25 July - 14 August 2014

I titled this post with the dates of our daughter's arrival into Singapore and departure to UK as I wanted to remember when and as much as possible, what happened during her Summer Vacation back home.  Since I am getting old and cannot remember everything, this is a good way for me to recall times with the family.

On 25 July, the whole family went to the airport to welcome Eliza home for her Summer Vacation.  How time flies, it has been two years since she left for her studies.

 

Before she came home, we had planned for a short family vacation to Malacca and Penang.   Peter and Renfred drove.  This picture was taken in Malacca.  You can see how happy Peter was to have our daughter back with us ;)

Eliza posing with the dragon in the park.

Dad and daughter with beautiful smiles :-)

Renfred smiling happily, sitting on the elephant ;-)

Nothing warms my heart more than to see the family happy together.

Along the river in Malacca.

All sitting and standing so straight :-]

Eliza has a beautiful smile and is very photogenic :-D

We visited a Japanese Restaurant in Penang for dinner.  The food was a bit expensive but as long as the family is together and happy, it is worth it :)

Peter found Mugshot on the web, selling coffee and bagels and he brought us there to try out the bakes.  Quite a nice quaint place ;)

When in Penang, it is a must to visit Gurney Drive for your dinner or supper :)

Love the way Renfred stands so straight and Eliza ties her hair.  Thank GOD for these two babes He has blessed us with.

 

Thankful that Eliza is home to celebrate my birthday with the family.  So thoughtful as usual, she bought me this 500 breads book wrapped with the lovely muffin gift wrap :-)

We had my birthday dinner at Chin Huat Seafood.  Nice cosy place.

 

The crabs and seafood here are very fresh :-) 

 

 

We visited Awfully Chocolate one evening for some dessert.

Renfred brought us to this restaurant called Amber@West, run by students - like Shatec.  He gave us a treat for belated Father and Mother's Day celebration because we said we would postpone the makan till Eliza is home with us.  Besides GOD, family is very important to me.  There is nothing much to celebrate about when one of your family members is missing.

We also visited my dad's tomb during one of the evenings.  The 3 of them did a fantastic job by clearing the creepers that grew along the tomb and also chopped and trimmed the tree you see in this picture, which was growing so well that it overshadowed my dad's tomb.  So proud of you all :)

Pete insisted that we must visit the Red Bridge at Punggol as this is the place he and his Yew Tee cyclists would pass by when they cycle to East Coast.

Like father, like son, you would be... be faithful in service for the King ;)

 

Brother and sister - we will forever be grateful for these two blessings from the Lord.  Thank You, Father in heaven.  May You watch over them and journey with them and bless them.  May they mature to be man and woman of GOD; fearing and loving You all the days of their lives.  And may they build up godly Christian families for Your Name's sake.  Since Pete and myself have experienced and tasted of how Good You are and how we need You, we also want our children to know and cling on to You - You alone suffice and no one else in this world can ever satisfy the vaccum You have placed in our hearts when You created us in our mother's womb. 

Please grant this my prayer.  Thank You.

We are all wired differently but wonderfully and beautifully made by GOD :)

Thank GOD for all these beautiful pictures and memories. 

Our family bond the best during such times as this; where we play, chat and enjoy all the goodies mom can find from the fridge - notice the chocolate eggs at the bottom right hand corner ;)

Even though it has been 2 years, still could not stop sobbing.  Will always miss you, my precious gem from the Lord.  Eliza comes from the root word "Elizabeth" which means consecrated one.  You belong to GOD.

 

Before you came home, the weather in Singapore was hot and humid and there were even reports that say there might be haze.  We prayed as it pains us to see you adjust to the hot and humid weather here with breakout of eczema like the last time you were home.  Thank GOD for granting you His favour and blessings of cool weather and no haze.  Thank GOD also for seeing you safely back yesterday. GOD is Good all the time :-)

 

Battle Scars

I started learning to cycle proper on 21 September last year after my husband bought me a hybrid.

After about 6 months, he upgraded me to his road bike.  It is nice to do things as a couple even though at times the thought of having to wear jersey, gloves, helmet, goggles, etc puts me off ;)

 

I have had 3 falls thus far; one minor from the hybrid and two major from the road bike.  The above picture shows the wounds I had after last week's pre National Day ride of 61.74km from Woodlands through Orchard Road to Marina Sands Bay and back.  I fell after Trinity Theological College at Bukit Timah where there were many portholes along the road.  Thank GOD that there was no vehicle behind us and I did not suffer any bone fracture :)

I had these bruises during our ride to Punggol, along the park connectors.  It was past midnight and the fall was quite bad.  But still thank GOD, because the spectacles were damaged during the fall, I had to visit the optician and there we learnt that my degrees had decreased by 150 on one side and 125 on the other.  So I had a pair of new spectacles as a result of the fall :)

 

Thank GOD for blessing me with the best trainer and instructor, who has been very patient and an excellent coach :-)

 

All these battle scars cannot be compared to what Jesus suffered on the cross for me.  When I reflect on Isaiah 53 on what Jesus went through to redeem me back to my Father in Heaven, I am filled with gratitude once again for His great love and sacrifice for me and for the world of lost sinners.

 Isa 53 :3-7

"He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

 

Surely He has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed Him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.

 

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on Him

the iniquity of us all.

 

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,

yet He opened not His mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so He opened not his mouth."

 





 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8QdOxzh5Y

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k9GCNNnmzs

 

 

The well known chapter on faith - Hebrews 11

F -  Future sure
A - Assured of His presence
I  - Immeasurable love and grace
T - Trusting
H - Heart

V1 says faith is being sure - of what? 
Of the hope of eternal life which we do not see, which Jesus promised in John 3:16 and many other verses in the Bible.  Believe this includes the rewards and things Jesus had promised in His Word.

V3 says by faith we understand - understand what?
that the universe was formed at GOD's command as in Genesis 1:1.

V6 says it is impossible to please GOD without faith.  We must believe that GOD exists (Psalm 14:1) and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him because He promised that they will find Him in Jeremiah 29:13.

I like verse 10 where it says Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is GOD. Something in my heart just feels that that is the place I belong to; not in this sad, confusing, discouraging, stressful world we are currently staying in.

When I first became a Christian, I looked forward to going to church, getting involved in the choir, the youth fellowship, etc where I was serving actively and also growing in Him. During those years, the only trials I could remember was having to deal with my unbelieving parents. But as I grow and mature in the faith, it gets harder - my Father in heaven is putting me through numerous tests and obstacles to mould me. To the extent that I broke down so often, that the road is so tough and dreary and the light in the tunnel is getting dimmer. When will I get to pass Your tests, Father in heaven?  When will I be able to serve You happily again? My heart ache and my soul yearns to be free of these trials.  How long, Father?  How long?  Issues kept coming one after another like there is no end.

I know that "we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12)  Especially when we have dedicated ourselves and our children to You; Renfred just entered into Bible College to prepare himself to be in Your service, our daughter whom you have opened doors for her to study overseas (we are entrusting You to do Your work in her life that she will be a vessel for Your kingdom's use in time to come) and for Pete and myself, if it pleases You, to be called into your missions field to serve You for the rest of our lives when You see fit.  For Jesus has redeemed us and we are His. 

Please keep us under the shadow of Your wings and watch over us as we pledge our family's allegiance to You.  You have been faithful and good and in You we trust.  By Your grace we will plod on till we see Jesus face to face to hear "thou good and faithful servant."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE