"The journey was more important than the place; most important was to return home.... and to be able to say: I have been there, I have gone on a journey, I have come safely home."

- from Something Rich & Strange

(Patricia McKillip)

**BLAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.....** Excuse me while I melt into a puddle on the floor......... it's so darn HOT today! And it's like 30 degrees in the store........ even with the lights off. >_<" Yiiiiikes. I wish for a downpour...... even if I get caught in it. It would feel miles better right now! *I'm siiiiiiinging in the raaaaain.........* (Ha, if only!) It's a sweltering 43 degrees outside right now, with the humidex! Melly my girl, you picked a golden time to come visit. ;)

Still slow at the store today...... though not as slow as last week. Went out to lunch with my manager...... we had candy cane rice, Carmie! It was yummy. I have leftovers. *yum yum!* ^-^ I was trying to read Troilus & Cressida...... I'm on Act 1, scene 2...... but I'm too distracted to focus on Elizabethan English right now. *waaaaaah.....* Terrible terrible heat. Ouch..... I think my toes are getting roasted *moves foot out of sun-spot*. Can I last 45 minutes more?! Why are we open until 6 anyway?? It's not like anyone ever comes by in the last hour........ Yay. I snagged myself a ride after work, so I don't have to venture out into the asphalt desert.

Ok...... thoughts are waaaay too fragmented. I make no sense. See ya all loverly ppl next time.

6_6"

*la la la...* I'm at the store now at things are sloooooow and there are no problems to fix. ^-^ Soooo..... I've been catching up on my web route. Haven't done that in awhile, espcially since I no longer have internet at home! Guess that was my real reason for posting..... just wanted to let everyone know that I am now extremely out of the loop. If anyone would like to reach me/ get together/ask me something, please give my cell a ring: 613-261-7625. If I miss your call, please leave a msg! My voice mail actually works now, and I promise to get back to you.

*wheeee!* hurray for summer. so much time for being a shutterbug! or making the attempt anyway. all alot of fun! ^-^ and i think i'm getting hooked on the photo blogging..... even if it takes quite awhile to get everything on to one post. the spread below was inspired muchly by dear karen. these beautiful blooms are from our garden..... planted by Mum and enjoyed by the rest of us! *hee......*


... pansies... a kaleidoscope of colour! ...


... purple daisy (that's not the real name, is it?!) ...


... regal chive flowers...... i don't know why i luv these so much! ...


... a pretty purple flower...


...bleeding hearts... they look sad, don't they? to think that they used to be my favorite flowers.....


...lilies of the valley...


...gorgeous peonies...


... all watched over by friendly garden gnomes ^-^

CANADA WON THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT THIS YEAR! *WOOOOT!* ^___^

Yay! 'Twas an incredibly GOOD day today.....

Started with an *ahem!* invigorating round of mental gymnastics with Tom (what he calls "Sunday school.....")...... we all whine abt how he's out to stump us..... but I have to honestly admit that I kinda..... enjoy it! It's nice to examine things that you thought you knew...... as I figured out today, the whole point IS to take smthg out of the context of the wealth of your knowledge, turning it around a bit, then inserting it back into your mental fabric. ^_____^

And then Sunday service..... Jean led for the first time!!!!!! *yay Jean~~!!!!* I must say..... well done! Very well-prepared.

The one downer from today...... it was Pastor James' last day at CCCO. I'm gonna miss him and Beate. They are wonderful ppl...... I don't know why they're leaving or where they're going next -- all I can say is that I'm thankful God gave me the chance to rub shoulders with such amazing, radical individuals.

The afternoon was FUN! Went out to lunch with a bunch of friends..... a rare treat! And then we visited the new War Museum, which was also fun. I loooooove museums..... ^______^ (anyone wanna visit another museum SOON????) It was such a good afternoon! I was in such good company. *grin* Makes me super thankful that I have such wonderful friends to share memories with.

And it was shutterbug frenzy! Here are some pictures from today..... Much thanks to Denise for the pix! And sorry to anyone who's UBER offended that I posted their image..... I only posted it b/c I thought you looked wonderful! But if any of you really have a problem with anything, let me know and I'll remove it (not the group pix though....).


lunchtime bunch!


pretty colours....


