I have posted so many new entries on my near-to-stale journal in 2 days. However, as of 2 days ago, my blog has been officially revamped! Hooray to my self-designed banner. I am so proud of it, though I am well aware that it is nothing close to those award winning ones. But I am contented. :)

Speaking of which, Mummy (our new shareholder ;P ), Sis and I have updated with the latest post at DnG. I have redid the banner as well; perhaps for the umpteenth time. Oh well! If you guys are interested, hop down to http://denisengrace.livejournal.com !

I think that Mummy has a talent for handicraft. Seriously! She used to do my art and craft project for me when I was in Primary 1 and it won me some prizes! Ssshh. Recently, she has resigned from her job to join us in our endeavor in making handmade jeweleries. Okay, I got to admit that Sis and I do not update denisengrace that often anymore due to her internship and my 2mth accounting "internship" right now. My mummy is currently taking up a jewerly-making course at Toa Payoh Hub on a weekly basis! The pieces which she has made are really quite beautiful for an amateur.

14th July marked the Jacinta's 22nd milestone on earth whereas 15th July marked my dearest Mummy 4Xth birthday.

We had a surprise birthday celebration for Jac. Though I was unable to join the girls in town for a belated celebration, I hoped they had fun at the Mexican restaurant with Little Leo though! :)

On Monday (13th July), dumb me meant to call Leon to confirm our plans for the birthday surprise, instead, I dialed Jacinta's number and asked for Leon. Timothy, who was by my side saw me do that and did nothing! Haha. Of course, she suspected. Nevertheless, she had been a good sport about the whole "surprise" celebration.

Fish and Co

Presenting to her the last minute powerpoint presentation! ;)


The beautiful birthday girl.


The lovebirds.


Cheers. Fish and Co currently has this 1-for-1 treat on their drinks and it is like super worth it. $6.50 for Sharkie Freeze (above photo) and you get another drink free. Look at the size of the glass! It is bigger than Timothy's face.


My close to a decade best bud.


Black pepper sting ray which did alot of damage to my throat.



Mummy's birthday at the zicha stall along Upper Bukit Timah Road. The crabs were fabulous!




Daddy can be quite romantic at times.


:) 


3 siblings!!! lovelovelove.


Nobody believed me when I said I put on weight. I really did. This photo is the best evidence. :)

I love you Mummy!!!!

Looking beyond the quarantine at home, I had a pleasant surprise from Mr Boyfriend half hour ago. The doorbell rang and my mum answered it. I hid in the room, as usual, cuz I was in my pjs and look quite hideous. Also, mum was afraid that I would spread my germs to him thus we did not see each other. Then, in Mummy's arms were a beautiful daisy and a get well soon card from dear Timothy! Of course I was touched! :) What a pleasant surprise. See, I am a blessed lady indeed.


Isn't he the sweetest?

Oh hindsight, I hope mummy did not catch my viruses cuz' she is currently feeling not too well. :(

Some illegal photos:

#1


#2


Vroom vroom! My dad is going to kill me if he sees these. Haha. ;P

Instant Cup Noodles Galore:

Look at our personalised instant cup noodles! Isn't that the coolest? I don't think I will bear to eat that bowl of cup noodles in my entire life though! :)


Step by step process in creating your own cup noodles- in no time!
Just realised that I got the steps all mixed up.


Voila! The finished product. Sadly, the cup noodles did not take its former shape after the plane ride as it was squashed on one side. :(

I sound like Donald Duck now. After Mum's pleas to me to see the doctor, I finally visited Mr Doc this afternoon and am currently sporting the most sophisticated mask. Admittedly, it feels kind of disturbing and sad to see some people's eyebrows shoot southwards and wary eyes darting at one another at the second of my presence. The aunty of the minimart downstairs practically distanced herself of at least 3m when I requested for a tin of Marmite. She scurried to find it from me, keeping that distance then quickly reported that it was all sold out.

This reminded me of an incident in the aeroplane. Leon and Jac were sitting behind Timo and I in the aeroplane. He started coughing and the woman beside him requested for a change of seat!? Anyone who is aware of the H1N1 virus can read her thought bubble. Personally, I just thought that there should be more love and grace even if one wants to distance themselves from another person who is down with any of the h1n1 symptoms.

Daddy bought the coolest N95 masks for me. 2 masks cost 6 bucks! It is quite costly huh. Also, he purchased the ear and forehead thermometer as the armpit one seemed faulty.


N95 Masks. :)


Declared that I had runny nose (cuz it was true) and was held up at HK airport during our transit for a check. Thank God all was good and fine and we had free masks! ;)

Always add, always walk, always proceed; neither stand still. nor go back, nor deviate; he that standeth still proceedeth not; he goeth back that continueth not. he deviateth that revolteth; he goeth better that creepeth in his way than he that moveth out of his way.
-Augustine

After three weeks, part 2 of Taiwan is finally up! :) I have been such a lazy bum to upload the photos.

