Tonight we’ll be having cg with a difference! You see, the leader have all went up to Genting for a Leader’s Summit. Hence, as the proverbial saying goes, when the cat is away, the mouse comes out to play.

haha, okok it’s not like that, instead we’re having a sort of food and movie night in cg! Man, it’s been a while since I went to something like that. So, I’m pretty much looking forward to it. The cg has been awesome, the people the fellowship, the ‘connectivity’ from Mondays and Fridays through the emails. It’s a cg we’ve been searching for.

So, yeah something really random happened yesterday over the Internet when Michelle, one of the cg members were asking people to email everyone what they’re gonna bring. And so we did. I shoot of an email saying S k y e will be bringing Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese Sandwich and I’ll be bringing Pineapple with Minted Sugar. And thus began the emails that went around which amounts to 16 emails all together 90% was within an hour. I thought it was absolutely amusing. One cg member said that we should have just said that S k y e bringing Fish Sandwich, while I’ll be bringing Pineapple. I say we should have just pushed it and say “Dear cg, for tomorrow S k y e and I will be bringing Fish, Bread and Pineapple…” haha, can anyone say yum please?

Oh... and Germany's playing Argentina tonight! :)

Inside Outside, Delirious? from World Service album (2003). It’s not hard to see why they’re one of the best Christian bands in the world today. Such musical genius inspired not by man’s wisdom but God I believe. In this song, it talks about the omnipresent love of God which surrounds us everyday of our lives.

Inside outside, under my skin
never ending love I don't know where it begins
I don't know where it ends, I don't know how high
I don't know how deep, I don't know how wide
Outside inside around the world
Never ending love envelops me like a cloud
I feel you in front, I feel you behind
I feel you up above, and I feel you at the side

- Inside Outside, Delirious?

Last Friday was our third time attending Shelley T a y’s CG at Kota Damansara. I reckoned all three times where really good as there was a pleasant sense of being built up and growing together with us and the cg. I think one of the things that made us feel really welcomed and belong was the fast that Shelley and the cg members were really warm in their welcome and follow up. Not that we were particularly seeking to be followed up, but just the fact that Shelley came to have lunch with us one time, just to get to know us and spend some time together was nice. The calls to S k y e asking her how she’s doing and other various things, the (lots of) emails the cg sends, which includes a nicely documented prayer journal and also how the cg is so dynamic in the sharing especially I feel.

So, on that Friday night after cg when we were driving to the nearby mamak at Mutiara Damansara, we made up our minds that yes, it is gonna be this cg. Our time of praying and choosing is over and now, it’s time to move into another phase, where we wanna find places to serve. I’m encouraged by my dear’s initiative in contacting the person in charge of Floodgates (the DUMC bi-monthly newsletter) asking her what can she do to serve in that area.

I’m hoping to step into the next phase of my transition back here in Malaysia, where now after having a church to go to and be committed to, after having found a good job, after finding a good cg to settle in, now I want to serve. I want to be able to be on fire and hungry for God even more than before. As in Paul’s words, one thing I do, to forget about the past and to press on towards the goal that God has called me to. And this is the season to remain focused on the things God has called me to and to keep on running and running and running.

17th of June 2006, Saturday was really interesting as it was The Day where we properly celebrated our 1st year anniversary. It started with me meeting S k y e at about 1230pm, we set off from her place to the city where I have already had in mind what we'll be doing for the day and everything was meant to be as a surprise to my dear. We reached Starhill Gallery at about 1.30pm. I walked her to the Pamper Floor, where Spa Indrani (Indrani is Sanskrit for Queen) is. I made a reservation for a Javanese Massage for my love and as she walked in to be properly pampered. I was walking around the mall as I waited for my darling to come out of the spa. An hour and a half later, she came out looking happy and to my delight she did enjoy the whole process as she described to me how she was pampered by the Javanese masseurs. After that, we went to a really nicely designed cafe called Tiffin Bay, where we had a light snack. We ordered the Smoked Salmon with cream cheese sandwich and salad, as well as Apple Crumble with ice cream :) It wasn't bad at all as we just sat down and took the day leisurely. After that, I was looking at my time and thought we need to kill some time before dinner, so we walked around the mall and a music shop opposite the road. At about 6.30pm we left Starhill as we drove around the city for a while, it was about sunset so the weather and atmosphere was really nice, I thought. After that, we drove to Tamarind Hill at Ampang, where we had a nice dinner. The place was awesome, as it was surrounded by nature, the architecture was formerly a foreigner's bungalow in the collonial times. We had a nice Thai dinner, as we finished off the meal on a sweet note, when we ordered Rum and Raisin as well as Cointreau Orange gelati. Thus endeth the night where I wanted to take my dear of a year on a proper date and to pamper her nicely. I'm really glad it all went well and thank God for being with us and giving me good directions to the place even I have never been before. Thank you, Lord! :)

In about 11 hours are 45 minutes I'll be on the way to Singapore with my 2 other colleagues for CommunicAsia 2006. If any of you bothered calculating, yes we ARE really leaving for Singapore at 2.45am.

