I Am Blessed

Guess which one am I?

I always thought that friendships are one of the best gifts God ever given to me. In my amateurish attempt on poem writing, I describe friendships as colors in my life. And that each one of these people enriches me in different ways. May it be good or bad, crack a smile to my face or bring me down to tears, all are lives that God allows to intertwine with my life story. With the many faces that lingers or passes through my memory bank, I may lost a name or two. I guess my gigabyte is a tad bit full. Not that I'm complaining. It's just shows, how much God has blessed me.

One of my friends from my last carecell in US is very keen on doing scrapbooking. She would create lovely sets of her photos with comments on the memory. Once we asked how could she managed to remember and do all those stuff? She said that when you want to start to do a scrapbook, start with your recent memories, because it's still fresh and easier to do. It's better than trying to remember your past and forgetting your recent memory in the process.

On this post, dated on my birthday, I thought I want to do a part of "Affirmation" project to some of my friends as a part of my life's scrapbook. And following my friend's example, I shall post things I've learned about my new friends. But a bit of disclaimer... I can't include all of them, just the one that more likely will access my blog, which means my current church friends, plus some other friends.

I've prepared this post since a week before my birthday, and it solidifies after some of my friends asked for a birthday speech on my surprise birthday lunch last August 13th. So guys and gals, here it is...

Agus: thanks for giving me the good advice on judging men, hehehe. But don't worry, you're quite a nice, reliable awesome guy, faithful in God too (I just give you plug, will send you the bill later :P). Just wish that your future business in China will bring you much blessing and fortune (sounded so cheesy and 'garing', huh?) Tapi kan memberkati situ kan ga pa pa, hehehe.

Ai Pei: da jie... at first I was semi afraid of you. In a sense, hesitant, since you seemed to be this one very intelectual person, because you're a teacher. Kinda have an allergic thing with teachers, hehe. Then I found out that you're funny, share the same fondness for furballs, and all the other cute stuff. I can talk to you about things of the heart and about faith too, and I know that it'll be safe with you. And to be honest I don't mind to be your information desk. Been missing you since you're under the weather.

Albert: Como esta, senor Wang? Thank you for your encouragement about my singing. And glad that I joined the choir. Thanks for being a cool older bro who's looking over for us all and sharing your pearl of wisdom with us.

Alvin: don't know you quite well yet, so I can't remark or be silly funny to you. Glad to have a new face in the team, tho. And probably you'll be a surprise character too, hehehe.

Andrea: it's been awesome sharing jokes and laughters with you. Actually you're always laugh at my jokes (or something that at least sounds like a joke) and it made me feel as though I'm doing a good job as a comedienne wannabe *grin*. Thank you for your ever ready smile and friendliness and for making me a part of your wedding's entourage, although I couldn't communicate well in Mandarin :D. Enjoyed every minute of it.

Andrew: who's the most handsome of all? Of course you, lor (do I sound Singaporean now? hehe). Thank you for being that friendly face when I was lost in the middle of choir members. Looking forward to sing tenor with you, hahaha. Hey I can do tenor too, but with a soprano pitch, hehehe. I'm quite glad that you're a joyful character to be around with. Still amazed that you took a stab at reading my last name and got it right at the first try.

Audrey: bonjour mon ami! Yeah that pretty much what I know about French language :P I'm so glad to have known you and amazed at your Chinese and 'Singlish' ability. It's always nice to have you around and next time you will have to sing to when we're having bonfire in some other people's living room, hehehe. I remember that old popular French song, and I shall request it for you to sing it next time... La Vie En Rose.

Chris: nice to know you as the new CG leader. And been enjoying your sense of humor. Thank you for making the atmosphere lighter and accepting me as a part of the group, although you just know me. Looking forward to a more livelier caregroup (Considering the population we have now) under your ruling :P .

Christine: thank you for keeping in touch with me and your friendliness has been blessing me. I'm grateful for all the times that you share with me and driving me around in your nifty red car. Wishing you more blessings in your job and family and studies! Stay strong in the Lord!

Daniel: since you're going to read this blog (or because I make you read this, hehe), so I might as well say something about you. Can you see the array of nice names on this list, alphabetized them for you... Nah just my habit to list things :P. Perhaps you might get an idea on the names that you're asking me. Well, my big bro Daniel... (bro ketemu gede :P) What can I say about you? Wish that I've known you from awhile back so I can ask for wisdom from you... and jokes. You are so funny and Fiona is blessed to have you. So you better take a very good care of her. Xiao mei mei here really appreciative of all you've done for me. And... Welcome to the family... HUAHAHAHA.

David: I was surprised when you said that you also didn't quite enjoyed the karaoke in Chinese. I thought I'm the only one that basically blanking out everytime the song was a Chinese song. Enjoyed your sharings during caregroup.

Dee: Thank you for always listening to me yakking and prayed for me. You encouraged me a lot with your wisdom and your miracles. And be there when I shed those unstoppable tears. My shoulder to cry on. Really enjoy our talk from boys, jobs, church and anything in between. Your great faith in God is a great example on strengthening my own faith. Really wish that you're in choir team. I've been blessed with our sharing and bible study. Grazie mille!

