Archive for the “Care Group” Category
As another one of our care group’s traditions, we try to visit each others houses every year. This year, Joseph’s (him being one of the newest HopeIslanders) and Andrew’s (going to move out soon because of EN-BLOC *kaching*!) houses were chosen. One in the east and one in the west.
The day started out well enough and the whole Kwok family was in high spirits. Ashley looked gorgeous in her purple cheongsam and pink rubber strap-on shoes. She also had a furry piggy sling bag which she decided soon enough upon leaving the house that it got in the way of her balancing properly. The bag was promptly passed on to her mum to carry.
Before today, one of my ang moh colleagues actually asked me why we give two oranges to people we visit only to take two oranges back when we leave. Firstly, he really calls himself ang moh so I take it that he is not offended by that piece of colloquialism. And secondly, that’s quite a logical question and it had me stumped for a few days. To him, giving two oranges only to take the same number back was in effect doing something with no net effect, i.e. it’s as good as not bringing anything in the first place. Alas, being a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside) that is out of touch with my Chinese roots, I’m equally intrigued as to the symbolism or superstition behind this simple gesture. If anyone reading this post knows the meaning behind why we exchange oranges, do leave a comment. My ang moh colleague thanks you in advance for your explanation. 
Babies don’t concern themselves with such trivial matters. They just want to look cute and collect ang pows.
This year’s CNY also proved to be a very wet one. Merv was so drenched after sharing his umbrella with Juergen that he had to go home just to change his clothes. I can still remember laughing inside at his explanation about how his foldable umbrella was not designed to offer protection to more than one big stout German.
Rain rain go away, come again another day…
For half the CG, we eventually made it to Joseph’s place and got to enjoy some very delicious porridge with chicken and fish fillets. The food was pretty good and it’s a pity my stomach was already quite full from lunch before that. Christian eventually had the honour of bringing home the packed leftovers which I’m sure he will enjoy very much as it is not something that easy found in Stuttgart.
There’s nothing like bonding over good food and Coke.
(click on the photo above for the full sized original photo)
Another group photo at Joseph’s house before setting out.
(click on the photo above for the full sized original photo)
No peanuts are safe with a curious baby around!
The first batch of us arrived at Andrew’s place and we were promptly joined by half of the remaining HopeIslanders including special guests Kaidy and Dave from Sydney. Chris also joined us prompting Reina to ask loudly in jest on whether this was a unit outing. First time I’ve seen that kind of sense of humour from Reina!
Andrew’s place was very nice and cozy and had a total of 4 floors, each staggered halfway into the other. There was also an indoor pond cum fountain placed on one side of the living room and a piano opposite it. Halfway through, we heard classical piano music coming from upstairs, causing a few of us to discuss whether that was from a CD player or from someone playing the piano.
(click on the photo above for the full sized original photo)
Our final destination of the day was not to visit another house but to visit Ming in the hospital. Ming was very unfortunate to have his abdominal pains misdiagnosed by the first doctor he visited, causing him to bear with it since Friday, before finally checking into Alexandria Hospital on Sunday to discover that his appendix had ruptured. When I was young, I used to hear horror stories of how people with ruptured appendices would die when toxins enter the bloodstream. So, I must say Ming is also very blessed to have been operated on in time to clean up the toxins. It was also down to quick thinking from his mum that prevented his condition from deteriorating any further. Knowing how tough Ming is, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had tried to put up with the pain for even longer.
The sign says “No Food & Drink”. Wonder what Ming is going to do with the gargantuan apple given by Kaidy.
(click on the photo above for the full sized original photo)
For those who don’t know Ming well, he is also an avid blogger and photographer. So despite feeling weak and in pain, he could still muster up enough strength to smile and pose for the camera. Get well soon bro!
Hospital Drama King and Queen
Finally, after the exhaustion of travelling to so many places, a few of us made our way down to Holland V to have dinner. Zhiyi, me, Ashley, Mylene, Gab, Juergen, Joseph, Andrew and Merv ended the day with some nice conversation about cars over burgers and, yes, Coke.
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Ever wondered how different babies look when they can finally sit up or stand compared to when they were still so small and fragile? I had a chance to do a comparison when both Edna and Vincent dropped by for another visit.
Here’s a photo taken at the end of April 2006 (See original post).
Look at how they’ve grown!
