You Can Take A Person Out From Nerd...(Part 1)

Since they wanted snapshots for church anniversary...I looked through my albums and found some very interesting old photos...forgotten I'd brought them back from KL quite a few months ago. My Alma Mater was Bukit Bintang Girls' School (BBGS)...translated as 'Star Hill'. My house colour was...PROUSE (Purple)!!! To the best of my recollection, those were my super 'nerdy and studious' days...(although I must confess I was more of a last-minute 'crammer' or 'mugger' or 'midnight oil-burner')...then again, there were comparatively many others still further up on the end of that scale! School days were fun, care-free (on non-exam months) and we were certainly quite nutty as Prefects...both IN and OUT of uniform??? Joanna managed to track down Shu Ling..who worked in Singapore-->UK-->Jakarta-->KL-->Sydney (where she qualified as a pastry chef)-->now Singapore again. Ahhhhhh!...it can be quite therapeutic to reminisce about old times...I wonder what happened to Oy Sim, Tomasina, Lum May Yee?...and I should really try to catch up more often with Chiew Ling, Siew Ling, Irene...as for Suet Yee and Amy...see you in heaven one day...Nisi Dominus Frustra...Without God all things are in vain...

5 Sc 4's "Lessons in Love" & Prouse House Dynamite!

Scripture Union Camp 1987 & Mad Capers at Siew Ling's

The Hope Alumni

Attended Xiao Long's wedding last Saturday...Gosh! So many familiar faces but also many forgotten names... :0( At least I can blame it on the ageing process...ha ha ha! We were at the same table with Leslie & Linda, Kar Tien and Ee Yang (temporarily)...then there was Gary, with his wife and son!!! Last I remember him...he was in NS, skinny, tanned and only 19 years old??? Not to mention Desmond, Jun Hui, Chuan Keat, Andrew Ong, Gee Woung & Cathy...and finally, Ernest & Christella who flew all the way back from Sydney (heard Phillip Wu couldn't stay because of some urgent work matters). I think the other half of the alumni was at Shirley's and Ginny's wedding???

Overall, a bitter sweet feeling...felt happy for some people who have moved on...concerned for others who stopped at the side lines (when are they going to re-join?)...and very sad for those who completely dropped out of the race. But ultimately, it's not about who did what to whom...or why things are done in this or that way...rather, it's about our personal walk and relationship with Christ that really count at the end of the road...Philippians 3:12-14

Forgetting what lies behind
Setting our eyes on the prize
Always keeping our eyes on our Lord Jesus
We're running the race to win
All the way to the end
Laying down every sin that would seek to hinder us
And we'll be faithful to our calling
You are able to keep up from falling
In Your promise we will trust
Youll be faithful to finish the work You began in us

So I Was Right About Snape...

Finally caught the movie 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' over last weekend. It was a pretty good screen adaptation of the book...except Cho Chang wasn't the one who betrayed Dumbledore's Army (DA) and Harry didn't used the 'Protego' charm to gain access to Snape's memories...plus a few minor errors in details here and there...But what does it matter anyway?? Ha ha ha...The cast and acting were convincing enough...thumbs up for Dolores Umbridge (and the cats on her wall)...Luna Lovegood...and Bellatrix Lestrange...

Can't really say I'm a die-hard fan (No, I didn't queue up for Book VII)...but I'm glad Snape turned out be one of the good guys in the end...because it would very sad indeed, if Dumbledore had totally mis-judged his character and allowed him access into the internal circle of the 'Order'. However, I wish it was a happier finale...with fewer casualties...except for the Death Eaters and Lord Voldermort (of course)...And it did leave some unanswered questions:

• How did Dumbledore find out about the Order's plan to move Harry earlier, before his 17 birthday?
• How did Snape get into Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts and talk to his portrait before the downfall of The Ministry of Magic?
• Did Snape realise that Wormtail (Pettigrew) was a traitor to the Order when he told the Dark Lord about the prophecy?
• Why didn't Harry recall such an unsual, significant Slytherin locket immediately? He first saw it at Sirius' house (Grimmauld Place) when they were cleaning it, then again in Hokey's (Hepzibah's house elf) memories and finally, at the cave by the pool.

P.S. I dare say the younger version of Snape appeared quite handsome and my close friend, Joanna, tells me she is 'in love' with Lupin...talk about having warped senses!!!

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

Thought I had better blog this down in case I forget...for posterity sake and so that I can pull this out if I ever have...er...doubts in the future?

