C H R I S T M A S

This Christmas is different from the past ones, more than just the decorations... It's about being a mother... I could understand better how much a sacrifice it was for God to send His only begotten Son. Sending is not the matter, but for the Son to go through all the torture on the way to the Cross and at the Cross.. is something no parent will ever want or accept to see their child go through.

Having Zara open my eyes to understand that we are God's adopted people. We were not the chosen tribe and was never given a place in the house, till Jesus paid the price to bring us Home.

Someone once commented to me, that no one will love a child whose not their own as much as their own. I think I must say that I totally disagree with it and I believe many mummies who are like me will say the same. Whether I have another child, it's up to God and His timing.. but with or without, Zara is still my very loved daughter. Nothing is going to change that fact, since the day she came into this family. I believe the same goes for us, as we enter into God's house. If you cannot accept that a mother can love their adopted child as her own, then you will never be able to accept the truth that God loves us as His own.

Decorations done by: ME!

I'm so constantly reminded of God's love for us, the price Jesus paid on the Cross.. and how much God loves Zara, to give her a future and a hope.. having all these planned for her, that she may be in His house, even before she is born.. and how much God loves us, to bring her into our lives.

What is more important than silver and gold?

Been thinking for very long... What to write and when to write...
Unlike younger days where you can speak and share all your feelings and thoughts on your personal blog, blogs had since never been something personal these days.

Something has been on my mind...
What is more important than silver and gold?
Some people will say that there are many things that are more important!
Some will say that, we are living in a world where money may not be everything, but we cannot do anything without money. Both sentence are true, in terms of things that money can buy.

I consider health and extending of life spend something money 'can buy'. Not that we can buy health but i have seen people sick... people healed... people's life extended during to treatments (That costs more than common people can afford)... people died... some because it's time.. but some because they were never given the chance to go through any treatment due to the high medical cost. This is vanity of vanities.

I consider justice is something that 'can be bought'. This scale is often connected with law and justice. The statue of justice is the judge having a scale on one hand and a sword on the other, with their eyes blindfolded. It is suppose to symbolise justice and impartiality. But i have seen people going to jail.. some for crimes they committed.. some for a case they cannot afford to fight due to lawyer fees.. I have seen people go free.. despite of the crime they committed, because they could get for themselves the best lawyer and creates the best evidence. This is also vanity of vanities.

Living in a world where almost everything can be purchased with money, what else is important? To me, one word, VALUES.

ONE OF MY VALUES

When i first came to City Harvest Church, someone taught me this. Back then, i was only in Secondary 2 when it happened. It was the time where my school was making us sell coupons. The little booklet with coupons, $10 per piece and $100 per booklet. Everyone is to sell 1 or more booklets, at least for my school, it was compulsory.

That year, i lost the booklet that i was suppose to sell. I did sold a few of the coupons but there is no proof to proof that i only sold a few instead of the whole booklet and trying to keep the money or something. I was very very stress. I didn't know what to do. Back then, i spoke to someone more senior in the Cell Group and he told me this.

"The difference about being a Christian is not that we will never make mistakes. It's when we do, we admit it and bear the responsibility that comes with it. For the truth shall set us free." 

That word gave me courage and becomes one of the strongest value in my life. I admitted to the teachers that i lost the booklet and made a police report for it. And i know that even if i had to pay $100 for misplacing the booklet, i learn to take responsibility of my own actions.

Till this day, i am still constantly reminded of this person because though it was just a small incident, he placed a fundamental foundation in my life. Admitting your mistakes and bearing the consequences that comes with it may not be a easy thing. Maybe you are reading and think that my lesson was only $100 and its nothing compared to yours. But $100 means ALOT to me as a secondary 2 student back in the 1990s when chicken rice or noodles will only cost $2. A complete meal with a drinks will cost me less than $3.

UOB ADS

Recently there was a UOB advertisement on TV. Where the father told the son specifically not to touch a particular vase because it is very very expensive. One day the father came home and noticed that the son had touched the vase. Though the son did not break it, only simply touched the vase to take a look at it. The father called the son into the room and asked if he touched the vase, then he broke the vase in front of the son. Because there's nothing more valuable then our values. In that sense, was trust.

But i think everything comes down to our values in life. How we deal with circumstances.. How we learn to take up responsibility of things we did or failed to do.. We all make mistake from time to time.. Some small, some really big... but what is more valuable than silver or gold... Reputation? with man or with God?

Another thing i learnt then was, God is more concern with our character than our comfort.

Endure!

The wait was long but if you will endure till the end, you will see the light to the tunnel!

I filed my case with paypal on the 4th May. Today i got the email that i have been waiting for the past 53 days!

The journey was tough.

Rough and rocky, filled with threats from seller and uncertainties ahead.

Let's recap:

- Purchased a bag for €265.50, on 24th April

- Received the bag and realised it was a fake

- Contacted seller but response was irresponsible

- Tried to file a case with Ebay, but item is not protected under Ebay protection

- Redirected to Paypal (only if you paid with Paypal)

- Filed a case with Paypal to communicate with seller, monitored by Paypal

- Still no response from seller, so escalated case to a claim

- Seller wants to come to term with me that in the event i got to post the item back and forfeit all the shipping cost, i won't get back much as well

- Considering to compromise

- Read somewhere on Paypal website that in some cases where it is proved that seller sold a fake, it is possible to recover the full amount including what you paid for postage!

- Communicated with the seller on this to see if he is willing to offer to refund my full amount excluding postage cost for sending item over

- Seller responded rudely to say that there is no such thing that Paypal will refund me the amount and threaten to not refund me anything

- Waited patiently for Paypal's review

- Requested by Paypal to destroy or discard the item and submit a document to verify

- Got it done immediately and sent to Paypal

- Got my reply from Paypal that the money has been FULLY refunded back to me!

Do not be afraid of Ebay bullies! In the event if they do sell you a fake, do not compromise to accept it unless you want to. Do not give in just because the seller says that they will refuse to refund you, because in this case, they don't have a say! All evidences and documents will be examined by Paypal, for truth and justice shall stand!

News and updates

This is written from my point of view.

Standing outside the court hall at 6am, on the 15th May, the first day of the trial. I saw how many people coming together to show the support of the church and at the same time how some people who are against us or even for the purpose of "making news", writes and report things that are not true or made up.

Not being able to make it into the morning session, i queued outside patiently for the afternoon session at 9am. I witness how a specific reporter from ST sat among us and try to 'drag for news'. I took photos of her and even know her name but decided that i shall not name her here. However the next instant, she reported a news that was published on Straits Times online at 11.01a.m. stating somethings that prosecutors said. This made me feel kinda curious.

Questions flooded my mind:
- Isn't the use of phones or recording devices banded in the court hall? Because she was also constantly texting with her other partner, whom i also have a photo of but decided not to post it here, who is in the court hearing throughtout.
- How then did she get the information of what is going on in the court when she is sitting right in front of me? Through the text that was sent by her partner or is it just made up stories?
- Is then the most trusted news media in singapore making up news just so that they will be the first to report on news?
- Are they facts reporters or just tale bearers?

These questions are not just regarding this case, but Straits Times as a trusted social media of Singapore. If they are just making up stories so that they beat the other media, then can we trust what they say anymore? Are the writers writing out of their own bias point of view? And reports bitterly in this case, just because she was thrown out of the first session due to not having a media pass? :x

However, i am not so affected after all, as i have no longer trust straits times for the most accurate news. If your want the latest, most trusted news of this case, you can refer to Citynews as the professional writers write facts and truth about the details that happened in the court room after every session (instead of just making wild guesses).