WE MOVED!!!

We finally resumed operations at Forum on Tuesday.. after all the back breaking work of packing.. shifting.. cleaning.. unpacking.. setting up the kids play gym.. running errands to buy swivels, hooks, furniture (during which my colleague hit a truck and dented a hole in the front bumper of his car..OUCH!).. and MORE cleaning...

However, God must have wanted to teach us (especially ME) 'patience' during the entire process.. ha ha! The reinstatement of the previous place was more complex than expected.. due to conflicting and extremely confusing instructions by the management to our contractor:

• Pour concrete to seal the drainage hole.. then had to unseal it.. cover with floor trap instead
• Paint the walls white (even though the next tenant.. our neighbour.. will be tearing down walls to expand her clinic)
• Cut all the wires (which will have to be reconnected immediately).. then turned out they can switch off the power from the Riser.. now WHY didn't they SAY so earlier???
• Replace the downlights by the window ledge and put a switch at the concrete pillar.. which to our knowledge was non-existent since we never used them!
• Frost the front glass door panel.. wrong font for the lettering..
• Replace torn aircon insulators.. we had always maintained and service all of them according to the regulations.. so we were not informed of this problem earlier by both parties.. how is it our responsibility then?

I had initially thought the most difficult would be tearing down and disposing the steel bars.. but.. THEEETTT!!!.. I was so wrong! Anyway, I hope nothing else crops up.. like install shatter proof windows.. or bullet proof doors..ha ha ha!

Make My Heart Right...

I know that many things in this world
Can hinder me from loving You

The lust of the eyes and pride of heart

Can pull me away from my first love

Lord I don't want to let You go
I want You to stay

In the good times and the bad times
In the laughter, in the tears
Jesus You are there for me
In the times of trials and the testing of my faith
Jesus come and take control
I will surrender all my dreams
And I will give You all my hopes
Lord I want to make my heart right for You

I'd listen to what people say

They tell that everything is okay
Though I try to search deep within
I know the answer is in You

Persistency Pays...

Recently a yellow-breasted nectar sunbird (at least that's what I think it is??).. for God knows what reason.. chose to make his nest on ones of our bamboo plants. We tried to thwart its effort and tore down the first nest since the bamboo branch looked really precarious (especially, during heavy storms.. surely it wouldn't withstand the torrential rain and blustering wind). But within hours, another nest began to take the familiar longish shape! WOW! That was super quick time indeed! So we took a step back to watch this hardworking little fella and see what he would decide to do next. Sure enough.. he finished the nest in about 3 days and brought his mate back to their new home!

Some folks say its "lucky" to have birds build their nests in your yard.. er..I guess it depends? I hate the thought of having to clean up bird poop every morning or night.. although it's been pretty good so far? But I felt honoured that this small bird figured that our house was peaceful and secured enough for it to entrust its life into our hands.. literally! Trust me.. the nest IS hanging only by a very thin thread.. the wonder of God's creatures!

P.S. Just found the tiniest egg inside the nest today (15 April 2008)!!! Jared asked "Can we fry the egg and eat?" (Please remind me to teach my city slicker kids to appreciate nature..)

P.S.S. Correction..there were TWO eggs and they recently hatched.. the little birds now have feathers already.. awww..so sweet and cute! (1 May 2008)

P.S.S.S. The birds have left the nest and are now twittering in our backyard every morning! (14 May 2008)

Chris' One Million $ Face!!!

For those uninitiated folks.. this picture truly is realistic! Everything from the facial features.. to the posture of his head.. and position of his hands.. So not surprisingly, with this image of the young Chris.. they managed to raise a cool $1 million for Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped!

Chris obviously inherited his dad's funny genes.. and it was probably the most hilarious wedding I've been to.. by a mile! (borrowing the words of Simon Cowell). Not to mention strewn with the hallmarks of the typical Korean drama script too.. the off-tune singing.. the tears.. the laughter.. the comedy.. the funny anecdotes.. ha ha ha!

Come Home...

I know that I am so close to Your heart
You have given me everything
And not holding back Your love for me
My dear Jesus
But somehow I let my heart grow cold
Turn my back to go my own way
Think that I know what's best for me
And I walk out on You

You are waiting there and looking out for me
You are longing in Your heart
To hear me call You 'Abba Father'
You are standing there with Your arms open wide
You are smiling right at me
And You say 'Come home, come home to me'

You stumbled on the road to the cross
Let them put nails into Your hands
Allowed them to scorn and shame Your Name
Without a word
You hung there in agony and pain
You died but it was not in vain
Because from the grave You rose again
To bring me back to You

Your compassion Lord rains down on me
You guide with gentle hands
To show love and strength
Forgiving eyes of love I see
And You said 'My child, come to me'