We just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Its not a major celebration though, more like an opportunity to eat out at rachel's favourite Sakae Sushi at Parkway Parade which we hadn't been visiting for a long, long time.
Well I married my long time male buddy, 3 years younger than me at 30. The year 2003 was full of excitement, with a new home in mandarin gardens bought a few months before our marriage was solemnised on 15 Nov 2003. Both of us were working then. He was doing project management in Far East pte ltd and I was with the largest bank DBS doing what i do best at work : selling financial products - Nope I did not sell any Lehman Brothers products, I left the bank prematurely due to extreme work stress and pregnancy bleeding in Sep 2004, unfortunately without the maternity benefits that we needed much for the new born.
By then Yan had completed his two year bond at Far East for his architecture masters scholarship and with music being his main passion, he decided to be a full time piano tutor. The sudden fall in income and the gradual increase in baby expenses did make life tougher. We had debts, mortgage loan of which the interest was increasing at short notice all the time. Life was made harder when my mother was diagnosed with end stage colon cancer and had intensive chemotheraphy for almost 3 years after surgery to remove the affected colon, part of the bladder, the entire reproductive organs as a precautionary measure.
With my mum not well and his mum suffering Parkinson's. I had the honour and the torture of caring for my newborn since day one after being discharged from the hospital. When rachel was about 18 months we did send her to childcare for almost 10months only to withdraw since she was so sickly and had to be hospitalised not once, but thrice adding to all the financial burden. Perhaps 2005 was the most terrible year when the sole breadwinner Yan was not able to work for a month due to suspected dengue fever. Things got better after we sold the matrimonial home to repay the outstanding loans, debts and our family's share of 25% of my mum's hefty chemo bill, which is like $8000 every other month. or $24000 min per cycle of treatment.
This year 2008 was not a good one either. My mum passed on in March and soon the credit crisis saw our income and various investments suddenly halved. Being loyal tithers, we are certain that God will not let us down and will provide all that we need. We tried to lower even further our family lifestyles and be positive while juggling the bills.
Indeed, married life is full of challenges. One moment you are renovating your matrimonial home and the next you are renting some one else's apartment. One moment I was shopping for baby things like prams, cots, Bumbo chair, high chair, nursing equipment and accessories and the next I am shopping with Rachel, usually books, art and craft material and toys with money from ebaying and flea marketing those baby items.
So much had changed in just 5 years, In the place of a svelt and sexy figure , clear complexion is hormonal weight gain, thank God not a lot and pimples....OUCH. I never had pimples in my teens guess God is fair!!! I used to love dresses, ya..skimpy material or tight fitting ones that showcase the lingerie perfect hour glass but now, I am in mostly sporty attire-ready to run errands and after my sprinting toddler.
I miss those days when I could shop all day from orchard to suntec city and lug lots of prized hunting home. Or spend half a day or so rejuvenating at the spas or getting my hair done. Now I have learnt to be content to loiter around toy departments and hang around book shops, the children's section, that is!!! for a much needed moment of peace within.
Instead of $12 western brunches, I now cook meals that I never imagined I could. I miss holidays but I have learnt to enjoy the Singapore that is and will always be my home.
5 is a number of Grace and I thank God for the past 5 years of grace. I strongly believe the next 5 years will be even better because my Lord is a God of Grace. And as a good and loving heavenly Father, he has already provided what we need and want...........way in advance. Thank you Father God
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
When we are wealthy..........
Sometimes I can't help wondering if God brought us to our knees where finances are concerned so that he may bless us and help us become wealthy and prosperous and be a better steward of his financial resources.
Its not that we are that poor but perhaps my accounting background, thanks to NTU, had made me very conscious of our financial networth. Its in the BOLD RED for a long time, similar to the US debt, its is growing with the monthly deficits and its depressing.
Yet amid all these financial gloom, there is always this HOPE that things will change for good. The lord of our finances will turn the situation around. He can make us the head and not the tail, the lender and giver and not the borrower.
