MADE REDUNDANT

My dear husband got retrenched yesterday, 30 July 2009. Today, 31 July 2009 will be his last day at work. At about 12.30pm he called me and told me he is the only one from the Singapore office who has been asked to go. This is the second batch of retrenchment his ex-company has exercised and quite a few of his colleagues from the Australian office has opted for redundancy.

We know that the reason for his laid off is because of office politics and that his new superior who came on board a couple of months back do not see eye to eye with him on many of the company issues and business dealings. But as Christians, we believe that things like these happen for a purpose, Rom 8:28. And we want to claim God's promise and by faith trust Him to help us work out this matter in our family.

Like Job said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the Name of the Lord be praised." Thank God for good friends like Reb and KM, who upon knowing what has happened, called to show us God's love and concern. Also the many friends and customers of Pete's called and sent emails to express how shocked they were and offered their friendship at times like these.

Hide me now, under Your wings

Cover me, within Your mighty hand

Chorus:

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

V2

Find rest my soul, in Christ alone

Know His power, in quietness and trust

Poverty in Spirit

Brokenness, deepest form of repentance, acknowledging myself a sinner saved by God's love and grace. Nothing but Christ to boast about. Total dependance on God. Righteousness based on faith in Christ, not on law or by works. A lifestyle of those who belong to the kingdom of heaven.


Who am I, that the Lord of the all earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart.

Pre-Chorus:

Not because of who I am.
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done.
But because of who You are.

Chorus:

I am a flower quickly fading.
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
Vapour in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.

V2

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin.
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again.
Who am I, that the voice that calm the sea.
Would call out through the rain.
And calm the storm in me.

Nice in France

January this year, I followed my husband, Peter, to his annual sales conference at Saint-Paul-de-Vence in Nice, France. It's a beautiful medieval village on top of a hill. He went there for work but I went shopping and sightseeing :)

Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Peter and his boss, Ross

The below pictures were taken in Eze, a charming village where you find the Fragonard Perfume Factory. I took a tour of the factory and bought some parfum and eau de toilette.

Next, the lady tourist guide showed me the famous old casion, Hotel de Paris and Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo.

We proceeded to Monaco to see the Princes Palace and changing of guards.

These are only some of the many pictures I took in Nice. We also visited Barcelona in Spain during this trip to Europe. When I find time to sort out the pictures, I will upload and share them with you. Enjoy :)

Happy Birthday to me :)

Yes! I turned 47 yesterday :) Praise the Lord!



My family woke up at 7.10am in the morning for the cake-cutting as I had to leave for my worship duty at 7.50am. It was quite a memorable day for me. My husband ordered a bouquet of red roses for me. My daughter did a painting for me, and my son presented me with an exercise mat for my Jazz. Ontop of that 2 of our ex-CG friends, took the trouble to visit us at home with a big box of Merci chocolates and a bottle of red fruity wine. Some more ... our good friend came all the way from Clementi to pass me a few CDs and some jellies he had made.




It was indeed a joyful day especially when I had the priviledge to sing for my Creator on my birthday. I also had lunch with my husband at Ivins and dinner with the family at Mussle Guys in Vivio City.

Thank you Father in heaven, for being with me these past 46 years. I look forward to many more years of loving You, serving You and learning to be more like You :)


When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His heard, His hands, His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

A Time for Everything

The Cantonese have a saying "zham har gan" (with a blinking of an eye) which means times flies. Before you know it, your children would have completed their studies, or are planning to get married.

In a few days' time I will be a year older. I can't wait for the day when our two teenagers set up their own families, and my husband retires. After his retirement, he plans to travel from country to country, staying in the countryside to write his book and I will follow him to pursue my photography - to enjoy and take pictures of God's creation; nature - trees, clouds, rainbows, animals, etc.

In the meantime, we have to continue to do a good job loving and raising the two precious youths God has entrusted to us. Even now they feel that they can manage 75% of their lives and only come to us when they need money, food, advice, and in areas where they still need our assistance, we will, by God's grace, faithfully be around so that they know that we are there for them when they need us. Besides that, I have signed up for short-term bible studies and dance classes to upgrade myself :) I have just completed a book on "Lord, give me a heart for You." based on II Corinthians and have found it to be very applicable for our daily lives. I am really looking forward to the next book "Lord, only You can change me." Am really thankful to God for the job He has given my husband so that he can provide for our family and at the same time I can enjoy all these.

Yesterday, after church my husband and I came home to re-arrange and shift some of our plants to the outside of our home. We are pleased the place looks more homely and nicer now. Later in the afternoon, Peter went to play his golf, I decided to use up the rest of our light green paint to paint certain walls of our home veranda. Now it looks newer and cleaner :)