The House Mom...

First off, before the moms who read this go, "You see what we go through everyday?", I'll admit that I highly admire and now understand how awesome you ladies are everyday. I'm about ready to kill my house residents over something that seems trivial... DISHES!

I've been nagging and nagging and reminding and encouraging and begging people to do the dishes so they don't just pile up. Some people do. Some people put it in the sink and say they'll do it later and some do come back, some never do. It starts to pile up. The record days the sink has been FULL of dirty dishes has been 5 days... FIVE DAYS!!!

I go around asking people individually if those are their dishes. Everyone says, "No. I ALWAYS do my dishes." Unless there's a ninth resident in the house I'm not aware of or there's a sink-filling ghost haunting our house, SOME PEOPLE AREN'T TELLING THE TRUTH!!!! Now, I've been giving them the benefit of the doubt and saying MAYBE they just forgot. But it's been happening too often to be just a forgetfulness thing.

I can't understand why it's so difficult to just spend 2 minutes washing and drying the dishes. It's not that hard!!!!! After 2 months of talking, it is not working. Thus I am resorting to more extreme measures to make them do their dishes, becoz honestly, I have SICK of doing people's dishes everyday.

I've sent an email out basically saying my displeasure with the current situation and that I am going to start taking pictures of the dirty dishes in the sink if they remain in the sink for more than a day. I'll email the photo to the residents and if the people responsible don't wash it within the day, I'll put up the lovely picture on the kitchen wall for EVERYONE to see how "HYGIENIC" and "CONSIDERATE" the girls are. If I find out whose dishes those are (with good evidence), I'll go talk to the girl.

Now, I know this sounds pretty bad and you must be thinking "It's only dishes, why so harsh?" Well, because it is my job as the resident assistant in the cottage to make sure everything is going smoothly and that the house is maintained and that the atmosphere of the house is happy and light. You'll be amazed at how dishes can ruin everything and make people snap at each other.

We'll see how this goes. If this still doesn't work, I'll ask everyone to take their own dishes and cooking stuff and put it back in their individual cupboards. Meaning, they are not to be shared anymore. Those who don't have stuff, have to get their own. This way, they feel the consequence of being inconsiderate and irresponsible.

I'm trying my best to be patient and hold my temper. I'm doing pretty ok so far, but I don't think I can nice anymore if they test my patience too much. Pray for me k? Thanks.

School Update

So, here's a few new stuff that I've gotten myself into this year:

1. Alpha Phi Omega
A Service Fraternity, focuses on community service. Definitely not a Greek one... you KNOW I won't join those! :P

2. Student/Faculty Judicial Board
The Judicial Board for Hope College. This is going to be interesting...

That's 2 of my many activities. Should be fun!!!

Singaporean Lah

My dad sent this to me recently and it CRACKED ME UP!!! It's Hossan Leong, a famous Singaporean comedian, singing about being Singaporean.

Hossan Leong's Song

WARNING though: it does contain a lot of Singlish so you might have a tough time fully understanding it if you don't know Singlish. But just hearing Singlish in its essence will be a cultural experience!

ENJOY!

Memories

Time for some interactive blogging!

Leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! Leave a comment on here. Next, re-post this in your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. Repost as "memories."

Come on, you know you wanna post!

Annoying Crushness

Crushes... the lovely feeling that makes me wanna kill myself. They make me act funny and wierd and I hate that. I AM getting better at not acting differently than usual... BUT I still act funny... and people eventually learn to tell when I'm in the presence of someone I have a crush on, and that's VERY annoying.

So, the story goes a bit like this, I've been getting to know a few guys friends. They are totally cool and fun and natural and easy-going. As I got to know them better, one jumped out a bit more. I thought, "Oh, its ok. It's just my head playing tricks on me because of the loneliness issue." So I dismissed it and went back to normal life. Ok, after yesterday where everyone was dressed up so nice and sharp and handsome, the "crushness" hit me hard... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Someone help me!!!

I guess I'll have to wait it out and let it go away. It usually does... This is annoying.

PS: In other important news, two of my top three all time favourite blogs are going to be MIA for the next week... Oh what will I do? I'm addicted to their blogs!! NOOOOOOO!!

Homecoming Dance

OUCHIIEEEE, my feet hurt!!! And my muscles are aching! Dancing is sure hard work... but totally FUN!!!!!

Most of my house and our "honorary" house members went to the Homecoming Dance together. It was very nice to see the guys all dressed up and looking spiffy. The girls were so cute and BEAUTIFUL!!!

We jumped right in and started dancing! Most of us stink at it, but who cares!!! It was for the fun!!!! I also had my first slow dance with a friend!! Kinda wierd being so close to a guy but it was an experience! :)

Here are the pictures from my eventful night! :)

Edit: Added Picture! Don't the guys look nice in their suits?

