18/7/12 (Aunt Thrizz', Ate Crislyn's, and my best friend Jessica's natal day)

Today is my sleeping day after three consecutive night duties. Thank God i'm not that drained unlike yesterday (3 patients did a chorus and we had party...one of them was really restless, as in hyper...she can't hear so she can't control her voice volume; worse, she talked NONSTOP....my energy's all zapped out!)

i slept in the morning and woke up for lunch. Lucky me, poink poink is the viand. so i just drank milo and ate loaf bread, and prepared to go out; today is the deadline for the payment for Enrolled Nurse examination. i thank God for our manager is very supportive of me, he quickly handed me the original letter to be presented during payment and the money and as usual, he reminded (or requested?with the word 'please' eh) me to pass the exam once and for all. God knows well^^

i waited for Bus 124 for 21minutes...well, patience is a virtue... and National Kidney Foundation building, here i come...the small-spaced lobby of Singapore Nursing Board was full of people when i arrived, but i finished paying in less than 10minutes...and i felt better when i exchanged smiles with an Indian lady who was processing something.^^

after paying, i went down to 4th floor (from 8th floor) to see and pray for the auditorium where i will be sitting for exam next week. i can't see any auditorium when i got there, just gym equipments and a carpeted corridor lined with doors (like hotel rooms) that i dared not to step on it, haha. so i asked a lady, who's waiting for the lift, if where's the auditorium. She then said it's at level 2 and she's going there; i went with her. Inside the lift, she asked if i'm going to attend the seminar. i smiled, shook my head and told her that i just want to check my exam venue. she then give me an apologetic look and said that there's a mini-auditorium at level 4 among the rooms. Joy lift-ride haha! maybe the folks at level 4 noticed i'm lost hahaha...

i walked out of the building with a light heart, thanking God for making things easy for me. then i remembered that i have to buy the prescribed pencil (4B) for the exam. i remembered i accompanied a church friend one time in a nearby plaza where i saw a school supply store, so i looked for that plaza; it's just some meters away, i realized. After buying pencils, eraser, and transparent envelope, i decided to go to Toa Payoh Fairprice to do my grocery. As i pass by an escalator going down, something tells me to look to where it's leading..and lo, right below is a Fairprice grocery store. Praise God! He provides! No need for me to expend money, time and energy going to another town.

Kapamilya, guess what's inside the white plastic bag?^^ -MILK TEA for you....

i toured the grocery store looking for good stuffs to send to Philippines. Milk tea, checked!^^ and i bought apples, oranges, papaya, banana, tomatoes, and yoghurt for my stock.

just a thought, i think the color of they day today is - YELLOW. Dunno, just noticed haha...

everything fell perfectly into their right places for me! i'm so joyous! i can't stop praising and thanking God! i remember what i read yesterday from the Patriarchs and Prophets when God provided a ram for sacrifice instead of Isaac, and Abraham called the place Jehovah-Jireh!

HE PROVIDES! HE ALWAYS DO!

Janz & i: Going East (China, Japan)

by JanizB

The West Gate welcomes us!-by mmc

February 8, 2012 - China and Japan in just one day. Yes, believe it or not, I and May wandered through these places in just 6 hours.

First destination was the Chinese garden. Upon entering this garden, the seven-storey pagoda will catch everyone’s attention. We also took this opportunity to climb this pagoda and feel the cold breeze upstairs.

WARMING UP! This 7-storey pagoda really squeezed out our sweats and breath. Accordingly, the odd number of floors symbolize continuity.  -by janz

A SHORT CUT PLEASE! This is inside the pagoda. Like a shell, huh... -by janz

MULAN. Nearby the 7-storey pagoda are China's heroes. -by janz

The background is the Stoneboat which is a replica of a stone boat at the Summer Palace in Beijing. -by cam

 A little bit of walk and we reached the twin pagoda. A twin of three-storey pagodas facing a body of water….

YES, JANZ, YOUR TWIN SIS IS....THERE. - by mmc

WHITE IS...the cloud, pagoda, building, me (err my shirt & shoes). -by janz

 

A place that really attracted May's eyes was the abundance garden. We were wondering why it was called such. Then upon entering, we finally realized that all the animal statues are by pairs – hmmm, abundance!

HMM, VERY ABUNDAT, hihi... -by mmc

NOW, this is getting to abundance, heha... -by janz

 

There was also a turtle museum in which we have encountered more than a hundred varied turtles/tortoises from different countries. A Chinese businessman (sorry, forgot the name) collected and organized this endeavor. Take note, this is the largest collection in the world of turtles/tortoises as confirmed by Guinness World Book of Records.

JANZ and the owner -by mmc

Oops, traffic jam. No pushing please... -by janz

SMILE! Some turtles are left to roam around freely so one needs to be mindful of his steps.   -by mmc

Cool! They're vegetarians, heha... -by mmc/janz

 Across the Chinese Garden is the Japanese Garden. An awesome bridge connects these two.

The Bridge of Double Beauty connects the Chinese and Japanese gardens. -by mmc

 

There, we saw the stone lanterns artistically distributed at a vale.

Accordingly, the Japanese Garden (also called Seiwaen) may not be as visually stimulating as the Chinese Garden but it evokes feelings...ahemmm... -by mmc

Stone lanterns are important icons of Japanese gardens. -by mmc

 Hills are covered with bountiful green grasses and flowers that are really blooming and beautiful.

