The Valentine's Day Edition
1. My first peck on the lips from a guy was when I was 10 during school camp in Thailand. We were on the back of a truck, and someone dared the guy I liked to kiss me, and everyone including the teacher started singing, "I Swear" to convince us that they wouldn't tell anyone. Awww...it was so cute.
2. The sweetest present I've ever received was a framed photo of my boyfriend on the beach next to a huge heart with my name inside it drawn on the sand.
3. I've never dated anyone shorter than 6 foot...which is strange because I'm only 5 foot tall.
4. My tallest boyfriend was 7 foot. He was a German, semi-pro basketball player and we got a lot of weird stares from people when we walked together.
5. My first slow dance with a guy was in Year 7 and neither of us knew what to do, so we swayed from side to side in a circle, but we did it so fast that both of us were so dizzy by the end.
6. The first time a guy that I liked came over to my house to hang out, I got upset because he spent the whole time playing video games with my little brother.
7. I learnt that no matter how much you love a person, at the end of the day, they'll make their own decisions when I lost the first guy I ever loved to drugs. I wanted to take away his pain and make everything okay for him, but I had to learn the hard way that I couldn't do that. Now I know that the only person that can do that is God.
8. I've been in 3 long-distance relationships. Australia, Canada and Germany, while I was in Hong Kong. Needless to say, it didn't work out...
9. The most romantic thing I've ever done was on my 1 year anniversary with my ex. I left a trail of Hershey's kisses from my front door, down two flights of stairs, to my bedroom where I was waiting with his present, which was a long list of reasons why I loved him. *sigh* I should've guarded my heart better.
10. I once broke up with a guy and was so nervous that I said, 'It's not me, it's you' instead of 'It's not you, it's me'. He wasn't too impressed.
11. I found out when I was 18 that the man that I'd been waiting and longing for my whole life was actually right here all along.
12. His name is Jesus Christ and He loves me with an everlasting love. He has protected me my whole life, and He has fought for me. He died for me so that I might be with Him forever, and He cherishes me and makes me feel so special and so loved. Everything that my heart desired all these years can be found in Him.
13. Valentine's Day this year will be so special because I am finally walking with Him in an intimate relationship. I want to learn to love Him with all my heart, not just this year, but every year of my life and for eternity. I know that He will satisfy all the deepest longings of my heart and that He will never ever leave me or forsake me.
Thirteen Countries I Have Been To
1. Singapore. I was born there.
2. Thailand - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin
3. Hong Kong
4. Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Ayer's Rock, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast
5. England
6. France - Paris
7. Spain - Barcelona
8. Germany - Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kaiserslautten, Manheim
9. USA - LA, San Francisco
10. Fiji
11. Malaysia - Johor Baru, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu
12. Maldives
13. India (& Nepal!)
Oh my gosh, I've travelled so much! That is so unbelievably lucky and fortunate. I love travelling and seeing different places of the world.
It's amazing how much God has changed me from the person I was 6 months ago. He took me, a broken person with a multitude of problems, and redeemed and restored me to wholeness. So in celebration of this transformation, my Thursday Thirteen this week will be about the changes in me.
1. He has freed me from the power of alcohol. I no longer need or want alcohol anymore, and am learning to deal with life sober.
2. I quit smoking! After 6-7 years of smoking, I think I deserve a big clap! :D
3. God taught me to put aside my pride and humble myself and ask my cousin for forgiveness and so ended our 2 year argument.
4. One big thing is that people are actually reaching out to me when they're hurting so that I can minister to them...it's so awesome how just a while ago I was such a mess, and now God is actually using me to be His hands to reach out to people.
5. I am so much healthier and stronger than I was before.
6. I'm able to pray with other people and in public now.
7. Oh, and I also have made it a habit of saying grace before eating...it took me a few weeks to be able to remember!
8. I'm no longer involved in immoral relationships.
9. The depression that I've struggled with for years is going, and most of the time, the joy and peace that comes from God reigns in my heart.
10. I actually find my Christian friends fun! Haha, a year ago if you'd told me that I would actually enjoy hanging with my church friends, I would've laughed in your face.
