#242 Central Market

One of the main reasons I look forward to Friday evenings is heading down to the Central Market for some weekly grocery shopping. There's just something in the atmosphere that make picking fruits and buying meat or bread all the more enjoyable.

Although I have yet to find a good char siew pau, you're bound to find almost anything you need.. Like  ribs for that bah kut teh craving. Or that lemon tart for someone's sugar crave.

#243 The Australia Post!

Gone are those snail mail days where you hope, pray and fast that your cousin's package reaches Sandakan safely. Or sending those postcards through the local post office hoping the postman won't accidentally drop them in the nearest drain.

Having a lovely unexpected postcard, that long awaited online dress AND the very important Criminal History Check (that made me $42.20 poorer) all greeting me after a long day is the best-est feeling in the world! (and yes, I say bestest because I CAN).

Am amazed at how efficient the system is here. Submitted my form just a few days ago and I've already got it back!

#247 to #24..?

So maybe I've not be as consistent with this as I should be..
So maybe I'm behind this being-grateful-list for about 2 months-ish..
So I might sort of be a procrastinator..
So maybe I'm amusing myself here..
So maybe it's time for some ice cream now.. ooh and pie. apple pie.
So maybe I should stop saying so maybe

Perhaps it's time for a quick list of things I am grateful for.. let's see if this brain of mine decides to work a bit more before hitting the sack.

#246 - Thank you Lord for the wheels to move around Adelaide! Although I am still learning the art of keeping a white car clean. Oh, and to not hit pedestrians and not honk and cut cars like a crazy ex-KL driver.

#245 - My nice warm fleece blanket that has kept me warm this whole crazy winter. Oh and wool socks. The second best thing to have this winter.

#244 - WHATSAPP!! Oh my goodness. Where would I be without this wonderful invention. Oh to be connected always with the clowns in Canada, UK, the US, Aus and Malaysia. I guess this would be a good time to be grateful for all forms of communication/social networking eg. Facebook, Skype, iMessage, instagram and/or twitter? It always makes my day knowing what my friends are having for lunch. or dinner. or supper.

#247 Friends

That someone who keeps you calm when you're raging or panicking for a osce. That friend who tells you off when you need it, knowing the truth is more painful but still rightful to be heard. That friend who doesn't need to say anything but just gets you. That friend you know will have your back. That friend who you don't talk to often but things are never awkward when we do talk, as if it was just yesterday we met up.

That friend who laughs at you, and in turn teaches you to laugh at yourself.

Thank you Lord for family away from family.

#248 Online recipes

Nothing like ripping a good recipe off from the internet! Who needs does thick hardcover books that cost an arm, a leg and possibly an eye?!

#249 Survival food

Grateful for food my mum stacked up before she left for home.. Snack bars, meatballs, Instant noodles.. Oh, and not forgetting those Hup Seng biscuits! They've never tasted so good with Milo!

#250 Time to unwind

Nothing like a quick read to end the day. To kick back, relax and not care for 5 seconds about what you should be preparing for tomorrow.

#251 Surprise snail mail!

Emails, SMSes, Whatsapp and Skype can never take over the joy of getting an unexpected letter/card/postcard from a loved one:)

It's the thought of someone taking their time to choose a card, writing the words and the effort of buying stamps and posting it that makes it all the more special. It's just such an awesome feeling tearing the envelope open while trying not to rip the card in half. Waiting in anticipation to read what's inside. The feeling is equivalent to receiving a love letter hehehe.

It's a nice feeling knowing you are thought of. That you're loved:)

#252 Perfect song

Nothing like turning the radio on when you're driving and hearing the song you've been putting on replay recently. It puts that silly smile on your face. Singalongs are always a good icebreaker when you're in a car with random people.. Unless of course they really can't stand your taste in music.. Than perhaps talking about the weather, current exchange rates and the earthquake scare would be better topics of conversation..

#253 Sharing dessert!

Ever felt so full after a meal but still wanted dessert? Is it NOT a great feeling when everyone else has the same thought? That grin on everyone's faces (well, on mine anyway) when we order that one slice of cake to share. That somehow you feel less guilty eating that few spoonfuls of cake because you have four other people sharing the calories with.

