Matthias turns 7!

It seems not too long ago when I was still in SP48, giving my colleagues a blow by blow account of my sister's first labour experience way back in 2001:

21st Dec, 2.30pm: My sister has just been admitted to the labour ward! Her amniotic fluid's dried up so will have to induce labour...

21st Dec, 6pm: (Has your sister delivered?) No leh...

22nd Dec, 8.30am: (So how? Delivered already?) No... her cervix is barely dilated...

22nd Dec, 1pm: (Is the baby out?) Not yet... cervix only around 3cm...

22nd Dec, 5pm: (Update from brother-in-law) Cervix around 6cm.

22nd Dec, just before 7pm: Matthias is born!!! (Finally!)

Matthias at 7 months

Matthias at 7 years

Happy birthday my favourite nephew! :D

www.flickr.com/photos/10767554@N07/sets/72157611986326443

Bye bye SFF801C

Although we're excited about getting a brand new car, it is with great sadness that we let our old one go. After all, we journeyed from being friends to a dating couple to finally husband and wife in this car. So many memories... SFF801C, we will miss you.

Going places.

Sad (or trying to look).

THE (my favourite!) driver.

In-car "karaoke" system, our faithful companion.

Original place of honour for Bernie.

Where family and friends have gathered (or squeezed rather).

First scratch at 2 weeks' old.

The colour, the number.

Reflections.

In all splendour.

The great exchange.

$2 deals

Here are some of what I believe to be the best $2 deals in town:

McDonald’s breakfast meal: Sausage McMuffin + Coffee/Tea
Gloria Jean’s Cappy Hour: all regular hot drinks (2pm–7pm @ Marina Square)
Nasi lemak set including fried chicken wing: various hawker stalls
Daiso shop: steals waiting to be discovered if you take the time to browse

The one that wins hands down for the BEST deal ever? $2 COE!!!

Yup, COE plunged to an all time low of $2 yesterday since the quota system started in 1990. The reason we're so excited? Our car dealer put in a bid for us and we were successful! Looking forward to a brand new Toyota Altis within the next couple of weeks...

Sweet.

The long engagement

I've been having this nagging feeling for the past couple of days that a special date's coming up.

Was it an appointment I made? Don't think so...

Was it a friend's birthday? Can't be, we've already celebrated Shieen's...

Then it hit me just as I was walking back to Haem Pharmacy after morning rounds. Two years ago today Xingmin proposed to me!

Nah, there weren't any lavish celebrations, just a simple dinner of ramen at Baikohken. Xingmin's been wanting to bring me there since he was introduced to the generous portions by his brother a few weeks back. I must say each bowl's pretty filling, and the shio butter corn's really yummy. Tad too salty though, so it's lovely to have free flow of ice cold houjicha to wash it all down with.

It's amazing how the 2 years have flown by, and we give thanks to God for having watched over us as our relationship grows in His love. Next month, we'll be celebrating our first wedding anniversary! :)

Faithfulness

Two songs we sang in church today really touched me. Thanks, Wanling, for choosing to focus on the topic of faithfulness.

You Are So Faithful
Lenny LeBlanc

Like the sun that rises everyday
You are so faithful, Lord, You are faithful
Like the rain that You send
And every breath that I breathe
You are so faithful, Lord

Like a rose that comes alive every spring
You are so faithful, Lord, You are so faithful
Like the life that You give to every beat of my heart
You are so faithful, Lord

I see the cross and the price You had to pay
I see the blood that washed my sins away

And in the midst of the storm
Through the wind and the waves
You'll still be faithful, You'll still be faithful
When the stars refuse to shine and time is no more
You'll still be faithful, You'll still be faithful, Lord

Find Us Faithful
Steve Green (Words and Music by Jon Mohr)

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

rush... more...

time, never seems enough
world, passes by
why, life begins when work stops
how, life halts when work resumes

rush rush rush...

the wonders of creation, lost
amidst the madness, struggle for survival
urban jungle

hours, minutes, seconds
ticking ticking by
by
bye

more more more...
no more

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's funny how we always have this need to get out of the country, to get away from it all. Singapore has nothing to offer, we say. In truth, beauty lies in every corner, if only we take the moment. Not to merely glance, but truly see.

www.flickr.com/photos/10767554@N07/sets/72157608612606372

The joy of reading

Recently Xingmin and I have been borrowing a number of books from the library, and it's now our regular once-in-3-weeks date (of cos we do go on other dates in between!). So, what are we currently reading?

