Giving Thanks

The word "thankful" can never describe enough really of how thankful, grateful and appreciative I am to the most wonderful One. He who took me by the hand to travel across the great wide oceans, all the way to a cold place called Boston in the United States.

Really? I'm actually living, breathing and surviving here for 6 months alreadyy!

The amount of friends, things and opportunities provided here from God are amazing. It is the quality, less of quantity. He shows me His love day by day through actions, as it is part of the love language I understand. Seeing Him at work- what He has given me, taught me and groomed me is an incredible part/moment of life for me now at this time, that when looking back one day, definitely, will thank Him over and over again. The only thing I'm worried sometimes is the plans that I make, that they might interfere His ones once in a while. And maybe my short-sightedness as well that bothers. 

Still feeling fascinated with all the experiences I have here.

Because of the past, I've always dreamt of meeting sincere and warm friends. And here they are :') God saw my tears and answered my prayers! :') Not only that, coming here alone alivee (yes, the exaggeration) without mama and papa and sister and bro is some major life event ever that happened to me, which is the beginning of that something great that I always believe. In due time. My storybook is slowly filling up by the awesome Author. I want to read yours too !

:D

Risk taken 5 months ago

When mummy and everyone at home say that I've grown, up, there's a smile lit up.

Pastor Jeff Bianchi mentioned about taking risk for God. Not simply taking any risks, we hear and obey be obedient and take that risk. Abram took locational risk; Daniel took a vocational risk, Jesus risked positionally; Paul risked comfort and security. They took the risk and see what happens? As for me, I took the locational risk. I don't even know how and whether can I survive living all by myself in overseas since I'm very well protected in Malaysia, the typical asian study-hard-and-score-straight-As student; go to school, go to tuitions, eat, study at home, go to church and watch TV at home. Home, school, church, home. Everywhere I go, I had to make sure I text mom or dad to tell them my whereabouts and all. Or that my sister would accompany me to go to Bangsar or Dad to go down town with me. Whatt? Yeah, just to drop off an application I made or what not. Yess, I'm very well protected.

Now that I'm out here without my home friends and family, I've never been happier living independently dependent on God more.

Btw, when God says to take that risk, bet sure that He has equipped you already. Just like a father who asked his son to paint the house, little did the son know that of course that father would provide the ladder, paintbrush, paint and bucket for him.

Not sure when I get back next year (if I ever go back) that I still know how to drive a car. Like... move a vehicle.

"Go and leave everything behind, go to the land I called you to go,"

Woohoo ! Ridin' on an adventure that God says I can take part in it. Keeping up with the pace now from day to day.

:)

PS: My little brother says that he's proud of me... gahhahaha! Little bro. He knows. He sees the changes in me. Thanks Derrick ! You are awesome.

The Pina Toprak Skype session

Okay. As promised. Here is a short review of my point of view (;P) of Pina Toprak's Skype interview ahaha!

It was hosted by the WFI in Berklee. So, what she threw in her thoughts in that session, don't live on other people's expectations. Have yours and do what you like to do, better if we love it.
If we want something, work hard for it. Don't have plan B(s). Cuz if we do, we would not finish plan A.

Being a woman in the film's industry is tough job. So we havtha rise to the occasion. She is a mother and a composer. :OO
We must learn how to juggle personal life and work (actually it applies to everyone :P Nyeheh.) We do film music work because we love it. We do what we can, and we do the best job. Film scoring is also our baby, besides our real baby/child. So, know how to care of both.

Well, she did talk about her routines, a little of video game scoring, of how she got involved with it.

I relate well with her mistakes, that she wasn't speaking enough for herself. People patronize her. She was afraid of speaking, she was a kitten. Many took advantaged of her.
And since FS is more for the introverts, because this job can be soemtimes (actually, pretty much all the time) lonely, where composers are locked in their room for, depending of the project time frame, 6 weeks perhaps, writing music non-stop before reaching the deadline, which is hmm, THE DAY THE MOVIE COMES OUT IN CINEMAS ??!! So yeah, the deadline is pretty important.

:D

I never thought that I have the guts to raise my hand and ask her a question in that session.

So yeah, she has worked for Hans Zimmer before and it was awesome having a Skype session with her. It's Berklee, anything music-related can happen.

Ending my Summer with... (a few events)

Lauren's bridal showerr ! Also my first bridal shower in America.

