I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4: 1 - 3

Recently, I've found myself annoyed and impatient with people and things around me. Maybe today especially. There were so many thoughts running through my head, as though I'd been engulfed by a sudden surge of unhappiness from the past and present.

"Why are these people demanding so much of my energy?"

"Why are these people only able to think for themselves?"

"Why are these people bothering me like there's no tomorrow?"

"Why can't these people be a little more understanding?"

It's so easy to say, "These people are so annoying", but not so to be the one thinking less of me, myself and I and the so-called "hurt" that these people have inflicted on ME, and more of, well, these people. I guess, that these verses came timely. Why let such little things strain my relationships? After all, God doesn't love us for what we do but for who He is. Shouldn't we show forth His goodness, His grace, His love...

They always say, that we can't control our circumstances, but we can control our response to them. We can't control others' attitudes and behaviour, but we can control our attitude and behaviour. Grant me the love, humility, patience, understanding. Through reading the Word, through prayer. These I haven't been consistent with the past few weeks. The next few weeks, they'll go one way or the other.

You either start now, or you say later and you never start.

Lord, I really need You.

Verdant Dreams 2010, the first Woodwind and Percussion concert DHSCO has organised, the first Woodwind and Percussion concert held by a secondary school at an external concert hall (according to Mr Tay). 5 years back, this was what my batch had wanted to do, holding our very own Woodwind and Percussion concert in the school auditorium. We decided on a couple of songs, we came up with a rough poster design, but it never came to pass. It's just wonderful that after all these years, our dream's finally fulfilled! That already broke new grounds, and I'm extremely proud of what DHSCO has achieved.

I guess the sweetest thing for me each time I go back for DHSCO concerts, besides the onstage glamour and adrenaline rush, is the growth of not only the orchestra but also the individual members. It's pretty amazing, how we never used to believe in non-musical "gimmicks", but it has changed now. Why not? As long as the music standard isn't compromised, bringing little elements of fun onto the stage is always a joy for the performers and audience. And of course, it's always a beautiful sight looking at how the juniors blossom year after year, from timid little kids who were afraid even to play, to performers who're able to really let go and move with the music. I was talking to this junior yesterday, and she mentioned the East Zone Primary Schools camp where she was a mere Primary 4 kid and I was her student leader. Now, she's already in Year 3 and we're performing on the same stage! DHSCO just unites us in different ways, heh.

This concert's indeed one of the more fun and memorable ones, and it touched me in a different way. Perhaps it's a dream come true for the Woodwind and Percussion Ensemble, perhaps it's the pride of seeing the juniors grow, perhaps it's the delight in seeing long-lost seniors back again, perhaps it was simply the encore that saw Year 2 students all the way to working adults performing on the same stage. It's always nostalgic going back, and this time it was no different. Thank God for DHSCO, and the honour of being a part of this. :)

It has been the fastest 4 months that could ever pass. It seemed like just yesterday that I stepped into school, filled with uncertainty as to what the new semester would bring. And before I knew it, my first year has come to a close. Wow, wow! Talk about time flying... Hee.

This semester, it has been great. I didn't know what to expect at the beginning, but I guess we were soon thrown into the frenzy of academia before we even took ten breaths of the air around us. Haha alright maybe it wasn't all too bad at the beginning when time was still slow and we could afford to play our breaks away. Those were the times that SCARCZ could still meet up relatively often. Speaking of which, thank God for this absolutely wonderful group of friends. It's been awesome getting to know you folks better over the semester, been great hanging out with you all too! And thank God for allowing me to get to know other people so much better as well. Including my English-Math buddies whom I never thought existed last semester hahaha. I honestly thought that there were only 3 people who took this combi! Haha.

So after the initial honeymoon period, the semester got crazier, and crazier, and crazier. Time never felt so tight, and I'd never felt that stressed. Those times when it was deadline after deadline and knowing my character, I was just rushing, rushing and rushing. Until my body couldn't take it anymore and it protested. That was such a wrong breakdown time, the battle wasn't even half over. But thank God for His grace that sustained me, and for the people around me!

It wasn't easy. So often I struggled, especially since I skipped lessons like nobody's business last semester and just attending lessons was kind of a tall order. But I tried, and by God's grace, I kinda succeeded! (Yeah, there was a number of times I overslept and missed my lessons, and that occurred more frequently during the second term heehee.) I really thank God for His showers of blessings over the semester, be it friends, grades... Thank God for His grace and strength, I'd never have survived the sem without Him. Especially towards the end when it got real tough and so many times I wanted to just give up, thank God for the constant encouragement from the people around me. Calvin and his wise words (no wonder he's our Uncle Calvin hahaha hey that's a compliment), Charlotte and Amantha my study companions who encouraged me so much too, Sarah and her constant nagging for me to study and do my work hahaha, and Zenn for always being sooooo sweet and entertaining! Not to mention my beloved brothers and sisters-in-Christ who've been encouraging me and keeping me in prayer. Awww. Thank God for all of you! :)

The semester ended in a nightmare, but I really couldn't ask for more. It's all in His hands... Thank God for having seen me through the 4 months. Thank God for the highs, the lows, every single lesson He has taught me, every single person I've got to know. Thank God for the whole of year one!

And thank God for everyone's prayers over the days I was sick. The last time my fever hit 40 was... 10 years ago? Haha. Wasn't a good few days but I guess I've somehow repaid my sleep debt. Thank God for the rest. Still feeling spineless, but I'll be out of my house soon!

Thank You.