Giving thanks for 2007

January 2007:
I am thankful we have moved back to North Carolina after a fruitful stay in London for 5 months.

February 2007:
I spent Valentine with Hubs finally after a two years break.
I met the nicest mummy I can ever hang out with! Susan and her two kids! I am so thankful that we have built a strong friendship despite such a short encounter. I am even more thankful that we are still in touch and talked often online!
I got myself rooted in the coolest Woman’s bible study group. Rene, my cell group leader has inspired me in so many ways, including housekeeping, baking and cooking!!

March 2007:
I went back to Singapore for a few weeks to spend time with my family and Jessica.
I celebrate hub’s birthday with him

April 2007:
Susie the coolest babe composed the ever best one time hit “A-Z love song” together with me! Thankful for friends who have been so helpful in my wedding preparation.
Thankful for the time I spent taking care of my niece, Shannice

May 2007:
Another chapter of Hub’s life. He graduated from Duke with a MBA and we had great fun with the in- laws when they were visiting us for three weeks and we traveled around in the Southern states
I spent Mother’s day with two great mummies!
I did my first strawberry picking!
I started driving for the longest distance in the states!

June 2007:
We had our traditional wedding in Shang finally! I did my first public performance and speech after 10 years!!
We had a family honeymoon in Phuket!
Spent time with Jess who left us for a greater other world.

July 2007:
Ron started his job in the Wallstreet.
I enjoyed my last few weeks of my “taitai” life.
We had great apartment with nice Manhatten view.

August 2007:
MUAK opened!!
Susie was here in NYC with me and Ronald. She was such a great comfort!
I met Cindy and she was another great lady whom I can relate to !

September 2007:
Began my dream in Columbia! Pursue my passion. Work in RGC. Met wonderful Singaporean friends and International friends.

October 2007:
Settled down in a American Korean Church and met more wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ.
Met Susan who drove up from North Carolina

November 2007:
Thankful for the surprise scholarship!
Thankful that god is with us in the midst of all trials and continued providence to encourage us.
A great Boston trip.

December 2007:
Private carolling and christmas quiz with hubs!
Wonderful Singaporean and cell group frens who helped us in moving.
Wonderful Chinese friends who helped.
Ivan Hohoho who is going to host us for three weeks.

November

November is still a trying time. Not much news from recruiter even though the man is still under the payroll of the bank. It’s a bad timing in the financial market during this period of time and the hiring is kinda of slow at the end of the year. The Lows were terribly stressed. One with school work and balancing all the responsibilities of a wife. The other with work and career. To make things worse, there was a small minor accident with the car and the Lows had to handle all the traffic tickets and insurance coverage. When things seemed to be going in haywire, you knew god always give you a ray of hope to hang on. First he was gracious through the supportive cell group who had been so encouraging and fervent in their prayers for the Lows. Second, the man and woman’s friends and alumni had been expressing concern and support and had been really sincere to help to reach out to whatever contacts they had. Thirdly, the Low’s family had been just so supportive spiritually. Well, those loving, caring relationships were what kept the Lows sane for this month. You still see them with smiles because they had reached a point when they knew that everything was temporal and transient but what most important was friends and family who stood by you when you were in trouble. Life was certainly as such , isn’t it. The Lows knew that things were pretty out of their own control and they had learned what “total submission” meant at this point of their life. Only the almighty God could make what seemed impossible to be possible now. As such, despite nothing concrete has happened, the Lows decided to continue to trust that the Lord would provide. They continue to do their best and still make an effort to have some small gatherings over at their place for some dinner at times. Life still has to go on for the Lows. They went to Boston for a Thanksgiving and had a good break in that little quaint city for a few days. The woman also went to a church retreat at the ski resort over the last weekend. The Lows kept on praying but of course like all other human beings, sometimes, their flesh gave in to worry and doubt. This was indeed a tough battle to fight.

October

October is a month when the Lows finally decided to settle down in Joy Christian Fellowship. The church has just opened up its second service in the Cineplex which is just 10min near their place. They find the church very homely and people are welcoming and nice. It is an American Korean Church so the Lows definitely has a fair share of conversation exchanges about Korean drama with their cell members. The pastor’s sermon was structured and easy to comprehend. The Lows decided to join the cellgroup which would be doing a book called “Gospel Transformation”. An excellent book which has been keeping them accountable to doing daily devotionals and keeping track of their spiritual life. Life in NYC was just too hectic sometimes. There were too many things which might distract and keep your focus on the lord. So , it was therefore good that the Lows were going through a book which had tremendous good exercises to work on that helped them to learn about the bible each week. Every Sunday, the Lows will spend almost the whole day involving in the fellowship and service. The Lows think that god has a purpose for everything. Just when they were all settled in the group and their apartment, they were faced with one of the biggest trial which both of them had ever experienced after their marriage. The man’s job was threatened by the Credit Crunch in the US market. This was the last thing they would ever think it could occur them. They were at a lost. The Lows was down for the last week of October. Everything seemed to be thrown in the vast ocean again. The atmosphere at home was no longer cheery. The Lows were thinking about their future, their next step. How could this happen to the Lows since they had been praying about their direction in life. After much praying, the Lows reckoned that this is going to be one trial the lord is putting them to a test. A test to strengthen the marriage even further to survive the ordeal as one, a test for greater faith and obedience in his sovereignty.
Photos of fellowship

September

School started for the woman in Columbia. She met a few good Singaporean friends and definitely some international frens whom she had gotten along very well. Being out of school for a long time, the woman found it pretty hard for her to get herself organized in such a short period of time. But surprisingly, she did better than she had expected having to juggle working in a school and taking courses. Despite having overloaded herself with 5 courses (which many have warned that it’s going to be intensive but she still go ahead and take it coz the man was told that he might need to transfer to HK anytime), she had managed to survive this semester triumphantly and came out alive!! Well it hasn’t been the best easiest time. She felt she had learned to be very discipline compared to her early days in the year, fully utilizing every second of her life. She learned a lot, seriously for just half a semester. Her mind is constantly challenged by people who shared the same passion as her, people who wanted to make a difference to this world by advocating for the right of a quality education to all children in this world, people who yearn for educational equity, people who were serious about what graduate work is. It was indeed a life time experience for her to be in NYC ,studying in a reputable organization ,learning with so many people from all around the world. She was really thankful for this opportunity. The year ahead continue to be trying as she continued to balance between work and school.