One thing’s for certain, all 3 babies have more hair now (with Ashley in particular managing to shed her punk do). Edna seems to have gotten a slight tan and she really looks more and more like her dad each day. That stare and confidence are unmistakably Poppy’s.
Edna independently helping herself to the various soft toys strewn around the house.
Vincent has also grown a lot and he looks even more handsome now with his thick crop of hair. He has definitely inherited his mum’s doe eyes and shy disposition, judging by the way it took awhile for him to warm up to the new surroundings. But once comfortable, he had lots of fun with Ashley banging away at her musical table.
Sniff, time for a nappy change…
I bet another nine months down the road, I’d no longer be comparing hairstyles but who can run the fastest, scream the loudest or down a bottle of milk the quickest. Ahh, now that’s something to look forward to!
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(Finally finished this post!)
Here are some pics from our first ever 3D2N Unit Retreat in Bintan. Though many of us have been together as a unit for almost 2 years now (INK’s, Chris’ & KC’s CGs), we have never had any chalet outings or retreats before. This was one of those rare opportunities for us to just hang out, free and easy style, and let our hair down (doesn’t apply to me for obvious reasons). It was also through this trip that I got to see the crazy side of some IslandHopies (you know who you are!). More on that later! *Heh*
The morning we were supposed to meet at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal started uneventfully enough. All seemed to be going smoothly until it was Juergen’s turn to cross the checkpoint. Suddenly, he realized that one of his green cards (either the Student Pass or Embarkation & Disembarkation Card) was missing. After much panic and many a silent prayer from us folks who could only watch helplessly from across the checkpoint, there were sighs of relief all around when he finally emerged with his card. The lady at the check-in counter apparently dropped it on the floor while she was processing our huge bunch of passports earlier. The first miracle of the trip had occurred!
Us on the 2nd deck of the ferry on what was to be a 1 hour ride. We passed the time by doing what we do best – taking photos!
We arrived at Teluk Sebung at around half past noon and didn’t take very long to clear customs. While queueing, we again did what we do best – take photos. It also helped that Ashley was having a lot of fun with her mum’s oversized hat.
IslandHope’s Cover Girl
Thankfully, there was no drama this time around and when we got through, a friendly resort staff was there waiting to greet us.
Welcome Priscilla Tham & … who? Who?! What does the sign say?? It’s been bugging me all night! *hyuks*
I don’t remember that eagle being there the last time Zhiyi and I visited.
Happy slapping – this is how it should be done.
After another brief ride on a bus chartered by the hotel, we arrived at Nirwana Gardens Resort only to find out that a huge crowd had just checked-out and many of the rooms wouldn’t be ready till much later. Nonetheless, time flew by pretty quickly as we passed the time by snapping pictures and having lunch.
Our accomodation in the background.
I like how the pool looks like it is stretching out into the ocean.
A rare photo with me in it! I spent a lot of time in that pool thanks to some people…
As it was raining in the afternoon, we spent most of the day in and around the hotel. Merv and Chris went to try their hand at archery and I must admit that they were pretty good at it. I was a little disappointed though that they didn’t try any tricks like shooting blindfolded or two arrows at once.
It’s pretty obvious from the photo below that I’ve never tried this before. Just look at that wussy way I draw the arrow!
Right next door, the air rifle gang were doing their rounds. It’s ironic that though you expect guys to be good at guns, they were summarily out-gunned by the girls. Leading the way was “beginner after beginner luck” Pris who popped one tin after another and Zhiyi “I used to be in NCC” cooly hitting the target on ALL tries!
This lady definitely deserves her stripes.
All that exercise carrying the baby has definitely given Zhiyi steady arms (all the better to hold a gun with!)
Gab’s really much better at this in Battlefield than in real life (thank God!)
While we were busy doing target practice, Ashley managed to keep herself entertained looking at a fountain nearby. I don’t know what’s so hilarious about water sprouting up from the ground but she was in stiches for a good minute or two.
And when was the last time something so simple in life could make you laugh so hard?
The afternoon shower eventually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Once the rain had cleared and the sun came out, we were able to enjoy beautiful blue skies and clear fresh air.
Not a trace of the haze in sight.
This is sure to give Ashley a tan.
From there on, the day passed pretty quickly with a game of Captain’s Ball at the pool followed by dinner at the poolside cafe. Half of the unit folks decided to go out to the kelong for dinner (seafood!) while half of us chose to remain at the hotel. I guess after the really tiring workout at the pool, I wanted to be within walking distance of my bed! Dinner was not too bad and we were able to enjoy live music from a traditional instrument and dance group.
