In the spirit of sports..

ADSAlympics (Dental School's sports week) came to an end yesterday. Finally. The magnitude of the finality of this season of ADSAlympics dawned upon me as I stepped out from the sports complex yesterday. It is like a farewell to the highlights of all these years in Uni. It also meant that all the mistakes made throughout these season cannot be undone nor rectified next year.. this IS my final year!

Sports is one aspect that you can truly analyze one's character. Some people play sports to win, nothing other than victory is acceptable and so they end up being really sore and sour when they lose. Some people play sports with a positive spirit; always encouraging the other team-mates and these are the people who truly enjoy sports. One will like playing with the latter..wouldn't you? I'm not sure how to describe this, but sports bond people together in a special manner. It's just...special, unique. It's just amazing how God designed sports. :)

This - sports, have been a big part of my life in Uni.. to train and to practice for sports..maybe because I love sports. The thought of having a time to relax after clinics at 5pm lights up my day. Of course, it's the sports fanatics who played along with me that made this even more enjoyable. We play whether it rains or shines; we play with students of other faculties; we play even more during study week before exams.

I believe it doesn't have to be a choice between studies or sports, it can be both! :) That's entirely based on my own conviction. :P

If there was a moment..

If there was one moment I could...if I ONLY could just turn back time.. just that ONE second in time.. I could rectify all my mistakes.. can I rewind time? It was this close..just this close.

How frustrating is that? Knowing if you could erase it and change the outcome within that ONE second.

How differently would things turn out to be?

Sigh.

(A random photo captured at a florist during valentines' day. They're all handmade!)

In awe...of the One who gave it all..

While driving just now, the song: The Stand (2010 Awakening Album) from a random collection of songs, was played. Somehow, it reminded me about 5 years ago..even my blog's name is derived from the this particular song's lyrics...Completely to You. It wasn't just about the blog...but the passion to serve when I first arrived in uni, the fervency of my prayers and all that I wanted to accomplish within these 5 years for God.

With only 3 months ahead left in Uni, my final uni days, I definitely have a lot to reflect on and ponder about. Yes so first of all, how much have I accomplished for God? There's just a handful of people whom I have shared my faith with. I could have done better. But God is good - two of my closest friends went to church after all these years.:) Awesome! I have been praying for them a bit..lent my bible... it may be the first step but I believe a little seed has been planted. :)

Testimonies - yesss, I have lots of them!:) Some may be a little technical to describe in dental terms, but all in all: God has been so faithful. I remember how I struggled in 1st year, thinking I might be in the wrong course, if I've made some wrong choices, being bitter about scholarships, struggling to even pass exams, struggling to like the new way of studying, adapting to a new church...all that! Somehow, God's assurance was always there.

My spiritual walk - there were ups and downs. And in the 'downs'..the 'ups' just gets nullified. I doubted, I questioned, I demanded, I cried my way through these times..only to find God at the bottom of it all.. He knew..He knew all along. He knew EVERYTHING.

"You stood before my failure..carried the cross for my shame"

Friends - God brought many to my life. At different points of my life, they taught me different things. Good friends may not be walking alongside you all the time, but they will be able to catch up with you from where they have left off. Good friends remember your birthday even though they may be half a globe away, geographically. Good friends buy you real flowers on your birthday, knowing they're gonna die anyway, and even though they cost double the price; just because you like flowers. :P Good friends stand up for you. Good friends tell you to your face that they don't like a particular trait of yours, not to other people. Good friends email you to know what's happening in your life. (ok...now it sounds like I've adopted this from some random forwarded friendship email..I can assure you, it's not.) LOL..

Family - I LOVE MY FAMILY. I should get this printed on a t-shirt or something. :D I've learnt the hard way how family stands by you no matter what the circumstances are. They see the worst part of you...and they live with it. (Isaac lets me pinch him to bits.) And they love you anyhow. Isn't that great? :D

Just to continue, I was thinking about my blog again in the car after I heard this song. I was wondering why am I stubbornly not giving it up til now.. since I don't update it that often. Sometimes I think no one wants to/bothers to know others' thoughts. So most of the time I just refrain from blogging. But it's amazing how God hears every little thought that creeps into your mind. For my little negative thought was nullified once again (instantly) by a card from Qiu Ping. It was a cute, hand-made card, with a bible verse and a picture of us during Jamie's farewell. Most importantly, it was the words in the card that I was truly encouraged by. Words meant a lot to me. Haha..but I'm not sure about the impact of this to my determination to blog.