*aieeeee!* it's karen!


flags of Canada..... war museum


inside the LeBreton Gallery..... it's tilted!


museum bunch!


itsa chungiiiiiii~!


sitting on top of the roof..... a little bit riske perhaps?!? (not in a scandalous way..... in a daaaangerous way.....!)


GOOOORGEOUS picture of pam and denise! ^-^

I have AWSOME friends...... *group huuuuug!*

*wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!* God is good. A- IN HYDRO BABY!!!! Definitely time to celebrate. *runs to get a cooler..... yummy harvest berries!* Yep yep..... definitely a God-thing...... I totally did not see this coming. But it's such a high! So hard work actually DOES pay off?? *hee.......* I guess when my prof said that things usually work out ok, he meant it. *wheeee........* I'm giddy. My sentences don't flow..... whatever's in my head's just spilling out. My most sincere apologies. =P

**ha..... i'm never gonna get this post written...... too busy talking to ppl i don't usually talk to! ah well...... i wouldn't trade these conversations for a measly post.**

On a different note...... I've been listening to Nichole Nordeman's "Woven & Spun"....... Carmie's unwanted CD! Girl, I dunno what's wrong with you! The songs are soooooo amazing. Lyrics-wise at least....... She has such an amazing way with words. At least two of the tracks have moved me to tears at one time or another...... The last track being one of them. I dunno why, really..... Surely other ppl have written about the same thing?

It's about giving God thanks, even when things don't work out our way, and we don't get what we want, or evn what we think we need. Maybe it's because of the things she talks about in the song, are what anyone else would consider basic necessities. It really strikes a chord with me..... that even water, food, a home, peace..... even if I don't have these, God is still God. He still has a plan to provide for me...... no matter what happens the thing that should still be coming out of my mouth is praise, and there is something to be thankful for, even when things go south.

**i'm thinking of u joshi! it's truely amazing..... that i should be blogging abt this song when i 'happened' to decide to talk to u**

Gratitude

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send soem mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case.....

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up
And warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case....

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case....

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please.....

written by Nichole Nordeman
(c) 2002 Ariose Music/ ASCAP/ Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing

****
This is what it means to be loved.... to know that the promise was when everything fell, we'd be held -- Natalie Grant ><(>

i can't believe i'm done............
............ someone pinch me.

it's so surreal. i've been so immersed on scholastics for the past while, being passed from one subject to another, and then all of the sudden....... it's over. the day i've been dreaming of is suddenly reality, and all the bright oppurtunities that summer offers is suddenly free for the taking. *satisfied sigh*

so first day of freedom...... i've been at work. *heehee.... out from one pit and into another huh? it's really not so bad.* i was at the store by myself for half the day, and next to no one came in because of the rain. needless to say, i was bored. so i picked up an anthology on folk and fairy tales, and i started to read, and i found something that struck me as interesting:

to wait a bit in choosing a husband
rich, courteous, genteel and kind;
that is understandable enough.
but to wait a hundred years, and all the time asleep, not many maidens would be found with such patience.
this story, however, seems to prove
that marriage bonds,
even though they be delayed, are none the less blissful,
and that one loses nothing by waiting.
but maidens yearn for the wedding joys
with so much ardour
that i have neither strength nor the heart
to preach this moral to them.

any guesses as to which tale this is referring to?? *heehee* i'll elaborate on this later..... for now, home i go! ^-^

good gracious...... my brain has never felt so FULL before! "full capacity" has just taken on a whole new meaning for me....... it totally does not help that the two subjects i'm studying for simultaneously are totally different and all the terms from both subjects are getting combined into one long word list in my head..... isn't that lovely. "phalanx" and "trepanning" are getting mixed up with terms like "hydraulic gradient" and "salt intrusion". greeeeeat. they'll be all nicely amalgamated by the time my exam rolls around tomorrow evening........

just wanted to show carmie the product of my procrastination earlier today (i promise i was much more focused after this!) -- aren't they perty?? ^-^

things that cheer me:

~ the pounding thunder of the rideau river after it awakes from its winter slumber:



~ corny star wars jokes:
"Why is the force like a roll of duct tape?"

~ the first true clue that spring is here:



~ awsome strappy leather sandals for under $10!