This is a kusari doi, a creative Japanese rain chain (which i think, we can adopt in every household, recycling plastic bottles). -by janz

 

The journey ended at about 6 o'clock in the evening and we’re back to reality that we’re still in Singapore.

Having fun with the BUnDDHAts^^ -by mmc

Janz & i: Botanical Garden, SG

So, here. I'm going to start writing re:Janice and May's jalan jalan mode. Since we resolved to tour the interesting (if possible, free) places of Singapore, I always express my desire of writing about our 'trips'. I miss writing. I've been trying to write but it always ends up in my mind then whooosh...to the forgotten bin. Anyway, now that i have someone to help me, (ahem, FYI, Janz was our photojournalist during our final high school year^^) i might as well start or else i'd be pressed (of which i miss also -- ma'am Charyl! hehe). Okie dokie, i'll start from the beginning, heha...

August 28, 2011 - Amen. We ended our Bible study on the book of Galatians led by Mr. Peter Gregory. i rushed to the lift as i was so excited to meet one of my best friends whom i met in high school. Janice just arrived in SG just some few days and i arranged to meet her before she starts working at her designated nursing home. I had a hard time getting my way amidst sea of faces in ION mall as it's Sunday (shopping day?).

Gee, i'm sorry, i'm late with our appointment; i walked from ION to Botanical Garden.^^ I was actually shocked when i saw her because she has grown horizontally (^^ peace, friend). She was with her mom Violeta and aunt. We had lots of stories so they let us roam around the place while they rested under the trees.

The following pictures will tell you more about our short garden trip:

That's a Victorian styled bandstand which is a favorite setting for wedding portfolios. PHOTO BY AUNT VIOLETA

I like bananas...That's the hungry part of me. PHOTO BY AUNT VIOLETA

Sisters forever! PHOTO BY JANIZ

It's raining roots! This is called the Root Curtains. PHOTO BY AUNT VIOLETA

Cycads are one of the oldest plants.

Teaching Janz macroshot with their camera with this fantastic gumamela.

Getting refreshed behind the artificial waterfalls in the garden.

Stone bridges were important in travel in the olden times. PHOTO BY AN INDIAN GUY

Enjoying a serenade from Mr. Chopin.

with a rotating ball fountain

 I'd like to thank Aunt Violeta and her sister for considering me as one of your daughters^^ Thanks also for the yummy-licious KFC meal, heha....^^

He signed when i asked for a sign

SIGN...

Why not try? I asked myself. 

A few weeks ago, my best friend, Clair, told me about her experience of asking God for a sign. She's been wanting to work a li'l bit far from home and there's an offer for her. Though tempted to grab the chance, she first inquired God about it by asking for a sign: If she will see a white butterfly the next day, then that job is not for her. Sure enough the next day, she saw a small, white butterfly along her way. This means she will let go of a 'good chance' but she trusted in God. Until now, I don't know what God's plan is awaiting her. But you see, my best friend's place is a crowded area where you seldom or never see butterflies...and puff! There goes the sign...Isn't it amazing?^^

So with that, I also tried. Well, to admit, I've been asking signs when I was younger, but i also have to admit that during those times, i some kinda manipulated the events. Lacking faith, eh...

Last week, one of my older sisters asked me to help her find a job for her here in my place. I did go to an agency that Monday afternoon but the staff are busy so i and my best friend, Gretch, went jalan-jalan. Since I'll be on night duty the next day, i told myself to go back to the agency the next morning.

Tuesday. I did wake up early but i felt lazy to go out. My manana habit started to bite me again. While having breakfast, i went to our backdoor and looked up at the mango tree behind the home. I silently talked to God, telling Him that if i see a squirrel on that mango tree within two minutes, then that means He wants me to go to Lucky Plaza and inquire at the agency (wow, S-M-A-R-T). For several seconds, I didn't see any movement from the tree, then...Whoops, out jumped a squirrel from (?) nowhere.... Ah, Lord, OK, so You want me to go there. And off, i went to LP.

The agency was closed when i got there so i walked, sight-seeing in the nearby shops. Then i remembered that i need to buy top-up card for my broadband so that i can upload the video i am preparing for my Ate Rhod's birthday. After getting info at LBC, I looked around for a top-up card. I didn't find any; the shop where we usually buy cards is closed. Maybe, God wanted me not to buy; obviously, i don't have much money. i laughed to myself. Asking Him for another sign, i told Him that if i go back to the agency and it's still closed, then that means i don't buy. well, shrug, it's closed so i didn't buy. May Your will be done, Lord, i silently prayed.

i decided to go back home and as i walked down, i met the agent. i followed him to the agency and discussed for awhile and then i went back home.i relayed the message to my sister about it...and i slept.

that night, our boss, who just came from a three-month work at New Zealand, dropped to check the home. i reminded him of the inpatient medical record for June...and he sat down and started to work on it until he finished at past 2AM, hehe (i just reminded, it's not a rush hihi)... and y'knowhat? he gave me the password for the wifi in our area...woooooowwww!!!!God's sooooo gooooodddd!!!! i dunno what more to say...every time, i'm so overwhelmed with His providence...He's so marvelous!!!

friends, keep up your faith. let's always TRUST in HIM!