The Christmas Message

I heard from my relatives in Portland that it snowed on Christmas Day. How I miss the serenity of snow and the feel of comfortable slumber of the season. The difference at this time is just that I have my husband to snuggle with and as the song "I'll be home for Christmas" played in the background, we can only reminisce the cool air amidst of our air-conditioned room. Christmas away from home did not feel as bad anymore because I have Jon with me.



For our Christmas party, we invited our caregroup friends and several guests to join our merriment. And what a blast it was. We were all having a good time and a few extra pounds on our belly. And I like what my husband wrote to the Caregroup on his e-mail:

Hi Everyone,

Still having hung over from our Christmas party? Here’s something to warm our hearts. Hung (Dee’s colleague) SMS-ed me after the party:

“Dear John & Anne, honestly this is the most wonderful Xmas get together ever. Really appreciate ur hospitality and kindess. Merry Xmas. God bless your family. Hung & Hieu.”

I hope Irene also enjoyed herself. Brett wanna feedback?

I think it’s a very cozy get-together and I hope everyone enjoyed it. Frankly this is a party with many thoughts in my mind:

Synergy: I have managed to pull together individuals like Michelle, Patrick, Junda and my dear wife who do not have many experiences in organizing CG activities in and they have done a very sweet job. Would like to thank God for their serving hearts! Except Peishan, who came out with 5 out of 6 witty questions for the “Know Your Partner” quiz, could not make it last minute due to bad flu… (Hey with her spirit with us, we have exactly 17 people in our party! A number I initially prayed to the Lord!)

Bonding: To let the “Single & Available” in our CG feel “part of it” even though there are many couples in the CG. Yes, we have to identify this trend in our CG, and face it as a whole group. Though 2 become 1, but all of us form 1 body. In fact as singles, it’s even easier to function when you are single because there is more flexibility and freedom to serve God. Trust me, God blesses people who serve!!! I can boast it and claim it because when I focus on serving Jesus, the Lord blesses me with a business, a noble wife and a house at Boon Tiong to bless more people. So folks, please do not stop serving our wonderful Lord, whether singles or attached!

Trusting in the Lord: Anne and I actually really put our trust unto the Lord for this party. We do not have any theme about it but just “REST” unto God’s providence. Here are some of the things that happen if you set aside time to “REST” unto God:

1. We managed to come across the door gifts idea regarding the Christmas Gloves while shopping at Plaza Singapura
2. Finding the caterer’s (Deli Hub) brochure in my company mailbox and trusting the Lord that the food would turn up nice
3. Candies ideas while shopping around Vivocity
4. Bookmark with messages while shopping around Bras Basah
5. Christmas decoration ideas while shopping around at Takashimaya
6. Party ideas while watching TV at home (Party Planner with David Tutera in Discovery Travel and Living)
7. Alvin presenting his Christmas Tree with ornaments to us
8. Sakae Sushi finding my home mailbox 5 days before the party
9. Idea for Fondue while shopping at Tangs
10. Neighbour to provide me with 5 black stools
11. My parents to provide me with 6 red stools
12. Finding the perfect gift for Gift Exchange at Tangs
13. Holy Spirit to make our house cozy
14. The message about “IDENTITY” from the Lord. Though its very brief, I tried my best, folks… =P
15. And last but not least the symbolic meaning of Christmas Wreath and 5 Candles while googling for “Facts about Christmas”.

Anyway, for accounting purposes, here’s the overall Love Offering I got:
Dee: $100
Albert: $50

I’m pleased to announce that offerings are now officially closed. Anne and I would not accept anymore offerings for the party. For those who felt loved and would like to bless, sorry to inform you that you have to wait at least 1 year to do so. It’s not too long because I waited 3 years for an opportunity to organize a Christmas Party on the behalf of our Lord Jesus to bless others. Here’s the process:

1. When Anne accepted my proposal on last year Christmas Eve, I know the dream of organizing a Christmas Party to declare my love for Jesus would be soon.
2. When God blesses me with this house early this year, I know the opportunity to bless others is coming.
3. When Dee posted this question of organizing a Christmas Party during the CG few weeks ago, I tell myself “That’s it!” Thank God for that!
   

Okay… any more thanksgiving would have to wait till this Friday CG. I pray that Peishan would be healthy soon. I pray that Edmond would recover and discharge from Changi General Hospital asap. I pray Gene would have a good time of cuddling with her family back in South Africa and return with LOVE that can last her till the next family re-union.

May year 2008 be a swelling year for each one of us!

Cheers
Jon

If you would like to take a look at some more of our photos that fun night, you can visit my photobucket.

Have a wonderful Rest and a great Season!

God bless everyone!

Curtain Call

As the year 2007 is closing to an end, another chapter in my life is about to be closed. I would like to count all the blessings than heartaches that I received this year.



One: My wonderful marriage with my beloved Jon.

I thought today was a great time to express it, because at the same time today is our 5th months anniversary. Yes, we are still brand new married couple and our honeymoon is blessedly prolonged. Last month when we hit our fourth, Jon told me that I should've reminded him about it and because I didn't, we missed it. So I messaged him today reminding him of our bond together. Yesterday was not really a good moment for the both of us. It started wonderful, but as the burden of our job claiming our sense of peace our exchanges became shorter and ebbing. The good thing was it lasted only for a short while and we traded our "I love yous" soon after. I enjoyed listening to him reading the Bible to me at night. Beat watching late night TV all the way. The way Jon read was quite theatrical, sometime I'm amazed that he still got all that energy even that late in the night. He always made me smile with his antics

Two: My daily miracles.

All the good things that happen in my life, is not a coincidences. One of them is of course, my upcoming new job. As I was applying for a better opportunity, the response is few and slow. Sometimes I wonder if my resume was really that bad, or I don't know what. I hardly got a phone call from a good decent company and so I was getting more hopeless each day I didn'treceive that solid phone call. So one day, I receive one call for interview for this small ad agency. This company was not even my focus to begin with as I was looking toward banking. But I entertained the call and went for the interview anyway. One thing... Although I was having high hopes and dream about working for advertising, the dream soon dousing off, after none offered to me. And so, I was quite surprised that this company called me back even with my lack of experiences, to say the least. The interview went well and the interviewer even sounded a hint that I'm on my way to become their next employee. Another note, when he first called me on the phone for the interview, he stated to me," You're not a creative person, are you?" My answer was, "It depends on what constitute creative..." So at the interview, I asked him, "why did you say that I was not creative?" He said, "I was looking at another resume." Sometime I still wonder if I was not even considered to begin with. But that would prove even better, that God helped me. On the way out, I met with Elaine. She was the next interview candidate. What a small world. Perhaps God decided to bless us both. I was quite excited for the prospect to work for this ad agency. But of course there's the part whether or not this is the right one, etc. So I prayed for a guidance, that is if Elaine is accepted that means it the job for me too, because at the moment this company is looking for 2 persons to work for them. Elaine got the job first. And soon after they called me back for a second interview and at the end of it, I was offered the job with a pay that's quite decent. Not as much as I wanted, but pretty much 1.5x my current pay. That was the big one, but the small events such as big orders, nice people on my paths and random taxis when there seemed to be hopeless keep on popping up to me.

At the moment I have not resign yet. I am still waiting for the bonus that is rightly mine. I know it's kind of inappropriate to resign right after receiving the bonus, but at least I'm not faking that I am in the business of receiving money. And I know another miracle is coming :)