The Love Dare

Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment he calls 'The Love Dare.' Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, but more for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the books daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father,'How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?' When his father explains that this is the love God shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And--with God's help--he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever--rescuing his wife's heart.

Watch this movie! It will help many people in their relationships! This is by the same people who brought us 'Facing the Giants'. Very touching and meaningful. Never leave your partner behind.

Date: 11th Sept 2009 (Fri)
Time: 7.45pm
Venue: BBTC Hall 1 (Level 1) Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church,
300 Bedok North Ave 3, Singapore 469717
Admission: By complimentary tickets (550 only).
Ticket Reservation: Email events@bbtc.com.sg

Got 'hung!'

Can't believe I'm saying this but wholemeal bread tastes good. Especially when eaten with egg and tuna mayo (just half a teaspoon) and some cut up lettuce. I watched as older prince bit into the healthful egg mayo wholemeal sandwich I made for him. No violent protests. No dagger stares. Score!

This is significant as older prince is one of those who rolls his eyes at me when I grab a multi-grain loaf or bought some purportly health food. He doesn't care for this healthy eating crap. He just wants real food that makes his taste buds happy. Ditto for the rest of the family.

But the 'brain' of the family recently got 'hung' (scared in hokkien) by a medical report on the sorry state of her health - high blood pressure, high sugar level and low iron and low healthy red blood cells, and a weight that is not exactly Kate Moss category (actually more like Jennifer Hudson category). So begins the quest for healthy living. Goodbye to my beloved oreo cheese cake and sticky chewy chocolate ice-cream and hello spinach and wholemeal.

As I journey through this squeaky clean, semi-sweet land, my beloved friends and dear ones, please bear with my grumpiness and my inevitable hatred for you as you munch on your chocolate donut. I'm, afterall, just human. A miserable sugar-deprived human...

A celebration of unions

A friend and ex-colleague got married to her long-time boyfriend on 1 August. It was a simple wedding with gathering of family and friends and 2 of our mutuals friends' kids were the page boy and flower girl. I was the guardian for the flower girl. I was a little worried to be given such a delicate task. But all turned out alright. The ceremony began at Lady of Our Perpetual Succour Church followed by a reception at the SAF Yacht Club.

It was good to meet up with friends, old and current, to celebrate the new couple and to catch up on one another's lives. We discovered that no one had changed much over the years or perhaps when we got together, we just behaved like we used to in the past. We laughed and shared stories with one another freely. Somehow, the colleagues in FED during the early years are the best I have. Many of us feel the same way. It was a new department then and we sort of journeyed through the ups and downs together. Even though the six of us (Hui San, Karen, Sharol, Meng Yee and Pei Shang) only see one another monthly, the connection is still good. I wish we could all work in the same place again one day.

The bride, Meng Yee, in her beautiful gown, walking down the aisle with her father and the page boy, Lucas and flower girl, Anne, aka, son of Hui San and daughter of Karen.

The new couple after the ceremony.

Anne and her sister, Andrea. Aren't they such angels? Aw...

All FED staff, at some point in time. Front row from left: Hui San, Eunice, Karen & Guek Ee. Back row from left: Sharol, Richard, Pei Shang & Mindy.

Me & flower girl.

Hui San and baby Lyra.

At the SAF Yacht Club. SAF Yacht Club is a beautiful place for romance - deserted location and near the sea. I think I will go back there with my hubby for dinner some day.

At end of reception. Meng Yee's purple and fuchsia gown was gorgeous.

Three of Karen's 4 lovely kids and she wants to produce more!!.But then who can blame her for falling in love with such lovely creatures.

Control freak? Who? Me?

I've been accused of being many kinds of freaks - clean freak is the most common one. Recently, I have been accused of being a control freak. What the ?! How am I a control freak huh? Just because I plan my travel itinery months ahead and have a packing list that wows many and prefers to know every single damn thing in advance doesn't make me a control freak!! Or that I like my laundry hang a certain way and my children to be in bed by 9.30pm. These are normal expectations right? I'm in no way freakish. Insecure maybe. And paranoid. But a control freak I am not.

So those people who think I am a control freak, stop it right now!

Diamonds in the rough

Last evening, when I was sweating it out on the treadmill at the gym and not entirely feeling on top of the world, something beautiful happened that warmed my heart. My older prince entered the gym and gestured to an umbrella that he placed at the door, knowing that I wouldn't talk to him because I was plugged to the MP3. Then he left. I saw him walking home in the dark rainy night with his own tiny green umbrella. He had given me the bigger umbrella. At that moment, I felt so much love for him.

