Death: What is Life about?

That storming Wednesday was traumatic in many ways. We attempted to head to the jetty hoping to catch our squids for supper. Along the way to the jetty, I was chasing by a tiger, ermm...I mean cat...actually it was a kitten. Wrapped tightly in a towel to shelter me from the cold night, armed with a tiny laser light, the same one I shone in the faces of the Sec 3s, I ran to the jetty and later, back to the room like a lunatic. It was totally embarrassing, but I did not care. So there. Our night at the jetty was prematuredly shorten...due to the kitten who terrorized me as well as the bobbing sea. Thus, we spent our time, resting at the resort.

Looking back, perhaps, the Lord knew we needed the rest, as the days to follow where hectic and demanding. Late that night, we received a call, an unexpected one. Daniel's uncle, Andrew, just passed away due to a heart attack. That news really took us by surprise. We had just met him recently over a meal and he seemed fine. Daniel remained pensive that night and I started packing. I felt sad thinking about my father-in-law. Uncle Andrew was the brother who took care of his siblings. We had to go back to Singapore. There was much to be done and much people to comfort.

I never liked funerals. But Christian ones are beautiful. Sad but peaceful because we know that once we leave this life on earth, we enter into God's presence. What comfort that thought is to the loved ones who remain on this earth.

Some parting shots.

Grand Uncle cuts a solitary figure. The grieving family.

Dear readers, where does your hope lie? What are you striving for in life? It was poignant to know that even though Uncle Andrew was a good man who could weather the storms in life, he died just like any other person. The Lord gives and takes away life. Whatever you work for, cannot be brought with you after death. The only assurance we can have is through Jesus Christ, His son. That once we believe in Him, we are assured that whatever comes our way, we will meet Him in heaven when our time on earth is done. Teenagers, your life is unexpected. Some of you might live to ripe old ages but some of you might leave unexpectedly. Are you ready to meet your creator? Would it be a reunion or a rejection?

Vacation

25th Sept 2005 - Well, finally, I have time to update. Just right after our trip...it was non-stop action. Really non-stop. So hang in there as I update all of you about my life.

Welcome to DJ island! Ermm...well, it was so unpopulated. There were only 11 of us at the resort. 2 families of 8 from Singapore, me and hubby and a European lady. The kids from Singapore were having a whale of a time playing at the beach, eating, running along the coast and swimming in the pool. Daniel spent his time catching up on the fishes that he 'thought' he would have caught in Singapore but had no time to. I rested with reading and setting of Final year exam papers. It was a truly good and restful time. Welcome to our island! Sorry, CLZ. I would have definitely recommended this island to you. But with a young little one, it would be dangerous for you. On the first day, we arrived at Mersing half an hour late, just to realized that the boat has left without us. We had 2 options, pay for another speed boat or stay at some dingy hotel for a night till tomorrow. Wondering and wandering, we decided to go to our island. I am glad we decided on that. The island was truly therapeutic.

This is where we stayed. Lovely place. The beach volleyball court beacons.

More of our resort. Spend my mornings at the beach. Where is Daniel?

This is Daniel's fave place - the jetty and the blue sea. He is fishing with a vengeance. Oops, think I interrupted his concentration. This didn't stop. We did fishing at night and caight a squid. That captivated Daniel for a long time to come. He still hasnt stop talking about it. Sigh...

Now you see the squids....

Now you don't. Burp!

On the 3rd day, I decided to ban Daniel from fishing. It became a little obsessive. We decided to explore the island. There were many treasures on the island. It is no wonder. The Lord provides in abundance in His creation and landscape.

Daniel the explorer and me the photographer.

Daniel and the huge rocks.

Daniel and the process of discovery.

Haha! Eureka. Oysters on the rock. And they taste like the real thing! Yummy!

Found yet another delicacy. Sea Cucumbers! It was truly a wonderful day of discovery. These villagers really have nothing lacking. They can eat all the oysters and sea cucumber they want, live by the beach, away from the stresses of life. What a privilege! That night ended with a storm and there was really a storm brewing back home.

Saviour lead us, through the darkness of this world's delusive way

Unknown battles rage around us, be our light from day to day

Keep our eyes fix on Thee, so the shadows will flee

In our weakness, in our bleakness, lead us home.

Storm clouds are gathering, in the western sky

We're pilgrims on a journey, assigned from on high

There's a task here we see, so we'll keep trusting thee

Saviour lead us, Saviour lead us, lead us home.

Evening at the Istana

My first trip to the Istana. An eye-opening, congested experience. Glad to meet up with some new friends I made from OYEA.

Teacher's Day Celebrations 2005

The day that seemingly makes all the pain, heartaches and mental stress worth it - Teacher's Day. 'Politically correctly' speaking - it really doesn't matter if students don't give you anything, as long as they have learnt and moved on in life. Unpolitically speaking, the little presents, thoughts and gestures really make your day. Some snapshots for the day.

Shuhui, Yaling, Swee Keng, me and Karen.

My USSS students. Omar [left] is the one who owes me milo dinosaur. Haha, now with your face on my blog, there is no escaping.