Romantic poolside dinner for seven. Can you make out the traditional music band in the background?
After the performance, some of the dancers gave out flowers. Seeing how Ashley is too young for earrings, this will do for now!
We ended the day by taking a short stroll by the beach. The tide happened to be coming in and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore with the cool evening breeze blowing just filled us with so much tranquility. How nice to be able to stay in a house that is facing the sea and being able to hear the sound of the ocean every night. *Yawn*! I guess this is what those people who paid millions of dollars for bungalows at Sentosa will be able to enjoy…
This hammock isn’t big enough for Pris and Ashley, so guess who got kicked off!
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Every year around mid to late September when the moon is full, people in Singapore would celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival by eating mooncakes and carrying around brightly lit lanterns (the latter being especially popular with children). This festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, hence the oddity of celebrating an “Autumn” festival in September. However, lest you think the Chinese are weird, did you know that the Germans celebrate Oktoberfest in September as well? What can I say, September is a popular month! 
Anyway, last Friday (6th Oct) our CG decided to do something outdoors for a change and, just nice, CG day happened to coincide with the Mid Autumn Lantern Carnival held at Chinese Gardens. Traditional Chinese superstitions aside, it was a good time for our CG to do life together and have fun looking at the bright displays (a huge hurrah from all the photographers and bloggers in IslandHope!).
Accessibility wise, did you know that Chinese Gardens has two entrances called the East Entrance and West Entrance? The East Entrance is about a 100-200m walk away from Chinese Gardens MRT whereas the West Entrance is suitable for those driving due to an adjoining huge carpark. However, in order to get to the West Entrance, one has to first drive along a very long and narrow road; and on busy nights like this, traffic can be very slow moving. In fact, almost half of our taxi fare was due to the jam on that road! In retrospect, it would’ve been much smarter to alight at the MRT station instead.
Ashley’s first visit to Chinese Garden. She doesn’t look too happy at being out in the haze.
We were very fortunate to bump into Tiger when we arrived as he was pretty much near the head of the queue. On the other hand, Guppy, Andrew, Merv and Pris, who were queueing at the East Entrance, had to wait in line for more than 20 minutes! Thank God we didn’t have to queue as Ashley would’ve gotten very restless! (As you can see, I’m trying to console myself for paying so much in taxi fare).
We’re in! That’s the famous White Rainbow Bridge in the background.
According to Tiger, today was supposed to be the last day of the “Wonders of the World” lantern display but due to its popularity, the event was extended until Sunday. Still, the large crowd that turned up contributed significantly to the festive atmosphere, giving the place a lively buzz.
Looks like a lot of people decided to brave the haze too!
Insects and Mushrooms
The first lantern structures to greet us upon crossing the bridge was this long row of insect and plant lanterns set up along the edge of the lake. These ones were quite a hit with families as many parents and kids (including us!) could be seen jostling for room to pose with them.
Ashley oblivious to the giant green caterpillar munching on a leaf.
Tiger managing to keep Ashley still long enough for me to take this beautiful well-lit shot.
For the occasion, we also bought Ashley a mini battery operated lantern from Tiong Bahru Plaza. It had pictures of cows on it, which we thought was quite appropriate for her.
Ashley examining her mini-lantern.
It’s a pity that such nice scenery and cool weather had to be marred by the haze and its acrid smell. In fact, while talking to Peishan the next day, she described how haze particles were actually visible in some of her photos!
I could sit on the grass and just stare at this scenery the whole night.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Here is a rare picture with me in it!
The only thing “leaning” in this picture is the photographer!
The Taj Mahal
Got this idea from Merv: a young couple caught slipping away from the crowd to pause and admire the beautiful palace before them. How romantic!
A fairy tale moment.
Another view of the Taj Mahal behind the leaves of a tree.
Three belly dancers in front of the Taj Mahal display.
Panda Bears
Did you know that I used to love panda bears especially that Tarepanda cartoon character? These guys are just as cute! The pandas I mean…
Bloggers from IslandHope and Chris’ CG posing with a couple of high-voltage pandas.
Water Lilies
The next display was very nice – water lily lanterns floating in the middle of the lake.
If anybody wants the large originals of the following photos to use as desktop wallpaper, just let me know!
The Eiffel Tower
Here’s another great exhibit, if only because it must have taken a lot of effort to light so many crossbeams! The height wasn’t too shabby either, evident by the trouble I had fitting it and my CG folks into the same photo.
