They say the first year of marriage is always the hardest and worst.
But I must say, that Two thousand and thirteen has been an amazing year, albeit not without its challenges and hardships that made it all the more memorable.
Two thousand and thirteen was full of ups and downs, what with the struggles we had to experience together regarding health, medications, and some major decisions we had to make together regarding work and missions and family, to the disdain of many others. There were times of silent waiting, stifling and painful, and times of resonant prayer, which agonising and at times, excruciating.
But it has also been a year full of fun and laughter, hope and miracles-what with God sending us angels to care for and provide for us, what with Him always sending us that glimmer of sunshine when we needed it the most in the rain, what with Him, after holding the grey skies pregnant with tears for so long, finally granting us a breakthrough and fresh air, and an outpouring of cool relief and refreshment.
As the year comes to a close, I hope that this will be a day where you can look back and thank God for what He has done for you. You might be angry or sullen at Him for whatever reason, but remember, there is also always so much we can be grateful for if we are intentional about it.
So here’s looking back at 2013, and remembering the Ten Moments that Made 2013 Memorable.
I hope you’ll make your own list too, and pen down the moments worth remembering and giving thanks for.
- Most Memorable Lift Journey, from Level One to Level Four
January 17th, 2013:
It will be hard to forget that moment of being totally embarrassed, shocked and amazed at work:
I had walked out of a lift awith two strangers, one of whom had turned to me and said,
“I know you, I saw your wedding video!”
To which the other stranger, who didn’t know either of us and was on her way for a chest X-ray looked up and exclaimed,
“Hey! You’re that doctor who married that guy! I watched your video too! My niece is your classmate!”
It was through the video that a Canadian photographer felt a connection with us and decided to take our wedding and engagement photos in Mississauga, Canada.
This video has truly changed our lives in ways we cannot imagine.
From being recognized in Cambodia on our mission trip a day after our wedding in Singapore, to having our second wedding almost fully sponsored by Toronto Botanical Gardens in Canada, we are filled with gratitude for this beautiful memory that God gave to us to treasure for life.
As much as people have said they have been blessed by it, we have been blessed even more.
We are so grateful.
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2. Most Memorable Mission Trips:
March 30th and December 22nd, 2013
Mission trips are never the same when you travel with your spouse.
They grow you, sharpen you and challenge your visions together.
Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila
Returning to Smokey Mountain in Philippines a year and a half later, only now married, to find the children and people still remembering me from before, and seeing Cliff preach his very first sermon in India and minister to the local people were moments I treasured and cherished. As a wife, it thrills me to see Cliff grow into the man of stature, wisdom and compassion that God has called him to be.
Cliff preaching with gusto in India.
It was most moving to see most of the crowd press in to ask for prayer at the end of the service.
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3. Most Memorable Birthday- YOURS!
April 17th, 2013:
I remember asking you over a breakfast treat,
“Don’t you ever blame God for it? Like why it had to happen to you?”
To which you replied,
“No… I should have been dead when I was ten! I’ve had my liver transplant for 23 years and I’m married now…
Life is Awesome!
The only question I ask God is why He did choose to save me.”
You turned 33 this year.
For every year of your life, I am so extremely grateful.
Us celebrating your birthday over a breakfast treat, with your favorite Canadian bacon
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4. Most Memorable Sharing Opportunities
May 4th. 2013
Having the privilege to be trained as Focus on the Family facilitators to teach youth today about healthy relationships has impacted our own relationship in such positive ways. Not only did it open many doors for us to minister together to youth in schools, it also gave us more confidence and experience in sharing talks together.
Soon after, we delivered talks about mission work and community service together at other churches and platforms.
It has been my privilge to speak alongside you.
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5. Most Memorable Sunrise
June 9th, 2013:
There was something so magical about that first morning we landed in Canada.
It felt so surreal- and for the first time, I think it sunk in to me that I married someone who grew up in a land miles and miles away. For the first time, I saw your home, your schools which you grew up in, your friends and your cat!
That morning when we landed in Canada, while we were both jetlagged, you drove me to Lake Ontario to watch the gorgeous sunrise.
