Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Simple Pleasures that kept me.
Coffee machine in the staffroom. It cost $1 and I wouldnt allow myself to spurge on it when i can get an equally good Nescafe sachet for $0.20. On the last week of the term before the June Holidays, I treated my dearest 2 colleagues and myself a cup each. It kept me awake.
My mini provision box under my table in the staff room. This was what kept me through in April and May when I had to skip lunch almost everyday. It kept my sanity.
Little treats.Big joys. McDonald's breakfast, Jagabee chips, Pringles, Doreamon from colleagues and friends.Their love kept me through April and May. They kept my smile. 
I am treasured. Flower from my student. This warmed my heart. 
Dear Lord, I am thankful. I am thankful for Your abundant love showered upon me. I am thankful for the wonderful people you have placed in my life ...to cheer me on, to encourage me, to love. Thank You Father.
posted by
xiuli
at
12:36 PM
1 comments
Monday, May 18, 2009
They are family
A quick update.......
Just came home from a 16-hour work day(with a total of 40mins for my breakfast, lunch and dinner), with every inch of my body and brain totally drained out. With another 16-hour day tomorrow as one of my colleagues is on MC.
Why work so hard? I dont have to.
Yes, i dont have to. In the midst of the crazy deadlines - Individualised Education Plans (IEPs),Outcome Management (OMs), assessments, lesson plans, Site visits, On-job support, Softskills Workshops,Work Experience Program, Softskills Training, Parents - Teachers Conference....... I dont have to.
" You are not earning a CEO pay! "
"Yah, I don't have to."
Indeed, I dont have to. Every physical inch of me seems to be screaming...... I dont have to. I dont have to work so hard. I dont have to deal with heartaches.
Disheartened. Discouraged. I dont have to.
Family-work balance.
I love my family very much. I love my boyfriend very much. I love my friends and my siblings in Christ very much. And yes, i love my students very much.
I dont have to. Why go that extra mile for the students?Why cheer them on when they give up on themselves? Why pull them along when they stop moving forward? Why encourage them when they despair? Why love and get hurt? Why get shouted at and keep silent?
Yes, i do get very very discouraged and disheartened many a times. I dont have to put up with ungratefulness, verbal abuse, physical torment, bad attitudes and even to humble myself just to build relationships. I dont have to.
Then it dawned on me today, Yes, i dont have to. But I want to. Family - work balance? Yes, i want to because my students are family.
Lord, help me, teach me Lord to love them as you loved me. Guide me Lord, as i move along these weeks, help me to do EVERYTHING for your glory. Grant me joy Lord as i move along my way. Lord,bestow me wisdom and patience. 
posted by
xiuli
at
10:35 PM
1 comments
Friday, April 17, 2009
I dreamed a dream
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high,
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
Then I was young and unafraid
When dreams were made and used,
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung,
No wine untasted.
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame.
And still I dream he'll come to me
And we will live our lives together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather...
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.
posted by
xiuli
at
11:01 PM
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
I've got peace like a river
It's strange how songs reached into our hearts at the most unexpected moments. I was actually humming and skipping out of the school hall when the live band started playing this song for the assembly talk.(too bad I had a meeting and cant stay for the talk ;P) I've learned this song in my primary school days but hearing it in different seasons of my life bought different meanings to the song. Today, it simply reminded me to be joyful, yes, i am learning to be joyful even in my super packed and crazy days ;o)
posted by
xiuli
at
8:47 PM
1 comments
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Create in me a clean heart, O God
Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Dear Lord, as i start the new school term tomorrow, help me to see and experience You in each and every one of the students.Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh.Thank You Jesus.
Create in me a clean heart Oh God
and renew a right spirit within me (2x)
Cast me not away from thy presence, o Lord
And take not thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me
posted by
xiuli
at
5:07 PM
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