11. I smile and laugh more...and when I do, it's not a cynical or sarcastic laugh but a real genuine one now.
12. God has filled me with so much love for Him that I can honestly say that He is my first love and above all things.
13. God has brought healing to my relationship with my family and things have improved so much.
Isn't God awesome???
Yes, this Thursday Thirteen is pretty materialistic.
Thirteen things that I want
1. An eyeliner sharpener
2. Adobe Photoshop
3. Adobe Illustrator
4. A metronome to help me keep the beat when I'm practising piano
5. A cross to hang in my bedroom
6. The new 'Jars of Clay - Good Monsters' CD
7. A book of hymns
8. A book of prayers for days when I don't have the words
9. A piano book of hymns so I can play something nice instead of 'do re mi fa so' all the time.
10. A year's subscription to 'Ignite Your Faith' by Christianity Today
11. The DVD set for season 1 of One Tree Hill
12. I want this web address to be mine: http://www.alilyamongthorns.com
13. A plane ticket to New York.
2. Adobe Photoshop
3. Adobe Illustrator
4. A metronome to help me keep the beat when I'm practising piano
5. A cross to hang in my bedroom
6. The new 'Jars of Clay - Good Monsters' CD
7. A book of hymns
8. A book of prayers for days when I don't have the words
9. A piano book of hymns so I can play something nice instead of 'do re mi fa so' all the time.
10. A year's subscription to 'Ignite Your Faith' by Christianity Today
11. The DVD set for season 1 of One Tree Hill
12. I want this web address to be mine: http://www.alilyamongthorns.com
13. A plane ticket to New York.
13 people that I am thankful for1. My mum, because of who she is, which is the most awesome mum in the world!
2. My dad, because without him, I would not exist ;)
3. My grandma, because she's so cute and she makes me laugh.
4. Ruedi, my ex-boyfriend who is now one of my best buddies.
5. Abby, my sweetest and closest Christian friend in the world.
6. Meiling & Paul, the couple who live next door who are kinda like my new Christian family.
7. Kathleen, my best chick friend when I was in college last year.
8. Andrew, the guy who called me everyday at college to make sure I was alive.
9. Derek, for his awesome sense of humour.
10. Anne, for taking the time out of her life to pray for people.
11. My brother, for the way my heart lights up when I hear him laugh.
12. Chris, my new friend who is so intellectually interesting.
13. My online friends and regular readers who leave such awesome comments when I'm feeling down and when I'm full of joy.
I am so blessed.
2. My dad, because without him, I would not exist ;)
3. My grandma, because she's so cute and she makes me laugh.
4. Ruedi, my ex-boyfriend who is now one of my best buddies.
5. Abby, my sweetest and closest Christian friend in the world.
6. Meiling & Paul, the couple who live next door who are kinda like my new Christian family.
7. Kathleen, my best chick friend when I was in college last year.
8. Andrew, the guy who called me everyday at college to make sure I was alive.
9. Derek, for his awesome sense of humour.
10. Anne, for taking the time out of her life to pray for people.
11. My brother, for the way my heart lights up when I hear him laugh.
12. Chris, my new friend who is so intellectually interesting.
13. My online friends and regular readers who leave such awesome comments when I'm feeling down and when I'm full of joy.
I am so blessed.
Well, I've been away in Singapore this week and only just got back today...just in time for Thursday Thirteen! Woooo! What dedication!
