Local Delights

An item on our "To Do" list is to enjoy as many de.licio.us local food as we can before we leave. It so happened that we had a free Saturday, so after a bit of packing and tidying up, we hit the road. On a pretty warm and stuffy afternoon, we travelled more than 40 km eastward and arrived at the East Coast Park Food Center.

One of our must-try items is the Wanton Noodle at this food centre. The chewy char-siew... the Q-Q noodle... the powerful chili.... my oh my oh my..... (Actually, before this wanton noodle, we had bak-ku-teh and pig's trotters from a nearby stall. We are now a little guilt-stricken to put up the photos of these dishes). We ended off the lunch with refreshing coconut and soursop drinks. Overall, it was a wonder-full Saturday well spent.

Other items on our must-try-before-we-fly list include sambal kangkong, chicken rice, seafood, etc. Must layer ourselves with some fat for the cold winter, right?

"Kampung" Days

Whenever we step out of the lift to our home, Charis never fails to peep into our next-door neighbours' house to say hello to her two friends - whom she addresses intimately as che-che Suzzane and che-che Shannon. Sometimes the three girls will stand at the door to talk and exchange snacks. Other times, Suzzane and Shannon will come out of the house to join Charis outside, where they will play and run around at the lift landing. Doesn't this sound like the old "kampung" days?

674A, #10-74

Last night, we met up with the buyers again. In the short time together, we signed several papers to confirm the sale and purchase of our flat. "Once the papers are signed, both sides can no longer change their minds." were the agent's words to us. Each time I placed my signature on the page, I felt a mixed sense of relief and heartache.


In January 2003, we received the keys to this place. I still remember the excitement and happiness we felt when we first unlocked the door to this place we can call our own. From an empty flat, we transformed it into a cosy home, with lots of love put into every part of this home. This is the place where we built our marriage and family... this is the place where we shared joy and pain.


How I'll miss this wonderful place that we have called our home for the last 4 years! I think Charis will also miss the little play corner that we have created for her. Soon this place will belong to someone else, but I'm thankful that the treasured memories are for us to keep =) We have another 3 months to enjoy this home!

The Resurrection Celebration!

Charis and I decorated easter eggs this morning with the other children in church. To us, this is a very important day, which reminds us that our Saviour is risen! These eggs too hold a special meaning to us... it signifies a new birth, a new life in Him.

A Lesson on Faith

Once again, God taught me a lesson on faith.

Just last night, we engaged the assistance of a property agent but we didn't feel very confident about the sale... it could be a long wait and the price may be low. I lay awake at 2am thinking about our flat and our finances for the next 5 years. I prayed and entrusted this matter into the Lord's hand, asking that He sends us a sincere buyer in the next month. However, in my heart, I felt a little discouraged.

Tonight, God sent me a strong reminder that He is in control! Our agent called at 6.30pm and arranged for an immediate viewing for one couple, a totally unexpected one. Within 2 hours, we made a deal and also at a price that TK and I hoped for. All these happened in less that 24 hours since we signed the contract with the agent, in fact, even before our advertisement appeared in the classified ads. I'm totally amazed and humbled by what God can do in this very short span of time (much shorter than what I asked for). I'm deeply grateful to Him for relieving us of an agonising time of waiting despite my doubts and lack of faith.

A Purple Robe

A purple robe, a crown of thorns,
A reed in His right hand;
Before the soldiers' spite and scorn
I see my Saviour stand.
He bears between the Roman guards
The weight of all our woe;
A stumbling figure bowed and scarred
I see my Saviour go.
Fast to the cross's spreading span,
High in the sunlit air,
All the unnumbered sins of man
I see my Saviour bear.

He hangs, by whom the world was made,
Beneath the darkened sky;
The everlasting ransom paid,
I see my Saviour die.
He shares on high His Father's throne,
Who once in mercy came;
For all His love to sinners shown
I sing my Saviour's Name.

My Baby is TWO!

Actually, my baby is no longer a baby... she has turned 2 today. =) Charis is now a little girl with a mind and heart of her own, which brings much amusement to TK and myself, but also frustration at times. Looking back, it's really amazing how much she has grown, physically, mentally and emotionally. Thank you God for watching over her all this time. Please continue to grant TK and I wisdom, patience and lots of love as we nurture her. We pray too that she will love you as much as you love her.

Had a celebration with the extended family - her ye-ye, ah-ma, gong-gong, por-por, per-per and lau-mah (translates: paternal grandpa and grandma, maternal grandpa and grandma, paternal uncle and great grandma). Gong-gong and por-por got her a birthday cake with a picture of Oscar driving a car (Sesame Street is one of her favourites) and 2 little candles. We gave her a little surprise - a Winnie-the-Pooh balloon that she always stops to touch whenever she passes it. Didn't take many photos as our little birthday girl wasn't in the mood to pose... is this the beginning of the famous terrible twos?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "BABY" CHARIS!

Somewhere In Time

Charis is taking her nap. The house feels so quiet, it's somewhat deafening. I decided to pick up a piece to play on the piano... the title... "Somewhere In Time". Suddenly, emotions seem to well up in me but I can't pinpoint what they are. Maybe the word "lost" (not sure if it's an emotion) can describe some of it.

Things have been moving really fast over the last 2 weeks and would probably fly by faster in the next few months. It started with TK's offer letter to grad school... now we are booked on 3 one-way tickets to Pittsburgh, flying off 30 July. At the point when TK clicked the confirm button on Zuji, we knew that this is for real. We don't know what this journey will be like and where this path will lead us to, which makes it both exciting and scary.

"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

Somewhere in history, God was there. Somewhere in the future, I know that He will still be there. I am human... and many times, I forget. But, written clearly in the Book, is His wonderful promise to all.