Networking Really Works

As you probably know by now, I'm a Senior in College and am starting to panic about having to go to work... And thus, I wanted to buff up my resume and also possibly get a job around here by doing a Spring internship with an international company based around here, interning in marketing or event management.

So, there was this networking session for Hope alumni (Homecoming Weekend) that was organized tonight and so I went thinking MAYBE i can get some connections and build some possible options, or just hear from experienced people in my line.

Guess what happened!!!

Not only did I get to hear from people's experience, I met someone from Alticor who said that Alticor is always looking for young fresh blood who are willing to work and have great ideas. He gave me his contact and ASKED me to send him my resume!!! He's going to see if he can get an internship for me there! WOHOOOOOOO!!

I am SOOOO EXCITED!! I am hoping this will work out!! Please pray for me, that I'll handle this well and maybe get this internship. If I don't get it, pls pray that I'll learn to be ok with it too and trust God with my internship. THANKS! :)

6 Steps of Blogging Ties

You know the "law" of 6 steps to... where you can connect two random things in the world with just 6 steps? Well, How about the 6 steps of blogging ties... U see, I've been reading a few blogs diligently and one day I decided it'll be fun to go click on their links for more blogs... One blog led to another and I ended back.... with my TEACHER!! I think she's my secondary school teacher... or maybe my primary school... my memory is all mushed together right now.

And the funny thing is, I didn't REALIZE that it was my teacher's blog. I just randomly left a comment on her blog coz i thought it cool that I ended up with a Singaporean's blog after all the American's. Than, she made the connection and left a comment for me!!!

Anyway, here's my cool journey:

1. My Thoughts... My Say (my blog)
2. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
3. It Could Happen To You
4. Rocks in My Dryer
5. Everyday Mommy
6. Twinkle Twinkle Little Tar (my teacher's blog)

See!! WAY COOOLLLLLLLL!!! It's amazing the little things that God does for me that brightens up my day and just marvel in His creativity and ingenuity. Who would have guessed that a tiny seemingly insignificant fact like that can cheer me up so much??!!!

Even better, my wonderful teacher even posted on her blog a reply for my post to encourage me in my loneliness struggle now. Thank you SOOOO MUCH!!!!

Don't Find Him, He'll Find You

I found this on someone's Facebook Notes and it really hit me and made me stop and think. Its perfect timing because of the loneliness I've been feeling and wanting that "special someone". Always thinking, "Is he the ONE?" is making me tired and preventing me from building good, strong friendships. I hope this will help you too, just as it helped me realize that what I've been doing isn't right and good. The Lord has a plan and we just to wait patiently while growing in the Lord... easier said than done.

So read on:

Don't Find Him, He'll Find You
A.J. Kiesling
Author & Contributing Writer


A few years ago someone said the words I most needed to hear as a single woman. Ironically, it was another single woman who uttered these words – a bit of wisdom gleaned from her mother, I suspect. If I could tell her now, I would let my friend know how much her simple reply comforted my heart, and how many times it has anchored me when I despaired of ever finding “the one.” They are words I want you to hear too.

Having just passed the time of year that privately makes every “searching single” wince – Valentine’s Day – it was a relief when the words from this long-ago conversation floated back to me, as relevant as the day they were spoken.



My friend Heather had pulled me aside after our church’s midweek worship band rehearsal that night. The sparkle in her dark brown eyes reflected the joy of a newfound love in her own life – a relationship that indeed turned out to be “the one” two years later.

“So how’s everything going with Joe?” she asked, eager to hear the latest developments of my on-again off-again relationship with a guy from church. I almost felt guilty when my disappointing answer stole the smile from her face. Things were definitely not so good, I told her, and it looked like Joe and I were headed for a dead end.

Before I could stop myself I lapsed into that despairing mode all searching singles are familiar with. I call it the “Why Has God Forgotten Me?” syndrome (you might also call it a pity party). When everyone around you seems to be coupled off or at long last meeting the man or woman of their dreams, you soldier on alone. You purchase your meals-for-one at the grocery store and wonder: Has God forgotten my address?

Sighing, I told Heather, “It’s okay. I know God has someone special out there for me. I just wish I could find him.”

My friend looked at me intently and shook her head. “No, Angie, he’ll find you.” My puzzled look must have told her the words needed repeating: “The right man will find you.”

The words sank into my spirit as Heather continued. “Remember? The Bible says he who finds a wife finds a good thing…it’s the man’s job to find you. You just have to wait.” She rambled on in this vein for a few minutes, but all my mind could register was an overwhelming sense of relief. The pressure was off; the search was over.