Ashley, Mylene and Zhiyi.
MC, Andrew, Pris and Tiger.
Spinning Dragon Globe
Here’s an IslandHope group pic in front of a strange moving display with many dragons. I have no idea what it symbolizes but I can imagine that it’ll make a pretty groovy disco ball if hung upside-down.
The Pagoda
Due to the fact that we had to rush off, there were many other “wonders” that we didn’t get to see like the Sphinx, Blue Mosque and Great Wall. Nonetheless, I’m already looking forward to next year’s lantern festival and whether the organizers can improve on an already great theme. Plus, Ashley will also be old enough to carry around a lantern instead of putting it in her mouth!
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“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.” |
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I was doing my daily quiet time when I came upon this verse. This is not a verse that I have heard others quote before, yet I was very touched when I read it. It’s a simple yet profound declaration of God’s love for us. 
Background: This chapter was written by the prophet Isaiah to comfort the people of Judah after they returned from 70 years of exile in Babylon. God used a pagan rule, Cyrus II of Persia, to conquer Babylon in 539 B.C.
Below are things that spoke to me a lot:
- Although this verse was written hundreds of years ago, it is in present tense!
- God describes himself as the shepherd. What kind of shepherd is God?
- John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” We know that come to pass with the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins.
- Matthew 18:10-14 Parable of the lost sheep. We see how God went after that one sheep that wandered away, not willing for any of his sheep to be lost.
- God describes us as His little children i.e. lambs.
As new mother of 6 month old Ashley, I love coming home from work to be with my daughter, seeing her smiling widely at me as though I am the only thing that matters to her in the whole wide world. Similarly, I believe our Father longs for us to spend time with him and He is always there for us, waiting for us to meet with him.
- He gathers us in his arms and close to his heart!!
I love this verse! I was very touched and I just imagine myself being carried by the Almighty God, right next to heart. God thinks the world of me. In His eyes, I am beautifully and wonderfully made!
- He gently leads those who have young.
God acknowledges and understand the burdens and responsibilities of those who take care of others, that is why he promised to gently lead and guide our path.
I believe God is referring to both physical and spiritual parents ie. Those who have children and those who are taking care of new believers. He knows that we may be lost at times, not sure what to do, but he will the beacon of light that guides us. Psalm 23 talks about our Shepherd who guides us along the path of righteousness and leads us beside quiet water.
Praise God for His love!
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One year has passed since we celebrated Tiger’s and Jerilee’s birthdays at Fish and Co. Ah, how time flies! It seemed like just yesterday that we were all still bonding as a care group and trying to get to know one another better.
And with the passing of one year, not only have these two lovely Islanders grown in maturity and character, but we get to see one new face at the party. Guess who?
While queueing for our table (hey, it isn’t easy finding a table that can accomodate 18 people and 1 baby!)…
Ashley and Tiger re-enacting a famous movie scene.
This is HALF the birthday crowd.
As always, Pris was our dependable sabo-IC. I can always picture her working for those corny Japanese or Taiwanese variety shows asking participants to do all sorts of ridiculous stunts. Something I learnt from her that day was that the best way to put “stuff” into a cake is to squirt it in using a syringe. That way you don’t mess up the icing and the cake remains pretty much intact. Brilliant!
The REAL ringleader. Yumm… why does the cake taste so good?
Make a wish! But the sabo won’t go away. Heh heh…
Unfortunately, after one year of constant birthday sabo-ing, I think the CG folks have started to grow a bit immune. I can still remember Tiger commenting that his slice of cake tasted too sweet when it was actually laced with chilli!!! Indeed, the Lord is merciful, but only on Tiger and not Jerilee this time around. She still found it quite a hot experience. Haha…
The next photo with Reina holding a wad of cash is here solely for the purpose of helping me remember that I paid!
Show me the money!
Another big coincidence is that Kaidy also happened to be visiting from Australia and just like last year, her return coincided exactly with Tiger’s and Jerilee’s birthday. If we had gone to Fish N Co. again, that would really have been deja vu.
Kaidy & Friends
After the lunch, it was back to S11 for a time of affirmation (somehow we just can’t get enough of that place, not!). In CG tradition, this is the time that we take to say nice things about the birthday boy/girl that has impressed us most during the past year. For Tiger, he has really matured a lot and grown in ministry and his relationships with people, and for Jerilee, it’s a joy to see her bonding more with the CG each and every week. I think we will really miss her when she returns to Manila in September. 
