My Home - Almost there...

Finally shifted on 10 Jan and settling into my place. Getting used to wiping the splashes on my master sink area after each use, frantically cleaning my white kitchen top whenever a spot is noted, lifting stuff and not dragging them across the cement floor, conscientiously placing almost everything on coasters...in short, lots of very "careful" measures undertaken in my very sensitive home. It was a bit troublesome initially, but it is becoming sort of a lifestyle.

But overall, quite happy with my home. I love the white theme, uneven tones on my cement floor (although quite a few people thought my floor hasnt been done yet =P), Christmas-looking lights in my study area, the very pretty mosaic table, the rusty tiles in my master toilet, the purple tinge in my kitchen light, and not to mention the great view from my place.

Here are some updated photos.

Living Area

Study Area
Breakfast Counter (Plus very delicious home-made pineapple tarts made by my friend)
Kitchen

Common Washroom
Yard
Washroom Area
Land of dreamzzz...

Grandpa and Grandma

I had dinner with my granny this evening. With my studies and home-shifting keeping me busy for several weeks, I haven't visited her in a long time. Her little actions and words made me realised that she is probably a little lonely. I always know her to be a strong lady. But I guess even the strongest person will feel lonely. I'm so glad my new place is much nearer to her home. I just hope that I'll be able to effectively manage my commitments going forward so that I can spend more time with her.

When I visited her, I brought along some extra stuff from home to see whether any of my relatives would want them. Amongst them was a photo-holder, and both my granny and I thought it would be nice to use it to display a photo in the living room. She took out a small photo album to look through for nice photos. And she chose a photo of the semi-detached home we used to stayed in together when I was in primary school. That was the place that my grandpa and her shifted to after staying in a kampung, and it was also the same place he passed away.

In that photo album, there was a photo my grandpa and granny took at Haw Par Villa. I later took that photo album aside and stared at that photo for quite a bit. I haven't seen his photo in a long long time as he passed away quite a number of years ago. And while I know I have always missed him, and regretted that I was still a childish and spoilt brat when he passed away, seeing the photo was like a sting to my heart and made me realised how much I missed him. If only he is still around.

I miss him. And I think my granny misses him lots more even though she doesn't mention it.

It's so important to treasure our family and friends, and show them our love while we still can. It's funny, but with age, I begin to treasure my family even more. Maybe it is because of the realisation that with each passing moment, you know there is one less moment you can spend with them. And I really dread the day when God takes them away from me.

Some people don't like to talk about it. But it's reality right. I really wish they will get to know Him so that we can spend eternity together.

A Dream

I had a dream a few days ago.

It's actually rather morbid. I dreamt that my hubby left this world. I can't piece together details of the dream, but I remember that I was initially calm when I found out about it. Then the truth hit me, and I went to my room and cried. Desperate and lost, I prayed to God in my dream. When I closed my eyes to pray, I saw a tiny spot of yellow light. Then suddenly with my eyes still shut, I knew that I was back to reality and it was just a dream, and my hubby was sleeping soundly right beside me. As I laid there in bed, I kept my eyes shut and continued the prayer that I started in my dream. To thank God that it was only a dream. and that hopefully my hubby will get to know Him someday.

This dream is different because for the first time in my life, I woke up from a dream with my eyes shut. And with my eyes shut, I was so so grateful that it was only a dream. And it served as a timely reminder to treasure my hubby ever so much more.

Giving Thanks

After blogging about the frustruation with my new home, I'm taking a 180-degrees turn to give thanks to the Lord.

At least it was not all bad news today. Checked my exam results today, and not too bad. I'm quite pleased with the results and am demanding a treat from my hubby =) I know I couldn't have done it without God giving me the strength, peace, wisdom to go through the term. In fact, I don't know how I could have pulled through half a year of school all by myself.

I have been doing some extra bible reading since 1 Jan. It is not exactly my new year resolution cos I don't make resolutions lest I don't keep to them. But this is something I am going to try in 2008 - to spend more time reading God's Word and hopefully it will make me a better person in some ways.

Anyway, this morning's passage mentioned that a day in heaven is equivalent to 1000 days on earth. If I am to take that literally, doesn't it mean that the average lifespan of each person is not even 1/10th of a day in heaven? And divide that by the billions of people currently living on the earth's surface. That makes each of us so minute, so insignificant. While our life is like a vapour, He still takes time to know us, and even knows the number of hairs on our head!

