4 months on

It's been a while since I last blogged. In July, we had friends from Sydney coming over to stay. August, we had birthday parties galore. September, we fell sick again and again. We can't quite make out what October will look like, but that's the surprising part isn't it? Though we do hope that we (esp the kids) won't fall sick for a while, we need a break from sickness!

Charis has mastered Singlish effortlessly and I've been trying to discourage her. One way is to convince her that speaking good English is important, if not, when Chloe (her good friend in Sydney) comes back to Singapore for a visit, Chloe not be able to understand her. She thoroughly enjoyed Children's Day celebrations at school and at church. It's times like these when I wish I was a kid again. Please pray for Charis and Adriel to love and trust Jesus, to truly take hold of God's truth in the bible.

Adriel has taken a liking to climbing. He climbs onto tables, stools, beds, sofas, door grills. Spiderman in the making. He has started to babble a bit, and is still quite shy about it when he does. He adores Charis and shows it by snatching her toys, butting in whenever she's focused on doing a task, hitting her when she watches TV. He wants her attention, and is doing everything he can to get it. It reminds me of what I tell my students, back in my 'secondary school teacher days of yonder', if a boy teases a girl and irritates her no end, he most likely likes her. The boys in my class would protest, but it was definitely an effective way of getting them to stop irritating the girls. As a side point, Adriel has had 3 fevers in the span on 6 weeks, each lasting about 5 days. There has been some worrying moments. Please pray that his immunity will build up, and that he will not fall sick so easily.

Roger unwinds by watching DVDs. I've lost count of how many Ip Mans he's watched. And his list of 'DVDs to watch' grows longer by the weeks. We catch some together once in a while, and have found the Christian ones by Sherwood pictures pretty encouraging and entertaining. Workwise, the usual bible teaching, preaching and disciple-making goes on. Please pray for Roger to be wise, humble and faithful in doing God's work.

I've been trying to read as and when I can. Usually, I'm just trying to keep up with daily bible reading and bible study prep during the week. (and that's a constant challenge already) And when I'm REALLY disciplined. I'll try to read some Christian books. Naming the Elephant is still sitting on my table, I've decided it's too dense for the end of the day reading and have been hopping onto some other books. I've started on 'Trusting God-even when life hurts' by Jerry Bridges. Please pray that I may be a godly model to Charis and Adriel, it's tough when they see me nearly all their waking moments. We're having guests staying over at our place this month. Please pray that we'll be good hosts, especially for me, cos my hospitality skills have *ahem*, much to improve on.

Thanks!

New to the neighbourhood

It's been more than half a year since we returned from Sydney. I have been having many thoughts about living in Singapore again, so here's my usual random ramblings.

Many times, I feel like I'm learning to live in Singapore all over again, especially in the context of having 2 kids. I spent most of my mothering years in Sydney, and so it's quite a change as I settle into Singapore again. I feel like I'm back to the 'finding things out' stage when I was in Sydney.

Some neighbours still remember us, but many others would ask if we just moved in. At the playground and at the coffee shops, I've been asked where I came from. (Many think I'm from China.) Two older ladies, who spoke in Hokkien and Teochew asked (in shock) why I couldn't speak Hokkien/Teochew if I am a Singaporean. And I found myself wondering when Hokkien/Teochew were made official languages in Singapore. =P I could only reply sheepishly that the only dialect I spoke is Cantonese.

The guys at the 'veg-rice' store reminded me of the students I used to teach. They find me a familiar face now. They would chat with Charis and Adriel when there isn't a crowd at the store, and would call me 大姐 (big sister) when they see me.

After being so spoilt in SMBC, we were very grateful to have another family with 2 girls whom Charis can have playdates with. In our time at SMBC, Charis had no lack of girlfriends to play with. But over here, our immediate neighbours have boys and perhaps we'll try arranging a playdate with them soon. Charis took a while to like the 'Ben 10' stickers she was offered by a boy who lives in another floor of our block of apartments.

Another area we have to settle into would be the differences in kids' bedtimes. Kids in Singapore are usually late sleepers. They go to bed around 10-11pm. It's not hard to understand why. Most shops are open until 10pm everynight, bus and train services end at about midnight. It's 10pm now, and I can still hear kids playing outside. Enrichment lessons for kids like Ballet, teakwondo, art would start at 7-8pm. Parents who work come home at around 7-8pm too, so kids stay up to spend time with their parents. So we are the only wierdos in our neighbourhood who get their kids to sleep before 8pm if they did not have a nap in the day. (If Charis did have a nap, she'll be in bed by 9-10pm.) So Charis and Adriel sometimes have to deal with the noise around them when they sleep. Charis is also trying to understand the difference. She asked me once why her neighbours could go out at night, while she has to go to bed.