Coolies!

As cool as a coolatta :PP

I travelled with these girlies here, whom are my college friends and church friends.

We took the T.

Christine, Callie and Michel'le. Awesomee girls!

Ahh goshh shoo pwetty !

The lovely ladies. Only ladies. It's the ladies' day!

The bride showered with gifts!

Sweet treats!

When God places friends in life... :)

She's unwrapping my gift ! :O :)

This is Lauren. The bride. And she is very sweet.

Cup cakes galore !!

The Quackenbush sisters. Both of them reminds me of Esther and I.

So later that week, I also met with new friends from different church I visited. These girls came from Berklee, MIT, BU and some working. So glad to meet them. :)

Also, Anchor Church the one that I'm attending, had picnic and water baptism by the Castle Island beach in South of Boston. Great weather (It rained! So so chilly), great food, great people to hang with and what a great fun day.

Friends that went together. We were on the bus.

When it got coldd, we had blankie to warm us up ! Whee! Teehee! :D

Worship by the beach, on the rocks.

Our worship leader. Waves were rolling in when it started.

This boy just caught my attention I just had to snap a photo of him :PP

Yes, they were dunked, erm, they went down immersed into the sea :)

The two lovely ladies and wonderful friends I had in the Summer. Gretel and Aubrey.

So during that time, I also had a chance to visit the MFA- Museum of Fine Arts. It was hugeee! This is part of my liberal art class field trip. Lalala. The best part was, I got to see a performer playing the harpsichord, LIVE, in front of my bare eyes. Aweeeesome.

Before that, my class also visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, where the famous Boston art theft happened, until now the art masterpieces haven't been recovered.

So we had to write about it, and a book review. Fun class!

This is the main entrance for the MFA. It was 10am.

Ooh, my friend Kelton performed in this huge musical that laster for about 2 weeks. Les Mis at Reagles Music theatre somewhere in Boston. I have nuuu idea where it is :P It was lovely. I love the props. I'm so proud of my friend :)

Look at the crowd !

After the musical, our tummies were roaring ! We were like hungry packs of wolves :PP I mean, we were hungry :) We dropped off at Faneuil Hall for Tex Mex. Steak in the middle of the night.

How not to gemok ? 

ICS Tribute to the BeeGees

The awesome feeling of waking up, knowing that you don't have to rush!
I really really had a good time with my Tribute band members. Ohh, the photo above, is set 2 keyboardists. I haven't gotten the rest of the photos ;)

Robin, Vicky, Me and Jon Budi.

I don't remember when we started putting in hours of practice time, sacrificed our sleep, got shelling from the 'upstairs' people, sleeping late after practice and coming back early for practice bla bla, but I was enjoying every moment of it. Being part of this Tribute family is one of the best moments I ever had in Icom! It was the right timing for me to join- the people, the band, the semester workload. This Tribute is my first and the last. I love each and every one in this tribute. Be it the person who packed lunch and dinner for us, the macho guys who carried my Kronos up and down, left right centre, the person who held the walkie-talkie just to make sure everyone is in place, the person who arranged the chairs and the ones who played in the band... EDIBODI! I love them from the bottom of my heart. Everyone has put in so much effort, everybody is a somebody in this production.

The unforgettable moment was when our band leader, Robin, formed a circle with our band members, and he decided to take time to pray. I had the privilege to lead my group into prayer! Totally unexpected, and I am so honoured. We have 9-10 people in our band, and all us were a believer. I also remember there was once, during practice, we actually jammed on all the cool Planet Shakers and Hillsongs songs like Break Free, Take Take Take It All, Time Has Come, Hosanna etc. Coz everyone knows the song and everyone served in church before! My heart goes out to some and I really ask JC to remember them, visit them and show them that You love them very much and it's the devil who condemns them and not You.

To have the gifts and talent in music, to be able to play an instrument so skillfully, is the greatest and highest calling. An army is going to be raised, musicians for Christ to take place, all in time, soon. This I believe! God's favour will always be with those who have the heart for Him. Love Him, time is running out, life here is short.

Okie, this is so sakai hehe, but I'm so proud to be an ARTIST. Felt like a superstar :P

Sorry for the mirror-imaged.

Sam's Big Day

First thing first : Blog changed its blogging colour to blue, kinda 'arglee'.

Anyway, here are some photos taken on Sam's wedding hee.

