Thanksgiving

end-of-year thanksgiving (but not really) post

thank you

to God, for yet another year. for every day that i live. for the people that you've blessed me with. for always being there even when i was far away. for always providing. for always keeping to your promises.

to my cell group, for finally being able to bond together like we've never had before. for letting each of yourselves open up to the group. it has been a blessed year with all of you, and although a member has left us, i hope that we will be able to reach our goal of growing deeper in the lord next year.

especially to suzanne, for being such a blessing to our cg. for being so wise in your approach towards us, for never judging and always encouraging. you have helped us in so many ways to grow as a cell group and as individuals rooted in christ. thank you for putting up with us, and for always sparing time for us in your busy schedule. it's sad to have you leave us, but your job with us is done (and done very well). god has a greater plan for you in the future and we wish you all the best.

to rissa, for always being there for me all these years. we've literally grown up together, and it's been so good to have you there through the constantly changing times. although we're both growing up, we don't seem to be growing out of this friendship we've built over the past 7 years. thank you for always being you, always so genuine. you are amazing and you will always be.

to kirsten, for always being the backbone of the group. i have seen god working through you, to us. thank you for always delivering his word, through the things you do, you say and you think. thank you for always injecting mature opinions and thoughts into our conversations, for making every one of us think harder and grow deeper.

to the other churchies, for creating community in church. it's always nice to have a group to belong to. although our community isn't perfect, it has grown through the course of this year, and i hope that we'll continue to grow next year. we are a nice bunch, we just need some direction.

especially to joyce, for being there for me, for always making me feel loved. thank you for sharing with me the things you've shared, and also for letting me open up to you. you have an incredible heart and kindness, that sometimes people take advantage of. my prayer for you is that you'll be able to be stronger in saying no to those who don't need/deserve your kindness, and have the wisdom to differentiate these people.

to michelle, for calling me out on the first day of school, asking if i knew rachel. you are one of the brightest people i know, and not just smart in your academics but also smart with your outlook on life. thank you for all the advice you've given me, and for always being so comforting when anyone around you is upset. you are made for extraordinary things and you are well on your way there.

to jess, for always being so practical and decisive. for always knowing how to stick to what you know, instead of being swayed by other people's thoughts/opinions. there needs to be more people like you, people who know what they want and just go for it. thank you also for injecting so much humor into otherwise mundane school days.

to jonathan, for sometimes being an irritant but most of the time being so understanding. thank you for being a listening ear when i needed someone, and for helping me with work when i didn't understand. you are brave in the things you do, and that is something i admire about you. your determination to do well is always refreshing to everyone around you, and it spurs me on to try harder as well.

to dominic, for teaching me what i shouldn't do, for teaching me the importance of boundaries. although things turned sour at the end, thank you for being a good friend when we were friends. you have a lot to learn in life, and i hope that there will be experiences and people in your life to teach you those things. i hope that you will be able to sieve out the learning points of your experiences and that they'll make you a better person.

to starburst, for teaching me what it means to belong in a team. for always encouraging me, praising me and making me want to reach for greater heights. for always looking out for one another, for always making the effort to include everyone. a cca has never played such a big role in my life, and i'm so glad it is doing so now. it has become more than just a cca, more than just a sport, but something greater than that.

especially to puisan, for being the most amazing coach. your way of thinking is refreshing and it inspires me. thank you for always believing in the team that didn't always believe in themselves, and for trusting us to do better than we did. thank you for all the time and feelings you invest in us. thank you for teaching us the right values.

to the alumni seniors, for always coming down to help us out with training. for being ever so patient in teaching me the ropes. for always making me feel welcomed in the team when i was new.

to my parents, for tirelessly travelling between two countries every few months, just to take care of your daughters. for always wanting the best for us, for always providing to the best of your abilities. for forgoing being together, just to be with us.

and to everyone else who has made 2013, a year of change, not too scary as i thought it would be.