We have many pressing needs and wants but when we became wealthy, here is a list of things that I expect will take place:
1) We have our own property!!! No more renting apartments and worrying about rental payments. I ask God for a place that Yan who possess a Masters in Architecture, can rebuild from scratch, complete with a lap pool, waterfall, roof garden and fruit and vegetable patch. I would still love to live in the east and near the beach.
2) a family car with a chauffeur. I am ashamed to have only driven once with my mum in the passenger seat after getting my licence in 1992? way before the "MERGE" traffic signs were up.
3) I want to buy a really good violin. How good? at least $25,000 though I would certainly love to invest in vintage violins like the JB Guadagnini, Guarneri del Gesu and Antonio Stradivari. I want to bid for them at auctions like sothebys but of course, will gladly receive them as gifts or loans
4) I am passionate about music education. I want to set up a music school and sell instruments too. Not the yamaha or cristofori type but one that "invests" in the students, one on one and help them succeed in the classical music world. I want to be a music and instrument sponsor.
5)A giver to the arts and music locally. I feel more for the arts than the kidney patients etc. I no longer Giro donate to such charities as I think the government should provide more grant and these charities and church organisations should not accumulate reserves but should help defray costs of dialysis etc
6) Travel again, especially to Europe, my favourite continent and buy violins attend operas and concerts, visit the museums and shop of course!!
7) We had been tithing more and more, 1% more each year and will tithe from the businesses. I now believe in tithes more than the stock market as a way of growing wealth. Afterall, this is God's Way we had better follow it!
8)I want to play well, perform and also impart the violin skills acquired. I can't wait to attend recitals especially that of Yan's and by faith, Rachel's and in the very future our students'. Hee
9) I want to buy a Steinway Concert Grand - for the love of my life. Yan
10) I am determined to be cash rich for business opportunites and also for giving and sponsorship of muscial education. I believe God will bless our family and make our family a blessing to others especially musically.
Its not that we are that poor but perhaps my accounting background, thanks to NTU, had made me very conscious of our financial networth. Its in the BOLD RED for a long time, similar to the US debt, its is growing with the monthly deficits and its depressing.
Yet amid all these financial gloom, there is always this HOPE that things will change for good. The lord of our finances will turn the situation around. He can make us the head and not the tail, the lender and giver and not the borrower.
We have many pressing needs and wants but when we became wealthy, here is a list of things that I expect will take place:
1) We have our own property!!! No more renting apartments and worrying about rental payments. I ask God for a place that Yan who possess a Masters in Architecture, can rebuild from scratch, complete with a lap pool, waterfall, roof garden and fruit and vegetable patch. I would still love to live in the east and near the beach.
2) a family car with a chauffeur. I am ashamed to have only driven once with my mum in the passenger seat after getting my licence in 1992? way before the "MERGE" traffic signs were up.
3) I want to buy a really good violin. How good? at least $25,000 though I would certainly love to invest in vintage violins like the JB Guadagnini, Guarneri del Gesu and Antonio Stradivari. I want to bid for them at auctions like sothebys but of course, will gladly receive them as gifts or loans
4) I am passionate about music education. I want to set up a music school and sell instruments too. Not the yamaha or cristofori type but one that "invests" in the students, one on one and help them succeed in the classical music world. I want to be a music and instrument sponsor.
5)A giver to the arts and music locally. I feel more for the arts than the kidney patients etc. I no longer Giro donate to such charities as I think the government should provide more grant and these charities and church organisations should not accumulate reserves but should help defray costs of dialysis etc
6) Travel again, especially to Europe, my favourite continent and buy violins attend operas and concerts, visit the museums and shop of course!!
7) We had been tithing more and more, 1% more each year and will tithe from the businesses. I now believe in tithes more than the stock market as a way of growing wealth. Afterall, this is God's Way we had better follow it!
8)I want to play well, perform and also impart the violin skills acquired. I can't wait to attend recitals especially that of Yan's and by faith, Rachel's and in the very future our students'. Hee
9) I want to buy a Steinway Concert Grand - for the love of my life. Yan
10) I am determined to be cash rich for business opportunites and also for giving and sponsorship of muscial education. I believe God will bless our family and make our family a blessing to others especially musically.
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