I still remember, while in your car for the first time at 4.45am in the morning, where you were driving me down the trails and routes you used to train in for your Iron Man, you turned to me and said, “When I was younger I used to imagine taking my girlfriend to see the sunrise at Ontario Lake. I’m so glad you’re with me.”
It was simply magical.
6. Most Memorable Wedding- Two Times’ the Charm!
June 22nd, 2013:
Once, I could never imagine myself getting married.
But eight months after our wedding, who could have imagined us getting married- AGAIN.
We did not have enough for a second ceremony; wedding venues in Canada had all been booked up more than a year ago and we were prepared to settle for a backyard barbecue to celebrate our union with Cliff’s family and friends in Canada. But who would have thought Toronto Botanical Gardens, one of Canada’s Top Ten Wedding Destinations, wrote back to us after watching our first video to share they would like to make our wedding in Canada come true.
As some of you might recall, even the gown was free.
We are overwhelmed with God’s blessings and abundance,
that He remembered a little girl’s secret wish to have a dream garden wedding (and with a horse!)
As we give to the poor, He gives us more.
As we trust and obey, He continues to surprise us in the most unexpected of ways.
On our wedding day, Cliff’s mother thanked me for marrying Cliff, and I told her,
her son is so wonderful a man I had to marry him twice.
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7. Most Memorable Building
July, 2013:
In 2013, the most memorable building for us wasn’t the CN Tower in Canada or some other fancy tourist attraction.
It was the guesthouse started from the forty-thousand dollars collected from our wedding last year.
While giving away all our “red packet” wedding money was a leap of faith and what some might call a “pinch” at the time, no joy could have been greater to see how the contribution bore fruit to become hope for women rescued from sex trafficking through creating sustainable employment for them.
White Linen Boutique Hotel was set up, with its official opening on 1 July 2013.
Because of your contribution,
many women are undergoing training, developing new skills and regaining a new lease of life.
Thank you for making a difference.
To those of you planning to wed soon, consider giving your wedding gifts to a ministry in need-
it will be the most memorable gift to remember in time to come!
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8. Most Memorable Race
August 18th, 2013:
This year, we attended the Singapore Transplant Games and the Run for Hope race.
But undoubtedly, completing our first triathlon as a couple together was the most overwhelming experience.
I was filled with gratitude and so touched to see Cliff sacrifice his personal timing to wait for me at the running segment so he could finish the race with me!
I am always amazed at his daily self-sacrifice, and showing me,
as in our own marriage, the importance of finishing the race together.
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9. Most Memorable Surprise
October 27th, 2013:
At one stage before we married, faced with Cliff’s abnormal liver results and grappling with an uncertain future, I remember it was then that the brevity and value of life struck me. We both decided, that even if we only had a few years of marriage together in God’s will, it would be worth it.
As we celebrated our first wedding anniversary this year, we are filled with gratitude for our time together and the many blessings along the way. Some people have commented on the “sacrifices” we’ve each had to make to be together, but there is no sacrifice too big to be in God’s will.
I remember it was that very weekend of our first anniversary that I was grappling with my own diagnosis and health issue, and you were most loving, most patient, most understanding.
You filled the week with surprises and more surprises!
Turns out that this year, my health had more complications than yours, and you have impressed me, with your patience and support and encouragement, through the harrowing process of visiting different specialists and seeking diagnoses and getting treatment, that you are truly a man committed to being the most loving, long-suffering and romantic husband there could be.
Cheers to many more anniversaries together.
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10. Most Memorable Photo
May 2013
And out of all the photos we’ve snapped together this year,
surely, the most memorable one that fully captures your spontaneity (I didn’t even know what you were planning to do!), your humour and your love just has to be this one!
There are just so many more memorable moments that you have impressed me with,
so many witty lines you’ve said,
so many amazing surprises, many of which were tear-jerking.
Thank you God, for all the memories.
Thank you for 2013 gone past.
This year, what do you have to be thankful and grateful for?
Cheers to a New Year ahead.