Here are some of the more vivid romantic moments that I recall...

Him wanting to buy a BIG WHITE BEAR at Myers for me! I just commented that it was cute and fluffy...and he said, 'If you like it so much, let me buy it for you?'. But being the practical person I was...hmmm...I can't possibly allow someone to spend AUD$70 on a bear???

Him waiting for me at the Melbourne airport at 5:00am!!!...holding a bouquet of white roses...(THAT...I mean the 5:00am part...has not happened again...trust me...and er...he couldn't find any purple roses)

Him giving me black and gold 'clip-on' ear-rings for my birthday...still have them today...but haven't worn them much though...

Him giving me Chanel No. 5...I kept this bottle of perfume for a very, very long time before opening it...after which half if it got spilled by my dear Jared on to the floor...haiz...the bedroom smelt really, really nice for quite a while...

Him surprising me with beautifully arranged tiger lilies...tulips...roses in a vase on the table...when I returned home from trips to KL (to see my dad) and Melbourne (to visit my sister)

Him waiting for me at the tram stop for nearly 2 hours in the cold Melbourne weather at night! I wasn't sure if the music practice was going to end late or not. So I told him to wait 15 minutes...and go home if I don't show up (NB: This was the pre-pagers and handphones era). And I think I've since 'paid back' at least hundred-fold???

Him running to my place after missing the tram at night. He was almost out of breath after the 45-minutes sprint. Which was probably slightly shorter than if he had waited for the next tram?...(no repeat performances...especially NOW!!!) Ha ha ha ha!!!

THANKS A MILLION FOR BEING THERE FOR ME!!! LOVE YA!!!

My Redeemer Is Faithful and True (By Steven Curtis Chapman)

Our wedding song (presented by SCK and CGW)...

As I look back on the the road I've travelled
I see so many times He carried me through
If there's one thing that I've learned in my life
My redeemer is faithful and true

My Redeemer is faithful and true
Everything He has said He will do
Every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is faithful and true

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
There's a place I am preparing for you
I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true

And in every situation
He has proved His love for me
When I lack the understand
He gives more grace to me

Happy 12th Anniversary!

Finally converted our wedding video (taken by my amateur uncle) to DVD. It was quite hilarious watching it for the first time with our boys, Justin and Jared, after...er...like maybe 10 years?

Justin: Eh...not fair! How come we didn't go for your wedding ah???
Me: Ha ha ha ha...you'll be worried if you were there...
Justin: Huh? I don't understand...
Me: Trust me, this is ONE wedding you can afford to miss...ha ha!

We exchanged wedding vows on the 12th of February 1995. It was a Sunday...such a flurry of activities and excitement from 8:00am onwards. I really appreciated the worship/logistic team's effort...they literally scrambled to pack up all the equipment from church service...and set-up everything at Pine-Tree Country Club.

And so, when the music started, I walked...or should I say 'tripped' down the aisle with my dad...he had such large strides and at the pace we went, the guests faces were but a visual blur...ha ha ha! Then THE question came from the pastor...

Q: Will you...Jaclyn...take Jimmy to be your husband...to obey and honour...in sickness and in health...in poverty or in wealth...?
A: Er...I think so (burst of laughter...including Jimmy...PHEW!)

Well, I've kept most of my vows (er...except maybe the 'obey' part...ha ha ha!) for the past 12 years...and so, for the next 12 (Biblical number)...I say, 'I think so'...again...

P.S. For the ladies out there who are thinking of getting married...you should avoid those few days prior to Valentine's Day...IF you want a bouquet of flowers instead of a stalk...because it's really not worth paying the exorbitant price for them!

Promised the Moon But...

Some famous or rather, 'infamous' last words...

I'll be there for you...these five words I swear to you...(actually, it's six...but who's counting?)

And I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky...I'll be there (apparently a very common and repeative phrase?)

You are pretttiest...most beautiful...most gorgeous...most sexy woman...(take your pick)...I've ever seen or known...laid eyes on...

You are the only one for me...otherwise, I will remain single for the rest of my life!

I wish that I could turn back the clock...(yeah...reset the alarm...ha ha ha!)

You are the answer to my loneliness...

I will get married only after...(hmmm...noted the omission of the word 'YOU'?)

And finally...

I LOVE everything about you...ha ha ha ha!