~ curious seagulls that aren't afraid to get their picture taken:



~lego. ("they're so stumpy!")

ooh ooh! here's a one question survey for everyone: what's something quirky that you enjoy doing? *grin* i'd love to see what turns up.....

and what's mine? untangling hopelessly tangled string/yarn/thread! *haha* is that totally random or what? i think it's something to do with the feeling of gratification u get when the whole chaotic mass finally comes apart and sorts itself out...... *heehee* :D

Alright guys….. at long last! New years pictures from the Wong family photo album. *grin* Had to go the long route to get these posted all together…. Don’t ask. (yikes….. hello coupled with lagging internet does not a good combination make) Anyway anyway. Without further ado, it’s the year of the rooster guys! ^-^








 





it’s really too bad that this picture is fuzzy….. 

oh gosh...... how am i a sock?!??? i do NOT fall for the opposite sex easily..... *shakes head* although i must say lyds.... that quiz was fun fun fun! i love random ways to procrastinate. ^_________^

You are a sock. You are a cozy, fuzzy, warm-hearted person. A lot of your friends describe you as a hopeless romantic. You fall for the opposite sex very easily. But be careful, because usually you don't know what you are getting into, and because you are very sensitive, you can get hurt... especially in early relationships. Also, don't exclude the cold-hearted from your "want-list", because they just might be looking for a kind person to warm up their heart.... or a sock to warm up their feet. Most compatible with: Toilet Paper. Click here -- What Random Object Represents Your Inner Self?

oh, and also to lyds: i'm in THIRD YEAR and i am single single single! single as a lone lost sock. so no fear.... u won't be the only one breaking "the construct".... although if i were inclined to worry about such things i would have to worry more about becoming part of the stereotype..... not sought after as u are, darling! ^-^

chocolate mocha yumminess! *heehee* here's the result of today's baking..... only four turned out perfectly shaped, and i gave two to auntie jennifer and uncle jim. so one left for dad and one left for mum...... lots of irregular bits left though that go great with ice cream.... *grin* made with zavida french vanilla coffee.... i suppose u coffee addicts will appreciate that! *lol* it is indeed coffee-ish.... hence i highly recommend having with ice cream. ^-^


 

ooooh hello makes me mad...... i wanted to post up a whole slew of pictures, but it treats each picture as a separate post! grr....... so no new years pictures.... -_-' many apologies..... i think i have a way to get around this obstacle, but it'll take awhile. so new years pictures another day.... 'tis high time for beddy-byes!

*sigh......* i've been neglecting my poor bloggy.... how many times since my last post have i clicked on the link to shards, and look. and look. i should post? i think to myself. but what would i post about? my mind continuously draws blanks. later then maybe..... later, i promise. and so it goes..... the vicious cycle (ha..... is that how it's spelled? prolly not). i've been wanting to post, honest. (i must justify my non-postage to my non-existent readers.....) i've been wanting to post about how nostalgic i've been feeling, about tasting a chantico for the very first (and the very LAST, i assure you!) time, about an interesting conversation at work, about finding a thesis for next year. but *sigh* i've done none of it. i suppose i can blame it on being busy, but really. does that excuse really hold up anymore? i can't believe so. i waste too much of my time. God gives me enough time and i throw it out the back window. i'd rather sit in front of the boob tube and do nothing...... afterall. it's so much easier to be complacent. i have become a professional time-waster..... all of yesterday i did ZERO work. i woke up late, ate very slowly, did laundry, watched tv, read a book. nevermind that i have school work to do....... *sigh* God, teach me to manage my time better. i'm doing a horrible job.

strange emotions coursing through me lately..... all nostalgic and melancholy for no reason at all. nostalgia..... i've been dying to watch the rocketeer and seaquest DSV. *haha* does anyone remember those? the first is a movie and the second a tv show..... *sigh* how i miss them. thank you so VERY much to (older) tim lee for digging out his old tapes for me! ^-^ the rocketeer will have to wait, i suppose. i dug out my old cassettes and listened to them too. geez, aren't old ppl getting on in their years the ones that are supposed to feel nostalgic? i feel so silly. -_-; and melancholy..... yes, alot of that. i go to church and i question why i'm there. for no reason at all. ever have those days? when clouds just hang over u and u want to be left alone, but u really don't know why. and the part of u that doesn't understand really wants to be with people. but during those times i really am not sociable. so if i look a bit lifeless, just drifting on by, that's why...... it's so strange. i'm not sad, or mad at anything or anyone. but days like this...... it's difficult to be joyful. i still struggle with what true joy is. what makes it different from happiness? of course, i've heard it explained before..... i know what the difference is SUPPOSED to be. but what i know in my head i can't reconcile to my heart or my soul. so does that mean then that i have never felt true joy? that the "joy" i've felt all along has been superficial happiness?? that's a yucky thought. God, teach me what true joy is.