Now, can someone tell me what those chinese characters say again?
MC was gracious enough to start when Sarah popped by.
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Posted by INK in Care Group
Prologue
After many weeks of toiling at work, the time for our annual church camp – “Kawan Go Melaka” – had arrived and I was really looking forward to a great time of fellowship (and relaxation?). Admittedly, the road leading up to the camp hadn’t been smooth and there were times that I had doubts on whether I’d be able to attend. But, in the end, God still made a way and shifted certain events back so that I could take my leave as originally planned. Hallellujah!
Chapter 1 – The Gathering
The hardest part about every church camp is getting up early on the first day to head down to the meeting point. This year was no different as we gathered at the carpark next to the old Newton Hawker Centre at 7.30am. Thankfully, all Islanders were punctual and the gals even had time to go buy breakfast. This was definitely a lifesaver as I rushed out, so a big thank you goes to Pris who bought curry puffs! Oh, and to Jerilee too for preparing sandwiches. *yum*
Islanders and new friends – Kim and Michelle.
Chris’ CG didn’t fare as well and he spent the time giving some people “are-you-on-the-way-yet” calls. Thankfully, everyone managed to reach in time as the coaches were departing!
Hello hello, are you reaching soon?
Chapter 2 – The Journey
For those that have not taken a bus up to Melaka before, a word of advice- go to the toilet beforehand. And, have your breakfast. Heh heh… Despite the seemingly short distance on the map, our coach driver drove really really slowly. Coupled with the opportunity of seeing endless fields of palm trees pass by, I was in la-la-land in no time.
“One palm tree over the hill, two palm trees over the hill, three palm trees over the hill…”
Other extremely excitable folks managed to avoid the zz-monster by focusing on talking rather than sightseeing.
Would you believe this was my first time using the Tuas 2nd Link? As expected, traffic was nowhere near as bad as the Causeway and we cleared customs pretty fast. But, not before I had my bag searched! Hmm… just what is it about my face I wonder…
Gab busy filling up his immigration card, a necessity for Singaporeans entering Malaysia.
Having lunch at Yong Peng, a small town in Johor that’s a standard stopover for coach drivers plying the North-South Highway.
Chapter 3 – Shopping
After approximately 4 to 5 hours on the road, we finally reached Melacca Town. We were given a bit over an hour to have a bite and do our shopping at Mahkota Shopping Centre (not sure of the exact name). Many folks took this opportunity to pick up gifts for their Barnabuddies (my term!) and to stock up on mineral water as there were some filtering problems with the hotel tap water.
Nice big shopping centre. Nice big expensive prices inside too!
Baskin Robbins outlet! In terms of flavour, richness and texture, this ice cream can give Ben & Jerry’s a run for their money.
Can you spot the bags of mineral waters? We bought 22 bottles in all!
Finally, after all the shopping, it was time to head down to the Riviera Bay Resort hotel in order to check in by 4pm. Now, the fun really begins!
Chapter 4 – Grand Welcome!
In true Hope style, all campers were greeted by a rousing welcome by the camp organizers although I must admit it felt strange to walk past two rows of clapping people as if I’d just won something!
Everything is here except the red carpet.
Here’s a shot of my very first shepherd in Hope, Ah Lu, honing in on me to give me a big bear hug. This is exactly why I asked him to be my shepherd last time, because he is always so warm, friendly and funny.
Brudder brudder… lai…
Chapter 4 – Our Rooms
I’ve got to say, these were one of the nicest hotel rooms that we’ve ever had at camp; not because they were well furnished, but because they were large (especially those rooms with an apartment style layout). Most rooms came with a kitchen, two bedrooms, a common toilet and a living room. For campers, this configuration is perfect because it gives us enough room to gather and do stuff like quiet time, watch soccer and play games together.
Hello Hello? IslandHope has checked-in. Yo!
People seem strangely drawn to my large big bed! Wifey, that’s what you missed. Haha…
Tiger, Princess, JL and Drew’s room.
Requires some D-I-Y work before everything starts working!
Check out Chris’ room. No wait, forget his room, check out his view!!!
Chapter 5 – Kawan Skit Rehearsal
Barely after settling down in our rooms, it was time to rush for our skit rehearsal. The plot for our skit was based on the “Three Little Pigs”, with Changky playing one of the pigs, Ming as a brick house wall and Pris doing sound effects. Other Islanders contributed too in various ways such as props and photography. And, not forgetting Gab who did all coordination for our unit. Bravo!
