Stop.

So,
i know i have been busy. ever since august or september, time just seemed to zoooom by and everything seemed to be a blur. Dont get me wrong. It's not that I've been having rough patches all throughout. NOT AT ALL. It's just life gets soo busy, in a good way, and you know the saying, "time flies when you're having fun" yea. That, is I.

I cant believe I am now an official graduate! Results were out and I've ticked all the boxes, passed everything. I can only give God the glory for pulling me through these 4.5 years of uni despite all forms of procrastination, dragging my feet to finish my assignments.

We had a christmas get together with the urbies at my place yesterday. Vitory mentioned that it was only 3 weeks left before we bid 2011 goodbye and welcome 2012. Seriously, where has the year been? I remembered I used to journal heaps and when i look back occassionally, things jolts back to memories. This year, I hadnt been consistent at all. I tried but somehow, only the key turning points of my life are documented, mainly the low parts. Happy days seemed to be taken for granted with just a line or two (but thanks to iphone and instagram, there's still some photos).

I realised that I have been going and doing. These are constant and continuous. There were fun things but I realised that I hadn't stopped for the moment to reflect and as cliche as it sounds, smell the roses. to just stop.
and step back.

Read Wei Xiong's blog yesterday on his post on Doug and Hooch

It really moved me and got me thinking, when was the last time I noticed someone.

I've been trying to get to places in time and looking forward to the thing that I have set out to do and been too fixated. It has been a while since I last pulled out a "go-with-the-flow". Everything has to go according to my iCal and my schedule. Being organised is good but the second half of the year has just been sooo packed with things that it kinda felt that I have taken the wheel and run according to my timeline.

When was the last time I've allowed God to show me something cool and out of the blue?

Perhaps, the final 3 weeks of 2011.

In the midst of seeing and hanging out with all the amazing people that I love in Melbourne before I head home, I'm making room.

I'm making time.

He deserves them.

to keep you entertained, for now

i know i havent been writting. Just a little busy with life - placements, nursing registrations, work, assignments, weddings, rehearsals and travelling.

i am having a fantastic time tho, follow me on instagram (munyeesee) to see my daily adventures :)


for now, check out planetshakers USA tour.

USA TOUR DOCO // PLANETSHAKERS from planetshakers on Vimeo.

Ideas by the heart

out of procrastination, instead of studying, this is what i found!

rather amazing i thought i must share!

Ideas by heart from annika bäckström on Vimeo.

project

there's a few random questions i'd like to go around asking ppl on the street one day. just for the sake of it. you know how there's satorialist and fashion photographer? well, i cant take awesome photos as yet, but one day, perhaps, if i have time and instead of doing my silly research proposal that i'm currently chugging away, this would be my project.

I'd ask [in research terms, survey] people -

when are you truly happy?

what makes you happy?

what is the one thing you miss doing the most?

and then, after listening to their stories, I'd say-

LET'S GO GET MACCAS ICE CREAM CONE.

just because :)

little too much

I'd rather love a little too much x

during the wait at the traffic lights

If you're in Melbourne this week, you would agree that it kinda feel like you're in London. It was gloomy, wet and thunderstorming the whole week. If you want me to put it in one word - Yuck!

So, we were on our way to dinner yesterday. It was still pouring and I was lucky enough to be in a car. I dont know how you feel on a wet day, if you're one of the pedestrian on the road with cars zooming past as you cling on super tightly on your umbrella. The umbrella and the wind always put up a good fight on a wet rainy day. Well, for me, as much as I love the rain, I would just have the destination in my head and focus on getting there. ASAP!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be picked up in a car to go for dinner. We pulled to a halt at the traffic lights. As the rain hit against the windscreen, and whilst I was waiting for the lights, I tend to look around towards the streets. People watching can be fun! They tell amazing stories without words.

Pedestrian 1

He must have just came out of work, judging from his smart working attire. Power walking, he seemed like he had his mind set on going to where he was heading towards.

