To my beloved friends and family:

There is only three more days until my christmas holidays are over and I am back to school with the first two weeks having exams. This holiday has been good to me. Busy and Relaxed at the same time. The last couple of days as  you know already, I’ve been lazing around and enjoying my time off before school starts up again.

Before I forget, the last two posts were of absolute brilliance. I give credit to my alter ego who drew many peoples attention with the story of getting hit by a brick and spending time on my lovely wordpress. I spent some time on Jon’s wordpress as well. I am quite proud of it I must say, Hynah!

Happy Adoption Day my oh-so-good friend (and perhaps more than that) Corrie. Fourteen years and counting, should feel a warmfuzzy feeling. The Lord has provided and molded a great person. Your love and desire to serve God continue to amaze me. Keep being who you are and seeking God for He is doing great things through you.

This holiday, new years, I have sent a couple of emails and facebook messages wishing new years greetings. I have gotten a few emails and greetingsback and it is amazing to hear from them. Some might be friends I just saw in the last month, some I haven’t seen or talked to in a few years. In their emails, they show their heart for God and their desire to grow and how they are living a God-fulfilled life and this is what refreshes my mind every morning, whether it’s reading a unread mail, or re-reading an email sent a few days back.

After many delays, I finally found the time to meet up with an old friend back in second grade. We use to do everything together, we were best friends. Every since I’ve moved to HKIS, we’ve both been busy and haven’t found the time to keep in touch as often as we wish. When I called her a couple of weeks ago, she was in shock to recieve a call from me after so many years. It was nice to catch up through a dinner and let each other know what’s been going on in our lives.

Sometimes, many times, we need to take time out and sit down, have a drink or coffee with old buddies, or friends at the moment and just catch up. Take a deep breath. Don’t forget to take care of your golf balls first. The things that really matter in your life, God, Family, Friends. When you do, the rest is  just sand. Don’t get too caught up with the small things that you’re doing. But even though sand will fill up the rest of the jar, there’s always room for a cup of coffee with friends!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelesly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. Ephesians 5:15-17 – The Message

Cheers, Jo!

Dear Readers,

After receiving many concerns on the apparent “dash-scar” on my forehead, I have to be more frank with you guys. That story was an allegory to get across a deeper message – as you know if you continue on reading, I am wrestling with a question of what I am going to do in my life; A question my pastor at church challenged the congregation to ponder on. So to settle and put at ease those who are still confused and worried — I did not get hit by a brick, I do no have 12 stitches on my head, and I am perfectly fine (physically). I appreciate all the comments and I’m sorry for giving anyone a difficult time.

The past couple of days I have been quite lethargic. I enjoy doing nothing; I believe it’s okay to be bored (occasionally). Sometimes it allows us to realize something we didn’t realize (almost like getting hit by a brick! Hah, I kid). Being on break has been divine. I have simply enjoyed my daily routine of eating, drinking, chatting, hanging, and sleeping. I am not looking forward to taking exams when I get back, however I am excited to hear everyone’s exhilarating Christmas and New Year’s experiences. I’m sure it’s more intriguing than me spending Christmas at a spa with other lovely naked ladies, scandalous, I know. Nah, it’s good to settle down and invest time with family.

Today is my mother’s birthday. Do I dare share how old she is now? Hah. Regardless, I love her. She has been good to me. No grand gesture is needed, I’ll just say Happy Birthday.

Also, I’d like to give a word out to Corrie. I have been spending a lot of time with her. She is awesome. In fact I don’t think awesome is the right adjective to describe how good she has been to me. =) Stay cool Corrie.

Until next time, take care everyone.

Jo’s anonymous friend.

I was hit by a brick. My overly protected parents rushed me to the Adventist Hospital and I got 12 stitches. Now I am walking with my head tilt down because I have a monstrous scar on my forehead that almost bares resemblance to that of a “dash”. That’s right folks, a “dash” scar.

I was born in 1990. Let’s not get too morbid, but when the time comes my tomb will say 1990-? That dash between 1990 and the question mark is what hit me on my head. I have been convicted yet again and inspired to wrestle with the endless question of

“what am I going to do with that dash in my life?”

So to my faithful readers out there, what are we going to do with our “dash”?

What a great way to start off the New Year, no?

