Happy birthday, Hubby!

Image from Pinterest

I love him for all the big and little things he does to make our life so great.  He finds immense joy in all he does for our family.  It never fails to make me smile.

He dotes on all of us and is always saving for our future.  He never thinks of himself unless it is pointed out that he needs a new shirt.  It is forbidden to throw his old ones away!  

He loves saying "buy" if his grand-daughter wants something.  That girl is the new love of his life but I don't say this grudgingly, he has enough love to go around. And it warms my heart to see him excited about being a grandfather.

As I write this, I think of the times that he would stand in queue for me.  It doesn't matter if it's when we're out eating or shopping, he'd do what makes it convenient for me.  I also remember how he will suddenly bring home something for tea that I hadn't had in a while.  He praises all the food I make, even if there isn't any recipe and it's all last-minute put together kind of meal.  Heck, he is also happy when I reheat food because he's just that kind of guy.  He helps with all the chores when he isn't at work.  There are so many things that makes him lovable.  

In short, I just want to leave this here for when memories have faded so I can look back and recall how very precious he is to me and to the family.  He's a champion in our hearts and minds.

But what would my greeting be, without some humour.  So ...

You are highly favoured, deeply loved and greatly blessed, Baby Grosse!

Blissful living

From Pinterest

Stephen is a joker.  He can make me laugh at almost anything.  Sometimes he will just pluck something out of thin air and make a joke out of it and we will both laugh like idiots.

There are so many things that make me love him.  Like how he makes my coffee in the mornings, no matter what he has to do.  Or how he switches off my alarm so I will sleep on.  Just simple things that all add up to what makes for a happy marriage.

For a lot of my life, I've always felt that I was always giving more than I take but for the first time in my life, I actually believe that I am taking more than I give.  It's taken a lot of adapting to reverse this and learning how to receive and not to worry about any hidden agenda.

And it's not just about relationship between husbands and wives, it's also about what goes on between friends.  

We're always concerned about paying back and keeping the record clean but every once in a while, we cross paths with someone who is happy to just give and be counted as a blessing.  We must remember to appreciate the kindness and be grateful when people are kind.  It is their intangible gift to us.

Some would call it karma but the bible says this

From Pinterest

Prayers

Image picked up from Twitter

There is a saying "Lies take care of the present but never the future."

Likewise, I can also say, "Prayers take care of the present and also the future."  

Sometimes, I have to pinch myself to remember that this is the life I had prayed for when I was younger.  

It wasn't a grand life that I thought about.  I never prayed to travel the world or to have millions in the bank.  But I do remember only wanting a roof over my head, food on the table and surrounded by people who love me.

So, yes, I have to be thankful for a lot and that I should count my blessings.  

The good life

image from WWW

I had an intense week.  

Monday was for helping someone out and the customary visit to MIL.

Tuesday was my birthday and Stephen took me out for the whole day.  It was like a whirlwind of feeding my senses.  Food at a place that I spoke to him about, a movie of my choice, a quiet tea and ending all that with what has become a yearly ritual of Swensen's dinner and the usual ice-cream shared.  

Wednesday was for the regular visit to MIL and giving her a pedicure!

Thursday was for taking a random bus ride with Stephen.  We just choose a number and look for the route and take a joy ride.  This time it was for  Bus 111 which starts and ends at Ghim Moh Terminal.  It was a relaxing and fun outing.

Friday was for house chores as the fogging of the rubbish chute was scheduled.  This always means extra work for me.

Saturday was to catch up on my own stuff and later meeting Stephen at Toa Payoh Central for dinner and grocery shopping.

And today when I am thinking of a particular life and love that I lost so long ago, I'm also choosing to remember that I have found a new life and love.  Rumi was right, what we lose comes around in another form.

Stephen hardly gives me time to feel alone or lonely.  It's what he does without thinking.  His energy is more than enough for the two of us.  I am blessed.  

Who'd think that retirement would not change the pace of life? Okay, I'm stretching that a bit. I just meant that each day is filled with so much for those who value time.

High Five

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I could almost forget that I have been living in Singapore for the last five years.  It seems like I've lived here forever.  I still don't know every nook and cranny and I also have yet to do everything that I had wanted to do.  But it has been an adventure being here with Stephen, my Singaporean tour guide. 

Taking a random bus ride with him will bring stories of landmark buildings.  We have started many days with a fixed plan and then suddenly, we're hopping on the first bus that comes along to see where it takes us.  For me, it's still a touristic thing.  Buses ply routes that the trains don't and I can peek into the other lesser known places of Singapore.  

Life here is peaceful but full.  There isn't a day that goes by when I don't clasp my hands in prayer for the fact that I am here now.  I don't know for sure if I will always be here.  Maybe it's not knowing anything now that makes it exciting.  I would like to think that I would manage well wherever life takes me.  I didn't use to think so but now I'm convinced that I would be fine.

These days we no longer feel lonely when people are just a click away with an internet connection.  Friends reach out and family stay in touch without thinking about it.  It's become the norm.

