31 December 2004

If you guys don’t know what mirrors are created for in this world, please look into the mirror and I guess the mirror will tell you the answer. As we are farewelling 2004 away, let us take a dip into the water and think. [Take a deep breath, guys!]

Ponder upon how we have performed in this year. Are we ready to take on the bigger challenge of life? Are we ready to step into a higher level of life? Are we ready to kick the battle in 2005? Are we ready to take on more resolutions as we step into 2005 in just hours to go..?

Take time to ponder, take time to reveal how 2004 has left an impact in our lives. Is it gong to be a year of lessons learnt? Or is it going to be the year of regret? Year of confession? Year of happiness? Year of Love?

Indeed it was a remarkable journey that we have embarked on ever since we were taken into this world by our parents. That is why we should always be grateful for everything that our parents have prepared for us. Whether the status of rich, poor or average - It doesn’t matter to me… Do you mind the status?? As for me, I would prefer a family who is loving, caring and understanding despite the money which will destruct us in the end. “The love of money is the root of all evil”, says the Word of God. Let us all pray for our parents who have been the breadwinner of the family as well as providing us the support, shelter and education. [Mummy, you are always my best friend and I love you, mama... Muaks!]

My Mummy and I…. do i look like her?? Hahaha..taken this on Christmas Eve Dinner 2004

Journey of life seems to be hard but it all depends how each individual is going to handle. Life is always like a roller coaster. There is no such thing that life will be a perfect soul or a joyful spirit at the highest peak 24/7. No way, people. No way. Nothing is perfect in this world. Just the same as how we go through every day, every month, every year. But hope that you will be blessed throughout your days. [Take a Clap!]

Nevertheless, is your 2004 worth a memory? As for me, it has been a tough year whereby I seek things up and down to spare my soul a breath! Everything was like a Tsunami Disaster in the beginning of the year and my journey throughout this year was just like an aftermath of the Asia’s Deadly Tsunami Disaster. Had to seek relief and comforts here and there. My life was hardly hit by both studies, financial crisis, lovelife, work and gossips around me. [Talk about gossips, I really hate people who gossip untrue things about me and yet pretend to be holy or goodie in front of other people!!] I was truly suffocated by the crisis of life that swept across my face right at the beginnng of the year.

Thank God in the midyear of 2004, I was saved by the bell. Recommended and employed as a part time staff and yet as a full time student in the college. I had no choice but to choose this road as I need to blend well my expenses as I had no one else to depend but rather to be independent on my hands and feet. To those who have misunderstood me, I’m sorry and I sincerely apologise but all I could say that I need to endure hardship as well as to earn my own living in the college. I wasn’t that fortunate enough to be a mere fulltime student who can concentrate fully on studies and yet have lots of fun after classes. I just can’t afford to do that.

This is me in a coat…and what I wear to work normally!!!

Having myself to work and to study at the same time was seriously immense and the workload was really up to my nose! But somehow I managed to endeavour and juggle the time between my revision and clocking in to work. Working as a fulltime editor of the college’s newsletter as well as communications assistant in the marketing department allows me to gain extra knowledge and experience in the working society. I have yet to meet people outside the line, but at least I get to work with people from all walks of life. Thankful for the faithfulness of God, that my boss and director are Christians and they are kind hearted to lend me a hand when I’m blur of my work at times.

To be frank, it is no easy life to deal with two major things in my life. Can’t deny that my mind is split into half. At times I worry about my work, at times I am stressed with my studies. Need to pass, need to score, need to deal with people, need to hand in deadlines. [Wait till you get screwed by a big time magazine editor when you forgot to hit the deadlines.]

I always believe that if I surrender everything to God to rule in my life, He will take care of my life totally. That is what Matthew 6:33-34 says!! And again He answered my prayer during my July semester final exams this year… Thank God for the amazing results. It was Him that have given me the wisdom to handle my exams well. I hope to do better in 2005 of course.

As for friends in life…. friends do come and go. Some friends are meant for good, some friends are only good at backstabbing you.. depends how you deal with it. Jolly oh well, my best friends remain the same… Silvia in US, Ying Yin in Aus by Feb 5th soon, and Su Chen in UK by Sept 05.

These are my best friends!! From L-R: Silvia, ME, YingYin,SuChen … This pic was taken in Coffee Bean, First World Plaza, Genting Highlands on 15th August 2004.

