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!

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.

No regrets, all smiles – it has been a thoroughly enjoyable honeymoon. Looking back it’s amazing how 2 ½ weeks went by so quickly. Time ticked to our favor and the weather has been kind to us. It is our privilege to have weaved through a land of such incredible glory that meets the eye. We have through our eyes seen a greater glimpse of the work of His hands and the greatness of His might. That as He spoke, the earth was made and as He spoke the earth was filled.

Those hair rising – spine tingling activities were a blast! Every penny spent is worth the while and we’ve got stories, pictures and videos to tell of those very seconds or minutes. But the honeymoon was made complete with the love of my life. We’ve have delved deeper into the life and soul of each other. And what can I say?! It’s only the very tip of the beginning into another chapter of life’s long story.