Battle: Level 2 (Known to be the toughest exam on planet Earth?)

My dearest hubby is sitting for a V.I.P (paper) tmr! The battle of CFA level 2 will kick off at 9am, tormenting pour souls for six hours 'zhun-zhun' (2 hrs lunch break in between) and i will be picking him up after 5pm.

Pretty tough; six books, six modules fitted into one exam in one day of six hours. My hub claimed he's losing hair ald. LOL

For the last lunch before the battle day, i cooked my first pot of lamb in my entire life!! Black pepper mongolian lamb!

A very ordinary spread of a typical chinese meal:

Now it's my turn to stress! Civil or Environmental?? What say you? I need to make an informed and justified decision!



In spite of that, i wan to wish hub the very best of all best - May God's wisdom, patience, good time management and ultimate favor be with you throughout your exam!! God bless you tremendously!! 

A little sth to share

Don't ever challenge God, He's not easily defeated, certainly not someone you wan to test on. Woke up this afternoon from a nap that left me very disappointed, I posed God a very harsh statement: "If You really care abt me; this instance i wan the 'offers' for my postgrad." And they came. Yeah. God cares!

Let me tell you an interesting testimony. I have not told anyone apart from my fellow brothers n sisters in Mel, but it is truly a remarkable way of how God works in my life personally. Wanting to pursue a postgrad in Ozzie or specifically the University of Melbourne being one of the top in the southern hemisphere, was one of my dreams before i came and even when i was working back home! You may not heard of this, becoz i seldom share abt my life with people, but yeah, i had hoped to enrol as i settled in the metropolitan. Initially i thought of searching for a full time job, and have attended lotsa interviews only to be given false hopes and futile results. I guess being a lady in the engineering workforce is somehow not an advantage after all. Especially when you are young at a child bearing age with a husband and a privilege to take up to 12 mths paid maternity leave. So for some discrimination reasons, i lost to my male counterparts. Sigh. This is life.

In April, I was invited to two interviews by this company which I learnt through an engineering expo. Using my 'very not-usual' networking skills (i'm an extreme introvert!), i got to know this guy who later recommended me for a position in his company and hence went for two meetings with them. I still got a 'no'. In midst of that, i was telling God that if it's His will for me to start working first, then I will get the job; but if it's Study, then it's a no. So it was a no. Later on, i discovered from one of the assessors in Mel Uni for the School of Engineering that the supported places (which are fees subsidised by the Oz Govn) are guaranteed for those who have successfully admitted in 2011 and they are changing the policy from next year onwards. Which means, this is the last semester for a guaranteed supported place! The annual tuition fee for a Master in Eng is $26,500 and the supported place is $7,756. Becoz i am a lady in engineering, I have the privilege of receiving $5,000 bursary per year, which means my fee is reduced 90%!

After all those nos, i feel life is so unfair, and extremely difficult. But God's timing is always the best. If not for the nos, i wouldn't have gone back to my studying option and discovered that i'm still in time for the last semester of guaranteed subsidy. I don't think it wld be possible for me to do my Masters, if the fee is $26,500 per annum or more for the next few years even if i have already started to earn $$$.

Praise God. He is awesome! He even provided me with a part time job opportunity! What wld be better to do full time study n work part time in your own profession?? Most importantly, thank God for hub's support and blessings!

P/S: Wld appreciate all your continuous prayers always. N i will be praying for each n every one of you. :-)  

Prayers - May 2011

Prayers Prayers Prayers!

I have a few agendas being lined up for the next couple of months, and am earnestly praying real hard.

1) Full time Masters.  Praying that God will look into all financial aspects. Tuition fees, living costs throughout that two years, and lotsa lotsa Wisdom! My first preference is Civil Eng, but I also applied Env Eng, now depends on which tuition fees are supported! I need the CSP and Women in Eng. Let God's will be done!