15 m ahead of him was a domestic bin that had been pushed out earlier the day for the rubbish collectors. Its lid was opened and collecting rain. Not a pleasant thing to deal with when the rain stops and you're the one collecting the bin. This man came, saw, and just conveniently flicked the lid back on and continued walking towards where he was going.

Pedestrian 2

Random rubbish was clogging the main drainage along the road (yes, melbourne has rubbish floating around too on rainy days). Well, I was at Richmond, that kinda explained the rubbish a little. This man, was casually walking along the street. It was raining, he had an umbrella, but he didnt really use it. He was well groomed and he seemed really happy, there was just a big grin on his face. He came around from the corner, semi tapping his feet. Then, he bent forwards towards the drain.

First thing that came into my head - "DODGY BETUL! What is this guy doing!!!!"

Then, I realised, he was unclogging the drain so that there wouldnt be a mini flood happening on the road.

WOW! Within 2 minutes of waiting at the traffic lights, I've seen such amazing acts. Perhaps, this is really doing good when no one was watching. I guess they were genuinely not expecting in return.

They did it, just because.

Soon enough, the traffic lights turned green.

We drove ahead and continued on. It was still raining, weather was still yuck. But, I knew that the rubbish bin lid was shut and not collecting rain, and the drain had now been unclogged.

I came around the traffic lights, with a big grin on my face, happier than when we first pulled up. It wasnt that anything significant had happened. It was just me knowing and witnessing it for myself, there are still good people around :)

R.I.P.

This week, we said goodbyes to 2 amazing men from our church - Shaun Bergin and Dylan Hall.

Personally, I dont know them. I just know of people who are related to them but they both have definitely touched my heart.

Dylan is 6 years old, brother to Jasmine and Eric. These kids are absolutely fantastic and having them in Planetkids had always been so much fun! I went to Dylan's funeral the other day and I realised these kids are actually WAYYY stronger and bigger in spirit than i could ever imagined. The photos of how they walked along Dylan and loved their little brother despite of his condition really touch my heart. They came to church on Sunday after the funeral. I saw Jasmine lift her hands and still praise God with all her heart. That in itself was beautiful and it was so hard to not move me to tears. The other kids at church were so gorgeous as well. Aimee and Ryan uphold them in prayer and it was evident that the presence of God was so strong when the kids prayed.

I guess, this in itself was a testimony. To see that Jasmine and Eric, despite their pain and questions, still came to church and still worship Our Father, was indeed very moving. And for the other kids, to love them and to pray with them and to support them, just in their actions speak more than 100000 words.

Shaun is a 26 year old footy player. Husband to Jess, son-in-law to Geoff and LeeAnne from planetkids. He suffered from a sporting injury that had left him unconscious (head/spinal cord injury?) and was put on life support. Today, we bid him goodbye after the good fight that he had put on! Perhaps, one can argue, how could this happen? He was so young and everyone prayed, and everyone stood in faith. I guess, with a lot of things, we wouldnt know why God did what He did. And i guess we would never know why God didnt carry out the promises that we once thought we saw, until we reach heaven and finally see things from the eternity point of view and in a wayyy bigger perspective than our human earthly mind could try to percieve right now. But for now, we just need to know that God is still God and He is still good. As Bea said, surely, the greater testimony is yet to happen. Just you wait.

I was on facebook and was just scrolling on all the encouragement, prayers and thoughts that were posted on the Bergins and the Andersons' wall. I love how people stood around each other and encourage them. My heart breaks as i know that they are walking through this grief. Lee Ann and Geoff are such inspirational people in the PK team. But at the same time, it's touching, knowing that in this journey of life, there's all these people that are thinking about you and believing with you through tough times. To cheer you on and to cry with you. To declare God's goodness and the light of hope when it feel like its utter darkness.

I love how love is made real, especially at this time.

To the Halls, Bergins and Andersons,

thank you for showcasing your legends and champions - Dylan and Shaun, to the world. our prayers and thoughts are with you. God is surely working something tremendously good along your way. love you guys heaps!

1 Corinthians 15:54b-55

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”