Hey, Where Is Your Update?

I have updated this blog at least 10 times. In my mind :) The hard part has been finding the time to sit down and write all the things I want to talk about!

This new year, many things have happened. Many changes, developments, some sadness, some worry. But I have missed the chance to write about developments as they happened largely because when you are in the middle ofthings you can't really sit in a corner and write about it (except if you were a CNN reporter I guess).

So here in a nutshell are the things that have happened since my last update on 1 Jan 08 (well, at least what I remember):

• We have sent my second daughter Rubhinni to Trinity College, Melbourne to do a Foundation Studies course. I went with her on 7 Feb to help her settle in and was really blessed by the friendship, kindness and thoughtfulness of my friends and relatives there - Neena, Bee Leng and Ling Kuei. Thanks for the innumerable lifts, for all the walking around and for taking us places, and for opening your homes to us! Not to forget the sheer kindness of strangers - the Thai lady on a tram, the Indian student who walked with us to show us a place we were looking for, the Lebanese (?) guy on the plane who gave up his window seat so we could sit more comfortably. It was a blessed trip and more of it later.
• My niece Maya has upped and left :( so there is no more trips for coffee and cake, no more ice cream in my fridge, no more Rohan playing baby cheeta. Also no more home cooked food as Yati has gone with her :) But I guess I just miss having Maya around.
• I have let out Rubhi's room to Johnson from my church. He is a full time church worker with Campus Crusade and he moved in 2 days ago.
• In terms of work, I have had some good experiences - like doing teacher recruitment at The Fashion Bar in Clarke Quay (great fun!) and some bad experiences (like the ill-conceived workshops that I'm in the middle of now).
• I have met with old long lost friends - TWICE with the same group of friends within a week after decades of not seeing each other! Hahaha. Sadly I could n't spend long enough time with them but it was nice to slip into a conversation with the same ease we had 20 years ago. Well, except with one who shall remain unnamed - go figure!
• I have also entered a new phase in my walk with God. Started bible study classes (which I am not enjoying much at the moment because the method being used is quite tedious, but I will stick it out and see if I change my mind). Also have started a personal discipling relationship with one of the cell pastors in my church and that has been really good as the sessions have helped me to identify areas in my life where I need to grow spiritually.
• Most of all, I am having to cope with living with my husband alone again :) I miss my 2 girls a great deal. I worry about Rubhinni more, because she is not in a student community like Jen is in and I wish she too would be led to a church community which will give her the support she needs and encourages her to grow. But generally, there is a sense of emptiness - and yes, the empty nest syndrome is real! But it is a real blessing that God has shown me so many things I can get involved in now.
• I am also learning to adjust to a new area of parenting - being more of a friend and less of the parent to Jen as she starts on a new phase of her life as well. Messed up a bit I think at the beginning, but I think I won't mess up too much :)

Well, that's it for a quick update. I am really amused, touched and encouraged that so many of you actually read my blog and have asked me what has happened to it!!! I feel like a celebrity :) But most of all, I am just touched that you care what happens to me.