I shall........ keep an irregular update as I always have. =D

CMB - D02

Reconciliation

It is all about how much one values the other. It is when you decide friendship outweighs all that you have selfishly hoarded inside, when pride goes right into the dustbin. Many times humility is that fine line that determines the outcome. It comes with much practice. And it becomes easier in time.

What is there not to thank God for? =)

Ecclesiates 3:7
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak.

Project CMB - D01

• Today I've learnt a lot from Prof. Khoo. All the differential diagnosis' must be at our fingertips. One day I shall snap my fingers and name all of it. :P I'm truly inspired to do so.
  

• My best patient, fully compliant, one who never misses her appointments, told me she will be returning to India in January! There is still a lot yet to be done. Must hurry!

• Isaac called to say he passed his piano theory exam with 88%. So proud of my brother. ;)

• Willy koh koh called through MSN and chatted a bit. Mostly about his wedding plans. It's so exciting!
  

This is part of my project to (CMB) count my blessings each day. Day One completed.

Temporary

Temporary.

Things have been moving so fast and it seems like everything is temporary. All the busy-ness, quietness, sadness, happiness, playfulness, frustrations came to past so fast that I can hardly keep track. In moments of sadness, I tell myself it is temporal. When I am in a state of elation, I wonder how long it will last.

I have just been thinking that 'Temporary' is such a harsh word. It brushes off every mood and emotion that one should discover in the moment itself. It says 'whatever goes' and struts on in life with a defeated spirit. It says 'come what may' in a defiant tone. And beneath the facade lies a heart harden to the core like a stone.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Many times I miss out the first sentence: therefore do not lose heart. I think the best way is to count my blessings before I start another module of studies. That way, I wouldn't lose focus and get discouraged by things that are happening around me.

Ahh...my little thoughts again.

On another note, last week, a team of us went with Pastor John to FCC in BM to minister and to have fellowship with their church. It was a pretty small church, similar to GCC, my church in SP, family-based and the people were very warm. The amazing thing was that I met Pr. KA's brother there and I was wondering why he looked like the Ngs in my church back in Penang. It is a small world indeed! We had a great time of ministry.

I loved the song the worship leader sang that day. The title was 'yun shang tai yang'. If I did not interpret wrongly, it meant behind every cloud there is a silver lining.

云 上 太 阳

无 论 是 住 在 美 丽 的 高 山
wu lun shi zhu zai mei li de gao shan
或 是 躺 卧 在 阴 暗 的 幽 谷
huo shi tang wo zai yin an de you gu
当 你 抬 起 头 你 将 会 发 现
dang ni tai qi tou ni jiang hui fa xian
主 已 为 你 我 而 预 备
zhu yi wei ni wo er yu bei

云 上 太 阳 它 总 不 改 变
yun shang tai yang ta zong bu gai bian
虽 然 小 雨 洒 在 脸 上
sui ran xiao yu sa zai lian shang
云 上 太 阳 它 总 不 改 变
yun shang tai yang ta zong bu gai bian
哈 ～ 它 不 改 变
ha ta bu gai bian


Zhu yi wei ni wo er yu bei. Please remind me everyday Lord; that I am living for You!

RUSHING

There's been a crazy load of rush.

Rushing to read up for the next clinical procedure,
Rushing to fill up the appointments for patients,
Rushing to hand in assignments.
Rushing to finish up lab work.
Rushing to do mock preparations.
Rushing to sign folders.
Rushing to get patients assigned.
Rushing to read this, rushing to read that.

Just when you thought you are done, another load piles up or the cycle starts all over again.

It has been a good week for my family to steal some time off to visit HK for a family trip. Everyone had to make time for this trip as all of us are somehow busy with schedules and datelines. So it didn't really sink in that we were going on a holiday until I boarded the plane. Even so, there were 101 things running my mind, reminding myself the list of things-to-do when I get back.