The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Xingmin first saw this book at Trix's when we visited last month. Loved the book so much that he's thinking of purchasing a copy off Amazon. Meanwhile, he's borrowed a copy and has been ploughing through this huge volume whenever he has some free moments. Could this be my very own personal chef in the making? :P~

Momzillas by Jill Kargman
Compared to the Meat Book, Momzillas seems like a super ditsy option! According to the author, momzillas are "the Kelly bag-toting, Chanel-wearing, Bugaboo-pushing mothers of New York". This book talks about how Hannah, the female protagonist has to take them on, on top of having to deal with the MIL from hell and the appearance of an old flame. But hey, after a frustrating and exhausting day at work, nothing beats reading an entertaining, non thought-provoking story about "survival of the fittest, richest, bitchiest..."

Captured memories of our wedding celebrations

The above has been beautifully arranged by KC. Once again we'd like to extend our thanks to him, Fang, Elder Youzhen, as well as Kimberly for the cherished photos and videos.

More of our wedding photos can be found at:
www.flickr.com/photos/10767554@N07/sets/72157609002170101/
www.flickr.com/photos/10767554@N07/sets/72157608774926043/
www.flickr.com/photos/10767554@N07/sets/72157608737389315/
www.flickr.com/photos/trixshank/sets/72157603859488913/
fang.smugmug.com/gallery/4087677_R9Fnk#238711458_2ntpD

You can also view more of KC's works at:

www.greymatterphotography.com

ENJOYment @ Hortpark

19th May 2008 - CG outing to HortPark followed by dinner @ AV

I now pronounce you husband and wife...

A whirlwind of activities and before we know it, Xingmin and I are husband and wife! As we embark on our new journey together, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to:

• Our Heavenly Father, who has brought us into each others' lives, and for leading us in our relationship with the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
• Our parents, for the unconditional love you have showered upon us and for all the sacrifices you have made. We can never thank you enough.
• Our siblings, Samuel and Angelaine, for bearing with our tantrums and idiosyncrasies all these years. Despite our squabbles, you know we do respect and love you.
• Rev (Dr) Boon Young for solemnising our marriage, this means a lot to us.
• The pastoral staff of Jubilee Church (Pastors Yee Leng, Daniel, Yook Cing, Nai Fwei and Revs Tiong Ann, Siow Hwee) for supporting us in so many ways, from the start of our wedding preparation till the ceremony. We will remember the words of wisdom you have shared with us.
• The worship team (Wanling, Victor, Johnson, Huiling, Mae, Lin Shen, Xueyi, Weizhen, Victoria) for the heavenly music you provided. May we continue to worship our Lord with joy and thanksgiving.
• Our 'Xiong Di's (James, Wilson, Boon Khee, Thye Foong, Song Huat, Tze Yang, Wen Yean) and 'Jei Mei's (Mei Ying, Hong Yen, Carolyn, Caroline, Te-Ling, Trixie, Wui Syen, Fang) for going through thick and thin with us, and for sharing this special moment with us. Our special thanks to Ting Chun and Pei Shieen, we are wowed by your artistic talents.
• Matthias, our handsome page boy, who's also gallantly helped us by perfecting the art of packing organza bags.
• Natalie and Becky, our angelic flower girls, for laying our paths with the frangrance of flowers.
• All our church helpers: our wonderful coordinators (Weilun, Elita), "traffic-stopping" marshals (Eric, Junpei, Matthew, Weizheng), lovely receptionists (Angeline, Jiawen, Baozhu), ushers (Thomas, Louise, Janette) and AV support (Jiang Feng, Zheng Kuang). This would not have happened without your help.
• All our banquet helpers: our quick-thinking receptionists (Anna, Wang Yang, Chunlin), witty emcees (James, Meilian), super efficient table shoot advance "party" (Mark) and Ziyang/Meixuan for going out of your way to pick up the corsages.
  