When I reached home, I told him how much I appreciated his gesture. The prince, of course, just brushed it off with his usual laid-back manner. My hubby confirmed that he did not ask the older prince to bring me the umbrella. I could have guessed as much. It just wasn't my hubby's style. I shared with him my pride in older prince and related another incident where little prince told me, "You're a good mom." while we snuggled up before bedtime one day. Four little simple words but what impact it made on me. Hubby listened in silence but I could sense just a little tinge of jealousy on his face.

We always complained about how naughty and lazy our children are but hardly 'catch' them doing the right thing. Our children's thoughtful efforts can easily be overlooked, like blindspots, if we don't take time to notice them. Once we allow ourselves to enter into the world of these little people, we will be pleasantly surprised to see diamonds in the rough. I was dazzled by one last evening.

Let the mane thing be the main thing

I have a full head of long thick hair. Many people have told me that they envied me for having so much hair and never having to worry about going bald. I always tell them that being hairy has its woes, like how incredibly hot it is to walk under the Singapore sun. It's like wearing a sweater on my head in summer. Unlike girls with tamed, nicely-coifed do, I always found it a challenge to style my wavy thick blob of mess. So I end up tying it half-way. This has been my hairdo for years. It's safe and fuss-free. In fact, I've taken such a nonchalant attitude to my hair that I simply couldn't be bothered to blow dry or comb it. In short, I took my hair for granted.

Last Friday, after coming home from a night out with my girlfriends, I washed my hair (although I neglect my hair, I'm still a clean freak!) and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. I call it the 'mother of all headaches' as it refused to leave me alone for the entire weekend. At first I thought my lack of sleep could be the cause of it but upon some reflection, I realised that I have been sleeping with wet hair quite frequently. Maybe it wasn't an old wives tale afterall. Maybe we really shouldn't sleep with wet hair. Anyhow, I've decided that in order to prevent myself from future pains in the head, henceforth, I shall take good care of my hair. Making sure it's dry before I go to bed would be the first step. But don't expect me to comb or dye or do anything glamorous with my hair (except for glamorous occasions which, thankfully, hardly ever happens). I intend to keep my hair the way God has intended it to be - beautifully untamed.

To be 17 again...

Caught the zac efron show last night with my 11 year old prince. Why did I spend good money on a lame teen flick? Well, the appropriate answer would be that I was being a good parent acceding to a son's request. But actually a part of me wanted to watch that show. Plus, it doesn't hurt that zac efron is super cute.

I wanted to see if the movie could address my curiosity on the 'second life'. Don't all of us at some point in our lives wished that we could start over again; be given a second chance to lead a different life? If only I had studied harder and got a masters or phd and be a psychologist like I always wanted to. If only I had parents and siblings who gave good advice and guided me through life instead of letting me fall again and again. And would I lead a more exciting life if I had not married or had children? I wish I had cooler friends, a cooler job and a cooler me.

The protagonist in the movie, Mike, led his life full of regrets and bitterness because he felt that life had shortchanged him through missed opportunities. Through some warped encounter, he became 17 again and realised that because of his self-absorption, he failed to see his son's struggle with self-esteem, his daughter's desperate need for love and acceptance and his wife's unhappiness with an emotionally absent husband. As with all family movie with a moral message, Mike had an epiphany - he didn't want another chance to live his life over. He needed a second chance to restore his passion for and dedication to his marriage and family. It's a lesson on wanting what you have, not having what you want. If only all of us could reach such enlightenment.

Another thing that struck me about the story is that Mike's desires and fears are so similar to our own. His fear is the fear of most middle-aged adults - mediocrity. Most of us want to experience greatness in our lives. We are afraid of being invisible, forgotten, insignificant. Sometimes, I do wonder: could I have been successful if I had chosen a different path? I guess I could but would I be happy? It's hard to tell. Not many people can handle greatness. Look at Britney Spears and George Michael. They are icons but they are such a mess.

The movie is not a hit but it does make me think deeper about life, so I supposed the $16 is money well-spent afterall. I tried to analyse the movie with older prince as I always like to do but I guess to a pre-teen, life ain't worth analysing. Wait till he's 37. He will understand some day that youth does not last forever and that life ain't simple.