6 Most Memorable Blunders...

We just had a WAM concert night on Monday 16 July 2007...had an absolutely GRRREEAATT time praising and worshipping God!!! I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to be involved with team members from different congregations. Of course, there were the usual hitches, glitches and boo-boos...some major and some not so...Here are a few from the archives... :0)

6. Most common error...failure to start after several rounds of musical introduction (although most musicians try very hard to be patient and not show frustration...I remember receiving killer stares and hearing LOUD and deliberate pounding on the keyboard before...ha ha ha!)

5. Another not-so frequent glitch...sudden blank-outs...forgetting how to start...what comes after the bridge or how to end the song...and had to scramble frantically to look at the lyrics printed on the song sheet. Well...there is always the option for free worship? Hmmm...

4. Sang very, VERY off-pitch for 'We All Bow Down' especially at the acapella chorus at the end...faintz! Probably made more obvious by our ever-amazing tenor, How Joo, whose voice soared above everyone else's...(kudos)

3. Soundless SINGLE-chord electric guitar introduction for 'All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises'...apparently the cable was loose? I couldn't come in at all! So, I held up my hand and apologised to the congregation...'Sorry, let's try that again'. Learnt my lesson the next time...used the acoustic guitar instead...(smart eh?)

2. We sang the chorus twice for 'Rock of Ages' and I was expecting it to end with a big bang. But the musicians kept repeating the same chord progression...despite my desperate hand signals to stop and change songs...WHAT are they doing? WHY do they keep playing this? HAI YO!!!...and after what seemed like an eternity...I suddenly realised we were supposed to end with a final 6 rounds of the line 'Rock of ages'...oops...my fault...pai se...pai se!

And No. 1...(Drum roll...rrrrrrrr!!!!)

The band starting 'Beautiful Saviour' in 4/4 time instead of the correct 6/8...ha ha ha! WARNING! This can potentially give a worship leader a heart attack and cause a premature, unnatural death!!! Ha ha ha ha...

Tunesmiths 2007

I DID mention my latest obsession with song writing? We had 2 meetings so far and I must say that I'm pretty optimistic about Elpizo II. Future albums are looking quite promising...Not really speaking for myself but for the 'newer' generation folks! Ha ha ha...

But I've been enjoying myself...loads of FUN churning up Maranatha...Integrity Music...and even Korean-sounding praise and worship songs! (Special thanks to Geoffrey...the musical genius behind it all). Keep up the great work everyone!

That's The Way (by Pat Terry)

With this ring I thee wed and I give to you my life
Mine is yours and yours is mine
And we can live that way forever
With this kiss we will seal that we now are man and wife

Two in One, One in two
That's the way it's got to be

**********

With this love we can live
But we can't keep it to ourselves
He is mine, He is yours

And we can spend our lives in telling
I give my heart, I give my soul,
I give you all my worldly goods
Two in One, One in two
That's the way it's got to be

**********

I will cling to you, you will cling to me
And in the shadow of the cross we'll live on bended knee

**********

With this prayer I commit that we both become as one
He in us and we in Him

Saying vows to one another
Hold them fast in your heart till the day we see the Son
Two in One, One in two
That's the way it's got to be

Household Of Faith (by Steven Green)

This is one of my favourite wedding songs...

Here we are at the start committing to each other

By His word and from our hearts

We will be a family in a house that will be a home

And with faith we'll build it strong

**********

We'll build a household of faith

That together we can make

And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down

As one in Him we'll grow

And the whole world will know

We are a household of faith

**********

Now to be a family we've got to love each other

At any cost unselfishly

And our home must be a place that fully abounds with grace

A reflection of His face

Raindrops on Roses...

Recently someone asked me what were some of my favourite things... Ha ha ha! Like how we used to find out from friends back in the school days? Anyway, here are a few for starters:

My Favourite:

Colour: PURPLE, BLUE, BLACK, WHITE...but really depends on subject matter

Animal: Dogs, Kittens, Rabbits...I have none of those...but by default, only some gold fish in a small pond at my bedroom balcony (someone gave them to us and we didn't have the heart to watch them slowly die of asphyxiation)

Hobby: Watching K-Drama, Singing, Reading, Dancing, Drawing, Piano...and most recent obsession...song writing

Music: Praise & Worship, Jazz, Don Moen, Lenny Leblanc, Paul Baloche, Michael W. Smith, Bobby Michaels, Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Michael Buble, Michael Card, Beyonce, Tommy Emmanuel, Carrie Underwood, Melinda Doolittle

Food: Japanese (although not all the raw stuff), Mee Pok, Laksa, Wan Ton Mee, Yong Tau Fu, KL Fried Hokkien Mee, Waterchestnut, Sugar Cane, Chips, Keropok and most junk food

Sports: Virtually non-existent.. except for swimming, stroll in the park? Not counting the shopping sprees?