Edmond: Wie geht es! Been missing your offbeat funniness. It's like you're funny altho you're not trying to be one. Thank you for being a great brother who listens and supports and also a great shopping partner. The sales and shopping malls kind of different without you around, hehehe. In my broken German: Bruder Edmond, dankeschoen. Ich bin mogen wiedererkennen mit du (do I get it rite? I missed the umlauts and am using English grammar instead, hehehe)

Elaine: you're such an inspiration. Always happy and seem to always have something to say. You have a great sense of humor, and create this livelier atmosphere wherever you're around. Really admire your energy and your joyfulness. Will make sure to book you for our parties, hehehe. So you'll be in the pictures more often.

Estella (Waying): another friendly face that I am blessed to get to know. You helped making the atmosphere lighter when we're visiting the nursing home. And you're always ready to greet me as though we've known each other for awhile. Thank you so much for your friendliness. Good luck with your new job!

Gabriel: buddy! So glad to find out there are another artistic soul in the bunch. You got to teach me the ballroom thing. Hip hop... well, you can ask Janet Jackson, hehehe. Me no coreographer, just move with the flo. Really enjoy singing the bass with you, hahaha. And now after you read this blog, me waiting for your comment. Or I shall haunt your blogggrrrgh.

Gary: my fellow actor. Seeing you on stage was a treat especially during the Christmas show. Yes, I still remember. Great rendition of the "Chicken Little meet the Wise Men". Thanks for keeping in touch with me and wish you all the success on stage and on your daily job as Clark Kent, hahaha (borrowed your famous photo with Mr. Lee :P)

Gene: I hope you're not tired of being treated as a novelty just because you hailed from South Africa. In a way, I remember the time when I was one of the two Asians in my old highschool in Portland's suburbia. They treated me like a doll. I hope we're treating you OK. Don't mind the chilli and the weird food, I have some reservations against some of them too :P. You have such a brave spirit and on the same time soft spoken. You always make people feel important. Looking forward for sharing more smiles and laughters with you.

Grace: Thank you for encouraging me and praying for me. You are such a caring person, considering that you hardly know me and yet you decided to start blessing me with your prayers. Hope that God's favor be upon you and blesses you even more in your job and your life.

Jay: I thought you're one of the nicest guy I know. You are such a sweetheart, a gentleman and your future wife is one lucky lady, hehehe. It's so funny to think that you may not have the memory (as you said so yourself) to remember everybody's stories or their particulars, and sometimes even a face, and yet you're readily offer your friendship anytime. You're newfound love in God also such an inspiration. And you're always kind and like to help people. Nice indeed.

Jeffry: another nice guy I know. My only friend when I reached Singapore, my fellow semi-American :P. Thank you for 'babysitting' me by bringing me to church and introduced me to your friends. I know you're not one of my new friends, but you've been a blessing to me since I came here. I don't know what would I do without knowing you. You truly are a great guy and friend. Sorry that the Chinese lesson thing didn't work, hehehe.

Jon: can you do a spell check on my blog? Sometimes I think it's weird to think that I know a lot of these people because of you. So, I'm never short of being grateful when I remember that you're a part of God's blessing for me. Although I feel like strangling you one time and hugging you the next. Sometimes your actions reminded me of my sometimes-annoying cousin, Matthew. You have a gift in evangelism and reaching out to people. That's quite impressive. Oh and dry sense of humor is good than not having any whatsoever, hehehe.

Junda: thank you for being a great addition to our group. Your humility and readiness to assist people are commendable. Thank you for everything.

Mark: want to know what's inside my fruit salad? It's mayo mixed with all vitamins A, B, C, D, E ,F G... :P . All the good stuff, so no need to worry. Great having you around as a new additional member.

Natasha: great to know you! And yes, you can't run away from my camera too, and now my blog. Thank you for a great time talking and getting to know you. Looking forward to visit your crib in Mount Faber.

Patrick: thank you for being friendly and it's always great to have additions to the caregroup. Hopefully our rowdy happy gang won't scare you :P

Peishan: did you ever notice that when we're talking, our topic would be about movies? Not that I'm complaining, though, I enjoyed every bit of it. And must admit again that you're a natural born writer. Such nice compositions and exceptionally good use of language. I should just hire you for those darn essays in college. And perhaps the both of us should do some "Ebert and Roeper" show. I'll be like the 'Paula Abdul-character' who thinks all movies are great, hehehe. Two thumbs up!

Yihong: It's just too bad that you're not the CG leader anymore. I got to learn your willingness to serve other people and your willingness to get out of your comfort zone so that people can be with you. It's so fun to be able to do some shopping with you, although our taste in fashion is different, hehehe... But really enjoyed the heart to heart talk when we got a chance. Sometimes that's the plus side of having a girl as a leader. We got a "mom", that will take care of us, hehehe

OK, I'm hearing the music start to play signaling me to get off the stage and end my speech. To everybody else... especially the one, you know who you are (I'm so good at making people feel special, aren't I? :P), thank you and love you much. XXXOOO. Hehehehe.