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.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, November 06, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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! =)
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!JacuzziMy Personal Relations Officer: aka Jie Jie
Room Service: the haziness of the photo sometimes depict the state of their minds.Just for laughs! =)
Saturday, September 05, 2009
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.
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.