2) My part time job. Hopefully i get this one. Wetlands, integrated sustainable design n passive treatments; sustainability n climate change. I'm hoping to specialise in this area, both in my postgrad n job prospects. Looking to God for direction.

3) Family planning. I pray that one day some day in the very near future, i will be a mommy to a beautiful healthy baby.

KPMG! Keep Praising My God. This reminds me that, hub is sitting for his CFA exam Level 2 in less than 2 weeks; 5th of June. Praying that he will walk into that exam hall with full confidence, God's wisdom n favour. Persist persist, n God bless!

Mommy's Big Day

Today is my mommy's b'day! Happy Blessed Birthday Mommy dearest!

Can never describe how blessed i felt to have you as my mom. Wld not be who I am today without your unconditional motherly love, prayers, support and nurturing and for bringing me up all the years!

Loving you always, Joyce

P/S: pardon me for not updating. My internet memory size is running low and i tot i better save it for more important business like emails n stuff. We had a good easter long weekend; went bbq n did a lot of baking. Wld appreciate your continuous prayer for me n Mic. and Do take lotsa care! God bless!

All glory to my ABBA

Hey Hey, praise God! I passed my drive test and have just converted to a Victorian Driver Licence! Hehe, all efforts, painful lessons n scoldings are all worth it. :-)

Blessed Birthday to my Papa

Today's my daddy's birthday. I feel like a disappointment to him; I feel like i have not been doing my part as a daughter to look after and accompany him at this stage of his life when he has, throughout the years, worked so hard to nurture and bring me up, and i feel awfully bad for the million miles distance apart.

Dad is my ultimate best friend. When i was young, i looked up to him as my protector, my provider, my guidance and my driver. He was seldom at home due to work, n i remember myself being excited every Saturday because dad was coming home. He wld come home with some food in his hand for me and mom and buy me beautiful clothes n gifts throughout the weekend. It was his routine to treat us dim sum breakfast at the then famous Nam Hing every Sunday after church, I always looked forward to weekends because dad was home. 

And then i grew up, went to secondary school and dad moved back to KK for good. He was my driver. Always punctual. He wld buy me 'char sao baos' as my breakfast on the way to school. N after school, he wld bring me to have good lunches. (Now you understand why i was a lot bigger in size when i was 17 - 19). He was always eager to find out my day at school, listened and gave me his advices. He worked hard to send me to the university. It was him who inspired me to study engineering and further my study in the UK. Without him, i wldn't be who i am today.

The routine continued even after i started working. Dad wld call up and treat me yum chas every evening, without doubt. Dad sent Kim to accompany me when i first moved to Ozzie. So that i wldn't be alone. Dad has been such a wonderful parent to me and my sisters.  

God is gracious. He has blessed me with many things in life and the most significant is my dad. Thank you for everything and i trust that God will continue to bless you in your life, health and career. May the joy, love and peace of God continue to abound in your life, and i love you always my Papa.  

Missing the little kiddies

Morning!!

Like my new template?  Hehe. Having a chinese laptop limits my skills, so please pardon me for the amateur changes.

I miss my cousins suddenly, i guess it's like this side effect of being 'affected' by good news n bragging from frens over their latest discovered pregnancies or newborns. Have you noticed? A lot of people seems to be expecting or delivering lately; i've got many frens who just became new or soon-to-be parents. Time flies, really. It feels like i was just playing hide n seek or police thieves with these people, n they are now about to monitor their own kids doing the same. Sounds so surreal.

 

My little cousins are now grown up. N so are the little kids i used to look after. Lord please make the time goes slower     ......

P/S: I just updated this Fan Shu post with the recipe i promised. Happy Baking!

My mission - 2 weeks.

Big mission!

I need to lose 4kgs. n that MEANS:

1. Stop snacking on cereal n muesli.

2. Stop giving myself reasons to buy chocolates! i've munching chocolates like they are 'air'.

3. Stop baking? most difficult one.

4. Climb up that stretch of steep hill 10 times a day.

5. 10 rounds around the cricket ground.