right now i am stuck at church (*sigh*.... such is the life of a 20-year-old that can't drive, i suppose!). i feel like i'm am again wasting my time. but then..... perfect time to post! *lol* and so i have. i HAD planned to go home and bake for valentine's day, but alas..... no ride home. later then, maybe.

---------

another thing about this senseless melancholy-ness (ha.... making up words here).... it goes as swiftlyas it comes. i spent three minutes with kathryn, and things are as right as rain again. *lol* the human psyche. how strange it is...... and how good it is that God puts things and people in our lives that can so effectively lift out spirits. ^-^

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! hope ur holidays are a wonderful time of precious memories with family and friends, and a time to remember the ultimate Gift that was given us so many years ago. joy to the world! the Lord has come. (photo curtesy of shutterbug.... ^-^)


http://www.sh1ft.org/shutterbug/ 

I was complaining to God one day.

"Why can't life be fairer to me?!" I whined. And do you know what He said? In his painfully kind, patient, and quiet voice?

"It wasn't fair that I had to die for you."

Cold splash of truth: He's right. That was the most unfair of all. What He said struck me as so true and unfair that it made me cry. I asked Him then, "Why do You love me so much? That's unfair too, you know."

"I know. I still do. You won't understand it, but I always will."

just a thought ><(>

teaser? 

wheeee! it worked! helloooooooooo!!!!!! who else has hello? look for me! username: avatre. that's u denise! *heehee* if u want the pictures, that is. *grin*

my hair is curly. delicious. ^-^ i did it for pauline and douglas' wedding yesterday.... *yey!* how i looove weddings! pauline was beautiful! and they were all smiles. i took a ridiculous amount of pictures. *heehee* as soon as i figure out hello, there'll be pictures to see here! *yeeeey!* i do wanna post smthg more serious here.... but maybe at a later hour. *heeee....* but in the meantime, here's another survey that was sent to me by my good friend sherie! *lol* didn't i say i liked doing these things?

1.What would you like to do that you haven't been able
to lately?: read for fun, draw.....

2. Name as it appears on birth certificate: Stephanie Shi En Wong

3.Nicknames: Steph, Stevie, Stephie

4. Piercing: 2 holes in each ear ^-^

5. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the
theatre? King Arthur.... boy that wasn't since the summer! hopefully i'll catch a few more over the holidays.....

6. Eye colour: dark brown

7. Place of birth: Hong Kong

8. Favourite food: hmm. i must say.... SHEPHERD'S PIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

9. Ever been toilet papering: *lol* nope. unless u count toilet papering the guys during pauline and douglas' wedding shower! ^-^

10. Love someone so much it made you cry: um..... not yet.

11. Been in a car accident: i think i've been in the car when we've gotten rear-ended before.... a loooong time ago.

12. Croutons or bacon bits: bacon bitty-bitty-bits!

13. Favourite day of the week: hm.i dunno! sunday or saturday!

14. Favourite Flower: sweet peas, daisies.... whatever's pretty, i must say. ^-^

15. Favourite Sport to watch: HOCKEEEEEEEYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! *sniffle* please come back, NHL! and summer olympic sports like gymnastics, diving, and rowing. ^-^

16. Favourite drink: oj with LOTS of pulp.... *lol* and i must admit that i do love coolers! the berry one's the best. ^____^

17. Favourite ice cream: cherry white chocolate. *mmm!* sublime.

18. Disney or Warner Brothers: do i have to choose? i'll go with disney i guess.... but they've both come up with good shows.

19. Favourite fast food restaurant: taco bell!!!!!!!!!! *droooool* and arby's! both of which u can't commonly get in ottawa. *tear*

20. Favourite colour for your bedroom carpet: something neutral and not outrageous..... like ugly red or green. *heehee*

21. How many times did you fail your driver's test: none! why? because i've never taken one! *muahaha*

22. Favorite place to be for the holidays: "i'll be HOME for christmas"..... or anywhere else with family and friends. ^-^

23.Which store would you choose to max out your credit card: IKEEEEAAAAA!!!!! naturally. *lol* and chapters.

