they make me happy

i've been feeling a lot better these days :) perhaps i just needed a really good meltdown (in my case, 2 meltdowns) to make me get back on my feet. hmm... or maybe it's because i'm surrounded by wonderful people. gosh, i'm so blessed and i'm so lucky... to have such supportive and caring brothers and sisters... to see the old and new friendships growing and becoming stronger... to be comfortable enough to show my vulnerability... i wonder if they know how much i really like all of them :) but... a part of me doesn't want to become too attached because i know i'm going to be so, so sad when these people (might) fade out of my life in the long run.... ah, i don't want to think about that. all i want to think about is how these people make me happy~

-- brothers: i've always wanted an older brother... and here i am, provided with more than one good brother. brothers who were the first ones to ask how i was doing. brothers who i am able to confide in. i've never experienced this many relationships with brothers until this year. i like them. i hope they will find good girls, hehe.

-- sisters: who else can i chat with for endless hours? :)

-- my cousin: i never thought my relationship with her would become as strong as it is now. to receive an email from her that asks, "hey, can i call you tomorrow?" is so awesome. you don't have to ask, you silly cousin! :P

--"entourage": i may not have a real friendship with these guys (minus one great buddy) but i love hanging out with them. they have so much fun, they're so spontaneous, and i find so much joy just by observing them and listening to them. they're funny people.

-- aptmate: i finally made a non-korean/non-christian friend in san diego. she's always so cheery, she makes and shares delicious food, and she graciously invites me to have fun with her and her friends. she's so cool. i like her a lot.

-- roommate: my good friend of 5+years moved into my room this month. she's hella psycho/creepy/crazy but i still like her. we call ourselves 2 peas in a pod. piglet and pooh. we're going to become 2 old, ghetto grannies together.

-- my tutor kids: i'm so proud of them!! :D

-- taeyang: my #1 celeb crush. i really, really like him a lot... he sings. he dances. hott eye candy. faithful christian. what more can i ask for? haha...

my 6yr old :)

amidst the struggles i currently have with life, i can always count on my 6yr old girl to cheer me up. i met her a year and a half ago (it's already been that long?! o.O) and when i first met her, she was so small and so quiet. when we first read together, her voice was barely audible and she didn't read with confidence. there would be a lot of books on her little desk, but she would pick out the books that she knew were easy for her. and when she came across an unfamiliar word, she would pause and wait for me to read her the word.

but fast forward to a year and a half later!

she's so happy to see me, hehe :) she's grown so much! and she's so talkative, too! she's so eager to read now.. soo eager that she'll try to read really fast because she wants to know what will happen next in the story! just before school had ended, her first grade teacher told ellen's mom that ellen had become an advanced reader and that she was doing super well in school. her mom was really happy when she told me what the teacher had said and so, she gave me a small thank-you present... i didn't do anything at all but it still felt nice to be a part of this little girl's life :) i love reading with her~ and now, when she comes across an unfamiliar word, she doesn't wait for me anymore. instead, she'll try to pronounce it herself. and when she gets it right, oh man... i squeal with joy, haha :) and it makes me really happy to see how absorbed she is in the books. sometimes, when she reads, she'll read with an attitude that reflects the character's attitude. and other times, she'll share her views about a certain character. like this: "she has a boyfriend? she's only 8 years old! she's too young to have a boyfriend. i'm 6 years old and i don't have a boyfriend." hahaha, so cute.

her mom may think that i'm doing a favor for ellen but in reality, ellen is doing me a favor. i'm learning a lot from this 6yr old girl... mm~ i really like her~ :)

comfort

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. --Psalm 62:1-2

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." --Psalm 91:14-16

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. --Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. --Isaiah 40:28-31

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. --Philippians 4:6-8

thank You, Father, for reminding me that i am not alone :)