clean linen

It's been a week that has been so draining for me emotionally. I haven't cried so much in a single week for such a long time. The crying helps ease the pain but somehow the pain's not completely gone. The friends present have offered me so much comfort and encouragement, I'm so grateful for them. It can just be one sms from them that would make me feel so much better or not that alone. For example today on the bus to Mandai Crematorium, Wei Chuen smsed me saying, "I'm here. Going to Mandai now." The three words "I am here" just reminded me of how supportive he has been these past few days, praying for me every night, being at all the memorial services... It's friends like him who I am soooo thankful for. Besides him, Amy was my shoulder to cry on for the prayer meeting, the memorial services... I still am sorry about making her cry with me on the night of the prayer meeting... ;) Yes, I believe strongly that Aunty Jenni is DEFINITELY in a bet...

When I see the beauty of a sunset's glory Amazing artistry across the evening sky When I feel the mystery of a distant galaxy It awes and humbles me To be loved by a God so high Chorus: What can I do but thank You What can I do but give my life to You Hallelujah, hallelujah What can I do but praise You Everyday make everything I do A hallelujah, a hallelujah Hallelujah What I hear the story of a God of mercy Who shared humanity and suffered by our side Of the cross they nailed You to that could not hold You Now You're making all things new By the power of Your risen life -A song from Paul Baloche's "A Greater Song". In this unreal time of loss and disbelief, I can only tell myself that I can't do anything to change the situation. What can I do but praise You.

The following are 3-word questions that I'm getting tired of answering (Yes, they may show that the person asking is concerned about me but once is enough, please). "Are you okay?" So I'm coughing once in awhile, I can't help it. I don't think I'll die from coughing so don't need to ask if I'm okay. Just deal with the noise pollution for the time being. Thanks. "How is school?" Can school ever be "Oh! It's great!"? Just remember that everytime you ask me this question, my answer will either be "so-so" or "average". Don't you ever get bored of my answers? "No homework ah?" Okok, so I'm watching too much TV. I get the idea. Oh and I admit that "ah" is not exactly a word. "Feeling very stressed?" How to NOT feel stressed at this point in time? Anyhow. Thanks for all your concern. I really REALLY value it (Saying this sincerely hor , not trying to be sarcastic or anything...

Do not be mistaken, I'm not done with the book, I've only finished the first 5 chapters of the book. I thought I'd just put down 2 quotes that he included in the book: 1 ) Egghead : A person of spurious intellectual pretensions, often a professor or the protege of a professor. Fundamentally superficial. Over-emotional and feminine in reactions to any problem. Supercilious and surfeited with conceit and contempt for the experience of more sounds and stable men. Essentially confused in thought and immersed in mixture of sentimentality and violent evangelism. Subject to the old-fashioned philosophical morality of Nietzsche which frequently leads him into jail or disgrace. A self-conscious prig, so given to examining all sides of a question that he becomes thoroughly addled while remainging always in the same spot. An anemic bleeding heart. - Louis Bromfield, "The triumph of the egghead" *Personal note to self: I NEVER want to be called an egghead. 2) What a phantasma...

Actually, Wei Ping's birthday was in April. I wished her "happy birthday" in person on the day itself and promised that I would get her a birthday present, but it would be a belated one. So one weekend, I was out shopping for birthday gifts with Jolene when we found the birthday gift for Wei Ping. So we called Amy, got her approval, and passed it to Wei Ping the moment we got the chance to the week after when the 1st service on Sunday was over. I brought my camera to show you how big it is in comparison with Wei Ping! :) Wei Ping with the Elmo soft toy Jolene, Amy and I bought for her as a belated birthday present. SO CUTE RIGHT (Talking more about the Elmo, but Wei Ping also looks cute just hugging it, isn't it? ;) )!?

Renling and I were supposed to meet for breakfast at 7am but we ended up meeting at 7.30am and reaching school only at about 8.15am. Then we discussed and "debated" over the Chess Game until 9 (I think). By then, we were all feeling sian and tired. So they decided to come over to my house to watch and review the movie first before going out for the recce trip. We ended up staying at my house the whole day though. Besides the movie review and lunch, we did a dry run of a few activities, including the TRUST FALL. OH my gosh it's at times like these that I wished I was heavier or taller. As I'm the shortest and lightest in the exco, I had to do the trust fall. Well, I did it... FOUR times. Poor Bryan got the most of my weight most of the time, while Caron and Bryan were poked by my buttons when they caught me. Sorry guys! Furthermore, because I'm the smallest and lightest, I had to get on this structure that they built, which turned out to be a failure so we have to ...

I FINALLY know the name of the hair salon my mum always goes to for her perms and haircuts. She used to bring me there as a little girl to get my hair cut there as well and all this while, I only knew that when my mum gets her hair done, she has an appointment with Honey, her hairstylist. Today, I went to Beautrium to get my hair thinned since my mum was going there for an appointment with Honey, and my hair was getting very VERY thick. It was there that I met Honey and her 2 other assistants after a very LOOONG time. They all look the same actually! Except for the fact that Honey looks so... ladylike now, with long hair! She used to have cropped hair, I think. Rather boyish. Now, she appears more... demure, but as skinny as ever. Oh well. It was good going back to see them all again! Thanks to Honey, I now have my shorter fringe again with hair that's much more layered! :)

Goodness, this book is so engaging and captivating! The writer really allows the reader to identify so strongly and personally with the characters in the book by revealing their unsaid thoughts and moving experiences. It even got me crying at the end! Anyway, there's this portion in the book that really struck me. It is written from Anna's perspective, and, like me, she's the third child and the youngest in the family. "In our living room we have a whole shelf devoted to the visual history of our family. Everyone's baby pictures are there, and some school head shots, and then various photos from vacations and birthdays and holidays. They make me think of notches on a belt or scratches on a prison wall - proof that time's passed, that we haven't all just been swimming in limbo. There are double frames, singles, 8 x 10s, 4 x 6s. They are made of blond wood and inlaid wood and one very fancy glass mosaic. I pick up one of Jesse - he's about two, in a cowbo...