Bring on the weekend!

(Picture courtesy of berrysimple.net)

#254 That random phone call :)

Nothing makes your day brighter like having an unexpected long phone call with a friend that knows you as well as you know yourself. That old friend that freezes time always.

Though we seldom meet, it always feels as if we've just had coffee a few days ago. Nothing ever seems like ages ago. It is always easy catching up and it's always encouraging knowing someone is running the race with you. To know you've got a partner to rant to. That someone who's been through med school and is surviving as an intern in Tawau. That someone who inspires me everyday. That someone who pushes me to be better.

That sister I never had.

#255 Nice consultants

GPs with a sense of humor, who are always ready to teach, who're just so nice make long days bearable (:

And the countdown begins with #256

Reason #256 to be grateful? Air!

Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide. All these and a few more are what we breathe in and out every second.

It sounds silly, but I thank God for this gift. For our bodies doing the breathing for us. With no need to worry about keeping our lungs together, huffing and puffing every millisecond. Each nut and bolt at its right place, perfectly aligned with such precision! Such craftsmanship can only reflect the best Craftsman!

101

I was reading 1000awesomethings.com when I had this inspiring conversation with The Surgical Clown about aging. Aging and the importance to seize everyday as if it was our last. That anything could happen in a split second and change our lives forever. We know that life is fragile yet it takes a massive car accident, a family death or a global disaster to shake us up from our mundane, routine lives. It's like we need that electric jolt or a bit of ECT (electrocompulsive therapy) to zap us into awareness of everything beautiful.

As scripture puts it, we are but a vapour that appears for awhile and then vanishes (James 4:14). We are, as Shakespeare put it, a brief candle. Easily blown out by the wind. Short and in the end, only as meaningful as we make it.

This reality has hit me hard this few months; challenging me to reassess relationships, to reprioritize commitments. To make the effort in reminding someone how much she or he means to me. To live with purpose.

It also happens that today is the 101st day of the year. I should already have a hundred and one things to be grateful about.. And and and, it is never too late to start counting your blessings so I have decided to spend the next 265 days listing things I am grateful for:)

To whoever is reading this, even if it's just you, the only other person who will ever read this, I pray you be inspired and encouraged to see life through new rosy lens:)

Carry me

Having my cousin back from the States for these past 2 weeks have been a blessing although I would have liked to spend more time with her. Spending time with family, is a blessing I know I sometimes take for granted. I admit, even my parents I know I disappoint at times. Little things have opened my eyes, issues like giving in, tolerance and sacrifice make me realize how selfish and wicked our hearts can be, that if it wasn't for the cross, we would all be hopeless, dying creatures. And yet we live with reason, we strife with purpose, we press on because of that hope. That we were meant for more. That in the end, its not about the perfect job or finding the right guy, it's about being complete in Him. And that is a lesson to learn.

Came across this highlighted phrase from A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God :

'It will require a determined heart and more than a little courage to wrench ourselves loose from the grip of our times and return to Biblical ways'

Oh to be a lady of diligence, conviction, virtue, patience, devotion, contentment and everything else..

a lady in waiting

With all honesty, painful words from people who mattered stopped me from sharing life through this medium. Words, unlike sticks and stones, were not supposed to break me, yet they did. And with all that hurt, decided I would rather pen my daily thoughts on paper.

No more, though. I will praise the Lord, I will tell of the wondrous things he has done!

‎"That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works." Psalm 26:7

A year has passed by too quickly. New country, new friends, new memories made. Friendships gained and friendships lost. To look in the mirror and realize, wow, you are 22. So much to learn. So much.

I strayed for the longest time. But yet He who created the heavens and the earth would still love me? Incomprehensible. Impossible. Yet, ultimately, truest of all truths. He loves me. Full of mercy and grace, is my Lord.

Life in 2012 will be a hectic one, but if my God is for me, who can be against me? hmm. too much thoughts running crazy around through my mind at this moment. Where to start? What to say? oh for a prayer partner, where we can encourage each other to keep God's perspective on our commitment to be all that God wants us to be.