I've been kind of feeling very emotional the last couple of days. Thought we had more time left than we actually have. And I realised that while I was all excited to come to the USA, I did not prepare myself or even think about what it is going to be like to leave. We've made so many good friends here, and the thought that it might we a long time before we meet again, if we do meet again, is just soooooo painful to think about... haiz

Sweet Valentines

Valentines' is kind of fun this year. I gotta bake cupcakes and cheesecake, and made some chocolate strawberries.

Pink Cupcakes

Mocha Layered Cheesecake & Chocolate Strawberries

The cheesecake look so pretty and it was kind of yummy, at least for the first couple of bites. But the taste buds noted the unusual saltiness. Sadly, the sugar canister had some salt in it too. Haiz.. so, here is a sweet memory of my salty cheesecake.

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Last Valentines was spent babysitting the Millers an Canfields. This year we spent it with our Adult Bible Fellowship - Young Marrieds class. It was fun. We played some games and had yummy steak and nice chocolate truffle dessert.

It's our kind of Valentines. Being with friends - being a blessing and being blessed by nice Christian fellowship :)

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Our eyes are upon you, Lord

King Jehoshaphat's prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:12

"... For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you"

In times of danger, pain, sorrow, injustice, uncertainty... i.e. when things are not going the way we had wanted them to go, our response reveals where our eyes are upon - God or self?

The sermon on Sunday was a great reminder for me: "Jesus is the one for me to focus my life's eyes upon"

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 ways to keep our eyes upon Jesus:

1. remember that even godly forefathers (Heb 11) are still only man!
2. realise that unbelief will only distract you from God's plan - at the root of every sin is unbelief!
3. reflect on the pattern of Jesus' life - 4 patterns:
   

• delayed gratification - joy in a distance and not right now for Christ
• patient endurance - enduring the cross, Christ created even the hands that nailed Him to the cross!
• humble obedience - not My will, but the Father's will
• righteous exaltation - He is now seated on the right hand throne of God - the most exalted position!

Philippians 2

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I must fix my eyes on Jesus, and continually remind myself of what He has done for me - the exemplary life He lived, the death He died, the victory He has given.

Me and my darling - the cutest, sweetest, and most loving guy on earth! :)

One of the rare times we have a nice picture taken :) Thanks to Vicky. She's a freelance photographer who's recently joined the church and is kind of taking over my husband's role as photographer for Tri-City.

We're thankful for the many opportunities to serve in Tri-City's many different ministries. I thank God truly for helping me see that no one is indispensable in His work, no matter how important I think I am or someone else is. God's work will always be done when He wants it done. He is inviting us to be in His work, a ready instrument and vessel for His work. What a privilege and I pray I'll never be distracted by the affairs of this world.