Fruitful restday!

Felt immensely proud of myself today. Took leave from work, but still woke up at 6.30am in the morning. Saw Isaac off to my parents-in-law's place, and then had light breakfast. Thereafter, we drove 'across the street' to East Coast Parkway and jogged for a good half hour! This is the first time that I have properly jogged since 4 years ago!! Ok, didn't really jogged all the way, but brisked walk mid-way. YL said that for someone who hasn't jogged for so long, I actually did quite well and ran at a decent speed. I was humble and gave partial credit to my spanking Nike Air running shoes that is not only lightweight but looks great!! ;)

Took some photos on my phone's cam whilst we were there...

Photos were shot after the run...The 2nd image came out like some chalk drawing art....cool! And check out the sandcastle on the beach...I think some pro built them!

Thereafter, we proceeded to Bedok Interchange hawker centre for a plate of yummy fried carrot cake (with prawns and sotong!!) washed down with yummy teh terik! Went back home to bathe, change and then proceeded to the library to pick up a few books on Tokyo. Yes, we've decided to make a trip there to chill out, come mid Sep!! Yippy!

Then picked up Isaac and went to Man Fu Yuan Restaurant at Hotel Intercontinental to have dim sum and celebrate birthday with Parents, and Bro... Yumelicious!

Mum babysat Isaac in the afternoon, and both YL and me went to Tampines Century Square to shop and catch the movie 'Click' by Adam Sandler. Movie started slow and has the usual American corny jokes in there, but as it goes on, improved immensely. Its got good morals and remind us not to rush through life... it even got both of us tearing at the end... Overall a good movie and would recommend it ...! clap clap!

Ate Sake Sushi for dinner and then went to parents' place to 'cut cake' and sing birthday song. Thereafter rushed home to be in time for cellgroup meeting...where I got to cut another cake and have another birthday song sung to me!

What a day...What a fruitful birthday!! ;)

Lazy Saturday afternoon@Starbucks

You've got your coffee and I've got my H2O!

Choice

I watched a TCS 8 show tonight, where one of the protagonist was lamenting to a friend that because she is already married and has a young son, she has found herself compromising her ambitions. Deep in her heart, she wished that she was still single and free to pursue her career goals.

I share a different view. I think I am innately someone with very traditional values. My family will always come first. It doesn't mean that I do not harbour any dreams of doing well at work and developing myself further in terms of my career. But when the two compete for my priorities, I know which one I'll eventually choose.

In fact, I had already made such a choice in the past.

Just before YL and I got married, he was offered a scholarship to do his postgrad studies overseas. The options that were laid before us were:
(a) I would stay back in Singapore to work whilst he would take up the scholarship and go overseas; or
(b) We would both go overseas together, i.e. I would have to resign from work or take No Pay Leave; or
(c) We both had to stay in Singapore and he either had to give up his PhD dreams or pursue a local research course.

I chose option (b). I was prepared to resign if necessary and follow him overseas to pursue his dreams for at least 3 years. Thankfully, things worked out well for us. God blessed me with great bosses that okayed my 3 years No Pay Leave to follow YL to London. This means that I would have a chance to go back to the organisation that I had worked for and more or less be assured of a job when I return. However, it still means that I would be behind / 'lose out' to my fellow colleagues that were in my cohort by 3 years. By the time I come back, I could be serving one of my ex-peer at work who could then be my boss.

These didn't matter. All it matters to me was that we would continue to be together, building up our relationship and home as a married couple. Thankfully, God honoured our decision. In my 2nd year in London, God blessed me with an all expenses paid, and full pay postgrad scholarship from my bosses, to allow me to pursue a Masters Course at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)! Never had I imagined that I would do a postgrad course, nor one in an eminent university in London!


Fastforward till today.

Today, I made another choice regarding my career. I am unsure how it'll all pan out at the end of the day. All I ask is that God will watch over me and direct my paths according to His will. Whatever I do, I want to have a good testimony at work as an officer, a colleague, or a supervisor. But above all, I desire to be a good mother and a good wife at home.

(sorry for the lack of clarity in my last para...all will be clearer in time to come...)

My Family

Huge Elmo

Wow! So big! Thanks Uncle Hong Yi and Aunty Kia Hui for giving big Elmo to me!

Happiest in the morning!

National Day at Labrador Park

Our church had a fellowship outing on National Day morning at Labrador Park. The sky was still pouring at 8.30am (our meeting time), but soon cleared up within half an hour! Apart from eating yummy breakfast (some lovingly prepared by fellow church friends and others conveniently purchased from the nearby hawker centre) , we also had a fun time playing games and chatting with one another!! Both kids and adults had a wonderful time! :)