7 worship sessions in 8 days!

That's a record.
Did 4 in Thailand, since last Sunday, took the plane home on Thursday, church prayer and worship on on Friday night till 12 midnight, Saturday with 7days at Covenent EF Church for their youth service, and this morning in church. I'm all so saturated! Another one to do at Telok Ayer Church on Tuesday. Will be total 8 sessions in 10 days!

Back from Thailand

Had a great week in Thailand with Li Soon and Matthew and the rest of the 7days team. It was wonderful to be able to be there with all the families and to be able to serve his body of servants. We did 4 worship sessions, which were really powerful and uplifting. Also had to time relax, go swimming, shopping, eating, team time, etc
I take my hat off to those parents who both serve and balance the family (meaning kids) without the help of maids. I think Li Soon and I are definitely spoilt. I was reminded about the contrast and how blessed we are when Simon mentioned the incident with a inland staff asking if the 3 kids were indeed all his. Only did he realise that they can only have 1 child there whilst we are encouraged to have more.... what an irony.
We did a breakout session on how to bring 7days inland. A few truly interested people turned up. Hopefully God will provide some leads to go inland this year and do more. It was also great to meet up with the guys from YRR again. So good that they'll be coming over to Singapore during Chinese New Year's.

Anyway, back home now, got to do the stuff for home again. Taking Nathan to the doctor's today again for his injection. Gotta finish my GST return by Monday, church and other stuff as well.

Here is a picture of Li Soon and me at the beach in Thailand.

Leaving for Thailand Beach resort

Leaving today for a beach resort in Thailand with LS and Matthew. Nathan will have to stay home this time :(
It's near Hua Hin, the imperial summer palace, facing the gulf of Thailand. Hope to have 1 week R&R as well as serving the in conference we are attending. Hopefully can put behind all the scary images of the Tsunami and still enjoy ourselves. And most important of all, contribute to helping the recovering of the Thai tourism... heh!

Feeling better

Everyone who prayed for me, thanks. I'm feeling better now, just a tiny bit of dizziness left. Went to see my specialist yesterday. So nice of my dad, with his busy schedule to accompany me. Well, the doctor did both an ECG and Ultrasound to see if my heart was ok. Also did a blood test. He's says they seemed fine, but the ECG machine actually said that I had inferior infarct (which means a heart attack!) cos of a little abnormality in the rhythm. But the doctor confirmed it is just the machine's algorithm being too sensitive. I certainly hope so.
So the doctor's advice? It's probably due to dehydration, hence the low blood pressure. So drink more water. Anyway, he took me off the blood pressure medication to see, and to see him in a month.
Damage? $600+ ouch!!
Going off to Thailand with Li Soon and Matthew for a week on Friday. Hopefully will get a chance to relax. Beach resort - what were we thinking???

Low BP?

Went to see the family doctor today with Matthew. Matt had his flu vaccine injection. He was so brave.
Anyway, told the doctor about my giddyness and headaches and throwing up. So he did a check, everything ok except that my blood pressure was kinda low. 100/70. Sounds logical why I'd have those symptoms. Kinda worried, including my aunt and parents. So I'm going to see the specialist tomorrow, perhaps do a blood test to see what's up. Hopefully it's just needing to change the medication.
Pray ok?

Sick

I don't know if it's the sudden change of weather from cool to very hot, or insufficient rest, stress or my upcoming trip to Thailand, but really felt bad yesterday and still a little bit today. Decided to stay home yesterday, to rest and do a bit of my accounts before I leave on Friday for Thailand with Li Soon and Matthew. GST submission Jan 31st. So Li Soon took the car to work. Forgot that Matthew had swimming class in the afternoon at 3:30pm. So with no car, not feeling so well, I decided to call Li Soon to see if we can not go. She said OK and called the instructor.
Then time to tell Matthew. He was really upset and insisted on going.... what to do?
So finally succumbed to his persistent "I want to go to swimming class", and took him by taxi to Bedok Swimming Complex.
I knew there were going to be problems.... I left my sunglasses in the car which Li Soon drove, and it was a hot and very sunny day. I have this problem with bright sunlight because I am very sensitive to bright lights. I had to squint just to see and with the bright sun and intense reflections from the pool, it wasn't long before I developed double vision and a mild headache. Thankfully I took some Panadol before going. Well, Matthew enjoyed his swimming and had 4 fishballs and Sprite after swimming. Took a taxi back and once I reached home, it all came down. I felt dizzy, extremely tired, headache, and after dinner, had some chest pains too (I think it was heartburn or indigestion)
Went to bed at about 7pm but didn't manage to sleep alot.
My worried aunt sent for my parents even and they came over. It was nice of my dad to even give me a massage.. ;) hehe
Finally took two muscle relaxants and went to bed at 11pm.
Hopefully I'll get some more rest today before Em's concert tonight. Cancelled the Creative Arts meeting for this afternoon.
Going to sleep now.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oops! Almost forgot our 7th wedding anniversary

This is totally embarrassing and terrible. Li Soon and I completely forgot that it's our 7th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Wow, time really flies man. 2 kids later, things like anniversaries can creep up on you.Hehe

Anyway, we're probably going to Marriott tomorrow night and spending the $300 voucher Li Soon won at her company event. Thank God for things like that...hehe

I still remember when we got married at Shangri-La hotel. Starting new job then, and new married life at the same time. Good memories.
Well, gotta move on and look forward. God's been great, providing for us through everything and blessing us with great kids, a supportive home environment and more than we can want or ask.

Many more years ahead!!

Stages

With so many people losing someone close whether it be to the earthquakes, tsunami, accidents, old age or even relationship breakups, I thought that I'd do some reading up on how people handle loss. Came across the 5 stages of loss that I remember vaguely studying in Psychology class many years ago. Thought I'd put it up as a reminder on how to cope.
The 5 stages are
(1) denial,
(2) bargaining,
(3) anger,
(4) despair,
(5) acceptance.

For more detail, take a look at
Coping with Loss

Seems a number of my friends are in the midst of breakups. So strange that it happens at this time though. I wonder if it is just coincidence, or that events around have somewhat triggered latent things? hmmmm.

I remember the first time I was rejected many years ago. I sometimes can still feel the kind of pain, when I hear of others going through that. The feelings of inadequacy, anger, disbelieve, despair and finally acceptance is not something I would choose to go through if I had a choice. However, I know that it is exactly through these painful experiences and trials that we can discover much about ourselves, others, God and grow.
The only thing for sure is that time will heal, and God will provide a way to cope, so don't give up. Have to endure a little bit of time.

"2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
James 1:2-5

13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Cor 10:13