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1. The Bible. 2. "The Time-Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger - This was such a beautiful but tragic love story it had me sobbing for days. 3. "A Divine Revelation Of Hell" by Mary K. Baxter - Baxter was brought to hell for 40 days and nights by Jesus, who told her to write an account of it so that more people might be saved. The descriptions of the demons and how they function sent chills down my spine, and it served its purpose because I no longer wanted to have a lukewarm faith. 4. "Heaven Is So Real" by Choo Thomas - Choo is a Korean-American woman that God showed heaven to. It's similar to the book above, but is about heaven and not hell (obviously). Choo has such a pure and strong faith that it really inspired me, especially after reading about how God has prepared such a wonderful place for us after our life on earth. 5. "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey - this book is the account of James Frey as he went through rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. Although my alcohol addiction is nowhere near as bad as his, I could totally relate to his feelings and sense of frustration and hopelessness. This book was also featured on the Oprah Book Club! 6. "Growing Up A Drunk Girl" by Koren Zailckas - a true story of a girl who spent her teenage years abusing alcohol to deal with life. Sounds familiar... 7. "The Case For Christ" by Lee Strobel - this is a remarkable book is written by an ex-atheist journalist who went investigating the evidence for Christ, which led to him to the conclusion that Jesus really existed and is the Son of God! 8. "Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?" by Martin Waddell - it was one of my favourite books when I was a tiny tot. It's such a good kiddie's book...I would love to find another copy of it hehe. 9. "Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy" by Cindy Jacobs - an amazing book on intercessory prayer. It completely changed the way I think about praying. 10. "Authentic Beauty" by Leslie Ludy - Leslie writes and challenges her readers to live differently from the rest of the world, and to be set-apart and pure, living for God. This was the book that led me from being 'interested in Christianity' to actually becoming a Christian. No one actually led me to say the sinner's prayer...I had read about the sinner's prayer on the internet, but didn't say it till 4 months after I started going to church right after I read this book. 11. "When God Writes Your Love Story" by Eric & Leslie Ludy - this was the first book I ever read on what a godly Christian relationship should be like, and it was fascinating reading about how Eric and Leslie got together. 12. The Harry Potter Series - no matter what I'm going through, whether I'm feeling completely depressed or upset, these books never fail to distract me. 13. "If I Perish" by Esther Ahn Kim - this book is Esther's story on what happened when the Japanese took over Korea and Esther was thrown into jail for being a Christian. Wow...looks like I read a lot of non-fiction. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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1. To stay completely and utterly sober. Not even a single drop of alcohol! 2. To not buy cigarettes or smoke a single one. 3. To complete the About.com online course on Photoshop. 4. To have met and hung out with 21 different people from church. Why 21? Well, so that I can invite 21 people to my 21st birthday party in January! 5. To develop a habit of spending time with God everyday, even if it's only for 10 minutes. It's the discipline of doing it everyday no matter what that I wanna go for. 6. To pray with other people at least twice...so far in the 2 years I've been a Christian, I've been so shy and fearful that the only person I've ever prayed in front of was Abby. God, give me the confidence! 7. I want defined stomach muscles by the end of December!!! Which leads me to mini goal number 8... 8. To go at least 3 times a week to yoga class and sweat it out. 9. I would like to be serving my church with at least 2 hours of my time a week. Hopefully I'll get the Sunday school teaching thing I applied for! 10. I want to have finished 2 paintings. I haven't picked up a paintbrush in years, but I'm going to commit myself to painting at least 2 pictures before Christmas. 11. To learn to cook 3 new dishes. I thought I was a really bad cook when I was in Australia...but surprisingly, back in Hong Kong, I've realised how spoilt we kids are. Haha, I have a friend (won't mention any names here...) that didn't know you had to cook the potato first before making a potato salad. Oh, and I found my old roommate in Australia (she was from Hong Kong too) standing in the kitchen at 10pm holding a knife and an apple staring at it blankly. My ex had to cut it for her because she didn't know how to. We are spoilt rotten! And I'm not proud of it. 12. I would like to have read the whole of the New Testament again. And this time I'll read it during the day, and not last thing at night when I'm falling asleep while reading. 13. To learn how to talk to new people at church without freezing up by asking them questions about themselves instead of only talking when people ask me something. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Sorry for the quick succession of posts, but I had to say that I made it to the Thursday Thirteen Blogroll!!!! Woooooooooooooo!!!
This is late, but I was busy!
Appetizer
What was the very last song you listened to?
'Good Monsters' by Jars of Clay. I totally recommend the song 'Work' from their new album 'Good Monsters'.
Soup
What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?
None really come to mind, but does Playboy count as a company? If it does, then that would definitely be my choice. If not, then ummm...can't really think of any.
Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?
7 or 8...but only if I get to destroy the ones that I look hideous in.
Main Course
Besides a bookmark, what is something you've used to keep your place in a book?
Receipts, pencils, another book, a gummy worm, candy wrappers, my glasses...just about anything really.
Dessert
Name a food that you like that most people don't.