It.was.lovely! It.was.fairytale.like!

PJ Gospel Centre

My sister (by the score stand) led the bride and daddy in by singing.

Solo hohoho!

Kids presentation :)

(above) and the sweet and radiant couple :)

Below are friends from Mentakab, we went to Sunday school together.

Mom's ex-colleague. Formerly a discipline teacher.

So.be.nice!

Heh heh

Centre is Cassie :) the bride's sister.

Shoo pweety

Okie this is the Passion Road. Beautiful place for an afternoon reception.

And I really liked the whole table musical theme (my group was Michael Learns To Rock haha)

with little handmade red baskets for everyone as souvenirs.

Love the details!

AND there were sweets corner for kids! Yeah, for KIDS :D

Those sweets where I grew up eating lots of them.

I went 'awwh!' over them for like 3 minutes.

Old time Candies teeheehee!

Apollo now has 3 sticks in it instead of four in those days.

Whaaaat?! Cheating!

And the red bear bubblegum had tattoos last time, it made me look cool B-)

But now it's just a blank wrapper.

One of my Sunday school teachers I met.

<3

Mom's ex-colleague with her all-grown-up-already daughter.

Sweet :)

Ahah! Beside me is Grace. All I remember was : In camp, I was so shy to make friends but then somehow we became friends and she lent me all her G2 Pilot coloured pens to write down Bible verses and notes.

Back then, Pilot pens are like THE most awesome pen to have.

Heh.

:D

Sis, Sam (in red) and me.

Really happy for her to have finally found her The One :)

I like how she was just being herself on her Big Day.

She's always looking naturally beautiful every time I see her.

And the final photo session :D

All in all, the wedding was fantabulous and everyone had a greeeat time together.

You are God alone!

*please put the music on when you read this nyeheh :) *

We had youth fellowship today again. I really miss it so much after a long time of distress in church- it was a painful yet needed-to-be-done split.

Darynn led us in worship and Angel led us in the activities. Today, it was about remembering God's blessings and to remember Him in all the good times and bad. Deuteronomy 8:1-20 teaches us to remember the Lord Your God. For me, we start small again and God will see us through the seasons and He will definitely multiply His people here. I pray that His assurance and encouragement will always uplift His sheep here. Snapping photos in our handphone, eg. the park, the electricity, the hands to play the piano, the cross Jesus is in our heart, the friends, the mamak, the Ramly burger stall etc. reminds us that God is with us everywhere we are, His blessings and doings.

We had prayers in pairs/groups, sharing about the "How are you now lah?" topic and I really really cherish these times of praying together :'(

I tell myself, I'll not dwell in the past, good ol' times and look forward to God's kingdom. *wipes tears away* And I do miss my friends over the other side- Doreen, Vivian, Grace and Gyn Fei.



You are not a God
Created by human hands
You are not a God
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a God
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

[chorus]
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that's just the way it is

[chorus]

[bridge]
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what You are

Blue to Pink

My blue days are coming to end soon... on Wednesday! And the pweetie pink days will come when I get to get out from school! Okay okay, the truth is I don't have any ideas to write something new now. Sorry peeps. But what I'm really excited is I'll be going to this MADWORLD- A contemporary stage show featuring dance choreography, drama and music, a joint production between DUMC and SIBKL. I shall bring my drama clan (including my drama teacher) to watch this stage play!! I'm friggin in love with stage plays, musical, drama and yesh yesh musical and drama! It's gonna be a fun and fruitful night.

"What does it profit a man who gains the whole world but loses his very soul?"

First album released

Poster done by the creative team

Back cover of the album

The launch of Bangkit album is today! First of all, I reused Esther's Bangkit photos (sorry sis hehe) =) I'm really excited about it. All the hustle and bustle of coming out with my song, without God's grace and help and angels he sent, I couldn't have done it without their kind help. There's so much of stories to tell you! Along the process of making an album, I learnt alot to be more responsible, detailed and careful. One big silly mistake I made was I didn't update the person-in-charge about my new lyrics! Gaaah, for that I'm really angry about myself... My fault for that.
I will be more careful and alert now. I hope that it will be a good small stepping stone for me in the music industry. I've got waaaay lot more to learn and improve.

Also so gonna miss Esther Mustard! She's going back to the UK tomorrow morning.

What a mixture of emotions I'm going through right now.