Charis still speaks of Sydney once in a while. Just during lunch, she told me she missed watching 'Playschool'. Just the mention of that brought back a flood of lovely memories and I started singing the opening song. =)

It's the June holidays now. Charis doesn't need to go to preschool for the whole month. Her school had a mini-concert a week ago, and we went to watch. She sang and danced with her classmates, and she recited a Chinese rhyme with another classmate during the concert. Roger reminded me how Charis came back to Singapore with zero Chinese, and now is able to recite rhymes and recognise simple words. We are truly thankful to God. Her Chinese teacher is good at using the 'soft' approach with Charis- getting into Charis' good books so that Charis would like Chinese. I remember when she just started preschool, she spoke Mandarin with a Caucasian accent. Roger and I would be so tickled to hear her, but now, that is gone. She's still weak in her ability to converse with others in Chinese though, but we're thankful for her progress already. =)

We're expecting lots of visitors from aussie-land this July, and we're so thrilled. =) Pray with us, that we may be good hosts. Good hosting includes durian tasting right? =P

Take care friends! I'll write again!

Life back in SG

Greetings from hot and humid Singapore! Our family has been back for 2 months now and are settling into a routine. Roger is now a pastor in our church, Charis has started preschool, and Adriel is his happy self. After weeks of packing, unpacking and packing again, we finally settled into our old place. Our boxes from Sydney arrived, and it was time to call our old place 'home'.


I remember not being able to sleep on the first night when we moved back to our place. I was just listening to the constant noise of the 11pm traffic, amazed that I am once again, sleeping under the roof of my bedroom. Memories of our first year of marriage, and our first few months of parenthood came back. All these happened under this very roof. And now, we're back...


I do miss and think about Sydney and friends from time to time. I even dreamt once that we were back in SMBC, and this time, I was studying and Roger heaped a mountain of books on my table. I miss college morning teas and dinners. I miss the chats, the aussie humour, the fellowship. The 'I don't need you to achieve anything when I'm talking to you, I just enjoy having a cup of tea with you' sort of drop-bys into other people's places.

Though sometimes my thoughts are transported back to SMBC and cornerstone@north, I'm privileged to be enjoying and strengthening friendships at home. Getting to see our parents regularly is a real plus point. I also appreciate the Mandarin/Cantonese-speaking environment here. Charis is more willing to speak in Mandarin now. Her 'Mandarin' sometimes is gibberish, and reminds me of the 'international language' she used to speak before she could speak 'English'. She is picking Cantonese up by the scraps, and it's heartening nonetheless.

We're thankful for the ease of transition back into Singapore. All my fears were unfounded and what I thought would be difficult has not turned out to be so. Or perhaps God has given me the grace to see things otherwise. Thank you for praying for us. We have been much blessed.

Adriel @ 3.5mths

Adriel: Where did my neck go?

College memories

Full Circle

We've come full circle. This blog started at the threshold of starting college in Sydney. Now we're back to where we've started. We're packing and giving things away. We're coming back to Singapore. 3 years will end in 1 week.

Thank you for journeying with us and for praying for us. We have grown in God's grace, and we pray you have too. These 3 years have been tremendously fruitful. The people at SMBC and Cornerstone church have left a great impact on us and have been what made Sydney feels like home for us. We will miss you all.

This blog will still continue for a reverse purpose now. To keep in touch with our friends in Sydney.

Week 12

Today is the last day of week 12 in the SMBC academic calendar. Next week is stuvac, the week after, the exams. Roger had his last lecture, I went for the last Principal's Hour. Jacaranda flowers are falling on my head during morning tea.

Roger's final year project is due on the 13th, and then 2 exams during exams week. After that, the week starting on the 23rd is a week of year-end college activites. AND after that, we will pack up, sell/give away our stuff, say our goodbyes and head for Singapore.

It's going to be an end of one adventure, and the start of another. Please pray that we may finish well.

Come take a peek!

Hi, my name is Adriel!

Before our Sydney days become but a fading dream, come take a peek and see where I live!

Restaurant a-la-mum: only thing on the menu is milk!

My 5-star hotel bed.

Delux Spa: where I get cleaned and a good massage. Underwear provided!