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan


This is the grand entrance of Kaohsiung Baptist Church which was our home for one week as "understudies" with Dr. Lehman. We learnt so much and thank God for Him! It was really hilarious at first as Dr Lehman was down with sore throat and could not talk for the first two days. Thus, Timothy and Leon had to be his spokespersons- doing things like reading out his testimony and instructions for the four of us! ;)


Us with Dr Lehman. :) He is the advisory pastor of Kaoshiung Baptist Church and has a really fantastic grasp of the Chinese Language! His Chinese diction is superb. Puts us even more to shame. :X
Eventually, we conclude that he knows so much more about TW and Chinese history than an average Taiwanese/ Chinese on the street.


Leonidas likes doing household chores. Seriously! He is fascinated with brooms and dustpans. :) Good training, Jacinta!


The MRT station in TW. It looks exactly like what we have here in Sg. Heard that the MRT system was designed and implemented by Singaporeans. No wonder the likeness!


Our standard"farecard". We were amused to discover priority seats in the train as well. Hohoho. 


The humongous watermelons- biggest I have ever seen in my life! On the right: chickens waiting for the big day to be slaughtered.


Timothy with his great bargain straw hat to shield his face from the scorching sun rays.


Our beloved Sister Dolly was our tour guide for that day as well! :) Thank God for her, otherwise, we would hever get to taste such great Taiwanese food.


In the restaurant. Forgot the name. Haha. However, there is a Mache feel to it!


Who will believe you Leon? haha.


O' Farewell!


Teardrops like the rain.


Parting like never before.


Really authentic train station with no digital displays at all. It reminded me of those featured in channel 8 dramas! Quite cool eh?


Couldn't quite figure out the second label.


Do u see an uncanny resemblance? haha! :)


Till then Part 3. :)

Why does it feel like a deep stab in the heart and that I have just lost a few family members?
Help me see the big picture O Lord.

O Lord Jesus, replace my sorrows with the joy of the living God!
What cannot break us will make us stronger.

Something really hilarious tickled my otherwise sombre spirit today! I got to jot this down before Alzheimer hits me and before I know it, I will forget this really funny incident.

Tina and I have been conversing via email ever since she returned to the States. I was lag in my replies for a fortnight or so and thus decided to pen a reply as she was on my mind.

My email to her:

	from	Grace Leong Peiling <l.peiling.1987@gmail.com>
to		Tina Nguyen <tna.ngn@gmail.com>
date		Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 10:08 PM
subject		Re: praying for you!

After 4 mins...

from	Tina Nguyen <tna.ngn@gmail.com>
to		Grace Leong Peiling <l.peiling.1987@gmail.com>
date		Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 10:12 PM
subject		<3

We were writing to each other and on each other's minds at the same time, except with the lag of 4 minutes in between. How cool is that!
okay, I shall end here Journal. Bye!

Hi Journal,

I am back from Taiwan and Hong Kong! Thank God for the safe and fruitful trip. We met a number of missionaries considering the brief two-week stay there. I believe that all of us were touched and amazed by the faith of these missionaries and also not to mention, the warmth of the local Southern Taiwanese! Their tiny gestures of grace and love really touched our hearts! Perhaps I am a mountain tortoise, but never had I seen a group of people so hospitable and sweet before! (: I really miss the people there. Now, I know why God made me a Chinese and place me in Singapore. I had many opportunities to put my Mandarin into practice there, with the great challenge of reading A.W. Tozer and praying in Traditional Chinese! Haha. What an eye-opener! Indeed, Timothy had been the hot-favourite amongst the matured ladies there. They loved him for he could utter more Chinese than the four of us, with Little Leo speaking his baby language which sounded so much like the Charismatic tongues we hear today. There is a strange feeling of nostalgia which I am feeling right now. Haha. Oh well, I pray to visit those people back there, if possible. :) However, I am so glad to be back to see my family! Daddy and Mummy picked us up at the airport two days back. Aren't they such sweet folks? My little naughty sister and brother cancelled their last minute dinner plans (hopefully for me) to have dinner with me! Thank God for them, really. My mind is filled with quite a few great quotes which I have leart from the people there. One of them was from a Sister Ouyang Meidi from Kaohsiung Baptist Church who reminded me that we come to minister and not to be ministered when I was sharing with her some stuff about me while we were doing some spring cleaning at their church. Mummy, here am I to wipe the windows and clean the toilets! ;)

左營區, 高雄市


On Board Cathy Pacific to HK for transit to Taiwan.


At the HSR (high speed rail) station. Each ticket cost about 50SGD. Considering the distance travelled and the time saved if we should have taken the coach bus instead, it was very well worth every single TWD. ;)


The interior of the HSR. Doesn't it look so comfy?! Personally, it is comparable to an aeroplane ride. There are train stewardesses with really pretty uniforms serving each passenger! Look at the signs, there are vending machines in the train as well. :) The bestest train ride I have had yet. Akin to travelling on the bullet train. This travels at a speed of 420km/h +/-! Caught forty winks there as well!


