Mean Reds : taking a look at life's daily set backs.

Materialism 101 : the Value of Stuff

There is absolutely no evidence that complexity and materialism

lead to happiness.

On the contrary, there is plenty of evidence that simplicity 

and spirituality lead to joy,

a blessedness that is better than happiness.

quoted by Dennis Swanberg

oh, how true it is! yet when you have the loveliest blouse held up in front of your eyes, all you could probably think of is how happy you would be if you owned it. However, in a well lived life, material possessions should play a rather small role as they can never bring true joy into our lives and chasing over material things will only leave us empty and discontented. Therefore, we must constantly remind ourselves that God cares about people and not possessions, and so must we. :)

As said by Barbara Johnson, "The more we stuff ourselves with material pleasures, the less we seem to appreciate life ."

*note to self : absolutely NO more shopping! i shall flee from the sight of any shopping malls. go away, temptation! :( 

The Weekly Weather Report

true friends.

When we honestly ask ourselves which 

person in our lives means the most to us,

 we often find that it is he who,

instead of giving much advice, solutions, and cures,

has chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds

with a gentle and tender hand.

The friend who can be silent with us

in a moment of despair and confusion,

who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,

who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing,

and face us with the reality of our powerlessness,

that is a friend who cares.

quoted by Henri Nouwen

* To my beloved grandparents at this time of  difficulty and trial, 

where words of encouragement and just a comforting arm around

the shoulder is much needed.

  _______________________________________________

The Report : 

Heavy rain poured down unfortunately on Tragic Tuesday.

Dark clouds showing that bad weather was imminent was also seen

towards the end of the week,

However, much to my pleasure, beautiful sunny weather was 

experienced throughout this entire week :) :)

A spoonful of sugar.

" She pauses then and crosses her arms, glancing over her shoulder 

to make sure no one has followed her.

 Finally, she seems to relax.

And then I feel as if I was witnessing a miracle, 

as ever so slowly she raises her face toward the moon.

I watch her drink in the sight, sensing the flood of memories 

she's unleashed and wanting nothing more than to let her know I'm here.

 But instead, I stay where I am and stare up at the moon as well. 

And for the briefest instant, 

it almost feels like we're together again. "

A paragraph taken from Nicholas Sparks' newest book, "Dear John".

i have just finish reading this book and i found it to be tremendously moving and left me yearning for more. Sparks has once again shown me the true meaning of unconditional love with such a depth that I can't help but feel the joys and pains of the characters. It's one of those books that lingers in your mind after reading them. A heartbreaker, that should only be pore over by one who is ready to cry and fall in love all over again..

Through the Telescope..

Out of this whirl!

What a sight to behold! The Whirlpool Galaxy is one of astronomy's galactic darlings located 31 million light-years away. The greatness of the God we serve is written in the stars, calling us to see the splendor and majesty of our mighty creator. totally breathtaking.

" Now if i believe in God's Son and remember He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees and apples, as I reflect that He is Lord over all things.... God writes the Gospel, not in the bible alone but also on trees, and in flowers and clouds and stars. "

~ Martin Luther

credit : NASA, ESA, S.Beckwith and the Hubble Heritage Team.

Who hears a who?

blow slowly, now.

a tiny little speck of dust on a soft fragile dandelion.

who would have thought there would be a whole world in there?

Horton did. (luckily for Who-ville!)

i can't help but think of us living on this little planet, we call earth

then compare us to the universe that God has created out there. 

we are just the same little speck of dust on his marvelous creation.

YET, He would send his beloved Son, Jesus to die for us all. 

it's just indescribable.

you just gotta love Dr. Seuess :)

"a person's a person, no matter how small"

the first and last breath.

Life and Death. 

unavoidable . inescapable . inevitable . certain . predestined . predetermined . fated .

It's the surest calculation that can be made. 

we know it. we're sure it's coming our way. 

yet each time a new life is born or a life is taken away,

it always catches us off guard,

leaving us to marvel at the greatness of God

and it's also at times like these, 

we are always reminded that we are still alive,

and what a gift it is that we are breathing at this very moment. 

Today, a respectable father of a dear friend passed away peacefully at 3.12 am. 

My deepest condolences goes to my friend and his family. 

As said by Madame de Stael, 

"We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love"