Proverbs 4:23 written on sand in Golden Beach.

All in all it was a good trip. One word to sum up HK - BUSY. Amidst the buzzing city life; we managed to capture a few heart warming experiences with local HK people. A little girl by the name of Lam Lam. We met her on the bus on the way out from Gold Coast to Tsuen Wan MTR St. She boarded the bus with her mum and baby brother. We gave up our seats so they didn't need to stand. At first she was rather shy, then I started making weird faces at her - and she imitated me! =) Unexpectedly she tugged my sleeves and asked..(in cantonese)

LL: Nei cho le..(please sit)
I: It's alright. You just sit with your mum..

We boarded the same MTR and she came up to me again.

I: What's your name? LL: Ngo hai Lam Lam ah. I: How old are you? LL: Ngo sei sui. Ngo hai Yuen Long lok. Nei hai bin dou lok? (I'm 4 years old. I'm alighting at Yuen Long St. Which st. are you going to?) I: I'm going down later than you. (noticing her badly decayed upper anterior teeth..I asked.. - a typical dental student's question) Hey, how many times do you brush your teeth a day? LL: Once a day. =D
We managed to chat a little longer and she had to leave. She bid me goodbye and left. What she didn't know was that - she made my day.

Many questions came to mind that day:
How many of these conversations are held in a day?
Do all four year olds converse with such intelligence and concern?

As I observe a few more schooling kids alight and board the MTR, I came to realise that it is an entirely different culture altogether. Maybe it was because I was a born and bred Penangite through and through and have never really been to a metropolitan city other than Singapore. I realise how blessed it was to have dad and mum send us everywhere in a car. Some may call us spoilt brats - but I truly believe these were the precious few moments that worked immense wonders in drawing us closer to our parents.

I remember relating to my parents about my day in school - and if I was tired, they would like to know why. They used to wait for me and send me to a myriad of tuitions/piano/church activities - a rather routine schedule for them. Come to think about it: they really made it a point and make time to send and pick us wherever we went, however busy they were. I guess, deep down inside us kids, these are the little things that accumulate and assure us of our parents love for us. Through these few minutes too that I've learnt to listen to their day at work, views on politics, current issues - their concerns.

Ah..my little thoughts.

One more thing...

Naw, who taught that kid to brush only once a day? =P

It may be raining..

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy
She'll beat you if she's able.
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table.
But you only want the ones
That you can't get.

It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you.

Lyrics from Desperado - Juwita Suwito (org; the Eagles)

When something's wrong with the Right...

Rotator Cuff Injuries - Rotator Cuff muscles (Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Teres Minor) are small muscles situated around the shoulder joint, which can become damaged during the stresses of Badminton.I'm feeling so frustrated over my injured hand. How I wish I am ambidextrous.

I can't play badminton! No sports for me. =( I can't play both piano and guitar for long. I can't write. I can't carry the baby nieces and nephews. I can't operate long for clinics. I can't do extraction - if it prolongs til next week. I just realised how much my right hand meant to me.

Everything's wrong when my right isn't functioning.

Sigh.

I miss sports!! =(

PoStCaRds..

it's Raya hols. I've received 3 postcards from Jenna! =) Feels so good to be remembered all the way through her hols - DC, NYC and HK! Aunty Wai Cheng passed me a souvenir which Jenna got for me from SZ. It's a blue scarf. THANKS!! I'm even more determined now to visit her in US..of course, after I start earning my own money.

Through the weekend, I've attended Brother Edwin's and Joy's wedding in SP. My first time attending a wedding with my coursemates. Makes me wonder when's the next time we will do that again - definitely someone from within our own course. Maybe our seniors who just left us will start inviting us for wedding soon. Really soon.

On stage..see those joyful grins on the bride and bridegroom's faces. And so we teased Edwin being the most JOY-ful man from then on. Ah..;)

Aunty Lydia, the most motherly and kind lady in church. And on that day, she was the most JOY-ful mother of all. =D

Amongst the line-up of programmes for the wedding dinner was Pastor John and his band performance. They sang some oldies; Can't help falling in love, Getaran Jiwa by P.Ramlee. Apparently none of those from my table knows this P.Ramlee song! I'm very surprised because it is the most popular malay song choice for singing competition during BM Week in secondary school.