• KC, Kimberly, Elder Youzhen and Fang, for immortalising each special moment for us.
• Each and every one of you who have blessed us with your presence during our celebrations. We are truly honoured.

May all honour and glory be to God!

The mad rush

Days are flying by, and we're all scrambling to get things settled. Notice there are hardly any new blog entries with substantial content? Here's a quick sum up of what we've done in the last month leading up to the actual day...

Bridal bed "installation" and basic home decorating (read: basic, ie. almost non-existent)

Church rehearsal and helpers' briefing

In random order: pack favours for guests (my room does smell lovely with whiffs of coffee, teas and chocolates...), make statutory declaration, try to catch up on rest, collect gowns and suit, buy shoes, work out table seatings, try not to panic, print and tie church programme booklets, memorise wedding vows, try not to panic, go for facials/massages/mani-pedi, try to catch up on rest, finalise arrangements for food, flowers, decorations, helpers, bridal car, actual day programme, etc. (ie. the nitty gritty details)

And of cos we do not forget to take time off to enjoy the festivities!

A mad rush it was indeed!

Limid edition

A very special thanks also goes out to Pei Shieen for her beautiful "limid" edition invitation cards!

Spot the difference!

They glow in the dark too!

To fit, too fitting

It was a dark and stormy night, and we had to fight off the cats and the dogs in order to accomplish our task for the day... attempt to fit into our respective completed gown and suit! It was a time of reckoning, to find out if we've lost or put on...

But before that, it's a makeover for me!

From dowdy to doll (well Xingmin thinks I'm one! :P).

It fits!!! Whew!


Doesn't Xingmin look so suave? :)

Lesson #3

Always print extra cards and prepare extra envelopes.

Thank God we did both.

Lesson #2

Marker pens also do not write well on art card, especially if the emulsion is not well mixed.

Lesson #1

Gel-liner pens are not meant for writing invitations printed on art card.

The words smudge.

Big time.

Unless you have the luxury of time (needs to be left to dry overnight), buy a marker.

Remember, look out for "marks on anything".

Please Mr Postman

(Stop)

Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman

(Wait)
Wa-a-a-ait Mister Postman
Please Mister Postman, look and see
(Oh yeah)
If there's an invitation in your bag for me
(Please, Please Mister Postman)
Why's it takin' such a long time
(Oh yeah)
For me to hear from that wedding couple

WAIT NO LONGER!

THE INVITATIONS ARE FINALLY READY!!!




Please do keep a lookout over the next week.

Here, we'd like to extend our deepest gratitude to Ting Chun, who has sacrificed many hours to design our card, and for being so patient with our numerous requests and fickle-mindedness.

Thank you!

Dance audition

The rascals dancing their way into my heart... Perhaps we'd like them to put up a dance performance during the wedding? :P

Masak masak for real

As a little girl, I used to love playing masak masak with my kindergarten friends. I'd be the good little wife who cleans and cooks and waits for her husband to return home from work. It's fun, I thought.

I must have been out of my mind then. When it's for real, it's anything but fun! It's not easy to set up a home, my dad told me recently. What words of wisdom, I realised, after only a few sessions of real life masak masak!

A very unsuccessful hunt for a HDB flat over 11 months.

Decision to squat in my sister's empty flat in Bukit Panjang in the interim. Imagine having to mop away 7 years' of grime! It's a seriously back breaking job...

The kitchen sink, washing machine, and fridge.

Using our washing machine for the first time to wash couch covers!

Door bell's ready to be rung by friends! And perhaps also sales promoters...

Coffee on the go, a way to survive the "ordeal".

Here, we salute our parents, especially the mums. You're the true superheroes! We've lots to learn from you.