I'm pretty fussy about the foods I eat (I don't even eat lamb and try to avoid eating pork) but I can tell you a weird food combo that most people get disgusted with. French fries with ice cream. More specifically, McDonald's french fries with the chocolate sundae. Mmmmmm...
Things I did this week1. I stayed sober and used the line 'Sorry, I don't drink' for the first time in my life! It felt good saying that.
2. I repierced my belly button by myself (read the post below for the gory details!).
3. I decided to go to Singapore to study, instead of going to Australia.
4. I was woken up by the delightful Abby with a long-distance phone call from Canada.
5. I burst into hysterical giggles during yoga class when everyone was meditating. There was someone in the class that squeaked and buzzed like a mosquito everytime she breathed in, and that cracked me up so hard, my body was shaking and I nearly had to walk out of the class because I was disturbing everyone.
6. I went out with my dad for dinner 3 times, which is the most I've ever gone out with my dad in a week.
7. I no longer have dreams about falling down and not being able to walk. A few weeks ago when I was stuck in the drinking cycle, I kept having dreams about falling down and not being able to get back up, and when I did finally get up, my legs wouldn't support me so I would fall down again. My mum interpreted my dream for me when I told her, and told me that once I was firmly determined to sober up and stay sober, the dreams would stop...and they have!
8. I found out from talking to my mum that I am still to be grounded during the evenings and nights for 2 months. *sigh* I guess 'grounded' wouldn't really be the right word, but it's more like if I do go out at night and come home drunk, she's sending me straight to rehab, which I absolutely do not want.
9. I filled in the application forms to study in Singapore! Wooooo!
10. I noticed more definition in my stomach muscles when I looked into the mirror at yoga class yesterday! Yay :-D
11. A guy from my yoga class asked me how old I was, and was totally shocked that I was 20, because he thought I was 15. How is that possible??? No wonder I always got carded when I went to bars...people always say I look 15 or 16...oh well, I'll be laughing when I'm 40.
12. I bought 2 pairs of trousers from Mango, and they kinda shrank in the wash, so they're a bit too tight for me, but I'll wear them anyways because they cost a lot.
13. I made new friends at church and might be going to a movie with them this Saturday!
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This is my first Friday Feast!
Appetizer
Name 3 things that you are wearing today.
A hot pink, just-below the knees ethnic patterned skirt, a black puffy sleeves top, and silver hooped earrings.
Soup
Who was the last person you hugged?
Either my mum or dad. Outside of my family, it would be my friend Seb who fed me dumplings and watched Gladiator with me on Monday.
Salad
What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?
Oooh, that would be a tomato, brie cheese and basil baguette from Pret A Manger. It is simply divine. Or if I'm feeling really unhealthy and craving something greasy, it would be chicken nuggets from McDonalds with BBQ sauce.
Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel most energized?
About midnight. I feel sleepy and tired throughout the whole day, but once it goes past midnight, I just perk up and get all wide awake.
Dessert
Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence. (Example: Sweet unusual spaniels are nice.)
Okay, have to use my pseudonym here so: Little Idiot Loves Yahweh (hah! It describes me perfectly).
Lessons I've learnt in the 20 years of my life
1. If you're not happy with something in your life, it's your responsibility to change it instead of sitting around waiting for things to change. I learnt that you do yourself no good by moaning about things, instead you should channel your energy towards taking action.
2. I learnt that just because a person is particularly quiet or grumpy one day, it doesn't always mean that you've done something wrong. They could simply have had a bad day or are just thinking about things. I used to freak out everytime someone acted differently around me.
3. That you should really do laundry at least once a week, because it builds up...really fast.
4. That wearing all black, leather and chains, black eyeshadow and blood red lipstick is not a good for me at all.
5. The type of friends you hang around really does influence your behaviour. I never used to believe this, and would hang around with anyone as long as they were 'fun' even if I knew they were such a bad influence. Thankfully, I've learnt this...although it still is a bit hard putting it into practice.
6. Eat until you're nearly full, then push the plate away. Never, ever eat till you're full and then go for seconds. The consequences are not nice at all.