Chapter 6 – Opening Night
Opening night is always a big highlight as everyone is full of energy and anticipation for the next few days of camp. This year was no different, starting with a march pass, followed by a high energy praise and worship session and finally the opening teaching by Ps Jeff.
Our AG3NG9B banner, the product of 20mins of intense drawing and colouring. Not bad eh!
Writing our camp expectations on the walls around the ballroom.
Today, Ps Jeff thought us all about the importance of establishing covenant friendship with one another, just like the way God established a covenant relationship with us. In fact, the theme for this year’s camp – Kawan – means friend in Malay. Covenant friendship allows us to bring out the best in each other, because covenant friendship is one that is committed, faithful and genuine. I must admit, that despite the simple premise of the teaching, it really got me thinking too about the kind of friendships that I build with people. I must admit that when I evaluate my life, I haven’t really been an ideal friend to a lot of my close friends because I tend to get scared whenever bumps happen along the way thus causing me to withdraw. True covenant friendship is one that can really stand the test of time as both parties are committed to help the other person achieve their best in life just like how God wants us all to live our life to the fullest! Needless to say, covenantal friendship requires humility, patience and sacrifice, traits that Jesus himself demonstrated in abundance to his disciples.
Chapter 7 – Room Service
Well, what else can I say, all that fun does build up one’s appetite. With the World Cup only starting on Day 2, Changky, Gab and I enjoyed a room service sandwich while watching WWF and laughing about how we once thought all those moves were actually real.
Nothing like ending the day with a nice big sandwich!
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Today marked the belated birthday celebration of our dear sister Elaine and knowing how all of her friends are foodies, we decided to treat her to Lebanese cuisine (not that she minds, of course!). Prior to this, I had never tried Lebanese food before so I was hoping it would taste a bit like Turkish food, one of my favourites. Alas, wifey isn’t too fond of Turkish food so I’m sure she was hoping the opposite. *chuckle*
The venue, Baladi at North Bridge Road, was suggested by Mabel. How she got to know of such a restaurant that is in some alley 400m away from Bugis Junction is beyond me. But hey, I guess it’s small things like these that seperates people who eat to live from people who live to eat.
The Kwok family arriving at the scene.
Ashley: I wonder how Lebanese milk tastes like? Hmmm….
Ambience and decor are top notch, if one can put up with the lack of air-conditioning.
The gals really blending into their surroundings!
Ashley saying grace. Either that, or praying for milk.
People with long legs are at a disadvantage here…
Even KC is dressed for the occassion!
After waiting for some time, the food finally arrived and to the amusement of some around me, instead of digging right in, I proceeded to carefully arrange the dishes and take photos of the food. Finally, giving in to my hunger, I put my camera down and to my pleasant surprise, the food really did taste as good as it looked! I’m not going to deny though that Lebanese food is probably an acquired taste.
Without further ado – the food! Should’ve taken a photo of the menu though as I can’t remember what is called what now…
Mabel and YH, two of Elaine’s closest sisters and pals.
Chris looking sleepy after such a heavy dinner and realizing he got caught in the act.
All in all, it was a fun-filled celebration and I enjoyed the opportunity to fellowship with other folks in the unit. There was a lot of positive affirmation and heartfelt encouragement for the birthday gal who has devoted so much of her life to serve in ministry and to be a friend to people. And for that, we also spared her the sabo. Heh heh…
Stay tuned to see how IslandHope celebrated Elaine’s birthday!
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Two Sundays ago, Edna and Vincent decided to pay baby Ashley a visit. They brought their parents too, of course, so that the parents can entertain each other without eavesdropping on their conversations.
Speaking of conversations, what do babies talk about when together? Hmmm…
Remembering their age is pretty easy. Enda was born first (1st Oct 05), followed almost 2 months later by Vincent (22nd Nov 05), then exactly 2 months later by Ashley (22nd Jan 06). So when Ashley is 3 months old, Vincent is 5 months and Edna is 7 months old (something like that). Haha, anyway, I guess it wouldn’t matter much once they all pass 1 year old.
Edna keeping a vigilant eye on handsome boy Vincent.
I like this next group photograph. It reminds me of something I once heard about cool boyband album covers where all the boys are staring away from the camera to give it a contemplative effect.
Baby band album cover.
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