6. Cook less. or soups only. less oil. more vege. peel and trim off animal fats b4 cooking.

7. Reduce coffee intake. n tea too. they tend to make me hungry.

8. Sleep properly n more. studies show that the body craves when it didn't get enough rest.

9. Stop being slacky. Got to remind myself, buttock is growing ..... ^-^

10. Avoid sitting next to Mr Jiang when he's eating potato chips.

4 KGS!!! please go away..

Sien

I have a strange hobby nowadays. Don't think u'll believe this. I think i'm really sien. LOL. Or desperate?

Ginger Onion Chicken

I suddenly had the desire to stew some chicken with the leftover ginger n massive 'spring onions' my in laws left us with, hehe, been bragging about it to mr Hub for the last two days, n as usual, he din believe me at first (maybe coz i am a crappy person who daydreams too much). LOL. Dragged him to Boxhill this morning to buy good corn-fed chicken n ta-da, here is my first ginger onion chicken with stir-fry broccoli:

Dinner, Leftover Noodles as Starch (pity, we had too much leftovers)

Broccoli Garlic

Main: Ginger Onion Chicken which can last us at least two meals

My hub has this passion for fridge magnets; everywhere he goes he sure comes back with a special magnet to add to his collection. Me? i only collect postcards.

My Hub's Collection on our mini fridge (only 60% here)

My two Darlings.

Baby 2 : Cherry tomato



Baby 3 : Basil Columnar



Sigh, now that there are only two of us, the food volume seems to go down so much slower; even a loaf of bread takes us at least 10 days to finish. we had to freeze half n make sure the other fresh half is consumed before the expiry date, which usually last for 4-5 days only. Sure hard to cook dinner!

Dinner and a parade of our new home

Been lazy today, did something which i rarely do: taking naps during the day! I accidentally fell asleep on the couch till i heard hub making tea, which i thought was an act indicating his hunger has striked but he protested saying NO. Well, i still got myself up (it was 6pm already n i had no excuse not to get up) n thank God, dinner was leftover beef from last nite, so simple as it was, here's wat we had for DI-ner tonite:

I'm such a lazy pig. Even shooting a photo makes me tired. Thus the blurness. Pardon me pls.

Have i shown you pictures of my new home before? i mean, after fitting in all the fixtures etc?

Dining table with the platter of fruits

The couch. No more red. I changed the cover recently.

The balcony. Meet our plant no 1 on right bottom

Outside toilet.

Aisle

Bedroom with the built-in mirror wardrobe.

Simple deco on one of the side tables

My workplace No.2

My baby Chives. I accidentally toppled it the other day, n the poor thing hasn't been standing straight since. Just trimmed it (an hr ago?) hoping it will grow more beautiful chives for my omelette.

We sort of moved things around after my in laws left, n the house looks different from the pics now. I have more babies, 'thai basil' n 'cherry tomato' added to the family; which makes the place feels more homey n alive. :-)

Farewell

My parents in law left today, n again, i'm feeling the same tinge of bitter pain ache. yes, i hate farewells. especially when i'm the one being left behind. it's gonna take me days to recover n get used to the silence. N all the jokes n laughter they brought to us during the last 14 days. Sigh. i din cry because i had Hub.  if i'm alone, i think i wld be pouring like a mad girl.

Here's one pic i like, and a secret i'd like to share.

My MIL is a shopaholic!

I'll share another secret next time.

Down

I am feeling solemnly down this moment. Can't stop the tears from trickling down. Can't stop missing my dad for no reason. I miss my daddy's protection. I miss daddy's comfort. I miss my dad.

I am very tired. I don't think i can carry on anymore. All i need is a listening ear. Someone who can listen tentatively to me, like how dad used to. Someone who would just give me more attention when i need one. Someone who could show me more support, n pray with me. My burden is too heavy. I feel like falling down. I don't wan to continue anymore.