Disclaimer: The information you read may not be most updated content of my likes and dislikes. If you intend to buy or send me any birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day presents, please contact me directly. And btw, I only wear clip-on ear-rings...no ear-holes...Thanks!

P.S. Learnt this from a 'striped' friend...:0)

My Version of My Love Story (Part 3 - Dawning)

And so the following year...we landed up leading the same Bible study group and I guessed things developed from there. Mainly, Jimmy was 'forced' to talk to me...ha ha ha...and I discovered he had interesting stuff to say. Phone calls started off being offcial but ended up being more personal.

Then came the crunch...after some time...I said...'I have something serious to ask you. Do you have feelings for me or am I imagining things?' He replied...'You mean you didn't realise I've sending signals?' Waaahhh...ha ha ha...I almost fainted! HONESTLY WHAT SIGNALS??? WHERE WHEN??? I was flabbergasted!!! It was either very weak frequency or he must have thought my radar system rivaled NASA's.

No matter...at least I found out and didn't have to play the tiresome 'cat-mouse' game other couples seemed to prefer. Maybe I was too practical...and could have missed out on some serious romance? Ha ha ha...But not much complaints...except that after 12 years of marriage...Jimmy is back to his 'normal' self of using the Charlie Chaplin mode of communication. Ps. Jeff did affirm that you can't have 2 people simultaneously talking too much in a relationship...then nobody listens...

My Version of My Love Story (Part 2 - Oblivion)

You guessed it?? Kenneth and I were chatting all the way back and talking 'over' Jimmy who unfortunately sat in the middle. He DID NOT UTTER a single word throughout the 2-hour journey...I swear! So then I thought, 'WOW!! Incredibly quiet guy. Hmmm, something wrong with him?? (Or perhaps, I was intrigued by the strong...silent...brooding type? Made me wonder what was going through his mind...) Ha ha ha...I think he only spoke during dinner to someone else and I honestly can't remember what he said...probably some mundane stuff anyway??

After the initial encounter, we saw each other in church and during meetings but never talked (besides the 'Hi-Bye') for the rest of that year. So what was his impression of me? Ha ha ha...wait for his blog lah...maybe till Kingdom come...

My Version of My Love Story..(Part 1 - The Beginning)

Met an old friend at a party and was asked a question I haven't heard for a long long time..How did you and Jimmy (my hubby) meet? And so here is the true and authorised account of how we ended up together..believe it...OR not??!!

It was Autumn in 1989..my first OCF camp in the country-side of Victoria, Australia. On the final night, we had a mini concert of sorts and this group presented a dramatised version of the song.. 'Father's Eyes'. The story went something like..this girl reached out to this guy..but he didn't respond to Jesus until she died..and then he repented and wept..HEY! Wait a minute..doesn't this sound very familiar..THE DIARY in 1997!! Talk about role reprisal man...ha ha ha! And so..at that time I thought..good singing..pretty convincing acting..touching scene..(The cast included Rose, Jimmy, Evelyn and Willie).

After the camp..by some strange default (I arrived with a different group)..we ended up going home in the same car..we sat at the back..me on the left..Jimmy in the middle..and Kenneth was on the right..

Sentosa Luge

We visited my friend, Joanna, who was staying at a resort at Sentosa and decided to try out the luge ride. Justin had his own luge and I got to experience in advance..the feeling of seeing your own child having his first driving lesson?? But oblivious to the potential hazards, he had a ball of a time whizzing down the hill..amidst the shouts and screams of his frantic Mum..don't look behind you..drive straight..slow down..turn TURN..brake BRAKE!! Ha ha ha...

But the Sky Ride was a different story..Justin clung on for dear life..while dreading his sandals would slip off his feet, fall down into the ravine of 'no-return' and join all the others who had gone before his. And he looked absolutely petrified when I tried taking pictures of us with my handphone camera. Ha ha ha..I should not be laughing really! Being a horrible Mum...

Jared??...it was like...woah man, this is cool!...woooo hoooo!! And he managed to pose and smile for the camera too. But then again..he was with his Dad all the way..I guess that's where the assurance came from? The verdict: We had some expensive FUN today!