Aunty Esther, Pastor John's wife related her love story to us in a ten-minute summary. When they first met, Pastor John asked for her favourite song and played it on guitar right away. That night itself, Aunty Esther waved to us as a signal when the Pastor started singing it on stage. We had such a good time cheering, teasing and laughing that night. Gerv said she could imagine someone singing her her favourite song in future. I wish I could too. :)

Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh..

*WEDDING BELLS*....*chime chime*.

There's a strange happiness tingling in the air..

For I have two good news to share..

I have TWO koh kohs getting married soon! =D This calls for celebration..



OON-EE koko and SHU YI (Tan) cheche.
Quote Oon-Ee koko: "Hey, Tans are special okay.."


WILLY AND YEAN YEAN.
Quote Willy: "I was asking Yean..when should I propose..she said - NOW."

I'm truly overwhelmed by God's goodness. God is great!
Mark 10:9
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

It's August!

It's August!

I've made up my mind to maybe start blogging again. Maybe. Can't promise to be too consistent in that. But oh well.

It's the 3rd week of my holidays. My last ever End-of-Semester break. After this will be a HELLO-FIFTH-YEAR schedule.

Meanwhile, I shall indulge myself with rests, rests and more rests. As LP puts it, 'enjoy yourself even though it's just rotting at home'.

I would like to blog about a good samaritan that made my day last week. (erhmm...so formal..LOL) Sam and I were intrigue by the idea of having some pancakes along Burma Road that we decided to give it a try. It wasn't just any pancake. It was THE pancake outside Union Primary School. This friendly uncle kindly informed us beforehand that there are SEVENTY pieces before our order. Somehow we thought we'd wait.

While waiting, he entertained us with his story of his success. That he wouldn't compromise even if people begged to give them a tiny a order of ten pieces first. His customers would state their time of arrival to pick up their pancakes.

Example:

70 pieces - 12pm.
50 pieces - 12.15pm

He writes these orders in his POST-IT notes stuck onto his stall. When asked about the average amount of orders he gets per day; he beamed with pride and whispered, "That's my secret."

Anyhow, we waited for half an hour but there was still a long way to go before our turn came. When we decided to leave without our orders, a good samaritan who ordered 50 pieces before us told us that we can have 20 pieces from his share. Sam and I blinked - and I thought I could cry because of his kindness (not because of the desperation for pancakes).

It is such a joy to witness some kindness.

If everyone should be this kind and loving to one another; this world will be a much better place to live in - as how God intended it.

God saw all that he had made and it was VERY GOOD. - Genesis 1:31.

Go out and make someone's day!

Blog's not dead..yet.

Okay. This blog's not dead. I think i still wanna keep it.

- a reply for charis' comment in the box ---> on feb 10th.

april's not too far from september, right??=P

Bead it!

to continue with my previous post, d new patient did not turn up.:P

on a happier note, i made more today... beads are interesting. =) dentistry is all about manual dexterity anyway.


as i was reading the book of EXODUS today, i came across TWO verses which has smt to do with tooth

Exodus 21:23
But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn,wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

Exodus 21:27
And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or a maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth.

take heed ppl! take good care of your teeth =D

beaded hearts..

it's 2am...and im BLOGGING!

i shud be studying really hard for tmr's new patient..multiple medical complications (HT,MI,DM).

i shall use my very limited knowledge to answer dr. george's questions during briefing...and debriefing.

these beaded hearts....dey're adorable, arent dey? we're gonna make as many of these to sell for Grace Open Day in October - GCC. phebe's in charge...and today's our first BEADS lesson.


how are they? not bad eh?=D

GRINS*...ya, nice SCULLY background. hehe...

This post dates 2 weeks back =P oops..