I still have some doubts of God's existence at times. And it doesn't help for me to have heard personal testimonies of how effective other gods are - that they too can perform miracles. So who is to know who is the real God, or perhaps there are many gods?

But I have decided to stick to Jesus. Regardless what others say. Cos I trust my personal experiences with Him. I know it is no coincidence that my granny cancelled my Primary One registration from a co-ed school and enrolled me in a Methodist primary school. I know He is there when I cry. He has comforted me when I was in doubt of my own capabilities. He guaranteed no rain for my garden wedding dinner. I know He will lead me by hand in heaven after this life passes on. He once told me through a lady many years ago that I am beautiful in His eyes. And I wondered then whether that message was really from God as I was not particularly concerned with my looks. At least that was what I thought. But the fact that I still remember this after several years probably means otherwise. So He knows better.

Maybe you wonder why I am so sure. To be really honest, I just know. There are some things that are unspoken that you just know. Just like who teaches a baby to cry, to breathe. The baby just knows. And these are just things that I know. And I am posting them today as a reminder to myself of God's reality in my life. And hopefully it will be an encouragement to you if this is one of your blue days.

I hope I don't sound all too holy and preachy. I'm just a simple sentimental gal who is trying to live each day the best way possible, given each day's circumstances. And knowing Jesus just gives me more meaning and purpose to live out my best each day.

Well, tomorrow will be a BIG and exciting day for me. My hubby and I are "officially" shifting to our new place - something we have beeen looking forward to since we got married. And while I am no soothsayer, I just know and trust in God that everything will turn out alright. Why am I so sure? I just know =)

My Home - Work in Progress Part V

I am hoping this will be my FINAL work-in-progress post. It has been 3 months since I penned my 1st renovation-related post, and I'm shifting tomorrow. Technically, that is. Tomorrow (at a timing strictly specified by my aunt) is the auspicious day/time for me to shift home.

After many frantic days/nights watching old TCS 8 drama serials (in case you are interested, these shows are usually screened in the afternoons and late at nights), taping up cardboard boxes (which by the way, cost me $1.50 each), stuffing the boxes, sealing the boxes, labelling them....I'm finally almost done with the packing. I was so stressed with packing that I had no mood to study till the packing was done.

Tomorrow - I'm hoping to wave goodbye to the stress of living alongside mould-infested wardrobes and flying insects after my movers finally transport the many items that make up me to my new home. But alas, the "and they happily lived forever" ending is not yet in sight.

I paid my new home a visit this afternoon (actually, it was to meet with my ID who never turned up) and realised that the most important area of my flat is not properly done - my cement floor which spans my living, wardrobe & sleeping areas is blotchy and contains tiny little holes at several sections.

I have absolutely no idea at this point in time what sort of rectification work is being done. My ID only informed me that he would try to redo the floor today so that my stuff can be moved in tomorrow. He is supposed to confirm, but he didn't. For the first time in my life, I am actually fuming at my ID. I wasn't angry when there was no work done to my place for 6 weeks, accepted the fact there would be delays to the renovation, was quite okay when he didn't showed up for today's meeting...but the fact that he is careless with the floor when he knows I am shifting tomorrow is upsetting me. I have given in to him many times, and I AM PAYING.

This is frustruating. There is no way I can postpone the shift. The auspicious date has been set (by my family), arrangements with the movers have been made, furniture is coming in the next few days, my school is starting soon..and my floor is in a mess!

While I still appreciate his creativity and think he is quite a nice person by nature though pretty disorganised, I'm wondering whether I will ever want to work with him again, given my current experience.

Argh. Hopefully it's not that bad. Hopefully he has done something about it even though he hasn't updated me like he promised. I'll just have to see tomorrow. The shift will be done, but I prolly gotta spend some more nights in my curent place.

Anyway, enough of my anger-venting. Looking from the positive angle, a lot of progress have been made in the past weeks. Here are the latest photos of my place.

Living area

Kitchen

Breakfast Counter

Bedroom (honestly, despite all the unhappiness,I love my bed!)

Master Toilet

Shower Area