33rd Birthday

Jun 12, 2012

Didn’t really celebrate my birthday today, but my heart was filled with overwhelming thankfulness.  For one thing, my parents actually remembered my birthday and gave me red pockets this year (they usually just remember my lunar birthday).  Then, one after another, my FB was flooded with greetings from friends, and I didn’t even make my birthday public!

Had lunch with a few fellowship b/s, then a haircut later in the afternoon, and free badminton session with friends at night.  Nothing really exciting, but I find that simpleness can sometimes be a better way to celebrate one’s birthday.

I’m thankful for a loving family and abundant good friends remembering my birthday, it’s really the thought that counts.

Thank you God for bringing me to this world 33 years ago, You knew me before I was conceived, and You’ve shown tremendous patience in molding me into who I am today.  May You continue to lead and guide me through life, help me understand your purpose in me so that I may live out Your glory.  Amen.

Sermon Stand

Jun 8, 2012

Arrived church early for a gathering, took out my scrapbook and pen and quickly sketched the sermon stand.  It’s been a long time since I last sketched, still very much enjoy the focus and the brief moment when the world around me turned silent and serene.  Really should sketch more often.

 

Thinking about Career…

Jun 7, 2012

Becoming more serious with my freelance work – designed some business cards and will do the proper business registration tomorrow.

I came across an interesting opening for a research assistant position from CU earlier this week, got me thinking about whether I should get myself a full-time job, the regular monthly income is such a tempting proposition.  But then again, is this really what I want to do as a career?  In 5 years, I hope to see myself accomplishing the following 3 things with my career:

  1. make a living, at least enough to pay for my monthly expenses
  2. doing something that I enjoy, something that I look forward to doing every morning
  3. doing something meaningful, helping others and glorifying God with the things that I do and say

Most of my friends seem to encourage me to walk the road of entrepreneurship too.  Without asking, I was forwarded a few freelance opportunities from friends in the last 2 days.  I’m thankful that friends think of me when they see opportunities I may be interested, and I’m taking this as a sign that I should choose entrepreneurship over settling with a full-time job.

So, I’m determined, I’ll give myself 1 year to try out this uncertain road of entrepreneurship!

Oh God, please continue to lead and guide me in my career, may you use me for Your works, glorifying Your name with the things that I do and say.

Business Card Design

Jun 7, 2012

Designed some business cards for my freelance work…

 

Oil Painting Class

Jun 4, 2012

Arrived school for my painting class more than half an hour early, for some reason I kept on thinking that the class was starting 15 mins earlier than the actual time.  Made a failed attempt to paint a banana tonight, a reminder that I’m still very much a beginner in oil painting.

I am thinking a lot about the June 4th massacre today.  Watched an archive of the news broadcasted on 1989.06.04, quite shocked, even for a political ignorant guy like me.  I feel a little guilty for not joining the candlelight vigil tonight, will try to join for the first time next year.

Home Studio Cleanup

Jun 3, 2012

Gave myself a week to finish the big cleanup of my home studio, happy to say that it’s finally completed!  Loving the tidy, organized, and cleaned up studio, the place where I’ll spend much of my time starting tomorrow, the day I declare as the start of my new career!

I felt privileged to have such a nice environment to work, and I’m thankful that my family doesn’t have any burden on me and has given me the freedom to pursue whatever career I so desire.  I believe in diligence, good work, and perseverance, may this newly cleaned up studio foster such an environment.

Oh God, thank you for giving me such a wonderful working environment, may You continue to lead me in my career, allow me to use the gifts You’ve given me to do good works for You!

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  (1 Peter 4:10)

Sickness

May 28, 2012

Had a high fever last night, felt so weak that I couldn’t even seem to move my body.  Posted a status update on FB regarding my sickness and had an overwhelming replies of caring messages.  I’m thankful for friends and family who cared about me.

It’s interesting how sickness makes me numb to the happenings around me.  My senses seemed to have renewed after the speedy recovery, I seem to see things with an added sense of curiously, the familiar things seemed to be new again.

Week Review

May 26, 2012

This is one of those weeks where badminton, soccer, and bball coincide on the same week, I think this is probably as much physical activity as my body can handle.

A lot of other things also happened this week.  I finally launched a website I had been working on and off for a few months, calling completion of all the freelance projects I had at hand!  I wasn’t planning on taking any more freelance work as I wanted to focus on setting up the dEEsigners’ business, but a friend called desperately looking for help in coding flash games, I’m just not good in saying no, so I offered to help on one of their simplest games.

But perhaps one of the greatest achievements for me this week is the completion of remodeling the little rock garden in my home studio.  The bigger project of remodeling my home studio is almost complete now, what is left is mainly the messy little aquarium I have at the corner, that may require a fair bit of time to clean up…

Oil Painting Class

May 21, 2012

Painted my 3rd oil painting today.  I’m starting to feel comfortable about this weekly exercise – I know where to put the brushes, the paint, the oil bottle, and I know how to pace myself so that I don’t have to rush through finishing the painting.  I find it interesting how these painting classes can mess with my feelings – I felt so gifted and proud after the first painting, then felt defeated after the second painting, and tonight I felt comfortable like a student artist doing regular practices, trying to understand and master a less familiar medium.

Forms were available today to register for an intermediate painting class starting July/August, I’m debating whether I want to spend 3 more months of Monday nights practicing oil painting.  Most likely I will register as I quite enjoy learning and mastering new skills.  “Everything is difficult until it becomes easy”

Friend’s Wedding

May 19, 2012

Attended one of the most extravagant but yet least heart-felt wedding tonight.  Most extravagant because it was filled with the rich and famous, even the upcoming Chief Executive of the city was there!  And least heart-felt because I don’t know any people there other than a high school friend, and I doubt that my friend (the groom) knows half of the guests there sharing his celebration.  The truth is, it felt more like a political or business show than a wedding.  Regardless, I feel happy for my friend and wish him  a wonderful and fulfilling married life.

If I ever get marry, I wish to avoid such elaborate celebrations and maybe just simply have a warm and enjoyable dinner with close family and friends…

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