Jacuzzi

My Personal Relations Officer: aka Jie Jie

Room Service: the haziness of the photo sometimes depict the state of their minds.

Just for laughs! =)

Welcome

On the 13th Aug, we welcomed our 2nd child, Adriel Chia (谢敬恒). We thank God for a short and uneventful labour.

We laugh over moments such as May Hsin's 'theological reflections' in the car on the way to hospital amidst painful contractions, being bumped into the birth centre because every room in the labour ward was full, Roger getting 'drenched' when the water bag burst, (and the midwife teasing cos she's the one who usually gets wet).

The last 3 weeks have been a blur, with us not getting much sleep. We're all adjusting, and we have much to thank God for. Thank you so much for your prayers.

On Wednesday mornings

Every Wednesday of term, all students at SMBC gather for Principal's Hour. Announcements will be made, students will be interviewed, we will sing songs to and about God, pray and a sermon will be preached.

I sit at the foyer of the hall where the sound is piped through, so the foyer doubles up as a 'cry room' for mums with babes and toddlers. Charis will be with me, drawing, looking at books, cutting and pasting, eating, doing quiet activities so that I can listen to the sermon. It's an avenue for me to train Charis to do things quietly by herself so that I can 'listen to the bible'. Being the bubbly, chatty, curious and active child as she is, she really needs the training. At times she does well, most times when she meets another kid at the foyer, the training becomes doubly hard.

Roger and I were very encouraged by last week's sermon during Principal's Hour. We commend it to you and hope you will also be encouraged by God's word. You can download/stream it here. It is by Stuart Coulton, titled 'Humanness and temptation', 29th July 09.

The week ahead

We're in the thick of exam week now. Roger had his first exam, with 2 more to go in the coming week. Please pray for wisdom and humility in preparing for his exams. Charis and I are not well with a bit of coughs and colds but by God's grace, we're managing. Charis doesn't seem to be affected much and looks forward to going out even on a rainy day.

After the stressful period of last June, I'm praying constantly, that this June will be a quiet and uneventful one. And I'm grateful that it has been so.

May God help us keep trusting.

Meditation for the week

1 Peter 2:13-25

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Oatmeal

Last week during breakfast, Charis was sitting on her chair eating her bowl of oatmeal porridge. She looked at me munching my breakfast and suddenly asked. 'Mummy, where do oatmeal come from?'

I looked at her and was gratefully reminded. It's been 34 months already.

Lord, we are grateful.

Our Last International Day at SMBC

The beautiful autumn day was a reminder of the one when I experienced my first international day. It seemed to have come full circle. That's a nice way of ending it.

Meditation of the week

Isaiah 65:17-25

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing
And her people for gladness.

I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people;
And there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.

No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
Or an old man who does not live out his days;
For the youth will die at the age of one hundred
And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed.

They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands.

They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity;
For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD,
And their descendants with them.

It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain," says the LORD.

Reflections

At Bald Hill lookout.

The sea never fails to remind me of God's strength, vastness, immensity. And when I admire the view, the inner heart quakes to confess of how easily amnesia sets in.

The Word shows us yet again of His Might. Acts 2:22-24

22"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--
23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
24"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

It was impossible for Jesus to be held in death's power.

Charis' idea of a beach holiday

A lazy Sunday afternoon at home after church. A tomato seedling is in the styrofoam cup.

A glimpse of the past few months

After a short 3 weeks in Singapore, we're back. We packed our house and moved to college accommodations. College started, and behold, a term flew by, with us busy with the little things God has given us to be faithful in.

Here's a glimpse of what 4 whole months could have said if I had blogged.

Charis' fantastic hairdo on the trampoline

Look! A train is coming!

The rainbow bee-eater is fast becoming MH's favourite bird.

The WCKF is in danger of losing 1st place. =P

With Rog's parents at the blue mts.

Sharing good times with Daddy.

Saw-stealer...

Who won the twister game? Chilling out at Joe's place.

Our first week at college accoms.

The unit was still work-in-progress, but we had what we needed.

Excellent Song

You're right, it's more earworms. It's true, meaningful and poetic. Another excellent song to keep humming, to keep reflecting, to keep praying.

In the Valley
Words and music by Bob Kauflin
As recorded on Valley of Vision

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where
You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

More earworms

The Power of the Cross
Words & Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Watch it

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

Chorus:This, the pow’r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought,
Ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

Final Chorus:This, the pow’r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

© 2005 Thankyou Music.