Proverbs 19:23

"The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble" - Proverbs 19:23

There is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that you are living life to the fullest. You have taken all the chances and opportunities that have been given to you. You have taken the best road for your life without compromising who you are. You have developed a character that is respected and genuine. There is so much hope and a bright future ahead. I wish I could bottle up this time in my life and keep it for those days in the future when I am in the valleys. These blessings have all come from my Father...and I am so thankful! Everything is thanks to God and so all this joy, love, contentment and hope I have received I want to give it back in praise and service. It's not important what happens to you, it only matter how you respond to it. And if you respond positively then more positive things will come. In a time when no one really give faith a second thought, God is so real all around me - in the events in my life, the people that I've met and the moments that I've experienced.

"You are the God of my story...write every line for your glory"

Arirang

This is an excerpt from my monologue I wrote in the perspective of a NK refugee now living in Canada...
I had met a real defector from North Korea a couple years ago and after doing extensive research - this cause affected me so deeply. I hope to help speak for those who are not allowed to speak in North Korea, and tell the story of those who are ignored by the international community.

"In my city Pyongyang, the streets are desolate. There is a steely silence that engulfs the entire city. There is an artificial equality and there are heartbeats within citizens, but no one is truly living. The trains and the trams are running but no one is going anywhere because fear has paralyzed every living being. Arirang means beautiful country. But my country is no longer beautiful. I laugh here because my people cannot laugh there. I speak here because their voice is not heard there. I hope here because there is no hope there. I live here because there is no life there."

Hanvoice is an organization, making an impact http://hanvoice.org/en/

MJ

Marjane Satrapi is the animated icon of coming of age stories in contemporary lit. Read Persepolis or watch the film and you'll see why...
She chronicles her life story in the form of comic strips that exude as much emotion as prose. Born and raised during the revolution and war in Iran, her story still has a light-hearted touch

Crush

Hmm...
this is an entirely random post - but just fun for me to post

When people talk about celebrity crushes, the usual culprits spur absolutely no interest in me :S
Unfortunately they fail to make me swoon like every other member of the female population.
When a trashy tabloid if pulled and there are flashy images of the "hottest male stars" - they barely make an impression on me...and people think I'm so strange!

Brad Pitt? meh
Johnny Dep? nah
Zac Efron? blah

My celeb crushes are little more unexpected and are a lot more quiet...but they make me giggle like a naive school girl

My Lord, why do get into these obsessions with fictional/unattainable people?

So...who is my "celeb crush"?

Sean Flynn
You're thinking...who the heck is that?

The grandson of hearthrob Errol Flynn from the Golden Age of Hollywood

this is pretty embarassing - but plays a character named Chase Matthews from Zoey 101 haha!

If you know how he portrays his character; you know what I mea :)

oh sweeeet Lord, watch and listen him caress the strings ofl acoustic guitar and play this incredible song he wrote...the lyrics make me melt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jTtQbHGA8

and you'll swoon right along with me!

I've always favoured quieter guys, the sweet, emotionally type who appreciate family, wholesome values and honestly. The ones that no one really notices because they do not try to call attention to themselves but are actually brilliant because of their strong moral character.

Call me a cheeseball but my tactic to find a good husband...is actually praying

One of my biggest fears is ending up with someone that I will despise later on after the honeymoon is done. And destroying a family because I settled on someone who wasn't the one. Hmm weird thing to think about when you're barely an adult...

But because of all the knowledge and experience that I learned from my mother...I have an understanding of how important it really is...

So nice guys, please don't give up hope and give up on being nice!
There are girls out there who are looking for just that :)

The Reminder

Windows of Residence at Victoria College U of T

My Future abode.

Dear God,

May I remember a few things when I'm experiencing my first year of university at U of T, and feel like I'm being beaten down by the system or just like one of a million...

• If it is required so that I can be shaped to be the person you destined me to be, may I not be afraid to make mistakes and even fail
  
• May I not feel offended or snubbed by learning from someone who is more intellectually cultivated that I am, may I listen and learn all that they have to offer
  
• May I continue to be open to new ideas but discern with a heart that has been raised by you
• May I not forget about you in my day to day life
• May I always stop and give thanks
• May I not let the gift hinder me from enjoying & experiencing my undergrad years
• May I not create a caste system in my mind and categorize people unfairly
  
• May I be diligent, concentrated and focused
  
• May I take every opportunity given to me
• May I live these years to the fullest!

Amen.

Flukes

Today was a day filled with beautiful flukes. Alex, Tor and I decided to venture downtown in search for the promise land of used book stores. We literally walk a dozen different directions to find this place, and end up in a sketchy area. We try walking into a random store to ask for directions and turns out this is an awesome used CD/DVD a few blocks north of Dundas...and we all pick out some gems.

I finally bought the American Beauty/Virgin Suicides duo that has been long recommended to me. Tor picks ups an album from harcore German band (oh the name escapes me at the moment, but I know it starts with a R) and Alex found Babel, a must-have on his list of films to purchase. And all for less than $10!

We are satisfied with our finds but we are searching for our original purpose, the discount book utopia. We circle around a few times, and at the height of our frustration Tor decides to ask a random security guard inside a building for directions. We enter and find him pre-occupied on the phone...

and at this moment, this fluke of a sign or omen is revealed to us.
We were searching for Edward street and right in front of us was 123 Edward Street
and right below this sign was "Victor Pharmacy" - and Victor is the name of Tor's father who recommended this bookstore to us.

We end up finding this bookstore, that was literally right across the street from where we were originally. However, I think we can all agree that it was well worth the walk and search. Incredible books in mint condition for less than $1o...on the subway ride home we calculated all the savings and we could sponsor a child from World Vision with the money saved!

This is definitely a must go place - it's called BMV books
right off of Dundas by the huge HMV, and beside The World's Biggest Bookstore

Another post to come about this day...

Peace

Happiness

Outside my house we have a beautiful crab apple tree that blooms bursts of pink every spring. And every year, I told myself that I would take a picture of this tree because it honestly leaves me breathless. But every year I always forgot because the days would become busier and the task would always slip my mind.

These blossoms only last for a week or so and then they are gone and every year I missed them.

I finally took a picture of these beautiful blooms and I was happy :)

These days that I've been living, I have been so blessed with so many bouts of happiness.
God has been showering me with immeasurable moments that I honestly don't deserve and I could not be enjoying life more...

I'm not even scared of all of this slipping away from me because I've kept a piece of it & I'm living life to its fullest.

"We must not expect happiness, Sayuri. It is not something we deserve. When life goes well, it is a sudden gift; it cannot last forever... " - Memoirs of a Geisha