Everyday i make extra efforts to put on a strong n cheerful attitude, but in fact, i'm weary n exhausted. What makes you think it is an easy peasy task moving and settling in a new place alone? Starting all over again, getting familiar with road systems, first time setting up a new home, first time assembling furnitures and cleaning up for 3 stupid tiring days and still had to wake up at 5am to study? And then after that spend the remaining days sleeping on the couch? I haven't got a good sleep since i dunno when, but i am persistently trying to make sure breakfast is laid every morning before everyone is awake, all dishes are washed thoroughly and the house spotless clean before i go to bed. I am trying all my best despite the physical condition i am in and despite that i had a stupid test, but i guess i have a limit which i don't think i can cross anymore. I am not complaining, and i don't mind doing things around, but all i ask is some support and encouragement in matters that concern me such as a job test. I think i deserve a prayer and words of encouragement.

I am not a good person, i know it. And i am not able to do a good job in everything. It's not worth it anymore. I feel so alone now.

Dad, i miss those times when you used to send me to an important event, and before i stepped out, you would say, no worries, just do your best and God will be with you. I know God is with me, but i desperately need a secondment from someone and an assurance that I am not alone. I'm scared. I am really afraid.

Life so far

Sigh. Life seems to be exhaustive of late. Ever since i moved into this unit, i haven't got a peaceful good quality sleep and i am feeling really really tired. Physically and mentally. Am i suffering from anemia? I feel like i'm losing control of my own well being. I'm dying out soon. I am not perfect. I am not a good person. I have too much..and forgeting how to say 'thank you'.

January is coming to an end

Today marks the end of January. I get a bit freaked out sometimes by the speed of how fast time actually went by, and i know this is not something that i can take control of, but rather spend each second wisely. When i was younger i used to think time is running very slow, and wish that i can grow up as soon as possible to achieve something which i couldn't as a little kid. When i reached the end of my mid twenties, i freak myself out everyday, becoz there are so many things that i simply wan to do, but just can't.  That's how meak humans are. Regardless, i know that only thru such circumstances when we are made weak that the power of God can evidently be made strong.

I've been stressing myself out lately, from the shopping episodes to some tests which i will be sitting in Feb. Sigh. Tests are hard when you haven't been using your brain for like 'ages'. I'm terrified and don't know if i can actually pass these tests. I can only trust God and do my best, that's all. If i can make a wish at this point, i wld wish for a transformation. I wan to be brilliant. With the smartest brain.

Things seem to come at the same time. I wld be spending the next couple of days, cleaning, moving and more shopping for our new place. That leaves me small amount of time to focus on my 'tests'. In the midst of these, what i really wan to do to destress is to mould some dough n pop them in the oven. Alas, i can't even do this due to time constraint etc. Nevertheless, i will perform my best and do what i can. My in laws are coming on Friday, n i would appreciate your prayers always. :-)

Got some photos to post here:

Car Boot  is full after two days of shopping

A large beef burger with Aussie chips - yummy.

Tomato n leek soup. Big bowl.

What's better than enjoying a cup of latte after a tiring day



Time to fast n pray?

I am dreaming of my baking days. lol. haha. colorful cupcakes. boob tarts. blueberry tarts. cabbage cake. n lotsa lotsa more new crazy recipes.

Busy shopping with hubby these few days to get furnitures, electrical appliances, gadgets, utensils, cooking tools n essential items for the new place. Hectic. n Lotsa $$$ involved as well. *Sweat* but God is gracious. n always our Jehovah Jireh. We were never in hunger, or in need.