G5 gang [Edward, Heng Jeng, Kularaj, Timothy, Sue Ann, Zafrina, Yuen Tien, Teck Guan, Soo Ni, Hui Shean, Teik Chee, Tai Hing & etc ] are always intact with my blood as I grow older each day because the memories with G5 gang is too hard to be forgotten. Other close friends and old pals are still in contact but need to be updated as well. Who ask me to be in such a faraway place and of course I couldn’t get myself back in IPOH often.

Not forgetting to give credits to my all-time best guy mate, Jason who has always been listening to my stories of complaints and sadness and yet…shared laughter and dirty jokes with me. [Hahaha... u knew urself, how dirty ur mind is when Mitsuo is around!] But, a word of gratitude I shall send forth to you… THANK you for being there. World’s greatest friend badge in my life shall be given one to you as well besides my best girlfriends!!

This is my dearest Son in NIC… Proud to present David Ten to you…. leng chai or not…hehehe.. This was taken in Night of Colours (Sept 2004 Orientation Night)

David my child, it has been truly great to be your mama in NIC and it’s honoured to have you as a brilliant son of mine. U’re always a good son and hey, always remember that mummy is here for you. A sole of 2 years knowing David.. A member of S CLUB 7 we had been, going through all the gila things together… and what else could I say to this son? Perhaps… one word.. AWESOME…

To the rest of existing NIC friends who shared ups and downs, laughters and jokes, stories and souls with me [Yvonne, Soh Wan, TYH, Jen Jen, Wong YK, Shin Lee, Ashley, Tuck Koo, Tze Yin, Sunny, Nic, Jess, Diana, Cecilia, Amy, Kia Yee, Adrian, Alan, Justin & etc....I can't remember who is who now....] - You guys are a great bunch of existence that creates a remarkable site in my heart… Knowing you guys are a blessing given by God. Too much craziness gone with you in this college ever since I stepped into the campus ground in March 2003!!!

This picture was taken in La Trobe Night 2004 with my NIC buddies…

Looking out for my dearest classmates and schoolmates who have been miles apart from me…wishing you good future and good life ahead.. thank God some of us are still keeping in touch and yet meet up for big occasions and reunions. Lee Yong,I just hope you are doing well in NUS and don’t ever give up ok? You have always been my bestest talker with me in high school… Same goes to Langley who is in KUTPM in Malacca, and Li Wei in Taylor’s. The 3 L’s that always be in tact… Leeyong, Liwei, Langley…hahaha.. what a joke! And Nadia LALING… Good to hear that you’re extremely fine in Johor!!

This was taken in 1998 (even though not part of 2004) but I seriously do miss my schoolmates and classmates of my high school….

Godbrother Johnny Lee (Ipoh) and Godsister Omega Leong as well as Abang Cicak Mike Chooi…Good Heavens and continue to shine for Christ ok? No matter where you are, I shall be with you and you will be in my prayers!!!

New friends that I’ve made in 2004 whether in college or church in Banting or etc, great to know you and I’m lost for words at the moment…but peace be with you, okay? [Don't whack me ok, Johnny English or Derek? I know you will be reading this]

These are my churchmates of Grace Family Sanctuary, Banting….Taken this photo at Sunway Convention Centre during the Planet Shakers’ Conference 2004

[Pastor Vic, this is specially for you... hahaha..continue to find joy in eating babi aka pork.. ahhahaha... I wont kill you because of that..]

Goodness, u should take a good look at my youth pastor… Pastor Victor Gonzalez of the Phillipines… bravo bravo…clap..applause…

Lastly, I wish you all a very very very Happy New Year and may you be blessed with a fruitful year ahead in 2005!!! Say Goodbye to the fading 2004 and be ready to receive the new year with your open arms!! Adios…

Yours truly,
Grace Alyssa
31 Dec 2004
4:05pm

29 December 2004

Sadly to say… this is really grief-stricken as I look into the daily newspapers and logon to cnn.com to catch up with the latest news. This is really crazy and this natural phenomenon has taken lots of lives and it really pierced my heart to see children becoming orphans and parents became childless.

I can’t imagine..life is just fated in that way.. I can’t believe.. today you manage to see her, tomorrow she is gone by the waves…

Wait…that’s not all…………

The article below was compiled and edited a bit by me..after reading the latest breaking news from all over the net…. This is what I get to update you people as well….

Stricken Indian Ocean nations worked swiftly on Wednesday to bury thousands of bodies as experts warned disease could kill as many people as the 63,000 already dead from the violent crush of Sunday’s tsunamis.

