ONLY BY GRACE

BILLY JOEL - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE Don't go changing, to try and please me You never let me down before Don't imagine you're too familiar And I don't see you anymore I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble We never could have come this far I took the good times, I'll take the bad times I'll take you just the way you are Don't go trying some new fashion Don't change the color of your hair You always have my unspoken passion Although I might not seem to care I don't want clever conversation I never want to work that hard I just want someone that I can talk to I want you just the way you are. I need to know that you will always be The same old someone that I knew What will it take till you believe in me The way that I believe in you. I said I love you and that's forever And this I promise from the heart I could not love you any better I love you just the way you are. Currently the top song on my playlist. Listening to it again & ...

That is the seal that is marked on me. Its the mark that tells the world who I am. This mark carries with a great amount of authority and stress all at the same time. The pressure to not defile, disgrace and defame this seal. Sometimes I don't want to have this seal because it brings weird looks and ridicules and I don't want all that! Yet it is this mark that sets me apart. People know that I am different. Am I ready to be different? Admist the emotional conflicts, I hear the assurance that 'You're Mine' and I'm stilled. Come what may, I'm secured and that is all I need to know and embrace.

A weekend I will forever hold close to my heart. My first dive trip after 7 years. Since my open waters experience, I thought my affinity with diving came to an end. Never would I expect to see myself in a wet suit, rigged up with the dive equipment and making the descent into the deep blue sea again. But I did. Before the trip, I was having tons of second thoughts and seriously considered backing out despite the assurances of my friends, one of whom is a dive master himself! The first experience really freaked me out that I had zilch confidence to give it another shot. Boy..the amount of trepeditions and fears that hit me like big waves was unimaginable. I don't know what came over me to even agree to go for this one in the first place. And it was for an advanced diver course! Its totally beyond me! Having gone and come back, it is all so surreal to me. I had a more positive feeling for this trip as compared to the first one and it turned out to be a really good one. I had my fair...

Joani's & Gracie's date! Met early to dinner, chat and chill. Both were 20mins late and we text each other at the same time informing of our whereabouts! Girls after each other's hearts! Both had sporadic cravings that changed every 5 minutes. We also planned to have Max Brenner's waffle for dessert, which was not to be (read on for details). Finally settled for good ole' Kenny Rogers. 2 girls ordered the 'Lucille' promotion meal which consists of 2 one-quarter chicken, 1 ribs, 3 side dishes, 2 corn muffins and 2 free drinks. Usually equipped with a voracious appetite, we found ourselves struggling to finish our meal, but we tried. The grand total balance is just 1 piece of the rib! Impressive ay? Thus, we concluded we'll save Max Brenner for our next outing. Then came the main highlight of our date : STOMP! The show starts at 8pm. But since we thought we had abit of time to spare, we decided to do our favourite thing - window shop/shop. Headed to Di...

I walked to the kitchen to have a drink and this thought suddenly came about. I'm not a girl whom one will like at first instance, but whom one will grow to love forever. I figured this is a wonderful answer to questions about my marital/attached status. And possibly a conversation stopper as well! Beauty truly is in the eyes of the beholder. I am the beholder.

a conversation i had with a friend this evening really got me thinking. he said, "grace, you are actually very funny but these days you are kind of holding yourself back. you are thinking alot." he obviously didn't know what ian prayed over me 2 saturdays ago. ian said i am a hilarious girl with a bubbly nature but my depth can be hidden by this jovial facade at times. true. when i pondered over what my friend and ian said, i realised they are similar yet different at the same time. 1 moment, my jovial nature cannot be hidden but sometimes i think people don't know how to take me seriously because of my 'siao-ding-dong-ness' and that undermines the treasure within me. so i chose to 'mellow' a little and when i do that, people senses that i'm holding myself back! i don't think i'm having an identity crisis or unsure of who i am. but its interesting that in a span of 2 weeks, i would receive comments as such that really opens up the floodgate...

YOU ARE FAITHFUL- Hillsong Lord of all the earth How You care for me You have made me You will save and carry me always You are faithful You are faithful You are faithful Your joy is my strength Lord you are my God I rely on You I put my hope in things not seen Your promises all true Always you’re with me Your hand will lift me My trust is in your hands I love simple songs with an easy tune and few lyrics to remember. For now, I've been listening to this song for the 10th time continuously since I woke up. A good start to the morning of a brand new day.