We’ve reached yet another milestone in our marriage, though our wedding was 2 years ago, the celebration continues (everyday). It’s been an incredible adventure thus far. Sure we have our squabbles, rifts and not-so-great-days, but conflicts only makes us a better person, a stronger couple – if we choose to work through it. One of the things that amaze me most about Terence is his passion and sincerity to work this marriage. Honeymoon years are great, feeling all fuzzy and warmth in the new found union – time passes quickly too but for a marriage to last, it takes lots of work and effort to prepare for turbulent times. I’m ever grateful to have a husband which sure foresight to challenge us to greater depth and heights.

Over the last 2 years, we’ve reached our lifelong dream to travel to 2 continents, made a new list of destinations to conquer, created our own set of rules at No.8 (for example, if Terence cooks, Deb doesn’t enter the kitchen, if she does she’d end up complaining at how messy it is) and learned which buttons to push and which to stay clear of.

We’ve learned that loving without holding back makes us vulnerable to each other but almost always, it opens an opportunity for us to receive more than we can ever give. How true when the Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). I love the Maker and Author of marriages! My deepest desire is for this marriage to be a reflection of Him – His love and character.

Photos are the best way of capturing milestones in life. Journaling too! But when I’m old and gray and when my memory starts fading away, photos will carry the essence of the moment and bring back to the good ‘ol days. Ah well! I’m not about to write a biography…

Before celebrating our 1st anniversary last month, we thought it would be a good idea to take an annual photo shoot to see how we much we have aged. Nah! To see how we have gradually progress from being a couple, to a family of one, two, three, four, five…! Nah! It’s really to add to our collection of photos at home and fill our scrapbooks with timeless snapshots.

Thanks koko for taking the photos (you’re the best) and dad for being there to make us laugh while holding the reflector! Photos taken at Desa Park City.

As the first rays of morning break…

We crept into a partially completed property…

Between the lake and dry pastures…

Celebrating the wonders of marriage

Love is cultivated when we stand still and listen to each other and ultimately to our Maker who crafts and guides our paths.

First are always significant. They leave lasting imprints in our lives, create a wealth of memories to look back on and act as a launch pad to aim higher and dig deeper.

I vaguely remember my first step as a child, but those first steps have taken me to mountains and terrains beautiful to behold. I remember my first day at school, it wasn’t very pleasant with lots of tears shed, but the tears wore off and schooling became bliss. There were many more first in my life; first crush, first best friend, first flight overseas alone, first sound of gunshots block away, first tooth extraction, first experience underwater…  the list never ends as every day opens up the opportunity to many more “firsts”.

Today marks the first since 6 April, ’08. Yeap! Our wedding rings have been on us since then! It has even left a visible un-tan line on our fingers from being out in the sun so often. We’ve many more kisses since the first last year! Pastor’s prophesy came to pass – haha! It’s one amazing milestone to relish in – we’ve tasted the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives, the journey really gets sweeter as days go by, relationships are richer because friendships are shared and I believe I’m a better person having shared my life with Terence.

And yes, I agree with the old saying  – “You think you REALLY know your wife/husband, think again because there’s something new to learn about a person every single day.” Here are a few things I’ve harvested in one year:

• What makes a great home is not the size of its built up, neither is the location but the people that make up the home. I look forward to returning home every day because it’s my safe sanctuary and a well loved place.
• Football isn’t more important than spending time with his wife! I found that out when he’s willing to trade quality time to footie matches on TV!
• Cooking isn’t confine to the female species, in this case the better cook is Terence. The better taster is me! That’s why I’m always on standby to tell him that the dish needs more sauce, more sugar or salt!
• He’s got a huge heart (even bigger than when I first met him) perhaps it grew bigger. His heart beats for things of God, lives at stake – especially for the next generation.
• As for housework, he will gladly do the laundry but never the ironing. Favourite bit is tending to the plants and buying new ones!
• It’s important to have a partner that is willing to work at all situations knowing that the end is better than the beginning. Marriage takes a lot of work and I’m glad he’s a “working” husband.

Ah… my journal will be filled with several pages of thanksgiving and nuggets of well learned lessons. Today is made sweeter by the family and friends that surrounds us.  We love you – ALL!  Thank you for speaking into our lives and making this marriage wholesome. Above all, we have God to praise; He is the threefold cord that binds us together.  This milestone is another testimony of His grace…

Note: The photo was taken a year plus ago just before our wedding in Melbourne. We’d have more photos to show as we had a follow up photo shoot a week ago to mark this anniversary. Stay tuned!

Two months going on three months as hubby and wifey. The frenzy of settling down into our little abode has come to a standstill. We’ve gotten back into the routine of our separate professions. Aside from work, there are a couple of exciting new projects we’re dabbling with. We’ve also made a few trips out of town after our wedding. A few more trips in our traveling pipeline.

Having gone through the tedious but exceptionally fulfilling route of wedding planning, we realize that we didn’t need to empty our pockets and drain our bank accounts in order to make ‘the’ day memorable. I strongly encourage all soon-to-be-weds and those eventually planning to tie the knot to start with a realistic budget and work around it. The budget doesn’t need to be hefty but it can’t be too slim either. Work with what you have, keep some for savings and trim the budget as you go along.

There are some things that both you and your husband are willing to pay for and some things that simply stays on the “nice to have” lists. Be frank and open about this and learn to each other’s expectations then sort things out at ground level. I’ve heard of couples that went into debt after their big day because expectations were met but it was way beyond what they have. The last thing you’d ever want is to start worrying about finances when you’re suppose to enjoy each other and the simple things that life brings to you.

As for our wedding, though it was thoroughly detailed (thanks to my super meticulous husband) but we didn’t spend a sizable sum instead worked with a comfortable budget and incorporated the little details that stemmed from our heart. We paid for what mattered and enjoyed every second of it. And after everything is said and done, we have memories of that day vividly captured on video for us to watch on a rainy day, when friends come over, when nostalgia knocks on doors and when we’re looking through our photos in awe of how God makes all things beautiful in His time.

Here’s the 6 mins teaser of the full video (45 mins). For those who’d like to watch full video – give me a buzz, arrange for a time and we’d have you over for lunch, tea or dinner! Thank you Grace & Choon Ean for all your hard work and superb editing. Find out more of what they do at Integricity Visuals.