What Matters Most...

Someone has asked me what it's like to be me. He asked me whether it's hard to have a life like mine. I didn't respond but I gave him a giggle: which gave my dad a wrong signal. I couldn't give a straight answer, for I simply do not know how to gather the words to describe how blessed I am to have this life.

There are a lot of things in this world that people are willing to die for: luxury, wealth, fame, and things that rely on this world for existence. But the best things in life are not the things that can be seen by our eyes but the things that can be felt by the heart in soul. We often get blinded by the comfort and satisfaction these things offer so we lose our grip on what's more important. Someone who is a fool would grab any opportunity to have all of these things at the tip of their fingers. There is nothing wrong with having the desire to have these things but to depend on them? Not entirely good. That is what my life is all about. Having the least things this life offers. I'm not complaining, but I'm helping myself have a better view of this matter.

Eyes will look down on me. Minds will judge me regardless. Lips will fool me with its deceiving words. I can never complain nor ask questions.No but's, no if's no why's. It's all about sacrifice, perseverance and humility. When people decide to step on me, or to ruin my reputation, I should not argue but rather, I should accept all their actions towards me. Good or bad. It's love that should always reign over me when I start to feel doubtful when times are hard. It's a tough state, where I am now. But I simply tell myself: "It doesn't matter if I receive a thousand persecutions from everyone, as long as I have Him by my side, he will never lead me astray. And I know someone out there is having a harder time getting through this life so I have no right to complain. I have everything I need. No more, no less."

I'm happy with what I have. Even though I do not get everything I want, He makes sure that I always have all that I need. I love how He guides me through everyday of my life. In which some of those instances, I haven't even asked for it, yet He has already given. It's overwhelming. The love of God. The feeling of always having Him by my side. I could never ask for more. Before, I would ask, why couldn't I have the things I want in this life and I wouldn't know the answer. But now, I know the answer is very simple. And that's because I need something more important than what I want. I need something not of this world. And that is what I am most thankful for. Realising that I should not focus on things that are temporary.

The answer to the man's question I mentioned before is NO. Trials will test my faith but this is the best gift God has given me. A life inside the ministry. I'm willing to give my life if asked of me just to protect it.

Post Sydney to Melbourne Long Drive

So we went to Sydney for the M's gathering and it was hella fun. I got to see M's kids I've met from last year and I've met new ones too. We casually sat with each other and talked about lots of things. We took photos and played Bring Me. Although it was a bit embarrassing, we still enjoyed it. And that significantly showed unity. I wish we could've stayed longer and spent more time with each other but it was only until 2.30 in the afternoon.

2013 Journals, Planners and Emotion Jars

I got excited when I found a lot of things to do during this year. I've succeeded to do the Emotion Jars and now, I'm going to try my best not to be such a slack when it comes to HANDwriting things. I'm also doing the 365 photos in a year challenge and another 365 day challenge which I've seen on my friend's blog. So here is a brief overview of the stuff I'm going to do routinely throughout the year.

Emotion Jars

I know they look traditional / native, but I have no other choice. It's the only thing I can find here at home. Nothing else, not even used jars. They look "Errrr" but it's better than nothing. I get some bonus time because I need not to decorate them. (I've already had two thoughts on two of those jars, and I'm really really excited to fill them all up).

The next thing (and this is actually my favourite, because I fancy notebooks) are my journals / planners / diaries). I just didn't notice I've had too much pink stuff. Lately I've been buying pink too often, and I don't even notice until I go out of the store. Could it be my mystery favourite colour? Oh my gosh. Too typical. Anyway, here they are.

Would you believe me if I tell you I got them all from The Reject Shop? They're cheap but good. The last photo, well I wrapped it with curtain cloth material. I stapled it and it may look pretty on the photo but it's a disaster. The staples are obvious and it's not the perfect A4 notebook. I got it from woolworths and it costs a dollar. Oh my gosh, and I just remembered, it's colour pink on the inside! God. Pink overload. I wish I had a Tiffany journal. I'll worship it more than anything else. Ha. But anyway, I hope I'll have fun. Goodluck to my future callouses. Ugh.