On a lighter note, New Year’s Eve was a blast. I went to Llama island and got to celebrate and embrace 2007 with the coolest kids on the block – Tim, Cindy, Scott, Corrie, Stephanie, Dillon, French Chris, Kelvin, Jesse, and of course the one and only Lillian. I cannot articulate my thoughts, but spending quality time with these people gives me this absolutely unnatural feeling in my body (it’s good) but just so mysteriously wicked. I love it, it’s beautiful. We ate till our stomachs were bloated, laughed till our sides hurt, chatted till the wee hours of the night, and just simply absorbed each other’s presence. What joy, I must say!

The following morning, which would I guess be today, was just absolutely stunning. The weather was just amazing. Light breeze, blue sky, white clouds – it almost felt like I lived in a pollution-free area. Hah I just kid, but it was gorgeous. What a great first day of 2007! And to add to the greatness, playing with Lillian was a bundle of fun. She is such a happy and content kid, the parents raised her well. I hope she grows up to love the Lord.

After I left Llama Island, which is by the way a great get-away from Hong Kong, I crashed at Corrie’s house. I think Corrie has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, while I slept in her heavenly bed, she cleaned her room from corner to corner. What a weird child she is, but a cool one. Afterwards I went on with my life out into the adventurous Sai Kung, where I had fresh seafood…and that is how I shall end this part of the journal.

I go back to the dash. It’s funny in a weird sort of way, but a dash has equivocal meanings. I for one do not want to be living my life dashing from one place to another. I also don’t want to live my life with a dash of this and a dash of that. I want to live my “dash” fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for me. I want God to decide how I am going to live my “dash”.

1990 God ?.

Hello 2007.
(Jo’s alter-ego)

Can ya’ll believe it’s 2007? It feels like just yesterday that I was thinking, it’s 2004! it’s 2005! its 2006! Many of my good friends are graduating this June and I’ll be graduating next year. Wow. Treasure these moments, spend it with the ones you love. Family and friends. And remember God’s plan for you. Keep seeking your purpose in His plan, the purpose for your life.

Imagine your tombstone. It will say “the year you were born – the year you died” The dash in between. It represents you and what you have done your whole life. What do you want people to see you as? The dash is seperated into little parts which represent every year. What have you done this past year? Were you in the darkness, blinded by the light, wheeled into the wrong road and left God’s plan? Make the most out of this year.

Please keep praying for God to show me my New Years resolution and what He wants me to accomplish this year. I have something in mind, but I need a guidance.

Spending New Years at the LaTours house is great. A small group of people. Balance between boys and girls. Playing xbox, watching Grey’s anatomy, counting down on the rooftop. Still here! Grey’s anatomy is amazing, did I mention that?

Anyhow, Happy new year. Thanks for all the text messages and calls.

Cheers, Jo!

Life’s been good since I’ve been back from Japan. I have been meeting up and catching up with friends. Spending some time and home relaxing. I went over to Corrie’s house for a night, we watched four movies: Bring it on, Talladega nights, From Justin to Kelly and Scoop. Made cookies and talked till five in the morning. It was good to catch up with her and just to spend some time with her. Some bonding time.

I also hung out with Karen Chan yesterday. Had lunch at Dan Ryans and watched “The happy feet”. It is an adorable movie. Baby penguins are way cute! We had a chance to walk around the christmas decorations at statue square in central as well. It was a great time catching up and seeing her somewhere outside of school. Listening to her testimony of God and how He lead her to hong kong is great. God is powerful and working.

Something rare. I was on the train the other day and it was crowded, during rush hour. I was looking around and the old lady next to me manage to bend down while she was standing, grab her chinese Bible from her bag, and started reading it in the train. How great is that? That is something you don’t see very often nowadays.

While I was in shenzhen for a massage today, God really lead me to think of a new year resolution, a goal for this coming year. It has always been on the back of my mind since a friend of mine suggested it to me but I thought about it alot more today and realized that it is possible. Though I don’t know how it will get done, or if I will follow through with it. I really hope I do, I will have to keep praying and trusting in God that He will guide me to what He wants me to do.

While talking to a friend tonight, I came across a great verse. Something to pray about.

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

I’ll see you all in 2007!

Cheer, Jo.