7. Drinking does not solve problems. Neither does it relieve pain permanently (unless you die of course), nor does it bring you satisfaction (although it's nice to pretend for a while).
8. The guy you love with all your heart might not be the right guy for you. This I've learnt, but still don't understand. I always thought that love conquered all. *sigh*
9. When Mum says not to do something...she's normally right (even if you don't always admit it). How aggravating.
10. Food really does taste so much better when you're pinching it from someone else's plate than when you order it.
11. God really is there. Even when I wasn't looking for Him, He was there. And no matter how much I try to run away from Him, He always pursues me and longs for me to come back to Him. He's as real to me as my family and friends and I wish I could share that with everyone.
12. Say 'no' to drugs.
13. Healing begins with forgiveness. I had and still have such a problem with healing because I was unable to forgive certain people from my past. I said that I forgave them, but I still hung on to what they did, because I thought that if I truly forgave them then I would lose all protection against preventing what they did to me from happening again.
Other Thursday Thirteen-ers
Things that happened this week
1. I stayed sober!!! It's now 6 days, 14 hours and 27 minutes. Praise God!
2. I said goodbye to my best chick friend in Hong Kong. Abby went back to Canada for uni on Monday.
3. I met up with a high school friend that I haven't seen in 2 years! It was great sitting on the roof of this skyscraper looking out onto the harbour and reminiscing over our high school days.
4. I decided to quit smoking (again). I found out how nasty it really is when I smoked right before a hot yoga class (which by the way is a 40C class, not sure what that is in Fahrenheit) and nearly threw up.
5. I found a mobile phone while riding on the ferry, and managed to scroll through the call list and call 'Dad' and so managed to return the phone to its owner (a 13 year old boy lol).
6. I applied to college and found out that the college that I have my heart set on requires me to have a portfolio consisting of 10 pieces of artwork. Unfortunately, I only have till December to get this done.
7. I read the book 'A Divine Revelation of Hell' by Mary K. Baxter and it really changed the way I thought about things. Even though I'm still debating the truth of this book, it really challenged me and inspired me to change the way I've been living and to truly start living for God.
8. I found out I have friends. It's sad I know, but I always thought that the friends I had didn't really care about me, but God has truly shown me this week through phonecalls and emails from my friends that I am loved and cherished.
9. My mum and I finished watching Season 7 of Charmed on DVD.
10. I totally forgot that I was supposed to help out at church for the Friday service and didn't go. 
11. I bought a rose for my mum and she was pleased!
12. I found out that my ex (who is German) is going to be doing an internship in North Carolina. In a way, I'm relieved that he didn't receive one in Asia, because then I would absolutely have to see him.
13. I read Genesis and for the first time, (even though I've read Genesis many times before) God's Word just truly came alive for me, and I was so touched by God's love and beauty.
Other Thursday Thirteen-ers
I'm so awfully, awfully late with this...but hey, better late than never, right?
Things I love eat
1. Sushi, especially the ones with ebi tempura (deep fried prawn that's been dipped in batter) and crabstick. But no raw fish for me!
2. Parma ham with sweet melon. My favourite Italian starter.
3. Lobster linguine with a light chilly tomato sauce. (I'm starting to drool now)
4. Clams (cooked Japanese style) in sake and butter.
5. Salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Actually, anything really with balsamic vinegar. I'm always slurping up the rest of the balsamic vinegar when there's some leftover on my plate.
6. Baked potato with lots of cheese and bacon bits. Mmmmm...
7. Bruschetta with garlic prawns (I had this in Australia a few times and fell in love with it).
8. Chicken noodle soup. Both the homemade and canned ones. I'm not picky when it comes to chicken noodle soup.
9. Mee goreng (literally translated from Malay as 'fried noodles'). In Singapore they have 'mee goreng' done Indian style with a bit of tomato sauce, and it's so unbelievably good.
10. Congee (it's a type of Chinese rice porridge) with chicken.
11. Oatmeal with mashed up banana.
12. Mango with sticky rice (this is a type of Thai dessert that I used to eat when I lived in Thailand).
13. Ben & Jerrys ice cream.
Update: I'm so bummed! I missed the comments deadline for my first Thursday Thirteen on this blog. 
Other Thursday Thirteen-ers
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