Quick update!

Hi!

I haven't been writing for quite some time. Oops, four months!!

Some thoughts that I have recently:

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Next week is All Saints' Day. I talked to my friend about it and said "Don't forget it's day of obligation". My friend said, "Umm, what's the difference, since we've been going for daily Mass?"

That got me thinking. Well, I will try harder to attend Mass on time that day! I feel a bit sad, am I not supposed to try hard to attend Mass on time each day? Anyway, this conversation really reminds me of the advice of someone that I need to think of each Mass that I attend as my last Mass.

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My colleague went to a medical check-up. Another colleague said, it's for her milestone (to have kids, since she's married now). It may be because I've known quite a number of people who cannot conceive, I talked to my colleague, Oh well.. I don't think it should be seen as a milestone because there are people who get married without thinking much about it just because it's supposed to be a milestone. Also, each child is a gift. Some couples are blessed by not having kids so I would love to see it not as a milestone.

Good news is, my colleague found out that she's expecting! Woohoo! The whole office is rejoicing. We need to pray hard for her and her baby though because our students fall sick easily so the environment is not too good for my colleague.

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New year is coming soon!
I finally reached the third book of the Lord of the Rings. I've been thinking about this year's happenings since my birthday. It was always a reminder how fast the time flies!

Paul and I have not managed to take our level 2 climbing certification. It's one of my new year resolutions :( However, we have improved a lot this year, we're not as good as our friends yet, but at least now I have more strength to do 6a+ route. I still have problem with slanted wall though. When we climb on Sundays, we observe kids who attend climbing course and try to listen to what their coaches say to the kids so we know the trick to climb some difficult routes. HAHAHA. However, when we try it, we are often not able to follow the same technique as the kids are often stronger than us =P but it's fun!!


My close friend is engaged and she will get married next September. It was a great news and a motivation for me to pray hard for my friend.

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I've been writing some articles for a  website about dating and marriage. Sigh, I need to improve my writing skills!

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That's all for now! :) Will try to write more over the long weekend. Yeay!!

How's your January???

I'm very glad that me, nic, pril, and dennyz shared our new year's resolutions on google drive. Hahaha. I'm not promoting google, I'm a yahoo! person. Hehehe. The point is... the resolutions are stuck in my head every day. I was kinda sad that it feels harder to do them once you resolve to do them!! Nevertheless, Krizia said, every day, every moment, is a new opportunity to get up and restart again. When I feel down, I also remember that Paul said that his friend from Opus Dei said that sometimes these problems are old problems that you didn't realize before. They are actually small things, but only now you realize that they are problems, that's why you feel troubled. While actually you just need to repair them and move on :)

The highlight of this January is....
well, to be honest, quite depressing. Hahaha. Nevermind, the cheerful Ferninda is back. Time to start again, okay? ^^

I found one thing that may help me to wake up on time next time: "strong love". Father Mario said that strong love makes you diligent, makes you haste and do not want to be late! Perhaps it'll help me to attend Mass on time (well, in fact, this thought did help me on Friday!!). What happened on Friday was I woke up superlate (6.25am!! and Mass starts at 7am). Remembering Father's words, I tried to rush, I ran to catch the train which will reach in 2 minutes, I ran down to catch 198 that I saw from far, and ran again to the Church. Hahaha. Thank God!! I was still late, but not too late.

My aim this month is at least to arrive on time, because apparently arriving 5 minutes earlier is still soooooooooooooooooooo tough. >.<

Another highlight is..
the importance of cheerfulness. Not only when things are okay, but also when things are going wrong. A cheerfulness that is based on divine filiation, a thought of "I am a daughter of God."

Thank you Lord for letting me fall quite hard last month. You made me learn some more :D and one more thing, I think God has shown me something really really special. So funny, it started in an evening Mass on Thursday then happened in the bus after Mass on my way for Benediction alone. Thank you Jesus for letting me see it and please hold me through the next baby steps

Welcome 2013!! ~ New year's eve story

Here we are. We are on the first day of 2013!

Last night my family had new year celebration at our neighbour's house. We already reached my neighbour's house at 6.30pm (I brought along my book just in case I felt bored in the 5.5-hour-waiting-for-new year). Some conversations that were stuck to my mind:

1. I was sitting with my neighbour's daughter. She is 14 years old and she was my catechism kid. First, I asked her, "Which grade are you now?" (once you graduate, you forget how many years difference between you and the 'used-to-be-kids'). Then she asked me, "Oh Jie, you have graduated right? What are you working as now?" So I told her, "I'm a research assistant." Her next question is, "Is it related to psychology?" >.< Ooops, I don't know that a 14-year-old-"kid" even cares whether your job is related to your major or not. I said, "Yes", without further explanation.

2. Around 9pm, my twin-neighbours came. They are one year younger than me so I quickly approached them (happy to find similar-age-accompany). They are active in the Catholic youth group in our neighborhood and in their campus and they asked about what Catholic activity I join in Singapore and how the Catholic students' society in Singapore is like. Their Catholic students society in university in Indonesia even has choir!! Cool! We also shared our difficulties in recruiting people *sigh* and encouraged each other to keep our faith alive. There was one point when our conversation became more 'random' :P They asked me about "what books I've read this year" and "what movies I've watched". Hahaha. Then I was struck by the fact that I have not really read books for 'entertainment' this year. Hahaha.

3. Around 11pm, I felt bored and joined the aunties' group (my mom's and other aunties' group). Now the topic shifted to "life in Singapore". It's a good chance to clarify how life in Singapore is not a 'happily-ever-after' story, to clarify that I'm not under scholarship, but under tuition fee loan, and to clarify that "Yes, psychology needs research!". When they asked whether life in Singapore is good, the only thing I said was, "I can still go around at 11pm :P"

~ looking forward ~
Initially I thought it's very difficult to think of new year resolutions as a young professional. There is so much uncertainty till I don't dare to plan. However, after I found the link of spiritual new year's resolutions , I realized that yes...we still need new year's resolutions. Some people give up making resolutions because they feel that they always cannot fulfill them. Honestly speaking, I also still have difficulties fulfilling my new year's resolutions. This year I separate my resolutions/ promises and my target in various areas of my life. It might still be hard to fulfill my new year's 'promises', but it's a good reminder to separate the process and the result and to evaluate each day that passes by. At the end of the day, my work, my dreams, should lead everything to the glory of God.

Happy New Year!! :) May our eyes always gaze at Our Lord this year :) Amen.