If you’re a single guy reading these words right now, you may be thinking, "Great! So shove the burden onto our shoulders!" But believe me when I say this arrangement is not the female gender’s idea – everything within us seems bent on trying to make things happen. We work ourselves into a frenzy trying to go here, be there, attend all the right functions, search online, and discreetly ask our friends for blind-date setups. But I have a hunch this is not what God intended for our single-woman status to look like. In allowing men to be the hunters – the ones who do the searching and finding — He must have a perfect design up His sleeve.

Even though my friend’s words comforted me the night I first heard them, the passage of time has a wearing-down effect. Sometimes the rest and peace inherent in those words get lost in the worry that time is running out. I find myself in search mode again, wondering of every passable guy I meet, “Could he be the one?”

In her classic book "Passion and Purity," Elisabeth Eliot talks about this rather unpopular notion of waiting – of being a single woman not intent on finding Mr. Right but allowing God to bring him to you. The Bible is replete with examples of this pattern: When the time was right, God “brought” Eve to Adam; Abraham’s servant went out and found a wife for Isaac; Jacob, traveling to a distant land, found the girl of his dreams in Rachel. But note this: All of them were going about the business of doing the work God had for them to do.

A few months ago I read a passage in a book that brought Heather’s words back to me. In the (true) story, a father asks his young teenage daughter if she ever worries about who she will marry and whether she is even interested in boys.

The daughter laughs and says, “Oh, Daddy, you and I both know God has a special guy out there for me, and when the time comes He’ll bring him along.”

Once again, those words of quiet assurance stopped me in my tracks. "Lord, give me faith like that young girl," I thought.

We have no divine guarantee that a longing for something ensures ultimate satisfaction, but at least now I know (and keep reminding myself) that as a single woman, if God does have one special man waiting for me, it’s not my job to find him. He’ll find me.

A. J. Kiesling is the author of "Jaded: Hope for Believers Who Have Given Up on Church But Not on God" (Baker). She welcomes your thoughts and comments. Feel free to write her at jaded0351@yahoo.com. For more information about "Jaded," visit her online pressroom.
Copyright 2005 by A.J. Kiesling
-------------------------

In Honour of My Mom's Battle with Cancer

My mom fought cancer and she kicked its butt!! So in honour of my wonderful and AMAZING mom, and my family who stood alongside her and fought too, I'm joining in the Hope's Relay for Life this October.

If you know me even slightly, you know that I am in NO WAY a physically active person, so for me to VOLUNTEER to walk for a couple of hours must mean that this is important to me, and it is.

If you want to support me and the tons of people who have gone through or are going through Cancer, please contribute ANY AMOUNT through the Relay for Life website.

Pls donate it under my name - Shuchen Li.

Thanks for helping me meeting my goal and encouraging me to walk on!!!!

Confused and Depressed

Uprooted, Unsettled, Unstable, Rollercoaster Ride...

That's how I've been feeling for the last month or so... and it accumulated to today.

I don't know what I wanna do... They call it Senioritis... the phenomna that hits seniors in college. Maybe that's it.. or maybe not.

I've been moving from one place to another for the last 2 years. I hate that. I hate being uprooted, the sense of not belonging, the unsettleness... I HATE IT!!!!

I feel like breaking down and crying... But I won't let myself... Maybe I should. Might help... or might make things worst. I don't know what to do. I hate being so uncertain about everything. I've also been the one who knew what I wanted and went for it.. and Now.. I just don't know...

Pray for me k? It's been very hard for me to pray these days. Maybe I'm angry at God or maybe I'm angry myself... I think the latter is more likely. ARGH!!!

Steve Irwin

I know this has nothing to do with me but Steve Irwin, the Australia Crocodil Hunter, has passed away in a freak accident. He was doing an underwater documentary and got stung in the chest by a stingray barb.Article

What is sad is that as of this moment, his wife is backpacking in the mountains and has not idea what happened.

PLEASE pray for her and their 2 children. The kids are still so young...

Please Read This...

For months now I've been reading a blog of a wonderul witty lady named Amelia. Her posts about her days with her daughter and husband are so entertaining and at times, emotional.

Well. now she is going through a time of uncertainty and hardship. Read her post here: and please PLEASE pray for them.

Arrived

Typed out at Saturday, 10pm.

I just arrived at my house about an hour ago. Took a NICE long shower and than set up my bed.

The journey across was interesting. The security increase was very obvious and resulted in some interesting results. In Singapore, we had 2 bag checks and a body search, but it was fast, typically Singapore. In Hong Kong, what usually takes 10 mins to walk across took an hr. Only ONE counter was open in the 1st check for 2 plane loads of people. Then had to go through another bag check and body search. Thus, the flights out of Singapore and HK were a bit delayed.

