year of learning new things, of growing relationship with God and all those He has placed around me. stay tune as i will attempt to be diligent in my updates.