This year, my to-do list is to walk across the Henderson Wave Bridge.  I think that I've put it off long enough and when the weather is great, we'll suddenly find ourselves there.  Hopefully it will be in the evening so we can soak in the awesome views and sunset.  

In my early twenties, I used to think that my life was so routine and that I could give an arm and leg for some excitement.  Now in my late fifties, I no longer look for that excitement because it now dawns on me that what fills my life is being loved.  That's my fuel and if I am honest with myself, I am truly contented.

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Penultimate Monday of January 2017

Oh well, my resolution to write more hasn't yet kicked in.  That's what happens when real life takes a front seat and the virtual life is given the back seat.  

Anyway, as I mentioned in my last post, I was going to share some photos about "taking our love to a higher level."

We were at the Swissotel-The Stamford on the 58th floor, where our room was; and on the 60th floor (executive lounge) where we had breakfast and cocktails.  Oh, so nice to look through these photos!

image from www

Upon entering the elevator, it's impressive to see all the levels.

On arrival to the room, we were swept away by this gorgeous view.  I'm admiring my husband who is admiring the panoramic Marina Bay Sands Hotel

A full view of what it looks like, with our nose pressed to the window!

And he takes a seat to look at me because I'm filled with excitement

 Something pretty around the spa area

One of the many lift lobby levels

Our lift lobby at level 58 

We had our breakfast and evening cocktails at

the Executive Club on the 60th floor 

Just pink guava juice for me 

The real definition of resting and relaxing.

I'm waiting for night and the lights to come on. 

 I am not disappointed.  It's known as a concrete jungle

but still a very pretty one. 

And the morning that we checked out, there was another spectacular view. A nice and fitting way to end our short staycation.

We plan to repeat this, one day, soon.  

First Monday of 2017

Image from WWW

I had intended to wake up early but slept till nearly 10 am.  But as Dodinsky advises, I'm letting it go.

I plan to have a better year.  How?  I'm not quite sure yet.  I'll just take one day at a time instead of writing down what I intend to do for the rest of 2017.  

2016 saw the culmination of some planned events but it was also the impromptu ones that left a warm, fuzzy feeling in me.

We ended last year on a high. Literally, high up on the 58th level in the Swissotel-The Stamford and on the 60th level for breakfast and evening cocktails.

I'm going to do a collage of some photos for, as Stephen puts it, "taking our love to a higher level".  Next blogpost will be about that.  *grins*

It's over but the journey has begun

We're blessed to have been able to witness and be part of something so special in our lives.  A new door opens and, with awe, we watch all the magic and mystery of life and love.

Round 1 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on 26 November 2016
Round 2 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10 December 2016
Round 3 in Singapore on 17 December 2016

It's all over now but their journey truly has begun.

We are so proud of this union and we give all our blessings over your lives together.

Dear Jared and Gwen,

Be happy. Stay close to God. Look after each other always.

Never forget that both of you are loved very much by your loving parents.

May blessings flow through your lives abundantly.

Much love today, tomorrow and forever

D and Nai!

Photo credit to SteffiePaulus

Family matters

Image from WWW Credit to TheQuotes Kingdom

It's really a sweet reminder that family matters is what matters most to me.  Also that when something happens, it's good to have the right people in your life for support and encouragement.  

You can be anywhere in the world and if you are with the people that really matter then you can face anything that happens.

All is well that ends well.  

Go crazy

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There really aren't many things that I could go crazy about nowadays.  I'm sure when I was young I was the opposite but that's what makes for moments when our soul smiles quietly in remembering.

I lead a rather boring life as compared to those around me.  I don't do anything out of the ordinary.  But when I feel like doing something crazy, there's nothing to stop me.  In fact, there's no one either.  

Like last night I watched 15 episodes of a TV series and finished at nearly 5 am this morning.  I wasn't sleepy and it was such an interesting show.  I woke up at 8.30 am and then went back to sleep almost immediately until noon.  Mild crazy but crazy all the same.

It's nice to be able to do stuff like this without having to weigh the consequences.  Stephen applauded me when I told him why I was so sleepy.  He's my best cheerleader!

And just one moment of craziness has left me with a glow in my heart and a skip in my step.

To make things even better, the universe rewards me with an unexpected surprise this evening.  Life is so gooooooooooood!

2016 IS HERE!

Out with the old and in with the new!

Take every chance that comes your way.

(All images from Pinterest)

New Year's Eve

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It's a good question to ask oneself!  Over the last 365 days, so much would have happened and even when we cannot remember everything, it's important to think about what we learnt from it all.

Me?  Hmmmmmmmmm

~ that I can depend on the grace of God for everything.  I did things which I didn't know I was capable of doing.  

~ that the people we love won't always love us back but we have to strive to continue loving them.  

~ that difficulties help us find inner strength and prayers help everytime.

~ that money can make people happy especially if they are in need.

  

~ that the year has been challenging in many ways but I have survived and life goes on.

Make it simple and you'll be able to achieve it.

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