We hope to reach Singapore at about 8am, where we can have a true blue Singaporean brekkie maybe? Wait, what constitutes a real Singaporean brekkie? Maybe kaya toast and kopi O? haha, good ol Yakun. I still remembered the one S k y e brought me to the first time at Causeway Point. To be totally honest, it wasn't bad. So, we'll be in the city where the Singtel HQ is. We'll be meeting various businessmen till about the afternoon then we'll go to CommunicAsia 2006 at the Singapore Expo. At 6pm, we'll go to the TM's Cocktail Party at the Swissotel, where we can expect picture-perfect views and nice food :) That will go on till 8pm, and after that, we'll probably hang around for a bit, then drive all the way back to PJ, Malaysia. If all goes well, we're expected to reach at 2am.

So, please God bestow me with supernatural strength right now because I really need it.

1 exact year today.

It’s been 1 year, 2 people and 3 countries. There has been tones of times when we thought this is so amazing but circumstances seemed difficult, only God can pull us through. And guess what? He did! And more than that, He has lifted us up to much higher ground. Where we are now, is a testimony of how God can and will work through the lives of people who are willing to hear from Him. Yes, there were times when I myself am bombarded by questions of whether am I listening to God enough? Is there anything that I should be more keen on hearing from Him? But time after time, He has shown a little pathway amidst a sea of uncertainties. Yet God has places S k y e and myself together on this journey to testify that with God, it can be done, and that He works ALL things for the good of those who love Him

So, here we stand on this day: 15 June 2006, saying that God is good.

A year ago, I was going to the movies with then my girlfriend-to-be during the evening. Before that, we had a sumptuous dinner at Kim Chi Grandma at Bourke. Then we walked across the road to watch Mr. and Mrs. Smith (haha!). After that, we had sometimes, and it was almost midnight but we went to Café L’incontro for a mug of hot choc and mocha. There we exchange thoughts, exchanged experiences and reflections in where we are in our journey with God. And we decided that, Yes! This is something from God and we’re gonna take the step into couplehood. Right there and then, we began what was an awesome journey, beyond our wildest imagination, with our dear God and S k y e.

A lot of thus taken place throughout our journey. The many LDR-sickness we’ve experienced. Something that’s very real and very near to the heart. The many times when we cried out to God asking Him to show us and deliver us from our circumstances, the times when we held on stronger than before. And the numerous times when God blew our minds right out of the window seat, where there’s nothing we can do but to soak in all of His goodness and see His glory in action. We remain thankful, we remain grateful of our Father and of each other. Yet at the same time, we praise the Lord for His glorious mercy and grace. We know that where we are now, is far ahead of where we were. We know that we love each other more than where we were a year ago. And we know that we’re more committed to God and each other for all the good and wonderful things He has prepared for us.

And speaking of prepared, I have prepared a lil something something for my darling tonight, and for the main pressie on Saturday. I pray that she’ll love it. But all in all, I can’t wait. I can’t wait make her happy and happier than all she’s ever been. Praise be to God our Father for He is awesome!

I love you, God!

I love you, S k ye :)

<3

Time for a recap of what's been happening:

Today is a day of meetings. Had a good long (almost 3 hrs) meeting with Atos Origin. And gonna have a weekly company meeting in probably 1.5 hrs. Yesterday was an interesting day! Personally, I'm pretty quietly overwhelmed by how awesome the meet up between my folks and S k y e's went. They (meaning the folks-es.. haha) were really nice and it's amazing seeing them interacting with each other, exchanging opinions, views on countryship, as well as more personal things like families and such. Yesterday, we also had The Glorious Durian Cheesecake, complimentary from my dear who bought a whole cake! Can you tell how much we loved the cake. No matter how much I talk about it or post pictures on it, they still wouldn't do enough justice to the cake. So, yeah.. you just got to try it yourself!

I'm glad to be sitting here typing away while getting my mind to rest from all that talk from the previous meeting, as well as the tropical heat outside. So, while I sit here and rest for a bit, before going back to work, let me ramble a little. Me reckon Cyberjaya is an interesting place. First, the government (under Mahathir) spent something like RM30 billion on it, if not more. There was a bridge that took about a few million to build. If you see it, you'll know why. The roads is another thing that really make me go "umm.. ookiee" The road names were like Jalan Silikon, Jalan Multimedia, Jalan Usahawan so on and so forth. Of course, in keeping with the status of the "next-generation-high-tech-wired-global city" poor old creativity was kinda left neglected. Kind of. All in all, it's a nice 'getaway' if you need one, 'cause it's pretty far away the city and all its noise.

Right now, it's about 20 degrees here in the office, and I'm probably trying to fight away all sense of the body pleading me to go Sleepville. While my dear, she shopping in 1U with her folks, how nice. Anyway, I'll be meeting them after work, then more programs lined up ahead of us. So, take care now folks. While I leave you with this random comic (courtesy of S k y e)

It's a fine first day of June today. My body is too used to waking up at 730am nowadays, so I didn't even have to drag myself up, I was up already. Compared to the me of a year ago, this is a miracle! haha, almost lah. As usual, I drove to S k y e's for brekkie, and today she made me this awesome yummylicious brekkie! hehe. We both had toast, roasted tomatoes and very nice scrambled eggs. hehe! I loved the scrambled eggs! It was very sweet of her. Thanks so much, dearie! :) I've taken some pictures of it, but unfortunately I can't post them up until I transfer them to my home lappie. So, in a few blog posts more k?

This weekend my love will be back in Singapore for a short trip, but when next week comes, it'll be mega interesting as this time, our folks will be meeting each other! :D hehe. It'll all be very cool. God has a unique way of organising things and He's good at it! So, can't wait... it's all good, folks.. it's all good.