While governments and rescuers tried to cope with the aftermath of possibly the deadliest tsunamis in more than 200 years, the United Nations mobilized what it called the biggest relief operation in its history. A top World Health Organization health expert warned that diseases could double the natural disaster’s death count before the situation can be stabilized.

Authorities in Indonesia added 8,000 fatalities to the death toll there, bringing the total number killed to 27,178. The Health Ministry said in a statement that the figure did not yet include reports from the hard-hit west coast of Sumatra, where 10,000 residents of the the town of Meulaboh were earlier reported to have died.

India, Sri Lanka and Thailand as well as Malaysia also added to their death counts as authorities re-established contact with remote islands and isolated coastal areas, and confirmed their worst fears.

The overall death toll was expected to climb further as emergency workers make their way into inundated and still isolated villages and towns. Indeed, the list of countries tragically affected by the temblor and the ensuing tsunamis expanded to a dozen late Tuesday, when one fatality was reported in Kenya.

Medical supplies, food and water purification systems poured into the region, part of what the United Nations said would be the biggest relief effort the world has ever seen to aid the millions left homeless by the oceanic torrent that battered the countries after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake Sunday off Sumatra.

But the magnitude of the disaster was working against the aid efforts. Bodies, many of them children, still filled beaches and choked hospital morgues, raising fears of disease.

Although there are only 65 reported deaths in Malaysia, there are still lots more who are reported missing. Penang alone is the worst hit area in this country reporting 50 over deaths.

Tsunamis as large as last 26th December (Sunday)’s happen only a few times a century. A tsunami is a series of traveling ocean waves generated by geological disturbances near the ocean floor. With nothing to stop them, the waves can race across the ocean like the crack of a bullwhip, gaining momentum over thousands of miles.

Tsunami, a Japanese word meaning “harbor wave,” is a wave in the ocean or lake created by a geologic event. Often a tsunami is incorrectly referred to as a tidal wave, which, strictly speaking, describes the periodic movement of water associated with the rise and fall of the tides. The term tsunami was adopted for general use in 1963 by an international scientific conference.

Oceanographers call tsunamis seismic seawaves because they are usually caused by earthquakes, landslides or marineslides under or near the ocean. These push the water upward, sideways or downward to create the tsunami waves. Volcanic eruptions can also cause tsunamis. They are more common in the Pacific Ocean.

A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves that can travel across the ocean at speeds of more than 500 miles an hour. In the deep ocean, hundreds of miles can separate wave crests; many people have lost their lives during tsunamis after returning home thinking the waves had stopped.

As the tsunami enters the shallows of coastlines in its path, its velocity slows but its height increases. A tsunami that is just a few centimeters or meters high from trough to crest can rear up to heights of 30 to 50 meters as it hits the shore, striking with devastating force.

________________________________

However dear readers, please pray avidly, pray unceasingly for these victims who lost families, lost homes and they need our utmost prayer support as well as those who are capable of donating… do so to the funds available by our very own Malaysian headed by Najib (our deputy Prime Minister)…

Pray for them…. they need our prayer support…. Remember…

23 December 2004

Snowflakes has begin to fall
As the children running around the hall
Christmas is not just a festive season
But a thrilling lesson that we can learn
Try to flip through the mighty Word of God
For the Son of David was born in the days of Herod
Baby Jesus is no longer a stranger
For He is our saviour and born in a manger
Remember the days of Christmas
As how desperately God wants to save us
From the deadly death of hell
That is what He has been trying to tell
Christmas isn’t really Christmas
Till it tinkles off your heart
Not about gifts and candies
Not about santas and christmas trees
It’s all about the love of God for us
That is the reason of having Christmas
As the year 2004 starts to fade away
We shall enter the brand new year again
May we rejoice in our Lord with goodwill
Relaxing and relieving we shall feel
May we celebrate Christmas with passion
As we yearn to complete His mission
Praying that you will be blessed first
And again I wish you a happy ‘Merry Christmas’

Copyright © Grace Ong 2004

16 December 2004

I’m feeling drowsy… just finished work… Oh great.. For once, I signed off at 8:30pm just now. Not those late nights again. Working, working, working… U will never know until You have joined the working society. I just dont’ have the energy to go on. But u can see my panda eyes through that.

Tata…..and I’m signing off….

What can I say being busy in this corporate world? There’s nothing I can do about it besides sitting here from 8am to 6pm usually but occasionally I might work throughout the midnight. Am I crazy? I don’t know.