But in Chicago, it was opposite. Usually, Chicago customs is the SLOWEST and most ANNOYING. Also, the luggage takes eternity to come out. Well, today, it was SUPER fast. What usually takes me at least an hr took me 45 mins to do everything and end up at my boarding gate. Almost all custom counters were open and they were moving moving moving. For chicago custom officers, that is unusual. hehehe. And the baggage came up very fast and i just grabbed and walked right through the other customs with my bags. I got to my gate with 2 hrs to spare. So I went and ate something coz I was starving and just picked a good spot, hugged my bags and took a nap. lol

This time, I didn't sleep very well during the journey. I only went into FULL sleep on the Chicago to Grand Rapids section.... all of 27 minutes.

Well, I thank God I'm safe and sound. My friend picked me up and helped me bring my luggage into the house and up to the 2nd floor where my room is. The house is beautiful and cosy. Really a blessing.

Anyway, I miss you all already. I'm about to go crash in bed. Update u more later!!

Flying Woos

Sigh.. Now with the terror attempt discovered in UK, the US is on red alert. I'm flying back next Sat... when security will be at its all time high. I can expect to spend a longgggggg time waiting at Chicago airport and MANY checks and delays.

I'm going to push my flight from Chicago to GRR back by an hour. Pls pray that my luggage and I will make my flight.. and I won't have any trouble going through customs.

single and happy!

I have therefore concluded with meself as of this particular moment, that I'm glad I'm single. hahahaha!!

My mind keeps changing man!!

See,
1. I'm not stable in my location now.
2. I like doing stuff on my own and my time.
3. No one to have to go and spend all those emotional time with...

Of course, that's not to say I never wanna have that special someone... but problem free me is kinda happy and glad. Like my mom told me, thank God for my singlehood. Coz we probably might not have that time for long. :)

Lonely

These few days, I've been having these longings... to have that special someone..

The feelings have been coming and going for the past few years, normal i suppose.

But these few days, its so intense. It's like I am craving a relationship... I cry out to God. When Lord? When?
Every decent guy i meet, I cant help it.. but the first thoughts that pop up in my head are, "Maybe he could be the one."

It's annoyin!!! I try not to think that but it alwayssss come. Then it subsequently makes the conversation awkward for me... I just wanne get to know a FRIEND!! AHHHHHHHHHHH

Life Hurts

Another reminder how tough and heartbreaking life can be.

I've been playing this online game, Puzzle Pirates, for a few years now and have formed a close bond with my crew mates on it.

One of my maties was anticipating the birth of his first child. We've all been so excited with him... But last week, the baby was born prematurely at 28 weeks with a heart defect. After 3 days, the baby passed away.

the pain and anguish that both of them feel pains us, as a community. They have no hope as they do not know the Lord. Pls pray with me that they will discover the love and peace that God brings and that He will hold them as they grieve and mourn the loss of a precious baby.

My heart aches for them. Life Hurts so much. I just jolts me out of my daily routine and reminds me that life is painful and short, esp for those who do not have the everlasting hope and peace.

It is my responsibility to bring this Peace to them. I cannot wait and hold back. They need God.

Pain

hm.. my back hurts, my tummy hurts. everything hurts...

Why is it only when I am on holiday that my body starts creaking and complaining...

Part of life I guess....

Alone

Have you been truly alone? Not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally? Have you felt the deep despairing feeling of total abandonment by everyone, even those who profess to love you?

Thank God I haven't... but Jesus Christ did. I'm reading "The Path of His Passion" by Bill Crowder and for the first time, the weight and true scale of what Jesus had to suffer for me has hit me. It's not just his time on the cross... its before that too.

In the Garden where He prayed, everyone was abandoning Him. This sentence in the book explains it best:

"His family had turned from Him (Mark 3.21), the crowds had walked away (John 6:66), the Twelve had become Eleven, the Eleven were reduced to Three -- and they were asleep."

Asleep? On the final hours of Christ's life on Earth, they chose to SLEEP? As much as I would like to point fingers, I can't. Because u know what, I probably would have done the exact same thing. How foolish, undependable and hurtful can we be?

When Christ died, He was alone... His disciples had fled and denied Him. His Father in Heaven had turned from Him... how painful the agony He had to go through.

This hymn is quoted in the book:

"It was alone the Savior prayed
In dark Gethsemane;
Alone He drained the bitter cup
And suffered there for me.
Alone, alone, He bore it all alone;
He gave Himself to save His own,
He suffered, bled and died alone, alone."