Bonus:

The Tiffany and Co. Journal

Isn't it lovely? But to be honest, it's just the same as others. The only difference is that it's from TIFFANY & CO. I so love it. This is my favourite colour and not pink! Haha.

2012: A Year in Review

So much has happened this year, and if I will enumerate everything, this space won’t be enough. So much has happened in the sense that it wrought me to be a better person than last year, and it’s still teaching me lessons that will continue on to the following year. But the most significant things that I will never forget are things that have changed my life and my point of view.

One of those is that things will not always go the way I want it to. It can be the worst and might be in the most unimaginable way, or it can be in the best way possible. Either way, I learned not to sit there and do nothing, just because things didn’t happen as I expected, but to keep moving forward whatever the result is. I’m learning little by little on how to accept things even though I do not favour them as much as I favour others.

Friends come and go, and I should focus on those that remain. I cannot stop people from doing what they want, and I cannot stop them if they choose to not be friends with me anymore. I shouldn’t waste my time on people who have hurt me but the memories that we had together will always stay with me. We may have lost contact for days, months or years, but the friendship remains. For me, nothing will ever change, and I will forever be thankful that they have been a part of my life. If I ask for reconciliation, and they refuse it, I will keep on trying because I believe that friend is a gift no material thing can replace. But if they show an utmost refusal then I should respect their decisions.

I’ve learned to be humble in every possible way. A person who boasts about every single thing is not loved because of his talents and possessions but is hated because he cannot keep his feet on the ground. No matter what I achieve, I will never take full credit, or I will not take any credit at all, because an act of goodness doesn’t happen because of a single person, but everyone contributes to it. Whatever I attain in life, I will always have my two feet stepping on the ground, because it will be hard to get up once you fall from somewhere so high. Humility is an admirable trait, and for me, it is one of the keys to a prosperous and happy life.

Every year means change. Every year means reforms. Each year that passes in my life should be lived to the fullest, for no one could go back in time to change the past.

Cherish every moment of your life and be thankful for the mere fact that you are still alive. Be thankful for every blessing you’ve received from God because no one else is more generous, kind and loving than He is. 

Family Week 2012: Day 2 (Great Ocean Road)

Continuing on to the 2nd day of our family week, we decided to drive to The Great Ocean Road. From my house we traveled approximately 266 km for 4 hours, probably more. I took a screen shot of the map, just to show a preview of the roads we traveled.

 Zooming out, you can see that it's only a small portion of Australian land. Imagine how big Australia is! That took us almost 5 hours, even with the help of the barge.

View before entering the barge

On the barge

Another bigger barge at sight

My brother

Anglesea

Great Otway National Park

Group Photo

Fantastic Summer Sky

Enjoying?

A random car I came across just after exiting from the barge

Wonderful town

On the way to Great Ocean Road

Near Anglesea

My shadow. Lol

Great Ocean Road Official Touring Map

A glimpse of a shoreline

Possibly old trees

Beauchamp Falls Walk

Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the falls. The paths were unstable and it was a 2 hour walk. Even though we wanted to see it, we didn't want to miss the main attraction which is "The Twelve Apostles." We ended up leaving despite driving for almost 2 hours just to reach the falls. (Sighhh)

With my family

Beautiful Sunshine

Failing to try to stand on these wood barriers

View at Gibson Steps

Steps down

Gibson Steps

Perfectly eroded cliffs

 And now, finally, the main itinerary of the day. The Twelve Apostles! We walked under a bridge to get to the greatest sight of the view.

Twelve Apostles

Those tiny dot like things are people

Twelve Apostles (Which technically isn't anymore because the others eroded already)

Last photo for the day

I took a vast amount of the view because I want to be able to see portions of the magnificent works created by God. I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of wonders Australia has. Just here in Victoria, there are lots and lots of beautiful sights to see. Maybe it was a good choice not to go to another state yet. This is just the beginning of our Australian Travels. Stay tuned for our 2013 Family Week!