Seems like we are settling quick, praise God! I was discussing with hub just this morning about job hunting and stuff. I was reminded of how blessed i am, like, i am not in urgent desperation to get a job, but rather, have the pleasure of taking my sweet time to apply and get one that i really like and want to do as a start of my future. I haven't been sending lotsa of applications (i admit i'm lazy), i guess in overall  only about 11 in the past 3 months (based on my calculation from the folders in my computer). I reckon i got to be attracted to the job description before applying, its relevancy to my qualifications n stuff, and of coz, not just blindly apply. Yeah, it's one privilege that i am thankful for, i am not required to work wholly for survival but rather importantly doing something which i really enjoy and succeeding at the same time. God has a purpose for us in Mel, something which i knew from the start and the last few days have kept me thinking whether i should fast, pray n seek God. Fasting for a breakthrough, tat's wat i need.

I've got a big event coming up, a news to be received, n many more agendas to attend to. Thinking of stealing sum hours in the evening after the 1st to bake some cookies. Cookies for CNY. better than none. :-)

Hallelujah!

God is great. Exceedingly great. Today we just signed the lease agreement and i'm proud to present to you our first home in Mel! Initially we weren't really sure of the location, due to uncertain factors like job location, etc etc. Not to mention the nature of my work, which is highly likely to be out of the CBD area, and in contrast with hub's which is almost 77.7% likely to be in the city. We went around looking for the whole week since hub's arrival on last Tues, and exactly a week after, accommodation is settled! Hallelujah! (P/S: Mel is a big metropolitan, n deciding which suburb to settle in is quite difficult)

It's a unit apartment.One bedroom but with a big living room, and one point five toilets.

I will be spending my baking days here. Can't wait.

Yup, the unit is just next to this mall. (as in next door). Convenient. I can stock up groceries everyday.

Am so thankful. Hehe. Thank you so much for your prayers. Really appreciate it.

I know i am a bit *greedy*, but would really appreciate if you can continue to partner in prayer with me in the following items:

1. My in laws are coming! Yup, next week, landing on the 4th Feb. Pray that God will bless and protect their 14 hours flight, and against all hindrances, delays, turbulences, faulty aircraft, and all the bad stuff. I am looking forward to having an exciting CNY with them, although a bit late, but better than none huh? Just hope that their two-weeks trip here will be fruitful as we spend time travelling, n holidaying as a family.

2. I am still waiting for South East's reply after the interview. They informed me that it will take weeks, and i really pray that i can get the post. It would be a great opportunity for me to learn, contribute and grow in my career. Have been praying constantly everyday about this.

3. I just received another invitation to an assessment day sort of thingy by Yarra Valley Water today. Very great news indeed, i am thrilled. Yarra Valley is the biggest among the three water retailers in Mel, n South East coming as second. Infact, i will be paying my water bills to Yarra valley. haha, hub said it will be cool to pay to your employer with the wages you receive from them. yeah, i cannot agree more but then again, i am leaving this to God with a thankful and 'try my best' attitude. I will do my best definitely, thank God for short listing me!

4. Hub will be concentrating in job hunting after my in laws' visit. Pray that God will open up doors and give His utmost favor to all his applications with the potential employers.

Yeah, God has been great. Life has been hard and easy. But through it all, He has been there. Amen!

God has a plan

Have been very busy for the last couple of days. Stressful n anxious. Researches, inspections, applications etc, the process of renting a unit house is extra tedious here. N up to today, we have yet to finalise anything.

Thought of buying but doubt we will be settling for good in Mel. So renting wld be a more 'secure' choice. Am trusting God 100% for a great house or apartment. Preferably like tat one next to Westfield. :-D Giving all glory to Him alone. He is absolutely awesome. No words can comprehend.

I love you my Daddy!

Big Boy is here

My Big Boy is here. Hehe n I'm a Big Happy Girl today. :-)

He lost some weight n gobbled up the dinner my auntie cooked as if he hasn't eaten for centuries. His remarks were, today is my first home cooked meal after 3 months!

My heart melted after hearing this.

Time to drag my growing ass into the kitchen. Boy he said i gained weight. :-(

You rule, God!

i can do all things possible thru Christ who strengthens me!

God gave me a hotline number:

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know'

Jeremiah 33.3

How miraculous! You rule, God!