Yup, it's that time of the year where you either feel depressed over the fact that you're a year older or happy that you're a year wiser. For me, I believe in growing old gracefully....keke...... ai ya, I still look young what... just a step into the early thirties! I received lots of smses on my birthday. Thanks everyone who remembers. The first person who messaged me wasn't my hb tho', I was actually quite surprised to receive an sms from him. This post is mostly about my 31st birthday celebrations with family and friends.

First celebration, 10/8 (Sun):
I gave my dear family a treat at Joe's Kitchen Thai Cuisine. Have decided on this place after much reading up of various food blogs. Seems like a good place to enjoy affordable Thai food. I must say IMO that the food is slightly above average. Next time, I will give the super spicy mango salad, the below average tasting green curry and the "hard like tapioca" Brinjal a miss! But I will order the super crispy fish, the awesome wok hei taste Thai Kang Kong and the juicy Prawn cakes again. I liked the Crab Tang Hoon but found the tiny bits of shells in the tang hoon cumbersome to remove! So will order the Tiger Prawns version the next time. I also want to try the Deep Fried Stuffed Chicken which looked so tempting and the highly recommended Tom Yum Soup with Fried Fish. Overall, I like the friendly lady boss and most importantly, my beloved dad loved the food. We had a complimentary tapioca dessert which I don't really fancy. Gil bought my favourite Chocolate Banana Cake from Secret Recipe all the way from JB! I thot I wouldn't have a birthday cake this year cos everyone knows that I didn't really like cakes with the exception of CBC. Thanks Gil for lugging such a huge cake back (she walked in, not drive!) as birthday gift for me. Jo loved it too..... see pics of him licking up the plate below. And yes, I've got lots of lovely pressies from them.

Dinner at Joe's Kitchen Thai Cuisine



2nd Celebration, 11/8 (Mon):
We're going up the Flyer! That day was my SIL's birthday. She invited us over for a sandwich cum cake cutting party. I got her some facial masks as a gift. My niece and nephew bought a cute Eeyore mug as a bd present for me. During dinner, we casually chatted about our free August babies' treat on the Flyer with the coupons and my BIL gave the green light for my SIL to come with us! My SIL was elated cos she seldom had the chance of going out on her own. So off we go before he changed his mind! The ride on the flyer was pleasant but I couldn't take any nice pics cos it was too dark. Think the best time to go if you want to take pics would be before 7 pm. Jo was captivated by the lights from all the buildings around us. We went for supper at Long House after the ride.

Celebrating my SIL's Birthday






A Trip to The Flyer




Videos of our ride on the Flyer








Third celebration, 12/8 (Tues):
Tom had make reservation at Ma Maison for my birthday. I was really looking forward to a meal at this popular Japanese Western food restaurant. We were greeted by a pleasant looking Japanese lady when we entered the restaurant. I noticed that there were lots of Japanese in this place so I reckoned that the food here must be good cos even Japanese dine here. I like the interior decor, kind of nostalgic and cosy. The service was excellent too. We had Camembert Cheese, Hotplate Hamburger Steak and Squid Ink Pasta. The cheese was lovely and the honey, vinegar and black pepper dip goes very well with it. The hamburger steak,their signature dish was IMO, PERFECT. But my fave would be the Squid Ink Pasta......... I heart it even tho' there were only 3 pieces of squids, 1 piece of chicken and 5 pieces of mushrooms (yes, I counted them!) but the pasta was the star of the dish! The prices were also reasonable. My only complain is the portion of the food.....guess this is the place where you go for the quality not the quantity...hee..... honestly, I think I can finished all 3 items by myself! We actually went Macdonlad for some fries and ice-cream after a short window shopping...... we're big eaters!

Well, the day didn't end just like that, I had a "not so surprising" surprise by my wonderful young friends who came over to my place while I was getting Jo to bed. They brought ice-cream from Island Creamery and sang me a birthday song. Thanks guys and gals for the treat. We also had donuts from JCO.

Dinner at Ma Maison

My Pressies!

I AM SO BLESSED....... COUNTING MY BLESSINGS EVERYDAY!

Other Stuff

Dinner at our usual Sembawang food centre

Painting with Joash (see his blog for more)

I am going to start a small area here for me to put up the sermons that I heard on Sunday. Mostly in quotes and short points plus my personal reflections. This is a sermon by Ps. Ann Chan.

Title: Rekindling Your Spiritual Passion (2Cor 7:8-16)

1. We can lose our passion gradually or even suddenly. The ease of life should produce more gratefulness and thankfulness but we often neglect that.

2. In order to come close with God, we need to come clean with God.

3. Godly sorrow = repentance of heart = help us to understand our spiritual well being. Worldly sorrow = Death and Destruction

4. Four critical needs for today:
a)Renew: The need to BREAK IN (v8-9)
b)Repent: The need to BREAK WITH (v10)
c) Refresh: The need to BREAKTHROUGH (v11-12)
d) Rejoice: The need to BREAK FORTH (v13-16)

5. When was the last time we enter into solitude with God?

6. What is worse than coldness of heart? It is the veil in our heart/the enemy/effective block to spiritual progress/our wants. Remove the veil...... for the pure in heart shall see God.

Most of us were in tears and went on our knees to ask God to rekindle our passion and forgave us for stubbornly holding on to the veil. I need to see Him again. While praying, I saw the Lord holding up a sign that says,"Welcome back". Make a certain breakthrough in me Lord, I am coming back ........

We sang a song written by Ps Ann and Ruth Ling during service and it really speaks of how I felt.

I was surprised to find this video of the song on Youtube (Btw, this is not CEFC and Ps Ann)


Make A Certain Breakthrough © Ann Chan & Ruth Ling 2006

In my life of searching for the plain and simple way, Many paths were so winding, the roads were never straight, Then the Spirit of God broke through and healed my broken wings, And showed me the way into His heart

Chorus
And I know that God is leading in a clear and certain way, My one life for your purpose, Jesus, I offer up this day, To follow you completely, to do all that you say, Cleanse my life, fill me up, And use me this day, Make a certain breakthrough, Make it today

In these days of danger, Lord, we rest upon Your grace, With Your tender and skillful hands, You shape this stubborn clay, Yes You calm my inmost being, giving courage to hope again, And to build this one life in power and faith