The forgotten...

It occurred to me the other day that I should return to writing. A part of me was 'YES!' while the other which seldom pipes up queried me on what I'd write...what won't I write?

Then yesterday the 3rd Cousin asked about my blog...perhaps it's a sign that I should write again. 

It's amazing that we have spent a year in our home. We have bought furniture and beds, I've planted flowers and it's been a year of settling down into our home and paying the mortgage.

Yes, the blue sofa - not my choice. We are saving towards our own but while they are here, the lazy boy is comfy. 

My in laws live with us. 

And the dog is happy to rule over his kingdom.

And the husband - well, I really thank God for him. I know marriage is different for everyone and the same is true for us - the teething problems started early and the honeymoon ended too soon. In working out the balance between honesty and trust, in finding love in tough love, and in keeping our hearts warm towards each other during the cool wars, I'm happy I married him.

His willingness to take on a 2nd job to supplement his passion, his great attitude towards shouldering a 2nd role at work because they needed someone to fill it - God is certainly working in his life.

For us both - character building in this time till such time we can enjoy our own space.

Watch this space. See our God come through.

Phase 1 - completed

We are moved into our temporary home, phase 1 is complete.
It is by no means an easy move - not only were we uprooting our dog from the only home he has known, we were also bidding farewell to 7 months of living together with our extended family. God has blessed us - the stay together was pleasant, harmonious and enjoyable. That's why the move was sentimental. Sure, we are 30 mins south on a good day but still living apart.

Nonetheless, our God is faithful who has provided for all 3 family units to find temporary accommodation while we wait for the glorious things He has in store for us!

Last night marked our dog's first day of re-training - he slept in the laundry room. As his guardians, we had to steel our hearts against his short minute of indignant and confused barks so that when we leave on Thursday, my in laws will have a much easier time taking care of him.

Today, I'm on leave to just watch over him and make sure he doesn't dig up the backyard in anxiety. The boy stays outdoors too - something he has not done in 7 months.

For an older dog, he's 6, he is intelligent and takes very well to learning new things such as not being permitted to walk on carpet when just 24 hours ago, he could. He has learnt to skirt the carpet and keep off the mattress. I'm really proud of him.

The hubs went to bed worried about him, and saying how should either of us get up to pee that we should take him out to wee too. So, guess who had to? Let's just say the hubs was so tired he slept right through whereas I got up at 4.30am to take him to wee, not because I needed to pee. Hah! And by 7am, he had gone for his walk, had breakfast and said goodbye to the hubs who went off to work.

God is indeed omniscient!

I can't wait for phase 2!!

Life on 9/12/2012 at 21:30h

I am lying in bed and was reading my posts from day 72 till this afternoon's.

It is wrong for me to gripe.

As Cruelty said to me, my Coach bags are an indulgence, so are my numerous heels and shoes and my expensive dresses. What I miss most about my life before is not having to think so hard about spending money.

Cruelty has to be firm with me, for she is my mother.

It is so true. I am able to save money for the house we are buying, still pay for housing expenses here and buy a doughnut when I wish.

I just don't shop - that is an indulgence.

I guess this is a lesson in time for me; prudence with money. It's not an easy lesson - not when I'm wondering why I am not hired for a better paying job when I am obviously qualified.

Perhaps it is as my manager said, 'Maybe God wants you to stay here and help me some more.'

I believe God has a plan for me, I may not know what He wants me to do in the pharmacy but when I have completed it, I know He will move me.

I also need to break away from the stereotype that I MUST teach. Maybe this is my chance to teach differently. Or NOT teach.

Nonetheless, these are the things I've learnt to do because I'm not teaching:
1. Shrink wrap gift sets
2. Transfer stock from store to store
3. Dispense prescription only medication
4. Log on to and fill in forms from national diabetes, addictive drugs record, use x calculator, project stop, s3 recordable drugs
5. Security tag and put away stock
6. Identify over the counter medication and local brands
7. Look up products in the store system and locate them using the plannograms
8. Accounts
9. Print labels and signs for the bays and gondolas
10. Compose slogans for the store.

It's all great fun! Praise God.

Life on 19/12/2012 at 12:29pm

I haven't been writing much.
It's just that I really don't have much to update.

I receive a lot of rejection letters from the schools I apply to; honestly, it makes me question myself. I have a great résumé yet no school wants to hire me - not even for school librarian or program coordinator.

I haven't bought a Coach bag in months. I haven't shopped for clothes. I did buy shoes but for work. What is happening?

Sometimes I wonder if I should come back to Singapore to work.
Then at other times, I think of our mortgage repayments that are to start. And I also think how at least God has provided a job for me at the pharmacy - and I enjoy it! And how I should be patient.

But today, just today, my heart feels it can only take so much rejection and the feeling of inadequacy.

God, strengthen me because I am nothing without You.

Sometimes, some times are unforgettable

Somewhere Out There

written by James Horner, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
.…

Whenever I let the dog out to take a pee, and I stand under the star filled banner of the night sky, I always think of home - my family and friends and pets who are no doubt under this same sky.

And I miss home.

Speedily, go slow to avoid collision

I received great news today!

Today I received my teacher registration in the mail! Praise God! I can officially seek employment in schools.

So now, the question is - which school?

I want to stand in the gap.
I want to meet God where He is - to be where He wants me to be so He can use me.

Everything has been moving speedily - my job at the pharmacy, WACOT registration that took much less time than expected. It is a collision path if I don't take time to really pray over where I am to be.

I am considering teaching at ALTA-1 :
http://www.alta-1.com.au/education
I don't want to take something easy because it's there. I want to stand In the gap and avail myself.

Pray for me.

I write by hand...

The hubs was telling me that one of the ways to increase intelligence is to write anything by hand - letters, a diary, notes.

I've always enjoyed penning things down. I guess in this sense, writing letters and cards, before when I kept diaries, it comes naturally to me. And in some ways, being apart from my SG home gives me so many chances to write letters and post them. I like it.

Work this week is way better. I memorised the brands and the plannograms - where they are placed on the shelves. So now, I take about half the time to locate an otherwise unknown coloured foreign branded box. I even enjoy the distanced small talk with customers - and you know how I dislike small talk! I try to take an interest in what they need, address them by their last name and in so doing, I am able to get more people to leave their scripts with us and sign up for the SMS service in the 5 days I've worked than they've had in a fortnight.

I start my day praying for the company, my manager and colleagues and also for myself - that I will be a blessing to those I meet. I thank God for His providence in the income and pray that He will use me to be an extension of His love. I believe that my success at increasing the subscribers is God's faithfulness.

Praise God that even when we are faithless, He is faithful.

Today, I rest and am looking forward to just chilling out!

XOXO