My kiddos from USSS 4E3 [class of 2004]. I am really glad to see that so many have moved on well in their lives.

I can never imagine myself saying this but '3E4 rocks!'

I think 3E4 outdid themselves this year. I happen to be the teacher who is blessed to be on the receiving end of their outpouring love.

The Story of the Surprise

[After the concert, hanging around, chatting and taking pictures with ex-students]

Zhixuan: [trying to look frantic] Mrs Tan, Mrs Tan, people are fighting in the class!

Mrs Tan: [being her perceptive self, she rolls her eyes and immediately smells a rat] So do I have to break out into a run?

Ana: *laughs* really, really

Mrs Tan: ok, I will pretend to run to class.

Ana and Zhixuan grabs Mrs Tan's things and they tried to run to class.

As Mrs Tan walks in, students started to sing a song.

So, Mrs Tan sits on a chair to appreciate.

She is then presented with stuffed toys from Winnie the Pooh - Piglet [Mrs Tan] and Eeyore [Mr Tan] and a little handcarry bag. Even Mr Tan received a present. The students insisted that eeyore represented Mr Tan. I think it is my cheeks and Dan's hair.

That's not all, there is also a beautifully drawn shirt. I like that a lot. Very meaningful [internal sobbing]

This was followed by a wonderful slide presentation of the class. Hilarious and surely a lot of man hours was invested into that effort. Thanks to whoever worked through the night for that. It will leave wonderful memories for me. The slide presentation ended with the song which they sang. During the reprise [kids, please use Webster if you need to clarify meaning], they brought out a chocolate cake.

*Applause* Thanks*Candle Blowing*Wish Making* - 3e4 started to realize that Mrs Tan is having too good a time after all the torturing she has done to them. That is when the battle ensued.

Well, all I can say is that 3E4, you have impressed me with your spontaniety. I am sure there were a clear few masterminds - thank you girls.

Happy teacher's day to all of you out there, especially my Christian teacher compatriots! It is a calling, a passion, a vocation. Let us walk worthy of the calling, and continue on, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Lunch at food court with ex-students

Our Teacher's Day dinner at Park Royal Plaza (tropica theme)

My 3rd Wedding Anniversary 310802

For His merciful kindness is great toward us,

And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117:2

This verse was the theme of our wedding and it has indeed been the theme of our lives together these past 3 years. The wideness of God's mercy has seen us through the joyous occasions as well as the trying situations.

Looking back, I still remembered how in our wedding, we went against some 'taboo'...for one, we held our wedding during the Seven Month Festival. That was perhaps the only available holiday apart from Dec which we could afford. That was considered extremely inauspicious. It was kinda like embarking on Mount Carmel and challenging the gods of the earth. Well, not exactly that noble. But we knew that man's traditions and created beliefs were no match when compared to the power and love of God. When people avoid these dates, it gives you more bargaining power. The hotel threw in a one night stay for one of our guest and the family. It is a blessing when we obey God in boldness and without apology.

to be continued....

DJ Wedding team [our family, church frens and secondary frens]

Solemn at the altar

DJ's immediate family & the wedding celebrations

Welcome to 3E4!

Welcome dear readers. Let me introduce you to my form class - 3E4. This is the first batch of non USSS students that I had to deal with at a much personal level. It is one of the largest classes in FTp [43]. Sigh...challenges, anyway, kinda used to it by now. Technically, I was supposed to abandon them in July due to new tasks assigned to me. But after 1) contemplation and 2) persuasion, 3) begging and 4) crying to the Principal, I managed to continue in my role till the end of the year [apparently, in the 4 options, at least 2 are exaggerations, hahah - *shrug* it makes good dramatic effect and evokes sympathy]. Anyway, getting on with my story. I can summarise this class or rather the individuals in the following list of adjectives and phrases:

• Strange
• Quirky
• Loud
• Sweet
• Heartwarming
• United [mostly the girls, the guys are a little 'nua']
• Dirty [the class is like a pig sty and the duty roster never seems to work]
• Hysterical [really, they never fail to make me laugh]
• Contemplative [euphemism for daydreaming] and finally
• Blessed [cos they have a teacher like me, hahaha]

Its really funny that in camp, some started to call me Aunite Joann. They sounded just like the BFC youths. It is all because of our infamously notorious teenager who goes by the name of Chen Jianwei. Yes, he is the one who howls, convulse violently on the floor and does all the strangest things possible. Anyway, my class stayed at Pasir Ris for the first half of the camp, so I did not get to see them till much later. But it was still fun...well, without further ado, let me introduce you to faces of my class.

Guess why they are hugging me so tightly? Cos they are wet and I am dry! That is half of my class. The other half never made it to my checkpoint cos of heavy downpour.

The noisy and giggly girls who always smuggle tidbits into class which ends up with me.

The sweet, diligent and quiet girls,

Another group of good girls.

Naughty Huiling and Carmen

The look-quiet-but-not-so quiet girls.

My class trying to cook their dinner.

As usual, the boys are absent in the photos. They are either too 'nua' or too macho for photo taking. Well, hope you all enjoyed this brief introduction.