Guess what this post is about?

yess...the end of hols. :(

most unfortunately..

depressingly.

recap on my hols.. i think i had the most fruitful hols so far. i shall sum up my hols with these:

SPORTS

FRIENDS

BAKING

COOKING

EATING

FAMILY

CHURCH - YOUTH / YOUNG ADULTS

HOLIDAYS

im also reminded dat such times are rare and that i wil only have another ONE of this LONG hols to enjoy.

The start of hols..

exams and clinics are over! today's first day of hols..officially d first. =D thus ends 3rd year. =(

praise God for the exam results. all glory to Him. i have so many testimonies on how God provided for me during this exams.. God is faithful indeed.

my day started by sending charis to d airport. phebe, mel and i went for a photo shoot cos my partime-photographer-fulltime-acca, sis loves photography. so well, she didnt exactly got the most natural-on-screen models today...cos phebe and i are camera shy. :0



on a random note: i watched a hong kong drama series yesterday and they quoted dis verse..

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

this is a time of laughter! :D exams are over! =)

2 days before finals..

The Greedy Dog Loses His Bone

A greedy dog once found a bone
So big he could hardly carry it,
I'll take this home, he told himself,
And there I'll safely bury it.

But as he leaped a tiny stream
With energy and vigor,
He saw a dog reflected there
Whose bone looked even bigger.

He LUNGED! Alas, he lost his bone
And the river tasted bitter,
His bone was gone, and he went home
A sad but wiser critter.

no, i did not compose it. it very aptly summarizes all i want to say.


on another note, i've recently been extremely inspired by brooke fraser, a worship leader in hillsongs - esp with dis song, Lord of Lords from the album Saviour King. (must watch it on Youtube!) the way she played guitar and sing..just so amazing. jus imagine how much God can use someone simple to magnify Him with her talents.

there is soo much to achieve in a lifetime!

"let not the things of this world ever sway me,
I'll run till I finish the race"

ya, my race now is my FINALS. starts on monday.

6th July.

3 special ppl in my life share dis date as their birthdays.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHZE CHZE!

pre-exam syndrome - madness..

Endodontics -
reduce bacterial load,prevent reentery of bacteria, poor coronal seal predispose to re-infection, residual microarganism after RCT, reentry after obturation, survivors at the periradicualr tissues, resolultion of periradicular radioluscency...............

reduce/reentry/reinfection/retreatment/residual/recurrent/restoration/resolution.......... -.-


why do tineee wineeeee minuteee microorganisms cause such devastating consequences to a micro-minute root canal treatment???

why why why.....

im moving on to dental public health.. a very dry subject.

healthpreventionhealthpromotionhealthpreventionhealthpromotionhealthprevention

To Serve

S-E-R-V-E

this word came to my mind this morning. it made me think about time when i first started serving in the worship minsitry. i loved every part of serving in d worship ministry.

i vividly rmb when i was in std 6..when all i wanted was to be part of the worship team. this desire really drove me to learn playing chords with such determination that i stayed back to ask pianists to show me how they did certain stunts/tricks whic 'coloured' the song and made it so lovely.

there were times dat i'd sit for hours at the piano figuring out chords for the songs i liked. sometimes it was for the whole afternoon after school. with the cd player set on *REPEAT mode, i'd let it *STOP til i get the right chord, then i'd move on to the next chord with the *PLAY button.

then when i finally got into the worship team, yes..you can imagine the overwhelming joy.:) i still kept my first ever WORSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE with me! and every subsequent one..cos it meant so much to me. I'd highlight my name and paste it on my wall to remind me that i was on duty...though i'd have memorised the schedule by the first time i see it.

whenever i know i couldn't make it for the practice or i would be away for that weekend, i'd find replacement for it....WEEKS ahead of time...jus so i still got to serve and not miss my turn.

Those were the days..and i never stopped serving in worship ministry since then.. and i guess i never will..and never want to. :) God is merciful and gracious. i know it when i havent been practising but during the service, it always turn out alright.. jus the way God guides my hand. i may not be the greatest pianist nor keyboardist on earth or in my church, but i know my skills did not come from me.

i'm glad i still can play now. but i believe there is more to conquer when God place me in a ministry. all for Him.

i love it when i can play for God.. cos i know He's listening. :)