Jac, Little Leo and I were hosted by Sis Dolly Wong for the first 4 days of stay in Zuoying District while the boys stayed with Pastor Hanna. We had a pretty pink room with quite a few soft toys for Leo! He got to leran how to hug Mickey Mouse. Haha. Ms Dolly is a fellow Singaporean as well and we sort of feel so much at home there. Truly, I am amazed by her dependency on God and am truly encouraged by her faith! Hopefully, we will get to see her in Sg. ;)


Pastor Hanna who took time out of his busy schedule to bring us around. He speaks Chinese really great. Perhaps great is an understatement.

Thank God for the rain which melted down the high temperatures of the day. :)


Hiking to have a glimpse of the lighthouse and the magnificent view of the city! :) Hooray. A great workout to shed the calories from the neverending large cups of naichas. haha!


Just a visual of the good food which we were having there. ;)


Reifeng night market. My first chou toufu was from there! Smelled like garbage, tasted like normal toufu at first lick and a rotten egg thereafter. ;X

Youth Group. I am amazed by the Mandarin speaking, reading and writing of traditional Chinese language of these American missionaries for their love of the Gospel. Really puts Chinese like me to shame. :X Now I know why I am born a Chinese.


Left: Susanna Delaney- She is one who has the most gentle and sweetest spirit.
Right: The youth choir practising a Chinese hmyn with their angelic and melodious voices! Really beautiful.


Pastor Hanna and family! Their family was really sweet and Mrs Hanna makes the most mouth-watering casseroles. I am inspired to learn how to bake one too. :) Their entire family knows Mandarin as well!


Yes! Best host-tour-guide-goes to her.:) We all love her so dearly cuz she brought us to the bestest places to eat beef noodles and drink naichas. Kidding. More than that, she really puts in her bestest even in making us feel at home, keeping us informed, safe and hosted through our 2 week stay. :) Also, she loves Little Leo so much!


Julia Delaney- a talented pianist and violinist! Though she is 16, she towers over us. Also, she goes "Aiyo" quite alot which I found it really amusing considering her stay in Sg for a decade or so.


Gloria Delaney and Little Leo. She makes such a fine babysitter! Really.


WIth Elisabeth and Lydia Delaney. Two of the youngest children of the family! They speak like adults! ;)


Youth Pastor Tad Wychopen, wife and onemonth old baby Titus!


With the Youth Group of Cornerstone Baptist Church! ;) Really wonderful people.


Us and our adopted family. ;)
One of my fav pictures- the Delaneys, 2 of their eldest children are at college so yups, they have 8 kids in total! Isn't that amazing.

To be continued dear Journal!

Tina replied my email within 2hrs!
I am really impressed by her speed.
Such an encouragement though.
Thank God for her! (;

After my final paper of the semester, I met up with the loveliest girls. (: It was so wonderful just to be able to sit down to have a proper catchup session over a meal. Congrats Tancy, you are officially done with part 1 of your life. Time to pay the utility bills! (;


Layhwee's who is in Thailand now is the missing link. We miss you!


My Spontaneous Friends:






Yes, my part time bf! She never fails to religiously send me to my doorstep! Except once, cuz' she was really zonked out.

Hi sister! We have matching pink tops. :D

I need to be contented with my Canon Ixus. DSLR images have always been playing in my mind. Haha! (; No good no good.
Yes, I got a mission trip to look forward to in 2 days! My maiden voyage. (: Keep us in your prayers.

TWENTY-SIX HOURS AND FIFTEEN MORE MINUTES.

Love is what makes the world go round and round and round.
It is easier said than done.

Here am I again, ranting on and on after some taxing tax exercises. Recently, my blog entries have been sounding so depressed and I hate my feelings for feeling sad. At the edge of the steep cliff, not knowing whether to hold on or to do a free fall stunt. That would be quite a sight though. Haha. Barely seeing any light at the end of the tunnel, just groping around hoping to catch something? I do not fathom what will happen next, just taking things one step at a time. However, it is good to know that God is in control!

CHEER UP LEONG PEI LINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. LOOK UP NOT AROUND. STOP BEING SO WEAK.

I want to box myself. Mustard seed, how big art thou? Surely, my faith is defintely smaller than the smallest mustard seed. Have faith.

Thank you for your prayers Jacinta. (:

Back to the taxing exercises. Singapore is such a taxable society.If only they could scrap all the tax rules, my life as a student would be so much easier.


The jolly young fellow never fails to bring me joy. Aunty Jennie must be the world's happiest aunty now!

A reminder to myself:

We have the power to choose.

Despite what we are feeling.

Is God not greater than our feelings?
Is God not greater than our circumstances?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
This world will grow strangely dim.
In the light of his grace.
Jun. 10th, 2008 | 10:42 am

Still praying and waiting for a miracle to happen. (: