Three and only three

Three and a half weeks of teaching to go ... 

Term 4 seems a little slow, only wishing time would fly faster. Believe me, I love my students. However, I do need a break. I've been growing white hair as of recent. I need to get rid of the white hair by going for a vacation. 

This reminds me ... three and a half weeks to America ... oh I can hardly wait. The best is yet to come. An exciting adventure lies ahead. Oh such a wonderful and beautiful vacation to look forward to. 

Blessings!!! 

The Joy of Baking

Baking in general requires preparation and planning ...

It's been awhile since I last baked for my hubby. I've been cooking, tending to household chores, and planning my own business. Yet I haven't had time to plan to bake for my hubby. 

I used to bake once a week for the hubby ... that died as my work kept me busy. 

Why does baking make my hubby excited and joyful?

They say the way to a man's heart is the stomach. My hubby may be skinny but he sure does loves to eat cakes ... butter cakes and brownies in particular. Cakes are a form of dessert for the family to enjoy too. I might as well make use of my baking skills and create delicious desserts .. for us the enjoy with pleasure and entertainment. 

I should start baking again. The more I bake, the more I see happy faces and happy moods. 

Maybe you should try it too. Trust me, it works :)

It can be a form of confession, a birthday present that comes from the heart, a daily dessert thing, fellowship, parties, etc etc. 

Recipes can be found via online. Google it. Trust me, you won't regret it 

Profession Isn't Everything

I've been pondering ...

Ever thought if your current occupation is all you wanted to be or if you were forced into it due to status, financial issues, family pressure, public pressure, etc ?

When I was in primary school, my cousin and myself wanted to be doctors. When my best friend was in secondary school, she wanted to be a dentist. When my classmate was in primary school, she wanted to be a lawyer. Yep, these were our dream jobs. Why? Cause it sounded cool and sounded professional and these were respected professions. 

Look how we turned out to be 10 - 20 years down the road. My cousin ended up in the investment and finance industry. I ended up teaching primary school students, although I did some journalistic and marketing tasks. My best friend became and accountant. My classmate became a film director. 

It's not that we didn't want to be doctors, dentists or lawyers. Our interests shifted to a new direction ... towards an entrepreneur/creative direction. We had the brains and the intelligence. Yet, if it's not something we'd enjoy doing for the new 20 - 30 years ... why bother? 

What's important is ... love your job. This was the sole reason why we chose to switch our career pathways. Profession is not everything. What matters is ... loving your job, passion for your job, doing your best and taking responsibility. 

To those who are ashamed of their profession, one advise to you ... the world may look down you. Fear not, as long as you believe in yourself, your current job may reach you to higher heights, unimaginable and beyond description. Do your best, be bold and be strong. 

You are what you are. Appreciate your talents and your creativity. At least you have a job in this new era :) 

Mr Weatherman, please make up your mind ...

The weatherman is a moody creature. Yep, I'm calling it a creature, no mercy whatsoever!!! There are some days where he makes it rain, making our lovely skies gloomy and blue. There are some days he brings the sun to light and makes it shine brightly in the sky, which brightens my day. There are some days he brings the wind, which blows us away and makes us say BRRRR and hide underneath the blanket.

Ah, Mr Weather, please make up your mind. Sometimes, I'm afraid I might wear the wrong attire. Either my attire would be too thin or too thick or too long or too short and etc etc etc. Why does this country have to have four seasons in a year? Why can't it be Spring all year long, where the weather's just nice and cool; bright, happy, peaceful and comfortable. 

Mr Weather, please work your magic. I'm running out of thick jackets to wear that I'm borrowing my husband's jumpers all the time, which makes it look like I'm a plump potato ... since his jumpers are too big for me. Ah ... Mr Weatherman, could you kindly give us a good weather for the rest of the year? Everyone's falling sick due to the drastic change of weather. 

I guess I could start filling my wardrobe with thicker jackets or coats or jumpers ... 

Australian Economy Upside Down

Australian dollar seems to be tumbling down. The whole hoo-hah started two weeks ago.

According to "The Australian", "the Treasurer has consistently put the blame on the "stubbornly high" Australian dollar for the series of revenue writedowns that have turned his projected $1 billion surplus this financial year into what could be a series of sizeable deficits"

According to new.com.au, on the other hand, "The Australian dollar opened below 99 US cents today, for the first time in 11 months. It has stayed at those lower levels, following Treasurer Wayne Swan's unveiling of an $18 billion deficit for 2013/14, with a return to surplus not expected until at least 2015/16." 

Bank rates are decreasing, thus, money seems to be an issue. Anxious, worried, afraid. Yet, this seems to be good news for the property market. Rates are cheaper. The cheaper it is, the easier it is to pay your mortgages. Oh what a joy. But what about those who are working to survive? 

One tip ... try to save as much money as you can and spend less. That might help you to survive or better ... enjoying the riches of your hard earned money. As a result, your generation will have a life of "no worries". 

However, beware. Do not take it for granted. Try to improvise. Things change and you need to possess the ability to sit back, relax and gauge the situation. Responding in a positive way is the only way to solve the issue. Spiritually, you should pray to God and trust God. And of course ... you need to do something about it too. Save, think practically, spend less and think about what you should do to save your generation, such as working multiple jobs, relocating, investment, etc etc. 

I have a job, I have no complaints. My boss pays well. Busy at the end of the week, but isn't everybody? Getting paid well is more than I need. If you calculate both my salary and my husband's salary ... survival rate is excellent; enough money for groceries, entertainment and future savings. 

If you still have a job, Australia's economy is still standing strong. 

xx

It's been a-whiiiillleeee

It's been awhile ...

Married life seems to get your life up and running. Juggling work and household chores/to-do list has put her on a busy-no-rest hiatus. I wouldn't claim it as a totally no-rest hiatus. Some rest was given, in the weekends and an hour or two on week nights. Yet, it never seems to be enough.

What's with the "not enough" statement? Here are a number of reasons why.

1) She finishes work late most of the time.
2) She reaches home late most of the time.
3) She has to prepare her work for the next day when she returns home. She's a teacher and teachers need to prepare education materials in advance. Planning and organising is essential.
4) She has to cook meals.
5) She has to wash the dishes.
6) She has to clean the house.
7) She has to do the laundry.
8) She has to sleep by 9 or 10, or she'll be toasted the next day at work.
9) She wakes up at 7 every morning.

No maids to help you cook or clean or do your chores, she had no choice but to be a superwoman. It gets tiring and restless. Thankfully, her husband helps her to do the washing or cooking whenever she reaches her exhaustion limits.

Married life isn't that bad after all. Besides, whatever you do for the household is for the sake of your family. She loves her husband and that's the whole reason why she does it. Happens vice-versa with her husband. He helps her because he loves her and cares for her. In marriage, it's all about compromising, helping one another and unconditional love.

And the she is yours truly.

I feel blessed to have found such a good husband  who gives me unconditional love. Although we may have disagreements, the love, appreciation and valuing has replaced all the disagreements we have. Sure, we solve the disagreements by letting go and compromising, after understanding the good will of the person's statement, and coming to a solution. Being married four months to him is truly amazing and I'm thankful to the Lord for bringing us together.

I always believe that we should wait in wisdom, like what Ps Nat Pingel talked about this morning for Mother's Day. Praise Him in waiting for the right one. Always have an intimate relationship with God as you wait for God to bring the right partner in your life. And of course ... never fail to serve Him wholeheartedly. Servant-hood will lead you to the right partner that God has chosen for you, just like what it did to me.

Praise God in every circumstances :) God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Yours Truly,
J