24. What do you do most often when you are bored: *lol* i'm rarely ever really BORED. too many things i'd like to do. ^-^

25. Bedtime: almost never before 2am. *haha*

26. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest: no one?

27. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond: i dunno!

28. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? everyone!

29. Favourite TV shows: extreme makeover: home edition, me my house and i, inuyasha, stargate!

30. Last person you went to dinner with: eeeeeh...... my parents?

31. Ford or Chevy: i have no idea.

32. What are you listening to right now: nthg at the moment...... i WAS playing the theme from "beauty and the beast" but switched it off because of the tv. *grin*

33. What is your favourite colour: blue, green, red and yellow. and white, but does that count?

34. Lake, Ocean or river: ocean.... or river. *lol* i am sooo indecisive!

35. How many tattoos do you have: zero.

36. Time you finished this e-mail: 2:39 pm

i finished a paper. it's actually done..... days before it's due. why don't i feel accomplished? maybe because there's another one, twice as long, waiting to be done. great. wonderful. so why am i here, instead of madly plugging away at it? i dunno. u tell me. focus is smthg that is easily shattered. so porcrastination it is. for sure i'll kick myself HARD later...... but allow me a brief reprieve..... i'm not one that can go hard at academics days on end. also, i am prolly one of the few who actually like these things..... join me in this twiddling away of time if u'd like! i enjoy reading them too. *grin* (thnx to lyds.... i got this off her xanga)

0) Single or Taken: single
1) Your Full Name: Stephanie Shien Wong
2) Sex: female
3) Birthday: April 12
4) Sign: aries
5) Siblings: one brother (benji; 19) one sister (little b; 7)
6) Hair color: black
8) eye color: dark brown

*-;-* R e l a t i o n s h i p s*-;-*
1) Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend: many! oh wait u mean THOSE.....
4) Did your crush send this to u? haha! i have a crush on lyds......
5) Where do u go 4 advice? mum and dad....
6) Are you in love? working on it....

*-;-*F a s h i o n S t u f f*-;-*
1)Where is your favorite place to shop: bluenotes, IKEA, salem's, value village
2)What do you wear most often: jeans, sweaters, t-shirts, hikers
3)What do you love to shop for? stationary, books and IKEA things
4)What kind of style do you have? dunno..... not any kind u can put a term to. mixed?

*-;-* T h e E x t r a S t u f f *-;-*
1) Do you do drugs?: no
2) What are you most scared of: living a life that denies Him, and being denied on The Day
3) What car do you wish to have? u mean after i actually get a license?!?? something small and cute..... preferably a hybrid of some sort.
4) What do you want to try out for a day? *haha* the list grows long here! archery... riding... fencing.... fashion designing..... interior designing...... being a rockstar! *lol* riiiight steph........

*~! F a V o r I t E !~*
1) Boys Name: Noah, Liam
2) Girls name: Merilee, Charlotte... too many to count
3) Subjects in school: geology, physical geography, ancient studies
4) Animals: kites (and most raptors in general), tigers, dolphins


*-;-* H a v e Y o u E v e r *-;-*
1) Given anyone a bath? yep.
2) Taken a shower with someone? sure.
3) smoked: no way.
4) Bungee jumped: *haha* don't think i'm gutsy enuf.
5) Broken the law: jay-walking?
6) Made yourself throw-up: yes.... by accident.
7) Gone skinny-dipping? ha! no.
8) Made yourself cry to get out of trouble? no.... can't make myself cry worth beans.

*-;-* 1 s t T h i n g T h a t C o m e s To M i n d *-;-*
1) Red: sassy! style. peppers.
2) cow: ben. *lol*
3) socks: white. comfy
4) Dog: want one! white samoyed.
5) Ocean: blue, vast
6) Chocolate: delish.

*-;-* Final Questions *-;-*
1) Do you like filling these out: yes..... am i strange?
2) How many people are you sending this to? zero
3) Who will send it back: nada
4) last film you saw at the cinema: King Arthur
5) Last person you talked to: mom/ Dr. Wigfield