A little more than 5-cents

It's been just been a week of barraging through a pile of work.

Been waking up earlier these days and I'm glad for it, it means that I get to spend more time with God, just poring over words that inspire me.

But it also means longer days, sandwiched with endless words and words and words.

*yawn*

out...

A 5-cent coin

Pretty much how I feel now....

....but you know, I'm going to take it one step at a time, no hurry, no rush.



"One Step At A Time"
Jordan Sparks

Hurry up and wait
So close, but so far away
Everything that you've always dreamed of
Close enough for you to taste
But you just can't touch

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

[Chorus:]
We live and we learn to take
One step at a time
There's no need to rush
It's like learning to fly
Or falling in love
It's gonna happen and it's
Supposed to happen and we
Find the reasons why
One step at a time

You believe and you doubt
You're confused, you got it all figured out
Everything that you always wished for
Could be yours, should be yours, would be yours
If they only knew

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

[Chorus]

When you can't wait any longer
But there's no end in sight
when you need to find the strength
It's your faith that makes you stronger
The only way you get there
Is one step at a time

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I haven't forgotten! :)

Me, mum & che at a family photo shoot last year

It's been a day well-spent with the family - laughing, joking, eating, which ended in doing what big families do best - creating chaos at a restaurant packed with people with our rambunctious laughter :)

And even as the last minutes of the day pass by and after countless of wishes to my mom, my sister (who is already twice a mum!) and my female cousins, I find my fingers poised to once again wish all of you a very Happy Mother's Day!

Tonight I watched silently from my seat as these very sacrificial individuals tend lovingly to their children, meeting their every need, orbitting around their every movement and I think to myself what an impossibly challenging role they play. Yet, they do it so naturally, always protecting, always nurturing, always caring...just always everything.

There are times when we get on your nerves (and I speak on behalf of every child) and we make things more of a pain than it should be, but yet, you are gracious enough not to strangle us even then.

We thank you for holding back *laugh* and we know that it is your unconditional love for us that helps you do so :) Thank you for seeing us, not just through human eyes but through the eyes of love.

So to all the moms out there - Thank you!

To my very own mom and my sister, we (your children & I) LOVE YOU!

...and to all our friends, here's something really funny for you to enjoy with your mom :) Apparently, this is what being a mum really feels like!

2009

I've always liked this photo.

It seems so aptly captured...as if God were holding out grace to us with such tender-loving and open hands, beckoning us to the shelther of His grace....all the while knowing that we feel unworthy of it.

It's been awhile since I've written (don't scream at me just yet!) and many exciting and challenging things have happened in that period of abscence. I thank God for each and every one of them.

I loved end-of-year breaks because it just gives me the time to breathe, store up on sleep (bonus!), shop (yes, you heard me right!) and relive my hobbies for the one and a half weeks until everything goes back into storage again :)

But it's also a time where I look back at the year (who doesn't? ;p) and thank God for all the blessings He's poured upon my life and into the lives of those around me.

I'm particularly thankful the evidence of His hand upon my family, and the many things that He's seen each of them through this year - completely healing, restoration of relationships, answered prayers for the many positions that needed to be filled, the refreshing gift of children and most of all, salvation.

I testified in church at the last YA service, that indeed God honours your obedience to Him. I've not once regretted bending my will to His, even at times when it doesn't make sense. 2008 brought about the miracle of health, promotions, increments, bonuses, position, new business, and etc....but I boast not of these things because I recognize that ALL of it, has truly been God's grace and blessing. And for all the challenges and hardships (which were numerous!), God's providence and preparation for the future.

While a lot of people are forecasting a dreary and difficult 2009, I believe that God will see us through, and believe me when I say this is neither naivete nor is it ignorance but trust.

Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Here's to a bigger and better 2009 :)

p/s: Do you know that traditionalists call this year the year of the Blind Cow? That's why couples opted to get married in Dec 2008 so as to not spillover to this year, cos it's bad luck. Weird.

Choobs!

Yes, I've not blogged for the longest time....and I sincerely thank those of you who are still popping in here now and then to check-up on me! :)

It's been a great couple of months, from Seattle to Bangladesh to Kemaman and back to work. I've got loads to share about this so I'm up for dinners and such, I'll tell you more then!

Part of the hiatus is contributed to a new-found hobby and love - jewelry-making. I thank God for giving me gifts and talents, that my hands can make pretty things. So if you're ever interested, pop in at Choobs to have a look!

I watched a movie this week with bubs and we came across this sign that said,
"If you like our service, please tell your friends, if you do not, please tell us!"

So by all means, do the same as you visit Choobs :) Enjoy!

Loves,
Yen

Journey to the centre of the Earth

...okay, well not quite but it took long enough!

My exciting journey to Seattle started 26 hours before I actually arrived:
[+] Arrive KLIA and find Taipei route cancelled!
(original route KL-TP-LA-Seattle)
[+] Line up to re-route to HK, ran to gate as flight was boarding in 15min
(uncle knocks me in the heel with his "out-of-control" heavy trolley! *ouch*
[+] Got onto plane, flew 4 hours to HK
[+] Waited at HK airport for 1.5 hours
[+] Boarded plane to LA which took 14 hours
[+] Arrived at LA airport late, passed immigration, waited for baggage,
went fr Terminal 1 to 7! Then ran to boarding gate with 20min to spare *phew*
[+] Boarded airplane with 2 hours to Seattle

And that...my friends, was my very first trip to the US :) Incredible I tell you, but very worthwhile.

I'm absolutely loving being here, its quite the experience, I love the smell of the crisp air, I love the slightly chilly weather, I love the Cheesecake Factory just down the road, I love that I'm learning more that I will be able to use back home, I love!

And as the homegirl I'm so fond of calling myself, I'm also already missing home :) But not looking for another 26 hours of flying to "layover" in KL for 24 hours before I fly off again! hahahahaha....aahhh, the life of the jet-setter :) kidding....

To avoid this being a lengthy lengthy post, here are pics from Day 1 & 2....enjoy :)

Lining up to wait for re-routing

Uncle who knocked me, heel was aching till HK airport!

Finally in the air, with pretty clouds

Waiting in HK airport

Finally at the hotel....first night Westin & moved to Hyatt after

Pike Plc market, love the contrast between the market and the construction behind

Went round and round looking for the first Starbucks ever, and discovered it was just around the corner

Ofcourse, I had to take a pic!

Yummy lunch...(though I miss rice!)

...and on the way, I spotted this!

US is what you'd expect it to be like...

The space needle

Sight from the platform.....look, we can see Mt. Rainier!
(I hope that's right?? Didn't have a guide)

More sights...Seattle for ya

And ofcourse, that's me!!!

Poor thing mah...didn't want to ask anyone to take the photo for me :) Ah well.....

And that's it from me for today...woohoo! One more day and I'm on a plane back to KL.

Life is good :)

I'm alive and well!

Yupyup, it's my third day in Sunny Bellevue, just outside Seattle.

I hear it normally rains this time of the year but according to residents, it's been unusually beautiful weather for the past 10days....Seattle's "best kept secret" this year they call it.

I choose to believe God planned for the good weather, thank You! :)

I'm a little tired from the day so this is just a photo post...more to come in the next days!

At the Pike Plc Market

This is funny..he's singing for his Fried Chicken Fund! hahaha...

This is ofcourse for ka che...
Beautiful stuff from the bead store...so peeps can look forward to beautiful jewelry!

Going to crawl into my big HUGE bed now... :)

More tomorrow about my exciting journey to get here....in the meantime, miss you at home!
*hugs*

*out*